SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting have identified the suspect who died as 38-year-old&nbsp;Jason D. Ickler, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

Just before 7:30 a.m. Sunday, uniformed deputies of the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office went to a hotel in the 1200 block of SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka in an attempt to locate and arrest a Ickler on charges of felony fleeing or attempting to elude police, interference with law enforcement and reckless driving in connection with an incident that occurred in Topeka on&nbsp; February 4.

When deputies located Ickler's hotel room, he jumped from a window and entered a vehicle in the hotel parking lot. A deputy then located Ickler in the driver’s seat of a running vehicle. When the deputy approached the vehicle, the suspect engaged the vehicle and accelerated towards the deputy. The deputy then discharged his duty weapon while trying to avoid being struck by the vehicle. Ickler was pronounced deceased at the scene by emergency medical personnel. 

Officers seized suspected methamphetamine and unlawful drug paraphernalia from the scene.&nbsp;Investigators have confirmed that Ickler was also being sought on multiple outstanding warrants including Barton County, Kansas&nbsp; warrants for crimes of possession of stolen property, burglary, possession of narcotic drug, interference with law enforcement and fleeing or attempting to elude police, Johnson County, Kansas warrants for crimes of identity theft, forgery, tampering with electronic monitoring equipment and fleeing or attempting to elude police and Sedgwick County, Kansas warrants for crimes of possession of narcotic drug, fleeing or attempting to elude police and driving while being a habitual violator.

Ickler had previous convictions for theft, obstruction, flee or attempt to elude law enforcement and drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections

The Northeast Kansas Sheriff’s Officer-Involved Critical Incident Investigation Team is investigating the officer shooting. Once the investigation is completed, the findings will then be forwarded to the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office for review

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting.

The incident occurred just before 8 a.m. Sunday, as deputies were in the 1200 block of SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka attempting to make a felony arrest of a suspect involved in a vehicle pursuit that occurred in Shawnee County on Friday, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.&nbsp; 

One male subject was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The Northeast Kansas Sheriffs’ Officer-Involved Critical Incident Response Team is in charge of the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644273967421.png" alt="Ickler had previous convictions for theft, obstruction, flee or attempt to elude law enforcement and drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections- photo Johnson Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Ickler had previous convictions for theft, obstruction, flee or attempt to elude law enforcement and drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections- photo Johnson Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting have identified the suspect who died as 38-year-old&nbsp;Jason D. Ickler, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644160820448.png" alt="Law enforcement on the scene of Sunday's fatal officer-involved shooting-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Law enforcement on the scene of Sunday's fatal officer-involved shooting-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 7:30 a.m. Sunday, uniformed deputies of the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office went to a hotel in the 1200 block of SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka in an attempt to locate and arrest a Ickler on charges of felony fleeing or attempting to elude police, interference with law enforcement and reckless driving in connection with an incident that occurred in Topeka on&nbsp; February 4.When deputies located Ickler's hotel room, he jumped from a window and entered a vehicle in the hotel parking lot. A deputy then located Ickler in the driver’s seat of a running vehicle. When the deputy approached the vehicle, the suspect engaged the vehicle and accelerated towards the deputy. The deputy then discharged his duty weapon while trying to avoid being struck by the vehicle. Ickler was pronounced deceased at the scene by emergency medical personnel. Officers seized suspected methamphetamine and unlawful drug paraphernalia from the scene.&nbsp;Investigators have confirmed that Ickler was also being sought on multiple outstanding warrants including Barton County, Kansas&nbsp; warrants for crimes of possession of stolen property, burglary, possession of narcotic drug, interference with law enforcement and fleeing or attempting to elude police, Johnson County, Kansas warrants for crimes of identity theft, forgery, tampering with electronic monitoring equipment and fleeing or attempting to elude police and Sedgwick County, Kansas warrants for crimes of possession of narcotic drug, fleeing or attempting to elude police and driving while being a habitual violator.Ickler had previous convictions for theft, obstruction, flee or attempt to elude law enforcement and drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of CorrectionsThe Northeast Kansas Sheriff’s Officer-Involved Critical Incident Investigation Team is investigating the officer shooting. Once the investigation is completed, the findings will then be forwarded to the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office for review-----SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting.The incident occurred just before 8 a.m. Sunday, as deputies were in the 1200 block of SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka attempting to make a felony arrest of a suspect involved in a vehicle pursuit that occurred in Shawnee County on Friday, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.&nbsp; One male subject was pronounced deceased at the scene.The Northeast Kansas Sheriffs’ Officer-Involved Critical Incident Response Team is in charge of the investigation.

Kan. felon jumped from hotel window before fatal officer shooting

WASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp;The Internal Revenue Service today urged Americans to 
file a 2021 federal income tax return so they can take advantage of key 
tax benefits included in the American Rescue Plan and other recent 
legislation.

Often, individuals and families <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents">can get these expanded tax benefits</a>,
 even if they have little or no income from a job, business or other 
source. This means that many people who don't normally need to file a 
return should consider doing so this year. Because claiming these 
benefits could result in tax refunds for many people, individuals should
 <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">file an accurate return electronically</a> and choose <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a> to avoid processing delays and speed delivery of their refund.

A new fact sheet, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-expanded-credits-for-families-highlight-tax-changes-for-2021-many-people-who-dont-normally-file-should-file-this-year">FS-2022-10</a>,
 available now on IRS.gov, describes many of these expanded tax 
benefits. But the IRS emphasized that these benefits are only available 
to people who file a 2021 federal income tax return. Benefits include:

The IRS reminds early filers that by law, the agency cannot issue 
EITC refunds before mid-February. The same rule applies to refunds that 
include the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). This year, the ACTC is 
typically claimed by Americans abroad who did not have a main home in 
the United States for more than half of 2021. Normally, the mid-February
 restriction does not apply to the Refundable Child Tax Credit (RCTC) 
claimed by people who had a main home in the U.S., unless they also 
claim the EITC.

The IRS urges everyone to make sure they have all their year-end 
statements in hand before filing their 2021 return. Besides all W-2s and
 1099s, this includes two statements issued by the IRS -- <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6419">Letter 6419</a>, showing their total advance Child Tax Credit payments, and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6475">Letter 6475</a>, showing their total EIP3 payments. Individuals can also use IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>
 to see the total amounts of their third round of Economic Impact 
Payments or advance Child Tax Credit payments. Married spouses who 
received joint payments will each need to sign into their own account to
 retrieve their separate amounts.

For most Americans, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/what-is-the-due-date-of-my-federal-tax-return-or-am-i-eligible-to-request-an-extension">tax-filing deadline</a>
 is April 18, 2022. For residents of Maine and Massachusetts, the 
deadline is April 19, 2022. For Americans who live and work abroad, it's
 June 15, 2022. Anyone who needs more time to file can get an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return">automatic extension</a> until Oct. 17, 2022.

Taxpayers can find answers to questions, forms and instructions and 
easy-to-use tools online at IRS.gov. They can use these resources to get
 help when it's needed at home, at work or on the go.

This news release is part of a series called the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-time-guide">Tax Time Guide</a>, a resource to help taxpayers file an accurate tax return. Additional help is available in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p17">Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp;The Internal Revenue Service today urged Americans to 
file a 2021 federal income tax return so they can take advantage of key 
tax benefits included in the American Rescue Plan and other recent 
legislation.Often, individuals and families <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents">can get these expanded tax benefits</a>,
 even if they have little or no income from a job, business or other 
source. This means that many people who don't normally need to file a 
return should consider doing so this year. Because claiming these 
benefits could result in tax refunds for many people, individuals should
 <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">file an accurate return electronically</a> and choose <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a> to avoid processing delays and speed delivery of their refund.<h2>Expanded tax benefits</h2>A new fact sheet, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-expanded-credits-for-families-highlight-tax-changes-for-2021-many-people-who-dont-normally-file-should-file-this-year">FS-2022-10</a>,
 available now on IRS.gov, describes many of these expanded tax 
benefits. But the IRS emphasized that these benefits are only available 
to people who file a 2021 federal income tax return. Benefits include:<ul>
 <li>An expanded <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-frequently-asked-questions">Child Tax Credit</a>: Families can claim this credit, even if they received monthly advance payments during the last half of 2021.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>An increased <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/child-and-dependent-care-credit-information">Child and Dependent Care Credit</a>:
 Families who pay for daycare so they can work or look for work can get a
 tax credit worth up to $4,000 for one qualifying person and $8,000 for 
two or more qualifying persons.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>A more generous <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc">Earned Income Tax Credit</a>:
 The American Rescue Plan boosted the EITC for childless workers. There 
are also changes that can help low- and moderate-income families with 
children.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit</a>:
 Those who missed out on last year's third-round of Economic Impact 
Payments (EIP3), also known as stimulus payments, may be eligible to 
claim the RRC. This credit can also help eligible people whose EIP3 was 
less than the full amount, including those who welcomed a child in 2021.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/expanded-tax-benefits-help-individuals-and-businesses-give-to-charity-during-2021-deductions-up-to-600-available-for-cash-donations-by-non-itemizers">A deduction for gifts to charity</a>:
 The majority of taxpayers who take the standard deduction can deduct 
eligible cash contributions they made during 2021. Married couples 
filing jointly can deduct up to $600 in cash donations and individual 
taxpayers can deduct up to $300 in donations. In addition, itemizers who
 make large cash donations often qualify to deduct the full amount in 
2021.</li>
 </ul>See the fact sheet for more information.The IRS reminds early filers that by law, the agency cannot issue 
EITC refunds before mid-February. The same rule applies to refunds that 
include the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). This year, the ACTC is 
typically claimed by Americans abroad who did not have a main home in 
the United States for more than half of 2021. Normally, the mid-February
 restriction does not apply to the Refundable Child Tax Credit (RCTC) 
claimed by people who had a main home in the U.S., unless they also 
claim the EITC.<h2>Helpful reminders</h2>The IRS urges everyone to make sure they have all their year-end 
statements in hand before filing their 2021 return. Besides all W-2s and
 1099s, this includes two statements issued by the IRS -- <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6419">Letter 6419</a>, showing their total advance Child Tax Credit payments, and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6475">Letter 6475</a>, showing their total EIP3 payments. Individuals can also use IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>
 to see the total amounts of their third round of Economic Impact 
Payments or advance Child Tax Credit payments. Married spouses who 
received joint payments will each need to sign into their own account to
 retrieve their separate amounts.For most Americans, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/what-is-the-due-date-of-my-federal-tax-return-or-am-i-eligible-to-request-an-extension">tax-filing deadline</a>
 is April 18, 2022. For residents of Maine and Massachusetts, the 
deadline is April 19, 2022. For Americans who live and work abroad, it's
 June 15, 2022. Anyone who needs more time to file can get an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return">automatic extension</a> until Oct. 17, 2022.Taxpayers can find answers to questions, forms and instructions and 
easy-to-use tools online at IRS.gov. They can use these resources to get
 help when it's needed at home, at work or on the go.This news release is part of a series called the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-time-guide">Tax Time Guide</a>, a resource to help taxpayers file an accurate tax return. Additional help is available in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p17">Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax</a>.

American Rescue Plan changes can boost refunds for many families

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a flurry of diplomacy across two continents, President Joe Biden met with Germany’s new leader Monday and vowed the crucial Nord Stream 2 Russia-to-Germany&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-europe-russia-germany-82a7ebf6617dfc86b09f4d1b69209d5b">gas pipeline will be blocked</a>&nbsp;if Russia further invades Ukraine. Russia’s Vladimir Putin retorted that the U.S. and its allies are the only ones talking invasion.

Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron met for more than five hours in Moscow at the same time Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at the White House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-business-emmanuel-macron-moscow-9c7b3133b0db8c537ebd667f62a2adef">in efforts to defuse the crisis</a>&nbsp;before armed conflict breaks out. Russia has massed thousands of troops at the Ukraine border, adding military might almost daily.

The White House has expressed increasing alarm about the prospects of war, and Biden has been looking to solidify support among European allies for economy-jarring sanctions against Russia if it attacks.

“If Russia invades, that means tanks and troops crossing the border of Ukraine again, then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2,” Biden said. “We will bring an end to it.”

That would hurt Russia economically but also cause supply problems for Germany. Construction of the pipeline has been completed, but it is not yet operating.

“We are jointly ready, and all of NATO is ready,” Biden said, referring to the powerful Western alliance, though Ukraine is not a member.

While Biden reiterated with certitude that the pipeline would not move forward, Scholz stressed the need to keep some ambiguity about sanctions in order to press Russia to de-escalate the crisis.

“It’s necessary for Russia to understand that a lot more could happen than they’ve perhaps calculated with themselves,.” Scholz said.

The buildup of over 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine has fueled Western worries of a possible offensive. White House national security adviser&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4f766b3b07014bddb9006d44a9f240b8">Jake Sullivan warned Sunday</a>&nbsp;that Russia could invade Ukraine “any day,” triggering a conflict that would come at an “enormous human cost.”

At the same time, Biden and NATO allies have made clear there are no plans for sending in troops to fight Russia on Ukraine’s behalf.

Macron and Putin, during their lengthy meeting — with a dinner that featured the choice of sturgeon or reindeer — registered their disagreements but also emphasized a need for more talks.

Putin noted that the U.S. and NATO have ignored Moscow’s demands that the alliance guarantee it will keep Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations out, refrain from placing weapons in Ukraine and roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe.

“We are categorically against any further NATO’s expansion eastward because it poses a threat to us,” Putin said. “It’s not us who’s advancing to NATO, it’s NATO coming to us and so it’s illogical to talk about Russia’s aggressive behavior.”

He scoffed at Western descriptions of NATO as a defensive alliance, saying sarcastically that “people of Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan have learned it from their own experience.” And he threatened a wider war if Ukraine should join the alliance and perhaps try to win back Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.

“European countries will automatically be drawn into a military conflict with Russia,” Putin said. “You will be drawn into that conflict beyond your will. There will be no winners.”

Macron described the talks as “substantial, deep” with a focus on conditions that could help de-escalation.

“We tried to build converging elements,” he said. “The upcoming days will be crucial and deep discussions together will be needed.”

Putin signaled his readiness to continue negotiations and denied anew that Russia has any intention of invading Ukraine.

In the meantime, Biden warned “it would be wise” for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine.

On a positive note, Putin said without elaboration that some of Macron’s proposals could serve as a basis for a settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, adding that they agreed to have a call after Macron’s visit to Kyiv Tuesday.

Likewise, Biden said when asked if there remained an “offramp” for Russia in the standoff, “The answer is yes.”

Before meeting Biden, Scholz told German media that “there will be a very high price if Ukraine is attacked militarily. And we are preparing for this very precisely and have been talking about the details for a long time.” Scholz will travel to Kyiv and Moscow Feb. 14-15.

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said her country would add up to 350 troops within a few days to about 500 already a part of a NATO battlegroup in Lithuania. “With this, we are strengthening our contribution to forces on NATO’s eastern flank and sending a very clear signal of unity to our allies,” she said.

Biden already has deployed additional U.S. troops to Poland, Romania and Germany, and a few dozen elite U.S. troops and equipment landed Sunday in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine, with hundreds more infantry troops of the 82nd Airborne Division set to arrive.

Britain said the U.K. was sending 350 troops to Poland to bolster NATO forces, joining 100 Royal Engineers already there.

At a news conference in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell defended the increasingly dire Western warnings that a Russian invasion may be imminent.

“This is not alarmism. This is simply the facts,” Blinken said. “And the facts are that we’ve seen over the last few months a massive amassing of Russian forces on Ukraine’s borders.”

Borrell noted that “140,000 troops massed on the border is not to go to have tea.”

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is weighing a more permanent military presence in southeast Europe in response to Russia’s “massive military deployment” near Ukraine.

“We are considering more longer-term adjustments to our posture, our presence in the eastern part of the alliance,” Stoltenberg said after talks in Brussels with Polish President Andrzej Duda. “If Russia really wants less NATO close to the borders, they get the opposite.”

Stoltenberg gave no details and said no final decision has been made, but the move could mirror NATO’s long-term military presence in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, where about 5,000 troops are stationed. It would see a similar force based in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.

The aim would be only to bolster the defenses of NATO allies in the region. The troops would not cross into Ukraine should Russia invade.

Biden and Scholz also discussed contingency plans for providing gas supplies to Europe should Russia cut off supply. Europe is already dealing with liquefied natural gas supplies being sapped by a cold winter last year, a summer with little renewable energy generation and Russia delivering less than usual.

Biden asserted the U.S. and other countries could make up a “significant portion” of supplies lost should Russia move to cut off Europe.

But energy experts say replacing Russian gas would be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-europe-russia-germany-82a7ebf6617dfc86b09f4d1b69209d5b">complicated and can’t be done overnight.</a>&nbsp;Export terminals cost billions of dollars to build and are working at capacity in the U.S.

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a flurry of diplomacy across two continents, President Joe Biden met with Germany’s new leader Monday and vowed the crucial Nord Stream 2 Russia-to-Germany&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-europe-russia-germany-82a7ebf6617dfc86b09f4d1b69209d5b">gas pipeline will be blocked</a>&nbsp;if Russia further invades Ukraine. Russia’s Vladimir Putin retorted that the U.S. and its allies are the only ones talking invasion.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1058370344802252%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=742" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron met for more than five hours in Moscow at the same time Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at the White House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-business-emmanuel-macron-moscow-9c7b3133b0db8c537ebd667f62a2adef">in efforts to defuse the crisis</a>&nbsp;before armed conflict breaks out. Russia has massed thousands of troops at the Ukraine border, adding military might almost daily.The White House has expressed increasing alarm about the prospects of war, and Biden has been looking to solidify support among European allies for economy-jarring sanctions against Russia if it attacks.“If Russia invades, that means tanks and troops crossing the border of Ukraine again, then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2,” Biden said. “We will bring an end to it.”That would hurt Russia economically but also cause supply problems for Germany. Construction of the pipeline has been completed, but it is not yet operating.“We are jointly ready, and all of NATO is ready,” Biden said, referring to the powerful Western alliance, though Ukraine is not a member.While Biden reiterated with certitude that the pipeline would not move forward, Scholz stressed the need to keep some ambiguity about sanctions in order to press Russia to de-escalate the crisis.“It’s necessary for Russia to understand that a lot more could happen than they’ve perhaps calculated with themselves,.” Scholz said.The buildup of over 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine has fueled Western worries of a possible offensive. White House national security adviser&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4f766b3b07014bddb9006d44a9f240b8">Jake Sullivan warned Sunday</a>&nbsp;that Russia could invade Ukraine “any day,” triggering a conflict that would come at an “enormous human cost.”At the same time, Biden and NATO allies have made clear there are no plans for sending in troops to fight Russia on Ukraine’s behalf.Macron and Putin, during their lengthy meeting — with a dinner that featured the choice of sturgeon or reindeer — registered their disagreements but also emphasized a need for more talks.Putin noted that the U.S. and NATO have ignored Moscow’s demands that the alliance guarantee it will keep Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations out, refrain from placing weapons in Ukraine and roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe.“We are categorically against any further NATO’s expansion eastward because it poses a threat to us,” Putin said. “It’s not us who’s advancing to NATO, it’s NATO coming to us and so it’s illogical to talk about Russia’s aggressive behavior.”He scoffed at Western descriptions of NATO as a defensive alliance, saying sarcastically that “people of Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan have learned it from their own experience.” And he threatened a wider war if Ukraine should join the alliance and perhaps try to win back Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.“European countries will automatically be drawn into a military conflict with Russia,” Putin said. “You will be drawn into that conflict beyond your will. There will be no winners.”Macron described the talks as “substantial, deep” with a focus on conditions that could help de-escalation.“We tried to build converging elements,” he said. “The upcoming days will be crucial and deep discussions together will be needed.”Putin signaled his readiness to continue negotiations and denied anew that Russia has any intention of invading Ukraine.In the meantime, Biden warned “it would be wise” for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine.On a positive note, Putin said without elaboration that some of Macron’s proposals could serve as a basis for a settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, adding that they agreed to have a call after Macron’s visit to Kyiv Tuesday.Likewise, Biden said when asked if there remained an “offramp” for Russia in the standoff, “The answer is yes.”Before meeting Biden, Scholz told German media that “there will be a very high price if Ukraine is attacked militarily. And we are preparing for this very precisely and have been talking about the details for a long time.” Scholz will travel to Kyiv and Moscow Feb. 14-15.German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said her country would add up to 350 troops within a few days to about 500 already a part of a NATO battlegroup in Lithuania. “With this, we are strengthening our contribution to forces on NATO’s eastern flank and sending a very clear signal of unity to our allies,” she said.Biden already has deployed additional U.S. troops to Poland, Romania and Germany, and a few dozen elite U.S. troops and equipment landed Sunday in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine, with hundreds more infantry troops of the 82nd Airborne Division set to arrive.Britain said the U.K. was sending 350 troops to Poland to bolster NATO forces, joining 100 Royal Engineers already there.At a news conference in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell defended the increasingly dire Western warnings that a Russian invasion may be imminent.“This is not alarmism. This is simply the facts,” Blinken said. “And the facts are that we’ve seen over the last few months a massive amassing of Russian forces on Ukraine’s borders.”Borrell noted that “140,000 troops massed on the border is not to go to have tea.”NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is weighing a more permanent military presence in southeast Europe in response to Russia’s “massive military deployment” near Ukraine.“We are considering more longer-term adjustments to our posture, our presence in the eastern part of the alliance,” Stoltenberg said after talks in Brussels with Polish President Andrzej Duda. “If Russia really wants less NATO close to the borders, they get the opposite.”Stoltenberg gave no details and said no final decision has been made, but the move could mirror NATO’s long-term military presence in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, where about 5,000 troops are stationed. It would see a similar force based in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.The aim would be only to bolster the defenses of NATO allies in the region. The troops would not cross into Ukraine should Russia invade.Biden and Scholz also discussed contingency plans for providing gas supplies to Europe should Russia cut off supply. Europe is already dealing with liquefied natural gas supplies being sapped by a cold winter last year, a summer with little renewable energy generation and Russia delivering less than usual.Biden asserted the U.S. and other countries could make up a “significant portion” of supplies lost should Russia move to cut off Europe.But energy experts say replacing Russian gas would be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-europe-russia-germany-82a7ebf6617dfc86b09f4d1b69209d5b">complicated and can’t be done overnight.</a>&nbsp;Export terminals cost billions of dollars to build and are working at capacity in the U.S.

🎥Biden threatens Russia on pipeline if they invade Ukraine

WASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp;The Internal Revenue Service today updated frequently asked questions (FAQs) for the&nbsp;2021 Recovery Rebate Credit.

These FAQs (<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/fs-2022-09.pdf">FS-2022-09</a>&nbsp;PDF) were updated:

Individuals who did not qualify for, or did not receive, the 
full amount of the third Economic Impact Payment may be eligible to 
claim the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit based on their 2021 tax year 
information. Individuals may have received their third Economic Impact 
Payment through initial and "plus-up" payments in 2021.

Note: Third Economic Impact Payments are different 
than the monthly advance Child Tax Credit payments that the IRS 
disbursed from July through December 2021.

Most eligible people already received their Economic Impact Payments 
and won't include any information about their payment when they file. 
However, people who are missing stimulus payments should review the 
information on the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit</a> page to determine their eligibility and whether they need to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit for tax year 2021.

To claim any remaining credit for 2021, eligible people must file a 
2021 tax return, even if they usually do not file taxes. Also, people 
who did not receive all of their first and second Economic Impact 
Payments in 2020 can receive those amounts only by filing a 2020 tax 
return (or amending a previously filed return) and claiming the 2020 
Recovery Rebate Credit. They should review the Recovery Rebate Credit 
page to determine their eligibility.

The 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit can reduce any taxes owed or be 
included in the tax refund for the 2021 tax year. Filers must ensure to 
not mix information from their 2020 and 2021 tax years. In particular, 
filers should take care to NOT include any information regarding the 
first and second Economic Impact Payments received in 2020, or the 2020 
Recovery Rebate Credit, on their 2021 return. They will need the total 
of the third payment received to accurately calculate the 2021 Recovery 
Rebate Credit when they file their 2021 federal tax return in 2022.

Individuals can now view this information in their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">online account</a>.

People can also locate this information on Letter 1444-C, which they 
received from the IRS during 2021 after each payment, as well as Letter 
6475, which the IRS will mail to them through March 2022.

The FAQ's cover most questions relating to claiming the credit and 
are for use by taxpayers and tax professionals and are being issued as 
expeditiously as possible.

Taxpayers with income of $73,000 or less can file their federal tax returns electronically for free through the IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File Program</a>.
 The fastest way to receive a tax refund is to file electronically and 
have it direct deposited into a financial account. Refunds can be 
directly deposited into bank accounts, prepaid debit cards or mobile 
apps as long as a routing and account number is provided.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp;The Internal Revenue Service today updated frequently asked questions (FAQs) for the&nbsp;2021 Recovery Rebate Credit.These FAQs (<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/fs-2022-09.pdf">FS-2022-09</a>&nbsp;PDF) were updated:<ul>
 <li>2021 Recovery Rebate Credit — Topic A: General Information – <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-a-general-information#qa3">Q3</a></li><li>2021 Recovery Rebate Credit — Topic D: Claiming the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit&nbsp;– <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-d-claiming-the-2021-recovery-rebate-credit#q1">Q1</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-d-claiming-the-2021-recovery-rebate-credit#q2">Q2</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-d-claiming-the-2021-recovery-rebate-credit#q6">Q6</a></li><li>2021 Recovery Rebate Credit — Topic F: Receiving the Credit on a 2021 Tax Return&nbsp;– <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-f-receiving-the-credit-on-a-2021-tax-return#q8">Q8</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-f-receiving-the-credit-on-a-2021-tax-return#q9">Q9</a></li><li>2021 Recovery Rebate Credit — Topic G: Finding the Third Economic 
Impact Payment Amount to Calculate the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit – <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-g-finding-the-third-economic-impact-payment-amount-to-calculate-the-2021-recovery-rebate-credit#q2">Q2</a></li>
 </ul>Individuals who did not qualify for, or did not receive, the 
full amount of the third Economic Impact Payment may be eligible to 
claim the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit based on their 2021 tax year 
information. Individuals may have received their third Economic Impact 
Payment through initial and "plus-up" payments in 2021.Note: Third Economic Impact Payments are different 
than the monthly advance Child Tax Credit payments that the IRS 
disbursed from July through December 2021.Most eligible people already received their Economic Impact Payments 
and won't include any information about their payment when they file. 
However, people who are missing stimulus payments should review the 
information on the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit</a> page to determine their eligibility and whether they need to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit for tax year 2021.To claim any remaining credit for 2021, eligible people must file a 
2021 tax return, even if they usually do not file taxes. Also, people 
who did not receive all of their first and second Economic Impact 
Payments in 2020 can receive those amounts only by filing a 2020 tax 
return (or amending a previously filed return) and claiming the 2020 
Recovery Rebate Credit. They should review the Recovery Rebate Credit 
page to determine their eligibility.The 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit can reduce any taxes owed or be 
included in the tax refund for the 2021 tax year. Filers must ensure to 
not mix information from their 2020 and 2021 tax years. In particular, 
filers should take care to NOT include any information regarding the 
first and second Economic Impact Payments received in 2020, or the 2020 
Recovery Rebate Credit, on their 2021 return. They will need the total 
of the third payment received to accurately calculate the 2021 Recovery 
Rebate Credit when they file their 2021 federal tax return in 2022.Individuals can now view this information in their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">online account</a>.People can also locate this information on Letter 1444-C, which they 
received from the IRS during 2021 after each payment, as well as Letter 
6475, which the IRS will mail to them through March 2022.The FAQ's cover most questions relating to claiming the credit and 
are for use by taxpayers and tax professionals and are being issued as 
expeditiously as possible.<h2>File for free and use direct deposit</h2>Taxpayers with income of $73,000 or less can file their federal tax returns electronically for free through the IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File Program</a>.
 The fastest way to receive a tax refund is to file electronically and 
have it direct deposited into a financial account. Refunds can be 
directly deposited into bank accounts, prepaid debit cards or mobile 
apps as long as a routing and account number is provided.

IRS updates guidance for 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a flurry of diplomacy across two continents, President Joe Biden emerged from a meeting with Germany’s new leader Monday vowing the crucial Nord Stream 2 Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline would be blocked if Russia further invades Ukraine. Russia's Vladimir Putin said the U.S. and its allies were the only ones talking about invasion.

Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron met for hours in Moscow at the same time Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at the White House in efforts to defuse the crisis before armed conflict breaks out. Russia has massed thousands of troops at the Ukraine border, adding military might almost daily.

The White House has expressed increasing alarm about the prospects of a war, and Biden has been looking to solidify support among European allies for economy-jarring sanctions against Russia if it moves further with an invasion.

The buildup of over 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine has fueled Western worries of a possible offensive. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned Sunday that Russia could invade Ukraine “any day,” triggering a conflict that would come at an “enormous human cost.”

Putin described his lengthy talks with Macron at the Kremlin as businesslike. He noted that the U.S. and its NATO allies have ignored Moscow’s demands for security guarantees.

He said that NATO’s expansion eastward to Russia's border has violated the security principles of international agreements and scoffed at Western assurances that it is a defensive alliance that doesn’t threaten Russia.

“People of Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan have had learned it from their own experience,” the Russian leader said in a sarcastic reference to the U.S. allies' involvement in military campaigns in those countries. He also referenced NATO’s 1999 bombing campaign in the former Yugoslavia.

He derided the Western criticism of the Russian military buildup near Ukraine, saying that “NATO members consider it possible to lecture us about our troops movements on our own territory and cast them as a threat of Russian invasion in Ukraine.”

Russia has denied any plans to attack its neighbor but demands that the U.S. and its allies bar Ukraine and other former Soviet nations from joining NATO, halt weapons deployments there and roll back NATO forces from Eastern Europe. Washington and NATO reject those demands.

Unswayed, Biden on Monday said “it would be wise” for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine amid the Russian military threat.

Likewise, Biden said when asked if there remained an “offramp” for Russia in the standoff: “The answer is yes.”

Macron said after his “substantial, deep” meeting with Putin: “The upcoming days will be crucial and deep discussions together will be needed ... to build new guarantees for peace and security” for the European continent.

Macron and Putin spent several hours in a meeting with a meal that included fish soup, the choice of sturgeon or reindeer with sweet potatoes and pear pie with vanilla ice cream.

Macron, who heads Tuesday to Ukraine, spoke by phone Sunday with Biden. Before the Putin meeting, Macron said: “I don’t believe in spontaneous miracles.”

“The security and sovereignty of Ukraine or any other European state cannot be a subject for compromise, while it is also legitimate for Russia to pose the question of its own security,” Macron told the French newspaper Journal du Dimanche.

The State Department has been warning American citizens to reconsider any plans to travel to Ukraine since last year due to the buildup of Russian forces near the border. In January, it upgraded that advice, urging U.S. citizens not to travel to Ukraine or to leave the country if they are already there. That stepped-up warning came as the department ordered the families of all American staffers at the U.S. embassy in Kyiv to depart and allowed non-essential diplomats there leave

Before meeting Biden, Scholz told German media that "there will be a very high price if Ukraine is attacked militarily. And we are preparing for this very precisely and have been talking about the details for a long time.” Scholz will travel to Kyiv and Moscow Feb. 14-15..

Separately German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said her country would add up to 350 troops within a few days to about 500 already a part of a NATO battlegroup in Lithuania. “With this, we are strengthening our contribution to forces on NATO’s eastern flank and sending a very clear signal of unity to our allies,” she said.

Biden already has deployed additional U.S. troops to Poland, Romania and Germany, and a few dozen elite U.S troops and equipment landed Sunday in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine, with hundreds more infantry troops of the 82nd Airborne Division set to arrive.

Britain said it was sending 350 troops to Poland to bolster NATO forces, joining 100 Royal Engineers already there.

At a news conference in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the U.S. and Europe defended the increasingly dire Western warnings that a Russian invasion may be imminent.

“This is not alarmism. This is simply the facts,” Blinken said. “And the facts are that we’ve seen over the last few months a massive amassing of Russian forces on Ukraine’s borders."

That would mean NATO troops stationed long-term near Ukraine’s western border and in the Black Sea area. The aim would be only to bolster the defenses of NATO allies in the region and the troops would not cross into Ukraine should Russia invade.

In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal for eastern Ukraine in a bid to end the conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists that erupted the previous year following the Russian annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644271333333.png" alt="“We are jointly ready, and all of NATO is ready,” Biden said, referring to the powerful Western alliance, though Ukraine is not a member.-photo White House" />
 <figcaption>“We are jointly ready, and all of NATO is ready,” Biden said, referring to the powerful Western alliance, though Ukraine is not a member.-photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — In a flurry of diplomacy across two continents, President Joe Biden emerged from a meeting with Germany’s new leader Monday vowing the crucial Nord Stream 2 Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline would be blocked if Russia further invades Ukraine. Russia's Vladimir Putin said the U.S. and its allies were the only ones talking about invasion.Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron met for hours in Moscow at the same time Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at the White House in efforts to defuse the crisis before armed conflict breaks out. Russia has massed thousands of troops at the Ukraine border, adding military might almost daily.The White House has expressed increasing alarm about the prospects of a war, and Biden has been looking to solidify support among European allies for economy-jarring sanctions against Russia if it moves further with an invasion.“We are jointly ready, and all of NATO is ready,” Biden said, referring to the powerful Western alliance, though Ukraine is not a member.While Biden reiterated with certitude that the pipeline would not move forward, Scholz stressed the need to keep some ambiguity about sanctions in order to press Russia to de-escalate the crisis.“It’s necessary for Russia to understand that a lot more could happen than they’ve perhaps calculated with themselves,.” Scholz said.The buildup of over 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine has fueled Western worries of a possible offensive. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned Sunday that Russia could invade Ukraine “any day,” triggering a conflict that would come at an “enormous human cost.”Putin described his lengthy talks with Macron at the Kremlin as businesslike. He noted that the U.S. and its NATO allies have ignored Moscow’s demands for security guarantees.He said that NATO’s expansion eastward to Russia's border has violated the security principles of international agreements and scoffed at Western assurances that it is a defensive alliance that doesn’t threaten Russia.“People of Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan have had learned it from their own experience,” the Russian leader said in a sarcastic reference to the U.S. allies' involvement in military campaigns in those countries. He also referenced NATO’s 1999 bombing campaign in the former Yugoslavia.He derided the Western criticism of the Russian military buildup near Ukraine, saying that “NATO members consider it possible to lecture us about our troops movements on our own territory and cast them as a threat of Russian invasion in Ukraine.”Russia has denied any plans to attack its neighbor but demands that the U.S. and its allies bar Ukraine and other former Soviet nations from joining NATO, halt weapons deployments there and roll back NATO forces from Eastern Europe. Washington and NATO reject those demands.Unswayed, Biden on Monday said “it would be wise” for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine amid the Russian military threat.On a positive note, Putin said without elaboration that some of Macron’s proposals could serve as a basis for a settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, adding that they agreed to have a call after Macron’s visit to Kyiv Tuesday.Likewise, Biden said when asked if there remained an “offramp” for Russia in the standoff: “The answer is yes.”Macron said after his “substantial, deep” meeting with Putin: “The upcoming days will be crucial and deep discussions together will be needed ... to build new guarantees for peace and security” for the European continent.Macron and Putin spent several hours in a meeting with a meal that included fish soup, the choice of sturgeon or reindeer with sweet potatoes and pear pie with vanilla ice cream.Macron, who heads Tuesday to Ukraine, spoke by phone Sunday with Biden. Before the Putin meeting, Macron said: “I don’t believe in spontaneous miracles.”“The security and sovereignty of Ukraine or any other European state cannot be a subject for compromise, while it is also legitimate for Russia to pose the question of its own security,” Macron told the French newspaper Journal du Dimanche.The State Department has been warning American citizens to reconsider any plans to travel to Ukraine since last year due to the buildup of Russian forces near the border. In January, it upgraded that advice, urging U.S. citizens not to travel to Ukraine or to leave the country if they are already there. That stepped-up warning came as the department ordered the families of all American staffers at the U.S. embassy in Kyiv to depart and allowed non-essential diplomats there leaveBefore meeting Biden, Scholz told German media that "there will be a very high price if Ukraine is attacked militarily. And we are preparing for this very precisely and have been talking about the details for a long time.” Scholz will travel to Kyiv and Moscow Feb. 14-15..Separately German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said her country would add up to 350 troops within a few days to about 500 already a part of a NATO battlegroup in Lithuania. “With this, we are strengthening our contribution to forces on NATO’s eastern flank and sending a very clear signal of unity to our allies,” she said.Biden already has deployed additional U.S. troops to Poland, Romania and Germany, and a few dozen elite U.S troops and equipment landed Sunday in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine, with hundreds more infantry troops of the 82nd Airborne Division set to arrive.Britain said it was sending 350 troops to Poland to bolster NATO forces, joining 100 Royal Engineers already there.At a news conference in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the U.S. and Europe defended the increasingly dire Western warnings that a Russian invasion may be imminent.“This is not alarmism. This is simply the facts,” Blinken said. “And the facts are that we’ve seen over the last few months a massive amassing of Russian forces on Ukraine’s borders."Borrell noted that “140,000 troops massed on the border is not to go to have tea.”NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is weighing a more permanent military presence in southeast Europe in response to Russia’s “massive military deployment” near Ukraine.“We are considering more longer-term adjustments to our posture, our presence in the eastern part of the alliance,” Stoltenberg said after talks in Brussels with Polish President Andrzej Duda. “If Russia really wants less NATO close to the borders, they get the opposite.”Stoltenberg gave no details and said no final decision has been made, but the move could mirror NATO’s long-term military presence in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, where about 5,000 troops are stationed. It would see a similar force based in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.That would mean NATO troops stationed long-term near Ukraine’s western border and in the Black Sea area. The aim would be only to bolster the defenses of NATO allies in the region and the troops would not cross into Ukraine should Russia invade.In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal for eastern Ukraine in a bid to end the conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists that erupted the previous year following the Russian annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.

Biden: It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine

By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/05/gop-primary-pillen-slams-herbster-for-basing-business-annual-meeting-out-of-state/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — Two top Republicans running for governor&nbsp;are getting personal about each other’s businesses.

On
 Friday, northeast Nebraska hog producer Jim Pillen, the top fundraiser 
in the GOP primary, attacked southeast Nebraska bull breeder Charles 
Herbster, the race’s top spender, for locating his biggest business out 
of state.

“I chose to raise my family and build my business in this great state,” Pillen said in a statement.&nbsp;

On
 Saturday, Herbster called Pillen “desperate.” He warned Pillen not to 
criticize his business practices. And he repeated allegations that 
Pillen’s hog farm had hired workers who were in the country illegally.

“Just
 like a typical politician, Jim Pillen has once again gone negative in 
an attempt to make up for his failing candidacy,” Herbster said in a 
statement.&nbsp;

Herbster
 owns Conklin Co., a manufacturing, marketing and distribution company 
that makes a lot of its money on roofing. Minnesota is Conklin’s 
distribution hub. The company’s corporate leaders are based in Missouri.
 Herbster has a large home in Kansas City, Missouri, that he has 
previously described as a guest house. He resides in Falls City, 
Nebraska. He also owns a home in Omaha.&nbsp;

Conklin
 employs 104 people, based on its application for federal relief funds 
in 2020. Most work in Minnesota and Missouri, although the company has 
distributors in many states, including Nebraska.

Pillen’s
 campaign chose Friday to level the criticism because this weekend is 
when Herbster’s Conklin Co. hosts its annual meeting in Branson, Mo. 
Pillen’s campaign asked why Herbster wasn’t hosting the conference in 
Nebraska.

The
 Conklin event draws about 2,000 people and has a local economic impact 
of more than $1 million, Herbster told the Branson City Council during a
 public hearing on the city’s conventions. Hotel officials estimated the
 convention’s annual sales tax impact at $180,000.

Pillen
 said Herbster’s decision to host the convention in Branson instead of 
Kearney, Lincoln or Omaha should show he “isn’t cut out” to be 
Nebraska’s governor.

“Herbster
 made his fortune from Conklin Company, a company he chose to 
headquarter in Missouri, not Nebraska, just like his Kansas City home,” 
Pillen said. “I’ll fight each and every day against out-of-state 
business owners, like Charles W. Herbster, who want to steal our kids 
and accelerate our brain drain.”

Pillen
 owns Pillen Family Farms, which has employees in Nebraska and three 
other states. The business is headquartered in Columbus. His campaign 
says he employs more than 850 people in Nebraska, or more than 90% of 
the company’s workers. He’s a University of Nebraska regent.

Herbster,
 in a statement Saturday, said voters were “all getting a taste of the 
real Jim Pillen.” He said Nebraskans are tired of “establishment 
politicians” making “baseless and misleading attacks.”

“Here’s a message to our opponents: Make sure your house is in order before you go looking at someone else’s,” Herbster said.

Nebraska’s primary election is May 10. Early voting starts in April. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644251510623.png" alt="Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster, left, responded to criticism this week from fellow GOP candidate Jim Pillen, right. They’re shown here at a candidate forum in Lincoln, flanking fellow Republican candidate State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) " />
 <figcaption>Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster, left, responded to criticism this week from fellow GOP candidate Jim Pillen, right. They’re shown here at a candidate forum in Lincoln, flanking fellow Republican candidate State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) </figcaption>
 </figure>By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/05/gop-primary-pillen-slams-herbster-for-basing-business-annual-meeting-out-of-state/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — Two top Republicans running for governor&nbsp;are getting personal about each other’s businesses.On
 Friday, northeast Nebraska hog producer Jim Pillen, the top fundraiser 
in the GOP primary, attacked southeast Nebraska bull breeder Charles 
Herbster, the race’s top spender, for locating his biggest business out 
of state.“I chose to raise my family and build my business in this great state,” Pillen said in a statement.&nbsp;On
 Saturday, Herbster called Pillen “desperate.” He warned Pillen not to 
criticize his business practices. And he repeated allegations that 
Pillen’s hog farm had hired workers who were in the country illegally.“Just
 like a typical politician, Jim Pillen has once again gone negative in 
an attempt to make up for his failing candidacy,” Herbster said in a 
statement.&nbsp;Herbster
 owns Conklin Co., a manufacturing, marketing and distribution company 
that makes a lot of its money on roofing. Minnesota is Conklin’s 
distribution hub. The company’s corporate leaders are based in Missouri.
 Herbster has a large home in Kansas City, Missouri, that he has 
previously described as a guest house. He resides in Falls City, 
Nebraska. He also owns a home in Omaha.&nbsp;Conklin
 employs 104 people, based on its application for federal relief funds 
in 2020. Most work in Minnesota and Missouri, although the company has 
distributors in many states, including Nebraska.Pillen’s
 campaign chose Friday to level the criticism because this weekend is 
when Herbster’s Conklin Co. hosts its annual meeting in Branson, Mo. 
Pillen’s campaign asked why Herbster wasn’t hosting the conference in 
Nebraska.The
 Conklin event draws about 2,000 people and has a local economic impact 
of more than $1 million, Herbster told the Branson City Council during a
 public hearing on the city’s conventions. Hotel officials estimated the
 convention’s annual sales tax impact at $180,000.Pillen
 said Herbster’s decision to host the convention in Branson instead of 
Kearney, Lincoln or Omaha should show he “isn’t cut out” to be 
Nebraska’s governor.“Herbster
 made his fortune from Conklin Company, a company he chose to 
headquarter in Missouri, not Nebraska, just like his Kansas City home,” 
Pillen said. “I’ll fight each and every day against out-of-state 
business owners, like Charles W. Herbster, who want to steal our kids 
and accelerate our brain drain.”Pillen
 owns Pillen Family Farms, which has employees in Nebraska and three 
other states. The business is headquartered in Columbus. His campaign 
says he employs more than 850 people in Nebraska, or more than 90% of 
the company’s workers. He’s a University of Nebraska regent.Herbster,
 in a statement Saturday, said voters were “all getting a taste of the 
real Jim Pillen.” He said Nebraskans are tired of “establishment 
politicians” making “baseless and misleading attacks.”“Here’s a message to our opponents: Make sure your house is in order before you go looking at someone else’s,” Herbster said.Nebraska’s primary election is May 10. Early voting starts in April.

Candidates for governor get personal about each other's business pactices

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/u-s-district-judge-john-gerrard-announces-his-retirement/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — U.S. District Judge John Gerrard has announced that he will transition to senior judge status by next year, creating a vacancy on the federal bench in Nebraska to be filled by President Joe Biden.

Gerrard,
 in a letter Monday to the President, wrote that he will continue to 
“render substantial judicial service” because of a heavy caseload in 
Nebraska and because there are only three active federal judges.

But he also urged the president to make a “timely appointment” of a successor.

“Nebraska has a long history of promptly filling vacancies on the federal bench,” Gerrard said in a press release.

He added that he was confident that 
Nebraska’s two Republican U.S. senators, Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse, with
 work with the Democratic president.

Gerrard, in an interview, declined to 
comment on whether the timing of his announcement had anything to do 
with the possibility that the U.S. Senate, which confirms federal 
judges might flip from Democratic control to Republican following the 
2022 elections.

Gerrard,
 68, was appointed to the bench by then-President Barack Obama and was 
confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2012 on a 74-16 vote.

The judge had served on the Nebraska Supreme Court from 1995 to 2012 after being appointed to that post by then-Gov. Ben Nelson.

Prior to becoming a judge, Gerrard was in private practice in Norfolk, Nebraska.

Monday, he said that he is “still healthy, 
alive, well and judging,” and that his transition was solely due to his 
age. Other judges, he said, have made the transition at about this age.

The U.S. District Court has two other senior
 judges, Richard Kopf and Joseph Bataillon. Such senior judges continue 
to hear cases, but with less of a caseload.

Gerrard said he will continue with his current caseload until February 2023, when he will make the transition.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644264833605.jpeg" alt="U.S. District Judge John Gerrard (Courtesy of Harry Weddington)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. District Judge John Gerrard (Courtesy of Harry Weddington)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/u-s-district-judge-john-gerrard-announces-his-retirement/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — U.S. District Judge John Gerrard has announced that he will transition to senior judge status by next year, creating a vacancy on the federal bench in Nebraska to be filled by President Joe Biden.Gerrard,
 in a letter Monday to the President, wrote that he will continue to 
“render substantial judicial service” because of a heavy caseload in 
Nebraska and because there are only three active federal judges.But he also urged the president to make a “timely appointment” of a successor.“Nebraska has a long history of promptly filling vacancies on the federal bench,” Gerrard said in a press release.He added that he was confident that 
Nebraska’s two Republican U.S. senators, Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse, with
 work with the Democratic president.Gerrard, in an interview, declined to 
comment on whether the timing of his announcement had anything to do 
with the possibility that the U.S. Senate, which confirms federal 
judges might flip from Democratic control to Republican following the 
2022 elections.Gerrard,
 68, was appointed to the bench by then-President Barack Obama and was 
confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2012 on a 74-16 vote.The judge had served on the Nebraska Supreme Court from 1995 to 2012 after being appointed to that post by then-Gov. Ben Nelson.Prior to becoming a judge, Gerrard was in private practice in Norfolk, Nebraska.Monday, he said that he is “still healthy, 
alive, well and judging,” and that his transition was solely due to his 
age. Other judges, he said, have made the transition at about this age.The U.S. District Court has two other senior
 judges, Richard Kopf and Joseph Bataillon. Such senior judges continue 
to hear cases, but with less of a caseload.Gerrard said he will continue with his current caseload until February 2023, when he will make the transition.

U.S. District Judge Gerrard announces his retirement

By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2022-02-07/salina-parents-want-lgbtq-memoir-removed-from-school-libraries">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA&nbsp;— Some parents in the Salina school 
district want a book removed from high school libraries, citing sexually
 explicit passages that they say are not appropriate for young readers.

The book “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” by nonbinary author and activist <a href="https://iamgmjohnson.com/" target="_blank">George M. Johnson</a>, bills itself as a “memoir-manifesto” intended for adolescent readers. It <a href="https://www.kcur.org/education/2021-10-12/shawnee-mission-weighs-policy-change-after-parents-raise-concerns-about-books-descriptions-of-sex" target="_blank">came under fire</a> in the Shawnee Mission school district last fall and has been <a href="https://flaglerlive.com/170745/books-returned-withheld/" target="_blank">removed from school libraries</a> or classrooms in several states.

Chad Farber, pastor of Central Baptist Church in Salina, submitted one of two requests to review the book on Jan. 25.

In
 his request to district officials, Farber says the book contains 
“pornographic, lude (sic), and obscene content described in great 
detail” and that “this material could be used by some to experiment 
w/anal sex on other students (and) groom some to be molested by 
predators.”

Another parent, Jessica A. Henton, filed a request the same day to review “All Boys Aren’t Blue.”

“While,
 to my understanding, there is great educational content in the rest of 
the book, the obscene (and) descriptive text about ‘sex’ has no place on
 school library shelves,” Henton wrote.

District officials say the
 book is being reviewed by a school-level committee that includes a 
principal, librarian, teachers and parents. The Salina school board is 
expected to hear from people on both sides of the debate during its 
meeting Tuesday.

The case reflects a national trend that has 
school districts trying to balance parental outrage with students’ 
access to certain books. In recent months, dozens of books have been <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-11-10/goddard-school-district-reverses-decision-to-pull-library-books" target="_blank">challenged by parents and community members</a> who contend that they’re sexually explicit or <a href="https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/calls-to-ban-books-by-black-authors-are-increasing-amid-critical-race-theory-debates/2021/09" target="_blank">promote critical race theory</a>.

<a href="https://pen.org/user/james-tager/" target="_blank">James Tager</a>,
 research director for the free expression group PEN America, has 
tracked book challenges since 2016 and says the number and intensity of 
challenges is increasing dramatically. But the targets are largely the 
same.

“Most of the books have to do with the presentation of 
diverse viewpoints, which is to say that they feature characters or 
they're written by people of color,” Tager said.

Challenges focused on obscenity tend to target books by LGBTQ authors, he said.

“Whenever
 these arguments are raised, I hardly ever see an effort to evaluate 
this against the literary and educational merit of the book,” he said. 
“There’s a focus on a few passages or a few parts rather than on the 
book in and of itself.”

In an author’s note at the start of “All 
Boys Aren’t Blue,” Johnson acknowledges that his book features 
provocative and potentially controversial material.

“As heavy as 
these subjects may be, it is necessary that they are not only told, but 
also read by teens who may have to navigate many of these same 
experiences in their own lives,” Johnson writes.

“This book will 
touch on sexual assault (including molestation), loss of virginity, 
homophobia, racism, and anti-Blackness. These discussions at times may 
be a bit graphic, but nonetheless they are experiences that many reading
 this book will encounter or have already encountered. And I want those 
readers to be seen and heard in these pages.”

Both people who 
filed complaints in Salina said they had not read “All Boys Aren’t 
Blue,” but saw portions of the book shared on social media.

Parent
 groups have raised issues about a four-page passage near the end of the
 book. In a chapter titled “Losing My Virginity Twice,” Johnson relates a
 consensual homosexual encounter in detail, including oral sex, 
masturbation and intercourse.

Rodney Penn, a Salina father and founder of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/990859254309004/" target="_blank">Kansas Parents Involved in Education</a>,
 said books containing explicit material should be removed from school 
libraries or labeled as explicit, like movies and music, and kept in a 
section that requires parental consent before students can check them 
out.

“We have statutes in the state of Kansas that talk about how a
 school district must monitor and protect kids from internet-based 
obscenities. But what about print obscenities?” Penn said.

Kansas law prohibits the <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2012/b2011_12/statute/021_000_0000_chapter/021_064_0000_article/021_064_0001_section/021_064_0001_k/#:~:text=2012%20Statute&amp;text=(b)%20Promoting%20obscenity%20to%20minors,the%20age%20of%2018%20years" target="_blank">promotion of obscenity to minors</a>.
 But the law exempts “institutions having scientific, educational or 
governmental justification,” such as schools, universities and public 
libraries.

A school district in North Kansas City, Mo., pulled 
“All Boys Aren’t Blue” and another LGBTQ-themed title, “Fun Home,” from 
high school shelves last October but <a href="https://fox4kc.com/news/education/north-kansas-city-school-district-returning-lgbtq-books-to-shelves-after-pushback/#:~:text=%E2%80%94%20North%20Kansas%20City%20School%20District,said%20it%20was%20sent%20Friday." target="_blank">returned them</a> after students petitioned to keep the books.

“All Boys Aren’t Blue” was on a list of books briefly <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-11-10/goddard-school-district-reverses-decision-to-pull-library-books" target="_blank">pulled from circulation</a> at school libraries in Goddard in November. The district <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-11-10/goddard-school-district-reverses-decision-to-pull-library-books" target="_blank">reversed its decision</a> after receiving national pushback from authors and free-speech advocates.

Chris
 Field, a former Salina teacher who ran unsuccessfully for school board 
in November, said he’s disturbed by challenges that target materials 
dealing with race, gender and sexuality. He said libraries need diverse 
materials to help students navigate real-life experiences.

“To be 
able to find books that they can identify with and know that other 
people in the world are struggling with these issues also. … That’s got 
to be comforting to these children,” he said.

“Ninety-nine percent
 of the books that are on these lists and being attacked are not harming
 children. They’re actually helping them get through life.”

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644244121019.png" alt=""All Boys Aren't Blue," a memoir by LGBTQ author George M. Johnson, has been the target of book challenges nationwide. Suzanne Perez / KMUW" />
 <figcaption>"All Boys Aren't Blue," a memoir by LGBTQ author George M. Johnson, has been the target of book challenges nationwide. Suzanne Perez / KMUW</figcaption>
 </figure>By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2022-02-07/salina-parents-want-lgbtq-memoir-removed-from-school-libraries">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA&nbsp;— Some parents in the Salina school 
district want a book removed from high school libraries, citing sexually
 explicit passages that they say are not appropriate for young readers.The book “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” by nonbinary author and activist <a href="https://iamgmjohnson.com/" target="_blank">George M. Johnson</a>, bills itself as a “memoir-manifesto” intended for adolescent readers. It <a href="https://www.kcur.org/education/2021-10-12/shawnee-mission-weighs-policy-change-after-parents-raise-concerns-about-books-descriptions-of-sex" target="_blank">came under fire</a> in the Shawnee Mission school district last fall and has been <a href="https://flaglerlive.com/170745/books-returned-withheld/" target="_blank">removed from school libraries</a> or classrooms in several states.Chad Farber, pastor of Central Baptist Church in Salina, submitted one of two requests to review the book on Jan. 25.In
 his request to district officials, Farber says the book contains 
“pornographic, lude (sic), and obscene content described in great 
detail” and that “this material could be used by some to experiment 
w/anal sex on other students (and) groom some to be molested by 
predators.”Another parent, Jessica A. Henton, filed a request the same day to review “All Boys Aren’t Blue.”“While,
 to my understanding, there is great educational content in the rest of 
the book, the obscene (and) descriptive text about ‘sex’ has no place on
 school library shelves,” Henton wrote.District officials say the
 book is being reviewed by a school-level committee that includes a 
principal, librarian, teachers and parents. The Salina school board is 
expected to hear from people on both sides of the debate during its 
meeting Tuesday.The case reflects a national trend that has 
school districts trying to balance parental outrage with students’ 
access to certain books. In recent months, dozens of books have been <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-11-10/goddard-school-district-reverses-decision-to-pull-library-books" target="_blank">challenged by parents and community members</a> who contend that they’re sexually explicit or <a href="https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/calls-to-ban-books-by-black-authors-are-increasing-amid-critical-race-theory-debates/2021/09" target="_blank">promote critical race theory</a>.<a href="https://pen.org/user/james-tager/" target="_blank">James Tager</a>,
 research director for the free expression group PEN America, has 
tracked book challenges since 2016 and says the number and intensity of 
challenges is increasing dramatically. But the targets are largely the 
same.“Most of the books have to do with the presentation of 
diverse viewpoints, which is to say that they feature characters or 
they're written by people of color,” Tager said.Challenges focused on obscenity tend to target books by LGBTQ authors, he said.“Whenever
 these arguments are raised, I hardly ever see an effort to evaluate 
this against the literary and educational merit of the book,” he said. 
“There’s a focus on a few passages or a few parts rather than on the 
book in and of itself.”In an author’s note at the start of “All 
Boys Aren’t Blue,” Johnson acknowledges that his book features 
provocative and potentially controversial material.“As heavy as 
these subjects may be, it is necessary that they are not only told, but 
also read by teens who may have to navigate many of these same 
experiences in their own lives,” Johnson writes.“This book will 
touch on sexual assault (including molestation), loss of virginity, 
homophobia, racism, and anti-Blackness. These discussions at times may 
be a bit graphic, but nonetheless they are experiences that many reading
 this book will encounter or have already encountered. And I want those 
readers to be seen and heard in these pages.”Both people who 
filed complaints in Salina said they had not read “All Boys Aren’t 
Blue,” but saw portions of the book shared on social media.Parent
 groups have raised issues about a four-page passage near the end of the
 book. In a chapter titled “Losing My Virginity Twice,” Johnson relates a
 consensual homosexual encounter in detail, including oral sex, 
masturbation and intercourse.Rodney Penn, a Salina father and founder of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/990859254309004/" target="_blank">Kansas Parents Involved in Education</a>,
 said books containing explicit material should be removed from school 
libraries or labeled as explicit, like movies and music, and kept in a 
section that requires parental consent before students can check them 
out.“We have statutes in the state of Kansas that talk about how a
 school district must monitor and protect kids from internet-based 
obscenities. But what about print obscenities?” Penn said.Kansas law prohibits the <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2012/b2011_12/statute/021_000_0000_chapter/021_064_0000_article/021_064_0001_section/021_064_0001_k/#:~:text=2012%20Statute&amp;text=(b)%20Promoting%20obscenity%20to%20minors,the%20age%20of%2018%20years" target="_blank">promotion of obscenity to minors</a>.
 But the law exempts “institutions having scientific, educational or 
governmental justification,” such as schools, universities and public 
libraries.A school district in North Kansas City, Mo., pulled 
“All Boys Aren’t Blue” and another LGBTQ-themed title, “Fun Home,” from 
high school shelves last October but <a href="https://fox4kc.com/news/education/north-kansas-city-school-district-returning-lgbtq-books-to-shelves-after-pushback/#:~:text=%E2%80%94%20North%20Kansas%20City%20School%20District,said%20it%20was%20sent%20Friday." target="_blank">returned them</a> after students petitioned to keep the books.“All Boys Aren’t Blue” was on a list of books briefly <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-11-10/goddard-school-district-reverses-decision-to-pull-library-books" target="_blank">pulled from circulation</a> at school libraries in Goddard in November. The district <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-11-10/goddard-school-district-reverses-decision-to-pull-library-books" target="_blank">reversed its decision</a> after receiving national pushback from authors and free-speech advocates.Chris
 Field, a former Salina teacher who ran unsuccessfully for school board 
in November, said he’s disturbed by challenges that target materials 
dealing with race, gender and sexuality. He said libraries need diverse 
materials to help students navigate real-life experiences.“To be 
able to find books that they can identify with and know that other 
people in the world are struggling with these issues also. … That’s got 
to be comforting to these children,” he said.“Ninety-nine percent
 of the books that are on these lists and being attacked are not harming
 children. They’re actually helping them get through life.”Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

Kan. parents want LGBTQ memoir removed from school libraries

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say two of four people who apparently overdosed on drugs at an Omaha apartment over the weekend have died.

 Police say first responders were called to Aksarben View Apartments on Sunday afternoon for a well-being check found two women dead and another woman and a man in dire condition who were taken to a hospital.

 The Omaha World-Herald reports that one of the survivors told medical personnel that the group had ingested a powder they believed to be cocaine before the overdoses. 

Police have not yet released the names of the women who died.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say two of four people who apparently overdosed on drugs at an Omaha apartment over the weekend have died. Police say first responders were called to Aksarben View Apartments on Sunday afternoon for a well-being check found two women dead and another woman and a man in dire condition who were taken to a hospital. The Omaha World-Herald reports that one of the survivors told medical personnel that the group had ingested a powder they believed to be cocaine before the overdoses. Police have not yet released the names of the women who died.

Police: 4 people overdose -- 2 fatally -- at Omaha apartment

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-trade-delegation-heads-to-the-middle-east/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A delegation from Nebraska will depart this week for the Middle East in hopes of increasing the trade of Nebraska products such as beef, grain and center-pivot irrigation systems.

Secretary
 of State Bob Evnen is leading the delegation that will visit Dubai and 
the United Arab Emirates, including a stop at the world’s largest annual
 food show, the Gulfood Show.&nbsp;

More
 than 150 countries participate in the food show, Evnen said, and it 
will be an opportunity to promote Nebraska branded beef.

Nearly
 20 representatives of commodity groups and businesses are traveling, 
along with several faculty members of the University of 
Nebraska-Lincoln.&nbsp;

Evnen
 said the trip will provide an opportunity for Nebraskans to increase 
trade with the Middle East and to exchange cultural and educational 
practices.&nbsp;

A
 side trip to Kuwait had to be cancelled because of COVID-19 
requirements in that country, he said, which include a quarantine period
 for visitors.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644245366799.jpeg" alt="Secretary of State Robert Evnen (Courtesy of Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office)" />
 <figcaption>Secretary of State Robert Evnen (Courtesy of Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-trade-delegation-heads-to-the-middle-east/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A delegation from Nebraska will depart this week for the Middle East in hopes of increasing the trade of Nebraska products such as beef, grain and center-pivot irrigation systems.Secretary
 of State Bob Evnen is leading the delegation that will visit Dubai and 
the United Arab Emirates, including a stop at the world’s largest annual
 food show, the Gulfood Show.&nbsp;More
 than 150 countries participate in the food show, Evnen said, and it 
will be an opportunity to promote Nebraska branded beef.Nearly
 20 representatives of commodity groups and businesses are traveling, 
along with several faculty members of the University of 
Nebraska-Lincoln.&nbsp;Evnen
 said the trip will provide an opportunity for Nebraskans to increase 
trade with the Middle East and to exchange cultural and educational 
practices.&nbsp;A
 side trip to Kuwait had to be cancelled because of COVID-19 
requirements in that country, he said, which include a quarantine period
 for visitors.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Nebraska trade delegation heads to the Middle East

WASHINGTON — The IRS announced it will transition away from using a 
third-party service for facial recognition to help authenticate people 
creating new online accounts. The transition will occur over the coming 
weeks in order to prevent larger disruptions to taxpayers during filing 
season.

During the transition, the IRS will quickly develop and bring online 
an additional authentication process that does not involve facial 
recognition. The IRS will also continue to work with its 
cross-government partners to develop authentication methods that protect
 taxpayer data and ensure broad access to online tools.

"The IRS takes taxpayer privacy and security seriously, and we 
understand the concerns that have been raised," said IRS Commissioner 
Chuck Rettig. "Everyone should feel comfortable with how their personal 
information is secured, and we are quickly pursuing short-term options 
that do not involve facial recognition."

The transition announced today does not interfere with the taxpayer's
 ability to file their return or pay taxes owed. During this period, the
 IRS will continue to accept tax filings, and it has no other impact on 
the current tax season. People should continue to file their taxes as 
they normally would.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The IRS announced it will transition away from using a 
third-party service for facial recognition to help authenticate people 
creating new online accounts. The transition will occur over the coming 
weeks in order to prevent larger disruptions to taxpayers during filing 
season.During the transition, the IRS will quickly develop and bring online 
an additional authentication process that does not involve facial 
recognition. The IRS will also continue to work with its 
cross-government partners to develop authentication methods that protect
 taxpayer data and ensure broad access to online tools."The IRS takes taxpayer privacy and security seriously, and we 
understand the concerns that have been raised," said IRS Commissioner 
Chuck Rettig. "Everyone should feel comfortable with how their personal 
information is secured, and we are quickly pursuing short-term options 
that do not involve facial recognition."The transition announced today does not interfere with the taxpayer's
 ability to file their return or pay taxes owed. During this period, the
 IRS will continue to accept tax filings, and it has no other impact on 
the current tax season. People should continue to file their taxes as 
they normally would.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644265319943.jpg" alt="Image courtesy Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>

IRS moving away from use of third-party facial recognition system

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/06/nebraska-secretary-of-state-pushes-back-against-claims-that-2020-vote-was-amiss/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN
 — Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen, in a PowerPoint presentation 
sent Saturday to all 49 state senators, is pushing back against 
contentions of election fraud and irregularities during the 2020 
election.

The
 PowerPoint, entitled, “Fake vs. Fact,” rejects, one by one, allegations
 made by a group claiming to seek “accuracy” in elections.

The
 presentation, among other things, said some laws cited by critics don’t
 exist; allegations that some votes couldn’t be matched with registered 
voters were false; and claims that the state’s voting machines aren’t 
tested were not true.

“The
 Secretary of State’s Office is fully informed of the concerns and 
claims that have been raised and has fully investigated them,” the 
PowerPoint says.

Evnen,
 in an interview, said he sees “no justification” for a full, forensic 
audit or a hand recount of the 2020 election results in Nebraska, as 
called for by at least one group of critics.&nbsp;

The
 first-term Republican said his office doesn’t have the authority to 
take such steps without approval by the State Legislature.

“But if (the Legislature) wanted it, and was filling to pay for it, I’d do it,” Evnen added.

He
 said he produced the presentation for lawmakers and held two briefings 
with senators last week because it was important to provide a response 
to “people who are of a rational mind.”

Evnen
 said some people won’t be convinced no matter how much information he 
provides. “They’re not looking for information, they’re looking for 
confirmation” of conclusions they’ve already reached, he said.

But State Sen. John McCollister of Omaha, who has seen the PowerPoint, said some people’s opinions may be swayed by it.

“I
 thought he did a fairly good job of totally answering the points raised
 by those people who thought the election was unfair or badly managed,” 
McCollister, a Republican, said.

Gordon Sen. Tom Brewer, a Republican who 
chairs the Legislature’s Government, Military and Veterans Affairs 
Committee, said he thought the PowerPoint did a good job of answering 
most of the criticism. But Brewer said he still thinks a face-to-face 
meeting between Evnen and the main group alleging irregularities, the 
Nebraska Voter Accuracy Project, would be helpful.

“I think you could put some closure to some of these things if they met,” Brewer said.

&nbsp;Many
 of the allegations about the 2020 election count — including one that 
4,001 votes cast could not be linked to registered voters — came out 
during a public hearing last week before the Government Committee on a 
bill to ensure security of election “drop boxes.”&nbsp;

Proponents
 of Legislative Bill 1263, which was introduced on behalf of the 
Secretary of State’s Office, said there are no current laws concerning 
how drop boxes should be secured or how often ballots should be 
collected. The bill seeks to provide security standards for drop boxes. 
It was supported by a major voter rights group, Civic Nebraska.

The
 hearing also featured testimony from a handful of members of the 
Nebraska Voter Accuracy Project group, who claimed there had been 
widespread fraud during voting in 2020 in the state.

Members
 of the group charged that Evnen’s office “wasn’t listening,” “wasn’t 
looking” for fraud and had “underestimated” the cunning of those 
committing the fraud they suspected had occurred.

That
 group also alleged that the state’s election counting machines aren’t 
tested for accuracy — a claim Evnen said was entirely false. In 2019, 
the state spent $7 million to update its ballot counting system, 
purchasing equipment from Omaha-based Election Systems and Software.

Evnen
 said the equipment, according to a state contract, is subject to 
“penetration and vulnerability scans” by an independent “tester,” either
 the Department of Homeland Security or a third party with expertise. 
The scans are not shared with the public, he said, because of security 
concerns that a “bad actor” could tamper with voting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644245366799.jpeg" alt="Secretary of State Robert Evnen (Courtesy of Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office)" />
 <figcaption>Secretary of State Robert Evnen (Courtesy of Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/06/nebraska-secretary-of-state-pushes-back-against-claims-that-2020-vote-was-amiss/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN
 — Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen, in a PowerPoint presentation 
sent Saturday to all 49 state senators, is pushing back against 
contentions of election fraud and irregularities during the 2020 
election.The
 PowerPoint, entitled, “Fake vs. Fact,” rejects, one by one, allegations
 made by a group claiming to seek “accuracy” in elections.The
 presentation, among other things, said some laws cited by critics don’t
 exist; allegations that some votes couldn’t be matched with registered 
voters were false; and claims that the state’s voting machines aren’t 
tested were not true.“The
 Secretary of State’s Office is fully informed of the concerns and 
claims that have been raised and has fully investigated them,” the 
PowerPoint says.Evnen,
 in an interview, said he sees “no justification” for a full, forensic 
audit or a hand recount of the 2020 election results in Nebraska, as 
called for by at least one group of critics.&nbsp;The
 first-term Republican said his office doesn’t have the authority to 
take such steps without approval by the State Legislature.“But if (the Legislature) wanted it, and was filling to pay for it, I’d do it,” Evnen added.He
 said he produced the presentation for lawmakers and held two briefings 
with senators last week because it was important to provide a response 
to “people who are of a rational mind.”<h2>Brewer wants to see a meeting</h2>Evnen
 said some people won’t be convinced no matter how much information he 
provides. “They’re not looking for information, they’re looking for 
confirmation” of conclusions they’ve already reached, he said.But State Sen. John McCollister of Omaha, who has seen the PowerPoint, said some people’s opinions may be swayed by it.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644245454566.jpeg" alt="State Sen. John McCollister of Omaha (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. John McCollister of Omaha (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>“I
 thought he did a fairly good job of totally answering the points raised
 by those people who thought the election was unfair or badly managed,” 
McCollister, a Republican, said.Gordon Sen. Tom Brewer, a Republican who 
chairs the Legislature’s Government, Military and Veterans Affairs 
Committee, said he thought the PowerPoint did a good job of answering 
most of the criticism. But Brewer said he still thinks a face-to-face 
meeting between Evnen and the main group alleging irregularities, the 
Nebraska Voter Accuracy Project, would be helpful.“I think you could put some closure to some of these things if they met,” Brewer said.&nbsp;Many
 of the allegations about the 2020 election count — including one that 
4,001 votes cast could not be linked to registered voters — came out 
during a public hearing last week before the Government Committee on a 
bill to ensure security of election “drop boxes.”&nbsp;Proponents
 of Legislative Bill 1263, which was introduced on behalf of the 
Secretary of State’s Office, said there are no current laws concerning 
how drop boxes should be secured or how often ballots should be 
collected. The bill seeks to provide security standards for drop boxes. 
It was supported by a major voter rights group, Civic Nebraska.The
 hearing also featured testimony from a handful of members of the 
Nebraska Voter Accuracy Project group, who claimed there had been 
widespread fraud during voting in 2020 in the state.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644245487932.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>Members
 of the group charged that Evnen’s office “wasn’t listening,” “wasn’t 
looking” for fraud and had “underestimated” the cunning of those 
committing the fraud they suspected had occurred.<h2>Equipment tested</h2>That
 group also alleged that the state’s election counting machines aren’t 
tested for accuracy — a claim Evnen said was entirely false. In 2019, 
the state spent $7 million to update its ballot counting system, 
purchasing equipment from Omaha-based Election Systems and Software.Evnen
 said the equipment, according to a state contract, is subject to 
“penetration and vulnerability scans” by an independent “tester,” either
 the Department of Homeland Security or a third party with expertise. 
The scans are not shared with the public, he said, because of security 
concerns that a “bad actor” could tamper with voting.In
 addition, representatives of ES&amp;S recently came to Nebraska to 
demonstrate their equipment to state senators and answer questions.&nbsp;“I don’t see any evidence that there’s problems with the machines of any kind,” Evnen said.The
 4,001 votes allegation was false, the PowerPoint stated, and was based 
on a comparison of voter registrations on Election Day&nbsp; 2020 and on Jan.
 1, 2021.Voter
 registration lists are updated almost daily across the state, Evnen 
said, and the difference in the votes cast on Election Day 2020 and the 
number of&nbsp;registered voters the following Jan. 1reflects that. For 
instance, 4,238 registered voters were reported to his office to have 
died in the two months after the 2020 election, which accounts for some 
of the difference, he said.<h2>No affidavits received</h2>The accuracy group maintained that the 
Secretary of State’s Office had received “hundreds” of affidavits 
alleging voter fraud, while the PowerPoint said no affidavits had been 
received.Another allegation was that there was an election-night “reduction” in the vote count for then-President Donald Trump.&nbsp;That,
 the PowerPoint said, was a mistake by Edison Research, a third-party 
service associated with the New York Times, which erroneously reported 
results posted by the Secretary of State’s Office.Brewer said after last week’s hearing on the
 drop box bill that he would arrange a meeting with the accuracy group 
and Evnen. On Sunday, Brewer said he would share the PowerPoint with 
that group but would also like to see a meeting happen.Evnen, a Lincoln lawyer, was elected Secretary of State in 2018. During the campaign, he pledged to seek voter-ID laws. He is seeking re-election this year. One other GOP candidate has filed so far for the post, Rex Schroder of Palmyra.<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/06/nebraska-secretary-of-state-pushes-back-against-claims-that-2020-vote-was-amiss/">The complete PowerPoint can be found here.</a>