MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A judge has named a former Kansas attorney general to represent an 18-year-old high school football player who is charged in a shooting that wounded an administrator and school resource officer at a suburban Kansas City high school. 

Jaylon Desean Elmore was charged Saturday with attempted capital murder in Friday’s shooting at Olathe East High School. The charge carries a sentence of life in prison, with no possibility of parole for 25 years.

 Johnson County Judge Dan Vokins said during a Zoom hearing Monday that his attorney will be Paul Morrison, also the former district attorney for the county. Elmore, who was wounded when the school resource officer returned fire, was unable to attend the hearing because he remains hospitalized.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646530374745.png" alt="Elmore photo courtesy Olathe East Varsity Football " />
 <figcaption>Elmore photo courtesy Olathe East Varsity Football </figcaption>
 </figure>MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A judge has named a former Kansas attorney general to represent an 18-year-old high school football player who is charged in a shooting that wounded an administrator and school resource officer at a suburban Kansas City high school. Jaylon Desean Elmore was charged Saturday with attempted capital murder in Friday’s shooting at Olathe East High School. The charge carries a sentence of life in prison, with no possibility of parole for 25 years. Johnson County Judge Dan Vokins said during a Zoom hearing Monday that his attorney will be Paul Morrison, also the former district attorney for the county. Elmore, who was wounded when the school resource officer returned fire, was unable to attend the hearing because he remains hospitalized.

Teen charged in Kansas high school shooting remains hospitalized

Gasoline prices are pushing even farther above $4 a gallon, the highest price that American motorists have faced since July 2008, as calls grow to ban imports of Russian oil.

Prices at the pump were rising long before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-europe-evacuations-kharkiv-01693b3373cf8bcf2400ae29af992bbe">Russia invaded Ukraine</a>&nbsp;and have spiraled faster since the start of the war. The U.S. national average for a gallon of gasoline has soared 45 cents a gallon in the past week and topped $4.06 on Monday, according to auto club AAA.

“I am looking at the possibility of walking to work,” said Asiya Joseph, who had just paid $4.29 a gallon at a BP station in Brooklyn, New York. “This is the first time that I am filling up my tank in like, 10 days.”

In Huntington Beach, California, Julian Mesa earns $15 an hour cleaning offices. On Monday, he paid $92 to fill his pickup at $5.79 a gallon.

“It’s very expensive, high for people who are earning the minimum,” Mesa said. His family had already scaled back on eating out to cut their spending during the pandemic.

The price of regular broke $4 a gallon on Sunday for the first time in nearly 14 years and is now up nearly 50% from a year ago.

The price is even higher in Europe, averaging 1.75 euros per liter last week, according to the European Commission, the equivalent of $7.21 per gallon.

GasBuddy, which tracks prices down to the service-station level, said Monday that the U.S. was likely to break its record price of $4.10 a gallon, but that does not account for inflation. In today’s terms, the record price would be equal to about $5.24 after accounting for inflation.

“Forget the $4 per gallon mark, the nation will soon set new all-time record highs and we could push closer to a national average of $4.50,” said GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan. “We’ve never been in this situation before, with this level of uncertainty. ... Americans will be feeling the pain of the rise in prices for quite some time.”

Energy prices are contributing to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-long-beach-inflation-prices-consumer-prices-d412bcce554693de469765b34351773d">worst inflation that Americans have seen in 40 years</a>, far outpacing higher wages. Consumer prices jumped 7.5% in January, compared with a year earlier, and analysts predict a 7.9% increase when the government reports February figures later this week.

Oil prices soared early Monday before retreating. Benchmark U.S. crude surged to $130 a barrel overnight, then moderated to around $119, a 3% gain, in afternoon trading. The international price skyrocketed to $139 before falling back to about $123 a barrel. U.S. stocks tumbled, with the S&amp;P 500 falling 3%, its biggest drop in 16 months.

Crude prices plummeted in early 2020 as economies around the world shut down because of COVID-19 — the price of futures even turned negative, meaning some sellers were paying buyers to take oil. Prices rebounded, however, as demand recovered faster than producers pulled oil out of the ground and inventories dried up.

Still, few forecasters saw this week’s surge coming. Just a month ago, the Energy Department predicted oil would average around $80 a barrel this year. That was before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.

The United States is the world’s largest oil producer — ahead of Saudi Arabia and Russia — but it is also the biggest oil consumer, and it can’t meet that staggering demand with domestic crude alone.

The U.S. imported&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_ep00_im0_mbbl_m.htm" target="_blank">245 million barrels of oil from Russia last year</a>&nbsp;— about 8% of all U.S. oil imports — up from 198 million barrels in 2020. That’s less than the U.S. gets from Canada or Mexico but more than it imported last year from Saudi Arabia.

The increasingly violent Russian attack on Ukraine has raised calls to cut off Russia from the money it gets from oil and natural gas exports. Europe is heavily dependent on Russian gas.

President Joe Biden has been reluctant to ban Russian oil, fearing it could further fuel inflation heading into the midterm elections this November.

Many Republicans and a growing number of Democrats in the House and Senate, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-joe-biden-business-europe-d30c144383033e2fc9bce6f3d5cfeb0b">endorsed banning Russian crude</a>&nbsp;as a way to put more pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the shelling of Ukraine. On Monday, a bipartisan group of committee chairmen reached agreement on legislation to ban Russian oil imports and suspend normal trade relations status with Russia and its ally, Belarus — the latter move could lead to steep tariffs on other goods from the two countries.

The White House hasn’t ruled out a ban, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that the United States and its allies were discussing a ban “while making sure that there is still an appropriate supply of oil” on the world market.

Talk of a ban on Russian oil has led U.S. officials to consider other sources that are currently limited.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-business-europe-venezuela-cbe04e87fca44ed3815aba8dd2b65945">In what was supposed to be a secret trip</a>, senior U.S. officials traveled to Venezuela over the weekend to discuss the chance of easing oil sanctions on the major crude-exporting country.

Ronnie James, an Uber driver in Brooklyn, wants the government to do something to bring prices down — get oil from Venezuela or tap more from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

“The folks who are every day building the wealth of this nation could use a break,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637673365192.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID KOENIG, Associated PressGasoline prices are pushing even farther above $4 a gallon, the highest price that American motorists have faced since July 2008, as calls grow to ban imports of Russian oil.Prices at the pump were rising long before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-europe-evacuations-kharkiv-01693b3373cf8bcf2400ae29af992bbe">Russia invaded Ukraine</a>&nbsp;and have spiraled faster since the start of the war. The U.S. national average for a gallon of gasoline has soared 45 cents a gallon in the past week and topped $4.06 on Monday, according to auto club AAA.“I am looking at the possibility of walking to work,” said Asiya Joseph, who had just paid $4.29 a gallon at a BP station in Brooklyn, New York. “This is the first time that I am filling up my tank in like, 10 days.”In Huntington Beach, California, Julian Mesa earns $15 an hour cleaning offices. On Monday, he paid $92 to fill his pickup at $5.79 a gallon.“It’s very expensive, high for people who are earning the minimum,” Mesa said. His family had already scaled back on eating out to cut their spending during the pandemic.The price of regular broke $4 a gallon on Sunday for the first time in nearly 14 years and is now up nearly 50% from a year ago.The price is even higher in Europe, averaging 1.75 euros per liter last week, according to the European Commission, the equivalent of $7.21 per gallon.GasBuddy, which tracks prices down to the service-station level, said Monday that the U.S. was likely to break its record price of $4.10 a gallon, but that does not account for inflation. In today’s terms, the record price would be equal to about $5.24 after accounting for inflation.“Forget the $4 per gallon mark, the nation will soon set new all-time record highs and we could push closer to a national average of $4.50,” said GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan. “We’ve never been in this situation before, with this level of uncertainty. ... Americans will be feeling the pain of the rise in prices for quite some time.”Energy prices are contributing to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-long-beach-inflation-prices-consumer-prices-d412bcce554693de469765b34351773d">worst inflation that Americans have seen in 40 years</a>, far outpacing higher wages. Consumer prices jumped 7.5% in January, compared with a year earlier, and analysts predict a 7.9% increase when the government reports February figures later this week.Oil prices soared early Monday before retreating. Benchmark U.S. crude surged to $130 a barrel overnight, then moderated to around $119, a 3% gain, in afternoon trading. The international price skyrocketed to $139 before falling back to about $123 a barrel. U.S. stocks tumbled, with the S&amp;P 500 falling 3%, its biggest drop in 16 months.Crude prices plummeted in early 2020 as economies around the world shut down because of COVID-19 — the price of futures even turned negative, meaning some sellers were paying buyers to take oil. Prices rebounded, however, as demand recovered faster than producers pulled oil out of the ground and inventories dried up.Still, few forecasters saw this week’s surge coming. Just a month ago, the Energy Department predicted oil would average around $80 a barrel this year. That was before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.The United States is the world’s largest oil producer — ahead of Saudi Arabia and Russia — but it is also the biggest oil consumer, and it can’t meet that staggering demand with domestic crude alone.The U.S. imported&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_ep00_im0_mbbl_m.htm" target="_blank">245 million barrels of oil from Russia last year</a>&nbsp;— about 8% of all U.S. oil imports — up from 198 million barrels in 2020. That’s less than the U.S. gets from Canada or Mexico but more than it imported last year from Saudi Arabia.The increasingly violent Russian attack on Ukraine has raised calls to cut off Russia from the money it gets from oil and natural gas exports. Europe is heavily dependent on Russian gas.President Joe Biden has been reluctant to ban Russian oil, fearing it could further fuel inflation heading into the midterm elections this November.Many Republicans and a growing number of Democrats in the House and Senate, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-joe-biden-business-europe-d30c144383033e2fc9bce6f3d5cfeb0b">endorsed banning Russian crude</a>&nbsp;as a way to put more pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the shelling of Ukraine. On Monday, a bipartisan group of committee chairmen reached agreement on legislation to ban Russian oil imports and suspend normal trade relations status with Russia and its ally, Belarus — the latter move could lead to steep tariffs on other goods from the two countries.The White House hasn’t ruled out a ban, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that the United States and its allies were discussing a ban “while making sure that there is still an appropriate supply of oil” on the world market.Talk of a ban on Russian oil has led U.S. officials to consider other sources that are currently limited.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-business-europe-venezuela-cbe04e87fca44ed3815aba8dd2b65945">In what was supposed to be a secret trip</a>, senior U.S. officials traveled to Venezuela over the weekend to discuss the chance of easing oil sanctions on the major crude-exporting country.Ronnie James, an Uber driver in Brooklyn, wants the government to do something to bring prices down — get oil from Venezuela or tap more from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.“The folks who are every day building the wealth of this nation could use a break,” he said.

US gasoline prices rise again on talk of banning Russian oil

News Release Nebraska State Patrol

NORFOLK, Neb.-Investigators with Nebraska State Patrol Troop Areas B and C, along with the Trident Task Force, conducted two search warrants Friday and have arrested a man after locating multiple controlled substances at his residence and business in Primrose and Spalding.

Friday morning, March 4, investigators served a search warrant at the residence of 1320 255th&nbsp;Street in Primrose. Another search warrant took place at a business at 150 South Chestnut Street in Spalding. During the searches, investigators located 6 firearms, 20 grams of methamphetamine, smaller amounts of cocaine, marijuana, mushrooms, drug paraphernalia and cash.

The resident and business owner, Robert Kleffner Jr., 53, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance in Greeley County and possession with intent to deliver in Boone County. Kleffner was lodged in Boone County Corrections.

Kleffner is the owner of Kleffner Body Shop in Spalding.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646701045002.png" alt="Google Maps" />
 <figcaption>Google Maps</figcaption>
 </figure>News Release Nebraska State PatrolNORFOLK, Neb.-Investigators with Nebraska State Patrol Troop Areas B and C, along with the Trident Task Force, conducted two search warrants Friday and have arrested a man after locating multiple controlled substances at his residence and business in Primrose and Spalding.Friday morning, March 4, investigators served a search warrant at the residence of 1320 255th&nbsp;Street in Primrose. Another search warrant took place at a business at 150 South Chestnut Street in Spalding. During the searches, investigators located 6 firearms, 20 grams of methamphetamine, smaller amounts of cocaine, marijuana, mushrooms, drug paraphernalia and cash.The resident and business owner, Robert Kleffner Jr., 53, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance in Greeley County and possession with intent to deliver in Boone County. Kleffner was lodged in Boone County Corrections.Kleffner is the owner of Kleffner Body Shop in Spalding.

Nebraska body shop owner arrested on drug, weapons allegations

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — One person was killed and two others were critically wounded Monday after gunfire that appeared to come from a passing vehicle struck them outside an Iowa school, authorities said.

Des Moines police said in a news release that potential suspects have been detained in the shooting on the grounds of East High School, near Des Moines’ downtown, about a half mile, from the Capitol. No charges were immediately filed.

Sgt. Paul Parizek told KCCI-TV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcci.com/article/shooting-reported-outside-des-moines-iowa-school/39359495">that</a>&nbsp;calls started pouring in around 2:50 p.m., shortly before classes were scheduled to dismiss for the day.

The district said in a news release that the school was immediately put into lockdown and students were kept inside while police investigated. They were dismissed around 3:30 p.m. after law enforcement gave an all clear.

Principal Jill Versteeg described what happened as “everyone’s worst nightmare" and urged parents to “hug your students and love them.”

The district said there would be no classes Tuesday and that it was postponing the ACT and parent-teacher conferences. The district also was making grief counselors available.

Superintendent Thomas Ahart said school shootings have “become too common” and said that “real change to gun laws and access would go a long way to help us.”

“Our staff and students," he said, “are forced to train for these incidents and the trauma associated with the repeated drills and incidents will remain with them for years to come. It’s unfortunate that our state and our country have become a place where firearms are far too easily accessible.”

Parizek said he didn’t know whether the victims, who all appeared to be teenagers, were students. Their names weren't immediately released.

Police said they do not believe there is a continued threat to the public.

A motive was not immediately known, and Parizek provided no details on the potential suspects. Authorities have recovered shell casings from the scene as they investigate what happened.

“Obviously, we threw every resource we had at this. We know that the kids in that school are our community’s most precious cargo.”

Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert went to the school after the shooting and expressed frustration at the violence.

“Unfortunately what happened here today was just another pointless tragedy in our community,” Wingert told TV station WOI-TV. “People using firearms to settle their differences.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say multiple people have been wounded in a shooting outside an Iowa high school. KCCI-TV reports that Sgt. Paul Parizek said suspects have been detained in the Monday afternoon shooting on the grounds of East High School in Des Moines. 

Police said three teens are in critical condition. The school is locked down and residents are asked to stay clear. Streets around the school have been shut down. Police said they do not believe there is a continued threat to the public.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646692512479.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation photo courtesy KCCI TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation photo courtesy KCCI TV</figcaption>
 </figure>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — One person was killed and two others were critically wounded Monday after gunfire that appeared to come from a passing vehicle struck them outside an Iowa school, authorities said.Des Moines police said in a news release that potential suspects have been detained in the shooting on the grounds of East High School, near Des Moines’ downtown, about a half mile, from the Capitol. No charges were immediately filed.Sgt. Paul Parizek told KCCI-TV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcci.com/article/shooting-reported-outside-des-moines-iowa-school/39359495">that</a>&nbsp;calls started pouring in around 2:50 p.m., shortly before classes were scheduled to dismiss for the day.The district said in a news release that the school was immediately put into lockdown and students were kept inside while police investigated. They were dismissed around 3:30 p.m. after law enforcement gave an all clear.Principal Jill Versteeg described what happened as “everyone’s worst nightmare" and urged parents to “hug your students and love them.”The district said there would be no classes Tuesday and that it was postponing the ACT and parent-teacher conferences. The district also was making grief counselors available.Superintendent Thomas Ahart said school shootings have “become too common” and said that “real change to gun laws and access would go a long way to help us.”“Our staff and students," he said, “are forced to train for these incidents and the trauma associated with the repeated drills and incidents will remain with them for years to come. It’s unfortunate that our state and our country have become a place where firearms are far too easily accessible.”Parizek said he didn’t know whether the victims, who all appeared to be teenagers, were students. Their names weren't immediately released.Police said they do not believe there is a continued threat to the public.A motive was not immediately known, and Parizek provided no details on the potential suspects. Authorities have recovered shell casings from the scene as they investigate what happened.“Obviously, we threw every resource we had at this. We know that the kids in that school are our community’s most precious cargo.”Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert went to the school after the shooting and expressed frustration at the violence.“Unfortunately what happened here today was just another pointless tragedy in our community,” Wingert told TV station WOI-TV. “People using firearms to settle their differences.”-------DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say multiple people have been wounded in a shooting outside an Iowa high school. KCCI-TV reports that Sgt. Paul Parizek said suspects have been detained in the Monday afternoon shooting on the grounds of East High School in Des Moines. Police said three teens are in critical condition. The school is locked down and residents are asked to stay clear. Streets around the school have been shut down. Police said they do not believe there is a continued threat to the public.

1 dead, 2 teens wounded in shooting outside Iowa high school

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials announced they have identified bird flu in a commercial flock of 50,000 turkeys in northwest Iowa, the state’s second case of a virus that has been identified in multiple states. 

Iowa agriculture officials and the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday confirmed the case in Buena Vista County, about 100 miles north of the case identified March 1 in a backyard flock of 42 ducks and chickens in Pottawattamie County.

 Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a disaster proclamation for Buena Vista County to allow state resources to help with the disposal of the affected flock and disinfection of the farm.

 Officials on Monday confirmed Nebraska's first case this year, in a wild goose near Holmes Lake in Lincoln.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646694161264.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials announced they have identified bird flu in a commercial flock of 50,000 turkeys in northwest Iowa, the state’s second case of a virus that has been identified in multiple states. Iowa agriculture officials and the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday confirmed the case in Buena Vista County, about 100 miles north of the case identified March 1 in a backyard flock of 42 ducks and chickens in Pottawattamie County. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a disaster proclamation for Buena Vista County to allow state resources to help with the disposal of the affected flock and disinfection of the farm. Officials on Monday confirmed Nebraska's first case this year, in a wild goose near Holmes Lake in Lincoln.

Bird flu confirmed in northwest Iowa commercial turkey flock

LINCOLN, NEB. — This year’s action in vying for the state title in the NSAA Girls and Boys State Basketball Tournaments will take place the same week. Throughout the week, which runs from March 7 through March 12, Nebraska State Troopers will be patrolling the roads to make sure players and fans arrive safely. 

“State basketball is a fantastic time for teams from around the state and this year’s tournament means twice the action in one week of time,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Since we’ll have more teams and fans traveling at the same time, let’s all do our part to keep the roads safe and keep the action on the court. Follow traffic safety laws, avoid distractions, drive sober, and wear your seat belt.”

The NSAA Girls and Boys Basketball Tournament has a different schedule this year, hosting both events the same week. Champions will be crowned Friday and Saturday. With the tournaments joining to be in the same week, troopers will perform high visibility patrols throughout the week. This effort will take place in Lincoln and other high-traffic areas across Nebraska.

This effort is made possible thanks in part to a grant for $15,635 from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office. Any motorists in need of assistance can call the NSP Highway Helpline at *55 or 800-525-5555 and speak directly with an NSP dispatcher.

By Nebraska State Patrol&nbsp;LINCOLN, NEB. — This year’s action in vying for the state title in the NSAA Girls and Boys State Basketball Tournaments will take place the same week. Throughout the week, which runs from March 7 through March 12, Nebraska State Troopers will be patrolling the roads to make sure players and fans arrive safely. “State basketball is a fantastic time for teams from around the state and this year’s tournament means twice the action in one week of time,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Since we’ll have more teams and fans traveling at the same time, let’s all do our part to keep the roads safe and keep the action on the court. Follow traffic safety laws, avoid distractions, drive sober, and wear your seat belt.”The NSAA Girls and Boys Basketball Tournament has a different schedule this year, hosting both events the same week. Champions will be crowned Friday and Saturday. With the tournaments joining to be in the same week, troopers will perform high visibility patrols throughout the week. This effort will take place in Lincoln and other high-traffic areas across Nebraska.This effort is made possible thanks in part to a grant for $15,635 from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office. Any motorists in need of assistance can call the NSP Highway Helpline at *55 or 800-525-5555 and speak directly with an NSP dispatcher.

Troopers promote safe travel for State Basketball

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/governor-continues-to-see-no-justification-to-apply-for-rental-assistance-money/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN
 — Despite a recent plea from key state senators, Gov. Pete Ricketts 
continued to say “no” Monday to applying for an additional $120 million 
in federal funds for utility and rent assistance.

During
 a press conference, the conservative Republican was asked to respond to
 a letter sent last week by the members of the Legislature’s 
Appropriations Committee urging the governor to apply by the March 31 
deadline.&nbsp;

Nebraska is one of only two states — Arkansas is the other — <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/01/28/ricketts-says-no-to-second-round-of-rental-assistance-for-nebraska/">that have not applied for the emergency aid.</a>



	The letter, signed by all nine members of the committee, cited a 23% 
increase in calls to a state helpline for rent and utility assistance 
from areas outside of Omaha and Lincoln. Besides helping landlords — who
 get the federal aid payments — the state would realize $7 million in 
interest that could be used for others purposes by the state.

“It is simply sound fiscal and social policy to apply for these funds,” stated the letter.

But
 Ricketts said Monday that he fails to see a “justification” for the 
state to apply for the emergency funding given signs that the emergency 
has passed, including the drop in COVID-19 cases and the state’s low 
unemployment rate.

He said that Nebraska received $200
 million from the first round of federal rental assistance funding but 
that 42% of the funds have not been used. The state’s portion was about 
$158 million and was to be used in rural areas only, with the other $42 
million sent to the Omaha and Lincoln areas.



	“Right now, with our data here in Nebraska, we have a hard time justifying that need,” Ricketts said.

He
 said no one has shown him data that the need for rental assistance in 
rural areas, by landlords or tenants, is any higher than it was prior to
 the pandemic.

Ricketts
 pointed out that Nebraska has the lowest unemployment rate in the 
country and “has plenty of money” for rental assistance that will last 
through the end of the year.

Meanwhile,
 the need for such emergency relief appears to be dropping, he said, 
along with the cases of COVID-19 and hospitalizations for those 
infected.



	The letter from the Appropriations Committee was signed by all nine 
members, including conservatives, moderates and liberals, in support of 
the application. 

At
 least two state senators, Justin Wayne and Terrell McKinney, have 
criticized Ricketts for seeking help for commercial landlords but not 
owners of residential rental property.

State
 Sen. Mike McDonnell initiated the letter, which stated that the 
committee had heard plenty of testimony this year about the continued 
need for rental assistance. 

The letter stated that rural areas, unlike 
the Omaha and Lincoln areas, have not gotten direct emergency aid from 
the federal government. It also said that with the recent increases in 
heating bills, renters will need aid more than ever.

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/governor-continues-to-see-no-justification-to-apply-for-rental-assistance-money/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN
 — Despite a recent plea from key state senators, Gov. Pete Ricketts 
continued to say “no” Monday to applying for an additional $120 million 
in federal funds for utility and rent assistance.During
 a press conference, the conservative Republican was asked to respond to
 a letter sent last week by the members of the Legislature’s 
Appropriations Committee urging the governor to apply by the March 31 
deadline.&nbsp;Nebraska is one of only two states — Arkansas is the other — <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/01/28/ricketts-says-no-to-second-round-of-rental-assistance-for-nebraska/">that have not applied for the emergency aid.</a><h2>‘Sound policy’ to apply</h2>

	The letter, signed by all nine members of the committee, cited a 23% 
increase in calls to a state helpline for rent and utility assistance 
from areas outside of Omaha and Lincoln. Besides helping landlords — who
 get the federal aid payments — the state would realize $7 million in 
interest that could be used for others purposes by the state.“It is simply sound fiscal and social policy to apply for these funds,” stated the letter.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646683599828.jpeg" alt=" Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>But
 Ricketts said Monday that he fails to see a “justification” for the 
state to apply for the emergency funding given signs that the emergency 
has passed, including the drop in COVID-19 cases and the state’s low 
unemployment rate.He said that Nebraska received $200
 million from the first round of federal rental assistance funding but 
that 42% of the funds have not been used. The state’s portion was about 
$158 million and was to be used in rural areas only, with the other $42 
million sent to the Omaha and Lincoln areas.<h2>Can’t justify need</h2>

	“Right now, with our data here in Nebraska, we have a hard time justifying that need,” Ricketts said.He
 said no one has shown him data that the need for rental assistance in 
rural areas, by landlords or tenants, is any higher than it was prior to
 the pandemic.Ricketts
 pointed out that Nebraska has the lowest unemployment rate in the 
country and “has plenty of money” for rental assistance that will last 
through the end of the year.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646683629683.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha (Courtesy of the Unicameral Information Office)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha (Courtesy of the Unicameral Information Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>Meanwhile,
 the need for such emergency relief appears to be dropping, he said, 
along with the cases of COVID-19 and hospitalizations for those 
infected.<h2>Two senators criticize governor</h2>

	The letter from the Appropriations Committee was signed by all nine 
members, including conservatives, moderates and liberals, in support of 
the application. At
 least two state senators, Justin Wayne and Terrell McKinney, have 
criticized Ricketts for seeking help for commercial landlords but not 
owners of residential rental property.State
 Sen. Mike McDonnell initiated the letter, which stated that the 
committee had heard plenty of testimony this year about the continued 
need for rental assistance. The letter stated that rural areas, unlike 
the Omaha and Lincoln areas, have not gotten direct emergency aid from 
the federal government. It also said that with the recent increases in 
heating bills, renters will need aid more than ever.

Ricketts: No justification to apply for rental assistance money

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo says the state will formally recommend against COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children. 

Ladapo made the announcement at a roundtable event organized by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis that featured a group of doctors who criticized coronavirus lockdowns and mandate policies. It was not immediately clear when the state would release its health guidance. 

Late last month, Ladapo and DeSantis announced new virus policy recommendations that discouraged mask-wearing and directed physicians to exercise their own judgment when treating virus patients, including the use of emerging treatments and off-label medications.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646677755674.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo says the state will formally recommend against COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children. Ladapo made the announcement at a roundtable event organized by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis that featured a group of doctors who criticized coronavirus lockdowns and mandate policies. It was not immediately clear when the state would release its health guidance. Late last month, Ladapo and DeSantis announced new virus policy recommendations that discouraged mask-wearing and directed physicians to exercise their own judgment when treating virus patients, including the use of emerging treatments and off-label medications.

Florida to recommend against COVID vaccines for healthy kids

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An unexpected amount of snow in eastern Nebraska has canceled in-person classes and left at least one person dead in a crash on a snow-slicked highway. 

The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office says 39-year-old Heidi Parrish, of Talmage, died after she lost control of her pickup truck early Monday morning on Nebraska Highway 2 near Palmyra and collided with another pickup. 

Weather forecasts had predicted a dusting or up to an inch of snow for areas in and around Omaha late Sunday. But many residents awoke Monday to more than 3 inches of snow on the ground, including Bennington, which say 3.5 inches of snow overnight.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1559617385052.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An unexpected amount of snow in eastern Nebraska has canceled in-person classes and left at least one person dead in a crash on a snow-slicked highway. The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office says 39-year-old Heidi Parrish, of Talmage, died after she lost control of her pickup truck early Monday morning on Nebraska Highway 2 near Palmyra and collided with another pickup. Weather forecasts had predicted a dusting or up to an inch of snow for areas in and around Omaha late Sunday. But many residents awoke Monday to more than 3 inches of snow on the ground, including Bennington, which say 3.5 inches of snow overnight.

1 killed in crash as winter storm slickens Nebraska roads

By BRAD ASHFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/03/07/brad-ashford-the-time-is-right-for-nebraska-prison-reform/">Courtesy Nebraska Examiner</a>

For the 
better part of my legislative career, I have focused on the justice 
system, including chairing the Judiciary Committee and working to reform
 juvenile justice. Lately I have been reflecting on the opportunity&nbsp;this
 session to address prison reform, a critical element to our state’s 
success.

Constructing a new facility without 
accompanying programs would be useless. It is folly to think that a new 
facility meant only to house inmates will solve anything.&nbsp; We need to 
center our approach on mental health — before, during and after 
incarceration.&nbsp; Mental health includes behavioral health and substance 
abuse. Additional programs which require our attention include job 
reentry, housing and family reunification.

And let’s not allow a new facility to be an 
add-on. If the new facility is built, the current dilapidated facility 
must be demolished. The tax burden would increase substantially if both 
facilities were in use, and we do not want to travel down the road of 
incarcerating more of our fellow Nebraskans.

I am encouraged in talking to my former 
colleagues in the Nebraska Legislature. Sen. Steve Lathrop, leading 
members of the Unicameral, members of the Judiciary branch led by the 
Nebraska Supreme Court, together with the governor and the Executive 
Branch are working toward a solution.

I am heartened by the willingness of the 
legislative body to listen to the community most impacted by this issue.
 We are learning that the families who have personal experience are a 
crucial part of the conversation. We must do more listening.

In my years working on this issue, I believe
 we have the best opportunity we have seen in decades to accomplish 
these goals. I often found that the best ideas occur in the last minutes
 of the legislative session. We must not lose hope that a meaningful 
compromise is always possible.

Brad Ashford, Omaha, is a public servant and attorney. He served four terms in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature and one term in the U.S. House of Representatives.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646666242176.png" alt="The Nebraska State Penitentiary on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, in Lincoln. (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>The Nebraska State Penitentiary on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, in Lincoln. (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRAD ASHFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/03/07/brad-ashford-the-time-is-right-for-nebraska-prison-reform/">Courtesy Nebraska Examiner</a>For the 
better part of my legislative career, I have focused on the justice 
system, including chairing the Judiciary Committee and working to reform
 juvenile justice. Lately I have been reflecting on the opportunity&nbsp;this
 session to address prison reform, a critical element to our state’s 
success.Constructing a new facility without 
accompanying programs would be useless. It is folly to think that a new 
facility meant only to house inmates will solve anything.&nbsp; We need to 
center our approach on mental health — before, during and after 
incarceration.&nbsp; Mental health includes behavioral health and substance 
abuse. Additional programs which require our attention include job 
reentry, housing and family reunification.And let’s not allow a new facility to be an 
add-on. If the new facility is built, the current dilapidated facility 
must be demolished. The tax burden would increase substantially if both 
facilities were in use, and we do not want to travel down the road of 
incarcerating more of our fellow Nebraskans.I am encouraged in talking to my former 
colleagues in the Nebraska Legislature. Sen. Steve Lathrop, leading 
members of the Unicameral, members of the Judiciary branch led by the 
Nebraska Supreme Court, together with the governor and the Executive 
Branch are working toward a solution.I am heartened by the willingness of the 
legislative body to listen to the community most impacted by this issue.
 We are learning that the families who have personal experience are a 
crucial part of the conversation. We must do more listening.In my years working on this issue, I believe
 we have the best opportunity we have seen in decades to accomplish 
these goals. I often found that the best ideas occur in the last minutes
 of the legislative session. We must not lose hope that a meaningful 
compromise is always possible.Brad Ashford, Omaha, is a public servant and attorney. He served four terms in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature and one term in the U.S. House of Representatives.&nbsp;

OPINION: The time is right for Nebraska prison reform

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An unexpected amount of snow in eastern Nebraska has canceled in-person classes and slicked streets. 

Weather forecasts around the Omaha area had predicted a dusting or up to an inch of snow late Sunday. But many residents awoke Monday to more than 3 inches of snow on the ground. 

Bennington just north of Omaha reported 3.5 inches of snow by Monday morning, with other communities in and around Omaha reporting just under 2 inches to 3 inches. 

That snow came a day after heavy snowfall in western and central Nebraska that saw up to 8 inches in rural areas north of North Platte.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641474767525.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An unexpected amount of snow in eastern Nebraska has canceled in-person classes and slicked streets. Weather forecasts around the Omaha area had predicted a dusting or up to an inch of snow late Sunday. But many residents awoke Monday to more than 3 inches of snow on the ground. Bennington just north of Omaha reported 3.5 inches of snow by Monday morning, with other communities in and around Omaha reporting just under 2 inches to 3 inches. That snow came a day after heavy snowfall in western and central Nebraska that saw up to 8 inches in rural areas north of North Platte.

Surprise snow in Nebraska cancels classes, slicks roads

Double R Boxing Presents the 90th Annual Central District Golden Gloves Tournament at the Heartland Events Center at Fonner Park and will host 15-20 amateur Boxing matches. These young boxers will try to advance to the National Golden Gloves Tournament in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Come and watch boxers from Lincoln all the way to the panhandle of Nebraska to South Dakota and everywhere in between square off for the right to be called the 90th Central District Golden Gloves Champion.

Tickets go on sale March, 1, 2022 at 10:00 am. Fight night as stated above is Saturday, April 2nd, doors open at 5 pm and fights start at 6 pm. Ticket costs are: General Admission $20, Preferred Seating $40, Table Seats $50 per seat (10 seats per table). All tickets can be purchased at the Heartland Events Center box office or online at etix.com.

For sponsor tables please contact Justin Collins at justincollins1978@gmail.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646667050710.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>News Release Fonner ParkDouble R Boxing Presents the 90th Annual Central District Golden Gloves Tournament at the Heartland Events Center at Fonner Park and will host 15-20 amateur Boxing matches. These young boxers will try to advance to the National Golden Gloves Tournament in Tulsa, Oklahoma.Come and watch boxers from Lincoln all the way to the panhandle of Nebraska to South Dakota and everywhere in between square off for the right to be called the 90th Central District Golden Gloves Champion.Tickets go on sale March, 1, 2022 at 10:00 am. Fight night as stated above is Saturday, April 2nd, doors open at 5 pm and fights start at 6 pm. Ticket costs are: General Admission $20, Preferred Seating $40, Table Seats $50 per seat (10 seats per table). All tickets can be purchased at the Heartland Events Center box office or online at etix.com.For sponsor tables please contact Justin Collins at justincollins1978@gmail.com.

Fonner Park to host Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament

‘It was like Omaha … and then it changed overnight’

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/03/06/ukrainians-in-nebraska-worry-for-loved-ones-dread-what-the-future-may-bring/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — The message on Halyna Carbullido’s Facebook page says a lot:&nbsp;

“My morning doesn’t start with coffee any more. It starts with making sure my friends and relatives in Ukraine are still alive.”

This
 is the world inhabited by Ukranians in America right now. They’re glued
 to the internet, to their cell phone, to news reports to follow what’s 
happening in their home country.

They’re
 collecting first-aid kits and bandages to ship back home. They’re 
speaking at rallies seeking American support. They’re spending sleepless
 nights, worrying about loved ones.&nbsp;

“Every
 waking moment I’m online,” said Carbullido, who emigrated from Ukraine 
to Omaha in 1991 and has been married to her husband, Ken Carbullido, 
for 10 years. Everyone knows her by her nickname, “Hala.”

The
 56-year-old, who does IT work for an Omaha bank, was helping load up a 
truck Sunday with medical supplies for shipment to Chicago and on to her
 home country. These days, she said, sleep comes only “with help.”

In
 Lincoln on Sunday, 20-year old Yulia Iziumova, a junior at Nebraska 
Wesleyan University, spoke to a “Rally to Support Peace in Ukraine” on 
the steps of the State Capitol.

The
 former exchange student at Lincoln High School said the fighting hasn’t
 yet reached her hometown of Chornomorsk, near the port city of Odessa. 
But the war is close by, in eastern Ukraine, and is closing in.

“I have classmates who are now at the front,” Iziumova said of friends in Ukraine.&nbsp;

Her
 mother fled across the border to Moldova, but her father, Igor, a 
42-year-old crane operator at the port of Odessa, has stayed behind, 
with her grandparents, an aunt and uncle and some cousins.

“He thought it was the right thing to stay and help defend the country in any way he can,” Iziumova said of her father.

Right
 now, the port is closed, but soldiers are there, sandbagging, preparing
 for a possible invasion of Odessa. She said she can feel the tension, 
the horrible anticipation. She said she’s become a “slave” to the news 
feed.

“I’m just hoping not to hear the word ‘Odessa,’” Iziumova said.

“Nobody knows what tomorrow looks like,” she added. “That’s a very hard thing.”

In Omaha, Carbullido feels the same anxiety, the same awful feeling about what could happen next.

She grew up in Lviv, in western Ukraine, a cultural hub near Poland that has escaped the shellings so far.

But
 she knows people in the east where bombs are falling and people are 
dying. And her 61-year-old brother, Rostyslav, a retired oil company 
logistics manager, and his wife are still in Lviv, waiting.

The
 brother, she said, drove his former daughter-in-law (their son died 
three years ago), her three kids and her new husband to the Polish 
border just after the war broke out. They waited in line for 18 hours 
before being allowed to leave Ukraine and are now at a refugee dormitory
 in Germany, waiting for COVID-19 tests to clear them to find temporary 
housing.

Carbullido said her brother doesn’t want her to ask what he will do when the war comes to Lviv.

&nbsp;“He refuses to talk about it,” she said. “He doesn’t want me to bug him about, ‘You must have your luggage packed.’”

“’At least do that,’ I told him,” Carbullido said.&nbsp;

For
 now, the brother is “staying out of the way.” She said he is part of a 
network of Lviv residents who are giving rides to those evacuating the 
city of 717,000.

Lviv,
 Carbullido said, is known as “The Paris of Ukraine” because of its 
beautiful architecture, culture and monuments. But now residents are 
boarding up windows and covering the monuments to protect them when the 
shooting starts.&nbsp;

“It
 was like Omaha,” Carbullido said of Lviv. “You wake up in the morning, 
you go to work, you drop your kids at school, you meet your friends for 
drinks at night …

“And then it changed overnight,” she said. “Now Ukraine is in ruins.”

Carbullido,
 who landed in Omaha because a local Ukranian church was willing to 
sponsor her and her son, said that Ukraine did not ask for war but that 
she expected that Russian president Vladmir Putin would someday invent a
 reason to invade.

“They
 think Ukraine belongs to them. They think Ukraine should work hard to 
support Russia and doesn’t deserve to be a separate country,” she said.

Carbuillido
 said that her home country, which she last visited nine years ago, has 
political divisions like any nation, but is united in the fight against 
Russia.

“They know what kind of life their relatives have across the border (in Russia) and they don’t want it,” she said.

Both
 Carbullido and Iziumova said the war in Ukraine is more than a fight 
between that country and Russia, but a fight against the whole world.

No one, they said, expects the U.S. to send troops there, but Ukraine needs more help.

Send
 drones, Carbullido posted on her Facebook page — along with pictures of
 newborns housed in a bomb shelter, a woman confronting a Russian 
soldier, and elderly women cooking food for Ukrainian troops.&nbsp;

“Oh, my God. I don’t know,” Carbullido said. “I’ve been reading different analyses. I don’t know.”

“I’m scared to think of the worst-case scenario: Occupation,” she said. “It’s just heartbreaking.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646661986560.png" alt="Dozens of people rallied on Saturday in Lincoln in support of Ukraine. Another rally by Nebraskans for Peace was held Sunday on the steps of the State Capitol. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Dozens of people rallied on Saturday in Lincoln in support of Ukraine. Another rally by Nebraskans for Peace was held Sunday on the steps of the State Capitol. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘It was like Omaha … and then it changed overnight’</h2>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/03/06/ukrainians-in-nebraska-worry-for-loved-ones-dread-what-the-future-may-bring/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — The message on Halyna Carbullido’s Facebook page says a lot:&nbsp;“My morning doesn’t start with coffee any more. It starts with making sure my friends and relatives in Ukraine are still alive.”This
 is the world inhabited by Ukranians in America right now. They’re glued
 to the internet, to their cell phone, to news reports to follow what’s 
happening in their home country.<h2>‘Every waking moment I’m online’</h2>They’re
 collecting first-aid kits and bandages to ship back home. They’re 
speaking at rallies seeking American support. They’re spending sleepless
 nights, worrying about loved ones.&nbsp;“Every
 waking moment I’m online,” said Carbullido, who emigrated from Ukraine 
to Omaha in 1991 and has been married to her husband, Ken Carbullido, 
for 10 years. Everyone knows her by her nickname, “Hala.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646662064069.jpeg" alt="On Sunday, Ukraine supporters in Omaha collected first-aid kits and other supplies for shipment to the war-torn country. Pictured is the organizer, Natalia Lys. (Courtesy of Hala Carbullido)" />
 <figcaption>On Sunday, Ukraine supporters in Omaha collected first-aid kits and other supplies for shipment to the war-torn country. Pictured is the organizer, Natalia Lys. (Courtesy of Hala Carbullido)</figcaption>
 </figure>The
 56-year-old, who does IT work for an Omaha bank, was helping load up a 
truck Sunday with medical supplies for shipment to Chicago and on to her
 home country. These days, she said, sleep comes only “with help.”In
 Lincoln on Sunday, 20-year old Yulia Iziumova, a junior at Nebraska 
Wesleyan University, spoke to a “Rally to Support Peace in Ukraine” on 
the steps of the State Capitol.<h2>Classmates at the front</h2>The
 former exchange student at Lincoln High School said the fighting hasn’t
 yet reached her hometown of Chornomorsk, near the port city of Odessa. 
But the war is close by, in eastern Ukraine, and is closing in.“I have classmates who are now at the front,” Iziumova said of friends in Ukraine.&nbsp;Her
 mother fled across the border to Moldova, but her father, Igor, a 
42-year-old crane operator at the port of Odessa, has stayed behind, 
with her grandparents, an aunt and uncle and some cousins.“He thought it was the right thing to stay and help defend the country in any way he can,” Iziumova said of her father.Right
 now, the port is closed, but soldiers are there, sandbagging, preparing
 for a possible invasion of Odessa. She said she can feel the tension, 
the horrible anticipation. She said she’s become a “slave” to the news 
feed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646662090050.jpeg" alt="Yulia Iziumova, a Ukranian student at Nebraska Wesleyan University (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Yulia Iziumova, a Ukranian student at Nebraska Wesleyan University (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Hoping not to hear ‘Odessa’</h2>“I’m just hoping not to hear the word ‘Odessa,’” Iziumova said.“Nobody knows what tomorrow looks like,” she added. “That’s a very hard thing.”In Omaha, Carbullido feels the same anxiety, the same awful feeling about what could happen next.She grew up in Lviv, in western Ukraine, a cultural hub near Poland that has escaped the shellings so far.But
 she knows people in the east where bombs are falling and people are 
dying. And her 61-year-old brother, Rostyslav, a retired oil company 
logistics manager, and his wife are still in Lviv, waiting.<h2>Fled to Germany</h2>The
 brother, she said, drove his former daughter-in-law (their son died 
three years ago), her three kids and her new husband to the Polish 
border just after the war broke out. They waited in line for 18 hours 
before being allowed to leave Ukraine and are now at a refugee dormitory
 in Germany, waiting for COVID-19 tests to clear them to find temporary 
housing.Carbullido said her brother doesn’t want her to ask what he will do when the war comes to Lviv.&nbsp;“He refuses to talk about it,” she said. “He doesn’t want me to bug him about, ‘You must have your luggage packed.’”“’At least do that,’ I told him,” Carbullido said.&nbsp;For
 now, the brother is “staying out of the way.” She said he is part of a 
network of Lviv residents who are giving rides to those evacuating the 
city of 717,000.<h2>‘It was like Omaha …”</h2>Lviv,
 Carbullido said, is known as “The Paris of Ukraine” because of its 
beautiful architecture, culture and monuments. But now residents are 
boarding up windows and covering the monuments to protect them when the 
shooting starts.&nbsp;“It
 was like Omaha,” Carbullido said of Lviv. “You wake up in the morning, 
you go to work, you drop your kids at school, you meet your friends for 
drinks at night …“And then it changed overnight,” she said. “Now Ukraine is in ruins.”Carbullido,
 who landed in Omaha because a local Ukranian church was willing to 
sponsor her and her son, said that Ukraine did not ask for war but that 
she expected that Russian president Vladmir Putin would someday invent a
 reason to invade.“They
 think Ukraine belongs to them. They think Ukraine should work hard to 
support Russia and doesn’t deserve to be a separate country,” she said.Carbuillido
 said that her home country, which she last visited nine years ago, has 
political divisions like any nation, but is united in the fight against 
Russia.“They know what kind of life their relatives have across the border (in Russia) and they don’t want it,” she said.Both
 Carbullido and Iziumova said the war in Ukraine is more than a fight 
between that country and Russia, but a fight against the whole world.<h2>Send drones</h2>No one, they said, expects the U.S. to send troops there, but Ukraine needs more help.Send
 drones, Carbullido posted on her Facebook page — along with pictures of
 newborns housed in a bomb shelter, a woman confronting a Russian 
soldier, and elderly women cooking food for Ukrainian troops.&nbsp;What’s to come for her home country?“Oh, my God. I don’t know,” Carbullido said. “I’ve been reading different analyses. I don’t know.”“I’m scared to think of the worst-case scenario: Occupation,” she said. “It’s just heartbreaking.”

Ukrainians in Nebraska worry for loved ones, worry for future

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced it has 
begun using voice and chat bots on two of its specialized toll-free 
telephone assistance lines and IRS.gov, enabling taxpayers with simple 
payment or collection notice questions to get what they need quickly and
 avoid waiting. Taxpayers can still speak with an IRS telephone 
representative if needed.

"Our phone lines continue to see unprecedented demand, and the IRS 
continues to look for ways to help people and avoid long wait times," 
said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "Our telephone representatives 
remain an important part of the service we provide, but these bots can 
help some people avoid lengthy phone delays for something that could be 
resolved on the spot. This is part of a larger effort to help people get
 the assistance they need this tax season."

The IRS in recent weeks has deployed voice and chat bots in English 
and Spanish for phone lines that assist taxpayers with tax payments 
issues or understanding an IRS notice they may have received. People 
with general tax season questions generally will not encounter these 
features at this time. The bots are now available to help taxpayers 
with:

Voice bots are software powered by artificial intelligence (AI) 
that allow a caller to navigate an interactive voice response (IVR) 
system with their voice, generally using natural language. Chat bots 
simulate human conversation through web-based text interaction, also 
using AI-powered software to respond to natural language prompts. 
Taxpayers who request to speak with a customer service representative 
will be placed in queue for English or Spanish ACS telephone assistance.
 The IRS voice and chat bots currently provide unauthenticated services,
 which means they cannot provide assistance with a taxpayer's protected 
account information.

"Voice and chat bots interact with taxpayers in easy-to-follow ways, 
which means taxpayers don't have to wait on hold to handle simple 
tasks," said Darren Guillot, Commissioner of Small Business/Self 
Employed Collection at the IRS.

Later in 2022, IRS voice bots will also enable taxpayers to 
authenticate their identity to establish payment plans, request a 
transcript and obtain information about their accounts, such as payoff 
details. The IRS plans to roll out more voice and chat bots later in 
2022 to assist taxpayers with more complex issues.

IRS toll-free telephone lines receive millions of calls a year. A 
customer service representative spends on average nearly 20 minutes with
 each taxpayer they help on a collection issue. Freeing up IRS phone 
assistors for taxpayers with complex collection issues who need to speak
 with someone is another major benefit of voice and chat bots.

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced it has 
begun using voice and chat bots on two of its specialized toll-free 
telephone assistance lines and IRS.gov, enabling taxpayers with simple 
payment or collection notice questions to get what they need quickly and
 avoid waiting. Taxpayers can still speak with an IRS telephone 
representative if needed."Our phone lines continue to see unprecedented demand, and the IRS 
continues to look for ways to help people and avoid long wait times," 
said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "Our telephone representatives 
remain an important part of the service we provide, but these bots can 
help some people avoid lengthy phone delays for something that could be 
resolved on the spot. This is part of a larger effort to help people get
 the assistance they need this tax season."The IRS in recent weeks has deployed voice and chat bots in English 
and Spanish for phone lines that assist taxpayers with tax payments 
issues or understanding an IRS notice they may have received. People 
with general tax season questions generally will not encounter these 
features at this time. The bots are now available to help taxpayers 
with:<ul>
 <li>How to make one-time payments</li><li>Answers to frequently asked questions</li><li>Collection notice clarification</li>
 </ul>Voice bots are software powered by artificial intelligence (AI) 
that allow a caller to navigate an interactive voice response (IVR) 
system with their voice, generally using natural language. Chat bots 
simulate human conversation through web-based text interaction, also 
using AI-powered software to respond to natural language prompts. 
Taxpayers who request to speak with a customer service representative 
will be placed in queue for English or Spanish ACS telephone assistance.
 The IRS voice and chat bots currently provide unauthenticated services,
 which means they cannot provide assistance with a taxpayer's protected 
account information."Voice and chat bots interact with taxpayers in easy-to-follow ways, 
which means taxpayers don't have to wait on hold to handle simple 
tasks," said Darren Guillot, Commissioner of Small Business/Self 
Employed Collection at the IRS.Later in 2022, IRS voice bots will also enable taxpayers to 
authenticate their identity to establish payment plans, request a 
transcript and obtain information about their accounts, such as payoff 
details. The IRS plans to roll out more voice and chat bots later in 
2022 to assist taxpayers with more complex issues.IRS toll-free telephone lines receive millions of calls a year. A 
customer service representative spends on average nearly 20 minutes with
 each taxpayer they help on a collection issue. Freeing up IRS phone 
assistors for taxpayers with complex collection issues who need to speak
 with someone is another major benefit of voice and chat bots.In addition to the payment lines, voice bots helped people calling 
the Economic Impact Payment (EIP) toll-free line, providing general 
procedural responses to frequently asked questions. The IRS also added 
voice bots for the Advance Child Tax Credit toll-free line in February 
to provide similar assistance to callers who need help reconciling the 
credits on their 2021 tax return.The IRS also reminds taxpayers about numerous other <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/get-ready-for-taxes-bookmark-irsgov-resources-and-online-tools-to-use-before-during-and-after-filing">self-service options</a> that are available.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

IRS: Voice, text bots will now answer your tax questions

NEW YORK (AP) — The average price of regular gasoline across the U.S. has risen above $4 per gallon for the first time since 2008. 

The AAA motor club said the price of regular gas went up by almost 41 cents during the past week. That comes in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and represents the second-largest jump in average national prices in a week. 

The head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy said the Russian invasion and seasonal price changes mean Americans should prepare to pay more for gas than ever before. 

The all-time high for average gasoline prices was set in July 17, 2008 at $4.10 per gallon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646653109818.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSNEW YORK (AP) — The average price of regular gasoline across the U.S. has risen above $4 per gallon for the first time since 2008. The AAA motor club said the price of regular gas went up by almost 41 cents during the past week. That comes in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and represents the second-largest jump in average national prices in a week. The head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy said the Russian invasion and seasonal price changes mean Americans should prepare to pay more for gas than ever before. The all-time high for average gasoline prices was set in July 17, 2008 at $4.10 per gallon.

Gas tops $4 per gallon average, 1st time since 2008

(AP)-Netflix and TikTok suspended most of their services in Russia on Sunday as the government cracks down on what people and media outlets can say about Russia’s war in Ukraine. 

Pulling the plug on online entertainment — and information — is likely to further isolate the country and its people after a growing number of multinational businesses have cut off Russia from vital financial services, technology and a variety of consumer products in response to Western economic sanctions and global outrage over the invasion of Ukraine. 

Other companies that said they were cutting ties to Russia Sunday included two of the Big Four accounting firms and American Express.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646653035162.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS(AP)-Netflix and TikTok suspended most of their services in Russia on Sunday as the government cracks down on what people and media outlets can say about Russia’s war in Ukraine. Pulling the plug on online entertainment — and information — is likely to further isolate the country and its people after a growing number of multinational businesses have cut off Russia from vital financial services, technology and a variety of consumer products in response to Western economic sanctions and global outrage over the invasion of Ukraine. Other companies that said they were cutting ties to Russia Sunday included two of the Big Four accounting firms and American Express.

Netflix, TikTok block services in Russia to avoid crackdown

BANGKOK (AP) — The official global death toll from COVID-19 eclipsed 6 million on Monday — underscoring that the pandemic, now entering its third year, is far from over.

The milestone, recorded by Johns Hopkins University, is the latest tragic reminder of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">unrelenting nature of the pandemic</a>&nbsp;even as people are shedding masks, travel is resuming and businesses are reopening around the globe.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-religion-new-zealand-fiji-27b40edd3d6e94c5b10185e49bbf182f">Remote Pacific islands,</a>&nbsp;whose isolation had protected them for more than two years, are just now grappling with their first outbreaks and deaths, fueled by the highly contagious omicron variant.

Hong Kong, which is seeing deaths soar, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-china-hong-kong-400065ee2ffd08eee45411d6dc099cca">testing its entire population of 7.5 million&nbsp;</a>three times this month as it clings to mainland&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-china-hong-kong-2f6cf36849799aa67cd8ee8d4f5bfd64">China’s “zero-COVID” strategy</a>.

As death rates remain high in Poland, Hungary, Romania and other Eastern European countries, the region has seen more than 1.5 million refugees arrive from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war-torn Ukraine</a>, a country with poor vaccination coverage and high rates of cases and deaths.

And despite its wealth and vaccine availability, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-hits-covid-deaths-milestone-coronavirus-omicron-76dc452fb7263612529e09eb23bc0f24">United States is nearing 1 million</a>&nbsp;reported deaths on its own.

Death rates worldwide are still highest among people unvaccinated against the virus, said Tikki Pang, a visiting professor at the National University of Singapore’s medical school and co-chair of the Asia Pacific Immunization Coalition.

“This is a disease of the unvaccinated — look what is happening in Hong Kong right now, the health system is being overwhelmed,” said Pang, the former director of research policy and cooperation with the World Health Organization. “The large majority of the deaths and the severe cases are in the unvaccinated, vulnerable segment of the population.”

It took the world seven months to record its first million deaths from the virus after the pandemic began in early 2020. Four months later another million people had died, and 1 million have died every three months since, until the death toll hit 5 million at the end of October. Now it has reached 6 million — more than the populations of Berlin and Brussels combined, or the entire state of Maryland.

But despite the enormity of the figure, the world undoubtedly hit its 6 millionth death some time ago. Poor record-keeping and testing in many parts of the world has led to an undercount in coronavirus deaths, in addition to excess deaths related to the pandemic but not from actual COVID-19 infections, like people who died from preventable causes but could not receive treatment because hospitals were full.

Edouard Mathieu, head of data for the&nbsp;<a href="https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus" target="_blank">Our World in Data</a>&nbsp;portal, said that — when countries’ excess mortality figures are studied — as many as nearly four times the reported death toll have likely died because of the pandemic.

An&nbsp;<a href="https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/coronavirus-excess-deaths-estimates" target="_blank">analysis of excess deaths by a team at The Economist</a>&nbsp;estimates that the number of COVID-19 deaths is between 14.1 million and 23.8 million.

“Confirmed deaths represent a fraction of the true number of deaths due to COVID, mostly because of limited testing, and challenges in the attribution of the cause of death,” Mathieu told The Associated Press. “In some, mostly rich, countries that fraction is high and the official tally can be considered to be fairly accurate, but in others it is highly underestimated.”

The United States has the biggest official death toll in the world, but the numbers have been trending downward over the last month.

Lonnie Bailey lost his 17-year-old nephew, Carlos Nunez Jr., who contracted COVID-19 last April — the same month Kentucky opened his age group to vaccinations. The Louisville resident said the family is still suffering, including Carlos’ younger sibling, who had to be hospitalized himself and still has lingering symptoms. The aggressive reopening of the country has been jarring for them to witness.

“For us it is hard to let our guard down; it’s going to take a while for us to adjust,” Bailey said.

The world has seen more than 445 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, and new weekly cases have been declining recently in all regions except for the Western Pacific, which includes China, Japan and South Korea, among others, the World Health Organization reported this week.

Although the overall figures in the Pacific islands seeing their first outbreaks are small compared to larger countries, they are significant among their tiny populations and threaten to overwhelm fragile health care systems.

“Given what we know about COVID ... it’s likely to hit them for the next year or so at least,” said Katie Greenwood, head of the Red Cross Pacific delegation.

Tonga reported its first outbreak after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tonga-volcano-covid-outbreak-lockdown-73b2d73b2b41092898b3d92be3dabcc4">virus arrived with international aid vessels</a>&nbsp;following the Jan. 15 eruption of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tonga-volcano-eruption-impact-whats-next-01288e5ecc43aa9a9bf3bc2803efd7e2">massive volcano</a>, followed by a tsunami. It now has several hundred cases, but — with 66% of its population fully vaccinated — it has so far reported people suffering mostly mild symptoms and no deaths.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-solomon-islands-honiara-30d3df8cb0f809c9e3e5a0cc5c6f886f">Solomon Islands</a>&nbsp;saw the first outbreak in January and now has thousands of cases and more than 100 deaths. The actual death toll is likely much higher, with the capital’s hospital overwhelmed and many dying at home, Greenwood said.

Only 12% of Solomon Islanders are fully vaccinated, though the outbreak has provided new impetus to the country’s vaccination campaign and 29% now have at least one shot.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-inequality-dac9c07b324e29d3597037b8dc1d908a">Global vaccine disparity continues</a>, with only 6.95% of people in low-income countries fully vaccinated, compared to more than 73% in high-income nations, according to Our World in Data.

In a good sign, at the end of last month Africa surpassed Europe in the number of doses administered daily, but only about 12.5% of its population has received two shots.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is still pressing for more vaccines, though it has been a challenge. Some shipments arrive with little warning for countries’ health systems and others near the expiration date — forcing doses to be destroyed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593379644162.png" alt="And despite&nbsp; wealth and vaccine availability, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-hits-covid-deaths-milestone-coronavirus-omicron-76dc452fb7263612529e09eb23bc0f24">United States is nearing 1 million</a>&nbsp;reported deaths on its own.-map courtesy John Hopkins University" />
 <figcaption>And despite&nbsp; wealth and vaccine availability, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-hits-covid-deaths-milestone-coronavirus-omicron-76dc452fb7263612529e09eb23bc0f24">United States is nearing 1 million</a>&nbsp;reported deaths on its own.-map courtesy John Hopkins University</figcaption>
 </figure>BANGKOK (AP) — The official global death toll from COVID-19 eclipsed 6 million on Monday — underscoring that the pandemic, now entering its third year, is far from over.The milestone, recorded by Johns Hopkins University, is the latest tragic reminder of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">unrelenting nature of the pandemic</a>&nbsp;even as people are shedding masks, travel is resuming and businesses are reopening around the globe.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-religion-new-zealand-fiji-27b40edd3d6e94c5b10185e49bbf182f">Remote Pacific islands,</a>&nbsp;whose isolation had protected them for more than two years, are just now grappling with their first outbreaks and deaths, fueled by the highly contagious omicron variant.Hong Kong, which is seeing deaths soar, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-china-hong-kong-400065ee2ffd08eee45411d6dc099cca">testing its entire population of 7.5 million&nbsp;</a>three times this month as it clings to mainland&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-china-hong-kong-2f6cf36849799aa67cd8ee8d4f5bfd64">China’s “zero-COVID” strategy</a>.As death rates remain high in Poland, Hungary, Romania and other Eastern European countries, the region has seen more than 1.5 million refugees arrive from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war-torn Ukraine</a>, a country with poor vaccination coverage and high rates of cases and deaths.And despite its wealth and vaccine availability, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-hits-covid-deaths-milestone-coronavirus-omicron-76dc452fb7263612529e09eb23bc0f24">United States is nearing 1 million</a>&nbsp;reported deaths on its own.Death rates worldwide are still highest among people unvaccinated against the virus, said Tikki Pang, a visiting professor at the National University of Singapore’s medical school and co-chair of the Asia Pacific Immunization Coalition.“This is a disease of the unvaccinated — look what is happening in Hong Kong right now, the health system is being overwhelmed,” said Pang, the former director of research policy and cooperation with the World Health Organization. “The large majority of the deaths and the severe cases are in the unvaccinated, vulnerable segment of the population.”It took the world seven months to record its first million deaths from the virus after the pandemic began in early 2020. Four months later another million people had died, and 1 million have died every three months since, until the death toll hit 5 million at the end of October. Now it has reached 6 million — more than the populations of Berlin and Brussels combined, or the entire state of Maryland.But despite the enormity of the figure, the world undoubtedly hit its 6 millionth death some time ago. Poor record-keeping and testing in many parts of the world has led to an undercount in coronavirus deaths, in addition to excess deaths related to the pandemic but not from actual COVID-19 infections, like people who died from preventable causes but could not receive treatment because hospitals were full.Edouard Mathieu, head of data for the&nbsp;<a href="https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus" target="_blank">Our World in Data</a>&nbsp;portal, said that — when countries’ excess mortality figures are studied — as many as nearly four times the reported death toll have likely died because of the pandemic.An&nbsp;<a href="https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/coronavirus-excess-deaths-estimates" target="_blank">analysis of excess deaths by a team at The Economist</a>&nbsp;estimates that the number of COVID-19 deaths is between 14.1 million and 23.8 million.“Confirmed deaths represent a fraction of the true number of deaths due to COVID, mostly because of limited testing, and challenges in the attribution of the cause of death,” Mathieu told The Associated Press. “In some, mostly rich, countries that fraction is high and the official tally can be considered to be fairly accurate, but in others it is highly underestimated.”The United States has the biggest official death toll in the world, but the numbers have been trending downward over the last month.Lonnie Bailey lost his 17-year-old nephew, Carlos Nunez Jr., who contracted COVID-19 last April — the same month Kentucky opened his age group to vaccinations. The Louisville resident said the family is still suffering, including Carlos’ younger sibling, who had to be hospitalized himself and still has lingering symptoms. The aggressive reopening of the country has been jarring for them to witness.“For us it is hard to let our guard down; it’s going to take a while for us to adjust,” Bailey said.The world has seen more than 445 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, and new weekly cases have been declining recently in all regions except for the Western Pacific, which includes China, Japan and South Korea, among others, the World Health Organization reported this week.Although the overall figures in the Pacific islands seeing their first outbreaks are small compared to larger countries, they are significant among their tiny populations and threaten to overwhelm fragile health care systems.“Given what we know about COVID ... it’s likely to hit them for the next year or so at least,” said Katie Greenwood, head of the Red Cross Pacific delegation.Tonga reported its first outbreak after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tonga-volcano-covid-outbreak-lockdown-73b2d73b2b41092898b3d92be3dabcc4">virus arrived with international aid vessels</a>&nbsp;following the Jan. 15 eruption of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tonga-volcano-eruption-impact-whats-next-01288e5ecc43aa9a9bf3bc2803efd7e2">massive volcano</a>, followed by a tsunami. It now has several hundred cases, but — with 66% of its population fully vaccinated — it has so far reported people suffering mostly mild symptoms and no deaths.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-solomon-islands-honiara-30d3df8cb0f809c9e3e5a0cc5c6f886f">Solomon Islands</a>&nbsp;saw the first outbreak in January and now has thousands of cases and more than 100 deaths. The actual death toll is likely much higher, with the capital’s hospital overwhelmed and many dying at home, Greenwood said.Only 12% of Solomon Islanders are fully vaccinated, though the outbreak has provided new impetus to the country’s vaccination campaign and 29% now have at least one shot.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-inequality-dac9c07b324e29d3597037b8dc1d908a">Global vaccine disparity continues</a>, with only 6.95% of people in low-income countries fully vaccinated, compared to more than 73% in high-income nations, according to Our World in Data.In a good sign, at the end of last month Africa surpassed Europe in the number of doses administered daily, but only about 12.5% of its population has received two shots.The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is still pressing for more vaccines, though it has been a challenge. Some shipments arrive with little warning for countries’ health systems and others near the expiration date — forcing doses to be destroyed.Eastern Europe has been particularly hard hit by the omicron variant, and with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a new risk has emerged as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-refugees-diversity-230b0cc790820b9bf8883f918fc8e313">hundreds of thousands of people flee</a>&nbsp;to places like Poland on crowded trains. Health officials there have been offering free vaccinations to all refugees, but have not been making them test upon arrival or quarantine.“This is really tragic because great stress has a very negative effect on natural immunity and increases the risk of infections,” said Anna Boron-Kaczmarska, a Polish infectious disease specialist. “They are in very high stress, being afraid for their lives, the lives of their children, they family members.”Mexico has reported 300,000 deaths, but with little testing, a government analysis of death certificates puts the real number closer to 500,000. Still, four weeks of falling infection rates have left health officials optimistic.In India, where the world was shocked by images of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-india-coronavirus-8788a4dadc2103ec30f40111dec92f15">open-air pyres of bodies</a>&nbsp;burned as crematoria were overwhelmed, the scars are fading as the number of new cases and deaths has slowed.India has recorded more than 500,000 deaths, but experts believe its true toll is in the millions, primarily from the delta variant. Migrants from India’s vast hinterland are now returning to its megacities in search of jobs, and the streets are packed with traffic. Shopping malls have customers, albeit still masked, while schools and universities are welcoming students after a months-long gap.In Britain, infections have fallen since an omicron-driven surge in December, but remain high. England has now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boris-johnson-coronavirus-pandemic-health-europe-london-6a4a2509fd5443d7b36f5331b01f7431">lifted all restrictions</a>, including mask mandates and the requirement that all who test positive isolate at home.With about 250,000 reported deaths, the African continent’s smaller death toll is thought to stem from underreporting, as well as a generally younger and less mobile population.“Africa is a big question mark for me, because it has been relatively spared from the worst so far, but it could just be a time bomb,” Pang said, noting its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-middle-east-africa-lifestyle-1f2c92d6a306819c363c87661dc7818d">low vaccination rates</a>.In South Africa, Soweto resident Thoko Dube said she received news of the deaths of two family members on the same day in January 2021 — a month before the country received its first vaccines.It has been difficult, but “the family is coping,” she said. “We have accepted it because it has been happening to other families.”