OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 29-year-old man who allegedly fled child enticement charges in Omaha is coming back to Nebraska — from Nicaragua. 

KETV-TV reports that Adam Hawhee was returned to the U.S. on Friday. Hawhee was charged last year with two counts of child enticement and 26 counts of possession of child pornography. 

He was suspected to trying to entice girls at a park, but was freed after posting bond. He went back to jail in July after allegedly exposing himself to a boy. 

Hawhee was freed again after posting bond in August. He missed a December court appearance and authorities said he was on the run.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620501477079.png" alt="Hawhee" />
 <figcaption>Hawhee</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 29-year-old man who allegedly fled child enticement charges in Omaha is coming back to Nebraska — from Nicaragua. KETV-TV reports that Adam Hawhee was returned to the U.S. on Friday. Hawhee was charged last year with two counts of child enticement and 26 counts of possession of child pornography. He was suspected to trying to entice girls at a park, but was freed after posting bond. He went back to jail in July after allegedly exposing himself to a boy. Hawhee was freed again after posting bond in August. He missed a December court appearance and authorities said he was on the run.

Omaha child enticement suspect being brought back from Nicaragua

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A college baseball player from South Dakota whose prosthetic arm was stolen plans to give away money donated by people who want to buy him a replacement.

 Augustana’s Parker Hanson, a right-handed pitcher, was born without a left hand, but found a way to adapt at a young age so he play his favorite game all the way up through the college level. 

His prosthetic arm and the attachments were in a backpack that was stolen from his unlocked pickup outside his home. 

NCAA rules prohibit him from accepting donations for a replacement until the end of his season. 

At that time, Hanson says whatever money he doesn't need he will donate back into the community or charities that help people with disabilities.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A college baseball player from South Dakota whose prosthetic arm was stolen plans to give away money donated by people who want to buy him a replacement. Augustana’s Parker Hanson, a right-handed pitcher, was born without a left hand, but found a way to adapt at a young age so he play his favorite game all the way up through the college level. His prosthetic arm and the attachments were in a backpack that was stolen from his unlocked pickup outside his home. NCAA rules prohibit him from accepting donations for a replacement until the end of his season. At that time, Hanson says whatever money he doesn't need he will donate back into the community or charities that help people with disabilities.

College pitcher turning theft of prosthetic arm into charity

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — After more than three decades in law enforcement, a Douglas County Sheriff’s Department captain is moving out of the squad car and, eventually, into the pulpit. 

WOWT-TV reports that Matt Martin is retiring next week and plans to start his studies at a Lutheran seminary in St. Louis in August. After two years of study, he hopes for a call to a Missouri Synod church in eastern Nebraska or western Iowa. 

At Martin’s home church in Logan, Iowa, Pastor Dan Steeb believes Martin has the makings of a good pastor, thanks in large part to his law enforcement experiences.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620482196677.png" alt="Photo: Douglas County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Photo: Douglas County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — After more than three decades in law enforcement, a Douglas County Sheriff’s Department captain is moving out of the squad car and, eventually, into the pulpit. WOWT-TV reports that Matt Martin is retiring next week and plans to start his studies at a Lutheran seminary in St. Louis in August. After two years of study, he hopes for a call to a Missouri Synod church in eastern Nebraska or western Iowa. At Martin’s home church in Logan, Iowa, Pastor Dan Steeb believes Martin has the makings of a good pastor, thanks in large part to his law enforcement experiences.

Sheriff's captain turns in badge, plans move to pulpit

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln woman has died following an accident on Highway 44 near Kearney. 

KSNB-TV reports that the accident happened Thursday afternoon. 

The Nebraska State Patrol says 40-year-old Brandi Nigh was making a U-turn when another southbound vehicle struck her Honda Accord.

 Then, a northbound truck struck both vehicles. Nigh was pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was seriously hurt.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln woman has died following an accident on Highway 44 near Kearney. KSNB-TV reports that the accident happened Thursday afternoon. The Nebraska State Patrol says 40-year-old Brandi Nigh was making a U-turn when another southbound vehicle struck her Honda Accord. Then, a northbound truck struck both vehicles. Nigh was pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was seriously hurt.

Patrol: Woman died after making U-turn on Nebraska roadway

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Officials may have to increase the amount of water released into the Missouri River over the next couple months to ensure there is enough water in the river for cities that rely on it for water and for barge traffic. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Thursday that significantly less water is expected to flow into the river this year because conditions remain so dry and snowpack is below normal levels. 

April was an exceptionally dry month the region. Because of that, officials said that only about 69% of the normal amount of water is expected to flow into the Missouri River this year.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Officials may have to increase the amount of water released into the Missouri River over the next couple months to ensure there is enough water in the river for cities that rely on it for water and for barge traffic. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Thursday that significantly less water is expected to flow into the river this year because conditions remain so dry and snowpack is below normal levels. April was an exceptionally dry month the region. Because of that, officials said that only about 69% of the normal amount of water is expected to flow into the Missouri River this year.

Missouri River remains low headed into summer

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republicans are increasingly using food — especially beef — as a cudgel in the culture war. 

In statements, tweets and fundraising emails, prominent GOP governors and senators have accused climate-minded Democrats of trying to push Americans to eat less red meat. 

Conservatives have accused President Joe Biden of planning to ration red meat. 

The news was wrong, but the food fight is likely to continue as food choices become a way of signaling partisan politics.

 Already, in farm states, meat eating has joined abortion, gun control and transgender rights as an issue that quickly sends partisans to their corners.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republicans are increasingly using food — especially beef — as a cudgel in the culture war. In statements, tweets and fundraising emails, prominent GOP governors and senators have accused climate-minded Democrats of trying to push Americans to eat less red meat. Conservatives have accused President Joe Biden of planning to ration red meat. The news was wrong, but the food fight is likely to continue as food choices become a way of signaling partisan politics. Already, in farm states, meat eating has joined abortion, gun control and transgender rights as an issue that quickly sends partisans to their corners.

Red meat politics: GOP turns culture war into a food fight

LINCOLN, Neb.-Michael Robertson of Columbus is the fourth winner of a 2021 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCrew Flex Fuel truck in the 26th edition of the Nebraska Lottery’s $2 Truck$ &amp; Buck$ Scratch game.

Robertson purchased his winning Truck$ &amp; Buck$ ticket at Off Campus, 3208 42nd St. in Columbus.

Nebraska Lottery officials presented Robertson with his truck on Thursday, May 6 at Off Campus.

Robertson said he was on his way to baseball practice when he stopped by the convenience store to pick up a couple of tickets. He said he doesn’t play Scratch regularly, just when the feeling strikes.

He went out to the truck and scratched off the barcode instead of the play area. He scanned the ticket on the Nebraska Lottery app on his phone and got the message, “Please take to Lottery”. Unsure of what he’d won, he took it inside to get it checked.

Tammi Macken, assistant manager at Off Campus scanned it and saw Robertson had won the truck. She hugged him and made him promise he’d take her for a ride once he got his new pickup.

Robertson rushed home to show his wife but she was concerned he’d miss his practice.

“My wife said, ‘You’re gonna be late’ and I said, ‘It’s ok, I’ve got news for you,’” he said.

Before winning the 2021 Ford F-150, Robertson’s daily driver was a 1995 Ford F-150 he’d had for about 10 years. When he received his new truck, Robertson made good on his promise and took Macken on a quick trip around the block.

The 26th edition of the Nebraska Lottery’s popular $2 Truck$ &amp; Buck$ Scratch game features the 2021 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCrew Flex Fuel truck as its top prize. Players have the opportunity to win one of seven Ford F-150 trucks as well as cash and Ethanol-enriched fuel prizes. The truck prize is valued at $56,600, which includes $1,199 for costs associated with ownership and state and federal withholding paid by the Nebraska Lottery of $2,830 and $13,584, respectively. The odds of winning the top prize in Truck$ &amp; Buck$ are 1 in 300,000, while the overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 3.74.

The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $818 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620404508393.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release Nebraska LotteryLINCOLN, Neb.-Michael Robertson of Columbus is the fourth winner of a 2021 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCrew Flex Fuel truck in the 26th edition of the Nebraska Lottery’s $2 Truck$ &amp; Buck$ Scratch game.Robertson purchased his winning Truck$ &amp; Buck$ ticket at Off Campus, 3208 42nd St. in Columbus.Nebraska Lottery officials presented Robertson with his truck on Thursday, May 6 at Off Campus.Robertson said he was on his way to baseball practice when he stopped by the convenience store to pick up a couple of tickets. He said he doesn’t play Scratch regularly, just when the feeling strikes.He went out to the truck and scratched off the barcode instead of the play area. He scanned the ticket on the Nebraska Lottery app on his phone and got the message, “Please take to Lottery”. Unsure of what he’d won, he took it inside to get it checked.Tammi Macken, assistant manager at Off Campus scanned it and saw Robertson had won the truck. She hugged him and made him promise he’d take her for a ride once he got his new pickup.Robertson rushed home to show his wife but she was concerned he’d miss his practice.“My wife said, ‘You’re gonna be late’ and I said, ‘It’s ok, I’ve got news for you,’” he said.Before winning the 2021 Ford F-150, Robertson’s daily driver was a 1995 Ford F-150 he’d had for about 10 years. When he received his new truck, Robertson made good on his promise and took Macken on a quick trip around the block.The 26th edition of the Nebraska Lottery’s popular $2 Truck$ &amp; Buck$ Scratch game features the 2021 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCrew Flex Fuel truck as its top prize. Players have the opportunity to win one of seven Ford F-150 trucks as well as cash and Ethanol-enriched fuel prizes. The truck prize is valued at $56,600, which includes $1,199 for costs associated with ownership and state and federal withholding paid by the Nebraska Lottery of $2,830 and $13,584, respectively. The odds of winning the top prize in Truck$ &amp; Buck$ are 1 in 300,000, while the overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 3.74.The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $818 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

Columbus man claims 4th Nebraska Lottery Trucks & Bucks truck

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Charges have been upgraded for the defendants accused in a Christmas Eve slaying in Rapid City. 

Court documents say 31-year-old Vernall Marshall was shot twice in the back on Dec. 24, 2020 after the defendants set up a fake drug buy so they could attack Marshall for allegedly sending inappropriate text messages to a teen related to one of the four accused in the crime. 

The alleged trigger man, Elias Richard, is now charged with first-degree murder. Kaleb Lukkes and Clint Marshall, who is not related to the victim, are now charged with aiding and abetting the murder. 

Masheka Barnett is now charged with aiding and aggravated assault.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Charges have been upgraded for the defendants accused in a Christmas Eve slaying in Rapid City. Court documents say 31-year-old Vernall Marshall was shot twice in the back on Dec. 24, 2020 after the defendants set up a fake drug buy so they could attack Marshall for allegedly sending inappropriate text messages to a teen related to one of the four accused in the crime. The alleged trigger man, Elias Richard, is now charged with first-degree murder. Kaleb Lukkes and Clint Marshall, who is not related to the victim, are now charged with aiding and abetting the murder. Masheka Barnett is now charged with aiding and aggravated assault.

Charges upgraded for defendants in Rapid City slaying

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Thursday detailed steps to achieve an ambitious goal to conserve nearly one-third of America’s lands and waters by 2030, relying on voluntary efforts to preserve public, private and tribal areas while also helping tackle climate change and create jobs.

<a href="https://www.doi.gov/america-the-beautiful">Click here</a>&nbsp;to read details of the plan.

<a href="https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/report-conserving-and-restoring-america-the-beautiful-2021.pdf" target="_blank">A report, with the lofty title “America the Beautiful,′</a>&nbsp;′ calls for a decade-long commitment on projects nationwide to make the conservation and restoration of lands and waters an urgent priority. The plan would purify drinking water, increase green space, improve access to outdoor recreation, restore healthy fisheries, reduce the risk of wildfires and recognize the “oversized contributions” of farmers, ranchers, forest owners, fishers, hunters, rural communities and tribal nations.

In the process, the effort will produce thousands of new jobs and a stronger economy while also addressing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/climate-change">climate change</a>&nbsp;and environmental justice, including expanded access by disadvantaged communities to the outdoors, the report said.

President Joe Biden has set a goal of conserving at least 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. If successful, the plan will help slow global warming and preserve some of the nation’s most scenic lands for future generations of Americans, the report said.

About 12% of the nation’s lands and 25% of its waters are currently protected, according to research by the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank. Those protected areas include not just parks but also wilderness areas, game refuges, agricultural lands, forests, ranches and other sites with conservation easements.

The plan released Thursday recommends a series of actions, including expansion of a federal grant program to create local parks, especially in cities and other “nature-deprived communities.″ The report also suggests grants for Native American tribes to support tribal conservation priorities; expansion of fish and wildlife habitats and corridors; increased access for outdoor recreation; and creation of a “civilian climate corps” to work on conservation and restoration projects nationwide.

The plan follows through on a Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-climate-iran-nuclear-immigration-de7b288aa2b4315b5b7fe38559a6e666">campaign promise</a>&nbsp;and builds on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-mt-state-wire-ap-top-news-legislation-politics-b05f9869fc7840fb0eb66a87ec8eeda1">Great American Outdoors Act</a>, a 2020 law passed by Congress that authorizes nearly $3 billion for conservation projects, outdoor recreation and maintenance of national parks and other public lands.

Even with that injection of federal dollars, the Biden plan relies heavily on voluntary conservation efforts by farmers, ranchers, forest owners and fishing communities. No cost estimate for the project was provided. Much of the spending could be done through department budgets, as well as the 2020 outdoors law, the 2018 farm bill and Biden’s proposed $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan, officials said.

“The president’s challenge is a call to action to support locally led conservation and restoration efforts of all kinds and all over America, wherever communities wish to safeguard the lands and waters they know and love,″ the report says. “Doing so will not only protect our lands and waters but also boost our economy and support jobs nationwide.″

The report was signed by three Cabinet members —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-cabinet-cabinets-parks-native-americans-national-parks-3e68649e5901248207480dd8503b0246">Interior Secretary Deb Haaland</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tom-vilsack-confirmed-ag-secretary-98bd9dc4a4d65b0633eec5610fb51ed3">Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gina-raimondo-confirmed-commerce-secretary-0708768537e4ffd4433ec980abe1db7b">Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo</a>&nbsp;— along with Brenda Mallory, who leads the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

“Nature plays an important role in improving resilience to climate change and creating a thriving economy,″ Haaland said at a news conference Thursday.

White House climate adviser Gina McCarthy said the Great Outdoors law, which bankrolls the popular Land and Water Conservation Fund and takes aim at a growing maintenance backlog at national parks, was a “down payment” on the conservation initiative. The law authorizes $900 million a year for that fund and an additional $1.9 billion per year on improvements at parks, forests, wildlife refuges and range lands.

“There are many tools available to us” to pay for the conservation program, McCarthy said. The report is only the “starting point″ on a path to fulfill Biden’s conservation vision, she and other officials said.

“Where this path leads over the next decade will be determined not by our agencies, but by the ideas and leadership of local communities,″ the Cabinet officials said in the report. “It is our job to listen, learn and provide support along the way to ... pass on healthy lands, waters and wildlife to the generations to come.”

Environmental and outdoors groups hailed the initiative.

“The bottom line is that healthier public lands and waters mean more opportunities for Americans to recreate outside and for communities’ economies to thrive,” said Jessica Turner, executive director of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, a coalition that represents a range of outdoor businesses.

Alex Taurel of the League of Conservation Voters added: “We are all-in to help reach and exceed” Biden’s goal “to tackle the climate crisis and expand access to nature in America the beautiful.”

Chris Wood, president of Trout Unlimited, a fisheries conservation group, said “there’s a lot to like” in Biden’s initiative, especially its emphasis on local actions. “A bunch of directives from the top won’t get us where we need to go,″ he said in an interview.

Provisions to protect landscapes and improve resiliency against drought, wildfire and floods are crucial, Wood said, noting that natural disasters “don’t respect wilderness boundaries″ or property lines. He pledged to work with the administration develop more detailed plans.

Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said the report “uses vague buzz-words” and does not resolve his concern that “this is nothing but an effort to lock up lands, which will hurt Montana’s farmers and ranchers and kill jobs.″ Daines, a co-sponsor of the Great Outdoors law, accused Biden of “pushing ambiguous political ambitions motivated by headlines rather than results.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620346954555.png" alt="President Joe Biden has set a goal of conserving at least 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden has set a goal of conserving at least 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Thursday detailed steps to achieve an ambitious goal to conserve nearly one-third of America’s lands and waters by 2030, relying on voluntary efforts to preserve public, private and tribal areas while also helping tackle climate change and create jobs.<a href="https://www.doi.gov/america-the-beautiful">Click here</a>&nbsp;to read details of the plan.<a href="https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/report-conserving-and-restoring-america-the-beautiful-2021.pdf" target="_blank">A report, with the lofty title “America the Beautiful,′</a>&nbsp;′ calls for a decade-long commitment on projects nationwide to make the conservation and restoration of lands and waters an urgent priority. The plan would purify drinking water, increase green space, improve access to outdoor recreation, restore healthy fisheries, reduce the risk of wildfires and recognize the “oversized contributions” of farmers, ranchers, forest owners, fishers, hunters, rural communities and tribal nations.In the process, the effort will produce thousands of new jobs and a stronger economy while also addressing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/climate-change">climate change</a>&nbsp;and environmental justice, including expanded access by disadvantaged communities to the outdoors, the report said.President Joe Biden has set a goal of conserving at least 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. If successful, the plan will help slow global warming and preserve some of the nation’s most scenic lands for future generations of Americans, the report said.About 12% of the nation’s lands and 25% of its waters are currently protected, according to research by the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank. Those protected areas include not just parks but also wilderness areas, game refuges, agricultural lands, forests, ranches and other sites with conservation easements.The plan released Thursday recommends a series of actions, including expansion of a federal grant program to create local parks, especially in cities and other “nature-deprived communities.″ The report also suggests grants for Native American tribes to support tribal conservation priorities; expansion of fish and wildlife habitats and corridors; increased access for outdoor recreation; and creation of a “civilian climate corps” to work on conservation and restoration projects nationwide.The plan follows through on a Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-climate-iran-nuclear-immigration-de7b288aa2b4315b5b7fe38559a6e666">campaign promise</a>&nbsp;and builds on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-mt-state-wire-ap-top-news-legislation-politics-b05f9869fc7840fb0eb66a87ec8eeda1">Great American Outdoors Act</a>, a 2020 law passed by Congress that authorizes nearly $3 billion for conservation projects, outdoor recreation and maintenance of national parks and other public lands.Even with that injection of federal dollars, the Biden plan relies heavily on voluntary conservation efforts by farmers, ranchers, forest owners and fishing communities. No cost estimate for the project was provided. Much of the spending could be done through department budgets, as well as the 2020 outdoors law, the 2018 farm bill and Biden’s proposed $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan, officials said.“The president’s challenge is a call to action to support locally led conservation and restoration efforts of all kinds and all over America, wherever communities wish to safeguard the lands and waters they know and love,″ the report says. “Doing so will not only protect our lands and waters but also boost our economy and support jobs nationwide.″The report was signed by three Cabinet members —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-cabinet-cabinets-parks-native-americans-national-parks-3e68649e5901248207480dd8503b0246">Interior Secretary Deb Haaland</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tom-vilsack-confirmed-ag-secretary-98bd9dc4a4d65b0633eec5610fb51ed3">Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gina-raimondo-confirmed-commerce-secretary-0708768537e4ffd4433ec980abe1db7b">Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo</a>&nbsp;— along with Brenda Mallory, who leads the White House Council on Environmental Quality.“Nature plays an important role in improving resilience to climate change and creating a thriving economy,″ Haaland said at a news conference Thursday.White House climate adviser Gina McCarthy said the Great Outdoors law, which bankrolls the popular Land and Water Conservation Fund and takes aim at a growing maintenance backlog at national parks, was a “down payment” on the conservation initiative. The law authorizes $900 million a year for that fund and an additional $1.9 billion per year on improvements at parks, forests, wildlife refuges and range lands.“There are many tools available to us” to pay for the conservation program, McCarthy said. The report is only the “starting point″ on a path to fulfill Biden’s conservation vision, she and other officials said.“Where this path leads over the next decade will be determined not by our agencies, but by the ideas and leadership of local communities,″ the Cabinet officials said in the report. “It is our job to listen, learn and provide support along the way to ... pass on healthy lands, waters and wildlife to the generations to come.”Environmental and outdoors groups hailed the initiative.“The bottom line is that healthier public lands and waters mean more opportunities for Americans to recreate outside and for communities’ economies to thrive,” said Jessica Turner, executive director of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, a coalition that represents a range of outdoor businesses.Alex Taurel of the League of Conservation Voters added: “We are all-in to help reach and exceed” Biden’s goal “to tackle the climate crisis and expand access to nature in America the beautiful.”Chris Wood, president of Trout Unlimited, a fisheries conservation group, said “there’s a lot to like” in Biden’s initiative, especially its emphasis on local actions. “A bunch of directives from the top won’t get us where we need to go,″ he said in an interview.Provisions to protect landscapes and improve resiliency against drought, wildfire and floods are crucial, Wood said, noting that natural disasters “don’t respect wilderness boundaries″ or property lines. He pledged to work with the administration develop more detailed plans.Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said the report “uses vague buzz-words” and does not resolve his concern that “this is nothing but an effort to lock up lands, which will hurt Montana’s farmers and ranchers and kill jobs.″ Daines, a co-sponsor of the Great Outdoors law, accused Biden of “pushing ambiguous political ambitions motivated by headlines rather than results.”

Biden's plan would boost conservation of US lands, waters

WASHINGTON — Today, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department
 of the Treasury, and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service announced they 
are disbursing more than 1.1 million payments in the eighth batch of 
Economic Impact Payments from the American Rescue Plan.

Today's announcement brings the total disbursed so far to 
approximately 164 million payments, with a total value of approximately 
$386 billion, since these payments began rolling out to Americans in 
batches <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-begins-delivering-third-round-of-economic-impact-payments-to-americans">as announced</a> on March 12.

The eighth batch of payments began processing on Friday, April 30, 
with an official payment date of May 5, with some people receiving 
direct payments in their accounts earlier as provisional or pending 
deposits. Here is additional information on this batch of payments:

Additional information is available on the first seven batches 
of Economic Impact Payments from the American Rescue Plan, which 
processed weekly on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/nearly-2-million-more-economic-impact-payments-disbursed-under-the-american-rescue-plan-continuing-payments-reach-approximately-163-million">April 23</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/two-million-more-economic-impact-payments-disbursed-under-the-american-rescue-plan-total-reaches-approximately-161-million-as-payments-continue">April 16</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-2-million-more-economic-impact-payments-under-the-american-rescue-plan-va-beneficiaries-bring-total-to-approximately-159-million-as-payments-continue">April 9</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-25-million-more-economic-impact-payments-under-the-american-rescue-plan">April 2</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-more-economic-impact-payments-under-the-american-rescue-plan-total-tops-130-million-with-more-to-come">March 26</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-another-37-million-economic-impact-payments-from-the-american-rescue-plan">March 19</a> and <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0063">March 12</a>.

The IRS will continue to make Economic Impact Payments on a weekly 
basis. Ongoing payments will be sent to eligible individuals for whom 
the IRS previously did not have information to issue a payment but who 
recently filed a tax return, as well to people who qualify for "plus-up"
 payments.

Special reminder for those who don't normally file a tax return

Although payments are automatic for most people, the IRS continues to
 urge people who don't normally file a tax return and haven't received 
Economic Impact Payments to file a 2020 tax return to get all the 
benefits they're entitled to under the law, including tax credits such 
as the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">2020 Recovery Rebate Credit</a>,
 the Child Tax Credit, and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Filing a 2020 
tax return will also assist the IRS in determining whether someone is 
eligible for an advance payment of the 2021 Child Tax Credit, which will
 begin to be disbursed this summer.

For example, some federal benefits recipients may need to file a 2020
 tax return – even if they don't usually file – to provide information 
the IRS needs to send payments for a qualifying dependent. Eligible 
individuals in this group should file a 2020 tax return as quickly as 
possible to be considered for an additional payment for their qualifying
 dependents.

People who don't normally file a tax return and don't receive federal
 benefits may qualify for these Economic Impact Payments. This includes 
those experiencing <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/those-experiencing-homelessness-can-get-economic-impact-payments-and-other-tax-benefits-permanent-address-not-required">homelessness</a>,
 the rural poor, and others. Individuals who didn't get a first or 
second round Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amounts 
may be eligible for the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">2020 Recovery Rebate Credit</a>, but they'll need to file a 2020 tax return. See the special section on IRS.gov: <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit-topic-a-claiming-the-recovery-rebate-credit-if-you-arent-required-to-file-a-tax-return">Claiming the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit if you aren't required to file a tax return</a>.

Free <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">tax return preparation</a> is available for qualifying people.

The IRS reminds taxpayers that the income levels in this third round 
of Economic Impact Payments have changed. This means that some people 
won't be eligible for the third payment even if they received a first or
 second Economic Impact Payment or claimed a 2020 Recovery Rebate 
Credit. Payments will begin to be reduced for individuals making $75,000
 or above in Adjusted Gross Income ($150,000 for married filing 
jointly). The payments end at $80,000 for individuals ($160,000 for 
married filing jointly); people with Adjusted Gross Incomes above these 
levels are ineligible for a payment.

Individuals can check the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment">Get My Payment</a>&nbsp;tool on IRS.gov to see the payment status of these payments. Additional information on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments">Economic Impact Payments</a> is available on IRS.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — Today, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department
 of the Treasury, and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service announced they 
are disbursing more than 1.1 million payments in the eighth batch of 
Economic Impact Payments from the American Rescue Plan.Today's announcement brings the total disbursed so far to 
approximately 164 million payments, with a total value of approximately 
$386 billion, since these payments began rolling out to Americans in 
batches <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-begins-delivering-third-round-of-economic-impact-payments-to-americans">as announced</a> on March 12.The eighth batch of payments began processing on Friday, April 30, 
with an official payment date of May 5, with some people receiving 
direct payments in their accounts earlier as provisional or pending 
deposits. Here is additional information on this batch of payments:<ul>
 <li>In total, this batch includes more than 1.1 million payments with a value of more than $2 billion.</li><li>More than 585,000 payments, with a value of over $1.2 billion, went
 to eligible individuals for whom the IRS previously did not have 
information to issue an Economic Impact Payment but who recently filed a
 tax return.&nbsp;</li><li>This batch also includes additional ongoing supplemental payments 
for people who earlier this year received payments based on their 2019 
tax returns but are eligible for a new or larger payment based on their 
recently processed 2020 tax returns. This batch included more than 
570,000 of these "plus-up" payments, with a value of nearly $1 billion.</li><li>Overall, this eighth batch of payments contains about 600,000 
direct deposit payments (with a total value of $1.1 billion) with the 
remainder on paper payments.</li>
 </ul>Additional information is available on the first seven batches 
of Economic Impact Payments from the American Rescue Plan, which 
processed weekly on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/nearly-2-million-more-economic-impact-payments-disbursed-under-the-american-rescue-plan-continuing-payments-reach-approximately-163-million">April 23</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/two-million-more-economic-impact-payments-disbursed-under-the-american-rescue-plan-total-reaches-approximately-161-million-as-payments-continue">April 16</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-2-million-more-economic-impact-payments-under-the-american-rescue-plan-va-beneficiaries-bring-total-to-approximately-159-million-as-payments-continue">April 9</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-25-million-more-economic-impact-payments-under-the-american-rescue-plan">April 2</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-more-economic-impact-payments-under-the-american-rescue-plan-total-tops-130-million-with-more-to-come">March 26</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-treasury-disburse-another-37-million-economic-impact-payments-from-the-american-rescue-plan">March 19</a> and <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0063">March 12</a>.The IRS will continue to make Economic Impact Payments on a weekly 
basis. Ongoing payments will be sent to eligible individuals for whom 
the IRS previously did not have information to issue a payment but who 
recently filed a tax return, as well to people who qualify for "plus-up"
 payments.<h2>Special reminder for those who don't normally file a tax return</h2>Although payments are automatic for most people, the IRS continues to
 urge people who don't normally file a tax return and haven't received 
Economic Impact Payments to file a 2020 tax return to get all the 
benefits they're entitled to under the law, including tax credits such 
as the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">2020 Recovery Rebate Credit</a>,
 the Child Tax Credit, and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Filing a 2020 
tax return will also assist the IRS in determining whether someone is 
eligible for an advance payment of the 2021 Child Tax Credit, which will
 begin to be disbursed this summer.For example, some federal benefits recipients may need to file a 2020
 tax return – even if they don't usually file – to provide information 
the IRS needs to send payments for a qualifying dependent. Eligible 
individuals in this group should file a 2020 tax return as quickly as 
possible to be considered for an additional payment for their qualifying
 dependents.People who don't normally file a tax return and don't receive federal
 benefits may qualify for these Economic Impact Payments. This includes 
those experiencing <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/those-experiencing-homelessness-can-get-economic-impact-payments-and-other-tax-benefits-permanent-address-not-required">homelessness</a>,
 the rural poor, and others. Individuals who didn't get a first or 
second round Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amounts 
may be eligible for the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">2020 Recovery Rebate Credit</a>, but they'll need to file a 2020 tax return. See the special section on IRS.gov: <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit-topic-a-claiming-the-recovery-rebate-credit-if-you-arent-required-to-file-a-tax-return">Claiming the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit if you aren't required to file a tax return</a>.Free <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">tax return preparation</a> is available for qualifying people.The IRS reminds taxpayers that the income levels in this third round 
of Economic Impact Payments have changed. This means that some people 
won't be eligible for the third payment even if they received a first or
 second Economic Impact Payment or claimed a 2020 Recovery Rebate 
Credit. Payments will begin to be reduced for individuals making $75,000
 or above in Adjusted Gross Income ($150,000 for married filing 
jointly). The payments end at $80,000 for individuals ($160,000 for 
married filing jointly); people with Adjusted Gross Incomes above these 
levels are ineligible for a payment.Individuals can check the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment">Get My Payment</a>&nbsp;tool on IRS.gov to see the payment status of these payments. Additional information on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments">Economic Impact Payments</a> is available on IRS.gov.

IRS: More than 1M additional COVID stimulus checks disbursed

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Tribal leaders in Wyoming have announced a special general meeting this month to vote on the legalization and decriminalization of medical marijuana. 

The Casper Star-Tribune reported that the Eastern Shoshone General Council will vote on May 15 at Rocky Mountain Hall on the Wind River Reservation. 

Agenda items will be presented during the meeting to decriminalize medical marijuana by removing it from the Shoshone and Arapaho Law and Order Code, legalize medical marijuana and create a regulatory commission. 

A public meeting will be held two days before the vote to receive more information on medical marijuana.

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Tribal leaders in Wyoming have announced a special general meeting this month to vote on the legalization and decriminalization of medical marijuana. The Casper Star-Tribune reported that the Eastern Shoshone General Council will vote on May 15 at Rocky Mountain Hall on the Wind River Reservation. Agenda items will be presented during the meeting to decriminalize medical marijuana by removing it from the Shoshone and Arapaho Law and Order Code, legalize medical marijuana and create a regulatory commission. A public meeting will be held two days before the vote to receive more information on medical marijuana.

Eastern Shoshone to vote on medical marijuana in Wyoming

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska's largest school district will not offer strictly remote learning next school year. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that Omaha Public Schools announced Wednesday that remote learning will end this month. Remote learning within OPS schools and other Nebraska districts, in which students learned and performed school work at home, began last year with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

OPS will still offer an option for students not ready to return fully to learning in person. 

The district will expand the Omaha Virtual School, an existing program in which students spend four days a week learning independently at home and attend in-person sessions once each week.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska's largest school district will not offer strictly remote learning next school year. The Omaha World-Herald reports that Omaha Public Schools announced Wednesday that remote learning will end this month. Remote learning within OPS schools and other Nebraska districts, in which students learned and performed school work at home, began last year with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. OPS will still offer an option for students not ready to return fully to learning in person. The district will expand the Omaha Virtual School, an existing program in which students spend four days a week learning independently at home and attend in-person sessions once each week.

Omaha Public Schools say remote learning to end this year

CENTRAL CITY, Neb. (AP) — Officials say no one was hurt when a small, single-engine plane crashed into a cornfield near Central City this week.

 That’s because no one was aboard the plane when it took off on its own.

 The Lincoln Journal Star reports the unoccupied 1941 Piper plane was undergoing maintenance with its engine running Tuesday evening when it took off down the runway at the Central City Airport and went airborne.

 The Merrick County Sheriff’s Office say the plane climbed to about 200 feet and flew nearly 1.5 miles before crashing. 

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.

CENTRAL CITY, Neb. (AP) — Officials say no one was hurt when a small, single-engine plane crashed into a cornfield near Central City this week. That’s because no one was aboard the plane when it took off on its own. The Lincoln Journal Star reports the unoccupied 1941 Piper plane was undergoing maintenance with its engine running Tuesday evening when it took off down the runway at the Central City Airport and went airborne. The Merrick County Sheriff’s Office say the plane climbed to about 200 feet and flew nearly 1.5 miles before crashing. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.

Unoccupied plane with engine running takes off, crashes

NEW YORK (AP) — Teams of experts are projecting COVID-19′s toll on the U.S. will fall sharply by the end of July, according to research released by the government Wednesday.

But they also warn that a “substantial increase” in hospitalizations and deaths is possible if unvaccinated people do not follow basic precautions such as wearing a mask and keeping their distance from others.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paper included projections from six research groups. Their assignment was to predict the course of the U.S. epidemic between now and September under different scenarios, depending on how the vaccination drive proceeds and how people behave.

Mainly, it’s good news. Even under scenarios involving disappointing vaccination rates, COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are expected to drop dramatically by the end of July and continue to fall afterward.

The CDC is now reporting an average of about 350,000 new cases each week, 35,000 hospitalizations and over 4,000 deaths.

Under the most optimistic scenarios considered, by the end of July new weekly national cases could drop below 50,000, hospitalizations to fewer than 1,000, and deaths to between 200 and 300.

“We are not out of the woods yet, but we could be very close,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said, while noting that variants of the coronavirus are a “wild card” that could set back progress.

The projections are probably in line with what many Americans were already expecting for this summer.

With COVID-19 deaths, hospitalizations and cases plummeting since January, many states and cities are already moving to ease or lift restrictions on restaurants, bars, theaters and other businesses and talking about getting back to something close to normal this summer.

New York’s subways will start running all night again this month, Las Vegas is bustling again after casino capacity limits were raised, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis this week suspended all restrictions put in place by local governments, though businesses may continue requiring people to wear masks and keep their distance, and many are still doing so.

Many people in Florida have resumed parties, graduations and recitals. Walt Disney World lets guests remove their masks for photographs.

“It does feel like life is returning to normal,” said 67-year-old Vicki Restivo of Miami, who after getting vaccinated resumed outings with her friends at restaurants and traveled to Egypt — and felt “very comfortable” about it.

President Joe Biden on Tuesday set a goal of delivering shots to 70% of U.S. adults by July Fourth. Such a goal, if met, would fit in with the best-case scenarios, said one of the study’s co-authors, CDC biologist Michael Johansson.

Under more pessimistic scenarios, with subpar vaccinations and declining use of masks and social distancing, weekly cases probably would still drop but could number in the hundreds of thousands, with tens of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths.

“Something I am asked often is when will the pandemic be over and when can we go back to normal. The reality is: It all depends on the actions we take now,” Walensky said.

All the projections trend down, illustrating the powerful effect of the vaccination campaign. But there’s a devastating difference between the more gently sloping declines in some scenarios and the more dramatic drops in others, said Jennifer Kates, director of global health and HIV policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation.

“Each of these differences are people’s lives,” said Kates, who is part of a Kaiser research team that has focused on COVID-19 and was not involved in the CDC study.

The U.S. death toll stands at more than 578,000. The CDC paper gives no overall estimate of how high the number of dead might go. But a closely watched projection from the University of Washington shows the curve largely flattening out in the coming months, with the toll reaching about 599,000 by Aug. 1.

More than 56% of the nation’s adults, or close to 146 million people, have received at one dose of vaccine, and almost 41% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

Johansson said the paper is intended not so much as a prediction of exactly what’s going to happen but as a way to understand how things might unfold if vaccination drives or other efforts stumble.

By September, assuming high vaccination rates and continuing use of prevention measures, the models indicate new cases could fall to just a few hundred per week and just tens of hospitalizations and deaths.

The paper also sketched out a worst-case scenario, in which cases could rise to 900,000 per week, hospitalizations to 50,000, and deaths to 10,000. That most likely would happen sometime this month, the projections said.

However, the paper’s projections are based on data available through late March, when the national picture was somewhat darker.

The CDC paper “is already looking a little outdated, because we’ve seen cases continue to go down, and hospitalizations go down, and deaths go down,” Kates said.

Nevertheless, Johansson warned: “We’re still in a tenuous position.”

There is variation from state to state in how well vaccination campaigns are going and how fast restrictions are being abandoned, and that will probably mean some states will suffer a higher toll from COVID-19 than others in the coming months, Kates said.

“If you take the foot off the gas,” she said, “you can really have some bad outcomes.”

The paper doesn’t look past September, and scientists cannot say for sure what the epidemic will look like next fall and winter because it’s not known how enduring vaccine protection will be or whether variants of the virus will prove to be a greater problem.

Like the flu, COVID-19 could increase as people move indoors in the cold weather.

“My hope is with enough people vaccinated we will be able to get to something that will resemble maybe a bad flu season,” said William Hanage, a Harvard University expert on disease dynamics who was not involved in the research. But “it’s not going to go away. It’s not going to be eradicated.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618525698000.png" alt="Vaccinations last month photo courtesy Douglas County Kansas Dept. of Health" />
 <figcaption>Vaccinations last month photo courtesy Douglas County Kansas Dept. of Health</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Teams of experts are projecting COVID-19′s toll on the U.S. will fall sharply by the end of July, according to research released by the government Wednesday.But they also warn that a “substantial increase” in hospitalizations and deaths is possible if unvaccinated people do not follow basic precautions such as wearing a mask and keeping their distance from others.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paper included projections from six research groups. Their assignment was to predict the course of the U.S. epidemic between now and September under different scenarios, depending on how the vaccination drive proceeds and how people behave.Mainly, it’s good news. Even under scenarios involving disappointing vaccination rates, COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are expected to drop dramatically by the end of July and continue to fall afterward.The CDC is now reporting an average of about 350,000 new cases each week, 35,000 hospitalizations and over 4,000 deaths.Under the most optimistic scenarios considered, by the end of July new weekly national cases could drop below 50,000, hospitalizations to fewer than 1,000, and deaths to between 200 and 300.“We are not out of the woods yet, but we could be very close,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said, while noting that variants of the coronavirus are a “wild card” that could set back progress.The projections are probably in line with what many Americans were already expecting for this summer.With COVID-19 deaths, hospitalizations and cases plummeting since January, many states and cities are already moving to ease or lift restrictions on restaurants, bars, theaters and other businesses and talking about getting back to something close to normal this summer.New York’s subways will start running all night again this month, Las Vegas is bustling again after casino capacity limits were raised, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis this week suspended all restrictions put in place by local governments, though businesses may continue requiring people to wear masks and keep their distance, and many are still doing so.Many people in Florida have resumed parties, graduations and recitals. Walt Disney World lets guests remove their masks for photographs.“It does feel like life is returning to normal,” said 67-year-old Vicki Restivo of Miami, who after getting vaccinated resumed outings with her friends at restaurants and traveled to Egypt — and felt “very comfortable” about it.President Joe Biden on Tuesday set a goal of delivering shots to 70% of U.S. adults by July Fourth. Such a goal, if met, would fit in with the best-case scenarios, said one of the study’s co-authors, CDC biologist Michael Johansson.Under more pessimistic scenarios, with subpar vaccinations and declining use of masks and social distancing, weekly cases probably would still drop but could number in the hundreds of thousands, with tens of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths.“Something I am asked often is when will the pandemic be over and when can we go back to normal. The reality is: It all depends on the actions we take now,” Walensky said.All the projections trend down, illustrating the powerful effect of the vaccination campaign. But there’s a devastating difference between the more gently sloping declines in some scenarios and the more dramatic drops in others, said Jennifer Kates, director of global health and HIV policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation.“Each of these differences are people’s lives,” said Kates, who is part of a Kaiser research team that has focused on COVID-19 and was not involved in the CDC study.The U.S. death toll stands at more than 578,000. The CDC paper gives no overall estimate of how high the number of dead might go. But a closely watched projection from the University of Washington shows the curve largely flattening out in the coming months, with the toll reaching about 599,000 by Aug. 1.More than 56% of the nation’s adults, or close to 146 million people, have received at one dose of vaccine, and almost 41% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.Johansson said the paper is intended not so much as a prediction of exactly what’s going to happen but as a way to understand how things might unfold if vaccination drives or other efforts stumble.By September, assuming high vaccination rates and continuing use of prevention measures, the models indicate new cases could fall to just a few hundred per week and just tens of hospitalizations and deaths.The paper also sketched out a worst-case scenario, in which cases could rise to 900,000 per week, hospitalizations to 50,000, and deaths to 10,000. That most likely would happen sometime this month, the projections said.However, the paper’s projections are based on data available through late March, when the national picture was somewhat darker.The CDC paper “is already looking a little outdated, because we’ve seen cases continue to go down, and hospitalizations go down, and deaths go down,” Kates said.Nevertheless, Johansson warned: “We’re still in a tenuous position.”There is variation from state to state in how well vaccination campaigns are going and how fast restrictions are being abandoned, and that will probably mean some states will suffer a higher toll from COVID-19 than others in the coming months, Kates said.“If you take the foot off the gas,” she said, “you can really have some bad outcomes.”The paper doesn’t look past September, and scientists cannot say for sure what the epidemic will look like next fall and winter because it’s not known how enduring vaccine protection will be or whether variants of the virus will prove to be a greater problem.Like the flu, COVID-19 could increase as people move indoors in the cold weather.“My hope is with enough people vaccinated we will be able to get to something that will resemble maybe a bad flu season,” said William Hanage, a Harvard University expert on disease dynamics who was not involved in the research. But “it’s not going to go away. It’s not going to be eradicated.”___

COVID's US toll projected to drop sharply this summer

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police in Omaha have issued a public warning about counterfeit painkillers circulating in the area that investigators say have led to several overdose deaths. 

Police say the counterfeit Oxycodone pills actually contain the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl that is up to 100 times more potent than morphine. 

Police say the illegally pressed pills range in color from blue to green and have an “M” imprinted on one side and “30” imprinted on the other side. 

The pills are intended to mimic a 30 mg dose of Oxycodone. 

Police urge anyone who comes across the described pills not to touch them and to contact police.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police in Omaha have issued a public warning about counterfeit painkillers circulating in the area that investigators say have led to several overdose deaths. Police say the counterfeit Oxycodone pills actually contain the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl that is up to 100 times more potent than morphine. Police say the illegally pressed pills range in color from blue to green and have an “M” imprinted on one side and “30” imprinted on the other side. The pills are intended to mimic a 30 mg dose of Oxycodone. Police urge anyone who comes across the described pills not to touch them and to contact police.

Omaha police warn of dangerous counterfeit pain pills

WAHOO, Neb. (AP) — A local planning commission has voted against issuing a permit to allow Nebraska’s first solar power plant to be built just southwest of Omaha. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the Saunders County Planning Commission voted Monday 5-1 against the permit, which will still ultimately be decided by the Saunders County Board. 

Omaha Public Power District revealed last month that it had signed a contract to build the huge bank of solar panels on 500 acres in eastern Nebraska south of Yutan. 

The County Board isn’t bound by the planning commission’s vote and is scheduled to take up the issue next Tuesday.

 Several planning commission members said they felt the process to build the solar farm was being rushed.

WAHOO, Neb. (AP) — A local planning commission has voted against issuing a permit to allow Nebraska’s first solar power plant to be built just southwest of Omaha. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the Saunders County Planning Commission voted Monday 5-1 against the permit, which will still ultimately be decided by the Saunders County Board. Omaha Public Power District revealed last month that it had signed a contract to build the huge bank of solar panels on 500 acres in eastern Nebraska south of Yutan. The County Board isn’t bound by the planning commission’s vote and is scheduled to take up the issue next Tuesday. Several planning commission members said they felt the process to build the solar farm was being rushed.

Planning commission votes against permit for solar farm

DENVER (AP) — A Colorado man arrested on a murder charge in the presumed death of his wife who disappeared last Mother’s Day is scheduled to make his first court appearance Thursday. 

Authorities say Barry Morphew was taken into custody near his home in a mountain community in southern Colorado on Wednesday as the result of an ongoing investigation that has so far failed to find the body of Suzanne Morphew, a mother of two daughters. 

A week after she disappeared, Barry Morphew posted a video on Facebook pleading for her safe return. One of his public defenders declined to comment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620317502933.png" alt="Morphew" />
 <figcaption>Morphew</figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — A Colorado man arrested on a murder charge in the presumed death of his wife who disappeared last Mother’s Day is scheduled to make his first court appearance Thursday. Authorities say Barry Morphew was taken into custody near his home in a mountain community in southern Colorado on Wednesday as the result of an ongoing investigation that has so far failed to find the body of Suzanne Morphew, a mother of two daughters. A week after she disappeared, Barry Morphew posted a video on Facebook pleading for her safe return. One of his public defenders declined to comment.

Colorado man suspected in wife's presumed death due in court

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A 19-year-old Phillips man is facing two felony charges after he refused to leave an airplane parked at the Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island. 

Tyler Caudill is charged with attempted theft and possession of a deadly weapon. 

Police say a man saw Caudill passed out in the cabin of a plane on the airport's tarmac on Tuesday. 

When police arrived, Caudill was seen trying to manipulate the airplane's controls.

 He eventually left the plane when police fired chemical agents inside.

 Police in Kearney say Caudill tried to enter Kearney High School on Monday to speak to a student but was turned away.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A 19-year-old Phillips man is facing two felony charges after he refused to leave an airplane parked at the Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island. Tyler Caudill is charged with attempted theft and possession of a deadly weapon. His bond was set Wednesday at $250,000. Police say a man saw Caudill passed out in the cabin of a plane on the airport's tarmac on Tuesday. When police arrived, Caudill was seen trying to manipulate the airplane's controls. He eventually left the plane when police fired chemical agents inside. Police in Kearney say Caudill tried to enter Kearney High School on Monday to speak to a student but was turned away.

Man charged after standoff at Grand Island airport

BROWN COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 9a.m. Wednesday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Buick Century driven by Martin Charles Richbourg, 22, Falls City, Nebraska, was&nbsp; northbound on Horned Owl Road six miles east of Morrill.

A 2007 Acura MDX driven by Tad Jeremy Alfrey, 40, Seneca was southbound and both vehicles approached a curve at the same time. 

Alfrey swerved to avoid the Buick traveling northbound in the southbound lane. Both vehicles swerved and collided in the northbound lanes.

A passenger in the Buick identified as Andrew S Vaughan, 36, Falls City, Nebraska, was pronounced dead at the scene.

EMS transported Richbourg to KU Medical Center. Alfrey was not injured.&nbsp;Vaughan was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

BROWN COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 9a.m. Wednesday in Brown County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Buick Century driven by Martin Charles Richbourg, 22, Falls City, Nebraska, was&nbsp; northbound on Horned Owl Road six miles east of Morrill.A 2007 Acura MDX driven by Tad Jeremy Alfrey, 40, Seneca was southbound and both vehicles approached a curve at the same time. Alfrey swerved to avoid the Buick traveling northbound in the southbound lane. Both vehicles swerved and collided in the northbound lanes.A passenger in the Buick identified as Andrew S Vaughan, 36, Falls City, Nebraska, was pronounced dead at the scene.EMS transported Richbourg to KU Medical Center. Alfrey was not injured.&nbsp;Vaughan was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Nebraska man dead after wrong-way Kan. crash

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. birth rate fell 4% last year, the largest single-year decrease in nearly 50 years, according to a government report being released Wednesday.

The rate dropped for moms of every major race and ethnicity, and in nearly every age group, falling to the lowest point since federal health officials started tracking it more than a century ago.

Births have been declining in younger women for years, as many postponed motherhood and had smaller families.

Birth rates for women in their late 30s and in their 40s have been inching up. But not last year.

“The fact that you saw declines in births even for older moms is quite striking,” said Brady Hamilton, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the lead author of the new report.

The CDC report is based on a review of more than 99% of birth certificates issued last year. The findings echo a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-science-health-3dc7033a62728f1a99a176c5577af58c">Associated Press analysis</a>&nbsp;of 2020 data from 25 states showing that births had fallen during the coronavirus outbreak.

The pandemic no doubt contributed to last year’s big decline, experts say. Anxiety about COVID-19 and its impact on the economy likely caused many couples to think that having a baby right then was a bad idea.

But many of the 2020 pregnancies began well before the U.S. epidemic. CDC researchers are working on a follow-up report to better parse out how the decline unfolded, Hamilton said.

— About 3.6 million babies were born in the U.S. last year, down from about 3.75 million in 2019. When births were booming in 2007, the U.S. recorded 4.3 million births.

— The U.S. birth rate dropped to about 56 births per 1,000 women of child-bearing age, the lowest rate on record. The rate is half of what it was in the early 1960s.

— The birth rate for 15– to 19-year-olds dropped 8% from 2019. It’s fallen almost every year since 1991.

— Birth rates fell 8% for Asian American women; 3% for Hispanic women; 4% for Black and white women; and 6% for moms who were American Indians or Alaska Natives.

— The cesarean delivery rate rose, slightly, to about 32%. It had generally been declining since 2009.

— Some good news: The percentage of infants born small and premature — at less less than 37 weeks of gestation — fell slightly, to 10%, after rising five years in a row.

The current generation is getting further away from having enough children to replace itself.

The U.S. once was among only a few developed countries with a fertility rate that ensured each generation had enough children to replace it. About a dozen years ago, the estimated rate was 2.1 kids per U.S. woman. But it’s been sliding, and last year dropped to about 1.6, the lowest rate on record.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606170442903.png" alt="Photo by Chris Neal / For the Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Chris Neal / For the Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. birth rate fell 4% last year, the largest single-year decrease in nearly 50 years, according to a government report being released Wednesday.The rate dropped for moms of every major race and ethnicity, and in nearly every age group, falling to the lowest point since federal health officials started tracking it more than a century ago.Births have been declining in younger women for years, as many postponed motherhood and had smaller families.Birth rates for women in their late 30s and in their 40s have been inching up. But not last year.“The fact that you saw declines in births even for older moms is quite striking,” said Brady Hamilton, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the lead author of the new report.The CDC report is based on a review of more than 99% of birth certificates issued last year. The findings echo a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-science-health-3dc7033a62728f1a99a176c5577af58c">Associated Press analysis</a>&nbsp;of 2020 data from 25 states showing that births had fallen during the coronavirus outbreak.The pandemic no doubt contributed to last year’s big decline, experts say. Anxiety about COVID-19 and its impact on the economy likely caused many couples to think that having a baby right then was a bad idea.But many of the 2020 pregnancies began well before the U.S. epidemic. CDC researchers are working on a follow-up report to better parse out how the decline unfolded, Hamilton said.Other highlights from the CDC report:— About 3.6 million babies were born in the U.S. last year, down from about 3.75 million in 2019. When births were booming in 2007, the U.S. recorded 4.3 million births.— The U.S. birth rate dropped to about 56 births per 1,000 women of child-bearing age, the lowest rate on record. The rate is half of what it was in the early 1960s.— The birth rate for 15– to 19-year-olds dropped 8% from 2019. It’s fallen almost every year since 1991.— Birth rates fell 8% for Asian American women; 3% for Hispanic women; 4% for Black and white women; and 6% for moms who were American Indians or Alaska Natives.— The cesarean delivery rate rose, slightly, to about 32%. It had generally been declining since 2009.— Some good news: The percentage of infants born small and premature — at less less than 37 weeks of gestation — fell slightly, to 10%, after rising five years in a row.The current generation is getting further away from having enough children to replace itself.The U.S. once was among only a few developed countries with a fertility rate that ensured each generation had enough children to replace it. About a dozen years ago, the estimated rate was 2.1 kids per U.S. woman. But it’s been sliding, and last year dropped to about 1.6, the lowest rate on record.___

CDC: U.S. birth, fertility rates at record low

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — State health officials say a south-central Nebraska woman who had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 has died of the disease. 

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday in a news release that the woman was in her 80s and had underlying health conditions. 

Officials with Two Rivers Health District, based in Kearney, said the woman lived in the district and was recently hospitalized for more than two weeks well after receiving two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. 

The news comes even as health officials pointed to a COVID-19 outbreak at a Kearney nursing home of mostly vaccinated residents as a success story. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that of the 23 home residents who tested positive, only two showed any symptoms, which cleared quickly.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — State health officials say a south-central Nebraska woman who had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 has died of the disease. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday in a news release that the woman was in her 80s and had underlying health conditions. Officials with Two Rivers Health District, based in Kearney, said the woman lived in the district and was recently hospitalized for more than two weeks well after receiving two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. The news comes even as health officials pointed to a COVID-19 outbreak at a Kearney nursing home of mostly vaccinated residents as a success story. The Omaha World-Herald reports that of the 23 home residents who tested positive, only two showed any symptoms, which cleared quickly.