OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett’s right-hand man says the U.S. stock market is overvalued, but he doesn’t know when the bubble will burst. 

Billionaire Charlie Munger is a vice chairman at Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate.

 Munger said Wednesday that the recent frenzy over GameStop’s stock was driven by small investors gambling on the stock market. 

He says the investors are playing the stock market like bettors at a horse rate. 

Munger says inexperienced investors are being lured into the market by newer brokerages like Robinhood that offer commission-free trading. 

In a lighter moment, Munger also said the secret to a happy life is low expectations.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett’s right-hand man says the U.S. stock market is overvalued, but he doesn’t know when the bubble will burst. Billionaire Charlie Munger is a vice chairman at Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate. Munger said Wednesday that the recent frenzy over GameStop’s stock was driven by small investors gambling on the stock market. He says the investors are playing the stock market like bettors at a horse rate. Munger says inexperienced investors are being lured into the market by newer brokerages like Robinhood that offer commission-free trading. In a lighter moment, Munger also said the secret to a happy life is low expectations.

Buffett's right-hand man says US stock market is overvalued

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans rallied solidly Wednesday against Democrats’ proposed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill as lawmakers awaited a decision by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8893a3f95038cac51ba66066554bcd20" target="_blank">the Senate’s parliamentarian&nbsp;</a>that could bolster or potentially kill a pivotal provision hiking the federal minimum wage.

Despite their paper-thin congressional majorities, Democratic leaders were poised to push the sweeping package through the House on Friday. They were hoping the Senate, where changes seem likely, would follow quickly enough to have legislation on President Joe Biden’s desk by mid-March.

By late Wednesday, not one Republican in either chamber had publicly said he or she would back the legislation. GOP leaders were honing attacks on the package as a job killer that does too little to reopen schools or businesses shuttered for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b08eb8f76932cc71049732ddd60a035d" target="_blank">the pandemic</a>&nbsp;and that was not only wasteful but also even unscrupulous.

“I haven’t seen a Republican yet that’s found something in there that they agree with,” said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. “I think all Republicans believe in three simple things: They want a bill that puts us back to work, back to school and back to health. This bill is too costly, too corrupt and too liberal.”

The hardening opposition suggested that Biden’s first major legislative initiative could encounter unanimous GOP opposition. That was a counterpoint to the new president’s refrain during his campaign about bringing the country together and a replay of the Republican wall that new President Barack Obama encountered in 2009 and most of his administration.

Democrats showed no signs of backing down, citing the assistance the measure would spread to people, businesses and state and local governments.

“If congressional Republicans want to oppose all that, my response is: Good luck,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the Senate floor.

By Wednesday evening, the most suspense was over a decision anticipated from Elizabeth MacDonough, the Senate’s nonpartisan arbiter of its rules, that promised enormous political and legislative consequences.

The relief bill includes a provision that over five years would hike the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. The parliamentarian is involved because Democrats are pushing the overall $1.9 trillion measure through Congress under special rules that will let them avoid a Senate filibuster by Republicans.

Those same rules prohibit provisions with only an “incidental” impact on the federal budget because they are chiefly driven by other policy purposes. The parliamentarian decides if a provision passes that test.

With Republicans strongly against a minimum wage increase, the only way for it to survive is by including it in a filibuster-proof bill like the COVID-19 relief measure. To end a filibuster, Democrats would need 60 votes, an impossibility for them in the evenly divided 50-50 Senate.

If the parliamentarian decides the minimum wage provision can remain in the bill, it would be a major boost for its proponents. But there would be no guarantee the measure would survive because some moderates oppose it or want it dialed back. That suggests grueling bargaining on its final form would lie ahead.

A decision by the parliamentarian that the minimum wage hike must fall from the bill could be fatal, but not necessarily. Democrats could employ a rarely used procedural move to muscle the minimum wage provision into the bill with just 51 votes anyway, but it was unclear if they could muster enough support to do that.

The minimum wage has stood at $7.25 since 2009. Winning the increase is a top priority for progressives at a time when Democrats control Congress and the White House.

The overall bill would provide millions of Americans with $1,400 direct payments to help them weather the pandemic that’s stalled much of the economy for a year and killed half a million people. It contains billions of dollars for vaccines and COVID-19 testing, schools, state and local governments and emergency jobless benefits while providing tax cuts or payments for many families with children.

In a sign of hardball politics ahead, top Republicans suggested that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Schumer squeezed money into the bill for their own states.

McCarthy said the bill had $100 million to help extend the San Francisco area’s BART commuter rail system south to San Jose. That project was approved previously by the Trump administration and is not in Pelosi’s San Francisco district, a top Democratic aide said.

McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., suggested Schumer had won money for a bridge connecting upstate New York to Canada. A senior Democratic aide said the bill contains $1.5 million for the bridge, which is in the district of Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y. The aide said it was requested in 2020 by the Trump administration’s Transportation Department, which was headed by Elaine Chao, McConnell’s wife.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614216931503.png" alt="“I haven’t seen a Republican yet that’s found something in there that they agree with," said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy&nbsp;(R-CA) -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>“I haven’t seen a Republican yet that’s found something in there that they agree with," said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy&nbsp;(R-CA) -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans rallied solidly Wednesday against Democrats’ proposed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill as lawmakers awaited a decision by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8893a3f95038cac51ba66066554bcd20" target="_blank">the Senate’s parliamentarian&nbsp;</a>that could bolster or potentially kill a pivotal provision hiking the federal minimum wage.Despite their paper-thin congressional majorities, Democratic leaders were poised to push the sweeping package through the House on Friday. They were hoping the Senate, where changes seem likely, would follow quickly enough to have legislation on President Joe Biden’s desk by mid-March.By late Wednesday, not one Republican in either chamber had publicly said he or she would back the legislation. GOP leaders were honing attacks on the package as a job killer that does too little to reopen schools or businesses shuttered for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b08eb8f76932cc71049732ddd60a035d" target="_blank">the pandemic</a>&nbsp;and that was not only wasteful but also even unscrupulous.“I haven’t seen a Republican yet that’s found something in there that they agree with,” said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. “I think all Republicans believe in three simple things: They want a bill that puts us back to work, back to school and back to health. This bill is too costly, too corrupt and too liberal.”The hardening opposition suggested that Biden’s first major legislative initiative could encounter unanimous GOP opposition. That was a counterpoint to the new president’s refrain during his campaign about bringing the country together and a replay of the Republican wall that new President Barack Obama encountered in 2009 and most of his administration.Democrats showed no signs of backing down, citing the assistance the measure would spread to people, businesses and state and local governments.“If congressional Republicans want to oppose all that, my response is: Good luck,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the Senate floor.By Wednesday evening, the most suspense was over a decision anticipated from Elizabeth MacDonough, the Senate’s nonpartisan arbiter of its rules, that promised enormous political and legislative consequences.The relief bill includes a provision that over five years would hike the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. The parliamentarian is involved because Democrats are pushing the overall $1.9 trillion measure through Congress under special rules that will let them avoid a Senate filibuster by Republicans.Those same rules prohibit provisions with only an “incidental” impact on the federal budget because they are chiefly driven by other policy purposes. The parliamentarian decides if a provision passes that test.With Republicans strongly against a minimum wage increase, the only way for it to survive is by including it in a filibuster-proof bill like the COVID-19 relief measure. To end a filibuster, Democrats would need 60 votes, an impossibility for them in the evenly divided 50-50 Senate.If the parliamentarian decides the minimum wage provision can remain in the bill, it would be a major boost for its proponents. But there would be no guarantee the measure would survive because some moderates oppose it or want it dialed back. That suggests grueling bargaining on its final form would lie ahead.A decision by the parliamentarian that the minimum wage hike must fall from the bill could be fatal, but not necessarily. Democrats could employ a rarely used procedural move to muscle the minimum wage provision into the bill with just 51 votes anyway, but it was unclear if they could muster enough support to do that.The minimum wage has stood at $7.25 since 2009. Winning the increase is a top priority for progressives at a time when Democrats control Congress and the White House.The overall bill would provide millions of Americans with $1,400 direct payments to help them weather the pandemic that’s stalled much of the economy for a year and killed half a million people. It contains billions of dollars for vaccines and COVID-19 testing, schools, state and local governments and emergency jobless benefits while providing tax cuts or payments for many families with children.In a sign of hardball politics ahead, top Republicans suggested that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Schumer squeezed money into the bill for their own states.McCarthy said the bill had $100 million to help extend the San Francisco area’s BART commuter rail system south to San Jose. That project was approved previously by the Trump administration and is not in Pelosi’s San Francisco district, a top Democratic aide said.McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., suggested Schumer had won money for a bridge connecting upstate New York to Canada. A senior Democratic aide said the bill contains $1.5 million for the bridge, which is in the district of Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y. The aide said it was requested in 2020 by the Trump administration’s Transportation Department, which was headed by Elaine Chao, McConnell’s wife.

GOP rallies against $1.9T virus relief package ahead of vote

LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a career filled with remarkable comebacks, Tiger Woods faces perhaps his toughest recovery of all.

The golf star was driving alone on a sweeping, downhill stretch of road through coastal Los Angeles suburbs when his SUV struck a raised median, crossed into oncoming lanes and flipped several times. The crash caused “significant” injuries to Woods’ right leg, and he underwent what was described as a “long surgical procedure” at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

(LA County Sheriff Villanueva discussed current events for 2 minutes and then the crash involving Tiger Woods in Rancho Palos Verdes)

Dr. Anish Mahajan, chief medical officer, said Woods shattered bones in his lower leg in multiple places. Some of his fractures went through the skin and were stabilized by a rod, while screws and pins were used for his ankle and foot injuries.

A statement on Woods’&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/TigerWoods/status/1364447580520738820" target="_blank">Twitter account</a>&nbsp;said he was awake and recovering.

“I will say that it’s very fortunate that Mr. Woods was able to come out of this alive,” said Carlos Gonzalez, a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy who was the first to arrive after a neighbor called 911.

Police said there was no evidence of drugs or alcohol. Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Wednesday on a Facebook livestream that it was “purely an accident” on a downhill section of road known for crashes.

Dr. Joseph Patterson, an orthopedic trauma surgeon at Keck Medicine of USC in Los Angeles, said injuries like Woods’ are among the most common seen in emergency rooms.

Patterson didn’t treat Woods and wouldn’t comment specifically about the golfer’s injuries but said the risk of infection is extremely high for patients with fractures that break the skin.

“Tissue can be exposed to bacteria, dirt and clothing. The outcomes can be a lot worse if that tissue gets infected,” Patterson said. Such open fractures can require multiple surgeries to repair.

Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith suffered an open fracture to his lower leg while being tackled. He nearly lost the leg due to infection but made a remarkable recovery and played last season.

The crash was the latest setback for Woods, who at times has looked unstoppable with his 15 major championships and record-tying 82 victories on the PGA Tour. He is among the world’s most recognizable sports figures, and at 45, with a reduced schedule from nine previous surgeries, remains golf’s biggest draw.

He won the 2008 U.S. Open with shredded knee ligaments and two stress fractures in his left leg. His personal life imploded on Thanksgiving weekend in 2009 when he was caught having multiple extramarital affairs and crashed his vehicle near his Florida home. He returned to win his 11th award as PGA Tour player of the year and reach No. 1.

And then after four back surgeries that kept him out of golf for the better part of two years, he won the Masters in April 2019 for the fifth time, a victory that ranks among the great comebacks in the sport.

Now it’s no longer a matter of when he plays again — the Masters is seven weeks away — but if he plays again.

Woods was in Los Angeles over the weekend as the tournament host of the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club. Monday and Tuesday had been set aside for Woods to give golf tips to celebrities on Discovery-owned GOLFTV. A tweet Monday showed him in a cart with comedian David Spade. He also worked with NBA great Dwyane Wade, who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLo-cCgH0H1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank">posted a video</a>&nbsp;on Instagram.

“It was a great day,” Wade said Tuesday night on Turner Sports, where he is a studio analyst. “And I woke up today so proud to be able to post that moment for the world, like a little snippet of our moment together. And I took a nap, and I woke up to the news. So, you know, just like everybody out there, my thoughts and prayers are all to his loved ones.”

They have come from everywhere — Jack Nicklaus and Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson and former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Woods played golf with both presidents, and Trump awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019.

Woods had a fifth back surgery, a microdiscectomy, on Dec. 23, just three days after he played the PNC Championship with his son Charlie, who now is 12. Woods also has a 13-year-old daughter, Samantha.

Woods was driving his courtesy vehicle from the Genesis Invitational when he crashed. Gonzalez, the deputy, does traffic enforcement on the road and said he sometimes catches people topping 80 mph (129 kph) in the downhill, 45-mph zone. Crashes are common.

Police said Woods was alert as firefighters pried open the front windshield to get him out. The sheriff says the airbags deployed and the inside of the SUV stayed mostly intact, which “gave him a cushion to survive the crash.”

Villanueva said Wednesday that the department hasn’t yet pulled information from the vehicle’s event data recorder, or “black box,” which would give details about speed and could be a factor.

In 2017, Florida police found him asleep behind the wheel of a car parked awkwardly on the side of the road. He was arrested on a DUI charge and said he had an unexpected reaction to prescription medicine for his back pain. Woods later pleaded guilty to reckless driving and checked into a clinic to get help with prescription medication and a sleep disorder.

Woods hasn’t won since the Zozo Championship in Japan in fall 2019, and he’s reduced his playing schedule in recent years because of injuries. Besides his five back surgeries, he’s had four surgeries on his left knee.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a career filled with remarkable comebacks, Tiger Woods faces his toughest recovery of all.

Woods was driving through a sweeping, downhill stretch of road through coastal suburbs of Los Angeles when his SUV struck a sign, crossed over a raised median and two oncoming lanes before it toppled down an embankment, coming to a halt on its side.

The airbags deployed. A sheriff’s deputy poked his head through a hole in the windshield to see Woods, still wearing his seatbelt, sitting in the driver’s seat.

The crash caused “significant” injuries all down his right leg that featured rods, pins and screws during what was described as a “long surgical procedure” at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

Anish Mahajan, the chief medical officer, said Woods shattered tibia and fibula bones on his right leg in multiple locations. Those were stabilized by a rod in the tibia. He said a combination of screws and pins were used to stabilize additional injuries in the ankle and foot.

A statement on his&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/TigerWoods/status/1364447580520738820" target="_blank">Twitter account</a>&nbsp;said he was awake, responsive and recovering.

“I will say that it’s very fortunate that Mr. Woods was able to come out of this alive,” said Carlos Gonzalez, the deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department who was the first on the scene after a neighbor called 911.

“As if his body hasn’t endured enough,” Jon Rahm, the No. 2 player in the world, said from the Workday Championship in Florida. “I just hope he can get out of the hospital after recovery and he can still play with his kids and have a normal life.”

The single-car crash was the latest setback for Woods, who at times has looked unstoppable on the golf course with his 15 major championships and record-tying 82 victories on the PGA Tour. He is among the most recognizable sports figures in the world, and at 45 with a reduced schedule from nine previous surgeries, remains golf’s biggest draw.

He won the 2008 U.S. Open with shredded knee ligaments and two stress fractures in his left leg. His personal life imploded on Thanksgiving weekend in 2009 when he was caught having multiple extramarital affairs, and he returned to win his 11th award as PGA Tour player of the year and reach No. 1.

No charges were filed, and police said there was no evidence he was impaired.

Woods was in Los Angeles over the weekend as the tournament host of the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club. Monday and Tuesday had been set aside for Discovery-owned GOLFTV for Woods to give playing tips to celebrities. A tweet Monday showed him in a cart at Rolling Hills Country Club with comedian David Spade. He also worked with NBA great Dwyane Wade, who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLo-cCgH0H1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank">posted a video</a>&nbsp;to his Instagram account.

Woods was headed to Rolling Hills on Tuesday when the accident happened.

Thoughts and prayers have come from everywhere — Jack Nicklaus and Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson, and former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Woods played golf with both of them, and Trump awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019 after perhaps his great triumph — the Masters after he had gone through four back surgeries.

The news put a damper on the World Golf Championship in Florida, where Woods was eligible to play if healthy.

“I’m sick to my stomach,” said Justin Thomas, No. 3 in the world and among the younger players whom Woods has embraced. “It hurts to see one of my closest friends get in an accident. Man, I just hope he’s all right.”

The crash happened about 7:15 a.m. as he drove his courtesy vehicle from the Genesis Invitational through the upscale suburbs. Gonzalez says he sometimes catches people topping 80 mph (129 kph) in the 45 mph zone and crashes are common.

Police said Woods was alert as firefighters pried open the front windshield to get him out. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said the airbags deployed and the inside of the SUV stayed mostly intact, which “gave him a cushion to survive the crash.”

Authorities said they checked for any odor of alcohol or other signs he was under the influence of a substance and found none. They didn’t say how fast he was driving.

This is the third time Woods has been involved in a car investigation. The most notorious was the early morning after Thanksgiving in 2009, when his SUV ran over a fire hydrant and hit a tree. That was the start of shocking revelations that he had been cheating on his wife with multiple women.

In May 2017, Florida police found him asleep behind the wheel of a car parked awkwardly on the side of the road. He was arrested on a DUI charge and said he had an unexpected reaction to prescription medicine for his back pain. Woods later pleaded guilty to reckless driving and checked into a clinic to get help with prescription medication and a sleep disorder.

He was asked during the CBS broadcast Sunday at Riviera about recovering from his back surgery in time to play the Masters and Woods replied, “God, I hope so. I’ve got to get there first.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614166677367.png" alt="The SUV Tiger Woods was driving in Tuesday's crash as it is removed from scene of the accident. photo courtesy KTLA" />
 <figcaption>The SUV Tiger Woods was driving in Tuesday's crash as it is removed from scene of the accident. photo courtesy KTLA</figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a career filled with remarkable comebacks, Tiger Woods faces perhaps his toughest recovery of all.The golf star was driving alone on a sweeping, downhill stretch of road through coastal Los Angeles suburbs when his SUV struck a raised median, crossed into oncoming lanes and flipped several times. The crash caused “significant” injuries to Woods’ right leg, and he underwent what was described as a “long surgical procedure” at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.(LA County Sheriff Villanueva discussed current events for 2 minutes and then the crash involving Tiger Woods in Rancho Palos Verdes)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FLosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment%2Fvideos%2F741778876538172%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>Dr. Anish Mahajan, chief medical officer, said Woods shattered bones in his lower leg in multiple places. Some of his fractures went through the skin and were stabilized by a rod, while screws and pins were used for his ankle and foot injuries.A statement on Woods’&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/TigerWoods/status/1364447580520738820" target="_blank">Twitter account</a>&nbsp;said he was awake and recovering.“I will say that it’s very fortunate that Mr. Woods was able to come out of this alive,” said Carlos Gonzalez, a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy who was the first to arrive after a neighbor called 911.Police said there was no evidence of drugs or alcohol. Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Wednesday on a Facebook livestream that it was “purely an accident” on a downhill section of road known for crashes.Dr. Joseph Patterson, an orthopedic trauma surgeon at Keck Medicine of USC in Los Angeles, said injuries like Woods’ are among the most common seen in emergency rooms.Patterson didn’t treat Woods and wouldn’t comment specifically about the golfer’s injuries but said the risk of infection is extremely high for patients with fractures that break the skin.“Tissue can be exposed to bacteria, dirt and clothing. The outcomes can be a lot worse if that tissue gets infected,” Patterson said. Such open fractures can require multiple surgeries to repair.Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith suffered an open fracture to his lower leg while being tackled. He nearly lost the leg due to infection but made a remarkable recovery and played last season.The crash was the latest setback for Woods, who at times has looked unstoppable with his 15 major championships and record-tying 82 victories on the PGA Tour. He is among the world’s most recognizable sports figures, and at 45, with a reduced schedule from nine previous surgeries, remains golf’s biggest draw.He won the 2008 U.S. Open with shredded knee ligaments and two stress fractures in his left leg. His personal life imploded on Thanksgiving weekend in 2009 when he was caught having multiple extramarital affairs and crashed his vehicle near his Florida home. He returned to win his 11th award as PGA Tour player of the year and reach No. 1.And then after four back surgeries that kept him out of golf for the better part of two years, he won the Masters in April 2019 for the fifth time, a victory that ranks among the great comebacks in the sport.Now it’s no longer a matter of when he plays again — the Masters is seven weeks away — but if he plays again.Woods was in Los Angeles over the weekend as the tournament host of the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club. Monday and Tuesday had been set aside for Woods to give golf tips to celebrities on Discovery-owned GOLFTV. A tweet Monday showed him in a cart with comedian David Spade. He also worked with NBA great Dwyane Wade, who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLo-cCgH0H1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank">posted a video</a>&nbsp;on Instagram.“It was a great day,” Wade said Tuesday night on Turner Sports, where he is a studio analyst. “And I woke up today so proud to be able to post that moment for the world, like a little snippet of our moment together. And I took a nap, and I woke up to the news. So, you know, just like everybody out there, my thoughts and prayers are all to his loved ones.”They have come from everywhere — Jack Nicklaus and Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson and former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Woods played golf with both presidents, and Trump awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019.Woods had a fifth back surgery, a microdiscectomy, on Dec. 23, just three days after he played the PNC Championship with his son Charlie, who now is 12. Woods also has a 13-year-old daughter, Samantha.Woods was driving his courtesy vehicle from the Genesis Invitational when he crashed. Gonzalez, the deputy, does traffic enforcement on the road and said he sometimes catches people topping 80 mph (129 kph) in the downhill, 45-mph zone. Crashes are common.Police said Woods was alert as firefighters pried open the front windshield to get him out. The sheriff says the airbags deployed and the inside of the SUV stayed mostly intact, which “gave him a cushion to survive the crash.”Villanueva said Wednesday that the department hasn’t yet pulled information from the vehicle’s event data recorder, or “black box,” which would give details about speed and could be a factor.In 2017, Florida police found him asleep behind the wheel of a car parked awkwardly on the side of the road. He was arrested on a DUI charge and said he had an unexpected reaction to prescription medicine for his back pain. Woods later pleaded guilty to reckless driving and checked into a clinic to get help with prescription medication and a sleep disorder.Woods hasn’t won since the Zozo Championship in Japan in fall 2019, and he’s reduced his playing schedule in recent years because of injuries. Besides his five back surgeries, he’s had four surgeries on his left knee.___LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a career filled with remarkable comebacks, Tiger Woods faces his toughest recovery of all.Woods was driving through a sweeping, downhill stretch of road through coastal suburbs of Los Angeles when his SUV struck a sign, crossed over a raised median and two oncoming lanes before it toppled down an embankment, coming to a halt on its side.The airbags deployed. A sheriff’s deputy poked his head through a hole in the windshield to see Woods, still wearing his seatbelt, sitting in the driver’s seat.The crash caused “significant” injuries all down his right leg that featured rods, pins and screws during what was described as a “long surgical procedure” at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.Anish Mahajan, the chief medical officer, said Woods shattered tibia and fibula bones on his right leg in multiple locations. Those were stabilized by a rod in the tibia. He said a combination of screws and pins were used to stabilize additional injuries in the ankle and foot.A statement on his&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/TigerWoods/status/1364447580520738820" target="_blank">Twitter account</a>&nbsp;said he was awake, responsive and recovering.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/vZitnFV0YA">pic.twitter.com/vZitnFV0YA</a>&mdash; Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) <a href="https://twitter.com/TigerWoods/status/1364447580520738820?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“I will say that it’s very fortunate that Mr. Woods was able to come out of this alive,” said Carlos Gonzalez, the deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department who was the first on the scene after a neighbor called 911.“As if his body hasn’t endured enough,” Jon Rahm, the No. 2 player in the world, said from the Workday Championship in Florida. “I just hope he can get out of the hospital after recovery and he can still play with his kids and have a normal life.”The single-car crash was the latest setback for Woods, who at times has looked unstoppable on the golf course with his 15 major championships and record-tying 82 victories on the PGA Tour. He is among the most recognizable sports figures in the world, and at 45 with a reduced schedule from nine previous surgeries, remains golf’s biggest draw.He won the 2008 U.S. Open with shredded knee ligaments and two stress fractures in his left leg. His personal life imploded on Thanksgiving weekend in 2009 when he was caught having multiple extramarital affairs, and he returned to win his 11th award as PGA Tour player of the year and reach No. 1.And then after four back surgeries that kept him out of golf for the better part of two years, he won the Masters in April 2019 for the fifth time, a victory that ranks among the great comebacks in the sport.Now it’s no longer a matter of when he plays again — the Masters is seven weeks away — but if he plays again.No charges were filed, and police said there was no evidence he was impaired.Woods was in Los Angeles over the weekend as the tournament host of the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club. Monday and Tuesday had been set aside for Discovery-owned GOLFTV for Woods to give playing tips to celebrities. A tweet Monday showed him in a cart at Rolling Hills Country Club with comedian David Spade. He also worked with NBA great Dwyane Wade, who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLo-cCgH0H1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank">posted a video</a>&nbsp;to his Instagram account.Woods was headed to Rolling Hills on Tuesday when the accident happened.“It was a great day,” Wade said Tuesday night on Turner Sports, where he is a studio analyst. “And I woke up today so proud to be able to post that moment for the world, like a little snippet of our moment together. And I took a nap, and I woke up to the news. So, you know, just like everybody out there, my thoughts and prayers are all to his loved ones.”Thoughts and prayers have come from everywhere — Jack Nicklaus and Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson, and former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Woods played golf with both of them, and Trump awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019 after perhaps his great triumph — the Masters after he had gone through four back surgeries.Woods had a fifth back surgery, a microdiscectomy, on Dec. 23, just three days after he played the PNC Championship with his son Charlie, who now is 12. Woods also has a 13-year-old daughter, Samantha.The news put a damper on the World Golf Championship in Florida, where Woods was eligible to play if healthy.“I’m sick to my stomach,” said Justin Thomas, No. 3 in the world and among the younger players whom Woods has embraced. “It hurts to see one of my closest friends get in an accident. Man, I just hope he’s all right.”The crash happened about 7:15 a.m. as he drove his courtesy vehicle from the Genesis Invitational through the upscale suburbs. Gonzalez says he sometimes catches people topping 80 mph (129 kph) in the 45 mph zone and crashes are common.Police said Woods was alert as firefighters pried open the front windshield to get him out. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said the airbags deployed and the inside of the SUV stayed mostly intact, which “gave him a cushion to survive the crash.”Authorities said they checked for any odor of alcohol or other signs he was under the influence of a substance and found none. They didn’t say how fast he was driving.This is the third time Woods has been involved in a car investigation. The most notorious was the early morning after Thanksgiving in 2009, when his SUV ran over a fire hydrant and hit a tree. That was the start of shocking revelations that he had been cheating on his wife with multiple women.In May 2017, Florida police found him asleep behind the wheel of a car parked awkwardly on the side of the road. He was arrested on a DUI charge and said he had an unexpected reaction to prescription medicine for his back pain. Woods later pleaded guilty to reckless driving and checked into a clinic to get help with prescription medication and a sleep disorder.Woods hasn’t won since the Zozo Championship in Japan in fall 2019, and he’s reduced his playing schedule in recent years because of injuries. Besides his five back surgeries, he’s had four surgeries on his left knee.He was asked during the CBS broadcast Sunday at Riviera about recovering from his back surgery in time to play the Masters and Woods replied, “God, I hope so. I’ve got to get there first.”___

🎥  Lucky to be alive, Tiger Woods faces difficult recovery

WASHINGTON&nbsp; (AP)—The latest federal bill related to college sports would allow athletes to earn money from endorsements, loosen restrictions around transfers and permit players to return to school after entering a professional league’s draft.

The proposed legislation introduced Wednesday by Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., also would require the wealthiest athletic programs to increase spending on long-term medical care for athletes.

“The Amateur Athletes Protection and Compensation Act would create a national standard of guidelines to make certain student athletes can benefit from the use of their name, image and likeness without hurting their eligibility to compete as a student athlete,” Moran said in a statement.

The bill is the fourth to emerge from the Senate since December and second from a Republican. Most recently, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., introduced a bill narrowly focused on giving college athletes the right to earn money off their names, images and likenesses.

In December, Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., introduced the College Athlete Bill of Rights, a sweeping proposal that could undercut the NCAA’s ability to govern college sports if passed.

That came after Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., announced he was sponsoring a bill that opened the door for athletes to be compensated for endorsement and sponsorship deals but largely protected the NCAA’s ability to set its own rules.

Moran’s bill lands somewhere in between the College Athlete Bill of Rights and Wicker’s: broader in scope than the Republican’s, but not potentially disruptive to the status quo in college athletics as the Democrats’.

It would create an independent body to oversee NIL regulations and permit athletes to have agents and give athletes a lifetime undergraduate scholarship.

Moran’s proposal would also make it possible for athletes to enter professional drafts and not lose their college eligibility — as is currently the case — and push schools to cover medical expenses athletes incur after their college careers because of injuries suffered during college competition.

The NCAA was expected to pass new NIL rules in January, but that was put on hold after scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The NCAA is looking for help from Congress in the form of a federal NIL law that would usurp myriad potential state laws working their way through legislatures around the country. Florida’s NIL law is scheduled to go into effect on July 1.

WASHINGTON&nbsp; (AP)—The latest federal bill related to college sports would allow athletes to earn money from endorsements, loosen restrictions around transfers and permit players to return to school after entering a professional league’s draft.The proposed legislation introduced Wednesday by Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., also would require the wealthiest athletic programs to increase spending on long-term medical care for athletes.“The Amateur Athletes Protection and Compensation Act would create a national standard of guidelines to make certain student athletes can benefit from the use of their name, image and likeness without hurting their eligibility to compete as a student athlete,” Moran said in a statement.The bill is the fourth to emerge from the Senate since December and second from a Republican. Most recently, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., introduced a bill narrowly focused on giving college athletes the right to earn money off their names, images and likenesses.In December, Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., introduced the College Athlete Bill of Rights, a sweeping proposal that could undercut the NCAA’s ability to govern college sports if passed.That came after Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., announced he was sponsoring a bill that opened the door for athletes to be compensated for endorsement and sponsorship deals but largely protected the NCAA’s ability to set its own rules.Moran’s bill lands somewhere in between the College Athlete Bill of Rights and Wicker’s: broader in scope than the Republican’s, but not potentially disruptive to the status quo in college athletics as the Democrats’.It would create an independent body to oversee NIL regulations and permit athletes to have agents and give athletes a lifetime undergraduate scholarship.Moran’s proposal would also make it possible for athletes to enter professional drafts and not lose their college eligibility — as is currently the case — and push schools to cover medical expenses athletes incur after their college careers because of injuries suffered during college competition.The NCAA was expected to pass new NIL rules in January, but that was put on hold after scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice.The NCAA is looking for help from Congress in the form of a federal NIL law that would usurp myriad potential state laws working their way through legislatures around the country. Florida’s NIL law is scheduled to go into effect on July 1.

Moran proposal allows college athletes to profit off their name, image 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha gym owner has been convicted of sexually assaulting a one-time aspiring Olympic powerlifter under a rarely used provision of Nebraska’s rape laws. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that a judge on Tuesday convicted 59-year-old Douglas Anders of first-degree sexual assault for allegedly using coercion and deception to have sex with the young woman at his gym several years ago. 

The woman began attending Anders’ gym when she was 15.

 Prosecutors say that when she was 17, Anders persuaded her that he needed to perform pelvic adjustments that involved him penetrating her with his fingers, and that over time, he coerced her into sex.

 Nebraska's age of sexual consent is 16, which is why prosecutors charged Anders with the rarely used coercion and deception provision.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha gym owner has been convicted of sexually assaulting a one-time aspiring Olympic powerlifter under a rarely used provision of Nebraska’s rape laws. The Omaha World-Herald reports that a judge on Tuesday convicted 59-year-old Douglas Anders of first-degree sexual assault for allegedly using coercion and deception to have sex with the young woman at his gym several years ago. The woman began attending Anders’ gym when she was 15. Prosecutors say that when she was 17, Anders persuaded her that he needed to perform pelvic adjustments that involved him penetrating her with his fingers, and that over time, he coerced her into sex. Nebraska's age of sexual consent is 16, which is why prosecutors charged Anders with the rarely used coercion and deception provision.

Omaha gym owner convicted of sex assault on rare provision

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a Wyoming man has died of injuries he received in a police shooting in Nebraska that also killed his girlfriend. 

Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner says 26-year-old Christian Alexander, of Evansville, Wyoming, died Tuesday at a Lincoln hospital.

 The police shootout Saturday morning in Lincoln also killed 30-year-old Hailey Stainbrook, of Casper, Wyoming. 

Investigators say the couple were suspected in a robbery reported in the parking lot of a Lincoln hotel around 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

 A Nebraska state trooper later spotted their vehicle and a chase ensued in which Alexander fired at officers. 

Investigators say once the vehicle was stopped, officers exchanged gunfire with the couple.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a Wyoming man has died of injuries he received in a police shooting in Nebraska that also killed his girlfriend. Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner says 26-year-old Christian Alexander, of Evansville, Wyoming, died Tuesday at a Lincoln hospital. The police shootout Saturday morning in Lincoln also killed 30-year-old Hailey Stainbrook, of Casper, Wyoming. Investigators say the couple were suspected in a robbery reported in the parking lot of a Lincoln hotel around 8:30 a.m. Saturday. A Nebraska state trooper later spotted their vehicle and a chase ensued in which Alexander fired at officers. Investigators say once the vehicle was stopped, officers exchanged gunfire with the couple.

Wyoming man dies days being shot by police in Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb.-Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, issues the following statement upon the announcement from Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner that law enforcement actions were justified during an officer-involved shooting Saturday morning in Lincoln.

“We’d like to thank the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office for their diligent and thorough investigation into Saturday’s incident,” said Colonel Bolduc. “All NSP personnel continue to cooperate fully with that investigation. Above all, we are thankful for the safety of all law enforcement personnel involved, as well as the general public. The trooper who was injured continues to recover, but may require additional treatment for the injuries he sustained when his patrol vehicle was struck by the suspects’ vehicle.”

The Nebraska State Patrol has a long-standing policy of not releasing the identities of officers during internal investigations. As NSP’s internal process continues, and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office continues its work, NSP will not release the names of the two troopers involved in the incident. In accordance with Nebraska State Statute, a grand jury will also convene to investigate the incident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1562084161517.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release Nebraska State PatrolLINCOLN, Neb.-Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, issues the following statement upon the announcement from Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner that law enforcement actions were justified during an officer-involved shooting Saturday morning in Lincoln.“We’d like to thank the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office for their diligent and thorough investigation into Saturday’s incident,” said Colonel Bolduc. “All NSP personnel continue to cooperate fully with that investigation. Above all, we are thankful for the safety of all law enforcement personnel involved, as well as the general public. The trooper who was injured continues to recover, but may require additional treatment for the injuries he sustained when his patrol vehicle was struck by the suspects’ vehicle.”The Nebraska State Patrol has a long-standing policy of not releasing the identities of officers during internal investigations. As NSP’s internal process continues, and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office continues its work, NSP will not release the names of the two troopers involved in the incident. In accordance with Nebraska State Statute, a grand jury will also convene to investigate the incident.

NSP issues statement after officer-involved shooting ruled 'justified'

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Class action lawsuits were filed in Nevada against 10 major auto insurance companies on Tuesday, contending that the companies charged excessive insurance premiums during the pandemic by failing to account for a drop in driving and crashes.

The lawsuits acknowledge that some insurers provided discounts over the emptier roads and drop in accidents and claims, but the discounts did not offer “any meaningful relief that actually reflects the reduction in cars on the road and reduced driving during the pandemic,” according to the court filings. The rates that were charged violate state law against excessive premiums, the lawsuits contend.T

The lawsuits were filed on behalf of Nevada insurance customers against State Farm, USAA, Geico, Acuity, Liberty Mutual, Farmers, Progressive, Travelers, Nationwide and Allstate.

“The filing of a lawsuit does not substantiate the allegations within the complaint,” State Farm, the country’s largest auto insurer, said in a statement. “We’ve recently learned about the filing, and it is premature to comment at this time.”

Phone and email messages seeking comment from the other insurers were not immediately returned Tuesday.

States across the country began reporting a decline in traffic and crashes when COVID-19-related closures and stay-at-home orders were imposed starting last spring. Companies that sell the majority of the policies across the U.S. announced refunds or credits to drivers.

The discounts provided by insurers to reflect pandemic driving conditions varied, from $50 to $100 one-time refund from Acuity, a 25% reduction in bills from March 20 to May 31 from State Farm, to a 15% credit from Geico only when renewing a policy between April 8 and October 7, according to the lawsuits.

“I believe that the rates should have been cut something in the order of 50-60%,” said Robert Eglet, lead counsel for the law firm Eglet Adams, which filed the lawsuits. “These discounts that were given, were just totally woefully inadequate.”

His comments are similar to those made by the Consumer Federation of America in September, which said that the relief provided by insurers was not enough and said state insurance commissioners who regulate the industry had failed “to prevent windfall auto insurer profits as auto claims dropped when driving and auto crashes declined.”

In Nevada, after the governor ordered the closure of nonessential businesses, the Nevada-California border, which sees traffic backups when tourists pour into Las Vegas for weekend trips and other getaways, had 66% less traffic in April 2020 than in the same month in 2019, according to the lawsuits, along with a 60% drop in automobile accidents in southern Nevada in March 2020 when compared to the previous year.

Eglet, whose firm represented several thousand victims of the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting in a lawsuit against MGM Resorts and the state of Nevada and a wide-ranging lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and sellers, said it was premature to estimate the total dollar amount of the claims across the lawsuit but said it was “well into the millions.”

A message seeking comment from the Nevada Division of Insurance was not immediately returned.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Class action lawsuits were filed in Nevada against 10 major auto insurance companies on Tuesday, contending that the companies charged excessive insurance premiums during the pandemic by failing to account for a drop in driving and crashes.The lawsuits acknowledge that some insurers provided discounts over the emptier roads and drop in accidents and claims, but the discounts did not offer “any meaningful relief that actually reflects the reduction in cars on the road and reduced driving during the pandemic,” according to the court filings. The rates that were charged violate state law against excessive premiums, the lawsuits contend.TThe lawsuits were filed on behalf of Nevada insurance customers against State Farm, USAA, Geico, Acuity, Liberty Mutual, Farmers, Progressive, Travelers, Nationwide and Allstate.“The filing of a lawsuit does not substantiate the allegations within the complaint,” State Farm, the country’s largest auto insurer, said in a statement. “We’ve recently learned about the filing, and it is premature to comment at this time.”Liberty Mutual declined to comment.Phone and email messages seeking comment from the other insurers were not immediately returned Tuesday.States across the country began reporting a decline in traffic and crashes when COVID-19-related closures and stay-at-home orders were imposed starting last spring. Companies that sell the majority of the policies across the U.S. announced refunds or credits to drivers.The discounts provided by insurers to reflect pandemic driving conditions varied, from $50 to $100 one-time refund from Acuity, a 25% reduction in bills from March 20 to May 31 from State Farm, to a 15% credit from Geico only when renewing a policy between April 8 and October 7, according to the lawsuits.“I believe that the rates should have been cut something in the order of 50-60%,” said Robert Eglet, lead counsel for the law firm Eglet Adams, which filed the lawsuits. “These discounts that were given, were just totally woefully inadequate.”His comments are similar to those made by the Consumer Federation of America in September, which said that the relief provided by insurers was not enough and said state insurance commissioners who regulate the industry had failed “to prevent windfall auto insurer profits as auto claims dropped when driving and auto crashes declined.”In Nevada, after the governor ordered the closure of nonessential businesses, the Nevada-California border, which sees traffic backups when tourists pour into Las Vegas for weekend trips and other getaways, had 66% less traffic in April 2020 than in the same month in 2019, according to the lawsuits, along with a 60% drop in automobile accidents in southern Nevada in March 2020 when compared to the previous year.Eglet, whose firm represented several thousand victims of the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting in a lawsuit against MGM Resorts and the state of Nevada and a wide-ranging lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and sellers, said it was premature to estimate the total dollar amount of the claims across the lawsuit but said it was “well into the millions.”A message seeking comment from the Nevada Division of Insurance was not immediately returned.

Lawsuit: 10 auto insurers charged excessive premiums during pandemic

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The risk of flooding generally remains low across most of Nebraska and Iowa because the snow across both states is expected to melt gradually in the coming days. 

National Weather Service meteorologist Allan Curtis said this week's forecast for temperatures somewhat above freezing during the days and below freezing at night with no significant new precipitation should allow the snow to melt gradually without causing too many problems.

 But the amount of ice on some rivers remains a concern because chunks of ice can create flooding as the it melts by creating ice jams that block the channel of the river. So officials will be watching how the ice melts closely.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The risk of flooding generally remains low across most of Nebraska and Iowa because the snow across both states is expected to melt gradually in the coming days. National Weather Service meteorologist Allan Curtis said this week's forecast for temperatures somewhat above freezing during the days and below freezing at night with no significant new precipitation should allow the snow to melt gradually without causing too many problems. But the amount of ice on some rivers remains a concern because chunks of ice can create flooding as the it melts by creating ice jams that block the channel of the river. So officials will be watching how the ice melts closely.

Flood risk appears low as snow is expected to melt gradually

(AP)-The Southern Baptist Convention has ousted two churches over policies deemed to be too inclusive of LGBTQ people and two more for employing pastors convicted of sex offenses. 

The actions came at an executive committee meeting marked by warnings that the country's largest Protestant denomination was hurting itself with internal divisions. The churches expelled for LGBTQ inclusion were St. Matthews Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and Towne View Baptist Church, in Kennesaw, Georgia. 

SBC officials said West Side Baptist Church in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania, had a pastor who was a registered sex offender, while Antioch Baptist Church in Sevierville, Tennessee, had a pastor who was convicted of statutory rape.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614174456207.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID CRARY-Associated Press(AP)-The Southern Baptist Convention has ousted two churches over policies deemed to be too inclusive of LGBTQ people and two more for employing pastors convicted of sex offenses. The actions came at an executive committee meeting marked by warnings that the country's largest Protestant denomination was hurting itself with internal divisions. The churches expelled for LGBTQ inclusion were St. Matthews Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and Towne View Baptist Church, in Kennesaw, Georgia. SBC officials said West Side Baptist Church in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania, had a pastor who was a registered sex offender, while Antioch Baptist Church in Sevierville, Tennessee, had a pastor who was convicted of statutory rape.

Southern Baptists oust 2 churches over LGBTQ inclusion

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) — The chief of the Cherokee Nation says it's time for auto maker Jeep to stop using the tribe's name on its Cherokee and Grand Cherokee models. 

Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said in a statement he believes corporations and team sports should stop using Native American names, images and mascots on their teams and products. Hoskin's comments were first reported by Car &amp; Driver magazine. 

A spokeswoman for Jeep’s parent company, Stellantis, says the vehicle name was carefully selected to honor Native American people. 

Hoskin says the best way to honor the Tahlequah, Oklahoma-based tribe is to learn more about their sovereign government and its history.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614174224769.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) — The chief of the Cherokee Nation says it's time for auto maker Jeep to stop using the tribe's name on its Cherokee and Grand Cherokee models. Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said in a statement he believes corporations and team sports should stop using Native American names, images and mascots on their teams and products. Hoskin's comments were first reported by Car &amp; Driver magazine. A spokeswoman for Jeep’s parent company, Stellantis, says the vehicle name was carefully selected to honor Native American people. Hoskin says the best way to honor the Tahlequah, Oklahoma-based tribe is to learn more about their sovereign government and its history.

Cherokee chief: Time for Jeep to end use of tribe's name

WASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp;During
 this tax season when many people are trying to stay safe at home, the 
Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers about ways to do their taxes 
for free online or with help from volunteers.

Taxpayers who want to prepare and file their tax returns electronically can use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a>.
 IRS Free File offers brand-name tax software for taxpayers with an 
income of $72,000 or less in 2020. Taxpayers who earned more can use 
Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic version of IRS paper forms. 
Taxpayers can get started at IRS.gov/FreeFile. IRS Free File also lets 
taxpayers get an automatic extension of time to file if they need it.

Free File is also a way to get a refund fast. Filing electronically and using <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a>
 is the fastest and most accurate way to file and get a refund. The IRS 
issues nine out of 10 refunds in 21 days or less. Taxpayers filing on 
paper can also choose direct deposit, but paper returns take longer to 
process.

Free File and e-file also help taxpayers who owe. When filing 
electronically, taxpayers can pay with electronic funds withdrawal for 
free. Another option is to pay with their bank account using <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>.
 In addition to paying online, taxpayers who owe taxes can pay using the
 IRS2Go mobile app on a smartphone or other mobile device. Information 
about all payment options is available at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a>.

Free options for the military and some veterans

<a href="https://www.militaryonesource.mil/financial-legal/tax-resource-center/miltax-military-tax-services">MilTax</a>,
 Military OneSource's tax service, provides online software for eligible
 individuals to electronically file a federal return and up to three 
state returns for free.

Military OneSource is a program funded by the Department of Defense 
that provides a range of free resources for military members, veterans 
and their families.

More information about OneSource is available at <a href="http://www.militaryonesource.mil/">MilitaryOneSource.mil</a>.

Get free tax help from volunteers in the community

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax 
help to individuals who generally make $57,000 or less, persons with 
disabilities, the elderly and individuals with limited English 
proficiency who need assistance in preparing their taxes. The Tax 
Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program also offers free tax help to 
taxpayers, particularly those age 60 and older.

For over 50 years, volunteers have prepared tax returns in 
communities across the country. Each filing season, tens of thousands of
 dedicated VITA/TCE volunteers prepare millions of federal and state 
returns. Last year, for example, over 70,000 volunteers prepared over 
2.5 million federal tax returns.

And this tax season, due to the ongoing pandemic, some volunteer 
sites will offer virtual help to taxpayers in place of face-to-face 
assistance. This allows volunteers to help taxpayers over the phone or 
online to complete their returns. While virtual tax prep will be an 
option this tax season, some VITA/TCE sites will still offer in-person 
free tax help. However, safety and social distancing will be emphasized.

IRS-certified VITA and TCE volunteers are trained to help taxpayers claim the tax credits they are entitled to such as the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc">Earned Income Tax Credit</a> and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents">Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents</a>.

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a significant tax credit for 
workers who earned $56,844 or less in 2020. The IRS estimates four out 
of five eligible taxpayers claim and get the EITC. Nationwide in 2020, 
around 25 million taxpayers received over $62 billion in EITC. The 
average EITC amount received was $2,461 per return. The EITC is worth as
 much as $6,660 for a family with three or more children or up to $538 
for taxpayers who do not have a qualifying child.

New this tax season, taxpayers can use their 2019 earned income to figure their 2020 EITC and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents">Additional Child Tax Credit</a>
 if their 2019 earned income was more than their 2020 earned income. To 
qualify for EITC, people must have earned income, so this option may 
help workers who earned less in 2020, or received unemployment income 
instead of their regular wages, get bigger tax credits and larger 
refunds in the coming year.

Also, any Economic Impact Payments received are not taxable or 
counted as income for purposes of claiming the EITC. Eligible 
individuals who did not receive the full amounts of both Economic Impact
 Payments may claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2020 tax return.
 See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">IRS.gov/rrc</a> for more information.

The VITA and TCE programs can help answer many EITC questions and 
help taxpayers claim the credit if they qualify. Taxpayers may also use 
the IRS.gov <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/use-the-eitc-assistant">EITC Assistant</a> to help them determine their eligibility.

To find the nearest VITA or TCE site, taxpayers can use the VITA and TCE <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">locator tool</a> available on IRS.gov, download the IRS mobile app <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2GO</a>,
 or call 800-906-9887. Help in other languages – Chinese, Cantonese, 
Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese – is 
also available at select locations across the country. The locator tool 
indicates where these services are offered. Please note that some 
VITA/TCE sites are not operating at full capacity this year and others 
are not opening. But the locator tool is updated throughout the tax 
season, so taxpayers can check back if they don't see a nearby site 
listed.

Taxpayers can find answers to questions, forms and instructions and 
easy-to-use tools online at IRS.gov. No appointment required and no 
waiting on hold.

This is part of a series called the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-time-guide">Tax Time Guide</a>, focused on helping people file a federal tax return accurately and efficiently. Additional help is available in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-17">Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp;During
 this tax season when many people are trying to stay safe at home, the 
Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers about ways to do their taxes 
for free online or with help from volunteers.<h2>Free File is easy, fast, safe and secure</h2>Taxpayers who want to prepare and file their tax returns electronically can use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a>.
 IRS Free File offers brand-name tax software for taxpayers with an 
income of $72,000 or less in 2020. Taxpayers who earned more can use 
Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic version of IRS paper forms. 
Taxpayers can get started at IRS.gov/FreeFile. IRS Free File also lets 
taxpayers get an automatic extension of time to file if they need it.Free File is also a way to get a refund fast. Filing electronically and using <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a>
 is the fastest and most accurate way to file and get a refund. The IRS 
issues nine out of 10 refunds in 21 days or less. Taxpayers filing on 
paper can also choose direct deposit, but paper returns take longer to 
process.Free File and e-file also help taxpayers who owe. When filing 
electronically, taxpayers can pay with electronic funds withdrawal for 
free. Another option is to pay with their bank account using <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>.
 In addition to paying online, taxpayers who owe taxes can pay using the
 IRS2Go mobile app on a smartphone or other mobile device. Information 
about all payment options is available at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a>.<h2>Free options for the military and some veterans</h2><a href="https://www.militaryonesource.mil/financial-legal/tax-resource-center/miltax-military-tax-services">MilTax</a>,
 Military OneSource's tax service, provides online software for eligible
 individuals to electronically file a federal return and up to three 
state returns for free.Military OneSource is a program funded by the Department of Defense 
that provides a range of free resources for military members, veterans 
and their families.More information about OneSource is available at <a href="http://www.militaryonesource.mil/">MilitaryOneSource.mil</a>. <h2>Get free tax help from volunteers in the community</h2>The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax 
help to individuals who generally make $57,000 or less, persons with 
disabilities, the elderly and individuals with limited English 
proficiency who need assistance in preparing their taxes. The Tax 
Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program also offers free tax help to 
taxpayers, particularly those age 60 and older.For over 50 years, volunteers have prepared tax returns in 
communities across the country. Each filing season, tens of thousands of
 dedicated VITA/TCE volunteers prepare millions of federal and state 
returns. Last year, for example, over 70,000 volunteers prepared over 
2.5 million federal tax returns.And this tax season, due to the ongoing pandemic, some volunteer 
sites will offer virtual help to taxpayers in place of face-to-face 
assistance. This allows volunteers to help taxpayers over the phone or 
online to complete their returns. While virtual tax prep will be an 
option this tax season, some VITA/TCE sites will still offer in-person 
free tax help. However, safety and social distancing will be emphasized.IRS-certified VITA and TCE volunteers are trained to help taxpayers claim the tax credits they are entitled to such as the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc">Earned Income Tax Credit</a> and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents">Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents</a>.The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a significant tax credit for 
workers who earned $56,844 or less in 2020. The IRS estimates four out 
of five eligible taxpayers claim and get the EITC. Nationwide in 2020, 
around 25 million taxpayers received over $62 billion in EITC. The 
average EITC amount received was $2,461 per return. The EITC is worth as
 much as $6,660 for a family with three or more children or up to $538 
for taxpayers who do not have a qualifying child.New this tax season, taxpayers can use their 2019 earned income to figure their 2020 EITC and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents">Additional Child Tax Credit</a>
 if their 2019 earned income was more than their 2020 earned income. To 
qualify for EITC, people must have earned income, so this option may 
help workers who earned less in 2020, or received unemployment income 
instead of their regular wages, get bigger tax credits and larger 
refunds in the coming year.Also, any Economic Impact Payments received are not taxable or 
counted as income for purposes of claiming the EITC. Eligible 
individuals who did not receive the full amounts of both Economic Impact
 Payments may claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2020 tax return.
 See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">IRS.gov/rrc</a> for more information.The VITA and TCE programs can help answer many EITC questions and 
help taxpayers claim the credit if they qualify. Taxpayers may also use 
the IRS.gov <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/use-the-eitc-assistant">EITC Assistant</a> to help them determine their eligibility.To find the nearest VITA or TCE site, taxpayers can use the VITA and TCE <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">locator tool</a> available on IRS.gov, download the IRS mobile app <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2GO</a>,
 or call 800-906-9887. Help in other languages – Chinese, Cantonese, 
Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese – is 
also available at select locations across the country. The locator tool 
indicates where these services are offered. Please note that some 
VITA/TCE sites are not operating at full capacity this year and others 
are not opening. But the locator tool is updated throughout the tax 
season, so taxpayers can check back if they don't see a nearby site 
listed.<h2>Get more help</h2>Taxpayers can find answers to questions, forms and instructions and 
easy-to-use tools online at IRS.gov. No appointment required and no 
waiting on hold.This is part of a series called the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-time-guide">Tax Time Guide</a>, focused on helping people file a federal tax return accurately and efficiently. Additional help is available in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-17">Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax</a>.<h2>IRS YouTube Videos:</h2><ul>
 <li>Free Help Preparing Your Tax Return -- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmUPHj3AvZc">English</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FudHYJ-sHHA">Spanish</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRI30K2uwgc">ASL</a></li><li>Do-It-Yourself Free Tax Preparation -- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zmzQgWs-YI">English</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBd7vqB13JY&amp;t=3s">Spanish</a></li><li>Do Your Taxes for Free With Free File – <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNEXfYT5ev8">English</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&amp;v=ME2BuXZ9bJY&amp;feature=youtu.be">Spanish</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4YPzYF0xLM">ASL</a></li>
 </ul>

IRS: How to do taxes for free and get refunds fast

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A giant vaccination center is opening in Houston to administer 126,000 coronavirus doses in the next three weeks. Nevada health officials are working overtime to distribute delayed shots. And Rhode Island is rescheduling appointments after a vaccine shipment failed to arrive as scheduled earlier in the week.

From coast to coast, states were scrambling Tuesday to catch up on vaccinations a week after winter storms battered a large swath of the U.S. and led to clinic closures, canceled appointments and shipment backlogs nationwide.

But limited supply of the two approved COVID-19 vaccines hampered the pace of vaccinations even before extreme weather delayed the delivery of about 6 million doses.

The White House promised on Tuesday that help is on the way.

States can expect about 14.5 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine this week, an almost 70% increase in distribution over the past month, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday. And White House coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients told governors on Tuesday that the number of doses sent directly to pharmacies will increase by about 100,000 this week, Psaki said.

The stepped-up efforts come as the COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. surpassed 500,000, far more than any other country.

More than 44 million Americans have received at least one dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, and about 1.4 million per day received either a first or second dose over the past seven days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Although average daily deaths and cases have been falling, some experts say not enough Americans have been inoculated for the vaccine to be the reason. The decline instead is attributed to the passing of the holidays, more people staying indoors during the winter and better adherence to mask rules and social distancing.

What’s more, they warn that dangerous variants could cause the trend to reverse itself. States are responding by simultaneously trying to catch up from last week’s pause and gear up to vaccinate more people in coming weeks.

Houston’s federally funded vaccination site will open Wednesday at NRG Park, operating seven days a week for three weeks to distribute 126,000 first doses, before transitioning to second doses, officials said.

Texans are recovering from a devastating winter storm that killed at least 35 people, left millions without power and water, and delayed vaccinations.

“It’s been trauma after trauma, and people deserve some good news, some hope,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, the county’s chief elected official.

In Buda, Texas, retired teachers Donna and Gerald Haschke, both 74, were supposed to get their second doses last week but their appointments were canceled three times because of the storm. They’re scheduled to receive doses on Thursday.

The couple are eager to get completely vaccinated after months of having to scale back all their activities because of the coronavirus. Gerald Haschke has heart stents and Donna Haschke has atrial fibrillation, she said.

“My cardiologists said, ‘You do not want to get COVID,’” Donna Haschke said. “I said, ‘No, I don’t.’ To me that was a warning that I need to stay home.”

In Mississippi, where COVID-19 vaccinations plummeted last week amid freezing temperatures and icy roads, health officials were automatically rescheduling appointments, and planned to schedule more than normal through the weekend.

The state Department of Health said Monday that just 32,540 vaccinations were given in the state last week, down from 106,691 the previous week.

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak said Monday that 46,000 doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine that were delayed by weather began arriving in the state. The head of the state’s Bureau of Child, Family and Community Wellness said officials would work overtime to administer those doses along with this week’s regularly scheduled shipment.

President Joe Biden has said that every American who wants a vaccine will be able to get one by the end of July.

But demand continues to outpace limited supplies distributed by the U.S. government.

Executives from five companies with contracts to supply shots to the U.S. — Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson &amp; Johnson, AstraZeneca and Novavax — testified about supply issues Tuesday before Congress’ Energy and Commerce Committee.

Looking ahead to summer, Pfizer and Moderna executives said they expect to complete delivery of 300 million doses each, and J&amp;J aims to provide an additional 100 million doses — more than enough to vaccinate every American adult.

Arizona will increase vaccinations by opening its fourth state-run mass vaccination clinic, state health department officials said. In addition, transportation costs to and from vaccination appointments now will be covered for people enrolled in Arizona’s Medicaid program, Gov. Doug Ducey said.

“This change will make it easier for our most vulnerable Arizonans ... to get vaccinated,” Ducey said.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said 11 mobile clinics will open in California’s vast Central Valley, an agricultural region that’s been hit hard by the coronavirus. They’ll be used mainly to vaccinate farmworkers who don’t have transportation to larger vaccination sites or can’t navigate the state’s online signup portal.

Newsom said the state also is sending 34,000 extra vaccine doses to that area from a pharmacy that wasn’t using them quickly enough.

Meanwhile, Tenessee’s top health official said Tuesday that more than 2,400 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine went to waste over the past month in Shelby County, which encompasses Memphis, while local officials sat on tens of thousands of shots that they thought had already gone into arms.

Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said a Department of Health investigation over the weekend found issues dating to Feb. 3 that included spoiled doses, an excessive vaccine inventory, insufficient record-keeping and no formal process to manage soon-to-expire vaccines. A federal investigation is also expected.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614116068039.png" alt="Vaccination effort Tuesday photo courtesy Missouri Dept. of Emergency Management" />
 <figcaption>Vaccination effort Tuesday photo courtesy Missouri Dept. of Emergency Management</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A giant vaccination center is opening in Houston to administer 126,000 coronavirus doses in the next three weeks. Nevada health officials are working overtime to distribute delayed shots. And Rhode Island is rescheduling appointments after a vaccine shipment failed to arrive as scheduled earlier in the week.From coast to coast, states were scrambling Tuesday to catch up on vaccinations a week after winter storms battered a large swath of the U.S. and led to clinic closures, canceled appointments and shipment backlogs nationwide.But limited supply of the two approved COVID-19 vaccines hampered the pace of vaccinations even before extreme weather delayed the delivery of about 6 million doses.The White House promised on Tuesday that help is on the way.States can expect about 14.5 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine this week, an almost 70% increase in distribution over the past month, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday. And White House coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients told governors on Tuesday that the number of doses sent directly to pharmacies will increase by about 100,000 this week, Psaki said.The stepped-up efforts come as the COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. surpassed 500,000, far more than any other country.More than 44 million Americans have received at least one dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, and about 1.4 million per day received either a first or second dose over the past seven days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Although average daily deaths and cases have been falling, some experts say not enough Americans have been inoculated for the vaccine to be the reason. The decline instead is attributed to the passing of the holidays, more people staying indoors during the winter and better adherence to mask rules and social distancing.What’s more, they warn that dangerous variants could cause the trend to reverse itself. States are responding by simultaneously trying to catch up from last week’s pause and gear up to vaccinate more people in coming weeks.Houston’s federally funded vaccination site will open Wednesday at NRG Park, operating seven days a week for three weeks to distribute 126,000 first doses, before transitioning to second doses, officials said.Texans are recovering from a devastating winter storm that killed at least 35 people, left millions without power and water, and delayed vaccinations.“It’s been trauma after trauma, and people deserve some good news, some hope,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, the county’s chief elected official.In Buda, Texas, retired teachers Donna and Gerald Haschke, both 74, were supposed to get their second doses last week but their appointments were canceled three times because of the storm. They’re scheduled to receive doses on Thursday.The couple are eager to get completely vaccinated after months of having to scale back all their activities because of the coronavirus. Gerald Haschke has heart stents and Donna Haschke has atrial fibrillation, she said.“My cardiologists said, ‘You do not want to get COVID,’” Donna Haschke said. “I said, ‘No, I don’t.’ To me that was a warning that I need to stay home.”In Mississippi, where COVID-19 vaccinations plummeted last week amid freezing temperatures and icy roads, health officials were automatically rescheduling appointments, and planned to schedule more than normal through the weekend.The state Department of Health said Monday that just 32,540 vaccinations were given in the state last week, down from 106,691 the previous week.Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak said Monday that 46,000 doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine that were delayed by weather began arriving in the state. The head of the state’s Bureau of Child, Family and Community Wellness said officials would work overtime to administer those doses along with this week’s regularly scheduled shipment.President Joe Biden has said that every American who wants a vaccine will be able to get one by the end of July.But demand continues to outpace limited supplies distributed by the U.S. government.Executives from five companies with contracts to supply shots to the U.S. — Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson &amp; Johnson, AstraZeneca and Novavax — testified about supply issues Tuesday before Congress’ Energy and Commerce Committee.Looking ahead to summer, Pfizer and Moderna executives said they expect to complete delivery of 300 million doses each, and J&amp;J aims to provide an additional 100 million doses — more than enough to vaccinate every American adult.Arizona will increase vaccinations by opening its fourth state-run mass vaccination clinic, state health department officials said. In addition, transportation costs to and from vaccination appointments now will be covered for people enrolled in Arizona’s Medicaid program, Gov. Doug Ducey said.“This change will make it easier for our most vulnerable Arizonans ... to get vaccinated,” Ducey said.California Gov. Gavin Newsom said 11 mobile clinics will open in California’s vast Central Valley, an agricultural region that’s been hit hard by the coronavirus. They’ll be used mainly to vaccinate farmworkers who don’t have transportation to larger vaccination sites or can’t navigate the state’s online signup portal.Newsom said the state also is sending 34,000 extra vaccine doses to that area from a pharmacy that wasn’t using them quickly enough.Meanwhile, Tenessee’s top health official said Tuesday that more than 2,400 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine went to waste over the past month in Shelby County, which encompasses Memphis, while local officials sat on tens of thousands of shots that they thought had already gone into arms.Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said a Department of Health investigation over the weekend found issues dating to Feb. 3 that included spoiled doses, an excessive vaccine inventory, insufficient record-keeping and no formal process to manage soon-to-expire vaccines. A federal investigation is also expected.___

White House promises vaccine help as states rush to catch up

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 31-year-old Iowa man has been sentenced to life in prison for the death of a Nebraska man who was stabbed more than 20 times. 

Raymond T. Davis, of Des Moines, was sentenced Tuesday for first-degree murder in the June 2018 death of 39-year-old Brent Quigley in Bellevue, Nebraska. 

He was also given two sentences of 18 to 20 years on other convictions. Authorities say Davis was part of a group that planned to rob Quigley of money and drugs.

 Christopher Reagan, of Omaha, was previously sentenced to 100 years to life for second-degree murder in Quigley's death.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 31-year-old Iowa man has been sentenced to life in prison for the death of a Nebraska man who was stabbed more than 20 times. Raymond T. Davis, of Des Moines, was sentenced Tuesday for first-degree murder in the June 2018 death of 39-year-old Brent Quigley in Bellevue, Nebraska. He was also given two sentences of 18 to 20 years on other convictions. Authorities say Davis was part of a group that planned to rob Quigley of money and drugs. Christopher Reagan, of Omaha, was previously sentenced to 100 years to life for second-degree murder in Quigley's death.

Iowa man sentenced to life in Nebraska man's stabbing death

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to confirm Tom Vilsack as agriculture secretary, his second run at the Cabinet post.

The former Iowa governor spent eight years leading the same department for former President Barack Obama's entire administration. He was confirmed Tuesday on a 92-7 vote. Both Senators from Kansas and Missouri voted in favor.

In his testimony, Vilsack, 70, heavily endorsed boosting climate-friendly agricultural industries such as the creation of biofuels, saying, “Agriculture is one of our first and best ways to get some wins" on climate change.

He proposed “building a rural economy based on biomanufacturing” and “turning agricultural waste into a variety of products.” He pledged to work closely with the Environmental Protection Agency to “spur the industry” on biofuels.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614117414218.png" alt="Tom Vilsack during his virtual confirmation hearing" />
 <figcaption>Tom Vilsack during his virtual confirmation hearing</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to confirm Tom Vilsack as agriculture secretary, his second run at the Cabinet post.The former Iowa governor spent eight years leading the same department for former President Barack Obama's entire administration. He was confirmed Tuesday on a 92-7 vote. Both Senators from Kansas and Missouri voted in favor.In his testimony, Vilsack, 70, heavily endorsed boosting climate-friendly agricultural industries such as the creation of biofuels, saying, “Agriculture is one of our first and best ways to get some wins" on climate change.He proposed “building a rural economy based on biomanufacturing” and “turning agricultural waste into a variety of products.” He pledged to work closely with the Environmental Protection Agency to “spur the industry” on biofuels.With systemic racial inequity now a nationwide talking point, Vilsack also envisioned creating an “equity task force” inside the department. Its job, he said, would be to identify what he called “intentional or unintentional barriers" that prevent or discourage farmers of color from properly accessing federal assistance programs.Vilsack also heavily backed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — commonly known as food stamps, or SNAP — as a key instrument in helping the country's most vulnerable families survive and recover from the pandemic era. His Trump-era predecessor, Sonny Perdue, had sought to purge hundreds of thousands of people from the SNAP-recipient lists.