By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/stretch-of-highway-near-greeley-is-named-after-former-husker-punter-sam-foltz/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

A small Nebraska town has won approval to memorialize a local football hero.

A portion of Nebraska Highway 56 near Greeley has now been officially designated as the “Sam Foltz Memorial Highway.”

Foltz,
 whose family is from the Greeley area, was a star punter for the 
Huskers until being tragically killed in a vehicle accident in Wisconsin
 in July 2016.

Foltz
 attended Grand Island High School and joined the University of Nebraska
 football team as a walk-on, meaning he wasn’t given a scholarship. But 
he eventually earned a scholarship and blossomed into the Big 10 punter 
of the year in 2015. Foltz was seen as a prime prospect for the NFL.

Gov. Pete Ricketts signed a resolution last week naming a 12.9-mile segment of Highway 56 after Foltz. Five generations of the Foltz family have farmed along that stretch of highway, including Sam Foltz’s parents, Gerald and Jill Foltz.

The
 Greeley Citizen reported that the naming project was launched by a 
local committee of citizens led by Mary Ann McQuillan of Greeley. A 
fund-raising campaign has been launched through the First National Bank in Greeley to defray costs of signage along the highway.

The State Highway Commission, which governs the naming of highways, approved the request in December.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644528135398.png" alt="Sam Foltz was a star punter with the Nebraska Cornhuskers until tragically killed in an accident. (Scott Bruhn/University of Nebraska Communications)" />
 <figcaption>Sam Foltz was a star punter with the Nebraska Cornhuskers until tragically killed in an accident. (Scott Bruhn/University of Nebraska Communications)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/stretch-of-highway-near-greeley-is-named-after-former-husker-punter-sam-foltz/">Nebraska Examiner</a>A small Nebraska town has won approval to memorialize a local football hero.A portion of Nebraska Highway 56 near Greeley has now been officially designated as the “Sam Foltz Memorial Highway.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644528231921.jpeg" alt="Former Nebraska punter Sam Foltz (Scott Bruhn/University of Nebraska Communications)" />
 <figcaption>Former Nebraska punter Sam Foltz (Scott Bruhn/University of Nebraska Communications)</figcaption>
 </figure>Foltz,
 whose family is from the Greeley area, was a star punter for the 
Huskers until being tragically killed in a vehicle accident in Wisconsin
 in July 2016.Foltz
 attended Grand Island High School and joined the University of Nebraska
 football team as a walk-on, meaning he wasn’t given a scholarship. But 
he eventually earned a scholarship and blossomed into the Big 10 punter 
of the year in 2015. Foltz was seen as a prime prospect for the NFL.Gov. Pete Ricketts signed a resolution last week naming a 12.9-mile segment of Highway 56 after Foltz. Five generations of the Foltz family have farmed along that stretch of highway, including Sam Foltz’s parents, Gerald and Jill Foltz.The
 Greeley Citizen reported that the naming project was launched by a 
local committee of citizens led by Mary Ann McQuillan of Greeley. A 
fund-raising campaign has been launched through the First National Bank in Greeley to defray costs of signage along the highway.The State Highway Commission, which governs the naming of highways, approved the request in December.

Stretch of Neb. highway named after former Husker punter Foltz

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Investigators say two drivers have died in a head-on crash just northeast of Grand Island. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the crash happened around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday on U.S. Highway 30. 

The Merrick County Sheriff’s Office says an eastbound vehicle driven by 29-year-old &nbsp;Zachery Schultz, of Chapman, crossed the center line and collided with a westbound car driven by 50-year-old Scott Ellis, of Marquette. Both men were killed. 

Investigators say neither man was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1559617385052.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Investigators say two drivers have died in a head-on crash just northeast of Grand Island. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the crash happened around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday on U.S. Highway 30. The Merrick County Sheriff’s Office says an eastbound vehicle driven by 29-year-old &nbsp;Zachery Schultz, of Chapman, crossed the center line and collided with a westbound car driven by 50-year-old Scott Ellis, of Marquette. Both men were killed. Investigators say neither man was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

Officials say 2 killed in head-on crash near Grand Island

YORK, Neb. (AP) — Authorities in southeastern Nebraska say a bystander who was killed along with the suspect and a police dog in the fiery crash of a stolen sheriff's vehicle was a popular teacher and coach from Hampton. 

Authorities say the crash happened Tuesday night when 43-year old Joseph Stoltenberg stole a sheriff's vehicle with the police dog, named Nitro, still inside and led authorities on a pursuit in rural York County.

 Authorities say Stoltenberg sped toward a moving train and crashed into the back of 31-year-old Kyle Ediger's vehicle that was stopped for the train. 

The crash killed Ediger, Stoltenberg and the dog. Ediger was a math teacher and boys basketball coach for Hampton Public Schools.

YORK, Neb. (AP) — Authorities in southeastern Nebraska say a bystander who was killed along with the suspect and a police dog in the fiery crash of a stolen sheriff's vehicle was a popular teacher and coach from Hampton. Authorities say the crash happened Tuesday night when 43-year old Joseph Stoltenberg stole a sheriff's vehicle with the police dog, named Nitro, still inside and led authorities on a pursuit in rural York County. Authorities say Stoltenberg sped toward a moving train and crashed into the back of 31-year-old Kyle Ediger's vehicle that was stopped for the train. The crash killed Ediger, Stoltenberg and the dog. Ediger was a math teacher and boys basketball coach for Hampton Public Schools.

2 people, police dog killed in stolen K-9 vehicle crash ID'd

WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing growing pressure to ease up on pandemic restrictions, the White House insisted Wednesday it is making plans for a less-disruptive phase of the national virus response. But impatient states, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mask-mandate-coronavirus-pandemic-kathy-hochul-new-york-02dbddd8616730744eb915c1480a3ef7">Democratic New York</a>, made clear they aren’t waiting for Washington as public frustration grows.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that New York will end its COVID-19 mandate requiring face coverings in most indoor public settings — but will keep it for schools.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-illinois-899f9fbb9455ad25c82fb82327a7c652">Illinois announced the same</a>.

Earlier this week, New Jersey, Connecticut and Delaware all disclosed plans to join states that have lifted or never had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/schools-mask-mandates-4eb7bc94b57eceb6ada993139e82de93">mask requirements for their schools</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-massachusetts-infectious-diseases-charlie-baker-2583390569b2d3fb517a76553164f720">Massachusetts will follow suit</a>&nbsp;at the end of the month. All but Massachusetts have governors who are Democrats, like President Joe Biden.

Biden, who has long promised to follow to “follow the science” in confronting the pandemic, is hemmed in, waiting for fresh guidance from federal health officials, who so far still recommend that nearly all Americans wear masks in most indoor settings.

Defending Biden, press secretary Jen Psaki acknowledged that while people are tired of masks and “we understand where the emotions of the country are,” the administration is following the advice of medical experts who rely on scientific evidence.

“That doesn’t move at the speed of politics; it moves at the speed of data,” she said.

Clearly feeling the pressure, the White House for the first time acknowledged movement in its planning, saying conversations have been under way privately to develop plans for guiding the country away from the emergency phase of the pandemic.

Federal COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said officials are consulting with state and local leaders and public health officials on potential next steps. But as governors and local officials press for clearer federal guidelines for easing or ending restrictions, states, cities and school boards are adopting an awkward patchwork of policies that differ widely from one place to the next.

“We are working on that guidance,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a White House teleconference Wednesday. “As we’ve been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-john-belushi-dan-aykroyd-3f8b5a787a95c8499b2b0a32c34f89a7">encouraged by the current trends</a>, we are not there yet.”

The White House offered no timetable for the review or an indication of what it will recommend. And some critics say that’s not good enough.

“The tragic thing is that these are governors that would probably have followed the White House’s guidance,” said Dr. Leana Wen, a former Baltimore health commissioner. “They wanted CDC input and asked for it, but without a clear timeline, at some point they had to decide that they couldn’t wait any more. The fault is not theirs, but the CDC’s and by extension, President Biden’s, which, with each passing day, is making itself less and less relevant.”

Asked whether Biden appears to be out of touch with the country, Psaki defended his caution. “As a federal government we have the responsibility to rely on data on science, on the medical experts,” she said.

Pressed on whether Americans should follow less-restrictive state or local rules or the stricter federal guidance, she repeated the White House’s daily counsel: “We would advise any American to follow the CDC guidelines.”

New York’s Hochul and others aren’t waiting. They are ending or easing many broad mandates, though her state will keep masking rules in schools and health facilities.

“Given the declining cases, given the declining hospitalizations, that is why we feel comfortable to lift this, in effect tomorrow,” Hochul said Wednesday.

Even allies of the administration have argued that Biden should at least lay out a roadmap for moving back toward normalcy.

He has been hesitant, aides say, in part because of the sting of his fleeting “declaration of independence” from the virus last summer, which proved premature in the face of the delta and then omicron strains. Now, though, cases and hospitalizations from COVID-19 have dropped markedly since they peaked earlier this year amid the spread of the highly transmissible omicron variant, and the vast majority of Americans are protected against the virus by effective vaccines and boosters.

Still, more than 2,000 people infected with the virus die in the U.S. each day, and there is concern within the administration about letting up while deaths remain high.

And Psaki noted that many Americans support continued mask-wearing. Some in the White House point to the consternation that was voiced in December after the CDC shortened the isolation time for Americans who test positive.

While Biden and other administration officials emphasize that the threat from the virus is far diminished from a year ago, before the wide roll-out of vaccines and booster shots and the approval of rapid at-home tests and highly effective therapeutics, administration officials acknowledge that most federal guidelines have been slow to keep up.

The CDC continues to recommend indoor mask wearing in places of <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view?list_select_state=all_states&amp;list_select_county=all_counties&amp;data-type=Risk">“substantial or high transmission” </a>of the virus, which as of Wednesday was all of the U.S. but 14 rural counties.

State and local leaders, nevertheless, have announced plans to ease virus restrictions in the coming weeks as omicron cases fall, citing the protections offered by vaccines as well as the increased availability of at-home testing kits and therapeutics for those who do catch the virus. Many of the restrictions eased last year, only to be reinstated as omicron swept the country.

After more than a year of a top-down federally driven response, the emerging shift marks a return to the historical norm, where states have typically had the first say in how they handle public health emergencies. The CDC can advise them and issue general guidance for the nation, but in most situations it cannot order them what to do.

While the Biden administration has pushed back strongly against efforts by GOP governors to prohibit mask-wearing requirements, it is indicating that it will take a more flexible approach to jurisdictions that make their own choices.

Policies lifting mask requirements “are going to have to be made at the local level” depending on case rates, Walensky said.

Despite the encouraging reports in the Americas, Western Europe and some other regions, the head of the World Health Organization&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-world-health-organization-united-nations-922c5487a71c2fb310c2348c8f0c9d1e">insisted Wednesday that “COVID isn’t finished with us.”</a>

As his agency reported that new infections fell but virus deaths rose worldwide over the past week, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus launched a new $23 billion campaign to fund WHO’s efforts to lead a broad rollout of COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines around the world.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644461357170.png" alt="The CDC continues to recommend indoor mask wearing in places of&nbsp;“substantial or high transmission”&nbsp;of the virus, which as of Wednesday was all of the U.S. but 14 rural counties." />
 <figcaption>The CDC continues to recommend indoor mask wearing in places of&nbsp;“substantial or high transmission”&nbsp;of the virus, which as of Wednesday was all of the U.S. but 14 rural counties.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing growing pressure to ease up on pandemic restrictions, the White House insisted Wednesday it is making plans for a less-disruptive phase of the national virus response. But impatient states, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mask-mandate-coronavirus-pandemic-kathy-hochul-new-york-02dbddd8616730744eb915c1480a3ef7">Democratic New York</a>, made clear they aren’t waiting for Washington as public frustration grows.Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that New York will end its COVID-19 mandate requiring face coverings in most indoor public settings — but will keep it for schools.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-illinois-899f9fbb9455ad25c82fb82327a7c652">Illinois announced the same</a>.Earlier this week, New Jersey, Connecticut and Delaware all disclosed plans to join states that have lifted or never had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/schools-mask-mandates-4eb7bc94b57eceb6ada993139e82de93">mask requirements for their schools</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-massachusetts-infectious-diseases-charlie-baker-2583390569b2d3fb517a76553164f720">Massachusetts will follow suit</a>&nbsp;at the end of the month. All but Massachusetts have governors who are Democrats, like President Joe Biden.Biden, who has long promised to follow to “follow the science” in confronting the pandemic, is hemmed in, waiting for fresh guidance from federal health officials, who so far still recommend that nearly all Americans wear masks in most indoor settings.Defending Biden, press secretary Jen Psaki acknowledged that while people are tired of masks and “we understand where the emotions of the country are,” the administration is following the advice of medical experts who rely on scientific evidence.“That doesn’t move at the speed of politics; it moves at the speed of data,” she said.Clearly feeling the pressure, the White House for the first time acknowledged movement in its planning, saying conversations have been under way privately to develop plans for guiding the country away from the emergency phase of the pandemic.Federal COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said officials are consulting with state and local leaders and public health officials on potential next steps. But as governors and local officials press for clearer federal guidelines for easing or ending restrictions, states, cities and school boards are adopting an awkward patchwork of policies that differ widely from one place to the next.“We are working on that guidance,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a White House teleconference Wednesday. “As we’ve been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-john-belushi-dan-aykroyd-3f8b5a787a95c8499b2b0a32c34f89a7">encouraged by the current trends</a>, we are not there yet.”The White House offered no timetable for the review or an indication of what it will recommend. And some critics say that’s not good enough.“The tragic thing is that these are governors that would probably have followed the White House’s guidance,” said Dr. Leana Wen, a former Baltimore health commissioner. “They wanted CDC input and asked for it, but without a clear timeline, at some point they had to decide that they couldn’t wait any more. The fault is not theirs, but the CDC’s and by extension, President Biden’s, which, with each passing day, is making itself less and less relevant.”Asked whether Biden appears to be out of touch with the country, Psaki defended his caution. “As a federal government we have the responsibility to rely on data on science, on the medical experts,” she said.Pressed on whether Americans should follow less-restrictive state or local rules or the stricter federal guidance, she repeated the White House’s daily counsel: “We would advise any American to follow the CDC guidelines.”New York’s Hochul and others aren’t waiting. They are ending or easing many broad mandates, though her state will keep masking rules in schools and health facilities.“Given the declining cases, given the declining hospitalizations, that is why we feel comfortable to lift this, in effect tomorrow,” Hochul said Wednesday.Even allies of the administration have argued that Biden should at least lay out a roadmap for moving back toward normalcy.He has been hesitant, aides say, in part because of the sting of his fleeting “declaration of independence” from the virus last summer, which proved premature in the face of the delta and then omicron strains. Now, though, cases and hospitalizations from COVID-19 have dropped markedly since they peaked earlier this year amid the spread of the highly transmissible omicron variant, and the vast majority of Americans are protected against the virus by effective vaccines and boosters.Still, more than 2,000 people infected with the virus die in the U.S. each day, and there is concern within the administration about letting up while deaths remain high.And Psaki noted that many Americans support continued mask-wearing. Some in the White House point to the consternation that was voiced in December after the CDC shortened the isolation time for Americans who test positive.While Biden and other administration officials emphasize that the threat from the virus is far diminished from a year ago, before the wide roll-out of vaccines and booster shots and the approval of rapid at-home tests and highly effective therapeutics, administration officials acknowledge that most federal guidelines have been slow to keep up.The CDC continues to recommend indoor mask wearing in places of <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view?list_select_state=all_states&amp;list_select_county=all_counties&amp;data-type=Risk">“substantial or high transmission” </a>of the virus, which as of Wednesday was all of the U.S. but 14 rural counties.State and local leaders, nevertheless, have announced plans to ease virus restrictions in the coming weeks as omicron cases fall, citing the protections offered by vaccines as well as the increased availability of at-home testing kits and therapeutics for those who do catch the virus. Many of the restrictions eased last year, only to be reinstated as omicron swept the country.After more than a year of a top-down federally driven response, the emerging shift marks a return to the historical norm, where states have typically had the first say in how they handle public health emergencies. The CDC can advise them and issue general guidance for the nation, but in most situations it cannot order them what to do.While the Biden administration has pushed back strongly against efforts by GOP governors to prohibit mask-wearing requirements, it is indicating that it will take a more flexible approach to jurisdictions that make their own choices.Policies lifting mask requirements “are going to have to be made at the local level” depending on case rates, Walensky said.Despite the encouraging reports in the Americas, Western Europe and some other regions, the head of the World Health Organization&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-world-health-organization-united-nations-922c5487a71c2fb310c2348c8f0c9d1e">insisted Wednesday that “COVID isn’t finished with us.”</a>As his agency reported that new infections fell but virus deaths rose worldwide over the past week, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus launched a new $23 billion campaign to fund WHO’s efforts to lead a broad rollout of COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines around the world.___

Biden weighs new virus response as CDC stands firm on masks

With Valentine's Day looming, romance is in the air. If you 
decide to seek love via a dating app, be careful and watch for the 
scammers who only love your money. Scammers are using people to funnel 
stolen money out of the country. This con may look like a classic 
romance scam, but victims are tricked into illegal activity and can be 
prosecuted.

You join a dating app and start messaging with someone who looks 
amazing. They are the complete package: good-looking, successful, kind… 
and, most importantly, really into you, too! After chatting for a little
 while, your new love interest suggests that you chat on text or email, 
rather than through the app. If you do that, you may notice that they 
also delete their dating profile.

Everything seems great, but soon your new beau has some unusual – but
 seemingly harmless – requests. They want you to receive money for them 
and wire it overseas. They may claim to be helping a loved one battling 
COVID-19, doing a business deal, or representing a charitable 
organization. If you refuse, your amorous new beau may suddenly get 
hostile, threaten you or grow distant.

It turns out that the money they want you to receive is actually 
stolen. After stealing it, scammers send the money through someone in 
the United States or Canada to make it harder for authorities to trace. 
Money laundering and wire fraud are illegal! Although the “money mule” 
is a victim, too, they may still face prosecution.

For more information Find more information in <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/17057-online-romance-scams-a-bbb-study-on-how-scammers-use-impersonation-blackmail-and-trickery-to-steal-from-unsuspecting-daters" target="_blank">this romance scams study from BBB</a> and <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/17012-bbb-tip-romance-scams" target="_blank">these romance scam tips</a>.

Learn more about money mule scams on the <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fbi-warns-of-money-mule-schemes-exploiting-the-covid-19-pandemic" target="_blank">Federal Bureau of Investigations website</a> and the <a href="https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/features-vedette/2020/awareness-sensibilisation-eng.htm" target="_blank">Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre</a>.

If you’ve been the victim of scam, please report it on the <a href="https://www.BBB.org/ScamTracker" target="_blank">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a>. Your report can help others to stay alert and avoid similar scams.

Learn more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/standards-for-trust" target="_blank">BBB's Standards for Trust</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBWith Valentine's Day looming, romance is in the air. If you 
decide to seek love via a dating app, be careful and watch for the 
scammers who only love your money. Scammers are using people to funnel 
stolen money out of the country. This con may look like a classic 
romance scam, but victims are tricked into illegal activity and can be 
prosecuted.How the scam works:You join a dating app and start messaging with someone who looks 
amazing. They are the complete package: good-looking, successful, kind… 
and, most importantly, really into you, too! After chatting for a little
 while, your new love interest suggests that you chat on text or email, 
rather than through the app. If you do that, you may notice that they 
also delete their dating profile.Everything seems great, but soon your new beau has some unusual – but
 seemingly harmless – requests. They want you to receive money for them 
and wire it overseas. They may claim to be helping a loved one battling 
COVID-19, doing a business deal, or representing a charitable 
organization. If you refuse, your amorous new beau may suddenly get 
hostile, threaten you or grow distant.It turns out that the money they want you to receive is actually 
stolen. After stealing it, scammers send the money through someone in 
the United States or Canada to make it harder for authorities to trace. 
Money laundering and wire fraud are illegal! Although the “money mule” 
is a victim, too, they may still face prosecution.Protect yourself from this scam:<ul>
 <li>Do your research. Many scammers steal photos from 
the internet to use in their dating profiles. You can do a reverse image
 lookup using a website, like <a href="https://images.google.com/" target="_blank">Google Images</a>,
 to see if the photos on a profile are stolen from somewhere else. You 
can also search online for a profile name, email, or phone number to see
 what adds up and what doesn’t. Scammers most often pose as men and 
target women in their 50s and 60s. </li><li>Ask specific questions about details given in a profile. A scammer may stumble over remembering details or making a story fit. </li><li>Never send money or sensitive personal information to someone you’ve never met in person.
 Cut off contact if someone starts asking you for financial or 
personally identifiable information (PII), like your credit card number 
or government ID numbers. </li><li>Be very suspicious of requests to wire money or use a pre-paid debit card. These are scammers’ favorite ways to send payments because, like cash, once the money is gone, it can’t be recovered.</li>
 </ul>For more information Find more information in <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/17057-online-romance-scams-a-bbb-study-on-how-scammers-use-impersonation-blackmail-and-trickery-to-steal-from-unsuspecting-daters" target="_blank">this romance scams study from BBB</a> and <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/17012-bbb-tip-romance-scams" target="_blank">these romance scam tips</a>.Learn more about money mule scams on the <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fbi-warns-of-money-mule-schemes-exploiting-the-covid-19-pandemic" target="_blank">Federal Bureau of Investigations website</a> and the <a href="https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/features-vedette/2020/awareness-sensibilisation-eng.htm" target="_blank">Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre</a>.If you’ve been the victim of scam, please report it on the <a href="https://www.BBB.org/ScamTracker" target="_blank">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a>. Your report can help others to stay alert and avoid similar scams.Learn more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/standards-for-trust" target="_blank">BBB's Standards for Trust</a>.&nbsp;

Scam alert: Romance scam tricks victims into laundering money

WASHINGTON — As part of ongoing efforts to provide additional help 
for people during this period, the IRS announced today the suspension of
 more than a dozen additional letters, including the mailing of 
automated collection notices normally issued when a taxpayer owes 
additional tax, and the IRS has no record of a taxpayer filing a tax 
return.

These mailings include balance due notices and unfiled tax return 
notices. The IRS entered this filing season with several million 
original and amended returns filed by individuals and businesses that 
have not been processed due to challenges of the historic pandemic and 
is taking this step to help avoid confusion for taxpayers and tax 
professionals.

“IRS employees are committed to doing everything possible with our 
limited resources to help people during this period,” said IRS 
Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “We are working hard, long hours pushing 
creative paths forward in an effort to be part of the solution, rather 
than the problem. Our employees continue to expend every effort to 
balance a confluence of multiple, unprecedented demands − including 
successfully starting the filing season, working our inventory of 
unprocessed tax returns as well as looking for additional ways to 
minimize burden for taxpayers, tax professionals and businesses.

“Our efforts are not limited to suspension of these additional 
letters and the possibility of similar actions going forward. We have 
redeployed and reallocated resources throughout the IRS and have 
implemented innovative strategies in an ongoing effort to provide a 
meaningful reduction in our inventories,” Rettig said.

These automatic notices have been temporarily stopped until the 
backlog is worked through. The IRS will continue to assess the inventory
 of prior year returns to determine the appropriate time to resume the 
notices.

Some taxpayers and tax professionals may still receive these notices 
during the next few weeks. Generally, there is no need to call or 
respond to the notice as the IRS continues to process prior year tax 
returns as quickly as possible.

However, if a taxpayer or tax professional believes a notice is 
accurate, they should act to rectify the situation for the well-being of
 the taxpayer. For example, the IRS cautions people with a balance due 
that interest and penalties can continue to accrue. In addition, IRS 
employees may in select circumstances issue notices to particular 
taxpayers to resolve specific compliance issues.

The IRS does not have the authority to stop all notices as many are 
legally required to be issued within a certain timeframe. The IRS will 
continue to assess other changes and system modifications that the IRS 
may be able to implement to assist taxpayers on an array of issues. The 
IRS will continue to make information available to taxpayers throughout 
the filing season.

The IRS encourages those who have a filing requirement and have yet 
to file a prior year tax return or to pay any tax due to promptly do so 
as interest and penalties will continue to accrue. Visit IRS.gov for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">payment options</a>.

Click <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-continues-work-to-help-taxpayers-suspends-mailing-of-additional-letters">HERE</a> for more.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — As part of ongoing efforts to provide additional help 
for people during this period, the IRS announced today the suspension of
 more than a dozen additional letters, including the mailing of 
automated collection notices normally issued when a taxpayer owes 
additional tax, and the IRS has no record of a taxpayer filing a tax 
return.These mailings include balance due notices and unfiled tax return 
notices. The IRS entered this filing season with several million 
original and amended returns filed by individuals and businesses that 
have not been processed due to challenges of the historic pandemic and 
is taking this step to help avoid confusion for taxpayers and tax 
professionals.“IRS employees are committed to doing everything possible with our 
limited resources to help people during this period,” said IRS 
Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “We are working hard, long hours pushing 
creative paths forward in an effort to be part of the solution, rather 
than the problem. Our employees continue to expend every effort to 
balance a confluence of multiple, unprecedented demands − including 
successfully starting the filing season, working our inventory of 
unprocessed tax returns as well as looking for additional ways to 
minimize burden for taxpayers, tax professionals and businesses.“Our efforts are not limited to suspension of these additional 
letters and the possibility of similar actions going forward. We have 
redeployed and reallocated resources throughout the IRS and have 
implemented innovative strategies in an ongoing effort to provide a 
meaningful reduction in our inventories,” Rettig said.These automatic notices have been temporarily stopped until the 
backlog is worked through. The IRS will continue to assess the inventory
 of prior year returns to determine the appropriate time to resume the 
notices.Some taxpayers and tax professionals may still receive these notices 
during the next few weeks. Generally, there is no need to call or 
respond to the notice as the IRS continues to process prior year tax 
returns as quickly as possible.However, if a taxpayer or tax professional believes a notice is 
accurate, they should act to rectify the situation for the well-being of
 the taxpayer. For example, the IRS cautions people with a balance due 
that interest and penalties can continue to accrue. In addition, IRS 
employees may in select circumstances issue notices to particular 
taxpayers to resolve specific compliance issues.The IRS does not have the authority to stop all notices as many are 
legally required to be issued within a certain timeframe. The IRS will 
continue to assess other changes and system modifications that the IRS 
may be able to implement to assist taxpayers on an array of issues. The 
IRS will continue to make information available to taxpayers throughout 
the filing season.The IRS encourages those who have a filing requirement and have yet 
to file a prior year tax return or to pay any tax due to promptly do so 
as interest and penalties will continue to accrue. Visit IRS.gov for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">payment options</a>.Click <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-continues-work-to-help-taxpayers-suspends-mailing-of-additional-letters">HERE</a> for more.

IRS suspends mailing of some notices due to backlogs

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Mask mandates have been extended in Nebraska's two largest cities because virus cases and hospitalizations remain higher than health officials want to see even though they are falling. 

Omaha officials announced their decision Wednesday — a day after Lancaster County officials extended their mask requirement through Feb. 25. 

Douglas County Health Director Lindsay Huse said the number of new COVID-19 cases remains too high to drop Omaha's mask mandate. 

But the latest virus numbers are encouraging. 

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska fell dramatically over the past two weeks, going from 4,088.57 new cases per day on Jan. 24 to 1,036.14 new cases per day on Monday.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Mask mandates have been extended in Nebraska's two largest cities because virus cases and hospitalizations remain higher than health officials want to see even though they are falling. Omaha officials announced their decision Wednesday — a day after Lancaster County officials extended their mask requirement through Feb. 25. Douglas County Health Director Lindsay Huse said the number of new COVID-19 cases remains too high to drop Omaha's mask mandate. But the latest virus numbers are encouraging. The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska fell dramatically over the past two weeks, going from 4,088.57 new cases per day on Jan. 24 to 1,036.14 new cases per day on Monday.

Mask mandates extended in Omaha, Lincoln even as cases fall

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A teen charged in the December shooting death of a 14-year-old girl in Omaha will stand trial as an adult.

 A judge on Tuesday ordered 16-year-old Christian Hernandez, of Omaha, to stand trial on first-degree murder and three firearms counts. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that a police detective at Hernandez's arraignment Tuesday testified that several witnesses identified Hernandez as the shooter in the Dec. 22 killing of Isabella Santiago.

 Police have said Santiago was in the back of a car driven by her stepbrother when another car pulled up and someone inside started shooting at them. 

Santiago, who was hit, was driven to a nearby fire station, then taken by paramedics to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A teen charged in the December shooting death of a 14-year-old girl in Omaha will stand trial as an adult. A judge on Tuesday ordered 16-year-old Christian Hernandez, of Omaha, to stand trial on first-degree murder and three firearms counts. The Omaha World-Herald reports that a police detective at Hernandez's arraignment Tuesday testified that several witnesses identified Hernandez as the shooter in the Dec. 22 killing of Isabella Santiago. Police have said Santiago was in the back of a car driven by her stepbrother when another car pulled up and someone inside started shooting at them. Santiago, who was hit, was driven to a nearby fire station, then taken by paramedics to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Teen to face murder trial in shooting death of 14-year-old

YORK, Neb. (AP) — Authorities in southeastern Nebraska say a man who stole a sheriff's vehicle and led authorities on a pursuit in rural York County caused a crash that killed the suspect, another driver and a police dog.

 Television station KETV reports that the fatal crash happened Tuesday night, following a police chase in which the suspect reportedly jumped into a sheriff's vehicle carrying a police dog and fled. Authorities say the man later sped toward a moving train and crashed into the back of another vehicle that was stopped for the train. 

The crash pushed that vehicle into the train, killing its driver. 

The suspect and police dog also died in the crash. Police have not yet released the names of those killed.

YORK, Neb. (AP) — Authorities in southeastern Nebraska say a man who stole a sheriff's vehicle and led authorities on a pursuit in rural York County caused a crash that killed the suspect, another driver and a police dog. Television station KETV reports that the fatal crash happened Tuesday night, following a police chase in which the suspect reportedly jumped into a sheriff's vehicle carrying a police dog and fled. Authorities say the man later sped toward a moving train and crashed into the back of another vehicle that was stopped for the train. The crash pushed that vehicle into the train, killing its driver. The suspect and police dog also died in the crash. Police have not yet released the names of those killed.

2 people, police dog killed in crash after chase in Nebraska

BY JARED STRONG <a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/carroll-superintendent-no-litter-boxes-schools">States Newsroom</a>

CARROLL, Iowa — There are no litter boxes in the restrooms of the Carroll Community 
School District, its superintendent stressed, despite internet rumors 
that some schools are installing them for children who “identify” as 
cats.

“Staff members are not encouraging or accommodating anyone behaving 
or identifying as a cat or any other animal,” Superintendent Casey 
Berlau said Tuesday in a note to parents in the western Iowa district. 
“It is very unfortunate that this rumor has been spread over the last 
several weeks.”

His exasperated note came amid a heightened scrutiny of schools across the nation, where <a target="_blank" href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2021/06/08/iowa-bans-divisive-concepts-from-diversity-trainings-school-curriculum/">curriculum about race</a> is being questioned and the recommendations of certain books might lead to <a target="_blank" href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/briefs/bill-would-charge-teachers-administrators-with-serious-misdemeanor-for-obscene-content/">criminal prosecution</a>. Iowa lawmakers are also considering a requirement to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=89&amp;ba=HF2177">surveil teachers with cameras</a>.

The latest notion that schools would supply litter boxes for students
 who consider themselves cats is apparently rooted in an increasingly 
tolerant student culture for those that openly question their sexual 
identities and gender preferences.

“WARNING RANT!!!!” wrote Carroll resident Shelly Loew on Facebook, in
 a now-deleted Monday post of which Iowa Capital Dispatch obtained 
screenshots. “So 2 middle school kids are allowed to identify as cats 
and go to school? &amp; Now some schools are also allowing litter 
boxes??!!”

Loew did not immediately respond to a request to comment for this article.

Her post elicited comments from a former Carroll school board 
president, Jen Munson, that “I warned people during the election about 
this type of stuff” and from an area resident, Tristan Hinners, who 
claimed that Des Moines has students who say they are a dog and a 
falcon.

“The one that identifies as a dog has to be taken outside to use the 
bathroom by a teacher..,” she wrote, “and the falcon screeches up and 
down the hallways.”

Phil Roeder, a spokesperson for Des Moines Public Schools, is aware 
of the swirling claims but said: “We have real education issues to deal 
with here. Litter box rumor control isn’t one of them.”

Berlau wrote that Carroll is not alone in Iowa in dispelling rumors of litter boxes in bathrooms. Indeed, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/23/us/politics/michigan-litter-box-school.html">schools in other states</a> have been forced to grapple with the perplexing notions.

“This issue gains negative attention because of its outrageousness,” Berlau wrote in his note to parents.

He did not immediately respond to a request to comment for this article.

<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2022/02/09/carroll-superintendent-no-litter-boxes-in-schools/">Courtesy Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644438968621.png" alt="Unfounded rumors of cat litter boxes in school restrooms prompted a note to parents from one Iowa superintendent. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)" />
 <figcaption>Unfounded rumors of cat litter boxes in school restrooms prompted a note to parents from one Iowa superintendent. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY JARED STRONG <a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/carroll-superintendent-no-litter-boxes-schools">States Newsroom</a>CARROLL, Iowa — There are no litter boxes in the restrooms of the Carroll Community 
School District, its superintendent stressed, despite internet rumors 
that some schools are installing them for children who “identify” as 
cats.“Staff members are not encouraging or accommodating anyone behaving 
or identifying as a cat or any other animal,” Superintendent Casey 
Berlau said Tuesday in a note to parents in the western Iowa district. 
“It is very unfortunate that this rumor has been spread over the last 
several weeks.”His exasperated note came amid a heightened scrutiny of schools across the nation, where <a target="_blank" href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2021/06/08/iowa-bans-divisive-concepts-from-diversity-trainings-school-curriculum/">curriculum about race</a> is being questioned and the recommendations of certain books might lead to <a target="_blank" href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/briefs/bill-would-charge-teachers-administrators-with-serious-misdemeanor-for-obscene-content/">criminal prosecution</a>. Iowa lawmakers are also considering a requirement to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=89&amp;ba=HF2177">surveil teachers with cameras</a>.The latest notion that schools would supply litter boxes for students
 who consider themselves cats is apparently rooted in an increasingly 
tolerant student culture for those that openly question their sexual 
identities and gender preferences.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644439063249.png" alt="A screenshot of a now-deleted Facebook post." />
 <figcaption>A screenshot of a now-deleted Facebook post.</figcaption>
 </figure>“WARNING RANT!!!!” wrote Carroll resident Shelly Loew on Facebook, in
 a now-deleted Monday post of which Iowa Capital Dispatch obtained 
screenshots. “So 2 middle school kids are allowed to identify as cats 
and go to school? &amp; Now some schools are also allowing litter 
boxes??!!”Loew did not immediately respond to a request to comment for this article.Her post elicited comments from a former Carroll school board 
president, Jen Munson, that “I warned people during the election about 
this type of stuff” and from an area resident, Tristan Hinners, who 
claimed that Des Moines has students who say they are a dog and a 
falcon.“The one that identifies as a dog has to be taken outside to use the 
bathroom by a teacher..,” she wrote, “and the falcon screeches up and 
down the hallways.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644439096211.png" alt="A screenshot of a now-deleted Facebook post." />
 <figcaption>A screenshot of a now-deleted Facebook post.</figcaption>
 </figure>Phil Roeder, a spokesperson for Des Moines Public Schools, is aware 
of the swirling claims but said: “We have real education issues to deal 
with here. Litter box rumor control isn’t one of them.”Berlau wrote that Carroll is not alone in Iowa in dispelling rumors of litter boxes in bathrooms. Indeed, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/23/us/politics/michigan-litter-box-school.html">schools in other states</a> have been forced to grapple with the perplexing notions.“This issue gains negative attention because of its outrageousness,” Berlau wrote in his note to parents.He did not immediately respond to a request to comment for this article.<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2022/02/09/carroll-superintendent-no-litter-boxes-in-schools/">Courtesy Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>

No, there are no litter boxes in Iowa schools for students identifying as cats

WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of Americans who have never filed a tax return will need to do so this year in order to claim what's coming to them under the enhanced child tax credit.

Previously, only people who earned enough money to owe income taxes could qualify for the full credit.

But as part of the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, President Joe Biden expanded the program, increasing the payments to up to $3,600 annually for each child aged 5 or under and $3,000 for those who are ages 6 to 17.

The monthly payments have amounted to $300 for each child 5 and younger and $250 for those between 5 and 17.

The government began to send the payments out — an overall $93 billion — on a monthly basis starting last July. Now, there are an additional six months' worth of payments waiting to be claimed. And some families haven't collected any of the benefits they're due yet. In all, an estimated $193 billion is yet to be claimed.

The only way to receive that money is to file a tax return.

Some questions and answers about who's eligible for the credit and how to get it:

More than 36 million families received the advanced payments in December alone, which marked the last month that advanced monthly payments were sent to households. Families qualify for the full credit if their 2021 adjusted gross income was at or below $150,000 for married couples filing a joint return, or $75,000 for single-filer parents.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I QUALIFY AND WHAT IF I DON'T OWE TAXES?

Whether or not a family owes tax money or has filed taxes before, they will need to file a return to get all or the rest of their money.

Eligible families that didn’t receive any advance child tax credit payments during 2021 can still claim the full amount of the child tax credit on their federal tax return. Those families that are unsure of whether they've received payments, or potentially received paper checks that went uncashed, can visit the Child Tax Credit Update Portal, to see how much of the credit they should have received.

Additionally, families that received payments should have received a "Letter 6419, 2021 advance CTC" notice, which includes information on the amount of advance payments families have received and tax information for filing purposes.

However, the IRS has said that some people may have received incorrect information on their forms. The portal can help people who want to confirm the correct amount they should have received. Despite any inconsistencies in documentation, the IRS advises that taxpayers should keep the letter, and any other IRS communications about advance payments, with their tax records.

The IRS urges individuals to file their taxes electronically to process forms quicker, and provides links on the agency website to free filing sites like GetYourRefund.org, which helps families earning less than about $66,000 a year file their taxes for free. The organization partners with IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, and provides free help in English and Spanish. Another option is MyFreeTaxes.com, which provides virtual assistance to people who make $58,000 or less to file their federal and state taxes for free. That service is offered through the United Way.

The IRS also has a tool to help individuals identify other free file sites that offer tax filing help.

While the coronavirus relief package included child tax credit benefits for residents of Puerto Rico, they were not eligible to receive the advance monthly payments. Instead, Puerto Rican residents can receive the full amount of child tax credit that they are eligible for by filing a federal income tax return this year. Additionally, residents of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam or the U.S. Virgin Islands may be eligible for the full child tax credit payments, but they will need to contact their local U.S. territory tax agency.

The IRS has launched a website, called ChildTaxCredit.gov, which lists criteria that filers must meet in order to receive the full credit. Additionally, the federal agency will begin offering walk-in assistance with IRS volunteers in limited locations for individuals who need help filing their taxes, beginning Feb. 12.

Thirty-five tax assistance centers around the country will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second Saturday of the next four months.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644421639295.png" alt="Vice President Kamala Harris during a virtual child tax credit event Tuesday-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Vice President Kamala Harris during a virtual child tax credit event Tuesday-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of Americans who have never filed a tax return will need to do so this year in order to claim what's coming to them under the enhanced child tax credit.Previously, only people who earned enough money to owe income taxes could qualify for the full credit.But as part of the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, President Joe Biden expanded the program, increasing the payments to up to $3,600 annually for each child aged 5 or under and $3,000 for those who are ages 6 to 17.The monthly payments have amounted to $300 for each child 5 and younger and $250 for those between 5 and 17.The government began to send the payments out — an overall $93 billion — on a monthly basis starting last July. Now, there are an additional six months' worth of payments waiting to be claimed. And some families haven't collected any of the benefits they're due yet. In all, an estimated $193 billion is yet to be claimed.The only way to receive that money is to file a tax return.Some questions and answers about who's eligible for the credit and how to get it:WHO GETS THE CHILD TAX CREDIT?More than 36 million families received the advanced payments in December alone, which marked the last month that advanced monthly payments were sent to households. Families qualify for the full credit if their 2021 adjusted gross income was at or below $150,000 for married couples filing a joint return, or $75,000 for single-filer parents.HOW DO I KNOW IF I QUALIFY AND WHAT IF I DON'T OWE TAXES?Whether or not a family owes tax money or has filed taxes before, they will need to file a return to get all or the rest of their money.Eligible families that didn’t receive any advance child tax credit payments during 2021 can still claim the full amount of the child tax credit on their federal tax return. Those families that are unsure of whether they've received payments, or potentially received paper checks that went uncashed, can visit the Child Tax Credit Update Portal, to see how much of the credit they should have received.Additionally, families that received payments should have received a "Letter 6419, 2021 advance CTC" notice, which includes information on the amount of advance payments families have received and tax information for filing purposes.However, the IRS has said that some people may have received incorrect information on their forms. The portal can help people who want to confirm the correct amount they should have received. Despite any inconsistencies in documentation, the IRS advises that taxpayers should keep the letter, and any other IRS communications about advance payments, with their tax records.WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO FILE?The IRS urges individuals to file their taxes electronically to process forms quicker, and provides links on the agency website to free filing sites like GetYourRefund.org, which helps families earning less than about $66,000 a year file their taxes for free. The organization partners with IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, and provides free help in English and Spanish. Another option is MyFreeTaxes.com, which provides virtual assistance to people who make $58,000 or less to file their federal and state taxes for free. That service is offered through the United Way.The IRS also has a tool to help individuals identify other free file sites that offer tax filing help.WHAT IF I LIVE OUTSIDE THE 50 STATES?While the coronavirus relief package included child tax credit benefits for residents of Puerto Rico, they were not eligible to receive the advance monthly payments. Instead, Puerto Rican residents can receive the full amount of child tax credit that they are eligible for by filing a federal income tax return this year. Additionally, residents of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam or the U.S. Virgin Islands may be eligible for the full child tax credit payments, but they will need to contact their local U.S. territory tax agency.WHO CAN HELP ME SORT THIS OUT?The IRS has launched a website, called ChildTaxCredit.gov, which lists criteria that filers must meet in order to receive the full credit. Additionally, the federal agency will begin offering walk-in assistance with IRS volunteers in limited locations for individuals who need help filing their taxes, beginning Feb. 12.Thirty-five tax assistance centers around the country will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second Saturday of the next four months.The tax filing deadline is April 18.

White House explains how to get up to $3,600 per child in tax credit

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is looking for an agricultural tenant to graze at East Willow Island Wildlife Management Area, south of Cozad.

The lease will be for a two-month period for at least 20 cow and calf pairs, feeders or replacement heifers.

Bids will be accepted to graze at East Willow Island Wildlife Management Area until 11:59 p.m. Feb. 17, 2022, and grazing will be May 1 through June 30, 2022.

Game and Parks uses grazing to help manage noxious weeds and other invasive plants at wildlife management areas, which provides better habitat for wildlife species.

Information about bidding was included in the Tri-City Tribune on Feb. 3. Interested parties can also contact Scott Aden, wildlife biologist at the North Platte Game and Parks district office, at 308-535-8025 for more information.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is looking for an agricultural tenant to graze at East Willow Island Wildlife Management Area, south of Cozad.The lease will be for a two-month period for at least 20 cow and calf pairs, feeders or replacement heifers.Bids will be accepted to graze at East Willow Island Wildlife Management Area until 11:59 p.m. Feb. 17, 2022, and grazing will be May 1 through June 30, 2022.Game and Parks uses grazing to help manage noxious weeds and other invasive plants at wildlife management areas, which provides better habitat for wildlife species.Information about bidding was included in the Tri-City Tribune on Feb. 3. Interested parties can also contact Scott Aden, wildlife biologist at the North Platte Game and Parks district office, at 308-535-8025 for more information.

Game and Parks seeks grazing tenant near Cozad

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Hall County authorities say a Grand Island man died when he fell into a baler at work.

Sheriff’s Captain T.J. Arends said deputies were called to Mid-Nebraska Disposal Monday afternoon. 

KSNB reports that when deputies arrived at the plant about three miles west of Grand Island they found an employee seriously injured after he fell into a baler machine and became stuck. 

The man died later at a Grand Island hospital. 

The sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing, but foul play is not suspected.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Hall County authorities say a Grand Island man died when he fell into a baler at work.Sheriff’s Captain T.J. Arends said deputies were called to Mid-Nebraska Disposal Monday afternoon. KSNB reports that when deputies arrived at the plant about three miles west of Grand Island they found an employee seriously injured after he fell into a baler machine and became stuck. The man died later at a Grand Island hospital. His name has not been released. The sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing, but foul play is not suspected.

Grand Island man dies after falling into baler at work

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Air Force became the second military service to approve religious exemptions to the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine, granting requests from nine airmen to avoid the shots, officials said Tuesday.

The nine approved so far represent just a tiny fraction of the more than 6,400 requested by Air Force troops, and they come as other service members are challenging the lack of religious exemptions in court cases. The Marine Corps is the only other military service to grant any religious accommodations, allowing three so far. The Army and Navy have not approved any.

The services have come under criticism for their failure to grant religious exemptions, with members of Congress, the military and the public questioning if the review processes have been fair. All together, the services have received more than 14,000 requests for religious exemptions.

Military leaders have argued that religious exemptions to any of the many vaccines troops are required to get have been very rare over the years. Service members are required to get as many as 17 different vaccines, depending on where they deploy.

A federal judge in Texas granted a preliminary injunction last month, stopping the Navy from acting against 35 sailors for refusing on religious grounds to comply with an order to get the COVID vaccine.

Eight of the Air Force approvals came during the initial review process, and one was granted on appeal to senior Air Force leaders. So far, religious exemption requests from more than 3,200 airmen were denied, and another 3,200 are pending.

“The Department of the Air Force determined the service members’ accommodations could be supported with no impact to mission readiness,” the statement Tuesday said.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and military leaders have argued that the vaccine is critical to maintaining military readiness and the health of the force. And all of the services have now either discharged personnel for refusing the vaccine, or put a system in place to do so.

The Marine Corps has discharged 469, the Air Force has discharged 179 and the Navy has discharged 118, according to data released in the last week. The number include active-duty personnel and entry-level recruits who were still in boot camp. The Army has issued more than 3,000 formal letters of reprimand, and fired six soldiers, but has not discharged anyone yet.

All the military services have said the exemption decisions are based not only on the individual request, but also on its impact on the unit, its mission and readiness, and the health and safety of other troops.

Those who get an exemption and are allowed to stay in the service may, however, see an impact on their jobs.

The Navy and the Marine Corps have said unvaccinated service members are not allowed to deploy out to sea on ships, where infections can more easily spread. Those who have approved exemptions — either medical, administrative or religious — are assigned to shore duties.

At least 97% of the troops in each service have gotten at least one shot.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Air Force became the second military service to approve religious exemptions to the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine, granting requests from nine airmen to avoid the shots, officials said Tuesday.The nine approved so far represent just a tiny fraction of the more than 6,400 requested by Air Force troops, and they come as other service members are challenging the lack of religious exemptions in court cases. The Marine Corps is the only other military service to grant any religious accommodations, allowing three so far. The Army and Navy have not approved any.The services have come under criticism for their failure to grant religious exemptions, with members of Congress, the military and the public questioning if the review processes have been fair. All together, the services have received more than 14,000 requests for religious exemptions.Military leaders have argued that religious exemptions to any of the many vaccines troops are required to get have been very rare over the years. Service members are required to get as many as 17 different vaccines, depending on where they deploy.A federal judge in Texas granted a preliminary injunction last month, stopping the Navy from acting against 35 sailors for refusing on religious grounds to comply with an order to get the COVID vaccine.Eight of the Air Force approvals came during the initial review process, and one was granted on appeal to senior Air Force leaders. So far, religious exemption requests from more than 3,200 airmen were denied, and another 3,200 are pending.“The Department of the Air Force determined the service members’ accommodations could be supported with no impact to mission readiness,” the statement Tuesday said.Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and military leaders have argued that the vaccine is critical to maintaining military readiness and the health of the force. And all of the services have now either discharged personnel for refusing the vaccine, or put a system in place to do so.The Marine Corps has discharged 469, the Air Force has discharged 179 and the Navy has discharged 118, according to data released in the last week. The number include active-duty personnel and entry-level recruits who were still in boot camp. The Army has issued more than 3,000 formal letters of reprimand, and fired six soldiers, but has not discharged anyone yet.All the military services have said the exemption decisions are based not only on the individual request, but also on its impact on the unit, its mission and readiness, and the health and safety of other troops.Those who get an exemption and are allowed to stay in the service may, however, see an impact on their jobs.The Navy and the Marine Corps have said unvaccinated service members are not allowed to deploy out to sea on ships, where infections can more easily spread. Those who have approved exemptions — either medical, administrative or religious — are assigned to shore duties.At least 97% of the troops in each service have gotten at least one shot.

Air Force approves religious exemptions for COVID vaccine

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 22-year-old Omaha man is now charged with second-degree murder in the death of an Oklahoma man. 

Omaha police say charges were upgraded Tuesday against Nolan King in the death of 41-year-old Rodney Pettit, of Lawton, Oklahoma. 

Police say Pettit was assaulted late Saturday at the Parliament Pub in Omaha's Old Market district. He died on Monday.

 King is also charged with use of a weapon that is not a firearm. 

Police have not said what caused the assault.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644377096755.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 22-year-old Omaha man is now charged with second-degree murder in the death of an Oklahoma man. Omaha police say charges were upgraded Tuesday against Nolan King in the death of 41-year-old Rodney Pettit, of Lawton, Oklahoma. Police say Pettit was assaulted late Saturday at the Parliament Pub in Omaha's Old Market district. He died on Monday. King is also charged with use of a weapon that is not a firearm. Police have not said what caused the assault.

Charges upgraded in Oklahoma man's death in Omaha

By VICKIE MOSS <a href="https://www.iolaregister.com/news/local-news/iolan-dies-after-19-month-battle-with-covid">Iola Register</a>

Kansas man Roger Collins, Iola, has died following a 19-month battle with COVID-19.

Wife Billie announced her husband’s passing in a Facebook post Monday.

“I thought today I would be whooping and hollering about the strides 
we had made,” Billie wrote. “Well, sadly or happily, today was the day 
my plan did not come to pass but a much better, more amazing plan took 
place as God called Roger home.”

Collins tested positive for COVID-19 on July 13, 2020.

By that evening, he experienced trouble breathing and was taken via 
ambulance to the hospital, first to Allen County Regional Hospital, then
 to Kansas City, and finally to a long-term care facility in Dallas as 
his symptoms worsened.

“The last 19 months were tough but they were ours,” Billie wrote. “We
 shared the good, bad and the ugly. My heart is broken for our loss but 
it is soaring knowing Roger is no longer in pain. He can walk and talk …
 and if you know Roger he can talk and talk and talk.”

The Collins family shared their story with regular updates for 
Register readers, most recently about 18 months of hospitalization and 
rehabilitation efforts.&nbsp;

Billie praised her husband’s strength and determination. She said the
 family’s faith helped them through the difficult times, including at 
the end.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644368440755.png" alt="Roger Collins / courtesy the Iola Register" />
 <figcaption>Roger Collins / courtesy the Iola Register</figcaption>
 </figure>By VICKIE MOSS <a href="https://www.iolaregister.com/news/local-news/iolan-dies-after-19-month-battle-with-covid">Iola Register</a>Kansas man Roger Collins, Iola, has died following a 19-month battle with COVID-19.Wife Billie announced her husband’s passing in a Facebook post Monday.“I thought today I would be whooping and hollering about the strides 
we had made,” Billie wrote. “Well, sadly or happily, today was the day 
my plan did not come to pass but a much better, more amazing plan took 
place as God called Roger home.”Collins tested positive for COVID-19 on July 13, 2020.By that evening, he experienced trouble breathing and was taken via 
ambulance to the hospital, first to Allen County Regional Hospital, then
 to Kansas City, and finally to a long-term care facility in Dallas as 
his symptoms worsened.“The last 19 months were tough but they were ours,” Billie wrote. “We
 shared the good, bad and the ugly. My heart is broken for our loss but 
it is soaring knowing Roger is no longer in pain. He can walk and talk …
 and if you know Roger he can talk and talk and talk.”The Collins family shared their story with regular updates for 
Register readers, most recently about 18 months of hospitalization and 
rehabilitation efforts.&nbsp;Billie praised her husband’s strength and determination. She said the
 family’s faith helped them through the difficult times, including at 
the end.Republished with permission

Kansas man dies after 19-month battle with COVID-19

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/filibuster-blocks-bill-to-limit-property-tax-increases-by-k-12-schools/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A multi-day filibuster has blocked a bill that would have imposed new taxing limitations on K-12 schools.

On
 a 28-21 vote, Legislative Bill 986 fell five votes short of halting the
 filibuster Tuesday and allowing a vote to advance the proposal from 
first-round debate.

The bill, entitled the “School
 District Property Tax Limitation Act,” sought to prohibit school 
districts from increasing property taxes by no more than 2.5% or 
inflation, whichever is greater. LB 986 would have allowed those limits 
to be exceeded with a vote of 75% of a school board’s members or 60% of 
registered voters at an election.

State
 Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, who made the bill his personal priority, 
said it was a way to ensure that property tax credits provided by the 
Nebraska Legislature translate into reductions in local property taxes, 
not just slowing increases.

It
 marked the second year in a row that a legislative attempt to impose 
more fiscal caps on K-12 school districts failed. Briese expressed 
frustration that the education lobby wasn’t willing to seek a middle 
ground, but instead adopted a “just say no” attitude.

“Our failure to act really tees it up for folks who want to put a cap proposal on the ballot,” he said.

Opponents
 of the bill, led by Lincoln Sen. Matt Hansen, argued that the new cap 
would hurt large and growing school districts, like those in Lincoln and
 Bennington. Other critics said that school spending has not been 
irresponsible and that local school boards are best able to decide local
 budgets.

Hansen said he is normally willing to seek compromises, but LB 986 was “just flat-out bad policy.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644360162910.png" alt="State senators debate on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature at the Nebraska State Capitol Building on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, in Lincoln. (Rebecca S. Gratz for Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>State senators debate on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature at the Nebraska State Capitol Building on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, in Lincoln. (Rebecca S. Gratz for Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/filibuster-blocks-bill-to-limit-property-tax-increases-by-k-12-schools/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A multi-day filibuster has blocked a bill that would have imposed new taxing limitations on K-12 schools.On
 a 28-21 vote, Legislative Bill 986 fell five votes short of halting the
 filibuster Tuesday and allowing a vote to advance the proposal from 
first-round debate.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644360220988.jpeg" alt="Sen. Tom Briese (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Tom Briese (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>The bill, entitled the “School
 District Property Tax Limitation Act,” sought to prohibit school 
districts from increasing property taxes by no more than 2.5% or 
inflation, whichever is greater. LB 986 would have allowed those limits 
to be exceeded with a vote of 75% of a school board’s members or 60% of 
registered voters at an election.State
 Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, who made the bill his personal priority, 
said it was a way to ensure that property tax credits provided by the 
Nebraska Legislature translate into reductions in local property taxes, 
not just slowing increases.It
 marked the second year in a row that a legislative attempt to impose 
more fiscal caps on K-12 school districts failed. Briese expressed 
frustration that the education lobby wasn’t willing to seek a middle 
ground, but instead adopted a “just say no” attitude.“Our failure to act really tees it up for folks who want to put a cap proposal on the ballot,” he said.Opponents
 of the bill, led by Lincoln Sen. Matt Hansen, argued that the new cap 
would hurt large and growing school districts, like those in Lincoln and
 Bennington. Other critics said that school spending has not been 
irresponsible and that local school boards are best able to decide local
 budgets.Hansen said he is normally willing to seek compromises, but LB 986 was “just flat-out bad policy.”

Filibuster blocks bill to limit property tax increases by K-12 schools

By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/08/herbster-says-pillen-insincere-in-critical-race-theory-fight/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

Hog farmer Jim Pillen’s latest television ad takes aim at critical race theory. He says he knows slop when he sees it.

Charles
 Herbster, Pillen’s top opponent in Nebraska’s Republican primary for 
governor, questioned Pillen’s sincerity. He said he should have done 
more to protect university students from critical race theory.&nbsp;

Herbster
 pointed to Pillen’s 2018 vote, as a University of Nebraska regent, in 
support of hiring a leader to create a new Office of Diversity and 
Inclusion at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.&nbsp;The office was 
created after being studied for four years following race-related 
incidents on UNL’s campus. Pillen has been an NU regent since 2013.

“Jim
 Pillen’s lack of action and courage on critical race theory when 
Nebraska students needed him the most is shocking,” Herbster said. “His 
sudden reversal in a paid ad for political purposes is too little, too 
late.”

Herbster
 said that, if elected governor, he would work with local school boards 
and the NU system to “make sure students are taught to love, not hate, 
America.”&nbsp;

Pillen’s
 campaign said that he was the first elected university regent in the 
U.S. to stand up against critical race theory and that he is a 
recognized leader in higher ed on the issue.

“Jim
 will always fight to ensure our schools educate, not indoctrinate, our 
students,” said Kenny Zoeller, Pillen’s campaign manager.&nbsp;

The campaigns disagreed Tuesday over who opposed critical race theory first.&nbsp;

Herbster’s
 campaign press release said he signed the “1776 Action Pledge” against 
critical race theory on June 8. Pillen’s campaign provided an email 
confirming Pillen had signed the pledge a day earlier, on June 7. 
Herbster’s campaign then provided a document showing Herbster had signed
 on June 2.&nbsp;

Critical
 race theorists essentially believe that race in America must be viewed 
through a lens that is conscious of color, not blind to it.

UNL officials did not immediately return messages seeking comment, nor did its Office of Diversity and Inclusion.&nbsp;

The
 office’s website says it aims to “create a more equitable, and 
inclusive campus culture.” In interviews, diversity office leaders have 
previously said it is designed to make sure that UNL is welcoming to all
 of its students. University leaders have said the office is vital to 
helping recruit the next generation of students.&nbsp;

Herbster’s
 attack on Tuesday followed criticism Pillen leveled against him on 
Friday. Pillen had criticized Herbster for locating Conklin Co. out of 
state. Herbster responded by criticizing Pillen’s business, 
Columbus-based Pillen Family Farms.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644359935815.png" alt="Nebraska Republican Charles Herbster announces his run for governor in April 2021. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska Republican Charles Herbster announces his run for governor in April 2021. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/08/herbster-says-pillen-insincere-in-critical-race-theory-fight/">Nebraska Examiner</a>Hog farmer Jim Pillen’s latest television ad takes aim at critical race theory. He says he knows slop when he sees it.Charles
 Herbster, Pillen’s top opponent in Nebraska’s Republican primary for 
governor, questioned Pillen’s sincerity. He said he should have done 
more to protect university students from critical race theory.&nbsp;Herbster
 pointed to Pillen’s 2018 vote, as a University of Nebraska regent, in 
support of hiring a leader to create a new Office of Diversity and 
Inclusion at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.&nbsp;The office was 
created after being studied for four years following race-related 
incidents on UNL’s campus. Pillen has been an NU regent since 2013.“Jim
 Pillen’s lack of action and courage on critical race theory when 
Nebraska students needed him the most is shocking,” Herbster said. “His 
sudden reversal in a paid ad for political purposes is too little, too 
late.”Herbster
 said that, if elected governor, he would work with local school boards 
and the NU system to “make sure students are taught to love, not hate, 
America.”&nbsp;Pillen’s
 campaign said that he was the first elected university regent in the 
U.S. to stand up against critical race theory and that he is a 
recognized leader in higher ed on the issue.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644360051660.jpeg" alt="Nebraska Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>“Jim
 will always fight to ensure our schools educate, not indoctrinate, our 
students,” said Kenny Zoeller, Pillen’s campaign manager.&nbsp;The campaigns disagreed Tuesday over who opposed critical race theory first.&nbsp;Herbster’s
 campaign press release said he signed the “1776 Action Pledge” against 
critical race theory on June 8. Pillen’s campaign provided an email 
confirming Pillen had signed the pledge a day earlier, on June 7. 
Herbster’s campaign then provided a document showing Herbster had signed
 on June 2.&nbsp;Critical
 race theorists essentially believe that race in America must be viewed 
through a lens that is conscious of color, not blind to it.UNL officials did not immediately return messages seeking comment, nor did its Office of Diversity and Inclusion.&nbsp;The
 office’s website says it aims to “create a more equitable, and 
inclusive campus culture.” In interviews, diversity office leaders have 
previously said it is designed to make sure that UNL is welcoming to all
 of its students. University leaders have said the office is vital to 
helping recruit the next generation of students.&nbsp;Herbster’s
 attack on Tuesday followed criticism Pillen leveled against him on 
Friday. Pillen had criticized Herbster for locating Conklin Co. out of 
state. Herbster responded by criticizing Pillen’s business, 
Columbus-based Pillen Family Farms.Pillen and Herbster are the top two fundraisers in the governor’s race.&nbsp;Eight GOP candidates are vying to see who will face Democratic State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue in November.