LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A civil liberties group has sued the city of Lincoln and Lancaster County on behalf of a woman whose nose was nearly severed when police shot her in the face with a rubber bullet during protests over racial injustice last year. 

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska said Tuesday in a news release that it is seeking an unspecified amount in damages for 19-year-old Elise Poole. 

The lawsuit says Poole was on a sidewalk during a May 31 protest when she was shot in the face at close range by an officer. 

The impact partially detached Poole's nose, and she underwent emergency reconstructive surgery and likely faces more surgery.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A civil liberties group has sued the city of Lincoln and Lancaster County on behalf of a woman whose nose was nearly severed when police shot her in the face with a rubber bullet during protests over racial injustice last year. The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska said Tuesday in a news release that it is seeking an unspecified amount in damages for 19-year-old Elise Poole. The lawsuit says Poole was on a sidewalk during a May 31 protest when she was shot in the face at close range by an officer. The impact partially detached Poole's nose, and she underwent emergency reconstructive surgery and likely faces more surgery.

Lincoln police who shot woman in face during protests sued

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed a second spate of orders to undo his predecessor’s immigration policies, demonstrating the powers of the White House and its limitations without support from Congress.

His orders on family separation, border security and legal immigration bring to nine the number of executive actions on immigration during his first two weeks in office.

With proposed legislation to give legal status and a path to citizenship to all of the estimated 11 million people in the country who don't have it, Biden has quickly taken aim at many of former President Donald Trump’s sweeping changes to deter immigration, both legal and illegal, and established a vision that is likely to far outlast his tenure if he's able to muster enough support in a deeply divided Congress.

Biden rescinded some Trump actions and laid a foundation for more far-reaching repeals depending on the outcome of policy reviews over the next few months.

"I’m not making new law. I’m eliminating bad policy,” he said during a signing ceremony Tuesday.

Alejandro Mayorkas, who was sworn in as Homeland Security secretary after his nomination was confirmed Tuesday by the Senate, will lead a task force on family separation, focused largely on reuniting parents and children who remain apart. It is unclear exactly how many, but about 5,500 children have been identified in court documents as having been separated during Trump’s presidency, including about 600 whose parents have yet to be found by a court-appointed committee.

“We’re going to work to undo the moral and national shame of the previous administration," Biden said.

The review will address the possibility of legal status in the United States for separated families and providing mental health services.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which sued to reunite families, has asked the administration for legal status in the United States for all of the thousands of families that have been separated, as well as financial compensation for those families and attorneys at government expense.

A review of border security will include a policy that makes asylum-seekers wait in Mexican border cities for hearings in U.S. immigration court. It is a step toward fulfilling a campaign pledge to end the “Remain in Mexico” policy, known officially as Migrant Protection Protocols, which enrolled nearly 70,000 asylum-seekers since it began in January 2019. Biden asked for “a phased strategy for the safe and orderly entry into the United States” of those already enrolled who are waiting in Mexico for a judge to decide their cases.

Biden ended a policy that held asylum-seekers in Customs and Border Protection custody with virtually no access to attorneys while their claims were quickly decided. He ordered reviews of a nationwide expansion of fast-track deportation authority and of agreements with Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras for the U.S. to reject asylum applicants and instead send them to those Central American countries with an opportunity to seek protection there.

His order on legal immigration seeks ways to reduce backlogs and barriers to citizenship and considers scrapping Trump's “public charge rule,” which makes it more difficult for people who receive government benefits to obtain green cards.

Biden didn't address a freeze on many temporary work visas and green cards while the economy recovers from a pandemic, as some expected.

“That's a pretty big gap for them not to take action on those visa bans because the impact is so dramatic and significant,” said Greg Chen, director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

While immediate changes were limited, the impact of executive orders that Trump issued his first week in office didn’t start to become apparent until a month later when Homeland Security issued detailed enforcement priorities. Those orders laid a foundation for many other of his administration’s hundreds of immigration moves that followed.

Many changes will have to come from agencies like Homeland Security, not the White House, such as rescinding the public-charge rule, Chen said.

The announcements come as Biden aides warn that Trump’s border policies that put asylum increasingly out of reach may take months to unwind — a position that has caused grumbling among some pro-immigration advocates.

Roberta Jacobson, a top Biden aide on border issues, asked Spanish-language media on Friday to discourage audiences from coming to the U.S. border. “It is not the moment,” she said in Spanish, adding that the journey was “very dangerous, and we are in the middle of creating a new system.”

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki reinforced that message from the White House podium on Tuesday, saying it "remains a dangerous trip” and, “This is not the time to come to the United States.”

The orders demonstrate that, just as Trump remade immigration policies from the White House, Biden can undo them with the stroke of a pen — some more easily than others. More lasting changes would have to pass Congress, a daunting job that Trump and his predecessors Barack Obama and George W. Bush failed to achieve.

In an echo of failed legislative pushes in 2007 and 2013, familiar lines of division have formed with overheated rhetoric. Stephen Miller, a top architect of Trump’s policies, said Sunday on Fox News Channel that Biden's actions amount to the “end of all immigration enforcement in the United States of America.”

Pro-immigration groups largely applauded Biden’s latest moves, though they were more muted than the almost-giddy reception to the president's first-day actions.

“The positive steps the administration is taking must be the beginning, not an end unto themselves,” Ali Noorani, president of the National Immigration Forum, said Tuesday. “Congress should build on these first steps to find permanent solutions to improve our immigration system.”

Kelli Garcia, federal policy counsel of the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund, said the orders were encouraging but “will not immediately benefit immigrant communities in dire need of concrete action.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612358967005.png" alt="Alejandro Mayorkas was officially sworn in Tuesday as the seventh Secretary of Homeland Security -Photo by Benjamin Applebaum courtesy Dept. of Homeland Security" />
 <figcaption>Alejandro Mayorkas was officially sworn in Tuesday as the seventh Secretary of Homeland Security -Photo by Benjamin Applebaum courtesy Dept. of Homeland Security</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed a second spate of orders to undo his predecessor’s immigration policies, demonstrating the powers of the White House and its limitations without support from Congress.His orders on family separation, border security and legal immigration bring to nine the number of executive actions on immigration during his first two weeks in office.With proposed legislation to give legal status and a path to citizenship to all of the estimated 11 million people in the country who don't have it, Biden has quickly taken aim at many of former President Donald Trump’s sweeping changes to deter immigration, both legal and illegal, and established a vision that is likely to far outlast his tenure if he's able to muster enough support in a deeply divided Congress.Biden rescinded some Trump actions and laid a foundation for more far-reaching repeals depending on the outcome of policy reviews over the next few months."I’m not making new law. I’m eliminating bad policy,” he said during a signing ceremony Tuesday.Alejandro Mayorkas, who was sworn in as Homeland Security secretary after his nomination was confirmed Tuesday by the Senate, will lead a task force on family separation, focused largely on reuniting parents and children who remain apart. It is unclear exactly how many, but about 5,500 children have been identified in court documents as having been separated during Trump’s presidency, including about 600 whose parents have yet to be found by a court-appointed committee.“We’re going to work to undo the moral and national shame of the previous administration," Biden said.The review will address the possibility of legal status in the United States for separated families and providing mental health services.The American Civil Liberties Union, which sued to reunite families, has asked the administration for legal status in the United States for all of the thousands of families that have been separated, as well as financial compensation for those families and attorneys at government expense.A review of border security will include a policy that makes asylum-seekers wait in Mexican border cities for hearings in U.S. immigration court. It is a step toward fulfilling a campaign pledge to end the “Remain in Mexico” policy, known officially as Migrant Protection Protocols, which enrolled nearly 70,000 asylum-seekers since it began in January 2019. Biden asked for “a phased strategy for the safe and orderly entry into the United States” of those already enrolled who are waiting in Mexico for a judge to decide their cases.Biden ended a policy that held asylum-seekers in Customs and Border Protection custody with virtually no access to attorneys while their claims were quickly decided. He ordered reviews of a nationwide expansion of fast-track deportation authority and of agreements with Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras for the U.S. to reject asylum applicants and instead send them to those Central American countries with an opportunity to seek protection there.His order on legal immigration seeks ways to reduce backlogs and barriers to citizenship and considers scrapping Trump's “public charge rule,” which makes it more difficult for people who receive government benefits to obtain green cards.Biden didn't address a freeze on many temporary work visas and green cards while the economy recovers from a pandemic, as some expected.“That's a pretty big gap for them not to take action on those visa bans because the impact is so dramatic and significant,” said Greg Chen, director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association.While immediate changes were limited, the impact of executive orders that Trump issued his first week in office didn’t start to become apparent until a month later when Homeland Security issued detailed enforcement priorities. Those orders laid a foundation for many other of his administration’s hundreds of immigration moves that followed.Many changes will have to come from agencies like Homeland Security, not the White House, such as rescinding the public-charge rule, Chen said.The announcements come as Biden aides warn that Trump’s border policies that put asylum increasingly out of reach may take months to unwind — a position that has caused grumbling among some pro-immigration advocates.Roberta Jacobson, a top Biden aide on border issues, asked Spanish-language media on Friday to discourage audiences from coming to the U.S. border. “It is not the moment,” she said in Spanish, adding that the journey was “very dangerous, and we are in the middle of creating a new system.”White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki reinforced that message from the White House podium on Tuesday, saying it "remains a dangerous trip” and, “This is not the time to come to the United States.”The orders demonstrate that, just as Trump remade immigration policies from the White House, Biden can undo them with the stroke of a pen — some more easily than others. More lasting changes would have to pass Congress, a daunting job that Trump and his predecessors Barack Obama and George W. Bush failed to achieve.In an echo of failed legislative pushes in 2007 and 2013, familiar lines of division have formed with overheated rhetoric. Stephen Miller, a top architect of Trump’s policies, said Sunday on Fox News Channel that Biden's actions amount to the “end of all immigration enforcement in the United States of America.”Pro-immigration groups largely applauded Biden’s latest moves, though they were more muted than the almost-giddy reception to the president's first-day actions.“The positive steps the administration is taking must be the beginning, not an end unto themselves,” Ali Noorani, president of the National Immigration Forum, said Tuesday. “Congress should build on these first steps to find permanent solutions to improve our immigration system.”Kelli Garcia, federal policy counsel of the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund, said the orders were encouraging but “will not immediately benefit immigrant communities in dire need of concrete action.”___

New immigration order impacts border security, family separation 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s administration announced Tuesday that it is moving to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, freeing up more doses for states and beginning to distribute them to retail pharmacies next week. The push comes amid new urgency to speed vaccinations to prevent the spread of potentially more serious strains of the virus that has killed more than 445,000 Americans.

Starting next week, 1 million doses will be distributed to some 6,500 pharmacies across the country, the White House said. 

Dillons stores in Salina, Hutchinson, Wichita, Andover and Derby will also receive doses of the Moderna vaccine.

The administration is also boosting by 500,000 the weekly allocation of vaccines sent directly to states and territories for the coming weeks, up to 10.5 million. It is allowing state and local governments to receive additional federal dollars to cover previously incurred expenses relating to the pandemic.

Coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients announced the moves on a call with the nation’s governors Tuesday morning and then detailed them to the public in an afternoon news conference.

Drugstores have become a mainstay for flu shots and shingles vaccines, and the industry is capable of vaccinating tens of millions of people monthly. “This will provide more sites for people to get vaccinated in their communities,” Zients said.

“This is a critical step to provide the public with convenient trusted places to get vaccinated in their communities,” he added.

The number of participating pharmacies and the allocation of vaccines are expected to accelerate as drug makers increase production. The White House said the ultimate goal was to distribute the vaccines through more than 40,000 pharmacies nationwide. State and local guidelines will determine who is eligible to get a shot at their neighborhood pharmacy. Availability will be limited at first.

“Getting it into pharmacies is a viable approach,” said Dan Mendelson, founder of the health care industry consulting firm Avalere Health. “The pharmacies know how to move people in and out.”

Part of the reason the vaccination campaign got off to a slow start, he added, is that states lacked their own infrastructure for mass vaccinations.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-alex-azar-coronavirus-pandemic-bfe002c987d7ed15e61a5b4d433704bb">partnership with drugstores</a>&nbsp;was originally announced by the Trump administration in November. At that time, no coronavirus vaccines had been approved. Participating are major chains like CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid, big box stores such as Walmart and Costco, and supermarket pharmacies. CVS said it will receive 250,000 doses initially, to be distributed to pharmacies in 11 states.

The pharmacy doses will be distributed to states by population, but a priority will be to get the vaccine to minority communities that have suffered a disproportionately high toll of disease and deaths from the virus, Zients said.

He said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was “making sure that we are picking pharmacies in that first phase that are located in areas that are harder to reach to ensure that we have equitable distribution of the pharmacy doses.” Walgreens said it was selected in part to “optimize vaccine access in medically underserved areas.”

The 1 million doses being shipped to pharmacies will be on top of the increased allotments to states over the coming three weeks. The Biden administration has sought to increase certainty to state governments on their upcoming allocations to streamline deliveries and prevent stockpiling of second doses for the two-dose regimens.

The Tuesday announcement comes a day after Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious-disease expert, called on Americans to get vaccinated as soon as they’re eligible to prevent further mutations of the virus. The U.S. is tracking the spread of potentially more virulent and treatment-resistant variants.

“Viruses cannot mutate if they don’t replicate,” Fauci said. “And if you stop their replication by vaccinating widely and not giving the virus an open playing field to continue to respond to the pressures that you put on it, you will not get mutations.”

Full Coverage:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/tag/Coronaviruspandemic">Coronavirus pandemic</a>

The U.S. government has already starting working with vaccine manufacturers on potential booster shots to enhance protection against the variants.

Biden’s move to allow for an additional $3 billion to $5 billion in retroactive funding to state and local governments for reimbursement of pandemic-related spending was expected to free up more money for vaccine distribution.

“States will be fully repaid for things like masks, gloves and the mobilization of the National Guard, and they can use the additional resources for vaccination efforts and emergency supplies moving forward,” Zients said.

That is on top of additional assistance to state and local governments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency already authorized by the Biden administration for them to stand up and support vaccination sites across the country.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612292181344.png" alt="vaccine photo courtesy Walgreens" />
 <figcaption>vaccine photo courtesy Walgreens</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s administration announced Tuesday that it is moving to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, freeing up more doses for states and beginning to distribute them to retail pharmacies next week. The push comes amid new urgency to speed vaccinations to prevent the spread of potentially more serious strains of the virus that has killed more than 445,000 Americans.Starting next week, 1 million doses will be distributed to some 6,500 pharmacies across the country, the White House said. Dillons stores in Salina, Hutchinson, Wichita, Andover and Derby will also receive doses of the Moderna vaccine.The administration is also boosting by 500,000 the weekly allocation of vaccines sent directly to states and territories for the coming weeks, up to 10.5 million. It is allowing state and local governments to receive additional federal dollars to cover previously incurred expenses relating to the pandemic.Coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients announced the moves on a call with the nation’s governors Tuesday morning and then detailed them to the public in an afternoon news conference.Drugstores have become a mainstay for flu shots and shingles vaccines, and the industry is capable of vaccinating tens of millions of people monthly. “This will provide more sites for people to get vaccinated in their communities,” Zients said.“This is a critical step to provide the public with convenient trusted places to get vaccinated in their communities,” he added.The number of participating pharmacies and the allocation of vaccines are expected to accelerate as drug makers increase production. The White House said the ultimate goal was to distribute the vaccines through more than 40,000 pharmacies nationwide. State and local guidelines will determine who is eligible to get a shot at their neighborhood pharmacy. Availability will be limited at first.“Getting it into pharmacies is a viable approach,” said Dan Mendelson, founder of the health care industry consulting firm Avalere Health. “The pharmacies know how to move people in and out.”Part of the reason the vaccination campaign got off to a slow start, he added, is that states lacked their own infrastructure for mass vaccinations.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-alex-azar-coronavirus-pandemic-bfe002c987d7ed15e61a5b4d433704bb">partnership with drugstores</a>&nbsp;was originally announced by the Trump administration in November. At that time, no coronavirus vaccines had been approved. Participating are major chains like CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid, big box stores such as Walmart and Costco, and supermarket pharmacies. CVS said it will receive 250,000 doses initially, to be distributed to pharmacies in 11 states.The pharmacy doses will be distributed to states by population, but a priority will be to get the vaccine to minority communities that have suffered a disproportionately high toll of disease and deaths from the virus, Zients said.He said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was “making sure that we are picking pharmacies in that first phase that are located in areas that are harder to reach to ensure that we have equitable distribution of the pharmacy doses.” Walgreens said it was selected in part to “optimize vaccine access in medically underserved areas.”The 1 million doses being shipped to pharmacies will be on top of the increased allotments to states over the coming three weeks. The Biden administration has sought to increase certainty to state governments on their upcoming allocations to streamline deliveries and prevent stockpiling of second doses for the two-dose regimens.The Tuesday announcement comes a day after Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious-disease expert, called on Americans to get vaccinated as soon as they’re eligible to prevent further mutations of the virus. The U.S. is tracking the spread of potentially more virulent and treatment-resistant variants.“Viruses cannot mutate if they don’t replicate,” Fauci said. “And if you stop their replication by vaccinating widely and not giving the virus an open playing field to continue to respond to the pressures that you put on it, you will not get mutations.”Full Coverage:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/tag/Coronaviruspandemic">Coronavirus pandemic</a>The U.S. government has already starting working with vaccine manufacturers on potential booster shots to enhance protection against the variants.Biden’s move to allow for an additional $3 billion to $5 billion in retroactive funding to state and local governments for reimbursement of pandemic-related spending was expected to free up more money for vaccine distribution.“States will be fully repaid for things like masks, gloves and the mobilization of the National Guard, and they can use the additional resources for vaccination efforts and emergency supplies moving forward,” Zients said.That is on top of additional assistance to state and local governments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency already authorized by the Biden administration for them to stand up and support vaccination sites across the country.

COVID vaccine shipments are coming to US pharmacies

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Meatpacking companies and public health officials are trying to overcome any reluctance workers may have about coronavirus vaccines before they become eligible to get them.

Major companies such as Tyson Foods and JBS are encouraging workers to get the vaccine with campaigns to educate them about the benefits and safety of the shots. Also, JBS and Pilgrim’s Corp. are offering $100 bonuses to workers who get the vaccine.

Last spring, the virus&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6e446ae82aff17f25024f0533b7009ee">spread quickly</a>&nbsp;through meatpacking plants, where workers stand shoulder-to-shoulder as they carve up meat on production lines.

But some workers, who are largely immigrants, distrust the government and some question the safety of the shots because they were developed in less than a year, said Eric Reeder, president of United Food &amp; Commercial Workers Local 293 union.

“It’s the same thing as when we tried to get people involved in the (vaccine) trials,” Reeder&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/meatpackers-try-to-overcome-workers-vaccine-skepticism-jbs-offers-100-bonus-to-get-shots/article_563db32e-5f25-11eb-ab45-3fdba41562dd.html#tracking-source=home-top-story" target="_blank">told&nbsp;</a>the Omaha World-Herald. “We had a hard time with the non-English-speaking population. A lot of them felt like this was a government plot to kill them.”

JBS spokeswoman Nikki Richardson said the company is trying to address workers’ concerns through flyers in their native languages and other efforts.

“We are currently focused on achieving the highest voluntary participation rate possible and preventing barriers to getting the vaccine,” said JBS spokeswoman Nikki Richardson. “We want to do everything we can to protect our team members, their families, their co-workers and our communities.”

Reeder said he got the first dose of the vaccine Monday because he participated in a trial as it was being developed last year. He plans to share pictures of himself getting the vaccine with workers to encourage them to get it.

“A lot of it is just gonna be building some level of trust,” Reeder said.

In Nebraska, meatpacking workers and other essential workers who can’t work from home are scheduled to get the vaccine in one of the next phases of the campaign after health officials finish vaccinating people 65 and older. Gov. Pete Ricketts said local health officials will work with companies to determine the best way to vaccinate workers when the time comes.

Eddie Habte Mekasha, who works as a chaplain with the Ethiopian Community Association and in health care, said most immigrants he knows are eager to get the vaccine.

“At first, people were fearful and suspicious,” he said. “But later, because of the good promotion by the media and health and community professionals, our members and similar immigrants are waiting eagerly to get vaccinated, and a few like me and my wife (have been) vaccinated.”

More than 100,000 people have registered to get the vaccine since a new state website launched late last week, state officials said. So far, about 3.3% of the state’s population has received both required doses of one of the vaccines, and 185,536 doses have been administered across Nebraska.

The state said 115 new cases of the virus were reported Monday, but that total will likely be adjusted in the next few days because Nebraska now reports positive cases by the date the tests were taken, not the day they were reported. A total of 191,437 virus cases and 1,929 deaths have been reported in the state.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593167451853.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Tyson Foods" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Tyson Foods</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Meatpacking companies and public health officials are trying to overcome any reluctance workers may have about coronavirus vaccines before they become eligible to get them.Major companies such as Tyson Foods and JBS are encouraging workers to get the vaccine with campaigns to educate them about the benefits and safety of the shots. Also, JBS and Pilgrim’s Corp. are offering $100 bonuses to workers who get the vaccine.Last spring, the virus&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6e446ae82aff17f25024f0533b7009ee">spread quickly</a>&nbsp;through meatpacking plants, where workers stand shoulder-to-shoulder as they carve up meat on production lines.But some workers, who are largely immigrants, distrust the government and some question the safety of the shots because they were developed in less than a year, said Eric Reeder, president of United Food &amp; Commercial Workers Local 293 union.“It’s the same thing as when we tried to get people involved in the (vaccine) trials,” Reeder&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/meatpackers-try-to-overcome-workers-vaccine-skepticism-jbs-offers-100-bonus-to-get-shots/article_563db32e-5f25-11eb-ab45-3fdba41562dd.html#tracking-source=home-top-story" target="_blank">told&nbsp;</a>the Omaha World-Herald. “We had a hard time with the non-English-speaking population. A lot of them felt like this was a government plot to kill them.”JBS spokeswoman Nikki Richardson said the company is trying to address workers’ concerns through flyers in their native languages and other efforts.“We are currently focused on achieving the highest voluntary participation rate possible and preventing barriers to getting the vaccine,” said JBS spokeswoman Nikki Richardson. “We want to do everything we can to protect our team members, their families, their co-workers and our communities.”Reeder said he got the first dose of the vaccine Monday because he participated in a trial as it was being developed last year. He plans to share pictures of himself getting the vaccine with workers to encourage them to get it.“A lot of it is just gonna be building some level of trust,” Reeder said.In Nebraska, meatpacking workers and other essential workers who can’t work from home are scheduled to get the vaccine in one of the next phases of the campaign after health officials finish vaccinating people 65 and older. Gov. Pete Ricketts said local health officials will work with companies to determine the best way to vaccinate workers when the time comes.Eddie Habte Mekasha, who works as a chaplain with the Ethiopian Community Association and in health care, said most immigrants he knows are eager to get the vaccine.“At first, people were fearful and suspicious,” he said. “But later, because of the good promotion by the media and health and community professionals, our members and similar immigrants are waiting eagerly to get vaccinated, and a few like me and my wife (have been) vaccinated.”More than 100,000 people have registered to get the vaccine since a new state website launched late last week, state officials said. So far, about 3.3% of the state’s population has received both required doses of one of the vaccines, and 185,536 doses have been administered across Nebraska.The state said 115 new cases of the virus were reported Monday, but that total will likely be adjusted in the next few days because Nebraska now reports positive cases by the date the tests were taken, not the day they were reported. A total of 191,437 virus cases and 1,929 deaths have been reported in the state.

Meatpacking firms encouraging workers to get virus vaccine

By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch
Post</a>


HUTCHINSON — A Midwest economic expert has concerns about an early policy goal
 of the Biden administration, to increase the federal minimum wage to 
$15 an hour.

"An increase in the minimum wage would certainly 
contribute to inflationary pressures," said Creighton University 
economist Ernie Goss. "There would be some job losses. There would also 
be some, if not job losses, certainly be a cut in the hours worked for 
current employees. In my judgment, this is particularly negative for our
 teenage workers. We'd like to see those young men and women get a leg 
up, or at least a first step on the economic ladder."

Goss is also concerned about how much more debt this would put the country in.

"This
 would probably mean the deficit for fiscal 2021 would be somewhere in 
the range of $3 to $4 trillion," Goss said. "That's putting us in the 
position where you are, in my judgment, going to see higher inflationary
 pressures."

The question is whether or not it would be outside 
the boundaries of what the Federal Reserve considers normal or 
acceptable. That remains to be seen, depending on what the final 
coronavirus relief deal ends up with. The Fed has said it will stick 
with the current low interest rates for some time going forward.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595014550898.jpeg" alt="Ernie Goss" />
 <figcaption>Ernie Goss</figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch
Post</a>
HUTCHINSON — A Midwest economic expert has concerns about an early policy goal
 of the Biden administration, to increase the federal minimum wage to 
$15 an hour."An increase in the minimum wage would certainly 
contribute to inflationary pressures," said Creighton University 
economist Ernie Goss. "There would be some job losses. There would also 
be some, if not job losses, certainly be a cut in the hours worked for 
current employees. In my judgment, this is particularly negative for our
 teenage workers. We'd like to see those young men and women get a leg 
up, or at least a first step on the economic ladder."Goss is also concerned about how much more debt this would put the country in."This
 would probably mean the deficit for fiscal 2021 would be somewhere in 
the range of $3 to $4 trillion," Goss said. "That's putting us in the 
position where you are, in my judgment, going to see higher inflationary
 pressures."The question is whether or not it would be outside 
the boundaries of what the Federal Reserve considers normal or 
acceptable. That remains to be seen, depending on what the final 
coronavirus relief deal ends up with. The Fed has said it will stick 
with the current low interest rates for some time going forward.

Economist: Inflation concern if $15 minimum wage in virus aid deal

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota lawmaker pushing a bill to require Gov. Kristi Noem to disclose taxpayer-funds used for her travel security on the campaign trail has faced a pressure campaign to kill the proposal. 

Rep. Taffy Howards says she faced text message attacks and fellow Republicans rescinding support after hearing from the governor’s office.

 Noem’s administration has refused to disclose to media outlets how much it costs to send Highway Patrol troopers with the governor as she has traveled the country campaigning for Donald Trump and fundraising for her campaign. 

Howard argues it would not compromise safety to know how much is spent on travel security.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota lawmaker pushing a bill to require Gov. Kristi Noem to disclose taxpayer-funds used for her travel security on the campaign trail has faced a pressure campaign to kill the proposal. Rep. Taffy Howards says she faced text message attacks and fellow Republicans rescinding support after hearing from the governor’s office. Noem’s administration has refused to disclose to media outlets how much it costs to send Highway Patrol troopers with the governor as she has traveled the country campaigning for Donald Trump and fundraising for her campaign. Howard argues it would not compromise safety to know how much is spent on travel security.

Bill to disclose Noem's travel security costs faces backlash

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Meatpacking companies and public health officials are trying to overcome any reluctance workers may have about coronavirus vaccines before they become eligible to get them. 

Major companies such as Tyson Foods and JBS are encouraging workers to get the vaccine with campaigns to educate them about the benefits and safety of the shots. Also, JBS and Pilgrim’s Corp. are offering $100 bonuses to workers who get the vaccine. 

But union officials and worker advocates say some workers, who are largely immigrants, distrust the government and some question the safety of the shots because they were developed in less than a year.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Meatpacking companies and public health officials are trying to overcome any reluctance workers may have about coronavirus vaccines before they become eligible to get them. Major companies such as Tyson Foods and JBS are encouraging workers to get the vaccine with campaigns to educate them about the benefits and safety of the shots. Also, JBS and Pilgrim’s Corp. are offering $100 bonuses to workers who get the vaccine. But union officials and worker advocates say some workers, who are largely immigrants, distrust the government and some question the safety of the shots because they were developed in less than a year.

STANTON , Neb. (AP) — A former northeastern Nebraska village clerk who was praised for her work in helping rebuild her community following a 2014 tornado strike has been sentenced to prison for stealing from the village. 

The Norfolk Daily News reports that 58-year-old Kimberly Neiman was sentenced Monday to three years in prison. 

The former Pilger clerk was arrested last year on multiple felony counts. 

In a deal with prosecutors, she pleaded guilty in November to one count of attempted theft in exchange for all other counts being dropped. 

Neiman was fired by the village board in February 2019, following a state audit that found more than $562,000 in questionable transactions and more than $156,000 in suspicious charges on the village’s credit card.

STANTON , Neb. (AP) — A former northeastern Nebraska village clerk who was praised for her work in helping rebuild her community following a 2014 tornado strike has been sentenced to prison for stealing from the village. The Norfolk Daily News reports that 58-year-old Kimberly Neiman was sentenced Monday to three years in prison. The former Pilger clerk was arrested last year on multiple felony counts. In a deal with prosecutors, she pleaded guilty in November to one count of attempted theft in exchange for all other counts being dropped. Neiman was fired by the village board in February 2019, following a state audit that found more than $562,000 in questionable transactions and more than $156,000 in suspicious charges on the village’s credit card.

Ex-Nebraska clerk praised for tornado work gets prison term

KANSAS CITY (AP) —A little more than a third of nursing home workers have been getting COVID-19 vaccines when the shots are first offered, U.S. health officials said Monday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7005e2.htm?s_cid=mm7005e2_w" target="_blank">national accounting</a>&nbsp;of a problem that’s been reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-health-workers-676e03a99badfd5ce3a6cfafe383f6af">anecdotally</a>&nbsp;— many nursing home workers are not getting the shots.

The CDC looked at more than 11,000 nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities that had at least one vaccination clinic between the middle of December and the middle of January. The researchers found that while 78% of residents got at least one shot, only 37.5% of staff members did.

Data previously showed that people who work in nursing homes and long-term care facilities get flu vaccines at lower rates than other health-care workers. Surveys suggest that long-term care workers are skeptical the shots work and don’t think viruses spread easily from them to the people they care for.

The problem was discussed last week during a meeting of an expert panel that advises the CDC on vaccine policy. At the meeting, the CDC’s Dr. Amanda Cohn said more staffers get vaccinated when a second or third clinic is held at a home.

“Continuing to capture those staff who did not accept vaccine early will be really important as we try eliminate outbreaks and protect both staff and residents in long-term care facilities,” Cohn said.

The government tasked CVS and Walgreens with administering the shots to long-term care homes in nearly every state. Each vaccine requires two shots a few weeks apart, and CVS and Walgreens say they have wrapped up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-coronavirus-vaccine-nursing-homes-d18a3cbfb45f8e807dec0b6431c774a4">first-dose clinics</a>&nbsp;in nursing homes. The chains plan three visits to each location.

The CDC released a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7005e1.htm?s_cid=mm7005e1_w" target="_blank">second report</a>&nbsp;Monday that offered a larger national look at who has been getting the vaccine.

The CDC study found that of the people who got at least one shot between mid-December and mid-January, 63% were women, and 55% were age 50 or older. It also found 60% were White, 11.5% Hispanic, 6% Asian, 5% Black, 2% American Indian/Alaska Native, and most of the others multiracial.

KANSAS CITY (AP) —A little more than a third of nursing home workers have been getting COVID-19 vaccines when the shots are first offered, U.S. health officials said Monday.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7005e2.htm?s_cid=mm7005e2_w" target="_blank">national accounting</a>&nbsp;of a problem that’s been reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-health-workers-676e03a99badfd5ce3a6cfafe383f6af">anecdotally</a>&nbsp;— many nursing home workers are not getting the shots.The CDC looked at more than 11,000 nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities that had at least one vaccination clinic between the middle of December and the middle of January. The researchers found that while 78% of residents got at least one shot, only 37.5% of staff members did.Data previously showed that people who work in nursing homes and long-term care facilities get flu vaccines at lower rates than other health-care workers. Surveys suggest that long-term care workers are skeptical the shots work and don’t think viruses spread easily from them to the people they care for.The problem was discussed last week during a meeting of an expert panel that advises the CDC on vaccine policy. At the meeting, the CDC’s Dr. Amanda Cohn said more staffers get vaccinated when a second or third clinic is held at a home.“Continuing to capture those staff who did not accept vaccine early will be really important as we try eliminate outbreaks and protect both staff and residents in long-term care facilities,” Cohn said.The government tasked CVS and Walgreens with administering the shots to long-term care homes in nearly every state. Each vaccine requires two shots a few weeks apart, and CVS and Walgreens say they have wrapped up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-coronavirus-vaccine-nursing-homes-d18a3cbfb45f8e807dec0b6431c774a4">first-dose clinics</a>&nbsp;in nursing homes. The chains plan three visits to each location.The CDC released a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7005e1.htm?s_cid=mm7005e1_w" target="_blank">second report</a>&nbsp;Monday that offered a larger national look at who has been getting the vaccine.The CDC study found that of the people who got at least one shot between mid-December and mid-January, 63% were women, and 55% were age 50 or older. It also found 60% were White, 11.5% Hispanic, 6% Asian, 5% Black, 2% American Indian/Alaska Native, and most of the others multiracial.

Report: Many US nursing home staff refuse first COVID shots

As taxpayers get ready to file their federal tax returns, most will also be thinking about preparing their state taxes. 

There’s some good news for filers wanting to save money. Eligible taxpayers can file their federal and, in many cases, their state taxes at no cost.

Taxpayers whose adjusted gross income was $72,000 or less in 2019 can file their 2020 federal taxes for free using&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMjgsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTAyMDEuMzQzNzk5ODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lmlycy5nb3YvZnJlZWZpbGUifQ.c8In63PSPRucqdOX14DGHIk872P49Z6saaA76x-2jMU/s/1260222507/br/96814697949-l" target="_blank">IRS Free File</a>. Many of them can also do their state taxes at no charge. They do so through Free File offered by the IRS.

Here’s are a few things for taxpayers to know about filing state tax returns through Free File.

●Most people make less than the $72,000 income limit. So, most people can use Free File.

●Generally, taxpayers must complete their federal tax return before they can begin their state taxes.

●More than 20 states have a state Free File program patterned after the federal partnership. This means many taxpayers are eligible for free federal and free state online tax preparation.

●The states with a Free File program are Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia, plus the District of Columbia.. IRS Free File partners feature&nbsp;online products, some in Spanish. They offer most or some state tax returns for free as well. Some of them may charge so it’s important for taxpayers to explore their free options.

●Free File partners will charge a fee for state tax return preparation unless their offer says upfront the taxpayer can file both federal and state returns for free. Taxpayers who want to use one of the state Free File program products should go to their state tax agency’s Free File page.

 ●Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming don’t have an income tax. So, IRS Free File for a federal return may be the only tax product people in those states need.

As taxpayers get ready to file their federal tax returns, most will also be thinking about preparing their state taxes. There’s some good news for filers wanting to save money. Eligible taxpayers can file their federal and, in many cases, their state taxes at no cost.Taxpayers whose adjusted gross income was $72,000 or less in 2019 can file their 2020 federal taxes for free using&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMjgsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTAyMDEuMzQzNzk5ODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lmlycy5nb3YvZnJlZWZpbGUifQ.c8In63PSPRucqdOX14DGHIk872P49Z6saaA76x-2jMU/s/1260222507/br/96814697949-l" target="_blank">IRS Free File</a>. Many of them can also do their state taxes at no charge. They do so through Free File offered by the IRS.Here’s are a few things for taxpayers to know about filing state tax returns through Free File.●Most people make less than the $72,000 income limit. So, most people can use Free File.●Generally, taxpayers must complete their federal tax return before they can begin their state taxes.●More than 20 states have a state Free File program patterned after the federal partnership. This means many taxpayers are eligible for free federal and free state online tax preparation.●The states with a Free File program are Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia, plus the District of Columbia.. IRS Free File partners feature&nbsp;online products, some in Spanish. They offer most or some state tax returns for free as well. Some of them may charge so it’s important for taxpayers to explore their free options.●Free File partners will charge a fee for state tax return preparation unless their offer says upfront the taxpayer can file both federal and state returns for free. Taxpayers who want to use one of the state Free File program products should go to their state tax agency’s Free File page. ●Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming don’t have an income tax. So, IRS Free File for a federal return may be the only tax product people in those states need.--<a href="http://irs.gov">IRS</a>--

IRS: Many taxpayers can file their state and federal tax returns for free

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden told ten Republican senators including Jerry Moran of Kansas during a two-hour meeting he’s unwilling to settle on an insufficient coronavirus aid package after they pitched their slimmed down $618 billion proposal that’s a fraction of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-coronavirus-action-plan-3d8d5841bb9098a81ad9452fb2619024">the $1.9 trillion he is seeking.</a>

No compromise was reached in the lengthy session Monday night, Biden’s first with lawmakers at the White House, and Democrats in Congress pushed ahead with groundwork for approving his COVID-19 relief plan with or without Republican votes. Despite the Republican group’s appeal for bipartisanship, as part of Biden’s efforts to unify the country, the president made it clear he won’t delay aid in hopes of winning GOP support.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that while there were areas of agreement, “the president also reiterated his view that Congress must respond boldly and urgently, and noted many areas which the Republican senators’ proposal does not address.”

She said, “He will not slow down work on this urgent crisis response, and will not settle for a package that fails to meet the moment.”

The two sides are far apart, with the Republican group of 10 senators focused primarily on the health care crisis and smaller $1,000 direct aid to Americans, and Biden leading Democrats toward a more sweeping rescue package, three times the size, to shore up households, local governments and a partly shuttered economy.

On a fast track, the goal is to have COVID-19 relief approved by March, when extra unemployment assistance and other pandemic aid expires, testing the ability of the new administration and Congress to deliver, with political risks for all sides from failure.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine called the meeting a “frank and very useful” conversation, noting that the president also filled in some details on his proposal.

“All of us are concerned about struggling families, teetering small businesses and an overwhelmed health care system,” said Collins, flanked by other senators outside the White House.

Republicans are tapping into bipartisan urgency to improve the nation’s vaccine distribution and vastly expand virus testing with $160 billion in aid. That is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-jen-psaki-coronavirus-pandemic-united-states-73dd5842fda2ecdeddcc73a74cbeac47">similar to what Biden has proposed</a>. But from there, the two plans drastically diverge.

The GOP’s $1,000 direct payments would go to fewer households than the $1,400 Biden has proposed, and the Republicans offer only a fraction of what he wants to reopen schools.

They also would give nothing to states, money that Democrats argue is just as important, with $350 billion in Biden’s plan to keep police, fire and other workers on the job.

Gone are Democratic priorities such as a gradual lifting of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-rashida-tlaib-coronavirus-pandemic-minimum-wage-ee0e8cc7c96a30d9581723b2c6bb4189?utm_source=Twitter&amp;utm_campaign=SocialFlow&amp;utm_medium=AP_Politics">federal minimum wage to $15&nbsp;</a>an hour.

Wary Democrats pushed ahead at the Capitol, unwilling to take too much time in courting GOP support that may not materialize or in delivering too meager a package that they believe doesn’t address the scope of the nation’s health crisis and economic problems.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer warned that history is filled with “the costs of small thinking.”

House and Senate Democrats released a separate budget resolution Monday a step toward approving Biden’s package with a reconciliation process that wouldn’t depend on Republican support for passage.

“The cost of inaction is high and growing, and the time for decisive action is now,” Schumer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.

The accelerating talks came as the Congressional Budget Office delivered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-economic-growth-government-spending-coronavirus-pandemic-economy-6570eb877ea0b2e7791966035f82cd35">mixed economic forecasts&nbsp;</a>Monday with robust growth expected at a 4.5% annual rate but employment rates not to return to pre-pandemic levels for several years.

The overture from the coalition of 10 GOP senators, mostly centrists, was an attempt to show that at least some in the Republican ranks want to work with Biden’s new administration, rather than simply operating as the opposition in the minority in Congress.

Asked if Biden had shown a willingness to reduce his $1.9 trillion top line, Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, said, “He didn’t say that, nor did we say we’re willing to come up” from the GOP plan. He said it’s “too early” to say if a deal can be reached.

But in echoes of the 2009 financial crisis, Democrats warn against too small a package as they believe happened during the Obama administration’s attempt to pull the nation toward recovery.

Psaki said earlier Monday there is “obviously a big gap” between the $1.9 trillion package Biden has proposed and the $618 billion counteroffer.

An invitation to the GOP senators to meet with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House came hours after the&nbsp;<a href="https://beta.documentcloud.org/documents/20467847-gop-letter-on-covid-relief" target="_blank">lawmakers sent Biden a letter on Sunday</a>&nbsp;urging him to negotiate rather than try to ram through his relief package solely on Democratic votes.

The cornerstone of the GOP plan is $160 billion for the health care response — vaccine distribution, a “massive expansion” of testing, protective gear and funds for rural hospitals, according to a draft.

It also includes $20 billion to reopen schools compared to $170 billion in Biden’s plan. The Republicans offer $40 billion for Paycheck Protection Program business aid.

Under the GOP proposal, $1,000 direct payments would go to individuals earning up to $40,000 a year, or $80,000 for couples. The proposal would begin to phase out the benefit after that, with no payments for individuals earning more than $50,000, or $100,000 for couples. That’s less than Biden’s proposal of $1,400 direct payments at higher incomes levels, up to $300,000 for some households.

The meeting, though private, was Biden’s most public involvement in the negotiations.

Winning the support of 10 Republicans would be significant for Biden, potentially giving him the votes needed in the 50-50 Senate where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-race-and-ethnicity-symone-sanders-south-asia-coronavirus-pandemic-d11545d09f132366909d492822df692d">Harris</a>&nbsp;is the tie-breaker. Or he can push it through the budget reconciliation process, which would allow the bill to pass with a 51-vote majority in the Senate, rather than the 60 votes typically needed to advance legislation.

The White House remains committed to exploring avenues for bipartisanship even as it prepares for Democrats to move alone on a COVID-19 relief bill, according to a senior administration official granted anonymity to discuss the private thinking.

At the same time, the White House may be willing to adjust its ask, perhaps shifting some less virus-oriented aspects into a package that is set to go next before Congress, the official said.

Biden himself has been on the phone to some of the Republicans, the official said.

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/z4K90nNRDGg" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp;to Watch Sen. Moran’s Full Interview before the Oval Office meeting.

Besides&nbsp; Moran, Collins and Cassidy, the GOP senators meeting with Biden were Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Todd Young of Indiana, Rob Portman of Ohio, Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota joined by phone.

Biden has leaned on his resume of decades in the Senate and as vice president to bring the parties together, but less than two weeks into his presidency he has shown&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-travel-politics-coronavirus-pandemic-a8b290a250c56c55f5d17a02ef9078e2">frustration with the pace of negotiations</a>&nbsp;as applications for jobless benefits remain stubbornly high and the COVID-19 death toll nears 450,000 Americans.

Moran said, "my view is Mr. President, let’s focus on vaccines – I think it’s the most important thing,”&nbsp;continued Sen. Moran. “More shots in more arms is the best thing that can happen for our country’s wellbeing, both from a health perspective and from an economic point of view. But I also want to make sure we get kids back in the classroom, that small businesses get some assistance and Americans who need the most help get help from this package… …I am certainly willing to work with the President to get a more conservative, targeted response to COVID-19, and get it done quickly to benefit Americans.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden told ten Republican senators including Jerry Moran of Kansas during a two-hour meeting he’s unwilling to settle on an insufficient coronavirus aid package after they pitched their slimmed down $618 billion proposal that’s a fraction of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-coronavirus-action-plan-3d8d5841bb9098a81ad9452fb2619024">the $1.9 trillion he is seeking.</a>No compromise was reached in the lengthy session Monday night, Biden’s first with lawmakers at the White House, and Democrats in Congress pushed ahead with groundwork for approving his COVID-19 relief plan with or without Republican votes. Despite the Republican group’s appeal for bipartisanship, as part of Biden’s efforts to unify the country, the president made it clear he won’t delay aid in hopes of winning GOP support.White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that while there were areas of agreement, “the president also reiterated his view that Congress must respond boldly and urgently, and noted many areas which the Republican senators’ proposal does not address.”She said, “He will not slow down work on this urgent crisis response, and will not settle for a package that fails to meet the moment.”The two sides are far apart, with the Republican group of 10 senators focused primarily on the health care crisis and smaller $1,000 direct aid to Americans, and Biden leading Democrats toward a more sweeping rescue package, three times the size, to shore up households, local governments and a partly shuttered economy.On a fast track, the goal is to have COVID-19 relief approved by March, when extra unemployment assistance and other pandemic aid expires, testing the ability of the new administration and Congress to deliver, with political risks for all sides from failure.Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine called the meeting a “frank and very useful” conversation, noting that the president also filled in some details on his proposal.“All of us are concerned about struggling families, teetering small businesses and an overwhelmed health care system,” said Collins, flanked by other senators outside the White House.Republicans are tapping into bipartisan urgency to improve the nation’s vaccine distribution and vastly expand virus testing with $160 billion in aid. That is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-jen-psaki-coronavirus-pandemic-united-states-73dd5842fda2ecdeddcc73a74cbeac47">similar to what Biden has proposed</a>. But from there, the two plans drastically diverge.The GOP’s $1,000 direct payments would go to fewer households than the $1,400 Biden has proposed, and the Republicans offer only a fraction of what he wants to reopen schools.They also would give nothing to states, money that Democrats argue is just as important, with $350 billion in Biden’s plan to keep police, fire and other workers on the job.Gone are Democratic priorities such as a gradual lifting of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-rashida-tlaib-coronavirus-pandemic-minimum-wage-ee0e8cc7c96a30d9581723b2c6bb4189?utm_source=Twitter&amp;utm_campaign=SocialFlow&amp;utm_medium=AP_Politics">federal minimum wage to $15&nbsp;</a>an hour.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612221614309.png" alt="Pres. Biden and Vice President Harris discuss the proposal from GOP Senators on Monday evening -image courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Pres. Biden and Vice President Harris discuss the proposal from GOP Senators on Monday evening -image courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Wary Democrats pushed ahead at the Capitol, unwilling to take too much time in courting GOP support that may not materialize or in delivering too meager a package that they believe doesn’t address the scope of the nation’s health crisis and economic problems.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer warned that history is filled with “the costs of small thinking.”House and Senate Democrats released a separate budget resolution Monday a step toward approving Biden’s package with a reconciliation process that wouldn’t depend on Republican support for passage.“The cost of inaction is high and growing, and the time for decisive action is now,” Schumer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.The accelerating talks came as the Congressional Budget Office delivered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-economic-growth-government-spending-coronavirus-pandemic-economy-6570eb877ea0b2e7791966035f82cd35">mixed economic forecasts&nbsp;</a>Monday with robust growth expected at a 4.5% annual rate but employment rates not to return to pre-pandemic levels for several years.The overture from the coalition of 10 GOP senators, mostly centrists, was an attempt to show that at least some in the Republican ranks want to work with Biden’s new administration, rather than simply operating as the opposition in the minority in Congress.Asked if Biden had shown a willingness to reduce his $1.9 trillion top line, Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, said, “He didn’t say that, nor did we say we’re willing to come up” from the GOP plan. He said it’s “too early” to say if a deal can be reached.But in echoes of the 2009 financial crisis, Democrats warn against too small a package as they believe happened during the Obama administration’s attempt to pull the nation toward recovery.Psaki said earlier Monday there is “obviously a big gap” between the $1.9 trillion package Biden has proposed and the $618 billion counteroffer.An invitation to the GOP senators to meet with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House came hours after the&nbsp;<a href="https://beta.documentcloud.org/documents/20467847-gop-letter-on-covid-relief" target="_blank">lawmakers sent Biden a letter on Sunday</a>&nbsp;urging him to negotiate rather than try to ram through his relief package solely on Democratic votes.The cornerstone of the GOP plan is $160 billion for the health care response — vaccine distribution, a “massive expansion” of testing, protective gear and funds for rural hospitals, according to a draft.It also includes $20 billion to reopen schools compared to $170 billion in Biden’s plan. The Republicans offer $40 billion for Paycheck Protection Program business aid.Under the GOP proposal, $1,000 direct payments would go to individuals earning up to $40,000 a year, or $80,000 for couples. The proposal would begin to phase out the benefit after that, with no payments for individuals earning more than $50,000, or $100,000 for couples. That’s less than Biden’s proposal of $1,400 direct payments at higher incomes levels, up to $300,000 for some households.The meeting, though private, was Biden’s most public involvement in the negotiations.Winning the support of 10 Republicans would be significant for Biden, potentially giving him the votes needed in the 50-50 Senate where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-race-and-ethnicity-symone-sanders-south-asia-coronavirus-pandemic-d11545d09f132366909d492822df692d">Harris</a>&nbsp;is the tie-breaker. Or he can push it through the budget reconciliation process, which would allow the bill to pass with a 51-vote majority in the Senate, rather than the 60 votes typically needed to advance legislation.The White House remains committed to exploring avenues for bipartisanship even as it prepares for Democrats to move alone on a COVID-19 relief bill, according to a senior administration official granted anonymity to discuss the private thinking.At the same time, the White House may be willing to adjust its ask, perhaps shifting some less virus-oriented aspects into a package that is set to go next before Congress, the official said.Biden himself has been on the phone to some of the Republicans, the official said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612221153515.png" alt="Just before the Oval Office Meeting, Senator Moran of Kansas said “I’m going to do everything I can to encourage the President to do something that is much more targeted and much less expensive than the $1.9 trillion package that the White House has proposed,” said Sen. Moran. “I’m a pretty darn conservative Republican and to spend this amount of money, I want to make sure it is going towards the relief of Americans who are suffering as a consequence of COVID-19 and there are lots of things in this bill (Biden’s proposal) that is beyond that scope.” Click&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/z4K90nNRDGg" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp;to Watch Sen. Moran’s Full Interview before the Biden meeting." />
 <figcaption>Just before the Oval Office Meeting, Senator Moran of Kansas said “I’m going to do everything I can to encourage the President to do something that is much more targeted and much less expensive than the $1.9 trillion package that the White House has proposed,” said Sen. Moran. “I’m a pretty darn conservative Republican and to spend this amount of money, I want to make sure it is going towards the relief of Americans who are suffering as a consequence of COVID-19 and there are lots of things in this bill (Biden’s proposal) that is beyond that scope.” Click&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/z4K90nNRDGg" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp;to Watch Sen. Moran’s Full Interview before the Biden meeting.</figcaption>
 </figure>Click&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/z4K90nNRDGg" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp;to Watch Sen. Moran’s Full Interview before the Oval Office meeting.Besides&nbsp; Moran, Collins and Cassidy, the GOP senators meeting with Biden were Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Todd Young of Indiana, Rob Portman of Ohio, Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota joined by phone.Biden has leaned on his resume of decades in the Senate and as vice president to bring the parties together, but less than two weeks into his presidency he has shown&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-travel-politics-coronavirus-pandemic-a8b290a250c56c55f5d17a02ef9078e2">frustration with the pace of negotiations</a>&nbsp;as applications for jobless benefits remain stubbornly high and the COVID-19 death toll nears 450,000 Americans.Moran said, "my view is Mr. President, let’s focus on vaccines – I think it’s the most important thing,”&nbsp;continued Sen. Moran. “More shots in more arms is the best thing that can happen for our country’s wellbeing, both from a health perspective and from an economic point of view. But I also want to make sure we get kids back in the classroom, that small businesses get some assistance and Americans who need the most help get help from this package… …I am certainly willing to work with the President to get a more conservative, targeted response to COVID-19, and get it done quickly to benefit Americans.”

GOP Senators take COVID deal to White House

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — There will be six more weeks of winter, Punxsutawney Phil predicted as he emerged from his burrow on a snowy Tuesday morning to perform his Groundhog Day duties.

Members of Phil’s “inner circle” woke up the furry critter at 7:25 a.m. at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to see whether he would see his shadow or not.

Shortly after this year’s prediction was revealed, one of the members of the inner circle shared a message he said Phil had told him earlier in the day: “After winter, you’re looking forward to one of the most beautiful and brightest springs you’ve ever seen.”

Another member of the “inner circle” noted the uniqueness of the past year.

“People have been referencing Groundhog Day. It has felt like at times we’re all living the same day over and over again,” one of the members said. “Groundhog Day also shows us that the monotony ends. The cycle will be broken.”

“Today actually is Groundhog Day, there’s only one,” he added. “There is quite literally a new day coming over the horizon.”

The spectacle that is Groundhog Day still went on, but because of the coronavirus pandemic, revelers weren’t able to see Phil and celebrate in person: This year, it was all virtual and included cardboard cutouts to represent spectators.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2Wz9F8-DVQ&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">A livestream</a>, which had more than 15,000 viewers at one point, played footage from previous Groundhog Day’s ahead of the big reveal.

Then of course, the prognosticator of prognosticators emerged at dawn. The lore goes that if he sees his shadow as he did this year, there will be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, spring comes early.

Wearing top hats, members of the club summoned Phil from a new tree stump.

“You look beautiful,” club president Jeff Lundy told Phil, who directed members to one of two scrolls.

A club member announced, “We have all passed through the darkness of night, but now see hope in morning’s bright light. But now when I turn to see, there’s a perfect shadow cast of me.”

The livestream from Gobbler’s Knob, a tiny hill just outside Punxsutawney about 65 miles (105 kilometers) northeast of Pittsburgh, is made possible by the Pennsylvania Tourism Office’s Holi-stay PA. The event there — always Feb. 2 — dates back to 1887.

Phil this year, like many years in the past, gave his forecast during a major snowstorm that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-ned-lamont-new-york-city-storms-coronavirus-pandemic-11d87badafa4c27f4cadb789e1ae81bd">hit the entire Northeast</a>.

The annual event has its origin in a German legend about a furry rodent. Records dating to the late 1800s show Phil has predicted longer winters more than 100 times. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b67bd366299457f8cdc663928fcfdf7f">2020 forecast called for an early spring</a>&nbsp;— however, Phil didn’t say anything about a pandemic.

In its 135-year history, Phil has predicted winter 106 times and spring 20 times, the club said. Ten years were lost because no records were kept.

Punxsutawney Phil may be the most famous groundhog seer but he’s certainly not the only one. There are two other high-profile “imposters,” as the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club calls them, in the region.

Staten Island Chuck will be asked for his prophesy Tuesday around 8 a.m. at the Staten Island Zoo in New York. That event will be streamed on Facebook since the zoo is closed.

Connecticut marked Groundhog Day with a hedgehog making the prediction after the state’s official groundhog, Chuckles X,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/connecticut-museums-manchester-animals-5a1a39d77419b93f8968b6d200ab8f88">died last year</a>. Like Phil, Phoebe predicted another six weeks of winter after seeing its shadow at the Lutz Children’s Museum in Manchester.

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — There will be six more weeks of winter, Punxsutawney Phil predicted as he emerged from his burrow on a snowy Tuesday morning to perform his Groundhog Day duties.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x2Wz9F8-DVQ?start=2877" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Members of Phil’s “inner circle” woke up the furry critter at 7:25 a.m. at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to see whether he would see his shadow or not.Shortly after this year’s prediction was revealed, one of the members of the inner circle shared a message he said Phil had told him earlier in the day: “After winter, you’re looking forward to one of the most beautiful and brightest springs you’ve ever seen.”Another member of the “inner circle” noted the uniqueness of the past year.“People have been referencing Groundhog Day. It has felt like at times we’re all living the same day over and over again,” one of the members said. “Groundhog Day also shows us that the monotony ends. The cycle will be broken.”“Today actually is Groundhog Day, there’s only one,” he added. “There is quite literally a new day coming over the horizon.”The spectacle that is Groundhog Day still went on, but because of the coronavirus pandemic, revelers weren’t able to see Phil and celebrate in person: This year, it was all virtual and included cardboard cutouts to represent spectators.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2Wz9F8-DVQ&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">A livestream</a>, which had more than 15,000 viewers at one point, played footage from previous Groundhog Day’s ahead of the big reveal.Then of course, the prognosticator of prognosticators emerged at dawn. The lore goes that if he sees his shadow as he did this year, there will be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, spring comes early.Wearing top hats, members of the club summoned Phil from a new tree stump.“You look beautiful,” club president Jeff Lundy told Phil, who directed members to one of two scrolls.A club member announced, “We have all passed through the darkness of night, but now see hope in morning’s bright light. But now when I turn to see, there’s a perfect shadow cast of me.”The livestream from Gobbler’s Knob, a tiny hill just outside Punxsutawney about 65 miles (105 kilometers) northeast of Pittsburgh, is made possible by the Pennsylvania Tourism Office’s Holi-stay PA. The event there — always Feb. 2 — dates back to 1887.Phil this year, like many years in the past, gave his forecast during a major snowstorm that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-ned-lamont-new-york-city-storms-coronavirus-pandemic-11d87badafa4c27f4cadb789e1ae81bd">hit the entire Northeast</a>.The annual event has its origin in a German legend about a furry rodent. Records dating to the late 1800s show Phil has predicted longer winters more than 100 times. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b67bd366299457f8cdc663928fcfdf7f">2020 forecast called for an early spring</a>&nbsp;— however, Phil didn’t say anything about a pandemic.In its 135-year history, Phil has predicted winter 106 times and spring 20 times, the club said. Ten years were lost because no records were kept.Punxsutawney Phil may be the most famous groundhog seer but he’s certainly not the only one. There are two other high-profile “imposters,” as the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club calls them, in the region.Staten Island Chuck will be asked for his prophesy Tuesday around 8 a.m. at the Staten Island Zoo in New York. That event will be streamed on Facebook since the zoo is closed.Connecticut marked Groundhog Day with a hedgehog making the prediction after the state’s official groundhog, Chuckles X,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/connecticut-museums-manchester-animals-5a1a39d77419b93f8968b6d200ab8f88">died last year</a>. Like Phil, Phoebe predicted another six weeks of winter after seeing its shadow at the Lutz Children’s Museum in Manchester.

🎥 Virtual Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Phil says more winter

JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on multiple charges after a traffic stop.

Just after 1p.m. Jan. 26, sheriff's&nbsp;deputies stopped a northbound Ford F-150 truck bearing a Texas license plate pulling a trailer in the City of Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The driver allegedly committed a traffic infraction. Deputies discovered that the South Dakota license plate on the trailer had been reported stolen. Deputies also located a piece of tape on the trailer tongue that had been spray painted to match the trailer. The piece of tape was covering the VIN number. The trailer had been reported stolen out of Cherry County, Nebraska in October of 2020. 

Jackson County deputies made contact with the Cherry County Nebraska Sheriff’s Office and was advised that an additional trailer had been stolen near the same time in Nebraska. Further investigation led deputies to contact the Orange County, Texas Sheriff’s Office who then was able to recover the second stolen trailer.

The pickup driver identified as Michael A. Hall, 35, of Mauriceville, Texas, was arrested on requested charges of possession of a hallucinogenic drug, driving while suspended, transporting an open container and for an outstanding felony warrant.

Deputies arrested a two passengers. Brian Michael Miller, 29, of Sulphur, Louisiana, was jailed on requested charges of possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm by a person addicted to a controlled substance, criminal possession of a weapon by felon; convicted in last 5 years.

Shane E. Sanger, 46, of Vidor, Texas, was arrested on requested charges of transporting an open container and possession of stolen property; felony. All three men were booked into the Jackson County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612214632111.png" alt="Miller-Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Miller-Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on multiple charges after a traffic stop.Just after 1p.m. Jan. 26, sheriff's&nbsp;deputies stopped a northbound Ford F-150 truck bearing a Texas license plate pulling a trailer in the City of Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The driver allegedly committed a traffic infraction. Deputies discovered that the South Dakota license plate on the trailer had been reported stolen. Deputies also located a piece of tape on the trailer tongue that had been spray painted to match the trailer. The piece of tape was covering the VIN number. The trailer had been reported stolen out of Cherry County, Nebraska in October of 2020. Jackson County deputies made contact with the Cherry County Nebraska Sheriff’s Office and was advised that an additional trailer had been stolen near the same time in Nebraska. Further investigation led deputies to contact the Orange County, Texas Sheriff’s Office who then was able to recover the second stolen trailer.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612214604457.png" alt="Hall-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Hall-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The pickup driver identified as Michael A. Hall, 35, of Mauriceville, Texas, was arrested on requested charges of possession of a hallucinogenic drug, driving while suspended, transporting an open container and for an outstanding felony warrant.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612214684637.png" alt="Sanger-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Sanger-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies arrested a two passengers. Brian Michael Miller, 29, of Sulphur, Louisiana, was jailed on requested charges of possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm by a person addicted to a controlled substance, criminal possession of a weapon by felon; convicted in last 5 years.Shane E. Sanger, 46, of Vidor, Texas, was arrested on requested charges of transporting an open container and possession of stolen property; felony. All three men were booked into the Jackson County Jail.

3 caputured in Kansas with trailer stolen in Nebraska

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Gov. Kristi Noem, who has said she’ll seek a second term as governor next year, reported raising nearly $1 million in the fourth quarter. 

The Republican reported raising about $966,000 to end the year, and spent just under $400,000. 

KELO-TV said Noem’s report showed a year-end balance of about $1.4 million. 

Former President Donald Trump urged Noem to challenge Sen. John Thune in a primary, but she has said she won’t. 

Trump was angry at Thune’s remarks on his election loss. 

Noem narrowly defeated Democrat Billie Sutton in 2018.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Gov. Kristi Noem, who has said she’ll seek a second term as governor next year, reported raising nearly $1 million in the fourth quarter. The Republican reported raising about $966,000 to end the year, and spent just under $400,000. KELO-TV said Noem’s report showed a year-end balance of about $1.4 million. Former President Donald Trump urged Noem to challenge Sen. John Thune in a primary, but she has said she won’t. Trump was angry at Thune’s remarks on his election loss. Noem narrowly defeated Democrat Billie Sutton in 2018.

Noem raises almost $1M in 4th quarter

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new monthly survey shows continued economic improvement in nine Midwest and Plains states, but business leaders indicated the coronavirus pandemic is still hurting business. 

The overall index for the region in January suggests improved growth, coming in at at a strong 67.3 from December’s 64.1. Any score above 50 on the survey’s indexes suggests growth, while a score below 50 suggests recession. 

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey. 

He estimated a rosier economic outlook in the coming months, citing an increase in the survey's confidence index. 

The monthly survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new monthly survey shows continued economic improvement in nine Midwest and Plains states, but business leaders indicated the coronavirus pandemic is still hurting business. The overall index for the region in January suggests improved growth, coming in at at a strong 67.3 from December’s 64.1. Any score above 50 on the survey’s indexes suggests growth, while a score below 50 suggests recession. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey. He estimated a rosier economic outlook in the coming months, citing an increase in the survey's confidence index. The monthly survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Midwest economy improving, but pandemic still taking a bite

NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (AP) — A southeast Nebraska sheriff says four people from Kansas died in a crash. Cass County Sheriff's Capt. 

NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (AP) — A southeast Nebraska sheriff says four people from Kansas died in a crash. Cass County Sheriff's Capt. David Lamprecht says all those killed in the crash Sunday evening were from Topeka, Kansas. The wreck happened on Highway 75 north of Nebraska City. No other information has been released.