TOKYO (AP) — Fans were banned from the pandemic-postponed Tokyo Olympics which will open in two weeks, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said after meeting with IOC and Japanese organizers on Thursday.

The ban came hours after a state of emergency in the capital starting from Monday, declared by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to contain rising COVID-19 cases.

The twin decisions have turned the Olympics into a made-for-TV event in a decision pushed by the Japanese government and supported by the International Olympic Committee.

“Many people were looking forward to watching the games at the venues, but I would like everyone to fully enjoy watching the games on TV at home,” Koike said after the meeting.

Fans from aboard were banned months ago, and the new measures will clear venues around Tokyo — indoor and outdoor — of any fans at all.

The emergency declaration made for a rude arrival in Japan for IOC President Thomas Bach, who landed in Tokyo on Thursday just hours before the new measures were announced. He was to spend three days in self-isolation at the five-star hotel that lodges IOC members.

Suga said the state of emergency would go into effect on Monday and last through Aug. 22. This means the Olympics, opening on July 23 and running through Aug. 8, will be held entirely under emergency measures. The Paralympics open on Aug. 24.

“Taking into consideration the impact of the delta strain, and in order to prevent the resurgence of infections from spreading across the country, we need to step up virus prevention measures,” Suga said.

Suga, who had long favored fans, hinted at a no-fan Olympics in announcing the state of emergency.

“I have already said I won’t hesitate to have no spectators,” he added.

Just two weeks ago, organizers and the IOC allowed venues to be filled to 50% of capacity but crowds not to exceed 10,000. The state of emergency has forced a late turnaround, which was always an option if infections got worse.

“We will have to consider the option of no spectators,” Marukawa said in opening remarks with the IOC and others as they went into meetings to discuss a ban on fans.

The main focus of the emergency is a request for bars, restaurants and karaoke parlors serving alcohol to close. A ban on serving alcohol is a key step to tone down Olympic-related festivities and keep people from drinking and partying. Tokyo residents are expected to face stay-home requests and watch the games on TV from home.

“How to stop people enjoying the Olympics from going out for drinks is a main issue,” Health Minister Norihisa Tamura said.

The present state of emergency ends Sunday. Tokyo reported 896 new cases on Thursday, up from 673 a week earlier. It’s the 19th straight day that cases have topped the mark set seven days prior. New cases on Wednesday hit 920, the highest total since 1,010 were reported on May 13.

The no-fan atmosphere will include the opening ceremony at the $1.4 billion National Stadium, which is traditionally the most watched event during the Olympics.

“It’s not too late. Cancel or postpone it,” said Yukio Edano, the head of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition party to Suga’s LDP

The uptick in infections has also forced the Tokyo city government to pull the Olympic torch relay off capital streets, allowing it to run only on remote islands off the Tokyo coast. It’s unclear how the torch will enter the stadium for the opening ceremony.

“The infections are in their expansion phase and everyone in this country must firmly understand the seriousness of it,” Dr. Shigeru Omi, a top government medical adviser, said.

He urged authorities to quickly take tough measures ahead of the Olympics, with summer vacations approaching.

Omi has repeatedly called for a ban on spectators, and has said it’s “abnormal” to hold the Olympics during a pandemic.

Separately, a government COVID-19 advisory panel met Wednesday and expressed concerns about the ongoing resurgence of the infections.

“Two-thirds of the infections in the capital region are from Tokyo, and our concern is the spread of the infections to neighboring areas,” said Ryuji Wakita, director-general of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases.

The Olympics are pushing ahead against most medical advice, partially because the postponement stalled the IOC’s income flow. It gets almost 75% of its income from selling broadcast rights, and estimates suggest it would lose $3 billion to $4 billion if the Olympics were canceled.

About 11,000 Olympians and 4,400 Paralympians are expected to enter Japan, with tens of thousands of officials, judges, administrators, sponsors, broadcasters, and media also entering. The IOC says more than 80% of resident of the Olympic Village will be vaccinated.

Nationwide, Japan has had about 810,000 cases and nearly 14,900 deaths. Only 15% of Japanese are fully vaccinated, still low compared with 47.4% in the United States and almost 50% in Britain.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan is set to place Tokyo under a state of emergency that would last through the Olympics, fearing an ongoing COVID-19 surge will multiply during the Games.

At a meeting with experts Thursday morning, government officials proposed a plan to issue a state of emergency in Tokyo from next Monday to Aug. 22. The Summer Olympics, already delayed a year by the pandemic, begin July 23 and close Aug. 8.

The Games already will take place without foreign spectators, but the planned six-week state of emergency likely ends chances of a local audience. A decision about fans is expected later Thursday when local organizers meet with the International Olympic Committee and other representatives.

Tokyo is currently under less-stringent measures that focus on shortened hours for bars and restaurants but have proven less effective at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is to formally announce the emergency plans later Thursday, hours after IOC President Thomas Bach was to land in Tokyo. Bach must self-isolate for three days in the IOC’s five-star hotel in the Japanese capital before heading to Hiroshima, where heavy rain is threatening flooding.

The upcoming emergency will be the fourth for Tokyo since the pandemic began and is a last-minute change of plan made late Wednesday after a meeting with experts who warned strongly against the government’s soft approach.

A main focus of the emergency is a request for bars, restaurants and karaoke parlors serving alcohol to close. A ban on serving alcohol is a key step to tone down Olympic-related festivities and keep people from drinking and partying. Tokyo residents are expected to face stay-home requests and watch the Games on TV from home.

Tokyo reported 920 new cases on Wednesday, up from 714 last week and its highest since 1,010 on May 13. The figure is in line with experts’ earlier estimate that daily cases in Tokyo could hit 1,000 before the Games and could spike into thousands in August.

Kazuhiro Tateta, a Toho University infectious diseases expert, noted an earlier state of emergency in the spring came too late to prevent hospitals in Osaka from overflowing with patients and said another delay should not be allowed.

Ryuji Wakita, director-general of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, noted that two-thirds of Japan’s cases are from the Tokyo region and “our concern is the spread of the infections to neighboring areas.”

Experts also noted cases among younger, unvaccinated people are rising as Japan’s inoculation drive loses steam due to supply uncertainty.

Just 15% of Japanese are fully vaccinated, low compared to 47.4% in the United States and almost 50% in Britain. Nationwide, Japan has had about 810,000 infections and nearly 14,900 deaths.

“The infections are in their expansion phase and everyone in this country must firmly understand the seriousness of it,” Dr. Shigeru Omi, a top government medical adviser, told reporters.

He urged authorities to quickly take tough measures ahead of the Olympics with summer vacations approaching. “The period from July to September is the most critical time for Japan’s COVID-19 measures,” Omi said.

TOKYO (AP) — Surging COVID-19 cases in Tokyo have hit a two-month high that almost guarantees the Japanese government will declare a new state of emergency to start next week and continue for the duration of the Tokyo Olympics.

The pandemic-delayed Olympics open in just over two weeks on July 23.

IOC President Thomas Bach is scheduled to arrive in Tokyo on Thursday, when he will be greeted by the rising cases as he self-isolates for three days in the International Olympic Committee’s five-star hotel in the capital.

A new state of emergency could lead to a ban even on local fans. That decision on fans is expected Friday when local organizers meet with the IOC and others.

The present quasi-state of emergency ends Sunday. Tokyo reported 920 new cases on Wednesday, up from 714 last Wednesday. It is the highest total since 1,010 were reported on May 13.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga met with key ministers to discuss virus measures and reportedly is considering reinstating a state of emergency in the capital until Aug. 22. The Olympics end on Aug. 8.

Suga did not confirm the report but noted Tokyo’s upsurge and vowed “to do everything we can to prevent the further spread of the infections.”

Suga said he would make a final decision Thursday after consulting with a panel of experts.

Fans from abroad were banned from attending the Olympics months ago. But just two weeks ago, organizers and the IOC decided to allow venues to be filed to 50% of capacity but not to exceed 10,000.

The soaring cases are likely to mean that venues will be without any fans, although sponsors and others may have access. The no-fan atmosphere could include the opening ceremony at the $1.4 billion National Stadium.

He urged authorities to quickly take tough measures ahead of the Olympics with summer vacations approaching.

“The period from July to September is the most critical time for Japan’s COVID-19 measures,” Omi said.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told reporters that she expects the government to declare a state of emergency in Tokyo, a fourth for the capital since the pandemic began early last year.

The Olympics are pushing ahead against most medical advice, partially because the postponement of 15 months stalled the IOC’s income flow. It gets almost 75% of its income from selling broadcast rights, and estimates suggest it would lose between $3 billion and $4 billion if the Olympics were canceled.

Nationwide, Japan has had about 810,000 cases and nearly 14,900 deaths. Only 15% of the Japanese are fully vaccinated, still low compared to 47.4% in the United States and almost 50% in Britain.

TOKYO (AP) — Fans were banned from the pandemic-postponed Tokyo Olympics which will open in two weeks, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said after meeting with IOC and Japanese organizers on Thursday.The ban came hours after a state of emergency in the capital starting from Monday, declared by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to contain rising COVID-19 cases.The twin decisions have turned the Olympics into a made-for-TV event in a decision pushed by the Japanese government and supported by the International Olympic Committee.“Many people were looking forward to watching the games at the venues, but I would like everyone to fully enjoy watching the games on TV at home,” Koike said after the meeting.Fans from aboard were banned months ago, and the new measures will clear venues around Tokyo — indoor and outdoor — of any fans at all.The emergency declaration made for a rude arrival in Japan for IOC President Thomas Bach, who landed in Tokyo on Thursday just hours before the new measures were announced. He was to spend three days in self-isolation at the five-star hotel that lodges IOC members.Suga said the state of emergency would go into effect on Monday and last through Aug. 22. This means the Olympics, opening on July 23 and running through Aug. 8, will be held entirely under emergency measures. The Paralympics open on Aug. 24.“Taking into consideration the impact of the delta strain, and in order to prevent the resurgence of infections from spreading across the country, we need to step up virus prevention measures,” Suga said.Suga, who had long favored fans, hinted at a no-fan Olympics in announcing the state of emergency.“I have already said I won’t hesitate to have no spectators,” he added.Just two weeks ago, organizers and the IOC allowed venues to be filled to 50% of capacity but crowds not to exceed 10,000. The state of emergency has forced a late turnaround, which was always an option if infections got worse.“We will have to consider the option of no spectators,” Marukawa said in opening remarks with the IOC and others as they went into meetings to discuss a ban on fans.The main focus of the emergency is a request for bars, restaurants and karaoke parlors serving alcohol to close. A ban on serving alcohol is a key step to tone down Olympic-related festivities and keep people from drinking and partying. Tokyo residents are expected to face stay-home requests and watch the games on TV from home.“How to stop people enjoying the Olympics from going out for drinks is a main issue,” Health Minister Norihisa Tamura said.The present state of emergency ends Sunday. Tokyo reported 896 new cases on Thursday, up from 673 a week earlier. It’s the 19th straight day that cases have topped the mark set seven days prior. New cases on Wednesday hit 920, the highest total since 1,010 were reported on May 13.The no-fan atmosphere will include the opening ceremony at the $1.4 billion National Stadium, which is traditionally the most watched event during the Olympics.“It’s not too late. Cancel or postpone it,” said Yukio Edano, the head of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition party to Suga’s LDPThe uptick in infections has also forced the Tokyo city government to pull the Olympic torch relay off capital streets, allowing it to run only on remote islands off the Tokyo coast. It’s unclear how the torch will enter the stadium for the opening ceremony.“The infections are in their expansion phase and everyone in this country must firmly understand the seriousness of it,” Dr. Shigeru Omi, a top government medical adviser, said.He urged authorities to quickly take tough measures ahead of the Olympics, with summer vacations approaching.Omi has repeatedly called for a ban on spectators, and has said it’s “abnormal” to hold the Olympics during a pandemic.Separately, a government COVID-19 advisory panel met Wednesday and expressed concerns about the ongoing resurgence of the infections.“Two-thirds of the infections in the capital region are from Tokyo, and our concern is the spread of the infections to neighboring areas,” said Ryuji Wakita, director-general of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases.The Olympics are pushing ahead against most medical advice, partially because the postponement stalled the IOC’s income flow. It gets almost 75% of its income from selling broadcast rights, and estimates suggest it would lose $3 billion to $4 billion if the Olympics were canceled.About 11,000 Olympians and 4,400 Paralympians are expected to enter Japan, with tens of thousands of officials, judges, administrators, sponsors, broadcasters, and media also entering. The IOC says more than 80% of resident of the Olympic Village will be vaccinated.Nationwide, Japan has had about 810,000 cases and nearly 14,900 deaths. Only 15% of Japanese are fully vaccinated, still low compared with 47.4% in the United States and almost 50% in Britain.___TOKYO (AP) — Japan is set to place Tokyo under a state of emergency that would last through the Olympics, fearing an ongoing COVID-19 surge will multiply during the Games.At a meeting with experts Thursday morning, government officials proposed a plan to issue a state of emergency in Tokyo from next Monday to Aug. 22. The Summer Olympics, already delayed a year by the pandemic, begin July 23 and close Aug. 8.The Games already will take place without foreign spectators, but the planned six-week state of emergency likely ends chances of a local audience. A decision about fans is expected later Thursday when local organizers meet with the International Olympic Committee and other representatives.Tokyo is currently under less-stringent measures that focus on shortened hours for bars and restaurants but have proven less effective at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is to formally announce the emergency plans later Thursday, hours after IOC President Thomas Bach was to land in Tokyo. Bach must self-isolate for three days in the IOC’s five-star hotel in the Japanese capital before heading to Hiroshima, where heavy rain is threatening flooding.The upcoming emergency will be the fourth for Tokyo since the pandemic began and is a last-minute change of plan made late Wednesday after a meeting with experts who warned strongly against the government’s soft approach.A main focus of the emergency is a request for bars, restaurants and karaoke parlors serving alcohol to close. A ban on serving alcohol is a key step to tone down Olympic-related festivities and keep people from drinking and partying. Tokyo residents are expected to face stay-home requests and watch the Games on TV from home.“How to stop people enjoying the Olympics from going out for drinks is a main issue,” Health Minister Norihisa Tamura said.Tokyo reported 920 new cases on Wednesday, up from 714 last week and its highest since 1,010 on May 13. The figure is in line with experts’ earlier estimate that daily cases in Tokyo could hit 1,000 before the Games and could spike into thousands in August.Kazuhiro Tateta, a Toho University infectious diseases expert, noted an earlier state of emergency in the spring came too late to prevent hospitals in Osaka from overflowing with patients and said another delay should not be allowed.Ryuji Wakita, director-general of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, noted that two-thirds of Japan’s cases are from the Tokyo region and “our concern is the spread of the infections to neighboring areas.”Experts also noted cases among younger, unvaccinated people are rising as Japan’s inoculation drive loses steam due to supply uncertainty.Just 15% of Japanese are fully vaccinated, low compared to 47.4% in the United States and almost 50% in Britain. Nationwide, Japan has had about 810,000 infections and nearly 14,900 deaths.“The infections are in their expansion phase and everyone in this country must firmly understand the seriousness of it,” Dr. Shigeru Omi, a top government medical adviser, told reporters.He urged authorities to quickly take tough measures ahead of the Olympics with summer vacations approaching. “The period from July to September is the most critical time for Japan’s COVID-19 measures,” Omi said.-------------TOKYO (AP) — Surging COVID-19 cases in Tokyo have hit a two-month high that almost guarantees the Japanese government will declare a new state of emergency to start next week and continue for the duration of the Tokyo Olympics.The pandemic-delayed Olympics open in just over two weeks on July 23.IOC President Thomas Bach is scheduled to arrive in Tokyo on Thursday, when he will be greeted by the rising cases as he self-isolates for three days in the International Olympic Committee’s five-star hotel in the capital.A new state of emergency could lead to a ban even on local fans. That decision on fans is expected Friday when local organizers meet with the IOC and others.The present quasi-state of emergency ends Sunday. Tokyo reported 920 new cases on Wednesday, up from 714 last Wednesday. It is the highest total since 1,010 were reported on May 13.Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga met with key ministers to discuss virus measures and reportedly is considering reinstating a state of emergency in the capital until Aug. 22. The Olympics end on Aug. 8.Suga did not confirm the report but noted Tokyo’s upsurge and vowed “to do everything we can to prevent the further spread of the infections.”Suga said he would make a final decision Thursday after consulting with a panel of experts.Fans from abroad were banned from attending the Olympics months ago. But just two weeks ago, organizers and the IOC decided to allow venues to be filed to 50% of capacity but not to exceed 10,000.The soaring cases are likely to mean that venues will be without any fans, although sponsors and others may have access. The no-fan atmosphere could include the opening ceremony at the $1.4 billion National Stadium.“The infections are in their expansion phase and everyone in this country must firmly understand the seriousness of it,” Dr. Shigeru Omi, a top government medical adviser, told reporters.He urged authorities to quickly take tough measures ahead of the Olympics with summer vacations approaching.“The period from July to September is the most critical time for Japan’s COVID-19 measures,” Omi said.Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told reporters that she expects the government to declare a state of emergency in Tokyo, a fourth for the capital since the pandemic began early last year.Separately, a government COVID-19 advisory panel met Wednesday and expressed concerns about the ongoing resurgence of the infections.“Two-thirds of the infections in the capital region are from Tokyo, and our concern is the spread of the infections to neighboring areas,” said Ryuji Wakita, director-general of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases.The Olympics are pushing ahead against most medical advice, partially because the postponement of 15 months stalled the IOC’s income flow. It gets almost 75% of its income from selling broadcast rights, and estimates suggest it would lose between $3 billion and $4 billion if the Olympics were canceled.Nationwide, Japan has had about 810,000 cases and nearly 14,900 deaths. Only 15% of the Japanese are fully vaccinated, still low compared to 47.4% in the United States and almost 50% in Britain.

Fans banned at Olympics; COVID state of emergency

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A teenager injured in an accident on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/adventureland-accident-ce3a56b8e482fcdbbad2890b259bc094">an Iowa amusement ride</a>&nbsp;that killed his younger brother remained on life support Wednesday as he turned 16, his <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-jaramillo-family">family pastor said.</a>

David Jaramillo has been in a medically induced coma at Blank Children’s Hospital since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/adventureland-raging-river-accident-273dbf870b1cbab93f92ea1df8bff413">Saturday’s accident</a>&nbsp;on the Raging River at Adventureland Park in Altoona, pastor Christian Shields said.

David has some brain function and has woken up a couple times at the Des Moines hospital, opening his eyes and asking what happened, he said. He remains hooked up to breathing machines, but doctors are hoping to wean him off life support, Shields said.

Shields, the pastor at Christian Life Church in Cedar Rapids, said it’s a miracle that David is alive after being pinned underneath a boat in water for several minutes. The church planned a prayer vigil for the family Wednesday night and is sponsoring a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-jaramillo-family" target="_blank">GoFundMe page</a>&nbsp;that has raised $30,000.

“We’ll be praying for life for David, that his brain function would miraculously be undamaged and unhindered and have no long-term lasting effects on him,” he said. “He’s still in very serious condition, but there’s some good signs.”

Friends have brought balloons to the hospital for David’s birthday, but “there won’t be a lot of celebrating.”

Family attorney Ryan Best said Wednesday that David is “responding to questioning by moving his toes and his head,” an encouraging sign.

The Jaramillo family, of Marion, Iowa, went to Adventureland to celebrate David’s upcoming birthday on Saturday. David, a junior at Linn-Mar High School, had been excited about getting his driver’s license as a step toward freedom and adulthood, Shields said.

David, his younger brothers Gus, 14, and Michael, 11; their 18-year-old cousin Nyla Pettie; and parents Sabrina and David Jaramillo boarded a boat for the ride on Saturday night. A family-friendly staple of the park since 1983, the ride uses a conveyor belt to push circular boats through rapids.

The family’s boat flipped over within 20 seconds of the ride beginning, Shields said, causing all six to hit their heads on the surface below and trapping them in their seatbelts underneath the water.

What caused the raft to flip remains under investigation, but at least one of its eight bladders was deflated, according to a mandatory “major breakdown” report filed by Adventureland with the state and released to The Associated Press.

Adventureland attorney Guy Cook said the bladder could have deflated upon overturning, and it’s premature to draw any conclusions. He said it was the first time one of the boats had flipped out of tens of thousands of launches in the ride’s 38-year history.

Nyla managed to unbuckle herself and Gus and the two got out with minor injuries, Shields said.

The boat was crushing the shoulder of 43-year-old David, and he could hear his bones crunching as he ripped his shoulder out from underneath to break free, Shields said. He and Sabrina got out and could see their sons face down in the river, but could not move the boat because of David’s arm injuries.

They screamed for help as other rafts passed by, and believe that at least 10 minutes passed before workers shut off water to the ride and the boys were freed from the water, he said. Emergency responders on site began with life-saving measures and CPR very quickly, but several minutes passed before an ambulance could reach them and take the four most seriously injured to the hospital.

Cook said the timeline of the accident remains under investigation.

Doctors decided to remove Michael, who was going into sixth grade at Boulder Peak Intermediate School, from life support Sunday after he showed no brain function and his organs had failed. Shields said he and other pastors held the boy’s hand and sang as doctors disconnected the machine.

Shields had gotten to know Michael this summer because the boy had volunteered for a church fundraiser cleaning a local minor league baseball stadium after games. He promised he would show up for all 12 nights and he did, joyfully picking up trash and beer bottles.

Shields said Michael was “full of smiles and laughter and jokes,” loved small dogs, playing video games and hanging with friends.

“The potential that has been robbed from this world is incalculable with a young man like Michael,” he said. “He is a gem.”

The Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office said Wednesday an autopsy on Michael has been completed but the cause and manner of death remain under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625696833028.png" alt="David, Michael and a cousin at the park-photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>David, Michael and a cousin at the park-photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A teenager injured in an accident on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/adventureland-accident-ce3a56b8e482fcdbbad2890b259bc094">an Iowa amusement ride</a>&nbsp;that killed his younger brother remained on life support Wednesday as he turned 16, his <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-jaramillo-family">family pastor said.</a>David Jaramillo has been in a medically induced coma at Blank Children’s Hospital since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/adventureland-raging-river-accident-273dbf870b1cbab93f92ea1df8bff413">Saturday’s accident</a>&nbsp;on the Raging River at Adventureland Park in Altoona, pastor Christian Shields said.David has some brain function and has woken up a couple times at the Des Moines hospital, opening his eyes and asking what happened, he said. He remains hooked up to breathing machines, but doctors are hoping to wean him off life support, Shields said.Shields, the pastor at Christian Life Church in Cedar Rapids, said it’s a miracle that David is alive after being pinned underneath a boat in water for several minutes. The church planned a prayer vigil for the family Wednesday night and is sponsoring a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-jaramillo-family" target="_blank">GoFundMe page</a>&nbsp;that has raised $30,000.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625522251378.png" alt="First responders at the park Saturday evening -Photo courtesy KCCI" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the park Saturday evening -Photo courtesy KCCI</figcaption>
 </figure>“We’ll be praying for life for David, that his brain function would miraculously be undamaged and unhindered and have no long-term lasting effects on him,” he said. “He’s still in very serious condition, but there’s some good signs.”Friends have brought balloons to the hospital for David’s birthday, but “there won’t be a lot of celebrating.”Family attorney Ryan Best said Wednesday that David is “responding to questioning by moving his toes and his head,” an encouraging sign.The Jaramillo family, of Marion, Iowa, went to Adventureland to celebrate David’s upcoming birthday on Saturday. David, a junior at Linn-Mar High School, had been excited about getting his driver’s license as a step toward freedom and adulthood, Shields said.David, his younger brothers Gus, 14, and Michael, 11; their 18-year-old cousin Nyla Pettie; and parents Sabrina and David Jaramillo boarded a boat for the ride on Saturday night. A family-friendly staple of the park since 1983, the ride uses a conveyor belt to push circular boats through rapids.The family’s boat flipped over within 20 seconds of the ride beginning, Shields said, causing all six to hit their heads on the surface below and trapping them in their seatbelts underneath the water.What caused the raft to flip remains under investigation, but at least one of its eight bladders was deflated, according to a mandatory “major breakdown” report filed by Adventureland with the state and released to The Associated Press.Adventureland attorney Guy Cook said the bladder could have deflated upon overturning, and it’s premature to draw any conclusions. He said it was the first time one of the boats had flipped out of tens of thousands of launches in the ride’s 38-year history.Nyla managed to unbuckle herself and Gus and the two got out with minor injuries, Shields said.The boat was crushing the shoulder of 43-year-old David, and he could hear his bones crunching as he ripped his shoulder out from underneath to break free, Shields said. He and Sabrina got out and could see their sons face down in the river, but could not move the boat because of David’s arm injuries.They screamed for help as other rafts passed by, and believe that at least 10 minutes passed before workers shut off water to the ride and the boys were freed from the water, he said. Emergency responders on site began with life-saving measures and CPR very quickly, but several minutes passed before an ambulance could reach them and take the four most seriously injured to the hospital.Cook said the timeline of the accident remains under investigation.Doctors decided to remove Michael, who was going into sixth grade at Boulder Peak Intermediate School, from life support Sunday after he showed no brain function and his organs had failed. Shields said he and other pastors held the boy’s hand and sang as doctors disconnected the machine.Shields had gotten to know Michael this summer because the boy had volunteered for a church fundraiser cleaning a local minor league baseball stadium after games. He promised he would show up for all 12 nights and he did, joyfully picking up trash and beer bottles.Shields said Michael was “full of smiles and laughter and jokes,” loved small dogs, playing video games and hanging with friends.“The potential that has been robbed from this world is incalculable with a young man like Michael,” he said. “He is a gem.”The Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office said Wednesday an autopsy on Michael has been completed but the cause and manner of death remain under investigation.

Brother of boy killed in amusement park accident remains on life support

ATCHISON COUNTY, Mo. —A Nebraska woman died in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Wednesday in Atchison County, Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Hyundai Sonata driven Jovannah D. Ross, 38, Omaha, was northbound on Interstate 29 three miles south of Rock Port.

The Hyundai began to slide, crossed the center median and entered the southbound lanes. The passenger side of the Hyundai struck the front of a southbound 2018 Toyota Sienna driven by Emily A. Ptacnik, 34, Omaha.

Ross was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Minter Funeral Chapel in Rock Port.

A private vehicle transported Ptacnik and three children ages, 6, 4 and 2 to Mosaic Life in Care in St. Joseph for treatment of minor injuries. Ross was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

ATCHISON COUNTY, Mo. —A Nebraska woman died in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Wednesday in Atchison County, Missouri.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Hyundai Sonata driven Jovannah D. Ross, 38, Omaha, was northbound on Interstate 29 three miles south of Rock Port.The Hyundai began to slide, crossed the center median and entered the southbound lanes. The passenger side of the Hyundai struck the front of a southbound 2018 Toyota Sienna driven by Emily A. Ptacnik, 34, Omaha.Ross was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Minter Funeral Chapel in Rock Port.A private vehicle transported Ptacnik and three children ages, 6, 4 and 2 to Mosaic Life in Care in St. Joseph for treatment of minor injuries. Ross was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Nebraska woman killed,  4 hospitalized after Missouri crash

The global death toll from COVID-19 eclipsed 4 million Wednesday as the crisis increasingly becomes a race between the vaccine and the highly contagious delta variant.

The tally of lives lost over the past year and a half, as compiled from official sources by Johns Hopkins University, is about equal to the number of people killed in battle in all of the world’s wars since 1982, according to estimates from the Peace Research Institute Oslo.

The toll is three times the number of people killed in traffic accidents around the globe every year. It is about equal to the population of Los Angeles or the nation of Georgia. It is equivalent to more than half of Hong Kong or close to 50% of New York City.

Even then, it is widely believed to be an undercount because of overlooked cases or deliberate concealment.

But in recent weeks, the mutant delta version of the virus first identified in India has set off alarms around the world, spreading rapidly even in vaccination success stories like the U.S., Britain and Israel.

Britain, in fact, recorded a one-day total this week of more than 30,000 new infections for the first time since January, even as the government prepares to lift all remaining lockdown restrictions in England later this month.

Other countries have reimposed preventive measures, and authorities are rushing to step up the campaign to dispense shots.

At the same time, the disaster has exposed the gap between the haves and the have-nots, with vaccination drives barely getting started in Africa and other desperately poor corners of the world because of extreme shortages of shots.

The U.S. and other wealthy countries have agreed to share at least 1 billion doses with struggling countries.

The U.S. has the world’s highest reported death toll, at over 600,000, or nearly 1 in 7 deaths, followed by Brazil at more than 520,000, though the real numbers are believed to be much higher in Brazil, where President Jair Bolsonaro’s far-right government has long downplayed the virus.

The variants, uneven access to vaccines and the relaxation of precautions in wealthier countries are “a toxic combination that is very dangerous,” warned Ann Lindstrand, a top immunization official at the World Health Organization.

Instead of treating the crisis as a “me-and-myself-and-my-country” problem, she said, “we need to get serious that this is a worldwide problem that needs worldwide solutions.”

By JOSHUA GOODMAN, Associated PressThe global death toll from COVID-19 eclipsed 4 million Wednesday as the crisis increasingly becomes a race between the vaccine and the highly contagious delta variant.The tally of lives lost over the past year and a half, as compiled from official sources by Johns Hopkins University, is about equal to the number of people killed in battle in all of the world’s wars since 1982, according to estimates from the Peace Research Institute Oslo.The toll is three times the number of people killed in traffic accidents around the globe every year. It is about equal to the population of Los Angeles or the nation of Georgia. It is equivalent to more than half of Hong Kong or close to 50% of New York City.Even then, it is widely believed to be an undercount because of overlooked cases or deliberate concealment.But in recent weeks, the mutant delta version of the virus first identified in India has set off alarms around the world, spreading rapidly even in vaccination success stories like the U.S., Britain and Israel.Britain, in fact, recorded a one-day total this week of more than 30,000 new infections for the first time since January, even as the government prepares to lift all remaining lockdown restrictions in England later this month.Other countries have reimposed preventive measures, and authorities are rushing to step up the campaign to dispense shots.At the same time, the disaster has exposed the gap between the haves and the have-nots, with vaccination drives barely getting started in Africa and other desperately poor corners of the world because of extreme shortages of shots.The U.S. and other wealthy countries have agreed to share at least 1 billion doses with struggling countries.The U.S. has the world’s highest reported death toll, at over 600,000, or nearly 1 in 7 deaths, followed by Brazil at more than 520,000, though the real numbers are believed to be much higher in Brazil, where President Jair Bolsonaro’s far-right government has long downplayed the virus.The variants, uneven access to vaccines and the relaxation of precautions in wealthier countries are “a toxic combination that is very dangerous,” warned Ann Lindstrand, a top immunization official at the World Health Organization.Instead of treating the crisis as a “me-and-myself-and-my-country” problem, she said, “we need to get serious that this is a worldwide problem that needs worldwide solutions.”

Global COVID-19 deaths hit 4 million amid rush to vaccinate

By ARIANA FIGUEROA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/07/06/white-house-says-executive-order-coming-on-labeling-beef-as-a-product-of-usa/">Kansas Reflector</a>

WASHINGTON
 — The White House will unveil an executive order in the coming days 
that directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to clarify that meat can
 only receive a “Product of USA” label if that livestock is raised in 
the U.S. rather than abroad, press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters 
Tuesday.

“The
 EO directs USDA to develop a plan to increase opportunities for farmers
 to access markets and receive a fair return, including supporting 
alternative food distribution systems like farmers markets and 
developing standards and labels so that consumers can choose to buy 
products that treat farmers and agriculture workers fairly,” Psaki said.

Psaki
 said that the executive order will make it easier for farmers to 
economically compete against international meat industries.

Under
 current labeling rules, most grass fed beef labeled “Product of USA” is
 actually raised and slaughtered abroad, but imported to the United 
States for processing.

“The
 president and the USDA believe it is unfair for domestic farmers and 
ranchers to have to compete with foreign companies that are misleading 
consumers,” she said.

USDA
 Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement last week that the agency 
would initiate a “top-to-bottom” review of the “Product of USA” label 
that will help determine what the label means to consumers. The 
announcement followed <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/07/ftc-issues-rule-deter-rampant-made-usa-fraud">a Federal Trade Commission move </a>on strengthening the labeling.

“We
 have taken note of the many comments submitted to USDA and the FTC 
regarding meat labeling and understand that the current ‘Product of USA’
 label on meat products may no longer effectively serve either of those 
purposes, to the detriment of consumers, producers, and fair and 
competitive markets,” said Vilsack.

Psaki
 said the order also aims to make it easier for farmers to bring claims 
against corporate agriculture companies under the Packers and Stockyards
 Act to prevent chicken processors from underpaying farmers, and would 
protect from retaliation those farmers who report companies that are not
 following the rules.

Ariana Figueroa covers the nation's capital for States Newsroom, a network of state-based nonprofit news outlets that includes Kansas Reflector.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625690364448.png" alt="The White House plans to issue an executive order to clarify the labeling for beef produced in the United States, the president's press secretary said Tuesday. (May 10, 2021, photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The White House plans to issue an executive order to clarify the labeling for beef produced in the United States, the president's press secretary said Tuesday. (May 10, 2021, photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ARIANA FIGUEROA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/07/06/white-house-says-executive-order-coming-on-labeling-beef-as-a-product-of-usa/">Kansas Reflector</a>WASHINGTON
 — The White House will unveil an executive order in the coming days 
that directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to clarify that meat can
 only receive a “Product of USA” label if that livestock is raised in 
the U.S. rather than abroad, press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters 
Tuesday.“The
 EO directs USDA to develop a plan to increase opportunities for farmers
 to access markets and receive a fair return, including supporting 
alternative food distribution systems like farmers markets and 
developing standards and labels so that consumers can choose to buy 
products that treat farmers and agriculture workers fairly,” Psaki said.Psaki
 said that the executive order will make it easier for farmers to 
economically compete against international meat industries.Under
 current labeling rules, most grass fed beef labeled “Product of USA” is
 actually raised and slaughtered abroad, but imported to the United 
States for processing.“The
 president and the USDA believe it is unfair for domestic farmers and 
ranchers to have to compete with foreign companies that are misleading 
consumers,” she said.USDA
 Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement last week that the agency 
would initiate a “top-to-bottom” review of the “Product of USA” label 
that will help determine what the label means to consumers. The 
announcement followed <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/07/ftc-issues-rule-deter-rampant-made-usa-fraud">a Federal Trade Commission move </a>on strengthening the labeling.“We
 have taken note of the many comments submitted to USDA and the FTC 
regarding meat labeling and understand that the current ‘Product of USA’
 label on meat products may no longer effectively serve either of those 
purposes, to the detriment of consumers, producers, and fair and 
competitive markets,” said Vilsack.Psaki
 said the order also aims to make it easier for farmers to bring claims 
against corporate agriculture companies under the Packers and Stockyards
 Act to prevent chicken processors from underpaying farmers, and would 
protect from retaliation those farmers who report companies that are not
 following the rules.Ariana Figueroa covers the nation's capital for States Newsroom, a network of state-based nonprofit news outlets that includes Kansas Reflector.

White House: ‘Product of USA’ executive order coming for beef industry

BAGHDAD (AP) — U.S.-backed Syrian fighters and American troops foiled an attack with drones Wednesday on a base housing members of the U.S.-led coalition in eastern Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces said. In neighboring Iraq, rockets hit a base housing U.S. troops, inflicting two minor injuries.

The attacks come as tension has been on the rise between U.S. troops and Iran-backed fighters after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-syria-iran-middle-east-iraq-47774c2b5a6862353c8c6751738e7ba0">American airstrikes in eastern Syria killed four Iraqi fighters&nbsp;</a>late last month in areas along the Syria-Iraq border. The Pentagon said targets attacked on June 27, were facilities used by Iran-backed militia groups to support drone strikes inside Iraq.

The spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition Col. Wayne Marotto said that Al-Assad Air Base in western Iraq was attacked early in the afternoon by 14 rockets that landed on the base and its perimeter, prompting the activation of defensive measures. Marotto later tweeted: “100 % accountability at Ain Al-Assad Air Base after rocket attack. Two personnel sustained minor injuries.” The damage was still to be assessed, he added without elaborating.

A statement from the Security Media Cell, affiliated with Iraq’s security forces, said a mobile rocket launcher hidden in a truck loaded with bags of flour and parked in the nearby village of Baghdadi was used in the attack. It added that 14 rockets were fired toward the base while the rest exploded on the truck, damaging some village homes and a mosque.

Iraq’s government called it a “terrorist attack” and a “flagrant violation” of Iraqi laws.

A previously unknown group calling itself “The brigades to avenge al-Muhandis,” said its members fired 30 rockets toward the base “run by American occupiers.” It added a message to U.S. troops: “We will force you to leave our lands defeated.”

The group is named after Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis who was killed last year in a U.S. drone attack in Baghdad along with Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

In Syria, the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led forces said in a statement they foiled an attack that was using drones on Wednesday morning on the al-Omar oil field in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour. There were no damages, the statement said.

The same al-Omar base was attacked with two rockets over the weekend, according to the Syrian Kurdish-led forces and a Syrian opposition activist. There were no casualties in that attack.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/islamic-state-group-syria-middle-east-1a83bc506552d804e511758a1e915609">The U.S. military denied there were any attacks on Sunday.</a>

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said the drones took off from areas controlled by Iran-backed fighters in the eastern Syrian town of Mayadeen.

Drone attacks against the U.S.-led coalition in Syria are not common. Hundreds of U.S. troops are stationed in northeastern Syria, working with the Kurdish-led fighters in battling the Islamic State group.

Thousands of Iran-backed militiamen from around the Middle East are deployed in different parts of Syria, many of them in areas along the border with Iraq.

The leader of an Iran-backed Iraqi militia vowed on Monday to retaliate against America for the deaths of four of his men in a U.S. airstrike along the Iraq-Syria border last month. Abu Alaa al-Walae, commander of the Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada group,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-middle-east-iraq-government-and-politics-d6b61b979b2ca123bc04b12ae5576bf6">said the revenge attack will be a military operation everyone will talk about.</a>

The U.S. has blamed Iran-backed militias for attacks — most of them rocket strikes — that have targeted the American presence in Baghdad and at military bases across Iraq. The attacks have recently become more sophisticated, with militants using drones.

Late Tuesday, the counter-terrorism unit in Iraq’s northern Kurdish-run region reported a drone attack on Irbil airport, near where U.S. forces are based. The statement by the counter-terrorism unit said the attack caused no damage, though the missiles fell in open fields and set fires.

BAGHDAD (AP) — U.S.-backed Syrian fighters and American troops foiled an attack with drones Wednesday on a base housing members of the U.S.-led coalition in eastern Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces said. In neighboring Iraq, rockets hit a base housing U.S. troops, inflicting two minor injuries.The attacks come as tension has been on the rise between U.S. troops and Iran-backed fighters after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-syria-iran-middle-east-iraq-47774c2b5a6862353c8c6751738e7ba0">American airstrikes in eastern Syria killed four Iraqi fighters&nbsp;</a>late last month in areas along the Syria-Iraq border. The Pentagon said targets attacked on June 27, were facilities used by Iran-backed militia groups to support drone strikes inside Iraq.The spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition Col. Wayne Marotto said that Al-Assad Air Base in western Iraq was attacked early in the afternoon by 14 rockets that landed on the base and its perimeter, prompting the activation of defensive measures. Marotto later tweeted: “100 % accountability at Ain Al-Assad Air Base after rocket attack. Two personnel sustained minor injuries.” The damage was still to be assessed, he added without elaborating.A statement from the Security Media Cell, affiliated with Iraq’s security forces, said a mobile rocket launcher hidden in a truck loaded with bags of flour and parked in the nearby village of Baghdadi was used in the attack. It added that 14 rockets were fired toward the base while the rest exploded on the truck, damaging some village homes and a mosque.Iraq’s government called it a “terrorist attack” and a “flagrant violation” of Iraqi laws.A previously unknown group calling itself “The brigades to avenge al-Muhandis,” said its members fired 30 rockets toward the base “run by American occupiers.” It added a message to U.S. troops: “We will force you to leave our lands defeated.”The group is named after Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis who was killed last year in a U.S. drone attack in Baghdad along with Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.In Syria, the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led forces said in a statement they foiled an attack that was using drones on Wednesday morning on the al-Omar oil field in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour. There were no damages, the statement said.The same al-Omar base was attacked with two rockets over the weekend, according to the Syrian Kurdish-led forces and a Syrian opposition activist. There were no casualties in that attack.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/islamic-state-group-syria-middle-east-1a83bc506552d804e511758a1e915609">The U.S. military denied there were any attacks on Sunday.</a>The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said the drones took off from areas controlled by Iran-backed fighters in the eastern Syrian town of Mayadeen.Drone attacks against the U.S.-led coalition in Syria are not common. Hundreds of U.S. troops are stationed in northeastern Syria, working with the Kurdish-led fighters in battling the Islamic State group.Thousands of Iran-backed militiamen from around the Middle East are deployed in different parts of Syria, many of them in areas along the border with Iraq.The leader of an Iran-backed Iraqi militia vowed on Monday to retaliate against America for the deaths of four of his men in a U.S. airstrike along the Iraq-Syria border last month. Abu Alaa al-Walae, commander of the Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada group,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-middle-east-iraq-government-and-politics-d6b61b979b2ca123bc04b12ae5576bf6">said the revenge attack will be a military operation everyone will talk about.</a>The U.S. has blamed Iran-backed militias for attacks — most of them rocket strikes — that have targeted the American presence in Baghdad and at military bases across Iraq. The attacks have recently become more sophisticated, with militants using drones.Late Tuesday, the counter-terrorism unit in Iraq’s northern Kurdish-run region reported a drone attack on Irbil airport, near where U.S. forces are based. The statement by the counter-terrorism unit said the attack caused no damage, though the missiles fell in open fields and set fires.

2 injured in rocket attack on base housing U.S. troops

ALMA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have identified a man who drowned in a southern Nebraska lake on the July Fourth holiday. 

The Harlan County Sheriff's Office says 23-year-old Lazaro Hernandez, of Grand Island, died Sunday in Harlan County Lake. 

Sheriff's officials say a 911 call late Sunday afternoon reported the drowning, and deputies were joined by officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Nebraska State Patrol and Nebraska Game and Parks in searching for Hernandez. 

His body was found about three hours later on the south side of the lake, located near Alma. 

Investigators believe Hernandez had been swimming when he became fatigued and drowned.

ALMA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have identified a man who drowned in a southern Nebraska lake on the July Fourth holiday. The Harlan County Sheriff's Office says 23-year-old Lazaro Hernandez, of Grand Island, died Sunday in Harlan County Lake. Sheriff's officials say a 911 call late Sunday afternoon reported the drowning, and deputies were joined by officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Nebraska State Patrol and Nebraska Game and Parks in searching for Hernandez. His body was found about three hours later on the south side of the lake, located near Alma. Investigators believe Hernandez had been swimming when he became fatigued and drowned.

Officials ID man who drowned in Nebraska lake on July Fourth

HELENA Mont. (AP) — Authorities resumed searching by ground and from the air for a grizzly bear that killed a woman who was camping in a western Montana town. 

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesperson Greg Lemon says a helicopter crew was flying over the area around the small town of Ovando Wednesday in pursuit of the bear. 

Ovando is a community of fewer than 100 people at the edge of the sprawling Bob Marshall wilderness. 

Powell County Sheriff Gavin Roselles says the bear wandered into the victim’s camping area a couple of times before the fatal mauling early Tuesday. 

The victim’s identity has not been released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625674135638.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>HELENA Mont. (AP) — Authorities resumed searching by ground and from the air for a grizzly bear that killed a woman who was camping in a western Montana town. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesperson Greg Lemon says a helicopter crew was flying over the area around the small town of Ovando Wednesday in pursuit of the bear. It will be killed if found. Ovando is a community of fewer than 100 people at the edge of the sprawling Bob Marshall wilderness. Powell County Sheriff Gavin Roselles says the bear wandered into the victim’s camping area a couple of times before the fatal mauling early Tuesday. The victim’s identity has not been released.

Officials hunt grizzly that killed camper in Montana town

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he is filing suits against three of the country’s biggest tech companies: Facebook, Twitter and Google, as well as their CEOs.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?513223-1/president-trump-delivers-remarks-bedminster-jersey">Click here to watch</a> Trump's comments

Trump said he was serving as lead plaintiff in the class-action suits, claiming he has been wrongfully censored by the companies.

“We’re demanding an end to the shadow-banning, a stop to the silencing and a stop to the blacklisting, banishing and canceling that you know so well,” Trump said at a news conference at his Bedminster, New Jersey golf course.

The suits were filed in U.S. District Court for Florida’s southern district.

Trump was suspended from Twitter and Facebook after his followers stormed the Capitol building on Jan. 6. The companies cited concerns that he would incite further violence. Currently, he can no longer post on either platform.

Nonetheless, Trump has continued to spread lies about the 2020 election, baselessly claiming that he won, even though state and local election officials, his own attorney general and numerous judges, including some he appointed, have said there is no evidence of the mass voter fraud he alleges.

Under Section 230 of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/d3e09c4037e2fc17558492b9bdce1ecc">1996 Communications Decency Act</a>, internet companies are generally exempt from liability for the material that users post. The law, which provides a legal “safe harbor” for internet companies, also allows social media platforms to moderate their services by removing posts that, for instance, are obscene or violate the services’ own standards, so long as they are acting in “good faith.”

But Trump and other politicians have long argued that Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms have abused that protection and should lose their immunity — or at least have to earn it by satisfying requirements set by the government.

Facebook, Google and Twitter all declined comment Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625675671373.png" alt="Trump said he was serving as lead plaintiff in the class-action suits, claiming he has been wrongfully censored by the companies. photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Trump said he was serving as lead plaintiff in the class-action suits, claiming he has been wrongfully censored by the companies. photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he is filing suits against three of the country’s biggest tech companies: Facebook, Twitter and Google, as well as their CEOs.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?513223-1/president-trump-delivers-remarks-bedminster-jersey">Click here to watch</a> Trump's commentsTrump said he was serving as lead plaintiff in the class-action suits, claiming he has been wrongfully censored by the companies.“We’re demanding an end to the shadow-banning, a stop to the silencing and a stop to the blacklisting, banishing and canceling that you know so well,” Trump said at a news conference at his Bedminster, New Jersey golf course.The suits were filed in U.S. District Court for Florida’s southern district.Trump was suspended from Twitter and Facebook after his followers stormed the Capitol building on Jan. 6. The companies cited concerns that he would incite further violence. Currently, he can no longer post on either platform.Nonetheless, Trump has continued to spread lies about the 2020 election, baselessly claiming that he won, even though state and local election officials, his own attorney general and numerous judges, including some he appointed, have said there is no evidence of the mass voter fraud he alleges.Under Section 230 of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/d3e09c4037e2fc17558492b9bdce1ecc">1996 Communications Decency Act</a>, internet companies are generally exempt from liability for the material that users post. The law, which provides a legal “safe harbor” for internet companies, also allows social media platforms to moderate their services by removing posts that, for instance, are obscene or violate the services’ own standards, so long as they are acting in “good faith.”But Trump and other politicians have long argued that Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms have abused that protection and should lose their immunity — or at least have to earn it by satisfying requirements set by the government.Facebook, Google and Twitter all declined comment Wednesday.

🎥 Trump files lawsuits against Facebook, Twitter and Google

BROKEN BOW, Neb. (AP) — Investigators say one person has died in a two-vehicle fiery crash in central Nebraska's Custer County. 

Television station KSNB reports the crash happened Tuesday evening on state Highway 70 about 7 miles east of Westerville. 

The Custer County Sheriff's Office says the crash happened when a westbound car driven by 58-year-old Peggie Myers, of Broken Bow, crossed the center line, hit another car and burst into flames. 

Myers was taken to a Broken Bow hospital, where she later died of her injuries. 

Officials say the 23-year-old driver of the other car was flown to a Kearney hospital, where she remained in critical condition Wednesday morning.

BROKEN BOW, Neb. (AP) — Investigators say one person has died in a two-vehicle fiery crash in central Nebraska's Custer County. Television station KSNB reports the crash happened Tuesday evening on state Highway 70 about 7 miles east of Westerville. The Custer County Sheriff's Office says the crash happened when a westbound car driven by 58-year-old Peggie Myers, of Broken Bow, crossed the center line, hit another car and burst into flames. Myers was taken to a Broken Bow hospital, where she later died of her injuries. Officials say the 23-year-old driver of the other car was flown to a Kearney hospital, where she remained in critical condition Wednesday morning.

Sheriff: 1 killed in 2-vehicle crash in central Nebraska

TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska prison officials say a staff member at the state prison in Tecumseh was taken to a hospital for treatment after being attacked by an inmate. 

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services says the attack happened Tuesday as the corrections officer was checking to make sure a door was locked.

 Investigators say the inmate punched the officer repeatedly and kneed the officer in the torso. 

Other staff members were able to restrain the inmate, and the injured officer was taken to a local hospital for injuries to his head and torso.

 Prisons officials say the attack came just days after an incident in which three Tecumseh inmates set fire to their cells.

TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska prison officials say a staff member at the state prison in Tecumseh was taken to a hospital for treatment after being attacked by an inmate. The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services says the attack happened Tuesday as the corrections officer was checking to make sure a door was locked. Investigators say the inmate punched the officer repeatedly and kneed the officer in the torso. Other staff members were able to restrain the inmate, and the injured officer was taken to a local hospital for injuries to his head and torso. Prisons officials say the attack came just days after an incident in which three Tecumseh inmates set fire to their cells.

Nebraska officials say inmate attacked prison staffer

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and partners in non-profit 
organizations, churches, community groups and others will host events in
 12 cities this weekend to help people who don't normally file a federal
 tax return to register for the monthly Advance Child Tax Credit 
(AdvCTC) payments.

The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5532.pdf">special events&nbsp;PDF</a>
 by IRS and partner groups to help people quickly file income tax 
returns and register for the advance payments will take place July 9-10,
 2021. Events will be held in Atlanta, New York, Detroit, Houston, Los 
Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Phoenix, St. Louis 
and Washington, DC/Maryland.

"This is part of a wider effort by the IRS to reach as many people as
 possible who don't file a tax return but may be eligible for the Child 
Tax Credit and Economic Impact Payments," said Ken Corbin, IRS Wage and 
Investment Commissioner and the agency's Chief Taxpayer Experience 
Officer. "We encourage people to share this information widely and 
encourage those who need help to visit these locations."

With the help of a new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-non-filer-sign-up-tool">Non-filer Sign-up Tool</a>
 on the IRS website, volunteers and IRS employees will assist eligible 
individuals and families get these important tax credits and benefits. 
This tool, an update of last year's IRS Non-Filers tool, is also 
designed to help individuals register for the $1,400 third round of 
Economic Impact Payments (also known as stimulus checks) and claim the 
Recovery Rebate Credit for any amount of the first two rounds of 
Economic Impact Payments they may have missed. Individuals do not need 
to have children to attend these events and sign up for Economic Impact 
Payments.

People can check their eligibility for the AdvCTC payments by using the new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-eligibility-assistant">Advance Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant</a>.

For this weekend's events, to make the sign-up process go quickly and
 smoothly, people are encouraged to have the following information when 
they come to one of these events: (1) Social Security numbers for their 
children, (2) Social Security numbers or Tax Identification Numbers for 
themselves and their spouse, (3) a reliable mailing address, (4) an 
e-mail address, and (5) their bank account information if they want to 
receive their payment by direct deposit.

The IRS is also planning to do additional events in the future as 
well as work with partners inside and outside the tax community to share
 information as widely as possible to people who may be eligible for 
Child Tax Credits and the Economic Impact Payments. This is part of a 
wider effort to raise awareness of the expanded Child Tax Credit, the 
IRS also encourages its partners to use available <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">online tools and toolkits</a> to help non-filers, low-income families and other underserved groups sign up to receive the AdvCTC.

Some tax credits, such as the Child Tax Credit (CTC), are 
"refundable," meaning that even if taxpayers don't owe income tax, the 
IRS will issue them a refund if they're eligible; but they must file a 
tax return or register with the new Non-filer Sign-up Tool to receive 
it. Some people who haven't filed a 2020 tax return yet are also 
eligible for the $1,400 per person Economic Impact Payments and the 
Recovery Rebate Credit.

The first monthly payments of the expanded and newly-advanceable CTC 
from the American Rescue Plan will be made starting July 15. Most 
families will begin receiving monthly payments without any additional 
action. Eligible families will receive a payment of up to $300 per month
 for each child under age 6, and up to $250 per month for each child 
ages 6 to 17.

People who need to file a 2020 federal income tax return, but are 
unable to attend one of these events, may be able to prepare and file 
their own federal income tax online using IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> if their income is $72,000 or less.

People who don't need to file a 2020 federal tax return can also use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-non-filer-sign-up-tool">Non-filer Sign-up Tool</a> to register to receive the advance CTC payments, the Third Round Economic Impact Payment, and the Recovery Rebate Credit.

The IRS encourages people to request payments via direct deposit, 
which is faster and more secure than other payment methods. People who 
don't have a bank account should visit the <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/about/initiatives/getbanked/index.html">Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation</a> website for details on opening an account online. They can also use the FDIC's <a href="https://banks.data.fdic.gov/bankfind-suite/bankfind">BankFind</a> tool to locate an FDIC-insured bank.

Finally, <a href="https://covidbanking.joinbankon.org/">BankOn</a>, <a href="https://www.aba.com/advocacy/community-programs/consumer-resources/manage-your-money/choosing-safe-affordable-account">American Bankers Association</a>, <a href="https://www.icba.org/about/find-a-community-bank/open-a-bank-account-remotely">Independent Community Bankers of America</a> and <a href="https://www.mycreditunion.gov/about-credit-unions/credit-union-locator">National Credit Union Administration</a> have lists of banks and credit unions that can open an account online. Veterans can see the <a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/banking.asp">Veterans Benefits Banking Program</a> for financial services at participating banks.

The expanded and newly-advanceable Child Tax Credit was authorized by
 the American Rescue Plan Act, enacted in March. Normally, the IRS will 
calculate the payment based on a family's 2020 tax return, including 
those who use the Non-filer Sign-up Tool. If that return is not 
available because it has not yet been filed or is still being processed,
 the IRS will instead determine the initial payment amounts using the 
2019 return or the information entered using the Non-filers tool that 
was available in 2020.

The payment will be up to $300 per month for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child age 6 through 17.

To make sure families have easy access to their money, the IRS will 
issue these payments by direct deposit, as long as correct banking 
information has previously been provided to the IRS. Otherwise, people 
should watch their mail around July 15 for their mailed payment. The 
dates for the Advance Child Tax Credit payments are July 15, Aug. 13, 
Sept. 15, Oct. 15, Nov. 15, and Dec. 15.

To learn more about advance CTC payments, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a> or see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-frequently-asked-questions">FAQs on the 2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRS&nbsp;WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and partners in non-profit 
organizations, churches, community groups and others will host events in
 12 cities this weekend to help people who don't normally file a federal
 tax return to register for the monthly Advance Child Tax Credit 
(AdvCTC) payments.The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5532.pdf">special events&nbsp;PDF</a>
 by IRS and partner groups to help people quickly file income tax 
returns and register for the advance payments will take place July 9-10,
 2021. Events will be held in Atlanta, New York, Detroit, Houston, Los 
Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Phoenix, St. Louis 
and Washington, DC/Maryland."This is part of a wider effort by the IRS to reach as many people as
 possible who don't file a tax return but may be eligible for the Child 
Tax Credit and Economic Impact Payments," said Ken Corbin, IRS Wage and 
Investment Commissioner and the agency's Chief Taxpayer Experience 
Officer. "We encourage people to share this information widely and 
encourage those who need help to visit these locations."With the help of a new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-non-filer-sign-up-tool">Non-filer Sign-up Tool</a>
 on the IRS website, volunteers and IRS employees will assist eligible 
individuals and families get these important tax credits and benefits. 
This tool, an update of last year's IRS Non-Filers tool, is also 
designed to help individuals register for the $1,400 third round of 
Economic Impact Payments (also known as stimulus checks) and claim the 
Recovery Rebate Credit for any amount of the first two rounds of 
Economic Impact Payments they may have missed. Individuals do not need 
to have children to attend these events and sign up for Economic Impact 
Payments.People can check their eligibility for the AdvCTC payments by using the new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-eligibility-assistant">Advance Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant</a>.For this weekend's events, to make the sign-up process go quickly and
 smoothly, people are encouraged to have the following information when 
they come to one of these events: (1) Social Security numbers for their 
children, (2) Social Security numbers or Tax Identification Numbers for 
themselves and their spouse, (3) a reliable mailing address, (4) an 
e-mail address, and (5) their bank account information if they want to 
receive their payment by direct deposit.The IRS is also planning to do additional events in the future as 
well as work with partners inside and outside the tax community to share
 information as widely as possible to people who may be eligible for 
Child Tax Credits and the Economic Impact Payments. This is part of a 
wider effort to raise awareness of the expanded Child Tax Credit, the 
IRS also encourages its partners to use available <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">online tools and toolkits</a> to help non-filers, low-income families and other underserved groups sign up to receive the AdvCTC.Some tax credits, such as the Child Tax Credit (CTC), are 
"refundable," meaning that even if taxpayers don't owe income tax, the 
IRS will issue them a refund if they're eligible; but they must file a 
tax return or register with the new Non-filer Sign-up Tool to receive 
it. Some people who haven't filed a 2020 tax return yet are also 
eligible for the $1,400 per person Economic Impact Payments and the 
Recovery Rebate Credit.The first monthly payments of the expanded and newly-advanceable CTC 
from the American Rescue Plan will be made starting July 15. Most 
families will begin receiving monthly payments without any additional 
action. Eligible families will receive a payment of up to $300 per month
 for each child under age 6, and up to $250 per month for each child 
ages 6 to 17.People who need to file a 2020 federal income tax return, but are 
unable to attend one of these events, may be able to prepare and file 
their own federal income tax online using IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> if their income is $72,000 or less.People who don't need to file a 2020 federal tax return can also use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-non-filer-sign-up-tool">Non-filer Sign-up Tool</a> to register to receive the advance CTC payments, the Third Round Economic Impact Payment, and the Recovery Rebate Credit.The IRS encourages people to request payments via direct deposit, 
which is faster and more secure than other payment methods. People who 
don't have a bank account should visit the <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/about/initiatives/getbanked/index.html">Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation</a> website for details on opening an account online. They can also use the FDIC's <a href="https://banks.data.fdic.gov/bankfind-suite/bankfind">BankFind</a> tool to locate an FDIC-insured bank.Finally, <a href="https://covidbanking.joinbankon.org/">BankOn</a>, <a href="https://www.aba.com/advocacy/community-programs/consumer-resources/manage-your-money/choosing-safe-affordable-account">American Bankers Association</a>, <a href="https://www.icba.org/about/find-a-community-bank/open-a-bank-account-remotely">Independent Community Bankers of America</a> and <a href="https://www.mycreditunion.gov/about-credit-unions/credit-union-locator">National Credit Union Administration</a> have lists of banks and credit unions that can open an account online. Veterans can see the <a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/banking.asp">Veterans Benefits Banking Program</a> for financial services at participating banks.<h2>About the advance Child Tax Credit</h2>The expanded and newly-advanceable Child Tax Credit was authorized by
 the American Rescue Plan Act, enacted in March. Normally, the IRS will 
calculate the payment based on a family's 2020 tax return, including 
those who use the Non-filer Sign-up Tool. If that return is not 
available because it has not yet been filed or is still being processed,
 the IRS will instead determine the initial payment amounts using the 
2019 return or the information entered using the Non-filers tool that 
was available in 2020.The payment will be up to $300 per month for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child age 6 through 17.To make sure families have easy access to their money, the IRS will 
issue these payments by direct deposit, as long as correct banking 
information has previously been provided to the IRS. Otherwise, people 
should watch their mail around July 15 for their mailed payment. The 
dates for the Advance Child Tax Credit payments are July 15, Aug. 13, 
Sept. 15, Oct. 15, Nov. 15, and Dec. 15.To learn more about advance CTC payments, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a> or see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-frequently-asked-questions">FAQs on the 2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments</a>.

Don't normally file taxes? Here's how to get your Child Tax Credit, COVID stimulus payments

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha therapist and mental health advocate announced that she will run in the Democratic primary for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. 

Alisha Shelton says she will seek the party’s nomination to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a three-term Republican in the district that includes Omaha and parts of its suburbs.

 In a statement announcing her run, Shelton says she plans to focus her campaign on jobs, affordable health care and higher wages. 

Shelton would be Nebraska’s first Black member of Congress if elected.

 Bacon has already said he we’ll seek re-election, ruling out the prospect that he might run for governor in 2022.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha therapist and mental health advocate announced that she will run in the Democratic primary for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. Alisha Shelton says she will seek the party’s nomination to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a three-term Republican in the district that includes Omaha and parts of its suburbs. In a statement announcing her run, Shelton says she plans to focus her campaign on jobs, affordable health care and higher wages. Shelton would be Nebraska’s first Black member of Congress if elected. Bacon has already said he we’ll seek re-election, ruling out the prospect that he might run for governor in 2022.

Omaha therapist announces run for Nebraska's 2nd District

ALTOONA, Iowa (AP) — The father of an 11-year-old boy who died following an accident on a popular boat ride at an Iowa amusement park said that his son and other family members were trapped by the ride’s seat belts when the boat carrying them flipped.

In an interview broadcast Tuesday on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” David Jaramillo recounted what happened when the boat capsized Saturday night on the Raging River at Adventureland Park in Altoona.

“When it flipped over, all of us were trapped in the safety seat belts,” he said. “I see the silhouettes of my sons trying to grab each other, grab us. They want us to help them. We couldn’t do it.”

Michael Jaramillo died Sunday from his injuries, and another minor was hospitalized in critical condition, the Altoona Police Department said Monday. Two other riders suffered minor injuries.

“I feel like Adventureland robbed me of my baby,” said Sabrina Jaramillo, Michael’s mother. “I will never get a chance to see him grow up.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625522251378.png" alt="The ride opened for the first time during the 2021 season after a state inspection Friday found it was in sound working order, Adventureland said.-photo courtesy KCCI TV" />
 <figcaption>The ride opened for the first time during the 2021 season after a state inspection Friday found it was in sound working order, Adventureland said.-photo courtesy KCCI TV</figcaption>
 </figure>ALTOONA, Iowa (AP) — The father of an 11-year-old boy who died following an accident on a popular boat ride at an Iowa amusement park said that his son and other family members were trapped by the ride’s seat belts when the boat carrying them flipped.In an interview broadcast Tuesday on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” David Jaramillo recounted what happened when the boat capsized Saturday night on the Raging River at Adventureland Park in Altoona.“When it flipped over, all of us were trapped in the safety seat belts,” he said. “I see the silhouettes of my sons trying to grab each other, grab us. They want us to help them. We couldn’t do it.”Michael Jaramillo died Sunday from his injuries, and another minor was hospitalized in critical condition, the Altoona Police Department said Monday. Two other riders suffered minor injuries.“I feel like Adventureland robbed me of my baby,” said Sabrina Jaramillo, Michael’s mother. “I will never get a chance to see him grow up.”Six people were aboard, authorities said. The morning news program reported that all were family members and that Michael’s older brother was the one hospitalized in critical condition.The cause of the accident — the second deadly incident on the ride in five years — is under investigation. The ride uses a conveyor belt to move large circular rafts through rapids. After the boat overturned, emergency responders and witnesses helped to free the riders.Adventureland said the ride has been closed since the accident and that the family-owned park is cooperating with investigators. Attorney Guy Cook, who represents Adventureland in personal injury cases and is assisting with the park’s response, said the inquiry would be comprehensive.“Safety is the number one priority at Adventureland,” Cook wrote in a text message. “The Raging River ride has been in operation for nearly four decades. It is a safe ride.”The ride opened for the first time during the 2021 season after a state inspection Friday found it was in sound working order, Adventureland said.Altoona is a city of 20,000 people just east of Des Moines. The park, whose roller coasters can be seen from Interstate 80, expects around 600,000 visitors this year.The Raging River has been a staple of the park since 1983, when then-Gov. Terry Branstad took one of the inaugural rides. Adventureland advertises the ride as a “great way to cool off with the whole family,” warning participants may get soaked.In June 2016, seasonal employee Steve Booher, 68, and another worker helping riders in and out of boats were jerked off their feet when the ride began moving unexpectedly. Booher fell onto the conveyor belt about 3 feet (1 meter) below and became wedged between a boat and a concrete sidewall, where his head was repeatedly rammed until the ride’s operator shut it down.Booher died days later. An autopsy found the cause of death was trauma to the skull and brain.The park’s insurer last December also settled a wrongful death lawsuit brought by Booher’s wife of 47 years and their adult children for an undisclosed sum. The lawsuit alleged that the ride operator was negligent by prematurely starting the ride in violation of park rules and leaving it in operation even as Booher was down with injuries and patrons yelled at him to stop.Cook said there was no commonality between the two accidents, but that he could not comment on Saturday’s accident until the investigation is complete.