OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha violin teacher was found guilty of third-degree sexual assault of a child by a judge after pleading no contest to the charge.

 The Omaha World-Herald reports that 79-year-old Michael B. Godfrey faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced in October. 

A court document says the girl told investigators she was assaulted when her mother dropped her off at Godfrey’s house for violin lessons.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha violin teacher was found guilty of third-degree sexual assault of a child by a judge after pleading no contest to the charge. The Omaha World-Herald reports that 79-year-old Michael B. Godfrey faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced in October. A court document says the girl told investigators she was assaulted when her mother dropped her off at Godfrey’s house for violin lessons.

Violin teacher found guilty of sexual assault of a student

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — The University of Wyoming will require people to wear face masks indoors through at least Sept. 20. 

That's under a plan approved Wednesday by university trustees. 

 As with classroom instruction, athletic events and other student programs will also be held in person like usual. 

The Gillette News Record reports trustees plan to decide Sept. 15 whether to continue the face mask requirement. 

Unlike other universities, the University of Wyoming won’t require students to be vaccinated but will continue to award cash and prizes to those who are. 

Five students and three employees had active COVID-19 cases as of Monday.

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — The University of Wyoming will require people to wear face masks indoors through at least Sept. 20. That's under a plan approved Wednesday by university trustees. The semester begins Aug. 23. As with classroom instruction, athletic events and other student programs will also be held in person like usual. The Gillette News Record reports trustees plan to decide Sept. 15 whether to continue the face mask requirement. Unlike other universities, the University of Wyoming won’t require students to be vaccinated but will continue to award cash and prizes to those who are. Five students and three employees had active COVID-19 cases as of Monday.

University of Wyoming will still require face masks for now

STURGIS, S.D. (AP) — The landscape appears to be changing when it comes to marijuana possession at this year’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. 

Meade County Sheriff Ron Merwin says his deputies are generally looking past enforcing possession of small amounts of marijuana.

 Through the first five days of the rally, which began on Aug. 6, Sturgis police officers have made 15 arrests for possession of marijuana or drug paraphernalia. 

That compares to 61 arrests through the same period in 2020.

 State voters overwhelmingly approved separate measures legalizing both medical and recreational marijuana in last November’s general election.

 Gov. Kristi Noem is challenging the constitutionality of legalizing recreational marijuana.

STURGIS, S.D. (AP) — The landscape appears to be changing when it comes to marijuana possession at this year’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. Meade County Sheriff Ron Merwin says his deputies are generally looking past enforcing possession of small amounts of marijuana. Through the first five days of the rally, which began on Aug. 6, Sturgis police officers have made 15 arrests for possession of marijuana or drug paraphernalia. That compares to 61 arrests through the same period in 2020. State voters overwhelmingly approved separate measures legalizing both medical and recreational marijuana in last November’s general election. Gov. Kristi Noem is challenging the constitutionality of legalizing recreational marijuana.

Less emphasis on marijuana arrests at Sturgis rally

DOVER, Del. (AP) — Attorneys for the Boy Scouts of America are asking a&nbsp;Delaware&nbsp;judge to approve an $850 million agreement that is the foundation of the group's plan to emerge from bankruptcy.

The judge was to begin a hearing Thursday on whether to approve the agreement, which involves the national Boy Scouts organization, the roughly 250 local Boy Scout councils, and law firms representing some 70,000 men who claim they were molested as youngsters by Scoutmasters and others.

The Irving,&nbsp;Texas-based Boy Scouts sought bankruptcy protection in February 2020 amid an onslaught of lawsuits by men who said they were sexually abused as children. The filing was part of an attempt to reach a global resolution of abuse claims and create a compensation fund for victims.

The Boy Scouts have proposed contributing up to $250 million in cash and property to a fund for abuse victims. Local councils, which run day-to-day operations for Boy Scout troops, would contribute $600 million. The national organization and councils also would transfer their rights to Boy Scout insurance policies to the victims fund. In return, they would be released from further liability for abuse claims.

The agreement is opposed by insurers that issued policies to the Boy Scouts and local councils, other law firms representing thousands of abuse victims, and various church denominations that have sponsored local Boy Scout troops.

As part of the agreement, the Boy Scouts are seeking permission from the judge to back out of a settlement reached in April with one of their insurers, The Hartford. The Hartford agreed to pay $650 million into the victims fund in exchange for being released from any further obligations, but victims attorneys have said their clients won't support a reorganization plan that includes it.

DOVER, Del. (AP) — Attorneys for the Boy Scouts of America are asking a&nbsp;Delaware&nbsp;judge to approve an $850 million agreement that is the foundation of the group's plan to emerge from bankruptcy.The judge was to begin a hearing Thursday on whether to approve the agreement, which involves the national Boy Scouts organization, the roughly 250 local Boy Scout councils, and law firms representing some 70,000 men who claim they were molested as youngsters by Scoutmasters and others.The Irving,&nbsp;Texas-based Boy Scouts sought bankruptcy protection in February 2020 amid an onslaught of lawsuits by men who said they were sexually abused as children. The filing was part of an attempt to reach a global resolution of abuse claims and create a compensation fund for victims.The Boy Scouts have proposed contributing up to $250 million in cash and property to a fund for abuse victims. Local councils, which run day-to-day operations for Boy Scout troops, would contribute $600 million. The national organization and councils also would transfer their rights to Boy Scout insurance policies to the victims fund. In return, they would be released from further liability for abuse claims.The agreement is opposed by insurers that issued policies to the Boy Scouts and local councils, other law firms representing thousands of abuse victims, and various church denominations that have sponsored local Boy Scout troops.As part of the agreement, the Boy Scouts are seeking permission from the judge to back out of a settlement reached in April with one of their insurers, The Hartford. The Hartford agreed to pay $650 million into the victims fund in exchange for being released from any further obligations, but victims attorneys have said their clients won't support a reorganization plan that includes it.

Boy Scouts hope for $850M agreement in bankruptcy fight

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say two men found dead in a home in north-central Omaha appear to have died of drug overdoses.

 The Omaha World-Herald reports that 32-year-old Ronnell Grixby, of Omaha, and 44-year-old Roderick Roberson, of Searcy, Arkansas, were found dead around 8 a.m. Tuesday in a house near 60th and Fort streets.

 Police say there were indications the men had been using drugs. 

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine says autopsies were being performed, but that officials believe the evidence points to drug overdose. 

A man who lives at the house told police he found Roberson, his cousin, and Grixby unresponsive in the basement after he returned from an overnight trip to a casino.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say two men found dead in a home in north-central Omaha appear to have died of drug overdoses. The Omaha World-Herald reports that 32-year-old Ronnell Grixby, of Omaha, and 44-year-old Roderick Roberson, of Searcy, Arkansas, were found dead around 8 a.m. Tuesday in a house near 60th and Fort streets. Police say there were indications the men had been using drugs. Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine says autopsies were being performed, but that officials believe the evidence points to drug overdose. A man who lives at the house told police he found Roberson, his cousin, and Grixby unresponsive in the basement after he returned from an overnight trip to a casino.

Officials: 2 men found dead in Omaha home likely overdosed

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California will become the first state in the nation to require all teachers and school staff to get vaccinated or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing, as schools return from summer break amid growing concerns about the highly contagious delta variant, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday.

The new policy applies to both public and private schools and will affect more than 800,000 employees, including about 320,000 public school teachers and a host of support staff such as cafeteria workers and cleaners, the state Department of Public Health said. It will also apply to school volunteers.

Newsom announced the new policy at a San Francisco Bay Area school that reopened earlier this week to in-person classes. Many California schools are back in session, with others starting in the coming weeks.

“We think this is the right thing to do, and we think this is a sustainable way to keeping our schools open and to address the number one anxiety that parents like myself have for young children,” said Newsom, who is a father of four. “That is knowing that the schools are doing everything in their power to keep our kids safe.”

Several large school districts in the state have issued similar requirements in recent days, including San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Long Beach Unified.

California, like the rest of the country, has seen a troubling surge in COVID-19 infections because of the delta variant, which represents the vast majority of new cases. It has affected children more than previous strains of the virus, prompting a growing number of teachers unions to ease earlier opposition to vaccine mandates.

California’s two largest teachers unions, both powerful political allies to the governor, said Wednesday they fully supported Newsom’s policy.

The California Teachers Association and the California Federation of Teachers both cited state and national polling that indicates nearly 90% of educators have been vaccinated but said the rising spread of the delta variant, particularly among children, makes the new policy necessary. Children under 12 are not yet eligible to be vaccinated.

“Educators want to be in classrooms with their students, and the best way to make sure that happens is for everyone who is medically eligible to be vaccinated, with robust testing and multi-tiered safety measures,” CTA President E. Toby Boyd said in a statement.

While Hawaii Gov. David Ige announced last week that all Department of Education staffers would be required to disclose their vaccination status or face weekly testing, California’s order is far more sweeping, applying to all staff who work in both public and private schools in the country’s most populous state.

Over the past few weeks, Newsom has mandated that all health care workers must be fully vaccinated and required that all state employees get vaccinated or choose weekly testing. The weekly testing schedule is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For schools, Newsom had already issued a mask mandate that applies to teachers and students. But until Wednesday, he had left the decision of whether to require vaccines up to local districts.

Vaccine mandates are perilous for the Democratic governor, who faces a recall election next month fueled in part by anger over his handling of the pandemic.

California was the first state to order a pandemic lockdown in March 2020, which shuttered businesses and schools statewide. While many private schools maintained in-person classes, most public schools kept students in distance learning for up to a year. Newsom faced intense political pressure to reopen schools from Republican opponents and supporters who urged him to override powerful labor unions. Many public schools finally reopened last spring, lagging much of the country.

Newsom pushed for a full return to in-person learning this fall. But his mask mandate for schools has angered some parents and been criticized by Republican candidates vying to replace him.

Several of the GOP candidates criticized the new plan Wednesday. Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, who has encouraged everyone to get vaccinated, said state officials “should not be pushing uniform statewide orders on every school district across the state” but should leave it to local districts.

Details of how the new policy will be enforced were not announced. Labor unions say those logistics still need to be worked out.

Matthew Hardy, a spokesman for the California Federation of Teachers, said the union supports the plan that allows an option for testing.

“We do not think people should lose their jobs over this,” he said.

Schools are required to be in full compliance with the new policy by Oct. 15, giving schools time to verify vaccination status and have in place weekly testing for unvaccinated staff, said Amelia Matier, a spokeswoman in the governor’s office.

Newsom did not rule out expanding the requirement to students after a vaccine is approved for children under 12 years old.

“We’ll consider all options in the future,” he said, in response to a question. “We believe this is a meaningful first step.”

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California will become the first state in the nation to require all teachers and school staff to get vaccinated or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing, as schools return from summer break amid growing concerns about the highly contagious delta variant, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday.The new policy applies to both public and private schools and will affect more than 800,000 employees, including about 320,000 public school teachers and a host of support staff such as cafeteria workers and cleaners, the state Department of Public Health said. It will also apply to school volunteers.Newsom announced the new policy at a San Francisco Bay Area school that reopened earlier this week to in-person classes. Many California schools are back in session, with others starting in the coming weeks.“We think this is the right thing to do, and we think this is a sustainable way to keeping our schools open and to address the number one anxiety that parents like myself have for young children,” said Newsom, who is a father of four. “That is knowing that the schools are doing everything in their power to keep our kids safe.”Several large school districts in the state have issued similar requirements in recent days, including San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Long Beach Unified.California, like the rest of the country, has seen a troubling surge in COVID-19 infections because of the delta variant, which represents the vast majority of new cases. It has affected children more than previous strains of the virus, prompting a growing number of teachers unions to ease earlier opposition to vaccine mandates.California’s two largest teachers unions, both powerful political allies to the governor, said Wednesday they fully supported Newsom’s policy.The California Teachers Association and the California Federation of Teachers both cited state and national polling that indicates nearly 90% of educators have been vaccinated but said the rising spread of the delta variant, particularly among children, makes the new policy necessary. Children under 12 are not yet eligible to be vaccinated.“Educators want to be in classrooms with their students, and the best way to make sure that happens is for everyone who is medically eligible to be vaccinated, with robust testing and multi-tiered safety measures,” CTA President E. Toby Boyd said in a statement.While Hawaii Gov. David Ige announced last week that all Department of Education staffers would be required to disclose their vaccination status or face weekly testing, California’s order is far more sweeping, applying to all staff who work in both public and private schools in the country’s most populous state.Over the past few weeks, Newsom has mandated that all health care workers must be fully vaccinated and required that all state employees get vaccinated or choose weekly testing. The weekly testing schedule is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.For schools, Newsom had already issued a mask mandate that applies to teachers and students. But until Wednesday, he had left the decision of whether to require vaccines up to local districts.Vaccine mandates are perilous for the Democratic governor, who faces a recall election next month fueled in part by anger over his handling of the pandemic.California was the first state to order a pandemic lockdown in March 2020, which shuttered businesses and schools statewide. While many private schools maintained in-person classes, most public schools kept students in distance learning for up to a year. Newsom faced intense political pressure to reopen schools from Republican opponents and supporters who urged him to override powerful labor unions. Many public schools finally reopened last spring, lagging much of the country.Newsom pushed for a full return to in-person learning this fall. But his mask mandate for schools has angered some parents and been criticized by Republican candidates vying to replace him.Several of the GOP candidates criticized the new plan Wednesday. Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, who has encouraged everyone to get vaccinated, said state officials “should not be pushing uniform statewide orders on every school district across the state” but should leave it to local districts.Details of how the new policy will be enforced were not announced. Labor unions say those logistics still need to be worked out.Matthew Hardy, a spokesman for the California Federation of Teachers, said the union supports the plan that allows an option for testing.“We do not think people should lose their jobs over this,” he said.Schools are required to be in full compliance with the new policy by Oct. 15, giving schools time to verify vaccination status and have in place weekly testing for unvaccinated staff, said Amelia Matier, a spokeswoman in the governor’s office.Newsom did not rule out expanding the requirement to students after a vaccine is approved for children under 12 years old.“We’ll consider all options in the future,” he said, in response to a question. “We believe this is a meaningful first step.”___

First state in nation requires vaccines for teachers, staff

LAURENS, S.C. (AP) — Authorities in Laurens, South Carolina, say a 28-year-old man is facing charges after tattooing a child inside a fast-food restaurant. 

Laurens police say local resident Brandon Presha was arrested Tuesday on charges of illegal tattooing and underage tattooing. 

WYFF-TV reports that Laurens Police Chief Chrissie Latimore said a judge set bond on both charges at $25,000. &nbsp;

Latimore says the Aug. 6 incident came to the attention of police last week after some detectives were tagged on social media posts showing video of the child being tattooed. 

Presha is being held and it wasn't known if he has an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

LAURENS, S.C. (AP) — Authorities in Laurens, South Carolina, say a 28-year-old man is facing charges after tattooing a child inside a fast-food restaurant. Laurens police say local resident Brandon Presha was arrested Tuesday on charges of illegal tattooing and underage tattooing. WYFF-TV reports that Laurens Police Chief Chrissie Latimore said a judge set bond on both charges at $25,000. &nbsp;Latimore says the Aug. 6 incident came to the attention of police last week after some detectives were tagged on social media posts showing video of the child being tattooed. Presha is being held and it wasn't known if he has an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

South Carolina man arrested for tattooing child inside McDonald’s

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged all pregnant women Wednesday to get the COVID-19 vaccine as hospitals in hot spots around the U.S. see disturbing numbers of unvaccinated mothers-to-be seriously ill with the virus.

Expectant women run a higher risk of severe illness and pregnancy complications from the coronavirus, including perhaps miscarriages and stillbirths. But their vaccination rates are low, with only about 23% having received at least one dose, according to CDC data.

“The vaccines are safe and effective, and it has never been more urgent to increase vaccinations as we face the highly transmissible delta variant and see severe outcomes from COVID-19 among unvaccinated pregnant people,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement.

The updated guidance comes after a CDC analysis of new safety data on 2,500 women showed no increased risks of miscarriage for those who received at least one dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine before 20 weeks of pregnancy. The analysis found a miscarriage rate of around 13%, within the normal range.

The CDC’s advice echoes recent recommendations from top obstetrician groups. The agency had previously encouraged pregnant women to consider vaccination but had stopped short of a full recommendation. The new advice also applies to nursing mothers and women planning to get pregnant.

Although pregnant women were not included in studies that led to authorization of COVID-19 vaccines, experts say real-world experience in tens of thousands of women shows that the shots are safe for them and that when given during pregnancy may offer some protection to newborns.

The new guidance comes amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the U.S., driven by the highly contagious delta variant.

Some health authorities believe the variant may cause more severe disease — in pregnant women and others as well — than earlier versions of the virus, though that is still under investigation.

National figures show the latest surge in cases among pregnant women is lower than it was during the outbreak’s winter peak. But at some hospitals in states with low vaccination rates, the numbers of sick mothers-to-be outpace those during earlier surges, before vaccines were available.

“This is by far the worst we’ve seen in the pandemic,” said Dr. Jane Martin, an obstetrician with Ochsner Baptist Medical Center in New Orleans. She added: “It’s disheartening and it’s exhausting. It feels like it doesn’t have to be like this.”

At the beginning of the pandemic and with each surge, Ochsner had a few pregnant patients very sick with the virus, though the numbers had dwindled in recent months.

“A week or two ago that pace changed drastically,” Martin said. “We have had multiple critically ill pregnant patients admitted’’ every day, most requiring intensive care.

Martin said she has taken care of at least 30 pregnant patients hospitalized with COVID-19 over the last two weeks. Most were unvaccinated.

Experts say the lifting of mask rules and other social distancing precautions and the rise of the delta variant have contributed to the worrisome trend. But also, vaccinations weren’t made available to women of childbearing age and others under 65 until spring.

Early in her pregnancy, Tennessee kindergarten teacher Sara Brown decided she would wait until the baby was born to get the shots. There wasn’t much safety data yet about getting vaccinated during pregnancy, and at 36, she was young, healthy and “figured if I did get it, it would probably just be a bad cold.”

But what seemed like a sinus infection in June turned into severe COVID-19, landing her in a Nashville intensive care unit for five days, on oxygen and struggling to breathe.

Her daughter Suzie was born healthy on Aug. 2. But it was a harrowing experience.

“Not being able to catch your breath is such a panicky feeling, knowing I had life inside me that could be suffering too,” she said.

At Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where Brown was treated, there were no infected pregnant patients early in July. Now the hospital is admitting four to five a week, all unvaccinated, said obstetrician Dr. Jennifer Thompson. About 20% of those patients are being treated in the intensive care unit, compared with 11% during previous surges, she said.

For some pregnant patients critically ill with COVID-19, organs begin to fail and doctors induce labor early or deliver babies by cesarean section as a last resort, said Dr. Jeannie Kelly, an obstetrician at Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis.

About 20% of all patients admitted for labor and delivery last week at the St. Louis hospital are infected, more than double the rate during the COVID-19 surge in Missouri last year, she said. About one-third of these women are critically ill.

Around 105,000 pregnant U.S. women have been infected with COVID-19, and almost 18,000 have been hospitalized, according to the CDC. About one-fourth of those received intensive care and 124 died.

Pregnancy-related changes in body functions may explain why the virus can be dangerous for mothers-to-be. These include reduced lung capacity and adjustments in the disease-fighting immune system that protect and help the fetus grow.

The risks are disproportionately high for Black and Hispanic women, who are more likely to face health care and economic inequalities that increase their chances of getting sick.

Some studies suggest the virus can also increase the risks of preterm birth and stillbirth, and in rare cases, it appears to have passed from mother to fetus.

Martin, the New Orleans obstetrician, noted that local hospitals are also treating increasing numbers of children and babies sick with COVID-19, some of whom may have been infected after birth by unvaccinated mothers.

Martin was pregnant when she got her own shots last winter. She delivered a healthy baby girl a week after the last shot.

“Vaccinating people is the only way out,” she said.

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged all pregnant women Wednesday to get the COVID-19 vaccine as hospitals in hot spots around the U.S. see disturbing numbers of unvaccinated mothers-to-be seriously ill with the virus.Expectant women run a higher risk of severe illness and pregnancy complications from the coronavirus, including perhaps miscarriages and stillbirths. But their vaccination rates are low, with only about 23% having received at least one dose, according to CDC data.“The vaccines are safe and effective, and it has never been more urgent to increase vaccinations as we face the highly transmissible delta variant and see severe outcomes from COVID-19 among unvaccinated pregnant people,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement.The updated guidance comes after a CDC analysis of new safety data on 2,500 women showed no increased risks of miscarriage for those who received at least one dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine before 20 weeks of pregnancy. The analysis found a miscarriage rate of around 13%, within the normal range.The CDC’s advice echoes recent recommendations from top obstetrician groups. The agency had previously encouraged pregnant women to consider vaccination but had stopped short of a full recommendation. The new advice also applies to nursing mothers and women planning to get pregnant.Although pregnant women were not included in studies that led to authorization of COVID-19 vaccines, experts say real-world experience in tens of thousands of women shows that the shots are safe for them and that when given during pregnancy may offer some protection to newborns.The new guidance comes amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the U.S., driven by the highly contagious delta variant.Some health authorities believe the variant may cause more severe disease — in pregnant women and others as well — than earlier versions of the virus, though that is still under investigation.National figures show the latest surge in cases among pregnant women is lower than it was during the outbreak’s winter peak. But at some hospitals in states with low vaccination rates, the numbers of sick mothers-to-be outpace those during earlier surges, before vaccines were available.“This is by far the worst we’ve seen in the pandemic,” said Dr. Jane Martin, an obstetrician with Ochsner Baptist Medical Center in New Orleans. She added: “It’s disheartening and it’s exhausting. It feels like it doesn’t have to be like this.”At the beginning of the pandemic and with each surge, Ochsner had a few pregnant patients very sick with the virus, though the numbers had dwindled in recent months.“A week or two ago that pace changed drastically,” Martin said. “We have had multiple critically ill pregnant patients admitted’’ every day, most requiring intensive care.Martin said she has taken care of at least 30 pregnant patients hospitalized with COVID-19 over the last two weeks. Most were unvaccinated.Experts say the lifting of mask rules and other social distancing precautions and the rise of the delta variant have contributed to the worrisome trend. But also, vaccinations weren’t made available to women of childbearing age and others under 65 until spring.Early in her pregnancy, Tennessee kindergarten teacher Sara Brown decided she would wait until the baby was born to get the shots. There wasn’t much safety data yet about getting vaccinated during pregnancy, and at 36, she was young, healthy and “figured if I did get it, it would probably just be a bad cold.”But what seemed like a sinus infection in June turned into severe COVID-19, landing her in a Nashville intensive care unit for five days, on oxygen and struggling to breathe.Her daughter Suzie was born healthy on Aug. 2. But it was a harrowing experience.“Not being able to catch your breath is such a panicky feeling, knowing I had life inside me that could be suffering too,” she said.At Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where Brown was treated, there were no infected pregnant patients early in July. Now the hospital is admitting four to five a week, all unvaccinated, said obstetrician Dr. Jennifer Thompson. About 20% of those patients are being treated in the intensive care unit, compared with 11% during previous surges, she said.For some pregnant patients critically ill with COVID-19, organs begin to fail and doctors induce labor early or deliver babies by cesarean section as a last resort, said Dr. Jeannie Kelly, an obstetrician at Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis.About 20% of all patients admitted for labor and delivery last week at the St. Louis hospital are infected, more than double the rate during the COVID-19 surge in Missouri last year, she said. About one-third of these women are critically ill.Around 105,000 pregnant U.S. women have been infected with COVID-19, and almost 18,000 have been hospitalized, according to the CDC. About one-fourth of those received intensive care and 124 died.Pregnancy-related changes in body functions may explain why the virus can be dangerous for mothers-to-be. These include reduced lung capacity and adjustments in the disease-fighting immune system that protect and help the fetus grow.The risks are disproportionately high for Black and Hispanic women, who are more likely to face health care and economic inequalities that increase their chances of getting sick.Some studies suggest the virus can also increase the risks of preterm birth and stillbirth, and in rare cases, it appears to have passed from mother to fetus.Martin, the New Orleans obstetrician, noted that local hospitals are also treating increasing numbers of children and babies sick with COVID-19, some of whom may have been infected after birth by unvaccinated mothers.Martin was pregnant when she got her own shots last winter. She delivered a healthy baby girl a week after the last shot.“Vaccinating people is the only way out,” she said.___

CDC urges COVID vaccines for all pregnant women

WEST FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Authorities have identified an Omaha, Nebraska man who was seriously hurt when he crashed a small plane west of Fargo.

 The North Dakota Highway Patrol says Jeffrey Kloster had just left the West Fargo Municipal Airport Tuesday afternoon when the plane struck treetops and crashed into a soybean field. 

KFGO radio reports it took fire crews about 40 minutes to free Kloster from the wreckage. 

West Fargo Fire Chief Dan Fuller says it appeared Kloster suffered serious leg injuries and possible internal injuries.

 Kloster is hospitalized in Fargo. His condition is not known. 

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the cause of the crash.

WEST FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Authorities have identified an Omaha, Nebraska man who was seriously hurt when he crashed a small plane west of Fargo. The North Dakota Highway Patrol says Jeffrey Kloster had just left the West Fargo Municipal Airport Tuesday afternoon when the plane struck treetops and crashed into a soybean field. KFGO radio reports it took fire crews about 40 minutes to free Kloster from the wreckage. West Fargo Fire Chief Dan Fuller says it appeared Kloster suffered serious leg injuries and possible internal injuries. Kloster is hospitalized in Fargo. His condition is not known. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the cause of the crash.

Patrol: Nebraska pilot hurt in North Dakota plane crash

KANSAS CITY (AP) — As the delta variant of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">coronavirus</a>&nbsp;sweeps across the United States, a growing number of colleges and universities are requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for students to attend in-person classes. But the new mandate has opened the door for those opposed to getting the vaccine to cheat the system, according to interviews with students, education and law enforcement officials.

Both faculty and students at dozens of schools interviewed by The Associated Press say they are concerned about how easy it is to get fake vaccine cards.

Across the internet, a cottage industry has sprung up to accommodate people who say they won’t get vaccinated for either personal or religious reasons.

An Instagram account with the username “vaccinationcards” sells laminated COVID-19 vaccination cards for $25 each. A user on the encrypted messaging app, Telegram, offers “COVID-19 Vaccine Cards Certificates,” for as much as $200 apiece.

An increasing number of inquiries to these sites and similar ones appear to be from those who are trying to get fake vaccination cards for college.

A Reddit user commented on a thread about falsifying COVID-19 vaccination cards, saying, in part, “I need one, too, for college. I refuse to be a guinea pig.”

On Twitter, one user with more than 70,000 followers tweeted, “My daughter bought 2 fake ID’s online for $50 while in college. Shipped from China. Anyone have the link for vaccine cards?”

According to a tally by The Chronicle of Higher Education, at least 675 colleges and universities now require proof of COVID-19 inoculations. The process to confirm vaccination at many schools can be as simple as uploading a picture of the vaccine card to the student’s portal.

In Nashville, Vanderbilt University places a hold on a student’s course registration until their vaccine record has been verified unless they have an approved medical accommodation or religious exemption.

The University of Michigan says it has a system in place to confirm employee and student vaccinations. A spokesman for the college told the AP the school has not encountered any problems so far with students forging their COVID-19 vaccination record cards.

But Benjamin Mason Meier, a global health policy professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, questions how institutions can verify those records.

“The United States, unlike most countries which have electronic systems in place, is basing its vaccination on a flimsy paper card,” he said.

Meier tweeted last week that he spoke with several students who were worried about the accessibility of fraudulent vaccine cards and that they knew a fellow student who had submitted one to the university.

“There need to be policies in place for accountability to make sure that every student is operating in the collective interest of the entire campus,” he said.

In a statement to the AP, UNC said it conducts periodic verification of documents and that lying about vaccination status or falsifying documents is a violation of the university’s COVID-19 community standards and may result in disciplinary action.

“It’s important to note that UNC-Chapel Hill has not found any instances of a student uploading a fake vaccine card. Those claims are simply hearsay at this point,” the school said.

But other university staff and faculty have expressed their concern over the alleged forgery of vaccine cards. Rebecca Williams, a research associate at UNC’s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, said while she is concerned by these claims, she isn’t surprised.

“This is why I think the development of a reliable national digital vaccine passport app is very important for the sake of all the organizations and businesses that want to require proof of vaccination for employees, students, or business patrons,” Williams said.

The AP spoke with several students across the country who did not want to be identified but said they were aware of attempts to obtain fake cards.

Some school officials acknowledge that a foolproof system is impossible.

“As with anything that potentially requires a certification, there is the possibility for an individual to falsify documentation,” said Michael Uhlenkamp, a spokesman for the chancellor’s office at California State University. The school system, which is the largest in the nation, oversees about 486,000 students each year on 23 campuses.

Dr. Sarah Van Orman, the chief health officer at the University of Southern California and COVID-19 task force member for the American College Health Association, said college campuses are especially challenging environments to control the spread of COVID-19 since tens of thousands of students move into campus from all over the world. But even if students falsify their vaccination status, it may have limited impact, she said.

“I think that the numbers of students who would do that would be so very small that it wouldn’t affect our kind of ability to get good community immunity,” Orman said.

In March, the concern over fake COVID-19 vaccination cards prompted the FBI to issue a joint statement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services urging people not to buy, create or sell fabricated vaccine cards.

The unauthorized use of the seal of an official government agency such as HHS or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a federal crime that carries a possible fine and a maximum of five years in prison.

In April, a bipartisan coalition of 47 state attorneys general sent a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.naag.org/press-releases/bipartisan-coalition-of-attorneys-general-fight-unlawful-sales-of-fake-covid-19-vaccination-cards/" target="_blank">letter&nbsp;</a>to the CEOs of Twitter, Shopify and eBay to take down ads or links selling the bogus cards.

Many of the sites have blacklisted keywords related to fake cards, but places to buy the documents are still popping up on messaging apps, chat forums and the dark web.

Sellers on websites such as Counterfeit Center, Jimmy Black Market, and Buy Express Documents list COVID-19 vaccine cards, certificates and passports for sale, some costing €400 Euros or about $473.49.

An advertisement on the website Buy Real Fake Passport reads vendors can produce fake vaccination cards by the thousands, if not tens of thousands, based on the demand.

“It is hiding under our noses. If you want it, you can find it out,” said Saoud Khalifah, founder and CEO of scam-detecting software Fakespot. “If we are seeing signs where things like Lollapalooza and other festivals are getting fake cards to gain entrance, the trend is just going to continue into these universities.”

In July, the U.S. Department of Justice announced its first federal criminal fraud&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/woman-arrested-fake-covid-19-immunization-and-vaccination-card-scheme" target="_blank">prosecution</a>&nbsp;involving a fake COVID-19 immunization and vaccination card scheme. Juli A. Mazi, 41, a naturopathic physician in Napa, California, was arrested and charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of false statements related to health care matters.

Court documents allege she sold fake vaccination cards to customers that appeared to show that they had received Moderna vaccines. In some cases, the documents show Mazi herself filled out the cards, writing her own name, and purported Moderna “lot numbers” for a vaccine she had not in fact administered. For other customers, she provided blank CDC COVID-19 vaccination record cards and told each customer to write that she had administered a Moderna vaccine with a specified lot number.

Requiring vaccinations to attend class at colleges and universities has become a contentious political issue in some states. Public colleges in at least 13 states including Ohio, Utah, Tennessee and Florida cannot legally require COVID-19 vaccinations due to state legislation, but private institutions in those same states can.

Among the states introducing and passing bills barring educational institutions from mandating COVID-19 vaccines, infringement on individual rights or liberties is often cited as the main concern.

But according to a statement released by the American College Health Association and other educational organizations, these restrictions impede on universities’ abilities to operate fully and safely.

“The science of good public health has gotten lost in some of the decisions that have been made in some places,” Orman said. “It has not always been held up by our political leaders.”

Some college students have taken to social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok to voice their outrage over other students possessing fraudulent vaccine cards.

Maliha Reza, an electrical engineering student at Pennsylvania State University, said it is mind-boggling that students would pay for fake vaccination cards when they could get the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost.

“I’m angry about that, like there is more anger than I could describe right now,” Reza said. “It’s dumb considering the vaccine is free and it is accessible across the country.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) — As the delta variant of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">coronavirus</a>&nbsp;sweeps across the United States, a growing number of colleges and universities are requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for students to attend in-person classes. But the new mandate has opened the door for those opposed to getting the vaccine to cheat the system, according to interviews with students, education and law enforcement officials.Both faculty and students at dozens of schools interviewed by The Associated Press say they are concerned about how easy it is to get fake vaccine cards.Across the internet, a cottage industry has sprung up to accommodate people who say they won’t get vaccinated for either personal or religious reasons.An Instagram account with the username “vaccinationcards” sells laminated COVID-19 vaccination cards for $25 each. A user on the encrypted messaging app, Telegram, offers “COVID-19 Vaccine Cards Certificates,” for as much as $200 apiece.An increasing number of inquiries to these sites and similar ones appear to be from those who are trying to get fake vaccination cards for college.A Reddit user commented on a thread about falsifying COVID-19 vaccination cards, saying, in part, “I need one, too, for college. I refuse to be a guinea pig.”On Twitter, one user with more than 70,000 followers tweeted, “My daughter bought 2 fake ID’s online for $50 while in college. Shipped from China. Anyone have the link for vaccine cards?”According to a tally by The Chronicle of Higher Education, at least 675 colleges and universities now require proof of COVID-19 inoculations. The process to confirm vaccination at many schools can be as simple as uploading a picture of the vaccine card to the student’s portal.In Nashville, Vanderbilt University places a hold on a student’s course registration until their vaccine record has been verified unless they have an approved medical accommodation or religious exemption.The University of Michigan says it has a system in place to confirm employee and student vaccinations. A spokesman for the college told the AP the school has not encountered any problems so far with students forging their COVID-19 vaccination record cards.But Benjamin Mason Meier, a global health policy professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, questions how institutions can verify those records.“The United States, unlike most countries which have electronic systems in place, is basing its vaccination on a flimsy paper card,” he said.Meier tweeted last week that he spoke with several students who were worried about the accessibility of fraudulent vaccine cards and that they knew a fellow student who had submitted one to the university.“There need to be policies in place for accountability to make sure that every student is operating in the collective interest of the entire campus,” he said.In a statement to the AP, UNC said it conducts periodic verification of documents and that lying about vaccination status or falsifying documents is a violation of the university’s COVID-19 community standards and may result in disciplinary action.“It’s important to note that UNC-Chapel Hill has not found any instances of a student uploading a fake vaccine card. Those claims are simply hearsay at this point,” the school said.But other university staff and faculty have expressed their concern over the alleged forgery of vaccine cards. Rebecca Williams, a research associate at UNC’s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, said while she is concerned by these claims, she isn’t surprised.“This is why I think the development of a reliable national digital vaccine passport app is very important for the sake of all the organizations and businesses that want to require proof of vaccination for employees, students, or business patrons,” Williams said.The AP spoke with several students across the country who did not want to be identified but said they were aware of attempts to obtain fake cards.Some school officials acknowledge that a foolproof system is impossible.“As with anything that potentially requires a certification, there is the possibility for an individual to falsify documentation,” said Michael Uhlenkamp, a spokesman for the chancellor’s office at California State University. The school system, which is the largest in the nation, oversees about 486,000 students each year on 23 campuses.Dr. Sarah Van Orman, the chief health officer at the University of Southern California and COVID-19 task force member for the American College Health Association, said college campuses are especially challenging environments to control the spread of COVID-19 since tens of thousands of students move into campus from all over the world. But even if students falsify their vaccination status, it may have limited impact, she said.“I think that the numbers of students who would do that would be so very small that it wouldn’t affect our kind of ability to get good community immunity,” Orman said.In March, the concern over fake COVID-19 vaccination cards prompted the FBI to issue a joint statement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services urging people not to buy, create or sell fabricated vaccine cards.The unauthorized use of the seal of an official government agency such as HHS or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a federal crime that carries a possible fine and a maximum of five years in prison.In April, a bipartisan coalition of 47 state attorneys general sent a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.naag.org/press-releases/bipartisan-coalition-of-attorneys-general-fight-unlawful-sales-of-fake-covid-19-vaccination-cards/" target="_blank">letter&nbsp;</a>to the CEOs of Twitter, Shopify and eBay to take down ads or links selling the bogus cards.Many of the sites have blacklisted keywords related to fake cards, but places to buy the documents are still popping up on messaging apps, chat forums and the dark web.Sellers on websites such as Counterfeit Center, Jimmy Black Market, and Buy Express Documents list COVID-19 vaccine cards, certificates and passports for sale, some costing €400 Euros or about $473.49.An advertisement on the website Buy Real Fake Passport reads vendors can produce fake vaccination cards by the thousands, if not tens of thousands, based on the demand.“It is hiding under our noses. If you want it, you can find it out,” said Saoud Khalifah, founder and CEO of scam-detecting software Fakespot. “If we are seeing signs where things like Lollapalooza and other festivals are getting fake cards to gain entrance, the trend is just going to continue into these universities.”In July, the U.S. Department of Justice announced its first federal criminal fraud&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/woman-arrested-fake-covid-19-immunization-and-vaccination-card-scheme" target="_blank">prosecution</a>&nbsp;involving a fake COVID-19 immunization and vaccination card scheme. Juli A. Mazi, 41, a naturopathic physician in Napa, California, was arrested and charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of false statements related to health care matters.Court documents allege she sold fake vaccination cards to customers that appeared to show that they had received Moderna vaccines. In some cases, the documents show Mazi herself filled out the cards, writing her own name, and purported Moderna “lot numbers” for a vaccine she had not in fact administered. For other customers, she provided blank CDC COVID-19 vaccination record cards and told each customer to write that she had administered a Moderna vaccine with a specified lot number.Requiring vaccinations to attend class at colleges and universities has become a contentious political issue in some states. Public colleges in at least 13 states including Ohio, Utah, Tennessee and Florida cannot legally require COVID-19 vaccinations due to state legislation, but private institutions in those same states can.Among the states introducing and passing bills barring educational institutions from mandating COVID-19 vaccines, infringement on individual rights or liberties is often cited as the main concern.But according to a statement released by the American College Health Association and other educational organizations, these restrictions impede on universities’ abilities to operate fully and safely.“The science of good public health has gotten lost in some of the decisions that have been made in some places,” Orman said. “It has not always been held up by our political leaders.”Some college students have taken to social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok to voice their outrage over other students possessing fraudulent vaccine cards.Maliha Reza, an electrical engineering student at Pennsylvania State University, said it is mind-boggling that students would pay for fake vaccination cards when they could get the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost.“I’m angry about that, like there is more anger than I could describe right now,” Reza said. “It’s dumb considering the vaccine is free and it is accessible across the country.”___

College officials worry about fake COVID vaccination cards 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The city of Omaha is expected to apply for federal disaster aid following intense flash flooding over the weekend that collapsed some sewers and sent floodwaters into businesses and homes.

 The Omaha World-Herald reports that city officials have been tracking growing expenses from the storm damage and expect to meet the threshold to apply for federal aid.

 Officials have not yet released other details about the expected disaster declaration. 

The storm that dropped torrential rains on the city and surrounding communities Saturday night was second this summer to prompt the pursuit of federal disaster aid money. 

In July, a hurricane-force windstorm knocked out power to 188,000 Omaha Public Power District customers.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The city of Omaha is expected to apply for federal disaster aid following intense flash flooding over the weekend that collapsed some sewers and sent floodwaters into businesses and homes. The Omaha World-Herald reports that city officials have been tracking growing expenses from the storm damage and expect to meet the threshold to apply for federal aid. Officials have not yet released other details about the expected disaster declaration. The storm that dropped torrential rains on the city and surrounding communities Saturday night was second this summer to prompt the pursuit of federal disaster aid money. In July, a hurricane-force windstorm knocked out power to 188,000 Omaha Public Power District customers.

Omaha to apply for federal disaster aid after flooding

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Sheriff's officials along the southeastern border of Kansas say a 2-year-old there has died, likely from excessive heat. 

The Cowley County Sheriff's Office says deputies and medics were called just after 6 p.m. Tuesday to a home in the southern part of the county for reports of an unresponsive child. 

First responders could not revive the child. Sheriff David Falletti says early indications show the toddler died due to heat. Officials have not released details of how the child or where the child was found, but Falletti says no foul play is suspected. 

Most of Kansas has been under a heat advisory this week, and the heat index in Cowley County on Tuesday reached as high as 108 degrees.

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Sheriff's officials along the southeastern border of Kansas say a 2-year-old there has died, likely from excessive heat. The Cowley County Sheriff's Office says deputies and medics were called just after 6 p.m. Tuesday to a home in the southern part of the county for reports of an unresponsive child. First responders could not revive the child. Sheriff David Falletti says early indications show the toddler died due to heat. Officials have not released details of how the child or where the child was found, but Falletti says no foul play is suspected. Most of Kansas has been under a heat advisory this week, and the heat index in Cowley County on Tuesday reached as high as 108 degrees.

Sheriff: Kansas toddler likely died from excessive heat

JUNIATA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a Nebraska state trooper has been wounded and a suspect killed in an early-morning shootout with police.

 The Nebraska State Patrol says a woman called 911 Tuesday night to report a man firing a gun outside a home in Juniata, a village of about 800. 

Troopers and Adams County sheriff's deputies surrounded the south-central Nebraska home and tried negotiating with the man, but repeatedly came under fire.

 The patrol says around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday a trooper was shot in the arm. 

The patrol says when the suspect later came out of the home holding a gun, he was fatally shot by a patrol SWAT team member. 

The trooper was treated at a hospital and released.

JUNIATA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a Nebraska state trooper has been wounded and a suspect killed in an early-morning shootout with police. The Nebraska State Patrol says a woman called 911 Tuesday night to report a man firing a gun outside a home in Juniata, a village of about 800. Troopers and Adams County sheriff's deputies surrounded the south-central Nebraska home and tried negotiating with the man, but repeatedly came under fire. The patrol says around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday a trooper was shot in the arm. The patrol says when the suspect later came out of the home holding a gun, he was fatally shot by a patrol SWAT team member. The trooper was treated at a hospital and released.

Nebraska trooper wounded, man killed in overnight shootout

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska's largest public school district will require students to wear masks indoors when they return to classrooms next week. 

The Omaha Public Schools board voted 8-1 Monday to require all people to wear masks indoors at school, effective Tuesday. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the resolution made note of recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommending universal masking for all teachers staff, students and visitors to K-12 schools in an effort to fight the growing spread of COVID-19 cases. 

The Omaha district joins a growing number of Nebraska school districts requiring face mask when school starts this fall.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska's largest public school district will require students to wear masks indoors when they return to classrooms next week. The Omaha Public Schools board voted 8-1 Monday to require all people to wear masks indoors at school, effective Tuesday. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the resolution made note of recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommending universal masking for all teachers staff, students and visitors to K-12 schools in an effort to fight the growing spread of COVID-19 cases. The Omaha district joins a growing number of Nebraska school districts requiring face mask when school starts this fall.

Omaha Public Schools to require masks when classes start

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats pushed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-democrats-budget-joe-biden-02eb40af7efea63708a8f439c039b5a0">$3.5 trillion framework</a>&nbsp;for bolstering family services, health, and environment programs through the Senate early Wednesday, advancing President Joe Biden’s expansive vision for reshaping federal priorities just hours after handing him a companion triumph on a hefty&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-bills-38b84f0e9fcc8e68646eedf6608c4c70">infrastructure package</a>.

Lawmakers approved Democrats’ budget resolution on a party-line 50-49 vote, a crucial step for a president and party set on training the government’s fiscal might on assisting families, creating jobs and fighting climate change. Higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations would pay for much of it. Passage came despite an avalanche of Republican amendments intended to make their rivals pay a price in next year’s elections for control of Congress.

House leaders announced their chamber will return from summer recess in two weeks to vote on the fiscal blueprint, which contemplates disbursing the $3.5 trillion over the next decade. Final congressional approval, which seems certain, would protect a subsequent bill actually enacting the outline’s detailed spending and tax changes from a Republican filibuster in the 50-50 Senate, delays that would otherwise kill it.

Even so, passing that follow-up legislation will be dicey with party moderates wary of the massive $3.5 trillion price tag vying with progressives demanding aggressive action. The party controls the House with just three votes to spare, while the evenly divided Senate is theirs only due to Vice President Kamala Harris tie-breaking vote. Solid GOP opposition seems guaranteed.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., once a progressive voice in Congress’ wilderness and now a national figure wielding legislative clout, said the measure would help children, families, the elderly and working people — and more.

“It will also, I hope, restore the faith of the American people in the belief that we can have a government that works for all of us, and not just the few,” he said.

Republicans argued that Democrats’ proposals would waste money, raise economy-wounding taxes, fuel inflation and codify far-left dictates that would harm Americans. They were happy to use Sanders, a self-avowed democratic socialist, to try tarring all Democrats backing the measure.

If Biden and Senate Democrats want to “outsource domestic policy to Chairman Sanders” with a “historically reckless taxing and spending spree,” Republicans lack the votes to stop them, conceded Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. “But we will debate. We will vote.”

The Senate turned to the budget hours after it approved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-infrastructure-bill-politics-joe-biden-a431f8c9f3f113b661cb3526512fc4e0">the other big chunk of Biden’s objectives,&nbsp;</a>a compromise $1 trillion bundle of transportation, water, broadband and other infrastructure projects. That measure, passed 69-30 with McConnell among the 19 Republicans backing it, also needs House approval.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., assured progressives that Congress will pursue sweeping initiatives going beyond that infrastructure package.

“To my colleagues who are concerned that this does not do enough on climate, for families, and making corporations and the rich pay their fair share: We are moving on to a second track, which will make a generational transformation in these areas,” Schumer said.

Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., missed the budget votes to be with his ailing wife.

In a budget ritual, senators plunged into a “vote-a-rama,” a nonstop parade of messaging amendments that often becomes a painful all-night ordeal. This time, the Senate held more than 40 roll calls by the time it approved the measure at around 4 a.m. EDT, more than 14 hours after the procedural wretchedness began.

With the budget resolution largely advisory, the goal of most amendments was not to win but to force the other party’s vulnerable senators to cast troublesome votes that can be used against them in next year’s elections for congressional control.

Republicans crowed after Democrats opposed GOP amendments calling for the full-time reopening of pandemic-shuttered schools and boosting the Pentagon’s budget and retaining limits on federal income tax deductions for state and local levies. They were also happy when Democrats showed support for Biden’s now suspended ban on oil and gas leasing on federal lands, which Republicans said would prompt gasoline price increases.

One amendment may have boomeranged after the Senate voted 99-0 for a proposal by freshman Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., to curb federal funds for any municipalities that defund the police. That idea has been rejected by all but the most progressive Democrats, but Republicans have persistently accused them anyway of backing it.

In an animated, sardonic rejoinder, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., called Tuberville’s amendment “a gift” that would let Democrats “put to bed this scurrilous accusation that somebody in this great esteemed body would want to defund the police.” He said he wanted to “walk over there and hug my colleague.”

Republicans claimed two narrow victories with potential implications for future votes, with West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, one of the chamber’s more conservative Democrats, joining them on both nonbinding amendments.

One indicated support for health care providers who refuse to participate in abortions. The other voiced opposition to teaching critical race theory, which considers racism endemic to American institutions. There’s scant evidence that it’s part of public school curriculums.

The budget blueprint envisions creating new programs including tuition-free pre-kindergarten and community college, paid family leave and a Civilian Climate Corps whose workers would tackle environmental projects. Millions of immigrants in the U.S. illegally would have a new chance for citizenship, and there would be financial incentives for states to adopt more labor-friendly laws.

Medicare would add dental, hearing and vision benefits, and tax credits and grants would prod utilities and industries to embrace clean energy. Child tax credits beefed up for the pandemic would be extended, along with federal subsidies for health insurance.

Besides higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations, Democrats envision savings by letting the government negotiate prices for pharmaceuticals it buys, slapping taxes on imported carbon fuels and strengthening IRS tax collections. Democrats have said their policies will be fully paid for, but they’ll make no final decisions until this fall’s follow-up bill.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628676753973.png" alt="Lawmakers approved Democrats’ budget resolution early Wednesday on a party-line 50-49 vote -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Lawmakers approved Democrats’ budget resolution early Wednesday on a party-line 50-49 vote -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats pushed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-democrats-budget-joe-biden-02eb40af7efea63708a8f439c039b5a0">$3.5 trillion framework</a>&nbsp;for bolstering family services, health, and environment programs through the Senate early Wednesday, advancing President Joe Biden’s expansive vision for reshaping federal priorities just hours after handing him a companion triumph on a hefty&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-bills-38b84f0e9fcc8e68646eedf6608c4c70">infrastructure package</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Bernie is once again asking for your financial support…to pay for the Democrats&#39; $3.5 trillion reckless tax-and-spending spree. <a href="https://t.co/2V66m9JhpW">pic.twitter.com/2V66m9JhpW</a>&mdash; Senator Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryMoran/status/1425254176272048132?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Lawmakers approved Democrats’ budget resolution on a party-line 50-49 vote, a crucial step for a president and party set on training the government’s fiscal might on assisting families, creating jobs and fighting climate change. Higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations would pay for much of it. Passage came despite an avalanche of Republican amendments intended to make their rivals pay a price in next year’s elections for control of Congress.House leaders announced their chamber will return from summer recess in two weeks to vote on the fiscal blueprint, which contemplates disbursing the $3.5 trillion over the next decade. Final congressional approval, which seems certain, would protect a subsequent bill actually enacting the outline’s detailed spending and tax changes from a Republican filibuster in the 50-50 Senate, delays that would otherwise kill it.Even so, passing that follow-up legislation will be dicey with party moderates wary of the massive $3.5 trillion price tag vying with progressives demanding aggressive action. The party controls the House with just three votes to spare, while the evenly divided Senate is theirs only due to Vice President Kamala Harris tie-breaking vote. Solid GOP opposition seems guaranteed.Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., once a progressive voice in Congress’ wilderness and now a national figure wielding legislative clout, said the measure would help children, families, the elderly and working people — and more.“It will also, I hope, restore the faith of the American people in the belief that we can have a government that works for all of us, and not just the few,” he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628677347816.png" alt="Utah Republic Senator Mike Lee spoke ahead of the vote and attempted to show&nbsp; how the $3.5T bill would impact the economy-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Utah Republic Senator Mike Lee spoke ahead of the vote and attempted to show&nbsp; how the $3.5T bill would impact the economy-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Republicans argued that Democrats’ proposals would waste money, raise economy-wounding taxes, fuel inflation and codify far-left dictates that would harm Americans. They were happy to use Sanders, a self-avowed democratic socialist, to try tarring all Democrats backing the measure.If Biden and Senate Democrats want to “outsource domestic policy to Chairman Sanders” with a “historically reckless taxing and spending spree,” Republicans lack the votes to stop them, conceded Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. “But we will debate. We will vote.”The Senate turned to the budget hours after it approved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-infrastructure-bill-politics-joe-biden-a431f8c9f3f113b661cb3526512fc4e0">the other big chunk of Biden’s objectives,&nbsp;</a>a compromise $1 trillion bundle of transportation, water, broadband and other infrastructure projects. That measure, passed 69-30 with McConnell among the 19 Republicans backing it, also needs House approval.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., assured progressives that Congress will pursue sweeping initiatives going beyond that infrastructure package.“To my colleagues who are concerned that this does not do enough on climate, for families, and making corporations and the rich pay their fair share: We are moving on to a second track, which will make a generational transformation in these areas,” Schumer said.Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., missed the budget votes to be with his ailing wife.In a budget ritual, senators plunged into a “vote-a-rama,” a nonstop parade of messaging amendments that often becomes a painful all-night ordeal. This time, the Senate held more than 40 roll calls by the time it approved the measure at around 4 a.m. EDT, more than 14 hours after the procedural wretchedness began.With the budget resolution largely advisory, the goal of most amendments was not to win but to force the other party’s vulnerable senators to cast troublesome votes that can be used against them in next year’s elections for congressional control.Republicans crowed after Democrats opposed GOP amendments calling for the full-time reopening of pandemic-shuttered schools and boosting the Pentagon’s budget and retaining limits on federal income tax deductions for state and local levies. They were also happy when Democrats showed support for Biden’s now suspended ban on oil and gas leasing on federal lands, which Republicans said would prompt gasoline price increases.One amendment may have boomeranged after the Senate voted 99-0 for a proposal by freshman Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., to curb federal funds for any municipalities that defund the police. That idea has been rejected by all but the most progressive Democrats, but Republicans have persistently accused them anyway of backing it.In an animated, sardonic rejoinder, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., called Tuberville’s amendment “a gift” that would let Democrats “put to bed this scurrilous accusation that somebody in this great esteemed body would want to defund the police.” He said he wanted to “walk over there and hug my colleague.”Republicans claimed two narrow victories with potential implications for future votes, with West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, one of the chamber’s more conservative Democrats, joining them on both nonbinding amendments.One indicated support for health care providers who refuse to participate in abortions. The other voiced opposition to teaching critical race theory, which considers racism endemic to American institutions. There’s scant evidence that it’s part of public school curriculums.The budget blueprint envisions creating new programs including tuition-free pre-kindergarten and community college, paid family leave and a Civilian Climate Corps whose workers would tackle environmental projects. Millions of immigrants in the U.S. illegally would have a new chance for citizenship, and there would be financial incentives for states to adopt more labor-friendly laws.Medicare would add dental, hearing and vision benefits, and tax credits and grants would prod utilities and industries to embrace clean energy. Child tax credits beefed up for the pandemic would be extended, along with federal subsidies for health insurance.Besides higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations, Democrats envision savings by letting the government negotiate prices for pharmaceuticals it buys, slapping taxes on imported carbon fuels and strengthening IRS tax collections. Democrats have said their policies will be fully paid for, but they’ll make no final decisions until this fall’s follow-up bill.

By a 50-49 vote Senate OKs $3.5 Trillion budget plan

Funding aims to prevent fraud, promote equitable access, ensure timely benefits

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a series of actions to modernize and reform a cornerstone of our economic infrastructure, the unemployment insurance system.
 Over the last year alone, the unemployment insurance system has helped 
nearly 53 million workers stay afloat during a pandemic and economic 
crisis and put nearly $800 billion into the economy – staving off an 
even deeper recession. 

At the same time, this crisis only further exposed longstanding challenges in UI.
 While the core of these challenges will need to be addressed through 
comprehensive UI reform, the department will start with the $2 billion 
allocated as a part of the American Rescue Plan Act, aimed specifically 
at addressing the most acute challenges states have faced over the last 
year.

The <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/american-rescue-plan/" target="_blank">American Rescue Plan Act</a> provided $2 billion in funding to the department to prevent and detect fraud, promote equitable access, ensure timely payment of benefits and reduce backlogs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615920467817.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Funding aims to prevent fraud, promote equitable access, ensure timely benefits</h2>U.S. Department of LaborWASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a series of actions to modernize and reform a cornerstone of our economic infrastructure, the unemployment insurance system.
 Over the last year alone, the unemployment insurance system has helped 
nearly 53 million workers stay afloat during a pandemic and economic 
crisis and put nearly $800 billion into the economy – staving off an 
even deeper recession. At the same time, this crisis only further exposed longstanding challenges in UI.
 While the core of these challenges will need to be addressed through 
comprehensive UI reform, the department will start with the $2 billion 
allocated as a part of the American Rescue Plan Act, aimed specifically 
at addressing the most acute challenges states have faced over the last 
year.The <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/american-rescue-plan/" target="_blank">American Rescue Plan Act</a> provided $2 billion in funding to the department to prevent and detect fraud, promote equitable access, ensure timely payment of benefits and reduce backlogs. “The pandemic underscored the need for 
modernization of the 53 different systems that administer unemployment 
insurance benefits in the United States, and it exposed significant 
vulnerabilities in state technology to criminals looking for an 
opportunity,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “The 
Biden-Harris administration and Congress provided the means to reform 
this critical safety net for future crises, and our department is 
committed to executing that mission in a way that leaves no community 
behind.” Administered by the department’s <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta">Employment and Training Administration</a>, ARPA
 Fraud Grants totaling $140 million will be awarded to states for fraud 
prevention measures, including identification verification subscription 
costs, establishing and expanding data analytics and implementing 
cybersecurity defense strategies. Another $260 million in Equity Grants will be awarded to 
improve claimant outreach and customer service processes, implement 
strategies to reduce backlog and improve access for lower-income 
claimants. These first-of-their-kind grants will provide funding for 
states to improve public awareness and service delivery as the 
department seeks to address potential racial and ethnic disparities in 
the administration and delivery of UI benefits in some states. The department will also allocate $100 million in previously unobligated <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/748" target="_blank">CARES Act</a> funds to combat fraud and implement cybersecurity measures in the <a href="https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?docn=4628">Pandemic Unemployment Assistance</a> and <a href="https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=8452">Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation</a> programs beyond the expiration of benefits. This administration is deeply concerned by the widespread
 inherited fraud in the UI system perpetrated by a new wave of criminal 
syndicates. Dealing with this issue has been a top priority for this 
Administration and the department has taken numerous steps to help 
detect and fight multi-state fraud and identity theft.&nbsp;One example of 
this is the improvements to data sharing that were a significant change 
in policy from the prior administration, whereby the department has 
provided the Inspector General direct access to UI data for the entirety
 of the pandemic relief period and made the continuation of such access a
 condition of the fraud grants.&nbsp; Funding from the ARPA will enable the department to 
tackle the most acute problems facing the unemployment insurance system 
in the short-term while also working to address long-term challenges by 
improving state processes and building a modern, modular information 
technology system that is accessible, safe and more resilient in the 
face of future surges in claims. The department today announced additional strategies in its comprehensive approach to improving the UI system. These include: <ul>
 <li>Direct technical assistance through tiger teams.
 Multi-disciplinary tiger teams, composed of experts across many 
disciplines including fraud specialists, equity and customer service 
experience specialists, UI program specialists, behavioral insights 
specialists, business intelligence analysts, computer systems 
engineers/architects and project managers, will deploy to states to 
conduct intensive discovery assessments, provide resources for 
identification verification and propose solutions to address fraud and 
equitable access. </li><li>Tools to address immediate fraud concerns. Identity verification
 is a critical tool in paying unemployment benefits to eligible 
individuals. Yet too few states have the resources, expertise, and 
capacity needed to effectively work with vendors to address the 
wide-ranging attacks that the UI system has experienced from organized criminal enterprises. The
 department issued a blanket purchase agreement to work with three 
vendors to employ cross-matching technology to verify applicants’ 
identities at the time of filing for unemployment programs and tools to 
identify suspicious attributes after claims are filed. LexisNexis, 
TransUnion and V3Gate partnering with ID.Me are all compliant with the 
National Institute of Standards’ Identity Assurance Level 2 and 
Authenticator Assurance Level 2, and these vendors will work with states
 to: develop identification verification options that do not require 
computer access, offer customer service in claimants’ native languages 
and provide accessibility standards to serve the disability community. &nbsp;</li><li>Modernizing antiquated state technology. The
 pandemic has only underscored states’ desperate need for technological 
support and improvements. Many state systems are operating on outdated 
technology, which made it difficult for them to rapidly respond to 
changes in law and economic conditions. The department has 
partnered with the U.S. Digital Service to start the transformative 
project of centrally developing open, modular technology solutions that 
states may adopt as part of ongoing modernization and improvement 
efforts. Additional plans included shared IT solutions designed to 
integrate with state systems and provide software to support end-to-end 
administration of UI, including benefit delivery, employer tools and 
appeals and working with states’ IT staff to develop and implement plans
 that build resilience in UI systems across the country. </li>
 </ul>This comprehensive plan will enable the department to 
establish a system that is efficient and scalable and meets its promise 
of providing benefits to protect workers who lose their jobs through no 
fault of their own and help better sustain the economy during future 
economic downturns. The Department of Labor is committed to 
strengthening the Unemployment Insurance system to ensure that it works 
for all workers, and to ensuring that unemployed workers have access to 
quality reemployment services that can help workers transition back into
 the labor market and into quality jobs.<a href="https://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/FactSheet_UImodernization.pdf">Read more on the UI Modernization plan.</a>