WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-to-recalculate-taxes-on-unemployment-benefits-refunds-to-start-in-may">will begin issuing refunds</a>
 this week to eligible taxpayers who paid taxes on 2020 unemployment 
compensation that the recently-enacted American Rescue Plan later 
excluded from taxable income.

The IRS identified over 10 million taxpayers who filed their tax 
returns prior to the American Rescue Plan of 2021 becoming law in March 
and is reviewing those tax returns to determine the correct taxable 
amount of unemployment compensation and tax. This could result in a 
refund, a reduced balance due or no change to tax (no refund due nor 
amount owed).

These corrections are being made automatically in a phased approach, 
easing the burden on taxpayers. The first phase is underway and includes
 the simplest returns. The next phase will include the more complex tax 
returns which the IRS anticipates will take through the end of summer to
 review and correct.

The first phase of adjustments is being made for single taxpayers who
 had the simplest tax returns, such as those filed by taxpayers who did 
not claim children or any refundable tax credits.

The IRS will issue refunds resulting from this effort by direct 
deposit for taxpayers who provided bank account information on their 
2020 tax return. If valid bank account information is not available, the
 refund will be mailed as a paper check to the address of record. The 
IRS will continue to send refunds until all identified tax returns have 
been reviewed and adjusted.

These refunds are subject to normal offset rules, such as past-due 
federal tax, state income tax, state unemployment compensation debts, 
child support, spousal support or certain federal nontax debts (i.e., 
student loans). The IRS will send a separate notice to the taxpayer if 
the refund is offset to pay unpaid debts.

The IRS will send taxpayers a notice explaining the corrections, 
which they should expect within thirty days of when the correction is 
made. Taxpayers should keep any notices they receive for their records. 
Taxpayers should review their return after receiving their IRS 
notice(s).

Correction to any Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) without qualifying 
children and the Recovery Rebate Credit are being made automatically as 
part of this process. However, some taxpayers may be eligible for 
certain income-based tax credits not claimed on their original return, 
such as the EITC for their qualifying children. If so, they should file 
an amended tax return if the revised adjusted gross income amount makes 
them eligible for additional benefits.

More complex corrections will begin upon the completion of the first 
phase and involves couples filing as married filing jointly.

Unemployment compensation is taxable income. The American Rescue Plan
 excludes $10,200 in 2020 unemployment compensation from income used to 
calculate the amount of taxes owed. The $10,200 per person exclusion 
applies to taxpayers, single or married filing jointly, with modified 
adjusted gross income of less than $150,000. The $10,200 is the amount 
of income exclusion, not the amount of the refund. Refund amounts will 
vary and not all adjustments will result in a refund.

The legislation also suspends the requirement to repay excess advance payments of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/individuals-and-families/the-premium-tax-credit-the-basics">Premium Tax Credit (excess APTC)</a>.
 If a taxpayer paid an excess APTC repayment amount when they filed 
their 2020 return, the IRS is also refunding this amount automatically. 
If the IRS corrects the taxpayer's account to reflect the unemployment 
income exclusion, the excess APTC amount that the taxpayer paid will be 
included in that adjustment. The IRS is also adjusting accounts for 
those who repaid excess APTC but did not report unemployment 
compensation on their 2020 tax return.

Taxpayers who have not yet filed a tax return should follow the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/new-exclusion-of-up-to-10200-of-unemployment-compensation">guidance for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR</a>, which details how to exclude unemployment compensation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-to-recalculate-taxes-on-unemployment-benefits-refunds-to-start-in-may">will begin issuing refunds</a>
 this week to eligible taxpayers who paid taxes on 2020 unemployment 
compensation that the recently-enacted American Rescue Plan later 
excluded from taxable income.The IRS identified over 10 million taxpayers who filed their tax 
returns prior to the American Rescue Plan of 2021 becoming law in March 
and is reviewing those tax returns to determine the correct taxable 
amount of unemployment compensation and tax. This could result in a 
refund, a reduced balance due or no change to tax (no refund due nor 
amount owed).These corrections are being made automatically in a phased approach, 
easing the burden on taxpayers. The first phase is underway and includes
 the simplest returns. The next phase will include the more complex tax 
returns which the IRS anticipates will take through the end of summer to
 review and correct.The first phase of adjustments is being made for single taxpayers who
 had the simplest tax returns, such as those filed by taxpayers who did 
not claim children or any refundable tax credits.The IRS will issue refunds resulting from this effort by direct 
deposit for taxpayers who provided bank account information on their 
2020 tax return. If valid bank account information is not available, the
 refund will be mailed as a paper check to the address of record. The 
IRS will continue to send refunds until all identified tax returns have 
been reviewed and adjusted.These refunds are subject to normal offset rules, such as past-due 
federal tax, state income tax, state unemployment compensation debts, 
child support, spousal support or certain federal nontax debts (i.e., 
student loans). The IRS will send a separate notice to the taxpayer if 
the refund is offset to pay unpaid debts.The IRS will send taxpayers a notice explaining the corrections, 
which they should expect within thirty days of when the correction is 
made. Taxpayers should keep any notices they receive for their records. 
Taxpayers should review their return after receiving their IRS 
notice(s).Correction to any Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) without qualifying 
children and the Recovery Rebate Credit are being made automatically as 
part of this process. However, some taxpayers may be eligible for 
certain income-based tax credits not claimed on their original return, 
such as the EITC for their qualifying children. If so, they should file 
an amended tax return if the revised adjusted gross income amount makes 
them eligible for additional benefits.More complex corrections will begin upon the completion of the first 
phase and involves couples filing as married filing jointly.Unemployment compensation is taxable income. The American Rescue Plan
 excludes $10,200 in 2020 unemployment compensation from income used to 
calculate the amount of taxes owed. The $10,200 per person exclusion 
applies to taxpayers, single or married filing jointly, with modified 
adjusted gross income of less than $150,000. The $10,200 is the amount 
of income exclusion, not the amount of the refund. Refund amounts will 
vary and not all adjustments will result in a refund.The legislation also suspends the requirement to repay excess advance payments of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/individuals-and-families/the-premium-tax-credit-the-basics">Premium Tax Credit (excess APTC)</a>.
 If a taxpayer paid an excess APTC repayment amount when they filed 
their 2020 return, the IRS is also refunding this amount automatically. 
If the IRS corrects the taxpayer's account to reflect the unemployment 
income exclusion, the excess APTC amount that the taxpayer paid will be 
included in that adjustment. The IRS is also adjusting accounts for 
those who repaid excess APTC but did not report unemployment 
compensation on their 2020 tax return.Taxpayers who have not yet filed a tax return should follow the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/new-exclusion-of-up-to-10200-of-unemployment-compensation">guidance for Forms 1040 and 1040-SR</a>, which details how to exclude unemployment compensation.<h2>For additional information</h2><ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-treatment-of-unemployment-compensation">Tax Treatment of Unemployment Compensation</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2020-unemployment-compensation-exclusion-faqs">Unemployment Compensation Exclusion FAQs</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/individuals-and-families/the-premium-tax-credit-the-basics">Tax Year 2020: Requirement to repay excess advance payments of the Premium Tax Credit is suspended</a></li>
 </ul>

IRS begins correcting tax returns for unemployment payments

WASHINGTON (AP) — A national <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/ntas/advisory/national-terrorism-advisory-system-bulletin-may-14-2021">terrorism alert issued</a> Friday warns that violent extremists may take advantage of the easing of pandemic restrictions to conduct attacks.

<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/ntas/advisory/national-terrorism-advisory-system-bulletin-may-14-2021">Click here to read</a> the advisory

The alert does not cite any specific threats. But it warns of potential danger from an increasingly complex and volatile mix that includes domestic terrorists inspired by various grievances, racial or ethnic hatred and influences from abroad.

Those threats were exacerbated by COVID-19, which spawned conspiracy theories and deepened anger at the government in some quarters over the shutdown of the economy. As virus conditions improve, the alert says new dangers loom.

“Violent extremists may seek to exploit the easing of COVID-19-related restrictions across the United States to conduct attacks against a broader range of targets after previous public capacity limits reduced opportunities for lethal attacks,” the bulletin said.

Without naming any specific potential targets, it notes that, historically, extremists motivated by racial and ethnic hatred have targeted religious institutions and crowded businesses or gatherings.

The National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin issued by the Department of Homeland Security is an extension of one issued earlier this year in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. That alert was due to expire Saturday.

It reflects a sense of anxiety over domestic extremists, particularly those motivated by racial and ethnic hatred, that has been building for months, even under the previous administration, with repeated warnings from DHS and the Justice Department.

Concern over the domestic extremists has to a certain degree eclipsed the focus on foreign terrorist organizations such as al-Qaida and the Islamic State, though the alert warns that both groups still try to inspire homegrown attacks.

Added to the mix are adversaries such as Russia, China and Iran, which the alert says are amplifying conspiracy theories about the origins of COVID-19 and calls for violence against people of Asian descent.

“Today’s terrorism-related threat landscape is more complex, more dynamic, and more diversified than it was several years ago,” DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in releasing the new bulletin.

Both Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland testified to a Senate committee this week that “racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists” pose the greatest domestic threat to the country at the moment.

DHS and the FBI are providing guidance and other assistance to state and local law enforcement organizations to deal with the threat.

DHS has also established a new domestic terrorism branch within its Office of Intelligence and Analysis and has directed state and local governments to use 7.5% of annual grant money issued by the agency to deal with the threat.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A national <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/ntas/advisory/national-terrorism-advisory-system-bulletin-may-14-2021">terrorism alert issued</a> Friday warns that violent extremists may take advantage of the easing of pandemic restrictions to conduct attacks.<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/ntas/advisory/national-terrorism-advisory-system-bulletin-may-14-2021">Click here to read</a> the advisoryThe alert does not cite any specific threats. But it warns of potential danger from an increasingly complex and volatile mix that includes domestic terrorists inspired by various grievances, racial or ethnic hatred and influences from abroad.Those threats were exacerbated by COVID-19, which spawned conspiracy theories and deepened anger at the government in some quarters over the shutdown of the economy. As virus conditions improve, the alert says new dangers loom.“Violent extremists may seek to exploit the easing of COVID-19-related restrictions across the United States to conduct attacks against a broader range of targets after previous public capacity limits reduced opportunities for lethal attacks,” the bulletin said.Without naming any specific potential targets, it notes that, historically, extremists motivated by racial and ethnic hatred have targeted religious institutions and crowded businesses or gatherings.The National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin issued by the Department of Homeland Security is an extension of one issued earlier this year in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. That alert was due to expire Saturday.It reflects a sense of anxiety over domestic extremists, particularly those motivated by racial and ethnic hatred, that has been building for months, even under the previous administration, with repeated warnings from DHS and the Justice Department.Concern over the domestic extremists has to a certain degree eclipsed the focus on foreign terrorist organizations such as al-Qaida and the Islamic State, though the alert warns that both groups still try to inspire homegrown attacks.Added to the mix are adversaries such as Russia, China and Iran, which the alert says are amplifying conspiracy theories about the origins of COVID-19 and calls for violence against people of Asian descent.“Today’s terrorism-related threat landscape is more complex, more dynamic, and more diversified than it was several years ago,” DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in releasing the new bulletin.Both Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland testified to a Senate committee this week that “racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists” pose the greatest domestic threat to the country at the moment.DHS and the FBI are providing guidance and other assistance to state and local law enforcement organizations to deal with the threat.DHS has also established a new domestic terrorism branch within its Office of Intelligence and Analysis and has directed state and local governments to use 7.5% of annual grant money issued by the agency to deal with the threat.

National terrorism alert: US warns as virus restrictions ease

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha man has been sentenced to 10 to 12 years in prison for the shooting death last year of his friend. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that 20-year-old Keat Thon was sentenced Thursday for the July 30 shooting death of 19-year-old Nuer Yuek in the basement of Yuek's home. 

Thon had earlier pleaded guilty to manslaughter. 

Police say Thon attempted to hide evidence in the shooting and told varying accounts of what happened before finally telling investigators that he and Yuek had been passing a gun back and forth and pointing it at each other. 

Police say Thon said he thought the gun was unloaded when he pointed it at Yuek's chest and pulled the trigger.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621016579866.png" alt="Thon" />
 <figcaption>Thon</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha man has been sentenced to 10 to 12 years in prison for the shooting death last year of his friend. The Omaha World-Herald reports that 20-year-old Keat Thon was sentenced Thursday for the July 30 shooting death of 19-year-old Nuer Yuek in the basement of Yuek's home. Thon had earlier pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Police say Thon attempted to hide evidence in the shooting and told varying accounts of what happened before finally telling investigators that he and Yuek had been passing a gun back and forth and pointing it at each other. Police say Thon said he thought the gun was unloaded when he pointed it at Yuek's chest and pulled the trigger.

Omaha man sentenced to prison for friend's shooting death

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska authorities have reached an out-of-court settlement with an Omaha mental health provider accused of submitting false Medicaid reimbursement claims. 

Kathleen Wiley agreed to pay $200,000 under the agreement in exchange for the state dropping a civil lawsuit. Wiley admitted no wrongdoing. 

State officials had accused Wiley of submitting 1,201 claims totaling $109,274 to Nebraska Medicaid or its contractor between September 2013 and December 2018 without proper documentation. 

State law allows authorities to recover triple the amount that was paid to a provider like Wiley.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1560216903799.png" alt="Peterson" />
 <figcaption>Peterson</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska authorities have reached an out-of-court settlement with an Omaha mental health provider accused of submitting false Medicaid reimbursement claims. Kathleen Wiley agreed to pay $200,000 under the agreement in exchange for the state dropping a civil lawsuit. Wiley admitted no wrongdoing. State officials had accused Wiley of submitting 1,201 claims totaling $109,274 to Nebraska Medicaid or its contractor between September 2013 and December 2018 without proper documentation. State law allows authorities to recover triple the amount that was paid to a provider like Wiley.

Nebraska AG reaches $200,000 settlement with Omaha provider

Kansas State Department of Education

TOPEKA — In a world that recently has been filled with so many struggles and challenges, Jaqui Ortega wanted to acknowledge the beauty all around her. She found it in the halls of her high school in southeast Topeka – and she is sharing it with the world.

The Highland Park High School junior recently created a video highlighting the beauty of her classmates, and it has gone viral. The video, found on the school’s student newspaper Facebook page (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=283826493333511">https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=283826493333511</a>), started out as a monthly newspaper project for the 17-year-old journalism/yearbook student.

“I was thinking, ‘What can I do for this month?’ I saw this video on YouTube, and I decided to just go around and make people happy,” she said.

The YouTube video Jaqui drew inspiration from was of someone telling others they were beautiful. Jaqui thought it was great idea - it would cover her project for the month of April and make people feel good at the same time. Her journalism teacher, Steve Berklund, wasn’t so sure.

“I thought it sounded kind of awkward,” Berklund said. “It turned out super well. I had no idea it was going to be so big. I thought it would get a couple hundred views.”

“We do stories all of the time,” Jaqui said. “They get 20 likes. I had no idea it was going to be so big. It’s the biggest video on our page.”

In just a few weeks, the video has received more than 200 likes, has been shared more than 145 times and has been viewed nearly 9,500 times.

Jaqui’s video captures the reactions of classmates, teachers and staff members as she tells them they are beautiful. She received many different reactions – from tears to nervous giggles and all-out laughter.

“It’s always been my goal to make others happy,” Jaqui said.

“Jaqui is an exceptional student with a tremendous vision of what she wants to do,” he said. “I’m super proud of her. Highland park is super proud of her.”

Jaqui has a lot on her plate. She has five siblings – 18, 11, 9, 3 and 2, works 20 to 30 hours per week and is in theater and choir. She also is a cheerleader, serves on the student council and will be school president next year. The talented teen plays six instruments – flute, piccolo, violin, piano, guitar and ukulele.

“Music has always been my goal,” she said.

After graduation from Highland Park, Jaqui plans to attend the University of Kansas in Lawrence to major in music therapy.

The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other social challenges, have impacted students socially and academically, Jaqui and Berklund said.

“Our old normal isn’t normal anymore,” Jaqui said. “People need some uplifting right now – even me. It’s been hard and challenging. People need positivity. I hope the video has helped.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620999843147.jpeg" alt="Jaqui Ortega, 17, a junior at Highland Park High School in Topeka, works on a yearbook page in the school’s journalism room. A video Jaqui created has garnered more attention than she ever thought." />
 <figcaption>Jaqui Ortega, 17, a junior at Highland Park High School in Topeka, works on a yearbook page in the school’s journalism room. A video Jaqui created has garnered more attention than she ever thought.</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State Department of EducationTOPEKA — In a world that recently has been filled with so many struggles and challenges, Jaqui Ortega wanted to acknowledge the beauty all around her. She found it in the halls of her high school in southeast Topeka – and she is sharing it with the world.The Highland Park High School junior recently created a video highlighting the beauty of her classmates, and it has gone viral. The video, found on the school’s student newspaper Facebook page (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=283826493333511">https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=283826493333511</a>), started out as a monthly newspaper project for the 17-year-old journalism/yearbook student.“I was thinking, ‘What can I do for this month?’ I saw this video on YouTube, and I decided to just go around and make people happy,” she said.The YouTube video Jaqui drew inspiration from was of someone telling others they were beautiful. Jaqui thought it was great idea - it would cover her project for the month of April and make people feel good at the same time. Her journalism teacher, Steve Berklund, wasn’t so sure.“I thought it sounded kind of awkward,” Berklund said. “It turned out super well. I had no idea it was going to be so big. I thought it would get a couple hundred views.”Jaqui thought the same.They were both wrong.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620999921177.jpeg" alt="Jaqui Ortega, 17, a junior at Highland Park High School in Topeka, created a video that has garnered more attention than she ever thought. She created the video for her yearbook/journalism class." />
 <figcaption>Jaqui Ortega, 17, a junior at Highland Park High School in Topeka, created a video that has garnered more attention than she ever thought. She created the video for her yearbook/journalism class.</figcaption>
 </figure>“We do stories all of the time,” Jaqui said. “They get 20 likes. I had no idea it was going to be so big. It’s the biggest video on our page.”In just a few weeks, the video has received more than 200 likes, has been shared more than 145 times and has been viewed nearly 9,500 times.Jaqui’s video captures the reactions of classmates, teachers and staff members as she tells them they are beautiful. She received many different reactions – from tears to nervous giggles and all-out laughter.“It’s always been my goal to make others happy,” Jaqui said.And she does, Berklund said.“Jaqui is an exceptional student with a tremendous vision of what she wants to do,” he said. “I’m super proud of her. Highland park is super proud of her.”Jaqui has a lot on her plate. She has five siblings – 18, 11, 9, 3 and 2, works 20 to 30 hours per week and is in theater and choir. She also is a cheerleader, serves on the student council and will be school president next year. The talented teen plays six instruments – flute, piccolo, violin, piano, guitar and ukulele.“Music has always been my goal,” she said.After graduation from Highland Park, Jaqui plans to attend the University of Kansas in Lawrence to major in music therapy.The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other social challenges, have impacted students socially and academically, Jaqui and Berklund said.“Our old normal isn’t normal anymore,” Jaqui said. “People need some uplifting right now – even me. It’s been hard and challenging. People need positivity. I hope the video has helped.”

Kan. student's video project goes viral, spreads joy

BOSTON (AP) —The nation’s largest fuel pipeline is flowing again after the company that runs it was hit by a gang of hackers. But long lines remain at gas stations throughout the Southeast. 

An outside audit three years ago of the major East Coast pipeline company hit by a cyberattack found “atrocious” information management practices and “a patchwork of poorly connected and secured systems,” its author told The Associated Press.

“We found glaring deficiencies and big problems,” said Robert F. Smallwood, whose consulting firm delivered an 89-page report in January 2018 after a six-month audit. “I mean an eighth-grader could have hacked into that system.”

How far the company, Colonial Pipeline, went to address the vulnerabilities isn’t clear. Colonial said Wednesday that since 2017, it has hired four independent firms for cybersecurity risk assessments and increased its overall IT spending by more than 50%. While it did not specify an amount, it said it has spent tens of millions of dollars.

“We are constantly assessing and improving our security practices — both physical and digital,” the privately held Georgia company said in response to questions from the AP about the audit’s findings. It did not name the firms who did cybersecurity work but one firm, Rausch Advisory Services, located in Atlanta near Colonial’s headquarters, acknowledged being among them. Colonial’s chief information officer sits on Rausch’s advisory board.

Colonial has not said how the hackers penetrated its network. How vulnerable it was to compromise is sure to be intensely scrutinized by federal authorities and cybersecurity experts as they consider how the most damaging cyberattack on U.S. critical infrastructure might have been prevented.

Friday’s pipeline shutdown&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-government-and-politics-technology-business-938b33938fe3a750367fb1dc2f7ce6e0">has led to distribution problems and panic-buying</a>, draining supplies at thousands of gas stations in the Southeast. Colonial said it initiated the restart of pipeline operations on Wednesday afternoon and that it would take several days for supply delivery to return to normal.

Ransomware&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-canada-health-coronavirus-technology-288c8979c10b648ba72a4b0fc34b02ac">attacks have reached epidemic levels</a>&nbsp;as foreign criminal gangs paralyze computer networks at state and local governments, police departments, hospitals and universities — demanding large sums to decrypt the data. Many organizations have failed to invest in the safeguards needed to fend off such attacks, though U.S. officials worry even more about state-backed foreign hackers doing more serious damage.

Any shortcomings by Colonial would be especially egregious given its critical role in the U.S. energy system, providing the East Coast with 45% of its gasoline, jet fuel and other petroleum products.

Smallwood, a partner at iMERGE and managing director of the Institute for Information Governance, said he prepared a 24-month, $1.3 million plan for Colonial. While&nbsp;<a href="https://imergeconsulting.com/" target="_blank">iMERGE’s&nbsp;</a>audit was not directly focused on cybersecurity “we found many security issues, and that was put in the report.”

Colonial’s statements Wednesday suggest it may have heeded a number of Smallwood’s recommendations. In addition, it says it has active monitoring and overlapping threat-detection systems on its network and identified the ransomware attack “as soon as we learned of it.” Colonial said its IT network is strictly segregated from pipeline control systems, which were not affected by the ransomware.

Unlike electrical utilities, the pipeline industry is not subject to mandatory cybersecurity standards, which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission chair, Richard Glick, called for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/news/statement-ferc-chairman-richard-glick-chairman-glick-and-commissioner-clements" target="_blank">in a statement Tuesday.</a>

Smallwood’s study was not a cybersecurity audit. It focused on ensuring smooth operations and preventing data theft, which is exactly what Colonial suffered last week. Colonial is not saying what the cybercriminals took before activating the ransomware.

The hackers, from a Russian-speaking syndicate called DarkSide, steal data before locking up networks to doubly extort victims. If a victim refuses to pay, they not only refuse to unscramble the data, they threaten to release sensitive material online. Colonial has not said whether it paid DarkSide.

Smallwood read portions of his report to the AP but would not share it because he said some of the content is confidential. He said he was paid about $50,000 for it.

He cited, for example, Colonial’s inability to locate a particular maintenance document. “You’re supposed to be able to find it within 15 minutes. It took them three weeks.”

Locating such a document could be crucial in responding to an accident or keeping up-to-date pipeline inspection records to prevent leaks, Smallwood said.

Colonial experienced one of the worst&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/environment-charlotte-north-carolina-277ce79717606631bc1aa608b33524f6">gasoline spills&nbsp;</a>in U.S. history last August, contaminating&nbsp;<a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/161498/huntersville-north-carolina-colonial-pipeline-spill" target="_blank">a nature preserve north of Charlotte</a>&nbsp;. After it was discovered by two teenagers, the spill’s severity was not immediately clear as Colonial’s initial reports indicated a far lower volume. North Carolina environmental regulators angrily called the company’s failure to promptly provide reliable data&nbsp;<a href="https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article250759789.html" target="_blank">unacceptable.&nbsp;</a>Colonial says it released the best available data on spill volume as the discovery progressed.

Separately, shippers have complained to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that Colonial inflated what it spends on pipeline integrity to deflect accusations it overcharges them. Colonial rejects this, citing the rising costs of safely maintaining its system.

Bill Caram, executive director of the nonprofit watchdog Pipeline Safety Trust, called worrisome the allegations of deficient IT management, piecemeal spill reporting and pipeline integrity issues.

“I think all these things just could paint a picture of the culture at Colonial maybe not taking risks seriously enough,” he said.

Smallwood said he was reluctant to go public about the Colonial audit for fear of alienating future clients “but the gravity of the situation demands that the public know just how fragile some of these systems within our infrastructure are.”

One of his main recommendations was that Colonial hire a chief information security officer, a position that cybersecurity experts consider essential in any company with infrastructure vital to national security. Colonial said it instead assigned those responsibilities to a subordinate of chief information officer Marie Mouchet.

Mouchet was on the advisory board of Rausch when it did a cybersecurity study for Colonial concurrent to Smallwood’s audit. Asked if that might present a conflict of interest, Rausch CEO Michael Lisenby said Mochet’s advisory board seat is an unpaid, voluntary position.

Smallwood’s recommendations included a data loss prevention program to ensure highly confidential, marketable data — such as details on how the pipeline is used — could not be easily removed.

Colonial says it has strengthened data-loss-prevention defenses with three different software tools that provide alerts when data leaves the network.

Smallwood said he found no security-awareness training, which mostly teaches employees not to fall victim to phishing, the cause of more than 90% of cyber-intrusions. But Colonial said its expanded cybersecurity regime includes regular simulated phishing campaigns for employees.

The audit “covered environmental procurement, legal risk, business development, asset integrity, accounting and tax safety operations, information technology, (Microsoft) SharePoint and human resources. And so it was a very comprehensive assessment,” said Smallwood.

Originally founded by nine oil companies in 1962, Colonial is privately held. It’s owners include a pair of private equity firms, a Canadian fund manager, a Koch Industries subsidiary and a subsidiary of Shell Midstream Partners. The company does not release earnings or revenue figures.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620643205978.png" alt="&nbsp;The pipeline system spans more than 5,500 miles between Houston, Texas and Linden, New Jersey-image courtesy Colonial Pipeline" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;The pipeline system spans more than 5,500 miles between Houston, Texas and Linden, New Jersey-image courtesy Colonial Pipeline</figcaption>
 </figure>BOSTON (AP) —The nation’s largest fuel pipeline is flowing again after the company that runs it was hit by a gang of hackers. But long lines remain at gas stations throughout the Southeast. An outside audit three years ago of the major East Coast pipeline company hit by a cyberattack found “atrocious” information management practices and “a patchwork of poorly connected and secured systems,” its author told The Associated Press.“We found glaring deficiencies and big problems,” said Robert F. Smallwood, whose consulting firm delivered an 89-page report in January 2018 after a six-month audit. “I mean an eighth-grader could have hacked into that system.”How far the company, Colonial Pipeline, went to address the vulnerabilities isn’t clear. Colonial said Wednesday that since 2017, it has hired four independent firms for cybersecurity risk assessments and increased its overall IT spending by more than 50%. While it did not specify an amount, it said it has spent tens of millions of dollars.“We are constantly assessing and improving our security practices — both physical and digital,” the privately held Georgia company said in response to questions from the AP about the audit’s findings. It did not name the firms who did cybersecurity work but one firm, Rausch Advisory Services, located in Atlanta near Colonial’s headquarters, acknowledged being among them. Colonial’s chief information officer sits on Rausch’s advisory board.Colonial has not said how the hackers penetrated its network. How vulnerable it was to compromise is sure to be intensely scrutinized by federal authorities and cybersecurity experts as they consider how the most damaging cyberattack on U.S. critical infrastructure might have been prevented.Friday’s pipeline shutdown&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-government-and-politics-technology-business-938b33938fe3a750367fb1dc2f7ce6e0">has led to distribution problems and panic-buying</a>, draining supplies at thousands of gas stations in the Southeast. Colonial said it initiated the restart of pipeline operations on Wednesday afternoon and that it would take several days for supply delivery to return to normal.Ransomware&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-canada-health-coronavirus-technology-288c8979c10b648ba72a4b0fc34b02ac">attacks have reached epidemic levels</a>&nbsp;as foreign criminal gangs paralyze computer networks at state and local governments, police departments, hospitals and universities — demanding large sums to decrypt the data. Many organizations have failed to invest in the safeguards needed to fend off such attacks, though U.S. officials worry even more about state-backed foreign hackers doing more serious damage.Any shortcomings by Colonial would be especially egregious given its critical role in the U.S. energy system, providing the East Coast with 45% of its gasoline, jet fuel and other petroleum products.Smallwood, a partner at iMERGE and managing director of the Institute for Information Governance, said he prepared a 24-month, $1.3 million plan for Colonial. While&nbsp;<a href="https://imergeconsulting.com/" target="_blank">iMERGE’s&nbsp;</a>audit was not directly focused on cybersecurity “we found many security issues, and that was put in the report.”Colonial’s statements Wednesday suggest it may have heeded a number of Smallwood’s recommendations. In addition, it says it has active monitoring and overlapping threat-detection systems on its network and identified the ransomware attack “as soon as we learned of it.” Colonial said its IT network is strictly segregated from pipeline control systems, which were not affected by the ransomware.Unlike electrical utilities, the pipeline industry is not subject to mandatory cybersecurity standards, which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission chair, Richard Glick, called for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/news/statement-ferc-chairman-richard-glick-chairman-glick-and-commissioner-clements" target="_blank">in a statement Tuesday.</a>Smallwood’s study was not a cybersecurity audit. It focused on ensuring smooth operations and preventing data theft, which is exactly what Colonial suffered last week. Colonial is not saying what the cybercriminals took before activating the ransomware.The hackers, from a Russian-speaking syndicate called DarkSide, steal data before locking up networks to doubly extort victims. If a victim refuses to pay, they not only refuse to unscramble the data, they threaten to release sensitive material online. Colonial has not said whether it paid DarkSide.Smallwood read portions of his report to the AP but would not share it because he said some of the content is confidential. He said he was paid about $50,000 for it.He cited, for example, Colonial’s inability to locate a particular maintenance document. “You’re supposed to be able to find it within 15 minutes. It took them three weeks.”Locating such a document could be crucial in responding to an accident or keeping up-to-date pipeline inspection records to prevent leaks, Smallwood said.Colonial experienced one of the worst&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/environment-charlotte-north-carolina-277ce79717606631bc1aa608b33524f6">gasoline spills&nbsp;</a>in U.S. history last August, contaminating&nbsp;<a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/161498/huntersville-north-carolina-colonial-pipeline-spill" target="_blank">a nature preserve north of Charlotte</a>&nbsp;. After it was discovered by two teenagers, the spill’s severity was not immediately clear as Colonial’s initial reports indicated a far lower volume. North Carolina environmental regulators angrily called the company’s failure to promptly provide reliable data&nbsp;<a href="https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article250759789.html" target="_blank">unacceptable.&nbsp;</a>Colonial says it released the best available data on spill volume as the discovery progressed.Separately, shippers have complained to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that Colonial inflated what it spends on pipeline integrity to deflect accusations it overcharges them. Colonial rejects this, citing the rising costs of safely maintaining its system.Bill Caram, executive director of the nonprofit watchdog Pipeline Safety Trust, called worrisome the allegations of deficient IT management, piecemeal spill reporting and pipeline integrity issues.“I think all these things just could paint a picture of the culture at Colonial maybe not taking risks seriously enough,” he said.Smallwood said he was reluctant to go public about the Colonial audit for fear of alienating future clients “but the gravity of the situation demands that the public know just how fragile some of these systems within our infrastructure are.”One of his main recommendations was that Colonial hire a chief information security officer, a position that cybersecurity experts consider essential in any company with infrastructure vital to national security. Colonial said it instead assigned those responsibilities to a subordinate of chief information officer Marie Mouchet.Mouchet was on the advisory board of Rausch when it did a cybersecurity study for Colonial concurrent to Smallwood’s audit. Asked if that might present a conflict of interest, Rausch CEO Michael Lisenby said Mochet’s advisory board seat is an unpaid, voluntary position.Smallwood’s recommendations included a data loss prevention program to ensure highly confidential, marketable data — such as details on how the pipeline is used — could not be easily removed.Colonial says it has strengthened data-loss-prevention defenses with three different software tools that provide alerts when data leaves the network.Smallwood said he found no security-awareness training, which mostly teaches employees not to fall victim to phishing, the cause of more than 90% of cyber-intrusions. But Colonial said its expanded cybersecurity regime includes regular simulated phishing campaigns for employees.The audit “covered environmental procurement, legal risk, business development, asset integrity, accounting and tax safety operations, information technology, (Microsoft) SharePoint and human resources. And so it was a very comprehensive assessment,” said Smallwood.Originally founded by nine oil companies in 1962, Colonial is privately held. It’s owners include a pair of private equity firms, a Canadian fund manager, a Koch Industries subsidiary and a subsidiary of Shell Midstream Partners. The company does not release earnings or revenue figures.___

Report: '8th-grader could have hacked' nation's largest fuel pipeline

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a major step toward returning to pre-pandemic life, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people on Thursday, allowing them to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings.

Governor Laura Kelly said Kansas will adopt the CDC guidance. "Fully-vaccinated Kansans are no longer required to wear masks indoors or outdoors or physically distance, except in circumstances such as those required by businesses, public transportation, or health care facilities. Should fully-vaccinated Kansans feel more comfortable wearing a mask, they are welcome to continue doing&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?511762-1/president-biden-speaks-rose-garden-cdc-eases-mask-wearing-guidelines">Click here to watch</a> the President's comments

“Today is a great day for America,” President Joe Biden said during a Rose Garden address heralding the new guidance.

The guidance still calls for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters but it will help clear the way for reopening workplaces, schools, and other venues — even removing the need for social distancing for those who are fully vaccinated.

“We have all longed for this moment — when we can get back to some sense of normalcy,” said Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said at an earlier White House briefing.

The CDC and the Biden administration have faced pressure to ease restrictions on fully vaccinated people — those who are two weeks past their last required COVID-19 vaccine dose — in part to highlight the benefits of getting the shot.

The country’s aggressive vaccination campaign has paid off: U.S. virus cases are at their lowest rate since September, deaths are at their lowest point since last April and the test positivity rate is at the lowest point since the pandemic began.

Walensky said the long-awaited change is thanks to the millions of people who have gotten vaccinated and is based on the latest science about how well those shots are working.

“Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities -– large or small — without wearing a mask or physically distancing,” Walensky said. “If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing the things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic.”

The new guidance is likely to open the door to confusion, since there is no surefire way for businesses or others to distinguish between those who are fully vaccinated and those who are not. Walensky said those who are not fully vaccinated should continue to wear masks indoors.

To date about 154 million Americans, more than 46% of the population, have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and more than 117 million are fully vaccinated. The rate of new vaccinations has slowed in recent weeks, but with the authorization Wednesday of the Pfizer shot for children ages 12 to 15, a new burst of doses is expected in the coming days.

Just two weeks ago, the CDC recommended that fully vaccinated people continue to wear masks indoors in all settings and outdoors in large crowds.

Walensky said evidence from the U.S. and Israel shows the vaccines are as strongly protective in real world use as they were in earlier studies, and that so far they continue to work even though some worrying mutated versions of the virus are spreading.

The more people continue to get vaccinated, the faster infections will drop — and the harder it will be for the virus to mutate enough to escape vaccines, she stressed, urging everyone 12 and older who’s not yet vaccinated to sign up.

And while some people still get COVID-19 despite being vaccinated, Walensky said, that’s rare. She cited evidence that those infections tend to be milder, shorter and harder to spread to others. If people who are vaccinated do develop COVID-19 symptoms, they should immediately put their mask back on and get tested, she said.

There are some caveats. Walensky encouraged people who have weak immune systems, such as from organ transplants or cancer treatment, to talk with their doctors before shedding their masks. That’s because of continued uncertainty about whether the vaccines can rev up a weakened immune system as well as they do normal, healthy ones.

The new guidance had an immediate effect at the White House, which has taken a cautious approach to easing virus restrictions. Staffers were informed that masks are no longer required for people who are fully vaccinated. And Biden, who was meeting with vaccinated Republican lawmakers in the Oval Office when the guidance was announced, led the group in removing their masks Thursday afternoon.

First lady Jill Biden, who was traveling in West Virginia, told reporters that “we feel naked,” after the guidance, as she and her party removed their face coverings. Then she paused. “I didn’t mean it that way!”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620937926737.png" alt="“Today is a great day for America,” President Joe Biden said during a Rose Garden address with Vice President Harris heralding the new guidance.-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>“Today is a great day for America,” President Joe Biden said during a Rose Garden address with Vice President Harris heralding the new guidance.-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — In a major step toward returning to pre-pandemic life, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people on Thursday, allowing them to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings.Governor Laura Kelly said Kansas will adopt the CDC guidance. "Fully-vaccinated Kansans are no longer required to wear masks indoors or outdoors or physically distance, except in circumstances such as those required by businesses, public transportation, or health care facilities. Should fully-vaccinated Kansans feel more comfortable wearing a mask, they are welcome to continue doing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?511762-1/president-biden-speaks-rose-garden-cdc-eases-mask-wearing-guidelines">Click here to watch</a> the President's comments“Today is a great day for America,” President Joe Biden said during a Rose Garden address heralding the new guidance.The guidance still calls for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters but it will help clear the way for reopening workplaces, schools, and other venues — even removing the need for social distancing for those who are fully vaccinated.“We have all longed for this moment — when we can get back to some sense of normalcy,” said Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said at an earlier White House briefing.The CDC and the Biden administration have faced pressure to ease restrictions on fully vaccinated people — those who are two weeks past their last required COVID-19 vaccine dose — in part to highlight the benefits of getting the shot.The country’s aggressive vaccination campaign has paid off: U.S. virus cases are at their lowest rate since September, deaths are at their lowest point since last April and the test positivity rate is at the lowest point since the pandemic began.Walensky said the long-awaited change is thanks to the millions of people who have gotten vaccinated and is based on the latest science about how well those shots are working.“Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities -– large or small — without wearing a mask or physically distancing,” Walensky said. “If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing the things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic.”The new guidance is likely to open the door to confusion, since there is no surefire way for businesses or others to distinguish between those who are fully vaccinated and those who are not. Walensky said those who are not fully vaccinated should continue to wear masks indoors.To date about 154 million Americans, more than 46% of the population, have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and more than 117 million are fully vaccinated. The rate of new vaccinations has slowed in recent weeks, but with the authorization Wednesday of the Pfizer shot for children ages 12 to 15, a new burst of doses is expected in the coming days.Just two weeks ago, the CDC recommended that fully vaccinated people continue to wear masks indoors in all settings and outdoors in large crowds.Walensky said evidence from the U.S. and Israel shows the vaccines are as strongly protective in real world use as they were in earlier studies, and that so far they continue to work even though some worrying mutated versions of the virus are spreading.The more people continue to get vaccinated, the faster infections will drop — and the harder it will be for the virus to mutate enough to escape vaccines, she stressed, urging everyone 12 and older who’s not yet vaccinated to sign up.And while some people still get COVID-19 despite being vaccinated, Walensky said, that’s rare. She cited evidence that those infections tend to be milder, shorter and harder to spread to others. If people who are vaccinated do develop COVID-19 symptoms, they should immediately put their mask back on and get tested, she said.There are some caveats. Walensky encouraged people who have weak immune systems, such as from organ transplants or cancer treatment, to talk with their doctors before shedding their masks. That’s because of continued uncertainty about whether the vaccines can rev up a weakened immune system as well as they do normal, healthy ones.The new guidance had an immediate effect at the White House, which has taken a cautious approach to easing virus restrictions. Staffers were informed that masks are no longer required for people who are fully vaccinated. And Biden, who was meeting with vaccinated Republican lawmakers in the Oval Office when the guidance was announced, led the group in removing their masks Thursday afternoon.First lady Jill Biden, who was traveling in West Virginia, told reporters that “we feel naked,” after the guidance, as she and her party removed their face coverings. Then she paused. “I didn’t mean it that way!”___

🎥 Biden: Great day for America; Kan. adopts updated mask guidance

News Release US Attorney's Office-Omaha

Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that FBI agents arrested Andrew Isaac Abrams of Tucson, Arizona, today on a complaint charging Abrams with transmitting a series of threats in interstate commerce on April 23, 2021.&nbsp; 

The threats targeted Omaha area schools, including Millard Public Schools, Elkhorn Schools, and Westside Community Schools, and Abrams is further alleged to have made threats to Union Pacific Railroad Headquarters and the Douglas County Courthouse.

If convicted of transmitting the threats in interstate commerce, Abrams will face up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release for each count of conviction.&nbsp;

“Hoax threats directed at schools and businesses cause fear and put people at risk.&nbsp; It’s not a joke, it's a crime," said FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel. "Hoax threats disrupt school, waste limited law enforcement resources, and put first responders in unnecessary danger. The FBI takes each threat seriously.&nbsp; We will always work along with our law enforcement partners to investigate, identify, and apprehend the perpetrators responsible for hoax threats like this one.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Omaha Police Department, and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597182198955.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release US Attorney's Office-OmahaActing United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that FBI agents arrested Andrew Isaac Abrams of Tucson, Arizona, today on a complaint charging Abrams with transmitting a series of threats in interstate commerce on April 23, 2021.&nbsp; The threats targeted Omaha area schools, including Millard Public Schools, Elkhorn Schools, and Westside Community Schools, and Abrams is further alleged to have made threats to Union Pacific Railroad Headquarters and the Douglas County Courthouse.If convicted of transmitting the threats in interstate commerce, Abrams will face up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release for each count of conviction.&nbsp;“Hoax threats directed at schools and businesses cause fear and put people at risk.&nbsp; It’s not a joke, it's a crime," said FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel. "Hoax threats disrupt school, waste limited law enforcement resources, and put first responders in unnecessary danger. The FBI takes each threat seriously.&nbsp; We will always work along with our law enforcement partners to investigate, identify, and apprehend the perpetrators responsible for hoax threats like this one.”This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Omaha Police Department, and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

Feds arrest man accused of making threats against Omaha-area schools, businesses

WATERLOO, Neb. (AP) — Voters have overwhelmingly approved a $16.8 million school bond measure to benefit Douglas County West Community Schools in eastern Nebraska's Waterloo. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that unofficial counts released Wednesday show the measure passing more than 2-to-1 in Tuesday's vote. The approval comes after back-to-back rejections of bond issues by district voters in 2014 and 2015. 

The bond approved Tuesday calls for no increases in the district tax levy. Projects to be funded by the bond issue include a middle school addition, an auditorium with fine arts classrooms and restrooms and concessions for the softball complex. 

The bonds will also pay for renovations of classrooms, a weight room, locker rooms, a wrestling/cardio space and multipurpose space.

WATERLOO, Neb. (AP) — Voters have overwhelmingly approved a $16.8 million school bond measure to benefit Douglas County West Community Schools in eastern Nebraska's Waterloo. The Omaha World-Herald reports that unofficial counts released Wednesday show the measure passing more than 2-to-1 in Tuesday's vote. The approval comes after back-to-back rejections of bond issues by district voters in 2014 and 2015. The bond approved Tuesday calls for no increases in the district tax levy. Projects to be funded by the bond issue include a middle school addition, an auditorium with fine arts classrooms and restrooms and concessions for the softball complex. The bonds will also pay for renovations of classrooms, a weight room, locker rooms, a wrestling/cardio space and multipurpose space.

$16.8M bond measure passed for Douglas County West schools

By TOM FOREMAN JR., JEFF MARTIN and BEN FINLEY, Associated Press

CLEMMONS, N.C. (AP) — Gas pumps remained shrouded by plastic bags Thursday at thousands of service stations across more than a dozen U.S. states, but the situation could improve as a pipeline company reported “substantial progress" in resuming operations after a computer hack led to its shutdown.

Despite signs of progress in restarting the pipeline, nearly 70% of&nbsp;North Carolina's gas stations on Thursday were still without fuel, as were about half the stations in&nbsp;South Carolina&nbsp;and&nbsp;Georgia, GasBuddy.com reported.

Drivers on the East Coast were also having trouble, with more than half the stations tapped out in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/virginia">Virginia</a>. Washington, D.C., was among the hardest-hit places Thursday, with 73% of stations out, the site's tracking service showed.

“I can’t get paid until my customers get their products,” said Mary Goldburg of Norfolk, Virginia, whose job includes delivering T-shirts for events and other promotional products.

In a Thursday update, the Georgia-based pipeline company said gasoline delivery is now underway in most of its markets.

The Colonial Pipeline stretches from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/texas">Texas</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-jersey">New Jersey</a>, but the northeastern U.S. has seen fewer disruptions since those states are supplied more by other sources such as ocean tankers.

Gas is flowing again across most of the Deep South, and other parts that were offline in the Mid-Atlantic region were expected to become operational later Thursday, the company said.

“We are not out of the woods yet, but the trees are thinning out,” Richard Joswick, global head of oil analytics at S&amp;P Global Platts said in an email. He estimates that full recovery for the East Coast and Gulf Coast will take a couple of weeks at least due to lags and limits for all shipping options.

The cybersecurity attack on the Colonial Pipeline forced a temporary shutdown of the nation's largest fuel pipeline, prompting panic-buying and long lines that quickly wiped out supplies around the southeastern U.S. The company resumed pipeline operations late Wednesday, but said it would take several days for deliveries to return to normal.

President Joe Biden said Thursday that U.S. officials do not believe the Russian government was involved in the Colonial Pipeline hack, but “we do have strong reason to believe that the criminals who did the attack are living in Russia. That’s where it came from.”

The U.S. had been in direct communication with Moscow about the need to take action against ransom networks, Biden said. The FBI has said the ransomware belonged to a criminal syndicate known as DarkSide.

In Virginia, the run on gas prompted an urgent warning Thursday that people should never siphon gasoline after calls in recent days about people being poisoned.

There have been a handful of cases in the region covered by the Blue Ridge Poison center at UVA Health, including a significant one Wednesday that prompted the warning, said Dr. Chris Holstege, the center’s medical director.

A man using an opaque hose to siphon gasoline from a vehicle sucked gasoline right into his lungs, causing significant distress, Holstege said. He is expected to recover and didn’t have to go to intensive care, he said.

The governors of both North Carolina and Virginia declared states of emergency to help ensure access. Other governors urged people not to hoard supplies.

“Now that Colonial has restarted pipeline operations, we will see a gradually increasing return to normal conditions that will take several days,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement Thursday.

The Colonial Pipeline delivers about 45% of the fuel consumed on the East Coast. There is no gasoline shortage, according to government officials and energy analysts, just delays in delivering the fuel from Gulf Coast refineries.

The distribution problems have been fraying nerves.

Two people were charged with assault after spitting in each other's faces over spots in a line at a Marathon station in Knightdale, outside Raleigh, on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

In Walton County, Georgia, paramedic Jeff Lisle had just under a quarter-tank of gas in his Jeep and found a small amount in the cans he uses for his lawnmower in case he needed the extra boost to get to work.

The shutdown even affected hikers long the Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/maine">Maine</a>. They depend on cars and vans to access the trail and get supplies.

“Everybody’s out here buying from the same gas pumps, so the lines are long, some are out — you’ve really got to look for it,” said Ron Brown, who operates Ron’s Appalachian Trail Shuttles.

In Georgia, racetracks and other entertainment venues rely on many fans who drive from surrounding states such as&nbsp;Alabama,&nbsp;Florida&nbsp;and&nbsp;Tennessee, and the concern is that higher gas prices – or shortages – might keep fans at home.

“Fuel prices do affect the amount of people who come, especially long distances,” said Sydney Marshall, general manager of the South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, Georgia, and the Orlando Speed World Dragway in Florida. “It’s definitely a concern of mine because if there’s a gas shortage, people aren’t going to be able to get here.”

CLEMMONS, N.C. (AP) —The nation’s largest fuel pipeline restarted operations, days after it was forced to shut down by a gang of hackers. 

The disruption caused long lines at gas stations in the Southeast due to distribution problems and panic-buying, draining supplies at thousands of gas stations.

Colonial Pipeline said all lines, including those lateral lines that have been running manually, will return to normal operations. But it will take several days for deliveries to return to normal. In the meantime, drivers have been finding gas stations with little or no gas in some Southeast states. 

A run on gas following the computer hack of the fuel pipeline had North Carolina tow-truck driver Jonathan King worried about whether he could do his job.

“I drive all over the place,” King said at a packed gas station outside Winston-Salem on Wednesday. “It gets really busy. And yeah, with the fuel going the way it’s going, it’s going to be very hard for us. Hopefully we’ll be able to get through it.”

The cybersecurity attack on the Colonial Pipeline has prompted fuel-hoarding and panic-buying in parts of the Southeastern U.S., striking fear and stress among those who’ve waited in long lines for gas. And while Colonial&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-government-and-politics-technology-business-938b33938fe3a750367fb1dc2f7ce6e0">initiated the restart&nbsp;</a>of pipeline operations late Wednesday, the company said it will take several days for deliveries to return to normal.

The scene at gas stations was far from typical Wednesday after governors of both North Carolina and Virginia declared states of emergency to help ensure supply and access to gas.

As people in the region emerge from the lockdowns and limitations of the coronavirus pandemic, some feared the prospect of lost wages and missed doctors appointments. They also worried about canceling plans with family members who they were only beginning to see again.

Mary Goldburg, 60, of Norfolk, Virginia, said she needs her car for work but also to see her grandchildren — whom she barely got to see last year. Her job includes delivering T-shirts for events and other promotional products.

“I can’t get paid until my customers get their products,” said Goldburg as a slow-operating pump filled her tank for more than 20 minutes at a 7-Eleven.

Construction worker Jamar Gatison, 36, was also filling up his tank there Wednesday before he had a doctor’s appointment.

“I’m about to run out of gas, so I have no choice,” Gatison said, adding that he is also is an Uber Eats driver but wasn’t planning on delivering food that night because he didn’t want to wait in line again.

Restaurants and bars, which are already struggling to fill job openings, will find themselves particularly squeezed, said Robert McNab, an economics professor at Virginia’s Old Dominion University. Some workers may not be able to come to work. And some customers may abandon plans to eat out.

“In all likelihood, these service workers will be impacted most significantly, with rising fuel and food prices eating a larger part of their household budgets and income being reduced this month by the fear-induced shortage of gasoline,” McNab said.

The Colonial Pipeline delivers about 45% of the fuel consumed on the East Coast. There is no gasoline shortage, according to government officials and energy analysts. But there has been a problem getting the fuel from refineries on the Gulf Coast to the states that need it, and officials have been scrambling to find alternate routes to deliver that fuel.

The distribution problems and panic-buying have been draining supplies at thousands of gas stations. On Wednesday, four to five cars were lined up at each pump at a Circle K in Clemmons, North Carolina, a community southwest of Winston-Salem along I-40.

Detlef Badorrek said he drove to four gas stations before he found one where he could fill up his car. He expressed concern that motorists may become a little more unnerved as the situation extends itself.

“I sense things could go a little bit more desperately as time goes by. So far, it’s reasonable,” he said.

But not for everyone, apparently. Two people were charged with assault after a fight over spots in a line at a Marathon gas station in Knightdale, outside Raleigh, on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

The man and woman arguing over spots each spat in the other’s face before the fight turned physical and a cellphone was damaged, police said.

Video posted on Instagram shows two cars bumped up against each other at a gas station. The woman was charged with simple assault and the man was charged with assault on a female and damage to personal property, police said. Both were cited and released with a pending court date.

In Walton County, Georgia, paramedic Jeff Lisle had just under a quarter-tank of gas in his Jeep — but no one knew of any stations near his house that had gas. So, he went to his garage and found a small amount in the cans he uses for his lawnmower in case he needed the extra boost to make it to work.

As for the ambulances he works in, “we have to buy fuel at gas stations like everybody else does,” he said. That means that whenever possible, the ambulances have been stopping to refuel when they’re lucky enough to drive past a station with gas.

Along the Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine, hikers depend on car and van shuttles to access the trail and get supplies.

“Everybody’s out here buying from the same gas pumps, so the lines are long, some are out -- you’ve really got to look for it,” said Ron Brown, who operates Ron’s Appalachian Trail Shuttles and often takes hikers from Atlanta’s airport into the north Georgia mountains..

But he said that hikers are resourceful enough to get where they need to go.

“It will get rectified because it’s a big deal, and everybody needs gas,” he said. “We’ll just make due until it does.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620643205978.png" alt="&nbsp;The pipeline system spans more than 5,500 miles between Houston, Texas and Linden, New Jersey-image courtesy Colonial Pipeline" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;The pipeline system spans more than 5,500 miles between Houston, Texas and Linden, New Jersey-image courtesy Colonial Pipeline</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOM FOREMAN JR., JEFF MARTIN and BEN FINLEY, Associated PressCLEMMONS, N.C. (AP) — Gas pumps remained shrouded by plastic bags Thursday at thousands of service stations across more than a dozen U.S. states, but the situation could improve as a pipeline company reported “substantial progress" in resuming operations after a computer hack led to its shutdown.Despite signs of progress in restarting the pipeline, nearly 70% of&nbsp;North Carolina's gas stations on Thursday were still without fuel, as were about half the stations in&nbsp;South Carolina&nbsp;and&nbsp;Georgia, GasBuddy.com reported.Drivers on the East Coast were also having trouble, with more than half the stations tapped out in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/virginia">Virginia</a>. Washington, D.C., was among the hardest-hit places Thursday, with 73% of stations out, the site's tracking service showed.“I can’t get paid until my customers get their products,” said Mary Goldburg of Norfolk, Virginia, whose job includes delivering T-shirts for events and other promotional products.In a Thursday update, the Georgia-based pipeline company said gasoline delivery is now underway in most of its markets.The Colonial Pipeline stretches from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/texas">Texas</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-jersey">New Jersey</a>, but the northeastern U.S. has seen fewer disruptions since those states are supplied more by other sources such as ocean tankers.Gas is flowing again across most of the Deep South, and other parts that were offline in the Mid-Atlantic region were expected to become operational later Thursday, the company said.“We are not out of the woods yet, but the trees are thinning out,” Richard Joswick, global head of oil analytics at S&amp;P Global Platts said in an email. He estimates that full recovery for the East Coast and Gulf Coast will take a couple of weeks at least due to lags and limits for all shipping options.The cybersecurity attack on the Colonial Pipeline forced a temporary shutdown of the nation's largest fuel pipeline, prompting panic-buying and long lines that quickly wiped out supplies around the southeastern U.S. The company resumed pipeline operations late Wednesday, but said it would take several days for deliveries to return to normal.President Joe Biden said Thursday that U.S. officials do not believe the Russian government was involved in the Colonial Pipeline hack, but “we do have strong reason to believe that the criminals who did the attack are living in Russia. That’s where it came from.”The U.S. had been in direct communication with Moscow about the need to take action against ransom networks, Biden said. The FBI has said the ransomware belonged to a criminal syndicate known as DarkSide.In Virginia, the run on gas prompted an urgent warning Thursday that people should never siphon gasoline after calls in recent days about people being poisoned.There have been a handful of cases in the region covered by the Blue Ridge Poison center at UVA Health, including a significant one Wednesday that prompted the warning, said Dr. Chris Holstege, the center’s medical director.A man using an opaque hose to siphon gasoline from a vehicle sucked gasoline right into his lungs, causing significant distress, Holstege said. He is expected to recover and didn’t have to go to intensive care, he said.The governors of both North Carolina and Virginia declared states of emergency to help ensure access. Other governors urged people not to hoard supplies.“Now that Colonial has restarted pipeline operations, we will see a gradually increasing return to normal conditions that will take several days,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement Thursday.The Colonial Pipeline delivers about 45% of the fuel consumed on the East Coast. There is no gasoline shortage, according to government officials and energy analysts, just delays in delivering the fuel from Gulf Coast refineries.The distribution problems have been fraying nerves.Two people were charged with assault after spitting in each other's faces over spots in a line at a Marathon station in Knightdale, outside Raleigh, on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.In Walton County, Georgia, paramedic Jeff Lisle had just under a quarter-tank of gas in his Jeep and found a small amount in the cans he uses for his lawnmower in case he needed the extra boost to get to work.The shutdown even affected hikers long the Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/maine">Maine</a>. They depend on cars and vans to access the trail and get supplies.“Everybody’s out here buying from the same gas pumps, so the lines are long, some are out — you’ve really got to look for it,” said Ron Brown, who operates Ron’s Appalachian Trail Shuttles.In Georgia, racetracks and other entertainment venues rely on many fans who drive from surrounding states such as&nbsp;Alabama,&nbsp;Florida&nbsp;and&nbsp;Tennessee, and the concern is that higher gas prices – or shortages – might keep fans at home.“Fuel prices do affect the amount of people who come, especially long distances,” said Sydney Marshall, general manager of the South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, Georgia, and the Orlando Speed World Dragway in Florida. “It’s definitely a concern of mine because if there’s a gas shortage, people aren’t going to be able to get here.”----------CLEMMONS, N.C. (AP) —The nation’s largest fuel pipeline restarted operations, days after it was forced to shut down by a gang of hackers. The disruption caused long lines at gas stations in the Southeast due to distribution problems and panic-buying, draining supplies at thousands of gas stations.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Do not fill plastic bags with gasoline.&mdash; US Consumer Product Safety Commission (@USCPSC) <a href="https://twitter.com/USCPSC/status/1392482092823502849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Colonial Pipeline said all lines, including those lateral lines that have been running manually, will return to normal operations. But it will take several days for deliveries to return to normal. In the meantime, drivers have been finding gas stations with little or no gas in some Southeast states. A run on gas following the computer hack of the fuel pipeline had North Carolina tow-truck driver Jonathan King worried about whether he could do his job.“I drive all over the place,” King said at a packed gas station outside Winston-Salem on Wednesday. “It gets really busy. And yeah, with the fuel going the way it’s going, it’s going to be very hard for us. Hopefully we’ll be able to get through it.”The cybersecurity attack on the Colonial Pipeline has prompted fuel-hoarding and panic-buying in parts of the Southeastern U.S., striking fear and stress among those who’ve waited in long lines for gas. And while Colonial&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-government-and-politics-technology-business-938b33938fe3a750367fb1dc2f7ce6e0">initiated the restart&nbsp;</a>of pipeline operations late Wednesday, the company said it will take several days for deliveries to return to normal.The scene at gas stations was far from typical Wednesday after governors of both North Carolina and Virginia declared states of emergency to help ensure supply and access to gas.As people in the region emerge from the lockdowns and limitations of the coronavirus pandemic, some feared the prospect of lost wages and missed doctors appointments. They also worried about canceling plans with family members who they were only beginning to see again.Mary Goldburg, 60, of Norfolk, Virginia, said she needs her car for work but also to see her grandchildren — whom she barely got to see last year. Her job includes delivering T-shirts for events and other promotional products.“I can’t get paid until my customers get their products,” said Goldburg as a slow-operating pump filled her tank for more than 20 minutes at a 7-Eleven.Construction worker Jamar Gatison, 36, was also filling up his tank there Wednesday before he had a doctor’s appointment.“I’m about to run out of gas, so I have no choice,” Gatison said, adding that he is also is an Uber Eats driver but wasn’t planning on delivering food that night because he didn’t want to wait in line again.Restaurants and bars, which are already struggling to fill job openings, will find themselves particularly squeezed, said Robert McNab, an economics professor at Virginia’s Old Dominion University. Some workers may not be able to come to work. And some customers may abandon plans to eat out.“In all likelihood, these service workers will be impacted most significantly, with rising fuel and food prices eating a larger part of their household budgets and income being reduced this month by the fear-induced shortage of gasoline,” McNab said.The Colonial Pipeline delivers about 45% of the fuel consumed on the East Coast. There is no gasoline shortage, according to government officials and energy analysts. But there has been a problem getting the fuel from refineries on the Gulf Coast to the states that need it, and officials have been scrambling to find alternate routes to deliver that fuel.The distribution problems and panic-buying have been draining supplies at thousands of gas stations. On Wednesday, four to five cars were lined up at each pump at a Circle K in Clemmons, North Carolina, a community southwest of Winston-Salem along I-40.Detlef Badorrek said he drove to four gas stations before he found one where he could fill up his car. He expressed concern that motorists may become a little more unnerved as the situation extends itself.“I sense things could go a little bit more desperately as time goes by. So far, it’s reasonable,” he said.But not for everyone, apparently. Two people were charged with assault after a fight over spots in a line at a Marathon gas station in Knightdale, outside Raleigh, on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.The man and woman arguing over spots each spat in the other’s face before the fight turned physical and a cellphone was damaged, police said.Video posted on Instagram shows two cars bumped up against each other at a gas station. The woman was charged with simple assault and the man was charged with assault on a female and damage to personal property, police said. Both were cited and released with a pending court date.In Walton County, Georgia, paramedic Jeff Lisle had just under a quarter-tank of gas in his Jeep — but no one knew of any stations near his house that had gas. So, he went to his garage and found a small amount in the cans he uses for his lawnmower in case he needed the extra boost to make it to work.As for the ambulances he works in, “we have to buy fuel at gas stations like everybody else does,” he said. That means that whenever possible, the ambulances have been stopping to refuel when they’re lucky enough to drive past a station with gas.Along the Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine, hikers depend on car and van shuttles to access the trail and get supplies.“Everybody’s out here buying from the same gas pumps, so the lines are long, some are out -- you’ve really got to look for it,” said Ron Brown, who operates Ron’s Appalachian Trail Shuttles and often takes hikers from Atlanta’s airport into the north Georgia mountains..But he said that hikers are resourceful enough to get where they need to go.“It will get rectified because it’s a big deal, and everybody needs gas,” he said. “We’ll just make due until it does.”___

Gas crunch continues across much of US after pipeline hack

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln police say a 24-year-old Lincoln man died in an accident with a loaded dump truck, and his mother is hospitalized. 

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that the accident happened Wednesday. 

Police on Thursday identified the victim as David J. McClain. His 44-year-old mother, Kristie Jones, is in critical condition. 

The accident happened just before 7 a.m. Wednesday. Police say a 95,000-pound dump truck struck a 2014 Ford Flex driven by McClain. Witnesses told police that McClain pulled out in front of the truck. 

The collision caused the truck to tip onto its side, spilling sand and gravel. The dump truck driver suffered elbow, neck and back injuries.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln police say a 24-year-old Lincoln man died in an accident with a loaded dump truck, and his mother is hospitalized. The Lincoln Journal Star reports that the accident happened Wednesday. Police on Thursday identified the victim as David J. McClain. His 44-year-old mother, Kristie Jones, is in critical condition. The accident happened just before 7 a.m. Wednesday. Police say a 95,000-pound dump truck struck a 2014 Ford Flex driven by McClain. Witnesses told police that McClain pulled out in front of the truck. The collision caused the truck to tip onto its side, spilling sand and gravel. The dump truck driver suffered elbow, neck and back injuries.

Lincoln police identify man killed in wreck with dump truck

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 33-year-old man is accused of fleeing police and trying to hide at Omaha’s zoo. 

KETV-TV reports that officers on patrol Tuesday noticed a wanted man driving a Chevy Silverado. When they tried to stop him, the man sped away. 

Police say they later learned that the suspect jumped a fence from Interstate 80 and went onto the grounds of the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. 

Officers found the man near the elephant exhibit. He was booked on a misdemeanor warrant, driving under suspension, flight to avoid arrest and trespassing. His name was not released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620921991098.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 33-year-old man is accused of fleeing police and trying to hide at Omaha’s zoo. KETV-TV reports that officers on patrol Tuesday noticed a wanted man driving a Chevy Silverado. When they tried to stop him, the man sped away. Police say they later learned that the suspect jumped a fence from Interstate 80 and went onto the grounds of the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. Officers found the man near the elephant exhibit. He was booked on a misdemeanor warrant, driving under suspension, flight to avoid arrest and trespassing. His name was not released.

Man accused of fleeing police, hiding at Omaha's zoo

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and STEPHEN GROVES

WASHINGTON (AP)—COVID-19 deaths in the United States have tumbled to an average of around 600 per day — the lowest level in 10 months — with the number of lives lost dropping to single digits in well over half the states and, on some days, hitting zero.

Confirmed infections have fallen to about 38,000 per day on average, their lowest mark since mid-September. While that is still cause for concern, reported cases have plummeted 85% from a daily peak of more than a quarter-million in early January.

The last time U.S. deaths from the pandemic were this low was in early July of last year. The number of people with COVID-19 who died topped out in mid-January at an average of more than 3,400 a day, just a month into the biggest vaccination drive in the nation’s history.

The Boston Herald put a huge zero on its front page Wednesday under the headline “First time in nearly a year state has no new coronavirus deaths.” Indiana reported one COVID-19 fatality Tuesday. Kansas, which peaked at 63 reported deaths on Dec. 22, has been in the single digits since February and seen multiple days with just one virus-related death.

Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University, said that vaccinations have played a crucial role even as the nation struggles to reach herd immunity.

“The primary objective is to deny this virus the ability to kill at the rate that it could, and that has been achieved,” he said. “We have in effect tamed the virus.”

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and STEPHEN GROVESWASHINGTON (AP)—COVID-19 deaths in the United States have tumbled to an average of around 600 per day — the lowest level in 10 months — with the number of lives lost dropping to single digits in well over half the states and, on some days, hitting zero.Confirmed infections have fallen to about 38,000 per day on average, their lowest mark since mid-September. While that is still cause for concern, reported cases have plummeted 85% from a daily peak of more than a quarter-million in early January.The last time U.S. deaths from the pandemic were this low was in early July of last year. The number of people with COVID-19 who died topped out in mid-January at an average of more than 3,400 a day, just a month into the biggest vaccination drive in the nation’s history.The Boston Herald put a huge zero on its front page Wednesday under the headline “First time in nearly a year state has no new coronavirus deaths.” Indiana reported one COVID-19 fatality Tuesday. Kansas, which peaked at 63 reported deaths on Dec. 22, has been in the single digits since February and seen multiple days with just one virus-related death.Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University, said that vaccinations have played a crucial role even as the nation struggles to reach herd immunity.“The primary objective is to deny this virus the ability to kill at the rate that it could, and that has been achieved,” he said. “We have in effect tamed the virus.”About 45% of the nation’s adults are fully vaccinated, and nearly 59% have received at least one dose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This week, Pfizer’s vaccine won authorization for use in 12- to 15-year-olds, a move that could make it easier to reopen the nation’s schools.Physicians like Dr. Tom Dean in South Dakota’s rural Jerauld County are cautiously optimistic, concerned about the many people who have decided against getting vaccinated or have grown lax in guarding against infections. The county has recorded just three confirmed cases in the last two weeks, according to Johns Hopkins data.“What I’m afraid of is people believing this whole thing is over and you don’t have to worry about it any more,” Dean said. “I think complacency is our biggest threat right now.”Several states, including Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska and Hawaii, were averaging fewer than one COVID-19 death per day over the past week, according to data through Tuesday from Johns Hopkins.And even among the five states with the highest daily deaths — Michigan with an average of 65.4, Florida with 61.7, California with 48, Texas with 44 and New York with 39.3 — all but Florida’s number were going down.California, the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak over the winter, logged 1,231 new confirmed cases Wednesday, down from a peak of 40,000. Los Angeles County reported 18 deaths Tuesday, versus more than 200 a day in January.Vermont, which at nearly 63% leads the country in the share of its population that has received at least one vaccine dose, has gone nearly a week without reporting a COVID-19 death.The improvement hasn’t been as dramatic everywhere. Michigan, which for weeks has reported the nation’s worst infection rate, is only now starting to see a decline in mortality. But over the past two weeks, cases in the state plunged from a daily average of almost 4,860 to about 2,680 on Monday.“Every day we’re getting closer to putting this pandemic behind us,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said.In Kansas, the Amos Family Funeral Home &amp; Crematory saw several COVID-19 victims at the height of the outbreak. But for weeks now it has handled one, said Parker Amos, president of the Kansas City-area business.“It is a huge relief,” he said. “Especially at the start of this, when we didn’t know exactly how bad this was or how bad this was going to get, it was scary being in this industry.”The funeral home is now working through a backlog of memorial services that families put off when cases were surging.“You want families to be able to have that closure,” Amos said, “and to hold on to that for a year is something that we feel for those families in a big way because that is something that is really hard.”Dr. Mark Rosenberg, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, was nearly placed on a ventilator when he contracted COVID-19 in December. Now he marvels at how things have changed, saying people are so joyful that it reminds him of the photos he has seen of soldiers returning from World War II.“That is how it is starting to feel, that we made it through,” said Rosenberg, who practices emergency medicine at St. Joseph’s Health in Paterson, New Jersey. “People are touching each other again. They are hugging.”The overall U.S. death toll in the pandemic stood at over 583,000 as of Wednesday. Teams of experts consulted by the CDC projected in a report last week that new deaths and cases will fall sharply by the end of July and continue dropping after that.The encouraging outlook stands in sharp contrast to the catastrophe unfolding in places like India and Brazil.“I think we are in a great place, but I think India is an important cautionary tale,” warned Justin Lessler, a professor of epidemiology at John Hopkins.“If there is a right combination of vaccine hesitancy, potentially new variants and quickly rolling back control measures that comes together, we could potentially screw this up and have yet another wave that is completely unnecessary at this point,” Lessler said.Ali Mokdad, a University of Washington professor of health metrics sciences, predicted that as vaccinations continued, both confirmed cases and deaths would decline into the summer, leading many to assume “COVID-19 is gone” even as outbreaks in places like India carry the potential to fuel new, more virulent variants.“The race is to vaccinate as much as we can before we go into the winter,” Mokdad said, adding that the current percentage of the population vaccinated is not high enough to stop another wave of coronavirus infections.___