MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jurors on Thursday convicted a suburban Minneapolis police officer of two manslaughter charges in the killing of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-daunte-wright-shootings-police-coronavirus-pandemic-minneapolis-d88c7d626eebcdea975dc249309a4fa5">Daunte Wright,</a>&nbsp;a Black motorist she shot during a traffic stop after she said she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-daunte-wright-science-shootings-minnesota-minneapolis-44798cda3cc0f093de20f54dabec4dec">confused her gun for her Taser.</a>

The mostly white jury deliberated for about four days before finding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-daunte-wright-shootings-minnesota-minneapolis-arrests-ea3f946497f367662842bb08c1b8e242">former Brooklyn Center officer Kim Potter</a>&nbsp;guilty of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-daunte-wright-death-of-george-floyd-police-minneapolis-daunte-wright-2ea180cb1c5fb8ee94c8475daa1b64e0">first-degree and second-degree manslaughter.</a>&nbsp;Potter, 49, faces about seven years in prison on the most serious count under the state’s sentencing guidelines, but prosecutors said they would seek a longer term.

Judge Regina Chu ordered Potter taken into custody and held without bail, and scheduled her to be sentenced on Feb. 18. As she was led away in handcuffs, a man in the courtroom shouted “We love you, Kim!”

Outside the courthouse, dozens of people who had gathered erupted in cheers, hugs and tears of joy as the verdicts were read. Two men jumped up and down holding one another’s shoulders. Other people then began jumping up and down in place and chanting “Guilty, guilty, guilty!”

They chanted “Say his name! Daunte Wright.” Some held yellow signs that said “guilty” in large block letters.

Potter, who testified that she “didn’t want to hurt anybody,” looked down without showing any visible reaction when the verdicts were read. As Chu thanked the jury, Potter made the sign of the cross.

Potter’s attorneys argued against her being held with no bail, saying she was not going to commit another crime or go anywhere.

“It is the Christmas holiday season,” Potter attorney Paul Engh arued. “She’s a devoted Catholic, no less, and there is no point to incarcerate her at this point in time.”

“I cannot treat this case any differently than any other case,” she said.

The time-stamps on the verdicts showed that the jurors agreed on the second count on Tuesday, before they asked the judge that afternoon what to do if they were having difficulty agreeing. The guilty verdict on the more serious first-degree count was reached at 11:40 a.m. Thursday.

Potter, who is white, shot and killed the 20-year-old Wright during an April 11 traffic stop in Brooklyn Center as she and other officers were trying to arrest him on an outstanding warrant for a weapons possession charge. The shooting happened at a time of high tension in the area, with former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin standing trial just miles away for the killing of George Floyd. Potter resigned two days later.

Jurors saw video of the shooting that was captured by police body cameras and dashcams. It showed Potter and an officer she was training, Anthony Luckey, pull over Wright for having expired license plate tags and an air freshener hanging from his rear-view mirror. During the stop, Luckey discovered there was a warrant for Wright’s arrest for not appearing in court on the weapons possession charge, and he, Potter and another officer went to take Wright into custody.

Wright obeyed Luckey’s order to get out of his car, but as Luckey tried to handcuff him, Wright pulled away and got back in. As Luckey held onto Wright, Potter said “I’ll tase ya.” The video then shows Potter holding her gun in her right hand and pointing it at Wright. Again, Potter said, “I’ll tase you,” and then two seconds later: “Taser, Taser, Taser.” One second later, she fired a single bullet into Wright’s chest.

“(Expletive)! I just shot him. ... I grabbed the wrong (expletive) gun,” Potter said. A minute later, she said: “I’m going to go to prison.”

In sometimes tearful testimony, Potter told jurors that she was “sorry it happened.” She said the traffic stop “just went chaotic” and that she shouted her warning about the Taser after she saw a look of fear on the face of Sgt. Mychal Johnson, who was leaning into the passenger-side door of Wright’s car. She also told jurors that she doesn’t remember what she said or everything that happened after the shooting, as much of her memory of those moments “is missing.”

Potter’s lawyers argued that she made a mistake by drawing her gun instead of her Taser. But they also said she would have been justified in using deadly force if she had meant to because Johnson was at risk of being dragged.

Prosecutors sought to raise doubts about Potter’s testimony that she decided to act after seeing fear on Johnson’s face. Prosecutor Erin Eldridge, in cross-examination, pointed out that in an interview with a defense expert Potter said she didn’t know why she decided to draw her Taser. During her closing argument, Eldridge also replayed Potter’s body-camera video that she said never gave a clear view of Johnson’s face during the key moments.

Eldridge also downplayed testimony from some other officers who described Potter as a good person or said they saw nothing wrong in her actions: “The defendant has found herself in trouble and her police family has her back.”

Prosecutors also got Potter to agree that she didn’t plan to use deadly force. They said Potter, an experienced officer with extensive training in Taser use and use of deadly force, acted recklessly and betrayed the badge.

For first-degree manslaughter, prosecutors had to prove that Potter caused Wright’s death while committing a misdemeanor — in this case, the “reckless handling or use of a firearm so as to endanger the safety of another with such force and violence that death or great bodily harm to any person was reasonably foreseeable.”

The second-degree manslaughter charge required prosecutors to prove that Potter caused Wright’s death “by her culpable negligence,” meaning she “caused an unreasonable risk and consciously took a chance of causing death or great bodily harm” to Wright while using or possessing a firearm.

Under Minnesota law, defendants are sentenced only on the most serious conviction if multiple counts involve the same act and the same victim. Prosecutors had said they would seek to prove aggravating factors that merit what’s called an upward departure from sentencing guidelines. In Potter’s case, they alleged that her actions were a danger to others, including her fellow officers, to Wright’s passenger and to the couple whose car was struck by Wright’s after the shooting. They also alleged she abused her authority as a police officer.

The maximum for 1st-degree manslaughter is 15 years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640284022434.png" alt="Potter -Hennepin County, Minn., Sheriff " />
 <figcaption>Potter -Hennepin County, Minn., Sheriff </figcaption>
 </figure>MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jurors on Thursday convicted a suburban Minneapolis police officer of two manslaughter charges in the killing of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-daunte-wright-shootings-police-coronavirus-pandemic-minneapolis-d88c7d626eebcdea975dc249309a4fa5">Daunte Wright,</a>&nbsp;a Black motorist she shot during a traffic stop after she said she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-daunte-wright-science-shootings-minnesota-minneapolis-44798cda3cc0f093de20f54dabec4dec">confused her gun for her Taser.</a>The mostly white jury deliberated for about four days before finding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-daunte-wright-shootings-minnesota-minneapolis-arrests-ea3f946497f367662842bb08c1b8e242">former Brooklyn Center officer Kim Potter</a>&nbsp;guilty of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-daunte-wright-death-of-george-floyd-police-minneapolis-daunte-wright-2ea180cb1c5fb8ee94c8475daa1b64e0">first-degree and second-degree manslaughter.</a>&nbsp;Potter, 49, faces about seven years in prison on the most serious count under the state’s sentencing guidelines, but prosecutors said they would seek a longer term.Judge Regina Chu ordered Potter taken into custody and held without bail, and scheduled her to be sentenced on Feb. 18. As she was led away in handcuffs, a man in the courtroom shouted “We love you, Kim!”Outside the courthouse, dozens of people who had gathered erupted in cheers, hugs and tears of joy as the verdicts were read. Two men jumped up and down holding one another’s shoulders. Other people then began jumping up and down in place and chanting “Guilty, guilty, guilty!”ADVERTISEMENTThey chanted “Say his name! Daunte Wright.” Some held yellow signs that said “guilty” in large block letters.Potter, who testified that she “didn’t want to hurt anybody,” looked down without showing any visible reaction when the verdicts were read. As Chu thanked the jury, Potter made the sign of the cross.Potter’s attorneys argued against her being held with no bail, saying she was not going to commit another crime or go anywhere.“It is the Christmas holiday season,” Potter attorney Paul Engh arued. “She’s a devoted Catholic, no less, and there is no point to incarcerate her at this point in time.”Chu rejected their arguments.“I cannot treat this case any differently than any other case,” she said.The time-stamps on the verdicts showed that the jurors agreed on the second count on Tuesday, before they asked the judge that afternoon what to do if they were having difficulty agreeing. The guilty verdict on the more serious first-degree count was reached at 11:40 a.m. Thursday.Potter, who is white, shot and killed the 20-year-old Wright during an April 11 traffic stop in Brooklyn Center as she and other officers were trying to arrest him on an outstanding warrant for a weapons possession charge. The shooting happened at a time of high tension in the area, with former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin standing trial just miles away for the killing of George Floyd. Potter resigned two days later.Jurors saw video of the shooting that was captured by police body cameras and dashcams. It showed Potter and an officer she was training, Anthony Luckey, pull over Wright for having expired license plate tags and an air freshener hanging from his rear-view mirror. During the stop, Luckey discovered there was a warrant for Wright’s arrest for not appearing in court on the weapons possession charge, and he, Potter and another officer went to take Wright into custody.Wright obeyed Luckey’s order to get out of his car, but as Luckey tried to handcuff him, Wright pulled away and got back in. As Luckey held onto Wright, Potter said “I’ll tase ya.” The video then shows Potter holding her gun in her right hand and pointing it at Wright. Again, Potter said, “I’ll tase you,” and then two seconds later: “Taser, Taser, Taser.” One second later, she fired a single bullet into Wright’s chest.“(Expletive)! I just shot him. ... I grabbed the wrong (expletive) gun,” Potter said. A minute later, she said: “I’m going to go to prison.”In sometimes tearful testimony, Potter told jurors that she was “sorry it happened.” She said the traffic stop “just went chaotic” and that she shouted her warning about the Taser after she saw a look of fear on the face of Sgt. Mychal Johnson, who was leaning into the passenger-side door of Wright’s car. She also told jurors that she doesn’t remember what she said or everything that happened after the shooting, as much of her memory of those moments “is missing.”Potter’s lawyers argued that she made a mistake by drawing her gun instead of her Taser. But they also said she would have been justified in using deadly force if she had meant to because Johnson was at risk of being dragged.Prosecutors sought to raise doubts about Potter’s testimony that she decided to act after seeing fear on Johnson’s face. Prosecutor Erin Eldridge, in cross-examination, pointed out that in an interview with a defense expert Potter said she didn’t know why she decided to draw her Taser. During her closing argument, Eldridge also replayed Potter’s body-camera video that she said never gave a clear view of Johnson’s face during the key moments.Eldridge also downplayed testimony from some other officers who described Potter as a good person or said they saw nothing wrong in her actions: “The defendant has found herself in trouble and her police family has her back.”Prosecutors also got Potter to agree that she didn’t plan to use deadly force. They said Potter, an experienced officer with extensive training in Taser use and use of deadly force, acted recklessly and betrayed the badge.For first-degree manslaughter, prosecutors had to prove that Potter caused Wright’s death while committing a misdemeanor — in this case, the “reckless handling or use of a firearm so as to endanger the safety of another with such force and violence that death or great bodily harm to any person was reasonably foreseeable.”The second-degree manslaughter charge required prosecutors to prove that Potter caused Wright’s death “by her culpable negligence,” meaning she “caused an unreasonable risk and consciously took a chance of causing death or great bodily harm” to Wright while using or possessing a firearm.Under Minnesota law, defendants are sentenced only on the most serious conviction if multiple counts involve the same act and the same victim. Prosecutors had said they would seek to prove aggravating factors that merit what’s called an upward departure from sentencing guidelines. In Potter’s case, they alleged that her actions were a danger to others, including her fellow officers, to Wright’s passenger and to the couple whose car was struck by Wright’s after the shooting. They also alleged she abused her authority as a police officer.The maximum for 1st-degree manslaughter is 15 years.___

Jury: Ex-police officer who pulled gun instead of Taser found guilty

OMAHA&nbsp; — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested one person following a pursuit in Omaha overnight.

At approximately 12:45 a.m. Thursday, a trooper observed a westbound Acura sedan speeding at over 100 miles per hour on Interstate 80 in Omaha near 84th&nbsp;street. The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but as the trooper approached the vehicle and attempted to make contact with the driver, the driver accelerated and fled the traffic stop. Another trooper initiated a pursuit.&nbsp;

The fleeing vehicle reached speeds in excess of 110 miles per hour before it lost control and crashed near the L Street interchange. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

The driver, Chase Groves, 19, of Omaha, was then taken into custody without further incident. He was treated for minor injuries at Bergan Mercy Hospital and then lodged in Douglas County Jail for flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, and possession of marijuana – less than one ounce.

OMAHA&nbsp; — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested one person following a pursuit in Omaha overnight.At approximately 12:45 a.m. Thursday, a trooper observed a westbound Acura sedan speeding at over 100 miles per hour on Interstate 80 in Omaha near 84th&nbsp;street. The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but as the trooper approached the vehicle and attempted to make contact with the driver, the driver accelerated and fled the traffic stop. Another trooper initiated a pursuit.&nbsp;The fleeing vehicle reached speeds in excess of 110 miles per hour before it lost control and crashed near the L Street interchange. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.The driver, Chase Groves, 19, of Omaha, was then taken into custody without further incident. He was treated for minor injuries at Bergan Mercy Hospital and then lodged in Douglas County Jail for flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, and possession of marijuana – less than one ounce.

Short pursuit leads to arrest in Omaha

By Nebraska Attorney General&nbsp;

Yesterday, Furnas County District Court Judge James E. Doyle IV sentenced six people for related crimes committed against a 15-year-old victim in 2019.&nbsp; William “Billy” Quinn received a minimum sentence of 176.5 years as the ringleader of the five-month-long sexual exploitation.&nbsp;

Five other men were sentenced following each one’s plea to related crimes.

Both men will be required to register as sex offenders.

In addition to the six men sentenced today, thirteen others have been arrested for crimes related to the sexual exploitation of the same victim.

The investigation and prosecution of these cases involved many agencies, including the Furnas County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, Norfolk Police, Kearney Police, Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska Parole, Nebraska Probation, Furnas County Attorney’s Office, and the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office.

If you suspect someone is a victim, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline to report: 1-888-373-7888.

By Nebraska Attorney General&nbsp;Yesterday, Furnas County District Court Judge James E. Doyle IV sentenced six people for related crimes committed against a 15-year-old victim in 2019.&nbsp; William “Billy” Quinn received a minimum sentence of 176.5 years as the ringleader of the five-month-long sexual exploitation.&nbsp;Five other men were sentenced following each one’s plea to related crimes.<ul>
 <li>Bucky Weaver, 41 of Oxford, Nebraska sentenced for First Degree Sexual Assault to 5 years on probation, 90 days in jail, and a $1,000 fine.</li><li>Terry Smith, 39 of Oxford sentenced for First Degree Sexual Assault to 5 years on probation, 90 days in jail, and a $1,000 fine.</li>
 </ul>Both men will be required to register as sex offenders.<ul>
 <li>Carl Kramer, 50 of Oxford sentenced for two counts of Child Abuse to 5 years on probation, 180 days in jail, and a $2,000 fine.</li><li>Jacob Kramer, 23 of Oxford sentenced for one count of Child Abuse to 5 years on probation, 90 days in jail, and a $1,000 fine.</li><li>Justin Brooks, 32 of Arapahoe, Nebraska sentenced for one count of Child Abuse to 5 years on probation, 90 days in jail, and a $1,000 fine.</li>
 </ul>In addition to the six men sentenced today, thirteen others have been arrested for crimes related to the sexual exploitation of the same victim.The investigation and prosecution of these cases involved many agencies, including the Furnas County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, Norfolk Police, Kearney Police, Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska Parole, Nebraska Probation, Furnas County Attorney’s Office, and the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office.If you suspect someone is a victim, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline to report: 1-888-373-7888.

6 more people sentenced in Furnas County sex trafficking case

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health regulators on Thursday authorized the second pill against COVID-19, providing another easy-to-use medication to battle the rising tide of omicron infections.

The Food and Drug Administration authorization of Merck’s molnupiravir comes one day after the agency&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-pfizer-medication-f5f65e7e61d6aa9c7dfa193053e8878a">cleared a competing drug</a>&nbsp;from Pfizer. That pill, Paxlovid, is likely to become the first-choice treatment against the virus, thanks to its superior benefits and milder side effects.

As a result, Merck’s pill is expected to have a smaller role against the pandemic than predicted just a few weeks ago. Its ability to head off severe COVID-19 is much smaller than initially announced and the drug label will warn of serious safety issues, including the potential for birth defects.

The Food and Drug Administration authorized Merck’s drug for adults with early symptoms of COVID-19 who face the highest risks of hospitalization, including older people and those with conditions like obesity and heart disease. The U.K. first authorized the pill in early November.

Known as molnupiravir, the Merck drug will carry a warning against use during pregnancy. Women of childbearing age should use birth control during treatment and for a few days after while men should use birth control for at least three months after their final dose, the FDA said.

The restrictions were expected after an FDA advisory panel only&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-business-health-medication-6932faff66f9295417b2b1f5e02a2165">narrowly endorsed</a>&nbsp;the drug last month, warning that its use would have to be strictly tailored to patients who can benefit the most.

The Pfizer pill works differently and doesn’t carry the same risks. Additionally, Pfizer’s drug was roughly three times more effective in testing, reducing hospitalization and death by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-business-health-1662719827498fa2b1a4f168c7723688">nearly 90% among high-risk patients,</a>&nbsp;compared with 30% for Merck’s.

Some experts question whether there will be much of a role for the Merck drug in the U.S.

“To the extent that there’s an ample supply of Pfizer’s pill, I think it won’t be used,” said Dr. Gregory Poland of the Mayo Clinic, referring to the Merck drug. “There would be no reason, given it has less efficacy and a higher risk of side effects.”

For now, the FDA decision provides another potential option against the virus that has killed more than 800,000 Americans, even as health officials brace for record-setting cases, hospitalizations and deaths driven by the omicron variant. Antiviral pills, including Merck’s, are expected to be effective against omicron because they don’t target the spike protein where most of the variant’s worrisome mutations reside.

The FDA based its decision on results showing nearly 7% of patients taking the drug ended up in the hospital and one died at the end of 30 days. That compared with 10% of patients hospitalized who were taking the placebo and nine deaths.

Federal officials have agreed to purchase enough of the drug to treat 3.1 million people.

The U.S. will pay about $700 for each course of Merck’s drug, which requires patients to take four pills twice a day for five days. A review by Harvard University and King’s College London estimated it costs about $18 to make each 40-pill course of treatment.

Merck’s drug inserts tiny errors into the coronavirus’ genetic code to slow its reproduction. That genetic effect has raised concerns that the drug could cause mutations in human fetuses and even spur more virulent strains of the virus. But FDA scientists said the variant risk is largely theoretical because people take the drug for such a short period of time.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health regulators on Thursday authorized the second pill against COVID-19, providing another easy-to-use medication to battle the rising tide of omicron infections.The Food and Drug Administration authorization of Merck’s molnupiravir comes one day after the agency&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-pfizer-medication-f5f65e7e61d6aa9c7dfa193053e8878a">cleared a competing drug</a>&nbsp;from Pfizer. That pill, Paxlovid, is likely to become the first-choice treatment against the virus, thanks to its superior benefits and milder side effects.As a result, Merck’s pill is expected to have a smaller role against the pandemic than predicted just a few weeks ago. Its ability to head off severe COVID-19 is much smaller than initially announced and the drug label will warn of serious safety issues, including the potential for birth defects.The Food and Drug Administration authorized Merck’s drug for adults with early symptoms of COVID-19 who face the highest risks of hospitalization, including older people and those with conditions like obesity and heart disease. The U.K. first authorized the pill in early November.Known as molnupiravir, the Merck drug will carry a warning against use during pregnancy. Women of childbearing age should use birth control during treatment and for a few days after while men should use birth control for at least three months after their final dose, the FDA said.The restrictions were expected after an FDA advisory panel only&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-business-health-medication-6932faff66f9295417b2b1f5e02a2165">narrowly endorsed</a>&nbsp;the drug last month, warning that its use would have to be strictly tailored to patients who can benefit the most.The Pfizer pill works differently and doesn’t carry the same risks. Additionally, Pfizer’s drug was roughly three times more effective in testing, reducing hospitalization and death by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-business-health-1662719827498fa2b1a4f168c7723688">nearly 90% among high-risk patients,</a>&nbsp;compared with 30% for Merck’s.Some experts question whether there will be much of a role for the Merck drug in the U.S.“To the extent that there’s an ample supply of Pfizer’s pill, I think it won’t be used,” said Dr. Gregory Poland of the Mayo Clinic, referring to the Merck drug. “There would be no reason, given it has less efficacy and a higher risk of side effects.”For now, the FDA decision provides another potential option against the virus that has killed more than 800,000 Americans, even as health officials brace for record-setting cases, hospitalizations and deaths driven by the omicron variant. Antiviral pills, including Merck’s, are expected to be effective against omicron because they don’t target the spike protein where most of the variant’s worrisome mutations reside.The FDA based its decision on results showing nearly 7% of patients taking the drug ended up in the hospital and one died at the end of 30 days. That compared with 10% of patients hospitalized who were taking the placebo and nine deaths.Federal officials have agreed to purchase enough of the drug to treat 3.1 million people.The U.S. will pay about $700 for each course of Merck’s drug, which requires patients to take four pills twice a day for five days. A review by Harvard University and King’s College London estimated it costs about $18 to make each 40-pill course of treatment.Merck’s drug inserts tiny errors into the coronavirus’ genetic code to slow its reproduction. That genetic effect has raised concerns that the drug could cause mutations in human fetuses and even spur more virulent strains of the virus. But FDA scientists said the variant risk is largely theoretical because people take the drug for such a short period of time.

FDA approves 2nd at home treatment against COVID-19

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A crew cutting down a dying oak at the University of Nebraska has made a surprising find — flying squirrels. A video shot by a member of the crew made its way to Larkin Powell, a conservation biology professor. 

The Lincoln Journal Star reports he was surprised by what he saw — the only remaining Nebraska population of the nocturnal and tiny animals was 90 miles away in Nebraska’s southeast corner, near Indian Cave State Park. 

It turns out the flying squirrels had been living undetected — until now — in the treetops just above the animal experts at the university’s School of Natural Resources in Lincoln.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A crew cutting down a dying oak at the University of Nebraska has made a surprising find — flying squirrels. A video shot by a member of the crew made its way to Larkin Powell, a conservation biology professor. The Lincoln Journal Star reports he was surprised by what he saw — the only remaining Nebraska population of the nocturnal and tiny animals was 90 miles away in Nebraska’s southeast corner, near Indian Cave State Park. It turns out the flying squirrels had been living undetected — until now — in the treetops just above the animal experts at the university’s School of Natural Resources in Lincoln.

Duck! Flying squirrels take to the air in Nebraska city

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say a 14-year-old girl was shot to death in Omaha. 

Isabella Santiago was shot at 37th and P streets in south Omaha on Wednesday night and then driven to a fire station.

 Medics rushed Santiago to Nebraska Medical Center, where police say she was pronounced dead.

 Police say an investigation of the killing is continuing.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say a 14-year-old girl was shot to death in Omaha. Isabella Santiago was shot at 37th and P streets in south Omaha on Wednesday night and then driven to a fire station. Medics rushed Santiago to Nebraska Medical Center, where police say she was pronounced dead. Police say an investigation of the killing is continuing.

Omaha police investigating killing of 14-year-old girl

FREMONT, Neb. (AP) — People in an eastern Nebraska town pulled over by police for minor traffic violations this week are getting a dose of Christmas cheer instead of a ticket. 

KETV-TV reports that Fremont police are continuing a holiday tradition by handing out $100 bills. 

Officer Jim Butt had to ask a woman if she was OK after handing her a holiday card with $100 inside. 

 The tradition dates to the early 2010s and is designed to create goodwill between the community and police.

FREMONT, Neb. (AP) — People in an eastern Nebraska town pulled over by police for minor traffic violations this week are getting a dose of Christmas cheer instead of a ticket. KETV-TV reports that Fremont police are continuing a holiday tradition by handing out $100 bills. Officer Jim Butt had to ask a woman if she was OK after handing her a holiday card with $100 inside. An anonymous donor provided the money. The tradition dates to the early 2010s and is designed to create goodwill between the community and police.

Police in Nebraska town hand out money instead of tickets

(AP)-The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits was unchanged last week, remaining at a historically low level that reflects the job market’s strong recovery from the coronavirus recession last year. 

Jobless claims were unchanged from the week before at 205,000. The four-week average, which smooths out week-to-week ups and downs, rose to just over 206,000. 

Altogether, 1.9 million Americans were collecting traditional unemployment aid the week that ended Dec. 11. The weekly claims numbers, a proxy for layoffs, have fallen steadily most of the year. 

Employers are reluctant to let workers go at a time when it’s so tough to find replacements.

(AP)-The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits was unchanged last week, remaining at a historically low level that reflects the job market’s strong recovery from the coronavirus recession last year. Jobless claims were unchanged from the week before at 205,000. The four-week average, which smooths out week-to-week ups and downs, rose to just over 206,000. Altogether, 1.9 million Americans were collecting traditional unemployment aid the week that ended Dec. 11. The weekly claims numbers, a proxy for layoffs, have fallen steadily most of the year. Employers are reluctant to let workers go at a time when it’s so tough to find replacements.

US jobless claims unchanged at 205,000

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says it will hold a special session in just over two weeks to weigh challenges to two Biden administration policies covering vaccine requirements for millions of workers, policies that affect large employers and health care workers.

The high court’s announcement Wednesday that it will hear arguments in the cases Jan. 7 comes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-jen-psaki-08ee41d8e7c0af1ad8b4dfb7b434ea61">amid rising coronavirus cases</a>&nbsp;and is an extraordinarily fast timeline. The court had not been scheduled to hear cases again until Jan. 10.

A three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-880d2052bb4127fb40bcaaca98514753">ruled 2-1 on Friday</a>&nbsp;that the vaccine or testing regime for workers at larger companies could take effect. The plan requires workers at larger companies to be vaccinated or wear face masks and get tested weekly. The requirement could affect some 84 million U.S. workers.

Republican-led states, conservative organizations and businesses had challenged the requirement after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration published the rule in early November. The rule was to go into effect Jan. 4.

The high court also will hear arguments over a rule published Nov. 5 by the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid that applies to a wide range of health care providers that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid funding. It requires their workers to receive the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Dec. 6 and be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4. It was projected to affect more than 17 million workers in about 76,000 health care facilities as well as home health care providers.

Decisions by the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals as well as a federal judge in Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-new-orleans-17a164134a3ea6a615f1ac12a288b6f5">have the mandate blocked in about half of states</a>.

In a statement Wednesday evening after the court announced it would hear arguments, the White House defended its policies and said that especially with the rise of the coronavirus’ omicron variant, “it is critical to protect workers with vaccination requirements and testing protocols that are urgently needed.”

“We are confident in the legal authority for both policies and (the Justice Department) will vigorously defend both at the Supreme Court,” the statement said.

The high court’s decision to quickly hold arguments on the requirements was unusual. Both issues arrived at the court on an emergency basis, and the court usually quickly decides emergency applications without the more typical full briefing and oral argument.

But the court has also been criticized recently for how it handles the process, which has been called the court’s “shadow docket.” Justice Samuel Alito&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-courts-us-supreme-court-samuel-alito-211dd5411c74746ede15d3b861420e60">pushed back in September</a>&nbsp;against that criticism, saying it was unwarranted.

The Supreme Court announced earlier this year that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-us-supreme-court-coronavirus-pandemic-courts-512e90426518f23b69a4e90a24eff19f">all the justices have been vaccinated</a>. Because of the coronavirus, however, the court is not open to the public. Lawyers arguing cases must test negative COVID-19 and journalists observing arguments must also have a negative test.

Also brewing in lower courts are challenges to the Biden administration’s requirement that federal contractors receive COVID-19 vaccinations.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says it will hold a special session in just over two weeks to weigh challenges to two Biden administration policies covering vaccine requirements for millions of workers, policies that affect large employers and health care workers.The high court’s announcement Wednesday that it will hear arguments in the cases Jan. 7 comes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-jen-psaki-08ee41d8e7c0af1ad8b4dfb7b434ea61">amid rising coronavirus cases</a>&nbsp;and is an extraordinarily fast timeline. The court had not been scheduled to hear cases again until Jan. 10.A three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-880d2052bb4127fb40bcaaca98514753">ruled 2-1 on Friday</a>&nbsp;that the vaccine or testing regime for workers at larger companies could take effect. The plan requires workers at larger companies to be vaccinated or wear face masks and get tested weekly. The requirement could affect some 84 million U.S. workers.Republican-led states, conservative organizations and businesses had challenged the requirement after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration published the rule in early November. The rule was to go into effect Jan. 4.The high court also will hear arguments over a rule published Nov. 5 by the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid that applies to a wide range of health care providers that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid funding. It requires their workers to receive the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Dec. 6 and be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4. It was projected to affect more than 17 million workers in about 76,000 health care facilities as well as home health care providers.Decisions by the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals as well as a federal judge in Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-new-orleans-17a164134a3ea6a615f1ac12a288b6f5">have the mandate blocked in about half of states</a>.In a statement Wednesday evening after the court announced it would hear arguments, the White House defended its policies and said that especially with the rise of the coronavirus’ omicron variant, “it is critical to protect workers with vaccination requirements and testing protocols that are urgently needed.”“We are confident in the legal authority for both policies and (the Justice Department) will vigorously defend both at the Supreme Court,” the statement said.The high court’s decision to quickly hold arguments on the requirements was unusual. Both issues arrived at the court on an emergency basis, and the court usually quickly decides emergency applications without the more typical full briefing and oral argument.But the court has also been criticized recently for how it handles the process, which has been called the court’s “shadow docket.” Justice Samuel Alito&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-courts-us-supreme-court-samuel-alito-211dd5411c74746ede15d3b861420e60">pushed back in September</a>&nbsp;against that criticism, saying it was unwarranted.The Supreme Court announced earlier this year that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-us-supreme-court-coronavirus-pandemic-courts-512e90426518f23b69a4e90a24eff19f">all the justices have been vaccinated</a>. Because of the coronavirus, however, the court is not open to the public. Lawyers arguing cases must test negative COVID-19 and journalists observing arguments must also have a negative test.Also brewing in lower courts are challenges to the Biden administration’s requirement that federal contractors receive COVID-19 vaccinations.

Supreme Court to hold special session on vaccine requirements

DOVER, Del. (AP) — Congregations affiliated with the United Methodist Church have agreed to contribute $30 million to a fund for victims who say they were molested as youngsters in the Boy Scouts of America, an attorney said Tuesday.

A committee representing United Methodist churches that sponsored Scouting activities also agreed to help raise an additional $100 million for the fund.

Jessica Lauria, an attorney for the BSA, told Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein about the planned agreement during an online hearing Tuesday in federal bankruptcy court in Delaware. Lauria said the United Methodist-affiliated churches would receive protected party status, which means they would be released from further liability for abuse claims.

The proposed trust is expected to grow to more than $2.6 billion and would be the largest sexual abuse settlement in U.S. history.

More than 82,000 sexual abuse claims have been filed in the bankruptcy case. Victims who say they were abused must vote by Dec. 28 on a Boy Scouts reorganization plan.

Judge Silverstein had originally scheduled a hearing starting Jan. 24 to consider the voting results and to decide whether the plan meets the requirements of the bankruptcy code and should be approved. But on Tuesday, the judge pushed the hearing start date to Feb. 22 to give attorneys more time to prepare.

Tuesday’s announcement involving United Methodist churches comes a week after attorneys said a tentative settlement was reached with one of BSA’s largest insurers, Century Indemnity Co. and affiliated companies had agreed to contribute $800 million into the fund in return for being released from further liability for abuse claims.

Other agreements involve another major Boy Scouts insurer, The Hartford, and the BSA’s former largest troop sponsor, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon church. The Hartford has agreed to pay $787 million into the victims’ fund, and the Mormons have agreed to contribute $250 million. In exchange, both entities would be released from any further liability involving child sex abuse claims.

The BSA is continuing to negotiate with Roman Catholic-affiliated churches that sponsored Scouting units.

The Boy Scouts, based in Irving, Texas, sought bankruptcy protection in February 2020, seeking to halt hundreds of individual lawsuits and create a fund for victims who say they were sexually abused as children.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582026338805.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DOVER, Del. (AP) — Congregations affiliated with the United Methodist Church have agreed to contribute $30 million to a fund for victims who say they were molested as youngsters in the Boy Scouts of America, an attorney said Tuesday.A committee representing United Methodist churches that sponsored Scouting activities also agreed to help raise an additional $100 million for the fund.Jessica Lauria, an attorney for the BSA, told Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein about the planned agreement during an online hearing Tuesday in federal bankruptcy court in Delaware. Lauria said the United Methodist-affiliated churches would receive protected party status, which means they would be released from further liability for abuse claims.The proposed trust is expected to grow to more than $2.6 billion and would be the largest sexual abuse settlement in U.S. history.More than 82,000 sexual abuse claims have been filed in the bankruptcy case. Victims who say they were abused must vote by Dec. 28 on a Boy Scouts reorganization plan.Judge Silverstein had originally scheduled a hearing starting Jan. 24 to consider the voting results and to decide whether the plan meets the requirements of the bankruptcy code and should be approved. But on Tuesday, the judge pushed the hearing start date to Feb. 22 to give attorneys more time to prepare.Tuesday’s announcement involving United Methodist churches comes a week after attorneys said a tentative settlement was reached with one of BSA’s largest insurers, Century Indemnity Co. and affiliated companies had agreed to contribute $800 million into the fund in return for being released from further liability for abuse claims.Other agreements involve another major Boy Scouts insurer, The Hartford, and the BSA’s former largest troop sponsor, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon church. The Hartford has agreed to pay $787 million into the victims’ fund, and the Mormons have agreed to contribute $250 million. In exchange, both entities would be released from any further liability involving child sex abuse claims.The BSA is continuing to negotiate with Roman Catholic-affiliated churches that sponsored Scouting units.The Boy Scouts, based in Irving, Texas, sought bankruptcy protection in February 2020, seeking to halt hundreds of individual lawsuits and create a fund for victims who say they were sexually abused as children.

Sex abuse settlement: United Methodists join in plan for Boy Scouts bankruptcy 

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health regulators on Wednesday authorized the first pill against COVID-19, a Pfizer drug that Americans will be able to take at home to head off the worst effects of the virus.

The long-awaited milestone comes as U.S. cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all rising and health officials warn of a tsunami of new infections from the omicron variant that could overwhelm hospitals.

The drug, Paxlovid, is a faster, cheaper way to treat early COVID-19 infections, though initial supplies will be extremely limited. All of the previously authorized drugs against the disease require an IV or an injection.

An antiviral pill from Merck also is expected to soon win authorization. But Pfizer's drug is all but certain to be the preferred option because of its mild side effects and superior effectiveness, including a nearly 90% reduction in hospitalizations and deaths among patients most likely to get severe disease.

“The efficacy is high, the side effects are low and it’s oral. It checks all the boxes,” said Dr. Gregory Poland of the Mayo Clinic. “You’re looking at a 90% decreased risk of hospitalization and death in a high-risk group — that’s stunning.”

The Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer's drug for adults and children ages 12 and older with a positive COVID-19 test and early symptoms who face the highest risks of hospitalization. That includes older people and those with conditions like obesity and heart disease. Children eligible for the drug must weigh at least 88 pounds&nbsp;

The pills from both Pfizer and Merck are expected to be effective against omicron because they don’t target the spike protein where most of the variant’s worrisome mutations reside.

Pfizer currently has 180,000 treatment courses available worldwide, with roughly 60,000 to 70,000 allocated to the U.S. Federal health officials are expected to ration early shipments to the hardest hit parts of the country. Pfizer said the small supply is due to the manufacturing time — currently about nine months. The company says it can halve production time next year.

The U.S. government has agreed to purchase enough Paxlovid to treat 10 million people. Pfizer says it's on track to produce 80 million courses globally next year, under contracts with the U.K., Australia and other nations.

Health experts agree that vaccination remains the best way to protect against COVID-19. But with roughly 40 million American adults still unvaccinated, effective drugs will be critical to blunting the current and future waves of infection.

The U.S. is now reporting more than 140,000 new infections daily and federal officials warn that the omicron variant could send case counts soaring. Omicron has already whipped across the country to become the dominant strain, federal officials confirmed earlier this week.

Against that backdrop, experts warn that Paxlovid's initial impact could be limited.

For more than a year, biotech-engineered antibody drugs have been the go-to treatments for COVID-19. But they are expensive, hard to produce and require an injection or infusion, typically given at a hospital or clinic. Also, laboratory testing suggests the two leading antibody drugs used in the U.S. aren't effective against omicron.

Pfizer’s pill comes with its own challenges.

Patients will need a positive COVID-19 test to get a prescription. And Paxlovid has only proven effective if given within five days of symptoms appearing. With testing supplies stretched, experts worry it may be unrealistic for patients to self-diagnose, get tested, see a physician and pick up a prescription within that narrow window.

“If you go outside that window of time I fully expect the effectiveness of this drug is going to fall,” said Andrew Pekosz, a Johns Hopkins University virologist.

The FDA based its decision on company results from a 2,250-patient trial that showed the pill cut hospitalizations and deaths by 89% when given to people with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 within three days of symptoms. Less than 1% of patients taking the drug were hospitalized and none died at the end of the 30-day study period, compared with 6.5% of patients hospitalized in the group getting a dummy pill, which included nine deaths.

Pfizer’s drug is part of a decades-old family of antiviral drugs known as protease inhibitors, which revolutionized the treatment of HIV and hepatitis C. The drugs block a key enzyme which viruses need to multiply in the human body.

The U.S. will pay about $500 for each course of Pfizer's treatment, which consists of three pills taken twice a day for five days. Two of the pills are Paxlovid and the third is a different antiviral that helps boost levels of the main drug in the body.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health regulators on Wednesday authorized the first pill against COVID-19, a Pfizer drug that Americans will be able to take at home to head off the worst effects of the virus.The long-awaited milestone comes as U.S. cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all rising and health officials warn of a tsunami of new infections from the omicron variant that could overwhelm hospitals.The drug, Paxlovid, is a faster, cheaper way to treat early COVID-19 infections, though initial supplies will be extremely limited. All of the previously authorized drugs against the disease require an IV or an injection.An antiviral pill from Merck also is expected to soon win authorization. But Pfizer's drug is all but certain to be the preferred option because of its mild side effects and superior effectiveness, including a nearly 90% reduction in hospitalizations and deaths among patients most likely to get severe disease.“The efficacy is high, the side effects are low and it’s oral. It checks all the boxes,” said Dr. Gregory Poland of the Mayo Clinic. “You’re looking at a 90% decreased risk of hospitalization and death in a high-risk group — that’s stunning.”The Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer's drug for adults and children ages 12 and older with a positive COVID-19 test and early symptoms who face the highest risks of hospitalization. That includes older people and those with conditions like obesity and heart disease. Children eligible for the drug must weigh at least 88 pounds&nbsp;The pills from both Pfizer and Merck are expected to be effective against omicron because they don’t target the spike protein where most of the variant’s worrisome mutations reside.Pfizer currently has 180,000 treatment courses available worldwide, with roughly 60,000 to 70,000 allocated to the U.S. Federal health officials are expected to ration early shipments to the hardest hit parts of the country. Pfizer said the small supply is due to the manufacturing time — currently about nine months. The company says it can halve production time next year.The U.S. government has agreed to purchase enough Paxlovid to treat 10 million people. Pfizer says it's on track to produce 80 million courses globally next year, under contracts with the U.K., Australia and other nations.Health experts agree that vaccination remains the best way to protect against COVID-19. But with roughly 40 million American adults still unvaccinated, effective drugs will be critical to blunting the current and future waves of infection.The U.S. is now reporting more than 140,000 new infections daily and federal officials warn that the omicron variant could send case counts soaring. Omicron has already whipped across the country to become the dominant strain, federal officials confirmed earlier this week.Against that backdrop, experts warn that Paxlovid's initial impact could be limited.For more than a year, biotech-engineered antibody drugs have been the go-to treatments for COVID-19. But they are expensive, hard to produce and require an injection or infusion, typically given at a hospital or clinic. Also, laboratory testing suggests the two leading antibody drugs used in the U.S. aren't effective against omicron.Pfizer’s pill comes with its own challenges.Patients will need a positive COVID-19 test to get a prescription. And Paxlovid has only proven effective if given within five days of symptoms appearing. With testing supplies stretched, experts worry it may be unrealistic for patients to self-diagnose, get tested, see a physician and pick up a prescription within that narrow window.“If you go outside that window of time I fully expect the effectiveness of this drug is going to fall,” said Andrew Pekosz, a Johns Hopkins University virologist.The FDA based its decision on company results from a 2,250-patient trial that showed the pill cut hospitalizations and deaths by 89% when given to people with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 within three days of symptoms. Less than 1% of patients taking the drug were hospitalized and none died at the end of the 30-day study period, compared with 6.5% of patients hospitalized in the group getting a dummy pill, which included nine deaths.Pfizer’s drug is part of a decades-old family of antiviral drugs known as protease inhibitors, which revolutionized the treatment of HIV and hepatitis C. The drugs block a key enzyme which viruses need to multiply in the human body.The U.S. will pay about $500 for each course of Pfizer's treatment, which consists of three pills taken twice a day for five days. Two of the pills are Paxlovid and the third is a different antiviral that helps boost levels of the main drug in the body.___

Pfizer pill becomes 1st US-authorized home COVID treatment

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The founder of a Nebraska trucking firm has agreed to pay a $486,900 fine to the federal government for purchasing large amounts of his company’s stock as a director without properly reporting it. 

The Federal Trade Commission announced Wednesday that Clarence Werner, founder of the Omaha-based truckload carrier Werner Enterprises, Inc., reached the agreement to settle charges that he violated federal antitrust law.

 Federal authorities say Werner exercised stock options in 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2019 to acquire shares of Werner Inc., but failed to make the proper federal filings required by law.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The founder of a Nebraska trucking firm has agreed to pay a $486,900 fine to the federal government for purchasing large amounts of his company’s stock as a director without properly reporting it. The Federal Trade Commission announced Wednesday that Clarence Werner, founder of the Omaha-based truckload carrier Werner Enterprises, Inc., reached the agreement to settle charges that he violated federal antitrust law. Federal authorities say Werner exercised stock options in 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2019 to acquire shares of Werner Inc., but failed to make the proper federal filings required by law.

Nebraska trucking firm founder to pay nearly $487K in fines

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is extending a student loan moratorium that has allowed millions of Americans to put off debt payments during the pandemic. Under the action Wednesday, payments on federal student loans will remain paused through May 1. 

Interest rates will remain at 0% during that period, and debt collection efforts will be suspended. Those measures have been in place since early in the pandemic but were set to expire Jan. 31. This is the second extension from the administration. 

In a statement from the White House, President Biden said: 

"When I came into office, we were facing a number of unprecedented crises. Our economy was creating only 50,000 new jobs per month, less than 1 percent of Americans were fully vaccinated, many schools were closed, and Americans across the country were struggling to pay their bills and stay afloat.

"That is why, on my very first day as President, I directed the Department of Education to pause federal student loan repayments through September. In August, my Administration once again extended the pause, through January 31, 2022. That pause has given 41 million Americans badly-needed breathing room during the economic upheaval caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic." Now, while our jobs recovery is one of the strongest ever — with nearly 6 million jobs added this year, the fewest Americans filing for unemployment in more than 50 years, and overall unemployment at 4.2 percent — we know that millions of student loan borrowers are still coping with the impacts of the pandemic and need some more time before resuming payments. This is an issue Vice President Harris has been closely focused on, and one we both care deeply about. Given these considerations, today my Administration is extending the pause on federal student loan repayments for an additional 90 days — through May 1, 2022 — as we manage the ongoing pandemic and further strengthen our economic recovery. Meanwhile, the Department of Education will continue working with borrowers to ensure they have the support they need to transition smoothly back into repayment and advance economic stability for their own households and for our nation. As we are taking this action, I’m asking all student loan borrowers to do their part as well: take full advantage of the Department of Education’s resources to help you prepare for payments to resume; look at options to lower your payments through income-based repayment plans; explore public service loan forgiveness; and make sure you are vaccinated and boosted when eligible."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633363477999.png" alt="President Joe Biden says the administration understands that borrowers are still coping with the impact of the pandemic." />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden says the administration understands that borrowers are still coping with the impact of the pandemic.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is extending a student loan moratorium that has allowed millions of Americans to put off debt payments during the pandemic. Under the action Wednesday, payments on federal student loans will remain paused through May 1. Interest rates will remain at 0% during that period, and debt collection efforts will be suspended. Those measures have been in place since early in the pandemic but were set to expire Jan. 31. This is the second extension from the administration. In a statement from the White House, President Biden said: "When I came into office, we were facing a number of unprecedented crises. Our economy was creating only 50,000 new jobs per month, less than 1 percent of Americans were fully vaccinated, many schools were closed, and Americans across the country were struggling to pay their bills and stay afloat."That is why, on my very first day as President, I directed the Department of Education to pause federal student loan repayments through September. In August, my Administration once again extended the pause, through January 31, 2022. That pause has given 41 million Americans badly-needed breathing room during the economic upheaval caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic." Now, while our jobs recovery is one of the strongest ever — with nearly 6 million jobs added this year, the fewest Americans filing for unemployment in more than 50 years, and overall unemployment at 4.2 percent — we know that millions of student loan borrowers are still coping with the impacts of the pandemic and need some more time before resuming payments. This is an issue Vice President Harris has been closely focused on, and one we both care deeply about. Given these considerations, today my Administration is extending the pause on federal student loan repayments for an additional 90 days — through May 1, 2022 — as we manage the ongoing pandemic and further strengthen our economic recovery. Meanwhile, the Department of Education will continue working with borrowers to ensure they have the support they need to transition smoothly back into repayment and advance economic stability for their own households and for our nation. As we are taking this action, I’m asking all student loan borrowers to do their part as well: take full advantage of the Department of Education’s resources to help you prepare for payments to resume; look at options to lower your payments through income-based repayment plans; explore public service loan forgiveness; and make sure you are vaccinated and boosted when eligible."

Pause on student loan payments is extended again

Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson announced that William “Billy” Quinn of Oxford, Nebraska was sentenced today for multiple crimes he committed against a 15-year-old victim in 2019.&nbsp; Furnas County District Court Judge James E. Doyle IV sentenced Quinn to a minimum of 176.5 years to a maximum of 304 years in prison.

Earlier this summer, a two-week trial ended with a jury finding Quinn&nbsp;<a href="https://ago.nebraska.gov/sites/ago.nebraska.gov/files/doc/2020-03-06%20Trafficking.pdf" target="_blank">guilty of 13 felonies</a>, including counts of sex trafficking of a minor, first-degree sexual assault of a child, and the production of child pornography.&nbsp; To date, 18 other defendants have been arrested for crimes associated with Quinn’s actions.&nbsp;

In reaction to this sentence, Attorney General Doug Peterson said, “Today’s sentence is essentially a life sentence imposed on Billy Quinn. The sentence issued by Judge Doyle sends a strong message that those who traffic children for sex will pay a substantial penalty for their acts. I want to thank all of the law enforcement agencies involved in the case and the Furnas County Attorney for their collaboration on this case.”

Furnas County Attorney, Morgan Farquhar, responded as well to the sentencing, “Sex trafficking is an especially cruel and dehumanizing crime, especially when an adult predator like Mr. Quinn targets a child for abuse and exploitation. This victim suffered approximately six months of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse perpetrated by Quinn. The sentence handed down today cannot reverse the brutality that this victim suffered at the hands of William Quinn, but it can assure that Quinn will never again have the opportunity to harm another person and send a strong message to any person who desires to pursue this type of behavior.

The investigation of this case involved many agencies, including the Furnas County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, Norfolk Police, Kearney Police, Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska Parole, Nebraska Probation, and the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office.

<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/03e35361-1d76-41eb-b165-33827b627bd3">Furnas County man convicted on 13 counts in sex trafficking case</a>

By Nebraska Attorney GeneralNebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson announced that William “Billy” Quinn of Oxford, Nebraska was sentenced today for multiple crimes he committed against a 15-year-old victim in 2019.&nbsp; Furnas County District Court Judge James E. Doyle IV sentenced Quinn to a minimum of 176.5 years to a maximum of 304 years in prison.Earlier this summer, a two-week trial ended with a jury finding Quinn&nbsp;<a href="https://ago.nebraska.gov/sites/ago.nebraska.gov/files/doc/2020-03-06%20Trafficking.pdf" target="_blank">guilty of 13 felonies</a>, including counts of sex trafficking of a minor, first-degree sexual assault of a child, and the production of child pornography.&nbsp; To date, 18 other defendants have been arrested for crimes associated with Quinn’s actions.&nbsp;In reaction to this sentence, Attorney General Doug Peterson said, “Today’s sentence is essentially a life sentence imposed on Billy Quinn. The sentence issued by Judge Doyle sends a strong message that those who traffic children for sex will pay a substantial penalty for their acts. I want to thank all of the law enforcement agencies involved in the case and the Furnas County Attorney for their collaboration on this case.”Furnas County Attorney, Morgan Farquhar, responded as well to the sentencing, “Sex trafficking is an especially cruel and dehumanizing crime, especially when an adult predator like Mr. Quinn targets a child for abuse and exploitation. This victim suffered approximately six months of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse perpetrated by Quinn. The sentence handed down today cannot reverse the brutality that this victim suffered at the hands of William Quinn, but it can assure that Quinn will never again have the opportunity to harm another person and send a strong message to any person who desires to pursue this type of behavior.The investigation of this case involved many agencies, including the Furnas County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, Norfolk Police, Kearney Police, Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska Parole, Nebraska Probation, and the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office.If you suspect someone is a victim, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline to report: 1-888-373-7888.RELATED CONTENT<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/03e35361-1d76-41eb-b165-33827b627bd3">Furnas County man convicted on 13 counts in sex trafficking case</a>

Oxford man sentenced to over 300 years for sex trafficking, child porn

ELK CREEK, Neb. (AP) — One day, a mining company hopes to dig up rare materials in one corner of Nebraska that would be used to make steel and aluminum stronger.

 But first, the 10-person company has to raise more than $1 billion.

 The high price tag is one of the main challenges facing U.S. mining companies that hope to dig up critical materials or rare earth elements.

 The Biden Administration wants the U.S. to develop a reliable domestic supply of rare minerals used in essential products, but the Nebraska project shows the difficulty.

ELK CREEK, Neb. (AP) — One day, a mining company hopes to dig up rare materials in one corner of Nebraska that would be used to make steel and aluminum stronger. But first, the 10-person company has to raise more than $1 billion. The high price tag is one of the main challenges facing U.S. mining companies that hope to dig up critical materials or rare earth elements. The Biden Administration wants the U.S. to develop a reliable domestic supply of rare minerals used in essential products, but the Nebraska project shows the difficulty.

Nebraska project finds key minerals, but can it mine them?

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln man faces sentencing in March after being convicted of killing his estranged wife’s new boyfriend in a 2020 shooting in downtown Omaha. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that a jury deliberated for less than an hour Tuesday before finding 28-year-old Marlon Miranda Jr. guilty of first-degree murder in the June 2020 death of Jose Santos Parra Juarez.

 Prosecutor John Alagaban said an off-duty Bellevue officer, Sgt. John Stuck, probably saved Sharon Miranda’s life. 

Testimony showed Stuck saw Marlon Miranda grabbing his estranged wife by the hair with one hand while pointing a gun at her with the other.

 Stuck shot Marlon Miranda twice. Miranda’s attorney had suggested that Miranda acted in self-defense during a quarrel.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln man faces sentencing in March after being convicted of killing his estranged wife’s new boyfriend in a 2020 shooting in downtown Omaha. The Omaha World-Herald reports that a jury deliberated for less than an hour Tuesday before finding 28-year-old Marlon Miranda Jr. guilty of first-degree murder in the June 2020 death of Jose Santos Parra Juarez. Prosecutor John Alagaban said an off-duty Bellevue officer, Sgt. John Stuck, probably saved Sharon Miranda’s life. Testimony showed Stuck saw Marlon Miranda grabbing his estranged wife by the hair with one hand while pointing a gun at her with the other. Stuck shot Marlon Miranda twice. Miranda’s attorney had suggested that Miranda acted in self-defense during a quarrel.

Lincoln man convicted of killing estranged wife's boyfriend

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The last Nebraska community still requiring masks is dropping its mandate. 

Lincoln Lancaster County Health Director Pat Lopez said in a news conference Tuesday that a health order requiring indoor masking will expire at the end of the day Thursday.

 The county reinstated the mask requirement in August amid the delta surge. 

No other city or county in the state has required masks in indoor settings over the past four months. 

Even without the mandate, Lopez urged people to continue masking, saying they work to reduce the spread of the virus.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The last Nebraska community still requiring masks is dropping its mandate. Lincoln Lancaster County Health Director Pat Lopez said in a news conference Tuesday that a health order requiring indoor masking will expire at the end of the day Thursday. The county reinstated the mask requirement in August amid the delta surge. No other city or county in the state has required masks in indoor settings over the past four months. Even without the mandate, Lopez urged people to continue masking, saying they work to reduce the spread of the virus.

Lincoln to end months-long mask mandate

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California health care workers will be required to have coronavirus booster shots to ensure that hospitals are ready to deal with a surge in cases as the more-transmissible omicron variant spreads throughout the state.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the order Tuesday on his personal Twitter account and planned to provide more details at a Wednesday news conference.

California already requires health care workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, a directive that took effect in September and has since led to the firing or suspension of thousands of people. Now it will join New Mexico as at least the second state to require booster shots for health care workers.

Last week, Newsom, who imposed the first statewide shutdown order in March 2020, warned that cases would likely rise and re-imposed a rule requiring everyone to wear masks at public indoor gatherings.

Concerns stem from the rise of omicron, which as of Monday was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-europe-london-england-eddf1657a9462547826881562b71f3b7">dominant variant</a>&nbsp;of the coronavirus in the United States. Areas in the Midwest and Northeast are seeing the biggest jump in cases and hospitalizations amid frigid temperatures that have kept people indoors.

Much about the variant remains unknown, including whether it causes more or less severe illness. Scientists say omicron spreads more easily than other coronavirus strains, including delta. Early studies suggest the vaccinated will need a third shot for the best chance at preventing infection but even without the extra dose, vaccination still should offer strong protection against severe illness and death.

California has so far fared far better than many other states. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists California as a place with “high” transmission of the virus, along with nearly everywhere else in the country. But in the last week California averaged 114 new cases per 100,000 people, less than half the national rate.

While 70% of Californians have been fully vaccinated, that still leaves 30% — or roughly 12 million people — who haven’t been. The California Department of Public Health says people who are not vaccinated are seven times more likely to get infected, nearly 13 times more likely to be hospitalized and nearly 16 times more likely to die from the coronavirus.

Coronavirus related hospitalizations have been rising slowly in California, up 15% in the last 11 days to 3,852. That’s less than half as many as during the late summer peak and one-fifth of a year ago, before vaccines were widely available.

But while hospitals overall have fewer patients than last winter, many have fewer workers to treat the patients they do have. The staffing shortage comes as businesses are having trouble finding workers, including hospitals. A recent study by the University of California-San Francisco estimated the state’s nursing shortage could persist until 2026.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California health care workers will be required to have coronavirus booster shots to ensure that hospitals are ready to deal with a surge in cases as the more-transmissible omicron variant spreads throughout the state.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">CA will require healthcare workers to get their booster. As the Omicron variant continues to spread -- we’re stepping up efforts to get more people boosted and keep Californians safe. Tune in tomorrow for more info.<a href="https://t.co/6TcqHw4xhI">pic.twitter.com/6TcqHw4xhI</a>&mdash; Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) <a href="https://twitter.com/GavinNewsom/status/1473471786423504898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the order Tuesday on his personal Twitter account and planned to provide more details at a Wednesday news conference.California already requires health care workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, a directive that took effect in September and has since led to the firing or suspension of thousands of people. Now it will join New Mexico as at least the second state to require booster shots for health care workers.Last week, Newsom, who imposed the first statewide shutdown order in March 2020, warned that cases would likely rise and re-imposed a rule requiring everyone to wear masks at public indoor gatherings.Concerns stem from the rise of omicron, which as of Monday was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-europe-london-england-eddf1657a9462547826881562b71f3b7">dominant variant</a>&nbsp;of the coronavirus in the United States. Areas in the Midwest and Northeast are seeing the biggest jump in cases and hospitalizations amid frigid temperatures that have kept people indoors.Much about the variant remains unknown, including whether it causes more or less severe illness. Scientists say omicron spreads more easily than other coronavirus strains, including delta. Early studies suggest the vaccinated will need a third shot for the best chance at preventing infection but even without the extra dose, vaccination still should offer strong protection against severe illness and death.California has so far fared far better than many other states. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists California as a place with “high” transmission of the virus, along with nearly everywhere else in the country. But in the last week California averaged 114 new cases per 100,000 people, less than half the national rate.While 70% of Californians have been fully vaccinated, that still leaves 30% — or roughly 12 million people — who haven’t been. The California Department of Public Health says people who are not vaccinated are seven times more likely to get infected, nearly 13 times more likely to be hospitalized and nearly 16 times more likely to die from the coronavirus.Coronavirus related hospitalizations have been rising slowly in California, up 15% in the last 11 days to 3,852. That’s less than half as many as during the late summer peak and one-fifth of a year ago, before vaccines were widely available.But while hospitals overall have fewer patients than last winter, many have fewer workers to treat the patients they do have. The staffing shortage comes as businesses are having trouble finding workers, including hospitals. A recent study by the University of California-San Francisco estimated the state’s nursing shortage could persist until 2026.___

Two states mandate COVID boosters for healthcare workers

HOLDREGE, Neb. (AP) — A bus carrying a Kansas college basketball team caught fire, leaving players and staff briefly stranded in a central Nebraska town. 

The Holdrege Daily Citizen says the Newman University men’s basketball team from Wichita was heading from Kearney, Nebraska, to Hays, Kansas on Saturday when the fire occurred. 

The bus was carrying 15 basketball players, three coaches and an athletic trainer. No one was injured. Holdrege volunteer firefighters received the call at around 1:40 p.m. Saturday. 

Head Coach R.J. Allen says the only personal items lost in the fire were phone chargers, pillows and blankets. Allen says the team was headed to a practice before a game against Fort Hays State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640128076441.png" alt="Newman Coach R.J. Allen" />
 <figcaption>Newman Coach R.J. Allen</figcaption>
 </figure>HOLDREGE, Neb. (AP) — A bus carrying a Kansas college basketball team caught fire, leaving players and staff briefly stranded in a central Nebraska town. The Holdrege Daily Citizen says the Newman University men’s basketball team from Wichita was heading from Kearney, Nebraska, to Hays, Kansas on Saturday when the fire occurred. The bus was carrying 15 basketball players, three coaches and an athletic trainer. No one was injured. Holdrege volunteer firefighters received the call at around 1:40 p.m. Saturday. Head Coach R.J. Allen says the only personal items lost in the fire were phone chargers, pillows and blankets. Allen says the team was headed to a practice before a game against Fort Hays State University.

Bus fire briefly strands Kansas basketball team in Nebraska

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fighting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/omicron-majority-us-cases-833001ef99862bd6ac17935f65c896cf">the omicron variant</a>&nbsp;surging through the country, President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that the government would provide 500 million free rapid tests, increase support for hospitals under strain and redouble vaccination and boosting efforts.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?516869-1/president-biden-announces-steps-tackle-omicron-surge">Click here&nbsp;</a>to watch the President's comments

In remarks Tuesday at the White House, Biden detailed major changes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/videos-0b3c9530137646c0b261750472007d27">his COVID-19 winter plan</a>, his hand forced by the arrival of the fast-spreading variant, whose properties are yet not fully understood by scientists. Yet his message was clear that the winter holidays could be close to normal for the vaccinated while potentially dangerous for the unvaccinated.

His pleas are not political, he emphasized. He noted that former President Donald Trump has gotten his booster shot, and he said it’s Americans’ “patriotic duty” to get vaccinated.

“It’s the only responsible thing to do,” the president said. “Omicron is serious and potentially deadly business for unvaccinated people.”

Biden chastised social media and people on cable TV who have made misleading statements to discourage people from getting vaccinated.

The outbreak from this latest strain of the coronavirus has required the federal government to get more aggressive in addressing the likely wave of infections, but Biden promised a weary nation that there would not be a mass lockdown of schools or businesses.

“I know you’re tired, and I know you’re frustrated. We all want this to be over. But we’re still in it,” Biden said. “We also have more tools than we had before. We’re ready, we’ll get through this.”

Scientists don’t yet know everything about omicron yet, but they do know that vaccination should offer strong protections against severe illness and death. The variant has spread at such an alarming rate that the Biden administration snapped quickly into action to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/21/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-new-actions-to-protect-americans-and-help-communities-and-hospitals-battle-omicron/" target="_blank">offer new tests and additional aid</a>.

A cornerstone of the plan is Biden’s decision for the government to purchase 500 million&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-home-testing-kits-supply-demand-57f8ec4b7bc78d0e70216b91717287ee">coronavirus rapid tests</a>&nbsp;for free shipment to Americans starting in January. People will use a new website to order their tests, which will then be sent by U.S. mail at no charge, the White House said.

It marks a major shift for Biden, who earlier had called for many Americans to purchase the hard-to-find tests on their own and then seek reimbursement from their health insurance. For the first time, the U.S. government will send free COVID-19 tests directly to Americans, after more than a year of urging by public health experts.

Experts had criticized Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-9939eee264b651fbc88f66c957a5e6e4">initial buy-first, get-paid-later approach</a>&nbsp;as unwieldy and warned that the U.S. would face another round of problems with testing at a critical time. Testing advocates point to places like the U.K. and Germany, which have distributed billions of tests to the public and recommend people test themselves twice a week.

The federal government will also establish new testing sites and use&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-2019-2020-coronavirus-pandemic-bbb0f14dd5032760657c563565ecfe06">the Defense Production Act</a>&nbsp;to help manufacture more tests. The first new federally supported testing site will open in New York this week. The new testing sites will add to 20,000 already available. White House officials said they’re working with Google so that people will be able to find them by searching “free COVID test near me.”

Still, Biden’s testing surge would need to be supported by a further jump in production for all Americans to test at the recommended rate of twice weekly. The U.S. would need 2.3 billion tests per month for everyone 12 and older to do that, according to the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation. That’s nearly five times the half-billion tests Biden will deploy.

Currently, the U.S. can conduct about 600 million tests per month, with home tests accounting for about half, according to researchers from Arizona State University.

In another prong to Biden’s amped-up plan, he is prepared to deploy an additional 1,000 troops with medical skills to assist hospitals buckling under the virus surge. Additionally, he is immediately sending federal medical personnel to Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Arizona, New Hampshire and Vermont. There are also plans to ready additional ventilators and protective equipment from the national stockpile, expanding hospital resources.

As a backstop, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will deploy hundreds of ambulances and paramedic teams so that if one hospital fills up, they can transport patients to open beds in other facilities. Ambulances are already headed to New York and Maine, and paramedic teams are going to New Hampshire, Vermont and Arizona.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640117297620.png" alt="President Biden chastised social media and people on cable TV who have made misleading statements to discourage people from getting vaccinated." />
 <figcaption>President Biden chastised social media and people on cable TV who have made misleading statements to discourage people from getting vaccinated.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Fighting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/omicron-majority-us-cases-833001ef99862bd6ac17935f65c896cf">the omicron variant</a>&nbsp;surging through the country, President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that the government would provide 500 million free rapid tests, increase support for hospitals under strain and redouble vaccination and boosting efforts.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?516869-1/president-biden-announces-steps-tackle-omicron-surge">Click here&nbsp;</a>to watch the President's commentsIn remarks Tuesday at the White House, Biden detailed major changes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/videos-0b3c9530137646c0b261750472007d27">his COVID-19 winter plan</a>, his hand forced by the arrival of the fast-spreading variant, whose properties are yet not fully understood by scientists. Yet his message was clear that the winter holidays could be close to normal for the vaccinated while potentially dangerous for the unvaccinated.His pleas are not political, he emphasized. He noted that former President Donald Trump has gotten his booster shot, and he said it’s Americans’ “patriotic duty” to get vaccinated.“It’s the only responsible thing to do,” the president said. “Omicron is serious and potentially deadly business for unvaccinated people.”Biden chastised social media and people on cable TV who have made misleading statements to discourage people from getting vaccinated.The outbreak from this latest strain of the coronavirus has required the federal government to get more aggressive in addressing the likely wave of infections, but Biden promised a weary nation that there would not be a mass lockdown of schools or businesses.“I know you’re tired, and I know you’re frustrated. We all want this to be over. But we’re still in it,” Biden said. “We also have more tools than we had before. We’re ready, we’ll get through this.”Scientists don’t yet know everything about omicron yet, but they do know that vaccination should offer strong protections against severe illness and death. The variant has spread at such an alarming rate that the Biden administration snapped quickly into action to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/21/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-new-actions-to-protect-americans-and-help-communities-and-hospitals-battle-omicron/" target="_blank">offer new tests and additional aid</a>.A cornerstone of the plan is Biden’s decision for the government to purchase 500 million&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-home-testing-kits-supply-demand-57f8ec4b7bc78d0e70216b91717287ee">coronavirus rapid tests</a>&nbsp;for free shipment to Americans starting in January. People will use a new website to order their tests, which will then be sent by U.S. mail at no charge, the White House said.It marks a major shift for Biden, who earlier had called for many Americans to purchase the hard-to-find tests on their own and then seek reimbursement from their health insurance. For the first time, the U.S. government will send free COVID-19 tests directly to Americans, after more than a year of urging by public health experts.Experts had criticized Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-9939eee264b651fbc88f66c957a5e6e4">initial buy-first, get-paid-later approach</a>&nbsp;as unwieldy and warned that the U.S. would face another round of problems with testing at a critical time. Testing advocates point to places like the U.K. and Germany, which have distributed billions of tests to the public and recommend people test themselves twice a week.The federal government will also establish new testing sites and use&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-2019-2020-coronavirus-pandemic-bbb0f14dd5032760657c563565ecfe06">the Defense Production Act</a>&nbsp;to help manufacture more tests. The first new federally supported testing site will open in New York this week. The new testing sites will add to 20,000 already available. White House officials said they’re working with Google so that people will be able to find them by searching “free COVID test near me.”Still, Biden’s testing surge would need to be supported by a further jump in production for all Americans to test at the recommended rate of twice weekly. The U.S. would need 2.3 billion tests per month for everyone 12 and older to do that, according to the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation. That’s nearly five times the half-billion tests Biden will deploy.Currently, the U.S. can conduct about 600 million tests per month, with home tests accounting for about half, according to researchers from Arizona State University.In another prong to Biden’s amped-up plan, he is prepared to deploy an additional 1,000 troops with medical skills to assist hospitals buckling under the virus surge. Additionally, he is immediately sending federal medical personnel to Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Arizona, New Hampshire and Vermont. There are also plans to ready additional ventilators and protective equipment from the national stockpile, expanding hospital resources.As a backstop, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will deploy hundreds of ambulances and paramedic teams so that if one hospital fills up, they can transport patients to open beds in other facilities. Ambulances are already headed to New York and Maine, and paramedic teams are going to New Hampshire, Vermont and Arizona.But vaccination remains the main defense, since it can head off disease in the first place. The government will support multiple vaccination sites and provide hundreds of personnel to administer shots. New rules will make it easier for pharmacists to work across state lines to administer a broader range of shots.Some prominent experts said that Biden’s plan is a step in the right direction but the president hasn’t gone far enough to try to get ahead of the virus, given the risks of infections and hospitals being overwhelmed.“I don’t know that the measures being proposed are going to be adequate,” said Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.Hotez said the government may need go a step further by authorizing a second booster shot for health care workers to prevent infections that would sideline clinicians when all hands are needed.Dr. Eric Topol, professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California, said the administration “finally sees the light” on testing with Biden’s plan to ship 500 million tests, but the type of test being provided is important at a time when the disease can spread quickly.“We don’t have control of this pandemic here,” said Topol. “We need to pull out all the stops, and we’re not doing that still.”Topol said the government could redefine “fully vaccinated” as three shots instead of two of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, Biden could order the Federal Aviation Administration to bar air travel by people who are not fully vaccinated, and the government could use its authority to ramp up production of high quality masks for free distribution.“There’s a lack of boldness,” Topol said. “I am disappointed.”Scientists say omicron spreads even more easily than other coronavirus strains, including delta. It accounted for nearly three-quarters of new U.S. infections last week.Underscoring the reach of the virus, the White House said late Monday that Biden had been in close contact with a staff member who later tested positive for COVID-19. The staffer spent about 30 minutes around the president on Air Force One on Friday. The staffer, who was fully vaccinated and boosted, tested positive Monday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.Psaki said Biden has tested negative twice since Sunday and will test again on Wednesday. Citing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Psaki said Biden didn’t need to quarantine and would continue with his regular schedule.In New York City,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-omicron-coronavirus-holidays-179cd759ed851789db86fa206986a736">nearly 42,600 people citywide tested positive</a>&nbsp;from Wednesday through Saturday — compared with fewer than 35,800 in the entire month of November. The city has never had so many people test positive in such a short period of time since testing became widely available.___