OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska health officials say a variant of the coronavirus first found in Brazil has been found in Omaha. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed two people in Douglas County have tested positive for the so-called Brazil P.1 variant. 

That strain is believed to be responsible for a surge in hospitalizations in Brazil even though many people there had already developed COVID-19 and made antibodies against it. 

State health officials say the Douglas County cases were detected through COVID testing, and investigations into the cases are underway.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska health officials say a variant of the coronavirus first found in Brazil has been found in Omaha. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed two people in Douglas County have tested positive for the so-called Brazil P.1 variant. That strain is believed to be responsible for a surge in hospitalizations in Brazil even though many people there had already developed COVID-19 and made antibodies against it. State health officials say the Douglas County cases were detected through COVID testing, and investigations into the cases are underway.

2 cases of new coronavirus variant found in Omaha

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/d5a0fee7-ec64-4423-8a5d-e189df743e0d">RELATED:&nbsp;IRS: No stimulus check? You may be eligible for Recovery Rebate Credit. Click HERE for more.</a>

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/3820050f-0695-4338-858b-9312156bda8a">RELATED:&nbsp;$1,400 payments begin by weekend</a>

As part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which included $1,400 payments to most Americans, the Internal Revenue Service offers an online tool to track those payments.

The Get My Payment tool can be accessed <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment">HERE</a>. .

The link also contains information on what to do if you have not received the first and second round of relief payments.

<a href="https://jcpost.com/posts/b1dffc64-ce07-49b4-a374-8b42b5ca23a3">READ MORE:&nbsp;Big Red One Soldiers support FEMA vaccination efforts</a>.

<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/7104b600-820f-49e9-a109-7ec945681f03">READ MORE:&nbsp;A pandemic effect — gun sales up, ammunition scarce</a>.&nbsp;

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/d5a0fee7-ec64-4423-8a5d-e189df743e0d">RELATED:&nbsp;IRS: No stimulus check? You may be eligible for Recovery Rebate Credit. Click HERE for more.</a><a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/3820050f-0695-4338-858b-9312156bda8a">RELATED:&nbsp;$1,400 payments begin by weekend</a>IRSAs part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which included $1,400 payments to most Americans, the Internal Revenue Service offers an online tool to track those payments.The Get My Payment tool can be accessed <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment">HERE</a>. .The link also contains information on what to do if you have not received the first and second round of relief payments.<a href="https://jcpost.com/posts/b1dffc64-ce07-49b4-a374-8b42b5ca23a3">READ MORE:&nbsp;Big Red One Soldiers support FEMA vaccination efforts</a>.<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/7104b600-820f-49e9-a109-7ec945681f03">READ MORE:&nbsp;A pandemic effect — gun sales up, ammunition scarce</a>.&nbsp;

IRS: Check the status of your third COVID stimulus check

PAPILLION, Neb. (AP) — A former Papillion-La Vista High School football coach and social studies teacher has been arrested on suspicion of third-degree sexual abuse by a school employee. 

An arrest warrant was issued for 29-year-old Stephen Gentry on Wednesday, and he appeared in Sarpy County Court on Thursday. 

His bond was set at $1,000, and he was ordered to have no contact with any minors outside of his own children. 

Court records say investigators believe Gentry had inappropriate contact with a student in January. 

He resigned in February after the investigation began.

 If convicted, Gentry faces up to two years in prison. His next court date is set for April 13.

PAPILLION, Neb. (AP) — A former Papillion-La Vista High School football coach and social studies teacher has been arrested on suspicion of third-degree sexual abuse by a school employee. An arrest warrant was issued for 29-year-old Stephen Gentry on Wednesday, and he appeared in Sarpy County Court on Thursday. His bond was set at $1,000, and he was ordered to have no contact with any minors outside of his own children. Court records say investigators believe Gentry had inappropriate contact with a student in January. He resigned in February after the investigation began. If convicted, Gentry faces up to two years in prison. His next court date is set for April 13.

Ex-Nebraska high school coach, teacher arrested in sex case

WASHINGTON (AP) — Authorities in Washington, D.C., have arrested a Texas man near the vice president’s official residence on a weapons charge. Vice President Kamala Harris has not yet moved into the home, which is undergoing renovations. 

The Metropolitan Police Department says in a statement issued Wednesday that the man was seen on Massachusetts Avenue and then detained by Secret Service stationed near the residence following an intelligence bulletin from Texas. 

Police say Paul Murray of San Antonio is being on held charges that he carried a large-capacity ammunition-feeding device, a dangerous weapon, a rifle and unregistered ammunition.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616070087656.png" alt="Paul Murray from an alert by the College Station, Texas police" />
 <figcaption>Paul Murray from an alert by the College Station, Texas police</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Authorities in Washington, D.C., have arrested a Texas man near the vice president’s official residence on a weapons charge. Vice President Kamala Harris has not yet moved into the home, which is undergoing renovations. The Metropolitan Police Department says in a statement issued Wednesday that the man was seen on Massachusetts Avenue and then detained by Secret Service stationed near the residence following an intelligence bulletin from Texas. Police say Paul Murray of San Antonio is being on held charges that he carried a large-capacity ammunition-feeding device, a dangerous weapon, a rifle and unregistered ammunition.

Man arrested on weapons charge near vice president's home

WASHINGTON (AP) —The IRS will delay the traditional April 15 tax filing due date until May 17 to cope with added duties and provide Americans more flexibility. 

The IRS announced the decision Wednesday and said it would provide further guidance in coming days. The move provides more breathing room for taxpayers and the IRS alike to cope with changes brought on by the pandemic. 

The decision postpones when individual taxpayers must file their return and when their payment is due. The IRS said taxpayers who owe money would not face any further penalties or interest if they pay by May 17.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579706571729.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —The IRS will delay the traditional April 15 tax filing due date until May 17 to cope with added duties and provide Americans more flexibility. The IRS announced the decision Wednesday and said it would provide further guidance in coming days. The move provides more breathing room for taxpayers and the IRS alike to cope with changes brought on by the pandemic. The decision postpones when individual taxpayers must file their return and when their payment is due. The IRS said taxpayers who owe money would not face any further penalties or interest if they pay by May 17.

IRS will delay tax filing due date until May 17

WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the Department of Homeland Security pushed back Wednesday against Republican criticism of the Biden administration’s border policies, refusing to say that the surge of migrant children entering the United States is a “crisis.”

As GOP members of Congress argued that President Joe Biden had wrongly rolled back immigration policies enacted by former President Donald Trump, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas pointed to another Trump policy that was widely reviled: the separation of immigrant families under a “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings.

“A crisis is when a nation is willing to rip a 9-year-old child out of the hands of his or her parent and separate that family to deter future migration,” Mayorkas told the House Homeland Security Committee. “That, to me, is a humanitarian crisis.”

The number of migrants being stopped at the U.S.-Mexico border has been rising since last April, and the administration is still rapidly sending back most single adults and families&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-mexico-health-coronavirus-pandemic-immigration-74eba36e8cd2f842987c0e6e57bcfae1">under a public health order&nbsp;</a>issued by Trump at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the U.S. is now allowing teens and children to stay, at least temporarily, and they have been coming in ever larger numbers. Border agents have also been prevented from expelling families with young children from Texas’ Rio Grande Valley because of changes in Mexican policy.

More than 4,000 migrant children were being held by the Border Patrol as of Sunday, including at least 3,000 in custody longer than the 72-hour limit set by a court order, according to a U.S. official. The agency took in an additional 561 on Monday, twice the recent average, according to a second official. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss figures not yet publicly released.

The rise has left Biden in a difficult spot. He is criticized by Republicans for what they view as encouragement to illegal border crossings and by some Democrats over the prolonged detention of minors.

Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., referenced a photo of a small crowd of demonstrators in Tijuana, Mexico, wearing matching T-shirts with the words “Biden, please let us in” that circulated widely on social media in recent days.

“I look at two months ago, and we had a certain situation. We were under control,” Van Drew said. “And I look now with people crossing the border illegally in much larger numbers with shirts with our president’s name on it. That means something under anybody’s standard.”

The situation is also a challenge to Biden’s effort to overhaul broader Trump policies intended to curtail&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-united-nations-mexico-d613e1e5093857cef10221f0e906e225">both legal and illegal immigration</a>.

“I can say quite clearly: Don’t come over,” Biden said in an ABC News interview that aired Wednesday.

The number of migrants attempting to cross the border is at the highest level since March 2019. Mayorkas on Tuesday said it was on pace to hit a 20-year peak.

“The situation at the southwest border is difficult,” Mayorkas said in his most extensive remarks to date on the subject. “We are working around the clock to manage it and we will continue to do so. That is our job.”

Under questioning Wednesday, Mayorkas and some Democrats also highlighted nonimmigration issues, including the threat of domestic extremism following the violent insurrection at the Capitol, while Republicans focused primarily on the border.

Several Republicans argued that Biden’s rescinding of the Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” policy was a mistake. Small numbers of immigrants — far from the more than 70,000 people barred from entry under the policy — have been allowed into the U.S. during the first weeks of the new administration after they pass a COVID-19 screening. Human rights groups and lawyers have documented kidnappings, rapes and attacks in border cities against many migrants forced to wait in Mexico.

Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas defended Trump’s agreements to send people from Central America to other countries in the region instead of letting them seek asylum under American law.

“The Trump administration, in my judgment, did a masterful job in negotiating the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy and the asylum cooperative agreements with Central America,” McCaul said. “It was actually a foreign policy achievement.”

Biden has moved to roll back those policies and restore a program allowing Central American children to seek asylum while in their home countries. Said Mayorkas, “Sometimes the tools of deterrence defy values and principles for which we all stand.”

The Health and Human Services Department plans to open shelter facilities at Moffett Federal Airfield near San Francisco and in Pecos, Texas, to handle the flow. It is also looking to expand a facility in Donna, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley, to hold 2,000 people.

Also, the Dallas Convention Center was to begin holding children as early as Wednesday, with plans to accommodate up to 3,000. A makeshift holding center in Midland, Texas, that opened last weekend for 700 children had 485 on Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615805147594.png" alt="Migrants on Sunday near the Texas-Mexico border -photo courtesy Senator Roger Marshall." />
 <figcaption>Migrants on Sunday near the Texas-Mexico border -photo courtesy Senator Roger Marshall.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the Department of Homeland Security pushed back Wednesday against Republican criticism of the Biden administration’s border policies, refusing to say that the surge of migrant children entering the United States is a “crisis.”As GOP members of Congress argued that President Joe Biden had wrongly rolled back immigration policies enacted by former President Donald Trump, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas pointed to another Trump policy that was widely reviled: the separation of immigrant families under a “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings.“A crisis is when a nation is willing to rip a 9-year-old child out of the hands of his or her parent and separate that family to deter future migration,” Mayorkas told the House Homeland Security Committee. “That, to me, is a humanitarian crisis.”The number of migrants being stopped at the U.S.-Mexico border has been rising since last April, and the administration is still rapidly sending back most single adults and families&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-mexico-health-coronavirus-pandemic-immigration-74eba36e8cd2f842987c0e6e57bcfae1">under a public health order&nbsp;</a>issued by Trump at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the U.S. is now allowing teens and children to stay, at least temporarily, and they have been coming in ever larger numbers. Border agents have also been prevented from expelling families with young children from Texas’ Rio Grande Valley because of changes in Mexican policy.More than 4,000 migrant children were being held by the Border Patrol as of Sunday, including at least 3,000 in custody longer than the 72-hour limit set by a court order, according to a U.S. official. The agency took in an additional 561 on Monday, twice the recent average, according to a second official. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss figures not yet publicly released.The rise has left Biden in a difficult spot. He is criticized by Republicans for what they view as encouragement to illegal border crossings and by some Democrats over the prolonged detention of minors.Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., referenced a photo of a small crowd of demonstrators in Tijuana, Mexico, wearing matching T-shirts with the words “Biden, please let us in” that circulated widely on social media in recent days.“I look at two months ago, and we had a certain situation. We were under control,” Van Drew said. “And I look now with people crossing the border illegally in much larger numbers with shirts with our president’s name on it. That means something under anybody’s standard.”The situation is also a challenge to Biden’s effort to overhaul broader Trump policies intended to curtail&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-united-nations-mexico-d613e1e5093857cef10221f0e906e225">both legal and illegal immigration</a>.“I can say quite clearly: Don’t come over,” Biden said in an ABC News interview that aired Wednesday.The number of migrants attempting to cross the border is at the highest level since March 2019. Mayorkas on Tuesday said it was on pace to hit a 20-year peak.“The situation at the southwest border is difficult,” Mayorkas said in his most extensive remarks to date on the subject. “We are working around the clock to manage it and we will continue to do so. That is our job.”Under questioning Wednesday, Mayorkas and some Democrats also highlighted nonimmigration issues, including the threat of domestic extremism following the violent insurrection at the Capitol, while Republicans focused primarily on the border.Several Republicans argued that Biden’s rescinding of the Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” policy was a mistake. Small numbers of immigrants — far from the more than 70,000 people barred from entry under the policy — have been allowed into the U.S. during the first weeks of the new administration after they pass a COVID-19 screening. Human rights groups and lawyers have documented kidnappings, rapes and attacks in border cities against many migrants forced to wait in Mexico.Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas defended Trump’s agreements to send people from Central America to other countries in the region instead of letting them seek asylum under American law.“The Trump administration, in my judgment, did a masterful job in negotiating the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy and the asylum cooperative agreements with Central America,” McCaul said. “It was actually a foreign policy achievement.”Biden has moved to roll back those policies and restore a program allowing Central American children to seek asylum while in their home countries. Said Mayorkas, “Sometimes the tools of deterrence defy values and principles for which we all stand.”The Health and Human Services Department plans to open shelter facilities at Moffett Federal Airfield near San Francisco and in Pecos, Texas, to handle the flow. It is also looking to expand a facility in Donna, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley, to hold 2,000 people.Also, the Dallas Convention Center was to begin holding children as early as Wednesday, with plans to accommodate up to 3,000. A makeshift holding center in Midland, Texas, that opened last weekend for 700 children had 485 on Monday.___

Crisis: Child border crossings surge; DHS chief defends policy

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man undergoing his second trial for murder in the 2016 shooting death of an Omaha teenager has been found not guilty.

 The Omaha World-Herald reports that a Douglas County jury on Tuesday found 25-year-old Otis Walker not guilty of first-degree murder and gun charges in the Nov. 26, 2016, drive-by shooting death of 16-year-old Markeise Dunn. 

Prosecutors had argued that it was Walker who pulled the trigger when a car pulled up beside Dunn, who was walking his girlfriend to a bus stop, and opened fire. 

Walker's first trial ended in a mistrial in 2019 when jurors couldn't reach a verdict.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man undergoing his second trial for murder in the 2016 shooting death of an Omaha teenager has been found not guilty. The Omaha World-Herald reports that a Douglas County jury on Tuesday found 25-year-old Otis Walker not guilty of first-degree murder and gun charges in the Nov. 26, 2016, drive-by shooting death of 16-year-old Markeise Dunn. Prosecutors had argued that it was Walker who pulled the trigger when a car pulled up beside Dunn, who was walking his girlfriend to a bus stop, and opened fire. Walker's first trial ended in a mistrial in 2019 when jurors couldn't reach a verdict.

Man in second murder trial acquitted of killing Omaha teen

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha police officer who was shot in the face and head last week after responding to a shoplifting call has been released from the hospital.

 The Omaha Police Department on Wednesday told the Omaha World-Herald that 39-year-old Officer Jeffrey Wittstruck is now at home recuperating. 

Wittstruck was shot last Friday during a struggle with a man suspected of shoplifting a package of T-shirts from a store in Westroads Mall.

 Police later arrested 21-year-old Kenya Lamont Jenkins Jr. following a high-speed chase on Interstate 80. 

Jenkins is charged with first-degree assault of a police officer and other counts. 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha police officer who was shot in the face and head last week after responding to a shoplifting call has been released from the hospital. The Omaha Police Department on Wednesday told the Omaha World-Herald that 39-year-old Officer Jeffrey Wittstruck is now at home recuperating. Wittstruck was shot last Friday during a struggle with a man suspected of shoplifting a package of T-shirts from a store in Westroads Mall. Police later arrested 21-year-old Kenya Lamont Jenkins Jr. following a high-speed chase on Interstate 80. Jenkins is charged with first-degree assault of a police officer and other counts. He's being held on $10 million bail.

Omaha officer injured in mall shooting leaves hospital

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Gov. Kristi Noem says that two interim cabinet secretaries will be given the jobs permanently. 

Secretary Joel Jundt of the Department of Transportation and Secretary Kevin Robling with Game, Fish, and Parks will both continue to serve in their roles as secretaries to their departments. 

Noem saidd Robling has a great understanding of the state’s natural resource and conservation priorities. 

In regards to Jundt’s appointment, Noem said he has dedicated his life to promoting transportation access in South Dakota and has proven himself as a leader in the industry.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Gov. Kristi Noem says that two interim cabinet secretaries will be given the jobs permanently. Secretary Joel Jundt of the Department of Transportation and Secretary Kevin Robling with Game, Fish, and Parks will both continue to serve in their roles as secretaries to their departments. Noem saidd Robling has a great understanding of the state’s natural resource and conservation priorities. In regards to Jundt’s appointment, Noem said he has dedicated his life to promoting transportation access in South Dakota and has proven himself as a leader in the industry.

Interim cabinet secretaries appointed permanently by Noem

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Republican attorneys general from 21 states are questioning a provision in the $1.9 trillion pandemic rescue plan that bars states from using its funds to offset tax cuts. 

They wrote in a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Monday. They say the prohibition is “unclear, but potentially breathtaking."

 Republican states are concerned that any tax cut could be jeopardized if it is construed as taking advantage of the pandemic relief funds. 

The White House has said it expects the relief funds to not go toward decreasing taxes. 

The aid plan includes $195 billion for states, plus separate funds for local governments and schools.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Republican attorneys general from 21 states are questioning a provision in the $1.9 trillion pandemic rescue plan that bars states from using its funds to offset tax cuts. They wrote in a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Monday. They say the prohibition is “unclear, but potentially breathtaking." Republican states are concerned that any tax cut could be jeopardized if it is construed as taking advantage of the pandemic relief funds. The White House has said it expects the relief funds to not go toward decreasing taxes. The aid plan includes $195 billion for states, plus separate funds for local governments and schools.

GOP attorneys general question stimulus barring tax cuts

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln woman has been sentenced to jail but may be able to avoid time behind bars for helping her daughter dump her car after she was involved in a hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian.

 The Lincoln Journal Star reports that 52-year-old Kimberly Cowell said at her sentencing Tuesday that she responded “in the worst way possible” after the Oct. 18 crash that left Tina Mortensen dead. 

Lancaster County District Judge Robert Otte sentenced Cowell to 360 days in the county jail but allowed her to get into a program that will allow her to stay out of jail and be monitored.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln woman has been sentenced to jail but may be able to avoid time behind bars for helping her daughter dump her car after she was involved in a hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian. The Lincoln Journal Star reports that 52-year-old Kimberly Cowell said at her sentencing Tuesday that she responded “in the worst way possible” after the Oct. 18 crash that left Tina Mortensen dead. Lancaster County District Judge Robert Otte sentenced Cowell to 360 days in the county jail but allowed her to get into a program that will allow her to stay out of jail and be monitored.

Mom sentenced for helping daughter after deadly hit-and-run

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha’s mayor says she’ll return to work and seek reelection after her husband, a prominent local surgeon, died earlier this month from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

Mayor Jean Stothert on Tuesday thanked the public and her campaign opponents for their support following the death of her husband, Dr. Joseph Stothert. 

She says he would have wanted her to continue as mayor and recalled how he joined her door-knocking campaigns, her town hall events and her annual State of the City addresses. 

She says her children, Elizabeth Leddy and Dr. Andrew Stothert, have also encouraged her to run. 

Joe Stothert was a longtime faculty member at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha’s mayor says she’ll return to work and seek reelection after her husband, a prominent local surgeon, died earlier this month from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Mayor Jean Stothert on Tuesday thanked the public and her campaign opponents for their support following the death of her husband, Dr. Joseph Stothert. She says he would have wanted her to continue as mayor and recalled how he joined her door-knocking campaigns, her town hall events and her annual State of the City addresses. She says her children, Elizabeth Leddy and Dr. Andrew Stothert, have also encouraged her to run. Joe Stothert was a longtime faculty member at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Omaha mayor returns to City Hall after husband's death

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — Amazon is making its first foray into providing health care services, announcing Wednesday that it will be offering its Amazon Care telemedicine program to employers nationwide.

Currently available to the company’s employees in Washington state, Amazon Care is an app that connects users virtually with doctors, nurse practitioners and nurses who can provide services and treatment over the phone 24 hours a day. In the Seattle area, it’s supplemented with in-person services such as pharmacy delivery and house-call services from nurses who can take blood work and provide similar services.

On Wednesday, the tech giant announced it will immediately expand the service to interested employers in Washington who want to purchase the service for their employees. By the summer, Amazon Care will expand nationally to all Amazon workers, and to private employers across the country who want to join.

In the Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia market, where Amazon is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/seattle-us-news-virginia-1799ab2e0c5f70e3e0f5d5047dce452a">building a second headquarters</a>&nbsp;that will house more than 25,000 workers, Amazon Care will include the in-person services that are currently limited to Seattle.

“Making this available to other employers is a big step,” said Amazon Care Director Kristen Helton in a phone interview. “It’s an opportunity for other forward-thinking employers to offer a service that helps bring high-quality care, convenience and peace of mind.”

Amazon launched the service 18 months ago for its Washington state employees. Helton said users have given it superior reviews, and business customers were inquiring about being able to buy into the service for their own workers.

Helton said the product is designed to be a supplement or an additional benefit to existing coverage provided by an employer.

Consumer demand for telemedicine and virtual health care has exploded during the pandemic. Stephen Morgan, a medical professor at Virginia Tech and chief medical information officer at the Carilion Clinic in southwest Virginia, said virtual visits increased there from about 100 a month before the pandemic to about 800 a day within a two-week span.

He said research has shown that telemedicine can provide quality on par with traditional in-person care, all while making services available to people who otherwise might not be able to get them or would have to travel great distances to do so.

But he said it’s critical that providers build in checks and balances to ensure that quality does not suffer.

“It is a concern that anyone who wants to do telemedicine, Amazon included, puts those checks and balances in place,” he said.

Helton said that when users log in to the Amazon Care app, they are asked a couple of questions that serve to triage the call, and route it to a nurse, nurse practitioner or physician as appropriate. She said it usually takes 60 seconds or less to connect to a health professional.

The health care providers are supplied by Care Medical, a contractor that works with Amazon on an exclusive contract.

While Amazon has launched initiatives in the health field such as Amazon Pharmacy and Amazon Halo, a wristband that measures vital statistics, Amazon Care will be the tech giant’s first foray into providing health care services beyond its own workforce, Helton said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574302417941.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — Amazon is making its first foray into providing health care services, announcing Wednesday that it will be offering its Amazon Care telemedicine program to employers nationwide.Currently available to the company’s employees in Washington state, Amazon Care is an app that connects users virtually with doctors, nurse practitioners and nurses who can provide services and treatment over the phone 24 hours a day. In the Seattle area, it’s supplemented with in-person services such as pharmacy delivery and house-call services from nurses who can take blood work and provide similar services.On Wednesday, the tech giant announced it will immediately expand the service to interested employers in Washington who want to purchase the service for their employees. By the summer, Amazon Care will expand nationally to all Amazon workers, and to private employers across the country who want to join.In the Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia market, where Amazon is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/seattle-us-news-virginia-1799ab2e0c5f70e3e0f5d5047dce452a">building a second headquarters</a>&nbsp;that will house more than 25,000 workers, Amazon Care will include the in-person services that are currently limited to Seattle.“Making this available to other employers is a big step,” said Amazon Care Director Kristen Helton in a phone interview. “It’s an opportunity for other forward-thinking employers to offer a service that helps bring high-quality care, convenience and peace of mind.”Amazon launched the service 18 months ago for its Washington state employees. Helton said users have given it superior reviews, and business customers were inquiring about being able to buy into the service for their own workers.Helton said the product is designed to be a supplement or an additional benefit to existing coverage provided by an employer.Consumer demand for telemedicine and virtual health care has exploded during the pandemic. Stephen Morgan, a medical professor at Virginia Tech and chief medical information officer at the Carilion Clinic in southwest Virginia, said virtual visits increased there from about 100 a month before the pandemic to about 800 a day within a two-week span.He said research has shown that telemedicine can provide quality on par with traditional in-person care, all while making services available to people who otherwise might not be able to get them or would have to travel great distances to do so.But he said it’s critical that providers build in checks and balances to ensure that quality does not suffer.“It is a concern that anyone who wants to do telemedicine, Amazon included, puts those checks and balances in place,” he said.Helton said that when users log in to the Amazon Care app, they are asked a couple of questions that serve to triage the call, and route it to a nurse, nurse practitioner or physician as appropriate. She said it usually takes 60 seconds or less to connect to a health professional.The health care providers are supplied by Care Medical, a contractor that works with Amazon on an exclusive contract.While Amazon has launched initiatives in the health field such as Amazon Pharmacy and Amazon Halo, a wristband that measures vital statistics, Amazon Care will be the tech giant’s first foray into providing health care services beyond its own workforce, Helton said.

Amazon jumps into health care with telemedicine initiative

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State prisons officials say an inmate at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln has died. 

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services says in a news release that 48-year-old Keeva O'Neal died Sunday night. 

Officials said they have not determined O'Neal's cause of death, but said he was being treated for a medical condition at the time of his death.

 Officials did not disclose the nature of O'Neal's medical condition. 

O'Neal was serving a 45- to 65-year sentence for first-degree assault and weapons counts.

 He began serving the sentence in April 1997. 

State law requires a grand jury investigation any time a person dies in state custody.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State prisons officials say an inmate at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln has died. The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services says in a news release that 48-year-old Keeva O'Neal died Sunday night. Officials said they have not determined O'Neal's cause of death, but said he was being treated for a medical condition at the time of his death. Officials did not disclose the nature of O'Neal's medical condition. O'Neal was serving a 45- to 65-year sentence for first-degree assault and weapons counts. He began serving the sentence in April 1997. State law requires a grand jury investigation any time a person dies in state custody.

Officials: Nebraska inmate dies following medical treatment

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Casinos in Nebraska won’t have to close during county fairs or the Nebraska State Fair under a bill advanced by state lawmakers. 

Senators gave first-round approval to a measure Tuesday that would add casinos to the list of allowable gambling activities during fairs. 

State law already allows wagering on horse races, bingo games, raffles and the sale of pickle cards during fairs, but not casino gambling. 

The issue became relevant after voters approved a ballot measure in 2020 to allow casinos at state-licensed horse-racing tracks. 

The measure was introduced by state Sen. Ray Aguilar, of Grand Island, whose district includes a horse-racing track at Fonner Park that’s expected to become a casino and the Nebraska State Fair.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Casinos in Nebraska won’t have to close during county fairs or the Nebraska State Fair under a bill advanced by state lawmakers. Senators gave first-round approval to a measure Tuesday that would add casinos to the list of allowable gambling activities during fairs. State law already allows wagering on horse races, bingo games, raffles and the sale of pickle cards during fairs, but not casino gambling. The issue became relevant after voters approved a ballot measure in 2020 to allow casinos at state-licensed horse-racing tracks. The measure was introduced by state Sen. Ray Aguilar, of Grand Island, whose district includes a horse-racing track at Fonner Park that’s expected to become a casino and the Nebraska State Fair.

Nebraska senators vote to let casinos stay open during fairs

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man arrested in the shooting of an Omaha police officer last week during a shoplifting investigation has been ordered held on $10 million bail.

 Kenya Lamont Jenkins Jr. would have to post 10% of the bail, or $1 million, to be released from jail pending the outcome of the charges against him. 

Jenkins is charged with first-degree assault of a police officer, use of a firearm to commit a felony and driving a vehicle to avoid arrest.

 Prosecutors say he shot Officer Jeffrey Wittstruck four times, hitting the officer in the face and head. 

The officer remains hospitalized in stable condition, but suffered nerve damage in the shooting and faces a long recovery, including surgery.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man arrested in the shooting of an Omaha police officer last week during a shoplifting investigation has been ordered held on $10 million bail. Kenya Lamont Jenkins Jr. would have to post 10% of the bail, or $1 million, to be released from jail pending the outcome of the charges against him. Jenkins is charged with first-degree assault of a police officer, use of a firearm to commit a felony and driving a vehicle to avoid arrest. Prosecutors say he shot Officer Jeffrey Wittstruck four times, hitting the officer in the face and head. The officer remains hospitalized in stable condition, but suffered nerve damage in the shooting and faces a long recovery, including surgery.

Man suspected in shooting of officer held on $10M bail

By DAVID CRARY and LUIS ANDRES HENAO, Associated Press

The Vatican’s declaration that same-sex unions are a sin the Roman Catholic Church cannot bless was no surprise for LGBTQ Catholics in the United States — yet it stung deeply nonetheless.

Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of DignityUSA, said her organization’s membership includes same-sex couples who have been together for decades, persevering in their love for one another in the face of bias and family rejection.

“The fact that our church at its highest levels cannot recognize the grace in that and cannot extend any sort of blessing to these couples is just tragic,” she said.

She was responding to a formal statement Monday from the Vatican’s orthodoxy office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, saying Roman Catholic clergy may not bless such unions since God “cannot bless sin.” It was approved by Pope Francis.

“Having sin be explicitly included in this statement kind of brings us back to zero,” said Ross Murray, who oversees religious issues for the LGBTQ rights group GLAAD.

He expressed dismay that “the ability for us to live out our lives fully and freely is still seen as an affront to the church or, worse yet, an affront to God, who created us and knows us and loves us.”

Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, which advocates for greater LGBTQ acceptance in the church, said that if those priests who have already been blessing same-sex unions now stop doing so, lay Catholics could be moved to take their place.

“If priests and pastoral ministers no longer feel they can perform such a blessing, the Catholic laity will step in and perform their own rituals,” DeBernardo said. “The toothpaste is out of the tube, and it can’t be put back inside.”

The Rev. Bryan Massingale, an openly gay Catholic priest and professor of theology and social ethics at Fordham University, said priests who want to engage in pastoral outreach to the gay and lesbian community “will continue to do so, except that it will be even more under the table ... than it was before.”

For Catholics in same-sex relationships, he said, the Vatican’s new message will hurt.

“Every human being is born with this innate desire to love,” he said. “For those who are oriented toward members of the same sex ... to have it being described as inherently or innately sinful without any qualification, that is crushing.”

Vatican doctrine holds that gays and lesbians should be treated with dignity and respect, but that gay sex is “intrinsically disordered” and that same-sex unions are sinful.

Natalia Imperatori-Lee, a professor of religious studies at Manhattan College, said those teachings, put together, are problematic.

“It boggles the mind that the hierarchy can affirm that LGBTQ+ persons are made in the image of God but that their unions are a sin,” she said via email. “Are they made in God’s image with the exception of their hearts? With the exception of their abilities and inclinations to love?”

Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of the U.S.-based NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice and an advocate for greater LGBTQ inclusion in the church, said she was relieved the Vatican statement wasn’t harsher.

She interpreted it as saying, “You can bless the individuals (in a same-sex union), you just can’t bless the contract.”

“So it’s possible you could have a ritual where the individuals get blessed to be their committed selves.”

The Vatican’s pronouncement was welcomed by some church conservatives, however, such as Bill Donohue, president of the New York-based Catholic League.

“There will be no recognition of homosexual unions or marriage by the Catholic Church. It is non-negotiable. End of story,” he said.

“Pope Francis has been under considerable pressure by gay activists, in and out of the church, to give the green light to gay marriage,” Donohue added, calling Monday’s statement “the most decisive rejection of those efforts ever written.”

Francis has endorsed providing legal protections for same-sex couples, but that is in the civil sphere and not the church.

Juan Carlos Cruz, a Chilean advocate for sex-abuse victims who is gay, reported in 2018 that when he met with Francis, the pope had told him, “God made you like this, and he loves you.”

On Monday, Cruz said the Vatican officials who issued the new statement “are completely in a world of their own, away from people and trying to defend the indefensible.”

He called for a change in the leadership of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, saying it was undermining efforts by Francis to create a more inclusive church.

“If the church and the CDF do not advance with the world ... Catholics will continue to flee.” he said.

In Francis’ homeland of Argentina, LGBTQ activist Esteban Paulon said earlier statements by the pontiff conveying empathy and understanding for gays and lesbians were mere gestures, lacking any official weight.

“They were not institutional pronouncements,” said Paulon, executive director of the Institute of Public Policies LGBT+. “Saying that homosexual practice is a sin takes us back 200 years and promotes hate speech that unfortunately in Latin America and Europe is on the rise.”

Chile’s largest LGBTQ rights group, the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation, condemned the decree as a “homophobic and anti-Christian action” from the Catholic hierarchy.

Spokesman Oscar Rementería contrasted the Vatican’s stern rhetoric against same-sex marriage with the many documented cases of Catholic leaders covering up child sex abuse committed by clergy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615845367722.png" alt="Pope Francis-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Pope Francis-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID CRARY and LUIS ANDRES HENAO, Associated PressThe Vatican’s declaration that same-sex unions are a sin the Roman Catholic Church cannot bless was no surprise for LGBTQ Catholics in the United States — yet it stung deeply nonetheless.Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of DignityUSA, said her organization’s membership includes same-sex couples who have been together for decades, persevering in their love for one another in the face of bias and family rejection.“The fact that our church at its highest levels cannot recognize the grace in that and cannot extend any sort of blessing to these couples is just tragic,” she said.She was responding to a formal statement Monday from the Vatican’s orthodoxy office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, saying Roman Catholic clergy may not bless such unions since God “cannot bless sin.” It was approved by Pope Francis.“Having sin be explicitly included in this statement kind of brings us back to zero,” said Ross Murray, who oversees religious issues for the LGBTQ rights group GLAAD.He expressed dismay that “the ability for us to live out our lives fully and freely is still seen as an affront to the church or, worse yet, an affront to God, who created us and knows us and loves us.”Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, which advocates for greater LGBTQ acceptance in the church, said that if those priests who have already been blessing same-sex unions now stop doing so, lay Catholics could be moved to take their place.“If priests and pastoral ministers no longer feel they can perform such a blessing, the Catholic laity will step in and perform their own rituals,” DeBernardo said. “The toothpaste is out of the tube, and it can’t be put back inside.”The Rev. Bryan Massingale, an openly gay Catholic priest and professor of theology and social ethics at Fordham University, said priests who want to engage in pastoral outreach to the gay and lesbian community “will continue to do so, except that it will be even more under the table ... than it was before.”For Catholics in same-sex relationships, he said, the Vatican’s new message will hurt.“Every human being is born with this innate desire to love,” he said. “For those who are oriented toward members of the same sex ... to have it being described as inherently or innately sinful without any qualification, that is crushing.”Vatican doctrine holds that gays and lesbians should be treated with dignity and respect, but that gay sex is “intrinsically disordered” and that same-sex unions are sinful.Natalia Imperatori-Lee, a professor of religious studies at Manhattan College, said those teachings, put together, are problematic.“It boggles the mind that the hierarchy can affirm that LGBTQ+ persons are made in the image of God but that their unions are a sin,” she said via email. “Are they made in God’s image with the exception of their hearts? With the exception of their abilities and inclinations to love?”Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of the U.S.-based NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice and an advocate for greater LGBTQ inclusion in the church, said she was relieved the Vatican statement wasn’t harsher.She interpreted it as saying, “You can bless the individuals (in a same-sex union), you just can’t bless the contract.”“So it’s possible you could have a ritual where the individuals get blessed to be their committed selves.”The Vatican’s pronouncement was welcomed by some church conservatives, however, such as Bill Donohue, president of the New York-based Catholic League.“There will be no recognition of homosexual unions or marriage by the Catholic Church. It is non-negotiable. End of story,” he said.“Pope Francis has been under considerable pressure by gay activists, in and out of the church, to give the green light to gay marriage,” Donohue added, calling Monday’s statement “the most decisive rejection of those efforts ever written.”Francis has endorsed providing legal protections for same-sex couples, but that is in the civil sphere and not the church.Juan Carlos Cruz, a Chilean advocate for sex-abuse victims who is gay, reported in 2018 that when he met with Francis, the pope had told him, “God made you like this, and he loves you.”On Monday, Cruz said the Vatican officials who issued the new statement “are completely in a world of their own, away from people and trying to defend the indefensible.”He called for a change in the leadership of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, saying it was undermining efforts by Francis to create a more inclusive church.“If the church and the CDF do not advance with the world ... Catholics will continue to flee.” he said.In Francis’ homeland of Argentina, LGBTQ activist Esteban Paulon said earlier statements by the pontiff conveying empathy and understanding for gays and lesbians were mere gestures, lacking any official weight.“They were not institutional pronouncements,” said Paulon, executive director of the Institute of Public Policies LGBT+. “Saying that homosexual practice is a sin takes us back 200 years and promotes hate speech that unfortunately in Latin America and Europe is on the rise.”Chile’s largest LGBTQ rights group, the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation, condemned the decree as a “homophobic and anti-Christian action” from the Catholic hierarchy.Spokesman Oscar Rementería contrasted the Vatican’s stern rhetoric against same-sex marriage with the many documented cases of Catholic leaders covering up child sex abuse committed by clergy.___

LGBTQ Catholics stung by church rebuff of same-sex unions

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The parents of a 2-year-old Nebraska boy who was killed by an alligator at Walt Disney World nearly five years ago want more families to consider donating their children’s organs.

 Matt and Melissa Graves created the Lane Thomas Foundation after their son’s death in 2016. 

The Omaha couple has said they decided to focus on pediatric organ donation because they wanted to help other families fighting for their children’s lives. 

The Graves’ foundation is trying to move beyond the small-scale donations it has been making so far to individual families with children undergoing transplants to raise awareness nationally about the need for pediatric organ donation.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The parents of a 2-year-old Nebraska boy who was killed by an alligator at Walt Disney World nearly five years ago want more families to consider donating their children’s organs. Matt and Melissa Graves created the Lane Thomas Foundation after their son’s death in 2016. The Omaha couple has said they decided to focus on pediatric organ donation because they wanted to help other families fighting for their children’s lives. The Graves’ foundation is trying to move beyond the small-scale donations it has been making so far to individual families with children undergoing transplants to raise awareness nationally about the need for pediatric organ donation.

Family of boy killed at Disney World urges organ donation

AP - An Omaha woman was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a fatal accident last year on Interstate 80 in eastern Nebraska’s Sarpy County.

 Prosecutors said in a news release that 25-year-old Kenisha Prentice was ordered on Monday to serve five to 10 years in prison for felony motor vehicle homicide. 

She also was sentenced to another 18 months to 3 years in prison for DUI causing serious bodily injured, with the sentences to be served consecutively.

AP - An Omaha woman was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a fatal accident last year on Interstate 80 in eastern Nebraska’s Sarpy County. Prosecutors said in a news release that 25-year-old Kenisha Prentice was ordered on Monday to serve five to 10 years in prison for felony motor vehicle homicide. She also was sentenced to another 18 months to 3 years in prison for DUI causing serious bodily injured, with the sentences to be served consecutively.

Nebraska woman sentenced to prison for fatal accident

Lincoln – Hank Layman of Beatrice won $58,000 playing Nebraska Pick 5 from the Nebraska Lottery. He’s splitting the prize with Bonnie Jannsen, also of Beatrice, who goes in with him on tickets daily.

Layman purchased his ticket at Mom’s Corner at 566 W Court Street in Beatrice. The ticket contained three plays for the March 12 drawing, one of which matched the winning numbers 10, 18, 21, 34 and 35.

Layman and Jannsen have been lucky before. Jannsen won $5,000 on MyDaY back in 2008 and Layman won $7,000 on a Scratch ticket way back in 1996.

They said they’ve been going in on tickets together for about a year and were thrilled to see their numbers come up.

Layman said he’s going to pay some bills with his share of the winnings but Jannsen isn’t quite sure what she’s going to do yet, though this may be her last Pick 5 jackpot.

“She’s quitting,” Layman said. “But I’m still going to play.”

Nebraska Pick 5 is Nebraska’s unique Lottery game: all the proceeds from Nebraska Pick 5 stay in Nebraska, and all the winning tickets are sold in Nebraska at Nebraska Lottery Lotto game retailers. The odds of winning the Nebraska Pick 5 jackpot, which starts at $50,000 and grows by $4,000 each drawing that is not won, are 1 in 501,942 while the overall odds of winning a prize in the game, which has drawings seven nights a week, are 1 in 8.

The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $803 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.

Lincoln – Hank Layman of Beatrice won $58,000 playing Nebraska Pick 5 from the Nebraska Lottery. He’s splitting the prize with Bonnie Jannsen, also of Beatrice, who goes in with him on tickets daily.Layman purchased his ticket at Mom’s Corner at 566 W Court Street in Beatrice. The ticket contained three plays for the March 12 drawing, one of which matched the winning numbers 10, 18, 21, 34 and 35.Layman and Jannsen have been lucky before. Jannsen won $5,000 on MyDaY back in 2008 and Layman won $7,000 on a Scratch ticket way back in 1996.They said they’ve been going in on tickets together for about a year and were thrilled to see their numbers come up.Layman said he’s going to pay some bills with his share of the winnings but Jannsen isn’t quite sure what she’s going to do yet, though this may be her last Pick 5 jackpot.“She’s quitting,” Layman said. “But I’m still going to play.”Nebraska Pick 5 is Nebraska’s unique Lottery game: all the proceeds from Nebraska Pick 5 stay in Nebraska, and all the winning tickets are sold in Nebraska at Nebraska Lottery Lotto game retailers. The odds of winning the Nebraska Pick 5 jackpot, which starts at $50,000 and grows by $4,000 each drawing that is not won, are 1 in 501,942 while the overall odds of winning a prize in the game, which has drawings seven nights a week, are 1 in 8.The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $803 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.

Beatrice man wins $58,000 playing Nebraska Pick 5

The statewide law enforcement agencies of several neighboring states are joining together to urge motorists to slow down after a year of excessive speeding across the region, according to a media release from the Kansas Highway Patrol.

The Arkansas State Police, Iowa State Patrol, Kansas Highway Patrol, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and Nebraska State Patrol all report a dramatic increase in excessive speeding, coinciding with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;

“Over the last year there has been a common theme while speaking with our law enforcement partners in neighboring states; the increase in excessive speeding,” said Colonel Herman T. Jones, Superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol. “KHP is proud to partner with our neighboring states in reminding motorists of the dangers of excessive speeding and the need for us to all work together to make our state and region safe.” Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska comprise Region 7 of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Each state tracked the increase of excessive speeding in different ways, but every method told the same story: A year that felt incredibly long was also the fastest on the roads in recent memory.

As the winter months give way to more favorable driving conditions and busiest travel seasons, each agency is asking all motorists to do their part in the effort to keep the roads safe. Obey the posted speed limits, eliminate distractions, never drive impaired, and always buckle up. Troopers in each state will continue to patrol day and night to enforce traffic safety laws and help any motorist in need of assistance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615901024980.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The statewide law enforcement agencies of several neighboring states are joining together to urge motorists to slow down after a year of excessive speeding across the region, according to a media release from the Kansas Highway Patrol.The Arkansas State Police, Iowa State Patrol, Kansas Highway Patrol, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and Nebraska State Patrol all report a dramatic increase in excessive speeding, coinciding with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The last year has been one of the fastest on the roads in recent memory. We&#39;re joining <a href="https://twitter.com/ARStatePolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ARStatePolice</a><a href="https://twitter.com/MSHPTrooperGHQ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MSHPTrooperGHQ</a><a href="https://twitter.com/iowastatepatrol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iowastatepatrol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/kshighwaypatrol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kshighwaypatrol</a> to remind drivers to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ObeyTheSign?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ObeyTheSign</a>. Our five states have had an average increase of 83% in excessive speeding citations. <a href="https://t.co/HRtNYFrlg8">pic.twitter.com/HRtNYFrlg8</a>&mdash; Nebraska State Patrol (@NEStatePatrol) <a href="https://twitter.com/NEStatePatrol/status/1371521244307292160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Over the last year there has been a common theme while speaking with our law enforcement partners in neighboring states; the increase in excessive speeding,” said Colonel Herman T. Jones, Superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol. “KHP is proud to partner with our neighboring states in reminding motorists of the dangers of excessive speeding and the need for us to all work together to make our state and region safe.” Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska comprise Region 7 of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Each state tracked the increase of excessive speeding in different ways, but every method told the same story: A year that felt incredibly long was also the fastest on the roads in recent memory.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615900441122.png" alt="The increases in excessive speeding citations, as tracked by each statewide agency." />
 <figcaption>The increases in excessive speeding citations, as tracked by each statewide agency.</figcaption>
 </figure>As the winter months give way to more favorable driving conditions and busiest travel seasons, each agency is asking all motorists to do their part in the effort to keep the roads safe. Obey the posted speed limits, eliminate distractions, never drive impaired, and always buckle up. Troopers in each state will continue to patrol day and night to enforce traffic safety laws and help any motorist in need of assistance.

Nebraska, 4 other states join forces against excessive speeding

LAS VEGAS (AP) — President Joe Biden is joining top messengers already crisscrossing the country to highlight the benefits of his massive COVID-19 rescue plan, in his case by promoting aid for small businesses.

Biden is set to visit a small business in suburban Philadelphia on Tuesday, his initial trip outside Washington for the “Help is here” tour that got underway Monday. Vice President Kamala Harris dropped in on a COVID-19 vaccination site and a culinary academy in Las Vegas while <a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?509907-1/lady-jill-biden-speaks-covid-relief-aid-reopening-schools&amp;live=">first lady Jill Biden toured a New Jersey elementary school.</a>

“We want to avoid a situation where people are unaware of what they’re entitled to,” Harris said at the culinary academy. “It’s not selling it; it literally is letting people know their rights. Think of it more as a public education campaign.”

The White House is wasting no time promoting the $1.9 trillion relief plan, which Biden signed into law last week, looking to build momentum for the rest of his agenda and anxious to avoid the mistakes of 2009 in boosting that year’s recovery effort. Even veterans of Barack Obama’s administration acknowledge they did not do enough then to showcase their massive economic stimulus package.

“Hope is here in real and tangible ways,” Biden said Monday at the White House. He said the new government spending will bankroll efforts that could allow the nation to emerge from the pandemic’s twin crises, health and economic.

“Shots in arms and money in pockets,” the president said. “That’s important. The American Rescue Plan is already doing what it was designed to do: make a difference in people’s everyday lives. We’re just getting started.”

Biden said that within the next 10 days, his administration will clear two important benchmarks: distributing 100 million stimulus payments and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-19-vaccine-waste-largely-unknown-d2624a6dfefaa4b6a10cc0704ab5ab9d">administering 100 million vaccine doses</a>&nbsp;since he took office. To commemorate those milestones, Biden and his top representatives are embarking on their most ambitious travel schedule of his young presidency, visiting a series of potential election battleground states this week.

The sales pitch was leaving Republicans cold.

Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell dismissed the target of doses that Biden set when he took office as “not some audacious goal” but just the pace that he inherited. And he mocked Biden’s talk of Americans working toward merely being able to gather in small groups by July 4th as “bizarre.”

The Biden plan cleared Congress without any backing from Republicans, despite polling that found broad public support. Republicans argued the bill was too expensive, especially with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/germany-suspends-astrazeneca-vaccine-blood-clotting-0ab2c4fe13370c96c873e896387eb92f">vaccinations making progress against the virus,</a>&nbsp;and included too many provisions not directly linked to the pandemic.

After beginning the sales campaign with high-profile speeches, Biden will head to Pennsylvania on Tuesday and then join Harris in Georgia on Friday. Others on his team are visiting the electorally important states of Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and New Hampshire. The trip Monday marked Harris’ first official journey in office and included an unscheduled stop at a vegan taco stand as well as a coffee stand at the Culinary Academy Las Vegas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615895142496.png" alt="Jill Biden was joined by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on a tour Monday of Samuel Smith Elementary School in Burlington, where she highlighted steps the school took to reopen- photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Jill Biden was joined by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on a tour Monday of Samuel Smith Elementary School in Burlington, where she highlighted steps the school took to reopen- photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>LAS VEGAS (AP) — President Joe Biden is joining top messengers already crisscrossing the country to highlight the benefits of his massive COVID-19 rescue plan, in his case by promoting aid for small businesses.Biden is set to visit a small business in suburban Philadelphia on Tuesday, his initial trip outside Washington for the “Help is here” tour that got underway Monday. Vice President Kamala Harris dropped in on a COVID-19 vaccination site and a culinary academy in Las Vegas while <a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?509907-1/lady-jill-biden-speaks-covid-relief-aid-reopening-schools&amp;live=">first lady Jill Biden toured a New Jersey elementary school.</a>“We want to avoid a situation where people are unaware of what they’re entitled to,” Harris said at the culinary academy. “It’s not selling it; it literally is letting people know their rights. Think of it more as a public education campaign.”The White House is wasting no time promoting the $1.9 trillion relief plan, which Biden signed into law last week, looking to build momentum for the rest of his agenda and anxious to avoid the mistakes of 2009 in boosting that year’s recovery effort. Even veterans of Barack Obama’s administration acknowledge they did not do enough then to showcase their massive economic stimulus package.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615895078268.png" alt="The Biden plan’s key features include direct payments of $1,400 for most single taxpayers, or $2,800 for married couples filing jointly, plus $1,400 per dependent — a total of $5,600 for a married couple with two children.-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>The Biden plan’s key features include direct payments of $1,400 for most single taxpayers, or $2,800 for married couples filing jointly, plus $1,400 per dependent — a total of $5,600 for a married couple with two children.-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>“Hope is here in real and tangible ways,” Biden said Monday at the White House. He said the new government spending will bankroll efforts that could allow the nation to emerge from the pandemic’s twin crises, health and economic.“Shots in arms and money in pockets,” the president said. “That’s important. The American Rescue Plan is already doing what it was designed to do: make a difference in people’s everyday lives. We’re just getting started.”Biden said that within the next 10 days, his administration will clear two important benchmarks: distributing 100 million stimulus payments and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-19-vaccine-waste-largely-unknown-d2624a6dfefaa4b6a10cc0704ab5ab9d">administering 100 million vaccine doses</a>&nbsp;since he took office. To commemorate those milestones, Biden and his top representatives are embarking on their most ambitious travel schedule of his young presidency, visiting a series of potential election battleground states this week.The sales pitch was leaving Republicans cold.Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell dismissed the target of doses that Biden set when he took office as “not some audacious goal” but just the pace that he inherited. And he mocked Biden’s talk of Americans working toward merely being able to gather in small groups by July 4th as “bizarre.”The Biden plan cleared Congress without any backing from Republicans, despite polling that found broad public support. Republicans argued the bill was too expensive, especially with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/germany-suspends-astrazeneca-vaccine-blood-clotting-0ab2c4fe13370c96c873e896387eb92f">vaccinations making progress against the virus,</a>&nbsp;and included too many provisions not directly linked to the pandemic.After beginning the sales campaign with high-profile speeches, Biden will head to Pennsylvania on Tuesday and then join Harris in Georgia on Friday. Others on his team are visiting the electorally important states of Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and New Hampshire. The trip Monday marked Harris’ first official journey in office and included an unscheduled stop at a vegan taco stand as well as a coffee stand at the Culinary Academy Las Vegas.White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, “We want to take some time to engage directly with the American people and make sure they understand the benefits of the package and how it is going to help them get through this difficult period of time.”The White House has detailed a theme for each day, focusing on small businesses, schools, home evictions and direct checks to most Americans. Jill Biden was joined by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on a tour Monday of Samuel Smith Elementary School in Burlington, where she highlighted steps the school took to reopen.But her tour revealed the challenges ahead: In one classroom she visited, only two students were in attendance for in-person learning while the other 17 were virtual. The first lady sat down at a computer to say hello to the remote learners.“I just I love being here at a school again: Educators, parents and students, the entire school has come together to bring kids back to the classroom,” she said. “But even with your best efforts, students can’t come, they can’t come in every day, which means that their parents are still having to take time off of work, or figure out childcare solutions. And this school like schools across this country can’t fully reopen without help.”The president on Monday also announced that he had chosen Gene Sperling, a longtime Democratic economic policy expert, to oversee the massive stimulus package, the role Biden himself had played for the 2009 economic rescue package. The goal, Biden said, is to “stay on top of every dollar spent.”“I learned from my experience implementing the Recovery Act just how important it is to have someone who can manage all the moving parts with efficiency, speed and integrity and accountability,” said the president.The plan’s key features include direct payments of $1,400 for most single taxpayers, or $2,800 for married couples filing jointly, plus $1,400 per dependent — a total of $5,600 for a married couple with two children. The payments phase out for people with higher incomes.An extension of federal unemployment benefits will continue through Sept. 6 at $300 a week. There’s $350 billion for state, local and tribal governments, $130 billion for K-12 schools and about $50 billion to expand COVID-19 testing, among other provisions.Restaurants and bars that were forced to close or limit service can take advantage of a new multibillion-dollar grant program, and the plan also has tens of billions of dollars to help people who have fallen behind on rent and mortgage payments.Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, joined his wife for the Western trip, visiting a food relief organization Monday in Las Vegas and participating in a listening session with the organization’s partners. In addition to the president, vice president and their spouses, Cabinet secretaries will also be out on the tour. Hundreds of mayors and governors, including Republicans, are being lined up to give interviews to discuss what the plan means for their communities.Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg went first, touring a UPS distribution center in Landover, Maryland, on Monday that also delivers vaccines in the Washington area.