LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities say Tiger Woods was speeding when he crashed an SUV in Southern California less than two months ago, leaving him seriously injured.

(Click below to watch the LA County Sheriff's press conference)&nbsp;

The golf superstar was driving 84 to 87 mph on a downhill stretch of road outside Los Angeles that had a speed limit of 45 mph, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Wednesday.

The stretch of road is known for wrecks and drivers hitting speeds so high that there is an emergency exit for runaway vehicles just beyond where Woods crashed.

Villanueva blamed the Feb. 23 crash solely on excessive speed and Woods’ loss of control behind the wheel.

Detectives did not seek search warrants for the athlete’s blood samples, which could have been screened for drugs or alcohol. Investigators, however, did search the SUV’s data recorder, known as a black box, in the days after the crash.

Woods is in Florida recovering from multiple surgeries.

Originally from the Los Angeles area, Woods had been back home in February to host his PGA tournament, the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club.

He was driving an SUV loaned to him by the tournament when he struck a raised median. The SUV crossed through two oncoming lanes and uprooted a tree.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614166677367.png" alt="The vehicle following the February 2021 rollover accident involving Tiger Woods in a suburb of Los Angeles. photos courtesy KTLA" />
 <figcaption>The vehicle following the February 2021 rollover accident involving Tiger Woods in a suburb of Los Angeles. photos courtesy KTLA</figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities say Tiger Woods was speeding when he crashed an SUV in Southern California less than two months ago, leaving him seriously injured.(Click below to watch the LA County Sheriff's press conference)&nbsp;<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FLosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment%2Fvideos%2F900067394110637%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The golf superstar was driving 84 to 87 mph on a downhill stretch of road outside Los Angeles that had a speed limit of 45 mph, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Wednesday.The stretch of road is known for wrecks and drivers hitting speeds so high that there is an emergency exit for runaway vehicles just beyond where Woods crashed.Villanueva blamed the Feb. 23 crash solely on excessive speed and Woods’ loss of control behind the wheel.Detectives did not seek search warrants for the athlete’s blood samples, which could have been screened for drugs or alcohol. Investigators, however, did search the SUV’s data recorder, known as a black box, in the days after the crash.Woods is in Florida recovering from multiple surgeries.Originally from the Los Angeles area, Woods had been back home in February to host his PGA tournament, the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614112921996.png" alt="The sheriff blamed the Feb. 23 crash solely on excessive speed and Woods’ loss of control behind the wheel -photo courtesy KTLA" />
 <figcaption>The sheriff blamed the Feb. 23 crash solely on excessive speed and Woods’ loss of control behind the wheel -photo courtesy KTLA</figcaption>
 </figure>He was driving an SUV loaned to him by the tournament when he struck a raised median. The SUV crossed through two oncoming lanes and uprooted a tree.

🎥 Tiger Woods was going 83 in 45mph zone before crash

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Court fees that help pay for Nebraska judge retirement benefits could double from $6 to $12 by 2025 under a bill advanced by state lawmakers. 

Lawmakers gave the measure first-round approval with a 35-5 vote, despite criticism from some senators that the increase would disproportionately affect low-income people who become involved in the court system through criminal charges or lawsuits.

 The measure would gradually increase the fees each year to generate revenue for the slightly underfunded state retirement fund for judges.

 Two additional votes are required before the bill goes to Gov. Pete Ricketts.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Court fees that help pay for Nebraska judge retirement benefits could double from $6 to $12 by 2025 under a bill advanced by state lawmakers. Lawmakers gave the measure first-round approval with a 35-5 vote, despite criticism from some senators that the increase would disproportionately affect low-income people who become involved in the court system through criminal charges or lawsuits. The measure would gradually increase the fees each year to generate revenue for the slightly underfunded state retirement fund for judges. Two additional votes are required before the bill goes to Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Nebraska advances higher fees to fund judge retirements

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Omaha's current mayor, Republican Jean Stothert, appears likely to face Democratic challenger and commercial real estate broker RJ Neary in the May 11 general election for Omaha mayor.

Stothert held a commanding lead in the five-person primary election held Tuesday, with about 60% of the vote compared to Neary's distant second-place count of 15% by late Tuesday night, the Omaha World-Herald&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/stothert-and-neary-appear-set-to-face-off-in-omaha-mayoral-race/article_8bb790aa-916c-11eb-841b-93a9d161c63b.html#tracking-source=home-top-story" target="_blank">reported</a>. The top two vote getters in Omaha's city primary elections move on the general election.

At least 12,000 absentee votes remained to be counted early Wednesday morning, and election officials have said they won't release those results until Friday.

Stothert, 67, is seeking her third term as Omaha's mayor, saying she has helped make the city safer and managed the city's budget. The 68-year-old Neary, who is chairman of the commercial property firm Investors Realty, has campaigned on improving public infrastructure, spurring more affordable housing and improving equitable distribution of city services.

Others who ran in the primary included include Jasmine Harris, who commands a background in public health, criminal justice reform and policy advocacy; Kimara Snipes, president of the South Omaha Neighborhood Alliance and an Omaha Public Schools Board member; and Mark Gudgel, an English teacher at North High School in Omaha.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617809865428.png" alt="Stothert" />
 <figcaption>Stothert</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Omaha's current mayor, Republican Jean Stothert, appears likely to face Democratic challenger and commercial real estate broker RJ Neary in the May 11 general election for Omaha mayor.Stothert held a commanding lead in the five-person primary election held Tuesday, with about 60% of the vote compared to Neary's distant second-place count of 15% by late Tuesday night, the Omaha World-Herald&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/stothert-and-neary-appear-set-to-face-off-in-omaha-mayoral-race/article_8bb790aa-916c-11eb-841b-93a9d161c63b.html#tracking-source=home-top-story" target="_blank">reported</a>. The top two vote getters in Omaha's city primary elections move on the general election.At least 12,000 absentee votes remained to be counted early Wednesday morning, and election officials have said they won't release those results until Friday.Stothert, 67, is seeking her third term as Omaha's mayor, saying she has helped make the city safer and managed the city's budget. The 68-year-old Neary, who is chairman of the commercial property firm Investors Realty, has campaigned on improving public infrastructure, spurring more affordable housing and improving equitable distribution of city services.Others who ran in the primary included include Jasmine Harris, who commands a background in public health, criminal justice reform and policy advocacy; Kimara Snipes, president of the South Omaha Neighborhood Alliance and an Omaha Public Schools Board member; and Mark Gudgel, an English teacher at North High School in Omaha.

Incumbent Stothert likely to face Neary for Omaha mayor

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Democrats are once again eyeing Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District as a possible pickup in the next general election.

 The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee named the district as one of its 22 competitive House districts that are either open or held by Republicans.

 The Nebraska seat is currently occupied by three-term U.S. Rep. Don Bacon. 

The district, encompassing Omaha and most of its suburbs, is by far the most competitive in a state that’s overwhelmingly Republican. 

It’s also one of the most competitive districts nationally. New York Rep.

 Sean Patrick Maloney, the committee’s chairman, says Democrats plan to protect their House majority by recruiting compelling candidates and empowering their campaigns with the resources needed to win in each of the 22 districts.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Democrats are once again eyeing Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District as a possible pickup in the next general election. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee named the district as one of its 22 competitive House districts that are either open or held by Republicans. The Nebraska seat is currently occupied by three-term U.S. Rep. Don Bacon. The district, encompassing Omaha and most of its suburbs, is by far the most competitive in a state that’s overwhelmingly Republican. It’s also one of the most competitive districts nationally. New York Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, the committee’s chairman, says Democrats plan to protect their House majority by recruiting compelling candidates and empowering their campaigns with the resources needed to win in each of the 22 districts.

Democrats see Nebraska's 2nd District as competitive in 2022

By SARAH JANE TRIBBLE <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2021-04-01/it-didnt-really-stick-with-me-understanding-the-rural-shrug-over-covid-and-vaccines">Kaiser Health News</a>

FORT SCOTT — At 70, Linda Findley has long been active in her small town of Fort 
Scott, Kansas, which sits more than an hour away from any major city.

Findley, whose husband <a href="https://khn.org/news/podcast-where-it-hurts-no-mercy-fort-scott-kansas-air-ambulances-emergency-care-rural-hospital-closes/" target="_blank">died in an accident</a>
 just after the local hospital closed, helps with the Elks and 
fundraising, and — like many people in this part of the country — 
doesn’t think COVID-19 is that dangerous.

“I don’t even know what I
 think about it,” Findley said recently. “I don’t know if I trust the 
testing because it’s so messed up or … I’ve had nieces and nephews, 
that’ve had it. I’ve lost good friends to it, or supposedly it’s to 
that.”

Findley said she just isn’t sure that every case reported 
as the coronavirus really is the virus: “Everything seems to be 
coronavirus. I mean, it’s just … no matter what somebody has, it’s 
coronavirus. I don’t know whether it is or isn’t.”

Fort Scott is one of <a href="https://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/programs-projects/rural-health/rural-hospital-closures/" target="_blank">nearly 140 rural communities</a> that have lost a hospital in the past decade. Mercy Hospital Fort Scott closed in December 2018.

Even
 though critically ill patients now must travel to hospitals farther 
away, Fort Scott residents haven’t seen that as a pandemic-related 
problem. Rather, not having a hospital doesn’t really come up when 
people here talk about COVID.

Dave Martin, the former city manager, is pretty sure he caught COVID at work last August.

“You
 know, when I got it, I was in good health and it did take me a while to
 recover,” Martin said. “I do remember waking up one of my bad nights 
and thinking, when I was running a temperature and not feeling very 
well. And I’m thinking, ‘Oh, wow, this could kill me.’”

But Martin
 also thought that any number of unpredictable events could end a 
person’s life. “So it didn’t really stick with me,” he said.

After
 recovering, the 62-year-old Martin went ahead with his retirement. He 
took his wife to Disney World and then they hiked Yellowstone National 
Park.

That casual attitude toward the dangers of COVID worries 
health care leaders in Fort Scott. Jason Wesco helps lead the regional 
health center that took over primary care services when the hospital 
closed. One clinic occupies part of the same building that used to be 
Mercy Hospital.

Wesco said his family is careful about wearing 
masks and not gathering in groups, and he believes they are in the 
minority in the area.

“I think most people just keep going. They 
have maybe modified a little bit. Maybe they put on a mask in public,” 
Wesco said. “I think life here has changed a lot less than it’s changed 
in D.C. And I think we’re seeing the impact of that, right?”

The pandemic hit the area hard in the fall, peaking in late December.

One in 11 people in Bourbon County, where Fort Scott is the largest community, has been infected by COVID, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/bourbon-kansas-covid-cases.html?action=click&amp;module=covid_tracking&amp;pgtype=Interactive&amp;region=TableRowLink" target="_blank">national analysis</a>.

Two
 dozen of the county’s 14,000 residents have died of COVID. And most 
people know someone who had the virus and survived — but residents just 
seem tired of talking about it.

Community volunteer Findley said she won’t get a vaccine.

“How did they come up with a vaccine that quickly? And how do they even know for sure it’s even working?” Findley wondered.

The
 three vaccines approved by federal regulators in the U.S. are being 
given out to millions, and their efficacy has been shown through massive
 clinical trials in the U.S. and globally.

But Findley’s 
skepticism is fairly common in southeastern Kansas and across rural 
America. Nationwide, a smaller share of rural residents say they will 
definitely get a COVID shot compared with their more urban counterparts.
 More than a third, 35%, of those who live outside big-city borders said
 they would probably not or definitely not get vaccinated, compared with
 about a quarter of suburban and urban residents, according to <a href="https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/poll-finding/vaccine-hesitancy-in-rural-america/" target="_blank">a poll</a> by KFF. (KHN is an editorially independent program of the foundation.) An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll found that <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/03/12/976172586/little-difference-in-vaccine-hesitancy-among-white-and-black-americans-poll-find" target="_blank">47% of Trump supporters</a> said they would not get a vaccine; <a href="https://apps.npr.org/elections20-interactive/#/states/KS/P" target="_blank">75% of Bourbon County residents</a> voted for Trump in 2020.

Factors
 such as age and occupation also play a role in attitudes toward the 
vaccines. And — as Findley and others in Fort Scott noted — rural 
Americans are more likely to think of getting a vaccine as a personal 
choice and believe the seriousness of COVID is exaggerated in the news.

Findley
 said she believes that there is a very bad virus, but also that the 
media have brainwashed people. The news has “everybody running scared,” 
she said. “I don’t know why they want to do that, but that’s what I feel
 like.”

About 50% of rural residents say the seriousness of the 
coronavirus is generally exaggerated in the news, according to the KFF 
poll. And 62% see getting the vaccine as a personal choice — rather than
 a necessary social obligation.

Wesco, executive vice president of
 the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, said he has hope more 
area residents will begin to see the vaccines as necessary.

“There’s hesitancy,” Wesco said, adding that he believes hesitancy is declining as vaccines become more abundant.

When
 residents are directly provided the opportunity to get a vaccine, they 
consider it more seriously, he said. And the more people they know who 
have gotten a vaccine, the more likely they will be to get a shot.

The
 Community Health Center, like other health centers nationwide, is 
receiving direct federal shipments of vaccines. Currently, the clinic 
has a waitlist and is giving out as many doses as it can get its hands 
on.

Sarah Jane Tribble is reporter and host of “<a href="https://www.npr.org/podcasts/915395193/where-it-hurts#:~:text=Where%20It%20Hurts%20Place%2Dbased,Louis%20Public%20Radio." target="_blank">Where It Hurts</a>,”
 a narrative podcast created by Kaiser Health News and St. Louis Public 
Radio about the people of Fort Scott and how their health care 
transformed after the hospital closed. “Where It Hurts” is available 
wherever you get your podcasts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617718187564.png" alt="Linda Findley' stands in her husband Robert Findley's auto body shop in Ft. Scott, KS. Robert Findley fell on the ice during a winter storm and delayed care because of the distance to a hospital led to Robert's death. Christopher Smith/For Kaiser Health News" />
 <figcaption>Linda Findley' stands in her husband Robert Findley's auto body shop in Ft. Scott, KS. Robert Findley fell on the ice during a winter storm and delayed care because of the distance to a hospital led to Robert's death. Christopher Smith/For Kaiser Health News</figcaption>
 </figure>By SARAH JANE TRIBBLE <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2021-04-01/it-didnt-really-stick-with-me-understanding-the-rural-shrug-over-covid-and-vaccines">Kaiser Health News</a>FORT SCOTT — At 70, Linda Findley has long been active in her small town of Fort 
Scott, Kansas, which sits more than an hour away from any major city.Findley, whose husband <a href="https://khn.org/news/podcast-where-it-hurts-no-mercy-fort-scott-kansas-air-ambulances-emergency-care-rural-hospital-closes/" target="_blank">died in an accident</a>
 just after the local hospital closed, helps with the Elks and 
fundraising, and — like many people in this part of the country — 
doesn’t think COVID-19 is that dangerous.“I don’t even know what I
 think about it,” Findley said recently. “I don’t know if I trust the 
testing because it’s so messed up or … I’ve had nieces and nephews, 
that’ve had it. I’ve lost good friends to it, or supposedly it’s to 
that.”Findley said she just isn’t sure that every case reported 
as the coronavirus really is the virus: “Everything seems to be 
coronavirus. I mean, it’s just … no matter what somebody has, it’s 
coronavirus. I don’t know whether it is or isn’t.”Fort Scott is one of <a href="https://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/programs-projects/rural-health/rural-hospital-closures/" target="_blank">nearly 140 rural communities</a> that have lost a hospital in the past decade. Mercy Hospital Fort Scott closed in December 2018.Even
 though critically ill patients now must travel to hospitals farther 
away, Fort Scott residents haven’t seen that as a pandemic-related 
problem. Rather, not having a hospital doesn’t really come up when 
people here talk about COVID.Dave Martin, the former city manager, is pretty sure he caught COVID at work last August.“You
 know, when I got it, I was in good health and it did take me a while to
 recover,” Martin said. “I do remember waking up one of my bad nights 
and thinking, when I was running a temperature and not feeling very 
well. And I’m thinking, ‘Oh, wow, this could kill me.’”But Martin
 also thought that any number of unpredictable events could end a 
person’s life. “So it didn’t really stick with me,” he said.After
 recovering, the 62-year-old Martin went ahead with his retirement. He 
took his wife to Disney World and then they hiked Yellowstone National 
Park.That casual attitude toward the dangers of COVID worries 
health care leaders in Fort Scott. Jason Wesco helps lead the regional 
health center that took over primary care services when the hospital 
closed. One clinic occupies part of the same building that used to be 
Mercy Hospital.Wesco said his family is careful about wearing 
masks and not gathering in groups, and he believes they are in the 
minority in the area.“I think most people just keep going. They 
have maybe modified a little bit. Maybe they put on a mask in public,” 
Wesco said. “I think life here has changed a lot less than it’s changed 
in D.C. And I think we’re seeing the impact of that, right?”The pandemic hit the area hard in the fall, peaking in late December.One in 11 people in Bourbon County, where Fort Scott is the largest community, has been infected by COVID, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/bourbon-kansas-covid-cases.html?action=click&amp;module=covid_tracking&amp;pgtype=Interactive&amp;region=TableRowLink" target="_blank">national analysis</a>.Two
 dozen of the county’s 14,000 residents have died of COVID. And most 
people know someone who had the virus and survived — but residents just 
seem tired of talking about it.Community volunteer Findley said she won’t get a vaccine.“How did they come up with a vaccine that quickly? And how do they even know for sure it’s even working?” Findley wondered.The
 three vaccines approved by federal regulators in the U.S. are being 
given out to millions, and their efficacy has been shown through massive
 clinical trials in the U.S. and globally.But Findley’s 
skepticism is fairly common in southeastern Kansas and across rural 
America. Nationwide, a smaller share of rural residents say they will 
definitely get a COVID shot compared with their more urban counterparts.
 More than a third, 35%, of those who live outside big-city borders said
 they would probably not or definitely not get vaccinated, compared with
 about a quarter of suburban and urban residents, according to <a href="https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/poll-finding/vaccine-hesitancy-in-rural-america/" target="_blank">a poll</a> by KFF. (KHN is an editorially independent program of the foundation.) An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll found that <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/03/12/976172586/little-difference-in-vaccine-hesitancy-among-white-and-black-americans-poll-find" target="_blank">47% of Trump supporters</a> said they would not get a vaccine; <a href="https://apps.npr.org/elections20-interactive/#/states/KS/P" target="_blank">75% of Bourbon County residents</a> voted for Trump in 2020.Factors
 such as age and occupation also play a role in attitudes toward the 
vaccines. And — as Findley and others in Fort Scott noted — rural 
Americans are more likely to think of getting a vaccine as a personal 
choice and believe the seriousness of COVID is exaggerated in the news.Findley
 said she believes that there is a very bad virus, but also that the 
media have brainwashed people. The news has “everybody running scared,” 
she said. “I don’t know why they want to do that, but that’s what I feel
 like.”About 50% of rural residents say the seriousness of the 
coronavirus is generally exaggerated in the news, according to the KFF 
poll. And 62% see getting the vaccine as a personal choice — rather than
 a necessary social obligation.Wesco, executive vice president of
 the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, said he has hope more 
area residents will begin to see the vaccines as necessary.“There’s hesitancy,” Wesco said, adding that he believes hesitancy is declining as vaccines become more abundant.When
 residents are directly provided the opportunity to get a vaccine, they 
consider it more seriously, he said. And the more people they know who 
have gotten a vaccine, the more likely they will be to get a shot.The
 Community Health Center, like other health centers nationwide, is 
receiving direct federal shipments of vaccines. Currently, the clinic 
has a waitlist and is giving out as many doses as it can get its hands 
on.Sarah Jane Tribble is reporter and host of “<a href="https://www.npr.org/podcasts/915395193/where-it-hurts#:~:text=Where%20It%20Hurts%20Place%2Dbased,Louis%20Public%20Radio." target="_blank">Where It Hurts</a>,”
 a narrative podcast created by Kaiser Health News and St. Louis Public 
Radio about the people of Fort Scott and how their health care 
transformed after the hospital closed. “Where It Hurts” is available 
wherever you get your podcasts.

Understanding the rural shrug over COVID and vaccines

BLUE SPRINGS, Neb. (AP) — Authorities in southeastern Nebraska say a man under court order to have no contact with a woman instead fatally shot the woman at her home before killing himself. 

The Nebraska State Patrol says troopers and deputies with the Gage County Sheriff's Office were called Tuesday morning to a home near Blue Springs by someone reporting two people dead at the home. 

Officials who arrived on the scene found found 49-year-old Jason Arnold dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

Inside the home, investigators found the body of 40-year-old Brooke Koch. 

The patrol says Arnold had been scheduled to appear in Gage County Court on Tuesday morning for violation of a protection order that prohibited him from contacting Koch.

BLUE SPRINGS, Neb. (AP) — Authorities in southeastern Nebraska say a man under court order to have no contact with a woman instead fatally shot the woman at her home before killing himself. The Nebraska State Patrol says troopers and deputies with the Gage County Sheriff's Office were called Tuesday morning to a home near Blue Springs by someone reporting two people dead at the home. Officials who arrived on the scene found found 49-year-old Jason Arnold dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Inside the home, investigators found the body of 40-year-old Brooke Koch. The patrol says Arnold had been scheduled to appear in Gage County Court on Tuesday morning for violation of a protection order that prohibited him from contacting Koch.

Authorities: Nebraska man fatally shot woman, then himself

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that he's bumping up his deadline by two weeks for states to make all adults in the U.S. eligible for coronavirus vaccines. But even as he expressed optimism about the pace of vaccinations, he warned Americans that the nation is not yet out of the woods when it comes to the pandemic.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4956269/president-urges-complacency-vaccinations-increase-amid-spread-variants">Click here to watch </a>a replay of the President's comments

“Let me be deadly earnest with you: We aren’t at the finish line. We still have a lot of work to do. We’re still in a life and death race against this virus," Biden said in remarks at the White House.

The president warned that “ new variants of the virus are spreading and they’re moving quickly. Cases are going back up, hospitalizations are no longer declining.” He added that ”the pandemic remains dangerous," and encouraged Americans to continue to wash their hands, socially distance and wear masks.

Biden added that while his administration is on schedule to meet his new goal of distributing 200 million doses of the vaccine during his first 100 days, it will still take time for enough Americans to get vaccinated to slow the spread of the virus.

But he expressed hope that his Tuesday announcement, that every adult will be eligible by April 19 to sign up and get in a virtual line to be vaccinated, will help expand access and distribution of the vaccine. Some states already had begun moving up their deadlines from the original May 1 goal.

“No more confusing rules. No more confusing restrictions," Biden said.

Biden made the announcement after visiting a COVID-19 vaccination site at Immanuel Chapel at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria. During his visit, he thanked everyone for administering the shots and for showing up to receive them.

“That’s the way to beat this,” Biden said. “Get the vaccination when you can.”

The president also said no one should fear mutations of the coronavirus that are showing up in the U.S. after being discovered in other countries. He acknowledged that the new strains are more virulent and more dangerous, but said “the vaccines work on all of them.”

Biden also announced that 150 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been shot into arms since his inauguration on Jan. 20. That puts the president well on track to meet his new goal of 200 million shots administered by his 100th day in office on April 30.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617743374589.png" alt="President Biden delivered remarks on the state of vaccinations Tuesday afternoon -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden delivered remarks on the state of vaccinations Tuesday afternoon -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that he's bumping up his deadline by two weeks for states to make all adults in the U.S. eligible for coronavirus vaccines. But even as he expressed optimism about the pace of vaccinations, he warned Americans that the nation is not yet out of the woods when it comes to the pandemic.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4956269/president-urges-complacency-vaccinations-increase-amid-spread-variants">Click here to watch </a>a replay of the President's comments“Let me be deadly earnest with you: We aren’t at the finish line. We still have a lot of work to do. We’re still in a life and death race against this virus," Biden said in remarks at the White House.The president warned that “ new variants of the virus are spreading and they’re moving quickly. Cases are going back up, hospitalizations are no longer declining.” He added that ”the pandemic remains dangerous," and encouraged Americans to continue to wash their hands, socially distance and wear masks.Biden added that while his administration is on schedule to meet his new goal of distributing 200 million doses of the vaccine during his first 100 days, it will still take time for enough Americans to get vaccinated to slow the spread of the virus.But he expressed hope that his Tuesday announcement, that every adult will be eligible by April 19 to sign up and get in a virtual line to be vaccinated, will help expand access and distribution of the vaccine. Some states already had begun moving up their deadlines from the original May 1 goal.“No more confusing rules. No more confusing restrictions," Biden said.Biden made the announcement after visiting a COVID-19 vaccination site at Immanuel Chapel at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria. During his visit, he thanked everyone for administering the shots and for showing up to receive them.“That’s the way to beat this,” Biden said. “Get the vaccination when you can.”The president also said no one should fear mutations of the coronavirus that are showing up in the U.S. after being discovered in other countries. He acknowledged that the new strains are more virulent and more dangerous, but said “the vaccines work on all of them.”Biden also announced that 150 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been shot into arms since his inauguration on Jan. 20. That puts the president well on track to meet his new goal of 200 million shots administered by his 100th day in office on April 30.“Let me be deadly earnest with you: We aren’t at the finish line. We still have a lot of work to do. We’re still in a life and death race against this virus," Biden said in remarks at the White House.The president warned that “ new variants of the virus are spreading and they’re moving quickly. Cases are going back up, hospitalizations are no longer declining.” He added that ”the pandemic remains dangerous," and encouraged Americans to continue to wash their hands, socially distance and wear masks.Biden added that while his administration is on schedule to meet his new goal of distributing 200 million doses of the vaccine during his first 100 days, it will still take time for enough Americans to get vaccinated to slow the spread of the virus.But he expressed hope that his Tuesday announcement, that every adult will be eligible by April 19 to sign up and get in a virtual line to be vaccinated, will help expand access and distribution of the vaccine. Some states already had begun moving up their deadlines from the original May 1 goal.“No more confusing rules. No more confusing restrictions," Biden said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617791932041.png" alt="President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/person/?josephbiden">Biden&nbsp;</a>visited a vaccination site at Virginia Theological Seminary Tuesday 0mage courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/person/?josephbiden">Biden&nbsp;</a>visited a vaccination site at Virginia Theological Seminary Tuesday 0mage courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Biden made the announcement after visiting a COVID-19 vaccination site at Immanuel Chapel at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria. During his visit, he thanked everyone for administering the shots and for showing up to receive them.“That’s the way to beat this,” Biden said. “Get the vaccination when you can.”The president also said no one should fear mutations of the coronavirus that are showing up in the U.S. after being discovered in other countries. He acknowledged that the new strains are more virulent and more dangerous, but said “the vaccines work on all of them.”Biden also announced that 150 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been shot into arms since his inauguration on Jan. 20. That puts the president well on track to meet his new goal of 200 million shots administered by his 100th day in office on April 30.

🎥 Pres. Biden: We’re still in life and death race against virus

<a href="https://jcpost.com/posts/9a74477c-8260-46c5-b5f7-70a803b2e21b">RELATED: Check the status of your stimulus payment.</a>

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/036636b7-73f2-49de-9694-a4779096f505">RELATED: Portion of unemployment compensation tax-exempt</a>

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 25 million payments in the fourth batch of 
Economic Impact Payments from the American Rescue Plan.

Today’s announcement brings the total disbursed so far to more than 
156 million payments, with a total value of approximately $372 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.&nbsp;

The fourth batch of payments began processing on Friday, April 2, 
with an official payment date of April 7, 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&nbsp; information is available on the first three batches 
of Economic Impact Payments from the American Rescue Plan, which began 
processing on <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>.

No action is needed by most people to obtain this round of Economic Impact Payments. People can check the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment">Get My Payment</a>&nbsp;tool on IRS.gov on to see if the their payment has been scheduled.

Payments to non-filer VA beneficiaries will be disbursed on April 14

The IRS continues to review data received from Veterans Affairs (VA),
 which covers veterans and their beneficiaries who receive Compensation 
and Pension (C&amp;P) benefit payments who don’t normally file a tax 
return.

If no additional issues arise, the IRS expects to begin processing 
these VA payment files at the end of this week. Because the majority of 
these payments will be disbursed electronically, they would be received 
on the official payment date of April 14. The IRS projects VA 
beneficiary payment information would be available in the Get My Payment
 tool this weekend, April 10-11.

Payments continue to be made rapidly and effectively

The IRS and Treasury are disbursing Economic Impact Payments 
authorized by the American Rescue Plan quickly and successfully, while 
improving on previous rounds of payments.

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

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 qualified dependent. Eligible individuals in this 
group should file a 2020 tax return to be considered for an additional 
payment for their qualified dependent as quickly as possible.

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 homelessness, 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 new 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><a href="https://jcpost.com/posts/9a74477c-8260-46c5-b5f7-70a803b2e21b">RELATED: Check the status of your stimulus payment.</a><a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/036636b7-73f2-49de-9694-a4779096f505">RELATED: Portion of unemployment compensation tax-exempt</a>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 25 million payments in the fourth batch of 
Economic Impact Payments from the American Rescue Plan.Today’s announcement brings the total disbursed so far to more than 
156 million payments, with a total value of approximately $372 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.&nbsp;The fourth batch of payments began processing on Friday, April 2, 
with an official payment date of April 7, 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 25 million payments, with a total value of more than $36 billion.</li><li>The largest block of these payments went to Social Security 
beneficiaries who didn’t file a 2020 or 2019 tax return and didn’t use 
the Non-Filers tool last year. More than 19 million payments, with a 
total value of more than $26 billion, went to these beneficiaries, which
 include Social Security retirement, survivor or disability (SSDI) 
beneficiaries.</li><li>More than 3 million payments, with a total value of nearly $5 billion, went to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries.</li><li>Nearly 85,000 payments, with a total value of more than $119 million, went to Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) beneficiaries.</li><li>This batch includes additional ongoing supplemental payments for 
people who earlier in March 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 1 
million of these “plus-up” payments, with a total value of more than $2 
billion.</li><li>More than 1 million payments, with a total value of nearly $3 
billion, went to people for whom the IRS previously did not have 
information to issue a payment but who recently filed a tax return and 
qualified for an Economic Impact Payment.&nbsp; Payments to this group -- and
 the “plus-up” payments noted above -- will continue on a weekly basis 
going forward as the IRS continues processing tax returns from 2020 and 
2019.</li><li>Overall, this fourth batch of payments contains nearly 24 million 
direct deposit payments (with a total value of over $33 billion) and 
more than 1 million paper check payments (with a total value of nearly 
$3 billion).</li>
 </ul>Additional&nbsp; information is available on the first three batches 
of Economic Impact Payments from the American Rescue Plan, which began 
processing on <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>.No action is needed by most people to obtain this round of Economic Impact Payments. People can check the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment">Get My Payment</a>&nbsp;tool on IRS.gov on to see if the their payment has been scheduled.<h2>Payments to non-filer VA beneficiaries will be disbursed on April 14</h2>The IRS continues to review data received from Veterans Affairs (VA),
 which covers veterans and their beneficiaries who receive Compensation 
and Pension (C&amp;P) benefit payments who don’t normally file a tax 
return.If no additional issues arise, the IRS expects to begin processing 
these VA payment files at the end of this week. Because the majority of 
these payments will be disbursed electronically, they would be received 
on the official payment date of April 14. The IRS projects VA 
beneficiary payment information would be available in the Get My Payment
 tool this weekend, April 10-11.<h2>Payments continue to be made rapidly and effectively</h2>The IRS and Treasury are disbursing Economic Impact Payments 
authorized by the American Rescue Plan quickly and successfully, while 
improving on previous rounds of payments.<ul>
 <li>Within two weeks of the American Rescue Plan becoming law, the 
IRS and Treasury had started disbursing 127 million payments, including 
107 million completed direct deposits. At a similar point during the 
first round of Economic Impact Payments authorized a year ago, the first
 payments had yet to be completed.</li><li>Payments to Social Security and other federal beneficiaries are 
being issued faster than they were during the first round of payments a 
year ago.</li><li>Approximately 85% of the current round of payments have been made 
by direct deposit, up from 74% in the first round of payments and 77% in
 the second round.&nbsp; This helps to expedite payments for millions of 
American families.&nbsp;</li><li>Direct deposits are also more likely to be successfully delivered 
than mailed payments, and the return rate of direct deposits is also 
lower than in previous rounds of payments.</li><li>Over 3.1 million Direct Express cardholders have received payment 
electronically, more than a half-million more than in previous rounds.&nbsp; 
Making most of these payments to Direct Express cards enables 
cardholders, many of whom are unbanked, to receive their Economic Impact
 Payment the same way they typically receive their federal benefits.</li>
 </ul><h2>Special reminder for those who don't normally file a tax return</h2>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 qualified dependent. Eligible individuals in this 
group should file a 2020 tax return to be considered for an additional 
payment for their qualified dependent as quickly as possible.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 homelessness, 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 new 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: Fourth batch of COVID stimulus checks hitting bank accounts

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for trying to buy a chemical weapon on the dark web as part of a plot to kill a woman who had broken up with him, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.

Jason William Siesser, 46, of Columbia was sentenced Tuesday in Jefferson City’s federal court, prosecutors said in a news release. Last year, Siesser pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to acquire a chemical weapon and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Investigators said Siesser tried twice in 2018 to buy chemical dimethylmercury using bitcoin. He is accused of placing the order in the name of a juvenile, but authorities said he was the person who accepted the package he thought contained the chemical when it was delivered. Authorities said the amount Siesser sought would have been enough to kill hundreds of people.

Law enforcement officers carried out a search warrant after delivery of the package, which contained a harmless, inert substance. Investigators found the package on a top of a shelf in Siesser’s garage, as well as earlier delivered packages containing the toxin cadmium arsenide, cadmium metal and hydrochloric acid.

Prosecutors had previously said that they did not believe a public attack was planned.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617737210737.png" alt="Siesser is being held in Phelps County" />
 <figcaption>Siesser is being held in Phelps County</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for trying to buy a chemical weapon on the dark web as part of a plot to kill a woman who had broken up with him, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.Jason William Siesser, 46, of Columbia was sentenced Tuesday in Jefferson City’s federal court, prosecutors said in a news release. Last year, Siesser pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to acquire a chemical weapon and one count of aggravated identity theft.Investigators said Siesser tried twice in 2018 to buy chemical dimethylmercury using bitcoin. He is accused of placing the order in the name of a juvenile, but authorities said he was the person who accepted the package he thought contained the chemical when it was delivered. Authorities said the amount Siesser sought would have been enough to kill hundreds of people.Law enforcement officers carried out a search warrant after delivery of the package, which contained a harmless, inert substance. Investigators found the package on a top of a shelf in Siesser’s garage, as well as earlier delivered packages containing the toxin cadmium arsenide, cadmium metal and hydrochloric acid.Prosecutors had previously said that they did not believe a public attack was planned.

Man sentenced for trying to buy chemical weapon on dark web

WASHINGTON (AP) — The 18-year U.S. Capitol Police veteran killed in the line of duty is being remembered as a man with a sense of humor who loved baseball and golf and was most proud of one particular title: Dad.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-nancy-pelosi-42e4c9eee490dfd6056c10ea7a1c3c1a">William “Billy” Evans</a>, 41, was killed Friday when a vehicle rammed into Evans and another officer at a barricade just 100 yards from the Capitol. The driver,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-politics-451c5c5154045d404d0db76270f78aac">Noah Green</a>, 25, came out of the car with a knife and was shot to death by police, officials said. Investigators believe Green had been delusional and increasingly having suicidal thoughts.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., announced Tuesday that Evans will lie in honor in the United States Capitol Rotunda on April 13, a tribute reserved for the nation’s most eminent private citizens.

The U.S. Capitol Police also released a statement from Evans family, saying: “His death has left a gaping void in our lives that will never be filled.”

Evans, a father of two, grew up in North Adams, Massachusetts, a close-knit town of about 13,000 in the northwest part of the state.

Jason LaForest knew Evans for more than 30 years. He was a close friend of Evans’ older sister, Julie, and recalled Evans as a prankster who made sure the subjects of his jokes laughed as well.

“As a young kid, Billy, of course, was the annoying little brother of one of my best friends, a title which he held on to for most of his life,” said LaForest, a North Adams city councilman. “But it was a joy to watch him grow up and become a talented athlete and a dedicated police officer, and, of course, the role in life that he loved the most, which was a dad.”

Sports, particularly baseball, was another important part of Evans’ life.

“He came from a long line of family members that loved baseball and especially the Boston Red Sox,” LaForest said. “He excelled in baseball and enjoyed playing baseball most of his life. It’s a passion that he instilled in his children.”

Evans’ father, Howard, died about seven years ago. His mother, Janice, still lives in Massachusetts.

He attended Western New England University, graduating in 2002 as a criminal justice major. He joined the Capitol Police the next year.

Robert E. Johnson, the university’s president, said in a statement that Evans was a member of the school’s baseball and bowling teams and the campus activities board. He said that Evans’ friends at the university described him as “extremely welcoming and friendly, humble, and always willing to help others.”

John Claffey, a professor of criminal justice, said that when news of Evans’ death first aired, he had the sense that he knew that smile. “I immediately said that’s a face I recognize,” Claffey said.

He recalled Evans as a student who knew what he wanted to do — a “very focused kid.”

Over the weekend, Claffey received four calls from former students who just wanted to talk to him about Evans.

“This has shaken a lot of people’s worlds,” he said. “A lot of people from Western New England, who haven’t been here in 18 years, it’s still having an impact on them.”

Members of Evans family said in the statement through the U.S. Capitol Police that the most important thing in Evans’ life was his two children, Logan and Abigail.

“His most cherished moments were those spent with them -- building with Lego, having lightsaber duels, playing board games, doing arts and crafts, and recently finishing the Harry Potter series,” the family said. “He was always so eager to show how proud he was of everything they did. Any opportunity to spend time with his children brightened both their lives and his. Their dad was their hero long before the tragic events of last week.”

The family said Evans was proud of his job and that his friendship with colleagues near the “North Barricade” of the Capitol complex was one of the best parts of his job.

“We hold them in our hearts, as we know they acutely share our grief,” the family’s statement read.

The death of Evans came nearly three months after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">the Jan. 6 rioting at the Capitol</a>&nbsp;that left five people dead, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-tanios-julian-khater-charged-capitol-riot-f28484b486155d911cab41c90a8bed8d">Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick</a>. He died a day after the insurrection.

Lawmakers issued a wave of statements offering their condolences and gratitude to Evans after the Good Friday attack. Capitol Hill aides and members of the press corps that cover Capitol Hill also weighed in, recalling him as friendly and professional.

In a joint statement released Tuesday, Schumer and Pelosi said they hoped next week’s tribute in the Capitol Rotunda would provide comfort to Evans’ family and express the nation’s gratitude to members of the U.S. Capitol Police.

“In giving his life to protect our Capitol and our Country, Officer Evans became a martyr for our democracy. On behalf of the entire Congress, we are profoundly grateful,” Schumer and Pelosi said.

LaForest said Evans never considered himself to be a hero.

“He wanted to serve his country as a Capitol police officer and looked forward to seeing lawmakers and visitors who came to the Capitol every day, many of whom became friends of Billy’s in large part because of his good-natured sense of humor,” LaForest said. “And, unfortunately, Billy paid the ultimate price defending his country.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617402625752.png" alt="&nbsp;U.S. Capitol Police officer William “Billy” Evans, an 18-year veteran who was a member of the department's first responders unit." />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;U.S. Capitol Police officer William “Billy” Evans, an 18-year veteran who was a member of the department's first responders unit.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The 18-year U.S. Capitol Police veteran killed in the line of duty is being remembered as a man with a sense of humor who loved baseball and golf and was most proud of one particular title: Dad.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-nancy-pelosi-42e4c9eee490dfd6056c10ea7a1c3c1a">William “Billy” Evans</a>, 41, was killed Friday when a vehicle rammed into Evans and another officer at a barricade just 100 yards from the Capitol. The driver,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-politics-451c5c5154045d404d0db76270f78aac">Noah Green</a>, 25, came out of the car with a knife and was shot to death by police, officials said. Investigators believe Green had been delusional and increasingly having suicidal thoughts.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., announced Tuesday that Evans will lie in honor in the United States Capitol Rotunda on April 13, a tribute reserved for the nation’s most eminent private citizens.The U.S. Capitol Police also released a statement from Evans family, saying: “His death has left a gaping void in our lives that will never be filled.”Evans, a father of two, grew up in North Adams, Massachusetts, a close-knit town of about 13,000 in the northwest part of the state.Jason LaForest knew Evans for more than 30 years. He was a close friend of Evans’ older sister, Julie, and recalled Evans as a prankster who made sure the subjects of his jokes laughed as well.“As a young kid, Billy, of course, was the annoying little brother of one of my best friends, a title which he held on to for most of his life,” said LaForest, a North Adams city councilman. “But it was a joy to watch him grow up and become a talented athlete and a dedicated police officer, and, of course, the role in life that he loved the most, which was a dad.”Sports, particularly baseball, was another important part of Evans’ life.“He came from a long line of family members that loved baseball and especially the Boston Red Sox,” LaForest said. “He excelled in baseball and enjoyed playing baseball most of his life. It’s a passion that he instilled in his children.”Evans’ father, Howard, died about seven years ago. His mother, Janice, still lives in Massachusetts.He attended Western New England University, graduating in 2002 as a criminal justice major. He joined the Capitol Police the next year.Robert E. Johnson, the university’s president, said in a statement that Evans was a member of the school’s baseball and bowling teams and the campus activities board. He said that Evans’ friends at the university described him as “extremely welcoming and friendly, humble, and always willing to help others.”John Claffey, a professor of criminal justice, said that when news of Evans’ death first aired, he had the sense that he knew that smile. “I immediately said that’s a face I recognize,” Claffey said.He recalled Evans as a student who knew what he wanted to do — a “very focused kid.”Over the weekend, Claffey received four calls from former students who just wanted to talk to him about Evans.“This has shaken a lot of people’s worlds,” he said. “A lot of people from Western New England, who haven’t been here in 18 years, it’s still having an impact on them.”Members of Evans family said in the statement through the U.S. Capitol Police that the most important thing in Evans’ life was his two children, Logan and Abigail.“His most cherished moments were those spent with them -- building with Lego, having lightsaber duels, playing board games, doing arts and crafts, and recently finishing the Harry Potter series,” the family said. “He was always so eager to show how proud he was of everything they did. Any opportunity to spend time with his children brightened both their lives and his. Their dad was their hero long before the tragic events of last week.”The family said Evans was proud of his job and that his friendship with colleagues near the “North Barricade” of the Capitol complex was one of the best parts of his job.“We hold them in our hearts, as we know they acutely share our grief,” the family’s statement read.The death of Evans came nearly three months after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">the Jan. 6 rioting at the Capitol</a>&nbsp;that left five people dead, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-tanios-julian-khater-charged-capitol-riot-f28484b486155d911cab41c90a8bed8d">Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick</a>. He died a day after the insurrection.Lawmakers issued a wave of statements offering their condolences and gratitude to Evans after the Good Friday attack. Capitol Hill aides and members of the press corps that cover Capitol Hill also weighed in, recalling him as friendly and professional.In a joint statement released Tuesday, Schumer and Pelosi said they hoped next week’s tribute in the Capitol Rotunda would provide comfort to Evans’ family and express the nation’s gratitude to members of the U.S. Capitol Police.“In giving his life to protect our Capitol and our Country, Officer Evans became a martyr for our democracy. On behalf of the entire Congress, we are profoundly grateful,” Schumer and Pelosi said.LaForest said Evans never considered himself to be a hero.“He wanted to serve his country as a Capitol police officer and looked forward to seeing lawmakers and visitors who came to the Capitol every day, many of whom became friends of Billy’s in large part because of his good-natured sense of humor,” LaForest said. “And, unfortunately, Billy paid the ultimate price defending his country.”

Capitol police officer to lie in honor at rotunda 

OMAHA-The FBI Omaha Field Office is warning our communities of a new COVID-19 scam that is targeting people who have received a COVID vaccination. An increasing number of those vaccinated are being asked via email and/or text message to participate in a fraudulent post-vaccine survey. If they participate, they are promised a prize or cash.

No post-vaccine surveys are being conducted by Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson &amp; Johnson. Any emails or text messages that appear to be sent from those companies seeking personal financial information, are fraudulent.

In addition to the fake vaccine survey, FBI Omaha is also warning people not to post photos of your vaccine card to social media websites. Your personal information could be stolen to commit fraud.

OMAHA-The FBI Omaha Field Office is warning our communities of a new COVID-19 scam that is targeting people who have received a COVID vaccination. An increasing number of those vaccinated are being asked via email and/or text message to participate in a fraudulent post-vaccine survey. If they participate, they are promised a prize or cash.No post-vaccine surveys are being conducted by Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson &amp; Johnson. Any emails or text messages that appear to be sent from those companies seeking personal financial information, are fraudulent.In addition to the fake vaccine survey, FBI Omaha is also warning people not to post photos of your vaccine card to social media websites. Your personal information could be stolen to commit fraud.

FBI Omaha warns of post-COVID vaccination scam

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — The U.S. government and a railroad have reached a settlement agreement that will require the company to pay $140,000 for spilling fuel and oil in a Wyoming river. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement of the settlement Monday opens a 30-day period for public comment on the agreement. 

Three BNSF Railway locomotives and five rail cars crashed into a train and derailed in eastern Wyoming’s Wendover Canyon in 2019. 

The crash injured an engineer and a conductor and released 5,900 gallons of diesel fuel and 800 gallons of lubricating oil into the North Platte River. 

The Casper Star-Tribune reports BNSF worked with government regulators on cleanup.

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — The U.S. government and a railroad have reached a settlement agreement that will require the company to pay $140,000 for spilling fuel and oil in a Wyoming river. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement of the settlement Monday opens a 30-day period for public comment on the agreement. Three BNSF Railway locomotives and five rail cars crashed into a train and derailed in eastern Wyoming’s Wendover Canyon in 2019. The crash injured an engineer and a conductor and released 5,900 gallons of diesel fuel and 800 gallons of lubricating oil into the North Platte River. The Casper Star-Tribune reports BNSF worked with government regulators on cleanup.

EPA, railroad agree to $140,000 settlement for Wyoming spill

BOSTON (AP) — New research suggests the protection the Moderna vaccine gives against COVID-19 lasts for at least six months.

The report Tuesday in the New England Journal of Medicine echoes what Pfizer said last week about its vaccine, which works in a similar way.

Both reports were based on follow-up tests in dozens of people who received the shots during studies that led to the vaccines’ use. Those studies were done before troubling new variants, or versions of the coronavirus, had emerged and started to spread.

A separate report in the medical journal adds to concern about the variants. Scientists measured antibodies that can block the virus in 50 people who had been given the Sinopharm or Sinovac vaccines that were developed in China. Many showed total or partial loss of effectiveness against a virus variant first detected in South Africa.

The vaccines still seemed to protect against a variant first found in the United Kingdom that is now rapidly spreading in the United States and elsewhere.

Pfizer and Moderna have said they are working to update their vaccines, or possibly design a booster shot, in case they’re needed against variants.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613693226012.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BOSTON (AP) — New research suggests the protection the Moderna vaccine gives against COVID-19 lasts for at least six months.The report Tuesday in the New England Journal of Medicine echoes what Pfizer said last week about its vaccine, which works in a similar way.Both reports were based on follow-up tests in dozens of people who received the shots during studies that led to the vaccines’ use. Those studies were done before troubling new variants, or versions of the coronavirus, had emerged and started to spread.A separate report in the medical journal adds to concern about the variants. Scientists measured antibodies that can block the virus in 50 people who had been given the Sinopharm or Sinovac vaccines that were developed in China. Many showed total or partial loss of effectiveness against a virus variant first detected in South Africa.The vaccines still seemed to protect against a variant first found in the United Kingdom that is now rapidly spreading in the United States and elsewhere.Pfizer and Moderna have said they are working to update their vaccines, or possibly design a booster shot, in case they’re needed against variants.___

Study: Moderna vaccine lasts at least 6 months

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — From summer-like temperatures to a winter storm warning, the weather in western South Dakota has been all over the map in recent days. 

The National Weather Service in Rapid City has issued a winter storm warning for 6 inches or more of snow Tuesday in the higher elevations of the Black Hills.

 Any accumulation shouldn’t be around long with temperatures in the region returning to the mid-60s by Thursday. 

The weather service expected snow over the Black Hills to taper off Tuesday night. 

While higher amount of snow are possible near the foothills, Rapid City is expected to get anywhere from a dusting to 2 inches.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — From summer-like temperatures to a winter storm warning, the weather in western South Dakota has been all over the map in recent days. The National Weather Service in Rapid City has issued a winter storm warning for 6 inches or more of snow Tuesday in the higher elevations of the Black Hills. Any accumulation shouldn’t be around long with temperatures in the region returning to the mid-60s by Thursday. The weather service expected snow over the Black Hills to taper off Tuesday night. While higher amount of snow are possible near the foothills, Rapid City is expected to get anywhere from a dusting to 2 inches.

From the 70s to winter storm warning in western South Dakota

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem marked the occasion of the state opening vaccines to adults 16 and older by receiving her first dose of the vaccine. 

The governor, who has taken a mostly hands-off approach to restrictions during the pandemic, has encouraged people to get the vaccine. 

She says she is “trusting people to do the right thing.” 

Health officials reported that 46% of the state’s population has received one dose of a vaccine. 

South Dakota also has one of the nation’s highest rates of people fully vaccinated _ about 25% of the population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem marked the occasion of the state opening vaccines to adults 16 and older by receiving her first dose of the vaccine. The governor, who has taken a mostly hands-off approach to restrictions during the pandemic, has encouraged people to get the vaccine. She says she is “trusting people to do the right thing.” Health officials reported that 46% of the state’s population has received one dose of a vaccine. South Dakota also has one of the nation’s highest rates of people fully vaccinated _ about 25% of the population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Noem gets vaccine, marks opening of vaccine eligibility

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Multiple explosions and a fire in an underground concrete electrical vault rocked downtown Omaha and forced the evacuation of a nearby hotel, but no injuries were reported. 

Authorities say the incident happened Monday night when a power transformer that sits under the sidewalk next to the Doubletree Hotel caught fire. 

Acting Omaha Fire Battalion Chief Mickey McLaughlin says explosions from the transformer continued after firefighters arrived, producing a large amount of smoke and flames coming from the sidewalk grates over the vault. 

The hotel did was not damaged by the nearby fire. 

Firefighters had the blaze under control within minutes, and hotel guests were allowed back into their rooms a short time later.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Multiple explosions and a fire in an underground concrete electrical vault rocked downtown Omaha and forced the evacuation of a nearby hotel, but no injuries were reported. Authorities say the incident happened Monday night when a power transformer that sits under the sidewalk next to the Doubletree Hotel caught fire. Acting Omaha Fire Battalion Chief Mickey McLaughlin says explosions from the transformer continued after firefighters arrived, producing a large amount of smoke and flames coming from the sidewalk grates over the vault. The hotel did was not damaged by the nearby fire. Firefighters had the blaze under control within minutes, and hotel guests were allowed back into their rooms a short time later.

Underground electrical explosions see Omaha hotel evacuated

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska prison officials say a man who had been on death row since 2003 has died. 

The total number of condemned inmates in the state now stands at 11. Fifty-five-year-old Arthur Gales died Saturday. 

He was sentenced to death for the 2000 slayings of two children, 13-year-old Latara Chandler and 7-year-old Tramar Chandler, in Omaha.

 He received a separate 50-year sentence for the attempted murder of their mother, who was severely beaten. 

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services said the cause of Gales’ death wasn’t yet known, but he had been undergoing treatment for an unspecified medical condition. 

A grand jury will investigate, which happens anytime a prison inmate dies in custody.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska prison officials say a man who had been on death row since 2003 has died. The total number of condemned inmates in the state now stands at 11. Fifty-five-year-old Arthur Gales died Saturday. He was sentenced to death for the 2000 slayings of two children, 13-year-old Latara Chandler and 7-year-old Tramar Chandler, in Omaha. He received a separate 50-year sentence for the attempted murder of their mother, who was severely beaten. The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services said the cause of Gales’ death wasn’t yet known, but he had been undergoing treatment for an unspecified medical condition. A grand jury will investigate, which happens anytime a prison inmate dies in custody.

Man on Nebraska death row for killing girlfriend's kids dies

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Monday urged the adoption of a minimum global corporate income tax, an effort to offset any disadvantages that might arise from the Biden administration’s proposed increase in the U.S. corporate tax rate.

Citing a “thirty-year race to the bottom” in which countries have slashed corporate tax rates in an effort to attract multinational businesses, Yellen said the Biden administration would work with other advanced economies in the Group of 20 to set a minimum.

“Competitiveness is about more than how U.S.-headquartered companies fare against other companies in global merger and acquisition bids,” Yellen said in a virtual speech to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. “It is about making sure that governments have stable tax systems that raise sufficient revenue to invest in essential public goods.”

The speech was Yellen’s highest-profile so far on international affairs, and came just as the spring meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund began in a virtual format.

“It is important to work with other countries to end the pressures of tax competition and corporate tax base erosion,” Yellen said.

President Joe Biden has proposed hiking the U.S. corporate tax rate to 28% from 21%, partially undoing the Trump administration’s cut from 35% in its 2017 tax legislation. Biden also wants to set a minimum U.S. tax on overseas corporate income, and to make it harder for companies to shift earnings offshore. The increase would help pay for the White House’s ambitious&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-politics-climate-climate-change-c14bb6ce360a43e6239abfe087758e5c">$2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal</a>.

Also on Monday, Biden said he was “not at all” concerned that a higher corporate tax rate would cause some U.S. companies to relocate overseas, though Yellen’s proposed global minimum corporate tax is intended to prevent that from happening.

“There’s no evidence to that ... that’s bizarre,” Biden said in response to a question from reporters.

According to the Tax Foundation, the Trump administration’s corporate tax reduction lowered the U.S. rate from the highest among the 37 advanced economies in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to the 13th highest. Many analysts have argued, however, that few large U.S. multinationals paid the full tax.

“We have 51 or 52 corporations from the Fortune 500 who haven’t paid a single penny a day for 3 years?” Biden said. “Come on.”

Yellen, meanwhile, downplayed the potential for the Biden administration’s domestic agenda, which also includes a $1.9 trillion COVID relief package approved last month, to spur higher inflation. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, among others, has raised such concerns since the relief bill passed.

“I strongly doubt that it’s going to cause inflationary pressures,” Yellen said, referring to the administration’s infrastructure proposal. “The problem for a very long time has been inflation that’s too low, not inflation that’s too high.”

Yellen also said the United States will step up its efforts at home and overseas to fight climate change, “after sitting on the sidelines for four years.”

Treasury will work to “promote the flow of capital toward climate-aligned investments and away from carbon-intensive investments,” Yellen said. That approach has raised the ire of GOP members of Congress, who say it threatens the ability of the U.S. oil and gas industry to access needed lending.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617646111834.png" alt="Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Monday urged the adoption of a minimum global corporate income tax, an effort to offset any disadvantages that might arise from the Biden administration’s proposed increase in the U.S. corporate tax rate.Citing a “thirty-year race to the bottom” in which countries have slashed corporate tax rates in an effort to attract multinational businesses, Yellen said the Biden administration would work with other advanced economies in the Group of 20 to set a minimum.“Competitiveness is about more than how U.S.-headquartered companies fare against other companies in global merger and acquisition bids,” Yellen said in a virtual speech to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. “It is about making sure that governments have stable tax systems that raise sufficient revenue to invest in essential public goods.”The speech was Yellen’s highest-profile so far on international affairs, and came just as the spring meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund began in a virtual format.“It is important to work with other countries to end the pressures of tax competition and corporate tax base erosion,” Yellen said.President Joe Biden has proposed hiking the U.S. corporate tax rate to 28% from 21%, partially undoing the Trump administration’s cut from 35% in its 2017 tax legislation. Biden also wants to set a minimum U.S. tax on overseas corporate income, and to make it harder for companies to shift earnings offshore. The increase would help pay for the White House’s ambitious&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-politics-climate-climate-change-c14bb6ce360a43e6239abfe087758e5c">$2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal</a>.Also on Monday, Biden said he was “not at all” concerned that a higher corporate tax rate would cause some U.S. companies to relocate overseas, though Yellen’s proposed global minimum corporate tax is intended to prevent that from happening.“There’s no evidence to that ... that’s bizarre,” Biden said in response to a question from reporters.According to the Tax Foundation, the Trump administration’s corporate tax reduction lowered the U.S. rate from the highest among the 37 advanced economies in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to the 13th highest. Many analysts have argued, however, that few large U.S. multinationals paid the full tax.“We have 51 or 52 corporations from the Fortune 500 who haven’t paid a single penny a day for 3 years?” Biden said. “Come on.”Yellen, meanwhile, downplayed the potential for the Biden administration’s domestic agenda, which also includes a $1.9 trillion COVID relief package approved last month, to spur higher inflation. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, among others, has raised such concerns since the relief bill passed.“I strongly doubt that it’s going to cause inflationary pressures,” Yellen said, referring to the administration’s infrastructure proposal. “The problem for a very long time has been inflation that’s too low, not inflation that’s too high.”Yellen also said the United States will step up its efforts at home and overseas to fight climate change, “after sitting on the sidelines for four years.”Treasury will work to “promote the flow of capital toward climate-aligned investments and away from carbon-intensive investments,” Yellen said. That approach has raised the ire of GOP members of Congress, who say it threatens the ability of the U.S. oil and gas industry to access needed lending.Yellen also noted that many developing nations are lagging in vaccinating their populations, and have also experienced harsh economic consequences from the pandemic. As many as 150 million people worldwide will fall into extreme poverty this year, Yellen said.“The result will likely be a deeper and longer-lasting crisis, with mounting problems of indebtedness, more entrenched poverty, and growing inequality,” Yellen said.The Biden administration supports the creation of $650 billion in new lending capacity at the IMF to address such issues, she said. Many Republicans in Congress oppose the new allotment, arguing that much of the funding would flow to relatively better-off developing countries, such as China.Yellen acknowledged that the additional credit would be distributed to each IMF member, but argued that “significant resources will go to the poorest countries most in need.” Nations can also donate some of their funds to the hardest-hit countries, which she expects many will do, she added.