WASHINGTON—The Federal Communications Commission today approved a proposal seeking comment on how to modify its policies to reduce access to phone numbers by perpetrators of illegal robocalls.  The proposed rules are part of ongoing Commission efforts to protect Americans from unwanted and illegal robocalls.  

The FCC is proposing to update its rules governing interconnected VoIP providers’ direct access to phone numbers to address problems that have arisen from the growth of widely available VoIP software that can allow bad actors to make spoofed robocalls with minimal technical experience and cost.  Following Congress’s directive in the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act (TRACED Act), the proposed rules would require VoIP providers applying for direct access to numbers to comply with anti-robocalling obligations.  In addition, the proposal would establish guardrails to safeguard finite numbering resources, protect against national security risks, reduce the opportunity for regulatory arbitrage, and further promote public safety.

This proceeding proposes updates to FCC rules to require Executive Branch review before entities based outside the United States gain access to numbering resources, and would require that applicants for direct access to numbers disclose foreign ownership information.  The Commission also seeks comment on requiring applicants to use numbering resources lawfully; not to encourage or assist and facilitate illegal robocalls, illegal spoofing, or fraud; and to take steps to cease originating, terminating, and/or transmitting illegal robocalls.    

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584977952684.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FCCWASHINGTON—The Federal Communications Commission today approved a proposal seeking comment on how to modify its policies to reduce access to phone numbers by perpetrators of illegal robocalls. The proposed rules are part of ongoing Commission efforts to protect Americans from unwanted and illegal robocalls. The FCC is proposing to update its rules governing interconnected VoIP providers’ direct access to phone numbers to address problems that have arisen from the growth of widely available VoIP software that can allow bad actors to make spoofed robocalls with minimal technical experience and cost. Following Congress’s directive in the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act (TRACED Act), the proposed rules would require VoIP providers applying for direct access to numbers to comply with anti-robocalling obligations. In addition, the proposal would establish guardrails to safeguard finite numbering resources, protect against national security risks, reduce the opportunity for regulatory arbitrage, and further promote public safety.This proceeding proposes updates to FCC rules to require Executive Branch review before entities based outside the United States gain access to numbering resources, and would require that applicants for direct access to numbers disclose foreign ownership information. The Commission also seeks comment on requiring applicants to use numbering resources lawfully; not to encourage or assist and facilitate illegal robocalls, illegal spoofing, or fraud; and to take steps to cease originating, terminating, and/or transmitting illegal robocalls.

FCC proposal would deter 'spoofed' numbers by robocallers

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is taking the first steps toward requiring nearly all foreign visitors to the U.S. to be vaccinated for the coronavirus, a White House official said Wednesday.

The requirement would come as part of the administration’s phased approach to easing travel restrictions for foreign citizens to the country. No timeline has yet been determined, as interagency working groups study how and when to safely move toward resuming normal travel. Eventually all foreign citizens entering the country, with some limited exceptions, are expected to need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the U.S.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the policy under development.

The Biden administration has kept in place travel restrictions that have severely curtailed international trips to the U.S., citing the spread of the delta variant of the virus. Under the rules, non-U.S. residents who have been to China, the European Schengen area, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil, South Africa and India in the prior 14 days are prohibited from entering the U.S.

All travelers to the U.S., regardless of vaccination status, are required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of air travel to the country.

The Biden administration has faced pressure to lift some restrictions from affected allies, the air travel industry and families who have been kept separated from loved ones by the rules. Many have complained that the travel restrictions don’t reflect the current virus situation — particularly as caseloads in the U.S. are worse than in many of the prohibited nations.

Airlines for America, a trade group for major U.S. airlines, said it was pleased by reports that the administration plans to make it easier for more foreign travelers to enter the country if they have been vaccinated.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628118293778.png" alt="President Biden at the Plumbers and Gasfitters Local 5 Training Facility Wednesday afternoon -photo courtesy&nbsp; White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden at the Plumbers and Gasfitters Local 5 Training Facility Wednesday afternoon -photo courtesy&nbsp; White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is taking the first steps toward requiring nearly all foreign visitors to the U.S. to be vaccinated for the coronavirus, a White House official said Wednesday.The requirement would come as part of the administration’s phased approach to easing travel restrictions for foreign citizens to the country. No timeline has yet been determined, as interagency working groups study how and when to safely move toward resuming normal travel. Eventually all foreign citizens entering the country, with some limited exceptions, are expected to need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the U.S.The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the policy under development.The Biden administration has kept in place travel restrictions that have severely curtailed international trips to the U.S., citing the spread of the delta variant of the virus. Under the rules, non-U.S. residents who have been to China, the European Schengen area, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil, South Africa and India in the prior 14 days are prohibited from entering the U.S.All travelers to the U.S., regardless of vaccination status, are required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of air travel to the country.The Biden administration has faced pressure to lift some restrictions from affected allies, the air travel industry and families who have been kept separated from loved ones by the rules. Many have complained that the travel restrictions don’t reflect the current virus situation — particularly as caseloads in the U.S. are worse than in many of the prohibited nations.Airlines for America, a trade group for major U.S. airlines, said it was pleased by reports that the administration plans to make it easier for more foreign travelers to enter the country if they have been vaccinated.

US to require COVID vaccinations for foreign travelers

HARVEY COUNTY —Authorities are investigating an animal attack that sent a boy to the hospital.

Just before 8p.m. Tuesday, police&nbsp; responded to help boy who was bitten by several dogs while he was riding a bicycle in the 400 block of W. 6th Street in Newton, according to a media release.

&nbsp;A Newton Police officer assisted the boy and treated the wounds at the scene before the child was transported to&nbsp;Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. 

The dogs were taken to Caring Hands Humane Society for observation. Police released no additional information about the boy.

HARVEY COUNTY —Authorities are investigating an animal attack that sent a boy to the hospital.Just before 8p.m. Tuesday, police&nbsp; responded to help boy who was bitten by several dogs while he was riding a bicycle in the 400 block of W. 6th Street in Newton, according to a media release.&nbsp;A Newton Police officer assisted the boy and treated the wounds at the scene before the child was transported to&nbsp;Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. The dogs were taken to Caring Hands Humane Society for observation. Police released no additional information about the boy.

Police: Kan. boy hospitalized after bitten by dogs 

NEW YORK (AP) — Nursing and professional bowling aren’t usually found on the same resume. In fact, Erin McCarthy is just one of a few to claim that territory. 

The 31-year-old McCarthy has weathered the pandemic as a critical care nurse in Omaha, where she lives. During the darkest days of the coronavirus crisis, she toiled without her usual release valve — competing on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association circuit. 

Now back on the tour, McCarthy is splitting her time between hospital work and traveling to meets to regain her momentum on the lanes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628090900023.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Nursing and professional bowling aren’t usually found on the same resume. In fact, Erin McCarthy is just one of a few to claim that territory. The 31-year-old McCarthy has weathered the pandemic as a critical care nurse in Omaha, where she lives. During the darkest days of the coronavirus crisis, she toiled without her usual release valve — competing on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association circuit. Now back on the tour, McCarthy is splitting her time between hospital work and traveling to meets to regain her momentum on the lanes.

Omaha COVID nurse is thrilled to be back on pro bowling circuit

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Search crews are looking for a missing 7-year-old boy believed to have fallen into the Missouri River. 

Rescue teams and police were called just before 6 p.m. Tuesday after the boy went missing at N.P. Dodge Park along the riverside in north Omaha.

 Police say the boy was at the park with family members and was last seen playing in the river. 

Family members told officials they were not sure whether the boy had run off or been swept away in the water. 

Rescue teams searched the river and area for about three hours before calling off the search once it got dark. 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Search crews are looking for a missing 7-year-old boy believed to have fallen into the Missouri River. Rescue teams and police were called just before 6 p.m. Tuesday after the boy went missing at N.P. Dodge Park along the riverside in north Omaha. Police say the boy was at the park with family members and was last seen playing in the river. Family members told officials they were not sure whether the boy had run off or been swept away in the water. Rescue teams searched the river and area for about three hours before calling off the search once it got dark. The search resumed Wednesday morning.

Crews search Missouri River for missing 7-year-old boy

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday called on resistant Republican governors to “get out of the way” of vaccine rules aimed at containing the more transmissible and dangerous COVID-19 variant. He backed city and private mandates requiring people to be vaccinated to go about some daily activities.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?513896-1/president-biden-calls-governor-cuomo-resign">Click here to watch </a>the President's comments

Speaking from the White House, Biden sharply criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other officials who have moved to block the reimposition of mask mandates to slow the delta strain of the virus. The strain is surging in their states and other parts of the country that have large numbers of unvaccinated people.

“If you’re not going to help, at least get out of the way of people trying to do the right thing,” Biden said.

Biden endorsed New York City’s move to require vaccinations to dine indoors or go to the gym, as well as corporate moves to require vaccines to return to work, and said more localities and businesses should follow suit. Such policies have been barred to varying degrees in at least seven GOP-led states.

A rise in infections in the U.S., fueled by the highly contagious delta strain of the virus, led U.S. public health officials last week to recommend that even people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 resume wearing face coverings in some public indoor settings.

After months of dangling carrots of incentive to Americans to get vaccinated — including million- dollar cash lotteries and opportunities to earn free college tuition — the Biden administration is looking to wield a stick by making it harder for people to remain unvaccinated without seeing their daily lives disrupted.

As he seeks to drive up vaccinations at home, Biden is also spotlighting his administration’s progress in sharing shots with the rest of the world — an initiative helped in part by the slowed pace of domestic vaccination that has increased the nation’s stockpile of doses. Roughly 90 million eligible Americans aged 12 and over have yet to receive one dose of vaccine.

Biden announced that the U.S. has donated and shipped more than 110 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 60 countries, ranging from Afghanistan to Zambia.

“Vaccinate America and help vaccinate the world,” Biden said, “That’s how we’re going to beat this thing.”

Biden has promised that the U.S. will be the “arsenal of vaccines” for the world, but while notable, the 110 million doses the U.S. has donated largely through a global vaccine program known as COVAX&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/africa-europe-coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-926c80134a8543efef16e2c7ca4d43c2">represent a fraction of what is needed</a>&nbsp;worldwide.

The White House said in a statement Tuesday that U.S. at the end of August will begin shipping 500 million doses of Pfizer vaccine that it has pledged to 100 low-income countries by June 2022.

Biden had pledged to ship more than 80 million doses overseas by the end of June, but had only been able to share a fraction of that due to logistical and regulatory hurdles in recipient countries.

The pace of shipments picked up significantly through July.

Under Biden’s sharing plan, about 75% of U.S. doses are shared through COVAX, which aims to help lower- and middle-income nations, with the balance being sent to U.S. partners and allies.

The White House insists that nothing is being sought in return for the shots, contrasting its approach to Russia and China, which it alleges have used access to their domestically produced vaccines as a tool of geopolitical leverage.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628082052605.png" alt="“If you’re not going to help, at least get out of the way of people trying to do the right thing,” Biden said. -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>“If you’re not going to help, at least get out of the way of people trying to do the right thing,” Biden said. -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday called on resistant Republican governors to “get out of the way” of vaccine rules aimed at containing the more transmissible and dangerous COVID-19 variant. He backed city and private mandates requiring people to be vaccinated to go about some daily activities.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?513896-1/president-biden-calls-governor-cuomo-resign">Click here to watch </a>the President's commentsSpeaking from the White House, Biden sharply criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other officials who have moved to block the reimposition of mask mandates to slow the delta strain of the virus. The strain is surging in their states and other parts of the country that have large numbers of unvaccinated people.“If you’re not going to help, at least get out of the way of people trying to do the right thing,” Biden said.Biden endorsed New York City’s move to require vaccinations to dine indoors or go to the gym, as well as corporate moves to require vaccines to return to work, and said more localities and businesses should follow suit. Such policies have been barred to varying degrees in at least seven GOP-led states.A rise in infections in the U.S., fueled by the highly contagious delta strain of the virus, led U.S. public health officials last week to recommend that even people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 resume wearing face coverings in some public indoor settings.After months of dangling carrots of incentive to Americans to get vaccinated — including million- dollar cash lotteries and opportunities to earn free college tuition — the Biden administration is looking to wield a stick by making it harder for people to remain unvaccinated without seeing their daily lives disrupted.As he seeks to drive up vaccinations at home, Biden is also spotlighting his administration’s progress in sharing shots with the rest of the world — an initiative helped in part by the slowed pace of domestic vaccination that has increased the nation’s stockpile of doses. Roughly 90 million eligible Americans aged 12 and over have yet to receive one dose of vaccine.Biden announced that the U.S. has donated and shipped more than 110 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 60 countries, ranging from Afghanistan to Zambia.“Vaccinate America and help vaccinate the world,” Biden said, “That’s how we’re going to beat this thing.”Biden has promised that the U.S. will be the “arsenal of vaccines” for the world, but while notable, the 110 million doses the U.S. has donated largely through a global vaccine program known as COVAX&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/africa-europe-coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-926c80134a8543efef16e2c7ca4d43c2">represent a fraction of what is needed</a>&nbsp;worldwide.The White House said in a statement Tuesday that U.S. at the end of August will begin shipping 500 million doses of Pfizer vaccine that it has pledged to 100 low-income countries by June 2022.Biden had pledged to ship more than 80 million doses overseas by the end of June, but had only been able to share a fraction of that due to logistical and regulatory hurdles in recipient countries.The pace of shipments picked up significantly through July.Under Biden’s sharing plan, about 75% of U.S. doses are shared through COVAX, which aims to help lower- and middle-income nations, with the balance being sent to U.S. partners and allies.The White House insists that nothing is being sought in return for the shots, contrasting its approach to Russia and China, which it alleges have used access to their domestically produced vaccines as a tool of geopolitical leverage.—

🎥  Biden to governors: Get out of the way of vaccine rules 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new eviction moratorium that would last until Oct. 3, as the Biden administration sought to quell intensifying criticism from progressives that it was allowing vulnerable renters to lose their homes during a pandemic.

The ban announced Tuesday could help keep millions in their homes as the coronavirus’ delta variant has spread and states have been slow to release federal rental aid. It would temporarily halt evictions in counties with “substantial and high levels” of virus transmissions and would cover areas where 90% of the U.S. population lives.

The announcement was a reversal for the Biden administration, which allowed an earlier moratorium to lapse over the weekend after saying a Supreme Court ruling prevented an extension. That ripped open a dramatic split between the White House and progressive Democrats who insisted the administration do more to prevent some 3.6 million Americans from losing their homes during the COVID-19 crisis.

Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, Biden said he pushed the CDC to again consider its options. But he still seemed hesitant as to whether the new moratorium could withstand lawsuits about its constitutionality, saying he has sought the opinions of experts as to whether the Supreme Court would approve the measure.

“The bulk of the constitutional scholarship says that it’s not likely to pass constitutional muster,” Biden said. “But there are several key scholars who think that it may and it’s worth the effort.”

The president added that the moratorium — even if it gets challenged in court — “will probably give some additional time” for states and city to release billions of dollars in federal relief to renters.

Politically, the extension could help heal a rift with liberal Democratic lawmakers who were calling on the president to take executive action to keep renters in their homes. The administration had spent the past several days scrambling to reassure Democrats and the country that it could find a way to limit the damage from potential evictions through the use of federal aid.

But pressure mounted as key lawmakers said it was not enough.

Top Democratic leaders joined Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., who has been camped outside the U.S. Capitol for several days. Overnight Monday Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., and others gave her a brief reprieve so she could rest indoors. The freshman congresswoman once lived in her car as a young mother and pointed to that experience to urge the White House to prevent widespread evictions.

As she wiped her eyes before a crowd at the Capitol after the CDC’s announcement, Bush said she was shedding “joyful tears.”

“My God, I don’t believe we did this,” she said. “We just did the work, just by loving folks to keep millions in their homes.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it was a day of “extraordinary relief.”

“The imminent fear of eviction and being put out on the street has been lifted for countless families across America. Help is Here!” Pelosi said in a statement.

Administration officials had previously said a Supreme Court ruling stopped them from setting up a new moratorium without congressional backing. When the court allowed the eviction ban to remain in place through the end of July by a 5-4 vote, one justice in the majority, Brett Kavanaugh, wrote that Congress would have to act to extend it further.

But on Tuesday, the CDC cited the slow pace of state and local governments disbursing housing aid as justification for the new moratorium.

Aside from the moratorium, Biden has insisted that federal money is available — some $47 billion previously approved during the pandemic — that needs to get out the door to help renters and landlords.

The White House has said state and local governments have been slow to push out that federal money and is pressing them to do so swiftly.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen briefed House Democrats Tuesday about the work underway to ensure the federal housing aid makes it to renters and landlords. She provided data so that lawmakers could see how their districts and states are performing with distributing the relief, according to a person on the call.

The treasury secretary tried to encourage Democrats to work together, even as lawmakers said Biden should act on his own to extend the eviction moratorium, according to someone on the private call who insisted on anonymity to discuss its contents.

Yellen said on the call, according to this person, that she agrees “we need to bring every resource to bear” and that she appreciated the Democrats’ efforts and wants “to leave no stone unturned.”

The CDC put the initial eviction ban in place as part of the COVID-19 response when jobs shifted and many workers lost income. The ban was intended to hold back the spread of the virus among people put out on the streets and into shelters, but it also penalized landlords who lost income as a result.

National Apartment Association president and CEO Bob Pinnegar said the organization “has always held the same position -- the eviction moratorium is an unfunded government mandate that forces housing providers to deliver a costly service without compensation and saddles renters with insurmountable debt.”

Democratic lawmakers said they were caught by surprise by Biden’s initial decision to end the moratorium even though the CDC indicated in late June that it probably wouldn’t extend the eviction ban beyond the end of July.

Rep. Maxine Waters, the powerful chair of the Financial Services Committee, has been talking privately for days with Yellen and urged the treasury secretary to use her influence to prod states to push the money out the door. But Waters also called on the CDC to act on its own.

After the CDC’s announcement Tuesday, Waters released a statement thanking Biden “for listening and for encouraging the CDC to act! This extension of the moratorium is the lifeline that millions of families have been waiting for.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628034052731.png" alt="Protesters at the U.S. Capitol as the eviction moratorium expired over the weekend. The new moratorium could help keep millions in their homes as the coronavirus’ delta variant has spread and states have been slow to release federal rental aid.-photo courtesy Sen. Cori Bush" />
 <figcaption>Protesters at the U.S. Capitol as the eviction moratorium expired over the weekend. The new moratorium could help keep millions in their homes as the coronavirus’ delta variant has spread and states have been slow to release federal rental aid.-photo courtesy Sen. Cori Bush</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new eviction moratorium that would last until Oct. 3, as the Biden administration sought to quell intensifying criticism from progressives that it was allowing vulnerable renters to lose their homes during a pandemic.The ban announced Tuesday could help keep millions in their homes as the coronavirus’ delta variant has spread and states have been slow to release federal rental aid. It would temporarily halt evictions in counties with “substantial and high levels” of virus transmissions and would cover areas where 90% of the U.S. population lives.The announcement was a reversal for the Biden administration, which allowed an earlier moratorium to lapse over the weekend after saying a Supreme Court ruling prevented an extension. That ripped open a dramatic split between the White House and progressive Democrats who insisted the administration do more to prevent some 3.6 million Americans from losing their homes during the COVID-19 crisis.Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, Biden said he pushed the CDC to again consider its options. But he still seemed hesitant as to whether the new moratorium could withstand lawsuits about its constitutionality, saying he has sought the opinions of experts as to whether the Supreme Court would approve the measure.“The bulk of the constitutional scholarship says that it’s not likely to pass constitutional muster,” Biden said. “But there are several key scholars who think that it may and it’s worth the effort.”The president added that the moratorium — even if it gets challenged in court — “will probably give some additional time” for states and city to release billions of dollars in federal relief to renters.Politically, the extension could help heal a rift with liberal Democratic lawmakers who were calling on the president to take executive action to keep renters in their homes. The administration had spent the past several days scrambling to reassure Democrats and the country that it could find a way to limit the damage from potential evictions through the use of federal aid.But pressure mounted as key lawmakers said it was not enough.Top Democratic leaders joined Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., who has been camped outside the U.S. Capitol for several days. Overnight Monday Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., and others gave her a brief reprieve so she could rest indoors. The freshman congresswoman once lived in her car as a young mother and pointed to that experience to urge the White House to prevent widespread evictions.As she wiped her eyes before a crowd at the Capitol after the CDC’s announcement, Bush said she was shedding “joyful tears.”“My God, I don’t believe we did this,” she said. “We just did the work, just by loving folks to keep millions in their homes.”House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it was a day of “extraordinary relief.”“The imminent fear of eviction and being put out on the street has been lifted for countless families across America. Help is Here!” Pelosi said in a statement.Administration officials had previously said a Supreme Court ruling stopped them from setting up a new moratorium without congressional backing. When the court allowed the eviction ban to remain in place through the end of July by a 5-4 vote, one justice in the majority, Brett Kavanaugh, wrote that Congress would have to act to extend it further.But on Tuesday, the CDC cited the slow pace of state and local governments disbursing housing aid as justification for the new moratorium.Aside from the moratorium, Biden has insisted that federal money is available — some $47 billion previously approved during the pandemic — that needs to get out the door to help renters and landlords.“The money is there,” Biden said.The White House has said state and local governments have been slow to push out that federal money and is pressing them to do so swiftly.Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen briefed House Democrats Tuesday about the work underway to ensure the federal housing aid makes it to renters and landlords. She provided data so that lawmakers could see how their districts and states are performing with distributing the relief, according to a person on the call.The treasury secretary tried to encourage Democrats to work together, even as lawmakers said Biden should act on his own to extend the eviction moratorium, according to someone on the private call who insisted on anonymity to discuss its contents.Yellen said on the call, according to this person, that she agrees “we need to bring every resource to bear” and that she appreciated the Democrats’ efforts and wants “to leave no stone unturned.”The CDC put the initial eviction ban in place as part of the COVID-19 response when jobs shifted and many workers lost income. The ban was intended to hold back the spread of the virus among people put out on the streets and into shelters, but it also penalized landlords who lost income as a result.National Apartment Association president and CEO Bob Pinnegar said the organization “has always held the same position -- the eviction moratorium is an unfunded government mandate that forces housing providers to deliver a costly service without compensation and saddles renters with insurmountable debt.”Democratic lawmakers said they were caught by surprise by Biden’s initial decision to end the moratorium even though the CDC indicated in late June that it probably wouldn’t extend the eviction ban beyond the end of July.Rep. Maxine Waters, the powerful chair of the Financial Services Committee, has been talking privately for days with Yellen and urged the treasury secretary to use her influence to prod states to push the money out the door. But Waters also called on the CDC to act on its own.After the CDC’s announcement Tuesday, Waters released a statement thanking Biden “for listening and for encouraging the CDC to act! This extension of the moratorium is the lifeline that millions of families have been waiting for.”___

Eviction ban: CDC issues new moratorium 

Zoom will pay $85 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that weak privacy controls opened too many peepholes into the personal information of users and that it was too easy for outsiders to disrupt video meetings during the early stages of the pandemic.

The proposed agreement must still be approved by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh. A hearing on the settlement is scheduled for Oct. 21 in San Jose, California.

Millions of people in the U.S. who have used Zoom since March 31, 2020 could be eligible for a slice of the settlement that was reached over the weekend. The payment amounts are expected to average $34 or $35 for those who subscribed to Zoom’s paid version, and $11 or $12 for the overwhelming majority who used the free version, based on estimates in court documents.

Zoom was bedeviled by security issues early last year after stay-at-home orders transformed the company’s videoconferencing service from a niche product into a cultural phenomenon. Almost overnight it became the go-to venue for business meetings, schools, social gatherings and, in a deadly global pandemic, funerals.

The lawsuit alleged that the Silicon Valley company violated the trust of millions of people by sharing the personal information of users with platforms like Facebook, Google and Microsoft-owned LinkedIn. The case, which consolidated 14 different lawsuits filed since March 2020, also targeted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-ca-state-wire-telecommunications-virus-outbreak-94f4446acae487e1eb7cc85e2c176908">the disruptive practice of “Zoombombing”</a>&nbsp;— a term coined to describe hackers who broke into videoconferencing meetings being held by others.

The company in a prepared statement Monday said that it acted quickly to tighten security after reports of Zoombombing began to surface.

“We are proud of the advancements we have made to our platform, and look forward to continuing to innovate with privacy and security at the forefront,” Zoom said Monday. The company didn’t acknowledged any wrongdoing in the settlement.

Security concerns did not prevent Zoom from permeating the daily lives of millions during the pandemic.

The Zoom’s annual revenue quadrupled last year to nearly $2.7 billion and it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-technology-business-8e6c5201e09a9467e1b6750629be81b0">ended April&nbsp;</a>with 497,000 customers that employed at least 10 workers and subscribed to the premium version of its service, up from 81,900 customers before the pandemic hit the U.S. Its stock price has tripled and traded close to $380 Monday.

The lawyers that pursued the case are seeking $21.25 million, or 25% of the $85 million settlement fund.

Zoom will pay $85 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that weak privacy controls opened too many peepholes into the personal information of users and that it was too easy for outsiders to disrupt video meetings during the early stages of the pandemic.The proposed agreement must still be approved by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh. A hearing on the settlement is scheduled for Oct. 21 in San Jose, California.Millions of people in the U.S. who have used Zoom since March 31, 2020 could be eligible for a slice of the settlement that was reached over the weekend. The payment amounts are expected to average $34 or $35 for those who subscribed to Zoom’s paid version, and $11 or $12 for the overwhelming majority who used the free version, based on estimates in court documents.Zoom was bedeviled by security issues early last year after stay-at-home orders transformed the company’s videoconferencing service from a niche product into a cultural phenomenon. Almost overnight it became the go-to venue for business meetings, schools, social gatherings and, in a deadly global pandemic, funerals.The lawsuit alleged that the Silicon Valley company violated the trust of millions of people by sharing the personal information of users with platforms like Facebook, Google and Microsoft-owned LinkedIn. The case, which consolidated 14 different lawsuits filed since March 2020, also targeted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-ca-state-wire-telecommunications-virus-outbreak-94f4446acae487e1eb7cc85e2c176908">the disruptive practice of “Zoombombing”</a>&nbsp;— a term coined to describe hackers who broke into videoconferencing meetings being held by others.The company in a prepared statement Monday said that it acted quickly to tighten security after reports of Zoombombing began to surface.“We are proud of the advancements we have made to our platform, and look forward to continuing to innovate with privacy and security at the forefront,” Zoom said Monday. The company didn’t acknowledged any wrongdoing in the settlement.Security concerns did not prevent Zoom from permeating the daily lives of millions during the pandemic.The Zoom’s annual revenue quadrupled last year to nearly $2.7 billion and it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-technology-business-8e6c5201e09a9467e1b6750629be81b0">ended April&nbsp;</a>with 497,000 customers that employed at least 10 workers and subscribed to the premium version of its service, up from 81,900 customers before the pandemic hit the U.S. Its stock price has tripled and traded close to $380 Monday.The lawyers that pursued the case are seeking $21.25 million, or 25% of the $85 million settlement fund.

Zoom to pay $85M for privacy miscues at start of pandemic

LINDSEY, Neb. (AP) — Officials in northeastern Nebraska say a man has been killed at a poultry operation near the village of Lindsay. 

The Madison County Sheriff's Department says it was called Monday to an address for a report of a man being crushed, and deputies arrived to find 23-year-old Bairon Neftali Carreto Perez, of Columbus, gravely injured. 

Carreto Perez was rushed to a Norfolk hospital, where he died.

 Sheriff's officials say an investigation showed Carreto Perez had been helping with the transport of large crates of live chickens, which were being moved using a forklift when the crates became dislodged. 

Officials say Carreto Perez stepped between the crates and the forklift when the crates slipped further, crushing him against the forklift.

LINDSEY, Neb. (AP) — Officials in northeastern Nebraska say a man has been killed at a poultry operation near the village of Lindsay. The Madison County Sheriff's Department says it was called Monday to an address for a report of a man being crushed, and deputies arrived to find 23-year-old Bairon Neftali Carreto Perez, of Columbus, gravely injured. Carreto Perez was rushed to a Norfolk hospital, where he died. Sheriff's officials say an investigation showed Carreto Perez had been helping with the transport of large crates of live chickens, which were being moved using a forklift when the crates became dislodged. Officials say Carreto Perez stepped between the crates and the forklift when the crates slipped further, crushing him against the forklift.

Worker crushed to death in Nebraska workplace accident

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration will announce a new 60-day eviction moratorium that would protect areas where 90% of the U.S. population lives, according to three people familiar with the plans who insisted on anonymity to discuss the forthcoming announcement.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified a legal authority for a new and different moratorium that would be for areas with high and substantial increases in COVID-19 infections.

The extension helps to heal a rift with liberal Democratic lawmakers who were calling on executive action to keep renters in their homes as the delta variant of the coronavirus spread and a prior moratorium lapsed at the end of July. Administration officials had previously said a Supreme Court ruling stopped them from setting up a new moratorium without congressional backing, saying that states and cities must be more aggressive in releasing nearly $47 billion in relief for renters on the verge of eviction.

The new policy came amid a scramble of actions by the Biden team to reassure Democrats and the country that it could find a way to halt potential evictions.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen briefed House Democrats Tuesday on the administration’s efforts to prevent widespread&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-eviction-moratorium-coronavirus-da0e4cc8014b6c8a658dd1572707364f">housing evictions after a moratorium lapsed</a>, but lawmakers protesting outside the U.S. Capitol said more needs to be done, intensifying pressure on President Joe Biden to act.

Yellen told Democrats on a private call about the work underway to ensure some $47 billion in federal housing aid approved during the COVID-19 crisis makes it to renters and landlords. She provided data so that lawmakers could see how their districts and states are performing with distributing the relief, according to a person on the call.

The White House has said state and local governments have been slow to push out that federal money and is pressing them to do so swiftly after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-us-supreme-court-3065b165b8110c4238c698af8bcb8a42">eviction moratorium expired over the weekend</a>.

The treasury secretary tried to encourage Democrats to work together, even as lawmakers have said Biden should act on his own to extend the eviction moratorium, according to someone on the private call who insisted on anonymity to discuss its contents.

But progressive lawmakers, who have been camped for days outside the Capitol with dozens of supporters, are trying to pressure the administration to put the moratorium back in place.

“What we need is for the White House to actually do, to do the thing — and they need to actually extend the moratorium,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said at the Capitol.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627590471007.png" alt="The White House has said state and local governments have been slow to push out that federal money and is pressing them to do so swiftly after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-us-supreme-court-3065b165b8110c4238c698af8bcb8a42">eviction moratorium expired over the weekend</a>." />
 <figcaption>The White House has said state and local governments have been slow to push out that federal money and is pressing them to do so swiftly after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-us-supreme-court-3065b165b8110c4238c698af8bcb8a42">eviction moratorium expired over the weekend</a>.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration will announce a new 60-day eviction moratorium that would protect areas where 90% of the U.S. population lives, according to three people familiar with the plans who insisted on anonymity to discuss the forthcoming announcement.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified a legal authority for a new and different moratorium that would be for areas with high and substantial increases in COVID-19 infections.The extension helps to heal a rift with liberal Democratic lawmakers who were calling on executive action to keep renters in their homes as the delta variant of the coronavirus spread and a prior moratorium lapsed at the end of July. Administration officials had previously said a Supreme Court ruling stopped them from setting up a new moratorium without congressional backing, saying that states and cities must be more aggressive in releasing nearly $47 billion in relief for renters on the verge of eviction.The new policy came amid a scramble of actions by the Biden team to reassure Democrats and the country that it could find a way to halt potential evictions.Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen briefed House Democrats Tuesday on the administration’s efforts to prevent widespread&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-eviction-moratorium-coronavirus-da0e4cc8014b6c8a658dd1572707364f">housing evictions after a moratorium lapsed</a>, but lawmakers protesting outside the U.S. Capitol said more needs to be done, intensifying pressure on President Joe Biden to act.Yellen told Democrats on a private call about the work underway to ensure some $47 billion in federal housing aid approved during the COVID-19 crisis makes it to renters and landlords. She provided data so that lawmakers could see how their districts and states are performing with distributing the relief, according to a person on the call.The White House has said state and local governments have been slow to push out that federal money and is pressing them to do so swiftly after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-us-supreme-court-3065b165b8110c4238c698af8bcb8a42">eviction moratorium expired over the weekend</a>.The treasury secretary tried to encourage Democrats to work together, even as lawmakers have said Biden should act on his own to extend the eviction moratorium, according to someone on the private call who insisted on anonymity to discuss its contents.Yellen said on the call, according to this person, that she agrees “we need to bring every resource to bear” and that she appreciated the Democrats’ efforts and wants “to leave no stone unturned.”But progressive lawmakers, who have been camped for days outside the Capitol with dozens of supporters, are trying to pressure the administration to put the moratorium back in place.“What we need is for the White House to actually do, to do the thing — and they need to actually extend the moratorium,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said at the Capitol.

Biden to set new eviction ban due to COVID spread

SPRINGDALE, ARK.— Tyson Foods is requiring its team members at U.S. office locations to be fully vaccinated by October 1, 2021. All other team members are required to be fully vaccinated by November 1, 2021, subject to ongoing discussions with locations represented by unions, according to a media release from the company.&nbsp;

Exceptions to the vaccination mandate will involve workers who seek medical or religious accommodation.

"Once fully vaccinated, and verified in the Vaccination Verification Program, employees will receive $200 as thank you for doing your part to keep us all safe, subject to ongoing discussions with our unions," <a href="https://thefeed.blog/2021/08/03/our-next-step-in-the-fight-against-the-pandemic/">according to a memo to team members</a> from President and CEO Donnie King.

This action makes Tyson Foods the largest U.S. food company to require COVID-19 vaccinations for its entire workforce. Almost half of Tyson Foods’ U.S. workforce has been vaccinated and coronavirus infection rates among team members remain low.

“Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the single most effective thing we can do to protect our team members, their families and their communities,” said Dr. Claudia Coplein, Chief Medical Officer, Tyson Foods. “With rapidly rising COVID-19 case counts of contagious, dangerous variants leading to increasing rates of severe illness and hospitalization among the U.S. unvaccinated population, this is the right time to take the next step to ensure a fully vaccinated workforce.”

Since February, Tyson Foods has hosted more than 100 vaccination events for team members across the country and more than 56,000 U.S. team members have been vaccinated so far. Additional onsite vaccination events will be scheduled, and the company will continue to collaborate with local health departments and healthcare providers to make the vaccine more accessible. &nbsp;

In addition to the $200, the company will compensate workers for up to four hours of regular pay if they are vaccinated outside of their normal shift or through an external source. &nbsp;

To date, Tyson Foods has spent more than $700 million related to COVID-19, including on efforts to combat its spread, such as buying masks, face shields and temperature scanners, installing protective barriers and providing on-site testing and vaccinations. It also partnered with an independent medical provider to bring medical services on site, hired an additional 200 nurses and its first Chief Medical Officer. In addition, Tyson Foods has invested countless hours educating our team members, in dozens of languages, about the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618924071042.png" alt="Since February, Tyson Foods has hosted more than 100 vaccination events for team members across the country, according to a media release from the company -Photo courtesy Tyson Foods" />
 <figcaption>Since February, Tyson Foods has hosted more than 100 vaccination events for team members across the country, according to a media release from the company -Photo courtesy Tyson Foods</figcaption>
 </figure>SPRINGDALE, ARK.— Tyson Foods is requiring its team members at U.S. office locations to be fully vaccinated by October 1, 2021. All other team members are required to be fully vaccinated by November 1, 2021, subject to ongoing discussions with locations represented by unions, according to a media release from the company.&nbsp;Exceptions to the vaccination mandate will involve workers who seek medical or religious accommodation."Once fully vaccinated, and verified in the Vaccination Verification Program, employees will receive $200 as thank you for doing your part to keep us all safe, subject to ongoing discussions with our unions," <a href="https://thefeed.blog/2021/08/03/our-next-step-in-the-fight-against-the-pandemic/">according to a memo to team members</a> from President and CEO Donnie King.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593167451853.png" alt="Photo courtesy Tyson Foods" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Tyson Foods</figcaption>
 </figure>This action makes Tyson Foods the largest U.S. food company to require COVID-19 vaccinations for its entire workforce. Almost half of Tyson Foods’ U.S. workforce has been vaccinated and coronavirus infection rates among team members remain low.“Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the single most effective thing we can do to protect our team members, their families and their communities,” said Dr. Claudia Coplein, Chief Medical Officer, Tyson Foods. “With rapidly rising COVID-19 case counts of contagious, dangerous variants leading to increasing rates of severe illness and hospitalization among the U.S. unvaccinated population, this is the right time to take the next step to ensure a fully vaccinated workforce.”Since February, Tyson Foods has hosted more than 100 vaccination events for team members across the country and more than 56,000 U.S. team members have been vaccinated so far. Additional onsite vaccination events will be scheduled, and the company will continue to collaborate with local health departments and healthcare providers to make the vaccine more accessible. &nbsp;In addition to the $200, the company will compensate workers for up to four hours of regular pay if they are vaccinated outside of their normal shift or through an external source. &nbsp;To date, Tyson Foods has spent more than $700 million related to COVID-19, including on efforts to combat its spread, such as buying masks, face shields and temperature scanners, installing protective barriers and providing on-site testing and vaccinations. It also partnered with an independent medical provider to bring medical services on site, hired an additional 200 nurses and its first Chief Medical Officer. In addition, Tyson Foods has invested countless hours educating our team members, in dozens of languages, about the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination.

Vaccine Mandate: Tyson workers get $200 to take COVID shot

WASHINGTON
 — Internal Revenue Service Security Summit partners today outlined for 
tax professionals how they can assist clients who were victims of 
unemployment compensation fraud schemes that targeted state workforce 
agencies in 2020 and 2021.

The IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry – working together as the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>
 – reported that unemployment compensation fraud was one of the more 
common identity theft schemes that emerged in 2020 as criminals 
exploited the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic impact.

Addressing unemployment compensation fraud is the third in a 
five-part series sponsored by the Summit partners to highlight critical 
steps tax professionals can take to protect client data. This year's 
theme "<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/boost-security-immunity-fight-against-identity-theft">Boost Security Immunity: Fight&nbsp;Against Identity Theft</a>,"
 is an effort to urge tax professionals to try harder to secure their 
systems and protect client data during the pandemic and its aftermath.

"Identity thieves always look for opportunities, and the unemployment
 surge presented a new opportunity to exploit the pain and financial 
hardships faced by Americans," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "This
 particular scam is especially egregious because 23 million Americans 
were jobless or underemployed last year and desperately needed these 
benefits."

The U.S. Department of Labor's Inspector General estimated 
approximately $89 billion in unemployment compensation was lost in 2020 
due to fraud.

Unemployment compensation is taxable income on federal taxes, 
although Congress waived the tax for 2020 for many people. States report
 compensation to the individual and to the IRS by using the Form 1099-G.
 Because of fraud and identity theft, many taxpayers received Forms 
1099-G for compensation they did not receive. Some taxpayers received 
forms from multiple states.

This scam could affect 2021 returns next year as well as 2020 returns
 this year. Here are a few steps tax professionals should take to assist
 clients who are victims of the unemployment compensation fraud scheme:

Although unemployment compensation is taxable, the American 
Rescue Plan Act of 2021 allows an exclusion of unemployment compensation
 of up to $10,200 for individuals for taxable year 2020. In the case of 
married individuals filing a joint Form 1040 or 1040-SR, this exclusion 
is up to $10,200 per spouse.

To qualify for this exclusion, adjusted gross income (AGI) must be 
less than $150,000. This threshold applies to all filing statuses.

The exclusion may ease the burden on many fraud victims. However, 
victims who received Forms 1099-G from multiple states may have fraud 
claims that exceed that exclusion amount. Clients should retain any 
records of fraud reports to states.

Tax professionals can also get help with security recommendations by reviewing the recently revised IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4557.pdf">Publication 4557, Safeguarding Taxpayer Data&nbsp;PDF</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ir/2016/NIST.IR.7621r1.pdf">Small Business Information Security: The Fundamentals&nbsp;PDF</a>&nbsp;by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central">Identity Theft Central</a> pages for tax pros, individuals and businesses have important details as well.

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5293.pdf">Publication 5293, Data Security Resource Guide for Tax Professionals&nbsp;PDF</a>,
 provides a compilation of data theft information available on IRS.gov. 
Also, tax professionals should stay connected to the IRS through 
subscriptions to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/join-e-news-for-tax-professionals">e-News for Tax Professionals</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-new-media-1">Social Media</a>.

For more information, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/boost-security-immunity-fight-against-identity-theft">Boost Security Immunity: Fight Against Identity Theft</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON
 — Internal Revenue Service Security Summit partners today outlined for 
tax professionals how they can assist clients who were victims of 
unemployment compensation fraud schemes that targeted state workforce 
agencies in 2020 and 2021.The IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry – working together as the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>
 – reported that unemployment compensation fraud was one of the more 
common identity theft schemes that emerged in 2020 as criminals 
exploited the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic impact.Addressing unemployment compensation fraud is the third in a 
five-part series sponsored by the Summit partners to highlight critical 
steps tax professionals can take to protect client data. This year's 
theme "<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/boost-security-immunity-fight-against-identity-theft">Boost Security Immunity: Fight&nbsp;Against Identity Theft</a>,"
 is an effort to urge tax professionals to try harder to secure their 
systems and protect client data during the pandemic and its aftermath."Identity thieves always look for opportunities, and the unemployment
 surge presented a new opportunity to exploit the pain and financial 
hardships faced by Americans," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "This
 particular scam is especially egregious because 23 million Americans 
were jobless or underemployed last year and desperately needed these 
benefits."The U.S. Department of Labor's Inspector General estimated 
approximately $89 billion in unemployment compensation was lost in 2020 
due to fraud.Unemployment compensation is taxable income on federal taxes, 
although Congress waived the tax for 2020 for many people. States report
 compensation to the individual and to the IRS by using the Form 1099-G.
 Because of fraud and identity theft, many taxpayers received Forms 
1099-G for compensation they did not receive. Some taxpayers received 
forms from multiple states.This scam could affect 2021 returns next year as well as 2020 returns
 this year. Here are a few steps tax professionals should take to assist
 clients who are victims of the unemployment compensation fraud scheme:<ol>
 <li>File a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f14039.pdf">Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit&nbsp;PDF</a>,
 only if an e-filed tax return rejects because the client's Social 
Security number has already been used. Do not file the IRS Form 14039 to
 report unemployment compensation fraud to the IRS.</li><li>Report the fraud to state workforce agencies, and request a 
corrected Form 1099-G. Each state has its own process for reporting 
unemployment compensation fraud. The U.S. Department of Labor has 
created an information page with all state contacts and other 
information at <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/UIIDtheft">DOL.gov/fraud</a>.</li><li>File a tax return reporting only the actual income received. State 
workforce agencies may not be able to timely issue a corrected Form 
1099-G. Even if the client has not received a corrected Form 1099-G, 
report only wages and income received and exclude any fraudulent claims.</li><li>Consider an IRS Identity Protection PIN. Clients receiving Forms 
1099-G are identity theft victims whose personal information could be 
used for additional criminal activities, such as filing fraudulent tax 
returns. All taxpayers who can verify their identities can now obtain an
 Identity Protection PIN to protect their SSNs. Read more about IP PINs 
at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/ippin">IRS.gov/ippin</a>.</li><li>Follow Federal Trade Commission recommendations for identity theft 
victims. Taxpayers should consider steps to protect their credit and 
other actions outlined by the FTC. The DOL also includes this 
information on its <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/UIIDtheft">DOL.gov/fraud</a> page.</li><li>Finally, tax professionals' business clients can also assist in 
fighting unemployment compensation fraud by responding quickly to state 
notices about employees filing jobless claims, especially when it has no
 record of those employees.</li>
 </ol>Although unemployment compensation is taxable, the American 
Rescue Plan Act of 2021 allows an exclusion of unemployment compensation
 of up to $10,200 for individuals for taxable year 2020. In the case of 
married individuals filing a joint Form 1040 or 1040-SR, this exclusion 
is up to $10,200 per spouse.To qualify for this exclusion, adjusted gross income (AGI) must be 
less than $150,000. This threshold applies to all filing statuses.The exclusion may ease the burden on many fraud victims. However, 
victims who received Forms 1099-G from multiple states may have fraud 
claims that exceed that exclusion amount. Clients should retain any 
records of fraud reports to states.<h2>Additional resources</h2>Tax professionals can also get help with security recommendations by reviewing the recently revised IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4557.pdf">Publication 4557, Safeguarding Taxpayer Data&nbsp;PDF</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ir/2016/NIST.IR.7621r1.pdf">Small Business Information Security: The Fundamentals&nbsp;PDF</a>&nbsp;by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central">Identity Theft Central</a> pages for tax pros, individuals and businesses have important details as well.<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5293.pdf">Publication 5293, Data Security Resource Guide for Tax Professionals&nbsp;PDF</a>,
 provides a compilation of data theft information available on IRS.gov. 
Also, tax professionals should stay connected to the IRS through 
subscriptions to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/join-e-news-for-tax-professionals">e-News for Tax Professionals</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-new-media-1">Social Media</a>.For more information, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/boost-security-immunity-fight-against-identity-theft">Boost Security Immunity: Fight Against Identity Theft</a>.

How tax professionals can help battle identity fraud related to unemployment

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A Florida woman is facing multiple charges after police say they took her off a plane at the Rapid City Regional Airport for exposing herself and becoming unruly.

 According to police, an officer at the airport was notified Friday night of a disruptive passenger who was exposing herself to others on the plane.

 The officer told the 41-year-old Daytona Beach Shores woman he would escort her off the plane. 

Police say when she pulled away and kicked the officer, additional officers arrived to take her out of the airport. 

She is facing charges of disorderly conduct, indecent exposure, assaulting a law enforcement officer and unlawful occupancy.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A Florida woman is facing multiple charges after police say they took her off a plane at the Rapid City Regional Airport for exposing herself and becoming unruly. According to police, an officer at the airport was notified Friday night of a disruptive passenger who was exposing herself to others on the plane. The officer told the 41-year-old Daytona Beach Shores woman he would escort her off the plane. Police say when she pulled away and kicked the officer, additional officers arrived to take her out of the airport. She is facing charges of disorderly conduct, indecent exposure, assaulting a law enforcement officer and unlawful occupancy.

Unruly air passenger from Florida facing multiple charges

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A federal appeals court ruled Monday that Indiana University can proceed with its plan to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indiana-coronavirus-pandemic-education-health-government-and-politics-3dedd425b3f240acab2746bb7fcf41a6">require students and employees to get vaccinated for COVID-19,</a>&nbsp;in what is the highest court decision regarding college immunization mandates.

The Chicago-based appeals court upheld an Indiana district court judge’s ruling that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-government-and-politics-education-indiana-coronavirus-pandemic-39f985eeca76c23ad5b47f856ef034dc">found that the university was acting reasonably</a>&nbsp;“in pursuing public health and safety for its campus communities.”

Both courts rejected a request by eight IU students who sought to block the requirement while they challenge its legality, claiming that it would violate their constitutional rights by forcing them to receive unwanted medical treatment.

The policy makes vaccination a condition of attending the university, and students who don’t want to get vaccinated can also seek “ample educational opportunities” elsewhere, according to the appeals court ruling. Still, the vaccination policy allows exemptions on religious and medical grounds, which the court said provides constitutional accommodations for those who qualify.

“Once again, the court has affirmed our legitimate public health interest in assuring the safety of our students, faculty and staff and we are excited to welcome our community back for the fall semester,” the university said in a statement Monday.

James Bopp, a lawyer for the plaintiffs who takes on conservative political causes, said he would ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the rulings, which legal experts say are the first from federal courts regarding college immunization mandates. Similar lawsuits against student vaccine requirements at the University of Connecticut and the California State University system are awaiting action.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-colleges-divided-student-coronavirus-vaccination-8c46ab65afc4538cb060c320ed94fc54">College officials across the country</a>&nbsp;have struggled with whether they have the authority to require student vaccinations, which some see as key to returning campus to in-person classes and other normal activities.

Bopp argues that such vaccine requirements violate their rights to “bodily autonomy” and that the COVID-19 vaccines differ from other immunizations frequently required for college students, such as for measles and meningitis, because of their newness and the lower risks that younger adults have of suffering from severe bouts of COVID-19.

The lawsuit was filed after IU officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/in-state-wire-indiana-university-indiana-coronavirus-pandemic-education-d3f4a9d9cf8285e0377839c67be9bf92">announced in May</a>&nbsp;that the school would require its roughly 90,000 students and 40,000 employees on its seven campuses to receive COVID-19 vaccinations for the fall semester. Students who don’t comply will have their registration canceled and workers who don’t will lose their jobs.

IU initially was going to require students and employees to provide immunization documentation. That sparked a backlash from Republican state lawmakers and the state attorney general, leading university officials to make&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indiana-coronavirus-pandemic-education-health-government-and-politics-3dedd425b3f240acab2746bb7fcf41a6">providing proof of vaccination optional</a>&nbsp;and allow students and employees to simply attest to their vaccination in an online form.

The university is allowing religious and medical exemptions, but school spokesman Chuck Carney said more than 80% of students have reported receiving at least one dose.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A federal appeals court ruled Monday that Indiana University can proceed with its plan to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indiana-coronavirus-pandemic-education-health-government-and-politics-3dedd425b3f240acab2746bb7fcf41a6">require students and employees to get vaccinated for COVID-19,</a>&nbsp;in what is the highest court decision regarding college immunization mandates.The Chicago-based appeals court upheld an Indiana district court judge’s ruling that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-government-and-politics-education-indiana-coronavirus-pandemic-39f985eeca76c23ad5b47f856ef034dc">found that the university was acting reasonably</a>&nbsp;“in pursuing public health and safety for its campus communities.”Both courts rejected a request by eight IU students who sought to block the requirement while they challenge its legality, claiming that it would violate their constitutional rights by forcing them to receive unwanted medical treatment.The policy makes vaccination a condition of attending the university, and students who don’t want to get vaccinated can also seek “ample educational opportunities” elsewhere, according to the appeals court ruling. Still, the vaccination policy allows exemptions on religious and medical grounds, which the court said provides constitutional accommodations for those who qualify.“Once again, the court has affirmed our legitimate public health interest in assuring the safety of our students, faculty and staff and we are excited to welcome our community back for the fall semester,” the university said in a statement Monday.James Bopp, a lawyer for the plaintiffs who takes on conservative political causes, said he would ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the rulings, which legal experts say are the first from federal courts regarding college immunization mandates. Similar lawsuits against student vaccine requirements at the University of Connecticut and the California State University system are awaiting action.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-colleges-divided-student-coronavirus-vaccination-8c46ab65afc4538cb060c320ed94fc54">College officials across the country</a>&nbsp;have struggled with whether they have the authority to require student vaccinations, which some see as key to returning campus to in-person classes and other normal activities.Bopp argues that such vaccine requirements violate their rights to “bodily autonomy” and that the COVID-19 vaccines differ from other immunizations frequently required for college students, such as for measles and meningitis, because of their newness and the lower risks that younger adults have of suffering from severe bouts of COVID-19.The lawsuit was filed after IU officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/in-state-wire-indiana-university-indiana-coronavirus-pandemic-education-d3f4a9d9cf8285e0377839c67be9bf92">announced in May</a>&nbsp;that the school would require its roughly 90,000 students and 40,000 employees on its seven campuses to receive COVID-19 vaccinations for the fall semester. Students who don’t comply will have their registration canceled and workers who don’t will lose their jobs.IU initially was going to require students and employees to provide immunization documentation. That sparked a backlash from Republican state lawmakers and the state attorney general, leading university officials to make&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indiana-coronavirus-pandemic-education-health-government-and-politics-3dedd425b3f240acab2746bb7fcf41a6">providing proof of vaccination optional</a>&nbsp;and allow students and employees to simply attest to their vaccination in an online form.The university is allowing religious and medical exemptions, but school spokesman Chuck Carney said more than 80% of students have reported receiving at least one dose.___

Appeals court upholds university’s vaccine mandate

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police in Omaha say a driver was killed when his car pulled out in front of a sport utility vehicle at one of city's busiest intersections during rush-hour traffic. 

Police say the crash happened around 5:30 p.m. Monday at 72nd and Cass streets, when a southbound sedan on 72nd Street turned left in front of a northbound SUV. 

The collision caused the sedan to spin and crash into another SUV. Police say the car's driver was taken to a hospital, where he died. 

Police did not immediately release the name of the man killed.

 Investigators say he was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police in Omaha say a driver was killed when his car pulled out in front of a sport utility vehicle at one of city's busiest intersections during rush-hour traffic. Police say the crash happened around 5:30 p.m. Monday at 72nd and Cass streets, when a southbound sedan on 72nd Street turned left in front of a northbound SUV. The collision caused the sedan to spin and crash into another SUV. Police say the car's driver was taken to a hospital, where he died. Police did not immediately release the name of the man killed. Investigators say he was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

Driver killed in crash at busy Omaha city intersection

The
 FTC is sending checks totaling more than $1.5 million to more than 
3,000 consumers who were deceived into buying worthless Internet-based 
marketing products and services by two companies called Position Gurus, 
LLC, and Top Shelf Ecommerce, LLC.

<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/federal.trade.commission#!/vizhome/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase"></a> According to the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/position_gurus_complaint.pdf">FTC’s May 2020 complaint,</a>
 the companies and their owners targeted consumers looking to start 
retail businesses on the Internet. The complaint alleged that the 
defendants falsely represented that their services would drive more 
customers to consumers’ new online stores and drastically increase sales
 and earnings.

The defendants also falsely claimed to be associated with unrelated 
coaching companies that consumers had prior dealings with; collected 
consumers’ personal financial information under false pretenses; and 
illegally restricted consumers’ ability to review or complain about the 
defendants’ products, services, or conduct, the FTC alleged.

JND Legal Administration, the refund administrator for this case, 
will mail checks today. The checks average over $511 each. People who 
receive checks should deposit or cash them within 90 days, as indicated 
on the check. Recipients who have questions about their checks can call 
the refund administrator at 1-888-906-0551. The FTC never requires 
people to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund 
check.

The FTC’s <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/federal.trade.commission#!/vizhome/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase">interactive dashboards for refund data(link is external)</a>
 provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds. In 2020, FTC actions
 led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers across the 
country, but recently the United States Supreme Court ruled the FTC 
lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief in federal 
court going forward. The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a> to restore the FTC’s ability to get money back for consumers.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">protect and educate consumers</a>. You can <a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/">learn more about consumer topics</a> and report scams, fraud, and bad business practices online at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Like the FTC on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/federaltradecommission">Facebook(link is external)</a>, follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/FTC">Twitter(link is external)</a>, get <a href="http://ftc.gov/subscribe">consumer alerts</a>, read our <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>, and <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a> for the latest FTC news and resources.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe
 FTC is sending checks totaling more than $1.5 million to more than 
3,000 consumers who were deceived into buying worthless Internet-based 
marketing products and services by two companies called Position Gurus, 
LLC, and Top Shelf Ecommerce, LLC.<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/federal.trade.commission#!/vizhome/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase"></a> According to the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/position_gurus_complaint.pdf">FTC’s May 2020 complaint,</a>
 the companies and their owners targeted consumers looking to start 
retail businesses on the Internet. The complaint alleged that the 
defendants falsely represented that their services would drive more 
customers to consumers’ new online stores and drastically increase sales
 and earnings.The defendants also falsely claimed to be associated with unrelated 
coaching companies that consumers had prior dealings with; collected 
consumers’ personal financial information under false pretenses; and 
illegally restricted consumers’ ability to review or complain about the 
defendants’ products, services, or conduct, the FTC alleged.JND Legal Administration, the refund administrator for this case, 
will mail checks today. The checks average over $511 each. People who 
receive checks should deposit or cash them within 90 days, as indicated 
on the check. Recipients who have questions about their checks can call 
the refund administrator at 1-888-906-0551. The FTC never requires 
people to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund 
check.The FTC’s <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/federal.trade.commission#!/vizhome/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase">interactive dashboards for refund data(link is external)</a>
 provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds. In 2020, FTC actions
 led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers across the 
country, but recently the United States Supreme Court ruled the FTC 
lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief in federal 
court going forward. The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a> to restore the FTC’s ability to get money back for consumers.The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">protect and educate consumers</a>. You can <a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/">learn more about consumer topics</a> and report scams, fraud, and bad business practices online at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Like the FTC on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/federaltradecommission">Facebook(link is external)</a>, follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/FTC">Twitter(link is external)</a>, get <a href="http://ftc.gov/subscribe">consumer alerts</a>, read our <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>, and <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a> for the latest FTC news and resources.

FTC sending $1.5M to those defrauded by worthless online scams

(AP)-PepsiCo will sell Tropicana and other juices to a private equity firm in exchange for pretax proceeds of $3.3 billion. 

PepsiCo will have a 39% non-controlling stake in a newly formed joint venture in the deal with PAI Partners. 

Juice sales began to decline significantly in the early 2000s when low-carb diets grew in popularity, and that trend has continued with more families choosing instead to buy waters or other no- or low-calorie drinks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1627993776983.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>(AP)-PepsiCo will sell Tropicana and other juices to a private equity firm in exchange for pretax proceeds of $3.3 billion. PepsiCo will have a 39% non-controlling stake in a newly formed joint venture in the deal with PAI Partners. Juice sales began to decline significantly in the early 2000s when low-carb diets grew in popularity, and that trend has continued with more families choosing instead to buy waters or other no- or low-calorie drinks.

PepsiCo to sell Tropicana, other juices, in $3.3B deal

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The eviction system, which saw a dramatic drop in cases before a federal moratorium expired over the weekend, rumbled back into action Monday, with activists girding for the first of what could be millions of tenants to be tossed onto the streets as the delta variant of the coronavirus surges.

Landlords tired of waiting for federal rental assistance were in court hoping to evict their tenants, while families from Ohio to Virginia turned up before judges hoping for a last-minute reprieve. In Detroit, at least 600 tenants with court orders against them were at immediate risk.

“It’s very scary with the moratorium being over,” said Ted Phillips, a lawyer who leads the United Community Housing Coalition in Detroit.

The Biden administration allowed the federal moratorium to expire over the weekend and Congress was unable to extend it. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for an immediate extension, calling it a “moral imperative” to prevent Americans from being put out of their homes during a COVID-19 surge.

The Biden administration had hoped that historic amounts of rental assistance allocated by Congress would help avert a crisis. But the distribution has been painfully slow: Only about $3 billion of the first tranche of $25 billion had been distributed through June by states and localities. A second amount of $21.5 billion will go to the states.

More than 15 million people live in households that owe as much as $20 billion to their landlords, according to the Aspen Institute. 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.

In Rhode Island on Monday, Gabe Imondi, a 74-year-old landlord, was in court hoping to get an eviction execution — the final step to push a tenant out of one of four housing units he owns in nearby Pawtucket.

Imondi said he and his tenant both filed forms for the billions in federal aid meant to help keep tenants in their homes but so far, he said, he hasn’t seen a cent of the state’s $200 million share.

A retired general contractor, Imondi estimates he’s out around $20,000 in lost rent since September, when he began seeking to evict his tenant for non-payment. The eviction was approved in January.

“I don’t know what they’re doing with that money,” Imondi said.

Meanwhile, Luis Vertentes was told by a judge he had three weeks to clear out of his one-bedroom apartment in nearby East Providence. The 43-year-old landscaper said he was four months behind on rent after being hospitalized for a time.

“I’m going to be homeless, all because of this pandemic,” Vertentes said. “I feel helpless, like I can’t do anything even though I work and I got a full-time job.”

Outside the courtroom, Katie Barrington, a case manager with Crossroads Rhode Island, a nonprofit housing and homeless agency, signed him up with a housing counsellor to help him secure a new home and enrolled him for federal rental assistance.

In Columbus, Ohio, Chelsea Rivera showed up at Franklin County court Monday after receiving an eviction notice last month. A single mom, she’s behind $2,988 in rent and late fees for the one bed-room apartment she rents for herself and three young sons.

The 27-year-old said she started to struggle after her hours were cut in May at the Walmart warehouse where she worked. She’s applied to numerous agencies for help but they’re either out of money, have a waiting list, or not able to help until clients end up in court with an eviction notice.

Rivera said she’s preparing herself mentally to move into a shelter with her children until her situation improves.

“We just need help,” Rivera said, fighting back tears. “It’s just been really hard with everyday issues on top of worrying about where you’re going to live.”

But there was more optimism in Virginia, where Tiara Burton, 23, learned she would be getting federal help and wouldn't be evicted. She initially feared the worst when the moratorium lifted.

“That was definitely a worry yesterday,” said Burton, 23, who lives in Virginia Beach. “If they’re going to start doing evictions again, then I’m going to be faced with having to figure out where me and my family are going to go. And that’s not something that anyone should have to worry about these days at all.”

She was relieved to be told by an attorney she had been approved for assistance through the Virginia Rent Relief Program. Her court hearing was postponed for 30 days, during which time she and her landlord can presumably work things out.

“I’m grateful for that,” she said. “Just hearing, ‘Okay, we’re going to push it back 30 days, but we’re going to assist you still,’ … that’s another weight lifted off of my shoulders.”

Around the country, courts, legal advocates and law enforcement agencies were gearing up for evictions to return to pre-pandemic levels, a time when 3.7 million people were displaced from their homes every year, or seven every minute, according to the Eviction Lab at Princeton University.

Some of the cities with the most cases, according to the Eviction Lab, are Phoenix with more than 42,000 eviction filings, Houston with more than 37,000, Las Vegas with nearly 27,000 and Tampa more than 15,000. Indiana and Missouri also have more than 80,000 filings.

While the moratorium was enforced in much of the country, there were places like Idaho where judges ignored it, said Ali Rabe, executive director of Jesse Tree, a non-profit that works to prevent evictions in the Boise metropolitan area.

The non-profit represented renters in about 800 evictions in the past year, and only once was the moratorium enforced, Rabe said. Statewide about 1,500 people were evicted in the past year, she said.

“Eviction courts ran as usual,” she said.

That was much the way things played out in parts of North Carolina, where on Monday Sgt. David Ruppe knocked on a weathered mobile home door in Cleveland County, a rural community an hour west of Charlotte.

“We haven’t seen much of a difference at all,” he said. “We would still have evictions issued from the court and we would still serve them as if it happened pre-COVID.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The eviction system, which saw a dramatic drop in cases before a federal moratorium expired over the weekend, rumbled back into action Monday, with activists girding for the first of what could be millions of tenants to be tossed onto the streets as the delta variant of the coronavirus surges.Landlords tired of waiting for federal rental assistance were in court hoping to evict their tenants, while families from Ohio to Virginia turned up before judges hoping for a last-minute reprieve. In Detroit, at least 600 tenants with court orders against them were at immediate risk.“It’s very scary with the moratorium being over,” said Ted Phillips, a lawyer who leads the United Community Housing Coalition in Detroit.The Biden administration allowed the federal moratorium to expire over the weekend and Congress was unable to extend it. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for an immediate extension, calling it a “moral imperative” to prevent Americans from being put out of their homes during a COVID-19 surge.The Biden administration had hoped that historic amounts of rental assistance allocated by Congress would help avert a crisis. But the distribution has been painfully slow: Only about $3 billion of the first tranche of $25 billion had been distributed through June by states and localities. A second amount of $21.5 billion will go to the states.More than 15 million people live in households that owe as much as $20 billion to their landlords, according to the Aspen Institute. 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.In Rhode Island on Monday, Gabe Imondi, a 74-year-old landlord, was in court hoping to get an eviction execution — the final step to push a tenant out of one of four housing units he owns in nearby Pawtucket.Imondi said he and his tenant both filed forms for the billions in federal aid meant to help keep tenants in their homes but so far, he said, he hasn’t seen a cent of the state’s $200 million share.A retired general contractor, Imondi estimates he’s out around $20,000 in lost rent since September, when he began seeking to evict his tenant for non-payment. The eviction was approved in January.“I don’t know what they’re doing with that money,” Imondi said.Meanwhile, Luis Vertentes was told by a judge he had three weeks to clear out of his one-bedroom apartment in nearby East Providence. The 43-year-old landscaper said he was four months behind on rent after being hospitalized for a time.“I’m going to be homeless, all because of this pandemic,” Vertentes said. “I feel helpless, like I can’t do anything even though I work and I got a full-time job.”Outside the courtroom, Katie Barrington, a case manager with Crossroads Rhode Island, a nonprofit housing and homeless agency, signed him up with a housing counsellor to help him secure a new home and enrolled him for federal rental assistance.In Columbus, Ohio, Chelsea Rivera showed up at Franklin County court Monday after receiving an eviction notice last month. A single mom, she’s behind $2,988 in rent and late fees for the one bed-room apartment she rents for herself and three young sons.The 27-year-old said she started to struggle after her hours were cut in May at the Walmart warehouse where she worked. She’s applied to numerous agencies for help but they’re either out of money, have a waiting list, or not able to help until clients end up in court with an eviction notice.Rivera said she’s preparing herself mentally to move into a shelter with her children until her situation improves.“We just need help,” Rivera said, fighting back tears. “It’s just been really hard with everyday issues on top of worrying about where you’re going to live.”But there was more optimism in Virginia, where Tiara Burton, 23, learned she would be getting federal help and wouldn't be evicted. She initially feared the worst when the moratorium lifted.“That was definitely a worry yesterday,” said Burton, 23, who lives in Virginia Beach. “If they’re going to start doing evictions again, then I’m going to be faced with having to figure out where me and my family are going to go. And that’s not something that anyone should have to worry about these days at all.”She was relieved to be told by an attorney she had been approved for assistance through the Virginia Rent Relief Program. Her court hearing was postponed for 30 days, during which time she and her landlord can presumably work things out.“I’m grateful for that,” she said. “Just hearing, ‘Okay, we’re going to push it back 30 days, but we’re going to assist you still,’ … that’s another weight lifted off of my shoulders.”Around the country, courts, legal advocates and law enforcement agencies were gearing up for evictions to return to pre-pandemic levels, a time when 3.7 million people were displaced from their homes every year, or seven every minute, according to the Eviction Lab at Princeton University.Some of the cities with the most cases, according to the Eviction Lab, are Phoenix with more than 42,000 eviction filings, Houston with more than 37,000, Las Vegas with nearly 27,000 and Tampa more than 15,000. Indiana and Missouri also have more than 80,000 filings.While the moratorium was enforced in much of the country, there were places like Idaho where judges ignored it, said Ali Rabe, executive director of Jesse Tree, a non-profit that works to prevent evictions in the Boise metropolitan area.The non-profit represented renters in about 800 evictions in the past year, and only once was the moratorium enforced, Rabe said. Statewide about 1,500 people were evicted in the past year, she said.“Eviction courts ran as usual,” she said.That was much the way things played out in parts of North Carolina, where on Monday Sgt. David Ruppe knocked on a weathered mobile home door in Cleveland County, a rural community an hour west of Charlotte.“We haven’t seen much of a difference at all,” he said. “We would still have evictions issued from the court and we would still serve them as if it happened pre-COVID.”He waited a few minutes on the porch scattered with folding chairs and toys. Then a woman opened the door.“How are you?" he asked quietly, then explained her landlord had started the eviction process. The woman told Ruppe she’d paid, and he said she’d need to bring proof to her upcoming Aug. 9 court date.Ruppe, who has two young sons, said seeing families struggle day-after-day is tough.“There’s only so much you can do," he said. “So, if you can offer them a glimmer of hope, words of encouragement, especially if there’s kids involved. Being a father, I can relate to that.”__