OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Marine from Nebraska who was killed in Afghanistan in a suicide bombing earlier this year was honored during the Omaha Lancers' Military Appreciation Night. 

WOWT reports that the family of Marine Cpl. Daegan Page was on hand Friday night to drop the puck for the start of the Lancers game against the Sioux Falls Stampede. 

Page was an avid hockey fan who played throughout his childhood and was a member of the 2016 state champion Westside Warriors hockey team. 

Page, of Omaha, was one of 13 U.S. service members killed Aug. 26 in the bombing at the Kabul airport, which also killed at least 169 Afghans.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Marine from Nebraska who was killed in Afghanistan in a suicide bombing earlier this year was honored during the Omaha Lancers' Military Appreciation Night. WOWT reports that the family of Marine Cpl. Daegan Page was on hand Friday night to drop the puck for the start of the Lancers game against the Sioux Falls Stampede. Page was an avid hockey fan who played throughout his childhood and was a member of the 2016 state champion Westside Warriors hockey team. Page, of Omaha, was one of 13 U.S. service members killed Aug. 26 in the bombing at the Kabul airport, which also killed at least 169 Afghans.

Marine killed in Afghanistan attack honored at Lancer's game

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-21-63.pdf">Notice 2021-63</a>&nbsp;PDF
 to make clear how the temporary 100% business deduction for food or 
beverages from restaurants applies to taxpayers properly applying the 
rules of <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-19-48.pdf">Revenue Procedure 2019-48</a>&nbsp;PDF for using per diem rates.

Previously, the IRS issued <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-21-25.pdf">Notice 2021-25</a>&nbsp;PDF
 providing guidance under the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Relief Act
 of 2020, which added a temporary exception to the 50% limit on the 
amount that businesses may deduct for food or beverages. The temporary 
exception allows a 100% deduction for food or beverages from 
restaurants, as long as the expense is paid or incurred in 2021 or 2022.

For a taxpayer properly applying the rules of Revenue Procedure 
2019-48,&nbsp;Notice 2021-63 provides a special rule that allows the taxpayer
 to treat the full meal portion of a per diem rate or allowance as being
 attributable to food or beverages from a restaurant beginning January 
1, 2021, through December 31, 2022.

Taxpayers should refer to section 6.05 of Revenue Procedure 2019-48 
to determine the meal portion of a per diem rate or allowance paid or 
incurred.

More information for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus-tax-relief-for-businesses-and-tax-exempt-entities">businesses seeking coronavirus-related tax relief</a> can be found at IRS.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-21-63.pdf">Notice 2021-63</a>&nbsp;PDF
 to make clear how the temporary 100% business deduction for food or 
beverages from restaurants applies to taxpayers properly applying the 
rules of <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-19-48.pdf">Revenue Procedure 2019-48</a>&nbsp;PDF for using per diem rates.Previously, the IRS issued <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-21-25.pdf">Notice 2021-25</a>&nbsp;PDF
 providing guidance under the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Relief Act
 of 2020, which added a temporary exception to the 50% limit on the 
amount that businesses may deduct for food or beverages. The temporary 
exception allows a 100% deduction for food or beverages from 
restaurants, as long as the expense is paid or incurred in 2021 or 2022.For a taxpayer properly applying the rules of Revenue Procedure 
2019-48,&nbsp;Notice 2021-63 provides a special rule that allows the taxpayer
 to treat the full meal portion of a per diem rate or allowance as being
 attributable to food or beverages from a restaurant beginning January 
1, 2021, through December 31, 2022.Taxpayers should refer to section 6.05 of Revenue Procedure 2019-48 
to determine the meal portion of a per diem rate or allowance paid or 
incurred.More information for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus-tax-relief-for-businesses-and-tax-exempt-entities">businesses seeking coronavirus-related tax relief</a> can be found at IRS.gov.

IRS clarifies rules for deducting business meals from taxes

BEIJING (AP) — China on Tuesday hailed a virtual meeting between President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden, saying they had a candid and constructive exchange that sent a strong signal to the world.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?516101-1/president-biden-holds-virtual-meeting-president-china">Click here to watch</a> a portion of the virtual meeting

The positive description of the meeting came in sharp contrast to heated exchanges between the two nations earlier this year. The talks appeared to mark what both sides hoped would be a turnaround in relations, though major differences remain.

“If China-U.S. relations cannot return to the past, they should face the future,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said.

The video conference between the two leaders and their senior aides lasted more than three hours and was their first formal meeting since Biden took office in January.

Facing domestic pressures at home, both Biden and Xi seemed determined to lower the temperature in what for both sides is their most significant — and frequently turbulent — relationship on the global stage.

“As I’ve said before, it seems to me our responsibility as leaders of China and the United States is to ensure that the competition between our countries does not veer into conflict, whether intended or unintended,” Biden told Xi at the start of their virtual meeting Monday. “Just simple, straightforward competition.”

The White House set low expectations for the meeting, and no major announcements or even a joint statement were delivered. Still, White House officials said the two leaders had a substantive exchange.

Xi greeted the U.S. president as his “old friend” and echoed Biden’s cordial tone in his own opening remarks, saying, “China and the United States need to increase communication and cooperation.”

However, Xi held a tough line on Taiwan, which Chinese officials had signaled would be a top issue for them at the talks. Tensions have heightened as the Chinese military has dispatched an increasing number of fighter jets near the self-ruled island, which Beijing considers part of its territory.

Xi blamed the tensions on Taiwan seeking to attain independence through reliance on the U.S. and some on the American side using Taiwan as a way to interefere in China, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

“This is extremely dangerous, it’s playing with fire, and they that play with fire will burn themselves,” Xi was quoted as saying by the agency.

Chinese military forces held exercises last week near Taiwan in response to a visit by a U.S. congressional delegation to the island.

The White House said Biden reiterated the U.S. will abide by the longstanding U.S. “One China” policy, which recognizes Beijing but allows informal relations and defense ties with Taipei. But Biden also made clear the U.S. “strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” the White House said.

The relationship has had no shortage of tension since Biden strode into the White House in January and quickly criticized Beijing for human rights abuses against Uyghurs in northwest China, suppression of democratic protests in Hong Kong, military aggression against the self-ruled island of Taiwan and more. Xi’s deputies, meanwhile, have lashed out against the Biden White House for interfering in what they see as internal Chinese matters.

The White House in a statement said that Biden again raised concerns about China’s human rights practices, and made clear that he sought to “protect American workers and industries from the PRC’s unfair trade and economic practices.” The two also spoke about key regional challenges, including North Korea, Afghanistan and Iran.

As U.S.-China tensions have mounted, both leaders also have found themselves under the weight of increased challenges in their own backyards.

Biden, who has watched his poll numbers diminish amid concerns about the lingering coronavirus pandemic, inflation and supply chain problems, was looking to find a measure of equilibrium on the most consequential foreign policy matter he faces.

Xi, meanwhile, is facing a COVID-19 resurgence, rampant energy shortages, and a looming housing crisis that Biden officials worry could cause tremors in the global market.

“Right now, both China and the United States are at critical stages of development, and humanity lives in a global village, and we face multiple challenges together,” Xi said.

The U.S. president was joined in the Roosevelt Room for the video call by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and a handful of aides. Xi, for his part, was accompanied in the East Hall of the Great Hall of the People by communist party director Ding Xuexiang and a number of advisers.

The high-level diplomacy had a touch of pandemic Zoom meeting informality as the two leaders waved to each other once they saw one another on the screen, with Xi telling Biden, “It’s the first time for us to meet virtually, although it’s not as good as a face-to-face meeting.”

Biden would have preferred to meet Xi in person, but the Chinese leader has not left his country since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The White House floated the idea of a virtual meeting as the next best thing to allow for the two leaders to have a candid conversation about a wide range of strains in the relationship.

With Beijing set to host the Winter Olympics in February and Xi expected to be approved by Communist Party leaders to serve as party leader next year and then a third term as president in 2023 — unprecedented in recent Chinese history — the Chinese leader may be looking to stabilize the relationship in the near term.

Both leaders gave nods to their history with the other. Biden noted that the two have spent an “awful ... lot of time” speaking to each other over the years, and have never walked away “wondering what the other man is thinking.”

But the public warmth — Xi referred to Biden as his “old friend” when the then-vice president visited China in 2013, while Biden spoke of their “friendship” — has cooled now that both men are heads of state. Biden bristled in June when asked by a reporter if he would press his old friend to cooperate with a World Health Organization investigation into the coronavirus origins.

Xi, however, seemed interested in publicly reviving the warmth of the earlier days of their relationship, saying, “I am very happy to see my old friend.”

Despite the tensions, there have been moments of progress in the U.S.-China relationship over the past months.

Last week, the two countries pledged at U.N. climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland, to increase their cooperation and speed up action to rein in climate-damaging emissions.

The White House has said it views cooperation on climate change as something in China’s interest, something the two nations should cooperate on despite differences on other aspects of the relationship.

“None of this is a favor to either of our countries — what we do for one another — but it’s just responsible world leadership,” Biden told Xi. “You’re a major world leader, and so is the United States.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637027480993.png" alt="The White House set low expectations for the meeting, and no major announcements or even a joint statement were delivered-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>The White House set low expectations for the meeting, and no major announcements or even a joint statement were delivered-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BEIJING (AP) — China on Tuesday hailed a virtual meeting between President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden, saying they had a candid and constructive exchange that sent a strong signal to the world.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?516101-1/president-biden-holds-virtual-meeting-president-china">Click here to watch</a> a portion of the virtual meetingThe positive description of the meeting came in sharp contrast to heated exchanges between the two nations earlier this year. The talks appeared to mark what both sides hoped would be a turnaround in relations, though major differences remain.“If China-U.S. relations cannot return to the past, they should face the future,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said.The video conference between the two leaders and their senior aides lasted more than three hours and was their first formal meeting since Biden took office in January.Facing domestic pressures at home, both Biden and Xi seemed determined to lower the temperature in what for both sides is their most significant — and frequently turbulent — relationship on the global stage.“As I’ve said before, it seems to me our responsibility as leaders of China and the United States is to ensure that the competition between our countries does not veer into conflict, whether intended or unintended,” Biden told Xi at the start of their virtual meeting Monday. “Just simple, straightforward competition.”The White House set low expectations for the meeting, and no major announcements or even a joint statement were delivered. Still, White House officials said the two leaders had a substantive exchange.Xi greeted the U.S. president as his “old friend” and echoed Biden’s cordial tone in his own opening remarks, saying, “China and the United States need to increase communication and cooperation.”However, Xi held a tough line on Taiwan, which Chinese officials had signaled would be a top issue for them at the talks. Tensions have heightened as the Chinese military has dispatched an increasing number of fighter jets near the self-ruled island, which Beijing considers part of its territory.Xi blamed the tensions on Taiwan seeking to attain independence through reliance on the U.S. and some on the American side using Taiwan as a way to interefere in China, the official Xinhua News Agency said.“This is extremely dangerous, it’s playing with fire, and they that play with fire will burn themselves,” Xi was quoted as saying by the agency.Chinese military forces held exercises last week near Taiwan in response to a visit by a U.S. congressional delegation to the island.The White House said Biden reiterated the U.S. will abide by the longstanding U.S. “One China” policy, which recognizes Beijing but allows informal relations and defense ties with Taipei. But Biden also made clear the U.S. “strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” the White House said.The relationship has had no shortage of tension since Biden strode into the White House in January and quickly criticized Beijing for human rights abuses against Uyghurs in northwest China, suppression of democratic protests in Hong Kong, military aggression against the self-ruled island of Taiwan and more. Xi’s deputies, meanwhile, have lashed out against the Biden White House for interfering in what they see as internal Chinese matters.The White House in a statement said that Biden again raised concerns about China’s human rights practices, and made clear that he sought to “protect American workers and industries from the PRC’s unfair trade and economic practices.” The two also spoke about key regional challenges, including North Korea, Afghanistan and Iran.As U.S.-China tensions have mounted, both leaders also have found themselves under the weight of increased challenges in their own backyards.Biden, who has watched his poll numbers diminish amid concerns about the lingering coronavirus pandemic, inflation and supply chain problems, was looking to find a measure of equilibrium on the most consequential foreign policy matter he faces.Xi, meanwhile, is facing a COVID-19 resurgence, rampant energy shortages, and a looming housing crisis that Biden officials worry could cause tremors in the global market.“Right now, both China and the United States are at critical stages of development, and humanity lives in a global village, and we face multiple challenges together,” Xi said.The U.S. president was joined in the Roosevelt Room for the video call by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and a handful of aides. Xi, for his part, was accompanied in the East Hall of the Great Hall of the People by communist party director Ding Xuexiang and a number of advisers.The high-level diplomacy had a touch of pandemic Zoom meeting informality as the two leaders waved to each other once they saw one another on the screen, with Xi telling Biden, “It’s the first time for us to meet virtually, although it’s not as good as a face-to-face meeting.”Biden would have preferred to meet Xi in person, but the Chinese leader has not left his country since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The White House floated the idea of a virtual meeting as the next best thing to allow for the two leaders to have a candid conversation about a wide range of strains in the relationship.With Beijing set to host the Winter Olympics in February and Xi expected to be approved by Communist Party leaders to serve as party leader next year and then a third term as president in 2023 — unprecedented in recent Chinese history — the Chinese leader may be looking to stabilize the relationship in the near term.Both leaders gave nods to their history with the other. Biden noted that the two have spent an “awful ... lot of time” speaking to each other over the years, and have never walked away “wondering what the other man is thinking.”But the public warmth — Xi referred to Biden as his “old friend” when the then-vice president visited China in 2013, while Biden spoke of their “friendship” — has cooled now that both men are heads of state. Biden bristled in June when asked by a reporter if he would press his old friend to cooperate with a World Health Organization investigation into the coronavirus origins.Xi, however, seemed interested in publicly reviving the warmth of the earlier days of their relationship, saying, “I am very happy to see my old friend.”Despite the tensions, there have been moments of progress in the U.S.-China relationship over the past months.Last week, the two countries pledged at U.N. climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland, to increase their cooperation and speed up action to rein in climate-damaging emissions.The White House has said it views cooperation on climate change as something in China’s interest, something the two nations should cooperate on despite differences on other aspects of the relationship.“None of this is a favor to either of our countries — what we do for one another — but it’s just responsible world leadership,” Biden told Xi. “You’re a major world leader, and so is the United States.”___

🎥 Biden and Xi meet virtually as US-China tensions grow

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some retailers started <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/business/23228-bbb-business-tip-get-your-business-ready-for-the-holidays" target="_blank">turning to outdoor pop-up shops</a>
 and, while in-store shopping is back, the pop-ups are not likely to go 
away yet. These temporary storefronts allow shoppers to avoid enclosed 
spaces while still getting to browse in-person. Indoor pop-up shops 
allow landlords look to fill vacant retail space in downtown areas and suburban malls.

The Better Business Bureau receives hundreds of complaints a year about temporary retail locations, reporting everything from poor quality merchandise to difficulty obtaining refunds after temporary stores have closed their doors. Pop-up shops can be fun, but keep the following BBB tips in mind if you choose to buy from one of them:&nbsp; Research store headquarters.&nbsp;If
 you are interested in trying a new or unfamiliar online merchant, ask 
the company for its physical location (address and phone number) so you 
can check its BBB Business Profile at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bbb.org/" target="_blank">BBB.org</a>. Ask how long a store will operate.&nbsp;If
 you are buying from a seasonal store, ask whether it will be open after
 the holiday and whether it will accept returns when the season is over.
 If not, consider buying elsewhere or taking more time to be sure the 
item is exactly what you want before making the purchase.&nbsp; Review purchase policies.&nbsp;Determine
 the company's refund and return policies before you buy. If pop-up 
shops cannot offer concrete commitments on how they will handle any 
potential problems you may have with their products or services, 
reconsider doing business with them.&nbsp; Shop around.
 Pop-ups often focus on unique or high-quality gifts that you may not 
find elsewhere, but some are simply mini versions of discount retailers,
 offering holiday-themed goods that may be available for less at a 
traditional retailer.&nbsp; Pay attention to quality.
 Occasionally, pop-ups sell counterfeit products, so be cautious when 
purchasing designer goods or that latest “must have” gifts. Prices that 
are dramatically lower than regular retail stores may be a red flag that
 the items are either stolen or counterfeit.&nbsp; Know the terms of any product or service guarantees.&nbsp;If
 you are purchasing anything that comes with a manufacturer’s warranty, 
ask how you will be able to get the product serviced if needed.&nbsp; Guard your personal information.
 For small items, you might be better off paying in cash so you don’t 
have to share any personal information. Just be sure you understand that
 you probably won’t have any recourse if something is not right. For 
larger items, paying with a credit card can provide additional 
protections if there are problems and the retailer disappears. Make sure
 you hang on to the receipt to match it against your credit card 
statement. Consider whether the gift is for a hard-to-please recipient.
 If you are planning a gift for someone who might need or want to return
 it, consider buying from a retailer with a long-standing business, 
strong reputation, and well-established return policies, instead of a 
pop-up shop.&nbsp; Whenever possible, ask for a gift receipt that would make a
 return or exchange easier, if necessary.

Thanks to BBB of Eastern North Carolina and BBB Metro New York for their contribution to this tip.

For more holiday tips, visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/holiday-tips/" target="_blank">BBB Holiday Tips page</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, some retailers started <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/business/23228-bbb-business-tip-get-your-business-ready-for-the-holidays" target="_blank">turning to outdoor pop-up shops</a>
 and, while in-store shopping is back, the pop-ups are not likely to go 
away yet. These temporary storefronts allow shoppers to avoid enclosed 
spaces while still getting to browse in-person. Indoor pop-up shops 
allow landlords look to fill vacant retail space in downtown areas and suburban malls. The Better Business Bureau receives hundreds of complaints a year about temporary retail locations, reporting everything from poor quality merchandise to difficulty obtaining refunds after temporary stores have closed their doors. Pop-up shops can be fun, but keep the following BBB tips in mind if you choose to buy from one of them:&nbsp; Research store headquarters.&nbsp;If
 you are interested in trying a new or unfamiliar online merchant, ask 
the company for its physical location (address and phone number) so you 
can check its BBB Business Profile at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bbb.org/" target="_blank">BBB.org</a>. Ask how long a store will operate.&nbsp;If
 you are buying from a seasonal store, ask whether it will be open after
 the holiday and whether it will accept returns when the season is over.
 If not, consider buying elsewhere or taking more time to be sure the 
item is exactly what you want before making the purchase.&nbsp; Review purchase policies.&nbsp;Determine
 the company's refund and return policies before you buy. If pop-up 
shops cannot offer concrete commitments on how they will handle any 
potential problems you may have with their products or services, 
reconsider doing business with them.&nbsp; Shop around.
 Pop-ups often focus on unique or high-quality gifts that you may not 
find elsewhere, but some are simply mini versions of discount retailers,
 offering holiday-themed goods that may be available for less at a 
traditional retailer.&nbsp; Pay attention to quality.
 Occasionally, pop-ups sell counterfeit products, so be cautious when 
purchasing designer goods or that latest “must have” gifts. Prices that 
are dramatically lower than regular retail stores may be a red flag that
 the items are either stolen or counterfeit.&nbsp; Know the terms of any product or service guarantees.&nbsp;If
 you are purchasing anything that comes with a manufacturer’s warranty, 
ask how you will be able to get the product serviced if needed.&nbsp; Guard your personal information.
 For small items, you might be better off paying in cash so you don’t 
have to share any personal information. Just be sure you understand that
 you probably won’t have any recourse if something is not right. For 
larger items, paying with a credit card can provide additional 
protections if there are problems and the retailer disappears. Make sure
 you hang on to the receipt to match it against your credit card 
statement. Consider whether the gift is for a hard-to-please recipient.
 If you are planning a gift for someone who might need or want to return
 it, consider buying from a retailer with a long-standing business, 
strong reputation, and well-established return policies, instead of a 
pop-up shop.&nbsp; Whenever possible, ask for a gift receipt that would make a
 return or exchange easier, if necessary.Thanks to BBB of Eastern North Carolina and BBB Metro New York for their contribution to this tip.For more holiday tips, visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/holiday-tips/" target="_blank">BBB Holiday Tips page</a>.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Tips for dealing with, shopping at holiday pop-up shops

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed his $1 trillion infrastructure deal into law Monday on the White House lawn, hailing it as an example of what bipartisanship can achieve.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?516100-1/president-biden-signs-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill&amp;live">Click here </a>to watch the President's comments

The president hopes to use the law to build back his popularity and says it will deliver jobs, clean water, high-speed internet and a clean energy future. Support for Biden has taken a hit amid rising inflation and the inability to fully shake the public health and economic risks from COVID-19.

A smattering of Republican lawmakers were on hand for what might be one the last celebratory displays of bipartisanship ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.

“My message to the American people is this: America is moving again and your life is going to change for the better,” Biden said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637009964663.png" alt="President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris embrace ahead of Monday's bill signing-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris embrace ahead of Monday's bill signing-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed his $1 trillion infrastructure deal into law Monday on the White House lawn, hailing it as an example of what bipartisanship can achieve.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?516100-1/president-biden-signs-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill&amp;live">Click here </a>to watch the President's commentsThe president hopes to use the law to build back his popularity and says it will deliver jobs, clean water, high-speed internet and a clean energy future. Support for Biden has taken a hit amid rising inflation and the inability to fully shake the public health and economic risks from COVID-19.A smattering of Republican lawmakers were on hand for what might be one the last celebratory displays of bipartisanship ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637013446903.png" alt="Photo courtesy White. House" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy White. House</figcaption>
 </figure>“My message to the American people is this: America is moving again and your life is going to change for the better,” Biden said.

🎥 Pres. Biden signs $1T infrastructure plan into law

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A second set of states has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers. 

The suit filed in Louisiana on behalf of 12 states was dated Monday.

 It comes less than a week after another lawsuit challenging the rule was filed in Missouri by a coalition of 10 states. 

Both lawsuits say the rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services violates federal law and unconstitutionally encroaches on powers reserved to the states. 

In addition to Louisiana, the latest suit covers Montana, Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A second set of states has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers. The suit filed in Louisiana on behalf of 12 states was dated Monday. It comes less than a week after another lawsuit challenging the rule was filed in Missouri by a coalition of 10 states. Both lawsuits say the rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services violates federal law and unconstitutionally encroaches on powers reserved to the states. In addition to Louisiana, the latest suit covers Montana, Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia.

2nd group of states challenges health worker vaccine mandate

KANSAS CITY (AP) — In Kansas City, Kansas, educators are opening an after-school mental health clinic staffed with school counselors and social workers. Schools in Paterson, New Jersey, have set up social emotional learning teams to identify students dealing with crises. Chicago is staffing up “care teams” with the mission of helping struggling students on its 500-plus campuses.

With a windfall of federal coronavirus relief money at hand, schools across the U.S. are using portions to quickly expand their capacity to address students’ struggles with mental health.

While school districts have broad latitude on how to spend the aid money, the urgency of the problem has been driven home by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/2021/9/27/22691601/student-behavior-stress-trauma-return" target="_blank">absenteeism, behavioral issues, and quieter signs of distress&nbsp;</a>as many students have returned to school buildings this fall for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic hit.

For some school systems, the money has boosted long-standing work to help students cope with trauma. Others have launched new efforts to screen, counsel and treat students. All told, the investments put public schools more than ever at the center of efforts to attend to students’ overall well-being.

“In the last recession, with the last big chunk of recovery money, this conversation wasn’t happening,” said Amanda Fitzgerald, the assistant director of the American School Counselor Association. “Now, the tone across the country is very focused on the well-being of students.”

Last month, three major pediatric groups said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-cf6997107e7991393c70dd62ddbd196e">the state of children’s mental health&nbsp;</a>should be considered a national emergency. The U.S. Education Department has pointed to the distribution of the relief money as an opportunity to rethink how schools provide mental health support. Mental well-being, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has said, needs to be the foundation for the recovery from the pandemic.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemic-aid-public-school-funding-346d3d4b86f904184e357c34c9754800">pandemic relief to schools totals $190 billion</a>, more than four times the amount the Education Department typically spends on K-12 schools annually. Mental health investments have gone into staff training, wellness screenings and curriculum dedicated to social-emotional learning.

Still, questions remain over how schools will find ways to make the benefits last beyond the one-time infusion of money, handle privacy concerns, and track the effectiveness of their efforts. The implementation worries Katie Dockweiler, a school psychologist in Nevada who sits on the state board of education.

“Not all programs are created equal,” she said. “It really comes down to how it’s implemented, school by school. And there’s great variability there.”

She said districts should develop ways of tracking the impact on students: “Otherwise, we’re just throwing our money away.”

At the top of the list for many districts has been hiring new mental health specialists. When the National Association of School Psychologists surveyed members this fall, more than half of respondents said their districts intended to add social workers, psychologists, or counselors, according to policy director Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach.

With $9.5 million from federal relief funding and outside grant money, Paterson schools added five behavioral analysts, two substance abuse coordinators, and the teams to spot students going through crises.

In Paterson, one of the lowest-income parts of New Jersey, many of the 25,000 students faced food insecurity before the pandemic and struggled after family members lost jobs, Superintendent Eileen Shafer said.

“We wanted to make sure before we try to teach anything new, that we’re able to deal with where our children are right now based on what they’ve been through,” she said.

In rural Ellicottville, New York, where school psychologist Joe Prior is seeing more anxiety and a “significant increase” in panic attacks, the district wants to use rescue funds to hire a counselor to connect students with psychological help. But the position remains unfilled, as few expressed interest.

“I have more students just looking me in the eye and saying ‘I’m completely overwhelmed and I’m not sure how to handle it,’” Ellicottville high school principal Erich Ploetz said.

It’s not the only district where ambitions for hiring have outstripped the number of available professionals. Some districts have turned to outside vendors to help fill mental health positions, while others are training existing staff.

The Kansas City, Kansas, school system is using some of the $918,000 in relief money dedicated to mental health to pay social workers and counselors already on staff to work at the new after-school clinic. The district also has added staff and mental health screenings.

Angela Dunn, who leads the 22,000-student district’s mental health and suicide prevention initiatives, said the mental health team has responded to 27 student deaths and 16 staff deaths since the pandemic started, double what is typical during that period. She said a handful of staff members died of COVID-19, but many of the others were homicides, suicides and overdoses.

The investments by schools in student mental health services have raised some privacy concerns, especially where schools are now monitoring student computers for distress signals or administering mental health screenings to all students. But the idea that it’s not the place of schools to involve themselves at all has receded.

“We just recognized that students are comfortable seeking help in a school setting,” Dunn said.

Chicago, the nation’s third-largest school district, unveiled a “healing plan” for students, using $24 million of its $2.6 billion in stimulus funds.

Over three years, the district will expand “care teams” — building staff who serve as the frontline response for struggling students — to each campus. The goal is to reach 200 schools by spring.

High school principal Angélica Altamirano used some of that funding to open a space outfitted with cozy furniture and a hand-me-down air hockey table. Already, the campus center has offered grief groups for students whose family members or friends have died and helped teachers dealing with burnout.

In Topeka, Kansas, $100,000 was budgeted for calming items and staff for sensory rooms, including one at Quincy Elementary. When students get so frustrated that they put their heads down on their desk, or wander into the hallway or cry, teachers can send them to the Roadrunner Room. There, they can climb into a tent and snuggle under a weighted blanket, put a puzzle together, play with sand or build with Legos.

Dean of students Andrea Keck has watched the room become a go-to place for one student to work out frustrations.

“She can journal it, get her hair put up, whatever she needs, and then she is successful the rest of the day,” said Keck, who oversees the room.

In Detroit, the district is spending $34 million on mental health initiatives, including screening students, expanding help from outside mental health providers, and offering extra support to parents.

On a recent Wednesday, that meant an hourlong meditation session for parents at a local coffee shop. One attendee worried her own stress was affecting her son’s ability to learn.

“As a community we have all been through something,” said Sharlonda Buckman, an assistant superintendent who participated in the session. “Part of recovery has to be some intentional work in spaces like this, so we can be there for our kids.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) — In Kansas City, Kansas, educators are opening an after-school mental health clinic staffed with school counselors and social workers. Schools in Paterson, New Jersey, have set up social emotional learning teams to identify students dealing with crises. Chicago is staffing up “care teams” with the mission of helping struggling students on its 500-plus campuses.With a windfall of federal coronavirus relief money at hand, schools across the U.S. are using portions to quickly expand their capacity to address students’ struggles with mental health.While school districts have broad latitude on how to spend the aid money, the urgency of the problem has been driven home by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/2021/9/27/22691601/student-behavior-stress-trauma-return" target="_blank">absenteeism, behavioral issues, and quieter signs of distress&nbsp;</a>as many students have returned to school buildings this fall for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic hit.For some school systems, the money has boosted long-standing work to help students cope with trauma. Others have launched new efforts to screen, counsel and treat students. All told, the investments put public schools more than ever at the center of efforts to attend to students’ overall well-being.“In the last recession, with the last big chunk of recovery money, this conversation wasn’t happening,” said Amanda Fitzgerald, the assistant director of the American School Counselor Association. “Now, the tone across the country is very focused on the well-being of students.”Last month, three major pediatric groups said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-cf6997107e7991393c70dd62ddbd196e">the state of children’s mental health&nbsp;</a>should be considered a national emergency. The U.S. Education Department has pointed to the distribution of the relief money as an opportunity to rethink how schools provide mental health support. Mental well-being, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has said, needs to be the foundation for the recovery from the pandemic.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemic-aid-public-school-funding-346d3d4b86f904184e357c34c9754800">pandemic relief to schools totals $190 billion</a>, more than four times the amount the Education Department typically spends on K-12 schools annually. Mental health investments have gone into staff training, wellness screenings and curriculum dedicated to social-emotional learning.Still, questions remain over how schools will find ways to make the benefits last beyond the one-time infusion of money, handle privacy concerns, and track the effectiveness of their efforts. The implementation worries Katie Dockweiler, a school psychologist in Nevada who sits on the state board of education.“Not all programs are created equal,” she said. “It really comes down to how it’s implemented, school by school. And there’s great variability there.”She said districts should develop ways of tracking the impact on students: “Otherwise, we’re just throwing our money away.”At the top of the list for many districts has been hiring new mental health specialists. When the National Association of School Psychologists surveyed members this fall, more than half of respondents said their districts intended to add social workers, psychologists, or counselors, according to policy director Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach.With $9.5 million from federal relief funding and outside grant money, Paterson schools added five behavioral analysts, two substance abuse coordinators, and the teams to spot students going through crises.In Paterson, one of the lowest-income parts of New Jersey, many of the 25,000 students faced food insecurity before the pandemic and struggled after family members lost jobs, Superintendent Eileen Shafer said.“We wanted to make sure before we try to teach anything new, that we’re able to deal with where our children are right now based on what they’ve been through,” she said.In rural Ellicottville, New York, where school psychologist Joe Prior is seeing more anxiety and a “significant increase” in panic attacks, the district wants to use rescue funds to hire a counselor to connect students with psychological help. But the position remains unfilled, as few expressed interest.“I have more students just looking me in the eye and saying ‘I’m completely overwhelmed and I’m not sure how to handle it,’” Ellicottville high school principal Erich Ploetz said.It’s not the only district where ambitions for hiring have outstripped the number of available professionals. Some districts have turned to outside vendors to help fill mental health positions, while others are training existing staff.The Kansas City, Kansas, school system is using some of the $918,000 in relief money dedicated to mental health to pay social workers and counselors already on staff to work at the new after-school clinic. The district also has added staff and mental health screenings.Angela Dunn, who leads the 22,000-student district’s mental health and suicide prevention initiatives, said the mental health team has responded to 27 student deaths and 16 staff deaths since the pandemic started, double what is typical during that period. She said a handful of staff members died of COVID-19, but many of the others were homicides, suicides and overdoses.The investments by schools in student mental health services have raised some privacy concerns, especially where schools are now monitoring student computers for distress signals or administering mental health screenings to all students. But the idea that it’s not the place of schools to involve themselves at all has receded.“We just recognized that students are comfortable seeking help in a school setting,” Dunn said.Chicago, the nation’s third-largest school district, unveiled a “healing plan” for students, using $24 million of its $2.6 billion in stimulus funds.Over three years, the district will expand “care teams” — building staff who serve as the frontline response for struggling students — to each campus. The goal is to reach 200 schools by spring.High school principal Angélica Altamirano used some of that funding to open a space outfitted with cozy furniture and a hand-me-down air hockey table. Already, the campus center has offered grief groups for students whose family members or friends have died and helped teachers dealing with burnout.In Topeka, Kansas, $100,000 was budgeted for calming items and staff for sensory rooms, including one at Quincy Elementary. When students get so frustrated that they put their heads down on their desk, or wander into the hallway or cry, teachers can send them to the Roadrunner Room. There, they can climb into a tent and snuggle under a weighted blanket, put a puzzle together, play with sand or build with Legos.Dean of students Andrea Keck has watched the room become a go-to place for one student to work out frustrations.“She can journal it, get her hair put up, whatever she needs, and then she is successful the rest of the day,” said Keck, who oversees the room.In Detroit, the district is spending $34 million on mental health initiatives, including screening students, expanding help from outside mental health providers, and offering extra support to parents.On a recent Wednesday, that meant an hourlong meditation session for parents at a local coffee shop. One attendee worried her own stress was affecting her son’s ability to learn.“As a community we have all been through something,” said Sharlonda Buckman, an assistant superintendent who participated in the session. “Part of recovery has to be some intentional work in spaces like this, so we can be there for our kids.”

With US aid money, schools put bigger focus on mental health

LEWISTON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a second-grade teacher from southeastern Nebraska was killed this weekend in a hunting accident.

 The Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office says that 23-year-old Kade Reiman, who taught at Bennet Elementary in the Palmyra-Bennet School District, was accidently shot while hunting with another person Saturday morning southwest of Lewiston. 

Sheriff Braden Lang says Reiman, of Weeping Water, was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting. 

Officials did not give other details about how the shooting occurred, but said the investigation into Reiman's death is ongoing. 

Lewiston is about 18 miles east of Beatrice.

LEWISTON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a second-grade teacher from southeastern Nebraska was killed this weekend in a hunting accident. The Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office says that 23-year-old Kade Reiman, who taught at Bennet Elementary in the Palmyra-Bennet School District, was accidently shot while hunting with another person Saturday morning southwest of Lewiston. Sheriff Braden Lang says Reiman, of Weeping Water, was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting. Officials did not give other details about how the shooting occurred, but said the investigation into Reiman's death is ongoing. Lewiston is about 18 miles east of Beatrice.

Nebraska 2nd-grade school teacher killed in hunting accident

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who’s considered a rising star in the Republican Party, has formally launched her reelection campaign. 

Her campaign said in a statement Friday that she has raised over $10 million since she was elected three years ago. 

She has more than $6.5 million in cash on hand. 

 She had already said she would seek a second term. 

Noem says her administration has embraced fiscal responsibility, protected freedoms, fought federal government intrusions and invested in the next generation of South Dakotans. 

Noem won the governor’s office with 51 percent of the vote in 2018.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who’s considered a rising star in the Republican Party, has formally launched her reelection campaign. Her campaign said in a statement Friday that she has raised over $10 million since she was elected three years ago. She has more than $6.5 million in cash on hand. She had already said she would seek a second term. Noem says her administration has embraced fiscal responsibility, protected freedoms, fought federal government intrusions and invested in the next generation of South Dakotans. Noem won the governor’s office with 51 percent of the vote in 2018.

South Dakota governor formally launches reelection campaign

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s top economic adviser expressed confidence Sunday that the White House’s $1.85 trillion domestic policy package will quickly pass the House this week and said approval couldn’t come at a more urgent time as prices of consumer goods spike.

“Inflation is high right now. And it is affecting consumers in their pocketbook and also in their outlook for the economy,” said Brian Deese, director of the National Economic Council.

“This, more than anything, will go at the costs that Americans face,” he said, before adding that the House will consider the legislation this coming week. “It will get a vote, it will pass.”

The House has been moving toward approval of the massive Democrat-only-backed bill even as the measure faces bigger challenges in the Senate, where Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., have insisted on reducing its size.

In a letter Sunday to Democratic colleagues, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., counseled “time and patience” for working through a bill of this size.

Consumer prices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-is-us-inflation-so-high-77dc786442ccc3ed8092a7647716d682">have soared 6.2% over the last year</a>, the biggest 12-month jump since 1990. Deese acknowledged that prices may not fully return to a more normal 2% level until next year due to the lingering effects of COVID-19, but he said the measure will go a long way toward “lowering costs for American families.”

“We’re confident this bill, as it moves through the process, is going to be fully paid for, and not only that, it’s actually going to reduce deficits over the long term,” he said.

Biden on Monday planned to sign a related&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-congress-263678efec1b19d3fd22aa660ecd4544">$1 trillion infrastructure bill</a>, a bipartisan effort that was passed earlier this month after the president and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., pledged action on Biden’s broader package expanding health, child, elder care and climate change by mid-November.

House progressives had threatened to hold up the infrastructure bill without a firm commitment of immediate action on the broader package.

House centrists say they will vote for the package as early as this week if&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-congress-nancy-pelosi-80f7a76da9ca0b42fc1dcdc4cf7dd023">an upcoming Congressional Budget Office analysis</a>&nbsp;affirms White House estimates that the bill is fully paid for. The measure would be covered with changes to corporate taxes, such as a new corporate minimum tax, while raising taxes on higher-income people.

On Friday, Pelosi wrote Democratic members reaffirming her plan to push ahead soon, noting that CBO estimates released so far on pieces of the plan have been consistent with White House projections.

“We are on a path to be further fortified with numbers from the Congressional Budget Office,” she said.

Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., one of 13 House Republicans who voted for the infrastructure bill, said he’s not convinced that the broader package will get House approval this week.

“I don’t think the votes are there yet,” he said. “A good number of Democrats had demanded and are going to receive a CBO report as to whether is, it really paid for? What does it do when you expand Medicare? What does that do to the solvency?”

“Somehow, I don’t think we’re going to get these answers ... for Pelosi to get the votes set before the end of the week.”

The bill is expected to face changes in the Senate. With Republican opposition and an evenly split 50-50 Senate, Biden has no votes to spare.

Manchin in particular has been vocal about the risk of aggravating budget shortfalls and already has managed to bring the bill down from Biden’s original $3.5 trillion price tag. Last week, Manchin&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Sen_JoeManchin/status/1458443966135902221" target="_blank">again sounded the alarm</a>&nbsp;over “the threat posed by record inflation.”

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636249665418.png" alt="The bill is expected to face changes in the Senate. With Republican opposition and an evenly split 50-50 Senate, President Biden has no votes to spare.-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>The bill is expected to face changes in the Senate. With Republican opposition and an evenly split 50-50 Senate, President Biden has no votes to spare.-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s top economic adviser expressed confidence Sunday that the White House’s $1.85 trillion domestic policy package will quickly pass the House this week and said approval couldn’t come at a more urgent time as prices of consumer goods spike.“Inflation is high right now. And it is affecting consumers in their pocketbook and also in their outlook for the economy,” said Brian Deese, director of the National Economic Council.“This, more than anything, will go at the costs that Americans face,” he said, before adding that the House will consider the legislation this coming week. “It will get a vote, it will pass.”The House has been moving toward approval of the massive Democrat-only-backed bill even as the measure faces bigger challenges in the Senate, where Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., have insisted on reducing its size.In a letter Sunday to Democratic colleagues, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., counseled “time and patience” for working through a bill of this size.Consumer prices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-is-us-inflation-so-high-77dc786442ccc3ed8092a7647716d682">have soared 6.2% over the last year</a>, the biggest 12-month jump since 1990. Deese acknowledged that prices may not fully return to a more normal 2% level until next year due to the lingering effects of COVID-19, but he said the measure will go a long way toward “lowering costs for American families.”“We’re confident this bill, as it moves through the process, is going to be fully paid for, and not only that, it’s actually going to reduce deficits over the long term,” he said.Biden on Monday planned to sign a related&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-congress-263678efec1b19d3fd22aa660ecd4544">$1 trillion infrastructure bill</a>, a bipartisan effort that was passed earlier this month after the president and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., pledged action on Biden’s broader package expanding health, child, elder care and climate change by mid-November.House progressives had threatened to hold up the infrastructure bill without a firm commitment of immediate action on the broader package.House centrists say they will vote for the package as early as this week if&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-congress-nancy-pelosi-80f7a76da9ca0b42fc1dcdc4cf7dd023">an upcoming Congressional Budget Office analysis</a>&nbsp;affirms White House estimates that the bill is fully paid for. The measure would be covered with changes to corporate taxes, such as a new corporate minimum tax, while raising taxes on higher-income people.On Friday, Pelosi wrote Democratic members reaffirming her plan to push ahead soon, noting that CBO estimates released so far on pieces of the plan have been consistent with White House projections.“We are on a path to be further fortified with numbers from the Congressional Budget Office,” she said.Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., one of 13 House Republicans who voted for the infrastructure bill, said he’s not convinced that the broader package will get House approval this week.“I don’t think the votes are there yet,” he said. “A good number of Democrats had demanded and are going to receive a CBO report as to whether is, it really paid for? What does it do when you expand Medicare? What does that do to the solvency?”“Somehow, I don’t think we’re going to get these answers ... for Pelosi to get the votes set before the end of the week.”The bill is expected to face changes in the Senate. With Republican opposition and an evenly split 50-50 Senate, Biden has no votes to spare.Manchin in particular has been vocal about the risk of aggravating budget shortfalls and already has managed to bring the bill down from Biden’s original $3.5 trillion price tag. Last week, Manchin&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Sen_JoeManchin/status/1458443966135902221" target="_blank">again sounded the alarm</a>&nbsp;over “the threat posed by record inflation.”Deese appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” and ABC’s “This Week” and Upton spoke on CNN.

Biden's next $1.85T bill expected to pass House this week

HOUSTON (AP) — A 9-year-old Dallas boy has become the youngest person to die from injuries sustained during a crowd surge at the Astroworld music festival in Houston.

Ezra Blount of Dallas died Sunday at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, family attorney Ben Crump said.

Ezra was placed in a medically induced coma after suffering serious injuries in the Nov. 5 crush of fans during a performance by the festival’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houston-astroworld-festival-crowd-surge-deaths-travis-scott-acd59eac66639a0a0c74c1753f7fb607">headliner, rapper Travis Scott</a>.

He is the 10th person who attended the festival to die.

“The Blount family tonight is grieving the incomprehensible loss of their precious young son,” Crump said in a news release Sunday night. “This should not have been the outcome of taking their son to a concert, what should have been a joyful celebration.”

Treston Blount, Ezra’s father, described what happened Nov. 5 in a post on a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/recovery-of-ezra-astrosfest">GoFundMe page</a> that he set up to help defray Ezra’s medical expenses. He said Ezra was sitting on his shoulders when a crowd surge crushed them. The father lost consciousness and when he came to, Ezra was missing, Blount said. A frantic search ensued until Ezra was eventually found at the hospital, severely injured.

The child incurred severe damage to his brain, kidney, and liver after being “kicked, stepped on, and trampled, and nearly crushed to death,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travis-scott-entertainment-houston-lawsuits-arts-and-entertainment-db79e408e2cae0a73c55c13660f4047b">according to a lawsuit his family has filed</a>&nbsp;against Scott and the event’s organizer, Live Nation. The Blount family is seeking at least $1 million in damages.

The others who died ranged in age from 14 to 27. Some 300 people were treated at the festival site and 13 were hospitalized.

Houston police and fire department investigators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travis-scott-entertainment-business-arts-and-entertainment-concerts-29cddbc5c798a92c1d0fe717cd06f708">have said they are reviewing surveillance video</a>&nbsp;provided by concert promoter Live Nation, as well as dozens of clips people at the show widely shared on social media. Investigators also planned to speak with Live Nation representatives, Scott and concertgoers. Scott and the event organizers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travis-scott-entertainment-business-police-concerts-5a03cb5897b4af7acc2c81c036fafb97">are now the focus of a criminal investigation</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636975609048.png" alt="Ezra Blount photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Ezra Blount photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>HOUSTON (AP) — A 9-year-old Dallas boy has become the youngest person to die from injuries sustained during a crowd surge at the Astroworld music festival in Houston.Ezra Blount of Dallas died Sunday at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, family attorney Ben Crump said.Ezra was placed in a medically induced coma after suffering serious injuries in the Nov. 5 crush of fans during a performance by the festival’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houston-astroworld-festival-crowd-surge-deaths-travis-scott-acd59eac66639a0a0c74c1753f7fb607">headliner, rapper Travis Scott</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636661081723.png" alt="The boy incurred severe damage to his brain, kidney, and liver after being “kicked, stepped on, and trampled, and nearly crushed to death,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travis-scott-entertainment-houston-lawsuits-arts-and-entertainment-db79e408e2cae0a73c55c13660f4047b">according to a lawsuit his family has filed</a>&nbsp;against Scott and the event’s organizer, Live Nation. -photo courtesy KPRC TV" />
 <figcaption>The boy incurred severe damage to his brain, kidney, and liver after being “kicked, stepped on, and trampled, and nearly crushed to death,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travis-scott-entertainment-houston-lawsuits-arts-and-entertainment-db79e408e2cae0a73c55c13660f4047b">according to a lawsuit his family has filed</a>&nbsp;against Scott and the event’s organizer, Live Nation. -photo courtesy KPRC TV</figcaption>
 </figure>He is the 10th person who attended the festival to die.“The Blount family tonight is grieving the incomprehensible loss of their precious young son,” Crump said in a news release Sunday night. “This should not have been the outcome of taking their son to a concert, what should have been a joyful celebration.”Treston Blount, Ezra’s father, described what happened Nov. 5 in a post on a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/recovery-of-ezra-astrosfest">GoFundMe page</a> that he set up to help defray Ezra’s medical expenses. He said Ezra was sitting on his shoulders when a crowd surge crushed them. The father lost consciousness and when he came to, Ezra was missing, Blount said. A frantic search ensued until Ezra was eventually found at the hospital, severely injured.The child incurred severe damage to his brain, kidney, and liver after being “kicked, stepped on, and trampled, and nearly crushed to death,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travis-scott-entertainment-houston-lawsuits-arts-and-entertainment-db79e408e2cae0a73c55c13660f4047b">according to a lawsuit his family has filed</a>&nbsp;against Scott and the event’s organizer, Live Nation. The Blount family is seeking at least $1 million in damages.The others who died ranged in age from 14 to 27. Some 300 people were treated at the festival site and 13 were hospitalized.Houston police and fire department investigators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travis-scott-entertainment-business-arts-and-entertainment-concerts-29cddbc5c798a92c1d0fe717cd06f708">have said they are reviewing surveillance video</a>&nbsp;provided by concert promoter Live Nation, as well as dozens of clips people at the show widely shared on social media. Investigators also planned to speak with Live Nation representatives, Scott and concertgoers. Scott and the event organizers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travis-scott-entertainment-business-police-concerts-5a03cb5897b4af7acc2c81c036fafb97">are now the focus of a criminal investigation</a>.

9-year-old is 10th to die from Astroworld music festival crush

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The annual inflation rate in the US surged to 6.2% in October of 2021, the highest since November of 1990. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said he's not surprised.

"Our surveys that we conduct here at Creighton University, both the Rural Mainstreet survey and the survey of supply managers, both of them contain Kansas as one of the states are showing, we haven't seen inflationary pressures like this in the 25 years we've been conducting the surveys," Goss said.

The Fed keeps saying the inflation will end. Goss doesn't think that will happen for a while, at least.

"We are going to see these supply chain disruptions and we are going to see these exceptional high inflationary pressures well into 2022," Goss said. "I don't envision any really, relief in terms of inflation, until the second half of 2022."

Energy costs recorded the biggest gain, but the inflation was broad based.

"Interestingly, the food increases haven't been as likely as we are going to see going forward," Goss said. "A lot of it is automobiles, so not everybody is seeing that, of course, if you're not buying or selling an automobile. Also, in terms of housing prices, a lot of it is housing increases. There again, you may not be seeing it, until you buy or sell a house."

The inflation number was well above the Fed's average annual 2% inflation target for a 7th consecutive month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620071466817.jpeg" alt="Creighton Economist Ernie Goss, PhD" />
 <figcaption>Creighton Economist Ernie Goss, PhD</figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELLHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The annual inflation rate in the US surged to 6.2% in October of 2021, the highest since November of 1990. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said he's not surprised."Our surveys that we conduct here at Creighton University, both the Rural Mainstreet survey and the survey of supply managers, both of them contain Kansas as one of the states are showing, we haven't seen inflationary pressures like this in the 25 years we've been conducting the surveys," Goss said.The Fed keeps saying the inflation will end. Goss doesn't think that will happen for a while, at least."We are going to see these supply chain disruptions and we are going to see these exceptional high inflationary pressures well into 2022," Goss said. "I don't envision any really, relief in terms of inflation, until the second half of 2022."Energy costs recorded the biggest gain, but the inflation was broad based."Interestingly, the food increases haven't been as likely as we are going to see going forward," Goss said. "A lot of it is automobiles, so not everybody is seeing that, of course, if you're not buying or selling an automobile. Also, in terms of housing prices, a lot of it is housing increases. There again, you may not be seeing it, until you buy or sell a house."The inflation number was well above the Fed's average annual 2% inflation target for a 7th consecutive month.

Economist: U.S. Inflationary pressures as high as he's ever seen them

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Three snow leopards have died at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo in Nebraska of complications from COVID-19. 

The zoo made the announcement in a Facebook post Friday, describing the deaths of the three leopards _ named Ranney, Everest, and Makalu_ as “truly heartbreaking.” 

The zoo began treating the leopards and two Sumatran tigers for the virus last month.

 The zoo said the tigers, Axl and Kumar, have made what appears to be a full recovery.

 The zoo said it remains open to the public and continues to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to humans and animals.

 Zoos across the country, including at the St. Louis Zoo and the Denver Zoo, have battled COVID-19 outbreaks among their animals.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Three snow leopards have died at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo in Nebraska of complications from COVID-19. The zoo made the announcement in a Facebook post Friday, describing the deaths of the three leopards _ named Ranney, Everest, and Makalu_ as “truly heartbreaking.” The zoo began treating the leopards and two Sumatran tigers for the virus last month. The zoo said the tigers, Axl and Kumar, have made what appears to be a full recovery. The zoo said it remains open to the public and continues to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to humans and animals. Zoos across the country, including at the St. Louis Zoo and the Denver Zoo, have battled COVID-19 outbreaks among their animals.

3 snow leopards with COVID-19 die at Lincoln Children’s Zoo

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A little girl who lost a teddy bear she’d had since being adopted from an Ethiopian orphanage thought it was gone forever when she forgot it along a trail in Glacier National Park last year. 

But thanks to a social media plea, the sharp eyes and soft heart of a park ranger and the closure of a hiking trail because of grizzly bear activity on the same day a family friend visited the park, the teddy bear is back in the arms of 6-year-old Naomi Pascal in Jackson, Wyoming.

 Ben Pascal says the bear's return to his daughter is a story of hope and kindness and people working together.

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A little girl who lost a teddy bear she’d had since being adopted from an Ethiopian orphanage thought it was gone forever when she forgot it along a trail in Glacier National Park last year. But thanks to a social media plea, the sharp eyes and soft heart of a park ranger and the closure of a hiking trail because of grizzly bear activity on the same day a family friend visited the park, the teddy bear is back in the arms of 6-year-old Naomi Pascal in Jackson, Wyoming. Ben Pascal says the bear's return to his daughter is a story of hope and kindness and people working together.

Teddy bear lost in Glacier park returned to 6-year-old girl

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department
 announced today that millions of American families will soon receive 
their advance Child Tax Credit (CTC) payment for the month of November. 
Low-income families who are not getting payments and have not filed a 
tax return can still get one, but they must sign up on IRS.gov by 11:59 
pm Eastern Time on Monday, Nov. 15.

This fifth batch of advance monthly payments, totaling about $15 
billion, will reach about 36 million families across the country.&nbsp;The 
majority of payments are being made by direct deposit.

Under the American Rescue Plan, most eligible families received 
payments dated July 15, Aug. 13, Sept. 15 and Oct. 15. The last payment 
for 2021 is scheduled for Dec. 15. For these families, each&nbsp;payment is 
up to $300 per month for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month
 for each child ages 6 through 17.

Here are more details on the November payments:

Recently, the IRS sent letters to many Americans urging them to check
 out the Child Tax Credit and if they qualify, to sign up soon to get 
advance payments. Whether or not they got one of these letters, an 
eligible family who is not already getting monthly payments can still 
sign up to get an advance payment of the Child Tax Credit.

Treasury and IRS urge any low-income family who doesn’t normally need
 to file a return to sign up now to get their payment. The deadline is 
11:59 pm Eastern Time on Monday, November 15.

Right now, they can only sign up online. To do so, quickly and securely, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a>. Families can choose to file either in English or Spanish. 
Families signing up now will normally&nbsp;receive half of their total Child Tax Credit receive on
 Dec. 15. This means a payment of up to $1,800 for each child under 6, 
and up to $1,500 for each child age 6 to 17. This is the same total 
amount that most other families have been receiving in up to six monthly
 payments that began in July. 
Any family who receives advance payments of the CTC during 2021 can 
claim the rest of the credit when they file their 2021 Federal income 
tax return. To help them do that, early in 2022 families will receive 
Letter 6419 documenting any advance payments issued to them during 2021 
and the number of qualifying children used to calculate the advance 
payments.

Families can make changes to their account

Families who are already receiving monthly payments can use the Child
 Tax Credit Update Portal (CTC-UP) to quickly update their account. 
Available only on IRS.gov, CTC-UP already allows families to verify 
their eligibility for the payments and then, if they choose to:

Updates made by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on Nov. 29 will be reflected in the monthly payment scheduled for Dec. 15.

Later this month, the IRS will launch a Spanish-language version of 
the tool. In addition, new features will be added to enable families to 
raise or lower their final monthly payment to reflect life changes, such
 as another child born or adopted in 2021.

The IRS encourages partners and community groups to share information and use available <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">online tools and toolkits</a> to help non-filers, low-income families and other underserved groups sign up to receive these benefits. 
Links to online tools, answers to frequently asked questions and other helpful resources are available on the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS’ special advance CTC 2021 page</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department
 announced today that millions of American families will soon receive 
their advance Child Tax Credit (CTC) payment for the month of November. 
Low-income families who are not getting payments and have not filed a 
tax return can still get one, but they must sign up on IRS.gov by 11:59 
pm Eastern Time on Monday, Nov. 15.This fifth batch of advance monthly payments, totaling about $15 
billion, will reach about 36 million families across the country.&nbsp;The 
majority of payments are being made by direct deposit.Under the American Rescue Plan, most eligible families received 
payments dated July 15, Aug. 13, Sept. 15 and Oct. 15. The last payment 
for 2021 is scheduled for Dec. 15. For these families, each&nbsp;payment is 
up to $300 per month for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month
 for each child ages 6 through 17.Here are more details on the November payments:<ul>
 <li>Families will see the direct deposit payments in their accounts 
starting Nov. 15. Like the prior payments, the vast majority of families
 will receive them by direct deposit.</li><li>For those receiving payments by paper check, be sure to allow extra time, through the end of November, for delivery by mail.</li><li>Those wishing to receive their December payment by direct deposit can make this change using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-update-portal">Child Tax Credit Update Portal</a>, available only on IRS.gov. Be sure to make the change by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on Nov. 29. To access the portal, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a>.</li><li>Payments are going to eligible families who filed a 2019 or 2020 
income tax return. Returns processed by Nov. 1 are reflected in these 
payments. This includes people who don’t typically file a return but 
either during 2020 successfully filed a return to register for Economic 
Impact Payments using the IRS Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov, or in 2021 
successfully filed a return by using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-non-filer-sign-up-tool">Non-filer Sign-up Tool for advance CTC</a>.</li><li>Payments are automatic. Aside from filing a tax return, including a
 return from the Non-filer Sign-up Tool, families don’t have to do 
anything if they are eligible to receive monthly payments.</li><li>Families who did not get a July, August, September or October 
payment and are getting their first monthly payment this month will 
still receive their total advance payment amount for the year (which is 
half of their total Child Tax Credit). This means that the total payment
 will be spread over two months, rather than six, making each monthly 
payment larger.</li>
 </ul><h2>Sign up by Nov. 15</h2>Recently, the IRS sent letters to many Americans urging them to check
 out the Child Tax Credit and if they qualify, to sign up soon to get 
advance payments. Whether or not they got one of these letters, an 
eligible family who is not already getting monthly payments can still 
sign up to get an advance payment of the Child Tax Credit.Treasury and IRS urge any low-income family who doesn’t normally need
 to file a return to sign up now to get their payment. The deadline is 
11:59 pm Eastern Time on Monday, November 15.Right now, they can only sign up online. To do so, quickly and securely, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a>. Families can choose to file either in English or Spanish. 
Families signing up now will normally&nbsp;receive half of their total Child Tax Credit receive on
 Dec. 15. This means a payment of up to $1,800 for each child under 6, 
and up to $1,500 for each child age 6 to 17. This is the same total 
amount that most other families have been receiving in up to six monthly
 payments that began in July. 
Any family who receives advance payments of the CTC during 2021 can 
claim the rest of the credit when they file their 2021 Federal income 
tax return. To help them do that, early in 2022 families will receive 
Letter 6419 documenting any advance payments issued to them during 2021 
and the number of qualifying children used to calculate the advance 
payments.<h2>Families can make changes to their account</h2>Families who are already receiving monthly payments can use the Child
 Tax Credit Update Portal (CTC-UP) to quickly update their account. 
Available only on IRS.gov, CTC-UP already allows families to verify 
their eligibility for the payments and then, if they choose to:<ul>
 <li>Switch from receiving a paper check to direct deposit;</li><li>Change the account where their payment is direct deposited;</li><li>Update their mailing address;</li><li>Stop monthly payments and</li><li>Reflect significant changes in their income that could potentially raise or lower their monthly payments.</li>
 </ul>Updates made by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on Nov. 29 will be reflected in the monthly payment scheduled for Dec. 15.Later this month, the IRS will launch a Spanish-language version of 
the tool. In addition, new features will be added to enable families to 
raise or lower their final monthly payment to reflect life changes, such
 as another child born or adopted in 2021.<h2>Community partners can help</h2>The IRS encourages partners and community groups to share information and use available <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">online tools and toolkits</a> to help non-filers, low-income families and other underserved groups sign up to receive these benefits. 
Links to online tools, answers to frequently asked questions and other helpful resources are available on the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS’ special advance CTC 2021 page</a>.

November Child Tax Credit payments on the way, December deadline looms

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service recently announced that, 
effective Nov. 15, 2021, tax professionals are able to order up to 30 
Transcript Delivery System (TDS) transcripts per client through the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/practitioner-priority-service-r">Practitioner Priority Service®</a> line. This is an increase from the previous 10 transcripts per client limit.

"Increasing the number of transcripts a caller can receive addresses 
the concerns the IRS has received from PPS callers. This is another 
example of addressing concerns from our partners and stakeholders," said
 Ken Corbin, the Wage and Investment Commissioner and the IRS Taxpayer 
Experience Officer.

Through PPS, tax professionals can order a variety of transcripts. 
Practitioners can receive transcripts for up to five clients per call. 
There's no change to the number of clients.

Transcripts available under this newly-expanded limit include the:

Transcripts not listed above continue to be limited to 10 per client and count toward the total of 30 transcripts per client.

Tax professionals will continue to receive TDS transcripts in their 
e-Services Secure Object Repository mailboxes. The change also applies 
to other IRS toll-free lines.

Tax practitioners can continue to order TDS transcripts using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/transcript-delivery-system-tds">Transcript Delivery System</a> application on IRS.gov. Individual taxpayers can request their own TDS transcripts using <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript">Get Transcript</a>. These tools remain the fastest way to receive transcripts.

More information is available at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/transcript-types-and-ways-to-order-them">Transcript Types and Ways to Order Them </a>on IRS.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service recently announced that, 
effective Nov. 15, 2021, tax professionals are able to order up to 30 
Transcript Delivery System (TDS) transcripts per client through the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/practitioner-priority-service-r">Practitioner Priority Service®</a> line. This is an increase from the previous 10 transcripts per client limit."Increasing the number of transcripts a caller can receive addresses 
the concerns the IRS has received from PPS callers. This is another 
example of addressing concerns from our partners and stakeholders," said
 Ken Corbin, the Wage and Investment Commissioner and the IRS Taxpayer 
Experience Officer.Through PPS, tax professionals can order a variety of transcripts. 
Practitioners can receive transcripts for up to five clients per call. 
There's no change to the number of clients.Transcripts available under this newly-expanded limit include the:<ul>
 <li>Tax Return Transcript,</li><li>Tax Account Transcript,</li><li>Wage and Income Transcript,</li><li>Record of Account and</li><li>Verification of Non-Filing Letter.</li>
 </ul>Transcripts not listed above continue to be limited to 10 per client and count toward the total of 30 transcripts per client.Tax professionals will continue to receive TDS transcripts in their 
e-Services Secure Object Repository mailboxes. The change also applies 
to other IRS toll-free lines.<h2>Ordering transcripts online</h2>Tax practitioners can continue to order TDS transcripts using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/transcript-delivery-system-tds">Transcript Delivery System</a> application on IRS.gov. Individual taxpayers can request their own TDS transcripts using <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript">Get Transcript</a>. These tools remain the fastest way to receive transcripts.More information is available at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/transcript-types-and-ways-to-order-them">Transcript Types and Ways to Order Them </a>on IRS.gov.

Tax professionals can now order more transcripts from the IRS

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The contagious delta variant is driving up COVID-19 hospitalizations in the Mountain West and fueling disruptive outbreaks in the North, a worrisome sign of what could be ahead this winter in the U.S.

While trends are improving in Florida, Texas and other Southern states that bore the worst of the summer surge, it’s clear that delta isn’t done with the United States. COVID-19 is moving north and west for the winter as people head indoors, close their windows and breathe stagnant air.

“We’re going to see a lot of outbreaks in unvaccinated people that will result in serious illness, and it will be tragic,” said Dr. Donald Milton of the University of Maryland School of Public Health.

In recent days, a Vermont college suspended social gatherings after a spike in cases tied to Halloween parties. Boston officials shut down an elementary school to control an outbreak. Hospitals in New Mexico and Colorado are overwhelmed.

In Michigan, the three-county metro Detroit area is again becoming a hot spot for transmissions, with one hospital system reporting nearly 400 COVID-19 patients. Mask-wearing in Michigan has declined to about 25% of people, according to a combination of surveys tracked by an influential modeling group at the University of Washington.

“Concern over COVID in general is pretty much gone, which is unfortunate,” said Dr. Jennifer Morse, medical director at health departments in 20 central and northern Michigan counties. “I feel strange going into a store masked. I’m a minority. It’s very different. It’s just a really unusual atmosphere right now.”

New Mexico is running out of intensive care beds despite the state’s above-average vaccination rate. Waning immunity may be playing a role. People who were vaccinated early and have not yet received booster shots may be driving up infection numbers, even if they still have some protection from the most dire consequences of the virus.

“Delta and waning immunity — the combination of these two have set us back,” said Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington. “This virus is going to stick with us for a long, long time.”

The delta variant dominates infections across the U.S., accounting for more than 99% of the samples analyzed.

No state has achieved a high enough vaccination rate, even when combined with infection-induced immunity, to avoid the type of outbreaks happening now, Mokdad said.

In a deviation from national recommendations, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order Thursday that allows any resident 18 or older access to a COVID-19 booster shot, another step to prevent hospitals and health care workers from being overwhelmed by the state’s surge in delta infections.

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The contagious delta variant is driving up COVID-19 hospitalizations in the Mountain West and fueling disruptive outbreaks in the North, a worrisome sign of what could be ahead this winter in the U.S.While trends are improving in Florida, Texas and other Southern states that bore the worst of the summer surge, it’s clear that delta isn’t done with the United States. COVID-19 is moving north and west for the winter as people head indoors, close their windows and breathe stagnant air.“We’re going to see a lot of outbreaks in unvaccinated people that will result in serious illness, and it will be tragic,” said Dr. Donald Milton of the University of Maryland School of Public Health.In recent days, a Vermont college suspended social gatherings after a spike in cases tied to Halloween parties. Boston officials shut down an elementary school to control an outbreak. Hospitals in New Mexico and Colorado are overwhelmed.In Michigan, the three-county metro Detroit area is again becoming a hot spot for transmissions, with one hospital system reporting nearly 400 COVID-19 patients. Mask-wearing in Michigan has declined to about 25% of people, according to a combination of surveys tracked by an influential modeling group at the University of Washington.“Concern over COVID in general is pretty much gone, which is unfortunate,” said Dr. Jennifer Morse, medical director at health departments in 20 central and northern Michigan counties. “I feel strange going into a store masked. I’m a minority. It’s very different. It’s just a really unusual atmosphere right now.”New Mexico is running out of intensive care beds despite the state’s above-average vaccination rate. Waning immunity may be playing a role. People who were vaccinated early and have not yet received booster shots may be driving up infection numbers, even if they still have some protection from the most dire consequences of the virus.“Delta and waning immunity — the combination of these two have set us back,” said Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington. “This virus is going to stick with us for a long, long time.”The delta variant dominates infections across the U.S., accounting for more than 99% of the samples analyzed.No state has achieved a high enough vaccination rate, even when combined with infection-induced immunity, to avoid the type of outbreaks happening now, Mokdad said.In a deviation from national recommendations, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order Thursday that allows any resident 18 or older access to a COVID-19 booster shot, another step to prevent hospitals and health care workers from being overwhelmed by the state’s surge in delta infections.Progress on vaccination continues, yet nearly 60 million Americans age 12 and older remain unvaccinated. That’s an improvement since July, when 100 million were unvaccinated, said White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients.First shots are averaging about 300,000 per day, and the effort to vaccinate children ages 5 to 11 is off to a strong start, Zients said at a briefing Wednesday.Virginia Tech’s Linsey Marr, a leading researcher on the airborne spread of the coronavirus, predicted the northward spread of the virus in a Twitter post Sept. 15. The virus spreads in the air and can build up in enclosed rooms with poor ventilation. Colder weather means more people are indoors breathing the same air, Marr said.Imagine that everyone you spend time with is a smoker and you want to breathe as little of their smoke as possible, she said.“The closer you are to a smoker the more exposure you have to that smoke,” Marr said. “And if you’re in a poorly ventilated room, the smoke builds up over time.”Marr said she and her vaccinated family will use rapid tests before gathering for Christmas to check for infection.“It’s hard to know what’s coming next with this virus,” Marr said. “We thought we knew, but delta really surprised us. We thought the vaccine would help end this, but things are still dragging on. It’s hard to know what’s going to happen next.”___