WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers accelerated their hiring last month, adding a solid 531,000 jobs, the most since July and a sign that the recovery from the pandemic recession is overcoming a virus-induced slowdown.

Friday’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf" target="_blank">report from the Labor Department</a>&nbsp;also showed that the unemployment rate fell to 4.6% last month from 4.8% in September. That is a comparatively low level though still well above the pre-pandemic jobless rate of 3.5%. And the job gains in August and September weren’t as weak as initially reported: The government increased its estimate of hiring for those two months by a hefty combined 235,000 jobs.

&nbsp;The Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said that <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm">100,450,000 people in this </a>country were not in the labor force in October, up 38,000 from the 100,412,000 in September.

All told, the figures point to an economy that is steadily recovering from the pandemic recession, with healthy consumer spending prompting companies in nearly every industry to add workers. Though the effects of COVID-19 are still causing severe supply shortages, heightening inflation and keeping many people out of the workforce, employers are finding gradually more success in filling near&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-economy-67a34a2e9c416155bab6af1b0e3cfcf1">record-high job postings</a>.

“This is the kind of recovery we can get when we are not sidelined by a surge in COVID cases,” said Nick Bunker, director of economic research at the employment website Indeed. “The speed of employment gains has faltered at times this year, but the underlying momentum of the U.S. labor market is quite clear.”

The better-than-expected jobs report was welcomed on Wall Street, where investors sent stocks further into record territory. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up nearly 200 points, or roughly 0.5%, in early-afternoon trading. Short-term Treasury yields rose as some investors moved up their expectations for when the Federal Reserve will begin raising interest rates. But longer-term yields dipped amid muted expectations for inflation over the long term.

By most barometers, the economic recovery appears solidly on track. Services companies in such areas as retail, banking and warehousing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-eed8d8bc81c9af0e696f80b3a4b3a68a">have reported a sharp jump in sales</a>. Sales of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/home-sales">new and existing homes surged last month</a>. And consumer confidence&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-prices-inflation-consumer-confidence-661bf08bc8f529fd0ea42fbe5ebbcd77">rose in October after three straight declines</a>.

At the same time, though, the nation remains 4.2 million jobs short of the number it had before the pandemic flattened the economy in March 2020. The effects of the virus are still discouraging some people from traveling, shopping, eating out and attending entertainment venues.

In October, the pickup in hiring was spread across nearly every major industry, with only government employers reporting a job loss, mostly in education. Shipping and warehousing companies added 54,000 jobs. The battered leisure and hospitality sector, which includes, restaurants, bars, hotels and entertainment venues, gained 164,000. Manufacturers, despite their struggles with supply shortages, added 60,000, the most since June 2020.

And employers, who have been competing to fill jobs from a diminished pool of applicants, raised wages at a solid clip: Average hourly pay jumped 4.9% in October compared with a year earlier, up from 4.6% the previous month. Even a gain that strong, though, is barely keeping pace with recent surges in consumer inflation.

Those price increases pose a headwind for the economy. Higher costs for food, heating oil, rents and furniture have burdened millions of families. Prices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-consumer-spending-prices-inflation-14980a4c7cfeafe5ba9b65c577578156">rose 4.4% in September compared with 12 months earlier</a>, the sharpest such jump in three decades.

Among people who are receiving pay raises, some of the biggest beneficiaries are the record-high number of people who have been quitting jobs to take new ones. One of them is Christian Frink, who has begun work as a business analyst at a digital consulting firm. In his new job, Frink, 27, of Ferndale, Michigan, helps business clients determine the technologies they need.

Earlier this year, Frink held a marketing job but left it because, like many people during COVID, he felt burnt out. He then worked for Door Dash during the spring and summer to earn money and searched for new work. Although employers were complaining about a labor shortage, several told him they wouldn’t hire anyone without a college degree. (Frink attended college but didn’t graduate.)

This past summer, Frink took coding classes at Tech Elevator, a boot camp, and then landed his new position. Now, he’s earning 35% more than in his previous job and says he’s “blown away” that he already has health care coverage and doesn’t have to wait months to become eligible.

Yet it isn’t only job-switchers who are receiving pay raises. Chad Leibundguth, a regional director in Tampa for the Robert Half staffing agency, said the job market is the strongest for workers he has seen in his 22-year career. Before the pandemic, he said, you could fill a customer service job in Florida for $14 an hour.

“Nowadays,” he said, “you’ve got to be closer to $20 an hour, because people have options.”

Job prospects are brightening even for people who have been out of work for prolonged periods. The number of long-term unemployed — people who have been jobless for six months or more — has fallen sharply in recent months, to 2.3 million in October from 4.2 million in April. That’s still double the pre-recession total. But it’s an encouraging sign because employers are typically wary of hiring people who haven’t held jobs for an extended time.

At the same time, disparities in the job market have persisted. The Black unemployment rate was unchanged in October at 7.9%, for example, while for white workers, it fell to 4% from 4.2%. The Latino jobless rate dropped to 5.9% from 6.3%.

And though white-collar jobs in professional services like information technology, engineering and architecture are nearly back to their pre-pandemic employment levels, leisure and hospitality still has 1.4 million fewer jobs.

Hari Ravichandran, CEO of digital security provider Aura in Boston, says his 800-person company has 140 positions open, mostly in software development, and has raised pay 25% in just the past nine months.

Ravichandran is willing to hire remote workers; 170 of his staffers have never regularly worked in any of the company’s buildings. Still, hiring remains as tough as he’s ever experienced.

One disappointing note in Friday’s report is that the workforce — the number of people either working or looking for a job — was unchanged in October. That suggested that the reopening of schools in September, the waning of the virus, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-lifestyle-health-indiana-d3acd668eaf6343aada03cd660055bbc">expiration of a $300-a-week federal unemployment supplement&nbsp;</a>have yet to coax many people off the sidelines of the job market in large numbers.

Drawing many people back into the workforce after recessions is typically a prolonged process. There are now 7.4 million people officially out of work — just 1.7 million more than in February 2020, before the pandemic struck the economy. Yet millions more who lost jobs during the recession have given up their job hunts, and employers might have to raise pay and benefits to draw them back in, said Aaron Sojourner, a labor economist at the University of Minnesota.

Even so, some companies still can’t find enough workers.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-lifestyle-health-careers-075d3b0ab89baffc5e2b9a80e11dcf34">Many parents, particularly mothers, haven’t returned to the workforce</a>&nbsp;after having left jobs during the pandemic to care for children or other relatives. Yet there was evidence of a small rebound last month: The proportion of women who were either working or looking for work rose after two months of declines.

Kourtni Graves of Detroit has been in and out of work during the pandemic because of her parenting duties. She quit an administrative assistant job a year ago because her day care had shut down, and she had to look after her 5-year old twin girls.

Graves, 27, looked for work-from-home jobs, but many employers didn’t want to provide the flexibility she needed.

“They don’t want you to have to pick up your kids from school,” particularly during a training, she said. “For me as their mom, I can’t do that.” She said the father of her children, who works in the auto industry, helps financially.

But with the girls now in kindergarten, Graves broadened her job search and this week accepted a job at a clothing store. She feels overqualified, given her seven years working in administrative jobs. But she is happy to be working.

“They’re paying pretty decent for retail,” she said. “It’s definitely been a struggle and a journey.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers accelerated their hiring last month, adding a solid 531,000 jobs, the most since July and a sign that the recovery from the pandemic recession is overcoming a virus-induced slowdown.Friday’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf" target="_blank">report from the Labor Department</a>&nbsp;also showed that the unemployment rate fell to 4.6% last month from 4.8% in September. That is a comparatively low level though still well above the pre-pandemic jobless rate of 3.5%. And the job gains in August and September weren’t as weak as initially reported: The government increased its estimate of hiring for those two months by a hefty combined 235,000 jobs.&nbsp;The Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said that <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm">100,450,000 people in this </a>country were not in the labor force in October, up 38,000 from the 100,412,000 in September.All told, the figures point to an economy that is steadily recovering from the pandemic recession, with healthy consumer spending prompting companies in nearly every industry to add workers. Though the effects of COVID-19 are still causing severe supply shortages, heightening inflation and keeping many people out of the workforce, employers are finding gradually more success in filling near&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-economy-67a34a2e9c416155bab6af1b0e3cfcf1">record-high job postings</a>.“This is the kind of recovery we can get when we are not sidelined by a surge in COVID cases,” said Nick Bunker, director of economic research at the employment website Indeed. “The speed of employment gains has faltered at times this year, but the underlying momentum of the U.S. labor market is quite clear.”The better-than-expected jobs report was welcomed on Wall Street, where investors sent stocks further into record territory. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up nearly 200 points, or roughly 0.5%, in early-afternoon trading. Short-term Treasury yields rose as some investors moved up their expectations for when the Federal Reserve will begin raising interest rates. But longer-term yields dipped amid muted expectations for inflation over the long term.By most barometers, the economic recovery appears solidly on track. Services companies in such areas as retail, banking and warehousing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-eed8d8bc81c9af0e696f80b3a4b3a68a">have reported a sharp jump in sales</a>. Sales of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/home-sales">new and existing homes surged last month</a>. And consumer confidence&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-prices-inflation-consumer-confidence-661bf08bc8f529fd0ea42fbe5ebbcd77">rose in October after three straight declines</a>.At the same time, though, the nation remains 4.2 million jobs short of the number it had before the pandemic flattened the economy in March 2020. The effects of the virus are still discouraging some people from traveling, shopping, eating out and attending entertainment venues.In October, the pickup in hiring was spread across nearly every major industry, with only government employers reporting a job loss, mostly in education. Shipping and warehousing companies added 54,000 jobs. The battered leisure and hospitality sector, which includes, restaurants, bars, hotels and entertainment venues, gained 164,000. Manufacturers, despite their struggles with supply shortages, added 60,000, the most since June 2020.And employers, who have been competing to fill jobs from a diminished pool of applicants, raised wages at a solid clip: Average hourly pay jumped 4.9% in October compared with a year earlier, up from 4.6% the previous month. Even a gain that strong, though, is barely keeping pace with recent surges in consumer inflation.Those price increases pose a headwind for the economy. Higher costs for food, heating oil, rents and furniture have burdened millions of families. Prices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-consumer-spending-prices-inflation-14980a4c7cfeafe5ba9b65c577578156">rose 4.4% in September compared with 12 months earlier</a>, the sharpest such jump in three decades.Among people who are receiving pay raises, some of the biggest beneficiaries are the record-high number of people who have been quitting jobs to take new ones. One of them is Christian Frink, who has begun work as a business analyst at a digital consulting firm. In his new job, Frink, 27, of Ferndale, Michigan, helps business clients determine the technologies they need.Earlier this year, Frink held a marketing job but left it because, like many people during COVID, he felt burnt out. He then worked for Door Dash during the spring and summer to earn money and searched for new work. Although employers were complaining about a labor shortage, several told him they wouldn’t hire anyone without a college degree. (Frink attended college but didn’t graduate.)This past summer, Frink took coding classes at Tech Elevator, a boot camp, and then landed his new position. Now, he’s earning 35% more than in his previous job and says he’s “blown away” that he already has health care coverage and doesn’t have to wait months to become eligible.Yet it isn’t only job-switchers who are receiving pay raises. Chad Leibundguth, a regional director in Tampa for the Robert Half staffing agency, said the job market is the strongest for workers he has seen in his 22-year career. Before the pandemic, he said, you could fill a customer service job in Florida for $14 an hour.“Nowadays,” he said, “you’ve got to be closer to $20 an hour, because people have options.”Job prospects are brightening even for people who have been out of work for prolonged periods. The number of long-term unemployed — people who have been jobless for six months or more — has fallen sharply in recent months, to 2.3 million in October from 4.2 million in April. That’s still double the pre-recession total. But it’s an encouraging sign because employers are typically wary of hiring people who haven’t held jobs for an extended time.At the same time, disparities in the job market have persisted. The Black unemployment rate was unchanged in October at 7.9%, for example, while for white workers, it fell to 4% from 4.2%. The Latino jobless rate dropped to 5.9% from 6.3%.And though white-collar jobs in professional services like information technology, engineering and architecture are nearly back to their pre-pandemic employment levels, leisure and hospitality still has 1.4 million fewer jobs.Hari Ravichandran, CEO of digital security provider Aura in Boston, says his 800-person company has 140 positions open, mostly in software development, and has raised pay 25% in just the past nine months.Ravichandran is willing to hire remote workers; 170 of his staffers have never regularly worked in any of the company’s buildings. Still, hiring remains as tough as he’s ever experienced.One disappointing note in Friday’s report is that the workforce — the number of people either working or looking for a job — was unchanged in October. That suggested that the reopening of schools in September, the waning of the virus, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-lifestyle-health-indiana-d3acd668eaf6343aada03cd660055bbc">expiration of a $300-a-week federal unemployment supplement&nbsp;</a>have yet to coax many people off the sidelines of the job market in large numbers.Drawing many people back into the workforce after recessions is typically a prolonged process. There are now 7.4 million people officially out of work — just 1.7 million more than in February 2020, before the pandemic struck the economy. Yet millions more who lost jobs during the recession have given up their job hunts, and employers might have to raise pay and benefits to draw them back in, said Aaron Sojourner, a labor economist at the University of Minnesota.Even so, some companies still can’t find enough workers.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-lifestyle-health-careers-075d3b0ab89baffc5e2b9a80e11dcf34">Many parents, particularly mothers, haven’t returned to the workforce</a>&nbsp;after having left jobs during the pandemic to care for children or other relatives. Yet there was evidence of a small rebound last month: The proportion of women who were either working or looking for work rose after two months of declines.Kourtni Graves of Detroit has been in and out of work during the pandemic because of her parenting duties. She quit an administrative assistant job a year ago because her day care had shut down, and she had to look after her 5-year old twin girls.Graves, 27, looked for work-from-home jobs, but many employers didn’t want to provide the flexibility she needed.“They don’t want you to have to pick up your kids from school,” particularly during a training, she said. “For me as their mom, I can’t do that.” She said the father of her children, who works in the auto industry, helps financially.But with the girls now in kindergarten, Graves broadened her job search and this week accepted a job at a clothing store. She feels overqualified, given her seven years working in administrative jobs. But she is happy to be working.“They’re paying pretty decent for retail,” she said. “It’s definitely been a struggle and a journey.”

Report: Job creation roars back; 100 million in the U.S. not working

WASHINGTON (AP) — Friends, family and former colleagues gathered Friday at Washington National Cathedral to honor Colin L. Powell, the trailblazing soldier-diplomat who rose from humble Bronx beginnings to become the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and later served as the first Black secretary of state.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?515554-1/colin-powell-funeral-service-national-cathedral&amp;live&amp;vod">CLICK here to watch</a> the funeral service

The funeral on a sunny and chilly day drew dignitaries and friends from across a wide political and military spectrum. They included former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, former secretary of states James Baker, Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton, former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Army Gen. Mark Milley, as well as other service chiefs.

As guests gathered in the cavernous cathedral that has hosted the funerals of several past presidents, including Dwight D. Eisenhower, the U.S. Army Brass Quintet played a range of tunes, including “Dancing Queen” by Abba, a favorite of Powell's. As Powell's wife, Alma, and other family members were seated, the quintet played a hymn called “Mansions of the Lord.”

President Joe Biden attended but was not scheduled to speak. Two recent presidents did not attend — Bill Clinton, who is recovering from an infection, and Donald Trump, who Powell had criticized.

Eulogists were Madeleine Albright, who was Powell's immediate predecessor as the nation's top diplomat; Richard Armitage, who was deputy secretary under Powell and had known him since they served together in the Pentagon during the Reagan administration; and Powell's son Michael.

During her tenure as ambassador to the United Nations during the Clinton administration, Albright sometimes clashed with Powell, although they became good friends. Both have recalled the time, during his final months as Joint Chiefs chairman, when she argued for a U.S. military intervention in the Balkans, asking why the United States had built a superb military if it couldn’t be used in such circumstances. Powell recalled being so irritated by her statement, “I thought I would have an aneurysm.”

Powell’s view was that the United States should commit its military only when it had a clear and achievable political objective, a key element of what became known as the Powell Doctrine, which embodied lessons to took from the U.S. failure in Vietnam.

Powell died Oct. 18 of complications from COVID-19 at age 84. He had been vaccinated against the coronavirus, but his family said his immune system had been compromised by multiple myeloma, a blood cancer for which he had been undergoing treatment.

Funeral attendees Friday were required to wear masks, although not all did.

The story of Powell's rise to prominence in American life is a historic example to many.

In his autobiography, “My American Journey,” Powell recalled a post-Depression Era childhood in the Hunts Point section of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-york">New York</a>&nbsp;City's South Bronx, where he was a mediocre student — happy-go-lucky but aimless.

He caught the military bug during his first year at the City College of New York in 1954. Powell was inspired by seeing fellow students in uniform, and he enrolled in the school's Reserve Officer Training Corps.

“I felt distinctive” in uniform, he wrote. He would go on to achieve distinction in a pioneering Army career.

Although he was only 4 when the United States entered World War II, he had vivid memories of the war years. “I deployed legions of lead soldiers and directed battles on the living room rug,” he wrote — a fantasy forerunner of his Army years.

Powell would serve 35 years in uniform. Commissioned in 1958 as a second lieutenant, he served as a platoon leader in what was then called West Germany, and in 1962 was deployed to Vietnam for a year as an adviser to a South Vietnamese infantry battalion. During that tour he was wounded; he served a second tour in Vietnam in 1968 and afterward held a variety of assignments at home and abroad.

He distinguished himself at the Pentagon even before he attained flag officer rank. In the late 1970s he worked in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and in 1983 as a brigadier general he became the senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger. He later served in the White House as President Ronald Reagan's national security adviser, and in 1989 he was promoted to four-star general. Later that year, President George H.W. Bush selected him to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

“He was such a favorite of presidents that he earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom – twice,” former President George W. Bush said when Powell's death was announced.

It was a trailblazing American dream journey that won him international acclaim and trust.

He put that credibility on the line in February 2003 when, appearing before the United Nations as secretary of state, he made the case for war against Iraq. When it turned out that the intelligence he cited was faulty and the Iraq War became a bloody, chaotic nightmare, Powell’s stellar reputation was damaged.

Still, it wasn’t destroyed. After leaving government, he became an elder statesman on the global stage and the founder of an organization aimed at helping young disadvantaged Americans. Republicans wanted him to run for president. After becoming disillusioned with his party, he ended up endorsing the last three Democratic presidential candidates, who welcomed his support.

Powell's influence was felt at the highest levels of the U.S. defense establishment long after he retired from public life. Lloyd Austin, who in January became the first Black secretary of defense, called Powell a friend and professional mentor. Like Powell, Austin rose through the ranks of the Army to become a four-star general.

On the day of Powell's death, Austin called him “one of the greatest leaders that we have ever witnessed.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636131597805.png" alt="President Biden with hand over his heart during the military honors at the National Cathedral Friday afternoon-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Biden with hand over his heart during the military honors at the National Cathedral Friday afternoon-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Friends, family and former colleagues gathered Friday at Washington National Cathedral to honor Colin L. Powell, the trailblazing soldier-diplomat who rose from humble Bronx beginnings to become the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and later served as the first Black secretary of state.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?515554-1/colin-powell-funeral-service-national-cathedral&amp;live&amp;vod">CLICK here to watch</a> the funeral serviceThe funeral on a sunny and chilly day drew dignitaries and friends from across a wide political and military spectrum. They included former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, former secretary of states James Baker, Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton, former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Army Gen. Mark Milley, as well as other service chiefs.As guests gathered in the cavernous cathedral that has hosted the funerals of several past presidents, including Dwight D. Eisenhower, the U.S. Army Brass Quintet played a range of tunes, including “Dancing Queen” by Abba, a favorite of Powell's. As Powell's wife, Alma, and other family members were seated, the quintet played a hymn called “Mansions of the Lord.”President Joe Biden attended but was not scheduled to speak. Two recent presidents did not attend — Bill Clinton, who is recovering from an infection, and Donald Trump, who Powell had criticized.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636131987495.png" alt="Photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Eulogists were Madeleine Albright, who was Powell's immediate predecessor as the nation's top diplomat; Richard Armitage, who was deputy secretary under Powell and had known him since they served together in the Pentagon during the Reagan administration; and Powell's son Michael.During her tenure as ambassador to the United Nations during the Clinton administration, Albright sometimes clashed with Powell, although they became good friends. Both have recalled the time, during his final months as Joint Chiefs chairman, when she argued for a U.S. military intervention in the Balkans, asking why the United States had built a superb military if it couldn’t be used in such circumstances. Powell recalled being so irritated by her statement, “I thought I would have an aneurysm.”Powell’s view was that the United States should commit its military only when it had a clear and achievable political objective, a key element of what became known as the Powell Doctrine, which embodied lessons to took from the U.S. failure in Vietnam.Powell died Oct. 18 of complications from COVID-19 at age 84. He had been vaccinated against the coronavirus, but his family said his immune system had been compromised by multiple myeloma, a blood cancer for which he had been undergoing treatment.Funeral attendees Friday were required to wear masks, although not all did.The story of Powell's rise to prominence in American life is a historic example to many.In his autobiography, “My American Journey,” Powell recalled a post-Depression Era childhood in the Hunts Point section of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-york">New York</a>&nbsp;City's South Bronx, where he was a mediocre student — happy-go-lucky but aimless.He caught the military bug during his first year at the City College of New York in 1954. Powell was inspired by seeing fellow students in uniform, and he enrolled in the school's Reserve Officer Training Corps.“I felt distinctive” in uniform, he wrote. He would go on to achieve distinction in a pioneering Army career.Although he was only 4 when the United States entered World War II, he had vivid memories of the war years. “I deployed legions of lead soldiers and directed battles on the living room rug,” he wrote — a fantasy forerunner of his Army years.Powell would serve 35 years in uniform. Commissioned in 1958 as a second lieutenant, he served as a platoon leader in what was then called West Germany, and in 1962 was deployed to Vietnam for a year as an adviser to a South Vietnamese infantry battalion. During that tour he was wounded; he served a second tour in Vietnam in 1968 and afterward held a variety of assignments at home and abroad.He distinguished himself at the Pentagon even before he attained flag officer rank. In the late 1970s he worked in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and in 1983 as a brigadier general he became the senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger. He later served in the White House as President Ronald Reagan's national security adviser, and in 1989 he was promoted to four-star general. Later that year, President George H.W. Bush selected him to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs.“He was such a favorite of presidents that he earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom – twice,” former President George W. Bush said when Powell's death was announced.It was a trailblazing American dream journey that won him international acclaim and trust.He put that credibility on the line in February 2003 when, appearing before the United Nations as secretary of state, he made the case for war against Iraq. When it turned out that the intelligence he cited was faulty and the Iraq War became a bloody, chaotic nightmare, Powell’s stellar reputation was damaged.Still, it wasn’t destroyed. After leaving government, he became an elder statesman on the global stage and the founder of an organization aimed at helping young disadvantaged Americans. Republicans wanted him to run for president. After becoming disillusioned with his party, he ended up endorsing the last three Democratic presidential candidates, who welcomed his support.Powell's influence was felt at the highest levels of the U.S. defense establishment long after he retired from public life. Lloyd Austin, who in January became the first Black secretary of defense, called Powell a friend and professional mentor. Like Powell, Austin rose through the ranks of the Army to become a four-star general.On the day of Powell's death, Austin called him “one of the greatest leaders that we have ever witnessed.”

🎥 Family, friends gather to honor soldier-diplomat Colin Powell

GRAND ISLAND&nbsp; — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested two people following a pursuit on I-80 near Aurora.

At approximately 9:55 a.m. Thursday, a trooper observed an eastbound Cadillac CTS speeding and driving with expired license plates on I-80 near Aurora. The trooper attempted a traffic stop near mile marker 332, but the driver accelerated and fled. The trooper initiated a pursuit.

The vehicle fled eastbound with speeds reaching 130 miles per hour. The Cadillac also passed multiple vehicles on the shoulder. The Cadillac then exited I-80 at mile marker 342. The vehicle drove southbound before turning around in a field and returning to I-80. It entered I-80 eastbound, drove through the median and continued fleeing westbound on I-80. Near mile marker 339, the vehicle slowed down and the driver jumped from the moving vehicle onto the pavement of I-80.

The driver fled on foot across I-80 and into a field before being apprehended quickly by another trooper. A passenger remained in the vehicle and was taken into custody without further incident. During the pursuit, the trooper observed two items being thrown from the vehicle. Those items, a handgun and a methamphetamine pipe, were recovered by other troopers. The handgun was discovered to be stolen.

The driver, a 16-year-old male, was taken into custody for felony flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, obstruction, failure to obey a lawful order, tampering with physical evidence, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a controlled substance, and several other charges. The passenger, Alexander Esquitin, 33, of Grand Island, was arrested for possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence, and other charges.

Esquitin was lodged in Hamilton County Jail. The 16-year-old minor was taken to the Lancaster County Youth Detention Center.

GRAND ISLAND&nbsp; — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested two people following a pursuit on I-80 near Aurora.At approximately 9:55 a.m. Thursday, a trooper observed an eastbound Cadillac CTS speeding and driving with expired license plates on I-80 near Aurora. The trooper attempted a traffic stop near mile marker 332, but the driver accelerated and fled. The trooper initiated a pursuit.The vehicle fled eastbound with speeds reaching 130 miles per hour. The Cadillac also passed multiple vehicles on the shoulder. The Cadillac then exited I-80 at mile marker 342. The vehicle drove southbound before turning around in a field and returning to I-80. It entered I-80 eastbound, drove through the median and continued fleeing westbound on I-80. Near mile marker 339, the vehicle slowed down and the driver jumped from the moving vehicle onto the pavement of I-80.The driver fled on foot across I-80 and into a field before being apprehended quickly by another trooper. A passenger remained in the vehicle and was taken into custody without further incident. During the pursuit, the trooper observed two items being thrown from the vehicle. Those items, a handgun and a methamphetamine pipe, were recovered by other troopers. The handgun was discovered to be stolen.The driver, a 16-year-old male, was taken into custody for felony flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, obstruction, failure to obey a lawful order, tampering with physical evidence, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a controlled substance, and several other charges. The passenger, Alexander Esquitin, 33, of Grand Island, was arrested for possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence, and other charges.Esquitin was lodged in Hamilton County Jail. The 16-year-old minor was taken to the Lancaster County Youth Detention Center.

2 in custody after I-80 pursuit near Aurora

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha plans to join hundreds of other U.S. cities by trying to come up with strategies to combat climate change. 

The Omaha World-Herald reported Thursday that while the Nebraska Legislature has rejected calls for a statewide plan, Omaha will lead a metropolitan area climate action plan expected to be funded with a mix of public and private money. 

Climate plans typically involve identifying where a community is most vulnerable to severe weather, its contribution to global warming, what needs to be done and measurable steps. 

A consultant is expected to be hired by mid-2022, and it may take a year or longer after that before a plan is ready.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha plans to join hundreds of other U.S. cities by trying to come up with strategies to combat climate change. The Omaha World-Herald reported Thursday that while the Nebraska Legislature has rejected calls for a statewide plan, Omaha will lead a metropolitan area climate action plan expected to be funded with a mix of public and private money. Climate plans typically involve identifying where a community is most vulnerable to severe weather, its contribution to global warming, what needs to be done and measurable steps. A consultant is expected to be hired by mid-2022, and it may take a year or longer after that before a plan is ready.

Omaha to develop action plan to combat climate change

WASHINGTON (AP) — Top Democrats abruptly postponed an expected House vote Friday on a 10-year, $1.85 trillion social and environment measure, as leaders’ long struggle to balance demands from progressives and moderates once again dogged the pillar of President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda.

In a bid to hand him a needed victory, leaders prepared to try pushing an accompanying $1 trillion package of road and other infrastructure projects through the chamber and to his desk.

With lawmakers set to leave town for a week’s break, the scrambled legislative plans cast a fresh pall over a party that has tried futilely for weeks to find middle ground on its massive package of health, education, family and climate change initiatives. That’s been hard, in part because the Democrats’ slender majorities mean they need the support of every Senate Democrat and can have no more than three defectors in the House.

The party’s congressional leaders had hoped for House approval of both that measure and the infrastructure bill on Friday. That would have produced twin triumphs for a president and party eager to rebound from this week’s deflating off-year elections and show they can govern.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats in the House appear on the verge of advancing President Joe Biden’s $1.85 trillion-and-growing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-congress-democrats-budget-framework-60a1bc276d0ab8eb3e0347fc54ee8c2c">domestic policy package&nbsp;</a>alongside a companion $1 trillion infrastructure bill in what would be a dramatic political accomplishment — if they can push it to passage.

The House scrapped votes late Thursday but will be back at it early Friday, and White House officials worked the phones to lock in support for the president’s signature proposal. After months of negotiations, House passage of the big bill would be a crucial step, sending to the Senate Biden’s ambitious effort to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-health-care-69c7bb592f8d73232bec1d8e15be82e3">expand health care</a>, child care and other social services for countless Americans and deliver the nation’s biggest investment yet to fight climate change.

Alongside the slimmer roads-bridges-and-broadband package, it adds up to Biden’s answer to his campaign promise to rebuild the country from the COVID-19 crisis and confront a changing economy.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi worked furiously into the night at the Capitol Thursday and kept the House late to shore up votes. The party has been here before, another politically messy day like many before that are being blamed for the Democrats’ dismal showing in this week’s elections. On and off Capitol Hill, party leaders declared it’s time for Congress to deliver on Biden’s agenda.

“We’re going to pass both bills,” Pelosi insisted at a midday press briefing.

Her strategy now seems focused on passing the most robust bill possible in her chamber and then leaving the Senate to adjust or strip out the portions its members won’t agree to. The House Rules Committee processed final revisions including to a state-and-local tax deduction in a brief meeting late Thursday in preparation for floor votes.

Half the size of Biden’s initial $3.5 trillion package, the now sprawling 2,135-page bill has won over most of the progressive Democratic lawmakers, even though it is smaller than they wanted. But the chamber’s more centrist and fiscally conservative Democrats continued to mount objections.

Overall the package remains more far-reaching than any other in decades. Republicans are fully opposed to Biden’s bill, which is called the “Build Back Better Act” after the president’s 2020 campaign slogan.

The big package would provide large numbers of Americans with assistance to pay for health care, raising children and caring for elderly people at home.

There would be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-business-prices-health-88d4b4fff842e6248157276e73ec097b">lower prescription drug costs</a>, limiting the price of insulin to $35 a dose, and Medicare for the first time would be able to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for prices of some other drugs, a long-sought Democratic priority.

Medicare would have a new hearing aid benefit for older Americans, and those with Medicare Part D would see their out-of-pocket prescription drug costs capped at $2,000.

The package would provide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cop26-climate-summit-joe-biden-13931475c10187f6d0d1d0cddabcbb53">some $555 billion in tax breaks encouraging cleaner energy</a>&nbsp;and electric vehicles, the nation’s largest commitment to tackling climate change.

With&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-business-prices-health-88d4b4fff842e6248157276e73ec097b">a flurry of late adjustments</a>, the Democrats added key provisions in recent days — adding back a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-joe-manchin-2cfe30f02824d3f05797d3563e7bd189">new paid family leave program</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-joe-biden-business-congress-8ea0a7d0f4385e6fd28696e39b68a393">work permits for immigrants.&nbsp;</a>Late changes Thursday would lift a $10,000 cap on state-and-local tax deductions to $80,000.

Much of the package’s cost would be covered with higher taxes on wealthier Americans, those earning more than $400,000 a year, and a 5% surtax would be added on those making over $10 million annually. Large corporations would face a new 15% minimum tax in an effort to stop big businesses from claiming so many deductions that they end up paying zero in taxes.

From the White House, “the president has been very clear, he wants to get this moving,” said principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

As night fell, Democratic leaders struggled to resolve a catalog of remaining issues as lawmakers balanced the promise of Biden’s sweeping vision with the realities of their home-district politics.

Biden has few votes to spare in the narrowly divided House and none when the bill ultimately arrives for consideration in the evenly split 50-50 Senate.

Five centrist Democratic lawmakers want a full budgetary assessment before they vote. Others from more Republican-leaning regions are objecting to a new state-and-local tax deduction that favors New York, California and other high-tax states. Another group wants changes to the immigration-related provisions.

In recent days, both the overall price tag and the revenue to pay for it have grown. A new White House assessment Thursday said revenue from the taxes on corporations and the wealthy and other changes are estimated to bring in $2.1 trillion over 10 years, according to a summary obtained by The Associated Press. That’s up from what had been $1.9 trillion in earlier estimates.

Pelosi noted a similar assessment Thursday by the bipartisan Joint Committee on Taxation, and she echoed Biden’s frequent comment that the overall package will be fully paid for.

But another model from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania suggested a shortfall in revenue for covering the cost, breeding fresh doubts among some of the Democratic lawmakers.

Still, the Democrats in the House are anxious to finish up this week, eager to deliver on the president’s agenda and, as some lawmakers prepare to depart for a global climate change summit in Scotland, show the U.S. taking the environmental issue seriously.

Democrats have been working to resolve their differences, particularly with holdout Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, who forced cutbacks to Biden’s bill but championed the slimmer infrastructure package that had stalled amid deliberations.

Manchin has panned the new family and medical leave program, which is expected to provide four weeks of paid time off after childbirth, for recovery from major illness or for caring for family members, less than the 12-week program once envisioned.

Senators are also likely to strip out a just-added immigration provision that would create a new program for some 7 million immigrants who are in the country without legal standing, allowing them to apply for permits to work and travel in the U.S. for five years. It’s not clear that addition would pass muster with the Senate parliamentarian under special budget rules being used to process the package.

On another remaining issue, Democrats are still arguing over a plan partly to do away with the $10,000 limit on state and local tax deductions that particularly hits high-tax states and was enacted as part of the Trump-era 2017 tax plan.

While repeal of the so-called SALT deduction cap is a priority for several Northeastern state lawmakers, progressives wanted to prevent the super-wealthy from benefiting. Under the revised plan, the $10,000 deduction cap would be lifted to $80,000 for nine years, starting with the 2021 tax year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636142738967.jpeg" alt="House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the broader legislation is historic “and hence, challenging.” photo courtesy House Speaker's office" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the broader legislation is historic “and hence, challenging.” photo courtesy House Speaker's office</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Top Democrats abruptly postponed an expected House vote Friday on a 10-year, $1.85 trillion social and environment measure, as leaders’ long struggle to balance demands from progressives and moderates once again dogged the pillar of President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda.In a bid to hand him a needed victory, leaders prepared to try pushing an accompanying $1 trillion package of road and other infrastructure projects through the chamber and to his desk.With lawmakers set to leave town for a week’s break, the scrambled legislative plans cast a fresh pall over a party that has tried futilely for weeks to find middle ground on its massive package of health, education, family and climate change initiatives. That’s been hard, in part because the Democrats’ slender majorities mean they need the support of every Senate Democrat and can have no more than three defectors in the House.The party’s congressional leaders had hoped for House approval of both that measure and the infrastructure bill on Friday. That would have produced twin triumphs for a president and party eager to rebound from this week’s deflating off-year elections and show they can govern.---------------WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats in the House appear on the verge of advancing President Joe Biden’s $1.85 trillion-and-growing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-congress-democrats-budget-framework-60a1bc276d0ab8eb3e0347fc54ee8c2c">domestic policy package&nbsp;</a>alongside a companion $1 trillion infrastructure bill in what would be a dramatic political accomplishment — if they can push it to passage.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636109284153.png" alt="“We’re going to pass both bills,” Pelosi insisted at a midday press briefing.-photo courtesy House Speaker's office" />
 <figcaption>“We’re going to pass both bills,” Pelosi insisted at a midday press briefing.-photo courtesy House Speaker's office</figcaption>
 </figure>The House scrapped votes late Thursday but will be back at it early Friday, and White House officials worked the phones to lock in support for the president’s signature proposal. After months of negotiations, House passage of the big bill would be a crucial step, sending to the Senate Biden’s ambitious effort to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-health-care-69c7bb592f8d73232bec1d8e15be82e3">expand health care</a>, child care and other social services for countless Americans and deliver the nation’s biggest investment yet to fight climate change.Alongside the slimmer roads-bridges-and-broadband package, it adds up to Biden’s answer to his campaign promise to rebuild the country from the COVID-19 crisis and confront a changing economy.But they’re not there yet.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi worked furiously into the night at the Capitol Thursday and kept the House late to shore up votes. The party has been here before, another politically messy day like many before that are being blamed for the Democrats’ dismal showing in this week’s elections. On and off Capitol Hill, party leaders declared it’s time for Congress to deliver on Biden’s agenda.“We’re going to pass both bills,” Pelosi insisted at a midday press briefing.Her strategy now seems focused on passing the most robust bill possible in her chamber and then leaving the Senate to adjust or strip out the portions its members won’t agree to. The House Rules Committee processed final revisions including to a state-and-local tax deduction in a brief meeting late Thursday in preparation for floor votes.Half the size of Biden’s initial $3.5 trillion package, the now sprawling 2,135-page bill has won over most of the progressive Democratic lawmakers, even though it is smaller than they wanted. But the chamber’s more centrist and fiscally conservative Democrats continued to mount objections.Overall the package remains more far-reaching than any other in decades. Republicans are fully opposed to Biden’s bill, which is called the “Build Back Better Act” after the president’s 2020 campaign slogan.The big package would provide large numbers of Americans with assistance to pay for health care, raising children and caring for elderly people at home.There would be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-business-prices-health-88d4b4fff842e6248157276e73ec097b">lower prescription drug costs</a>, limiting the price of insulin to $35 a dose, and Medicare for the first time would be able to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for prices of some other drugs, a long-sought Democratic priority.Medicare would have a new hearing aid benefit for older Americans, and those with Medicare Part D would see their out-of-pocket prescription drug costs capped at $2,000.The package would provide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cop26-climate-summit-joe-biden-13931475c10187f6d0d1d0cddabcbb53">some $555 billion in tax breaks encouraging cleaner energy</a>&nbsp;and electric vehicles, the nation’s largest commitment to tackling climate change.With&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-business-prices-health-88d4b4fff842e6248157276e73ec097b">a flurry of late adjustments</a>, the Democrats added key provisions in recent days — adding back a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-joe-manchin-2cfe30f02824d3f05797d3563e7bd189">new paid family leave program</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-joe-biden-business-congress-8ea0a7d0f4385e6fd28696e39b68a393">work permits for immigrants.&nbsp;</a>Late changes Thursday would lift a $10,000 cap on state-and-local tax deductions to $80,000.Much of the package’s cost would be covered with higher taxes on wealthier Americans, those earning more than $400,000 a year, and a 5% surtax would be added on those making over $10 million annually. Large corporations would face a new 15% minimum tax in an effort to stop big businesses from claiming so many deductions that they end up paying zero in taxes.From the White House, “the president has been very clear, he wants to get this moving,” said principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.As night fell, Democratic leaders struggled to resolve a catalog of remaining issues as lawmakers balanced the promise of Biden’s sweeping vision with the realities of their home-district politics.Biden has few votes to spare in the narrowly divided House and none when the bill ultimately arrives for consideration in the evenly split 50-50 Senate.Five centrist Democratic lawmakers want a full budgetary assessment before they vote. Others from more Republican-leaning regions are objecting to a new state-and-local tax deduction that favors New York, California and other high-tax states. Another group wants changes to the immigration-related provisions.In recent days, both the overall price tag and the revenue to pay for it have grown. A new White House assessment Thursday said revenue from the taxes on corporations and the wealthy and other changes are estimated to bring in $2.1 trillion over 10 years, according to a summary obtained by The Associated Press. That’s up from what had been $1.9 trillion in earlier estimates.Pelosi noted a similar assessment Thursday by the bipartisan Joint Committee on Taxation, and she echoed Biden’s frequent comment that the overall package will be fully paid for.But another model from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania suggested a shortfall in revenue for covering the cost, breeding fresh doubts among some of the Democratic lawmakers.Still, the Democrats in the House are anxious to finish up this week, eager to deliver on the president’s agenda and, as some lawmakers prepare to depart for a global climate change summit in Scotland, show the U.S. taking the environmental issue seriously.Democrats have been working to resolve their differences, particularly with holdout Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, who forced cutbacks to Biden’s bill but championed the slimmer infrastructure package that had stalled amid deliberations.Manchin has panned the new family and medical leave program, which is expected to provide four weeks of paid time off after childbirth, for recovery from major illness or for caring for family members, less than the 12-week program once envisioned.Senators are also likely to strip out a just-added immigration provision that would create a new program for some 7 million immigrants who are in the country without legal standing, allowing them to apply for permits to work and travel in the U.S. for five years. It’s not clear that addition would pass muster with the Senate parliamentarian under special budget rules being used to process the package.On another remaining issue, Democrats are still arguing over a plan partly to do away with the $10,000 limit on state and local tax deductions that particularly hits high-tax states and was enacted as part of the Trump-era 2017 tax plan.While repeal of the so-called SALT deduction cap is a priority for several Northeastern state lawmakers, progressives wanted to prevent the super-wealthy from benefiting. Under the revised plan, the $10,000 deduction cap would be lifted to $80,000 for nine years, starting with the 2021 tax year.___

House Dems delay vote on Biden's $1.85T spending plan again

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Republican state officials reacted with swift rebukes Thursday to President Joe Biden's newly detailed mandate for private employers to require workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, threatening a wave of lawsuits and other actions to thwart a requirement they see as a stark example of government overreach.

At least two conservative groups moved quickly to file lawsuits against the workplace safety mandate, and a growing roster of GOP governors and attorneys general said more lawsuits were on the way as soon as Friday. Some Republican-led states had already passed laws or executive orders intended to protect employers that may not want to comply.

“This rule is garbage,” South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, a Republican, said Thursday through a spokesperson. “It’s unconstitutional and we will fight it.” His state's governor, Republican Henry McMaster, said he is planning to issue an executive order keeping state agencies from enforcing the rule.

States have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-nba-sports-business-aa6c30fa6270b735acafc69e2ce26766">preparing for the requirement</a>&nbsp;since Biden previewed it in September. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-employer-mandates-us-29c2262c336bcfc38da2d14b251daf51">Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements released Thursday</a>&nbsp;call for companies with 100 or more employees to be vaccinated by Jan. 4 or be tested weekly. Failure to comply could result in penalties of nearly $14,000 per violation. Federal officials also left open the possibility of expanding the mandate to smaller employers.

The White House said the administration has the authority to take actions designed to protect workers and expects the rule to withstand legal challenges.

Republican governors or attorneys general in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and South Dakota said Thursday they would file lawsuits against the mandate. The Daily Wire, a conservative media company, filed a challenge in federal court on Thursday. So did companies in Michigan and Ohio represented by a conservative advocacy law firm.

Robert Alt, a lawyer representing the Midwest companies suing— manufacturer Phillips Manufacturing &amp; Tower Company and packaging firm Sixarp — said both companies are already facing staffing shortages amid the pandemic. The mandate will make things worse, he said.

“It adds insult to injury and forces them potentially to fire trained employees," said Alt, president and CEO of The Buckeye Institute, a conservative advocacy group.

States say they are focusing on the role of the federal government in the lawsuits they're preparing.

"While I agree that the vaccine is the tool that will best protect against COVID-19, this federal government approach is unprecedented and will bring about harmful, unintended consequences in the supply chain and the workforce,” Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said in a statement.

At a news conference, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized what he called an “executive fiat” for the private sector. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds characterized the mandate as an imposition on personal choice, saying people should be able to make their own health care decisions. She recently signed a bill guaranteeing that people who are fired for refusing a vaccine can qualify for unemployment benefits.

At least 19 Republican-led states previously&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-lawsuits-missouri-99fb3b040661c71ddde1ded37a2f5b87">sued the Biden administration</a>&nbsp;over a separate mandate requiring vaccines for employees who work for federal contractors. Several more filed similar lawsuits Thursday.

Biden, in a statement Thursday, dismissed the argument from many GOP governors and lawmakers that a mandate for employers will hurt businesses' ability to keep workers on the job.

“There have been no ‘mass firings’ and worker shortages because of vaccination requirements,” he said. “Despite what some predicted and falsely assert, vaccination requirements have broad public support.”

The administration has been encouraging widespread vaccinations as the quickest way out of the pandemic. A White House spokeswoman, Karine Jean-Pierre, said during a briefing Thursday that the mandate was intended to halt the spread of a disease that has claimed more than 750,000 lives in the U.S.

“So you know, the question that we always have and that we ask to the Republicans is, why are they getting in the way?" Jean-Pierre said. “Why are they getting in the way of trying to protect and save lives? That’s all we’re trying to do.”

Challenges to the workplace mandate from Republicans and conservative groups are expected to be broad-based and quick, reflecting yet another aspect of the COVID-19 response — from mask requirements to social-distancing guidelines — that has fallen into a partisan divide. Democratic governors and attorneys general were relatively quiet after the OSHA rules were announced on Thursday. From California, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a simple Twitter message: “The right move.” Another Democrat, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, defended mandates in an emailed statement to The Associated Press.

Laura Kelly, the Democratic governor in Republican-dominated Kansas, was trying to walk a fine line on the new workplace rules. She said after a chamber of commerce event Thursday that federal mandates “tend not to work” and that she wanted a “Kansas-focused” way to meet, them but did not give details.

All 26 Republican state attorneys general have previously said they would fight the requirements, and most of them signed a letter to Biden saying as much.

Key to their objection is whether OSHA has the legal authority to require vaccines or virus testing.

In the letter to Biden, the top state government lawyers argued that the agency can regulate only health risks that are specific to jobs — not ones that are in the world generally. Seema Nanda, the top legal official for the U.S. Department of Labor, which includes OSHA, says established legal precedent allows rules that keep workplaces safe and that those rules pre-empt state laws.

That hasn't stopped state lawmakers and governors for taking a variety of actions aimed at undercutting federal mandates.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott last month issued an executive order prohibiting private companies or any other entity from requiring vaccines. An Ohio lawmaker has proposed a bill barring schools and colleges from expelling students who refuse vaccines and preventing employers from firing workers who do so.

Arkansas has adopted a law creating a vaccine-mandate exemption for workers who can prove they have COVID-19 antibodies, although a broader measure banning employers from asking about vaccination status failed in the Legislature. The OSHA rule does include a religious exemption, as well as one for people who work exclusively outdoors or away from others — such as from home.

Lawmakers or governors in states including Kansas, South Dakota and Wyoming have called for special legislative sessions to counter vaccine mandates. In Nebraska, not enough state lawmakers agreed to a special session to get one on the calendar, but Gov. Pete Ricketts, a Republican in a GOP-dominated state, has been pushing them to keep trying.

In Ohio, factory owner Ross McGregor said he will follow the rules as he would any federal workplace mandate, but not because he agrees with them. McGregor, who said he is vaccinated, is opposed to the new requirement, just as he has publicly opposed efforts by Ohio Republican lawmakers to prevent him from mandating the coronavirus vaccine for his workers.

“At the end of the day, every employer, and every employment situation, dictates what is best,” said McGregor, a former Republican state lawmaker and owner of axle and brake component manufacturer Pentaflex, where he estimates that about half the 115 or so employees are vaccinated. “Having either a ban on mandates or an imposition of mandates goes against that”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636108813855.png" alt="The White House said the administration has the authority to take actions designed to protect workers and expects the rule to withstand legal challenges-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>The White House said the administration has the authority to take actions designed to protect workers and expects the rule to withstand legal challenges-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Republican state officials reacted with swift rebukes Thursday to President Joe Biden's newly detailed mandate for private employers to require workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, threatening a wave of lawsuits and other actions to thwart a requirement they see as a stark example of government overreach.At least two conservative groups moved quickly to file lawsuits against the workplace safety mandate, and a growing roster of GOP governors and attorneys general said more lawsuits were on the way as soon as Friday. Some Republican-led states had already passed laws or executive orders intended to protect employers that may not want to comply.“This rule is garbage,” South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, a Republican, said Thursday through a spokesperson. “It’s unconstitutional and we will fight it.” His state's governor, Republican Henry McMaster, said he is planning to issue an executive order keeping state agencies from enforcing the rule.States have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-nba-sports-business-aa6c30fa6270b735acafc69e2ce26766">preparing for the requirement</a>&nbsp;since Biden previewed it in September. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-employer-mandates-us-29c2262c336bcfc38da2d14b251daf51">Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements released Thursday</a>&nbsp;call for companies with 100 or more employees to be vaccinated by Jan. 4 or be tested weekly. Failure to comply could result in penalties of nearly $14,000 per violation. Federal officials also left open the possibility of expanding the mandate to smaller employers.The White House said the administration has the authority to take actions designed to protect workers and expects the rule to withstand legal challenges.Republican governors or attorneys general in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and South Dakota said Thursday they would file lawsuits against the mandate. The Daily Wire, a conservative media company, filed a challenge in federal court on Thursday. So did companies in Michigan and Ohio represented by a conservative advocacy law firm.Robert Alt, a lawyer representing the Midwest companies suing— manufacturer Phillips Manufacturing &amp; Tower Company and packaging firm Sixarp — said both companies are already facing staffing shortages amid the pandemic. The mandate will make things worse, he said.“It adds insult to injury and forces them potentially to fire trained employees," said Alt, president and CEO of The Buckeye Institute, a conservative advocacy group.States say they are focusing on the role of the federal government in the lawsuits they're preparing."While I agree that the vaccine is the tool that will best protect against COVID-19, this federal government approach is unprecedented and will bring about harmful, unintended consequences in the supply chain and the workforce,” Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said in a statement.At a news conference, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized what he called an “executive fiat” for the private sector. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds characterized the mandate as an imposition on personal choice, saying people should be able to make their own health care decisions. She recently signed a bill guaranteeing that people who are fired for refusing a vaccine can qualify for unemployment benefits.At least 19 Republican-led states previously&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-lawsuits-missouri-99fb3b040661c71ddde1ded37a2f5b87">sued the Biden administration</a>&nbsp;over a separate mandate requiring vaccines for employees who work for federal contractors. Several more filed similar lawsuits Thursday.Biden, in a statement Thursday, dismissed the argument from many GOP governors and lawmakers that a mandate for employers will hurt businesses' ability to keep workers on the job.“There have been no ‘mass firings’ and worker shortages because of vaccination requirements,” he said. “Despite what some predicted and falsely assert, vaccination requirements have broad public support.”The administration has been encouraging widespread vaccinations as the quickest way out of the pandemic. A White House spokeswoman, Karine Jean-Pierre, said during a briefing Thursday that the mandate was intended to halt the spread of a disease that has claimed more than 750,000 lives in the U.S.“So you know, the question that we always have and that we ask to the Republicans is, why are they getting in the way?" Jean-Pierre said. “Why are they getting in the way of trying to protect and save lives? That’s all we’re trying to do.”Challenges to the workplace mandate from Republicans and conservative groups are expected to be broad-based and quick, reflecting yet another aspect of the COVID-19 response — from mask requirements to social-distancing guidelines — that has fallen into a partisan divide. Democratic governors and attorneys general were relatively quiet after the OSHA rules were announced on Thursday. From California, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a simple Twitter message: “The right move.” Another Democrat, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, defended mandates in an emailed statement to The Associated Press.Laura Kelly, the Democratic governor in Republican-dominated Kansas, was trying to walk a fine line on the new workplace rules. She said after a chamber of commerce event Thursday that federal mandates “tend not to work” and that she wanted a “Kansas-focused” way to meet, them but did not give details.All 26 Republican state attorneys general have previously said they would fight the requirements, and most of them signed a letter to Biden saying as much.Key to their objection is whether OSHA has the legal authority to require vaccines or virus testing.In the letter to Biden, the top state government lawyers argued that the agency can regulate only health risks that are specific to jobs — not ones that are in the world generally. Seema Nanda, the top legal official for the U.S. Department of Labor, which includes OSHA, says established legal precedent allows rules that keep workplaces safe and that those rules pre-empt state laws.That hasn't stopped state lawmakers and governors for taking a variety of actions aimed at undercutting federal mandates.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott last month issued an executive order prohibiting private companies or any other entity from requiring vaccines. An Ohio lawmaker has proposed a bill barring schools and colleges from expelling students who refuse vaccines and preventing employers from firing workers who do so.Arkansas has adopted a law creating a vaccine-mandate exemption for workers who can prove they have COVID-19 antibodies, although a broader measure banning employers from asking about vaccination status failed in the Legislature. The OSHA rule does include a religious exemption, as well as one for people who work exclusively outdoors or away from others — such as from home.Lawmakers or governors in states including Kansas, South Dakota and Wyoming have called for special legislative sessions to counter vaccine mandates. In Nebraska, not enough state lawmakers agreed to a special session to get one on the calendar, but Gov. Pete Ricketts, a Republican in a GOP-dominated state, has been pushing them to keep trying.In Ohio, factory owner Ross McGregor said he will follow the rules as he would any federal workplace mandate, but not because he agrees with them. McGregor, who said he is vaccinated, is opposed to the new requirement, just as he has publicly opposed efforts by Ohio Republican lawmakers to prevent him from mandating the coronavirus vaccine for his workers.“At the end of the day, every employer, and every employment situation, dictates what is best,” said McGregor, a former Republican state lawmaker and owner of axle and brake component manufacturer Pentaflex, where he estimates that about half the 115 or so employees are vaccinated. “Having either a ban on mandates or an imposition of mandates goes against that”___

GOP state officials push back on employer vaccine mandate

Every year, there’s always a few “must-have” toys on 
most kids’ holiday wish lists. The toy sells out fast and becomes 
expensive and hard to find. On top of that, the <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/25984-bbb-tip-dont-let-the-microchip-shortage-ruin-your-holiday-shopping" target="_blank">microchip shortage</a> has parents worried about getting their deliveries on time.&nbsp; This year’s hot picks, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/essentials/hottest-toys-amazon-holiday-season-2021/" target="_blank">according to Amazon</a>
 (a BBB Accredited Business), include Galactic Snackin’ Grogu 
Animatronic (aka Baby Yoda); game consoles, such as Nintendo Switch and 
Playstation; LEGO; and L.O.L. Surprise dolls. Scammers are using the 
toys' popularity to trick parents out of their money.&nbsp;

You are looking for these toys, but they are sold out at 
every store you visit. So you decide to look online. A quick search 
takes you to a page that miraculously has the toy in stock. The site may
 look professional and have original images of the product. It may even 
offer the product at discounted prices, claiming a “last-minute deal” or
 “flash sale.”

Unfortunately, many such offers are fake. In many cases reported to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a>,
 buyers thought they were ordering a high-quality, animatronic toy. 
Instead, they received a cheap counterfeit version. In other cases, the 
products never shipped at all and the websites vanished. In either case,
 when the dissatisfied customers tried to follow up with the company, 
they found that the staff either didn't respond or refused to provide a 
refund.&nbsp;

For example, one shopper told <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>
 that they fell for a phony deal on gaming consoles: "I was online 
searching for an in-stock Nintendo Switch OLED. The Nintendo site did 
not have any in stock. I searched on Google for Nintendo switch OLED and
 found this site [redacted] for $99.99. I thought wow that is cheap, and
 let’s go for it! I also bought a PlayStation 5 for the same price with a
 different email (since only one promotional item per email). They 
emailed me a confirmation and it said to wait 24 to 48 hours for 
shipping information. I go to check today on order status and they took 
their website down. I tried emailing them and the email just returns 
back to me undeliverable."&nbsp;

Another shopper found what they thought was a great deal 
on LEGO, but the product never shipped. "The product NEVER arrived, even
 though [redacted] gave me the run-around for 3 months saying it was on 
the way," the consumer told <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>.
 "I checked the tracking number they gave me with the USPS, and they 
didn't have anything with that number ever. It was a fake to begin 
with."

See&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/online-shopping" target="_blank">BBB.org/onlineshopping</a>&nbsp;for more online shopping tips.&nbsp;For more about avoiding scams this holiday season, check out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/holiday">BBB.org/Holiday</a>.&nbsp;

If you’ve spot a scam (whether or not you’ve lost money), report it to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>. Your report can help others avoid falling victim.

If you see a questionable ad, report it to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/bbbi/adtruth" target="_blank">BBB AdTruth</a>&nbsp;so we can investigate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Better Business BureauEvery year, there’s always a few “must-have” toys on 
most kids’ holiday wish lists. The toy sells out fast and becomes 
expensive and hard to find. On top of that, the <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/25984-bbb-tip-dont-let-the-microchip-shortage-ruin-your-holiday-shopping" target="_blank">microchip shortage</a> has parents worried about getting their deliveries on time.&nbsp; This year’s hot picks, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/essentials/hottest-toys-amazon-holiday-season-2021/" target="_blank">according to Amazon</a>
 (a BBB Accredited Business), include Galactic Snackin’ Grogu 
Animatronic (aka Baby Yoda); game consoles, such as Nintendo Switch and 
Playstation; LEGO; and L.O.L. Surprise dolls. Scammers are using the 
toys' popularity to trick parents out of their money.&nbsp; <h2>How the Scam Works</h2>You are looking for these toys, but they are sold out at 
every store you visit. So you decide to look online. A quick search 
takes you to a page that miraculously has the toy in stock. The site may
 look professional and have original images of the product. It may even 
offer the product at discounted prices, claiming a “last-minute deal” or
 “flash sale.”Unfortunately, many such offers are fake. In many cases reported to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a>,
 buyers thought they were ordering a high-quality, animatronic toy. 
Instead, they received a cheap counterfeit version. In other cases, the 
products never shipped at all and the websites vanished. In either case,
 when the dissatisfied customers tried to follow up with the company, 
they found that the staff either didn't respond or refused to provide a 
refund.&nbsp;For example, one shopper told <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>
 that they fell for a phony deal on gaming consoles: "I was online 
searching for an in-stock Nintendo Switch OLED. The Nintendo site did 
not have any in stock. I searched on Google for Nintendo switch OLED and
 found this site [redacted] for $99.99. I thought wow that is cheap, and
 let’s go for it! I also bought a PlayStation 5 for the same price with a
 different email (since only one promotional item per email). They 
emailed me a confirmation and it said to wait 24 to 48 hours for 
shipping information. I go to check today on order status and they took 
their website down. I tried emailing them and the email just returns 
back to me undeliverable."&nbsp;Another shopper found what they thought was a great deal 
on LEGO, but the product never shipped. "The product NEVER arrived, even
 though [redacted] gave me the run-around for 3 months saying it was on 
the way," the consumer told <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>.
 "I checked the tracking number they gave me with the USPS, and they 
didn't have anything with that number ever. It was a fake to begin 
with."<h2>Tips to avoid toy scams</h2><ul>
 <li>Only buy toys from reputable stores and websites.&nbsp;The best way to avoid getting scammed when purchasing toys is to buy them directly from a seller you know and trust. </li><li>Don’t be fooled by extra-low prices.&nbsp;Unreasonably
 low prices are a red flag for a scam on many products. Avoid making a 
purchase from a retailer you aren’t familiar with just because the price
 sounds too good to be true – it probably is! </li><li>Research before you buy. If a company 
seems legitimate but you aren’t familiar with it, be extra careful with 
your personal information. Before offering up your name, address, and 
credit card information, make sure the company has a working customer 
service number </li>
 </ul>For More InformationSee&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/online-shopping" target="_blank">BBB.org/onlineshopping</a>&nbsp;for more online shopping tips.&nbsp;For more about avoiding scams this holiday season, check out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/holiday">BBB.org/Holiday</a>.&nbsp;If you’ve spot a scam (whether or not you’ve lost money), report it to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>. Your report can help others avoid falling victim.If you see a questionable ad, report it to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/bbbi/adtruth" target="_blank">BBB AdTruth</a>&nbsp;so we can investigate.

Scammers take advantage of shoppers looking for season's 'hot toys'

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that the 
amount individuals can contribute to their 401(k) plans in 2022 has 
increased to $20,500, up from $19,500 for 2021 and 2020. The IRS today 
also issued technical guidance regarding all of the cost‑of‑living 
adjustments affecting dollar limitations for pension plans and other 
retirement-related items for tax year 2022 in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-21-61.pdf">Notice 2021-61</a>&nbsp;PDF, posted today on IRS.gov.

The contribution limit for employees who participate in 401(k), 
403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal government's Thrift Savings Plan
 is increased to $20,500, up from $19,500.

The income ranges for determining eligibility to make deductible 
contributions to traditional Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), 
to contribute to Roth IRAs, and to claim the Saver's Credit all 
increased for 2022.

Taxpayers can deduct contributions to a traditional IRA if they meet 
certain conditions. If during the year either the taxpayer or the 
taxpayer's spouse was covered by a retirement plan at work, the 
deduction may be reduced, or phased out, until it is eliminated, 
depending on filing status and income. (If neither the taxpayer nor the 
spouse is covered by a retirement plan at work, the phase-outs of the 
deduction do not apply.) Here are the phase-out ranges for 2022:

The income phase-out range for taxpayers making contributions to
 a Roth IRA is increased to $129,000 to $144,000 for singles and heads 
of household, up from $125,000 to $140,000. For married couples filing 
jointly, the income phase-out range is increased to $204,000 to 
$214,000, up from $198,000 to $208,000. The phase-out range for a 
married individual filing a separate return who makes contributions to a
 Roth IRA is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and 
remains $0 to $10,000.

The income limit for the Saver's Credit (also known as the Retirement
 Savings Contributions Credit) for low- and moderate-income workers is 
$68,000 for married couples filing jointly, up from $66,000; $51,000 for
 heads of household, up from $49,500; and $34,000 for singles and 
married individuals filing separately, up from $33,000.

The amount individuals can contribute to their SIMPLE retirement accounts is increased to $14,000, up from $13,500.

Key employee contribution limits that remain unchanged

The limit on annual contributions to an IRA remains unchanged at 
$6,000. The IRA catch-up contribution limit for individuals aged 50 and 
over is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains 
$1,000.

The catch-up contribution limit for employees aged 50 and over who 
participate in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal 
government's Thrift Savings Plan remains unchanged at $6,500. Therefore,
 participants in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal 
government's Thrift Savings Plan who are 50 and older can contribute up 
to $27,000, starting in 2022. The catch-up contribution limit for 
employees aged 50 and over who participate in SIMPLE plans remains 
unchanged at $3,000.

Details on these and other retirement-related cost-of-living adjustments for 2022 are in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-21-61.pdf">Notice 2021-61</a>&nbsp;PDF, available on IRS.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that the 
amount individuals can contribute to their 401(k) plans in 2022 has 
increased to $20,500, up from $19,500 for 2021 and 2020. The IRS today 
also issued technical guidance regarding all of the cost‑of‑living 
adjustments affecting dollar limitations for pension plans and other 
retirement-related items for tax year 2022 in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-21-61.pdf">Notice 2021-61</a>&nbsp;PDF, posted today on IRS.gov.<h2>Highlights of changes for 2022</h2>The contribution limit for employees who participate in 401(k), 
403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal government's Thrift Savings Plan
 is increased to $20,500, up from $19,500.The income ranges for determining eligibility to make deductible 
contributions to traditional Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), 
to contribute to Roth IRAs, and to claim the Saver's Credit all 
increased for 2022.Taxpayers can deduct contributions to a traditional IRA if they meet 
certain conditions. If during the year either the taxpayer or the 
taxpayer's spouse was covered by a retirement plan at work, the 
deduction may be reduced, or phased out, until it is eliminated, 
depending on filing status and income. (If neither the taxpayer nor the 
spouse is covered by a retirement plan at work, the phase-outs of the 
deduction do not apply.) Here are the phase-out ranges for 2022:<ul>
 <li>For single taxpayers covered by a workplace retirement plan, the
 phase-out range is increased to $68,000 to $78,000, up from $66,000 to 
$76,000.</li><li>For married couples filing jointly, if the spouse making the IRA 
contribution is covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out 
range is increased to $109,000 to $129,000, up from $105,000 to 
$125,000.</li><li>For an IRA contributor who is not covered by a workplace retirement
 plan and is married to someone who is covered, the phase-out range is 
increased to $204,000 to $214,000, up from $198,000 to $208,000.</li><li>For a married individual filing a separate return who is covered by
 a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range is not subject to an 
annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains $0 to $10,000.</li>
 </ul>The income phase-out range for taxpayers making contributions to
 a Roth IRA is increased to $129,000 to $144,000 for singles and heads 
of household, up from $125,000 to $140,000. For married couples filing 
jointly, the income phase-out range is increased to $204,000 to 
$214,000, up from $198,000 to $208,000. The phase-out range for a 
married individual filing a separate return who makes contributions to a
 Roth IRA is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and 
remains $0 to $10,000.The income limit for the Saver's Credit (also known as the Retirement
 Savings Contributions Credit) for low- and moderate-income workers is 
$68,000 for married couples filing jointly, up from $66,000; $51,000 for
 heads of household, up from $49,500; and $34,000 for singles and 
married individuals filing separately, up from $33,000.The amount individuals can contribute to their SIMPLE retirement accounts is increased to $14,000, up from $13,500.<h2>Key employee contribution limits that remain unchanged</h2>The limit on annual contributions to an IRA remains unchanged at 
$6,000. The IRA catch-up contribution limit for individuals aged 50 and 
over is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains 
$1,000.The catch-up contribution limit for employees aged 50 and over who 
participate in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal 
government's Thrift Savings Plan remains unchanged at $6,500. Therefore,
 participants in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal 
government's Thrift Savings Plan who are 50 and older can contribute up 
to $27,000, starting in 2022. The catch-up contribution limit for 
employees aged 50 and over who participate in SIMPLE plans remains 
unchanged at $3,000.Details on these and other retirement-related cost-of-living adjustments for 2022 are in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-21-61.pdf">Notice 2021-61</a>&nbsp;PDF, available on IRS.gov.

IRS announces 401(k) limit increases to contributions

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the deadly shooting of a 28-year-old man in Grand Island. 

The Grand Island Independent reports that police responded just after 3 a.m. Thursday and found Tesloach Kek Yiel wounded. 

He was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

An autopsy has been ordered, and police are encouraging anyone with security or doorbell cameras to call.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the deadly shooting of a 28-year-old man in Grand Island. The Grand Island Independent reports that police responded just after 3 a.m. Thursday and found Tesloach Kek Yiel wounded. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy has been ordered, and police are encouraging anyone with security or doorbell cameras to call.

28-year-old shot, killed in Nebraska

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Protesters against COVID-19 vaccine mandates in South Dakota are suing Gov. Kristi Noem after the state denied their application to demonstrate on Capitol grounds during a special legislative session this month.

 The group of protesters say they planned to hold a demonstration next week to push the Legislature to take up a bill that would keep businesses from requiring vaccines as a condition of employment. 

But they were told by state employees they could not hold the event on Capitol grounds because it was being decorated for a Christmas display.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Protesters against COVID-19 vaccine mandates in South Dakota are suing Gov. Kristi Noem after the state denied their application to demonstrate on Capitol grounds during a special legislative session this month. The group of protesters say they planned to hold a demonstration next week to push the Legislature to take up a bill that would keep businesses from requiring vaccines as a condition of employment. But they were told by state employees they could not hold the event on Capitol grounds because it was being decorated for a Christmas display.

Vaccine mandate protesters sue South Dakota over permit

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats added a new paid family leave program, immigrant work permits and a state-and-local tax break to President Joe Biden’s $1.75 trillion social services and environmental bill Wednesday, reviving key priorities in the rush to finish up and start voting after dismal overnight election results.

The House Rules Committee convened late Wednesday afternoon to consider the updated text of the now-sprawling 2,135-page package — a crucial step ahead of initial House votes that are possible as soon as Thursday.

The flurry of last-minute additions — on top of a plan to include lower Medicare prescription drug prices — comes as Democrats are desperate to deliver on Biden’s signature domestic proposals after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2021-virginia-governor-glenn-youngkin-mcaulife-6cdbf77acf9a966e216ab2a297601baa">grim election results for the party in Virginia</a>, a warning that their grip on power could be in peril in next year’s midterms.

Most&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-election-ap-votecast-survey-75520c5c9a245bee384526abc138a61a">voters in Virginia said drawn-out negotiations</a>&nbsp;in Washington over Biden’s governing agenda were an important factor in their vote, so blame was flowing to Capitol Hill as Democrats have spent months arguing over details of the package.

“We’ve got to produce,” Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia told reporters at the Capitol. “We’ve got to get results for people.”

From the White House, Biden agreed: “What I do know is I do know that people want us to get things done.”

Biden said, “I’m continuing to push very hard for the Democratic Party to move along and pass my infrastructure bill and my ‘Build Back Better’ bill.”

Democrats have been working fervently to shelve their differences, particularly with holdout Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, and launch votes on Biden’s big bill and a related $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package that has stalled.

The family leave provision Manchin had resisted earlier is expected to include four weeks of paid time off for childbirth, recovery from major illness or caring for family members, less than the 12-week program once envisioned, but all fully paid for with revenue elsewhere.

Biden had reluctantly dropped a scaled-back paid leave proposal from last week’s White House framework after Manchin balked at the cost. But Democrats who lobbied that paid leave has been a party priority for decades continued to push it.

Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, said the paid leave program came together after talks early Wednesday with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. It’s “a policy that will finally give workers and their families the peace of mind of knowing that when disaster strikes, they can rely on paid leave to avoid total crisis,” he said in a statement.

On another remaining issue, the Democrats compromised on a plan partly to do away with the $10,000 limit on state and local tax deductions that particularly hits New York, California and other high-tax states and was enacted as part of the Trump-era 2017 tax plan.

While repeal of the so-called SALT deduction cap is a priority for several northeastern state lawmakers, progressives wanted to prevent the super-wealthy from benefiting. Under the plan, the $10,000 deduction cap would be lifted to $72,500 for 10 years, starting with the 2021 tax year.

And the just-added immigration provision would create a new program for some 7 million immigrants who are in the country without legal standing, allowing them to apply for permits to work and travel in the U.S. for five years. It would also allow the government to tap unused visas to admit people into the U.S.

Resolving the immigration issue was among the last daunting challenges to finishing up the draft of Biden’s package. Biden had set aside $100 billion to fund the immigration changes, which could bolster the overall package from $1.75 trillion to $1.85 trillion if the provision is accepted by the Senate. Lawmakers plan to make their case to Senate parliamentarian in coming days, hopeful the changes will pass muster under Senate rules because they build on existing programs, those involved said.

“We have to have something for our immigrants,” said Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif.

Both the paid family leave and the immigration law changes have drawn resistance from Manchin, whose support remains crucial in the 50-50 Senate, where Biden has no votes to spare. The overall bill faces united opposition from Republicans.

Manchin wants Democrats to take more time in negotiations, and panned the paid-leave announcement, suggesting it could be done separate from Biden’s package or “in a bipartisan way.”

Pelosi in a letter to colleagues Wednesday acknowledged opposition to the House’s approach from a single senator, a reference to Manchin. But Pelosi’s strategy now seems intent on passing the most robust bill possible in her chamber and then leaving the Senate to adjust or strip out the portions they won’t agree to.

“We must strive to find common ground in the legislation,” Pelosi said in a letter to colleagues.

Biden’s $1.75 trillion package would provide large numbers of Americans with assistance to pay for health care, education, raising children and caring for elderly people in their homes. It also would provide some $555 billion in tax breaks encouraging cleaner energy and electrified vehicles, the nation’s largest commitment to tackling climate change.

Much of its costs would be covered with higher taxes on people earning over $10 million annually and large corporations, which would now face a 15% minimum tax in efforts to stop big business from claiming so many deductions they end up paying zero in taxes.

Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas., said the party’s internal debates have been harmful not only for public opinion, but “also harmful in terms of showing that our democracy is working.” He said Wednesday, “We have to show that we can govern.”

Still, the final details of Biden’s big proposal are coming into shape.

Along with Wednesday’s additions of the paid family leave, immigration and local tax deduction programs, Democrats on Tuesday reached a deal to lower prescription drug costs for most older people, capping out-of-pocket Medicare Part D costs at $2,000 and reducing the price of insulin.

For the first time, Medicare will be able to negotiate prescription drug prices in its Part B and Part D programs. The new monthly cap on the price of insulin would lower the price to no more than $35 a dose and there would be a so-called inflation rebate if annual prices rise too high, Democrats said.

Some moderate Democrats in the House said they want to see a fiscal assessment of Biden’s overall package from the Congressional Budget Office before taking the vote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635971215142.png" alt="“We must strive to find common ground in the legislation,” Pelosi said in a letter to colleagues on Wednesday-photo courtesy office of House Speaker" />
 <figcaption>“We must strive to find common ground in the legislation,” Pelosi said in a letter to colleagues on Wednesday-photo courtesy office of House Speaker</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats added a new paid family leave program, immigrant work permits and a state-and-local tax break to President Joe Biden’s $1.75 trillion social services and environmental bill Wednesday, reviving key priorities in the rush to finish up and start voting after dismal overnight election results.The House Rules Committee convened late Wednesday afternoon to consider the updated text of the now-sprawling 2,135-page package — a crucial step ahead of initial House votes that are possible as soon as Thursday.The flurry of last-minute additions — on top of a plan to include lower Medicare prescription drug prices — comes as Democrats are desperate to deliver on Biden’s signature domestic proposals after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2021-virginia-governor-glenn-youngkin-mcaulife-6cdbf77acf9a966e216ab2a297601baa">grim election results for the party in Virginia</a>, a warning that their grip on power could be in peril in next year’s midterms.Most&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-election-ap-votecast-survey-75520c5c9a245bee384526abc138a61a">voters in Virginia said drawn-out negotiations</a>&nbsp;in Washington over Biden’s governing agenda were an important factor in their vote, so blame was flowing to Capitol Hill as Democrats have spent months arguing over details of the package.“We’ve got to produce,” Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia told reporters at the Capitol. “We’ve got to get results for people.”From the White House, Biden agreed: “What I do know is I do know that people want us to get things done.”Biden said, “I’m continuing to push very hard for the Democratic Party to move along and pass my infrastructure bill and my ‘Build Back Better’ bill.”Democrats have been working fervently to shelve their differences, particularly with holdout Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, and launch votes on Biden’s big bill and a related $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package that has stalled.The family leave provision Manchin had resisted earlier is expected to include four weeks of paid time off for childbirth, recovery from major illness or caring for family members, less than the 12-week program once envisioned, but all fully paid for with revenue elsewhere.Biden had reluctantly dropped a scaled-back paid leave proposal from last week’s White House framework after Manchin balked at the cost. But Democrats who lobbied that paid leave has been a party priority for decades continued to push it.Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, said the paid leave program came together after talks early Wednesday with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. It’s “a policy that will finally give workers and their families the peace of mind of knowing that when disaster strikes, they can rely on paid leave to avoid total crisis,” he said in a statement.On another remaining issue, the Democrats compromised on a plan partly to do away with the $10,000 limit on state and local tax deductions that particularly hits New York, California and other high-tax states and was enacted as part of the Trump-era 2017 tax plan.While repeal of the so-called SALT deduction cap is a priority for several northeastern state lawmakers, progressives wanted to prevent the super-wealthy from benefiting. Under the plan, the $10,000 deduction cap would be lifted to $72,500 for 10 years, starting with the 2021 tax year.And the just-added immigration provision would create a new program for some 7 million immigrants who are in the country without legal standing, allowing them to apply for permits to work and travel in the U.S. for five years. It would also allow the government to tap unused visas to admit people into the U.S.Resolving the immigration issue was among the last daunting challenges to finishing up the draft of Biden’s package. Biden had set aside $100 billion to fund the immigration changes, which could bolster the overall package from $1.75 trillion to $1.85 trillion if the provision is accepted by the Senate. Lawmakers plan to make their case to Senate parliamentarian in coming days, hopeful the changes will pass muster under Senate rules because they build on existing programs, those involved said.“We have to have something for our immigrants,” said Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif.Both the paid family leave and the immigration law changes have drawn resistance from Manchin, whose support remains crucial in the 50-50 Senate, where Biden has no votes to spare. The overall bill faces united opposition from Republicans.Manchin wants Democrats to take more time in negotiations, and panned the paid-leave announcement, suggesting it could be done separate from Biden’s package or “in a bipartisan way.”Pelosi in a letter to colleagues Wednesday acknowledged opposition to the House’s approach from a single senator, a reference to Manchin. But Pelosi’s strategy now seems intent on passing the most robust bill possible in her chamber and then leaving the Senate to adjust or strip out the portions they won’t agree to.“We must strive to find common ground in the legislation,” Pelosi said in a letter to colleagues.Biden’s $1.75 trillion package would provide large numbers of Americans with assistance to pay for health care, education, raising children and caring for elderly people in their homes. It also would provide some $555 billion in tax breaks encouraging cleaner energy and electrified vehicles, the nation’s largest commitment to tackling climate change.Much of its costs would be covered with higher taxes on people earning over $10 million annually and large corporations, which would now face a 15% minimum tax in efforts to stop big business from claiming so many deductions they end up paying zero in taxes.Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas., said the party’s internal debates have been harmful not only for public opinion, but “also harmful in terms of showing that our democracy is working.” He said Wednesday, “We have to show that we can govern.”Still, the final details of Biden’s big proposal are coming into shape.Along with Wednesday’s additions of the paid family leave, immigration and local tax deduction programs, Democrats on Tuesday reached a deal to lower prescription drug costs for most older people, capping out-of-pocket Medicare Part D costs at $2,000 and reducing the price of insulin.For the first time, Medicare will be able to negotiate prescription drug prices in its Part B and Part D programs. The new monthly cap on the price of insulin would lower the price to no more than $35 a dose and there would be a so-called inflation rebate if annual prices rise too high, Democrats said.Some moderate Democrats in the House said they want to see a fiscal assessment of Biden’s overall package from the Congressional Budget Office before taking the vote.

Paid leave, immigration, tax changes added to Biden's $1.7T bill

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

SALINE COUNTY, Kan. —A Nebraska man was transported to the hospital after the SUV he was driving struck the back of a tractor-trailer rig hauling metal just north of the Interstate 135/Interstate 70 interchange just after 12:30a.m. Thursday.

Jeffery Wolfe, 37, of Stanton, Neb., was northbound in the left-hand lane of Interstate 135 in a 2004 Lincoln Aviator when the SUV drifted into the right-hand lane and struck the back left corner of the tractor-trailer rig that was merging from Interstate 70 onto Interstate 35/U.S. Highway 81, according to Saline County Sheriff's Lieutenant Michael Ascher.

The rig was being driven by David Mitchell, 51, of Wyoming was driving the semi.nThere was no evidence of braking or skid marks prior to impact, Ascher said.&nbsp; The crash caved in the passenger side of the SUV. 

Wolfe, who had to be extracated from the SUV, suffered a possible broken bone and other minor injuries, and was transported by EMS to Salina Regional Health Center, Ascher said. Mitchell was not injured. 

Additionally, a yellow Labrador, who was in the back seat of the SUV, was not injured, Ascher said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636042149291.jpeg" alt="The inside of the SUV on the driver's side. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>The inside of the SUV on the driver's side. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSALINE COUNTY, Kan. —A Nebraska man was transported to the hospital after the SUV he was driving struck the back of a tractor-trailer rig hauling metal just north of the Interstate 135/Interstate 70 interchange just after 12:30a.m. Thursday.Jeffery Wolfe, 37, of Stanton, Neb., was northbound in the left-hand lane of Interstate 135 in a 2004 Lincoln Aviator when the SUV drifted into the right-hand lane and struck the back left corner of the tractor-trailer rig that was merging from Interstate 70 onto Interstate 35/U.S. Highway 81, according to Saline County Sheriff's Lieutenant Michael Ascher.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636041980005.jpeg" alt="The SUV struck the back left of the the tractor-trailer rig." />
 <figcaption>The SUV struck the back left of the the tractor-trailer rig.</figcaption>
 </figure>The rig was being driven by David Mitchell, 51, of Wyoming was driving the semi.nThere was no evidence of braking or skid marks prior to impact, Ascher said.&nbsp; The crash caved in the passenger side of the SUV. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636041870776.jpeg" alt="The front passenger side of the SUV." />
 <figcaption>The front passenger side of the SUV.</figcaption>
 </figure>Wolfe, who had to be extracated from the SUV, suffered a possible broken bone and other minor injuries, and was transported by EMS to Salina Regional Health Center, Ascher said. Mitchell was not injured. Additionally, a yellow Labrador, who was in the back seat of the SUV, was not injured, Ascher said.