WASHINGTON (AP) —The Justice Department said Tuesday it will not appeal a federal district judge’s ruling that ended the nation’s federal mask mandate on public transit unless the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes the requirement is still necessary.

In a statement released a day after a Florida judge ended the sweeping mandate, which required face coverings on planes and trains and in transit hubs, Justice Department spokesman Anthony Coley said officials believe that the federal mask order was “a valid exercise of the authority Congress has given CDC to protect the public health.” He said it was “an important authority the Department will continue to work to preserve.”

Coley said the CDC had said it would continue to assess public health conditions, and if the agency determined a mandate was necessary for public health, the Justice Department would file an appeal.

As of Tuesday, the agency hadn’t made a determination, officials said.

The federal judge’s ruling did away with the last major vestige of federal pandemic rules and led to a mishmash of new locally created rules that reflected the nation’s ongoing divisions over how to battle the virus.

Major airlines and airports in places like Dallas, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City quickly switched to a mask-optional policy. Los Angeles County dropped its mandate for mass transit and a train conductor in New Jersey told commuters of their masks Tuesday: “Feel free to burn them at will.”

New York City, Chicago and Connecticut, however, continued to require masks for travelers.

The ride-sharing companies Lyft and Uber announced on their websites Tuesday that masks will now be optional while riding or driving.

Even Walt Disney World in Florida on Tuesday announced it was lifting its mask requirement for its monorail, buses and sky gondola.

For many, the news was welcome. A video showed some passengers on a Delta Air Lines flight cheering and applauding as they removed masks upon hearing the announcement they were now optional. One man happily twirled his mask on his finger.

However Brooke Tansley, a television producer and former Broadway performer, was incensed after boarding a flight with her 4-year-old and 8-month-old baby— neither old enough to be vaccinated — only to learn the mask mandate had ended mid-flight.

“Very very angry about this,” she said in a tweet, noting her baby was too young to wear a mask.

President Joe Biden went all-in on flexibility Tuesday when asked if Americans should mask up on planes.

“That’s up to them,” Biden declared during a visit to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. But the White House continues to require face coverings for those traveling with him on Air Force One, citing CDC guidance.

In Portland, Oregon, transit employees immediately began taking down “mask required” announcements and signs, but said it would likely take several days to remove everything.

The city joined Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Kansas City, Missouri, and two of Alaska’s largest cities, Anchorage and Juneau, in making masking optional on mass transit.

Some passengers at Chicago’s Union Station said the rules were confusing. Amtrak dropped its requirement. The Chicago Transit Authority and Metra, the regional commuter rail service, kept the requirement at first but dropped it late Tuesday.

“It’s like this patchwork of different rules and enforcement of it,” said Erik Abderhalden, who wore a mask as he waited for a Metra train to his home in suburban Naperville. “I mean, it’s like Swiss cheese ... there’s no uniformity and it seems pretty laissez-faire.”

Subway rider Cooper Klinges was pleased that New York City’s public transit system wasn’t following the trend and planned to keep its mask requirement in place. As he waited at a Brooklyn train station, he said he canceled a flight earlier this year over concerns about the virus.

“I don’t think we are out of the woods yet,” said Klinges, a teacher, citing concerns about the BA.2 omicron subvariant of the coronavirus. “It is still around. We have to still stick it out.”

The CDC had recently extended the mask mandate, which was set to expire Monday, until May 3 to allow more time to study the subvariant, which is now responsible for the vast majority of U.S. cases. But the court ruling puts that decision on hold.

After a winter surge fueled by the omicron variant that prompted record hospitalizations, the U.S. has seen a significant drop in virus spread in recent months that led most states and cities to drop mask mandates.

But several Northeast cities have seen a rise in hospitalizations in recent weeks, leading Philadelphia to bring back its mask mandate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608050594352.png" alt="The CDC had recently extended the mask mandate, which was set to expire Monday, until May 3 to allow more time to study the subvariant, which is now responsible for the vast majority of U.S. cases. But the court ruling puts that decision on hold.-photo courtesy Eisenhower Wichita National Airport" />
 <figcaption>The CDC had recently extended the mask mandate, which was set to expire Monday, until May 3 to allow more time to study the subvariant, which is now responsible for the vast majority of U.S. cases. But the court ruling puts that decision on hold.-photo courtesy Eisenhower Wichita National Airport</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —The Justice Department said Tuesday it will not appeal a federal district judge’s ruling that ended the nation’s federal mask mandate on public transit unless the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes the requirement is still necessary.In a statement released a day after a Florida judge ended the sweeping mandate, which required face coverings on planes and trains and in transit hubs, Justice Department spokesman Anthony Coley said officials believe that the federal mask order was “a valid exercise of the authority Congress has given CDC to protect the public health.” He said it was “an important authority the Department will continue to work to preserve.”Coley said the CDC had said it would continue to assess public health conditions, and if the agency determined a mandate was necessary for public health, the Justice Department would file an appeal.As of Tuesday, the agency hadn’t made a determination, officials said.The federal judge’s ruling did away with the last major vestige of federal pandemic rules and led to a mishmash of new locally created rules that reflected the nation’s ongoing divisions over how to battle the virus.Major airlines and airports in places like Dallas, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City quickly switched to a mask-optional policy. Los Angeles County dropped its mandate for mass transit and a train conductor in New Jersey told commuters of their masks Tuesday: “Feel free to burn them at will.”New York City, Chicago and Connecticut, however, continued to require masks for travelers.The ride-sharing companies Lyft and Uber announced on their websites Tuesday that masks will now be optional while riding or driving.Even Walt Disney World in Florida on Tuesday announced it was lifting its mask requirement for its monorail, buses and sky gondola.For many, the news was welcome. A video showed some passengers on a Delta Air Lines flight cheering and applauding as they removed masks upon hearing the announcement they were now optional. One man happily twirled his mask on his finger.However Brooke Tansley, a television producer and former Broadway performer, was incensed after boarding a flight with her 4-year-old and 8-month-old baby— neither old enough to be vaccinated — only to learn the mask mandate had ended mid-flight.“Very very angry about this,” she said in a tweet, noting her baby was too young to wear a mask.President Joe Biden went all-in on flexibility Tuesday when asked if Americans should mask up on planes.“That’s up to them,” Biden declared during a visit to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. But the White House continues to require face coverings for those traveling with him on Air Force One, citing CDC guidance.In Portland, Oregon, transit employees immediately began taking down “mask required” announcements and signs, but said it would likely take several days to remove everything.The city joined Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Kansas City, Missouri, and two of Alaska’s largest cities, Anchorage and Juneau, in making masking optional on mass transit.Some passengers at Chicago’s Union Station said the rules were confusing. Amtrak dropped its requirement. The Chicago Transit Authority and Metra, the regional commuter rail service, kept the requirement at first but dropped it late Tuesday.“It’s like this patchwork of different rules and enforcement of it,” said Erik Abderhalden, who wore a mask as he waited for a Metra train to his home in suburban Naperville. “I mean, it’s like Swiss cheese ... there’s no uniformity and it seems pretty laissez-faire.”Subway rider Cooper Klinges was pleased that New York City’s public transit system wasn’t following the trend and planned to keep its mask requirement in place. As he waited at a Brooklyn train station, he said he canceled a flight earlier this year over concerns about the virus.“I don’t think we are out of the woods yet,” said Klinges, a teacher, citing concerns about the BA.2 omicron subvariant of the coronavirus. “It is still around. We have to still stick it out.”The CDC had recently extended the mask mandate, which was set to expire Monday, until May 3 to allow more time to study the subvariant, which is now responsible for the vast majority of U.S. cases. But the court ruling puts that decision on hold.After a winter surge fueled by the omicron variant that prompted record hospitalizations, the U.S. has seen a significant drop in virus spread in recent months that led most states and cities to drop mask mandates.But several Northeast cities have seen a rise in hospitalizations in recent weeks, leading Philadelphia to bring back its mask mandate.

Feds will appeal mask ruling only if mandate still needed

SAN FRANCISCO&nbsp; (AP) — Netflix’s video streaming service suffered the first loss in worldwide subscribers in its history, leading to a massive sell-off of its shares. The company’s customer base fell by 200,000 subscribers during the January-March period, according to a quarterly report released Tuesday; its stock dropped over 25% in after-market trading.

The subscription figure was far worse than company management’s forecast for a conservative gain of 2.5 million subscribers. The news deepens troubles at the streaming service that have been mounting since a surge of signups from a captive audience during the pandemic began to slow.

It marks the first time Netflix’s worldwide subscribers have contracted, although the service previously saw a decline in U..S. subscribers in 2019. Now Netflix is bracing for things to get even worse with a projected loss of another 2 million subscribers during the April-June period.

The disappointing performance caused Netflix’s stock price to plunge 26% in extended trading. Investors had already been bailing out of the company's once high-flying stock amid a dramatic slowdown in subscriber growth. If the shares behave similarly in Wednesday’s regular trading session, Netflix’s stock will have lost more than its value so far this year.

It marks the fourth time in the last five quarters that Netflix’s subscriber growth has fallen below the gains of the previous year, raising investor fears that its streaming service is mired in a malaise that has been magnified by stiffening competition from well-funded rivals such as Apple and Walt Disney.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615571482496.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SAN FRANCISCO&nbsp; (AP) — Netflix’s video streaming service suffered the first loss in worldwide subscribers in its history, leading to a massive sell-off of its shares. The company’s customer base fell by 200,000 subscribers during the January-March period, according to a quarterly report released Tuesday; its stock dropped over 25% in after-market trading.The subscription figure was far worse than company management’s forecast for a conservative gain of 2.5 million subscribers. The news deepens troubles at the streaming service that have been mounting since a surge of signups from a captive audience during the pandemic began to slow.It marks the first time Netflix’s worldwide subscribers have contracted, although the service previously saw a decline in U..S. subscribers in 2019. Now Netflix is bracing for things to get even worse with a projected loss of another 2 million subscribers during the April-June period.The disappointing performance caused Netflix’s stock price to plunge 26% in extended trading. Investors had already been bailing out of the company's once high-flying stock amid a dramatic slowdown in subscriber growth. If the shares behave similarly in Wednesday’s regular trading session, Netflix’s stock will have lost more than its value so far this year.It marks the fourth time in the last five quarters that Netflix’s subscriber growth has fallen below the gains of the previous year, raising investor fears that its streaming service is mired in a malaise that has been magnified by stiffening competition from well-funded rivals such as Apple and Walt Disney.

Netflix suffers first loss in worldwide subscribers in its history

By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2022-04-18/suburban-school-officials-predict-chaos-if-kansas-lets-out-of-district-students-transfer-freely">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA, Kansas — Kansas stands on the verge of letting students attend any public school — regardless of where they live.

Conservatives
 love the plan. They say it would give poor families stuck in failing 
school districts a chance at a life-changing escape.

But school 
administrators running well-heeled suburban districts already are taking
 measures to demonstrate their classrooms are full — the one exception 
the proposed change would allow from barring students who want to 
transfer into a district they don’t live in.

They say they have 
little choice if they’re going to protect their taxpayers from the cost 
of teaching a flood of students they’re not prepared for and who come 
with needs they can’t afford to accommodate.

“We believe in 
neighborhood schools,” said Brett White, superintendent of Andover 
schools east of Wichita. “The open borders would just throw into chaos 
what's an established policy.”

Open enrollment proposals passed in both <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20220323102801_716700/" target="_blank">the Kansas House</a> and <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb455/" target="_blank">Senate</a> before lawmakers left for their spring break this month. They echo measures in more than two dozen other states where <a href="https://schoolchoiceweek.com/public-school-transfer/" target="_blank">public school transfers are seen as a hallmark of school choice</a>.

If a compromise bill is approved, here’s how it likely would work:

By
 January 2023, every Kansas school district would be required to 
establish enrollment capacity limits by grade level and school building.
 By May 1, districts would determine the number of open seats at each 
grade level and would publish them by June 1.

Students could apply
 to districts outside their residential area — if the other district has
 space. If there are more requests than open seats, districts would use a
 random lottery to fill them. In October, the process would begin again 
for the spring semester.

That allows school districts to determine
 their own enrollment and capacity levels — and to go on record saying 
they can’t take in more students.

“They would determine if there 
was any room at the inn,” said Republican Sen. Molly Baumgardner, chair 
of the Senate Education Committee.

Districts wouldn’t have to 
accept students with histories of absenteeism, suspensions or 
expulsions. But they could not deny students based on a disability or 
special-education status.

The state’s portion of education funding would follow the student to the new district.

Republican
 Rep. Sean Tarwater, a member of the House K-12 Budget Committee who 
supports open enrollment, said boundaries based on a student’s address 
create academic segregation.

“One of the things that we hear is … 
‘Why doesn’t the student just move into a better district if they want a
 better school?’ Unfortunately, homes or apartments in some of the 
better districts are unattainable for most of the families that live in 
the districts that might be failing,” Tarwater said. “This bill simply 
allows those children to have a choice and a chance.”

Supporters point to <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-11-23/test-scores-show-kansas-students-fell-further-behind-during-pandemic" target="_blank">declining test scores</a> as evidence of struggling districts — and the nearby schools they might flee to.

In Kansas City, Kansas, for instance, <a href="https://ksreportcard.ksde.org/assessment_results.aspx?org_no=D0500&amp;rptType=2" target="_blank">more than two-thirds of students scored below grade level in math</a> last spring. In nearby Blue Valley, <a href="https://ksreportcard.ksde.org/assessment_results.aspx?org_no=D0229&amp;rptType=2" target="_blank">only 16% scored below grade level</a> — half the state average.

At Heights High School in northeast Wichita, <a href="https://ksreportcard.ksde.org/assessment_results.aspx?org_no=D0259&amp;bldg_no=1846&amp;rptType=1" target="_blank">more than 72% of students scored below grade level</a> in math. At Andover Central High School, about 15 miles away in a different district, only <a href="https://ksreportcard.ksde.org/assessment_results.aspx?org_no=D0385&amp;bldg_no=5186&amp;rptType=1" target="_blank">22% scored below grade level</a>.

But
 the open enrollment proposal doesn’t require districts to provide 
transportation for transfer students. So opponents say only wealthier 
parents will take advantage of the option, snagging any available spots 
in high-achieving districts because they can afford to drive their kids 
to school.

That could leave struggling urban districts in even 
worse shape, critics say, with a greater percentage of high-need 
students and less state funding.

“This bill creates two tiers,” 
said Sen. Cindy Holsher, a Democrat from Overland Park. “We have 
children (whose) parents have the means to get them maybe an hour away 
to another school. But there are a number of children in districts who 
don’t have that advantage.”

Many suburban superintendents oppose 
open enrollment in part because they say local taxpayers shouldn’t have 
to subsidize out-of-district students.

“Blue Valley is among the 
highest-performing districts in Kansas — indeed competing nationally — 
and, as such, would find our districts overwhelmed with requests from 
non-residents,” Blue Valley Superintendent Tonya Merrigan said in <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/committees/ctte_s_ed_1/documents/testimony/20220308_09.pdf" target="_blank">written testimony to the Senate Education Committee</a>.

“Without
 intending to sound elitist, it is nonetheless true that housing costs 
in our districts often provide a check on resident student growth.”

In
 Andover, some residents complained on social media that an influx of 
outside students would increase traffic and pollution and deteriorate 
the district’s sense of community.

Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, called those arguments elitist.

“Based
 on what the superintendents said, I think it’s very clear,” Erickson 
said. “‘We want our high socioeconomic status to remain. We’re born on 
third and think we hit a triple, and we don’t want anyone interfering 
with that.’”

Under the House bill, districts would get to define 
the term “capacity” and set their own capacity limits. The Kansas State 
Board of Education would audit only one district each year to determine 
whether they complied with the law.

About 20,000 Kansas students 
currently attend schools outside their district. More than 90% of 
districts reported accepting at least some out-of-district students. 
Andover, for example, allows children of full-time district employees to
 enroll in Andover schools regardless of where they live.

White, 
the Andover superintendent, said open enrollment would be a logistical 
nightmare. He said it’s hard enough to predict enrollment trends within 
his district, which has grown steadily for the past decade.

Setting
 new capacity guidelines, handling applications and then readjusting for
 latecomers — possibly having to hire additional teachers just before 
school starts — would be an unnecessary burden, White said.

“We have a system that works,” he said. “Why would Topeka want to create a whole new bureaucracy for us at the local level?”

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/2022/4/1650376535786.png" alt="Substitute teacher Serle McNeil leads an algebra class at Andover High School. Andover leaders say opening enrollment to out-of-district students would strain the district's resources. Suzanne Perez / KMUW" />
 <figcaption>Substitute teacher Serle McNeil leads an algebra class at Andover High School. Andover leaders say opening enrollment to out-of-district students would strain the district's resources. Suzanne Perez / KMUW</figcaption>
 </figure>By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2022-04-18/suburban-school-officials-predict-chaos-if-kansas-lets-out-of-district-students-transfer-freely">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA, Kansas — Kansas stands on the verge of letting students attend any public school — regardless of where they live.Conservatives
 love the plan. They say it would give poor families stuck in failing 
school districts a chance at a life-changing escape.But school 
administrators running well-heeled suburban districts already are taking
 measures to demonstrate their classrooms are full — the one exception 
the proposed change would allow from barring students who want to 
transfer into a district they don’t live in.They say they have 
little choice if they’re going to protect their taxpayers from the cost 
of teaching a flood of students they’re not prepared for and who come 
with needs they can’t afford to accommodate.“We believe in 
neighborhood schools,” said Brett White, superintendent of Andover 
schools east of Wichita. “The open borders would just throw into chaos 
what's an established policy.”Open enrollment proposals passed in both <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20220323102801_716700/" target="_blank">the Kansas House</a> and <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb455/" target="_blank">Senate</a> before lawmakers left for their spring break this month. They echo measures in more than two dozen other states where <a href="https://schoolchoiceweek.com/public-school-transfer/" target="_blank">public school transfers are seen as a hallmark of school choice</a>.If a compromise bill is approved, here’s how it likely would work:By
 January 2023, every Kansas school district would be required to 
establish enrollment capacity limits by grade level and school building.
 By May 1, districts would determine the number of open seats at each 
grade level and would publish them by June 1.Students could apply
 to districts outside their residential area — if the other district has
 space. If there are more requests than open seats, districts would use a
 random lottery to fill them. In October, the process would begin again 
for the spring semester.That allows school districts to determine
 their own enrollment and capacity levels — and to go on record saying 
they can’t take in more students.“They would determine if there 
was any room at the inn,” said Republican Sen. Molly Baumgardner, chair 
of the Senate Education Committee.Districts wouldn’t have to 
accept students with histories of absenteeism, suspensions or 
expulsions. But they could not deny students based on a disability or 
special-education status.The state’s portion of education funding would follow the student to the new district.Republican
 Rep. Sean Tarwater, a member of the House K-12 Budget Committee who 
supports open enrollment, said boundaries based on a student’s address 
create academic segregation.“One of the things that we hear is … 
‘Why doesn’t the student just move into a better district if they want a
 better school?’ Unfortunately, homes or apartments in some of the 
better districts are unattainable for most of the families that live in 
the districts that might be failing,” Tarwater said. “This bill simply 
allows those children to have a choice and a chance.”Supporters point to <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-11-23/test-scores-show-kansas-students-fell-further-behind-during-pandemic" target="_blank">declining test scores</a> as evidence of struggling districts — and the nearby schools they might flee to.In Kansas City, Kansas, for instance, <a href="https://ksreportcard.ksde.org/assessment_results.aspx?org_no=D0500&amp;rptType=2" target="_blank">more than two-thirds of students scored below grade level in math</a> last spring. In nearby Blue Valley, <a href="https://ksreportcard.ksde.org/assessment_results.aspx?org_no=D0229&amp;rptType=2" target="_blank">only 16% scored below grade level</a> — half the state average.At Heights High School in northeast Wichita, <a href="https://ksreportcard.ksde.org/assessment_results.aspx?org_no=D0259&amp;bldg_no=1846&amp;rptType=1" target="_blank">more than 72% of students scored below grade level</a> in math. At Andover Central High School, about 15 miles away in a different district, only <a href="https://ksreportcard.ksde.org/assessment_results.aspx?org_no=D0385&amp;bldg_no=5186&amp;rptType=1" target="_blank">22% scored below grade level</a>.But
 the open enrollment proposal doesn’t require districts to provide 
transportation for transfer students. So opponents say only wealthier 
parents will take advantage of the option, snagging any available spots 
in high-achieving districts because they can afford to drive their kids 
to school.That could leave struggling urban districts in even 
worse shape, critics say, with a greater percentage of high-need 
students and less state funding.“This bill creates two tiers,” 
said Sen. Cindy Holsher, a Democrat from Overland Park. “We have 
children (whose) parents have the means to get them maybe an hour away 
to another school. But there are a number of children in districts who 
don’t have that advantage.”Many suburban superintendents oppose 
open enrollment in part because they say local taxpayers shouldn’t have 
to subsidize out-of-district students.“Blue Valley is among the 
highest-performing districts in Kansas — indeed competing nationally — 
and, as such, would find our districts overwhelmed with requests from 
non-residents,” Blue Valley Superintendent Tonya Merrigan said in <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/committees/ctte_s_ed_1/documents/testimony/20220308_09.pdf" target="_blank">written testimony to the Senate Education Committee</a>.“Without
 intending to sound elitist, it is nonetheless true that housing costs 
in our districts often provide a check on resident student growth.”In
 Andover, some residents complained on social media that an influx of 
outside students would increase traffic and pollution and deteriorate 
the district’s sense of community.Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, called those arguments elitist.“Based
 on what the superintendents said, I think it’s very clear,” Erickson 
said. “‘We want our high socioeconomic status to remain. We’re born on 
third and think we hit a triple, and we don’t want anyone interfering 
with that.’”Under the House bill, districts would get to define 
the term “capacity” and set their own capacity limits. The Kansas State 
Board of Education would audit only one district each year to determine 
whether they complied with the law.About 20,000 Kansas students 
currently attend schools outside their district. More than 90% of 
districts reported accepting at least some out-of-district students. 
Andover, for example, allows children of full-time district employees to
 enroll in Andover schools regardless of where they live.White, 
the Andover superintendent, said open enrollment would be a logistical 
nightmare. He said it’s hard enough to predict enrollment trends within 
his district, which has grown steadily for the past decade.Setting
 new capacity guidelines, handling applications and then readjusting for
 latecomers — possibly having to hire additional teachers just before 
school starts — would be an unnecessary burden, White said.“We have a system that works,” he said. “Why would Topeka want to create a whole new bureaucracy for us at the local level?”Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

School officials: 'Chaos’ if Kansas lets students transfer freely

WASHINGTON (AP) —A decision by a federal judge in Florida to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-business-travel-tampa-3408cc825582126fbda5fbedd3a49dd3">throw out a national mask mandate for public transportation across the U.S.</a>&nbsp;created a confusing patchwork of rules for passengers as they navigate airports and transit systems.

The ruling gives airports, mass transit systems, airlines and ride-hailing services the option to keep mask rules or ditch them entirely, resulting in rules that vary by city and mode of transportation.

Passengers on an United Airlines flight from Houston to Kennedy Airport, for instance, could ditch their masks at their departing airport and on the plane, but have to put them back on once they land in New York or take a subway.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-e603a9dfc361ad095733bc868ebeba74">extended the mandate until May 3</a>&nbsp;to allow more time to study the BA.2 omicron subvariant of the coronavirus now responsible for the vast majority of U.S. cases. But the court decision put the mandate on hold.

Here’s a look at how U.S. transportation centers and providers are responding:

Major airlines were some of the first to update their rules after the court decision. United, Southwest, American, Alaska, Delta and JetBlue announced that, effective immediately, masks would no longer be required on domestic flights.

“While this means that our employees are no longer required to wear a mask – and no longer have to enforce a mask requirement for most of the flying public – they will be able to wear masks if they choose to do so, as the CDC continues to strongly recommend wearing a mask on public transit,” United Airlines said.

The Association of Flight Attendants, the nation’s largest union of cabin crews, has recently taken a neutral position on the mask rule because its members are divided about the issue. On Monday, the union’s president appealed for calm on planes and in airports.

Alaska Airlines said some passengers who were banned for violating the mask policy will remain banned.

Airports weren’t as fast to do away with masks, with several expressing uncertainty about the ruling and taking a wait-and-see approach.

But others, including the two main airports in Houston, did away with mask requirements soon after the Transportation Security Administration said it would no longer enforce the mask mandate. Los Angeles International and Phoenix Sky Harbor also eliminated their mask requirements. San Francisco International Airport said it was waiting for further guidance from TSA.

The New York City airports appeared to keep the mandate intact.

The rules for train and bus passengers vary by city and transit agency.

In New York, Metropolitan Transportation Authority communications director Tim Minton said the system was keeping the mask mandate, meaning face coverings are still required on the subway, buses and commuter rail lines, as they have since early in the pandemic.

But the regional train system serving the Washington, D.C., area said Monday that masks will be now optional for its customers and employees going forward.

“Our mask mandate has been based on federal guidance,” said Paul J. Wiedefeld, general manager and CEO of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. “We will continue to monitor this situation as it unfolds, but masks will be optional on Metro property until further notice.”

Amtrak also said it was making masks optional.

WASHINGTON —Due to Monday's court ruling, effective immediately,&nbsp; the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will no longer enforce its Security Directives and Emergency Amendment requiring mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs, according to a statement from the agency.

A federal judge in Florida on Monday&nbsp; voided the national mask mandate covering airplanes and other public transportation as exceeding the authority of U.S. health officials. 

&nbsp;The Justice Department declined to comment when asked if it would seek an emergency stay to block the judge’s order.

TSA will also rescind the new Security Directives that were scheduled to take effect Tuesday. CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings at this time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632163961062.png" alt="photo courtesy transportation security administration" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy transportation security administration</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —A decision by a federal judge in Florida to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-business-travel-tampa-3408cc825582126fbda5fbedd3a49dd3">throw out a national mask mandate for public transportation across the U.S.</a>&nbsp;created a confusing patchwork of rules for passengers as they navigate airports and transit systems.The ruling gives airports, mass transit systems, airlines and ride-hailing services the option to keep mask rules or ditch them entirely, resulting in rules that vary by city and mode of transportation.Passengers on an United Airlines flight from Houston to Kennedy Airport, for instance, could ditch their masks at their departing airport and on the plane, but have to put them back on once they land in New York or take a subway.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-e603a9dfc361ad095733bc868ebeba74">extended the mandate until May 3</a>&nbsp;to allow more time to study the BA.2 omicron subvariant of the coronavirus now responsible for the vast majority of U.S. cases. But the court decision put the mandate on hold.Here’s a look at how U.S. transportation centers and providers are responding:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618925544398.png" alt="Photo Kansas City International Airport" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City International Airport</figcaption>
 </figure>AIRLINESMajor airlines were some of the first to update their rules after the court decision. United, Southwest, American, Alaska, Delta and JetBlue announced that, effective immediately, masks would no longer be required on domestic flights.“While this means that our employees are no longer required to wear a mask – and no longer have to enforce a mask requirement for most of the flying public – they will be able to wear masks if they choose to do so, as the CDC continues to strongly recommend wearing a mask on public transit,” United Airlines said.The Association of Flight Attendants, the nation’s largest union of cabin crews, has recently taken a neutral position on the mask rule because its members are divided about the issue. On Monday, the union’s president appealed for calm on planes and in airports.Alaska Airlines said some passengers who were banned for violating the mask policy will remain banned.AIRPORTSAirports weren’t as fast to do away with masks, with several expressing uncertainty about the ruling and taking a wait-and-see approach.But others, including the two main airports in Houston, did away with mask requirements soon after the Transportation Security Administration said it would no longer enforce the mask mandate. Los Angeles International and Phoenix Sky Harbor also eliminated their mask requirements. San Francisco International Airport said it was waiting for further guidance from TSA.The New York City airports appeared to keep the mandate intact.TRAINS AND BUSESThe rules for train and bus passengers vary by city and transit agency.In New York, Metropolitan Transportation Authority communications director Tim Minton said the system was keeping the mask mandate, meaning face coverings are still required on the subway, buses and commuter rail lines, as they have since early in the pandemic.But the regional train system serving the Washington, D.C., area said Monday that masks will be now optional for its customers and employees going forward.“Our mask mandate has been based on federal guidance,” said Paul J. Wiedefeld, general manager and CEO of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. “We will continue to monitor this situation as it unfolds, but masks will be optional on Metro property until further notice.”Amtrak also said it was making masks optional.--------WASHINGTON —Due to Monday's court ruling, effective immediately,&nbsp; the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will no longer enforce its Security Directives and Emergency Amendment requiring mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs, according to a statement from the agency.A federal judge in Florida on Monday&nbsp; voided the national mask mandate covering airplanes and other public transportation as exceeding the authority of U.S. health officials. &nbsp;The Justice Department declined to comment when asked if it would seek an emergency stay to block the judge’s order.TSA will also rescind the new Security Directives that were scheduled to take effect Tuesday. CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings at this time.

Court ruling creates mishmash of transportation mask rules

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge in Florida has voided the national mask mandate covering airplanes and other public transportation as exceeding the authority of U.S. health officials in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">coronavirus pandemic</a>.

The decision Monday by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, also said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention improperly failed to justify its decision and did not follow proper rulemaking.

In her 59-page ruling, Mizelle said the only remedy was to vacate the rule entirely because it would be impossible to end it for the limited group of people who objected to it in the lawsuit.

The judge said “a limited remedy would be no remedy at all” and that the courts have full authority to make a decision such as this — even if the goals of the CDC in fighting the virus are laudable.

“Because our system does not permit agencies to act unlawfully even in pursuit of desirable ends, the court declares unlawful and vacates the mask mandate,” she wrote.

The Justice Department declined to comment Monday when asked if the government planned to appeal the ruling.

The CDC recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-e603a9dfc361ad095733bc868ebeba74">extended the mask mandate</a>, which was set to expire Monday, until May 3 to allow more time to study the BA.2 omicron subvariant of the coronavirus that is now responsible for the vast majority of cases in the U.S.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-business-health-travel-lifestyle-ae387f22e84ff86822fa3a86ad4c6961">mask requirement</a>&nbsp;for travelers was the target of months of lobbying from the airlines, which sought to kill it. The carriers argued that effective air filters on modern planes make transmission of the virus during a flight highly unlikely. Republicans in Congress also fought to kill the mandate.

Critics have seized on the fact that states have rolled back rules requiring masks in restaurants, stores and other indoor settings, and yet COVID-19 cases have fallen sharply since the omicron variant peaked in mid-January.

There have been a series of violent incidents on aircraft that have mainly been attributed to disputes over the mask-wearing requirements.

The lawsuit was filed in July 2021 by two plaintiffs and the Health Freedom Defense Fund, described in the judge’s order as a nonprofit group that “opposes laws and regulations that force individuals to submit to the administration of medical products, procedures and devices against their will.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617380938877.png" alt="Photo courtesy Kansas City International Airport" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kansas City International Airport</figcaption>
 </figure>ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge in Florida has voided the national mask mandate covering airplanes and other public transportation as exceeding the authority of U.S. health officials in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">coronavirus pandemic</a>.The decision Monday by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, also said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention improperly failed to justify its decision and did not follow proper rulemaking.In her 59-page ruling, Mizelle said the only remedy was to vacate the rule entirely because it would be impossible to end it for the limited group of people who objected to it in the lawsuit.The judge said “a limited remedy would be no remedy at all” and that the courts have full authority to make a decision such as this — even if the goals of the CDC in fighting the virus are laudable.“Because our system does not permit agencies to act unlawfully even in pursuit of desirable ends, the court declares unlawful and vacates the mask mandate,” she wrote.The Justice Department declined to comment Monday when asked if the government planned to appeal the ruling.The CDC recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-e603a9dfc361ad095733bc868ebeba74">extended the mask mandate</a>, which was set to expire Monday, until May 3 to allow more time to study the BA.2 omicron subvariant of the coronavirus that is now responsible for the vast majority of cases in the U.S.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-business-health-travel-lifestyle-ae387f22e84ff86822fa3a86ad4c6961">mask requirement</a>&nbsp;for travelers was the target of months of lobbying from the airlines, which sought to kill it. The carriers argued that effective air filters on modern planes make transmission of the virus during a flight highly unlikely. Republicans in Congress also fought to kill the mandate.Critics have seized on the fact that states have rolled back rules requiring masks in restaurants, stores and other indoor settings, and yet COVID-19 cases have fallen sharply since the omicron variant peaked in mid-January.There have been a series of violent incidents on aircraft that have mainly been attributed to disputes over the mask-wearing requirements.The lawsuit was filed in July 2021 by two plaintiffs and the Health Freedom Defense Fund, described in the judge’s order as a nonprofit group that “opposes laws and regulations that force individuals to submit to the administration of medical products, procedures and devices against their will.”___

Federal judge voids US mask mandate for planes, other travel

By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/04/18/new-poll-shows-dead-heat-in-nebraskas-gop-governors-race/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — Even before a bombshell week of news, Nebraska’s GOP race for governor was rounding into a three-way statistical tie likely to be decided by voters still making up their minds.

The
 Republican race lacks a favorite between Conklin Co. CEO Charles 
Herbster, University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen and State Sen. Brett 
Lindstrom, according to a new campaign poll obtained by the Nebraska 
Examiner.

The
 Lindstrom campaign’s latest poll lists Lindstrom and Pillen tied at 
27%. Lindstrom polled 7 points above his March numbers, despite facing 
six figures’ worth of anti-Lindstrom TV ads purchased with dark money.

Pillen’s
 polling numbers climbed 4 points since March, even though the Herbster 
campaign spent&nbsp; six figures’ worth of attack ads, including a recent ad 
questioning the environmental record of Pillen’s hog operation.

Herbster,
 long the frontrunner in the race, polled at 23%, down 7 points since 
March. He has also faced six figures in third-party ads, including some 
funded by Gov. Pete Ricketts, who backs Pillen.&nbsp;

The
 next closest candidate was Herbster’s former running mate, former State
 Sen. Theresa Thibodeau. She polled at 6%, up from 3% in March.&nbsp;

The poll indicated that 12% of likely GOP voters remained undecided.

The
 Lindstrom pollster, 3D Strategic Research, surveyed 500 likely GOP 
primary voters by cell phone and landline on April 10-12. The poll had a
 4.38% margin of error.

That
 means any of the three candidates could be leading the race, and any of
 the three could win, political observers said. All the campaigns said 
they’re seeing the race tighten.

A Pillen campaign polling memo dated March 30 showed Herbster (28%) leading Pillen (23%) and Lindstrom (18%).&nbsp;

“Of
 the three viable candidates, Brett has the most enthusiasm behind his 
candidacy and the most room to grow,” Lindstrom spokesman Pat Trueman 
said.&nbsp; “The ballot may be tied, but the momentum is clearly behind Brett
 Lindstrom.”

Another
 highlight from the Lindstrom poll: About 47% of the voters surveyed 
viewed Lindstrom favorably, with 14% seeing him unfavorably. About 39% 
viewed Pillen positively and 33% viewed him negatively. About 40% viewed
 Herbster favorably and 37% viewed him unfavorably.

The
 Lindstrom polling memo listed the spending to date on advertising by 
each contender: Herbster had spent $4.2 million; Pillen, $3 million; and
 Lindstrom, $1.1 million.

Lindstrom
 had slowed his ad buying in recent weeks, which his campaign 
acknowledged was done to stretch funds for the stretch run.

April TV ad buys back that up so far, showing Herbster and Pillen spending more than $500,000 apiece, and Lindstrom at $432,000.

Lindstrom’s
 polling wrapped up before the Nebraska Examiner published a story 
Thursday outlining the allegations of eight women who said Herbster had 
groped them.

The winner of the May 10 Republican primary race will likely face State Sen. Carol Blood in November, a Democrat.

By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/04/18/new-poll-shows-dead-heat-in-nebraskas-gop-governors-race/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — Even before a bombshell week of news, Nebraska’s GOP race for governor was rounding into a three-way statistical tie likely to be decided by voters still making up their minds.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650301555642.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha (Courtesy of Lindstrom campaign)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha (Courtesy of Lindstrom campaign)</figcaption>
 </figure>The
 Republican race lacks a favorite between Conklin Co. CEO Charles 
Herbster, University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen and State Sen. Brett 
Lindstrom, according to a new campaign poll obtained by the Nebraska 
Examiner.The
 Lindstrom campaign’s latest poll lists Lindstrom and Pillen tied at 
27%. Lindstrom polled 7 points above his March numbers, despite facing 
six figures’ worth of anti-Lindstrom TV ads purchased with dark money.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650301581804.jpeg" alt="Nebraska Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen speaks. (Rebecca S. Gratz for Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen speaks. (Rebecca S. Gratz for Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Pillen’s
 polling numbers climbed 4 points since March, even though the Herbster 
campaign spent&nbsp; six figures’ worth of attack ads, including a recent ad 
questioning the environmental record of Pillen’s hog operation.Herbster,
 long the frontrunner in the race, polled at 23%, down 7 points since 
March. He has also faced six figures in third-party ads, including some 
funded by Gov. Pete Ricketts, who backs Pillen.&nbsp;The
 next closest candidate was Herbster’s former running mate, former State
 Sen. Theresa Thibodeau. She polled at 6%, up from 3% in March.&nbsp;The poll indicated that 12% of likely GOP voters remained undecided.The
 Lindstrom pollster, 3D Strategic Research, surveyed 500 likely GOP 
primary voters by cell phone and landline on April 10-12. The poll had a
 4.38% margin of error.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650301611923.jpeg" alt="Charles Herbster (Courtesy of Charles Herbster for Governor)" />
 <figcaption>Charles Herbster (Courtesy of Charles Herbster for Governor)</figcaption>
 </figure>That
 means any of the three candidates could be leading the race, and any of
 the three could win, political observers said. All the campaigns said 
they’re seeing the race tighten.A Pillen campaign polling memo dated March 30 showed Herbster (28%) leading Pillen (23%) and Lindstrom (18%).&nbsp;“Of
 the three viable candidates, Brett has the most enthusiasm behind his 
candidacy and the most room to grow,” Lindstrom spokesman Pat Trueman 
said.&nbsp; “The ballot may be tied, but the momentum is clearly behind Brett
 Lindstrom.”Another
 highlight from the Lindstrom poll: About 47% of the voters surveyed 
viewed Lindstrom favorably, with 14% seeing him unfavorably. About 39% 
viewed Pillen positively and 33% viewed him negatively. About 40% viewed
 Herbster favorably and 37% viewed him unfavorably.The
 Lindstrom polling memo listed the spending to date on advertising by 
each contender: Herbster had spent $4.2 million; Pillen, $3 million; and
 Lindstrom, $1.1 million.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650301643385.jpeg" alt="Former State Sen. Theresa Thibodeau (Courtesy of Thibodeau campaign)" />
 <figcaption>Former State Sen. Theresa Thibodeau (Courtesy of Thibodeau campaign)</figcaption>
 </figure>Lindstrom
 had slowed his ad buying in recent weeks, which his campaign 
acknowledged was done to stretch funds for the stretch run.April TV ad buys back that up so far, showing Herbster and Pillen spending more than $500,000 apiece, and Lindstrom at $432,000.Lindstrom’s
 polling wrapped up before the Nebraska Examiner published a story 
Thursday outlining the allegations of eight women who said Herbster had 
groped them.The winner of the May 10 Republican primary race will likely face State Sen. Carol Blood in November, a Democrat.

Latest poll shows dead heat in Nebraska’s GOP governor’s race

News Release Federal Bureau of Investigation

United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Erika Vargas, 39, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was sentenced today by United States District Judge John M. Gerrard to 10 years in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine. There is no parole in the federal system. Following her prison term, Vargas will serve eight years on supervised release.&nbsp;

In May of 2019, an informant working with law enforcement contacted Vargas to purchase methamphetamine.&nbsp; Vargas then facilitated the purchase of methamphetamine from her supplier.

In September of 2019, the informant contacted Vargas again to purchase methamphetamine.&nbsp; Vargas agreed to sell the informant half an ounce of methamphetamine.&nbsp; On the way to their meeting location, Vargas contacted the informant and stated that she had already sold the half-ounce of methamphetamine but had more coming.&nbsp; Once the informant arrived at the agreed location, Vargas introduced the informant to another supplier who then provided the informant with half an ounce of methamphetamine.

Vargas had previously been convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine in 2004, which increased her penalties for this case.

This case was investigated by the Central Nebraska Drug and Safe Streets Task Force, which is made up of officers from the Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriff, Hastings Police Department, Adams County Sheriff, Kearney Police Department, Buffalo County Sheriff, Nebraska State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

News Release Federal Bureau of InvestigationUnited States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Erika Vargas, 39, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was sentenced today by United States District Judge John M. Gerrard to 10 years in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine. There is no parole in the federal system. Following her prison term, Vargas will serve eight years on supervised release.&nbsp;In May of 2019, an informant working with law enforcement contacted Vargas to purchase methamphetamine.&nbsp; Vargas then facilitated the purchase of methamphetamine from her supplier.In September of 2019, the informant contacted Vargas again to purchase methamphetamine.&nbsp; Vargas agreed to sell the informant half an ounce of methamphetamine.&nbsp; On the way to their meeting location, Vargas contacted the informant and stated that she had already sold the half-ounce of methamphetamine but had more coming.&nbsp; Once the informant arrived at the agreed location, Vargas introduced the informant to another supplier who then provided the informant with half an ounce of methamphetamine.Vargas had previously been convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine in 2004, which increased her penalties for this case.This case was investigated by the Central Nebraska Drug and Safe Streets Task Force, which is made up of officers from the Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriff, Hastings Police Department, Adams County Sheriff, Kearney Police Department, Buffalo County Sheriff, Nebraska State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Grand Island woman sentenced to 10 years for selling meth

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say an Omaha officer suffered only minor injuries after being dragged during a vehicle stop. 

Television station KETV reports that the incident happened around 3 a.m. Monday in north Omaha when a man in a car that had been stopped jumped into the driver's seat and took off. 

Police say an officer who tried to stop the man was dragged about a block down before being released. 

Police say the car kept going west on Dodge Street, leading other officers in a chase.

 Police say tire-puncturing strips were used to disable the car, which then crashed in a parking lot. 

Police say the officer who was dragged and the suspect were checked by medics, and the suspect was arrested.

By Associated PressOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say an Omaha officer suffered only minor injuries after being dragged during a vehicle stop. Television station KETV reports that the incident happened around 3 a.m. Monday in north Omaha when a man in a car that had been stopped jumped into the driver's seat and took off. Police say an officer who tried to stop the man was dragged about a block down before being released. Police say the car kept going west on Dodge Street, leading other officers in a chase. Police say tire-puncturing strips were used to disable the car, which then crashed in a parking lot. Police say the officer who was dragged and the suspect were checked by medics, and the suspect was arrested.

Police: Officer conducting traffic stop dragged by vehicle

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/04/18/portions-of-historic-neligh-mill-slated-for-demolition-by-state-agency/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

Step inside the Neligh Mill, and step back to the late 1800s.

That’s
 when flows from the Elkhorn River turned a huge waterwheel, which in 
turn churned gears and millstones inside the impressive brick mill. 
There, grains grown on nearby farms were ground into wheat, rye and 
buckwheat flour.

One
 was even called “Gold Medal Flour” until the giant Minneapolis miller, 
General Mills, purchased away the sole rights to the name.

The
 Neligh Mill was built in 1873 by the founder of the northeast Nebraska 
town, Thomas Neligh, with elevators to store wheat and corn added later.

Even today the community fetes the landmark enterprise by calling its annual 4th of July festival “Old Mill Days.”

So
 when the state historical society, the owner of the Neligh Mill, 
considered tearing down elevator and warehouse additions to the landmark
 mill, local residents took notice.

The result, after a public meeting in Neligh and a meeting there of the History Nebraska Board?&nbsp;

Portions
 of the aging structure, a corn elevator and warehouse which have leaks 
in their roof and a resident population of bats, are slated for 
demolition.

But
 the vote by the History Nebraska Board also calls for investigating 
preservation of a wheat elevator that was added onto the mill in 1886.

To
 be clear, preservation of the original mill, described as the last, 
fully intact 19th-century flour mill in the state, was never in doubt. 
But now, the state is looking at saving one of the later additions, a 
wheat elevator. 

It’s being described as a pretty decent compromise for the structure, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

“I like the idea,” said Roxanne McNally, a member of the Antelope County Historical Society. “It’s keeping part of it that’s historically significant.”

Harv
 Ofe, the longtime site supervisor of the mill, said opinions were split
 when a public meeting was held in Neligh over the future of the 
structure, which is a state historical site.

A
 roof linking the wheat elevator with a corn elevator had begun leaking 
again, and History Nebraska was looking at $172,000 to fix the leak and 
reroof the three structures.

At
 the meeting, attended by about 25 local supporters of the Neligh Mill, 
there was talk of tearing down both the wheat and corn elevators — 
tin-side structures where those crops were stored before being ground up
 — and the warehouse.

But
 when the History Nebraska Board met earlier this month in Neligh, a 
compromise of sorts was struck to explore saving the wheat elevator, the
 older of the two elevators and the one historically linked to the 
grinding of flour.&nbsp;

“Elevators
 of this nature are disappearing from the landscape,” he said. “That 
would more or less satisfy both sides of this debate.”

The inside of the Neligh Mill looks just as it did in 1969, when the mill — then grinding livestock feed — shut down, Ofe said.

The
 last flour was produced at the mill in 1959, he said, but the steel 
rollers, which replaced the stone grinders in 1886, are still intact. A 
millstone remains on display.

At
 one time, the Neligh Mill was among the top 10 producing mills in the 
state, Ofe said. Its dozen employees worked around the clock, in two 
shifts.&nbsp;

When
 the mill was operating, the sounds of flour production echoed 
throughout the town, which hugs the Elkhorn River, about 35 miles west 
of Norfolk.

“Everyone out here loves the mill,” said Neligh attorney Jim McNally. “It’s a great attraction.”&nbsp;

Ofe
 said the future of the mill, which attracts about 3,400 visitors a 
year, looks bright, given the plan approved by the History Nebraska 
Board. The Cowboy Trail, a hike-bike trail, runs alongside the mill, and
 Neligh will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its founding next year.

Jill
 Dolberg, the deputy state historic preservation officer for History 
Nebraska, said no one likes to tear down even parts of a historic 
structure. But she said the state agency has been wrestling with the 
future of the mill complex for several years.

There
 was consideration of using the elevators as a visitors center, Dolberg 
said, but there wasn’t much room for that on the ground floors. Tour and
 school groups haven’t been allowed in the elevators because of the bats
 and because the stairs that reach the upper stores of the elevator are 
too steep for the public.

Four
 options were presented at the public meeting in Neligh in March, 
ranging from doing nothing to tearing down both elevator additions and 
the warehouse. None was a “perfect solution,” Dolberg said.

The
 compromise reached by the History Nebraska Board in April, she said, 
will honor the original mill, which recently had its brick tuck-pointed 
and some cedar siding replaced. And by removing the 1899 corn elevator 
and warehouse, Dolberg said, it will open up the view of the brick mill 
structure.

She
 said her task now is to consult with a structural engineer to see what 
it will take to save the wheat elevator. Dolberg will report back to the
 History Board in July.

“What is important for me now is to explore all of the options and find the best solution,” she said last week.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650295923348.png" alt="A portion of the historic Neligh Mill will be torn down — the tall, tin corn elevator and tin-sided warehouse. But the oldest portions will remain, including the brick mill and wheat elevator at right. (Courtesy of Roxanne McNally/Antelope County Historical Society)" />
 <figcaption>A portion of the historic Neligh Mill will be torn down — the tall, tin corn elevator and tin-sided warehouse. But the oldest portions will remain, including the brick mill and wheat elevator at right. (Courtesy of Roxanne McNally/Antelope County Historical Society)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/04/18/portions-of-historic-neligh-mill-slated-for-demolition-by-state-agency/">Nebraska Examiner</a>Step inside the Neligh Mill, and step back to the late 1800s.That’s
 when flows from the Elkhorn River turned a huge waterwheel, which in 
turn churned gears and millstones inside the impressive brick mill. 
There, grains grown on nearby farms were ground into wheat, rye and 
buckwheat flour.<h2>Built by town founder</h2>One
 was even called “Gold Medal Flour” until the giant Minneapolis miller, 
General Mills, purchased away the sole rights to the name.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650295978525.jpeg" alt="A postcard from around 1909 pictures the Neligh Mill, which used flows from the Elkhorn River to grind wheat into flour. (Courtesy of History Nebraska)" />
 <figcaption>A postcard from around 1909 pictures the Neligh Mill, which used flows from the Elkhorn River to grind wheat into flour. (Courtesy of History Nebraska)</figcaption>
 </figure>The
 Neligh Mill was built in 1873 by the founder of the northeast Nebraska 
town, Thomas Neligh, with elevators to store wheat and corn added later.Even today the community fetes the landmark enterprise by calling its annual 4th of July festival “Old Mill Days.”So
 when the state historical society, the owner of the Neligh Mill, 
considered tearing down elevator and warehouse additions to the landmark
 mill, local residents took notice.<h2>Plan to preserve one elevator</h2>The result, after a public meeting in Neligh and a meeting there of the History Nebraska Board?&nbsp;Portions
 of the aging structure, a corn elevator and warehouse which have leaks 
in their roof and a resident population of bats, are slated for 
demolition.But
 the vote by the History Nebraska Board also calls for investigating 
preservation of a wheat elevator that was added onto the mill in 1886.To
 be clear, preservation of the original mill, described as the last, 
fully intact 19th-century flour mill in the state, was never in doubt. 
But now, the state is looking at saving one of the later additions, a 
wheat elevator. <h2>A compromise</h2>It’s being described as a pretty decent compromise for the structure, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.“I like the idea,” said Roxanne McNally, a member of the Antelope County Historical Society. “It’s keeping part of it that’s historically significant.”Harv
 Ofe, the longtime site supervisor of the mill, said opinions were split
 when a public meeting was held in Neligh over the future of the 
structure, which is a state historical site.A
 roof linking the wheat elevator with a corn elevator had begun leaking 
again, and History Nebraska was looking at $172,000 to fix the leak and 
reroof the three structures.<h2>Town meeting</h2>At
 the meeting, attended by about 25 local supporters of the Neligh Mill, 
there was talk of tearing down both the wheat and corn elevators — 
tin-side structures where those crops were stored before being ground up
 — and the warehouse.But
 when the History Nebraska Board met earlier this month in Neligh, a 
compromise of sorts was struck to explore saving the wheat elevator, the
 older of the two elevators and the one historically linked to the 
grinding of flour.&nbsp;Ofe called it “the best option.”“Elevators
 of this nature are disappearing from the landscape,” he said. “That 
would more or less satisfy both sides of this debate.”<h2>A top flour producer</h2>The inside of the Neligh Mill looks just as it did in 1969, when the mill — then grinding livestock feed — shut down, Ofe said.The
 last flour was produced at the mill in 1959, he said, but the steel 
rollers, which replaced the stone grinders in 1886, are still intact. A 
millstone remains on display.At
 one time, the Neligh Mill was among the top 10 producing mills in the 
state, Ofe said. Its dozen employees worked around the clock, in two 
shifts.&nbsp;When
 the mill was operating, the sounds of flour production echoed 
throughout the town, which hugs the Elkhorn River, about 35 miles west 
of Norfolk.<h2>Everyone ‘loves the mill’</h2>“Everyone out here loves the mill,” said Neligh attorney Jim McNally. “It’s a great attraction.”&nbsp;Ofe
 said the future of the mill, which attracts about 3,400 visitors a 
year, looks bright, given the plan approved by the History Nebraska 
Board. The Cowboy Trail, a hike-bike trail, runs alongside the mill, and
 Neligh will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its founding next year.Jill
 Dolberg, the deputy state historic preservation officer for History 
Nebraska, said no one likes to tear down even parts of a historic 
structure. But she said the state agency has been wrestling with the 
future of the mill complex for several years.There
 was consideration of using the elevators as a visitors center, Dolberg 
said, but there wasn’t much room for that on the ground floors. Tour and
 school groups haven’t been allowed in the elevators because of the bats
 and because the stairs that reach the upper stores of the elevator are 
too steep for the public.Four
 options were presented at the public meeting in Neligh in March, 
ranging from doing nothing to tearing down both elevator additions and 
the warehouse. None was a “perfect solution,” Dolberg said.<h2>Structural engineer</h2>The
 compromise reached by the History Nebraska Board in April, she said, 
will honor the original mill, which recently had its brick tuck-pointed 
and some cedar siding replaced. And by removing the 1899 corn elevator 
and warehouse, Dolberg said, it will open up the view of the brick mill 
structure.She
 said her task now is to consult with a structural engineer to see what 
it will take to save the wheat elevator. Dolberg will report back to the
 History Board in July.“What is important for me now is to explore all of the options and find the best solution,” she said last week.&nbsp;

Portions of historic Neligh Mill slated for demolition by state agency

By SCOTT CARLSON North Platte Post

OMAHA, Neb.-Police in Omaha are investigating after a man was shot and killed on Sunday.

At around 11:02 p.m., officers responded to Immanuel Hospital where a man was being treated for gunshot wounds.

Police said the man, identified as Eltio Plater, Jr., 22, was transferred to CUMC-Bergan Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police said the shooting occurred in the 4200 block of North 60th St.

Police said the investigation is ongoing and information leading to an arrest could be eligible for a $25,000 reward.

By SCOTT CARLSON North Platte PostOMAHA, Neb.-Police in Omaha are investigating after a man was shot and killed on Sunday.At around 11:02 p.m., officers responded to Immanuel Hospital where a man was being treated for gunshot wounds.Police said the man, identified as Eltio Plater, Jr., 22, was transferred to CUMC-Bergan Hospital where he was pronounced dead.Police said the shooting occurred in the 4200 block of North 60th St.Police said the investigation is ongoing and information leading to an arrest could be eligible for a $25,000 reward.

Omaha police investigate murder of 22-year-old

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and asking the public for help to locate a vehicle and ultimately a suspect.

Just after 11p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to the the 2400 block of SW Burnett in Topeka, according to Lt. Ronnie Connell. Upon arrival, officers found that an 11-year-old girl who qA suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

On Sunday, investigators released a security camera image of a vehicle identified as a vehicle of interest in the case.

Police have not released additional details on the girl's condition or reported an arrest. They asked anyone with information in the case to contact police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650285506930.png" alt="Security camera image of suspect vehicle -Topeka Police" />
 <figcaption>Security camera image of suspect vehicle -Topeka Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and asking the public for help to locate a vehicle and ultimately a suspect.Just after 11p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to the the 2400 block of SW Burnett in Topeka, according to Lt. Ronnie Connell. Upon arrival, officers found that an 11-year-old girl who qA suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.On Sunday, investigators released a security camera image of a vehicle identified as a vehicle of interest in the case.Police have not released additional details on the girl's condition or reported an arrest. They asked anyone with information in the case to contact police.

Police ID vehicle of interest in shooting of 11-year-old Kan. girl

WASHINGTON — Taxpayers requesting an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return">extension</a>
 will have until Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, to file a return. Not everyone 
has to ask for more time, however. Disaster victims, taxpayers serving 
in combat zones and those living abroad automatically have longer to 
file.

An extension of time to file will also automatically process when 
taxpayers pay all or part of their taxes electronically by this year's 
original due date of April 18, 2022. Although taxpayers can file up to 
six months later when they have an extension, taxes are still owed by 
the original due date.

Here's more about those who get automatic extensions:

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">Victims</a>
 of the December 2021 tornadoes and flooding in Arkansas, Illinois, 
Kentucky and Tennessee have until May 16, 2022, to file their 2021 
returns and pay any tax due, as do victims of Colorado wildfires and 
straight-line winds that began Dec. 30. In addition, victims of severe 
storms, flooding and landslides that began on Feb. 4 in Puerto Rico will
 have until June 15, 2022, to file and pay.

The IRS automatically provides filing and penalty relief to any 
taxpayer with an IRS address of record located in a federally declared 
disaster area when at least one area qualifies for FEMA's Individual 
Assistance program. Ordinarily, this means that taxpayers need not 
contact the IRS to get disaster tax relief.

This relief also includes more time for making 2021 contributions to 
IRAs and other plans and making 2022 estimated tax payments. In some 
cases, relief is also available to people living outside the disaster 
area if, for example, they have a business located in the disaster area,
 have tax records located in the disaster area or are assisting in 
disaster relief. For details on all available relief, visit the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/around-the-nation">Around the Nation</a> page on IRS.gov.

Military service members and eligible support personnel serving in a 
combat zone have at least 180 days after they leave the combat zone to 
file their tax returns and pay any tax due. This includes those serving 
in Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat zones. A complete list of 
designated combat zone localities can be found in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-3">Publication 3, Armed Forces' Tax Guide</a>, available on IRS.gov.

Combat zone extensions also give affected taxpayers more time for a 
variety of other tax-related actions, including contributing to an IRA. 
Various circumstances affect the exact length of the extension available
 to taxpayers. Details, including examples illustrating how these 
extensions are calculated, are in the Extensions of Deadlines section in
 Publication 3.

U.S. citizens and resident aliens who live and work outside the U.S. 
and Puerto Rico have until June 15, 2022, to file their 2021 tax returns
 and pay any tax due.

The special June 15 deadline also applies to members of the military 
on duty outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico who do not qualify for the 
longer combat zone extension. Affected taxpayers should attach a 
statement to their return explaining which of these situations apply.

Though taxpayers abroad get more time to pay, interest — <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/interest-rates-increase-for-the-second-quarter-of-2022">currently</a>
 at the rate of 4% per year, compounded daily — applies to any payment 
received after this year's April 18 deadline. For more information about
 the special tax rules for U.S. taxpayers abroad, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-54">Publication 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad</a>, on IRS.gov.

Taxpayers who don't qualify for any of these three special situations
 can still get more time to file by submitting a request for an 
automatic extension. This will extend their filing deadline until Oct. 
17, 2022. But because this is only a tax-filing extension, their 2021 
tax payments are still due by April 18.

An easy way to get the extra time is through IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> on IRS.gov. In a matter of minutes, anyone, regardless of income, can use this free service to electronically <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-everyone-can-file-an-extension-for-free">request an extension</a> on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4868">Form 4868</a>. To get the extension, taxpayers must estimate their tax liability on this form.

Another option is to pay electronically and get a tax-filing 
extension. The IRS will automatically process an extension when a 
taxpayer selects Form 4868 and makes a full or partial federal tax 
payment by the April 18 due date using their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a> or a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">debit, credit card or digital wallet</a>.
 Under this option, there is no need to file a separate Form 4868. 
Taxpayers must register for EFTPS before using. Electronic payment 
options are available at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">Pay Online</a>.

The deadline to submit 2021 tax returns or an extension to file and 
pay tax owed this year falls on April 18, instead of April 15, because 
of the Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia. Taxpayers 
in Maine or Massachusetts have until April 19, 2022, to file their 
returns due to the Patriots' Day holiday in those states.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — Taxpayers requesting an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return">extension</a>
 will have until Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, to file a return. Not everyone 
has to ask for more time, however. Disaster victims, taxpayers serving 
in combat zones and those living abroad automatically have longer to 
file.An extension of time to file will also automatically process when 
taxpayers pay all or part of their taxes electronically by this year's 
original due date of April 18, 2022. Although taxpayers can file up to 
six months later when they have an extension, taxes are still owed by 
the original due date.Here's more about those who get automatic extensions:<h2>Disaster victims</h2><a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">Victims</a>
 of the December 2021 tornadoes and flooding in Arkansas, Illinois, 
Kentucky and Tennessee have until May 16, 2022, to file their 2021 
returns and pay any tax due, as do victims of Colorado wildfires and 
straight-line winds that began Dec. 30. In addition, victims of severe 
storms, flooding and landslides that began on Feb. 4 in Puerto Rico will
 have until June 15, 2022, to file and pay.The IRS automatically provides filing and penalty relief to any 
taxpayer with an IRS address of record located in a federally declared 
disaster area when at least one area qualifies for FEMA's Individual 
Assistance program. Ordinarily, this means that taxpayers need not 
contact the IRS to get disaster tax relief.This relief also includes more time for making 2021 contributions to 
IRAs and other plans and making 2022 estimated tax payments. In some 
cases, relief is also available to people living outside the disaster 
area if, for example, they have a business located in the disaster area,
 have tax records located in the disaster area or are assisting in 
disaster relief. For details on all available relief, visit the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/around-the-nation">Around the Nation</a> page on IRS.gov.<h2>Combat zone taxpayers</h2>Military service members and eligible support personnel serving in a 
combat zone have at least 180 days after they leave the combat zone to 
file their tax returns and pay any tax due. This includes those serving 
in Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat zones. A complete list of 
designated combat zone localities can be found in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-3">Publication 3, Armed Forces' Tax Guide</a>, available on IRS.gov.Combat zone extensions also give affected taxpayers more time for a 
variety of other tax-related actions, including contributing to an IRA. 
Various circumstances affect the exact length of the extension available
 to taxpayers. Details, including examples illustrating how these 
extensions are calculated, are in the Extensions of Deadlines section in
 Publication 3.<h2>Taxpayers outside the United States</h2>U.S. citizens and resident aliens who live and work outside the U.S. 
and Puerto Rico have until June 15, 2022, to file their 2021 tax returns
 and pay any tax due.The special June 15 deadline also applies to members of the military 
on duty outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico who do not qualify for the 
longer combat zone extension. Affected taxpayers should attach a 
statement to their return explaining which of these situations apply.Though taxpayers abroad get more time to pay, interest — <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/interest-rates-increase-for-the-second-quarter-of-2022">currently</a>
 at the rate of 4% per year, compounded daily — applies to any payment 
received after this year's April 18 deadline. For more information about
 the special tax rules for U.S. taxpayers abroad, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-54">Publication 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad</a>, on IRS.gov.<h2>Everyone else</h2>Taxpayers who don't qualify for any of these three special situations
 can still get more time to file by submitting a request for an 
automatic extension. This will extend their filing deadline until Oct. 
17, 2022. But because this is only a tax-filing extension, their 2021 
tax payments are still due by April 18.An easy way to get the extra time is through IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> on IRS.gov. In a matter of minutes, anyone, regardless of income, can use this free service to electronically <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-everyone-can-file-an-extension-for-free">request an extension</a> on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4868">Form 4868</a>. To get the extension, taxpayers must estimate their tax liability on this form.Another option is to pay electronically and get a tax-filing 
extension. The IRS will automatically process an extension when a 
taxpayer selects Form 4868 and makes a full or partial federal tax 
payment by the April 18 due date using their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a> or a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">debit, credit card or digital wallet</a>.
 Under this option, there is no need to file a separate Form 4868. 
Taxpayers must register for EFTPS before using. Electronic payment 
options are available at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">Pay Online</a>.The deadline to submit 2021 tax returns or an extension to file and 
pay tax owed this year falls on April 18, instead of April 15, because 
of the Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia. Taxpayers 
in Maine or Massachusetts have until April 19, 2022, to file their 
returns due to the Patriots' Day holiday in those states.