<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?508741-1/impeachment-trial">CLICK here</a> to watch a replay of Day 2 of the impeachment trial.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivVOPWrFfW4&amp;feature=youtu.be">Click here </a>to watch the video shown by House Impeachment managers of the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats opened their first day of arguments in former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial Wednesday with searing footage of the U.S. Capitol riot as they painted Trump as an “inciter in chief” who systematically riled up his supporters and falsely convinced them the election had been stolen, culminating in the deadly attack.

“He assembled, inflamed and incited his followers to descend upon the Capitol,” said the lead impeachment manager, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md.

As she presented harrowing footage of the siege, Del. Stacey Plaskett, a Democrat representing the U.S. Virgin Islands and one of the prosecutors, said Trump had “put a target” on the backs of then-Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who were leading the certification of President Joe Biden’s election victory. “His mob broke into the Capitol to hunt them down,” Plaskett said.

Highlights from the first full day of arguments:

Trump’s voice rang out in the Senate Chamber as Democrats aired video from his rallies and other remarks to supporters. Interspersed throughout were slides of Trump’s tweets contesting the election and promoting the Jan. 6 rally in Washington, which he promised would be “wild.”

The impeachment managers put Trump’s rhetoric on trial, from the months he spent laying the groundwork to contest the election results to the speech he delivered outside the White House egging his supporters to “fight” before they stormed the Capitol.

“He truly made his base believe that the only way he could lose was if the election were rigged,” said Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, another one of the prosecutors.

Trump, the House impeachment managers argued, whipped his supporters into a frenzy with the “big lie” that their votes had been stolen, and urged them to fight.

“This attack never would have happened but for Donald Trump,” said Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., choking back emotion. “And so they came, draped in Trump’s flag, and used our flag, the American flag, to batter and to bludgeon.”

There was no widespread fraud in the election, as has been confirmed by election officials across the country and former Attorney General William Barr. Dozens of legal challenges&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-losing-election-lawsuits-36d113484ac0946fa5f0614deb7de15e">to the election</a>&nbsp;put forth by Trump and his allies were dismissed.

To reconstruct the siege for senators, Democrats aired never-before-seen security footage from inside the Capitol that showed the attack unfolding. Their presentation included chilling video of the rioters rampaging into the building and audio of distressed police officers who tried in vain to keep them out. “We have been flanked and we’ve lost the line,” one frantic officer could be heard saying.

The presentation also showed the perilous moments when lawmakers and others, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Pence, were rushed to safety; body cam footage of an officer being beaten; the sounds of crunching, breaking glass; profane screams and violent threats; and cries as the rioters streamed into the building, some carrying riot shields and weapons.

“Where do they count the f—ing votes?” one member of the mob could be heard shouting. “You work for us,” one yelled at officers. “Where’s that meeting at?”

Democrats warned that many of the scenes would be hard to watch, including the horrifying screams of an officer being crushed in a doorway and video of one of the rioters, Ashli E. Babbitt, being shot to death by U.S. Capitol Police.

Also never before seen: Footage of Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman, who has already been hailed as a hero, warning Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, that the mob was headed his way. Romney turned and dashed in the other direction.

“I did not know that was Officer Goodman,” Romney told reporters after seeing it. “I look forward to thanking him when I next see him.”

Goodman also directed the mob away from the Senate Chamber and toward other officers.

While the Democrats excoriated Trump, they lavished praise on an unlike figure: former Vice President Pence, outlining in exacting detail how his life had been put in physical danger and hailing him as a “patriot” for defying Trump’s pressure campaign to overturn the election results.

“Vice President Pence had the courage to stand against the president, tell the American public the truth and uphold our Constitution. That is patriotism,” said Plaskett, whose presentation included previously unseen footage of Pence and his family being evacuated from the Senate chamber as rioters spread through the Capitol.

Other footage showed the rioters chanting “Hang Mike Pence!” as others searching for him. At one point, Plaskett said, the rioters were within 100 feet of where Pence was sheltering with his family.

“They were talking about assassinating the vice president of the United States,” she said.

Many Republicans had been appalled by Trump’s treatment of his most loyal soldier during his final days in office. And the focus appeared to be a tacit acknowledgement of the Democrats’ intended audience as they try to convince Senate Republicans — many of whom are close with Pence — that Trump deservers to be punished for what happened.

“Mike Pence is not a traitor to this country. He’s a patriot,” said Castro. “And he and his family, who was with him that day, didn’t deserve this, didn’t deserve a president unleashing a mob on them, especially because he was just doing his job.”

They were merely observers as Democrats had the floor. But members of Trump’s legal team indicated they would stay the course despite a flood of criticism, both from Republican senators and the former president, about their performance during procedural arguments Tuesday.

“Not at all,” said attorney Bruce Castor when asked by reporters whether there would be any changes to their strategy. “No, I don’t anticipate any,” echoed David Schoen, another attorney.

Both Castor and Schoen said they had spoken to Trump on Tuesday, but Castor denied that the former president had expressed displeasure to him.

“Far from it,” he said, even as Schoen allowed there was room for improvement after Republican senators panned their performance as disjointed and unhelpful.

“To the extent they were critical of anything that I did, I just want to try to do a better job then,” he said.

“Bottom line is I think his team will do better, can do better,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, D-S.C., a close ally of the president, after the two had spoken. While he acknowledged there was “room for improvement,” Graham said he’d tried to tell Trump that “the case is over. It’s just a matter of getting the final verdict now. ” All but six Republican senators voted Tuesday against moving forward with the trial.

Dean described the House Chamber descending into chaos as she stood with colleagues in the gallery above the floor and made panicked calls to her husband and sons.

“Someone shouted up to us, ‘Duck!’ then ‘Lie down!’ then ’Ready your gas masks!” she remembered. “Shortly after there was a terrifying banging on the chamber doors. I will never forget that sound.”

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., described the text he sent to his wife telling her to hug their young children.

“On Jan. 6,” said Castro, “President Trump left everyone in this Capitol for dead.”

Throughout the proceeding, the House managers served as personal witnesses of the horror and repeatedly invoked the word “us” as they appealed to fellow lawmakers targeted in the attack.

“He was coming for you, for Democratic and Republican senators. He was coming for all of us, just as the mob did at his direction,” said Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., after describing Trump’s rhetoric.

There appears little chance enough Republicans will break with Democrats to convict Trump at the end of the trial. And some of them appeared indifferent to the proceedings and unmoved by the evidence Wednesday.

Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, who led the Senate challenge to the election along with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, said the prosecutors’ case was “predictable” and included information that was already public.

The video evidence was “nothing new here, for me, at the end of the day,” said Hawley, who maintains the trial is unconstitutional.

Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, another close ally of Trump, predicted the remainder of the trial was “going to be pretty tedious” and said the two sides would be better served if they just made their cases “in a couple hours” and be “done with this.”

And Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who sat with his back to the screen, writing notes on a pad, walked out in the middle of Plaskett’s description of the threats against Pence.

It was a notable contrast with Democrats like Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin, who described the prosecutors’ presentation of evidence as “painful” to watch.

While it forced them to relive a traumatic moment, “it also helps to bring closure, so I think it’s something that we have to go through,” said Cardin, who described Jan. 6 as “one of the roughest days of our life.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — Prosecutors in Donald Trump’s impeachment trial said Wednesday they would prove that Trump was no “innocent bystander” but the “inciter in chief” of the deadly attack at the Capitol aimed at overturning his election loss to Joe Biden.

Opening the first full day of arguments, the lead House prosecutor said promised to lay out evidence that shows the president encouraged a rally crowd to head to the Capitol, then did nothing to stem the violence and watched with “glee” as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">a mob stormed the iconic building.&nbsp;</a>Five people died.

“To us it may have felt like chaos and madness, but there was method to the madness that day,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-capitol-siege-politics-impeachments-trump-impeachment-878fc4adba85111cec52f1e8ebd20d77">Rep. Jamie Raskin,&nbsp;</a>D-Md.

The day’s proceedings were unfolding after an emotional start to the trial that left the f<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-capitol-siege-florida-impeachments-trump-impeachment-54837c716ae5267f91e861ff9aedc31f">ormer president fuming</a>&nbsp;Tuesday when his attorneys delivered a meandering defense and failed to halt the trial on constitutional grounds. Some allies called for yet another shakeup to his legal team.

Trump is the first president to face an impeachment trial after leaving office and the first to be twice impeached. The Jan. 6 Capitol riot followed a rally during which Trump urged his supporters to “fight like hell,” words his lawyers say were simply a figure of speech. He is charged with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-impeachments-united-states-constitutions-capitol-siege-8c5849fb738765a5c467044498356e1c">“incitement of insurrection.”</a>

Senators, many of whom fled for safety the day of the attack, watched Tuesday’s graphic videos of the Trump supporters who battled past police to storm the halls, Trump flags waving. More video is expected Wednesday, including some that hasn’t been seen before.

The prosecutors are arguing that Trump’s words weren’t just free speech but part of “the big lie” — his relentless efforts to sow doubts about the election results. Those began long before the votes were tabulated, revving up his followers to “stop the steal” though there was no evidence of substantial fraud.

Trump knew very well what would happen when he took to the microphone at the outdoor White House rally that day, almost to the hour that Congress gaveled in to certify Biden’s win, said Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo.

“This was not just a speech,” he said.

Trump’s supporters were prepped and armed, ready to descend on the Capitol, Neguse said. “When they heard his speech, they understood his words.”

Security remained extremely tight Wednesday at the Capitol, fenced off with razor wire and patrolled by National Guard troops.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden would not be watching the trial.

“Joe Biden is the president, he’s not a pundit, he’s not going to opine on back and forth arguments,” she said.

The difficulty facing Trump’s defense team became apparent at the start as they leaned on the process of the trial, unlike any other, rather than the substance of the case against the former president.

As the House impeachment managers described police officers maimed in the chaos and rioters parading in the very chamber where the trial was being held, Trump’s team countered that the Constitution doesn’t allow impeachment at this late date.

Even though the Senate rejected that argument in Tuesday’s vote to proceed to the trial, the legal issue could resonate with Senate Republicans eager to acquit Trump without being seen as condoning his behavior.

Defense lawyer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-capitol-siege-elections-impeachments-13f27eab74b260d2a41b331e2adf3461">Bruce Castor</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday he shifted his planned approach after hearing the prosecutors’ emotional opening and instead spoke conversationally to the senators, saying Trump’s team would denounce the “repugnant” attack and “in the strongest possible way denounce the rioters.” He encouraged the senators to be “cool headed” as they assessed the arguments.

Trump attorney Schoen turned the trial toward starkly partisan tones, arguing the Democrats were fueled by a “base hatred” of the former president.

A frustrated Trump on Tuesday revived his demands to focus on his unsupported claims of voter fraud, repeatedly telephoning former White House aide Peter Navarro, who told The Associated Press in an interview he agrees. He is calling on Trump to fire his legal team.

“If he doesn’t make a mid-course correction here, he’s going to lose this Super Bowl,” Navarro said, a reference to public opinion, not the unlikely possibility of conviction.

Republicans made it clear that they were unhappy with Trump’s defense, many of them saying they didn’t understand where it was going — particularly Castor’s opening.

While six Republicans joined with Democrats to vote to proceed with the trial, the 56-44 vote was far from the two-thirds threshold of 67 votes that would be needed for conviction.

As the country numbs to the Trump era’s shattering of civic norms, the prosecutors sought to remind senators and the nation how extraordinary it was to have a sitting U.S. president working to discredit the election.

In hundreds of tweets, remarks and interviews as far back as spring and summer, Trump was spreading false claims about the election and refusing to commit to the peaceful transfer of power once it was over, they said.

As violence mounted in the states in the weeks and months before Trump supporters marched to the Capitol, he could have told loyalists to stand down. But he didn’t.

The mob “didn’t come out of thin air,” said Rep . Joaquin Castro, D-Texas.

The public scenes of attack were distilled in highly personal terms, first when Raskin broke down in tears Tuesday describing his family hiding in the Capitol that day. On Wednesday, Neguse, the son of immigrants, recalled telling his father how proud he was to return to Congress that night to finish the work of certifying the election. Castro said as a Democrat from Texas, he knew how hard it is to lose elections.

They also shared comments of the Capitol Police, including a Black officer who described racial epithets being hurled at him by the rioters.

“That’s the question before all of you in this trial, is this America?” Raskin told the senators.

It appears unlikely that the House prosecutors will call witnesses, and Trump has declined a request to testify. The trial is expected to continue into the weekend.

Trump’s second&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/trump-impeachment">impeachment trial&nbsp;</a>is expected to diverge from the lengthy, complicated affair of a year ago. In that case, Trump was charged with having privately pressured Ukraine to dig up dirt on Biden, then a Democratic rival for the presidency. It could be over in half the time.

The Democratic-led House impeached the president swiftly, one week after the attack. A Capitol police officer was among those who died.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Opening arguments begin Wednesday in Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/trump-impeachment">impeachment trial&nbsp;</a>after an emotional first day that wrenched senators and the nation back to the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Trump’s attorneys sought to halt the trial on constitutional grounds, but lost that bid on Tuesday. Their arguments were meandering at times,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-capitol-siege-florida-impeachments-trump-impeachment-54837c716ae5267f91e861ff9aedc31f">leaving Trump fuming</a>&nbsp;over his lawyers’ performance and allies questioning the defense strategy. Some called for yet another shakeup to his legal team.

House Democratic prosecutors are seeking to link Trump directly to the riot that left five people dead, replaying videos of the rioters trying to stop the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s victory and Trump’s statements urging them to fight the election results.

On Wednesday, they plan to use Capitol security footage that hasn’t been publicly released before as they argue that Trump incited the insurrection, according to Democratic aides working on the case.

Trump is the first president to face an impeachment trial after leaving office and the first to be twice impeached. The riot followed a rally during which Trump urged his supporters to “fight like hell,” words his lawyers say were simply a figure of speech. He is charged with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-impeachments-united-states-constitutions-capitol-siege-8c5849fb738765a5c467044498356e1c">“incitement of insurrection.”</a>

“That’s a high crime and misdemeanor,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-capitol-siege-politics-impeachments-trump-impeachment-878fc4adba85111cec52f1e8ebd20d77">Rep. Jamie Raskin,</a>&nbsp;D-Md., declared in opening remarks. “If that’s not an impeachable offense, then there’s no such thing.”

On Wednesday and into Thursday, the managers plan to tell a “succinct” story, according to the aides, who were granted anonymity to discuss the upcoming arguments. They will start with Trump’s false claims that there was massive election fraud and build to the Jan. 6 riots as a “culmination” of his efforts to overturn his defeat.

The Democrats will argue that Trump inflamed and encouraged groups that had violent backgrounds, the aides say, and they will show how much worse it could have been. The aides said they will use the new Capitol security footage to make that case, but did not describe it.

Security remains extremely tight at the Capitol, fenced off with razor wire and patrolled by National Guard troops.

🎥 Trump impeachment Day 2 highlights: Harrowing video footage

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A former Lincoln police officer who resigned days before he was charged for an incident that happened while he was off-duty has pleaded not guilty in the case. 

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that 32-year-old Benjamin Rieker entered the written plea before he was set to appear in court on Wednesday. 

He's charged with third-degree assault and false reporting. 

Rieker resigned Jan. 26, days before the assault charge was filed.

 Investigators say Rieker was working security at a Lincoln hospital Oct. 31 when he sought out a 51-year-old man he had earlier argued with and shoved the man unprovoked, causing the man to fall and hit his head.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A former Lincoln police officer who resigned days before he was charged for an incident that happened while he was off-duty has pleaded not guilty in the case. The Lincoln Journal Star reports that 32-year-old Benjamin Rieker entered the written plea before he was set to appear in court on Wednesday. He's charged with third-degree assault and false reporting. Rieker resigned Jan. 26, days before the assault charge was filed. Investigators say Rieker was working security at a Lincoln hospital Oct. 31 when he sought out a 51-year-old man he had earlier argued with and shoved the man unprovoked, causing the man to fall and hit his head.

Ex-Lincoln officer pleads not guilty to assaulting man

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Medical Center are notifying patients and employees whose personal information may have been compromised in a data security breach last fall. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the breach may have affected up to 219,000 people in Nebraska and other states. 

Health system officials said in a statement that an investigation begun in late September found no evidence that peoples’ personal information from the breach had been used to commit fraud or identity theft. 

System technology employees discovered the problem on Sept. 20. 

The incident led to the postponement of patient appointments for a time and required staff in the system’s hospitals and clinics to chart by hand.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Medical Center are notifying patients and employees whose personal information may have been compromised in a data security breach last fall. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the breach may have affected up to 219,000 people in Nebraska and other states. Health system officials said in a statement that an investigation begun in late September found no evidence that peoples’ personal information from the breach had been used to commit fraud or identity theft. System technology employees discovered the problem on Sept. 20. The incident led to the postponement of patient appointments for a time and required staff in the system’s hospitals and clinics to chart by hand.

Nebraska health system notifying patients of data breach

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal authorities are investigating a massive counterfeit N95 mask operation in which fake 3M masks were sold in at least five states to hospitals, medical facilities and government agencies. The foreign-made knockoffs are becoming increasingly difficult to spot and could put health care workers at grave risk for the coronavirus.

These masks are giving first responders “a false sense of security,” said Steve Francis, assistant director for global trade investigations with the Homeland Security Department’s principal investigative arm. He added, “We’ve seen a lot of fraud and other illegal activity.”

Officials could not name the states or the company involved because of the active investigation.

Nearly a year into the pandemic, fraud remains a major problem as scammers seek to exploit hospitals and desperate and weary Americans. Federal investigators say they have seen an increase in phony websites purporting to sell vaccines as well as fake medicine produced overseas and scams involving personal protective equipment. The schemes deliver phony products, unlike fraud earlier in the pandemic that focused more on fleecing customers.

3M, based in Maplewood, Minnesota, is among the largest global producers of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Health-Care-Particulate-Respirator-and-Surgical-Mask-1860-N95-120-EA-Case/?N=5002385+3294795990&amp;preselect=3293786499&amp;rt=rud" target="_blank">N95 mask</a>, which has been approved by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and is considered the gold standard in protection against the coronavirus. The company delivered some 2 billion N95 masks in 2020 as the pandemic soared, but in earlier months of the pandemic, when masks were in short supply, fraudsters starting popped up.

“They’re not coming from authorized distributors,” said Kevin Rhodes, 3M’s vice president and deputy general counsel. “They’re coming from companies really just coming into existence.”

Rhodes encouraged medical facilities and even workers to look on the company’s website for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/worker-health-safety-us/covid19/covid-fraud/" target="_blank">tips on how to spot fakes</a>, namely through packaging or faulty trademarks.

“These products are not tested to see if they make the N95 standards,” he said “They’re not interested in testing them. They’re interested in making as many as they can as cheaply as possible.”

During the pandemic, Homeland Security Investigations has used its 7,000 agents in tandem with border officials, the Food and Drug Administration and the FBI to investigate scams, seize phony products and arrest hundreds of people to help stop fraud. The effort is based at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iprcenter.gov/about" target="_blank">National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center</a>, a government watchdog aimed at enforcing international trade laws and combating intellectual property theft.

There have been already more than 1,250 raids by law enforcement that resulted in the seizure of 10 million counterfeit 3M masks alone.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f6f7ca233d85ef59cc89396b1e0779ba">The company has filed more than a dozen lawsuits</a>&nbsp;over reports of fraud, counterfeiting and price gouging.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/850d9e6834fc71967af6d3dda65ad874">There are many other reports of fraudulent masks that have reached frontline workers.</a>

In the latest matter, Homeland Security investigators sent an email warning of potential fraud to certain states. The email, viewed by The Associated Press, said 3M N95 mask models 1860 and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Health-Care-Particulate-Respirator-and-Surgical-Mask-1860S-Small-N95-120-EA-Case/?N=5002385+3294795977&amp;preselect=3293786499&amp;rt=rud" target="_blank">1860S</a>&nbsp;may have been provided by a company called Q2 Solutions and the masks may be fraudulent. The masks have a seal that says “Peru,” which is not used outside of Latin America. The company is based in Miami and has offices around the U.S. and globally. It did not respond to requests for comment.

Officials in Washington state examined their mask supply, which had come from a different company, and discovered that 300,000 masks they had purchased for about $1.4 million were counterfeit. Officials are investigating.

Beth Zborowski of the Washington State Hospital Association said the fraud has the potential to affect 1.9 million masks but they are mostly in stockpile now rather than general circulation.

She said the mask supplier had been vetted and the masks “passed all the physical and visual inspection test.” Zborowski said that for a time, the association could not get the masks directly from 3M, but the company now is expediting its order after learning of the fraud.

Health care workers “have plenty of anxieties on a day-to-day basis. They don’t need to also worry about whether their masks are fake,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593789172033.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal authorities are investigating a massive counterfeit N95 mask operation in which fake 3M masks were sold in at least five states to hospitals, medical facilities and government agencies. The foreign-made knockoffs are becoming increasingly difficult to spot and could put health care workers at grave risk for the coronavirus.These masks are giving first responders “a false sense of security,” said Steve Francis, assistant director for global trade investigations with the Homeland Security Department’s principal investigative arm. He added, “We’ve seen a lot of fraud and other illegal activity.”Officials could not name the states or the company involved because of the active investigation.Nearly a year into the pandemic, fraud remains a major problem as scammers seek to exploit hospitals and desperate and weary Americans. Federal investigators say they have seen an increase in phony websites purporting to sell vaccines as well as fake medicine produced overseas and scams involving personal protective equipment. The schemes deliver phony products, unlike fraud earlier in the pandemic that focused more on fleecing customers.3M, based in Maplewood, Minnesota, is among the largest global producers of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Health-Care-Particulate-Respirator-and-Surgical-Mask-1860-N95-120-EA-Case/?N=5002385+3294795990&amp;preselect=3293786499&amp;rt=rud" target="_blank">N95 mask</a>, which has been approved by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and is considered the gold standard in protection against the coronavirus. The company delivered some 2 billion N95 masks in 2020 as the pandemic soared, but in earlier months of the pandemic, when masks were in short supply, fraudsters starting popped up.“They’re not coming from authorized distributors,” said Kevin Rhodes, 3M’s vice president and deputy general counsel. “They’re coming from companies really just coming into existence.”Rhodes encouraged medical facilities and even workers to look on the company’s website for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/worker-health-safety-us/covid19/covid-fraud/" target="_blank">tips on how to spot fakes</a>, namely through packaging or faulty trademarks.“These products are not tested to see if they make the N95 standards,” he said “They’re not interested in testing them. They’re interested in making as many as they can as cheaply as possible.”During the pandemic, Homeland Security Investigations has used its 7,000 agents in tandem with border officials, the Food and Drug Administration and the FBI to investigate scams, seize phony products and arrest hundreds of people to help stop fraud. The effort is based at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iprcenter.gov/about" target="_blank">National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center</a>, a government watchdog aimed at enforcing international trade laws and combating intellectual property theft.There have been already more than 1,250 raids by law enforcement that resulted in the seizure of 10 million counterfeit 3M masks alone.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f6f7ca233d85ef59cc89396b1e0779ba">The company has filed more than a dozen lawsuits</a>&nbsp;over reports of fraud, counterfeiting and price gouging.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/850d9e6834fc71967af6d3dda65ad874">There are many other reports of fraudulent masks that have reached frontline workers.</a>In the latest matter, Homeland Security investigators sent an email warning of potential fraud to certain states. The email, viewed by The Associated Press, said 3M N95 mask models 1860 and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Health-Care-Particulate-Respirator-and-Surgical-Mask-1860S-Small-N95-120-EA-Case/?N=5002385+3294795977&amp;preselect=3293786499&amp;rt=rud" target="_blank">1860S</a>&nbsp;may have been provided by a company called Q2 Solutions and the masks may be fraudulent. The masks have a seal that says “Peru,” which is not used outside of Latin America. The company is based in Miami and has offices around the U.S. and globally. It did not respond to requests for comment.Officials in Washington state examined their mask supply, which had come from a different company, and discovered that 300,000 masks they had purchased for about $1.4 million were counterfeit. Officials are investigating.Beth Zborowski of the Washington State Hospital Association said the fraud has the potential to affect 1.9 million masks but they are mostly in stockpile now rather than general circulation.She said the mask supplier had been vetted and the masks “passed all the physical and visual inspection test.” Zborowski said that for a time, the association could not get the masks directly from 3M, but the company now is expediting its order after learning of the fraud.Health care workers “have plenty of anxieties on a day-to-day basis. They don’t need to also worry about whether their masks are fake,” she said.

Government investigating massive counterfeit N95 mask scam

LINCOLN, Neb.: American Communications Group announced today the publication of&nbsp;On the Record, a new book by the public policy advocacy group that compiles all of the floor speeches that state Sen. Ernie Chambers delivered during the 105th Nebraska Legislature’s second session in 2018.

Students of the legislative process or fans of Sen. Chambers will appreciate the insight into the workings of the Nebraska Legislature, as well as Sen. Chambers’ conduct and oratorical prowess during his floor speeches. Students of the civil rights movement will appreciate a snapshot of an unwavering advocate.

Sen. Chambers was a well-known African American activist before his first election to the Legislature in 1970, having appeared prominently in the award-winning 1966 documentary “A Time for Burning,” recently revived in the wake of the George Floyd protests.

The transcript of this session was chosen in particular because it shows the senator’s breadth of advocacy on various issues, his acute mastery of the legislative process, his rhetorical style and his sense of humor. All of these elements and many of the same themes have been on display for nearly five decades, defining a unique career in American politics and the advancement of human rights.

In 2013, after winning what was called a landslide victory, Sen. Chambers was the first state senator to return to the Legislature after being term-limited out. In 2020, he was the first state senator to be term-limited twice.

The book is 1,200 pages long and arranged in three volumes covering 20 days each of the 60-day legislative session. Printed editions are available for $79 plus postage from the website senatorchambers.com, as well as a freewill contribution PDF version, created especially for students.

About American Communications Group, Inc.:&nbsp;American Communications Group, Inc. supports the efforts of local, state and national organizations to craft public policy. Learn more at acgusa.net.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612994889046.png" alt="Courtesy Image" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy Image</figcaption>
 </figure>News ReleaseLINCOLN, Neb.: American Communications Group announced today the publication of&nbsp;On the Record, a new book by the public policy advocacy group that compiles all of the floor speeches that state Sen. Ernie Chambers delivered during the 105th Nebraska Legislature’s second session in 2018.Students of the legislative process or fans of Sen. Chambers will appreciate the insight into the workings of the Nebraska Legislature, as well as Sen. Chambers’ conduct and oratorical prowess during his floor speeches. Students of the civil rights movement will appreciate a snapshot of an unwavering advocate.Sen. Chambers was a well-known African American activist before his first election to the Legislature in 1970, having appeared prominently in the award-winning 1966 documentary “A Time for Burning,” recently revived in the wake of the George Floyd protests.The transcript of this session was chosen in particular because it shows the senator’s breadth of advocacy on various issues, his acute mastery of the legislative process, his rhetorical style and his sense of humor. All of these elements and many of the same themes have been on display for nearly five decades, defining a unique career in American politics and the advancement of human rights.In 2013, after winning what was called a landslide victory, Sen. Chambers was the first state senator to return to the Legislature after being term-limited out. In 2020, he was the first state senator to be term-limited twice.The book is 1,200 pages long and arranged in three volumes covering 20 days each of the 60-day legislative session. Printed editions are available for $79 plus postage from the website senatorchambers.com, as well as a freewill contribution PDF version, created especially for students.About American Communications Group, Inc.:&nbsp;American Communications Group, Inc. supports the efforts of local, state and national organizations to craft public policy. Learn more at acgusa.net.

New book compiles former Nebraska Sen. Ernie Chambers floor speeches

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has relented on not playing the national anthem before home games this season. 

The move came shortly after the NBA reiterated its “longstanding league policy” to include the anthem. Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says he intends to introduce a bill in the Texas Senate that will ensure the national anthem is played at all events that receive public funding. He says the bill has broad support.

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said Tuesday he decided before this season began not to play the national anthem before the team’s home games.

The Mavericks played their first 10 regular-season home games without fans. The club had fans for the first time in Monday’s 127-122 win over Minnesota. Dallas is allowing 1,500 vaccinated essential workers to attend games for free.

Cuban didn’t elaborate on his decision not to play the anthem, saying nobody had noticed. The Athletic first reported that Dallas had dropped the anthem.

NBA spokesman Tim Frank said, “Under the unique circumstances of this season, teams are permitted to run their pregame operations as they see fit.”

Cuban was outspoken against critics of NBA players and coaches kneeling during “The Star-Spangled Banner” when the 2019-20 season resumed in the bubble in Florida last summer.

The pregame national anthem is a staple of American sports at both the professional and collegiate level, but is far less commonplace at pro sporting events in other countries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612966901542.png" alt="Photo courtesy KTLA" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KTLA</figcaption>
 </figure>DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has relented on not playing the national anthem before home games this season. The move came shortly after the NBA reiterated its “longstanding league policy” to include the anthem. Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says he intends to introduce a bill in the Texas Senate that will ensure the national anthem is played at all events that receive public funding. He says the bill has broad support.DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said Tuesday he decided before this season began not to play the national anthem before the team’s home games.The Mavericks played their first 10 regular-season home games without fans. The club had fans for the first time in Monday’s 127-122 win over Minnesota. Dallas is allowing 1,500 vaccinated essential workers to attend games for free.Cuban didn’t elaborate on his decision not to play the anthem, saying nobody had noticed. The Athletic first reported that Dallas had dropped the anthem.NBA spokesman Tim Frank said, “Under the unique circumstances of this season, teams are permitted to run their pregame operations as they see fit.”Cuban was outspoken against critics of NBA players and coaches kneeling during “The Star-Spangled Banner” when the 2019-20 season resumed in the bubble in Florida last summer.The pregame national anthem is a staple of American sports at both the professional and collegiate level, but is far less commonplace at pro sporting events in other countries.

Team relents on anthem after NBA reiterates policy

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A Wyoming resident has filed a lawsuit against two deputies after he and his mother were stunned and arrested during a welfare check last year. 

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported Thursday that Cheyenne resident Devin Bryant filed the lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court claiming Laramie County sheriff’s deputies Jason Gillott and Ryan Lee violated his Fourth Amendment rights and acted negligently. 

The lawsuit alleges the deputies removed Bryant from his home in Jan. 28, 2020, before 3 a.m. and stunned him and his mother “without legal justification.”

 Sheriff’s office spokesperson Deputy Jeff Barnes said the department was aware of the lawsuit but could not comment on ongoing litigation.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A Wyoming resident has filed a lawsuit against two deputies after he and his mother were stunned and arrested during a welfare check last year. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported Thursday that Cheyenne resident Devin Bryant filed the lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court claiming Laramie County sheriff’s deputies Jason Gillott and Ryan Lee violated his Fourth Amendment rights and acted negligently. The lawsuit alleges the deputies removed Bryant from his home in Jan. 28, 2020, before 3 a.m. and stunned him and his mother “without legal justification.” Sheriff’s office spokesperson Deputy Jeff Barnes said the department was aware of the lawsuit but could not comment on ongoing litigation.

Wyoming resident sues county, deputies over welfare check

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — A new report says Wyoming played a significant part in helping the country increase its wind energy production by nearly doubling capacity in 2020. 

The Star-Tribune reported Wyoming installed 1,123 megawatts of wind power, ranking second nationwide behind Texas in new wind capacity added in last year’s fourth quarter. 

A quarterly report compiled by the American Clean Power Association says the U.S. installed 16,913 megawatts of new wind power capacity last year, which was an 85% increase compared to 2019. 

A significant portion of the development was led by Wyoming’s largest utility, Rocky Mountain Power.

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — A new report says Wyoming played a significant part in helping the country increase its wind energy production by nearly doubling capacity in 2020. The Star-Tribune reported Wyoming installed 1,123 megawatts of wind power, ranking second nationwide behind Texas in new wind capacity added in last year’s fourth quarter. A quarterly report compiled by the American Clean Power Association says the U.S. installed 16,913 megawatts of new wind power capacity last year, which was an 85% increase compared to 2019. A significant portion of the development was led by Wyoming’s largest utility, Rocky Mountain Power.

Wyoming wind energy capacity nearly doubled, report says

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s largest city has extended its mask mandate for another three months to help limit the spread of the coronavirus. 

Omaha’s City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to extend the requirement through May 25. 

The council also rejected a proposed change to the rule that would have exempted children aged 5 to 12.

 Currently, the mandate generally requires everyone 5 and older to wear masks any time they can’t stay six feet apart from others indoors. 

The state said 4.8% of Nebraska’s population has now received both required doses of a coronavirus vaccine and 239,832 doses have been administered.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s largest city has extended its mask mandate for another three months to help limit the spread of the coronavirus. Omaha’s City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to extend the requirement through May 25. The council also rejected a proposed change to the rule that would have exempted children aged 5 to 12. Currently, the mandate generally requires everyone 5 and older to wear masks any time they can’t stay six feet apart from others indoors. The state said 4.8% of Nebraska’s population has now received both required doses of a coronavirus vaccine and 239,832 doses have been administered.

Omaha extends mask mandate through May without any changes

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem says the state will have an additional $125 million in one-time funds. 

She used the announcement to tout her hands-off approach to the pandemic, while acknowledging that much of the windfall was thanks to the federal stimulus. 

The Republican governor pointed to the state’s unemployment rate, which is among the lowest in the nation, as proof that her decision to keep South Dakota “open” was the right one. 

But the state has the highest rate of virus deaths per capita in the Midwest.

 Lawmakers are debating how best to use a surge in one-time funds this year.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem says the state will have an additional $125 million in one-time funds. She used the announcement to tout her hands-off approach to the pandemic, while acknowledging that much of the windfall was thanks to the federal stimulus. The Republican governor pointed to the state’s unemployment rate, which is among the lowest in the nation, as proof that her decision to keep South Dakota “open” was the right one. But the state has the highest rate of virus deaths per capita in the Midwest. Lawmakers are debating how best to use a surge in one-time funds this year.

Noem reveals $125 million extra funds, touts virus response

United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Seth Mock, 33, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Lincoln by Senior United States District Judge Richard G. Kopf for theft of government property.&nbsp; Mock was sentenced to 5 years of probation with intermittent confinement along with special conditions and ordered to pay $339,588.84 in restitution. Mock’s Loving Life Learning Center was also ordered to pay $181,489 in restitution, an amount constituting a portion of the larger restitution award ordered against Seth Mock.

Seth Mock was the owner of Mock’s Loving Life Learning Center (MLLLC), a childcare center that provided services in Omaha beginning in June, 2014.&nbsp; Mock signed contracts with the State of Nebraska to receive reimbursement payments through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Child Care Development Fund Program (CCDF) for childcare expenses for eligible children pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States and the State of Nebraska.&nbsp; MLLLC was licensed as a childcare center by the State of Nebraska. Mock was trained by the State of Nebraska in the proper submission of CCDF claims for reimbursement.&nbsp;

From August, 2014 to December, 2015, MLLLC knowingly stole and converted to its own use money and property of the United States, through HHS, a department thereof, having a value in excess of $96,000, through the intentional submissions of false claims to the State of Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. The submission reported false information which inflated the number of children and hours that children attended Mock’s Loving Life Learning Center in order to receive additional and fraudulent payments from the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

“Today, Mr. Mock has been held accountable for his actions that involved deceit and trickery when he used fraudulently obtained government funds meant for his daycare for his personal use,” said David Talcott, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation division in the St. Louis Field Office. “IRS CI, along with law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to identify, investigate and prosecute individuals like Mr. Mock.”

This case was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations Division, and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.&nbsp;

News Release US Attorney' Office-OmahaUnited States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Seth Mock, 33, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Lincoln by Senior United States District Judge Richard G. Kopf for theft of government property.&nbsp; Mock was sentenced to 5 years of probation with intermittent confinement along with special conditions and ordered to pay $339,588.84 in restitution. Mock’s Loving Life Learning Center was also ordered to pay $181,489 in restitution, an amount constituting a portion of the larger restitution award ordered against Seth Mock.Seth Mock was the owner of Mock’s Loving Life Learning Center (MLLLC), a childcare center that provided services in Omaha beginning in June, 2014.&nbsp; Mock signed contracts with the State of Nebraska to receive reimbursement payments through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Child Care Development Fund Program (CCDF) for childcare expenses for eligible children pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States and the State of Nebraska.&nbsp; MLLLC was licensed as a childcare center by the State of Nebraska. Mock was trained by the State of Nebraska in the proper submission of CCDF claims for reimbursement.&nbsp;From August, 2014 to December, 2015, MLLLC knowingly stole and converted to its own use money and property of the United States, through HHS, a department thereof, having a value in excess of $96,000, through the intentional submissions of false claims to the State of Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. The submission reported false information which inflated the number of children and hours that children attended Mock’s Loving Life Learning Center in order to receive additional and fraudulent payments from the United States Department of Health and Human Services.“Today, Mr. Mock has been held accountable for his actions that involved deceit and trickery when he used fraudulently obtained government funds meant for his daycare for his personal use,” said David Talcott, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation division in the St. Louis Field Office. “IRS CI, along with law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to identify, investigate and prosecute individuals like Mr. Mock.”This case was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations Division, and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.&nbsp;

Former Omaha daycare provider sentenced for theft of government property

By DEE-ANN DURBIN-Associated Press&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;(AP)-Aunt Jemima is making her last batch of pancakes.

Quaker Oats said Tuesday that its Aunt Jemima brand pancake mix and syrup will be renamed Pearl Milling Company. Aunt Jemima products will continue to be sold until June, when the packaging will officially change over.

Quaker Oats, a division of PepsiCo Inc.,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e71abe3b6e25e05fb7c76c20b86f6b60">had announced last June</a>&nbsp;that it would retire the Aunt Jemima brand, saying the character’s origins are “based on a racial stereotype.” The smiling Aunt Jemima logo was inspired by the 19th century “mammy” minstrel character, a Black woman content to serve her white masters. A former slave, Nancy Green, became the first face of the pancake products in 1890.

Quaker Oats bought the Aunt Jemima brand in 1925 and had updated the logo over the years in an effort to remove the negative stereotypes. But in the cultural reckoning that followed last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests, Quaker decided to change the name altogether. Other brands,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-archive-racial-injustice-6683668ebc9d22e0265bc853b3c75cde">like Uncle Ben’s rice</a>, followed.

Quaker said Pearl Milling Company was founded in 1888 in St. Joseph, Missouri, and was the originator of self-rising pancake mix. While the brand will be new to store shelves, the boxes and bottles of syrup will still have the familiar red packaging of Aunt Jemima.

Quaker said it sought input from customers, employees and external cultural experts as it developed the new brand name.

Quaker said it is also donating $1 million to groups that empower Black women and girls as part of the Pearl Milling Company rollout.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612962396130.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> By DEE-ANN DURBIN-Associated Press&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(AP)-Aunt Jemima is making her last batch of pancakes.Quaker Oats said Tuesday that its Aunt Jemima brand pancake mix and syrup will be renamed Pearl Milling Company. Aunt Jemima products will continue to be sold until June, when the packaging will officially change over.Quaker Oats, a division of PepsiCo Inc.,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e71abe3b6e25e05fb7c76c20b86f6b60">had announced last June</a>&nbsp;that it would retire the Aunt Jemima brand, saying the character’s origins are “based on a racial stereotype.” The smiling Aunt Jemima logo was inspired by the 19th century “mammy” minstrel character, a Black woman content to serve her white masters. A former slave, Nancy Green, became the first face of the pancake products in 1890.Quaker Oats bought the Aunt Jemima brand in 1925 and had updated the logo over the years in an effort to remove the negative stereotypes. But in the cultural reckoning that followed last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests, Quaker decided to change the name altogether. Other brands,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-archive-racial-injustice-6683668ebc9d22e0265bc853b3c75cde">like Uncle Ben’s rice</a>, followed.Quaker said Pearl Milling Company was founded in 1888 in St. Joseph, Missouri, and was the originator of self-rising pancake mix. While the brand will be new to store shelves, the boxes and bottles of syrup will still have the familiar red packaging of Aunt Jemima.Quaker said it sought input from customers, employees and external cultural experts as it developed the new brand name.Quaker said it is also donating $1 million to groups that empower Black women and girls as part of the Pearl Milling Company rollout.

Aunt Jemima brand gets a new name: Pearl Milling Company

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats muscled past Republicans on portions of President Joe Biden’s pandemic plan, including a proposed $130 billion in additional relief to help the nation’s schools reopen and a gradual increase of the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Democrats on the Education and Labor Committee say schools won’t be able to reopen safely until they get an infusion of federal funding to repair building ventilation systems, buy protective equipment and take other steps recommended by federal health officials. The plan faces opposition from Republicans who want to tie new school funding to reopening.

The panel met Tuesday to craft its portion of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-coronavirus-action-plan-3d8d5841bb9098a81ad9452fb2619024">a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package</a>&nbsp;that tracks with Biden’s plan for battling the pandemic and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-coronavirus-pandemic-inflation-janet-yellen-bill-clinton-6d7e097c4ea3752671822dda742d489e">reviving a still staggering economy</a>. Democrats hope to rush the bill to Biden for his signature by mid-March, using a special budget-related process allowing certain legislation to be approved by a simple majority.

Rep. Bobby Scott, chair of the Education and Labor Committee, dismissed complaints from Republicans who objected to use of the process.

“We must address the urgent needs of the people now,” said Scott, D-Va., “The multiple crises affecting our communities will grow worse every day if we do not act. We must recognize that we cannot afford to prioritize process over the urgent needs of people across this country.”

House Republicans attempted dozens of changes to the legislation at a hearing that stretched late into the evening. They proposed amendments to limit funding only to schools offering in-person instruction, or to steer aid to families if their schools continued operating online. On the wage increase, they sought to exempt small businesses or certain rural areas. It appeared all of the amendments would be defeated.

Biden has made reopening most of the nation’s K-8 schools within his first 100 days in office a key goal. The issue has become increasingly heated as some school districts face gridlock with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-teaching-coronavirus-pandemic-chicago-d51f2ebe1504cfe36eb5ea8467567389">teachers who have refused to support reopening</a>&nbsp;until their demands are met. Biden’s plan for $130 billion in school funding is in addition to more than $8 billion from previous relief packages.

In a tweak to Biden’s plan, the Democratic proposal would require schools to reserve at least 20% of the funding for efforts to address learning loss, including after-school programs and summer classes. The bill also matches Biden’s proposed $40 billion for colleges and universities but, unlike the White House plan, makes private colleges eligible for relief.

Democrats also tucked in a new limit on for-profit colleges that the party has pushed for years. The proposal would prevent for-profit colleges from accepting more than 90% of their overall funding from federal sources. An existing federal law includes that cap for some federal sources but excludes funding from the GI Bill and other veterans programs.

Republicans blasted the legislation in its entirety, saying schools have already received billions in aid and are safe to reopen. They cited data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that social distancing and wearing a mask significantly reduce the spread of the virus in school settings.

“Students are falling behind, and mental health issues are on the rise. We know the costs of keeping schools closed are high. So why are schools still closed?” said Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., the ranking Republican on the Education and Labor Committee. “Unfortunately, this bill is full of partisan policies disguised as COVID relief measures.”

The lawmakers’ dispute reflected the complexities and frustrations of the national debate over reopening schools. Republicans proposed several variations of the same idea: to limit funding to schools that don’t reopen. Rep. Gregory Murphy, R-N.C., sought to block funding from schools unless they bring at least high-needs students back to the classroom.

“We need to stop the excuses,” Murphy said. “We need to stop all the nonsense. We need to get our kids back in school. Stop ruining their futures and stop playing games.”

Scott countered that schools can’t make changes needed to reopen safely unless they get the funding in Biden’s plan.

Republicans also signaled a fight over standardized testing, backing a proposed change to prevent relief funding from being used on academic assessments. Republicans say states should be exempt from federally required tests this spring because of the pandemic, while some Democrats say it’s necessary to identify and help students who have fallen behind.

The $350 billion portion of the bill before the committee also includes Biden’s plan to raise the minimum wage from $7.25, where is has been since 2009. The proposal calls for gradual increases that would reach $15 over five years. It faces an uphill climb, however, and even Biden has said it likely won’t survive.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters Tuesday that Democrats were trying to overcome a potential procedural obstacle that could prevent them from including the wage increase in the COVID-19 relief bill.

“We’re trying to work as well as we can with the parliamentarian to get minimum wage to happen,” Schumer said.

Under Senate rules, provisions cannot be included in the special procedure Democrats are using if the language’s impact on the budget is only secondary to its main thrust. It is up to the chamber’s nonpartisan parliamentarian to determine that, though it would be possible for Democrats to vote to ignore that ruling. The fast-track process Democrats are using would let them prevent a GOP filibuster.

The minimum wage boost faces other significant challenges, including opposition from Republicans and a wariness by some Democrats arguing it would hurt small businesses, especially during a pandemic.

Also on Tuesday, Biden met with five business leaders, including the heads of JPMorgan Chase, Walmart, Gap, Lowe’s and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612905317024.png" alt="The Democratic proposal would require schools to reserve at least 20% of the funding for efforts to address learning loss, including after-school programs and summer classes. Photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>The Democratic proposal would require schools to reserve at least 20% of the funding for efforts to address learning loss, including after-school programs and summer classes. Photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats muscled past Republicans on portions of President Joe Biden’s pandemic plan, including a proposed $130 billion in additional relief to help the nation’s schools reopen and a gradual increase of the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.Democrats on the Education and Labor Committee say schools won’t be able to reopen safely until they get an infusion of federal funding to repair building ventilation systems, buy protective equipment and take other steps recommended by federal health officials. The plan faces opposition from Republicans who want to tie new school funding to reopening.The panel met Tuesday to craft its portion of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-coronavirus-action-plan-3d8d5841bb9098a81ad9452fb2619024">a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package</a>&nbsp;that tracks with Biden’s plan for battling the pandemic and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-coronavirus-pandemic-inflation-janet-yellen-bill-clinton-6d7e097c4ea3752671822dda742d489e">reviving a still staggering economy</a>. Democrats hope to rush the bill to Biden for his signature by mid-March, using a special budget-related process allowing certain legislation to be approved by a simple majority.Rep. Bobby Scott, chair of the Education and Labor Committee, dismissed complaints from Republicans who objected to use of the process.“We must address the urgent needs of the people now,” said Scott, D-Va., “The multiple crises affecting our communities will grow worse every day if we do not act. We must recognize that we cannot afford to prioritize process over the urgent needs of people across this country.”House Republicans attempted dozens of changes to the legislation at a hearing that stretched late into the evening. They proposed amendments to limit funding only to schools offering in-person instruction, or to steer aid to families if their schools continued operating online. On the wage increase, they sought to exempt small businesses or certain rural areas. It appeared all of the amendments would be defeated.Biden has made reopening most of the nation’s K-8 schools within his first 100 days in office a key goal. The issue has become increasingly heated as some school districts face gridlock with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-teaching-coronavirus-pandemic-chicago-d51f2ebe1504cfe36eb5ea8467567389">teachers who have refused to support reopening</a>&nbsp;until their demands are met. Biden’s plan for $130 billion in school funding is in addition to more than $8 billion from previous relief packages.In a tweak to Biden’s plan, the Democratic proposal would require schools to reserve at least 20% of the funding for efforts to address learning loss, including after-school programs and summer classes. The bill also matches Biden’s proposed $40 billion for colleges and universities but, unlike the White House plan, makes private colleges eligible for relief.Democrats also tucked in a new limit on for-profit colleges that the party has pushed for years. The proposal would prevent for-profit colleges from accepting more than 90% of their overall funding from federal sources. An existing federal law includes that cap for some federal sources but excludes funding from the GI Bill and other veterans programs.Republicans blasted the legislation in its entirety, saying schools have already received billions in aid and are safe to reopen. They cited data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that social distancing and wearing a mask significantly reduce the spread of the virus in school settings.“Students are falling behind, and mental health issues are on the rise. We know the costs of keeping schools closed are high. So why are schools still closed?” said Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., the ranking Republican on the Education and Labor Committee. “Unfortunately, this bill is full of partisan policies disguised as COVID relief measures.”The lawmakers’ dispute reflected the complexities and frustrations of the national debate over reopening schools. Republicans proposed several variations of the same idea: to limit funding to schools that don’t reopen. Rep. Gregory Murphy, R-N.C., sought to block funding from schools unless they bring at least high-needs students back to the classroom.“We need to stop the excuses,” Murphy said. “We need to stop all the nonsense. We need to get our kids back in school. Stop ruining their futures and stop playing games.”Scott countered that schools can’t make changes needed to reopen safely unless they get the funding in Biden’s plan.Republicans also signaled a fight over standardized testing, backing a proposed change to prevent relief funding from being used on academic assessments. Republicans say states should be exempt from federally required tests this spring because of the pandemic, while some Democrats say it’s necessary to identify and help students who have fallen behind.The $350 billion portion of the bill before the committee also includes Biden’s plan to raise the minimum wage from $7.25, where is has been since 2009. The proposal calls for gradual increases that would reach $15 over five years. It faces an uphill climb, however, and even Biden has said it likely won’t survive.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters Tuesday that Democrats were trying to overcome a potential procedural obstacle that could prevent them from including the wage increase in the COVID-19 relief bill.“We’re trying to work as well as we can with the parliamentarian to get minimum wage to happen,” Schumer said.Under Senate rules, provisions cannot be included in the special procedure Democrats are using if the language’s impact on the budget is only secondary to its main thrust. It is up to the chamber’s nonpartisan parliamentarian to determine that, though it would be possible for Democrats to vote to ignore that ruling. The fast-track process Democrats are using would let them prevent a GOP filibuster.The minimum wage boost faces other significant challenges, including opposition from Republicans and a wariness by some Democrats arguing it would hurt small businesses, especially during a pandemic.Also on Tuesday, Biden met with five business leaders, including the heads of JPMorgan Chase, Walmart, Gap, Lowe’s and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.Biden said the meeting was a chance to find common ground with the business community.“We’re going to talk about the state of the economy, the recovery package. We’re going talk a little bit, God willing, about infrastructure down the road, and also about the minimum wage,” Biden said at the start of the meeting.The president said he has been “exchanging correspondence and telephone calls with Republicans to see if we can follow up beyond where we are with members of House and Senate,” even as Congress is moving forward with a budgetary process that will enable them to pass the relief package along party lines.___