KANSAS CITY (AP) —The new federal vaccine requirement announced by President Joe Biden has created another worry for large businesses: With help wanted signs up almost everywhere, some could lose valuable employees or won’t be able to find new ones.

Biden announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-executive-branch-18fb12993f05be13bf760946a6fb89be">sweeping new orders</a>&nbsp;last week that will require employers with more than 100 workers to mandate vaccinations against COVID-19 or offer weekly testing. The new rules could affect as many as 100 million Americans, although it’s not clear how many of those people are currently unvaccinated.

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, says the vaccine mandate could go a long way to boost the economy.

“The evidence across countries is that more vaccinations means fewer infections, hospitalizations and deaths, which in turn means a stronger economy,” he said.

But even those who favor Biden’s decision as a way to stop the coronavirus from spreading further are afraid that vaccination-averse workers will quit, or job seekers won’t apply for their openings. Some workers may also switch to smaller companies where shots in the arm aren’t required.

“In a tight marketplace, it’s very difficult to find employees, much less to keep our current employees,” said Jonathan Chariff, CEO of South Motors, a group of 12 auto dealerships in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area with more than 1,100 workers. “It’s easy for them to go and find another job elsewhere.”

To be sure, the mandate could make some employees more comfortable working with others in tight spaces. Indeed, Chariff said his company supports Biden’s move and wants to make sure all workers are vaccinated to keep them safe, especially after two employees died from the virus. However, the company decided against requiring them because of the labor shortage. Right now, Chariff has 80 to 100 openings.

Karl Wadensten, CEO of Richmond, Rhode Island-based VIBCO Vibrators, was an early adopter of masks, weekly virus testing and temperature checks at his manufacturing business and has encouraged vaccinations, but fears he’d lose employees if he forced them to get the jab.

Wadensten, whose company makes industrial vibrators used in dump trucks and other applications, said Friday he is waiting for more clarity about what the Biden orders will mean for his business, which has a small number of government contracts. His workforce has been hovering just above and below 100 employees, of whom about 85% are vaccinated.

“For that other 15%, it would be detrimental to their beliefs and values that they have,” he said.

Conversely, smaller companies see being exempt as an advantage. Like other businesses, Alan Dietrich, CEO of Crater Lake Spirits in Bend, Oregon, is facing staff shortages. He has a 36 workers, with an immediate need for two or three more.

“Being left out of the mandate is helpful for hiring,” he said. “We are still finding that a small but meaningful number of people in our area are vaccine hesitant, and staffing is so tough that even one person is significant to us.”

On the other hand, he said, the business is more susceptible to slowdowns or shutdowns due to positive tests. But a statewide mask mandate in Oregon “definitely helps keep our staff safer,” he said.

The Associated Press reached out to a wide range of companies since Thursday’s announcement. Many, like General Motors and Ford, said they favor vaccines but were analyzing the executive order. Others noted that they already require vaccinations.

Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, was one of the first major companies to mandate vaccines for workers at its headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, and its managers who travel within the U.S. must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 4. But it excluded front-line workers such as cashiers, who according to the company have a lower vaccination rate than management.

The tech industry has largely been at the forefront of vaccine requirements, making the sector in general a likely supporter of Biden’s policy on the issue. In late July, Google became one of the first major U.S. employers to decide all its workers needed to be vaccinated before returning to the office. Facebook quickly adopted a similar policy a few hours after Google took its hard stand on vaccines.

Angela B. Cornell, a clinical professor at Cornell Law School who focuses on labor law, said the mandates are a positive step for businesses.

“This shift will make it a lot easier for employers to push those individuals who have been on the fence or who have been opposed,” she said.

Companies won’t have to worry about being sued, since it’s a government mandate and not one from the employer, she said.

Per Biden’s order, the millions who work as employees of the executive branch and contractors who do business with the federal government won’t have the option to get tested instead of taking the vaccine. The order also requires large companies to provide paid time off for vaccination.

Those who don’t work for federal contractors and are afraid of the vaccine can choose weekly testing instead, but many people who are simply hesitant are more likely to get immunized, said Dorit Reiss, a professor at the University of California Hastings College of the Law who has studied vaccine mandates for nearly a decade.

“The testing is sufficiently burdensome that most of them would prefer just to be vaccinated,” she said.

Half of American workers favor of vaccine requirements at their workplaces, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-business-health-travel-coronavirus-pandemic-1afb2682d6e08cdb54c5131f967f278a">poll from The Associated Press-NORC</a>&nbsp;Center for Public Affairs Research. Such mandates have already been gaining traction following the Food and Drug Administration’s full approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines from Moderna and Johnson &amp; Johnson are available under emergency authorization, but haven’t been formally approved.

Cole Stevenson, an assembly line worker at Ford’s pickup truck plant in Dearborn, Michigan, said the requirement is a “huge overreach” by the government. He hasn’t been vaccinated and is concerned that the vaccines were released before being properly tested.

“They just haven’t done as much as they should have to be putting it into people now,” said Stevenson, who plans to get tested weekly rather than get vaccinated. “I just don’t trust it.”

The COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the U.S. have in fact been proven safe and remarkably effective against the worst outcomes of the disease in studies of tens of thousands of people and in following their real-world performance.

More than 177 million Americans are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, but confirmed cases of the virus have shot up in recent weeks. They’ve now reached an average of about 140,000 cases per day.

On average, about 1,000 Americans die from the virus daily, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 650,000 Americans have died from the virus since January of 2020, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Britton Durbin, a utility worker in Dunnellon, Florida, who is vaccinated, said mandates are needed to make sure workers are safe and the power company he works for can operate without being interrupted by people getting sick. His company hasn’t mandated vaccines yet, but has encouraged them. In the last couple of months, three colleagues have died of COVID-19.

“When I know my co-workers are vaccinated, it’s reassuring,” said Durbin, 32. “There’s less of a chance of them getting sick or passing on.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631221419994.png" alt="President Biden's new rules could affect as many as 100 million Americans, although it’s not clear how many of those people are currently unvaccinated-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden's new rules could affect as many as 100 million Americans, although it’s not clear how many of those people are currently unvaccinated-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —The new federal vaccine requirement announced by President Joe Biden has created another worry for large businesses: With help wanted signs up almost everywhere, some could lose valuable employees or won’t be able to find new ones.Biden announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-executive-branch-18fb12993f05be13bf760946a6fb89be">sweeping new orders</a>&nbsp;last week that will require employers with more than 100 workers to mandate vaccinations against COVID-19 or offer weekly testing. The new rules could affect as many as 100 million Americans, although it’s not clear how many of those people are currently unvaccinated.Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, says the vaccine mandate could go a long way to boost the economy.“The evidence across countries is that more vaccinations means fewer infections, hospitalizations and deaths, which in turn means a stronger economy,” he said.But even those who favor Biden’s decision as a way to stop the coronavirus from spreading further are afraid that vaccination-averse workers will quit, or job seekers won’t apply for their openings. Some workers may also switch to smaller companies where shots in the arm aren’t required.“In a tight marketplace, it’s very difficult to find employees, much less to keep our current employees,” said Jonathan Chariff, CEO of South Motors, a group of 12 auto dealerships in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area with more than 1,100 workers. “It’s easy for them to go and find another job elsewhere.”To be sure, the mandate could make some employees more comfortable working with others in tight spaces. Indeed, Chariff said his company supports Biden’s move and wants to make sure all workers are vaccinated to keep them safe, especially after two employees died from the virus. However, the company decided against requiring them because of the labor shortage. Right now, Chariff has 80 to 100 openings.Karl Wadensten, CEO of Richmond, Rhode Island-based VIBCO Vibrators, was an early adopter of masks, weekly virus testing and temperature checks at his manufacturing business and has encouraged vaccinations, but fears he’d lose employees if he forced them to get the jab.Wadensten, whose company makes industrial vibrators used in dump trucks and other applications, said Friday he is waiting for more clarity about what the Biden orders will mean for his business, which has a small number of government contracts. His workforce has been hovering just above and below 100 employees, of whom about 85% are vaccinated.“For that other 15%, it would be detrimental to their beliefs and values that they have,” he said.Conversely, smaller companies see being exempt as an advantage. Like other businesses, Alan Dietrich, CEO of Crater Lake Spirits in Bend, Oregon, is facing staff shortages. He has a 36 workers, with an immediate need for two or three more.“Being left out of the mandate is helpful for hiring,” he said. “We are still finding that a small but meaningful number of people in our area are vaccine hesitant, and staffing is so tough that even one person is significant to us.”On the other hand, he said, the business is more susceptible to slowdowns or shutdowns due to positive tests. But a statewide mask mandate in Oregon “definitely helps keep our staff safer,” he said.The Associated Press reached out to a wide range of companies since Thursday’s announcement. Many, like General Motors and Ford, said they favor vaccines but were analyzing the executive order. Others noted that they already require vaccinations.Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, was one of the first major companies to mandate vaccines for workers at its headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, and its managers who travel within the U.S. must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 4. But it excluded front-line workers such as cashiers, who according to the company have a lower vaccination rate than management.The tech industry has largely been at the forefront of vaccine requirements, making the sector in general a likely supporter of Biden’s policy on the issue. In late July, Google became one of the first major U.S. employers to decide all its workers needed to be vaccinated before returning to the office. Facebook quickly adopted a similar policy a few hours after Google took its hard stand on vaccines.Angela B. Cornell, a clinical professor at Cornell Law School who focuses on labor law, said the mandates are a positive step for businesses.“This shift will make it a lot easier for employers to push those individuals who have been on the fence or who have been opposed,” she said.Companies won’t have to worry about being sued, since it’s a government mandate and not one from the employer, she said.Per Biden’s order, the millions who work as employees of the executive branch and contractors who do business with the federal government won’t have the option to get tested instead of taking the vaccine. The order also requires large companies to provide paid time off for vaccination.Those who don’t work for federal contractors and are afraid of the vaccine can choose weekly testing instead, but many people who are simply hesitant are more likely to get immunized, said Dorit Reiss, a professor at the University of California Hastings College of the Law who has studied vaccine mandates for nearly a decade.“The testing is sufficiently burdensome that most of them would prefer just to be vaccinated,” she said.Half of American workers favor of vaccine requirements at their workplaces, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-business-health-travel-coronavirus-pandemic-1afb2682d6e08cdb54c5131f967f278a">poll from The Associated Press-NORC</a>&nbsp;Center for Public Affairs Research. Such mandates have already been gaining traction following the Food and Drug Administration’s full approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines from Moderna and Johnson &amp; Johnson are available under emergency authorization, but haven’t been formally approved.Cole Stevenson, an assembly line worker at Ford’s pickup truck plant in Dearborn, Michigan, said the requirement is a “huge overreach” by the government. He hasn’t been vaccinated and is concerned that the vaccines were released before being properly tested.“They just haven’t done as much as they should have to be putting it into people now,” said Stevenson, who plans to get tested weekly rather than get vaccinated. “I just don’t trust it.”The COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the U.S. have in fact been proven safe and remarkably effective against the worst outcomes of the disease in studies of tens of thousands of people and in following their real-world performance.More than 177 million Americans are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, but confirmed cases of the virus have shot up in recent weeks. They’ve now reached an average of about 140,000 cases per day.On average, about 1,000 Americans die from the virus daily, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 650,000 Americans have died from the virus since January of 2020, according to Johns Hopkins University.Britton Durbin, a utility worker in Dunnellon, Florida, who is vaccinated, said mandates are needed to make sure workers are safe and the power company he works for can operate without being interrupted by people getting sick. His company hasn’t mandated vaccines yet, but has encouraged them. In the last couple of months, three colleagues have died of COVID-19.“When I know my co-workers are vaccinated, it’s reassuring,” said Durbin, 32. “There’s less of a chance of them getting sick or passing on.”____

Vaccine mandate spawns new fear: Finding, keeping workers

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?514546-1/gymnasts-fbi-director-testify-larry-nassar-sexual-assault-investigation&amp;live=">CLICK here to watch </a>a replay of the statements from Simone Biles and the other gymnasts.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles told Congress on Wednesday that “enough is enough” in emotional testimony along with other young gymnasts about her sexual abuse at the hands of USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar.

Biles blamed not only the gymnastics organization but also federal law enforcement that “turned a blind eye” to the crimes as hundreds of young athletes were abused.

“I blame Larry Nassar and I also blame an entire system that enabled and perpetrated his abuse,” Biles said through tears in her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. She said USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee “knew that I was abused by their official team doctor long before I was ever made aware of their knowledge.”

McKayla Maroney, another gold medal winning gymnast, told senators that one night when she was 15 years old, she found the doctor on top of her while she was naked — one of many times she was abused. She said she thought she was going to die that evening.

Maroney said the FBI “minimized and disregarded” her after she reported Nassar and said the agency delayed the investigation as others were abused. “If they’re not going to protect me, I want to know who are they trying to protect,” she said.

She added: “I think for so long all of us questioned, just because someone else wasn’t fully validating us, that we doubted what happened to us. And I think that makes the healing process take longer.”

The hearing is part of a congressional effort to hold the FBI accountable after multiple missteps in investigating the case, including the delays that allowed Nassar to abuse additional young gymnasts. An internal investigation by the Justice Department released in July said that the FBI made fundamental errors in the probe and did not treat the case with the “utmost seriousness” after USA Gymnastics first reported the allegations to the FBI’s field office in Indianapolis in 2015. The FBI has acknowledged its own conduct was inexcusable as at least 40 girls and women said they were molested while the FBI was aware of the problem.

Biles and Maroney were joined by Aly Raisman, another Olympic gold medalist, and gymnast Maggie Nicols. Raisman said it “disgusts me” that they are still looking for answers six years after the original allegations against Nassar were reported.

“We just can’t fix a problem we don’t understand, and we can’t understand the problem unless and until we have all of the facts,” Raisman said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631722987090.png" alt="“I blame Larry Nassar and I also blame an entire system that enabled and perpetrated his abuse,” Biles said through tears.-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>“I blame Larry Nassar and I also blame an entire system that enabled and perpetrated his abuse,” Biles said through tears.-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?514546-1/gymnasts-fbi-director-testify-larry-nassar-sexual-assault-investigation&amp;live=">CLICK here to watch </a>a replay of the statements from Simone Biles and the other gymnasts.WASHINGTON (AP) — Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles told Congress on Wednesday that “enough is enough” in emotional testimony along with other young gymnasts about her sexual abuse at the hands of USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar.Biles blamed not only the gymnastics organization but also federal law enforcement that “turned a blind eye” to the crimes as hundreds of young athletes were abused.“I blame Larry Nassar and I also blame an entire system that enabled and perpetrated his abuse,” Biles said through tears in her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. She said USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee “knew that I was abused by their official team doctor long before I was ever made aware of their knowledge.”McKayla Maroney, another gold medal winning gymnast, told senators that one night when she was 15 years old, she found the doctor on top of her while she was naked — one of many times she was abused. She said she thought she was going to die that evening.Maroney said the FBI “minimized and disregarded” her after she reported Nassar and said the agency delayed the investigation as others were abused. “If they’re not going to protect me, I want to know who are they trying to protect,” she said.She added: “I think for so long all of us questioned, just because someone else wasn’t fully validating us, that we doubted what happened to us. And I think that makes the healing process take longer.”The hearing is part of a congressional effort to hold the FBI accountable after multiple missteps in investigating the case, including the delays that allowed Nassar to abuse additional young gymnasts. An internal investigation by the Justice Department released in July said that the FBI made fundamental errors in the probe and did not treat the case with the “utmost seriousness” after USA Gymnastics first reported the allegations to the FBI’s field office in Indianapolis in 2015. The FBI has acknowledged its own conduct was inexcusable as at least 40 girls and women said they were molested while the FBI was aware of the problem.Biles and Maroney were joined by Aly Raisman, another Olympic gold medalist, and gymnast Maggie Nicols. Raisman said it “disgusts me” that they are still looking for answers six years after the original allegations against Nassar were reported.“We just can’t fix a problem we don’t understand, and we can’t understand the problem unless and until we have all of the facts,” Raisman said.

🎥 Biles tells Congress FBI ignored gymnasts' report of abuse

WASHINGTON (AP) — To pay for the massive social plans that President Joe Biden envisions, House Democrats began serious work Tuesday on a maneuver worthy of the most agile circus acrobats. They’re looking to squeeze revenue from the elite 2% of Americans who earn more than $400,000 a year while leaving untouched everyone else — who Biden has pledged won’t see any tax increases.

Republicans, as opposed to those tax increases as expected, also turned their anger on Tuesday against proposed tax breaks they portrayed as subsidies for wealthy elites rather than help for the poor and middle class. Electric vehicles became a rallying symbol as class-warfare overtones echoed through a committee session.

The Democrats are proposing that the top tax rate rise back to 39.6% on individuals earning more than $400,000 — or $450,000 for couples — in addition to a 3% surtax on wealthier Americans with adjusted income beyond $5 million a year. For big business, the proposal would lift the corporate tax rate from 21% to 26.5% on companies’ annual income over $5 million.

“Look, I don’t want to punish anyone’s success, but the wealthy have been getting a free ride at the expense of the middle class for too long,” Biden tweeted Tuesday. “I intend to pass one of the biggest middle class tax cuts ever — paid for by making those at the top pay their fair share.”

For middle- and low-income people, tax help, not increase, is on offer as the House Ways and Means Committee digs into debate and drafting of tax proposals to both fund and buttress Biden’s ambitious $3.5 trillion rebuilding plan that includes spending for child care, health care, education and tackling climate change.

It’s an opening bid at a daunting moment for Biden and his allies in Congress as they assemble the “Build Back Better” package considered by some on par with the Great Society of the 1960s or even the New Deal of the 1930s Depression.

The proposals call for $273 billion in tax breaks for renewable energy and “clean” electricity, including $42 billion for electric vehicles and $15 billion for a “green workforce” and environmental items. Increases in the child tax credit to $300 a month per child under 6 and $250 monthly per child 6-17, which came in coronavirus relief legislation earlier this year, would be extended through 2025.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee, meanwhile, advanced proposals promoting clean electricity, investments in electric vehicles and other climate provisions. The 30-27 vote along party lines sends the energy measure forward as part of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s goal to approve the huge overall package.

The energy panel’s $456 billion slice is the most consequential for climate and greenhouse gas emissions, along with the tax breaks debated by the Ways and Means Committee.

The Democratic proposals would invest $150 billion in grants to encourage power companies to provide “clean electricity” from renewable sources such as wind and solar. Electricity suppliers would receive grants based on how much clean electricity they provide, as part of Biden’s plan to stop climate-damaging fossil fuel emissions from U.S. power plants by 2035.

All GOP lawmakers are expected to vote against the overall legislation. But Republicans are largely sidelined as Democrats rely on a budget process that will allow them to approve the proposals on their own — if they can muster their slight majority in Congress.

Democrats have no votes to spare to enact Biden’s agenda, with their slim hold on the House and the Senate split 50-50 and Vice President Kamala Harris the tiebreaker if there is no Republican support.

But one Democratic senator vital to the bill’s fate, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, says the cost will need to be slashed to $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion to win his support. And Manchin appeared Tuesday to dig in his heels on insisting that parents meet work requirements to receive the child tax credit.

Manchin also has said he will not support a number of clean energy and climate provisions pushed by Democrats.

A day earlier, Biden appeared to respond to concerns about the plan’s size, saying the cost “may be” as much as $3.5 trillion and would be spread out over 10 years as the economy grew.

Republican lawmakers, who have denounced the Democratic spending plan as socialist and job-killing, also went after proposed tax breaks on Tuesday.

The Democrats propose to extend to five years the current $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit for five years, with another $4,500 if a car is made by union workers, and $500 more for a U.S.-made battery. But Republicans painted electric vehicles as a bourgeois-bohemian accessory to be subsidized by taxpayers, the latest symbol of excess.

“Speaking of outrageous green welfare, this bill allows a near-millionaire family to buy a $75,000 Beamer, Jaguar or Benz luxury electric vehicle — and their maid is forced to send them a $12,500 subsidy from her taxes,” said Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, the panel’s senior Republican. “Why are blue-collar workers, nurses, teachers and firefighters subsidizing the wealthy and big business with a quarter of a trillion dollars in green welfare checks?”

Hold on, said Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich. “We’re not going to subsidize the wealthiest buying luxury vehicles.” The legislation does impose caps on the sale price of the vehicle ($55,000 for a sedan) and the income of the buyer ($600,000 adjusted gross income for a head of household.)

The proposal hits another nerve for Republicans, Democrats’ support of labor unions, by adding the incentives for vehicles and batteries manufacture by union workers.

As they slogged through the legislation, members of the majority Democratic committee voted down a series of Republican amendments seeking to tighten the limitations on electric vehicle credits and to eliminate other tax breaks denounced as smacking of progressive Democrats’ proposed “Green New Deal.”

The House tax proposal is pitched as potentially raising some $2.9 trillion — a preliminary estimate — which would go a long way toward paying for the $3.5 trillion legislation. The White House is counting on long-term economic growth from the spending plan to generate an additional $600 billion to make up the difference.

To reach the Democrats’ goal, much of the revenue raised would come from the higher taxes on corporations and the highest earners, increasing the individual tax rate to 39.6% from the current 37%.

Targeting wealthy individuals, the Democrats propose an increase in the top tax rate on capital gains for those earning $400,000 a year or more, to 25% from the current 20%. Exemptions for estate taxes, which were doubled under a 2017 Republican tax law to $11.7 million for individuals, would revert to $5 million.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631701593369.png" alt="Kansas Rep. Ron Estes during Tuesday's mark up session -photo House Ways and Means Committee" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Rep. Ron Estes during Tuesday's mark up session -photo House Ways and Means Committee</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — To pay for the massive social plans that President Joe Biden envisions, House Democrats began serious work Tuesday on a maneuver worthy of the most agile circus acrobats. They’re looking to squeeze revenue from the elite 2% of Americans who earn more than $400,000 a year while leaving untouched everyone else — who Biden has pledged won’t see any tax increases.Republicans, as opposed to those tax increases as expected, also turned their anger on Tuesday against proposed tax breaks they portrayed as subsidies for wealthy elites rather than help for the poor and middle class. Electric vehicles became a rallying symbol as class-warfare overtones echoed through a committee session.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Biden&#39;s call to raise excise taxes is breaking his promise not to raise taxes on those making under $400,000 a year. These tax hikes are in addition to the jump we&#39;ve seen in prices caused by Democrats&#39; torrent of federal spending.&mdash; Rep. Ron Estes (@RepRonEstes) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepRonEstes/status/1437799984833892352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Democrats are proposing that the top tax rate rise back to 39.6% on individuals earning more than $400,000 — or $450,000 for couples — in addition to a 3% surtax on wealthier Americans with adjusted income beyond $5 million a year. For big business, the proposal would lift the corporate tax rate from 21% to 26.5% on companies’ annual income over $5 million.“Look, I don’t want to punish anyone’s success, but the wealthy have been getting a free ride at the expense of the middle class for too long,” Biden tweeted Tuesday. “I intend to pass one of the biggest middle class tax cuts ever — paid for by making those at the top pay their fair share.”For middle- and low-income people, tax help, not increase, is on offer as the House Ways and Means Committee digs into debate and drafting of tax proposals to both fund and buttress Biden’s ambitious $3.5 trillion rebuilding plan that includes spending for child care, health care, education and tackling climate change.It’s an opening bid at a daunting moment for Biden and his allies in Congress as they assemble the “Build Back Better” package considered by some on par with the Great Society of the 1960s or even the New Deal of the 1930s Depression.The proposals call for $273 billion in tax breaks for renewable energy and “clean” electricity, including $42 billion for electric vehicles and $15 billion for a “green workforce” and environmental items. Increases in the child tax credit to $300 a month per child under 6 and $250 monthly per child 6-17, which came in coronavirus relief legislation earlier this year, would be extended through 2025.The House Energy and Commerce Committee, meanwhile, advanced proposals promoting clean electricity, investments in electric vehicles and other climate provisions. The 30-27 vote along party lines sends the energy measure forward as part of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s goal to approve the huge overall package.The energy panel’s $456 billion slice is the most consequential for climate and greenhouse gas emissions, along with the tax breaks debated by the Ways and Means Committee.The Democratic proposals would invest $150 billion in grants to encourage power companies to provide “clean electricity” from renewable sources such as wind and solar. Electricity suppliers would receive grants based on how much clean electricity they provide, as part of Biden’s plan to stop climate-damaging fossil fuel emissions from U.S. power plants by 2035.All GOP lawmakers are expected to vote against the overall legislation. But Republicans are largely sidelined as Democrats rely on a budget process that will allow them to approve the proposals on their own — if they can muster their slight majority in Congress.Democrats have no votes to spare to enact Biden’s agenda, with their slim hold on the House and the Senate split 50-50 and Vice President Kamala Harris the tiebreaker if there is no Republican support.But one Democratic senator vital to the bill’s fate, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, says the cost will need to be slashed to $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion to win his support. And Manchin appeared Tuesday to dig in his heels on insisting that parents meet work requirements to receive the child tax credit.Manchin also has said he will not support a number of clean energy and climate provisions pushed by Democrats.A day earlier, Biden appeared to respond to concerns about the plan’s size, saying the cost “may be” as much as $3.5 trillion and would be spread out over 10 years as the economy grew.Republican lawmakers, who have denounced the Democratic spending plan as socialist and job-killing, also went after proposed tax breaks on Tuesday.The Democrats propose to extend to five years the current $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit for five years, with another $4,500 if a car is made by union workers, and $500 more for a U.S.-made battery. But Republicans painted electric vehicles as a bourgeois-bohemian accessory to be subsidized by taxpayers, the latest symbol of excess.“Speaking of outrageous green welfare, this bill allows a near-millionaire family to buy a $75,000 Beamer, Jaguar or Benz luxury electric vehicle — and their maid is forced to send them a $12,500 subsidy from her taxes,” said Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, the panel’s senior Republican. “Why are blue-collar workers, nurses, teachers and firefighters subsidizing the wealthy and big business with a quarter of a trillion dollars in green welfare checks?”Hold on, said Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich. “We’re not going to subsidize the wealthiest buying luxury vehicles.” The legislation does impose caps on the sale price of the vehicle ($55,000 for a sedan) and the income of the buyer ($600,000 adjusted gross income for a head of household.)The proposal hits another nerve for Republicans, Democrats’ support of labor unions, by adding the incentives for vehicles and batteries manufacture by union workers.As they slogged through the legislation, members of the majority Democratic committee voted down a series of Republican amendments seeking to tighten the limitations on electric vehicle credits and to eliminate other tax breaks denounced as smacking of progressive Democrats’ proposed “Green New Deal.”The House tax proposal is pitched as potentially raising some $2.9 trillion — a preliminary estimate — which would go a long way toward paying for the $3.5 trillion legislation. The White House is counting on long-term economic growth from the spending plan to generate an additional $600 billion to make up the difference.To reach the Democrats’ goal, much of the revenue raised would come from the higher taxes on corporations and the highest earners, increasing the individual tax rate to 39.6% from the current 37%.Targeting wealthy individuals, the Democrats propose an increase in the top tax rate on capital gains for those earning $400,000 a year or more, to 25% from the current 20%. Exemptions for estate taxes, which were doubled under a 2017 Republican tax law to $11.7 million for individuals, would revert to $5 million.

Battle over tax increase to pay for Biden's $3.5T plan

At
 an open Commission meeting today, the Federal Trade Commission staff 
presented findings from its inquiry into past acquisitions by the 
largest technology platforms’ that did not require reporting to 
antitrust authorities at the FTC and the Department of Justice. &nbsp;

<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2020/02/ftc-examine-past-acquisitions-large-technology-companies">Launched in February 2020</a>,
 the inquiry analyzed the terms, scope, structure, and purpose of these 
exempted transactions under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act and the 
Commission’s reporting requirements by Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com, Inc., 
Apple Inc., Facebook, Inc., and Microsoft Corp. between Jan. 1, 2010 and
 Dec. 31, 2019. These companies comprise the top five U.S. companies by 
market capitalization.

Under the HSR Act, the 
FTC and the Department of Justice review most proposed transactions that
 affect commerce in the United States and are valued over a prescribed 
size threshold. Either agency can take legal action to block deals “in 
any line of commerce” that it believes may “lessen competition, or to 
tend to create a monopoly.”

“While the 
Commission’s enforcement actions have already focused on how digital 
platforms can buy their way out of competing, this study highlights the 
systemic nature of their acquisition strategies,” said Chair Lina M. 
Khan. “It captures the extent to which these firms have devoted 
tremendous resources to acquiring start-ups, patent portfolios, and 
entire teams of technologists—and how they were able to do so largely 
outside of our purview.”

The technology platform
 inquiry focused on 616 transactions (that exclude hiring events and 
patent acquisitions) valued at or above $1 million. Among the key 
findings:

To
 conduct this inquiry, the Commission issued Special Orders to these 
companies, requiring them to provide information about prior 
acquisitions not reported to the antitrust agencies under the 
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. These orders were issued under Section 6(b) of 
the FTC Act, which authorizes the Commission to conduct wide-ranging 
studies that do not have a specific law enforcement purpose.

The Commission voted 5-0 to make the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/reports/non-hsr-reported-acquisitions-select-technology-platforms-2010-2019-ftc-study">report</a> public. <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/2021/09/remarks-chair-lina-m-khan-regarding-non-hsr-reported-acquisitions-select">Chair Khan</a>&nbsp;and Commissioners <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/2021/09/prepared-remarks-commissioner-rohit-chopra-regarding-non-hsr-reported">Rohit Chopra</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/2021/09/prepared-remarks-commissioner-rebecca-kelly-slaughter-regarding-non-hsr">Rebecca Kelly Slaughter</a>&nbsp;each issued separate statements.

The Federal Trade Commission works to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-competition">promote competition</a>, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/attachments/competition-counts/pdf-0116_competition-counts.pdf">how competition benefits consumers</a> or <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/faq/competition/report-antitrust-violation">file an antitrust complaint</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;For the latest news and resources, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a> and <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/competition-matters">read our blog</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCAt
 an open Commission meeting today, the Federal Trade Commission staff 
presented findings from its inquiry into past acquisitions by the 
largest technology platforms’ that did not require reporting to 
antitrust authorities at the FTC and the Department of Justice. &nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2020/02/ftc-examine-past-acquisitions-large-technology-companies">Launched in February 2020</a>,
 the inquiry analyzed the terms, scope, structure, and purpose of these 
exempted transactions under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act and the 
Commission’s reporting requirements by Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com, Inc., 
Apple Inc., Facebook, Inc., and Microsoft Corp. between Jan. 1, 2010 and
 Dec. 31, 2019. These companies comprise the top five U.S. companies by 
market capitalization.Under the HSR Act, the 
FTC and the Department of Justice review most proposed transactions that
 affect commerce in the United States and are valued over a prescribed 
size threshold. Either agency can take legal action to block deals “in 
any line of commerce” that it believes may “lessen competition, or to 
tend to create a monopoly.”“While the 
Commission’s enforcement actions have already focused on how digital 
platforms can buy their way out of competing, this study highlights the 
systemic nature of their acquisition strategies,” said Chair Lina M. 
Khan. “It captures the extent to which these firms have devoted 
tremendous resources to acquiring start-ups, patent portfolios, and 
entire teams of technologists—and how they were able to do so largely 
outside of our purview.”The technology platform
 inquiry focused on 616 transactions (that exclude hiring events and 
patent acquisitions) valued at or above $1 million. Among the key 
findings:<ul>
 <li>Of the 616 transactions, 94 exceeded the HSR Size 
of Transaction threshold.&nbsp;(Although most transactions that exceed the 
size threshold must be reported, in some instances parties may not need 
to file if certain other criteria are met or statutory or regulatory 
exemptions apply.)</li><li>In 36 percent of the transactions, the 
acquirer assumed some amount of debt or liabilities. When added to the 
purchase price of the target, such debts and liabilities would have 
tipped the purchase amount of three transactions above the HSR Size of 
Transaction threshold. That is, three more transactions would have been 
added to the 94 transactions already above the HSR Size of Transaction 
threshold.</li><li>More than 79 percent of transactions used deferred or
 contingent compensation to founders and key employees, with relatively 
small variation across the five respondents. Higher value transactions 
were more likely to use deferred or contingent compensation. Of the 
transactions reported, nine additional transactions would have exceeded 
the HSR Size of Transaction threshold (i.e., in addition to the 94 
transactions already above the HSR Size of Transaction threshold) at the
 time of their consummation when adding the deferred or contingent 
compensation to their purchase price.</li><li>More than 75 percent of 
transactions included non-compete clauses for founders and key employees
 of the acquired entities, with little variation in the percentage of 
transactions that had non-compete clauses across the five respondents. 
Higher value transactions were more likely to use non-compete clauses.</li><li>The
 number of transactions in each of five transaction size ranges – 
starting at between $1 million and $5 million and ending at between $50 
million and the Hart-Scott-Rodino Size-of-Transaction threshold – 
fluctuated but generally trended up over the 2010 to 2019 time period. 
Of the 616 transactions, 65 percent were between $1 million and $25 
million.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Asset and control transactions, including 
voting security control and non-corporate interest control transactions,
 were the most common in each transaction range. For transactions 
exceeding $5 million, the majority were control transactions. Moreover, 
higher-value transactions were more likely to be control acquisitions.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>The
 majority of transactions in each transaction range were for domestic 
firms, with roughly two thirds of the entities acquired in each 
transaction range being domestic.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>At least 39.3 percent
 of the transactions in which the target company’s age was available 
involved firms that, as of the time of the consummation of the 
transaction, were less than five years old.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>In more 
than half the transactions for which the respondents provided the number
 of the target company’s full-time non-sales employees, the number was 
between one and 10. Employee counts correlate positively with the size 
of the transaction.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>The total number of transactions 
per calendar year across the five respondents ranged from 43 at its 
lowest per calendar year (in 2012) to 79 at its highest (in 2014), and 
remained relatively higher in 2015-2019 (ranging from 63 to 74 
transactions) than in 2010-2013 (ranging from 43 to 63 transactions).</li>
 </ul>To
 conduct this inquiry, the Commission issued Special Orders to these 
companies, requiring them to provide information about prior 
acquisitions not reported to the antitrust agencies under the 
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. These orders were issued under Section 6(b) of 
the FTC Act, which authorizes the Commission to conduct wide-ranging 
studies that do not have a specific law enforcement purpose.The Commission voted 5-0 to make the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/reports/non-hsr-reported-acquisitions-select-technology-platforms-2010-2019-ftc-study">report</a> public. <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/2021/09/remarks-chair-lina-m-khan-regarding-non-hsr-reported-acquisitions-select">Chair Khan</a>&nbsp;and Commissioners <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/2021/09/prepared-remarks-commissioner-rohit-chopra-regarding-non-hsr-reported">Rohit Chopra</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/2021/09/prepared-remarks-commissioner-rebecca-kelly-slaughter-regarding-non-hsr">Rebecca Kelly Slaughter</a>&nbsp;each issued separate statements.The Federal Trade Commission works to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-competition">promote competition</a>, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/attachments/competition-counts/pdf-0116_competition-counts.pdf">how competition benefits consumers</a> or <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/faq/competition/report-antitrust-violation">file an antitrust complaint</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;For the latest news and resources, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a> and <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/competition-matters">read our blog</a>.

FTC: Report issued on decade of unreported acquisitions by Big Tech

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon for an alleged parole violation.

The Kansas Department of Corrections reported 47-year-old Richard J. Renne of Atchison as an absconder. Renne had been out of prison since July after previous convictions that involve heroin possession/distribution and two convictions for child abuse and torture, according to the KDOC.

On Monday, Atchison Police located and arrested Renne on a Kansas Department of Corrections detain order for the parole violation.&nbsp; He remains in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631628120374.png" alt="Renne photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Renne photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon for an alleged parole violation.The Kansas Department of Corrections reported 47-year-old Richard J. Renne of Atchison as an absconder. Renne had been out of prison since July after previous convictions that involve heroin possession/distribution and two convictions for child abuse and torture, according to the KDOC.On Monday, Atchison Police located and arrested Renne on a Kansas Department of Corrections detain order for the parole violation.&nbsp; He remains in custody, according to online jail records.

Police: Kan. man convicted of child abuse jailed again

BOSTON (AP) — Apple released a critical software patch to fix a security vulnerability that researchers said could allow hackers to directly infect iPhones and other Apple devices without any user action.

Researchers at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab said the security issue was exploited to plant spyware on a Saudi activist’s iPhone. They said they had high confidence that the world’s most infamous hacker-for-hire firm, Israel’s NSO Group, was behind that attack.

The previously unknown vulnerability affected all major Apple devices — iPhones, Macs and Apple Watches, the researchers said. NSO Group responded with a one-sentence statement saying it will continue providing tools for fighting “terror and crime.”

It was the first time a so-called “zero-click” exploit — one that doesn’t require users to click on suspect links or open infected files — has been caught and analyzed, the researchers said. They found the malicious code on Sept. 7 and immediately alerted Apple. The targeted activist asked to remain anonymous, they said.

“We’re not necessarily attributing this attack to the Saudi government,” said researcher Bill Marczak.

Citizen Lab previously found evidence of zero-click exploits being used to hack into the phones of al-Jazeera journalists and other targets, but hasn’t previously seen the malicious code itself.

Although security experts say that average iPhone, iPad and Mac user generally need not worry — such attacks tend to be limited to specific targets — the discovery still alarmed security professionals.

Malicious image files were transmitted to the activist’s phone via the iMessage instant-messaging app before it was hacked with NSO’s Pegasus spyware, which opens a phone to eavesdropping and remote data theft, Marczak said. It was discovered during a second examination of the phone, which forensics showed had been infected in March. He said the malicious file causes devices to crash.

Citizen Lab says the case reveals, once again, that NSO Group is allowing its spyware to be used against ordinary civilians.

<a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212807" target="_blank">In a blog post</a>, Apple said it was issuing a security update for iPhones and iPads because a “maliciously crafted” PDF file could lead to them being hacked. It said it was aware that the issue may have been exploited and cited Citizen Lab.

In a subsequent statement, Apple security chief Ivan Krstić commended Citizen Lab and said such exploits “are not a threat to the overwhelming majority of our users.” He noted, as he has in the past, that such exploits typically cost millions of dollars to develop and often have a short shelf life. Apple didn’t respond to questions regarding whether this was the first time it had patched a zero-click vulnerability.

Users should get alerts on their iPhones prompting them to update the phone’s iOS software. Those who want to jump the gun can go into the phone settings, click “General” then “Software Update,” and trigger the patch update directly.

Citizen Lab called the iMessage exploit FORCEDENTRY and said it was effective against Apple iOS, MacOS and WatchOS devices. It urged people to immediately install security updates.

Researcher John Scott-Railton said the news highlights the importance of securing popular messaging apps against such attacks. “Chat apps are increasingly becoming a major way that nation-states and mercenary hackers are gaining access to phones,” he said. “And it’s why it’s so important that companies focus on making sure that they are as locked down as possible.”

The researchers said it also undermines NSO Group’s claims that it only sells its spyware to law enforcement officials for use against criminals and terrorists and audits its customers to ensure it’s not abused.

“If Pegasus was only being used against criminals and terrorists, we never would have found this stuff,” said Marczak.

Facebook’s WhatsApp was also allegedly targeted by an NSO zero-click exploit. In October 2019,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-us-news-israel-spyware-a7ad0788b9e4498a878009d1a8c5a206">Facebook sued NSO in U.S. federal court</a>&nbsp;for allegedly targeting some 1,400 users of the encrypted messaging service with spyware.

In July, a global media consortium published a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-middle-east-israel-jamal-khashoggi-2b72451d84cd60fdcdfa37d8ee908784">damning report</a>&nbsp;on how clients of NSO Group have been spying for years on journalists, human rights activists, political dissidents, and people close to them, with the hacker-for-hire group directly involved in the targeting. Amnesty International said it confirmed 37 successful Pegasus infections based on a leaked targeting list whose origin was not disclosed.

One case involved the fiancee of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi just four days after he was killed in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018. The CIA attributed the murder to the Saudi government.

The recent revelations also prompted calls for an investigation into whether Hungary’s right-wing government used Pegasus to secretly monitor critical journalists, lawyers and business figures. India’s parliament also erupted in protests as opposition lawmakers accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of using NSO Groups’ product to spy on political opponents and others.

France is also trying to get to the bottom of allegations that President Emmanuel Macron and members of his government may have been targeted in 2019 by an unidentified Moroccan security service using Pegasus. Morocco, a key French ally, denied those reports and is taking legal action to counter allegations implicating the North African kingdom in the spyware scandal.

BOSTON (AP) — Apple released a critical software patch to fix a security vulnerability that researchers said could allow hackers to directly infect iPhones and other Apple devices without any user action.Researchers at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab said the security issue was exploited to plant spyware on a Saudi activist’s iPhone. They said they had high confidence that the world’s most infamous hacker-for-hire firm, Israel’s NSO Group, was behind that attack.The previously unknown vulnerability affected all major Apple devices — iPhones, Macs and Apple Watches, the researchers said. NSO Group responded with a one-sentence statement saying it will continue providing tools for fighting “terror and crime.”It was the first time a so-called “zero-click” exploit — one that doesn’t require users to click on suspect links or open infected files — has been caught and analyzed, the researchers said. They found the malicious code on Sept. 7 and immediately alerted Apple. The targeted activist asked to remain anonymous, they said.“We’re not necessarily attributing this attack to the Saudi government,” said researcher Bill Marczak.Citizen Lab previously found evidence of zero-click exploits being used to hack into the phones of al-Jazeera journalists and other targets, but hasn’t previously seen the malicious code itself.Although security experts say that average iPhone, iPad and Mac user generally need not worry — such attacks tend to be limited to specific targets — the discovery still alarmed security professionals.Malicious image files were transmitted to the activist’s phone via the iMessage instant-messaging app before it was hacked with NSO’s Pegasus spyware, which opens a phone to eavesdropping and remote data theft, Marczak said. It was discovered during a second examination of the phone, which forensics showed had been infected in March. He said the malicious file causes devices to crash.Citizen Lab says the case reveals, once again, that NSO Group is allowing its spyware to be used against ordinary civilians.<a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212807" target="_blank">In a blog post</a>, Apple said it was issuing a security update for iPhones and iPads because a “maliciously crafted” PDF file could lead to them being hacked. It said it was aware that the issue may have been exploited and cited Citizen Lab.In a subsequent statement, Apple security chief Ivan Krstić commended Citizen Lab and said such exploits “are not a threat to the overwhelming majority of our users.” He noted, as he has in the past, that such exploits typically cost millions of dollars to develop and often have a short shelf life. Apple didn’t respond to questions regarding whether this was the first time it had patched a zero-click vulnerability.Users should get alerts on their iPhones prompting them to update the phone’s iOS software. Those who want to jump the gun can go into the phone settings, click “General” then “Software Update,” and trigger the patch update directly.Citizen Lab called the iMessage exploit FORCEDENTRY and said it was effective against Apple iOS, MacOS and WatchOS devices. It urged people to immediately install security updates.Researcher John Scott-Railton said the news highlights the importance of securing popular messaging apps against such attacks. “Chat apps are increasingly becoming a major way that nation-states and mercenary hackers are gaining access to phones,” he said. “And it’s why it’s so important that companies focus on making sure that they are as locked down as possible.”The researchers said it also undermines NSO Group’s claims that it only sells its spyware to law enforcement officials for use against criminals and terrorists and audits its customers to ensure it’s not abused.“If Pegasus was only being used against criminals and terrorists, we never would have found this stuff,” said Marczak.Facebook’s WhatsApp was also allegedly targeted by an NSO zero-click exploit. In October 2019,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-us-news-israel-spyware-a7ad0788b9e4498a878009d1a8c5a206">Facebook sued NSO in U.S. federal court</a>&nbsp;for allegedly targeting some 1,400 users of the encrypted messaging service with spyware.In July, a global media consortium published a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-middle-east-israel-jamal-khashoggi-2b72451d84cd60fdcdfa37d8ee908784">damning report</a>&nbsp;on how clients of NSO Group have been spying for years on journalists, human rights activists, political dissidents, and people close to them, with the hacker-for-hire group directly involved in the targeting. Amnesty International said it confirmed 37 successful Pegasus infections based on a leaked targeting list whose origin was not disclosed.One case involved the fiancee of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi just four days after he was killed in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018. The CIA attributed the murder to the Saudi government.The recent revelations also prompted calls for an investigation into whether Hungary’s right-wing government used Pegasus to secretly monitor critical journalists, lawyers and business figures. India’s parliament also erupted in protests as opposition lawmakers accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of using NSO Groups’ product to spy on political opponents and others.France is also trying to get to the bottom of allegations that President Emmanuel Macron and members of his government may have been targeted in 2019 by an unidentified Moroccan security service using Pegasus. Morocco, a key French ally, denied those reports and is taking legal action to counter allegations implicating the North African kingdom in the spyware scandal.

Apple fixes security hole reportedly used to hack iPhone

WASHINGTON — With many businesses facing a tight job market, the 
Internal Revenue Service reminds employers to check out a valuable tax 
credit available to them for hiring long-term unemployment recipients 
and other groups of workers facing significant barriers to employment.

During <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/small-business-week">National Small Business Week</a>,
 the IRS is highlighting tax benefits and resources designed to help new
 and existing small businesses. For any business now hiring, the Work 
Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) may help.

Legislation enacted in December extended the WOTC through the end of 
2025. This long-standing tax benefit encourages employers to hire 
workers certified as members of any of ten targeted groups facing 
barriers to employment. With millions of Americans out of work at one 
time or another since the pandemic began, the IRS noted that one of 
these targeted groups is long-term unemployment recipients who have been
 unemployed for at least 27 consecutive weeks and have received state or
 federal unemployment benefits during part or all of that time.

The other groups include certain veterans and recipients of various 
kinds of public assistance, among others. Specifically, the 10 groups 
are:

To qualify for the credit, an employer must first request certification by submitting IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8850">Form 8850, Pre-screening Notice and Certification Request for the Work Opportunity Credit</a>, to their state workforce agency (SWA). Do not submit this form to the IRS.

Normally, Form 8850 must be submitted to the SWA within 28 days after
 the eligible worker begins work. But under a special relief provision, a
 November&nbsp;8, 2021, submission deadline applies to two groups of new 
hires—qualified summer youth employees living in Empowerment Zones and 
designated community residents living in Empowerment Zones.

To qualify for the Nov. 8 submission deadline, eligible employees 
must start work on or after January&nbsp;1, 2021, and before October&nbsp;9, 2021.
 Other requirements and further details can be found in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-21-43.pdf">Notice 2021-43</a> and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i8850.pdf">instructions to Form 8850</a>.

Eligible businesses claim the WOTC on their federal income tax 
return. It is generally based on wages paid to eligible workers during 
the first year of employment.

The credit is first figured on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-5884">Form 5884, Work Opportunity Credit</a>, and then is claimed on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-3800">Form 3800, General Business Credit</a>.

Though the credit is not available to tax-exempt organizations for 
most groups of new hires, a special rule allows them to claim the WOTC 
for hiring qualified veterans. These organizations claim the credit 
against payroll taxes on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-5884-c">Form 5884-C, Work Opportunity Credit for Qualified Tax Exempt Organizations</a>.

For more information about the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/work-opportunity-tax-credit">IRS.gov/wotc</a>.

Help spread the word-advance Child Tax Credit

The IRS encourages employers to help get the word out about the 
advance&nbsp;payments of the Child Tax Credit during Small Business Week. 
Employers have direct access to many who may receive this credit. More 
information on the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">Advance&nbsp;Child Tax Credit</a> is available on IRS.gov. The website has <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-resources-and-guidance">tools employers can use</a>
 to deliver this information, including e-posters, drop-in articles (for
 paycheck stuffers, newsletters) and social media posts to share.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — With many businesses facing a tight job market, the 
Internal Revenue Service reminds employers to check out a valuable tax 
credit available to them for hiring long-term unemployment recipients 
and other groups of workers facing significant barriers to employment.During <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/small-business-week">National Small Business Week</a>,
 the IRS is highlighting tax benefits and resources designed to help new
 and existing small businesses. For any business now hiring, the Work 
Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) may help.Legislation enacted in December extended the WOTC through the end of 
2025. This long-standing tax benefit encourages employers to hire 
workers certified as members of any of ten targeted groups facing 
barriers to employment. With millions of Americans out of work at one 
time or another since the pandemic began, the IRS noted that one of 
these targeted groups is long-term unemployment recipients who have been
 unemployed for at least 27 consecutive weeks and have received state or
 federal unemployment benefits during part or all of that time.The other groups include certain veterans and recipients of various 
kinds of public assistance, among others. Specifically, the 10 groups 
are:<ul>
 <li>Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients,</li><li>Unemployed veterans, including disabled veterans,</li><li>Formerly incarcerated individuals,</li><li>Designated community residents living in Empowerment Zones or Rural Renewal Counties,</li><li>Vocational rehabilitation referrals,</li><li>Summer youth employees living in Empowerment Zones,</li><li>Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients,</li><li>Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients,</li><li>Long-term family assistance recipients,</li><li>Long-term unemployment recipients.</li>
 </ul>To qualify for the credit, an employer must first request certification by submitting IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8850">Form 8850, Pre-screening Notice and Certification Request for the Work Opportunity Credit</a>, to their state workforce agency (SWA). Do not submit this form to the IRS.Normally, Form 8850 must be submitted to the SWA within 28 days after
 the eligible worker begins work. But under a special relief provision, a
 November&nbsp;8, 2021, submission deadline applies to two groups of new 
hires—qualified summer youth employees living in Empowerment Zones and 
designated community residents living in Empowerment Zones.To qualify for the Nov. 8 submission deadline, eligible employees 
must start work on or after January&nbsp;1, 2021, and before October&nbsp;9, 2021.
 Other requirements and further details can be found in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-21-43.pdf">Notice 2021-43</a> and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i8850.pdf">instructions to Form 8850</a>.Eligible businesses claim the WOTC on their federal income tax 
return. It is generally based on wages paid to eligible workers during 
the first year of employment.The credit is first figured on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-5884">Form 5884, Work Opportunity Credit</a>, and then is claimed on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-3800">Form 3800, General Business Credit</a>.Though the credit is not available to tax-exempt organizations for 
most groups of new hires, a special rule allows them to claim the WOTC 
for hiring qualified veterans. These organizations claim the credit 
against payroll taxes on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-5884-c">Form 5884-C, Work Opportunity Credit for Qualified Tax Exempt Organizations</a>.For more information about the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/work-opportunity-tax-credit">IRS.gov/wotc</a>.<h2>Help spread the word-advance Child Tax Credit</h2>The IRS encourages employers to help get the word out about the 
advance&nbsp;payments of the Child Tax Credit during Small Business Week. 
Employers have direct access to many who may receive this credit. More 
information on the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">Advance&nbsp;Child Tax Credit</a> is available on IRS.gov. The website has <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-resources-and-guidance">tools employers can use</a>
 to deliver this information, including e-posters, drop-in articles (for
 paycheck stuffers, newsletters) and social media posts to share.

Renewed tax credit can help employers hire workers

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 23-year-old Marine from Omaha who was among 13 U.S. service members killed in the suicide bombing attack at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan will be buried Friday. 

Cpl. Daegan William-Tyeler Page served in the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment based at Camp Pendleton, California. 

Page was raised in Red Oak, Iowa, and in the Omaha area and joined the Marines after graduating from Millard South High School. 

A public visitation will be held Thursday night and a funeral Friday morning at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Omaha. He will be buried after the funeral service at the Omaha National Cemetery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631624732610.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 23-year-old Marine from Omaha who was among 13 U.S. service members killed in the suicide bombing attack at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan will be buried Friday. Cpl. Daegan William-Tyeler Page served in the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment based at Camp Pendleton, California. Page was raised in Red Oak, Iowa, and in the Omaha area and joined the Marines after graduating from Millard South High School. A public visitation will be held Thursday night and a funeral Friday morning at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Omaha. He will be buried after the funeral service at the Omaha National Cemetery.

Burial this week for Omaha Marine killed in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats unveiled a sweeping proposal Monday for tax hikes on big corporations and the wealthy to fund President Joe Biden’s $3.5 trillion rebuilding plan, as Congress speeds ahead to shape the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-passes-budget-blueprint-0a1258e07b1a8b9aeddb69980093c838">far-reaching package&nbsp;</a>that touches almost all aspects of domestic life.

The proposed top tax rate would revert to 39.6% on individuals earning more than $400,000, or $450,000 for couples, and there would be a 3% tax on wealthier Americans with adjusted income beyond $5 million a year. For big businesses, the proposal would lift the corporate tax rate from 21% to 26.5% on incomes beyond $5 million, slightly less than the 28% rate the president had sought.

In all, the tax hikes are in line with Biden’s own proposals and would bring about the most substantive changes in the tax code since Republicans with then-President Donald Trump slashed taxes in 2017. Business and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-tax-reform-economy-2b5295280d2ee72f6b3b722cebc41c84">anti-tax groups are sure to object</a>. But Democrats are pressing forward.

Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., the chairman of the tax-writing Ways &amp; Means Committee, said the proposals, taken together, would “expand opportunity for the American people and support our efforts to build a healthier, more prosperous future.”

It’s an opening bid at a daunting moment for Biden and his allies in Congress as they assemble the massive package that is expected to become one of the largest single domestic policy measures considered in decades. The president’s “Build Back Better” agenda includes spending on child care, health care, education and strategies to confront climate change. It is an ambitious undertaking on par with the Great Society or New Deal.

Republican critics decry the sweep of Biden’s plan, suggesting it slopes toward a Western European-style socialism, and they particularly reject the taxes required to pay for it, bristling because it would reverse the GOP tax cuts that were approved just a few years ago.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said the proposal is “the last thing American families need.” All GOP lawmakers are expected to vote against it.

But Republicans are largely sidelined as Democrats rely on a budget process that will allow them to approve the proposals on their own, if they can muster their slight majority in Congress.

Democrats have no votes to spare to enact Biden’s agenda, with their slim hold on the House and the Senate split 50-50 and Vice President Kamala Harris the tiebreaker if there is no Republican support. Democratic congressional leaders have set a target of Wednesday for committees to have the bill drafted.

One Democratic senator vital to the bill’s fate says the cost will need to be slashed to $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion to win his support.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., has suggested it’s time for a “strategic pause,” and cautioned there was “no way” Congress will meet the late September goal from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for passage, given his wide differences with liberal Democrats on how much to spend and how to pay for it.

“I cannot support $3.5 trillion,” Manchin said Sunday, citing in particular his opposition to raising the corporate tax rate above 25%, a figure he says will keep the U.S. globally competitive.

Manchin is not alone, as other centrist lawmakers have raised concerns. Restive Democrats from high-tax, heavily Democratic states like New York, New Jersey and California are pushing for a repeal of the $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions that was imposed by the 2017 Trump law. Neal indicated Monday that the issue is under serious consideration.

Finding compromise will be a daunting project as progressives, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., are angling for the most robust package possible. As chairman of the Budget Committee helping to write the bill, Sanders has noted that he and other members of the liberal flank&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-medicare-immigration-business-government-and-politics-06e658b07a41ebb9d55647f905ebd2b7">had initially urged an even more robust package</a>&nbsp;of $6 trillion.

“For me, this is not a particular number, but it is making sure that we meet this moment,” said Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., a member of House leadership. “The pandemic has shown us that we cannot continue to have an economy of haves and have nots.”

The White House welcomed the preliminary tax plan, which keeps to Biden’s promise not to tax anyone making less than $400,000. The proposal “makes significant progress towards ensuring our economy rewards work and not just wealth,” said deputy press secretary Andrew Bates.

The House, Senate and White House are working together to align their plans ahead of this month’s deadlines, though some differences are emerging that will need to be resolved.

The House tax proposal was pitched as potentially raising some $2.9 trillion, a preliminary estimate — but it would go a long way toward paying for the $3.5 trillion legislation. The White House is counting on long-term economic growth from the plan to generate an additional $600 billion to make up the difference.

Much of the revenue raised would come from the higher taxes on corporations and the highest earners, increasing the individual tax rate to 39.6% from the current 37%.

Looking at wealthy individuals, Neal is proposing an increase in the top tax rate on capital gains for those earning $400,000 a year or more, to 25% from the current 20%. Exemptions for estate taxes, which were doubled under the 2017 Trump tax law to now $11.7 million for individuals, would revert to $5 million.

Also proposed are increases in the tax rate on tobacco products and a new tax on non-tobacco nicotine delivered by e-cigarettes.

The broader blueprint from Democrats proposes spending billions for rebuilding infrastructure, tackling climate change and expanding or introducing a range of services, from free prekindergarten to dental, vision and hearing aid care for older people.

Congressional committees are hustling to wrap up their work to meet this week’s timeline from Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to have the bill drafted. Pelosi is seeking a House vote by Oct. 1, and it would then go to the Senate. That’s near the Sept. 27 timeline for voting on a slimmer infrastructure plan favored by moderate lawmakers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631615569863.png" alt="In all, the tax hikes are in line with Biden’s own proposals and would bring about the most substantive changes in the tax code since Republicans with then-President Donald Trump slashed taxes in 2017.- photo courtesy office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi" />
 <figcaption>In all, the tax hikes are in line with Biden’s own proposals and would bring about the most substantive changes in the tax code since Republicans with then-President Donald Trump slashed taxes in 2017.- photo courtesy office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats unveiled a sweeping proposal Monday for tax hikes on big corporations and the wealthy to fund President Joe Biden’s $3.5 trillion rebuilding plan, as Congress speeds ahead to shape the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-passes-budget-blueprint-0a1258e07b1a8b9aeddb69980093c838">far-reaching package&nbsp;</a>that touches almost all aspects of domestic life.The proposed top tax rate would revert to 39.6% on individuals earning more than $400,000, or $450,000 for couples, and there would be a 3% tax on wealthier Americans with adjusted income beyond $5 million a year. For big businesses, the proposal would lift the corporate tax rate from 21% to 26.5% on incomes beyond $5 million, slightly less than the 28% rate the president had sought.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The medium is the message. <a href="https://t.co/b4Ssr6HkYR">pic.twitter.com/b4Ssr6HkYR</a>&mdash; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) <a href="https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1437635268664774659?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In all, the tax hikes are in line with Biden’s own proposals and would bring about the most substantive changes in the tax code since Republicans with then-President Donald Trump slashed taxes in 2017. Business and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-tax-reform-economy-2b5295280d2ee72f6b3b722cebc41c84">anti-tax groups are sure to object</a>. But Democrats are pressing forward.Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., the chairman of the tax-writing Ways &amp; Means Committee, said the proposals, taken together, would “expand opportunity for the American people and support our efforts to build a healthier, more prosperous future.”It’s an opening bid at a daunting moment for Biden and his allies in Congress as they assemble the massive package that is expected to become one of the largest single domestic policy measures considered in decades. The president’s “Build Back Better” agenda includes spending on child care, health care, education and strategies to confront climate change. It is an ambitious undertaking on par with the Great Society or New Deal.Republican critics decry the sweep of Biden’s plan, suggesting it slopes toward a Western European-style socialism, and they particularly reject the taxes required to pay for it, bristling because it would reverse the GOP tax cuts that were approved just a few years ago.Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said the proposal is “the last thing American families need.” All GOP lawmakers are expected to vote against it.But Republicans are largely sidelined as Democrats rely on a budget process that will allow them to approve the proposals on their own, if they can muster their slight majority in Congress.Democrats have no votes to spare to enact Biden’s agenda, with their slim hold on the House and the Senate split 50-50 and Vice President Kamala Harris the tiebreaker if there is no Republican support. Democratic congressional leaders have set a target of Wednesday for committees to have the bill drafted.One Democratic senator vital to the bill’s fate says the cost will need to be slashed to $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion to win his support.Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., has suggested it’s time for a “strategic pause,” and cautioned there was “no way” Congress will meet the late September goal from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for passage, given his wide differences with liberal Democrats on how much to spend and how to pay for it.“I cannot support $3.5 trillion,” Manchin said Sunday, citing in particular his opposition to raising the corporate tax rate above 25%, a figure he says will keep the U.S. globally competitive.Manchin is not alone, as other centrist lawmakers have raised concerns. Restive Democrats from high-tax, heavily Democratic states like New York, New Jersey and California are pushing for a repeal of the $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions that was imposed by the 2017 Trump law. Neal indicated Monday that the issue is under serious consideration.Finding compromise will be a daunting project as progressives, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., are angling for the most robust package possible. As chairman of the Budget Committee helping to write the bill, Sanders has noted that he and other members of the liberal flank&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-medicare-immigration-business-government-and-politics-06e658b07a41ebb9d55647f905ebd2b7">had initially urged an even more robust package</a>&nbsp;of $6 trillion.“For me, this is not a particular number, but it is making sure that we meet this moment,” said Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., a member of House leadership. “The pandemic has shown us that we cannot continue to have an economy of haves and have nots.”The White House welcomed the preliminary tax plan, which keeps to Biden’s promise not to tax anyone making less than $400,000. The proposal “makes significant progress towards ensuring our economy rewards work and not just wealth,” said deputy press secretary Andrew Bates.The House, Senate and White House are working together to align their plans ahead of this month’s deadlines, though some differences are emerging that will need to be resolved.The House tax proposal was pitched as potentially raising some $2.9 trillion, a preliminary estimate — but it would go a long way toward paying for the $3.5 trillion legislation. The White House is counting on long-term economic growth from the plan to generate an additional $600 billion to make up the difference.Much of the revenue raised would come from the higher taxes on corporations and the highest earners, increasing the individual tax rate to 39.6% from the current 37%.Looking at wealthy individuals, Neal is proposing an increase in the top tax rate on capital gains for those earning $400,000 a year or more, to 25% from the current 20%. Exemptions for estate taxes, which were doubled under the 2017 Trump tax law to now $11.7 million for individuals, would revert to $5 million.Also proposed are increases in the tax rate on tobacco products and a new tax on non-tobacco nicotine delivered by e-cigarettes.The broader blueprint from Democrats proposes spending billions for rebuilding infrastructure, tackling climate change and expanding or introducing a range of services, from free prekindergarten to dental, vision and hearing aid care for older people.Congressional committees are hustling to wrap up their work to meet this week’s timeline from Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to have the bill drafted. Pelosi is seeking a House vote by Oct. 1, and it would then go to the Senate. That’s near the Sept. 27 timeline for voting on a slimmer infrastructure plan favored by moderate lawmakers.

Democrats unveil tax hikes to pay for Biden's $3.5T plan

WASHINGTON (AP)—The average person doesn’t need a COVID-19 booster yet, an international group of scientists — including two top U.S. regulators — wrote Monday in a scientific journal.

The experts reviewed studies of the vaccines’ performance and concluded the shots are working well despite the extra-contagious delta variant, especially against severe disease.

“Even in populations with fairly high vaccination rates, the unvaccinated are still the major drivers of transmission” at this stage of the pandemic,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thelancet.com/pb-assets/Lancet/pdfs/S0140673621020468.pdf" target="_blank">they concluded</a>.

The opinion piece, published in The Lancet, illustrates the intense scientific debate about who needs booster doses and when, a decision the U.S. and other countries are grappling with.

After revelations of political meddling in the Trump administration’s coronavirus response, President Joe Biden has promised to “follow the science.” But the review raises the question of whether his administration is moving faster than the experts.

The authors include two leading vaccine reviewers at the Food and Drug Administration, Drs. Phil Krause and Marion Gruber, who recently announced they will be stepping down this fall. Among the other 16 authors are leading vaccine researchers in the U.S., Britain, France, South Africa and India, plus scientists with the World Health Organization, which already has urged a moratorium on boosters until poor countries are better vaccinated.

In the U.S., the White House has begun planning for boosters later this month, if both the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agree. Advisers to the FDA will weigh evidence about an extra Pfizer shot Friday at a key public meeting.

Georgetown University’s Larry Gostin said the paper “throws gasoline on the fire” in the debate about whether most Americans truly need boosters and whether the White House got ahead of scientists.

“It’s always a fundamental error of process to make a scientific announcement before the public health agencies have acted and that’s exactly what happened here,” said Gostin, a lawyer and public health specialist.

The FDA did not respond to requests for comment Monday morning.

The U.S. already offers an extra dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to people with severely weakened immune systems.

For the general population, the debate is boiling down to whether boosters should be given even though the vaccines are still offering high protection against severe disease — possibly in hopes of blocking milder “breakthrough” infections among the fully vaccinated.

Last week, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-coronavirus-pandemic-rochelle-walensky-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-31ddcca6119e018bd826d2a05df7f68b">new data</a>&nbsp;showed that as delta surged, the unvaccinated were 4.5 times more likely than the fully vaccinated to get infected, over 10 times more likely to be hospitalized and 11 times more likely to die. Still, government scientists are also weighing hints that protection is waning among older adults who were vaccinated early last winter.

The writers of Monday’s commentary reported reviewing worldwide studies since delta began surging, mostly of U.S. and European vaccines. The team concluded “none of these studies has provided credible evidence of substantially declining protection against severe disease.”

Because the body builds layers of immunity, gradual drops in antibody levels don’t necessarily mean overall effectiveness is dropping “and reductions in vaccine efficacy against mild disease do not necessarily predict reductions in the (typically higher) efficacy against severe disease,” they wrote.

The more the virus spreads, the more opportunity it has to evolve into strains that could escape current vaccines. The Lancet reviewers suggest there could be bigger gains from creating booster doses that better match circulating variants, much like flu vaccine is regularly updated, than from just giving extra doses of the original vaccine.

“There is an opportunity now to study variant-based boosters before there is widespread need for them,” the scientists wrote.

WASHINGTON (AP)—The average person doesn’t need a COVID-19 booster yet, an international group of scientists — including two top U.S. regulators — wrote Monday in a scientific journal.The experts reviewed studies of the vaccines’ performance and concluded the shots are working well despite the extra-contagious delta variant, especially against severe disease.“Even in populations with fairly high vaccination rates, the unvaccinated are still the major drivers of transmission” at this stage of the pandemic,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thelancet.com/pb-assets/Lancet/pdfs/S0140673621020468.pdf" target="_blank">they concluded</a>.The opinion piece, published in The Lancet, illustrates the intense scientific debate about who needs booster doses and when, a decision the U.S. and other countries are grappling with.After revelations of political meddling in the Trump administration’s coronavirus response, President Joe Biden has promised to “follow the science.” But the review raises the question of whether his administration is moving faster than the experts.The authors include two leading vaccine reviewers at the Food and Drug Administration, Drs. Phil Krause and Marion Gruber, who recently announced they will be stepping down this fall. Among the other 16 authors are leading vaccine researchers in the U.S., Britain, France, South Africa and India, plus scientists with the World Health Organization, which already has urged a moratorium on boosters until poor countries are better vaccinated.In the U.S., the White House has begun planning for boosters later this month, if both the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agree. Advisers to the FDA will weigh evidence about an extra Pfizer shot Friday at a key public meeting.Georgetown University’s Larry Gostin said the paper “throws gasoline on the fire” in the debate about whether most Americans truly need boosters and whether the White House got ahead of scientists.“It’s always a fundamental error of process to make a scientific announcement before the public health agencies have acted and that’s exactly what happened here,” said Gostin, a lawyer and public health specialist.The FDA did not respond to requests for comment Monday morning.The U.S. already offers an extra dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to people with severely weakened immune systems.For the general population, the debate is boiling down to whether boosters should be given even though the vaccines are still offering high protection against severe disease — possibly in hopes of blocking milder “breakthrough” infections among the fully vaccinated.Last week, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-coronavirus-pandemic-rochelle-walensky-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-31ddcca6119e018bd826d2a05df7f68b">new data</a>&nbsp;showed that as delta surged, the unvaccinated were 4.5 times more likely than the fully vaccinated to get infected, over 10 times more likely to be hospitalized and 11 times more likely to die. Still, government scientists are also weighing hints that protection is waning among older adults who were vaccinated early last winter.The writers of Monday’s commentary reported reviewing worldwide studies since delta began surging, mostly of U.S. and European vaccines. The team concluded “none of these studies has provided credible evidence of substantially declining protection against severe disease.”Because the body builds layers of immunity, gradual drops in antibody levels don’t necessarily mean overall effectiveness is dropping “and reductions in vaccine efficacy against mild disease do not necessarily predict reductions in the (typically higher) efficacy against severe disease,” they wrote.The more the virus spreads, the more opportunity it has to evolve into strains that could escape current vaccines. The Lancet reviewers suggest there could be bigger gains from creating booster doses that better match circulating variants, much like flu vaccine is regularly updated, than from just giving extra doses of the original vaccine.“There is an opportunity now to study variant-based boosters before there is widespread need for them,” the scientists wrote.___

FDA experts among those opposing US booster shot plan

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas legislator accused of kicking a high school student in the testicles has pleaded guilty to three lesser misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct. 

A magistrate judge on Monday placed Republican state Rep. Mark Samsel on a year’s probation under a deal with the local prosecutor. 

Samsel also agreed not to use social media for personal purposes or have any contact with two high school students whose complaints led to the charges. Samsel had faced three higher misdemeanor criminal charges of battery over interactions with the two students, ages 15 or 16, during an April 28 high school art class in his eastern Kansas hometown of Wellsville.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619814603053.png" alt="Samsel in his Franklin County booking photo" />
 <figcaption>Samsel in his Franklin County booking photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas legislator accused of kicking a high school student in the testicles has pleaded guilty to three lesser misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct. A magistrate judge on Monday placed Republican state Rep. Mark Samsel on a year’s probation under a deal with the local prosecutor. Samsel also agreed not to use social media for personal purposes or have any contact with two high school students whose complaints led to the charges. Samsel had faced three higher misdemeanor criminal charges of battery over interactions with the two students, ages 15 or 16, during an April 28 high school art class in his eastern Kansas hometown of Wellsville.

Kan. lawmaker accused of battery while teaching gets plea deal

(AP)-A fire at one of the nation’s largest beef processing plants appears to have spared the main production area. 

So the impact of the Nebraska fire on the overall market is likely to be limited. 

While the blaze was burning at the JBS plant that normally slaughters about 6,000 cattle a day, industry observers feared there could be a similar impact to when a fire disrupted operations at a large Tyson beef plant in Kansas for months in 2019. 

JBS spokeswoman Nikki Richardson said the company expects to resume operations at the plant Tuesday because the fire did not impact the main production areas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631580564332.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>(AP)-A fire at one of the nation’s largest beef processing plants appears to have spared the main production area. So the impact of the Nebraska fire on the overall market is likely to be limited. While the blaze was burning at the JBS plant that normally slaughters about 6,000 cattle a day, industry observers feared there could be a similar impact to when a fire disrupted operations at a large Tyson beef plant in Kansas for months in 2019. JBS spokeswoman Nikki Richardson said the company expects to resume operations at the plant Tuesday because the fire did not impact the main production areas.

Fire at huge Nebraska beef plant disrupts production briefly

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Douglas County Commissioner and former Omaha mayor Mike Boyle died Monday morning following a bout with pneumonia. He was 77. 

Boyle's daughter, fellow Douglas County Commissioner Maureen Boyle, announced her father's death through a spokeswoman for the county. 

Boyle had been a fixture in the Nebraska Democratic Party for decades and had served on the board of Nebraska's largest county since 1997. He also was elected mayor of Omaha in 1981 and re-elected to a second term in 1985, but was removed from office in a recall election the following year. 

Boyle was preceded in death by his wife, former Nebraska Democratic Party chair and public service commissioner Anne Boyle, and survived by five children and 18 grandchildren.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631564063190.png" alt="Boyle" />
 <figcaption>Boyle</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Douglas County Commissioner and former Omaha mayor Mike Boyle died Monday morning following a bout with pneumonia. He was 77. Boyle's daughter, fellow Douglas County Commissioner Maureen Boyle, announced her father's death through a spokeswoman for the county. Boyle had been a fixture in the Nebraska Democratic Party for decades and had served on the board of Nebraska's largest county since 1997. He also was elected mayor of Omaha in 1981 and re-elected to a second term in 1985, but was removed from office in a recall election the following year. Boyle was preceded in death by his wife, former Nebraska Democratic Party chair and public service commissioner Anne Boyle, and survived by five children and 18 grandchildren.

Douglas County commissioner, former mayor Mike Boyle dies

GRAND ISLAND, Neb.-After a year off, Husker Harvest Days is ready to go for another show in Hall County this week, and the Nebraska State Patrol has some reminders for those planning to attend.

During the event, which runs from September 14-16, troopers will provide traffic control in the areas around the event and maintain an increased presence in an effort to reduce the potential for crashes. As in previous years, there will be times when Husker Highway will become one-way in and out of the event.

“It’s great to have Husker Harvest Days back this year,” said Captain Jeff Roby, Commander of Troop C. “This is a major event for our partners in the agriculture industry and we’re happy to support it by working with a number of other agencies to keep the crowds safe as they travel to and from the show.”

Motorists are asked to maintain adequate following distance to allow themselves plenty of time to react to changing traffic conditions and to remain alert for law enforcement personnel.

Traffic enforcement assistance will be provided by the Nebraska State Patrol, Nebraska Department of Transportation, Hall County Roads Department, Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Hall County Sheriff’s Posse, and the Husker Harvest Days Staff.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631563160812.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release Nebraska State PatrolGRAND ISLAND, Neb.-After a year off, Husker Harvest Days is ready to go for another show in Hall County this week, and the Nebraska State Patrol has some reminders for those planning to attend.During the event, which runs from September 14-16, troopers will provide traffic control in the areas around the event and maintain an increased presence in an effort to reduce the potential for crashes. As in previous years, there will be times when Husker Highway will become one-way in and out of the event.“It’s great to have Husker Harvest Days back this year,” said Captain Jeff Roby, Commander of Troop C. “This is a major event for our partners in the agriculture industry and we’re happy to support it by working with a number of other agencies to keep the crowds safe as they travel to and from the show.”Motorists are asked to maintain adequate following distance to allow themselves plenty of time to react to changing traffic conditions and to remain alert for law enforcement personnel.Traffic enforcement assistance will be provided by the Nebraska State Patrol, Nebraska Department of Transportation, Hall County Roads Department, Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Hall County Sheriff’s Posse, and the Husker Harvest Days Staff.

Husker Harvest Days brings big crowds to Hall County

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Firefighters were still battling a blaze Monday morning at a Grand Island meatpacking plant 12 hours after first arriving on the scene. 

Battalion Chief Scott Kuehl said crews were first called to the JBS plant just before 10 p.m. Sunday and arrived to find flames in the rendering area of the plant. 

The six-alarm fire kept firefighters at the plant all night and into late Monday morning as the fire spread in concealed spots within the plant's ceiling and walls. No injuries have been reported. 

The fire has interrupted work at the plant, with workers told not to report to work Monday. 

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Firefighters were still battling a blaze Monday morning at a Grand Island meatpacking plant 12 hours after first arriving on the scene. Battalion Chief Scott Kuehl said crews were first called to the JBS plant just before 10 p.m. Sunday and arrived to find flames in the rendering area of the plant. The six-alarm fire kept firefighters at the plant all night and into late Monday morning as the fire spread in concealed spots within the plant's ceiling and walls. No injuries have been reported. The fire has interrupted work at the plant, with workers told not to report to work Monday. Officials say the cause of the fire is not yet known.