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. 

Officials say the cause of the fire is not yet known.

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.

Crews battling large blaze at Grand Island meatpacking plant

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say a man was killed and a woman injured in a late-night shooting outside a midtown Omaha mall. Police say the shooting at Westroads Mall happened around 11 p.m. 

Sunday in the parking lot of Dick's Sporting Goods at the mall. Arriving officers found a man and a woman who had been shot.

 The 18-year-old woman was taken to a hospital with critical injuries, but is expected to survive. 

The 18-year-old man, identified as Franco Vasquez, was declared dead at the scene. Police have not reported having any suspects and had not made any arrests in the case by Monday morning.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say a man was killed and a woman injured in a late-night shooting outside a midtown Omaha mall. Police say the shooting at Westroads Mall happened around 11 p.m. Sunday in the parking lot of Dick's Sporting Goods at the mall. Arriving officers found a man and a woman who had been shot. The 18-year-old woman was taken to a hospital with critical injuries, but is expected to survive. The 18-year-old man, identified as Franco Vasquez, was declared dead at the scene. Police have not reported having any suspects and had not made any arrests in the case by Monday morning.

Police: Man killed, woman hurt in Omaha mall lot shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://vault.fbi.gov/9-11-attacks-investigation-and-related-materials/9-11-material-released-in-response-to-executive-order-14040/april-4-2016-electronic-communication-part-01-of-01/view" target="_blank">A declassified FBI document</a>&nbsp;related to logistical support given to two of the Saudi hijackers in the run-up to the Sept. 11 attacks details contacts the men had with Saudi associates in the United States but does not provide proof that senior kingdom officials were complicit in the plot.

The document released Saturday, on the 20th anniversary of the attacks, is the first investigative record to be disclosed since President Joe Biden ordered a declassification review of materials that for years have remained out of public view. The 16-page document is a summary of an FBI interview done in 2015 with a man who had frequent contact with Saudi nationals in the U.S. who supported the first hijackers to arrive in the country before the attacks.

Biden ordered the Justice Department and other agencies to conduct a declassification review and release what documents they can over the next six months. He was under pressure from victims’ families, who have long sought the records as they pursue a lawsuit in New York alleging that Saudi government officials supported the hijackers.

The heavily blacked-out document was released hours after Biden attended Sept. 11 memorial events in New York, Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon. Victims’ relatives had said they would object to Biden’s presence at those remembrances as long as the documents remained classified.

The Saudi government has long denied any involvement in the attacks. The Saudi Embassy in Washington has it supported the full declassification of all records as a way to “end the baseless allegations against the Kingdom once and for all.” The embassy said that any allegation that Saudi Arabia was complicit was “categorically false.”

The documents have come out at a politically delicate time for the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, which have forged a strategic, if difficult, alliance, particularly on counterterrorism matters. The Biden administration in February released an intelligence assessment implicating Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the 2018 killing of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but drew criticism from Democrats for avoiding a direct punishment of the royal himself.

Victims’ relatives said the document’s release was a significant step in their effort to connect the attacks to Saudi Arabia. Brett Eagleson, whose father, Bruce, was killed in the World Trade Center attack, said the release of the FBI material “accelerates our pursuit of truth and justice.”

Jim Kreindler, a lawyer for the victims’ relatives, said in a statement that “the findings and conclusions in this FBI investigation validate the arguments we have made in the litigation regarding the Saudi government’s responsibility for the 9/11 attacks.

“This document, together with the public evidence gathered to date, provides a blueprint for how (al-Qaida) operated inside the US with the active, knowing support of the Saudi government,” he said.

That includes, he said, Saudi officials exchanging phone calls among themselves and al-Qaida operatives and then having “accidental meetings” with the hijackers while providing them with assistance to get settled and find flight schools.

Regarding Sept. 11, there has been speculation of official involvement since shortly after the attacks, when it was revealed that 15 of the 19 attackers were Saudis. Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaida at the time, was from a prominent family in the kingdom.

The U.S. investigated some Saudi diplomats and others with Saudi government ties who knew hijackers after they arrived in the U.S., according to previously declassified documents.

Still, the 9/11 Commission report in 2004 found “no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution or senior Saudi officials individually funded” the attacks that al-Qaida masterminded, though it noted Saudi-linked charities could have diverted money to the group.

Particular scrutiny has centered on the first two hijackers to arrive in the U.S., Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar, and support they received.

In February 2000, shortly after their arrival in Southern California, they encountered at a halal restaurant a Saudi national named Omar al-Bayoumi who helped them find and lease an apartment in San Diego. He had ties to the Saudi government and had earlier attracted FBI scrutiny.

Bayoumi has described his restaurant meeting with Hazmi and Mihdhar as a “chance encounter,” and the FBI during its interview made multiple attempts to ascertain if that characterization was accurate or if the meeting had actually been arranged in advance, according to the document.

The 2015 interview that forms the basis of the FBI document was of a man who was applying for U.S. citizenship and who years earlier had repeated contacts with Saudi nationals, who investigators said, provided “significant logistical support” to several of the hijackers. Among the man’s contacts was Bayoumi, according to the document.

The man’s identity is blacked out throughout the document, but he is described as having worked at the Saudi consulate in Los Angeles.

Also referenced in the document is Fahad al-Thumairy, at the time an accredited diplomat at the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles who investigators say led an extremist faction at his mosque. The document says communications analysis identified a seven-minute phone call in 1999 from Thumairy’s phone to the Saudi Arabian family home phone of two brothers who later were detained at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, prison.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631038876655.png" alt="The World Trade Center burns in the background of New York City’s Empire State Building, Sept. 11, 2001. Both World Trade Center towers were attacked as a result of a highly coordinated al-Qaida plot. U.S. Department of Defense photo" />
 <figcaption>The World Trade Center burns in the background of New York City’s Empire State Building, Sept. 11, 2001. Both World Trade Center towers were attacked as a result of a highly coordinated al-Qaida plot. U.S. Department of Defense photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://vault.fbi.gov/9-11-attacks-investigation-and-related-materials/9-11-material-released-in-response-to-executive-order-14040/april-4-2016-electronic-communication-part-01-of-01/view" target="_blank">A declassified FBI document</a>&nbsp;related to logistical support given to two of the Saudi hijackers in the run-up to the Sept. 11 attacks details contacts the men had with Saudi associates in the United States but does not provide proof that senior kingdom officials were complicit in the plot.The document released Saturday, on the 20th anniversary of the attacks, is the first investigative record to be disclosed since President Joe Biden ordered a declassification review of materials that for years have remained out of public view. The 16-page document is a summary of an FBI interview done in 2015 with a man who had frequent contact with Saudi nationals in the U.S. who supported the first hijackers to arrive in the country before the attacks.Biden ordered the Justice Department and other agencies to conduct a declassification review and release what documents they can over the next six months. He was under pressure from victims’ families, who have long sought the records as they pursue a lawsuit in New York alleging that Saudi government officials supported the hijackers.The heavily blacked-out document was released hours after Biden attended Sept. 11 memorial events in New York, Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon. Victims’ relatives had said they would object to Biden’s presence at those remembrances as long as the documents remained classified.The Saudi government has long denied any involvement in the attacks. The Saudi Embassy in Washington has it supported the full declassification of all records as a way to “end the baseless allegations against the Kingdom once and for all.” The embassy said that any allegation that Saudi Arabia was complicit was “categorically false.”The documents have come out at a politically delicate time for the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, which have forged a strategic, if difficult, alliance, particularly on counterterrorism matters. The Biden administration in February released an intelligence assessment implicating Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the 2018 killing of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but drew criticism from Democrats for avoiding a direct punishment of the royal himself.Victims’ relatives said the document’s release was a significant step in their effort to connect the attacks to Saudi Arabia. Brett Eagleson, whose father, Bruce, was killed in the World Trade Center attack, said the release of the FBI material “accelerates our pursuit of truth and justice.”Jim Kreindler, a lawyer for the victims’ relatives, said in a statement that “the findings and conclusions in this FBI investigation validate the arguments we have made in the litigation regarding the Saudi government’s responsibility for the 9/11 attacks.“This document, together with the public evidence gathered to date, provides a blueprint for how (al-Qaida) operated inside the US with the active, knowing support of the Saudi government,” he said.That includes, he said, Saudi officials exchanging phone calls among themselves and al-Qaida operatives and then having “accidental meetings” with the hijackers while providing them with assistance to get settled and find flight schools.Regarding Sept. 11, there has been speculation of official involvement since shortly after the attacks, when it was revealed that 15 of the 19 attackers were Saudis. Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaida at the time, was from a prominent family in the kingdom.The U.S. investigated some Saudi diplomats and others with Saudi government ties who knew hijackers after they arrived in the U.S., according to previously declassified documents.Still, the 9/11 Commission report in 2004 found “no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution or senior Saudi officials individually funded” the attacks that al-Qaida masterminded, though it noted Saudi-linked charities could have diverted money to the group.Particular scrutiny has centered on the first two hijackers to arrive in the U.S., Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar, and support they received.In February 2000, shortly after their arrival in Southern California, they encountered at a halal restaurant a Saudi national named Omar al-Bayoumi who helped them find and lease an apartment in San Diego. He had ties to the Saudi government and had earlier attracted FBI scrutiny.Bayoumi has described his restaurant meeting with Hazmi and Mihdhar as a “chance encounter,” and the FBI during its interview made multiple attempts to ascertain if that characterization was accurate or if the meeting had actually been arranged in advance, according to the document.The 2015 interview that forms the basis of the FBI document was of a man who was applying for U.S. citizenship and who years earlier had repeated contacts with Saudi nationals, who investigators said, provided “significant logistical support” to several of the hijackers. Among the man’s contacts was Bayoumi, according to the document.The man’s identity is blacked out throughout the document, but he is described as having worked at the Saudi consulate in Los Angeles.Also referenced in the document is Fahad al-Thumairy, at the time an accredited diplomat at the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles who investigators say led an extremist faction at his mosque. The document says communications analysis identified a seven-minute phone call in 1999 from Thumairy’s phone to the Saudi Arabian family home phone of two brothers who later were detained at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, prison.___

FBI releases new declassified record on Sept. 11 attacks

Emergency scams, sometimes called "grandparent scams," prey on the 
willingness of an unsuspecting, worried individual to help friends and 
family in need. Often, they will impersonate their targets’ loved ones, 
make up an urgent situation, and plead for help… and money. Thanks to 
social media sites, scammers can look up information and offer plausible
 stories. They may even incorporate nicknames and real travel plans into
 the con to convince their targets.&nbsp;

Emergency scams are about a family member or friend in a dire 
situation. You get a call, email, or social media message from someone 
claiming to be a family member in distress. They may say they’ve been 
arrested while traveling overseas, or there was an accident, medical 
emergency, or other calamity. They provide convincing details, such as 
family names and school details.

A common version is the “grandparent scam,” where the con artist 
contacts a grandparent claiming to be their grandchild and asking for 
money. The plea is so persuasive that the grandparent wires money to the
 scammer, only to find out later their family member was safe and sound 
all along. This scam can also work in reverse, where the "grandparent" 
calls their grandchild pleading for help.

To report a scam, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>. Learn more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21686-who-is-really-contacting-you" target="_blank">all types of impostor scams</a>.&nbsp;

To learn how to protect yourself, go to “<a href="https://www.bbb.org/avoidscams/" target="_blank">10 Steps to Avoid Scams</a>."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Better Business BureauEmergency scams, sometimes called "grandparent scams," prey on the 
willingness of an unsuspecting, worried individual to help friends and 
family in need. Often, they will impersonate their targets’ loved ones, 
make up an urgent situation, and plead for help… and money. Thanks to 
social media sites, scammers can look up information and offer plausible
 stories. They may even incorporate nicknames and real travel plans into
 the con to convince their targets.&nbsp;<h2>How the Scam Works:</h2>Emergency scams are about a family member or friend in a dire 
situation. You get a call, email, or social media message from someone 
claiming to be a family member in distress. They may say they’ve been 
arrested while traveling overseas, or there was an accident, medical 
emergency, or other calamity. They provide convincing details, such as 
family names and school details.A common version is the “grandparent scam,” where the con artist 
contacts a grandparent claiming to be their grandchild and asking for 
money. The plea is so persuasive that the grandparent wires money to the
 scammer, only to find out later their family member was safe and sound 
all along. This scam can also work in reverse, where the "grandparent" 
calls their grandchild pleading for help.<h2>Tips to Spot This Scam:&nbsp;</h2><ul>
 <li>Resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how 
dramatic the story is. Check out the story with other family and 
friends, but hang up or close the message and call your loved one 
directly. Don’t call the phone number provided by the caller or caller 
ID. Ask questions that would be hard for an impostor to answer 
correctly.&nbsp; </li><li>Know what your family members are sharing online. You may not have control over your family's social media accounts, but familiarize yourself with what they are sharing online. &nbsp;</li><li>Don't wire any money if there is any doubt about the call. If a person does wire money and later realizes it is a fraud, the police need to be alerted.&nbsp; </li>
 </ul><h2>For more information:</h2>To report a scam, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>. Learn more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21686-who-is-really-contacting-you" target="_blank">all types of impostor scams</a>.&nbsp;To learn how to protect yourself, go to “<a href="https://www.bbb.org/avoidscams/" target="_blank">10 Steps to Avoid Scams</a>."

'Grandma, help!' emergency scams take advantage of loved ones

WASHINGTON — During <a href="https://www.sba.gov/nsbw/nsbw">National Small Business Week</a>,
 the Internal Revenue Service wants small business owners to know that 
information and resources to help them understand and meet their tax 
obligations are available free at IRS.gov.

Small businesses play a pivotal role in our nation's economy. The IRS
 has a variety of resources available to help employers meet their tax 
responsibilities as well as help their employees.

IRS online resources can also help employers with things like how to 
determine if workers should be classified as employees or independent 
contractors, when employment taxes are due and what forms they need to 
file.

An <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-id-numbers">Employer Identification Number </a>, also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number is a must-have for a business. Applying for an EIN can be done <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online">online</a> for free using an interview style application offered by the IRS. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vD0KoIS124">Five Things to Know about the EIN</a>
 is a video that helps explain why it is critical the IRS has accurate 
and current information related to EINs or business accounts.

It's important a small business <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/understanding-employment-taxes">understand employment taxes</a>
 such as federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare taxes as well 
as Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax. Employers must regularly report 
wages, tips and other compensation paid to an employee by filing the 
required form(s) to the IRS.

Most employers use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-941">Form 941, Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return</a>
 to report federal income tax withheld and both the employer and 
employee Social Security and Medicare taxes. The smallest employers 
(those whose annual liability for Social Security, Medicare and withheld
 federal income taxes is $1,000 or less) file <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-944">Form 944, Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return</a>, and agricultural employers file <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-943">Form 943, Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return for Agricultural Employees</a>. Only the employer pays FUTA tax; it is not withheld from the employee's wages. Employers report their FUTA taxes by filing <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-940">Form 940, Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return</a>.

If businesses compensate non-employees for services, or pay rent, 
commissions, the fees of attorneys and other professionals, or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc307#:~:text=You%20may%20be%20subject%20to%20backup%20withholding%20and,your%20income%20tax%20return.%20...%20More%20items...%20">make certain other payments</a>, businesses must obtain the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) of the payee before
 making the payment. If businesses don't have the payee's TIN at the 
time payment is made, businesses must withhold 24% from the payment as 
backup withholding. A payer is liable for backup withholding even if the
 tax is not deducted from the payment. Payers may use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-9">Form W-9</a> to request the payee's TIN. Payers use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-945">Form 945, Annual Return of Withheld Income Tax</a>, to report backup withholding.

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/depositing-and-reporting-employment-taxes">There are two deposit schedules for employment taxes withheld and the employer's match</a>
 − monthly and semi-weekly. Before the beginning of each calendar year, 
employers must determine which of the two deposit schedules they're 
required to use. To determine the businesses' payment schedule, review <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-15">Publication 15</a> for Forms 941, 944 and 945, or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-51">Publication 51</a>
 for Form 943. Deposits for FUTA Tax (Form 940) are required for the 
quarter within which the tax due exceeds $500. The tax must be deposited
 by the end of the month following the end of the quarter. Small 
business taxpayers must use&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">electronic funds transfer (EFTPS)</a>&nbsp;to make all federal tax deposits. See the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employment-tax-due-dates">Employment Tax Due Dates</a> page for information on when deposits are due.

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-as-you-go-so-you-wont-owe-a-guide-to-withholding-estimated-taxes-and-ways-to-avoid-the-estimated-tax-penalty">Taxes are pay-as-you-go</a>.
 This means taxpayers need to pay most of their tax during the year, as 
they receive income, rather than paying at the end of the year.

Small business owners, sole proprietors, partners and S corporation 
shareholders who don't have tax withheld from their earnings need to 
make <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estimated-taxes">estimated tax payments</a>, usually quarterly. Anyone who <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f2210.pdf">pays too little tax</a>&nbsp;or does not pay on-time, may owe a penalty.

To meet payroll and employment tax responsibilities, many businesses hire a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/outsourcing-payroll-and-third-party-payers">payroll and payroll tax company</a>.
 Most of these businesses provide quality service, however, sometimes a 
payroll service provider doesn't submit their client's payroll taxes and
 closes abruptly. The client remains legally responsible for paying the 
taxes due even if they sent funds for deposits or payments to the 
payroll service provider. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-urges-employers-to-choose-carefully-when-selecting-a-payroll-service-provider">The IRS urges employers to choose carefully when selecting a payroll provider</a>. The IRS also encourages employers to enroll in the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>.
 It's free and when deposits are made under their EIN, it lets them 
monitor that their payroll service provider is making their tax 
deposits.

Small businesses can share the word with employees about Child Tax Credit

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, new legislation was enacted to aid not 
only struggling business owners, but also individuals. Employers have 
direct access to people who may be eligible for advance Child Tax Credit
 payments. As part of its ongoing effort to help eligible people access 
advance Child Tax Credit payments and the increased Child Tax Credit for
 the 2021 tax year; IRS will be encouraging employers to help spread the
 word during National Small Business Week 2021.

Materials for employers and others who can help are available on the IRS website at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-resources-and-guidance">2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments: Resources and Guidance</a>.
 This is part of a larger effort underway at the IRS to reach people 
eligible for the payments and other credits. Individuals can check their
 eligibility for the advance payments by using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-eligibility-assistant">Advance Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant</a>.

Online IRS resources available to small businesses to learn their employer tax responsibilities include:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — During <a href="https://www.sba.gov/nsbw/nsbw">National Small Business Week</a>,
 the Internal Revenue Service wants small business owners to know that 
information and resources to help them understand and meet their tax 
obligations are available free at IRS.gov.Small businesses play a pivotal role in our nation's economy. The IRS
 has a variety of resources available to help employers meet their tax 
responsibilities as well as help their employees.IRS online resources can also help employers with things like how to 
determine if workers should be classified as employees or independent 
contractors, when employment taxes are due and what forms they need to 
file.<h2>Employer Identification Number</h2>An <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-id-numbers">Employer Identification Number </a>, also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number is a must-have for a business. Applying for an EIN can be done <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online">online</a> for free using an interview style application offered by the IRS. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vD0KoIS124">Five Things to Know about the EIN</a>
 is a video that helps explain why it is critical the IRS has accurate 
and current information related to EINs or business accounts.<h2>Employment taxes</h2>It's important a small business <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/understanding-employment-taxes">understand employment taxes</a>
 such as federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare taxes as well 
as Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax. Employers must regularly report 
wages, tips and other compensation paid to an employee by filing the 
required form(s) to the IRS.Most employers use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-941">Form 941, Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return</a>
 to report federal income tax withheld and both the employer and 
employee Social Security and Medicare taxes. The smallest employers 
(those whose annual liability for Social Security, Medicare and withheld
 federal income taxes is $1,000 or less) file <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-944">Form 944, Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return</a>, and agricultural employers file <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-943">Form 943, Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return for Agricultural Employees</a>. Only the employer pays FUTA tax; it is not withheld from the employee's wages. Employers report their FUTA taxes by filing <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-940">Form 940, Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return</a>.If businesses compensate non-employees for services, or pay rent, 
commissions, the fees of attorneys and other professionals, or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc307#:~:text=You%20may%20be%20subject%20to%20backup%20withholding%20and,your%20income%20tax%20return.%20...%20More%20items...%20">make certain other payments</a>, businesses must obtain the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) of the payee before
 making the payment. If businesses don't have the payee's TIN at the 
time payment is made, businesses must withhold 24% from the payment as 
backup withholding. A payer is liable for backup withholding even if the
 tax is not deducted from the payment. Payers may use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-9">Form W-9</a> to request the payee's TIN. Payers use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-945">Form 945, Annual Return of Withheld Income Tax</a>, to report backup withholding.<a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/depositing-and-reporting-employment-taxes">There are two deposit schedules for employment taxes withheld and the employer's match</a>
 − monthly and semi-weekly. Before the beginning of each calendar year, 
employers must determine which of the two deposit schedules they're 
required to use. To determine the businesses' payment schedule, review <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-15">Publication 15</a> for Forms 941, 944 and 945, or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-51">Publication 51</a>
 for Form 943. Deposits for FUTA Tax (Form 940) are required for the 
quarter within which the tax due exceeds $500. The tax must be deposited
 by the end of the month following the end of the quarter. Small 
business taxpayers must use&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">electronic funds transfer (EFTPS)</a>&nbsp;to make all federal tax deposits. See the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employment-tax-due-dates">Employment Tax Due Dates</a> page for information on when deposits are due.<h2>Estimated tax payments</h2><a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-as-you-go-so-you-wont-owe-a-guide-to-withholding-estimated-taxes-and-ways-to-avoid-the-estimated-tax-penalty">Taxes are pay-as-you-go</a>.
 This means taxpayers need to pay most of their tax during the year, as 
they receive income, rather than paying at the end of the year.Small business owners, sole proprietors, partners and S corporation 
shareholders who don't have tax withheld from their earnings need to 
make <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estimated-taxes">estimated tax payments</a>, usually quarterly. Anyone who <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f2210.pdf">pays too little tax</a>&nbsp;or does not pay on-time, may owe a penalty.<h2>Hiring others to prepare payroll</h2>To meet payroll and employment tax responsibilities, many businesses hire a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/outsourcing-payroll-and-third-party-payers">payroll and payroll tax company</a>.
 Most of these businesses provide quality service, however, sometimes a 
payroll service provider doesn't submit their client's payroll taxes and
 closes abruptly. The client remains legally responsible for paying the 
taxes due even if they sent funds for deposits or payments to the 
payroll service provider. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-urges-employers-to-choose-carefully-when-selecting-a-payroll-service-provider">The IRS urges employers to choose carefully when selecting a payroll provider</a>. The IRS also encourages employers to enroll in the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>.
 It's free and when deposits are made under their EIN, it lets them 
monitor that their payroll service provider is making their tax 
deposits.<h2>Small businesses can share the word with employees about Child Tax Credit</h2>Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, new legislation was enacted to aid not 
only struggling business owners, but also individuals. Employers have 
direct access to people who may be eligible for advance Child Tax Credit
 payments. As part of its ongoing effort to help eligible people access 
advance Child Tax Credit payments and the increased Child Tax Credit for
 the 2021 tax year; IRS will be encouraging employers to help spread the
 word during National Small Business Week 2021.Materials for employers and others who can help are available on the IRS website at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-resources-and-guidance">2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments: Resources and Guidance</a>.
 This is part of a larger effort underway at the IRS to reach people 
eligible for the payments and other credits. Individuals can check their
 eligibility for the advance payments by using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-eligibility-assistant">Advance Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant</a>.<h2>More information</h2>Online IRS resources available to small businesses to learn their employer tax responsibilities include:<ul>
 <li>The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed">Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center</a> features links to a variety of useful tools, a downloadable tax calendar and common forms with instructions.</li><li>The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/online-tax-calendar">IRS Tax Calendar for Businesses and Self-employed</a> has important tax dates, including federal tax deposit due dates.</li><li>The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/self-employed-individuals-tax-center">Self-Employed Individuals Tax Center</a> is for sole proprietors and others who are in an independent trade, business or profession.</li><li>The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/gig-economy-tax-center">Gig Economy Tax Center</a> can help people find answers to tax questions, as well as helpful tips and tax forms for business taxpayers.</li><li>Information on IRS.gov may also be available in Spanish, 
Vietnamese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Korean, Russian as 
well as Haitian Creole.</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/multimedia-center">IRS social media</a> channels have helpful video and audio presentations.</li><li>IRS2Go is a free mobile app to find free tax help, watch IRS YouTube videos and get IRS Tax Tips by email in <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&amp;enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwNTA2LjU1NTMyMzEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwNTA2LjU1NTMyMzEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzIzNjc1OSZlbWFpbGlkPXN1c2FuLnZlZ2FAaXJzLmdvdiZ1c2VyaWQ9c3VzYW4udmVnYUBpcnMuZ292JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&amp;&amp;&amp;143&amp;&amp;&amp;https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">English</a> and <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&amp;enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwNTA2LjU1NTMyMzEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwNTA2LjU1NTMyMzEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzIzNjc1OSZlbWFpbGlkPXN1c2FuLnZlZ2FAaXJzLmdvdiZ1c2VyaWQ9c3VzYW4udmVnYUBpcnMuZ292JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&amp;&amp;&amp;144&amp;&amp;&amp;https://www.irs.gov/es/newsroom/irs2goapp">Spanish</a>.</li><li>The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/irsvideos">IRS YouTube Video Channel</a> has videos for small businesses on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL82CC3BB9E78535DE">small business playlist</a>, with videos available in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/irsvideos">English</a>, <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&amp;enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwNTA2LjU1NTMyMzEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwNTA2LjU1NTMyMzEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzIzNjc1OSZlbWFpbGlkPXN1c2FuLnZlZ2FAaXJzLmdvdiZ1c2VyaWQ9c3VzYW4udmVnYUBpcnMuZ292JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&amp;&amp;&amp;137&amp;&amp;&amp;https://www.youtube.com/user/IRSvideosmultilingua">Spanish</a> and <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&amp;enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwNTA2LjU1NTMyMzEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwNTA2LjU1NTMyMzEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzIzNjc1OSZlbWFpbGlkPXN1c2FuLnZlZ2FAaXJzLmdvdiZ1c2VyaWQ9c3VzYW4udmVnYUBpcnMuZ292JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&amp;&amp;&amp;138&amp;&amp;&amp;https://www.youtube.com/user/irsvideosASL">American Sign Language</a>.</li><li><a href="https://www.irsvideos.gov/Business/SmallBusinessWeek/virtualworkshop">Small Business Taxes: The Virtual Workshop</a> has interactive lessons designed to help new small business owners learn their tax rights and responsibilities.</li>
 </ul>

IRS Small Business Week: Resources available to help employers

The
 Federal Trade Commission sent cease-and-desist letters to 10 companies 
suspected of advertising unproven treatments or cures for diabetes, 
ordering the companies to stop making unsubstantiated claims within 15 
days or face potential legal action by the FTC.

“Out-of-control
 insulin prices are driving Americans to turn to questionable products 
rather than proven treatments,” said Samuel Levine, Acting Director of 
the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC and FDA are joining 
forces to call out 10 companies for selling supposed diabetes treatments
 that don’t appear to be supported by sound science.”

The
 FTC demands were issued jointly with U.S. Food and Drug Administration 
(FDA) warning letters, in which the FDA warned the companies that their 
diabetes products are both unapproved and misbranded, in violation of 
the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&amp;C Act). 

The FTC’s cease and desist demands were issued to the following companies: 1) <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/warning-letters/warning-letter-ar-rahmah_pharm_llc.pdf">Ar-Rahmah Pharm, LLC</a>; 2) <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/warning-letters/warning-letter-aceva_llc.pdf">Aceva, LLC</a>; 3) <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/warning-letters/warning-letter-live-good-inc.pdf">Live Good Inc.</a>;&nbsp;4) <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/warning-letters/warning-letter-holistic-healer-wellness-center_inc.pdf">Holistic Healer &amp; Wellness Center, Inc</a>.; 5) <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/warning-letters/warning-letter-lysulin_inc.pdf">Lysulin, Inc.</a>; 6) <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/warning-letters/warning-letter-metamune_inc.pdf">Metamune Inc</a>.; 7) <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/warning-letters/warning-letter-nuturna-international.pdf">Nuturna International LLC</a>; 8) <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/warning-letters/warning-letter-pharmaganics_llc.pdf">Pharmaganics LLC</a>; 9) <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/warning-letters/warning-letter-phytag-labs.pdf">Phytag&nbsp;Labs</a>; and 10) <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/warning-letters/warning-letter-radhanite_llc.pdf">Radhanite, LLC d/b/a Curalife Ltd</a>.

The
 letters state that the Commission is concerned that one or more of the 
efficacy claims in the companies’ advertisements may not be 
substantiated by competent and reliable scientific evidence, as required
 by the FTC Act. Further, the agency demands the companies stop making 
any claim that a product can prevent, treat, or cure diabetes without 
the required scientific evidence, or potentially face legal action by 
the Commission. The letters also note that marketers who make deceptive 
claims about the treatment, cure, prevention, or mitigation of a disease
 may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $43,792 per violation. They 
also may be required to pay refunds to consumers who purchased the 
deceptively marketed products under section 19(b) of the FTC Act. The 
letters order the companies to notify the FTC by email within 15 working
 days of receipt of what specific actions they have taken to address the
 FTC’s concerns.

Under
 the FD&amp;C Act, products intended to cure, treat, mitigate, or 
prevent disease are drugs and are subject to the requirements that apply
 to drugs, even if they are labeled as dietary supplements. Unlike drugs
 approved by the FDA, the agency has not evaluated whether the 
unapproved products subject to the warning letters announced today are 
effective for their intended use, what the proper dosage might be, how 
they could interact with FDA-approved drugs or other substances, or 
whether they have dangerous side effects or other safety concerns.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">protect and educate consumers</a>. You can <a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/">learn more about consumer topics</a> and file a <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/complaint">consumer complaint online</a> or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357).&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 read our <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe
 Federal Trade Commission sent cease-and-desist letters to 10 companies 
suspected of advertising unproven treatments or cures for diabetes, 
ordering the companies to stop making unsubstantiated claims within 15 
days or face potential legal action by the FTC.“Out-of-control
 insulin prices are driving Americans to turn to questionable products 
rather than proven treatments,” said Samuel Levine, Acting Director of 
the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC and FDA are joining 
forces to call out 10 companies for selling supposed diabetes treatments
 that don’t appear to be supported by sound science.”The
 FTC demands were issued jointly with U.S. Food and Drug Administration 
(FDA) warning letters, in which the FDA warned the companies that their 
diabetes products are both unapproved and misbranded, in violation of 
the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&amp;C Act). The FTC’s cease and desist demands were issued to the following companies: 1) <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/warning-letters/warning-letter-ar-rahmah_pharm_llc.pdf">Ar-Rahmah Pharm, LLC</a>; 2) <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/warning-letters/warning-letter-aceva_llc.pdf">Aceva, LLC</a>; 3) <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/warning-letters/warning-letter-live-good-inc.pdf">Live Good Inc.</a>;&nbsp;4) <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/warning-letters/warning-letter-holistic-healer-wellness-center_inc.pdf">Holistic Healer &amp; Wellness Center, Inc</a>.; 5) <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/warning-letters/warning-letter-lysulin_inc.pdf">Lysulin, Inc.</a>; 6) <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/warning-letters/warning-letter-metamune_inc.pdf">Metamune Inc</a>.; 7) <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/warning-letters/warning-letter-nuturna-international.pdf">Nuturna International LLC</a>; 8) <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/warning-letters/warning-letter-pharmaganics_llc.pdf">Pharmaganics LLC</a>; 9) <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/warning-letters/warning-letter-phytag-labs.pdf">Phytag&nbsp;Labs</a>; and 10) <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/warning-letters/warning-letter-radhanite_llc.pdf">Radhanite, LLC d/b/a Curalife Ltd</a>.The FTC ActThe
 letters state that the Commission is concerned that one or more of the 
efficacy claims in the companies’ advertisements may not be 
substantiated by competent and reliable scientific evidence, as required
 by the FTC Act. Further, the agency demands the companies stop making 
any claim that a product can prevent, treat, or cure diabetes without 
the required scientific evidence, or potentially face legal action by 
the Commission. The letters also note that marketers who make deceptive 
claims about the treatment, cure, prevention, or mitigation of a disease
 may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $43,792 per violation. They 
also may be required to pay refunds to consumers who purchased the 
deceptively marketed products under section 19(b) of the FTC Act. The 
letters order the companies to notify the FTC by email within 15 working
 days of receipt of what specific actions they have taken to address the
 FTC’s concerns.The FD&amp;C ActUnder
 the FD&amp;C Act, products intended to cure, treat, mitigate, or 
prevent disease are drugs and are subject to the requirements that apply
 to drugs, even if they are labeled as dietary supplements. Unlike drugs
 approved by the FDA, the agency has not evaluated whether the 
unapproved products subject to the warning letters announced today are 
effective for their intended use, what the proper dosage might be, how 
they could interact with FDA-approved drugs or other substances, or 
whether they have dangerous side effects or other safety concerns.The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">protect and educate consumers</a>. You can <a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/">learn more about consumer topics</a> and file a <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/complaint">consumer complaint online</a> or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357).&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 read our <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>.

'Unproven' diabetes treatment claims draws ire of FTC

HARTINGTON, Neb. (AP) — A 6-year-old rural northeast Nebraska boy has died after an all-terrain vehicle accident. 

The Sioux City, Iowa, Journal reports that the accident occurred just before 11 a.m. Saturday on a farm northwest of Hartington in Cedar County. Authorities said the boy was operating the ATV when it went over an embankment and flipped on top of him. 

Authorities did not release the boy’s name. They said he was taken to a hospital in Yankton, South Dakota, about 25 miles to the northwest of Hartington. He was pronounced dead there. 

The accident remains under investigation. 

Hartington has about 1,500 residents and is 60 miles northwest of Sioux City, Iowa.

HARTINGTON, Neb. (AP) — A 6-year-old rural northeast Nebraska boy has died after an all-terrain vehicle accident. The Sioux City, Iowa, Journal reports that the accident occurred just before 11 a.m. Saturday on a farm northwest of Hartington in Cedar County. Authorities said the boy was operating the ATV when it went over an embankment and flipped on top of him. Authorities did not release the boy’s name. They said he was taken to a hospital in Yankton, South Dakota, about 25 miles to the northwest of Hartington. He was pronounced dead there. The accident remains under investigation. Hartington has about 1,500 residents and is 60 miles northwest of Sioux City, Iowa.

6-year-old rural NE Nebraska boy dies after ATV accident

PLATTE COUNTY—A Nebraska woman died in an accident just after 1a.m. Sunday in Platte County, Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Toyota passenger vehicle driven by Neima M. Ali, 54, Gladstone was&nbsp; southbound out of the commercial vehicle weight scale at Interstate 29 just south of Route HH.

The Toyota merged into the northbound lane of traffic and struck a 2009 Chevy passenger vehicle driven by Janine M. Brooks, 55, Omaha, head-on.

Brooks was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Forensics Medical Center in Kansas City. EMS transported Ali to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. Brooks was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

PLATTE COUNTY—A Nebraska woman died in an accident just after 1a.m. Sunday in Platte County, Missouri.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Toyota passenger vehicle driven by Neima M. Ali, 54, Gladstone was&nbsp; southbound out of the commercial vehicle weight scale at Interstate 29 just south of Route HH.The Toyota merged into the northbound lane of traffic and struck a 2009 Chevy passenger vehicle driven by Janine M. Brooks, 55, Omaha, head-on.Brooks was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Forensics Medical Center in Kansas City. EMS transported Ali to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. Brooks was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Nebraska woman dead after wrong-way head-on crash

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America installed its first openly transgender bishop in a service held in San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral on Saturday.

The Rev. Megan Rohrer will lead one of the church’s 65 synods, overseeing nearly 200 congregations in Northern California and northern Nevada.

“My call is ... to be up to the same messy, loving things I was up to before,” Rohrer told worshippers. “But mostly, if you’ll let me, and I think you will, my hope is to love you and beyond that, to love what you love.”

Rohrer was elected in May to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod after its current bishop announced his retirement.

“I step into this role because a diverse community of Lutherans in Northern California and Nevada prayerfully and thoughtfully voted to do a historic thing,” Rohrer said in a statement. “My installation will celebrate all that is possible when we trust God to shepherd us forward.”

Rohrer, who uses the pronoun “they,” previously served as pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in San Francisco and a chaplain coordinator for the city’s police department, and also helped minister to the city’s homeless and LGTBQ community. They studied religion at Augustana University in their hometown of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, before moving to California to pursue master and doctoral degrees at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley.

Rohrer became one of seven LGBTQ pastors accepted by the progressive Evangelical Lutheran church in 2010 after it allowed ordination of pastors in same-sex relationships. Rohrer is married and has two children.

The church is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States with about 3.3 million members.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631414323854.png" alt="Bishop Megan Rohrer during Saturday's installation photo courtesy&nbsp; Grace Cathedral.&nbsp;The Evangelical Lutheran Church is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States with about 3.3 million members." />
 <figcaption>Bishop Megan Rohrer during Saturday's installation photo courtesy&nbsp; Grace Cathedral.&nbsp;The Evangelical Lutheran Church is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States with about 3.3 million members.</figcaption>
 </figure>SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America installed its first openly transgender bishop in a service held in San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral on Saturday.The Rev. Megan Rohrer will lead one of the church’s 65 synods, overseeing nearly 200 congregations in Northern California and northern Nevada.“My call is ... to be up to the same messy, loving things I was up to before,” Rohrer told worshippers. “But mostly, if you’ll let me, and I think you will, my hope is to love you and beyond that, to love what you love.”Rohrer was elected in May to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod after its current bishop announced his retirement.“I step into this role because a diverse community of Lutherans in Northern California and Nevada prayerfully and thoughtfully voted to do a historic thing,” Rohrer said in a statement. “My installation will celebrate all that is possible when we trust God to shepherd us forward.”Rohrer, who uses the pronoun “they,” previously served as pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in San Francisco and a chaplain coordinator for the city’s police department, and also helped minister to the city’s homeless and LGTBQ community. They studied religion at Augustana University in their hometown of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, before moving to California to pursue master and doctoral degrees at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley.Rohrer became one of seven LGBTQ pastors accepted by the progressive Evangelical Lutheran church in 2010 after it allowed ordination of pastors in same-sex relationships. Rohrer is married and has two children.The church is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States with about 3.3 million members.___