KANSAS CITY (AP) —There’s a wild card in the push to return to pre-pandemic life: Many workers don’t want to go back to the jobs they once had.

Layoffs and lockdowns, combined with enhanced unemployment benefits and stimulus checks, gave many Americans the time and the financial cushion to rethink their careers. Their former employers are hiring again — and some, like Uber and McDonald's,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-5eb1432c117e217fea65bfaa138002e9">are offering higher pay</a>&nbsp;— but workers remain hesitant.

In March, U.S. job openings rose 8% to a record 8.1 million, but overall hiring rose less than 4%,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-5eb1432c117e217fea65bfaa138002e9">according to government data</a>.

Nate Mullins quit his job as a bartender last November after clashing with managers over mask rules and worrying that he would spread the coronavirus to his immune-compromised sister.

Mullins’ unemployment checks don’t match what he was making at his Oak Harbor, Washington bar, but they’re enough to get by while he looks for jobs that would provide health care and retirement benefits.

“This opportunity to take a step back and really think about what you’re doing really changed my mind,” said Mullins, 36. “(It) made me think long-term for the first time.”

Workers like Mullins are one reason U.S. hiring slowed in April. Employers and business groups argue that the $300-per-week federal unemployment supplement gives recipients&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-9a76a15cf9e7d37076c91e5abeb1137b">less incentive to look for work</a>. Several states have begun requiring those receiving the benefits&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-government-and-politics-1f092b895c281c13c87ff3dfa6279f62">to show they are actively searching for work</a>, and a few will stop providing the supplement.

But Heidi Shierholz, a senior economist who researches low- and middle-income workers with the Economic Policy Institute, said health concerns and child care responsibilities seem to be the main reasons holding workers back.

In April, she said, at least 25% of U.S. schools weren't offering in-person learning, forcing many parents to stay home. And health concerns could gain new urgency for some workers now that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said fully vaccinated people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-government-and-politics-a48e79a4e7a9445011999e91bb30135f">can stop wearing masks in most settings.</a>

Shierholz added that unemployment benefits are designed to give workers the time to find jobs that are better suited to their abilities.

“We want people well-matched to their skills and experience,” she said. “That’s what helps the economy run better.”

Higher pay for workers can push up inflation, which jumped in April as the economy struggled with widespread shortages of raw materials and parts amid a faster-than-expected reopening. If companies are forced to raise prices to cover the cost of higher wages, that could slow the recovery and reduce Americans’ purchasing power.

For now, most economists see labor shortages as likely to be temporary. As more Americans are vaccinated, fewer will worry about getting sick at work. Schools should reopen in September, freeing more parents to return to work, and the extra $300 in unemployment aid is also set to expire in early September. Those steps should bring more people into the job market.

Sarah Weitzel gave birth to her second child in February 2020. She was on leave from her job at a Victoria’s Secret store in St. Louis when the pandemic threw her life into chaos.

She got a text telling her she was furloughed. Then her husband lost his restaurant job. In financial straits, they sold their home, moved in with friends, survived on unemployment insurance and fell deeper into debt.

In the fall, Victoria’s Secret offered Weitzel part-time work that would pay $12 an hour, but she declined. She and her husband, who now works long hours at a new restaurant job, can't afford child care.

“Something just kind of broke, where I thought about how hard I was working for this job that paid about $32,000 a year,” Weitzel said.

Weitzel, 31, got accepted to Rung for Women, a St. Louis program that offers career coaching and training for jobs in high demand, including banking, health care, customer service and technology. In the fall, when her oldest daughter starts preschool, Weitzel hopes to get part-time work in a new career.

Mark Smithivas drove for Uber and Lyft for four years before he abruptly quit last spring out of concern for his health. He has spent the last year taking technology classes in a federal worker training program.

Smithivas, 52, just got his second vaccination, but he doesn’t want to go back to ride-hailing. He worries about carjackings and other crimes targeting drivers in Chicago, where he lives.

“I always viewed this job as temporary, and I really do want to find something that fits my career and background better,” he said.

Some workers say the pandemic helped them prioritize their mental and physical health.

After a lifelong career as a bartender, 57-year-old Ellen Booth was in constant pain from lifting ice buckets and beer kegs. But without a college degree, she felt she had limited options.

When the restaurant she worked for closed last year, she said it gave her “the kick I needed." Booth, of Coventry, Rhode Island, started a year-long class to learn to be a medical coder. When her unemployment benefits ran out two months ago, she started drawing on her retirement funds.

Shelly Ortiz, 25, used to love her career as a restaurant server. But things changed last June, when her Phoenix restaurant reopened its dining room. She wore two masks and glasses to protect herself, but still felt anxiety in a restaurant full of unmasked diners.

Sexual harassment also got worse, she said. Patrons would ask her to pull down her mask so they could see how cute she was before tipping her.

Ortiz quit in July after she learned that the restaurant didn’t deep-clean the bar after a bartender was potentially exposed. She and her partner, a teacher, curtailed their spending, and Ortiz returned to school full time. This month, she is graduating from Glendale Community College with a degree in film and a certificate in documentary directing.

Ortiz stopped getting unemployment benefits in November, when she did some part-time film work. Money is tight, she said, but she’s never been happier. And she doesn’t think she’ll ever be a restaurant server again.

“I don’t know if I could do it with a smile anymore,” she said. “I don’t think it should be an option for anyone to treat any worker the way that service industry workers are treated in America.”

In a tight labor market, some workers are also finding that if they hold out, they might get a better job than the one they left.

Taryn Henderson spent six years working at Best Buy before she was unexpectedly let go in February.

“They didn’t value the work I put in, the time I put in, because I got laid off,” said Henderson, 24, a college student who lives in Austin, Texas. “It was just really discouraging.”

At first she focused on her schoolwork, living on her unemployment checks and a severance payment that gave her 10 weeks’ worth of pay. But soon she was anxious to work again, and thought a new job that valued her more would make her feel better.

After a few months of searching, she found another job with a music streaming service. She’ll start later this month and will make $10 more per hour than the $17 she made at Best Buy.

“As long as I’m making enough money that I can support myself, the people that I love and I can get to travel every once in a while, I’m good,” said Henderson. “I think this job will afford me the opportunities to do that.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) —There’s a wild card in the push to return to pre-pandemic life: Many workers don’t want to go back to the jobs they once had.Layoffs and lockdowns, combined with enhanced unemployment benefits and stimulus checks, gave many Americans the time and the financial cushion to rethink their careers. Their former employers are hiring again — and some, like Uber and McDonald's,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-5eb1432c117e217fea65bfaa138002e9">are offering higher pay</a>&nbsp;— but workers remain hesitant.In March, U.S. job openings rose 8% to a record 8.1 million, but overall hiring rose less than 4%,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-5eb1432c117e217fea65bfaa138002e9">according to government data</a>.Nate Mullins quit his job as a bartender last November after clashing with managers over mask rules and worrying that he would spread the coronavirus to his immune-compromised sister.Mullins’ unemployment checks don’t match what he was making at his Oak Harbor, Washington bar, but they’re enough to get by while he looks for jobs that would provide health care and retirement benefits.“This opportunity to take a step back and really think about what you’re doing really changed my mind,” said Mullins, 36. “(It) made me think long-term for the first time.”Workers like Mullins are one reason U.S. hiring slowed in April. Employers and business groups argue that the $300-per-week federal unemployment supplement gives recipients&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-9a76a15cf9e7d37076c91e5abeb1137b">less incentive to look for work</a>. Several states have begun requiring those receiving the benefits&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-government-and-politics-1f092b895c281c13c87ff3dfa6279f62">to show they are actively searching for work</a>, and a few will stop providing the supplement.But Heidi Shierholz, a senior economist who researches low- and middle-income workers with the Economic Policy Institute, said health concerns and child care responsibilities seem to be the main reasons holding workers back.In April, she said, at least 25% of U.S. schools weren't offering in-person learning, forcing many parents to stay home. And health concerns could gain new urgency for some workers now that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said fully vaccinated people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-government-and-politics-a48e79a4e7a9445011999e91bb30135f">can stop wearing masks in most settings.</a>Shierholz added that unemployment benefits are designed to give workers the time to find jobs that are better suited to their abilities.“We want people well-matched to their skills and experience,” she said. “That’s what helps the economy run better.”Higher pay for workers can push up inflation, which jumped in April as the economy struggled with widespread shortages of raw materials and parts amid a faster-than-expected reopening. If companies are forced to raise prices to cover the cost of higher wages, that could slow the recovery and reduce Americans’ purchasing power.For now, most economists see labor shortages as likely to be temporary. As more Americans are vaccinated, fewer will worry about getting sick at work. Schools should reopen in September, freeing more parents to return to work, and the extra $300 in unemployment aid is also set to expire in early September. Those steps should bring more people into the job market.Sarah Weitzel gave birth to her second child in February 2020. She was on leave from her job at a Victoria’s Secret store in St. Louis when the pandemic threw her life into chaos.She got a text telling her she was furloughed. Then her husband lost his restaurant job. In financial straits, they sold their home, moved in with friends, survived on unemployment insurance and fell deeper into debt.In the fall, Victoria’s Secret offered Weitzel part-time work that would pay $12 an hour, but she declined. She and her husband, who now works long hours at a new restaurant job, can't afford child care.“Something just kind of broke, where I thought about how hard I was working for this job that paid about $32,000 a year,” Weitzel said.Weitzel, 31, got accepted to Rung for Women, a St. Louis program that offers career coaching and training for jobs in high demand, including banking, health care, customer service and technology. In the fall, when her oldest daughter starts preschool, Weitzel hopes to get part-time work in a new career.Mark Smithivas drove for Uber and Lyft for four years before he abruptly quit last spring out of concern for his health. He has spent the last year taking technology classes in a federal worker training program.Smithivas, 52, just got his second vaccination, but he doesn’t want to go back to ride-hailing. He worries about carjackings and other crimes targeting drivers in Chicago, where he lives.“I always viewed this job as temporary, and I really do want to find something that fits my career and background better,” he said.Some workers say the pandemic helped them prioritize their mental and physical health.After a lifelong career as a bartender, 57-year-old Ellen Booth was in constant pain from lifting ice buckets and beer kegs. But without a college degree, she felt she had limited options.When the restaurant she worked for closed last year, she said it gave her “the kick I needed." Booth, of Coventry, Rhode Island, started a year-long class to learn to be a medical coder. When her unemployment benefits ran out two months ago, she started drawing on her retirement funds.Shelly Ortiz, 25, used to love her career as a restaurant server. But things changed last June, when her Phoenix restaurant reopened its dining room. She wore two masks and glasses to protect herself, but still felt anxiety in a restaurant full of unmasked diners.Sexual harassment also got worse, she said. Patrons would ask her to pull down her mask so they could see how cute she was before tipping her.Ortiz quit in July after she learned that the restaurant didn’t deep-clean the bar after a bartender was potentially exposed. She and her partner, a teacher, curtailed their spending, and Ortiz returned to school full time. This month, she is graduating from Glendale Community College with a degree in film and a certificate in documentary directing.Ortiz stopped getting unemployment benefits in November, when she did some part-time film work. Money is tight, she said, but she’s never been happier. And she doesn’t think she’ll ever be a restaurant server again.“I don’t know if I could do it with a smile anymore,” she said. “I don’t think it should be an option for anyone to treat any worker the way that service industry workers are treated in America.”In a tight labor market, some workers are also finding that if they hold out, they might get a better job than the one they left.Taryn Henderson spent six years working at Best Buy before she was unexpectedly let go in February.“They didn’t value the work I put in, the time I put in, because I got laid off,” said Henderson, 24, a college student who lives in Austin, Texas. “It was just really discouraging.”At first she focused on her schoolwork, living on her unemployment checks and a severance payment that gave her 10 weeks’ worth of pay. But soon she was anxious to work again, and thought a new job that valued her more would make her feel better.After a few months of searching, she found another job with a music streaming service. She’ll start later this month and will make $10 more per hour than the $17 she made at Best Buy.“As long as I’m making enough money that I can support myself, the people that I love and I can get to travel every once in a while, I’m good,” said Henderson. “I think this job will afford me the opportunities to do that.”___

Changed by pandemic, many workers won't return to old jobs

Evergy and the Wyandotte County Board of Public Utilities’ shut-off moratorium has ended

By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/21/i-have-to-go-out-and-beg-residents-grapple-with-utility-costs-as-shut-offs-resume/">Kansas Reflector</a>

The pandemic has been especially hard on Louise Lynch’s family.&nbsp;

Her
 daughter caught COVID-19 as the virus first took hold in Kansas City 
and nearly succumbed to it. Lynch lost one job at the start of the 
pandemic. She says she was fired from another because of health 
complications from getting the virus late last year. She’s been fighting
 to keep herself, her daughter and her disabled husband afloat with 
spotty unemployment payments, stimulus checks and community aid.&nbsp;

Now, she faces another hurdle: the electricity and water at her Kansas City, Kan., home could be cut off.&nbsp;

The Wyandotte County Board of Public Utilities and <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/06/evergy-earnings-shot-up-following-february-cold-snap-that-forced-blackouts/">Evergy</a> have resumed shutting off customers’ power —&nbsp;and in BPU’s case, water —&nbsp;if they don’t pay their bills. Both organizations <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/12/10/is-cruelty-just-the-point-coalition-demands-end-to-utility-shutoffs/">had issued moratoria at various points during the pandemic</a>
 and the cold weather months. As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes more 
readily available and life in the U.S. crawls back toward normalcy, the 
reprieve is ending.&nbsp;

And just because residents
 were under a moratorium doesn’t mean their bills are forgiven. The back
 balances some families incurred are now coming due.

Across Kansas and 
Missouri, federal rent and utility relief is available to help residents
 who may have fallen behind. But with the moratoria ending, they face a 
ticking clock and bureaucratic hoops to secure help or face having their
 utilities shut off.

Lynch
 has a balance of more than $500 with BPU. She said she’s behind on rent
 and her natural gas bill, too. She received help from Wyandotte County 
Mutual Aid only to get behind again when the next bill arrived.&nbsp;

“My full-time job is not just taking care of my family,” Lynch said. “I have to go out and beg.”

Lynch
 and her family have been waiting for assistance from the Kansas 
Emergency Rental Assistance program for nearly two months — even longer 
if you consider the weeks Lynch spent struggling with the application 
system. Though her family has received an initial letter indicating they
 are qualified, the state is still processing the application.&nbsp;

In the meantime, her BPU bill says she must pay her past due balance or face disconnection.

For
 their parts, Evergy and BPU both said they work with residents trapped 
in the KERA application process and can be flexible on shutoff dates.&nbsp;

“At
 that point, communication becomes the key on whether or not we would be
 able to modify that disconnection date,” said Gina Penzig, a 
spokeswoman for Evergy.&nbsp;

In
 Kansas, KERA, administered by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation,
 is charged with helping renters get assistance. The state received $200
 million in federal COVID response funding. Residents can also apply for
 the Low Income Energy Assistance Program.&nbsp;

Missouri
 received more than $320 million from the same program, administered 
through the Missouri State Assistance for Housing Relief. The state also
 has a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.&nbsp;

In both states, a patchwork of local and nonprofit groups are also providing assistance.

<a href="https://www.evergy.com/Manage-Account/Billing/Financial-Help#help">Evergy</a> and <a href="https://www.bpu.com/About/MediaNewsReleases/EmergencyRentalUtilityAssistanceProgramAvailableinKansas.aspx">BPU</a> customers can find more information about accessing those resources on the companies’ websites.&nbsp;

Dustin
 Hare, a community organizer working for Wyandotte County Mutual Aid, 
said Lynch isn’t the only Kansan he has helped while they struggled to 
get KERA. In the last year, he said Wyandotte County Mutual Aid, which 
launched with a grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, has doled out 
more than $10,200 —&nbsp;most of that since January.&nbsp;

Since
 BPU ended its moratorium a few weeks ago, he said he has heard from 
dozens of residents at risk of getting their utilities shut off. Under 
the moratorium, some built up massive balances. The largest, he said, 
was $4,000.&nbsp;

“Some
 of those people have been seeking assistance throughout the course that
 their electricity has been shut off or even before…and have been shut 
off while seeking assistance,” Hare said.&nbsp;

And
 while relief programs are helpful, he thinks the relief money should 
have gone straight to BPU to forgive residents’ debts rather than 
through an application process that requires substantial paperwork from 
families in need.

In
 one week, the fund, which is completely funded by community donations, 
provided aid to three households who had already lost their power.&nbsp;

Lynch
 has also pressured BPU to leave power on for residents with certain 
medical devices. She said her husband uses a CPAP machine and can’t 
breathe at night without it. But she has had little luck.&nbsp;

She
 said the utility providers made “so much money” during the February 
cold snap that forced rolling blackouts across the midwest, “but they 
can’t help somebody who is trying to breathe.”&nbsp;

“People’s lives are at stake,” Lynch said. “That has to be worth more than a dollar.”&nbsp;

David
 Mehlhaff, BPU’s chief communications officer, said the utility was 
initially supposed to end its moratorium at the beginning of March but 
waited until the end of the month so the KERA program would be off the 
ground.&nbsp;

A couple weeks after that, disconnections began.

Since mid April, he said about 1,200 households have had their service disconnected.&nbsp;

There’s “no way of knowing,” he said, “but the lion’s share of them are probably back on.”

Evergy’s
 moratorium ended May 2. The investor-owned utility did not say how many
 households’ power it had disconnected in the last couple of weeks.&nbsp;

In
 a statement, Penzig said Evergy was the first utility in the area to 
halt disconnections and outlined incentives the company offered to help 
customers catch up on their bills when it resumed shut-offs from July to
 November.&nbsp;

“In
 February we announced that our disconnect moratorium would end on May 
2, giving customers plenty of notice to contact us to learn about 
assistance options and payment plans,” Penzig said. “We have directly 
communicated with customers by phone, email and mail about payment 
options and available community assistance. In addition we have used 
media outreach and social media to raise awareness about available help 
in the community and encourage customers to find assistance.”

One of those customers is Brandy Granados, a Missouri resident who said she owes Evergy more than $600.&nbsp;

Granados
 said she has struggled to balance work and caring for her son with 
Autism, whose school has alternated between in-person and virtual 
learning over the course of the pandemic.&nbsp;

Now
 that her son is back in school, she can start working in-person, 
meaning she should be able to afford the necessities once her paychecks 
start rolling in.&nbsp;

But
 she exhausted her last stimulus check and her income tax refund. 
Without it, she said she likely would have been homeless by March. And 
though she’s nearly out of the woods, she doesn’t know how she’s going 
to make it.&nbsp;

“I don’t know what’s going to happen next month,” she said. “Hopefully I can find help one more time.”

Allison Kite is a data reporter for The Missouri Independent and Kansas Reflector, with a focus on the environment and agriculture.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621612302467.png" alt="Louise Lynch, a Wyandotte County resident, has struggled to get emergency rental assistance and faces the possibility the Board of Public Utilities will shut off her power and water. (Allison Kite/Kansas Reflector.)" />
 <figcaption>Louise Lynch, a Wyandotte County resident, has struggled to get emergency rental assistance and faces the possibility the Board of Public Utilities will shut off her power and water. (Allison Kite/Kansas Reflector.)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Evergy and the Wyandotte County Board of Public Utilities’ shut-off moratorium has ended</h2>By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/21/i-have-to-go-out-and-beg-residents-grapple-with-utility-costs-as-shut-offs-resume/">Kansas Reflector</a>The pandemic has been especially hard on Louise Lynch’s family.&nbsp;Her
 daughter caught COVID-19 as the virus first took hold in Kansas City 
and nearly succumbed to it. Lynch lost one job at the start of the 
pandemic. She says she was fired from another because of health 
complications from getting the virus late last year. She’s been fighting
 to keep herself, her daughter and her disabled husband afloat with 
spotty unemployment payments, stimulus checks and community aid.&nbsp;Now, she faces another hurdle: the electricity and water at her Kansas City, Kan., home could be cut off.&nbsp;The Wyandotte County Board of Public Utilities and <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/06/evergy-earnings-shot-up-following-february-cold-snap-that-forced-blackouts/">Evergy</a> have resumed shutting off customers’ power —&nbsp;and in BPU’s case, water —&nbsp;if they don’t pay their bills. Both organizations <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/12/10/is-cruelty-just-the-point-coalition-demands-end-to-utility-shutoffs/">had issued moratoria at various points during the pandemic</a>
 and the cold weather months. As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes more 
readily available and life in the U.S. crawls back toward normalcy, the 
reprieve is ending.&nbsp;And just because residents
 were under a moratorium doesn’t mean their bills are forgiven. The back
 balances some families incurred are now coming due.Across Kansas and 
Missouri, federal rent and utility relief is available to help residents
 who may have fallen behind. But with the moratoria ending, they face a 
ticking clock and bureaucratic hoops to secure help or face having their
 utilities shut off.Lynch
 has a balance of more than $500 with BPU. She said she’s behind on rent
 and her natural gas bill, too. She received help from Wyandotte County 
Mutual Aid only to get behind again when the next bill arrived.&nbsp;“My full-time job is not just taking care of my family,” Lynch said. “I have to go out and beg.”Lynch
 and her family have been waiting for assistance from the Kansas 
Emergency Rental Assistance program for nearly two months — even longer 
if you consider the weeks Lynch spent struggling with the application 
system. Though her family has received an initial letter indicating they
 are qualified, the state is still processing the application.&nbsp;In the meantime, her BPU bill says she must pay her past due balance or face disconnection.For
 their parts, Evergy and BPU both said they work with residents trapped 
in the KERA application process and can be flexible on shutoff dates.&nbsp;“At
 that point, communication becomes the key on whether or not we would be
 able to modify that disconnection date,” said Gina Penzig, a 
spokeswoman for Evergy.&nbsp;In
 Kansas, KERA, administered by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation,
 is charged with helping renters get assistance. The state received $200
 million in federal COVID response funding. Residents can also apply for
 the Low Income Energy Assistance Program.&nbsp;Missouri
 received more than $320 million from the same program, administered 
through the Missouri State Assistance for Housing Relief. The state also
 has a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.&nbsp;In both states, a patchwork of local and nonprofit groups are also providing assistance.<a href="https://www.evergy.com/Manage-Account/Billing/Financial-Help#help">Evergy</a> and <a href="https://www.bpu.com/About/MediaNewsReleases/EmergencyRentalUtilityAssistanceProgramAvailableinKansas.aspx">BPU</a> customers can find more information about accessing those resources on the companies’ websites.&nbsp;Dustin
 Hare, a community organizer working for Wyandotte County Mutual Aid, 
said Lynch isn’t the only Kansan he has helped while they struggled to 
get KERA. In the last year, he said Wyandotte County Mutual Aid, which 
launched with a grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, has doled out 
more than $10,200 —&nbsp;most of that since January.&nbsp;Since
 BPU ended its moratorium a few weeks ago, he said he has heard from 
dozens of residents at risk of getting their utilities shut off. Under 
the moratorium, some built up massive balances. The largest, he said, 
was $4,000.&nbsp;“Some
 of those people have been seeking assistance throughout the course that
 their electricity has been shut off or even before…and have been shut 
off while seeking assistance,” Hare said.&nbsp;And
 while relief programs are helpful, he thinks the relief money should 
have gone straight to BPU to forgive residents’ debts rather than 
through an application process that requires substantial paperwork from 
families in need.In
 one week, the fund, which is completely funded by community donations, 
provided aid to three households who had already lost their power.&nbsp;Lynch
 has also pressured BPU to leave power on for residents with certain 
medical devices. She said her husband uses a CPAP machine and can’t 
breathe at night without it. But she has had little luck.&nbsp;She
 said the utility providers made “so much money” during the February 
cold snap that forced rolling blackouts across the midwest, “but they 
can’t help somebody who is trying to breathe.”&nbsp;“People’s lives are at stake,” Lynch said. “That has to be worth more than a dollar.”&nbsp;David
 Mehlhaff, BPU’s chief communications officer, said the utility was 
initially supposed to end its moratorium at the beginning of March but 
waited until the end of the month so the KERA program would be off the 
ground.&nbsp;A couple weeks after that, disconnections began.Since mid April, he said about 1,200 households have had their service disconnected.&nbsp;There’s “no way of knowing,” he said, “but the lion’s share of them are probably back on.”Evergy’s
 moratorium ended May 2. The investor-owned utility did not say how many
 households’ power it had disconnected in the last couple of weeks.&nbsp;In
 a statement, Penzig said Evergy was the first utility in the area to 
halt disconnections and outlined incentives the company offered to help 
customers catch up on their bills when it resumed shut-offs from July to
 November.&nbsp;“In
 February we announced that our disconnect moratorium would end on May 
2, giving customers plenty of notice to contact us to learn about 
assistance options and payment plans,” Penzig said. “We have directly 
communicated with customers by phone, email and mail about payment 
options and available community assistance. In addition we have used 
media outreach and social media to raise awareness about available help 
in the community and encourage customers to find assistance.”One of those customers is Brandy Granados, a Missouri resident who said she owes Evergy more than $600.&nbsp;Granados
 said she has struggled to balance work and caring for her son with 
Autism, whose school has alternated between in-person and virtual 
learning over the course of the pandemic.&nbsp;Now
 that her son is back in school, she can start working in-person, 
meaning she should be able to afford the necessities once her paychecks 
start rolling in.&nbsp;But
 she exhausted her last stimulus check and her income tax refund. 
Without it, she said she likely would have been homeless by March. And 
though she’s nearly out of the woods, she doesn’t know how she’s going 
to make it.&nbsp;“I don’t know what’s going to happen next month,” she said. “Hopefully I can find help one more time.”Allison Kite is a data reporter for The Missouri Independent and Kansas Reflector, with a focus on the environment and agriculture.

‘I have to go out and beg’: residents grapple with utility costs as shut-offs resume

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers who 
missed the recent tax-filing deadline who are due a refund that there is
 no penalty for filing late. Those who owe and missed the deadline 
without requesting an extension should file quickly to limit penalties 
and interest.

Extra time to file and pay any taxes due without penalties and interest is available for some taxpayers. Included are:

The only way to get a refund is to file a tax return. There is no 
penalty for filing after the deadline if a refund is due. Use electronic
 filing options including IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> available on IRS.gov through October 15 to prepare and file returns electronically.

COVID-19 continues to cause delays in some IRS services. If a 
taxpayer filed a paper tax return, the IRS will process it in the order 
it was received. Taxpayers should not file a second tax return or call 
the IRS. The IRS issues more than nine out of 10 refunds in less than 21
 days. However, it's possible a tax return may require <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions">additional review</a> and take longer.

Taxpayers can track a refund using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where's My Refund?</a> tool on IRS.gov, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go</a> and by phone at <a href="tel:800-829-1954">800-829-1954</a>.
 Taxpayers need the primary Social Security number on the tax return, 
the filing status and the expected refund amount. The tool updates once 
daily, usually overnight, so there's no need to check more frequently. 
The Where's My Refund?&nbsp;tool cannot be used to track Economic Impact 
Payments.

Normally, taxpayers should file their tax return, or request an 
extension, and pay any taxes they owe by the deadline to avoid penalties
 and interest. An extension to file is not an extension to pay. 
Penalties and interest will apply to taxes owed after May 17.

Even if a taxpayer can't afford to immediately pay the taxes they 
owe, they should still file a tax return as soon as possible to reduce 
possible penalties. The IRS has more information for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/what-if-i-cant-pay-my-taxes">taxpayers who owe the IRS, but cannot afford to pay</a>.

Ordinarily, the failure to file penalty is 5% of the tax owed for 
each month or part of a month that a tax return is late, up to five 
months, reduced by the failure to pay penalty amount for any month where
 both penalties apply. If a return is filed more than 60 days after the 
due date, the minimum penalty is either $435 or 100% of the unpaid tax, 
whichever is less. Filing and paying as much as possible is important 
because the late-filing penalty and late-payment penalty add up quickly.
 The failure to pay penalty rate is generally 0.5% of unpaid tax owed 
for each month or part of a month until the tax is fully paid or until 
25% is reached. The rate is subject to change. For more information see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/understanding-penalties-and-interest">IRS.gov/penalties</a>.

Taxpayers who have a history of filing and paying on time often 
qualify for penalty relief. A taxpayer will usually qualify if they have
 filed and paid timely for the past three years and meet other 
requirements. For more information, see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/penalty-relief-due-to-first-time-penalty-abatement-or-other-administrative-waiver">first-time penalty abatement</a> page on IRS.gov.

Interest is charged on tax and penalties until the balance is <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">paid in full</a>.

Those who owe taxes can pay with IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>, by <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">debit or credit card</a> or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application">apply online for a payment plan (including an installment agreement)</a>. For more electronic payment options visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a>.
 They are secure and easy to use. Taxpayers paying electronically 
receive immediate confirmation when they submit their payment. With 
Direct Pay and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>, taxpayers can opt in to receive email notifications about their payments.

The IRS offers tips to help taxpayers choose a tax return preparer wisely. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">Choosing a Tax Professional</a> page has information about tax return preparer <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/understanding-tax-return-preparer-credentials-and-qualifications">credentials and qualification</a>s and guidance on avoiding unscrupulous tax return preparers

The <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications</a>
 can help taxpayers find tax return preparers who hold a professional 
credential recognized by the IRS or who have completed the requirements 
for the IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/annual-filing-season-program">Annual Filing Season Program</a>.

Taxpayers have fundamental rights under the law that protect taxpayers when they interact with the IRS. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights">Taxpayer Bill of Rights</a> presents these rights in 10 categories. IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-1">Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer</a>, highlights these rights and the agency's obligation to protect them.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers who 
missed the recent tax-filing deadline who are due a refund that there is
 no penalty for filing late. Those who owe and missed the deadline 
without requesting an extension should file quickly to limit penalties 
and interest.<h2>Extra time to file and pay any taxes due without penalties and interest is available for some taxpayers. Included are:</h2><ul>
 <li>Members of the military who served or are currently in a combat zone. They may qualify for an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p3#idm139848472538848">additional extension of at least 180 days</a> to file and pay taxes.</li><li>Support personnel in combat zones or a contingency operation in support of the Armed Forces. They may also <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/extension-of-deadlines-combat-zone-service">qualify for a filing and payment extension</a> of at least 180 days.</li><li>Some disaster victims. Those who qualify have <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/disaster-assistance-and-emergency-relief-for-individuals-and-businesses">more time to file and pay</a> what they owe.</li>
 </ul><h2>Here are some tips for late filers:</h2><h2>File to get a tax refund</h2>The only way to get a refund is to file a tax return. There is no 
penalty for filing after the deadline if a refund is due. Use electronic
 filing options including IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> available on IRS.gov through October 15 to prepare and file returns electronically.COVID-19 continues to cause delays in some IRS services. If a 
taxpayer filed a paper tax return, the IRS will process it in the order 
it was received. Taxpayers should not file a second tax return or call 
the IRS. The IRS issues more than nine out of 10 refunds in less than 21
 days. However, it's possible a tax return may require <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions">additional review</a> and take longer.Taxpayers can track a refund using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where's My Refund?</a> tool on IRS.gov, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go</a> and by phone at <a href="tel:800-829-1954">800-829-1954</a>.
 Taxpayers need the primary Social Security number on the tax return, 
the filing status and the expected refund amount. The tool updates once 
daily, usually overnight, so there's no need to check more frequently. 
The Where's My Refund?&nbsp;tool cannot be used to track Economic Impact 
Payments.<h2>File to reduce penalties and interest</h2>Normally, taxpayers should file their tax return, or request an 
extension, and pay any taxes they owe by the deadline to avoid penalties
 and interest. An extension to file is not an extension to pay. 
Penalties and interest will apply to taxes owed after May 17.Even if a taxpayer can't afford to immediately pay the taxes they 
owe, they should still file a tax return as soon as possible to reduce 
possible penalties. The IRS has more information for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/what-if-i-cant-pay-my-taxes">taxpayers who owe the IRS, but cannot afford to pay</a>.Ordinarily, the failure to file penalty is 5% of the tax owed for 
each month or part of a month that a tax return is late, up to five 
months, reduced by the failure to pay penalty amount for any month where
 both penalties apply. If a return is filed more than 60 days after the 
due date, the minimum penalty is either $435 or 100% of the unpaid tax, 
whichever is less. Filing and paying as much as possible is important 
because the late-filing penalty and late-payment penalty add up quickly.
 The failure to pay penalty rate is generally 0.5% of unpaid tax owed 
for each month or part of a month until the tax is fully paid or until 
25% is reached. The rate is subject to change. For more information see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/understanding-penalties-and-interest">IRS.gov/penalties</a>.Taxpayers who have a history of filing and paying on time often 
qualify for penalty relief. A taxpayer will usually qualify if they have
 filed and paid timely for the past three years and meet other 
requirements. For more information, see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/penalty-relief-due-to-first-time-penalty-abatement-or-other-administrative-waiver">first-time penalty abatement</a> page on IRS.gov.Interest is charged on tax and penalties until the balance is <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">paid in full</a>.<h2>Pay taxes due electronically</h2>Those who owe taxes can pay with IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>, by <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">debit or credit card</a> or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application">apply online for a payment plan (including an installment agreement)</a>. For more electronic payment options visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a>.
 They are secure and easy to use. Taxpayers paying electronically 
receive immediate confirmation when they submit their payment. With 
Direct Pay and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>, taxpayers can opt in to receive email notifications about their payments.<h2>Selecting a tax professional</h2>The IRS offers tips to help taxpayers choose a tax return preparer wisely. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">Choosing a Tax Professional</a> page has information about tax return preparer <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/understanding-tax-return-preparer-credentials-and-qualifications">credentials and qualification</a>s and guidance on avoiding unscrupulous tax return preparersThe <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications</a>
 can help taxpayers find tax return preparers who hold a professional 
credential recognized by the IRS or who have completed the requirements 
for the IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/annual-filing-season-program">Annual Filing Season Program</a>.<h2>Taxpayer Bill of Rights</h2>Taxpayers have fundamental rights under the law that protect taxpayers when they interact with the IRS. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights">Taxpayer Bill of Rights</a> presents these rights in 10 categories. IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-1">Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer</a>, highlights these rights and the agency's obligation to protect them.

IRS: Despite May 17 deadline, still time to get refund, cut penalties

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha man who was captured after he fled to Nicaragua to avoid child pornography charges is being held on $50 million bail. 

Douglas County District Judge J Russell Derr imposed the bail Friday on 29-year-old Adam Hawhee. He would have to post $5 million to be released. 

Hawhee faces two counts of child enticement, 26 counts of possession of child pornography and two counts of failure to appear in court. 

Hawhee previously paid $135,000 cash to be released from jail and then didn't appear for court hearings in December. 

He was arrested in Nicaragua in April and returned to Omaha this month.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha man who was captured after he fled to Nicaragua to avoid child pornography charges is being held on $50 million bail. Douglas County District Judge J Russell Derr imposed the bail Friday on 29-year-old Adam Hawhee. He would have to post $5 million to be released. Hawhee faces two counts of child enticement, 26 counts of possession of child pornography and two counts of failure to appear in court. Hawhee previously paid $135,000 cash to be released from jail and then didn't appear for court hearings in December. He was arrested in Nicaragua in April and returned to Omaha this month.

Omaha man who fled child porn charges faces $50 million bail

LA VISTA, Neb. (AP) — The FBI has joined the search for an autistic 11-year-old boy missing since Monday, when he walked out of his elementary school during classes.

 Ryan Larsen has been missing since he walked out of his elementary school in La Vista, which lies just southwest of Omaha. Police say the child has a history of hiding from his family and authorities. 

La Vista Police Chief Bob Lausten says police have had to find the boy at least half-a-dozen times, but that he’s never been missing for days at a time. 

Lausten also noted that Ryan has been without his seizure medication since he’s been missing.

LA VISTA, Neb. (AP) — The FBI has joined the search for an autistic 11-year-old boy missing since Monday, when he walked out of his elementary school during classes. Ryan Larsen has been missing since he walked out of his elementary school in La Vista, which lies just southwest of Omaha. Police say the child has a history of hiding from his family and authorities. La Vista Police Chief Bob Lausten says police have had to find the boy at least half-a-dozen times, but that he’s never been missing for days at a time. Lausten also noted that Ryan has been without his seizure medication since he’s been missing.

FBI joins search for missing autistic Nebraska boy

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police in Omaha say a woman shot over the weekend has died days later from her injuries. 

Police said in a news release Friday that 22-year-old Shaleigh Sovey died Tuesday at Nebraska Medical Center. 

Officers called around 10 p.m. Sunday to south Omaha found Sovey suffering from a gunshot wound to her head. 

Police arrested 22-year-old Devon Engel of Omaha on charges of first-degree domestic violence assault and two counts of felony child abuse.

 Prosecutors are likely to amend the charges in light of Sovey's death.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police in Omaha say a woman shot over the weekend has died days later from her injuries. Police said in a news release Friday that 22-year-old Shaleigh Sovey died Tuesday at Nebraska Medical Center. Officers called around 10 p.m. Sunday to south Omaha found Sovey suffering from a gunshot wound to her head. Police arrested 22-year-old Devon Engel of Omaha on charges of first-degree domestic violence assault and two counts of felony child abuse. Prosecutors are likely to amend the charges in light of Sovey's death.

Police: Woman shot in Omaha dies days later from injuries

BURWELL, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Patrol says a recent high school graduate has died in a north-central Nebraska crash that also injured another teen. 

The patrol says the crash happened in the early-morning hours Wednesday at a three-way intersection near Taylor.

 Investigators say 18-year-old Colton Dawe, of Burwell, was driving a sport utility vehicle westbound on Highway 91 when he failed to stop at a T-intersection with Highway 183 and hit a tree. 

Dawe, who graduated this year from Burwell High School, was pronounced dead at the scene. 

A 15-year-old passenger, who also attends Burwell High, was treated for injuries at an Ord hospital.

BURWELL, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Patrol says a recent high school graduate has died in a north-central Nebraska crash that also injured another teen. The patrol says the crash happened in the early-morning hours Wednesday at a three-way intersection near Taylor. Investigators say 18-year-old Colton Dawe, of Burwell, was driving a sport utility vehicle westbound on Highway 91 when he failed to stop at a T-intersection with Highway 183 and hit a tree. Dawe, who graduated this year from Burwell High School, was pronounced dead at the scene. A 15-year-old passenger, who also attends Burwell High, was treated for injuries at an Ord hospital.

Patrol says teen killed in north-central Nebraska crash

&nbsp; LOS ANGELES- May 21st, 2021- According to Ticketmaster, Garth Brooks has sold out Memorial Stadium in Lincoln for his upcoming show on August 14. Brooks' management team had sent out a press release earlier this morning that said "over 70,000 tickets in 47 minutes for Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, NE, and tickets are still selling!"

As of 11:30am, Ticketmaster no longer had any tickets to the show. This will be the first music event at Memorial&nbsp;Stadium in 34&nbsp;years!&nbsp;This will be the only Nebraska appearance on the tour.

&nbsp; LOS ANGELES- May 21st, 2021- According to Ticketmaster, Garth Brooks has sold out Memorial Stadium in Lincoln for his upcoming show on August 14. Brooks' management team had sent out a press release earlier this morning that said "over 70,000 tickets in 47 minutes for Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, NE, and tickets are still selling!"As of 11:30am, Ticketmaster no longer had any tickets to the show. This will be the first music event at Memorial&nbsp;Stadium in 34&nbsp;years!&nbsp;This will be the only Nebraska appearance on the tour.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621614695664.png" alt="Garth Brooks Sells Out Memorial Stadium" />
 <figcaption>Garth Brooks Sells Out Memorial Stadium</figcaption>
 </figure>

Garth Brooks Sells Out Memorial Stadium in Less Than Hour & A Half

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A Sioux Falls man is accused of impersonating a police officer and questioning a woman while intoxicated and armed.

 Police say the 35-year-old man approached the woman wearing a cap and tactical vest marked police and questioned her about suspicious activity in the area Tuesday night.

 The woman was suspicious and asked to see a badge.

 The man ran away when the woman told him she was going to call police.

 The woman told police she saw a gun in the man’s waistband as he fled.

 A few minutes later police stopped a vehicle that was swerving and arrested the suspect.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A Sioux Falls man is accused of impersonating a police officer and questioning a woman while intoxicated and armed. Police say the 35-year-old man approached the woman wearing a cap and tactical vest marked police and questioned her about suspicious activity in the area Tuesday night. The woman was suspicious and asked to see a badge. The man ran away when the woman told him she was going to call police. The woman told police she saw a gun in the man’s waistband as he fled. A few minutes later police stopped a vehicle that was swerving and arrested the suspect.

South Dakota man accused of impersonating an officer

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Computer issues with the system that provides check-in services for multiple airlines caused delays and long check-in lines across the nation on Friday morning.

Sabre, the company that several airlines use for flight bookings, said it experienced an outage that affected several customers.

“However, the issue is now fully resolved, and we will take all necessary measures to prevent a recurrence,” the company said in a statement.

The problem affected American Airlines, JetBlue and Alaska Airlines.

“Earlier today, Sabre had a technical issue that impacted multiple carriers,” American Airlines said in a statement. “This issue has been resolved and our systems are back online. We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience.”

Alaska Airlines said the Sabre system went down and some planes unable to board. Just before 6 a.m., the airline also said it was “back up and running.”

Even though the system had been restored, there were still reports of long lines at some airports hours later.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Computer issues with the system that provides check-in services for multiple airlines caused delays and long check-in lines across the nation on Friday morning.Sabre, the company that several airlines use for flight bookings, said it experienced an outage that affected several customers.“However, the issue is now fully resolved, and we will take all necessary measures to prevent a recurrence,” the company said in a statement.The problem affected American Airlines, JetBlue and Alaska Airlines.“Earlier today, Sabre had a technical issue that impacted multiple carriers,” American Airlines said in a statement. “This issue has been resolved and our systems are back online. We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience.”Alaska Airlines said the Sabre system went down and some planes unable to board. Just before 6 a.m., the airline also said it was “back up and running.”Even though the system had been restored, there were still reports of long lines at some airports hours later.

Check in problems causes delays at airports nationwide

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Thursday narrowly approved $1.9 billion to fortify the Capitol after the Jan. 6 insurrection, as Democrats pushed past Republican opposition to try to harden the complex with retractable fencing and a quick-response force following the most violent domestic attack on Congress in history.

The bill’s 213-212 passage came a day after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-riots-capitol-siege-government-and-politics-3443b4d60621679dd5b42b3d3502d59d">House approved the formation of an independent commission</a>&nbsp;to investigate the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">deadly mob siege</a>&nbsp;by President Donald Trump’s supporters, who battled police to storm the building in a failed attempt to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s election.

The two measures now face an uncertain outcome in the evenly divided Senate as most Republicans have objected to both. Tensions are running high at the Capitol, with Democrats growing exasperated with Republicans who refuse to acknowledge the severity of the insurrection because of what appears to be their devotion to Trump — and fears of crossing him.

“We have a major political party in the country that’s ignoring it — we’re trying to solve a problem, they clearly don’t want to sit down and talk about it,” said Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, chairman of an appropriations subcommittee handling legislative branch security.

At the same time, the idea of bolstered security at the Capitol saddened many lawmakers who said they see no other choice because of the ongoing threats on Congress. Several leading liberal Democrats opposed the security money over concerns about policing, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders worked the floor during votes to ensure passage.

Together, the package of bills stemming from the domestic assault by Trump supporters on the Capitol reminded some lawmakers of the changes that emerged from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Then, a landmark commission investigated the attack’s root causes and authorities hardened the security apparatus across the federal government.

Thursday’s vote capped two days of emotionally wrenching debate as the political divide, particularly in the House, has widened in the months since the January assault.

House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro recalled her own experience being trapped in the House gallery that day as the attackers tried to break in, calling her husband to tell him she was OK after Capitol Police told her to duck on the floor.

“This bill is not about politics, it’s not about settling scores,” DeLauro said. “It’s about ensuring that every person who comes into the Capitol is safe and is protected.”

Republicans argued that the spending bill is too expensive and no fencing is needed. Many of them said lawmakers should be spending money on border security, not Capitol security.

Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, contended that Democrats would rather spend money on a wall “around this building in D.C.” than they would on finishing a border wall advocated by Trump.

Already, National Guard troops have been protecting the building for months and public access is severely limited. Though razor-wire-topped fencing that stood as a stark reminder of the siege has been removed, an extended perimeter fence remains in place, cutting off access to the lush grounds popular with the public.

The Democrats who opposed the security legislation were some of the most liberal in the House. Some have expressed the view that police treat people of color unfairly. Democratic Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota voted against it.

Omar said she had “not been convinced of the importance of the money.”

Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Jamaal Bowman of New York and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan voted “present,” effectively saving the measure from going down to defeat.

The chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, said the lawmakers “wanted to make sure that there were accountability measures” on the security funds. She voted for the bill.

Senate Democrats will not be able to pass either bill on their own in the evenly split 50-50 Senate and could have trouble persuading enough Republicans to vote with them after Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced he would oppose the inquiry. Ten GOP senators would need to join Democrats to meet the 60-vote threshold needed to advance legislation. Changes could be made to win over their support.

Months in the making, the emergency spending package incorporates the recommendations from an outside panel of experts to beef up security after the mob attack.

The bill includes money for new fencing — either retractable or “pop in,” according to Democrats — that would protect the grounds. The legislation bars money from being used for permanent above-ground fencing, reflecting the wishes of most members of Congress that the area should be open to the public.

Other changes would fortify windows and doors, install new security vestibules and cameras, and protect members with increased security at home and in Washington, as threats against them have doubled in the last year. There is also money to protect federal judges who are prosecuting the rioters and have received threats, and to repay the Capitol Police and other federal agencies for their efforts on Jan. 6.

Some lawmakers have objected to the proposal for the National Guard to maintain a “quick response force” nearby after it took hours for Guard troops to arrive Jan. 6 as attackers were brutally beating officers.

Leading Republicans on the armed services committees in the House and Senate oppose relying on the troops for the work of protecting the Capitol.

The National Guard Association of the United States said in a statement that the Guard should only be used for law enforcement as a “last resort.”

Democrats said they, too, are uneasy with many of the military-like measures, but say they have little choice but to protect the building. The delays in sending the Guard to the Capitol have been blamed in part for the failure to contain the violence. Five people died, including a Trump supporter shot and killed by police as she tried to climb through a broken window to access the House chamber, and a police officer who fought off the mob and died later.

“We’ve never had a quick response for us here — you know, we’ve never had an insurrection, either,” Ryan said. “So thinking has to evolve in order to try to solve some of these problems.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Thursday narrowly approved $1.9 billion to fortify the Capitol after the Jan. 6 insurrection, as Democrats pushed past Republican opposition to try to harden the complex with retractable fencing and a quick-response force following the most violent domestic attack on Congress in history.The bill’s 213-212 passage came a day after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-riots-capitol-siege-government-and-politics-3443b4d60621679dd5b42b3d3502d59d">House approved the formation of an independent commission</a>&nbsp;to investigate the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">deadly mob siege</a>&nbsp;by President Donald Trump’s supporters, who battled police to storm the building in a failed attempt to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s election.The two measures now face an uncertain outcome in the evenly divided Senate as most Republicans have objected to both. Tensions are running high at the Capitol, with Democrats growing exasperated with Republicans who refuse to acknowledge the severity of the insurrection because of what appears to be their devotion to Trump — and fears of crossing him.“We have a major political party in the country that’s ignoring it — we’re trying to solve a problem, they clearly don’t want to sit down and talk about it,” said Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, chairman of an appropriations subcommittee handling legislative branch security.At the same time, the idea of bolstered security at the Capitol saddened many lawmakers who said they see no other choice because of the ongoing threats on Congress. Several leading liberal Democrats opposed the security money over concerns about policing, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders worked the floor during votes to ensure passage.Together, the package of bills stemming from the domestic assault by Trump supporters on the Capitol reminded some lawmakers of the changes that emerged from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Then, a landmark commission investigated the attack’s root causes and authorities hardened the security apparatus across the federal government.Thursday’s vote capped two days of emotionally wrenching debate as the political divide, particularly in the House, has widened in the months since the January assault.House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro recalled her own experience being trapped in the House gallery that day as the attackers tried to break in, calling her husband to tell him she was OK after Capitol Police told her to duck on the floor.“This bill is not about politics, it’s not about settling scores,” DeLauro said. “It’s about ensuring that every person who comes into the Capitol is safe and is protected.”Republicans argued that the spending bill is too expensive and no fencing is needed. Many of them said lawmakers should be spending money on border security, not Capitol security.Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, contended that Democrats would rather spend money on a wall “around this building in D.C.” than they would on finishing a border wall advocated by Trump.Already, National Guard troops have been protecting the building for months and public access is severely limited. Though razor-wire-topped fencing that stood as a stark reminder of the siege has been removed, an extended perimeter fence remains in place, cutting off access to the lush grounds popular with the public.The Democrats who opposed the security legislation were some of the most liberal in the House. Some have expressed the view that police treat people of color unfairly. Democratic Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota voted against it.Omar said she had “not been convinced of the importance of the money.”Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Jamaal Bowman of New York and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan voted “present,” effectively saving the measure from going down to defeat.The chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, said the lawmakers “wanted to make sure that there were accountability measures” on the security funds. She voted for the bill.Senate Democrats will not be able to pass either bill on their own in the evenly split 50-50 Senate and could have trouble persuading enough Republicans to vote with them after Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced he would oppose the inquiry. Ten GOP senators would need to join Democrats to meet the 60-vote threshold needed to advance legislation. Changes could be made to win over their support.Months in the making, the emergency spending package incorporates the recommendations from an outside panel of experts to beef up security after the mob attack.The bill includes money for new fencing — either retractable or “pop in,” according to Democrats — that would protect the grounds. The legislation bars money from being used for permanent above-ground fencing, reflecting the wishes of most members of Congress that the area should be open to the public.Other changes would fortify windows and doors, install new security vestibules and cameras, and protect members with increased security at home and in Washington, as threats against them have doubled in the last year. There is also money to protect federal judges who are prosecuting the rioters and have received threats, and to repay the Capitol Police and other federal agencies for their efforts on Jan. 6.Some lawmakers have objected to the proposal for the National Guard to maintain a “quick response force” nearby after it took hours for Guard troops to arrive Jan. 6 as attackers were brutally beating officers.Leading Republicans on the armed services committees in the House and Senate oppose relying on the troops for the work of protecting the Capitol.The National Guard Association of the United States said in a statement that the Guard should only be used for law enforcement as a “last resort.”Democrats said they, too, are uneasy with many of the military-like measures, but say they have little choice but to protect the building. The delays in sending the Guard to the Capitol have been blamed in part for the failure to contain the violence. Five people died, including a Trump supporter shot and killed by police as she tried to climb through a broken window to access the House chamber, and a police officer who fought off the mob and died later.“We’ve never had a quick response for us here — you know, we’ve never had an insurrection, either,” Ryan said. “So thinking has to evolve in order to try to solve some of these problems.”___

By 1 vote, House approves $1.9B to fortify U.S. Capitol 

WASHINGTON — Federal Communications Commission Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on Thursday announced the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program enrolled more than one million households in the first week of the program’s debut.  Households in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and American Samoa are benefitting from the subsidy program initiated by Congress. 

“The high demand we’ve seen for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program demonstrates what many of us already knew to be true – too many families are struggling to get online, even in 2021.  Help is here.  As an agency, we’re continuing to focus our efforts on reaching as many communities as possible, so they can get the support they need,” said Rosenworcel. 

Over 900 broadband providers have agreed to take part in the program. &nbsp;The benefit is available to eligible new, prior, and existing customers of participating providers.&nbsp; Customers can sign up by contacting a participating provider, enroll online at https://www.getemergencybroadband.org, or sign up via mail.&nbsp; To learn more or learn where to access a mail-in application, call (833) 511-0311.

Households can qualify several ways such as through their use of existing assistance programs like SNAP, Medicaid, Lifeline or if a child relies on reduced-price school meals programs.&nbsp; The Emergency Broadband Benefit is also available to households who are eligible for a broadband provider’s existing COVID relief program, to those who have received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year, and to those low-income households who suffered a large loss in income during the pandemic due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584977952684.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FCCWASHINGTON — Federal Communications Commission Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on Thursday announced the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program enrolled more than one million households in the first week of the program’s debut. Households in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and American Samoa are benefitting from the subsidy program initiated by Congress. “The high demand we’ve seen for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program demonstrates what many of us already knew to be true – too many families are struggling to get online, even in 2021. Help is here. As an agency, we’re continuing to focus our efforts on reaching as many communities as possible, so they can get the support they need,” said Rosenworcel. Over 900 broadband providers have agreed to take part in the program. &nbsp;The benefit is available to eligible new, prior, and existing customers of participating providers.&nbsp; Customers can sign up by contacting a participating provider, enroll online at https://www.getemergencybroadband.org, or sign up via mail.&nbsp; To learn more or learn where to access a mail-in application, call (833) 511-0311.Households can qualify several ways such as through their use of existing assistance programs like SNAP, Medicaid, Lifeline or if a child relies on reduced-price school meals programs.&nbsp; The Emergency Broadband Benefit is also available to households who are eligible for a broadband provider’s existing COVID relief program, to those who have received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year, and to those low-income households who suffered a large loss in income during the pandemic due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020.

FCC: Over 1M US households apply for internet assistance program

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are rebelling against the requirement that they wear a mask on the House floor, stoking tensions with majority Democrats who are refusing to change the rules following updated guidance from federal health officials.

Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., led an effort Wednesday to get the Office of the Attending Physician to update its guidance for mask wearing for vaccinated lawmakers and staff while they are in the House chamber and in committee hearing rooms, but Democrats defeated it along a party-line vote of 218-210.

Lawmakers can remove their masks when speaking on the House floor, but otherwise must keep it on when they are in the chamber. There is no requirement for wearing masks in the Senate chamber.

Democratic lawmakers say they are tired of the requirements, too, but they worry that some of their Republican colleagues have declined to be vaccinated and could spread the virus.

Some GOP lawmakers opted to go without a mask during votes Tuesday, with a few taking particular care to stand in the well of the chamber to ensure that spectators, colleagues and C-SPAN’s cameras could not miss them.

Their defiance could come at a financial cost. Lawmakers who refuse to wear masks are subject to a fine of $500 for the first offense. Subsequent offenses can result in a $2,500 fine. In practice, however, the House sergeant-at-arms is providing a warning for the first offense.

Seven lawmakers will be getting such warnings, according to a list obtained by The Associated Press: Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Chip Roy of Texas, Bob Good of Virginia, Louie Gohmert of Texas and Mary Miller of Illinois

Three more had already received a warning and will be fined $500. They are Reps. Brian Mast of Florida, Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa and Beth Van Duyne of Texas. They will be subject to a fine of $2,500 for additional offenses.

McCarthy followed up on their protests with a resolution that stated the mask mandate “hinders the ability of the House to properly and effectively conduct the people’s business.”

The resolution stated that those who have not received the vaccine “pose no real threat to those who have been vaccinated.” And it called on the attending physician of the House to consult with the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and provide updated mask guidelines.

The mask revolt in the House has been brewing for months, with some Republicans chafing at the extra safety precautions imposed during the pandemic and bolstered after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Democrats imposed mask requirements last year when many Republicans, defying public health guidance, refused to wear face coverings.

The complaints from some Republicans have grown louder now that the CDC has altered its mask guidelines, saying it’s safe for fully vaccinated people to skip face coverings and social distancing in virtually all situations.

The CDC guidelines say all people should still wear masks in crowded indoor locations such as airplanes, buses, hospitals and prisons. Lawmakers and others in the Capitol have stopped wearing masks when moving around the building.

Drew Hammill, a spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said the Office of the Attending Physician has been consistently conferring with the CDC, and as recently as Tuesday. He said new guidance issued Wednesday states the mask requirement is “entirely consistent” with the CDC’s recommendations and has ensured that the House can debate and pass legislation safely and effectively.

“If Minority Leader McCarthy wants to be maskless on the Floor of the House of Representatives, he should get to work vaccinating his Members,” Hammill wrote.

At one point Tuesday, Boebert, Taylor-Greene and Massie stood together unmasked for several minutes in the well of the House. Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland went over and spoke with them. The conversation appeared cordial.

Raskin told reporters that he can’t wait to take his mask off during House floor proceedings. “The reason we can’t take our masks off is because so many Republicans are not vaccinated and are refusing to do it,” he said.

After Tuesday’s votes, several of the Republicans who declined to wear a mask gathered outside the Capitol for a group picture.

Massie said Wednesday that he had previously contracted COVID-19 and recovered. He said he is “immune” and that “part of the reason you know they’re not following the science here is they don’t care if you have the antibody.”

The CDC states on its website that people should get vaccinated even if they had already had COVID-19.

“That’s because experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Even if you have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possible — although rare — that you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 again,” the CDC says.

Massie said he was prepared to test the mask requirement again.

“I can’t afford to be fined into poverty, but if I’m not willing to spend $500 defending freedom, I don’t belong here,” he said.

Roy said that if any lawmakers or staff members have health concerns, they have the ability to get vaccinated and to wear a mask. Meanwhile, he said the availability of vaccines and the data about their effectiveness shows “that we can engage out in the world” and Americans should see their lawmakers doing that.

“Contrary to some people’s public view and the caricature of myself and others, I’m not looking to, you know, nuke the place,” Roy said. “What I’m looking to do is raise issues, consistently sort of push back and represent my constituents who are tired of this.”

Taylor-Greene took to the House floor again on Wednesday without her mask. She remained in the chamber for much of the day and at times positioned herself in a chair behind the Republican lawmakers who spoke on the floor, which ensured she would be seen by television viewers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621513031110.png" alt="Seven members of the House of Representatives already received a warning. Three others received the warning and will be fined $500, according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Seven members of the House of Representatives already received a warning. Three others received the warning and will be fined $500, according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are rebelling against the requirement that they wear a mask on the House floor, stoking tensions with majority Democrats who are refusing to change the rules following updated guidance from federal health officials.Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., led an effort Wednesday to get the Office of the Attending Physician to update its guidance for mask wearing for vaccinated lawmakers and staff while they are in the House chamber and in committee hearing rooms, but Democrats defeated it along a party-line vote of 218-210.Lawmakers can remove their masks when speaking on the House floor, but otherwise must keep it on when they are in the chamber. There is no requirement for wearing masks in the Senate chamber.Democratic lawmakers say they are tired of the requirements, too, but they worry that some of their Republican colleagues have declined to be vaccinated and could spread the virus.Some GOP lawmakers opted to go without a mask during votes Tuesday, with a few taking particular care to stand in the well of the chamber to ensure that spectators, colleagues and C-SPAN’s cameras could not miss them.Their defiance could come at a financial cost. Lawmakers who refuse to wear masks are subject to a fine of $500 for the first offense. Subsequent offenses can result in a $2,500 fine. In practice, however, the House sergeant-at-arms is providing a warning for the first offense.Seven lawmakers will be getting such warnings, according to a list obtained by The Associated Press: Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Chip Roy of Texas, Bob Good of Virginia, Louie Gohmert of Texas and Mary Miller of IllinoisThree more had already received a warning and will be fined $500. They are Reps. Brian Mast of Florida, Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa and Beth Van Duyne of Texas. They will be subject to a fine of $2,500 for additional offenses.McCarthy followed up on their protests with a resolution that stated the mask mandate “hinders the ability of the House to properly and effectively conduct the people’s business.”The resolution stated that those who have not received the vaccine “pose no real threat to those who have been vaccinated.” And it called on the attending physician of the House to consult with the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and provide updated mask guidelines.The mask revolt in the House has been brewing for months, with some Republicans chafing at the extra safety precautions imposed during the pandemic and bolstered after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Democrats imposed mask requirements last year when many Republicans, defying public health guidance, refused to wear face coverings.The complaints from some Republicans have grown louder now that the CDC has altered its mask guidelines, saying it’s safe for fully vaccinated people to skip face coverings and social distancing in virtually all situations.The CDC guidelines say all people should still wear masks in crowded indoor locations such as airplanes, buses, hospitals and prisons. Lawmakers and others in the Capitol have stopped wearing masks when moving around the building.Drew Hammill, a spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said the Office of the Attending Physician has been consistently conferring with the CDC, and as recently as Tuesday. He said new guidance issued Wednesday states the mask requirement is “entirely consistent” with the CDC’s recommendations and has ensured that the House can debate and pass legislation safely and effectively.“If Minority Leader McCarthy wants to be maskless on the Floor of the House of Representatives, he should get to work vaccinating his Members,” Hammill wrote.At one point Tuesday, Boebert, Taylor-Greene and Massie stood together unmasked for several minutes in the well of the House. Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland went over and spoke with them. The conversation appeared cordial.Raskin told reporters that he can’t wait to take his mask off during House floor proceedings. “The reason we can’t take our masks off is because so many Republicans are not vaccinated and are refusing to do it,” he said.After Tuesday’s votes, several of the Republicans who declined to wear a mask gathered outside the Capitol for a group picture.Massie said Wednesday that he had previously contracted COVID-19 and recovered. He said he is “immune” and that “part of the reason you know they’re not following the science here is they don’t care if you have the antibody.”The CDC states on its website that people should get vaccinated even if they had already had COVID-19.“That’s because experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Even if you have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possible — although rare — that you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 again,” the CDC says.Massie said he was prepared to test the mask requirement again.“I can’t afford to be fined into poverty, but if I’m not willing to spend $500 defending freedom, I don’t belong here,” he said.Roy said that if any lawmakers or staff members have health concerns, they have the ability to get vaccinated and to wear a mask. Meanwhile, he said the availability of vaccines and the data about their effectiveness shows “that we can engage out in the world” and Americans should see their lawmakers doing that.“Contrary to some people’s public view and the caricature of myself and others, I’m not looking to, you know, nuke the place,” Roy said. “What I’m looking to do is raise issues, consistently sort of push back and represent my constituents who are tired of this.”Taylor-Greene took to the House floor again on Wednesday without her mask. She remained in the chamber for much of the day and at times positioned herself in a chair behind the Republican lawmakers who spoke on the floor, which ensured she would be seen by television viewers.