WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service reported Friday that another
 1.5 million taxpayers will receive refunds averaging more than $1,600 
as it continues to adjust unemployment compensation from previously 
filed income tax returns.

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which became law in March, 
excluded up to $10,200 in 2020 unemployment compensation from taxable 
income calculations. The exclusion applied to individuals and married 
couples whose modified adjusted gross income was less than $150,000.

Refunds by direct deposit will begin July 28 and refunds by paper 
check will begin July 30. This is the fourth round of refunds related to
 the unemployment compensation exclusion provision.

Since May, the IRS has issued over 8.7 million unemployment 
compensation refunds totaling over $10 billion. The IRS will continue 
reviewing and adjusting tax returns in this category this summer.

The IRS effort focused on minimizing burden on taxpayers so that most
 people won't have to take any additional action to receive the refund. 
The IRS review means most taxpayers affected by this change will not 
have to file an amended return because IRS employees have reviewed and 
adjusted their tax returns for them. For taxpayers who overpaid, the IRS
 will either refund the overpayment or apply it to other outstanding 
taxes or other federal or state debts owed.

For this round, the IRS identified approximately 1.7 million 
taxpayers due an adjustment. Of that number, approximately 1.5 million 
taxpayers are expected to receive a refund. The refund average is 
$1,686.

The IRS started with the simplest tax returns and is now reviewing 
more complex returns. The average refund amount is higher for this round
 because the IRS included an adjustment to the Advance Premium Tax 
Credit (APTC).

Most taxpayers need not take any action and there is no need to call 
the IRS. However, if, because of the excluded unemployment compensation,
 taxpayers are now eligible for deductions or credits not claimed on the
 original return, they should file a Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. 
Individual Income Tax Return.

Taxpayers should file an amended return if they:

Taxpayers do not need to file an amended return if they:

Taxpayers will generally receive letters from the IRS within 30 days 
of the adjustment, informing them of what kind of adjustment was made 
(such as refund, payment of IRS debt payment or payment offset for other
 authorized debts) and the amount of the adjustment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service reported Friday that another
 1.5 million taxpayers will receive refunds averaging more than $1,600 
as it continues to adjust unemployment compensation from previously 
filed income tax returns.The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which became law in March, 
excluded up to $10,200 in 2020 unemployment compensation from taxable 
income calculations. The exclusion applied to individuals and married 
couples whose modified adjusted gross income was less than $150,000.Refunds by direct deposit will begin July 28 and refunds by paper 
check will begin July 30. This is the fourth round of refunds related to
 the unemployment compensation exclusion provision.Since May, the IRS has issued over 8.7 million unemployment 
compensation refunds totaling over $10 billion. The IRS will continue 
reviewing and adjusting tax returns in this category this summer.The IRS effort focused on minimizing burden on taxpayers so that most
 people won't have to take any additional action to receive the refund. 
The IRS review means most taxpayers affected by this change will not 
have to file an amended return because IRS employees have reviewed and 
adjusted their tax returns for them. For taxpayers who overpaid, the IRS
 will either refund the overpayment or apply it to other outstanding 
taxes or other federal or state debts owed.For this round, the IRS identified approximately 1.7 million 
taxpayers due an adjustment. Of that number, approximately 1.5 million 
taxpayers are expected to receive a refund. The refund average is 
$1,686.The IRS started with the simplest tax returns and is now reviewing 
more complex returns. The average refund amount is higher for this round
 because the IRS included an adjustment to the Advance Premium Tax 
Credit (APTC).Most taxpayers need not take any action and there is no need to call 
the IRS. However, if, because of the excluded unemployment compensation,
 taxpayers are now eligible for deductions or credits not claimed on the
 original return, they should file a Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. 
Individual Income Tax Return.Taxpayers should file an amended return if they:<ul>
 <li>did not submit a Schedule 8812 with the original return to claim 
the Additional Child Tax Credit and are now eligible for the credit 
after the unemployment compensation exclusion;</li><li>did not submit a Schedule EIC with the original return to claim the
 Earned Income Tax Credit (with qualifying dependents) and are now 
eligible for the credit after the unemployment compensation exclusion;</li><li>are now eligible for any other credits and/or deductions not 
mentioned below. Make sure to include any required forms or schedules.</li>
 </ul>Taxpayers do not need to file an amended return if they:<ul>
 <li>already filed a tax return and did not claim the unemployment 
exclusion; the IRS will determine the correct taxable amount of 
unemployment compensation and tax;</li><li>have an adjustment, because of the exclusion, that will result in 
an increase in any non-refundable or refundable credits reported on the 
original return;</li><li>did not claim the following credits on their tax return but are now
 eligible when the unemployment exclusion is applied: Recovery Rebate 
Credit, Earned Income Credit with no qualifying dependents or the 
Advance Premium Tax Credit. The IRS will calculate the credit and 
include it in any overpayment;</li><li>filed a married filing joint return, live in a community property 
state, and entered a smaller exclusion amount than entitled on Schedule 
1, line 8.</li>
 </ul>Taxpayers will generally receive letters from the IRS within 30 days 
of the adjustment, informing them of what kind of adjustment was made 
(such as refund, payment of IRS debt payment or payment offset for other
 authorized debts) and the amount of the adjustment.

IRS: Another 1.5M refunds to taxpayers for unemployment claims

WASHINGTON (AP) — A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-eviction-moratorium-coronavirus-da0e4cc8014b6c8a658dd1572707364f">nationwide eviction moratorium</a>&nbsp;is set to expire Saturday night after President Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress worked furiously but ultimately failed to align on a long-shot strategy to prevent millions of Americans from being forced from their homes during a COVID-19 surge.

More than 3.6 million Americans are at risk of eviction, some in a matter of days, as nearly $47 billion in federal housing aid to the states during the pandemic has been slow to make it into the hands of renters and landlords owed payments. The moratorium expires at midnight.

Tensions mounted late Friday as it became clear there was no resolution in sight. Hours before the ban was set to expire, Biden called on local governments to “take all possible steps” to immediately disburse the funds. Evictions could begin as soon as Monday.

“There can be no excuse for any state or locality not accelerating funds to landlords and tenants that have been hurt during this pandemic,” Biden said in a statement.

“Every state and local government must get these funds out to ensure we prevent every eviction we can,” he said.

The stunning outcome, as the White House and Congress each expected the other to act, exposed a rare divide between the president and his allies on Capitol Hill — one that could have lasting impact as the nation’s renters face widespread evictions.

Biden set off the scramble by announcing he would allow the eviction ban to expire instead of challenging a recent Supreme Court ruling signaling this would be the last deadline. He called on Congress on Thursday to swiftly pass legislation to extend the date.

Racing to respond Friday, Democrats strained to rally the votes. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi implored colleagues to pass legislation extending the deadline, calling it a “moral imperative,” to protect renters and also the landlords who are owed compensation.

Congress must “meet the needs of the American people: both the families unable to make rent and those to whom the rent is to be paid,” she said in an overnight letter late Thursday.

But after hours of behind-the-scenes wrangling throughout the day, Democratic lawmakers had questions and could not muster support to extend the ban even a few months. House Republicans objected to an attempt to simply approve an extension by consent, without a formal vote. The Senate may try again Saturday.

Democratic lawmakers were livid at the prospect of evictions in the middle of a surging pandemic.

“Housing is a primary social indicator of health, in and of itself, even absent COVID,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. “A mass eviction in the United States does represent a public health crisis unto itself.”

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., the Financial Services Committee chair who wrote the emergency bill, said House leaders should have held the vote, even if it failed, to show Americans they were trying to solve the problem.

“Is it emergency enough that you’re going to stop families from being put on the street?” Waters testified at a hearing Friday morning urging her colleagues to act. “What the hell is going to happen to these children?”

But Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, the top Republican on another panel handling the issue, said the Democrats’ bill was rushed.

“This is not the way to legislate,” she said.

The ban was initially put in place to prevent further spread of COVID-19 by people put out on the streets and into shelters.

Congress pushed nearly $47 billion to the states earlier in the COVID-19 crisis to shore up landlords and renters as workplaces shut down and many people were suddenly out of work.

But lawmakers said state governments have been slow to distribute the money. On Friday, they said only some $3 billion has been spent.

By the end of March, 6.4 million American households were behind on their rent, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. As of July 5, roughly 3.6 million people in the U.S. said they faced eviction in the next two months, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey.

Some places are likely to see spikes in evictions starting Monday, while other jurisdictions will see an increase in court filings that will lead to evictions over several months.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-eviction-moratorium-coronavirus-da0e4cc8014b6c8a658dd1572707364f">Biden said Thursday that the administration’s&nbsp;</a>hands are tied after the Supreme Court signaled the moratorium would only be extended until the end of the month.

At the White House, deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the administration backs the congressional effort “to extend the eviction moratorium to protect these vulnerable renters and their families.”

The White House has been clear that Biden would have liked to extend the federal eviction moratorium because of the spread of the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus. But there were also concerns that challenging the court could lead to a ruling restricting the administration’s ability to respond to future public health crises.

The administration is trying to keep renters in place through other means. It released more than $1.5 billion in rental assistance in June, which helped nearly 300,000 households. Biden on Thursday asked the departments of Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture and Veterans Affairs to extend their eviction moratoriums on households living in federally insured, single-family homes. In a statement late Friday, the agencies announced an extension of the foreclosure-related ban through the end of September.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-courts-supreme-courts-health-coronavirus-pandemic-157f6feec3197dd34cba492fd1b92f71">On a 5-4 vote last month,</a>&nbsp;the Supreme Court allowed the broad eviction ban to continue through the end of July. One of those in the majority, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, made clear he would block any additional extensions unless there was “clear and specific congressional authorization.”

Aides to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, the chair of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, said the two were working on legislation to extend the moratorium and were asking Republicans not to block it.

“The public health necessity of extended protections for renters is obvious,” said Diane Yentel, executive director of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. “If federal court cases made a broad extension impossible, the Biden administration should implement all possible alternatives, including a more limited moratorium on federally backed properties.”

Landlords, who have opposed the moratorium and challenged it repeatedly in court, are against any extension. They, too, are arguing for speeding up the distribution of rental assistance.

The National Apartment Association and several others this week filed a federal lawsuit asking for $26 billion in damages because of the impact of the moratorium.

“Any extension of the eviction moratorium equates to an unfunded government mandate that forces housing providers to deliver a costly service without compensation and saddles renters with insurmountable debt,” association president and CEO Bob Pinnegar said, adding that the current crisis highlights a need for more affordable housing.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-eviction-moratorium-coronavirus-da0e4cc8014b6c8a658dd1572707364f">nationwide eviction moratorium</a>&nbsp;is set to expire Saturday night after President Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress worked furiously but ultimately failed to align on a long-shot strategy to prevent millions of Americans from being forced from their homes during a COVID-19 surge.More than 3.6 million Americans are at risk of eviction, some in a matter of days, as nearly $47 billion in federal housing aid to the states during the pandemic has been slow to make it into the hands of renters and landlords owed payments. The moratorium expires at midnight.Tensions mounted late Friday as it became clear there was no resolution in sight. Hours before the ban was set to expire, Biden called on local governments to “take all possible steps” to immediately disburse the funds. Evictions could begin as soon as Monday.“There can be no excuse for any state or locality not accelerating funds to landlords and tenants that have been hurt during this pandemic,” Biden said in a statement.“Every state and local government must get these funds out to ensure we prevent every eviction we can,” he said.The stunning outcome, as the White House and Congress each expected the other to act, exposed a rare divide between the president and his allies on Capitol Hill — one that could have lasting impact as the nation’s renters face widespread evictions.Biden set off the scramble by announcing he would allow the eviction ban to expire instead of challenging a recent Supreme Court ruling signaling this would be the last deadline. He called on Congress on Thursday to swiftly pass legislation to extend the date.Racing to respond Friday, Democrats strained to rally the votes. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi implored colleagues to pass legislation extending the deadline, calling it a “moral imperative,” to protect renters and also the landlords who are owed compensation.Congress must “meet the needs of the American people: both the families unable to make rent and those to whom the rent is to be paid,” she said in an overnight letter late Thursday.But after hours of behind-the-scenes wrangling throughout the day, Democratic lawmakers had questions and could not muster support to extend the ban even a few months. House Republicans objected to an attempt to simply approve an extension by consent, without a formal vote. The Senate may try again Saturday.Democratic lawmakers were livid at the prospect of evictions in the middle of a surging pandemic.“Housing is a primary social indicator of health, in and of itself, even absent COVID,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. “A mass eviction in the United States does represent a public health crisis unto itself.”Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., the Financial Services Committee chair who wrote the emergency bill, said House leaders should have held the vote, even if it failed, to show Americans they were trying to solve the problem.“Is it emergency enough that you’re going to stop families from being put on the street?” Waters testified at a hearing Friday morning urging her colleagues to act. “What the hell is going to happen to these children?”But Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, the top Republican on another panel handling the issue, said the Democrats’ bill was rushed.“This is not the way to legislate,” she said.The ban was initially put in place to prevent further spread of COVID-19 by people put out on the streets and into shelters.Congress pushed nearly $47 billion to the states earlier in the COVID-19 crisis to shore up landlords and renters as workplaces shut down and many people were suddenly out of work.But lawmakers said state governments have been slow to distribute the money. On Friday, they said only some $3 billion has been spent.By the end of March, 6.4 million American households were behind on their rent, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. As of July 5, roughly 3.6 million people in the U.S. said they faced eviction in the next two months, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey.Some places are likely to see spikes in evictions starting Monday, while other jurisdictions will see an increase in court filings that will lead to evictions over several months.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-eviction-moratorium-coronavirus-da0e4cc8014b6c8a658dd1572707364f">Biden said Thursday that the administration’s&nbsp;</a>hands are tied after the Supreme Court signaled the moratorium would only be extended until the end of the month.At the White House, deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the administration backs the congressional effort “to extend the eviction moratorium to protect these vulnerable renters and their families.”The White House has been clear that Biden would have liked to extend the federal eviction moratorium because of the spread of the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus. But there were also concerns that challenging the court could lead to a ruling restricting the administration’s ability to respond to future public health crises.The administration is trying to keep renters in place through other means. It released more than $1.5 billion in rental assistance in June, which helped nearly 300,000 households. Biden on Thursday asked the departments of Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture and Veterans Affairs to extend their eviction moratoriums on households living in federally insured, single-family homes. In a statement late Friday, the agencies announced an extension of the foreclosure-related ban through the end of September.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-courts-supreme-courts-health-coronavirus-pandemic-157f6feec3197dd34cba492fd1b92f71">On a 5-4 vote last month,</a>&nbsp;the Supreme Court allowed the broad eviction ban to continue through the end of July. One of those in the majority, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, made clear he would block any additional extensions unless there was “clear and specific congressional authorization.”Aides to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, the chair of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, said the two were working on legislation to extend the moratorium and were asking Republicans not to block it.“The public health necessity of extended protections for renters is obvious,” said Diane Yentel, executive director of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. “If federal court cases made a broad extension impossible, the Biden administration should implement all possible alternatives, including a more limited moratorium on federally backed properties.”Landlords, who have opposed the moratorium and challenged it repeatedly in court, are against any extension. They, too, are arguing for speeding up the distribution of rental assistance.The National Apartment Association and several others this week filed a federal lawsuit asking for $26 billion in damages because of the impact of the moratorium.“Any extension of the eviction moratorium equates to an unfunded government mandate that forces housing providers to deliver a costly service without compensation and saddles renters with insurmountable debt,” association president and CEO Bob Pinnegar said, adding that the current crisis highlights a need for more affordable housing.___

Evictions loom, Biden and Congress fail to extend ban

KANSAS CITY (AP) —New evidence showing the delta variant is as contagious as chickenpox and may be more dangerous than other versions has prompted U.S. health officials to consider changing advice on how the nation fights the coronavirus, internal documents show.

Recommending masks for everyone and requiring vaccines for doctors and other health workers are among measures the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is considering, according to internal documents obtained by the Washington Post.

The documents appear to be talking points for CDC staff to use in explaining the dangers of the delta variant and “breakthrough″ infections that can occur after vaccination. Noted under communications: “Acknowledge the war has changed.”

In recommending that vaccinated people resume wearing masks indoors in virus hot spots, the CDC this week said that new evidence shows that breakthrough infections may be as transmissible as those in unvaccinated people. They cited a large recent outbreak among vaccinated individuals in the Cape Cod town of Provincetown, Massachusetts, among others, for the change.

As the documents note, COVID-19 vaccines are still highly effective at preventing serious illness and death. The CDC has always expected some breakthrough infections but has struggled with how to explain them to the public.

The documents point out that the delta variant, first detected in India, causes infections that are more contagious than the common cold, flu, smallpox and Ebola virus, and is as infectious as highly contagious chickenpox.

The internal documents also cite studies from Canada, Singapore and Scotland showing that the delta variant may pose a greater risk for hospitalization, intensive care treatment and death than the alpha variant, first detected in the United Kingdom.

Since January, people who got infected after vaccination make up an increasing portion of hospitalizations and in-hospital deaths among COVID-19 patients, according to the documents. That trend coincides with the spread of the delta variant.

But the CDC emphasizes that breakthrough infections are still uncommon.

By LINDSEY TANNERKANSAS CITY (AP) —New evidence showing the delta variant is as contagious as chickenpox and may be more dangerous than other versions has prompted U.S. health officials to consider changing advice on how the nation fights the coronavirus, internal documents show.Recommending masks for everyone and requiring vaccines for doctors and other health workers are among measures the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is considering, according to internal documents obtained by the Washington Post.The documents appear to be talking points for CDC staff to use in explaining the dangers of the delta variant and “breakthrough″ infections that can occur after vaccination. Noted under communications: “Acknowledge the war has changed.”In recommending that vaccinated people resume wearing masks indoors in virus hot spots, the CDC this week said that new evidence shows that breakthrough infections may be as transmissible as those in unvaccinated people. They cited a large recent outbreak among vaccinated individuals in the Cape Cod town of Provincetown, Massachusetts, among others, for the change.As the documents note, COVID-19 vaccines are still highly effective at preventing serious illness and death. The CDC has always expected some breakthrough infections but has struggled with how to explain them to the public.The documents point out that the delta variant, first detected in India, causes infections that are more contagious than the common cold, flu, smallpox and Ebola virus, and is as infectious as highly contagious chickenpox.The internal documents also cite studies from Canada, Singapore and Scotland showing that the delta variant may pose a greater risk for hospitalization, intensive care treatment and death than the alpha variant, first detected in the United Kingdom.Since January, people who got infected after vaccination make up an increasing portion of hospitalizations and in-hospital deaths among COVID-19 patients, according to the documents. That trend coincides with the spread of the delta variant.But the CDC emphasizes that breakthrough infections are still uncommon.___

CDC team:  New delta variant dangers emerge 

BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — Offutt Air Force Base south of Omaha has announced it is reinstating a mask mandate, requiring all employees, contractors and visitors to wear a face mask indoors. 

The requirement applies to everyone, even those who have been vaccinated for COVID-19. 

The military base outside Bellevue said in a social media post that the new requirement came from the Defense Secretary's office and was triggered by rising coronavirus cases in Sarpy County. 

The requirement goes into full effect Friday. 

Additionally, the post said, those who are not vaccinated must maintain a distance of 6 feet from others, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — Offutt Air Force Base south of Omaha has announced it is reinstating a mask mandate, requiring all employees, contractors and visitors to wear a face mask indoors. The requirement applies to everyone, even those who have been vaccinated for COVID-19. The military base outside Bellevue said in a social media post that the new requirement came from the Defense Secretary's office and was triggered by rising coronavirus cases in Sarpy County. The requirement goes into full effect Friday. Additionally, the post said, those who are not vaccinated must maintain a distance of 6 feet from others, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

Offutt Air Force Base again requiring face masks indoors

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Light rain could provide a bit of help with air quality in eastern South Dakota which has been dealing with smoke from Canadian wildfires. 

The smoke caused poor visibility and created unhealthy air conditions for sensitive groups, such as the elderly or children. 

Smoke from wildfires near Lake Winnipeg drifted southward and moved through the Sioux Falls area on Thursday, causing the city to close its public pools and the largest waterpark in the state, Wild Water West, to shutter its gates. 

While Sioux Falls pools were expected to reopen Friday afternoon, the waterpark remained closed.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Light rain could provide a bit of help with air quality in eastern South Dakota which has been dealing with smoke from Canadian wildfires. The smoke caused poor visibility and created unhealthy air conditions for sensitive groups, such as the elderly or children. Smoke from wildfires near Lake Winnipeg drifted southward and moved through the Sioux Falls area on Thursday, causing the city to close its public pools and the largest waterpark in the state, Wild Water West, to shutter its gates. While Sioux Falls pools were expected to reopen Friday afternoon, the waterpark remained closed.

South Dakotans dealing with poor air quality from wildfires

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha meat processor has recalled more than 295,000 pounds of raw beef products intended to be made into ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Greater Omaha Packing's recall Thursday. 

The beef products were produced on July 13 and bear establishment number “EST. 960A” inside the USDA mark of inspection. 

The packages were distributed in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Nebraska. 

Officials say contamination was discovered when FSIS collected a routine product sample that confirmed positive for the presence of E. coli. 

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of the products.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha meat processor has recalled more than 295,000 pounds of raw beef products intended to be made into ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Greater Omaha Packing's recall Thursday. The beef products were produced on July 13 and bear establishment number “EST. 960A” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The packages were distributed in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Nebraska. Officials say contamination was discovered when FSIS collected a routine product sample that confirmed positive for the presence of E. coli. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of the products.

Greater Omaha Packing recalls 295K pounds of raw beef

LINCOLN – Adult-size channel catfish have been stocked in Omaha’s Cunningham Lake just in time for its Aug. 5 reopening.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission on July 28 stocked 255 “bonus” catfish ranging from 1 to 13 pounds, averaging 7.

While the lake had been stocked previously in preparation for the reopening, this stocking will provide anglers an opportunity to catch larger fish from the still-developing fishery.

Since 2020, catfish, white bass, bluegill, largemouth bass and crappie have been stocked in the lake in preparation for the reopening. Saugeye and additional channel catfish are planned to go in this fall. To see stocking details, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA3MjkuNDM4ODI2NzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vb3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi9maXNoLXN0b2NraW5nLWRhdGFiYXNlLyJ9._oD1XsrTiE3Ghoh2iwa8cBzA_4RievnO2G41HFjwQUk/s/497221906/br/110135272038-l" target="_blank">outdoornebraska.gov/fish-stocking-database</a>.

The timing of the latest stocking, just before the opener, will be beneficial for eager anglers, as well.

“The stocked fish should be willing to bite a variety of catfish baits, and we encourage anglers to give kids and new anglers an opportunity to catch them,” said Daryl Bauer, fisheries outreach program manager for Game and Parks. “Catfish also are very releasable and can be caught again and again. Snapping a picture and releasing these fish to test the skills of other anglers is always a good option.”

Don’t forget to enter the Take ’em Fishing challenge when taking someone new or re-introducing someone to fishing. Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA3MjkuNDM4ODI2NzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL291dGRvb3JuZWJyYXNrYS5nb3YvdGFrZWVtZmlzaGluZy8ifQ.ri_M1Cm5xOkHVMmhotCcIU6vR57oOoFVlhtab3ZRsUE/s/497221906/br/110135272038-l" target="_blank">outdoornebraska.gov/takeemfishing</a>.

Lake Cunningham, managed by the Lake Cunningham Trust in partnership with the City of Omaha, will open to the public Aug. 5 at noon with a celebration planned for 4-7 p.m. Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA3MjkuNDM4ODI2NzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2V4cGxvcmV0aGVjLmNvbS8ifQ.pzqPtqNomP8sNUA5-8guotmj4p7yTNLCslVYld7ZV6Q/s/497221906/br/110135272038-l" target="_blank">explorethec.com</a>&nbsp;for more details.

LINCOLN – Adult-size channel catfish have been stocked in Omaha’s Cunningham Lake just in time for its Aug. 5 reopening.The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission on July 28 stocked 255 “bonus” catfish ranging from 1 to 13 pounds, averaging 7.While the lake had been stocked previously in preparation for the reopening, this stocking will provide anglers an opportunity to catch larger fish from the still-developing fishery.Since 2020, catfish, white bass, bluegill, largemouth bass and crappie have been stocked in the lake in preparation for the reopening. Saugeye and additional channel catfish are planned to go in this fall. To see stocking details, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA3MjkuNDM4ODI2NzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vb3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi9maXNoLXN0b2NraW5nLWRhdGFiYXNlLyJ9._oD1XsrTiE3Ghoh2iwa8cBzA_4RievnO2G41HFjwQUk/s/497221906/br/110135272038-l" target="_blank">outdoornebraska.gov/fish-stocking-database</a>.The timing of the latest stocking, just before the opener, will be beneficial for eager anglers, as well.“The stocked fish should be willing to bite a variety of catfish baits, and we encourage anglers to give kids and new anglers an opportunity to catch them,” said Daryl Bauer, fisheries outreach program manager for Game and Parks. “Catfish also are very releasable and can be caught again and again. Snapping a picture and releasing these fish to test the skills of other anglers is always a good option.”Don’t forget to enter the Take ’em Fishing challenge when taking someone new or re-introducing someone to fishing. Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA3MjkuNDM4ODI2NzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL291dGRvb3JuZWJyYXNrYS5nb3YvdGFrZWVtZmlzaGluZy8ifQ.ri_M1Cm5xOkHVMmhotCcIU6vR57oOoFVlhtab3ZRsUE/s/497221906/br/110135272038-l" target="_blank">outdoornebraska.gov/takeemfishing</a>.Lake Cunningham, managed by the Lake Cunningham Trust in partnership with the City of Omaha, will open to the public Aug. 5 at noon with a celebration planned for 4-7 p.m. Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA3MjkuNDM4ODI2NzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2V4cGxvcmV0aGVjLmNvbS8ifQ.pzqPtqNomP8sNUA5-8guotmj4p7yTNLCslVYld7ZV6Q/s/497221906/br/110135272038-l" target="_blank">explorethec.com</a>&nbsp;for more details.

Big catfish splash into Cunningham Lake prior to opener

HUTCHINSON— A dog alerted a Kansas family to a fire early Friday in Hutchinson.

Just after 3:30 a.m. fire crews responded to a home at 826 E 7th Street for a residential fire, according to Fire Chief Steven Beer.

Smoke was showing from the roof eaves on a small single-story residence. There was a fire in the kitchen at the back of the house. The fire was quickly controlled, and no one was hurt, all occupants were out of the house.

The residence suffered light smoke damage throughout. Fire damage was contained to the kitchen.

Occupants were asleep at the time the fire started and was alerted by their dog. An investigation found and overloaded outlet in the kitchen, according to Beer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627650309675.jpeg" alt="An investigation found and overloaded outlet in the kitchen that caused the fire.-photo Hutchinson Fire Dept." />
 <figcaption>An investigation found and overloaded outlet in the kitchen that caused the fire.-photo Hutchinson Fire Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON— A dog alerted a Kansas family to a fire early Friday in Hutchinson.Just after 3:30 a.m. fire crews responded to a home at 826 E 7th Street for a residential fire, according to Fire Chief Steven Beer.Smoke was showing from the roof eaves on a small single-story residence. There was a fire in the kitchen at the back of the house. The fire was quickly controlled, and no one was hurt, all occupants were out of the house.The residence suffered light smoke damage throughout. Fire damage was contained to the kitchen.Occupants were asleep at the time the fire started and was alerted by their dog. An investigation found and overloaded outlet in the kitchen, according to Beer.

Fire Chief: Dog alerts family to fire at Kan. home

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?513806-1/president-biden-announces-federal-employees-vaccinated-tested-regularly">Click here</a> to watch the President's comments

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday announced sweeping new pandemic requirements aimed at boosting vaccination rates for millions of federal workers and contractors as he lamented the “American tragedy” of rising-yet-preventable deaths among the unvaccinated.

Federal workers will be required to sign forms attesting they’ve been vaccinated against the coronavirus or else comply with new rules on mandatory masking, weekly testing, distancing and more. The strict new guidelines are aimed at increasing sluggish vaccination rates among the huge number of Americans who draw federal paychecks — and to set an example for private employers around the country.

“Right now, too many people are dying or watching someone they love die and say, ‘If I’d just got the vaccine,’” Biden said in a somber address from the East Room of the White House. “This is an American tragedy. People are dying who don’t have to die.”

However, pushback is certain to Biden’s action. It puts him squarely in the center of a fierce political debate surrounding the government’s ability to compel Americans to follow public health guidelines.

The federal government directly employs about 4 million people, but Biden’s action could affect many more when federal contractors are factored in. New York University professor of public service Paul Light estimates there are nearly 7 million more employees who could potentially be included, combining those who work for companies that contract with the government and those working under federal grants.

Biden, seemingly fed up with persistent vaccine resistance among many Americans, delivered a sharp rebuke to those who have yet to get shots, saying “they get sick and fill up our hospitals,” taking beds away from others who need them.

“If in fact you are unvaccinated, you present a problem to yourself, to your family and those with whom you work,” he said bluntly.”

At the same time, he expressed sympathy for people who have received their shots and are “frustrated with the consequences of the minority that fail to get vaccinated.” And he again emphasized that the fight against the virus is far from over, girding Americans to remain strong in the face of setbacks in the pandemic.

“I know this is hard to hear. I know it’s frustrating. I know it’s exhausting to think we’re still in this fight. I know we hoped this would be a simple straightforward line, without problems or new challenges. But that isn’t real life,” he said.

His comments came as some 60% of American adults have been fully vaccinated. He had set a July 4 goal to get at least one shot in 70% of adults, and is still not quite there. The latest figure is 69.3%. And there remains significant resistance from many Republicans and some unions to vaccine mandates for employers.

Reflecting an awareness of the political landmines surrounding mandates, administration officials emphasize that their plan does not require workers to receive the vaccine but aims to make life more difficult for those who are unvaccinated to encourage them to comply. Biden directed his team to take steps to apply similar requirements to all federal contractors.

He also directed the Defense Department to look into adding the COVID-19 shot to its list of required vaccinations for members of the military. Service members already are required to get as many as 17 vaccines, depending on where they are based around the world.

Over and over, the president repeated that the vast majority of those falling ill and dying in the new wave of the delta virus are unvaccinated, putting others at risk and endangering the nation’s fragile economic recovery and return to normalcy.

“It’s an American blessing that we have vaccines for each and every American. It’s such a shame to squander that blessing,” said Biden.

He praised the recent increase in Republican lawmakers urging those who are not vaccinated — many of whom, polling suggests, identify as conservatives — to get their shots. And seeking to push back against skepticism among some Republicans over the safety of the vaccine, he gave a nod to predecessor Donald Trump, noting that it was “developed and authorized under a Republican administration.”

“This is not about red states and blue states,” he said. “It’s literally about life and death, life and death.”

Biden renewed his calls for schools to fully open this fall, although children under 12 are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine. And he said that public health officials do not yet believe Americans need a booster vaccine despite the highly contagious delta variant fueling the surge.

The new pressure on workers to get vaccinated could work because evidence shows people would rather get the vaccine than deal with burdens they consider onerous at work, said Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University Law School.

“People would much rather roll up their sleeves and get a jab, than undergo weekly testing and universal masking,” he said. “In many ways, this is really not a mandate, it’s giving workers a choice.”

Thursday’s move is not just about federal workers.

The administration hopes it will nudge private companies push their workers harder to get vaccines that, while widely recognized as safe and effective, have yet to receive full approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

“I think we’ve reached this tipping point, and Biden’s announcement will provide a lot of air cover for companies and boards of directors who have difficult decisions facing them,” said Jeff Hyman, a Chicago-based business author and recruiter for start-up companies.

Some of the nation’s biggest corporations have moved to require vaccinations for their workers. Tech giants Facebook and Google announced this week their employees would have to show proof they’ve been fully vaccinated before returning to work.

Delta and United airlines are requiring new employees to show proof of vaccination. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are requiring workers to disclose their vaccination status though not requiring them to be vaccinated.

But fewer than 10% of employers have said they intend to require all employees to be vaccinated, based on periodic surveys by the research firm Gartner.

State lawmakers across the U.S. have introduced more than 100 bills aiming to prohibit employers from requiring vaccination as a condition of employment, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy. At least six states have approved such bills.

The Justice Department and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission have both said no federal laws prevent businesses from requiring vaccinations as a condition of employment and the federal policy would take precedent. But the “medical freedom” bills underscore the resistance such guidance may encounter at the state level.

Government actions in New York City and California have faced resistance from local unions. And prior to Biden’s announcement, some national unions were speaking out against it.

Larry Cosme, President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, which represents 30,000 federal officers and agents, said in a statement while the organization supports the vaccine it opposes compelling it.

“Forcing people to undertake a medical procedure is not the American way and is a clear civil rights violation no matter how proponents may seek to justify it,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627593916386.png" alt="President Biden, seemingly fed up with persistent vaccine resistance among many Americans, delivered a sharp rebuke to those who have yet to get shots-image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden, seemingly fed up with persistent vaccine resistance among many Americans, delivered a sharp rebuke to those who have yet to get shots-image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?513806-1/president-biden-announces-federal-employees-vaccinated-tested-regularly">Click here</a> to watch the President's commentsWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday announced sweeping new pandemic requirements aimed at boosting vaccination rates for millions of federal workers and contractors as he lamented the “American tragedy” of rising-yet-preventable deaths among the unvaccinated.Federal workers will be required to sign forms attesting they’ve been vaccinated against the coronavirus or else comply with new rules on mandatory masking, weekly testing, distancing and more. The strict new guidelines are aimed at increasing sluggish vaccination rates among the huge number of Americans who draw federal paychecks — and to set an example for private employers around the country.“Right now, too many people are dying or watching someone they love die and say, ‘If I’d just got the vaccine,’” Biden said in a somber address from the East Room of the White House. “This is an American tragedy. People are dying who don’t have to die.”However, pushback is certain to Biden’s action. It puts him squarely in the center of a fierce political debate surrounding the government’s ability to compel Americans to follow public health guidelines.The federal government directly employs about 4 million people, but Biden’s action could affect many more when federal contractors are factored in. New York University professor of public service Paul Light estimates there are nearly 7 million more employees who could potentially be included, combining those who work for companies that contract with the government and those working under federal grants.Biden, seemingly fed up with persistent vaccine resistance among many Americans, delivered a sharp rebuke to those who have yet to get shots, saying “they get sick and fill up our hospitals,” taking beds away from others who need them.“If in fact you are unvaccinated, you present a problem to yourself, to your family and those with whom you work,” he said bluntly.”At the same time, he expressed sympathy for people who have received their shots and are “frustrated with the consequences of the minority that fail to get vaccinated.” And he again emphasized that the fight against the virus is far from over, girding Americans to remain strong in the face of setbacks in the pandemic.“I know this is hard to hear. I know it’s frustrating. I know it’s exhausting to think we’re still in this fight. I know we hoped this would be a simple straightforward line, without problems or new challenges. But that isn’t real life,” he said.His comments came as some 60% of American adults have been fully vaccinated. He had set a July 4 goal to get at least one shot in 70% of adults, and is still not quite there. The latest figure is 69.3%. And there remains significant resistance from many Republicans and some unions to vaccine mandates for employers.Reflecting an awareness of the political landmines surrounding mandates, administration officials emphasize that their plan does not require workers to receive the vaccine but aims to make life more difficult for those who are unvaccinated to encourage them to comply. Biden directed his team to take steps to apply similar requirements to all federal contractors.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627590438752.png" alt="Thursday’s move is not just about federal workers.&nbsp;The administration hopes it will nudge private companies push their workers harder to get vaccines." />
 <figcaption>Thursday’s move is not just about federal workers.&nbsp;The administration hopes it will nudge private companies push their workers harder to get vaccines.</figcaption>
 </figure>He also directed the Defense Department to look into adding the COVID-19 shot to its list of required vaccinations for members of the military. Service members already are required to get as many as 17 vaccines, depending on where they are based around the world.Over and over, the president repeated that the vast majority of those falling ill and dying in the new wave of the delta virus are unvaccinated, putting others at risk and endangering the nation’s fragile economic recovery and return to normalcy.“It’s an American blessing that we have vaccines for each and every American. It’s such a shame to squander that blessing,” said Biden.He praised the recent increase in Republican lawmakers urging those who are not vaccinated — many of whom, polling suggests, identify as conservatives — to get their shots. And seeking to push back against skepticism among some Republicans over the safety of the vaccine, he gave a nod to predecessor Donald Trump, noting that it was “developed and authorized under a Republican administration.”“This is not about red states and blue states,” he said. “It’s literally about life and death, life and death.”Biden renewed his calls for schools to fully open this fall, although children under 12 are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine. And he said that public health officials do not yet believe Americans need a booster vaccine despite the highly contagious delta variant fueling the surge.The new pressure on workers to get vaccinated could work because evidence shows people would rather get the vaccine than deal with burdens they consider onerous at work, said Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University Law School.“People would much rather roll up their sleeves and get a jab, than undergo weekly testing and universal masking,” he said. “In many ways, this is really not a mandate, it’s giving workers a choice.”Thursday’s move is not just about federal workers.The administration hopes it will nudge private companies push their workers harder to get vaccines that, while widely recognized as safe and effective, have yet to receive full approval from the Food and Drug Administration.“I think we’ve reached this tipping point, and Biden’s announcement will provide a lot of air cover for companies and boards of directors who have difficult decisions facing them,” said Jeff Hyman, a Chicago-based business author and recruiter for start-up companies.Some of the nation’s biggest corporations have moved to require vaccinations for their workers. Tech giants Facebook and Google announced this week their employees would have to show proof they’ve been fully vaccinated before returning to work.Delta and United airlines are requiring new employees to show proof of vaccination. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are requiring workers to disclose their vaccination status though not requiring them to be vaccinated.But fewer than 10% of employers have said they intend to require all employees to be vaccinated, based on periodic surveys by the research firm Gartner.Still, there is opposition.State lawmakers across the U.S. have introduced more than 100 bills aiming to prohibit employers from requiring vaccination as a condition of employment, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy. At least six states have approved such bills.The Justice Department and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission have both said no federal laws prevent businesses from requiring vaccinations as a condition of employment and the federal policy would take precedent. But the “medical freedom” bills underscore the resistance such guidance may encounter at the state level.Government actions in New York City and California have faced resistance from local unions. And prior to Biden’s announcement, some national unions were speaking out against it.Larry Cosme, President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, which represents 30,000 federal officers and agents, said in a statement while the organization supports the vaccine it opposes compelling it.“Forcing people to undertake a medical procedure is not the American way and is a clear civil rights violation no matter how proponents may seek to justify it,” he said.____

🎥  President Biden orders tough new vaccination rules 

BOSTON (AP) — Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was defrocked after a Vatican investigation confirmed he had sexually molested adults as well as children, has been charged with sexually assaulting a teenage boy during a wedding reception in the 1970s, court records show.

Court documents&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/07/29/metro/defrocked-cardinal-theodore-mccarrick-charged-with-sexually-assaulting-teenager-1970s/" target="_blank">obtained by The Boston Globe&nbsp;</a>shows that McCarrick is charged with three counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14.

McCarrick is the first cardinal in the U.S. to ever be criminally charged with a sexual crime against a minor, according to Mitchell Garabedian, a well-known lawyer for church sexual abuse victims who is representing the man alleging the abuse by McCarrick.

“It takes an enormous amount of courage for a sexual abuse victim to report having been sexually abused to investigators and proceed through the criminal process,” Garabedian said in an email. “Let the facts be presented, the law applied, and a fair verdict rendered.”

Barry Coburn, an attorney for McCarrick, told The Associated Press that they “look forward to addressing the case in the courtroom,” and declined further comment.

A report filed in court says the man told investigators that McCarrick was a family friend and began abusing him when he was a boy.

The man says McCarrick groped him when he was 16 in 1974 as they walked around the campus of Wellesley College, where his brother’s wedding reception was being held. The man also alleges that McCarrick led him into a room and fondled the boy before telling him to “say three our fathers and a Hail Mary or it was one Our Father and three Hail Marys, so God can redeem you of your sins,” according to the court documents.

McCarrick, 91,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/theodore-mccarrick-ex-cardinal-scandal-989fb97f4f0cad8c4926e8cb795ba2bf">was defrocked by Pope Francis in 2019</a>&nbsp;after a Vatican investigation confirmed decades of rumors that he was a sexual predator.

The case created a credibility crisis for the church since the Vatican had reports from authoritative cardinals dating to 1999 that McCarrick’s behavior was problematic, yet he became an influential cardinal, kingmaker and emissary of the Holy See’s “soft diplomacy.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578567833416.jpeg" alt="Disgraced former Catholic cardinal Theodore McCarrick moved to the St. Fidelis Friary in Victoria, Kansas in 2018. He moved from Northwest Kansas in January 2020 Credit: US Institute of Peace. CC BY NC 20" />
 <figcaption>Disgraced former Catholic cardinal Theodore McCarrick moved to the St. Fidelis Friary in Victoria, Kansas in 2018. He moved from Northwest Kansas in January 2020 Credit: US Institute of Peace. CC BY NC 20</figcaption>
 </figure>BOSTON (AP) — Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was defrocked after a Vatican investigation confirmed he had sexually molested adults as well as children, has been charged with sexually assaulting a teenage boy during a wedding reception in the 1970s, court records show.Court documents&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/07/29/metro/defrocked-cardinal-theodore-mccarrick-charged-with-sexually-assaulting-teenager-1970s/" target="_blank">obtained by The Boston Globe&nbsp;</a>shows that McCarrick is charged with three counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14.McCarrick is the first cardinal in the U.S. to ever be criminally charged with a sexual crime against a minor, according to Mitchell Garabedian, a well-known lawyer for church sexual abuse victims who is representing the man alleging the abuse by McCarrick.“It takes an enormous amount of courage for a sexual abuse victim to report having been sexually abused to investigators and proceed through the criminal process,” Garabedian said in an email. “Let the facts be presented, the law applied, and a fair verdict rendered.”Barry Coburn, an attorney for McCarrick, told The Associated Press that they “look forward to addressing the case in the courtroom,” and declined further comment.A report filed in court says the man told investigators that McCarrick was a family friend and began abusing him when he was a boy.The man says McCarrick groped him when he was 16 in 1974 as they walked around the campus of Wellesley College, where his brother’s wedding reception was being held. The man also alleges that McCarrick led him into a room and fondled the boy before telling him to “say three our fathers and a Hail Mary or it was one Our Father and three Hail Marys, so God can redeem you of your sins,” according to the court documents.McCarrick, 91,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/theodore-mccarrick-ex-cardinal-scandal-989fb97f4f0cad8c4926e8cb795ba2bf">was defrocked by Pope Francis in 2019</a>&nbsp;after a Vatican investigation confirmed decades of rumors that he was a sexual predator.The case created a credibility crisis for the church since the Vatican had reports from authoritative cardinals dating to 1999 that McCarrick’s behavior was problematic, yet he became an influential cardinal, kingmaker and emissary of the Holy See’s “soft diplomacy.”

First cardinal in U.S. criminally charged with child sex crime 

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden is asking states and localities to offer unvaccinated residents $100 to get their COVID-19 shots.

The cash reward for vaccination was one idea in Biden’s latest plan to boost lagging vaccination rates in many parts of the nation. Rolled out Thursday, the core of his new plan is a requirement for federal workers to disclose their vaccination status to their agencies.

Biden is pointing to anecdotal evidence that a $100 reward will get results. The White House says the Kroger grocery store chain tried it and saw vaccination rates jump to 75% from 50% among employees. New Mexico, Ohio and Colorado have also experimented with the idea.

Biden says states and localities can use money from his COVID relief law to pay for the incentive programs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627590471007.png" alt="President Biden holding his mask Thursday afternoon as he begins remarks laying out the next steps in the effort to get more Americans vaccinated and combat the spread of the Delta Variant-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden holding his mask Thursday afternoon as he begins remarks laying out the next steps in the effort to get more Americans vaccinated and combat the spread of the Delta Variant-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden is asking states and localities to offer unvaccinated residents $100 to get their COVID-19 shots.The cash reward for vaccination was one idea in Biden’s latest plan to boost lagging vaccination rates in many parts of the nation. Rolled out Thursday, the core of his new plan is a requirement for federal workers to disclose their vaccination status to their agencies.Biden is pointing to anecdotal evidence that a $100 reward will get results. The White House says the Kroger grocery store chain tried it and saw vaccination rates jump to 75% from 50% among employees. New Mexico, Ohio and Colorado have also experimented with the idea.Biden says states and localities can use money from his COVID relief law to pay for the incentive programs.

Biden asks states to offer the unvaccinated $100

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — With coronavirus cases rising throughout Iowa and around the nation, health experts are becoming increasingly worried about next month’s Iowa State Fair, which will bring more than 1 million people to Des Moines.

 Many will come from counties with low vaccination rates and increasing prevalence of the disease.

 Officials have encouraged people to get vaccinated, but Iowa’s Republican-majority legislature and governor have blocked local governments from imposing vaccination or mask requirements, so there will be no limits on who can attend the 11-day fair that starts Aug. 12.

 Iowa’s biggest annual event comes amid giant gatherings throughout the nation, including in states that are experiencing more virus infections due to low vaccination rates and the delta variant.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — With coronavirus cases rising throughout Iowa and around the nation, health experts are becoming increasingly worried about next month’s Iowa State Fair, which will bring more than 1 million people to Des Moines. Many will come from counties with low vaccination rates and increasing prevalence of the disease. Officials have encouraged people to get vaccinated, but Iowa’s Republican-majority legislature and governor have blocked local governments from imposing vaccination or mask requirements, so there will be no limits on who can attend the 11-day fair that starts Aug. 12. Iowa’s biggest annual event comes amid giant gatherings throughout the nation, including in states that are experiencing more virus infections due to low vaccination rates and the delta variant.

COVID-19 rates a worry as 1 million head for Iowa State Fair

BOSTON (AP) — The Biden administration will allow a nationwide ban on evictions to expire Saturday, arguing that its hands are tied after the Supreme Court signaled it could only be extended until the end of the month.

In a statement Thursday, the White House said President Joe Biden would have liked to have extended the federal eviction moratorium due to spread of the delta variant. Biden called on “Congress to extend the eviction moratorium to protect such vulnerable renters and their families without delay.”

The moratorium was put in place put in place last September by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

BOSTON (AP) — The Biden administration will allow a nationwide ban on evictions to expire Saturday, arguing that its hands are tied after the Supreme Court signaled it could only be extended until the end of the month.In a statement Thursday, the White House said President Joe Biden would have liked to have extended the federal eviction moratorium due to spread of the delta variant. Biden called on “Congress to extend the eviction moratorium to protect such vulnerable renters and their families without delay.”The moratorium was put in place put in place last September by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.By the end of March, 6.4 million American households were behind on their rent, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. As of July 5, roughly 3.6 million people in the U.S. said they faced eviction in the next two months, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey.

Biden to allow eviction moratorium to expire Saturday

News Release US Attorney's Office-Omaha

OMAHA, Neb.-Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Glenn Whitney, 26, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for Sex Trafficking of a Minor. 

The Honorable Brian C. Buescher sentenced Whitney to 250 months, or nearly 21 years, imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal prison system. After his release from prison, Whitney will serve 5 years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender.

Federal agents began investigating in September 2020, after an Omaha foster child was reported missing. The investigation showed that the 16-year-old victim engaged in commercial sex acts in the Omaha area with Whitney directing the minor victim, including where to conduct acts and how much to charge, and receiving financial proceeds from those acts.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov/" target="_blank">www.projectsafechildhood.gov</a>.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Omaha Police Department, and the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627569735570.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>News Release US Attorney's Office-OmahaOMAHA, Neb.-Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Glenn Whitney, 26, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for Sex Trafficking of a Minor. The Honorable Brian C. Buescher sentenced Whitney to 250 months, or nearly 21 years, imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal prison system. After his release from prison, Whitney will serve 5 years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender.Federal agents began investigating in September 2020, after an Omaha foster child was reported missing. The investigation showed that the 16-year-old victim engaged in commercial sex acts in the Omaha area with Whitney directing the minor victim, including where to conduct acts and how much to charge, and receiving financial proceeds from those acts.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov/" target="_blank">www.projectsafechildhood.gov</a>.This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Omaha Police Department, and the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office.

Omaha man gets nearly 21 years for sex trafficking minor

AUBURN, Neb. (AP) — A 34-year-old Auburn man has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison for not stopping to help a woman he had hit with his car. 

Dustin Pierce was sentenced Wednesday for hitting 23-year-old Katelynne Hendrix as she walked near Auburn in and then driving away.

 A teenager later found Hendrix in a ditch and she has undergone extensive rehabilitation for a traumatic brain injury. 

Nemaha County Attorney Louie Ligouri says it is obvious Pierce panicked after hitting Hendrix but he said Pierce tried to cover up his involvement afterward. 

At his trial in May, Pierce said he was texting when he hit Hendrix.

AUBURN, Neb. (AP) — A 34-year-old Auburn man has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison for not stopping to help a woman he had hit with his car. Dustin Pierce was sentenced Wednesday for hitting 23-year-old Katelynne Hendrix as she walked near Auburn in and then driving away. A teenager later found Hendrix in a ditch and she has undergone extensive rehabilitation for a traumatic brain injury. Nemaha County Attorney Louie Ligouri says it is obvious Pierce panicked after hitting Hendrix but he said Pierce tried to cover up his involvement afterward. At his trial in May, Pierce said he was texting when he hit Hendrix.

Auburn man sentenced after leaving woman he hit with car

PERRYVILLE, Alaska (AP) — A tsunami warning was issued for parts of Alaska after a large earthquake struck the peninsula. 

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was magnitude 8.2 and hit 56 miles east southeast of Perryville, Alaska at about 8:15 p.m. The quake was about 29 miles below the surface of the ocean, according to USGS. 

The US National Tsunami Warning Center issued warnings for &nbsp;South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula, from Hinchinbrook Entrance, 90 miles &nbsp;east of Seward, to Unimak Pass, and for the Aleutian Islands, from Unimak Pass, 80 miles northeast of Unalaska, to Samalga Pass, Alaska, which is 30 miles southwest of Nikolski. 

A tsunami warning issued for Hawaii has been canceled.

PERRYVILLE, Alaska (AP) — A tsunami warning was issued for parts of Alaska after a large earthquake struck the peninsula. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was magnitude 8.2 and hit 56 miles east southeast of Perryville, Alaska at about 8:15 p.m. The quake was about 29 miles below the surface of the ocean, according to USGS. The US National Tsunami Warning Center issued warnings for &nbsp;South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula, from Hinchinbrook Entrance, 90 miles &nbsp;east of Seward, to Unimak Pass, and for the Aleutian Islands, from Unimak Pass, 80 miles northeast of Unalaska, to Samalga Pass, Alaska, which is 30 miles southwest of Nikolski. A tsunami warning issued for Hawaii has been canceled.

Tsunami warning issued for parts of Alaska after 8.2 quake

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted Wednesday night to begin work on a nearly $1 trillion national infrastructure plan, acting with sudden speed after weeks of fits and starts once the White House and a bipartisan group of senators agreed on major provisions of the package that’s key to President Joe Biden’s agenda.

Biden welcomed the accord as one that would show America can “do big things.” It includes the most significant long-term investments in nearly a century, he said, on par with building the transcontinental railroad or the Interstate highway system.

“This deal signals to the world that our democracy can function,” Biden said ahead of the vote. “We will once again transform America and propel us into the future.”

After weeks of stop-and-go negotiations, the rare bipartisan showing on a 67-32 vote to start formal Senate consideration showed the high interest among senators in the infrastructure package. But it’s unclear if enough Republicans will eventually join Democrats to support final passage.

Senate rules require 60 votes in the evenly split 50-50 chamber to proceed for consideration and ultimately pass this bill, meaning support from both parties.

The outcome&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/The%20Republican%20senators%20met%20Wednesday%20morning%20with%20Senate%20Republican%20Leader%20Mitch%20McConnell,%20who%20appears%20to%20have%20given%20his%20nod%20to%20proceed%20to%20consider%20the%20emerging%20legislation.%20Standing%20outside%20McConnell%E2%80%99s%20office%20to%20announce%20the%20agreement,%20Portman%20said%20McConnell%20%E2%80%9Call%20along%20has%20been%20encouraging%20our%20efforts.%E2%80%9D" target="_blank">will set the stage</a>&nbsp;for the next debate over Biden’s much more ambitious $3.5 trillion spending package, a strictly partisan pursuit of far-reaching programs and services including child care, tax breaks and health care that touch almost every corner of American life. Republicans strongly oppose that bill, which would require a simple majority, and may try to stop both.

Lead GOP negotiator Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio announced the bipartisan group’s agreement on the $1 trillion package earlier Wednesday at the Capitol, flanked by four other Republican senators who had been in talks with Democrats and the White House.

After voting, Portman said the outcome showed that bipartisanship in Washington can work and he believed GOP support would only grow. “That’s pretty darn good for a start,” he said.

That group had labored with the White House to salvage the deal, a first part of Biden’s big infrastructure agenda. Swelling to more than 700 pages, the bill includes $550 billion in new spending for public works projects.

In all, 17 Republican senators joined the Democrats in voting to launch the debate, but most remained skeptical. The GOP senators were given a thick binder of briefing materials during a private lunch, but they asked many questions and wanted more details.

According to a 57-page GOP summary obtained by The Associated Press, the five-year spending package would be paid for by tapping $205 billion in unspent COVID-19 relief aid and $53 billion in unemployment insurance aid some states have halted. It also relies on economic growth to bring in $56 billion, and other measures.

Giving Wednesday night’s vote a boost, Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell announced late in the day he would vote to proceed, though whether he will support the final bill remains uncertain. The Republican negotiators met with McConnell earlier Wednesday and Portman said the leader “all along has been encouraging our efforts.”

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, a lead Democratic negotiator&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-az-state-wire-government-and-politics-6632b84d43dcd5f897dbaea36d780bbb">who talks often with Republicans&nbsp;</a>also spoke with Biden on Wednesday and said the she hoped the results showed “our government can work.”

Democrats, who have slim control of the House and Senate, face a timeline to act on what would be some of the most substantial pieces of legislation in years.

Filling in the details has become a month-long exercise ever since a bipartisan group of senators struck an agreement with Biden in June over the broad framework.

The new spending in the package dropped from about $600 billion to $550 billion, senators said, as money was eliminated for a public-private infrastructure bank and was reduced in other categories, including transit.

The package still includes $110 billion for highways, $65 billion for broadband and $73 billion to modernize the nation’s electric grid, according a White House fact sheet.

Additionally, there’s $25 billion for airports, $55 billion for waterworks and more than $50 billion to bolster infrastructure against cyberattacks and climate change. There’s also $7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging stations.

Paying for the package has been a slog throughout the talks after Democrats rejected a plan to bring in funds by hiking the gas tax drivers pay at the pump and Republicans dashed an effort to boost the IRS to go after tax scofflaws.

Along with repurposing the COVID-19 relief and unemployment aid, other revenue would come from the sale of broadcast spectrum, reinstating fees that chemical companies used to pay for cleaning up the nation’s worst hazardous waste sites and drawing $49 billion from reversing a Trump-era pharmaceutical rebate, among other sources.

The final deal could run into political trouble if it doesn’t pass muster as fully paid for when the Congressional Budget Office assesses the details. But Portman said the package will be “more than paid for.”

House Democrats have their own transportation bill, which includes much more spending to address rail transit, electric vehicles and other strategies to counter climate change.

The chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., called the Senate’s bipartisan measure complete “crap,” during a private meeting Tuesday according to two Democrats who attended the session and spoke on condition of anonymity to describe it.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not commit to supporting the package until she sees the details, but said Wednesday she’s “rooting for it.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627553548845.png" alt="President Biden spoke on manufacturing in Allentown, PA on Wednesday. He welcomed the accord as one that would show America can “do big things.” photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Biden spoke on manufacturing in Allentown, PA on Wednesday. He welcomed the accord as one that would show America can “do big things.” photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted Wednesday night to begin work on a nearly $1 trillion national infrastructure plan, acting with sudden speed after weeks of fits and starts once the White House and a bipartisan group of senators agreed on major provisions of the package that’s key to President Joe Biden’s agenda.Biden welcomed the accord as one that would show America can “do big things.” It includes the most significant long-term investments in nearly a century, he said, on par with building the transcontinental railroad or the Interstate highway system.“This deal signals to the world that our democracy can function,” Biden said ahead of the vote. “We will once again transform America and propel us into the future.”After weeks of stop-and-go negotiations, the rare bipartisan showing on a 67-32 vote to start formal Senate consideration showed the high interest among senators in the infrastructure package. But it’s unclear if enough Republicans will eventually join Democrats to support final passage.Senate rules require 60 votes in the evenly split 50-50 chamber to proceed for consideration and ultimately pass this bill, meaning support from both parties.The outcome&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/The%20Republican%20senators%20met%20Wednesday%20morning%20with%20Senate%20Republican%20Leader%20Mitch%20McConnell,%20who%20appears%20to%20have%20given%20his%20nod%20to%20proceed%20to%20consider%20the%20emerging%20legislation.%20Standing%20outside%20McConnell%E2%80%99s%20office%20to%20announce%20the%20agreement,%20Portman%20said%20McConnell%20%E2%80%9Call%20along%20has%20been%20encouraging%20our%20efforts.%E2%80%9D" target="_blank">will set the stage</a>&nbsp;for the next debate over Biden’s much more ambitious $3.5 trillion spending package, a strictly partisan pursuit of far-reaching programs and services including child care, tax breaks and health care that touch almost every corner of American life. Republicans strongly oppose that bill, which would require a simple majority, and may try to stop both.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627553329849.png" alt="Bipartisan Group of Senators announced the agreement Wednesday -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Bipartisan Group of Senators announced the agreement Wednesday -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Lead GOP negotiator Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio announced the bipartisan group’s agreement on the $1 trillion package earlier Wednesday at the Capitol, flanked by four other Republican senators who had been in talks with Democrats and the White House.After voting, Portman said the outcome showed that bipartisanship in Washington can work and he believed GOP support would only grow. “That’s pretty darn good for a start,” he said.That group had labored with the White House to salvage the deal, a first part of Biden’s big infrastructure agenda. Swelling to more than 700 pages, the bill includes $550 billion in new spending for public works projects.In all, 17 Republican senators joined the Democrats in voting to launch the debate, but most remained skeptical. The GOP senators were given a thick binder of briefing materials during a private lunch, but they asked many questions and wanted more details.According to a 57-page GOP summary obtained by The Associated Press, the five-year spending package would be paid for by tapping $205 billion in unspent COVID-19 relief aid and $53 billion in unemployment insurance aid some states have halted. It also relies on economic growth to bring in $56 billion, and other measures.Giving Wednesday night’s vote a boost, Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell announced late in the day he would vote to proceed, though whether he will support the final bill remains uncertain. The Republican negotiators met with McConnell earlier Wednesday and Portman said the leader “all along has been encouraging our efforts.”Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, a lead Democratic negotiator&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-az-state-wire-government-and-politics-6632b84d43dcd5f897dbaea36d780bbb">who talks often with Republicans&nbsp;</a>also spoke with Biden on Wednesday and said the she hoped the results showed “our government can work.”Democrats, who have slim control of the House and Senate, face a timeline to act on what would be some of the most substantial pieces of legislation in years.Filling in the details has become a month-long exercise ever since a bipartisan group of senators struck an agreement with Biden in June over the broad framework.The new spending in the package dropped from about $600 billion to $550 billion, senators said, as money was eliminated for a public-private infrastructure bank and was reduced in other categories, including transit.The package still includes $110 billion for highways, $65 billion for broadband and $73 billion to modernize the nation’s electric grid, according a White House fact sheet.Additionally, there’s $25 billion for airports, $55 billion for waterworks and more than $50 billion to bolster infrastructure against cyberattacks and climate change. There’s also $7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging stations.Paying for the package has been a slog throughout the talks after Democrats rejected a plan to bring in funds by hiking the gas tax drivers pay at the pump and Republicans dashed an effort to boost the IRS to go after tax scofflaws.Along with repurposing the COVID-19 relief and unemployment aid, other revenue would come from the sale of broadcast spectrum, reinstating fees that chemical companies used to pay for cleaning up the nation’s worst hazardous waste sites and drawing $49 billion from reversing a Trump-era pharmaceutical rebate, among other sources.The final deal could run into political trouble if it doesn’t pass muster as fully paid for when the Congressional Budget Office assesses the details. But Portman said the package will be “more than paid for.”House Democrats have their own transportation bill, which includes much more spending to address rail transit, electric vehicles and other strategies to counter climate change.The chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., called the Senate’s bipartisan measure complete “crap,” during a private meeting Tuesday according to two Democrats who attended the session and spoke on condition of anonymity to describe it.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not commit to supporting the package until she sees the details, but said Wednesday she’s “rooting for it.”Pelosi said, “I very much want it to pass.”A recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC found&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-government-and-politics-only-on-ap-a5454467619247e89b9c87697ac0d6f5">8 in 10 Americans favor some increased infrastructure spending</a>.Senators in the bipartisan group have been huddling privately for months. The group includes 10 core negotiators, split evenly between Democrats and Republicans, but has swelled at times to 22.Transit funding has remained a stubborn dispute, as most Republican senators come from rural states where highways dominate and public transit is scarce, while Democrats view transit as a priority for cities and a key to easing congesting and fighting climate change.Expanding access to broadband. which has become ever more vital for households during the coronavirus pandemic, sparked a new debate. Republicans pushed back against imposing regulations on internet service providers in a program that helps low-income people pay for service.Meanwhile, Democrats are readying the broader $3.5 trillion package that is being considered under budget rules that allow passage with 51 senators in the split Senate, with Vice President Kamala Harris able to break a tie. It would be paid for by increasing the corporate tax rate and the tax rate on Americans earning more than $400,000 a year.___