If you have a smartphone purchased in
 the last few years, it almost certainly came with NFC capability. The 
technology allows users to effortlessly transfer money, share files and 
knock out a growing list of other tasks. But that data transfer can 
create vulnerabilities. BBB has tips on what NFCs can do and how to stay safe when using them.

NFC stands for <a href="https://nfc-forum.org/what-is-nfc/about-the-technology/" target="_blank">Near Field Communication</a>. It's
 a data transfer that only works within a very short physical range. 
We’re talking inches, not feet. Some forms of this technology require 
you to tap one device against another or wave them back and forth in 
close proximity.

NFC also stands for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_Conference" target="_blank">National Football Conference</a> and the <a href="https://www.nfc.usda.gov/" target="_blank">National Finance Center</a>, a branch of the USDA, but we’re not going to talk about those here. <a href="https://nfc-forum.org/what-is-nfc/about-the-technology/" target="_blank">Near Field Communication</a> capabilities have been around for years, but their use is becoming much more widespread.

NFCs are based on <a href="https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/electromagnetic-compatibility-emc/radio-frequency-identification-rfid" target="_blank">RFID (radio frequency identification)</a> technology, a process that uses radio frequencies to identify objects. Near Field Communication is high frequency RFID that makes it easy for one device to communicate with another.

Near Field Communication uses a 
series of protocols to make transactions easier and faster. People use 
them to make contactless payments, share digital content, connect one 
device with another and a list of other tasks that gets longer every 
day.&nbsp;

An NFC relies on proximity, so when 
users get close to a device they want to interact with, typically they 
receive a prompt asking for permission. They follow on-screen prompts 
from there. It’s convenient because it doesn’t involve downloading an 
app or signing up to get started.

When you activate some NFC 
technologies, they enable Bluetooth and use that to make your data 
transfer. That means you don’t have to fumble around with your phone to 
find Bluetooth settings, choose the device you want to pair, enter the 
key or code and so on.

Other NFC technologies enable Wi-Fi 
between two devices so they can “talk” back and forth. The big benefit 
here is that Wi-Fi direct has much greater bandwidth, so big files 
transfer faster.

New handheld devices become available all the time, so the compatible device list is constantly changing. <a href="https://www.nfcw.com/nfc-phones-list/" target="_blank">NFCWorld</a>
 maintains an exhaustive list of phones and tablets both available now 
and coming soon. But for most people, their mobile is already capable.

Android devices running 4.0 or later 
come with the ability to use NFTs for financial transactions. Phones 
with Android 4.4 or later allow users to exchange files and messages via
 NFC.&nbsp;

iPhone was a little later to jump on 
the bandwagon. However, if you have iPhone 6 or later, it supports Near 
Field Communications.

Are they just for financial transactions?&nbsp;

The possibilities and uses for near 
field communications are, for the most part, just limited by the 
imagination. Here are just a few things people can do with them already:

Simplified connectivity is great, and
 being able to exchange funds without having to dig into our wallets was
 becoming popular even before social distancing was a thing. Now it’s 
even more helpful because it means we don’t have to touch cash or 
transaction terminals. But every time a technology is widely adopted, 
hackers start focusing on how they can exploit it for unfair gain.

Near Field Communications and cyber security

Convenience is great, but if you’re 
like most people, you might recognize when data is just floating around,
 there’s a security risk, especially when technology is linked to your 
credit card or bank account. So how risky is NFC technology?&nbsp;

The good thing is, if you’re bumping 
your phone with a friend’s to share music or checking out with a trusted
 vendor, the security risk is fairly low because of the proximity 
requirement. Devices must be four centimeters or less apart, and during 
the split seconds the data transfer actually takes to occur, it would be
 hard for a hacker to get in there without you noticing.&nbsp;

It takes more than just a bump for a 
transaction to occur; both sending and receiving devices must be ready 
to accept the data transfer. It would be difficult for a hacker to brush
 against you in a crowd and wirelessly withdraw from your bank account. 
You’re not likely to collide with a stranger in the grocery store and 
accidentally send their phone all your personal information. But that 
doesn’t mean NFCs are without risk.

One problem happens when people lose 
their phones or have their device stolen. If a thief can unlock your 
device, or if you don’t secure it with a strong password, there’s 
nothing to stop him or her from waving it over a payment terminal or ATM
 to get your money.&nbsp;

NFC tags are also vulnerable to 
tampering. For example, users have tapped smart tags thinking they were 
about to access movie trailers or visit a vendor website, but instead 
had their personal information sent to a bad actor.&nbsp;

Keep your data safe by taking these precautions:

Have you heard about or experienced 
an NFC related scheme or fraud? You can help spread awareness and 
protect others when you report it to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker">BBB Scam Tracker</a>.

<a href="https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-serving-central-east-texas" target="_blank">BBB Serving Central East Texas contributed this article.&nbsp;</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBIf you have a smartphone purchased in
 the last few years, it almost certainly came with NFC capability. The 
technology allows users to effortlessly transfer money, share files and 
knock out a growing list of other tasks. But that data transfer can 
create vulnerabilities. BBB has tips on what NFCs can do and how to stay safe when using them.What exactly is NFC?NFC stands for <a href="https://nfc-forum.org/what-is-nfc/about-the-technology/" target="_blank">Near Field Communication</a>. It's
 a data transfer that only works within a very short physical range. 
We’re talking inches, not feet. Some forms of this technology require 
you to tap one device against another or wave them back and forth in 
close proximity.NFC also stands for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_Conference" target="_blank">National Football Conference</a> and the <a href="https://www.nfc.usda.gov/" target="_blank">National Finance Center</a>, a branch of the USDA, but we’re not going to talk about those here. <a href="https://nfc-forum.org/what-is-nfc/about-the-technology/" target="_blank">Near Field Communication</a> capabilities have been around for years, but their use is becoming much more widespread.NFCs are based on <a href="https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/electromagnetic-compatibility-emc/radio-frequency-identification-rfid" target="_blank">RFID (radio frequency identification)</a> technology, a process that uses radio frequencies to identify objects. Near Field Communication is high frequency RFID that makes it easy for one device to communicate with another.What does it do?Near Field Communication uses a 
series of protocols to make transactions easier and faster. People use 
them to make contactless payments, share digital content, connect one 
device with another and a list of other tasks that gets longer every 
day.&nbsp;How do they work?An NFC relies on proximity, so when 
users get close to a device they want to interact with, typically they 
receive a prompt asking for permission. They follow on-screen prompts 
from there. It’s convenient because it doesn’t involve downloading an 
app or signing up to get started.When you activate some NFC 
technologies, they enable Bluetooth and use that to make your data 
transfer. That means you don’t have to fumble around with your phone to 
find Bluetooth settings, choose the device you want to pair, enter the 
key or code and so on.Other NFC technologies enable Wi-Fi 
between two devices so they can “talk” back and forth. The big benefit 
here is that Wi-Fi direct has much greater bandwidth, so big files 
transfer faster.What smartphones come with NFC?New handheld devices become available all the time, so the compatible device list is constantly changing. <a href="https://www.nfcw.com/nfc-phones-list/" target="_blank">NFCWorld</a>
 maintains an exhaustive list of phones and tablets both available now 
and coming soon. But for most people, their mobile is already capable.Android devices running 4.0 or later 
come with the ability to use NFTs for financial transactions. Phones 
with Android 4.4 or later allow users to exchange files and messages via
 NFC.&nbsp;iPhone was a little later to jump on 
the bandwagon. However, if you have iPhone 6 or later, it supports Near 
Field Communications.Are they just for financial transactions?&nbsp;The possibilities and uses for near 
field communications are, for the most part, just limited by the 
imagination. Here are just a few things people can do with them already:<ul>
 <li>Open car doors</li><li>Share contact information</li><li>Share any link you program it to have</li><li>Make wireless payment using smartphones and tablets</li><li>Create an automatic Wi-Fi/Bluetooth pairing between phone and vehicle for hands-free driving</li><li>Pay for and receive access to public parking and transportation</li><li>Send photos or video between digital cameras, cell phones and media players</li><li>Allow shoppers to receive and redeem coupons</li><li>Prevent hard sleepers from turning off their alarm until they’re actually awake</li><li>Enable healthcare workers to monitor medications and track physical symptoms</li><li>Create interactive toys and games</li>
 </ul>Simplified connectivity is great, and
 being able to exchange funds without having to dig into our wallets was
 becoming popular even before social distancing was a thing. Now it’s 
even more helpful because it means we don’t have to touch cash or 
transaction terminals. But every time a technology is widely adopted, 
hackers start focusing on how they can exploit it for unfair gain.Near Field Communications and cyber securityConvenience is great, but if you’re 
like most people, you might recognize when data is just floating around,
 there’s a security risk, especially when technology is linked to your 
credit card or bank account. So how risky is NFC technology?&nbsp;The good thing is, if you’re bumping 
your phone with a friend’s to share music or checking out with a trusted
 vendor, the security risk is fairly low because of the proximity 
requirement. Devices must be four centimeters or less apart, and during 
the split seconds the data transfer actually takes to occur, it would be
 hard for a hacker to get in there without you noticing.&nbsp;It takes more than just a bump for a 
transaction to occur; both sending and receiving devices must be ready 
to accept the data transfer. It would be difficult for a hacker to brush
 against you in a crowd and wirelessly withdraw from your bank account. 
You’re not likely to collide with a stranger in the grocery store and 
accidentally send their phone all your personal information. But that 
doesn’t mean NFCs are without risk.One problem happens when people lose 
their phones or have their device stolen. If a thief can unlock your 
device, or if you don’t secure it with a strong password, there’s 
nothing to stop him or her from waving it over a payment terminal or ATM
 to get your money.&nbsp;NFC tags are also vulnerable to 
tampering. For example, users have tapped smart tags thinking they were 
about to access movie trailers or visit a vendor website, but instead 
had their personal information sent to a bad actor.&nbsp;7 NFC security tipsKeep your data safe by taking these precautions:<ul>
 <li>Password protect your mobile device</li><li>Enable two-factor authentication for all monetary transactions</li><li>Read data usage policies before you download apps to make sure they protect your privacy</li><li>Update installed apps regularly</li><li>Turn
 your NFC off when not in use (With Android devices this is under 
settings. With iPhone NFC is disabled within individual apps)</li><li>Update your device as required so you receive security patches and firmware updates</li><li>Only use Near Field Communications with vendors and individuals you know are trustworthy</li>
 </ul>Have you heard about or experienced 
an NFC related scheme or fraud? You can help spread awareness and 
protect others when you report it to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker">BBB Scam Tracker</a>.<a href="https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-serving-central-east-texas" target="_blank">BBB Serving Central East Texas contributed this article.&nbsp;</a>

Phone tip: What to know if you’re using NFCs (and you probably are)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress’ top doctor urged lawmakers on Monday to move to a “maximal telework posture,” citing surging numbers of COVID-19 cases at the Capitol that he said are mostly breakthrough infections of people already vaccinated.

The seven-day average rate of infection at the Capitol’s testing center has risen from less than 1% to more than 13%, Brian P. Monahan, the attending physician, wrote in a letter to congressional leaders obtained by The Associated Press.

Monahan said there has been “an unprecedented number of cases in the Capitol community affecting hundreds of individuals.” In what he said was limited sampling as of Dec. 15, about 61% of the cases were the new, highly contagious omicron variant while 38% were the delta variant.

While providing no figure, he said “most” of the cases are breakthroughs.

While such cases have not led to any deaths or hospitalizations among vaccinated lawmakers or congressional staff, he said even mild infections can lead to six to 12 months of “long COVID.” A “reasonable estimate” is that 6% to 10% of cases could end up that way, he added.

Monahan urged congressional offices to “reduce in-person meetings and in-office activities to the maximum extent possible.”

And he said wearing a properly fitted, medical grade KN95 or better mask is “a critical necessity unless the individual is alone in a closed office space or eating or drinking in a food service area.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641231882156.png" alt="A snowstorm closed the U.S. Capitol on Monday -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>A snowstorm closed the U.S. Capitol on Monday -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress’ top doctor urged lawmakers on Monday to move to a “maximal telework posture,” citing surging numbers of COVID-19 cases at the Capitol that he said are mostly breakthrough infections of people already vaccinated.The seven-day average rate of infection at the Capitol’s testing center has risen from less than 1% to more than 13%, Brian P. Monahan, the attending physician, wrote in a letter to congressional leaders obtained by The Associated Press.Monahan said there has been “an unprecedented number of cases in the Capitol community affecting hundreds of individuals.” In what he said was limited sampling as of Dec. 15, about 61% of the cases were the new, highly contagious omicron variant while 38% were the delta variant.While providing no figure, he said “most” of the cases are breakthroughs.While such cases have not led to any deaths or hospitalizations among vaccinated lawmakers or congressional staff, he said even mild infections can lead to six to 12 months of “long COVID.” A “reasonable estimate” is that 6% to 10% of cases could end up that way, he added.Monahan urged congressional offices to “reduce in-person meetings and in-office activities to the maximum extent possible.”And he said wearing a properly fitted, medical grade KN95 or better mask is “a critical necessity unless the individual is alone in a closed office space or eating or drinking in a food service area.”

Doctor: COVID surge at U.S. Capitol among the vaccinated

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden met virtually with independent farmers and ranchers on Monday to discuss initiatives to reduce&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-health-business-poland-f559465c6a822d12b2dd513f122d5a31">food prices</a>&nbsp;by increasing competition within the meat industry, part of a broader effort to show his administration is trying to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-business-richard-nixon-ae06d5cccf066239f9aa7f06491c7698">combat inflation</a>.

“Capitalism without competition isn’t capitalism — it’s exploitation,” Biden said.

Higher-than-expected inflation has thwarted Biden’s agenda, hurt his public approval rating, become fodder for Republican attacks and prompted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manchin-rejects-biden-spending-bill-democrats-election-e7a0ca4c25c686e91cb21e166c44821b">Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.</a>, to cite higher prices as a reason to sideline the Democratic president’s tax, social and economic programs. In November, consumer prices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/latest-inflation-numbers-consumer-prices-616055db3bf67691b4fdc0015fc00783">rose 6.8%</a>&nbsp;over the prior 12 months — a 39-year high.

On food costs, Biden is building off a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/07/09/executive-order-on-promoting-competition-in-the-american-economy/" target="_blank">July executive order</a>&nbsp;that directed the Agriculture Department to more aggressively look at possible violations of the 1921 Packers and Stockyards Act, which was designed to ensure fair competition and protect consumers. Meat prices have climbed 16% from a year ago, with beef prices up 20.9%.

The president said the higher prices have been the subject of frustration at his own kitchen table. His wife, Jill, was talking on Sunday with her sister and a friend about a pound of hamburger meat costing $5 a pound, compared with less than $4 before the pandemic.

The administration is targeting meat processing plants, which can shape the prices paid to farmers and charged to consumers. The White House issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/01/03/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-action-plan-for-a-fairer-more-competitive-and-more-resilient-meat-and-poultry-supply-chain/" target="_blank">fact sheet</a>&nbsp;saying that the top four companies control 85% of the beef market. In poultry, the biggest four processing firms control 54% of the market. And for pork, the figure is 70% for the four biggest firms.

Many industry groups are pushing back against the administration’s planned oversight of the food industry.

Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said the coronavirus and higher costs for energy and labor are driving meat prices higher, not the corporate structure of the industry.

Bradley said the administration is practicing politics instead of economics and “government intervention would likely further constrain supply and push prices even higher.”

Mike Brown, president of the National Chicken Council, said, “This looks like a solution in search of a problem.” He said the administration is using the food industry as a “scapegoat for the significant challenges facing our economy. ”

Biden outlined plans to distribute $1 billion from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-vote-coronavirus-relief-package-33f4902ca9a2aed4e76274af6bb2ea5c">coronavirus relief package</a>&nbsp;to help independent meat processors expand. He also highlighted money to train workers in the industry and improve conditions, as well as issue new rules for meatpackers and labeling requirements for being designated a “Product of USA.”

The Justice Department and the Agriculture Department will launch a joint effort to make it easier to report anti-competitive actions to the government. The administration will also seek to improve the transparency of the cattle market, with Biden saying, “A free market isn’t truly free without transparency around prices.”

The effort is part of a broader attempt to regain control of America’s economic narrative. Besides inflation, the repeated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-lifestyle-health-travel-80caac77e0cfed7e0e08cfa024ed3a9b">waves of coronavirus outbreak</a>&nbsp;have dampened people’s opinions about the economy despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-economy-gross-domestic-product-119b8182404771d0362da6d0d49891c0">strong growth</a>&nbsp;over the past year.

Biden will have an opportunity to highlight the economy’s strengths with the December jobs report being released Friday. Economists surveyed by FactSet expect that the United States added 362,000 jobs last month with the unemployment rate ticking down to 4.1%. Gains of that magnitude would indicate that the U.S. added roughly 6.5 million jobs last year, more than in any other previous year in a reflection of population growth and government spending.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641245951468.png" alt="The president said the higher prices have been the subject of frustration at his own kitchen table. His wife, Jill, was talking on Sunday with her sister and a friend about a pound of hamburger meat costing $5 a pound, compared with less than $4 before the pandemic-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The president said the higher prices have been the subject of frustration at his own kitchen table. His wife, Jill, was talking on Sunday with her sister and a friend about a pound of hamburger meat costing $5 a pound, compared with less than $4 before the pandemic-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden met virtually with independent farmers and ranchers on Monday to discuss initiatives to reduce&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-health-business-poland-f559465c6a822d12b2dd513f122d5a31">food prices</a>&nbsp;by increasing competition within the meat industry, part of a broader effort to show his administration is trying to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-business-richard-nixon-ae06d5cccf066239f9aa7f06491c7698">combat inflation</a>.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1615116315497364%2F&show_text=true&width=560&t=70" width="560" height="429" 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>“Capitalism without competition isn’t capitalism — it’s exploitation,” Biden said.Higher-than-expected inflation has thwarted Biden’s agenda, hurt his public approval rating, become fodder for Republican attacks and prompted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manchin-rejects-biden-spending-bill-democrats-election-e7a0ca4c25c686e91cb21e166c44821b">Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.</a>, to cite higher prices as a reason to sideline the Democratic president’s tax, social and economic programs. In November, consumer prices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/latest-inflation-numbers-consumer-prices-616055db3bf67691b4fdc0015fc00783">rose 6.8%</a>&nbsp;over the prior 12 months — a 39-year high.On food costs, Biden is building off a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/07/09/executive-order-on-promoting-competition-in-the-american-economy/" target="_blank">July executive order</a>&nbsp;that directed the Agriculture Department to more aggressively look at possible violations of the 1921 Packers and Stockyards Act, which was designed to ensure fair competition and protect consumers. Meat prices have climbed 16% from a year ago, with beef prices up 20.9%.The president said the higher prices have been the subject of frustration at his own kitchen table. His wife, Jill, was talking on Sunday with her sister and a friend about a pound of hamburger meat costing $5 a pound, compared with less than $4 before the pandemic.The administration is targeting meat processing plants, which can shape the prices paid to farmers and charged to consumers. The White House issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/01/03/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-action-plan-for-a-fairer-more-competitive-and-more-resilient-meat-and-poultry-supply-chain/" target="_blank">fact sheet</a>&nbsp;saying that the top four companies control 85% of the beef market. In poultry, the biggest four processing firms control 54% of the market. And for pork, the figure is 70% for the four biggest firms.Many industry groups are pushing back against the administration’s planned oversight of the food industry.Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said the coronavirus and higher costs for energy and labor are driving meat prices higher, not the corporate structure of the industry.Bradley said the administration is practicing politics instead of economics and “government intervention would likely further constrain supply and push prices even higher.”Mike Brown, president of the National Chicken Council, said, “This looks like a solution in search of a problem.” He said the administration is using the food industry as a “scapegoat for the significant challenges facing our economy. ”Biden outlined plans to distribute $1 billion from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-vote-coronavirus-relief-package-33f4902ca9a2aed4e76274af6bb2ea5c">coronavirus relief package</a>&nbsp;to help independent meat processors expand. He also highlighted money to train workers in the industry and improve conditions, as well as issue new rules for meatpackers and labeling requirements for being designated a “Product of USA.”The Justice Department and the Agriculture Department will launch a joint effort to make it easier to report anti-competitive actions to the government. The administration will also seek to improve the transparency of the cattle market, with Biden saying, “A free market isn’t truly free without transparency around prices.”The effort is part of a broader attempt to regain control of America’s economic narrative. Besides inflation, the repeated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-lifestyle-health-travel-80caac77e0cfed7e0e08cfa024ed3a9b">waves of coronavirus outbreak</a>&nbsp;have dampened people’s opinions about the economy despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-economy-gross-domestic-product-119b8182404771d0362da6d0d49891c0">strong growth</a>&nbsp;over the past year.Biden will have an opportunity to highlight the economy’s strengths with the December jobs report being released Friday. Economists surveyed by FactSet expect that the United States added 362,000 jobs last month with the unemployment rate ticking down to 4.1%. Gains of that magnitude would indicate that the U.S. added roughly 6.5 million jobs last year, more than in any other previous year in a reflection of population growth and government spending.___

🎥 Biden talks with farmers, ranchers on reducing food prices

BOSTON (AP) — When Wanda Olson’s son-in-law died in March after contracting COVID-19, she and her daughter had to grapple with more than just their sudden grief. They had to come up with money for a cremation.

Even without a funeral, the bill came to nearly $2,000, a hefty sum that Olson initially covered. She and her daughter then learned of a federal program that reimburses families up to $9,000 for funeral costs for loved ones who died of COVID-19.

Olson's daughter submitted an application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, received a deposit by June and was able to reimburse her mother the $1,974.

“Had this not been available, we would have been paying the money ourselves,” said Olson, 80, of Villa Rica, Georgia. “There wasn’t any red tape. This was a very easy, well-handled process.”

As of Dec. 6, about 226,000 people had shared in the nearly $1.5 billion that FEMA has spent on funeral costs that occurred after Jan. 20, 2020, the date of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. With the nation's coronavirus death toll topping 800,000, it’s clear that many families who are eligible for reimbursement have yet to take advantage of the funeral benefit.

Her son-in-law was traveling a lot, working on air conditioning systems in theaters, restaurants and businesses, when he began feeling ill, Olson said. After a few days at home, he went to the hospital and was put on a ventilator. He died several weeks later.

“He could never overcome it,” she said.

To be eligible for reimbursement, death certificates for those who died after May 16, 2020, must indicate that the death was attributed to COVID-19.

For deaths that occurred in the early months of the pandemic — from Jan. 20 to May 16, 2020 — death certificates must be accompanied with a signed statement from a medical examiner, coroner or the certifying official listed on the certificate indicating that COVID-19 was the cause or a contributing cause of death.

The percentage of individuals who have been reimbursed varies dramatically from state to state — from nearly 40% in North Carolina and Maryland to fewer than 15% in Idaho and Oregon, according to state-by-state data compiled by FEMA.

While the reimbursement must go directly to individuals, some funeral directors have taken on the task of informing grieving families of the benefit.

After the benefit was first announced, David Shipper, owner of the Sunset Funeral Home, Cremation Center &amp; Cemetery in Evansville, Indiana, took out ads to let people know that help was available if they qualified.

“Nine thousand dollars — that’s a lot of money. We wanted to find a way to tell people about it,” he said. “We stopped advertising some time ago, but when we have a new family with a death from COVID, we tell them about the program.”

Workers at the home will sit down with families, gather the needed paperwork, contact FEMA on the phone and help walk them through the process if they ask, he said.

Many families may simply be unaware of the benefit, but others may opt against seeking the cash out of reluctance to revisit the pain of the death, Shipper said. He said the better time to seek the help is when planning the funeral.

“They’re much more likely to take advantage right then than if they’ve already spent the money and don’t want to open it up again,” Shipper said.

The largest states account for some of the biggest shares of the FEMA reimbursement money.

The program has paid out more than 21,000 reimbursements in California and Texas, which have both reported more than 74,000 COVID-19 deaths. Residents applied for more than $141 million in each state.

The fewest number of reimbursements have occurred in Vermont, where 123 people were awarded a total of about $704,000.

Expenses covered under the FEMA program include funeral services, cremation and interment, as well as the costs for caskets or urns, burial plots or cremation niches, markers or headstones, transportation or transfer of remains, clergy or officiant services, and the use of funeral home equipment or staff.

The program has been funded using federal stimulus funds, and money remains available. No online applications are allowed.

After all required documents are received and verified, it typically takes fewer than 30 days to determine if an individual is eligible, according to FEMA. Once eligibility is confirmed, applicants who request direct deposit may receive the money in a matter of days. It may take longer for applicants who request a check.

The reimbursement is one way of helping ease the emotional and financial burden that the pandemic has wreaked on communities across the country according to Ellen Wynn McBrayer, president of Jones-Wynn Funeral Homes &amp; Crematory in Villa Rica, Georgia.

She recalled one woman who lost her mother, husband and one of her children to the disease in the span of six months. One of the workers at the funeral home also succumbed to the virus.

“To have to help a grieving family is hard on a normal day, but to see so many deaths,” she said. “COVID has just broken a lot of hearts and taken a lot of lives.”

BOSTON (AP) — When Wanda Olson’s son-in-law died in March after contracting COVID-19, she and her daughter had to grapple with more than just their sudden grief. They had to come up with money for a cremation.Even without a funeral, the bill came to nearly $2,000, a hefty sum that Olson initially covered. She and her daughter then learned of a federal program that reimburses families up to $9,000 for funeral costs for loved ones who died of COVID-19.Olson's daughter submitted an application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, received a deposit by June and was able to reimburse her mother the $1,974.“Had this not been available, we would have been paying the money ourselves,” said Olson, 80, of Villa Rica, Georgia. “There wasn’t any red tape. This was a very easy, well-handled process.”As of Dec. 6, about 226,000 people had shared in the nearly $1.5 billion that FEMA has spent on funeral costs that occurred after Jan. 20, 2020, the date of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. With the nation's coronavirus death toll topping 800,000, it’s clear that many families who are eligible for reimbursement have yet to take advantage of the funeral benefit.Her son-in-law was traveling a lot, working on air conditioning systems in theaters, restaurants and businesses, when he began feeling ill, Olson said. After a few days at home, he went to the hospital and was put on a ventilator. He died several weeks later.“He could never overcome it,” she said.To be eligible for reimbursement, death certificates for those who died after May 16, 2020, must indicate that the death was attributed to COVID-19.For deaths that occurred in the early months of the pandemic — from Jan. 20 to May 16, 2020 — death certificates must be accompanied with a signed statement from a medical examiner, coroner or the certifying official listed on the certificate indicating that COVID-19 was the cause or a contributing cause of death.The percentage of individuals who have been reimbursed varies dramatically from state to state — from nearly 40% in North Carolina and Maryland to fewer than 15% in Idaho and Oregon, according to state-by-state data compiled by FEMA.While the reimbursement must go directly to individuals, some funeral directors have taken on the task of informing grieving families of the benefit.After the benefit was first announced, David Shipper, owner of the Sunset Funeral Home, Cremation Center &amp; Cemetery in Evansville, Indiana, took out ads to let people know that help was available if they qualified.“Nine thousand dollars — that’s a lot of money. We wanted to find a way to tell people about it,” he said. “We stopped advertising some time ago, but when we have a new family with a death from COVID, we tell them about the program.”Workers at the home will sit down with families, gather the needed paperwork, contact FEMA on the phone and help walk them through the process if they ask, he said.Many families may simply be unaware of the benefit, but others may opt against seeking the cash out of reluctance to revisit the pain of the death, Shipper said. He said the better time to seek the help is when planning the funeral.“They’re much more likely to take advantage right then than if they’ve already spent the money and don’t want to open it up again,” Shipper said.The largest states account for some of the biggest shares of the FEMA reimbursement money.The program has paid out more than 21,000 reimbursements in California and Texas, which have both reported more than 74,000 COVID-19 deaths. Residents applied for more than $141 million in each state.The fewest number of reimbursements have occurred in Vermont, where 123 people were awarded a total of about $704,000.Expenses covered under the FEMA program include funeral services, cremation and interment, as well as the costs for caskets or urns, burial plots or cremation niches, markers or headstones, transportation or transfer of remains, clergy or officiant services, and the use of funeral home equipment or staff.The program has been funded using federal stimulus funds, and money remains available. No online applications are allowed.After all required documents are received and verified, it typically takes fewer than 30 days to determine if an individual is eligible, according to FEMA. Once eligibility is confirmed, applicants who request direct deposit may receive the money in a matter of days. It may take longer for applicants who request a check.The reimbursement is one way of helping ease the emotional and financial burden that the pandemic has wreaked on communities across the country according to Ellen Wynn McBrayer, president of Jones-Wynn Funeral Homes &amp; Crematory in Villa Rica, Georgia.She recalled one woman who lost her mother, husband and one of her children to the disease in the span of six months. One of the workers at the funeral home also succumbed to the virus.“To have to help a grieving family is hard on a normal day, but to see so many deaths,” she said. “COVID has just broken a lot of hearts and taken a lot of lives.”

Federal program has spent $1.5B to cover COVID-19 funeral costs

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Patrol says a Grand Island man died in a New Year's Day crash just east of Kearney. 

The patrol says the crash was reported around 9 a.m. Saturday on a rural road.

 Investigators say a car driven by 22-year-old Jake Gillespie left the road and rolled several times, throwing Gillespie from the car. 

The patrol says the crash likely happened before snow and ice covered the region's roadways. 

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Patrol says a Grand Island man died in a New Year's Day crash just east of Kearney. The patrol says the crash was reported around 9 a.m. Saturday on a rural road. Investigators say a car driven by 22-year-old Jake Gillespie left the road and rolled several times, throwing Gillespie from the car. Gillespie was found dead at the scene.The patrol says the crash likely happened before snow and ice covered the region's roadways. The crash remains under investigation.

Grand Island man killed in New Year's Day crash near Kearney

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two boys died and their mother remained in critical condition after a weekend apartment fire in Omaha. 

Police said Monday that 7-year-old Germani Pettis-Greyson and 5-year-old Gamani Pettis-Greyson died after being taken to an Omaha hospital following the Saturday morning fire. 

Their mother, Rameshia Pettis, 28, was also critically injured in the fire.

 After being treated at the Omaha hospital, Pettis was later transferred to the burn unit at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Lincoln where she was in critical condition Monday.

 The fire at Southside Terrace Apartments in southeast Omaha was reported around 6:30 a.m. Saturday. 

The cause of the fire remained under investigation Monday.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two boys died and their mother remained in critical condition after a weekend apartment fire in Omaha. Police said Monday that 7-year-old Germani Pettis-Greyson and 5-year-old Gamani Pettis-Greyson died after being taken to an Omaha hospital following the Saturday morning fire. Their mother, Rameshia Pettis, 28, was also critically injured in the fire. After being treated at the Omaha hospital, Pettis was later transferred to the burn unit at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Lincoln where she was in critical condition Monday. The fire at Southside Terrace Apartments in southeast Omaha was reported around 6:30 a.m. Saturday. The cause of the fire remained under investigation Monday.

Weekend Omaha fire kills 2 boys, critically hurts their mom

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has granted a three-month extension to a commission tasked with recommending changes to the state’s child support payment laws. 

The Child Support Commission faced a deadline to issue a report to the governor and Legislature by the end of 2021, but Noem extended the commission until the end of March through an executive order. 

The commission is tasked with recommending updates to state child support payment laws and had moved towards recommending a reduction of child support payments for parents with lower incomes.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has granted a three-month extension to a commission tasked with recommending changes to the state’s child support payment laws. The Child Support Commission faced a deadline to issue a report to the governor and Legislature by the end of 2021, but Noem extended the commission until the end of March through an executive order. The commission is tasked with recommending updates to state child support payment laws and had moved towards recommending a reduction of child support payments for parents with lower incomes.

Noem extends Child Support Commission report for 3 months

NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have arrested a suspect in a deadly shooting in Nebraska City. 

The Lincoln Journal-Star reports that the unidentified 22-year-old was booked into jail on suspicion of second-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony. 

He was arrested a few blocks away from the apartment where officers discovered the victim dead Friday night.

 Police also recovered the weapon thought to have be used in the shooting. 

The name of the victim wasn’t immediately released.

NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have arrested a suspect in a deadly shooting in Nebraska City. The Lincoln Journal-Star reports that the unidentified 22-year-old was booked into jail on suspicion of second-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony. He was arrested a few blocks away from the apartment where officers discovered the victim dead Friday night. Police also recovered the weapon thought to have be used in the shooting. The name of the victim wasn’t immediately released.

21-year-old man killed in Nebraska City shooting

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Doctors are worried about hospital capacity in the Wichita area amid the latest surge in virus cases and the ongoing staff shortages.

The high number of COVID cases along with other patients who need hospital care is leading to long waits in emergency rooms across Kansas’ largest city.

“You’ve got people waiting for days in emergency departments, sleeping on the floor or sitting in a chair for two days until a bed becomes available,” said Dr. Tom Moore, the lead physician in Wesley hospital’s COVID-19 unit.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Kansas has risen over the past two weeks from 1,674.14 new cases per day on Dec. 17 to 2,001.29 new cases per day on Friday.

Dr. Sam Antonios, Ascension Via Christi’s chief clinical officer,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/coronavirus/article256944712.html" target="_blank">told&nbsp;</a>the Wichita Eagle that the surge is also leading to unusually high wait times at St. Joseph and St. Francis hospitals.

“We have nearly 100 patients receiving care for COVID-19, straining our staff resources and the number of beds we have open for other types of care,” Antonios said.

Hospitals in Kansas are struggling to find enough nurses to care for critically ill patients because some intensive care nurses have been lured away by high-paying jobs in other states. Some health care workers are also leaving the profession after working long hours battling the pandemic for nearly two years.

Antonios reiterated that everyone should get vaccinated for COVID-19 and the flu to help limit the spread of those viruses and consider wearing masks when out in public.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639778741791.png" alt="Photo courtesy University of Kansas Health System" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy University of Kansas Health System</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Doctors are worried about hospital capacity in the Wichita area amid the latest surge in virus cases and the ongoing staff shortages.The high number of COVID cases along with other patients who need hospital care is leading to long waits in emergency rooms across Kansas’ largest city.“You’ve got people waiting for days in emergency departments, sleeping on the floor or sitting in a chair for two days until a bed becomes available,” said Dr. Tom Moore, the lead physician in Wesley hospital’s COVID-19 unit.The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Kansas has risen over the past two weeks from 1,674.14 new cases per day on Dec. 17 to 2,001.29 new cases per day on Friday.Dr. Sam Antonios, Ascension Via Christi’s chief clinical officer,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/coronavirus/article256944712.html" target="_blank">told&nbsp;</a>the Wichita Eagle that the surge is also leading to unusually high wait times at St. Joseph and St. Francis hospitals.“We have nearly 100 patients receiving care for COVID-19, straining our staff resources and the number of beds we have open for other types of care,” Antonios said.Hospitals in Kansas are struggling to find enough nurses to care for critically ill patients because some intensive care nurses have been lured away by high-paying jobs in other states. Some health care workers are also leaving the profession after working long hours battling the pandemic for nearly two years.Antonios reiterated that everyone should get vaccinated for COVID-19 and the flu to help limit the spread of those viruses and consider wearing masks when out in public.

Doctors in Kan. worry about hospital capacity as virus cases surge

The <a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/beware-fraudulent-coronavirus-tests-vaccines-and-treatments" target="_blank">US Food and Drug Administration</a>
 is warning people of fraudulent coronavirus tests, vaccines, and 
treatments as the pandemic continues. According to Centers for Disease 
Control, since the arrival of the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/omicron-variant.html" target="_blank">Omicron variant</a>,
 the increase of testing for COVID-19 has become a concern. Scarcity 
often leads to potential scams for a product that doesn't exist, the 
compromise of personal identifiable information, or the increase of 
deceptive advertising.&nbsp;

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fbi-warns-of-potential-fraud-in-antibody-testing-for-covid-19" target="_blank">issued a warning</a>
 earlier this year about potential fraud related to the antibody tests. 
Scammers are selling unapproved COVID-19 antibody tests, which can give 
inaccurate results. In doing so, they are also collecting personal 
information, such as Social Security numbers and dates of birth. They 
may also be stealing heath insurance or Medicare information that can be
 used in future schemes.

Robocalls are sent out to consumers directing them to a website that 
looks like a clinic or medical supply company offering COVID-19 tests. 
These tests allegedly identify if a person has been infected with 
coronavirus – even if they’ve&nbsp; recovered. Some even promise results in 
10 minutes. However, to receive a test, a credit card or a form needs to
 be completed with personal information.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In some cases, the test involves an easy at-home testing kit. Other 
times, the tests are allegedly offered through a clinic. But in all 
versions, the person or website selling the test is short on details. 
They aren’t willing or able to provide any information about how the 
test works, where it is sourced, and what laboratory processes it.

Don’t fall for it! These tests are not <a href="https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/counterterrorism-and-emerging-threats/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19" target="_blank">US Food and Drug Administration approved</a>
 and will not give accurate results. In fact, requestors may never even 
receive an actual test kit. Either way, scammers will have made off with
 the money and personal information.

BBB has additional tips for avoiding scams on <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/spot-a-scam" target="_blank">BBB.org/spotascam</a> and the <a href="https://www.bbb.org/news" target="_blank">BBB news feed</a>.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBThe <a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/beware-fraudulent-coronavirus-tests-vaccines-and-treatments" target="_blank">US Food and Drug Administration</a>
 is warning people of fraudulent coronavirus tests, vaccines, and 
treatments as the pandemic continues. According to Centers for Disease 
Control, since the arrival of the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/omicron-variant.html" target="_blank">Omicron variant</a>,
 the increase of testing for COVID-19 has become a concern. Scarcity 
often leads to potential scams for a product that doesn't exist, the 
compromise of personal identifiable information, or the increase of 
deceptive advertising.&nbsp;The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fbi-warns-of-potential-fraud-in-antibody-testing-for-covid-19" target="_blank">issued a warning</a>
 earlier this year about potential fraud related to the antibody tests. 
Scammers are selling unapproved COVID-19 antibody tests, which can give 
inaccurate results. In doing so, they are also collecting personal 
information, such as Social Security numbers and dates of birth. They 
may also be stealing heath insurance or Medicare information that can be
 used in future schemes.<h2>How the Scam Works</h2>Robocalls are sent out to consumers directing them to a website that 
looks like a clinic or medical supply company offering COVID-19 tests. 
These tests allegedly identify if a person has been infected with 
coronavirus – even if they’ve&nbsp; recovered. Some even promise results in 
10 minutes. However, to receive a test, a credit card or a form needs to
 be completed with personal information.&nbsp;&nbsp;In some cases, the test involves an easy at-home testing kit. Other 
times, the tests are allegedly offered through a clinic. But in all 
versions, the person or website selling the test is short on details. 
They aren’t willing or able to provide any information about how the 
test works, where it is sourced, and what laboratory processes it.Don’t fall for it! These tests are not <a href="https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/counterterrorism-and-emerging-threats/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19" target="_blank">US Food and Drug Administration approved</a>
 and will not give accurate results. In fact, requestors may never even 
receive an actual test kit. Either way, scammers will have made off with
 the money and personal information.<h2>How to Avoid Fake Coronavirus Tests</h2><ul>
 <li>Want a test? Talk to your doctor. Reach out to your
 healthcare provider. They can help figure out if the test will be 
covered by insurance and where to find a legitimate clinic.&nbsp; If you 
don't have a primary care physician, check out the official website of 
your <a href="https://www.usa.gov/state-health" target="_blank">local health department</a> for more information on testing availability. </li><li>Research before buying. Scammers put pressure on 
people to buy or commit without giving them time to do further research.
 Before agreeing to anything, investigate first. Research any claims the
 company makes. Start with searching <a href="https://www.bbb.org/search" target="_blank">BBB.org</a> to see they are BBB Accredited, have good reviews, and if there are complaints or <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">scam reports</a> associated with their business name. In addition, review the warnings on <a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/beware-fraudulent-coronavirus-tests-vaccines-and-treatments" target="_blank">FBI</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov" target="_blank">Federal Trade Commission</a>, <a href="https://www.usa.gov/state-attorney-general" target="_blank">Attorney General's office</a>, and <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB ScamTracker.</a> </li><li>Understand all options: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html" target="_blank">detailed guide</a> to testing for COVID-19. Understand the different tests available. </li><li>Never share your personal information with strangers. Only make purchases and share your personal information with people and companies you know and trust. </li><li>Check claims of FDA approval. Per the FBI, ,"Not 
all COVID-19 antibody tests have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
 Administration (FDA), and their efficacy has not been determined." 
Check the <a href="https://www.fda.gov/" target="_blank">FDA website</a> for a list of approved tests and testing companies.</li>
 </ul><h2>For More Information</h2>BBB has additional tips for avoiding scams on <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/spot-a-scam" target="_blank">BBB.org/spotascam</a> and the <a href="https://www.bbb.org/news" target="_blank">BBB news feed</a>.If you’ve been the victim of a scam, please report it on the <a href="https://www.BBB.org/ScamTracker" target="_blank">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a>. Your report can help others to stay alert and avoid similar scams.

Scam alert: Want a COVID test? There’s a scam for that

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the COVID-19 omicron variant surges across the United States, top federal health officials are looking to add a negative test along with its five-day isolation restrictions for asymptomatic Americans who catch the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">coronavirus</a>, the White House’s top medical adviser said Sunday.

Dr. Anthony Fauci said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now considering including the negative test as part of its guidance after getting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-6d74e88d73ab2443298b1f3f827a556f">significant “pushback”</a>&nbsp;on its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-business-health-rochelle-walensky-d7d609c9c01e200d250df7ca7282c9d6">updated recommendations last week.</a>

Under that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html" target="_blank">Dec. 27 guidance</a>, isolation restrictions for people infected with COVID-19 were shortened from 10 days to five days if they are no longer feeling symptoms or running a fever. After that period, they are asked to spend the following five days wearing a mask when around others.

The guidelines have since received criticism from many health professionals for not specifying a negative antigen test as a requirement for leaving isolation.

“There has been some concern about why we don’t ask people at that five-day period to get tested,” Fauci said. “Looking at it again, there may be an option in that, that testing could be a part of that, and I think we’re going to be hearing more about that in the next day or so from the CDC.”

Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, said the U.S. has been seeing almost a “vertical increase” of new cases, now averaging 400,000 cases a day, with hospitalizations also up.

“We are definitely in the middle of a very severe surge and uptick in cases,” he said. “The acceleration of cases that we’ve seen is really unprecedented, gone well beyond anything we’ve seen before.”

Fauci said he’s concerned that the omicron variant is overwhelming the health care system and causing a “major disruption” on other essential services.

“When I say major disruptions, you’re certainly going to see stresses on the system and the system being people with any kind of jobs ... particularly with critical jobs to keep society functioning normally,” Fauci said. “We already know that there are reports from fire departments, from police departments in different cities that 10, 20, 25 and sometimes 30% of the people are ill. That’s something that we need to be concerned about, because we want to make sure that we don’t have such an impact on society that there really is a disruption. I hope that doesn’t happen.”

While there is “accumulating evidence” that omicron might lead to less severe illness, he cautioned that the data remains early. Fauci said he worries in particular about the tens of millions of unvaccinated Americans because “a fair number of them are going to get severe disease.”

He urged Americans who have not yet gotten vaccinated and boosted to do so and to mask up indoors to protect themselves and blunt the current surge of U.S. cases.

<a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/coronavirus-disease-2019-testing-basics" target="_blank">The Food and Drug Administration</a>&nbsp;last week said preliminary research indicates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-infectious-diseases-anthony-fauci-740278fd2c16925e6707d5a7a58e4ad3">at-home rapid tests</a>&nbsp;detect omicron, but may have reduced sensitivity. The agency noted it’s still studying how the tests perform with the variant, which was first detected in late November.

Fauci said Americans “should not get the impression that those tests are not valuable.”

“I think the confusion is that rapid antigen tests have never been as sensitive as the PCR test,” Fauci said. “They’re very good when they are given sequentially. So if you do them like maybe two or three times over a few-day period, at the end of the day, they are as good as the PCR. But as a single test, they are not as sensitive.”

A PCR test usually needs to be processed in a laboratory. The test looks for the virus’s genetic material and then reproduces it millions of times until it’s detectable with a computer.

Fauci said if Americans take the necessary precautions, the U.S. might see some semblance of more normal life returning soon.

“One of the things that we hope for is that this thing will peak after a period of a few weeks and turn around,” Fauci said. He expressed hope that by February or March, omicron could fall to a low enough level “that it doesn’t disrupt our society, our economy, our way of life.”

Fauci spoke on ABC’s “This Week” and CNN’s “State of the Union.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612486273418.png" alt="Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, said the U.S. has been seeing almost a “vertical increase” of new cases, now averaging 400,000 cases a day, with hospitalizations also up-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, said the U.S. has been seeing almost a “vertical increase” of new cases, now averaging 400,000 cases a day, with hospitalizations also up-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — As the COVID-19 omicron variant surges across the United States, top federal health officials are looking to add a negative test along with its five-day isolation restrictions for asymptomatic Americans who catch the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">coronavirus</a>, the White House’s top medical adviser said Sunday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638148803210.png" alt="3D structure of spike with amino acid changes in Omicron-image GISAID" />
 <figcaption>3D structure of spike with amino acid changes in Omicron-image GISAID</figcaption>
 </figure>Dr. Anthony Fauci said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now considering including the negative test as part of its guidance after getting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-6d74e88d73ab2443298b1f3f827a556f">significant “pushback”</a>&nbsp;on its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-business-health-rochelle-walensky-d7d609c9c01e200d250df7ca7282c9d6">updated recommendations last week.</a>Under that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html" target="_blank">Dec. 27 guidance</a>, isolation restrictions for people infected with COVID-19 were shortened from 10 days to five days if they are no longer feeling symptoms or running a fever. After that period, they are asked to spend the following five days wearing a mask when around others.The guidelines have since received criticism from many health professionals for not specifying a negative antigen test as a requirement for leaving isolation.“There has been some concern about why we don’t ask people at that five-day period to get tested,” Fauci said. “Looking at it again, there may be an option in that, that testing could be a part of that, and I think we’re going to be hearing more about that in the next day or so from the CDC.”Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, said the U.S. has been seeing almost a “vertical increase” of new cases, now averaging 400,000 cases a day, with hospitalizations also up.“We are definitely in the middle of a very severe surge and uptick in cases,” he said. “The acceleration of cases that we’ve seen is really unprecedented, gone well beyond anything we’ve seen before.”Fauci said he’s concerned that the omicron variant is overwhelming the health care system and causing a “major disruption” on other essential services.“When I say major disruptions, you’re certainly going to see stresses on the system and the system being people with any kind of jobs ... particularly with critical jobs to keep society functioning normally,” Fauci said. “We already know that there are reports from fire departments, from police departments in different cities that 10, 20, 25 and sometimes 30% of the people are ill. That’s something that we need to be concerned about, because we want to make sure that we don’t have such an impact on society that there really is a disruption. I hope that doesn’t happen.”While there is “accumulating evidence” that omicron might lead to less severe illness, he cautioned that the data remains early. Fauci said he worries in particular about the tens of millions of unvaccinated Americans because “a fair number of them are going to get severe disease.”He urged Americans who have not yet gotten vaccinated and boosted to do so and to mask up indoors to protect themselves and blunt the current surge of U.S. cases.<a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/coronavirus-disease-2019-testing-basics" target="_blank">The Food and Drug Administration</a>&nbsp;last week said preliminary research indicates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-infectious-diseases-anthony-fauci-740278fd2c16925e6707d5a7a58e4ad3">at-home rapid tests</a>&nbsp;detect omicron, but may have reduced sensitivity. The agency noted it’s still studying how the tests perform with the variant, which was first detected in late November.Fauci said Americans “should not get the impression that those tests are not valuable.”“I think the confusion is that rapid antigen tests have never been as sensitive as the PCR test,” Fauci said. “They’re very good when they are given sequentially. So if you do them like maybe two or three times over a few-day period, at the end of the day, they are as good as the PCR. But as a single test, they are not as sensitive.”A PCR test usually needs to be processed in a laboratory. The test looks for the virus’s genetic material and then reproduces it millions of times until it’s detectable with a computer.Fauci said if Americans take the necessary precautions, the U.S. might see some semblance of more normal life returning soon.“One of the things that we hope for is that this thing will peak after a period of a few weeks and turn around,” Fauci said. He expressed hope that by February or March, omicron could fall to a low enough level “that it doesn’t disrupt our society, our economy, our way of life.”Fauci spoke on ABC’s “This Week” and CNN’s “State of the Union.”

CDC considers another change in COVID test, isolation requirement

WASHINGTON — As part of ongoing efforts to improve service for the tax-exempt community, the IRS has revised <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1024">Form 1024, Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(a) or Section 521 of the Internal Revenue Code</a>, to allow electronic filing.

Beginning January 3, 2022, applications for recognition of exemption on Form 1024 must be submitted electronically online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pay.gov/public/form/start/964636103">Pay.gov</a>.
 The IRS will provide a 90-day grace period during which it will 
continue to accept paper versions of Form 1024 (Rev. 01-2018) and letter
 applications.

"Electronic filing makes it easier to complete an application for 
tax-exempt status while reducing errors," said Sunita Lough, 
Commissioner of the IRS Tax Exempt and Government Entities division. 
"Electronic filing also shortens IRS processing time so applicants won't
 wait as long for a response."

Organizations requesting determinations under Section 521 are now 
also able to use the electronic Form 1024 instead of Form 1028, 
Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 521 of the 
Internal Revenue Code.

The required user fee for Form 1024 will remain $600 for 2022. Applicants must pay the fee through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pay.gov/public/form/start/964636103">Pay.gov</a>&nbsp;when submitting the form. Payment can be made directly from a bank account or by credit or debit card.

Organizations are encouraged to subscribe to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/current-edition-of-exempt-organizations-update">Exempt Organizations Update</a>, a free IRS e-Newsletter, for form updates and other exempt organization news.

As part of the revision, applications for recognition of exemption 
under Sections 501(c)(11), (14), (16), (18), (21), (22), (23), (26), 
(27), (28), (29) and 501(d) can no longer be submitted as letter 
applications. Instead, these requests must be made on the electronic 
Form 1024. Accordingly, organizations that are described in Section 
501(c) (other than 501(c)(3) and (c)(4)) and 501(d) applying for 
tax-exempt status must now use the electronic Form 1024. Section 
501(c)(3) organizations must continue to use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1023">Form 1023</a> or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1023-ez">Form 1023-EZ</a>, and Section 501(c)(4) organizations must continue to use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1024-a">Form 1024-A</a>. Those forms also must be filed electronically.

Additional information on how to apply for IRS recognition of tax-exempt status:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — As part of ongoing efforts to improve service for the tax-exempt community, the IRS has revised <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1024">Form 1024, Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(a) or Section 521 of the Internal Revenue Code</a>, to allow electronic filing.Beginning January 3, 2022, applications for recognition of exemption on Form 1024 must be submitted electronically online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pay.gov/public/form/start/964636103">Pay.gov</a>.
 The IRS will provide a 90-day grace period during which it will 
continue to accept paper versions of Form 1024 (Rev. 01-2018) and letter
 applications."Electronic filing makes it easier to complete an application for 
tax-exempt status while reducing errors," said Sunita Lough, 
Commissioner of the IRS Tax Exempt and Government Entities division. 
"Electronic filing also shortens IRS processing time so applicants won't
 wait as long for a response."Organizations requesting determinations under Section 521 are now 
also able to use the electronic Form 1024 instead of Form 1028, 
Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 521 of the 
Internal Revenue Code.The required user fee for Form 1024 will remain $600 for 2022. Applicants must pay the fee through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pay.gov/public/form/start/964636103">Pay.gov</a>&nbsp;when submitting the form. Payment can be made directly from a bank account or by credit or debit card.Organizations are encouraged to subscribe to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/current-edition-of-exempt-organizations-update">Exempt Organizations Update</a>, a free IRS e-Newsletter, for form updates and other exempt organization news.As part of the revision, applications for recognition of exemption 
under Sections 501(c)(11), (14), (16), (18), (21), (22), (23), (26), 
(27), (28), (29) and 501(d) can no longer be submitted as letter 
applications. Instead, these requests must be made on the electronic 
Form 1024. Accordingly, organizations that are described in Section 
501(c) (other than 501(c)(3) and (c)(4)) and 501(d) applying for 
tax-exempt status must now use the electronic Form 1024. Section 
501(c)(3) organizations must continue to use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1023">Form 1023</a> or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1023-ez">Form 1023-EZ</a>, and Section 501(c)(4) organizations must continue to use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1024-a">Form 1024-A</a>. Those forms also must be filed electronically.<h2>Additional information on how to apply for IRS recognition of tax-exempt status:</h2><ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/applying-for-tax-exempt-status">Applying for Tax-Exempt Status</a>&nbsp;on IRS.gov</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-22-08.pdf">Revenue Procedure 2022-8</a>&nbsp;PDF&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>

IRS: Organizations can now file for tax-exempt status online

WASHINGTON — In accordance with Congressional directives in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Federal Communications Commission has officially launched the Affordable Connectivity Program, the $14.2 billion successor program to the Emergency Broadband Benefit which helped almost 9 million afford internet access during the pandemic.  As of today, eligible households are encouraged to apply to receive up to $30 per month discount toward internet service and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.  Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

“The response to the Emergency Broadband Benefit proved what many knew to be true: the cost of high-speed internet is out of reach for too many of us,” said FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel.  “Now with the long-term Affordable Connectivity Program, we have the opportunity to enroll even more households and help ensure they can afford the internet connections they need for work, school, health care and more for years.”

A household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if a member of the household meets&nbsp;at least&nbsp;one&nbsp;of the criteria below:

§ Has an income that is at or below 200% of the&nbsp;federal poverty guidelines;

§ Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or&nbsp;Lifeline;

§ Participates in Tribal specific programs, such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations;

§ Is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision in the 2019-2020,&nbsp;2020-2021, or 2021-2022 school year;

§ Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or

§ Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's existing low-income program.

Final program rules will be adopted by the Commission in January.  For more information about the Affordable Connectivity Program, please visit: https://www.fcc.gov/ACP. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/9/1569445831519.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FCCWASHINGTON — In accordance with Congressional directives in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Federal Communications Commission has officially launched the Affordable Connectivity Program, the $14.2 billion successor program to the Emergency Broadband Benefit which helped almost 9 million afford internet access during the pandemic. As of today, eligible households are encouraged to apply to receive up to $30 per month discount toward internet service and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.“The response to the Emergency Broadband Benefit proved what many knew to be true: the cost of high-speed internet is out of reach for too many of us,” said FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel. “Now with the long-term Affordable Connectivity Program, we have the opportunity to enroll even more households and help ensure they can afford the internet connections they need for work, school, health care and more for years.”A household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if a member of the household meets&nbsp;at least&nbsp;one&nbsp;of the criteria below:§ Has an income that is at or below 200% of the&nbsp;federal poverty guidelines;§ Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or&nbsp;Lifeline;§ Participates in Tribal specific programs, such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations;§ Is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision in the 2019-2020,&nbsp;2020-2021, or 2021-2022 school year;§ Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or§ Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's existing low-income program.Final program rules will be adopted by the Commission in January. For more information about the Affordable Connectivity Program, please visit: https://www.fcc.gov/ACP.

FCC launches $14B program to help Americans connect to internet

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The number of homicides reported in Omaha declined to 32 in 2021, but that remained higher than the four years before killings spiked in 2020. 

Omaha police said the number of homicides in Nebraska’s largest city declined about 14% from 2020′s 37. 

Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said his department’s goal is to return to the 14-year lows of 2018 and 2019 when 22 and 23 homicides were reported respectively.

 But Schmaderer said the fact that ten of last year's homicide victims were teens is a concern. 

Police Capt. Steve Cerveny said the level of gang activity in the city is also worrisome.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The number of homicides reported in Omaha declined to 32 in 2021, but that remained higher than the four years before killings spiked in 2020. Omaha police said the number of homicides in Nebraska’s largest city declined about 14% from 2020′s 37. Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said his department’s goal is to return to the 14-year lows of 2018 and 2019 when 22 and 23 homicides were reported respectively. But Schmaderer said the fact that ten of last year's homicide victims were teens is a concern. Police Capt. Steve Cerveny said the level of gang activity in the city is also worrisome.

Omaha reports 32 homicides in 2021, down from 37 in 2020

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health officials on Thursday pressed nursing home workers to get their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-boosters-adults-cdc-fda-pfizer-moderna-34aabde2c1c5a88c7763fa1dac77df5f">booster shots</a>&nbsp;amid a spike in COVID-19 cases among staffers and a concerning lag in booster vaccination for residents and staff.

The omicron variant “is lightning fast, and we cannot afford another COVID-19 surge in nursing homes,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a livestreamed appeal to the industry. “You know that. I know that. Higher numbers of COVID cases would likely once again have a devastating impact on our loved ones.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nursing-homes">Nursing homes</a>&nbsp;are a testing ground for President Joe Biden’s assertion that the U.S. is much better prepared to handle a surging virus than it was last winter. Although residents are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nursing-homes-coronavirus-pandemic-pandemics-business-health-f1a44187198ccca1e4311ac72f4f42aa">a tiny proportion of the population</a>, they represent a disproportionate share of Americans who have died in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>. Earlier this year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-pfizer-approval-1361ff61d06b815652a08a7cc0683a72">the advent of vaccines</a>&nbsp;brought the virus under control in nursing homes and allowed them to reopen to visitors. But that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-business-medicaid-medicare-a255b8b93fe023f77fca2b56257e3b7c">return to normalcy</a>&nbsp;could be in jeopardy as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-europe-london-england-eddf1657a9462547826881562b71f3b7">the omicron variant</a>&nbsp;pushes COVID-19 cases to new highs.

Cases among nursing home staffers jumped to 10,353 the week ending Dec. 27, a rise of nearly 80% from the previous week, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Staff deaths increased to 58, tripling from the previous week. Among residents, who are more heavily vaccinated, cases went up slightly and the data showed no increase in deaths.

With medical experts advising that a booster shot is critical to defend against omicron, Becerra said only 57% of nursing home residents and 25% of staff and have gotten boosters. That’s clearly behind a booster rate of nearly 66% among people age 65 or older and about 45% for the adult population, according to statistics from the White House.

“We’ve got to change that,” Becerra said.

The administration is urging some 1,400 federally funded community health centers across the land to partner with local nursing homes in a renewed vaccination campaign.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641141095739.png" alt="The omicron variant “is lightning fast, and we cannot afford another COVID-19 surge in nursing homes,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said. -photo courtesy HHS" />
 <figcaption>The omicron variant “is lightning fast, and we cannot afford another COVID-19 surge in nursing homes,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said. -photo courtesy HHS</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health officials on Thursday pressed nursing home workers to get their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-boosters-adults-cdc-fda-pfizer-moderna-34aabde2c1c5a88c7763fa1dac77df5f">booster shots</a>&nbsp;amid a spike in COVID-19 cases among staffers and a concerning lag in booster vaccination for residents and staff.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Omicron?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Omicron</a> variant spreads more easily than the original virus that causes <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a>. Help stop Omicron by using all the tools to protect yourself and others. Learn more: <a href="https://t.co/LkeBxGqVsm">https://t.co/LkeBxGqVsm</a>. <a href="https://t.co/35QnrmhyA8">pic.twitter.com/35QnrmhyA8</a>&mdash; HHS.gov (@HHSGov) <a href="https://twitter.com/HHSGov/status/1477640854810599428?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The omicron variant “is lightning fast, and we cannot afford another COVID-19 surge in nursing homes,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a livestreamed appeal to the industry. “You know that. I know that. Higher numbers of COVID cases would likely once again have a devastating impact on our loved ones.”<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nursing-homes">Nursing homes</a>&nbsp;are a testing ground for President Joe Biden’s assertion that the U.S. is much better prepared to handle a surging virus than it was last winter. Although residents are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nursing-homes-coronavirus-pandemic-pandemics-business-health-f1a44187198ccca1e4311ac72f4f42aa">a tiny proportion of the population</a>, they represent a disproportionate share of Americans who have died in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>. Earlier this year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-pfizer-approval-1361ff61d06b815652a08a7cc0683a72">the advent of vaccines</a>&nbsp;brought the virus under control in nursing homes and allowed them to reopen to visitors. But that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-business-medicaid-medicare-a255b8b93fe023f77fca2b56257e3b7c">return to normalcy</a>&nbsp;could be in jeopardy as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-europe-london-england-eddf1657a9462547826881562b71f3b7">the omicron variant</a>&nbsp;pushes COVID-19 cases to new highs.Cases among nursing home staffers jumped to 10,353 the week ending Dec. 27, a rise of nearly 80% from the previous week, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Staff deaths increased to 58, tripling from the previous week. Among residents, who are more heavily vaccinated, cases went up slightly and the data showed no increase in deaths.With medical experts advising that a booster shot is critical to defend against omicron, Becerra said only 57% of nursing home residents and 25% of staff and have gotten boosters. That’s clearly behind a booster rate of nearly 66% among people age 65 or older and about 45% for the adult population, according to statistics from the White House.“We’ve got to change that,” Becerra said.The administration is urging some 1,400 federally funded community health centers across the land to partner with local nursing homes in a renewed vaccination campaign.

Feds press nursing home COVID boosters as staff cases spike

ORD, Neb. (AP) — A central Nebraska town is settling a lawsuit with a man it tried to stop from writing letters and emails to city officials and the police department.

The city sued Guy Brock in 2020 seeking to stop him from writing to the city or police, saying the communications had become harassing and burdensome. 

After the city lost the lawsuit, Brock sued for attorneys' fees and punitive damages. 

At a hearing in December, Brock and a representative for the town’s insurance carrier said they had reached a $16,000 settlement to dismiss the case. 

Ord is a town of 2,300 people about 60 miles northwest of Grand Island.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641148839832.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>ORD, Neb. (AP) — A central Nebraska town is settling a lawsuit with a man it tried to stop from writing letters and emails to city officials and the police department.The city sued Guy Brock in 2020 seeking to stop him from writing to the city or police, saying the communications had become harassing and burdensome. After the city lost the lawsuit, Brock sued for attorneys' fees and punitive damages. At a hearing in December, Brock and a representative for the town’s insurance carrier said they had reached a $16,000 settlement to dismiss the case. Ord is a town of 2,300 people about 60 miles northwest of Grand Island.

Ord settles with man it tried to stop from writing letters

JACKSON COUNTY —A Kansas City 17-year-old, certified by Family Court to stand trial as an adult, has been charged in the fatal shootings in March of two 15-year-olds near 73rd and Norton in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Edward T. Shelton faces two counts of Murder 2nd Degree and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.

According to court records, Kansas City police were dispatched on March 20, 2021, to the scene of a double homicide in the area of 73rd and Norton in Kansas City. 

Both victims were 15 years old. They were identified as Dominque Nelson and Dominik Simmons. One was found at the scene, shot multiple times. The other was found the next morning, shot once in the back, nearby.&nbsp;

Prosecutors requested the Shelton be held on a $200,000 bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640364892094.png" alt="Shelton-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Shelton-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —A Kansas City 17-year-old, certified by Family Court to stand trial as an adult, has been charged in the fatal shootings in March of two 15-year-olds near 73rd and Norton in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Edward T. Shelton faces two counts of Murder 2nd Degree and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.According to court records, Kansas City police were dispatched on March 20, 2021, to the scene of a double homicide in the area of 73rd and Norton in Kansas City. Both victims were 15 years old. They were identified as Dominque Nelson and Dominik Simmons. One was found at the scene, shot multiple times. The other was found the next morning, shot once in the back, nearby.&nbsp;Prosecutors requested the Shelton be held on a $200,000 bond.&nbsp;

Teen will be tried as an adult in killing of 2 Kansas City boys

MONROE, La. (AP) — President Joe Biden cannot require teachers in the Head Start early education program to be vaccinated against COVID-19, a Louisiana federal judge ruled Saturday, handing a victory to 24 states that had sued the federal government.

U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alabamaag.gov/Documents/news/Head%20Start%20Mandate%20Stay%20Order.pdf" target="_blank">wrote that the Biden administration unlawfully bypassed Congress</a>&nbsp;when ordering that workers in Head Start programs be vaccinated by Jan. 31 and that students 2 years or older be masked when indoors or when in close contact outdoors.

Head Start is a federally funded program that promotes education for children under the age of 6 who are from low-income families.

Doughty, an appointee of then-President Donald Trump, wrote that the separation of powers is crucial to the country’s founding and quoted former President Ronald Reagan, who said “the nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”

“If the Executive branch is allowed to usurp the power of the Legislative branch to make laws, then this country is no longer a democracy — it is a monarchy,” Doughty wrote.

Republican attorneys general who were among the 24 states involved in the lawsuit praised Doughty’s decision.

“This victory will help ensure that numerous Head Start programs will continue to operate rather than have to fire teachers and cut back services to children,” Alabama Attorney General Marshall said in a news release. “And this win will forestall the nonsensical and damaging practice of forcing masks on two-year-olds.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636124369655.png" alt="It was not immediately clear whether the federal government would appeal the decision to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans-photo White House" />
 <figcaption>It was not immediately clear whether the federal government would appeal the decision to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans-photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>MONROE, La. (AP) — President Joe Biden cannot require teachers in the Head Start early education program to be vaccinated against COVID-19, a Louisiana federal judge ruled Saturday, handing a victory to 24 states that had sued the federal government.U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alabamaag.gov/Documents/news/Head%20Start%20Mandate%20Stay%20Order.pdf" target="_blank">wrote that the Biden administration unlawfully bypassed Congress</a>&nbsp;when ordering that workers in Head Start programs be vaccinated by Jan. 31 and that students 2 years or older be masked when indoors or when in close contact outdoors.Head Start is a federally funded program that promotes education for children under the age of 6 who are from low-income families.Doughty, an appointee of then-President Donald Trump, wrote that the separation of powers is crucial to the country’s founding and quoted former President Ronald Reagan, who said “the nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”“If the Executive branch is allowed to usurp the power of the Legislative branch to make laws, then this country is no longer a democracy — it is a monarchy,” Doughty wrote.Republican attorneys general who were among the 24 states involved in the lawsuit praised Doughty’s decision.“This victory will help ensure that numerous Head Start programs will continue to operate rather than have to fire teachers and cut back services to children,” Alabama Attorney General Marshall said in a news release. “And this win will forestall the nonsensical and damaging practice of forcing masks on two-year-olds.”It was not immediately clear whether the federal government would appeal the decision to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.Doughty’s ruling is similar to a Friday ruling in which a federal judge also blocked the Head Start mandate in Texas.Saturday’s ruling affects Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Wyoming and West Virginia.