WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday ordered the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-prices-ae5200310e3d3c0390d9e1cbb3c5a964">the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve</a>&nbsp;for six months, a bid to control energy prices that have spiked after the United States and allies imposed steep sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

The president said it was not known how much gasoline prices could decline as a result of his move, but he suggested it might be “anything from 10 cents to 35 cents a gallon.” Gas is averaging about $4.23 a gallon, compared with $2.87 a year ago, according to AAA.

“The bottom line is if we want lower gas prices we need to have more oil supply right now,” Biden said. “This is a moment of consequence and peril for the world, and pain at the pump for American families.”

(click below to listen to Pres. Biden's statement to producers)

The president also wants Congress to impose financial penalties on oil and gas companies that lease public lands but are not producing. He said he will invoke the Defense Production Act to encourage the mining of critical minerals for batteries in electric vehicles, part of a broader push to shift toward cleaner energy sources and reduce the use of fossil fuels.

The actions show that oil remains a vulnerability for the U.S. Higher prices have hurt Biden’s approval domestically and added billions of oil-export dollars to the Russian government as it wages war on Ukraine.

Tapping the stockpile would create pressures that could reduce oil prices, though Biden has twice ordered releases from the reserves without causing a meaningful shift in oil markets. Biden said Thursday he expects gasoline prices could drop “fairly significantly.”

Part of Biden’s concern is that high prices have not so far coaxed a meaningful jump in oil production. The planned release is a way to increase supplies as a bridge until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-covid-health-business-da75f38d60c1e820b5147fa9e25feca2">oil companies ramp up their own production,</a>&nbsp;with administration officials estimating that domestic production will grow by 1 million barrels daily this year and an additional 700,000 barrels daily in 2023.

The markets reacted quickly with crude oil prices dropping about 4% in Thursday trading to under $104 a barrel. Still, oil is up from roughly $60 a year ago, with supplies failing to keep up with demand as the world economy has begun to rebound from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>. That inflationary problem was compounded by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, which created new uncertainties about oil and natural gas supplies and led to retaliatory sanctions from the U.S. and its allies.

Stewart Glickman, an oil analyst for CFRA Research, said the release would bring short-term relief on prices and would be akin to “taking some Advil for a headache.” But markets would ultimately look to see whether, after the releases stop, the underlying problems that led to Biden’s decisions remain.

“The root cause of the headache is probably still going to be there after the medicine wears off,” Glickman said.

Biden has been in talks with allies and partners to join in additional releases of oil, such that the world market will get more than the 180 million barrels total being pledged by the U.S.

Americans on average use about 21 million barrels of oil daily, with about 40% of that devoted to gasoline, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That total accounts for about one-fifth of total global consumption of oil.

Domestic oil production is equal to more than half of U.S. usage, but high prices have not led companies to return to their pre-pandemic levels of output. The U.S. is producing on average 11.7 million barrels daily, down from 13 million barrels in early 2020.

Republican lawmakers have said the problem results from the administration being hostile to oil permits and the construction of new pipelines such as the Keystone XL. Democrats say the country needs to move to renewable energy such as wind and solar that could reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and Putin’s leverage.

Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., blasted Biden’s action to tap the reserve without first taking steps to increase American energy production, calling it “a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.″

Daines called Biden’s actions “desperate moves″ that avoid what he called the real solution: ”investing in American energy production,″ and getting “oil and gas leases going again.”

The administration says increasing oil output is a gradual process and the release would provide time to ramp up production. It also wants to incentivize greater production by putting fees on unused leases on government lands, something that would require congressional approval.

Oil producers have been more focused on meeting the needs of investors than consumers, according to a survey released last week by the Dallas Federal Reserve. About 59% of the executives surveyed said investor pressure to preserve “capital discipline” amid high prices was the reason they weren’t pumping more, while fewer than 10% blamed government regulation.

In his remarks Thursday, Biden tried to shame oil companies that he said are focused on profits instead of putting out more barrels, saying that adding to the oil supply was a patriotic obligation.

“This is not the time to sit on record profits: It’s time to step up for the good of your country,” the president said.

The steady release from the reserves would be a meaningful sum and come near to closing the domestic production gap relative to February 2020, before the coronavirus caused a steep decline in oil output.

Still, the politics of oil are complicated with industry advocates and environmentalists both criticizing the planned release. Groups such as the American Petroleum Institute want to make drilling easier, while environmental organizations say energy companies should be forced to pay a special tax on windfall profits instead.

The administration in November announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-oil-strategic-reserve-gas-prices-a7e0802b299cd627c7ffdeeb0e50bd2c">the release of 50 million barrels</a>&nbsp;from the strategic reserve in coordination with other countries. And after the Russia-Ukraine war began, the U.S. and 30 other countries agreed to an additional release of 60 million barrels from reserves, with half of the total coming from the U.S.

According to the Department of Energy, which manages it, more than 568 million barrels of oil were held in the reserve as of March 25. After the release, the government would begin to replenish the reserve once prices have sufficiently fallen.

News of the administration’s planning was first reported by Bloomberg.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648749907890.png" alt="The president also wants Congress to impose financial penalties on oil and gas companies that lease public lands but are not producing-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The president also wants Congress to impose financial penalties on oil and gas companies that lease public lands but are not producing-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday ordered the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-prices-ae5200310e3d3c0390d9e1cbb3c5a964">the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve</a>&nbsp;for six months, a bid to control energy prices that have spiked after the United States and allies imposed steep sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F300434728721015%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=36" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The president said it was not known how much gasoline prices could decline as a result of his move, but he suggested it might be “anything from 10 cents to 35 cents a gallon.” Gas is averaging about $4.23 a gallon, compared with $2.87 a year ago, according to AAA.“The bottom line is if we want lower gas prices we need to have more oil supply right now,” Biden said. “This is a moment of consequence and peril for the world, and pain at the pump for American families.”(click below to listen to Pres. Biden's statement to producers)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F300434728721015%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=246" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The president also wants Congress to impose financial penalties on oil and gas companies that lease public lands but are not producing. He said he will invoke the Defense Production Act to encourage the mining of critical minerals for batteries in electric vehicles, part of a broader push to shift toward cleaner energy sources and reduce the use of fossil fuels.The actions show that oil remains a vulnerability for the U.S. Higher prices have hurt Biden’s approval domestically and added billions of oil-export dollars to the Russian government as it wages war on Ukraine.Tapping the stockpile would create pressures that could reduce oil prices, though Biden has twice ordered releases from the reserves without causing a meaningful shift in oil markets. Biden said Thursday he expects gasoline prices could drop “fairly significantly.”Part of Biden’s concern is that high prices have not so far coaxed a meaningful jump in oil production. The planned release is a way to increase supplies as a bridge until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-covid-health-business-da75f38d60c1e820b5147fa9e25feca2">oil companies ramp up their own production,</a>&nbsp;with administration officials estimating that domestic production will grow by 1 million barrels daily this year and an additional 700,000 barrels daily in 2023.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648751491285.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The markets reacted quickly with crude oil prices dropping about 4% in Thursday trading to under $104 a barrel. Still, oil is up from roughly $60 a year ago, with supplies failing to keep up with demand as the world economy has begun to rebound from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>. That inflationary problem was compounded by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, which created new uncertainties about oil and natural gas supplies and led to retaliatory sanctions from the U.S. and its allies.Stewart Glickman, an oil analyst for CFRA Research, said the release would bring short-term relief on prices and would be akin to “taking some Advil for a headache.” But markets would ultimately look to see whether, after the releases stop, the underlying problems that led to Biden’s decisions remain.“The root cause of the headache is probably still going to be there after the medicine wears off,” Glickman said.Biden has been in talks with allies and partners to join in additional releases of oil, such that the world market will get more than the 180 million barrels total being pledged by the U.S.Americans on average use about 21 million barrels of oil daily, with about 40% of that devoted to gasoline, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That total accounts for about one-fifth of total global consumption of oil.Domestic oil production is equal to more than half of U.S. usage, but high prices have not led companies to return to their pre-pandemic levels of output. The U.S. is producing on average 11.7 million barrels daily, down from 13 million barrels in early 2020.Republican lawmakers have said the problem results from the administration being hostile to oil permits and the construction of new pipelines such as the Keystone XL. Democrats say the country needs to move to renewable energy such as wind and solar that could reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and Putin’s leverage.Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., blasted Biden’s action to tap the reserve without first taking steps to increase American energy production, calling it “a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.″Daines called Biden’s actions “desperate moves″ that avoid what he called the real solution: ”investing in American energy production,″ and getting “oil and gas leases going again.”The administration says increasing oil output is a gradual process and the release would provide time to ramp up production. It also wants to incentivize greater production by putting fees on unused leases on government lands, something that would require congressional approval.Oil producers have been more focused on meeting the needs of investors than consumers, according to a survey released last week by the Dallas Federal Reserve. About 59% of the executives surveyed said investor pressure to preserve “capital discipline” amid high prices was the reason they weren’t pumping more, while fewer than 10% blamed government regulation.In his remarks Thursday, Biden tried to shame oil companies that he said are focused on profits instead of putting out more barrels, saying that adding to the oil supply was a patriotic obligation.“This is not the time to sit on record profits: It’s time to step up for the good of your country,” the president said.The steady release from the reserves would be a meaningful sum and come near to closing the domestic production gap relative to February 2020, before the coronavirus caused a steep decline in oil output.Still, the politics of oil are complicated with industry advocates and environmentalists both criticizing the planned release. Groups such as the American Petroleum Institute want to make drilling easier, while environmental organizations say energy companies should be forced to pay a special tax on windfall profits instead.The administration in November announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-oil-strategic-reserve-gas-prices-a7e0802b299cd627c7ffdeeb0e50bd2c">the release of 50 million barrels</a>&nbsp;from the strategic reserve in coordination with other countries. And after the Russia-Ukraine war began, the U.S. and 30 other countries agreed to an additional release of 60 million barrels from reserves, with half of the total coming from the U.S.According to the Department of Energy, which manages it, more than 568 million barrels of oil were held in the reserve as of March 25. After the release, the government would begin to replenish the reserve once prices have sufficiently fallen.News of the administration’s planning was first reported by Bloomberg.___

🎥Biden threatens some oil, gas producers in plan to lower gas prices

WASHINGTON (AP) — When the end of the COVID-19 pandemic comes, it could create major disruptions for a cumbersome U.S. health care system made more generous, flexible and up-to-date technologically through a raft of temporary emergency measures.

Winding down those policies could begin as early as the summer. That could force an estimated 15 million Medicaid recipients to find new sources of coverage, require congressional action to preserve broad telehealth access for Medicare enrollees, and scramble special COVID-19 rules and payment policies for hospitals, doctors and insurers. There are also questions about how emergency use approvals for COVID-19 treatments will be handled.

The array of issues is tied to the coronavirus public health emergency first declared more than two years ago and periodically renewed since then. It’s set to end April 16 and the expectation is that the Biden administration will extend it through mid-July. Some would like a longer off-ramp.

Transitions don’t bode well for the complex U.S. health care system, with its mix of private and government insurance and its labyrinth of policies and procedures. Health care chaos, if it breaks out, could create midterm election headaches for Democrats and Republicans alike.

“The flexibilities granted through the public health emergency have helped people stay covered and get access to care, so moving forward the key question is how to build on what has been a success and not lose ground,” said Juliette Cubanski, a Medicare expert with the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation, who has been researching potential consequences of winding down the pandemic emergency.

Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program for low-income people, is covering about 79 million people, a record partly due to the pandemic.

But the nonpartisan Urban Institute think tank estimates that about 15 million people could lose Medicaid when the public health emergency ends, at a rate of at least 1 million per month.

Congress increased federal Medicaid payments to states because of COVID-19, but it also required states to keep people on the rolls during the health emergency. In normal times states routinely disenroll Medicaid recipients whose incomes rise beyond certain levels, or for other life changes affecting eligibility. That process will switch on again when the emergency ends, and some states are eager to move forward.

Virtually all of those losing Medicaid are expected to be eligible for some other source of coverage, either through employers, the Affordable Care Act or — for kids — the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

But that’s not going to happen automatically, said Matthew Buettgens, lead researcher on the Urban Institute study. Cost and lack of awareness about options could get in the way.

People dropped from Medicaid may not realize they can pick up taxpayer-subsidized ACA coverage. Medicaid is usually free, so people offered workplace insurance could find the premiums too high.

“This is an unprecedented situation,” said Buettgens. “The uncertainty is real.”

The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, is advising states to take it slow and connect Medicaid recipients who are disenrolled with other potential coverage. The agency will keep an eye on states’ accuracy in making eligibility decisions. Biden officials want coverage shifts, not losses.

“We are focused making sure we hold on to the gains in coverage we have made under the Biden-Harris administration,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “We are at the strongest point in our history and we are going make sure that we hold on to the coverage gains.”

ACA coverage — or “Obamacare” — is an option for many who would lose Medicaid. But it will be less affordable if congressional Democrats fail to extend generous financial assistance called for in President Joe Biden’s social legislation. Democrats stalling the bill would face blame.

Republicans in mostly Southern states that have refused to expand Medicaid are also vulnerable. In those states, it can be very difficult for low-income adults to get coverage and more people could wind up uninsured.

State Medicaid officials don’t want to be the scapegoats. “Medicaid has done its job,” said Matt Salo, head of the National Association of Medicaid Directors. “We have looked out for physical, mental and behavioral health needs. As we come out of this emergency, we are supposed to right-size the program.”

Millions of Americans discovered telehealth in 2020 when coronavirus shutdowns led to the suspension of routine medical consultations. In-person visits are again the norm, but telehealth has shown its usefulness and gained broader acceptance.

The end of the public health emergency would jeopardize telehealth access for millions enrolled in traditional Medicare. Restrictions predating COVID-19 limit telehealth mainly to rural residents, in part to mitigate against health care fraud. Congress has given itself 151 days after the end of the public health emergency to come up with new rules.

“If there are no changes to the law after that, most Medicare beneficiaries will lose access to coverage for telehealth,” the Kaiser Foundation’s Cubanski said.

A major exception applies to enrollees in private Medicare Advantage plans, which generally do cover telehealth. However, nearly 6 in 10 Medicare enrollees are in the traditional fee-for-service program.

TESTS, VACCINES, TREATMENTS, PAYMENTS &amp; PROCEDURES

Widespread access to COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments rests on legal authority connected to the public health emergency.

One example is the Biden administration’s requirement for insurers to cover up to eight free at-home COVID-19 tests per month.

An area that’s particularly murky is what happens to tests, treatments and vaccines covered under emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration.

Some experts say emergency use approvals last only through the duration of the public health emergency. Others say it’s not as simple as that, because a different federal emergency statute also applies to vaccines, tests and treatments. There’s no clear direction yet from health officials.

The FDA has granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for those 16 and older and Moderna’s for those 18 and older, so their continued use would not be affected.

But hospitals could take a financial hit. Currently they’re paid 20% more for the care of COVID-19 patients. That added payment is only for the duration of the emergency.

And Medicare enrollees would have more hoops to jump through to be approved for rehab in a nursing home. A suspended Medicare rule requiring a prior three-day hospital stay would come back into effect.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra recently told The Associated Press that his department is committed to giving “ample notice” when it ends the public health emergency.

“We want to make sure we’re not putting in a detrimental position Americans who still need our help,” Becerra said. “The one that people are really worried about is Medicaid.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648736260102.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By ASSOCIATED PRESSWASHINGTON (AP) — When the end of the COVID-19 pandemic comes, it could create major disruptions for a cumbersome U.S. health care system made more generous, flexible and up-to-date technologically through a raft of temporary emergency measures.Winding down those policies could begin as early as the summer. That could force an estimated 15 million Medicaid recipients to find new sources of coverage, require congressional action to preserve broad telehealth access for Medicare enrollees, and scramble special COVID-19 rules and payment policies for hospitals, doctors and insurers. There are also questions about how emergency use approvals for COVID-19 treatments will be handled.The array of issues is tied to the coronavirus public health emergency first declared more than two years ago and periodically renewed since then. It’s set to end April 16 and the expectation is that the Biden administration will extend it through mid-July. Some would like a longer off-ramp.Transitions don’t bode well for the complex U.S. health care system, with its mix of private and government insurance and its labyrinth of policies and procedures. Health care chaos, if it breaks out, could create midterm election headaches for Democrats and Republicans alike.“The flexibilities granted through the public health emergency have helped people stay covered and get access to care, so moving forward the key question is how to build on what has been a success and not lose ground,” said Juliette Cubanski, a Medicare expert with the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation, who has been researching potential consequences of winding down the pandemic emergency.MEDICAID CHURNMedicaid, the state-federal health insurance program for low-income people, is covering about 79 million people, a record partly due to the pandemic.But the nonpartisan Urban Institute think tank estimates that about 15 million people could lose Medicaid when the public health emergency ends, at a rate of at least 1 million per month.Congress increased federal Medicaid payments to states because of COVID-19, but it also required states to keep people on the rolls during the health emergency. In normal times states routinely disenroll Medicaid recipients whose incomes rise beyond certain levels, or for other life changes affecting eligibility. That process will switch on again when the emergency ends, and some states are eager to move forward.Virtually all of those losing Medicaid are expected to be eligible for some other source of coverage, either through employers, the Affordable Care Act or — for kids — the Children’s Health Insurance Program.But that’s not going to happen automatically, said Matthew Buettgens, lead researcher on the Urban Institute study. Cost and lack of awareness about options could get in the way.People dropped from Medicaid may not realize they can pick up taxpayer-subsidized ACA coverage. Medicaid is usually free, so people offered workplace insurance could find the premiums too high.“This is an unprecedented situation,” said Buettgens. “The uncertainty is real.”The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, is advising states to take it slow and connect Medicaid recipients who are disenrolled with other potential coverage. The agency will keep an eye on states’ accuracy in making eligibility decisions. Biden officials want coverage shifts, not losses.“We are focused making sure we hold on to the gains in coverage we have made under the Biden-Harris administration,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “We are at the strongest point in our history and we are going make sure that we hold on to the coverage gains.”ACA coverage — or “Obamacare” — is an option for many who would lose Medicaid. But it will be less affordable if congressional Democrats fail to extend generous financial assistance called for in President Joe Biden’s social legislation. Democrats stalling the bill would face blame.Republicans in mostly Southern states that have refused to expand Medicaid are also vulnerable. In those states, it can be very difficult for low-income adults to get coverage and more people could wind up uninsured.State Medicaid officials don’t want to be the scapegoats. “Medicaid has done its job,” said Matt Salo, head of the National Association of Medicaid Directors. “We have looked out for physical, mental and behavioral health needs. As we come out of this emergency, we are supposed to right-size the program.”TELEHEALTH STATICMillions of Americans discovered telehealth in 2020 when coronavirus shutdowns led to the suspension of routine medical consultations. In-person visits are again the norm, but telehealth has shown its usefulness and gained broader acceptance.The end of the public health emergency would jeopardize telehealth access for millions enrolled in traditional Medicare. Restrictions predating COVID-19 limit telehealth mainly to rural residents, in part to mitigate against health care fraud. Congress has given itself 151 days after the end of the public health emergency to come up with new rules.“If there are no changes to the law after that, most Medicare beneficiaries will lose access to coverage for telehealth,” the Kaiser Foundation’s Cubanski said.A major exception applies to enrollees in private Medicare Advantage plans, which generally do cover telehealth. However, nearly 6 in 10 Medicare enrollees are in the traditional fee-for-service program.TESTS, VACCINES, TREATMENTS, PAYMENTS &amp; PROCEDURESWidespread access to COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments rests on legal authority connected to the public health emergency.One example is the Biden administration’s requirement for insurers to cover up to eight free at-home COVID-19 tests per month.An area that’s particularly murky is what happens to tests, treatments and vaccines covered under emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration.Some experts say emergency use approvals last only through the duration of the public health emergency. Others say it’s not as simple as that, because a different federal emergency statute also applies to vaccines, tests and treatments. There’s no clear direction yet from health officials.The FDA has granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for those 16 and older and Moderna’s for those 18 and older, so their continued use would not be affected.But hospitals could take a financial hit. Currently they’re paid 20% more for the care of COVID-19 patients. That added payment is only for the duration of the emergency.And Medicare enrollees would have more hoops to jump through to be approved for rehab in a nursing home. A suspended Medicare rule requiring a prior three-day hospital stay would come back into effect.Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra recently told The Associated Press that his department is committed to giving “ample notice” when it ends the public health emergency.“We want to make sure we’re not putting in a detrimental position Americans who still need our help,” Becerra said. “The one that people are really worried about is Medicaid.”

End of COVID may bring major turbulence for US health care

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass billions of dollars in additional funding to fight the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday, as he received a second booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine a day after federal regulators approved a fourth shot for those aged 50 and older.

Biden spoke as his administration rolled out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.covid.gov/" target="_blank">COVID.gov</a>, designed to be a one-stop website to help people in the United States access COVID-19 tests, vaccines and treatments, along with status updates on infection rates where they live. Biden pressed lawmakers to provide additional funding “immediately” to ensure continued supply of the tools that have helped the nation begin to emerge from the pandemic.

“Congress, we need to secure additional supply now,” he said, warning of shortages of vaccines, tests and treatments. “This isn’t partisan, it’s medicine.”

Biden, 79, received the first series of two doses of the coronavirus vaccine shortly before taking office and a first booster shot in September. The additional booster dose was administered by a member of the White House Medical Unit.

“It didn’t hurt a bit,” Biden said.

The additional booster is meant to beef up the body’s protection against COVID-19 in populations most vulnerable to the coronavirus, which has killed more than 975,000 people in the U.S.

On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cleared the way for another shot for anyone 50 and older, who can get the additional booster at least four months after their last vaccination. Severely immune-compromised patients, such as organ transplant recipients, as young as 12, are also eligible.

“We have enough supply to give booster shots, but if Congress fails to act we won’t have the supplies we need this Fall,” Biden warned, noting the possibility that regulators will approve a fourth shot for all Americans.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, have been negotiating in hopes of reviving the COVID-19 package.

If an agreement emerges, participants say they expect it to be similar to the $15.6 billion bipartisan version that congressional leaders crafted earlier this month. The original compromise collapsed after rank-and-file Democrats rebelled against cuts in unspent pandemic aid for states that would have helped pay for it.

The two parties’ continuing disagreements are over how to find savings to offset the measure’s cost, not the new spending itself.

Leaders would like Congress to approve the assistance before lawmakers leave for a spring recess after next week.

“We are not yet at the finish line, but we will keep working throughout the day,” Schumer said Wednesday. He said if a new COVID variant emerges that “extends its nasty tentacles across the country and we don’t have the tools to respond, then woe is us.”

Romney said Tuesday that bargainers were discussing savings options. “But we’re making progress and hopefully we’ll get there soon,” he said.

A subvariant of the highly transmissible omicron that scientists call BA.2 is now the dominant coronavirus mutant in the United States. It accounted for nearly 55% of new infections across the nation last week and an even greater proportion in the Northeast, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Scientists say one reason BA.2 has gained ground is that it’s about 30% more contagious than the original omicron. In rare cases, research shows it can sicken people even if they’ve already had an omicron infection. But it doesn’t seem to cause more severe disease than the original, and vaccines appear just as effective against it.

The unvaccinated, though, are at a far greater risk.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648688148561.png" alt="Biden, 79, received the first series of two doses of the coronavirus vaccine shortly before taking office and a first booster shot in September. The additional booster dose was administered by a member of the White House Medical Unit-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Biden, 79, received the first series of two doses of the coronavirus vaccine shortly before taking office and a first booster shot in September. The additional booster dose was administered by a member of the White House Medical Unit-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass billions of dollars in additional funding to fight the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday, as he received a second booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine a day after federal regulators approved a fourth shot for those aged 50 and older.Biden spoke as his administration rolled out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.covid.gov/" target="_blank">COVID.gov</a>, designed to be a one-stop website to help people in the United States access COVID-19 tests, vaccines and treatments, along with status updates on infection rates where they live. Biden pressed lawmakers to provide additional funding “immediately” to ensure continued supply of the tools that have helped the nation begin to emerge from the pandemic.“Congress, we need to secure additional supply now,” he said, warning of shortages of vaccines, tests and treatments. “This isn’t partisan, it’s medicine.”Biden, 79, received the first series of two doses of the coronavirus vaccine shortly before taking office and a first booster shot in September. The additional booster dose was administered by a member of the White House Medical Unit.“It didn’t hurt a bit,” Biden said.The additional booster is meant to beef up the body’s protection against COVID-19 in populations most vulnerable to the coronavirus, which has killed more than 975,000 people in the U.S.On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cleared the way for another shot for anyone 50 and older, who can get the additional booster at least four months after their last vaccination. Severely immune-compromised patients, such as organ transplant recipients, as young as 12, are also eligible.“We have enough supply to give booster shots, but if Congress fails to act we won’t have the supplies we need this Fall,” Biden warned, noting the possibility that regulators will approve a fourth shot for all Americans.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, have been negotiating in hopes of reviving the COVID-19 package.If an agreement emerges, participants say they expect it to be similar to the $15.6 billion bipartisan version that congressional leaders crafted earlier this month. The original compromise collapsed after rank-and-file Democrats rebelled against cuts in unspent pandemic aid for states that would have helped pay for it.The two parties’ continuing disagreements are over how to find savings to offset the measure’s cost, not the new spending itself.Leaders would like Congress to approve the assistance before lawmakers leave for a spring recess after next week.“We are not yet at the finish line, but we will keep working throughout the day,” Schumer said Wednesday. He said if a new COVID variant emerges that “extends its nasty tentacles across the country and we don’t have the tools to respond, then woe is us.”Romney said Tuesday that bargainers were discussing savings options. “But we’re making progress and hopefully we’ll get there soon,” he said.A subvariant of the highly transmissible omicron that scientists call BA.2 is now the dominant coronavirus mutant in the United States. It accounted for nearly 55% of new infections across the nation last week and an even greater proportion in the Northeast, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Scientists say one reason BA.2 has gained ground is that it’s about 30% more contagious than the original omicron. In rare cases, research shows it can sicken people even if they’ve already had an omicron infection. But it doesn’t seem to cause more severe disease than the original, and vaccines appear just as effective against it.The unvaccinated, though, are at a far greater risk.—

Biden receives 2nd booster, presses Congress for more virus funding

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is preparing to order the release of up to 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve, according to two people familiar with the decision, in a bid to control energy prices that have spiked as the U.S. and allies have imposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-joe-biden-business-congress-a187eb7dcbb8e8c7224adb518392bab2">steep sanctions on Russia</a>&nbsp;over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-europe-united-states-nato-5863ad1d740cdd04ba42a25de0d31449">its invasion of Ukraine</a>.

The announcement could come as soon as Thursday, when the White House says Biden is planning to deliver remarks on his administration’s plans to combat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gas-prices-record-high-russia-ukraine-ac7fcc350ad1f1c71db4185b99fef112">rising gas prices</a>. The duration of the release hasn’t been finalized but could last for several months. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the decision.

High oil prices have not coaxed more production, creating a challenge for Biden. The Democratic president has seen his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-inflation-6b6b0abfef867fc405e9f358ce2c3a09">popularity sink</a>&nbsp;as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-inflation-soars-776c03520c90083894fedf31f1a7db00">inflation reached a 40-year high</a>&nbsp;in February and the cost of petroleum and gasoline climbed after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-russia-moscow-kyiv-626a8c5ec22217bacb24ece60fac4fe1">Russia invaded Ukraine</a>.

The markets reacted quickly to the likely release from the strategic reserve with crude oil prices dropping 6% on Thursday morning to roughly $101 a barrel. Still, oil is up from roughly $60 a year ago as supplies have not kept up with demand as the world economy began to rebound from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>.

Americans on average use about 21 million barrels of oil daily, with about 40% of the consumption devoted to gasoline, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Domestic oil production is equal to more than half of the country’s usage, but high prices have not led companies to return to their pre-pandemic levels of output. The U.S. is producing on average 11.7 million barrels daily, down from 13 million barrels in early 2020.

The Biden administration in November announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-oil-strategic-reserve-gas-prices-a7e0802b299cd627c7ffdeeb0e50bd2c">the release of 50 million barrels</a>&nbsp;from the strategic reserve in coordination with other countries. And after the Russia-Ukraine war began, the U.S. and 30 other countries agreed to an additional release of 60 million barrels from reserves, with half of the total coming from the U.S.

According to the Department of Energy, which manages it, more than 568 million barrels of oil were held in the reserve as of March 25.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646659156352.png" alt="Americans on average use about 21 million barrels of oil daily, with about 40% of the consumption devoted to gasoline, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.-google image" />
 <figcaption>Americans on average use about 21 million barrels of oil daily, with about 40% of the consumption devoted to gasoline, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.-google image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is preparing to order the release of up to 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve, according to two people familiar with the decision, in a bid to control energy prices that have spiked as the U.S. and allies have imposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-joe-biden-business-congress-a187eb7dcbb8e8c7224adb518392bab2">steep sanctions on Russia</a>&nbsp;over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-europe-united-states-nato-5863ad1d740cdd04ba42a25de0d31449">its invasion of Ukraine</a>.The announcement could come as soon as Thursday, when the White House says Biden is planning to deliver remarks on his administration’s plans to combat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gas-prices-record-high-russia-ukraine-ac7fcc350ad1f1c71db4185b99fef112">rising gas prices</a>. The duration of the release hasn’t been finalized but could last for several months. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the decision.High oil prices have not coaxed more production, creating a challenge for Biden. The Democratic president has seen his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-inflation-6b6b0abfef867fc405e9f358ce2c3a09">popularity sink</a>&nbsp;as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-inflation-soars-776c03520c90083894fedf31f1a7db00">inflation reached a 40-year high</a>&nbsp;in February and the cost of petroleum and gasoline climbed after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-russia-moscow-kyiv-626a8c5ec22217bacb24ece60fac4fe1">Russia invaded Ukraine</a>.The markets reacted quickly to the likely release from the strategic reserve with crude oil prices dropping 6% on Thursday morning to roughly $101 a barrel. Still, oil is up from roughly $60 a year ago as supplies have not kept up with demand as the world economy began to rebound from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>.Americans on average use about 21 million barrels of oil daily, with about 40% of the consumption devoted to gasoline, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.Domestic oil production is equal to more than half of the country’s usage, but high prices have not led companies to return to their pre-pandemic levels of output. The U.S. is producing on average 11.7 million barrels daily, down from 13 million barrels in early 2020.Oil producers have been more focused on meeting the needs of investors than consumers, according to a survey released last week by the Dallas Federal Reserve. About 59% of the executives surveyed said investor pressure to preserve “capital discipline” amid high prices was the reason they weren’t pumping more, while fewer than 10% blamed government regulation.The steady release from the reserves would be a meaningful sum and come near to closing the domestic production gap relative to February 2020, before the coronavirus caused a steep decline in oil output.The Biden administration in November announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-oil-strategic-reserve-gas-prices-a7e0802b299cd627c7ffdeeb0e50bd2c">the release of 50 million barrels</a>&nbsp;from the strategic reserve in coordination with other countries. And after the Russia-Ukraine war began, the U.S. and 30 other countries agreed to an additional release of 60 million barrels from reserves, with half of the total coming from the U.S.According to the Department of Energy, which manages it, more than 568 million barrels of oil were held in the reserve as of March 25.News of the administration’s planning was first reported by Bloomberg.___

Biden considers plan to tap oil reserve to control gas prices

NEW YORK (AP) — Bruce Willis is stepping away from acting after a diagnosis of aphasia. The condition causes loss of the ability to understand or express speech. 

Willis' family announced the news in a statement Wednesday on Willis' Instagram page. The 67-year-old actor's family said Willis was recently diagnosed with aphasia and that it is impacting his cognitive abilities. 

The statement was signed by Willis' wife, Emma Heming Willis, his ex-wife Demi Moore, and his five children, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648673313450.png" alt=" Bruce Willis speaking at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Gage">Photo by Gage Skidmore</a>" />
 <figcaption> Bruce Willis speaking at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Gage">Photo by Gage Skidmore</a></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Bruce Willis is stepping away from acting after a diagnosis of aphasia. The condition causes loss of the ability to understand or express speech. Willis' family announced the news in a statement Wednesday on Willis' Instagram page. The 67-year-old actor's family said Willis was recently diagnosed with aphasia and that it is impacting his cognitive abilities. The statement was signed by Willis' wife, Emma Heming Willis, his ex-wife Demi Moore, and his five children, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn.

Bruce Willis steps away from acting after diagnosis

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian officials say Russian forces pounded areas around Ukraine's capital and another city overnight. 

The attacks come hours after Moscow pledged to scale back military operations in those places. The shelling further tempered optimism about any progress in talks aimed at ending the war. Russia did not spell out what exactly it planned to do differently. 

While the promise initially raised hopes that a path toward peace was coming into view, Ukraine's president and others cautioned that the remarks could merely be bluster. Ukrainian officials said Russian shelling hit "civilian infrastructure" in the northern city of Chernihiv and on the outskirts of Kyiv. 

Moscow, meanwhile, reacted coolly Wednesday to Kyiv's proposed framework for a peace deal.

Associated PressKYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian officials say Russian forces pounded areas around Ukraine's capital and another city overnight. The attacks come hours after Moscow pledged to scale back military operations in those places. The shelling further tempered optimism about any progress in talks aimed at ending the war. Russia did not spell out what exactly it planned to do differently. While the promise initially raised hopes that a path toward peace was coming into view, Ukraine's president and others cautioned that the remarks could merely be bluster. Ukrainian officials said Russian shelling hit "civilian infrastructure" in the northern city of Chernihiv and on the outskirts of Kyiv. Moscow, meanwhile, reacted coolly Wednesday to Kyiv's proposed framework for a peace deal.

Russia bombards areas of Ukraine where it pledged to scale back

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is sending 550 pieces of law enforcement armor to help Ukrainian soldiers who are defending their homeland against a Russian invasion. 

Gov. Pete Ricketts says the Nebraska State Patrol gathered out-of-warranty armor from law enforcement agencies around the state and combined them with a similar shipment out of Iowa. 

Nebraska law enforcement agencies contributed 321 body armor vests, 69 helmets and other protective equipment. Nebraska State Patrol Capt. Jason Scott says the donated equipment is all out of warranty and can't be used by U.S. law enforcement, but is still functional.&nbsp;

Scott says the gear would otherwise be destroyed.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is sending 550 pieces of law enforcement armor to help Ukrainian soldiers who are defending their homeland against a Russian invasion. Gov. Pete Ricketts says the Nebraska State Patrol gathered out-of-warranty armor from law enforcement agencies around the state and combined them with a similar shipment out of Iowa. Nebraska law enforcement agencies contributed 321 body armor vests, 69 helmets and other protective equipment. Nebraska State Patrol Capt. Jason Scott says the donated equipment is all out of warranty and can't be used by U.S. law enforcement, but is still functional.&nbsp;Scott says the gear would otherwise be destroyed.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Nebraska to send police body armor, helmets to Ukraine

BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — An Iowa man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for fatally shooting a pregnant woman at a Bellevue home last year. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that 25-year-old Nicholas Holliday, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was sentenced Tuesday in Sarpy County District Court after he pleaded no contest to manslaughter and second-degree assault of an unborn child. 

Police investigators have said Holliday was showing a gun to people in the home on May 30 and was handing it to 21-year-old Madyson Dennis, of Omaha, when it discharged. 

The bullet killed Dennis, who was three months pregnant.

By Associated PressBELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — An Iowa man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for fatally shooting a pregnant woman at a Bellevue home last year. The Omaha World-Herald reports that 25-year-old Nicholas Holliday, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was sentenced Tuesday in Sarpy County District Court after he pleaded no contest to manslaughter and second-degree assault of an unborn child. Police investigators have said Holliday was showing a gun to people in the home on May 30 and was handing it to 21-year-old Madyson Dennis, of Omaha, when it discharged. The bullet killed Dennis, who was three months pregnant.

Prison for Iowa man who fatally shot pregnant Omaha woman

WASHINGTON — With the completion of special mailings of all Letters 
6475 to recipients of the third-round of Economic Impact Payments, the 
Internal Revenue Service reminds people to accurately claim any 
remaining third-round stimulus payment on their 2021 income tax return 
as the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit.

Through December 31, 2021, the IRS issued more than 175 million 
third-round payments totaling over $400 billion to individuals and 
families across the country. Most of the third-round payments were 
issued in the spring and early summer of 2021. The IRS continued to send
 plus-up payments through December if, after their 2020 tax return was 
processed last year, the taxpayer was eligible for additional amounts.

As required by law, the IRS is no longer issuing first-, second-, or 
third-round Economic Impact Payments. Instead, people who are missing a 
stimulus payment or got less than the full amount may be eligible to 
claim a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit</a> on their 2020 or 2021 federal tax return.

Most eligible people already received the full amount of their credit
 in advance and don't need to include any information about this payment
 when they file their 2021 tax return. This includes the additional 
payments – called "Plus-Up" Payments – the IRS issued to individuals who
 initially received a third-round Economic Impact Payment based on 
information on their 2019 tax return and were later eligible for a 
larger amount based on information on their 2020 tax return.

Individuals may securely access their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">IRS Online Account</a>
 to view the total amount of the third-round Economic Impact Payment 
issued to them. This information became available on January 15, 2022, 
under the Tax Records page in Online Account. For married individuals 
filing a joint return, each spouse will need to log into their own 
Online Account or review their own <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6475">Letter 6475</a> for their portion of their joint total payment. See FAQs for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-g-finding-the-third-economic-impact-payment-amount-to-calculate-the-2021-recovery-rebate-credit">Topic G: Finding the Third Economic Impact Payment Amount to Calculate the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit</a>, for more information.

Third-round Economic Impact Payment not received? Double-check records first

Individuals are encouraged to double-check their bank accounts – 
especially in early spring and summer of 2021 – to see whether they 
received a third-round payment in advance last year.

If an individual did not receive a third-round payment – and their 
IRS Online Account shows a payment amount greater than $0, or they 
received Notice 1444-C or Letter 6475 indicating that a payment was 
issued to them –&nbsp;they should contact the IRS as soon as possible to see 
if a payment trace is needed. Note that Online Account shows the most 
current EIP information, so if a payment was issued and returned to the 
IRS, the amount shown in Online Account may be less than what is shown 
in their Letter 6475.

Taxpayers should not request a payment trace to determine if they were <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-c-eligibility-for-claiming-a-recovery-rebate-credit-on-a-2021-tax-return">eligible for a payment</a> or to confirm the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-g-finding-the-third-economic-impact-payment-amount-to-calculate-the-2021-recovery-rebate-credit">amount of payment</a> they should have received.

Individuals do not need to wait until their trace is complete to file
 their 2021 tax return. When completing the Recovery Rebate Credit 
Worksheet or answering EIP questions in the tax software, taxpayers have
 two options:

Correcting a mistake after the 2021 tax return is filed; no amended return needed

Individuals who made a mistake calculating the Recovery Rebate Credit and claimed an amount on line 30 for the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit should not file an amended return. The IRS will correct the amount of the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit and send a notice identifying the changes made.

If a correction is needed, there may be a delay in processing the 
return. If the taxpayer agrees with the changes made by the IRS, no 
response or action is required to indicate they agree with the changes. 
If the taxpayer disagrees, they can call the toll-free number listed on 
the top right corner of their notice.

Amended return may be needed for those eligible to claim the credit and IRS records show no Economic Impact Payment was issued

For eligible individuals who didn't claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on
 their 2021 tax return (line 30 is blank or $0) and IRS records do not 
show the issuance of an Economic Impact Payment, they will need to file a
 <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040x">Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return</a>,
 to claim the remaining amount of stimulus money for which they are 
eligible. This includes individuals who may not have received the full 
amount of their third-round Economic Impact Payment because their 
circumstances in 2021 were different than they were in 2020.

Individuals can use the Interactive Tax Assistant, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/should-i-file-an-amended-return">Should I File an Amended Return?</a>, to help determine if they should amend their original tax return.

Taxpayers who need to file an amended return to claim the 2021 
Recovery Rebate Credit – even if they don’t usually file taxes - should 
use the worksheet in the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040">2021 instructions for Form 1040 and 1040-SR</a>
 to determine the amount of the credit. Enter the amount on the 
Refundable Credits section of the Form 1040-X and include "Recovery 
Rebate Credit" in the Explanation of Changes section.

Individuals who filed their 2021 return electronically and need to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/if-you-must-amend-your-return">file an amended return</a>, may be able to file Form 1040-X electronically.

If a taxpayer did not file their 2021 return electronically, they'll 
need to submit a paper version of the Form 1040-X and should follow the 
instructions for preparing and mailing the paper form.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — With the completion of special mailings of all Letters 
6475 to recipients of the third-round of Economic Impact Payments, the 
Internal Revenue Service reminds people to accurately claim any 
remaining third-round stimulus payment on their 2021 income tax return 
as the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit.Through December 31, 2021, the IRS issued more than 175 million 
third-round payments totaling over $400 billion to individuals and 
families across the country. Most of the third-round payments were 
issued in the spring and early summer of 2021. The IRS continued to send
 plus-up payments through December if, after their 2020 tax return was 
processed last year, the taxpayer was eligible for additional amounts.As required by law, the IRS is no longer issuing first-, second-, or 
third-round Economic Impact Payments. Instead, people who are missing a 
stimulus payment or got less than the full amount may be eligible to 
claim a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit</a> on their 2020 or 2021 federal tax return.Most eligible people already received the full amount of their credit
 in advance and don't need to include any information about this payment
 when they file their 2021 tax return. This includes the additional 
payments – called "Plus-Up" Payments – the IRS issued to individuals who
 initially received a third-round Economic Impact Payment based on 
information on their 2019 tax return and were later eligible for a 
larger amount based on information on their 2020 tax return.Individuals may securely access their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">IRS Online Account</a>
 to view the total amount of the third-round Economic Impact Payment 
issued to them. This information became available on January 15, 2022, 
under the Tax Records page in Online Account. For married individuals 
filing a joint return, each spouse will need to log into their own 
Online Account or review their own <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6475">Letter 6475</a> for their portion of their joint total payment. See FAQs for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-g-finding-the-third-economic-impact-payment-amount-to-calculate-the-2021-recovery-rebate-credit">Topic G: Finding the Third Economic Impact Payment Amount to Calculate the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit</a>, for more information.<h2>Third-round Economic Impact Payment not received? Double-check records first</h2>Individuals are encouraged to double-check their bank accounts – 
especially in early spring and summer of 2021 – to see whether they 
received a third-round payment in advance last year.If an individual did not receive a third-round payment – and their 
IRS Online Account shows a payment amount greater than $0, or they 
received Notice 1444-C or Letter 6475 indicating that a payment was 
issued to them –&nbsp;they should contact the IRS as soon as possible to see 
if a payment trace is needed. Note that Online Account shows the most 
current EIP information, so if a payment was issued and returned to the 
IRS, the amount shown in Online Account may be less than what is shown 
in their Letter 6475.Taxpayers should not request a payment trace to determine if they were <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-c-eligibility-for-claiming-a-recovery-rebate-credit-on-a-2021-tax-return">eligible for a payment</a> or to confirm the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-g-finding-the-third-economic-impact-payment-amount-to-calculate-the-2021-recovery-rebate-credit">amount of payment</a> they should have received.Individuals do not need to wait until their trace is complete to file
 their 2021 tax return. When completing the Recovery Rebate Credit 
Worksheet or answering EIP questions in the tax software, taxpayers have
 two options:<ul>
 <li>Use the amount on the Letter 6475 (or EIP 3 Amount from Online Account) to calculate the RRC amount on line 30.
 Contact the IRS to trace the EIP amount. Once the EIP trace is 
completed, the IRS and the taxpayer will receive notification of the 
results of the EIP trace (the account it was sent to and the amount or a
 copy of the cashed check).

	If the trace indicates the taxpayer received the EIP amount, no further action is necessary.If the EIP amount was not received by the taxpayer, the IRS will adjust the RRC amount on the tax return and issue any refund. 
		&nbsp;</li><li>If the trace indicates the taxpayer received the EIP amount, no further action is necessary.</li><li>If the EIP amount was not received by the taxpayer, the IRS will adjust the RRC amount on the tax return and issue any refund. 
		&nbsp;</li><li>Use the amount of EIP the taxpayer believes they received to calculate the RRC amount on line 30.
 If the taxpayer's calculation does not match the IRS calculation, the 
processing of the tax return will be delayed, the RRC amount will be 
adjusted to match IRS records and the taxpayer will receive a notice 
that includes a telephone number to contact if they disagree with the 
change to the tax return. If the taxpayer contacts the IRS and disagrees
 with the changes made, IRS will conduct a trace of the EIP, if 
necessary. Once the EIP trace is completed, the IRS and the taxpayer 
will receive notification of the results of the EIP trace (the account 
it was sent to and the amount or a copy of the cashed check).
	If the trace indicates the taxpayer received the EIP amount, no further action is necessary.If the EIP amount was not received by the taxpayer, the IRS will adjust the RRC amount on the return and issue any refund.</li><li>If the trace indicates the taxpayer received the EIP amount, no further action is necessary.</li><li>If the EIP amount was not received by the taxpayer, the IRS will adjust the RRC amount on the return and issue any refund.</li>
 </ul><h2>Correcting a mistake after the 2021 tax return is filed; no amended return needed</h2>Individuals who made a mistake calculating the Recovery Rebate Credit and claimed an amount on line 30 for the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit should not file an amended return. The IRS will correct the amount of the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit and send a notice identifying the changes made.If a correction is needed, there may be a delay in processing the 
return. If the taxpayer agrees with the changes made by the IRS, no 
response or action is required to indicate they agree with the changes. 
If the taxpayer disagrees, they can call the toll-free number listed on 
the top right corner of their notice.<h2>Amended return may be needed for those eligible to claim the credit and IRS records show no Economic Impact Payment was issued</h2>For eligible individuals who didn't claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on
 their 2021 tax return (line 30 is blank or $0) and IRS records do not 
show the issuance of an Economic Impact Payment, they will need to file a
 <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040x">Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return</a>,
 to claim the remaining amount of stimulus money for which they are 
eligible. This includes individuals who may not have received the full 
amount of their third-round Economic Impact Payment because their 
circumstances in 2021 were different than they were in 2020.Individuals can use the Interactive Tax Assistant, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/should-i-file-an-amended-return">Should I File an Amended Return?</a>, to help determine if they should amend their original tax return.Taxpayers who need to file an amended return to claim the 2021 
Recovery Rebate Credit – even if they don’t usually file taxes - should 
use the worksheet in the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040">2021 instructions for Form 1040 and 1040-SR</a>
 to determine the amount of the credit. Enter the amount on the 
Refundable Credits section of the Form 1040-X and include "Recovery 
Rebate Credit" in the Explanation of Changes section.Individuals who filed their 2021 return electronically and need to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/if-you-must-amend-your-return">file an amended return</a>, may be able to file Form 1040-X electronically.If a taxpayer did not file their 2021 return electronically, they'll 
need to submit a paper version of the Form 1040-X and should follow the 
instructions for preparing and mailing the paper form.

COVID relief checks confusing your tax season? Take these steps

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="http://-">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN, Neb.&nbsp; — A bill that seeks to limit, at least for now, the number of gambling 
casinos that can be established in Nebraska got out of the gate Tuesday 
but is far from the finish line.

Senators
 advanced Legislative Bill 876 from first-round debate on a 30-0 vote, 
but one leading state senator complained that western Nebraska was being
 snubbed by the bill.

State
 Sen. John Stinner of Gering said limiting casinos initially to only the
 six existing Thoroughbred racetracks means that his Panhandle 
constituents will have at least a five-hour drive to the nearest 
gambling palace in Grand Island.

“Through all of this process, you’ve excluded half of the state,” said Stinner.

In
 November, Nebraska voters overwhelmingly approved casino gambling at 
horse racetracks, operations called “racinos.” But senators have 
differed on whether the vote meant racinos only at the state’s six 
existing racetracks, or elsewhere.

Several
 communities, including Kimball, Gering, North Platte, Norfolk and 
Bellevue, had proposed racinos in hopes of luring visitors and adding 
jobs.

LB
 876, crafted by the Legislature’s General Affairs Committee and its 
chairman, Albion Sen. Tom Briese, seeks to limit the number of racinos 
by requiring any new tracks to submit an extensive study about the 
impacts of a new casino/racetrack as part of their application for a 
license from the newly renamed Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission.

Briese,
 under questioning, didn’t know how long it would take to compile such a
 study. The bill says studies should be completed by January 2025 or “as
 soon as practicable.”

Stinner
 said that means it could take three years to get approval and then 
another two years to build a casino, thus cutting out areas west of 
Grand Island for five years.

Stinner said he has drafted an amendment to the bill that allows at least two racinos, immediately, west of Cozad.

“This is 100 to 200 jobs for western Nebraska we could really use,” the senator said.

Two
 senators that have racetracks in their districts, Mike Moser of 
Columbus and Ray Aguilar of Grand Island, spoke in favor of the bill. 
Moser said if too many tracks are allowed, some may close.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648658692575.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="http://-">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN, Neb.&nbsp; — A bill that seeks to limit, at least for now, the number of gambling 
casinos that can be established in Nebraska got out of the gate Tuesday 
but is far from the finish line.Senators
 advanced Legislative Bill 876 from first-round debate on a 30-0 vote, 
but one leading state senator complained that western Nebraska was being
 snubbed by the bill.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646255676328.jpeg" alt="Sen. John Stinner at the Nebraska Legislature (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. John Stinner at the Nebraska Legislature (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>State
 Sen. John Stinner of Gering said limiting casinos initially to only the
 six existing Thoroughbred racetracks means that his Panhandle 
constituents will have at least a five-hour drive to the nearest 
gambling palace in Grand Island.<h2>‘Excluded’</h2>“Through all of this process, you’ve excluded half of the state,” said Stinner.In
 November, Nebraska voters overwhelmingly approved casino gambling at 
horse racetracks, operations called “racinos.” But senators have 
differed on whether the vote meant racinos only at the state’s six 
existing racetracks, or elsewhere.Several
 communities, including Kimball, Gering, North Platte, Norfolk and 
Bellevue, had proposed racinos in hopes of luring visitors and adding 
jobs.<h2>Extensive study</h2>LB
 876, crafted by the Legislature’s General Affairs Committee and its 
chairman, Albion Sen. Tom Briese, seeks to limit the number of racinos 
by requiring any new tracks to submit an extensive study about the 
impacts of a new casino/racetrack as part of their application for a 
license from the newly renamed Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647279776153.jpeg" alt="Sen. Tom Briese of Albion (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Tom Briese of Albion (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Briese,
 under questioning, didn’t know how long it would take to compile such a
 study. The bill says studies should be completed by January 2025 or “as
 soon as practicable.”Stinner
 said that means it could take three years to get approval and then 
another two years to build a casino, thus cutting out areas west of 
Grand Island for five years.Stinner said he has drafted an amendment to the bill that allows at least two racinos, immediately, west of Cozad.<h2>Needed jobs</h2>“This is 100 to 200 jobs for western Nebraska we could really use,” the senator said.Two
 senators that have racetracks in their districts, Mike Moser of 
Columbus and Ray Aguilar of Grand Island, spoke in favor of the bill. 
Moser said if too many tracks are allowed, some may close.

Neb. ‘racino’ bill advances with initial limit at six racetracks

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Several hundred workers at a Kellogg's plant that makes Cheez-Its won a new contract that delivers more than 15% wage increases over three years after 1,400 workers at the company's cereal plants went on strike for nearly three months last fall. 

The union that represents those 570 workers in Kansas City, Kansas said Wednesday that the wages and benefit improvements secured this week are the biggest ones the local union has ever seen.

 The deal comes as many companies are struggling to fill the more than 11 million job openings across the country and workers are demanding more after keeping plants operating throughout the pandemic.

By Associated PressOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Several hundred workers at a Kellogg's plant that makes Cheez-Its won a new contract that delivers more than 15% wage increases over three years after 1,400 workers at the company's cereal plants went on strike for nearly three months last fall. The union that represents those 570 workers in Kansas City, Kansas said Wednesday that the wages and benefit improvements secured this week are the biggest ones the local union has ever seen. The deal comes as many companies are struggling to fill the more than 11 million job openings across the country and workers are demanding more after keeping plants operating throughout the pandemic.

Kellogg's workers win big raises after spate of strikes

By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2022-03-28/derby-district-opts-to-keep-the-bible-in-classrooms-and-libraries">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA, Kansas — A Derby school district committee decided 
not to remove the Bible from libraries or classrooms despite a challenge
 that the book contains mature themes.

Cheryl Bannon, a former 
member of the Derby City Council, asked the district’s library committee
 to review the Bible after the group decided to <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2022-03-08/derby-district-removes-novel-from-class-materials-and-middle-school-library-after-anonymous-complaint" target="_blank">remove an award-winning young-adult novel</a> from its list of approved classroom materials.

Bannon
 said she filed her challenge to illustrate the consequences of 
censorship. The Bible is used as a textbook in Derby High School’s 
“Bible as Literature” course, a one-semester elective.

Pointing to
 verses about murder, masturbation, genocide, incest and other mature 
topics, Bannon argued that the religious text is just as provocative as 
some contemporary works.

Derby’s library committee removed Sherman Alexie’s <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/693208.The_Absolutely_True_Diary_of_a_Part_Time_Indian" target="_blank">“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian”</a>
 from classrooms and middle-school libraries in February, citing 
profanity, sexual themes and slurs related to mental disabilities.

The 12-member <a href="https://www.derbyschools.com/news/what_s_new/library_committee" target="_blank">library committee</a>
 met for nearly two hours last week and opted not to remove the Biblical
 literature elective or its materials. Officials said various editions 
of the Bible also have been donated to school libraries and remain on 
shelves.

Ed Belsan, who teaches the Bible course and serves on the
 library committee, said the class focuses on the influence of the Bible
 as one of the foundational writings of Western literature. Similarly, 
students in other courses learn about Greek and Roman mythology.

“If
 nothing else, they get exposed to a great book that far too many people
 have very strong opinions about and have never read,” Belsan said. 
“That’s true of so many banned books.”

Belsan said his students 
are assigned to read only 149 of the Bible’s more than 1,100 chapters. 
The course includes some violent passages, such as the story of Cain and
 Abel. He said the majority of verses cited in Bannon’s challenge aren’t
 covered in the course.

“I don’t want to give the impression that there’s nothing controversial in there. That would be a misrepresentation,” he said.

“Even
 ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is controversial because of the suicide. But what I 
tell the kids on Day One is, ‘Don’t follow these guys. They’re a 
terrible example.’ The story is about families and conflict.”

Committee member Kristin Sen said removing the Alexie novel may have been a mistake because lots of books have mature content.

“It
 seems like one person initiated this whole process, and now here we 
are,” she said. “And … it’s a slidey slope. Where does it end?”

Sen,
 who also serves on the Derby Public Library’s board of trustees, said 
the committee should be consistent when reviewing books and should keep 
the whole district in mind.

“We’re kind of heavily leaning on the 
parent that’s objecting, but we’re not thinking about the group of 
parents that are saying, ‘No. … This is a good book and needs to be 
taught in a classroom setting,’” she said. “There are parents who want 
their child to go out in the world with this experience and this 
education.”

Holly Putnam-Jackson, assistant superintendent of 
curriculum, told the committee that the district’s legal team had 
cautioned against labeling books as explicit or asking parents to 
pre-approve them.

District policy allows parents to opt their 
child out of any book or lesson they find objectionable. In such cases, 
students are given an alternate assignment.

Bannon, who submitted the challenge, said she doesn’t plan to appeal the decision.

“I
 just wanted the parents and board members and faculty who make these 
decisions to see that mature themes run through lots of books, including
 the Bible,” she said.

Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648650614739.png" alt="KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption>KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure>By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2022-03-28/derby-district-opts-to-keep-the-bible-in-classrooms-and-libraries">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA, Kansas — A Derby school district committee decided 
not to remove the Bible from libraries or classrooms despite a challenge
 that the book contains mature themes.Cheryl Bannon, a former 
member of the Derby City Council, asked the district’s library committee
 to review the Bible after the group decided to <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2022-03-08/derby-district-removes-novel-from-class-materials-and-middle-school-library-after-anonymous-complaint" target="_blank">remove an award-winning young-adult novel</a> from its list of approved classroom materials.Bannon
 said she filed her challenge to illustrate the consequences of 
censorship. The Bible is used as a textbook in Derby High School’s 
“Bible as Literature” course, a one-semester elective.Pointing to
 verses about murder, masturbation, genocide, incest and other mature 
topics, Bannon argued that the religious text is just as provocative as 
some contemporary works.Derby’s library committee removed Sherman Alexie’s <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/693208.The_Absolutely_True_Diary_of_a_Part_Time_Indian" target="_blank">“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian”</a>
 from classrooms and middle-school libraries in February, citing 
profanity, sexual themes and slurs related to mental disabilities.The 12-member <a href="https://www.derbyschools.com/news/what_s_new/library_committee" target="_blank">library committee</a>
 met for nearly two hours last week and opted not to remove the Biblical
 literature elective or its materials. Officials said various editions 
of the Bible also have been donated to school libraries and remain on 
shelves.Ed Belsan, who teaches the Bible course and serves on the
 library committee, said the class focuses on the influence of the Bible
 as one of the foundational writings of Western literature. Similarly, 
students in other courses learn about Greek and Roman mythology.“If
 nothing else, they get exposed to a great book that far too many people
 have very strong opinions about and have never read,” Belsan said. 
“That’s true of so many banned books.”Belsan said his students 
are assigned to read only 149 of the Bible’s more than 1,100 chapters. 
The course includes some violent passages, such as the story of Cain and
 Abel. He said the majority of verses cited in Bannon’s challenge aren’t
 covered in the course.“I don’t want to give the impression that there’s nothing controversial in there. That would be a misrepresentation,” he said.“Even
 ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is controversial because of the suicide. But what I 
tell the kids on Day One is, ‘Don’t follow these guys. They’re a 
terrible example.’ The story is about families and conflict.”Committee member Kristin Sen said removing the Alexie novel may have been a mistake because lots of books have mature content.“It
 seems like one person initiated this whole process, and now here we 
are,” she said. “And … it’s a slidey slope. Where does it end?”Sen,
 who also serves on the Derby Public Library’s board of trustees, said 
the committee should be consistent when reviewing books and should keep 
the whole district in mind.“We’re kind of heavily leaning on the 
parent that’s objecting, but we’re not thinking about the group of 
parents that are saying, ‘No. … This is a good book and needs to be 
taught in a classroom setting,’” she said. “There are parents who want 
their child to go out in the world with this experience and this 
education.”Holly Putnam-Jackson, assistant superintendent of 
curriculum, told the committee that the district’s legal team had 
cautioned against labeling books as explicit or asking parents to 
pre-approve them.District policy allows parents to opt their 
child out of any book or lesson they find objectionable. In such cases, 
students are given an alternate assignment.Bannon, who submitted the challenge, said she doesn’t plan to appeal the decision.“I
 just wanted the parents and board members and faculty who make these 
decisions to see that mature themes run through lots of books, including
 the Bible,” she said.Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

Despite challenge, Kan. school district won't remove Bible from libraries, classrooms

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The moment nurse RaDonda Vaught realized she had given a patient the wrong medication, she rushed to the doctors working to revive 75-year-old Charlene Murphey and told them what she had done. Within hours, she made a full report of her mistake to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Murphey died the next day, on Dec. 27, 2017. On Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-homicide-tennessee-208900696fba7ec95b00b37ac1989dfb">a jury found Vaught guilty</a>&nbsp;of criminally negligent homicide and gross neglect.

That verdict — and the fact that Vaught was charged at all — worries patient safety and nursing groups that have worked for years to move hospital culture away from cover-ups, blame and punishment, and toward the honest reporting of mistakes.

The move to a “Just Culture” seeks to improve safety by analyzing human errors and making systemic changes to prevent their recurrence. And that can’t happen if providers think they could go to prison, they say.

“The criminalization of medical errors is unnerving, and this verdict sets into motion a dangerous precedent,” the American Nurses Association said. “Health care delivery is highly complex. It is inevitable that mistakes will happen. ... It is completely unrealistic to think otherwise.”

Just Culture has been widely adopted in hospitals since a 1999 report by the National Academy of Medicine estimated at least 98,000 people may die each year due to medical errors.

But such bad outcomes remain stubbornly common, with too many hospital staffers convinced that owning up to mistakes will expose them to punishment, according to a 2018 study published in the American Journal of Medical Quality.

More than 46,000 death certificates listed complications of medical and surgical care — a category that includes medical errors — among the causes of death in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.

“Best estimates are 7,000-10,000 fatal medication errors a year. Are we going to lock them up? Who is going to replace them?” said Bruce Lambert, patient safety expert and director of the Center for Communication and Health at Northwestern University.

“If you think RaDonda Vaught is criminally negligent, you just don’t know how health care works,” Lambert said.

Murphey was admitted to the neurological intensive care unit on Dec. 24, 2017, after suffering from a brain bleed. Two days later, doctors ordered a PET scan. Murphey was claustrophobic and was prescribed Versed for her anxiety, according to testimony. When Vaught could not find Versed in an automatic drug dispensing cabinet, she used an override and accidentally grabbed the paralyzing drug vecuronium instead.

Such mistakes often end up in malpractice lawsuits, but criminal prosecutions are rare. After Vaught was charged in 2019, the Institute for Safe Medical Practices issued a statement saying it had “worrisome implications for safety.”

“In an era when we need more transparency, cover-ups will reign due to fear,” the statement read. “Even if errors are reported, effective event investigation and learning cannot occur in a culture of fear or blame.”

Many nurses are “already at their breaking point ... after a physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting two years caring for patients with COVID,” said Liz Stokes, director of the American Nurses Association’s Center for Ethics and Human Rights. Vaught’s prosecution gives them one more reason to quit, she said.

“This could be me. I’m an RN as well,” she said. “This could be any of us.”

Vaught was steeped in the idea of Just Culture and says she has “zero regrets” about telling the truth, but her candor was used against her at trial. Assistant District Attorney Brittani Flatt quoted from her interview with a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agent in closing arguments: “I definitely should have paid more attention. I should have called the pharmacy. I shouldn’t have overridden, because it wasn’t an emergency.”

It is easy to judge Vaught’s actions in retrospect, Lambert said, but overrides and workarounds are an extremely common part of healthcare, he said: “This is typical, not aberrant or bizarre, behavior.”

Meanwhile, Vaught’s honesty about her mistake has already brought about safety improvements, and not just at Vanderbilt. Because vecuronium should only be used on patients who have a breathing tube inserted, some hospitals have moved it and other paralytic drugs out of automatic dispensing cabinets.

“At my hospital, they’ve changed their policy and put paralytics into a rapid intubation kit because of this,” said Janie Harvey Garner, who founded the nurse advocacy organization Show Me Your Stethoscope. She said that because Vaught owned up to the mistake, Murphey’s death “has probably saved lives.”

While Murphey’s death may serve as a cautionary tale for other nurses, Vaught, now awaiting a sentence of up to eight years, told The Associated Press in an interview that she thinks about her patient every day.

Vaught, 37, discovered that she and Murphey lived in the same small community of Bethpage, about an hour northeast of Nashville, and that she and members of Murphey’s family have mutual friends. It would only be a matter of time before she met one of them in person.

“I’ve imagined so many times how I would feel if this were my grandma, my family member, my husband,” she said.

Recently, while buying farm supplies, she was talking with the young man behind the counter when he recognized her, and told her he was Murphey’s grandson. Instead of reproaching her, he ended up comforting her and patting her on the shoulder, she said.

“He was so kind. He was so incredibly kind,” Vaught said. “I took his grandma away, and he just kept telling me to take care of myself. There are good people in this world.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642602653897.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ASSOCIATED PRESSNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The moment nurse RaDonda Vaught realized she had given a patient the wrong medication, she rushed to the doctors working to revive 75-year-old Charlene Murphey and told them what she had done. Within hours, she made a full report of her mistake to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.Murphey died the next day, on Dec. 27, 2017. On Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-homicide-tennessee-208900696fba7ec95b00b37ac1989dfb">a jury found Vaught guilty</a>&nbsp;of criminally negligent homicide and gross neglect.That verdict — and the fact that Vaught was charged at all — worries patient safety and nursing groups that have worked for years to move hospital culture away from cover-ups, blame and punishment, and toward the honest reporting of mistakes.The move to a “Just Culture” seeks to improve safety by analyzing human errors and making systemic changes to prevent their recurrence. And that can’t happen if providers think they could go to prison, they say.“The criminalization of medical errors is unnerving, and this verdict sets into motion a dangerous precedent,” the American Nurses Association said. “Health care delivery is highly complex. It is inevitable that mistakes will happen. ... It is completely unrealistic to think otherwise.”Just Culture has been widely adopted in hospitals since a 1999 report by the National Academy of Medicine estimated at least 98,000 people may die each year due to medical errors.But such bad outcomes remain stubbornly common, with too many hospital staffers convinced that owning up to mistakes will expose them to punishment, according to a 2018 study published in the American Journal of Medical Quality.More than 46,000 death certificates listed complications of medical and surgical care — a category that includes medical errors — among the causes of death in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.“Best estimates are 7,000-10,000 fatal medication errors a year. Are we going to lock them up? Who is going to replace them?” said Bruce Lambert, patient safety expert and director of the Center for Communication and Health at Northwestern University.“If you think RaDonda Vaught is criminally negligent, you just don’t know how health care works,” Lambert said.Murphey was admitted to the neurological intensive care unit on Dec. 24, 2017, after suffering from a brain bleed. Two days later, doctors ordered a PET scan. Murphey was claustrophobic and was prescribed Versed for her anxiety, according to testimony. When Vaught could not find Versed in an automatic drug dispensing cabinet, she used an override and accidentally grabbed the paralyzing drug vecuronium instead.Such mistakes often end up in malpractice lawsuits, but criminal prosecutions are rare. After Vaught was charged in 2019, the Institute for Safe Medical Practices issued a statement saying it had “worrisome implications for safety.”“In an era when we need more transparency, cover-ups will reign due to fear,” the statement read. “Even if errors are reported, effective event investigation and learning cannot occur in a culture of fear or blame.”Many nurses are “already at their breaking point ... after a physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting two years caring for patients with COVID,” said Liz Stokes, director of the American Nurses Association’s Center for Ethics and Human Rights. Vaught’s prosecution gives them one more reason to quit, she said.“This could be me. I’m an RN as well,” she said. “This could be any of us.”Vaught was steeped in the idea of Just Culture and says she has “zero regrets” about telling the truth, but her candor was used against her at trial. Assistant District Attorney Brittani Flatt quoted from her interview with a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agent in closing arguments: “I definitely should have paid more attention. I should have called the pharmacy. I shouldn’t have overridden, because it wasn’t an emergency.”It is easy to judge Vaught’s actions in retrospect, Lambert said, but overrides and workarounds are an extremely common part of healthcare, he said: “This is typical, not aberrant or bizarre, behavior.”Meanwhile, Vaught’s honesty about her mistake has already brought about safety improvements, and not just at Vanderbilt. Because vecuronium should only be used on patients who have a breathing tube inserted, some hospitals have moved it and other paralytic drugs out of automatic dispensing cabinets.“At my hospital, they’ve changed their policy and put paralytics into a rapid intubation kit because of this,” said Janie Harvey Garner, who founded the nurse advocacy organization Show Me Your Stethoscope. She said that because Vaught owned up to the mistake, Murphey’s death “has probably saved lives.”While Murphey’s death may serve as a cautionary tale for other nurses, Vaught, now awaiting a sentence of up to eight years, told The Associated Press in an interview that she thinks about her patient every day.Vaught, 37, discovered that she and Murphey lived in the same small community of Bethpage, about an hour northeast of Nashville, and that she and members of Murphey’s family have mutual friends. It would only be a matter of time before she met one of them in person.“I’ve imagined so many times how I would feel if this were my grandma, my family member, my husband,” she said.Recently, while buying farm supplies, she was talking with the young man behind the counter when he recognized her, and told her he was Murphey’s grandson. Instead of reproaching her, he ended up comforting her and patting her on the shoulder, she said.“He was so kind. He was so incredibly kind,” Vaught said. “I took his grandma away, and he just kept telling me to take care of myself. There are good people in this world.”