ATLANTA (AP) — Travelers on airplanes and public transportation like buses and subways will be required to wear face masks starting today to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/Mask-Order-CDC_GMTF_01-29-21-p.pdf">mask-wearing rule late </a>Friday that builds on an order announced Jan. 21 by President Joe Biden.

The rule “will protect Americans and provide confidence that we can once again travel safely even during this pandemic,” said Dr. Marty Cetron, director of CDC’s division of migration and quarantine, who signed the order.

The 11-page&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/Mask-Order-CDC_GMTF_01-29-21-p.pdf" target="_blank">CDC order&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;makes refusal to wear a mask a violation of federal law, enforced by the Transportation Security Administration and other federal, state and local authorities.

<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/Mask-Order-CDC_GMTF_01-29-21-p.pdf">Click here</a> to read the order

The rule applies to passengers on airplanes, trains, subways, buses, taxis and ride-shares. It says travelers must wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth while riding and while getting on and off rides. The order extends to waiting areas such as airports, train platforms and subway stations.

Airlines already require masks and have banned more than 2,000 passengers for refusing to wear one. Flight attendant unions have said a federal rule will make it easier for crews to enforce the requirement.

The order exempts children under 2 years of age and people with a disability that makes it unsafe to wear a mask. Airlines struggled with an exemption for safety and stopped allowing it. The CDC said transportation operators can require medical documentation.

Travelers will be allowed to remove masks while eating or drinking.

The CDC said some face coverings aren’t good enough to comply with the rule. The don’t-travel list includes face shields, bandanas, masks with exhalation valves and masks that are too big or otherwise don’t fit properly.

The CDC said transportation operators may require a negative COVID-19 test from passengers. Cetron said this week that the health agency is considering requiring testing of passengers on flights within the United States, but the airline industry is fighting a testing requirement out of fear that fewer people will fly. U.S. air travel is already down more than 60% from a year ago.

The CDC rule came just over a week after Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-protecting-the-federal-workforce-and-requiring-mask-wearing/" target="_blank">executive order</a>, which already mandated masks on certain modes of public transportation including planes and trains, and it mandated masks on federal property.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611228674924.png" alt="President Biden signed an Executive Order on mask wearing his first day in office-image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden signed an Executive Order on mask wearing his first day in office-image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) — Travelers on airplanes and public transportation like buses and subways will be required to wear face masks starting today to curb the spread of COVID-19.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/Mask-Order-CDC_GMTF_01-29-21-p.pdf">mask-wearing rule late </a>Friday that builds on an order announced Jan. 21 by President Joe Biden.The rule “will protect Americans and provide confidence that we can once again travel safely even during this pandemic,” said Dr. Marty Cetron, director of CDC’s division of migration and quarantine, who signed the order.The 11-page&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/Mask-Order-CDC_GMTF_01-29-21-p.pdf" target="_blank">CDC order&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;makes refusal to wear a mask a violation of federal law, enforced by the Transportation Security Administration and other federal, state and local authorities.<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/Mask-Order-CDC_GMTF_01-29-21-p.pdf">Click here</a> to read the orderThe rule applies to passengers on airplanes, trains, subways, buses, taxis and ride-shares. It says travelers must wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth while riding and while getting on and off rides. The order extends to waiting areas such as airports, train platforms and subway stations.Airlines already require masks and have banned more than 2,000 passengers for refusing to wear one. Flight attendant unions have said a federal rule will make it easier for crews to enforce the requirement.The order exempts children under 2 years of age and people with a disability that makes it unsafe to wear a mask. Airlines struggled with an exemption for safety and stopped allowing it. The CDC said transportation operators can require medical documentation.Travelers will be allowed to remove masks while eating or drinking.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612200579953.png" alt="CDC image" />
 <figcaption>CDC image</figcaption>
 </figure>The CDC said some face coverings aren’t good enough to comply with the rule. The don’t-travel list includes face shields, bandanas, masks with exhalation valves and masks that are too big or otherwise don’t fit properly.The CDC said transportation operators may require a negative COVID-19 test from passengers. Cetron said this week that the health agency is considering requiring testing of passengers on flights within the United States, but the airline industry is fighting a testing requirement out of fear that fewer people will fly. U.S. air travel is already down more than 60% from a year ago.The CDC rule came just over a week after Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-protecting-the-federal-workforce-and-requiring-mask-wearing/" target="_blank">executive order</a>, which already mandated masks on certain modes of public transportation including planes and trains, and it mandated masks on federal property.

Refusal to wear face mask now a federal violation

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota has recorded 179 new cases of COVID-19 and three new deaths due the coronavirus. 

The update released Sunday brings the number of positive tests to 108,250 and the number of deaths to 1,778 since the start of the pandemic. 

The COVID Tracking Project ranks the death count 40th highest in the country overall and the sixth highest per capita at about 201 deaths per 100,000 people. 

Officials say the number of hospitalizations dropped by 20 in the last day, to 125. 

Of those patients, 25 are being treated in intensive care units and 19 are requiring ventilators.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota has recorded 179 new cases of COVID-19 and three new deaths due the coronavirus. The update released Sunday brings the number of positive tests to 108,250 and the number of deaths to 1,778 since the start of the pandemic. The COVID Tracking Project ranks the death count 40th highest in the country overall and the sixth highest per capita at about 201 deaths per 100,000 people. Officials say the number of hospitalizations dropped by 20 in the last day, to 125. Of those patients, 25 are being treated in intensive care units and 19 are requiring ventilators.

South Dakota confirms 179 new virus cases, 3 new deaths

GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic is taking a heavy toll on mental health in Wyoming. Lana and Doug Dicus, of Gillette, partly blame isolation during the pandemic for the death of their daughter. 

Twenty-four-year-old Tristan Rosenau took her own life in August. Lana Dicus says her daughter's mental health struggles were worsened by not being able to go out and socialize or otherwise be around more people. 

Campbell County behavioral health analyst Kristina Leslie says financial strain is also heightening stress and worsening moods. 

The Gillette News Record reports Wyoming ranks 45th in the U.S. for access to mental health care.

GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic is taking a heavy toll on mental health in Wyoming. Lana and Doug Dicus, of Gillette, partly blame isolation during the pandemic for the death of their daughter. Twenty-four-year-old Tristan Rosenau took her own life in August. Lana Dicus says her daughter's mental health struggles were worsened by not being able to go out and socialize or otherwise be around more people. Campbell County behavioral health analyst Kristina Leslie says financial strain is also heightening stress and worsening moods. The Gillette News Record reports Wyoming ranks 45th in the U.S. for access to mental health care.

Pandemic isolation puts strain on mental health in Wyoming

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic push to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour has emerged a flashpoint in the fight for a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, testing President Joe Biden’s ability to bridge Washington’s partisan divides as he pursues his first major legislative victory.

Biden called for a $15 hourly minimum wage during his campaign and has followed through by hitching it to a measure that, among other things, calls for $1,400 stimulus checks and $130 billion to help schools reopen. Biden argues that anyone who holds a full-time job shouldn’t live in poverty, echoing progressives in the Democratic Party who are fully on board with the effort.

“With the economic divide, I mean, I want to see a $15 minimum wage. It should actually be $20,” said Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.

Some Republicans support exploring an increase but are uneasy with $15 an hour. They warn that such an increase could lead to job losses in an economy that has nearly 10 million fewer jobs than it did before the pandemic began. Moderates such as Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rep. Tom Reed of New York are urging Biden to split off the minimum wage hike from COVID-19 talks and deal with it separately.

“The more you throw into this bucket of COVID relief that’s not really related to the crisis, the more you risk the credibility with the American people that you’re really sincere about the crisis,” Reed said. Including the wage increase, Murkowski said, “complicates politically an initiative that we should all be working together to address.”

The resistance from moderates has left Democrats with a stark choice: Wait and build bipartisan support for an increase or move ahead with little to no GOP backing, potentially as part of a package that can pass the Senate with Vice President Kamala Harris’ tiebreaking vote.&nbsp;

Biden is set to meet Monday with a group of 10 Republican senators who have proposed spending about one-third of what he is seeking in coronavirus aid.&nbsp;

White House press secretary Jen Psaki says that Biden has spoken with the leader of the group, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. The invitation to the White House came hours after the lawmakers had sent Biden a letter urging him to negotiate rather than try to ram through his $1.9 trillion package solely on Democratic votes.&nbsp;

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who unveiled $15 wage legislation last week with the backing of 37 Senate Democrats. His bill would gradually raise the wage to $15 over a period of five years. The federal minimum is $7.25 and has not been raised since 2009.

Sanders, the incoming chair of the Senate Budget Committee, said it was fine with him if Republicans were not prepared to “come on board.” He said the government needed to pump money into the economy to make sure “people are not working on starvation wages.”

Democrats are moving toward using a tool that allows certain budget-related items to bypass the Senate filibuster — a hurdle requiring 60 votes — and pass with a simple majority. Sanders is confident that a minimum wage increase fits within the allowed criteria for what is referred to in Washington lingo as budget reconciliation, though the Senate parliamentarian has final say on what qualifies.

“As you will recall, my Republican colleagues used reconciliation to give almost $2 trillion in tax breaks to the rich and large corporations in the midst of massive income inequality. They used reconciliation to try to repeal the Affordable Care Act and throw 32 million people off the health care they had. They used reconciliation to allow for drilling in the Arctic wilderness,” Sanders said. “You know what? I think we can use reconciliation to protect the needs of working families.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the Senate as early as next week will begin taking the first steps toward getting the COVID-19 relief bill passed through the budget reconciliation process. The goal would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-coronavirus-aid-plan-update-d486569860a84de146bf9f27a89eed30">be passage&nbsp;</a>by March.

The latest sign that a $15 minimum wage is popular with voters came in November, when more than 60% of voters in conservative-leaning Florida approved an amendment to the state’s Constitution that will raise the minimum wage there from $8.56 an hour to $15 an hour by 2026.

The House passed legislation to gradually increase the minimum wage in the last Congress, but it went nowhere in the GOP-controlled Senate. Opponents argue that a large increase in the minimum wage would lead many employers to cut the number of workers they have on their payrolls.

A 2019 study from the Congressional Budget Office projected that an increase to $15 an hour would boost the wages of 17 million Americans. An additional 10 million workers making more than $15 an hour would see a boost as well. However, about 1.3 million workers would lose their jobs.

“There’s no question that raising the minimum wage, especially to $15, will put some small businesses out of business and will cost a lot of low-wage workers their jobs,” said Neil Bradley, the chief policy officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Bradley said there should be a separate debate on the minimum wage, and while the U.S. Chamber of Commerce opposes $15 an hour, “we’re open to a reasonable increase in the minimum wage and that ought to be a topic of discussion. But, you know, including that in the COVID package just imperils the whole thing.”

Mary Kay Henry, international president of the Service Employees International Union, said that increasing the minimum wage would benefit many of the people who have been working on the front lines of the pandemic. That’s why she supports including it in the COVID-19 relief package.

“They’ve been called essential, but they all believe they’ve been treated as expendable or sacrificial because they don’t earn enough to be able to put food on the table and keep themselves and their families safe and healthy,” Henry said.

Henry says nursing home workers, janitors, security guards and home health workers are among the union’s 2 million members.

“The real way to appreciate this work is to raise the minimum wage to $15,” she said.

Most states also have minimum wage laws. Employees generally are entitled to the higher of the two minimum wages. Currently, 29 states and Washington, D.C., have minimum wages above the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1612098028729.png" alt=" President Biden is set to meet Monday with a group of 10 Republican senators including Jerry Moran of Kansas who have proposed spending about one-third of what he is seeking in coronavirus aid. Biden boarding Marine One Friday -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption> President Biden is set to meet Monday with a group of 10 Republican senators including Jerry Moran of Kansas who have proposed spending about one-third of what he is seeking in coronavirus aid. Biden boarding Marine One Friday -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic push to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour has emerged a flashpoint in the fight for a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, testing President Joe Biden’s ability to bridge Washington’s partisan divides as he pursues his first major legislative victory.Biden called for a $15 hourly minimum wage during his campaign and has followed through by hitching it to a measure that, among other things, calls for $1,400 stimulus checks and $130 billion to help schools reopen. Biden argues that anyone who holds a full-time job shouldn’t live in poverty, echoing progressives in the Democratic Party who are fully on board with the effort.“With the economic divide, I mean, I want to see a $15 minimum wage. It should actually be $20,” said Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.Some Republicans support exploring an increase but are uneasy with $15 an hour. They warn that such an increase could lead to job losses in an economy that has nearly 10 million fewer jobs than it did before the pandemic began. Moderates such as Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rep. Tom Reed of New York are urging Biden to split off the minimum wage hike from COVID-19 talks and deal with it separately.“The more you throw into this bucket of COVID relief that’s not really related to the crisis, the more you risk the credibility with the American people that you’re really sincere about the crisis,” Reed said. Including the wage increase, Murkowski said, “complicates politically an initiative that we should all be working together to address.”The resistance from moderates has left Democrats with a stark choice: Wait and build bipartisan support for an increase or move ahead with little to no GOP backing, potentially as part of a package that can pass the Senate with Vice President Kamala Harris’ tiebreaking vote.&nbsp;Biden is set to meet Monday with a group of 10 Republican senators who have proposed spending about one-third of what he is seeking in coronavirus aid.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612178813286.png" alt="Letter from Senators to the President-courtesy Senator Susan Collins." />
 <figcaption>Letter from Senators to the President-courtesy Senator Susan Collins.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612178856708.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>White House press secretary Jen Psaki says that Biden has spoken with the leader of the group, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. The invitation to the White House came hours after the lawmakers had sent Biden a letter urging him to negotiate rather than try to ram through his $1.9 trillion package solely on Democratic votes.&nbsp;Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who unveiled $15 wage legislation last week with the backing of 37 Senate Democrats. His bill would gradually raise the wage to $15 over a period of five years. The federal minimum is $7.25 and has not been raised since 2009.Sanders, the incoming chair of the Senate Budget Committee, said it was fine with him if Republicans were not prepared to “come on board.” He said the government needed to pump money into the economy to make sure “people are not working on starvation wages.”Democrats are moving toward using a tool that allows certain budget-related items to bypass the Senate filibuster — a hurdle requiring 60 votes — and pass with a simple majority. Sanders is confident that a minimum wage increase fits within the allowed criteria for what is referred to in Washington lingo as budget reconciliation, though the Senate parliamentarian has final say on what qualifies.“As you will recall, my Republican colleagues used reconciliation to give almost $2 trillion in tax breaks to the rich and large corporations in the midst of massive income inequality. They used reconciliation to try to repeal the Affordable Care Act and throw 32 million people off the health care they had. They used reconciliation to allow for drilling in the Arctic wilderness,” Sanders said. “You know what? I think we can use reconciliation to protect the needs of working families.”Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the Senate as early as next week will begin taking the first steps toward getting the COVID-19 relief bill passed through the budget reconciliation process. The goal would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-coronavirus-aid-plan-update-d486569860a84de146bf9f27a89eed30">be passage&nbsp;</a>by March.The latest sign that a $15 minimum wage is popular with voters came in November, when more than 60% of voters in conservative-leaning Florida approved an amendment to the state’s Constitution that will raise the minimum wage there from $8.56 an hour to $15 an hour by 2026.The House passed legislation to gradually increase the minimum wage in the last Congress, but it went nowhere in the GOP-controlled Senate. Opponents argue that a large increase in the minimum wage would lead many employers to cut the number of workers they have on their payrolls.A 2019 study from the Congressional Budget Office projected that an increase to $15 an hour would boost the wages of 17 million Americans. An additional 10 million workers making more than $15 an hour would see a boost as well. However, about 1.3 million workers would lose their jobs.“There’s no question that raising the minimum wage, especially to $15, will put some small businesses out of business and will cost a lot of low-wage workers their jobs,” said Neil Bradley, the chief policy officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.Bradley said there should be a separate debate on the minimum wage, and while the U.S. Chamber of Commerce opposes $15 an hour, “we’re open to a reasonable increase in the minimum wage and that ought to be a topic of discussion. But, you know, including that in the COVID package just imperils the whole thing.”Mary Kay Henry, international president of the Service Employees International Union, said that increasing the minimum wage would benefit many of the people who have been working on the front lines of the pandemic. That’s why she supports including it in the COVID-19 relief package.“They’ve been called essential, but they all believe they’ve been treated as expendable or sacrificial because they don’t earn enough to be able to put food on the table and keep themselves and their families safe and healthy,” Henry said.Henry says nursing home workers, janitors, security guards and home health workers are among the union’s 2 million members.“The real way to appreciate this work is to raise the minimum wage to $15,” she said.Most states also have minimum wage laws. Employees generally are entitled to the higher of the two minimum wages. Currently, 29 states and Washington, D.C., have minimum wages above the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

$15 minimum wage preventing deal in COVID relief talks

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police say a 37-year-old suspect in a man's slaying is now linked to a second killing. 

Autumn Acacia-Cortes was arrested Friday on suspicion of first-degree murder in the death of 53-year-old Francisco Santiago, whose body was found Wednesday on the property of Our Lady of Guadalupe's social hall. 

Acacia-Cortes was already booked into the jail on Saturday in the killing 58-year-old Jose Martinez. 

His body was found Jan. 20 at Highland Tower. Acacia-Cortes was being held without bail on first-degree murder and other charges in that death.

 Police did not say Friday what led them to connect the two men's deaths.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police say a 37-year-old suspect in a man's slaying is now linked to a second killing. Autumn Acacia-Cortes was arrested Friday on suspicion of first-degree murder in the death of 53-year-old Francisco Santiago, whose body was found Wednesday on the property of Our Lady of Guadalupe's social hall. Acacia-Cortes was already booked into the jail on Saturday in the killing 58-year-old Jose Martinez. His body was found Jan. 20 at Highland Tower. Acacia-Cortes was being held without bail on first-degree murder and other charges in that death. Police did not say Friday what led them to connect the two men's deaths.

Suspect in Omaha man's killing now linked to second death

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped trespassing charges against an activist who helped secretly record&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/iowa">Iowa</a>’s largest pork producer using heat to kill thousands of hogs last year as the pandemic devastated the industry.

Matt Johnson, an activist with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/directactioneverywhere/">the group Direct Action Everywhere,</a> had been scheduled to stand trial in Grundy County, Iowa, on Monday on two counts of trespassing at Iowa Select Farms properties in May.

County prosecutors moved to dismiss the charges Thursday at the request of Iowa Select, whose personnel had been subpoenaed but said they didn't wish to testify, court documents show.

“We cannot be distracted by individuals who choose to break the law and grandstand,” Iowa Select spokeswoman Jen Sorenson said Friday.

Johnson was planning a necessity defense, arguing that his actions were lawful because they were the only way to expose the inhumane treatment of animals. He was hoping to draw more attention to the company's use of a method known as ventilation shutdown to cut the size of its herd in May.

Johnson had acknowledged, however, that his defense was likely to fail and that he could face fines or jail time if convicted.

Iowa Select's animals are raised and sent to be slaughtered by Tyson Foods and other meatpackers, and they end up in grocery stores as bacon and pork under several brand names. The company is an influential backer of Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Last spring, some producers said they had no choice but to euthanize hogs after coronavirus outbreaks at meatpacking plants led to closures and production slowdowns. They said they had no markets to sell them and ran out of space to house them.

One of the methods they used to trim herds was ventilation shutdown, which involves stopping airflow inside a facility to raise the temperature high enough to kill animals inside.

American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines say the method should be a last resort after others are ruled out, that it should be done quickly enough to kill 95% of the animals within an hour, and that all must be eventually killed.

Acting on a tip from a whistleblower, a team of activists that included Johnson placed equipment inside an Iowa Select barn and recorded audio of pigs shrieking, some for hours, as the temperature rose and killed many of them.

They also captured video showing workers hours later walking through the pile of animals and shooting those showing signs of life with a bolt gun. Then, they used heavy machinery to remove the carcasses.

Johnson said that his investigation has found some of Iowa Select’s own employees dissented from the practice, a claim he wanted to explore at trial.

“This company knows that the public ... is horrified to learn what ISF is willing to do in the name of profit,” he said. “They’re desperate to conceal their abhorrent and criminal conduct.”

Johnson said that activists snuck in and placed a wireless home security camera in the barn that they could control remotely as well as an audio recorder that they were able to retrieve the next day.

Johnson, an Iowa native who now lives in Berkeley,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/california">California</a>, was charged with trespassing after returning to the farm and confronting Iowa Select chief operations officer Noel Williams about the practice. He faced a second trespassing charge related to an incident days later on a different property.

Iowa Select blasted Johnson and other activists at the time, saying they were trying to exploit the coronavirus crisis to advance their agenda. In June, after The Intercept published some of the material captured by activists, the company announced that it had discontinued the practice as the industry rebounded.

“We are cautiously optimistic that we will never again have to face a difficult decision like we had to face last month,” the company said then.

Johnson said that before the practice was exposed, a whistleblower alleged the company had been planning to kill more hogs through ventilation shutdown.

Johnson still faces more serious charges in Wright County, where he is charged with placing recording equipment inside another Iowa Select barn and taking a piglet that he says he rescued from slaughter. He is charged with electronic eavesdropping and third-degree burglary, which are both felonies, and is awaiting trial.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611941435232.png" alt="Matt Johnson photo courtesy <a href="https://www.facebook.com/directactioneverywhere/">Direct Action Everywhere</a>" />
 <figcaption>Matt Johnson photo courtesy <a href="https://www.facebook.com/directactioneverywhere/">Direct Action Everywhere</a></figcaption>
 </figure>IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped trespassing charges against an activist who helped secretly record&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/iowa">Iowa</a>’s largest pork producer using heat to kill thousands of hogs last year as the pandemic devastated the industry.Matt Johnson, an activist with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/directactioneverywhere/">the group Direct Action Everywhere,</a> had been scheduled to stand trial in Grundy County, Iowa, on Monday on two counts of trespassing at Iowa Select Farms properties in May.County prosecutors moved to dismiss the charges Thursday at the request of Iowa Select, whose personnel had been subpoenaed but said they didn't wish to testify, court documents show.“We cannot be distracted by individuals who choose to break the law and grandstand,” Iowa Select spokeswoman Jen Sorenson said Friday.Johnson was planning a necessity defense, arguing that his actions were lawful because they were the only way to expose the inhumane treatment of animals. He was hoping to draw more attention to the company's use of a method known as ventilation shutdown to cut the size of its herd in May.Johnson had acknowledged, however, that his defense was likely to fail and that he could face fines or jail time if convicted.Iowa Select's animals are raised and sent to be slaughtered by Tyson Foods and other meatpackers, and they end up in grocery stores as bacon and pork under several brand names. The company is an influential backer of Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds.Last spring, some producers said they had no choice but to euthanize hogs after coronavirus outbreaks at meatpacking plants led to closures and production slowdowns. They said they had no markets to sell them and ran out of space to house them.One of the methods they used to trim herds was ventilation shutdown, which involves stopping airflow inside a facility to raise the temperature high enough to kill animals inside.American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines say the method should be a last resort after others are ruled out, that it should be done quickly enough to kill 95% of the animals within an hour, and that all must be eventually killed.Acting on a tip from a whistleblower, a team of activists that included Johnson placed equipment inside an Iowa Select barn and recorded audio of pigs shrieking, some for hours, as the temperature rose and killed many of them.They also captured video showing workers hours later walking through the pile of animals and shooting those showing signs of life with a bolt gun. Then, they used heavy machinery to remove the carcasses.Johnson said that his investigation has found some of Iowa Select’s own employees dissented from the practice, a claim he wanted to explore at trial.“This company knows that the public ... is horrified to learn what ISF is willing to do in the name of profit,” he said. “They’re desperate to conceal their abhorrent and criminal conduct.”Johnson said that activists snuck in and placed a wireless home security camera in the barn that they could control remotely as well as an audio recorder that they were able to retrieve the next day.Johnson, an Iowa native who now lives in Berkeley,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/california">California</a>, was charged with trespassing after returning to the farm and confronting Iowa Select chief operations officer Noel Williams about the practice. He faced a second trespassing charge related to an incident days later on a different property.Iowa Select blasted Johnson and other activists at the time, saying they were trying to exploit the coronavirus crisis to advance their agenda. In June, after The Intercept published some of the material captured by activists, the company announced that it had discontinued the practice as the industry rebounded.“We are cautiously optimistic that we will never again have to face a difficult decision like we had to face last month,” the company said then.Johnson said that before the practice was exposed, a whistleblower alleged the company had been planning to kill more hogs through ventilation shutdown.Johnson still faces more serious charges in Wright County, where he is charged with placing recording equipment inside another Iowa Select barn and taking a piglet that he says he rescued from slaughter. He is charged with electronic eavesdropping and third-degree burglary, which are both felonies, and is awaiting trial.

Charges dropped against activist who secretly recorded pork producer

By GREG ECHLIN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/sports/2021-01-27/study-suggests-kansas-city-teachers-and-students-need-a-lesson-plan-for-super-bowl-lv">Kansas News Service</a>

Kansas City Chiefs fans of all ages will watch Super Bowl LV on 
February 7, and in some cases, it may mean postponing some academic 
obligations. 

Before Super Bowl LIV last year when the Chiefs 
defeated the San Francisco 49ers, the results of a study by Brainly—an 
online study group for kids K through 12—showed that Missouri and Kansas
 ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively, in the U.S. where parents let their 
kids skip their homework on the night of the Super Bowl.

“A lot of
 schools were asking for a study sort of like this because they want to 
know: Should they be assigning big homework assignments around these 
major social events that are happening?” says Patrick Quinn, an Austin, 
Texas, based parenting expert for Brainly.

But Quinn recalls from first-hand experience that students aren’t the only ones potentially slacking on Super Bowl night.

“I
 can tell you 100 percent from a teacher’s perspective, because I was a 
teacher in New York City for a number of years, teachers are maybe more 
so ready to not do anything on Super Bowl Sunday and the Monday 
afterward,” says Quinn.

It happened six years ago when the Kansas City Royals were on their way to a World Series championship.

Shawnee
 Mission North High School teacher Katie (Melcher) Moorehead caught some
 flak when she slipped out of town with her father to follow the Royals 
on the road in the fall of 2015. “Big, big memories and a 
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for sure,” she said at the time.

But
 her trip was exposed when her poster board with the written words 
““Skipping school for the Royals. Don’t tell my students!!” made a 
splash on social media.

When Rockhurst University chose to keep classes in session last year 
on the day of the Chiefs parade, its school president, Father Thomas 
Curran, wasn’t surprised to see lighter attendance that day, not only 
among the students, but with RU staffers and faculty.

“We made no 
judgement on that and that’s the way we operate because we don’t force a
 professor to hold or not hold their classes,” says Father Curran.

As
 steadfast as Father Curran is about not cancelling classes, he’s still 
in the esprit de corps about what the Chief are accomplishing.

“I’m
 happy for the Chiefs, the Chiefs fans, for our community,” said Father 
Curran. “It’s certainly exciting at this time. It helps us build 
community at a time when we do need one another.”

On top of all 
that, he has the satisfaction of winning a friendly wager. John Hurley, 
Father Curran’s counterpart at Canisius University in Buffalo, has been 
wearing a face mask with a Chiefs logo after the Chiefs beat the Buffalo
 Bills in the AFC Championship game on Sunday.

This year, Kansas 
City Mayor Quentin Lucas has already put the word out there that there 
likely won’t be a parade of last year’s magnitude. That means schools, 
which have been struggling to return to pre-pandemic conditions, will 
remain in session.

But there’s still time to figure out a lesson plan for the night of the Super Bowl.

In
 the midst of the pandemic, the word is already out that there won’t be a
 parade celebration like last year if the Chiefs win Super Bowl 55. 
Which means schools are likely to be in session.

But teachers and students might want to thing twice about not completing school work on Super Bowl weekend.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611844275199.png" alt="Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG ECHLIN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/sports/2021-01-27/study-suggests-kansas-city-teachers-and-students-need-a-lesson-plan-for-super-bowl-lv">Kansas News Service</a>Kansas City Chiefs fans of all ages will watch Super Bowl LV on 
February 7, and in some cases, it may mean postponing some academic 
obligations. Before Super Bowl LIV last year when the Chiefs 
defeated the San Francisco 49ers, the results of a study by Brainly—an 
online study group for kids K through 12—showed that Missouri and Kansas
 ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively, in the U.S. where parents let their 
kids skip their homework on the night of the Super Bowl.“A lot of
 schools were asking for a study sort of like this because they want to 
know: Should they be assigning big homework assignments around these 
major social events that are happening?” says Patrick Quinn, an Austin, 
Texas, based parenting expert for Brainly.But Quinn recalls from first-hand experience that students aren’t the only ones potentially slacking on Super Bowl night.“I
 can tell you 100 percent from a teacher’s perspective, because I was a 
teacher in New York City for a number of years, teachers are maybe more 
so ready to not do anything on Super Bowl Sunday and the Monday 
afterward,” says Quinn.It happened six years ago when the Kansas City Royals were on their way to a World Series championship.Shawnee
 Mission North High School teacher Katie (Melcher) Moorehead caught some
 flak when she slipped out of town with her father to follow the Royals 
on the road in the fall of 2015. “Big, big memories and a 
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for sure,” she said at the time.But
 her trip was exposed when her poster board with the written words 
““Skipping school for the Royals. Don’t tell my students!!” made a 
splash on social media.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611844359588.png" alt="Canisius president John Hurley, as part of a friendly Jesuit institutional wager between the Buffalo-based school and Rockhurst University in Kansas City, is wearing a face mask with a Chiefs logo this week since the Bills lost the AFC Championship game in Kansas City. Rockhurst University" />
 <figcaption>Canisius president John Hurley, as part of a friendly Jesuit institutional wager between the Buffalo-based school and Rockhurst University in Kansas City, is wearing a face mask with a Chiefs logo this week since the Bills lost the AFC Championship game in Kansas City. Rockhurst University</figcaption>
 </figure>When Rockhurst University chose to keep classes in session last year 
on the day of the Chiefs parade, its school president, Father Thomas 
Curran, wasn’t surprised to see lighter attendance that day, not only 
among the students, but with RU staffers and faculty.“We made no 
judgement on that and that’s the way we operate because we don’t force a
 professor to hold or not hold their classes,” says Father Curran.As
 steadfast as Father Curran is about not cancelling classes, he’s still 
in the esprit de corps about what the Chief are accomplishing.“I’m
 happy for the Chiefs, the Chiefs fans, for our community,” said Father 
Curran. “It’s certainly exciting at this time. It helps us build 
community at a time when we do need one another.”On top of all 
that, he has the satisfaction of winning a friendly wager. John Hurley, 
Father Curran’s counterpart at Canisius University in Buffalo, has been 
wearing a face mask with a Chiefs logo after the Chiefs beat the Buffalo
 Bills in the AFC Championship game on Sunday.This year, Kansas 
City Mayor Quentin Lucas has already put the word out there that there 
likely won’t be a parade of last year’s magnitude. That means schools, 
which have been struggling to return to pre-pandemic conditions, will 
remain in session.But there’s still time to figure out a lesson plan for the night of the Super Bowl.In
 the midst of the pandemic, the word is already out that there won’t be a
 parade celebration like last year if the Chiefs win Super Bowl 55. 
Which means schools are likely to be in session.But teachers and students might want to thing twice about not completing school work on Super Bowl weekend.

Study: Teachers, students need a lesson plan for Super Bowl LV

DENVER (AP) — Residents have launched an effort to get a measure on the November ballot that would explore a Colorado county becoming part of Wyoming.

 KDVR-TV reported that a Colorado campaign finance disclosure website showed Christopher Richards registered political committee Weld County Wyoming last February. 

Its pushing a ballot measure that would instruct Weld County commissioners to engage and explore the annexation with Wyoming. 

Richards said at a November meeting that he got the idea in 2019 after reading an opinion article in the Denver Post. 

Officials in Colorado pushed back on the idea.

DENVER (AP) — Residents have launched an effort to get a measure on the November ballot that would explore a Colorado county becoming part of Wyoming. KDVR-TV reported that a Colorado campaign finance disclosure website showed Christopher Richards registered political committee Weld County Wyoming last February. Its pushing a ballot measure that would instruct Weld County commissioners to engage and explore the annexation with Wyoming. Richards said at a November meeting that he got the idea in 2019 after reading an opinion article in the Denver Post. Officials in Colorado pushed back on the idea.

Residents propose Weld County leaves Colorado, joins Wyoming

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Irritated by the sweeping use of executive orders during the COVID-19 crisis, state lawmakers around the U.S. are moving to curb the authority of governors and top health officials to impose emergency restrictions such as mask rules and business shutdowns.

The push is underway in such states as Kansas, Arizona, Michigan, Ohio, Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana and Pennsylvania, where legislators are seeking a constitutional amendment to strip the governor of many of his emergency powers.

Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Wayne Langerholc said the amendment would "make it unequivocally clear that our General Assembly is a co-equal branch ... that we are not a monarchy and that our voices matter.”

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and some of his counterparts around the country have argued that they need authority to act quickly and decisively against the fast-changing threat.

The coronavirus has killed an estimated 430,000 Americans and is going through its most lethal phase yet, despite the rollout of vaccines, with new and more contagious variants from abroad turning up in the U.S.

State legislatures generally took on lesser roles after the pandemic hit, with many suspending work or adjourning. It has been governors or their top health officials who have set many of the policies — imposing mask mandates, limiting public gatherings and shutting down dine-in restaurants, gyms, hair salons and other businesses.

Lawmakers in more than half the states have filed bills this year to limit gubernatorial powers during the pandemic and other emergencies, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Most legislatures began their sessions this month.

Kentucky’s Republican-led Legislature could consider as soon as next week whether to override Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s vetoes of several bills that would rein in his emergency powers.

Wisconsin’s GOP-controlled Assembly was expected to vote Thursday on a measure repealing Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ statewide mask mandate.

Wisconsin Republicans have argued that Evers exceeded his authority by issuing multiple emergency declarations during the pandemic, which enabled him to extend the mask mandate beyond the 60 days allowed under the law without getting the Legislature’s approval.

Evers contends that the changing nature of the pandemic warranted new emergency declarations.

The amendment Pennsylvania Republicans are seeking to place on the May ballot also would put a cap on the governor's disaster declarations — 21 days, unless lawmakers vote to extend them. The Legislature also could halt them at any time with a two-thirds vote.

Wolf has said that prematurely ending his disaster declaration would itself be “disastrous” for the state and that requiring repeated legislative approval “could slow down or halt emergency response when aid is most needed.”

In Michigan, House Republicans have threatened to withhold billions of dollars for schools unless Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer cedes her administration’s power to prohibit in-person instruction and sports to local health departments. Whitmer was the target of an alleged kidnapping plot last fall by anti-government extremists upset over her coronavirus restrictions.

Though legislative resistance to executive coronavirus orders has fallen largely along partisan lines in some states, lawmakers elsewhere are pushing back against governors of their own parties.

Republicans in the Arizona Senate want to end the broad emergency powers that GOP Gov. Doug Ducey has used to limit large gatherings and business capacities.

Ohio Sen. Rob McColley introduced a bill this week that could rescind emergency health orders issued by Gov. Mike DeWine, a fellow Republican. It would create a committee to retroactively review them. DeWine vetoed a similar bill last year.

McColley said the Legislature needs to take action “when the relatively unfettered power of the executive branch during a time of emergency has lasted as long as it has.”

In Indiana, Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb’s executive orders have also stirred opposition from his own party. GOP-sponsored legislation would require lawmakers to be called into session to extend a governor’s emergency order beyond 60 days.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster is supporting legislation that would give lawmakers greater opportunity to pass judgment on his emergency declarations.

Under current law, McMaster can issue a declaration for just 15 days before the General Assembly has to weigh in. The Republican governor has skirted that by issuing 22 different declarations, with incremental changes, every two weeks or so.

McMaster has said his goal wasn’t to avoid legislative oversight; he said he couldn’t wait for lawmakers to meet when they were trying to stay apart during the pandemic.

Democrats who control the Maryland General Assembly are pressing for more transparency from Republican Gov. Larry Hogan’s administration. One idea would require him to go through a state board or alert a legislative panel before making emergency coronavirus purchases.

Hogan spent millions of dollars last year on a confidential deal to acquire COVID-19 testing supplies from South Korea that didn’t initially meet federal requirements.

A separate GOP-sponsored bill seeks to limit Hogan’s power by capping the number of times he could extend a state of emergency without legislative input. Hogan has denounced it as “about probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”

Lawmakers are also seeking to rein in the emergency powers of local officials, especially in states such as Missouri, where the Republican governor has deferred most decisions on shutdowns and masks to cities and counties.

St. Louis County, the state's biggest jurisdiction, has imposed a variety of restrictions, including periodic prohibitions and capacity limits on indoor dining at restaurants.

Jeff Fitter, the owner of Super Smokers BBQ, said his profits were cut in half last year. He is supporting a bill that would limit local emergency health orders to 14 days unless authorized for longer by the Legislature. It also would give tax breaks to businesses affected by occupancy limits imposed by cities and counties.

“One person, one pen, shouldn’t be the difference between my business surviving or its demise," Fitter said. "That should be something that is ran through a legislative body.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Irritated by the sweeping use of executive orders during the COVID-19 crisis, state lawmakers around the U.S. are moving to curb the authority of governors and top health officials to impose emergency restrictions such as mask rules and business shutdowns.The push is underway in such states as Kansas, Arizona, Michigan, Ohio, Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana and Pennsylvania, where legislators are seeking a constitutional amendment to strip the governor of many of his emergency powers.Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Wayne Langerholc said the amendment would "make it unequivocally clear that our General Assembly is a co-equal branch ... that we are not a monarchy and that our voices matter.”Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and some of his counterparts around the country have argued that they need authority to act quickly and decisively against the fast-changing threat.The coronavirus has killed an estimated 430,000 Americans and is going through its most lethal phase yet, despite the rollout of vaccines, with new and more contagious variants from abroad turning up in the U.S.State legislatures generally took on lesser roles after the pandemic hit, with many suspending work or adjourning. It has been governors or their top health officials who have set many of the policies — imposing mask mandates, limiting public gatherings and shutting down dine-in restaurants, gyms, hair salons and other businesses.Lawmakers in more than half the states have filed bills this year to limit gubernatorial powers during the pandemic and other emergencies, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Most legislatures began their sessions this month.Kentucky’s Republican-led Legislature could consider as soon as next week whether to override Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s vetoes of several bills that would rein in his emergency powers.Wisconsin’s GOP-controlled Assembly was expected to vote Thursday on a measure repealing Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ statewide mask mandate.Wisconsin Republicans have argued that Evers exceeded his authority by issuing multiple emergency declarations during the pandemic, which enabled him to extend the mask mandate beyond the 60 days allowed under the law without getting the Legislature’s approval.Evers contends that the changing nature of the pandemic warranted new emergency declarations.The amendment Pennsylvania Republicans are seeking to place on the May ballot also would put a cap on the governor's disaster declarations — 21 days, unless lawmakers vote to extend them. The Legislature also could halt them at any time with a two-thirds vote.Wolf has said that prematurely ending his disaster declaration would itself be “disastrous” for the state and that requiring repeated legislative approval “could slow down or halt emergency response when aid is most needed.”In Michigan, House Republicans have threatened to withhold billions of dollars for schools unless Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer cedes her administration’s power to prohibit in-person instruction and sports to local health departments. Whitmer was the target of an alleged kidnapping plot last fall by anti-government extremists upset over her coronavirus restrictions.Though legislative resistance to executive coronavirus orders has fallen largely along partisan lines in some states, lawmakers elsewhere are pushing back against governors of their own parties.Republicans in the Arizona Senate want to end the broad emergency powers that GOP Gov. Doug Ducey has used to limit large gatherings and business capacities.Ohio Sen. Rob McColley introduced a bill this week that could rescind emergency health orders issued by Gov. Mike DeWine, a fellow Republican. It would create a committee to retroactively review them. DeWine vetoed a similar bill last year.McColley said the Legislature needs to take action “when the relatively unfettered power of the executive branch during a time of emergency has lasted as long as it has.”In Indiana, Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb’s executive orders have also stirred opposition from his own party. GOP-sponsored legislation would require lawmakers to be called into session to extend a governor’s emergency order beyond 60 days.South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster is supporting legislation that would give lawmakers greater opportunity to pass judgment on his emergency declarations.Under current law, McMaster can issue a declaration for just 15 days before the General Assembly has to weigh in. The Republican governor has skirted that by issuing 22 different declarations, with incremental changes, every two weeks or so.McMaster has said his goal wasn’t to avoid legislative oversight; he said he couldn’t wait for lawmakers to meet when they were trying to stay apart during the pandemic.Democrats who control the Maryland General Assembly are pressing for more transparency from Republican Gov. Larry Hogan’s administration. One idea would require him to go through a state board or alert a legislative panel before making emergency coronavirus purchases.Hogan spent millions of dollars last year on a confidential deal to acquire COVID-19 testing supplies from South Korea that didn’t initially meet federal requirements.A separate GOP-sponsored bill seeks to limit Hogan’s power by capping the number of times he could extend a state of emergency without legislative input. Hogan has denounced it as “about probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”Lawmakers are also seeking to rein in the emergency powers of local officials, especially in states such as Missouri, where the Republican governor has deferred most decisions on shutdowns and masks to cities and counties.St. Louis County, the state's biggest jurisdiction, has imposed a variety of restrictions, including periodic prohibitions and capacity limits on indoor dining at restaurants.Jeff Fitter, the owner of Super Smokers BBQ, said his profits were cut in half last year. He is supporting a bill that would limit local emergency health orders to 14 days unless authorized for longer by the Legislature. It also would give tax breaks to businesses affected by occupancy limits imposed by cities and counties.“One person, one pen, shouldn’t be the difference between my business surviving or its demise," Fitter said. "That should be something that is ran through a legislative body.”___

State lawmakers push to curb governors' virus powers

WASHINGTON (AP) — Security screeners confiscated guns at airport checkpoints at a record pace last year although the total number of guns dropped along with the steep plunge in travelers because of the pandemic.

The Transportation Security Administration said this week that screeners found 3,257 firearms on passengers or in their carry-on bags in 2020, or about 10 for every million travelers. About 83% of the guns were loaded.

The rate was double that in 2019, when screeners found 5 guns for every million passengers. However, with 500 million more travelers screened in 2019, TSA officers found a record 4,432 guns that year.

Screeners found 220 guns at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, followed by 176 at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, 126 at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, 126 at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport, and 104 at Denver International Airport.

Federal law prohibits passengers other than certain law enforcement officers from bringing guns or ammunition into the cabin. Federal law allows passengers to put guns in checked bags that go into the cargo hold if they are unloaded and in a locked case.

Airlines don’t have to permit guns even in checked bags. All leading U.S. carriers temporarily banned guns in checked bags on flights to Washington, D.C.-area airports for a week after the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump. Those bans lapsed last weekend, three days after the inauguration of President Joe Biden.

&nbsp;Visit the TSA website for details on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition">how to properly travel with a firearm</a>.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Security screeners confiscated guns at airport checkpoints at a record pace last year although the total number of guns dropped along with the steep plunge in travelers because of the pandemic.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TSAofficer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TSAofficer</a> vigilance never stops. Despite reduced passenger volume, travelers continue to be stopped with firearms in their carry-on bag, like this one <a href="https://twitter.com/Reagan_Airport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@reagan_airport</a>. Remember, firearms are a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/prohibiteditem?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#prohibiteditem</a>. Learn more: <a href="https://t.co/s6SDKT4iO1">https://t.co/s6SDKT4iO1</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotOnOurWatch?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NotOnOurWatch</a> <a href="https://t.co/WuhKICseIL">pic.twitter.com/WuhKICseIL</a>&mdash; TSA (@TSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSA/status/1346489131942068224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Transportation Security Administration said this week that screeners found 3,257 firearms on passengers or in their carry-on bags in 2020, or about 10 for every million travelers. About 83% of the guns were loaded.<figure>
 <img src="https://www.tsa.gov/sites/default/files/firearms-pr_0.png" alt="Firearms discovered at TSA checkpoints in 2020 (TSA Photo)​​​ " />
 <figcaption>Firearms discovered at TSA checkpoints in 2020 (TSA Photo)​​​ </figcaption>
 </figure>The rate was double that in 2019, when screeners found 5 guns for every million passengers. However, with 500 million more travelers screened in 2019, TSA officers found a record 4,432 guns that year.Screeners found 220 guns at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, followed by 176 at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, 126 at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, 126 at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport, and 104 at Denver International Airport.Federal law prohibits passengers other than certain law enforcement officers from bringing guns or ammunition into the cabin. Federal law allows passengers to put guns in checked bags that go into the cargo hold if they are unloaded and in a locked case.Airlines don’t have to permit guns even in checked bags. All leading U.S. carriers temporarily banned guns in checked bags on flights to Washington, D.C.-area airports for a week after the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump. Those bans lapsed last weekend, three days after the inauguration of President Joe Biden.&nbsp;Visit the TSA website for details on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition">how to properly travel with a firearm</a>.

Report: Rate of guns seized at US airports doubled 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska has agreed to pay millions more to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/salina-kansas-topeka-1b3b0e420e470e18a7dec207441ad8f7">troubled</a>&nbsp;Kansas-based foster care contractor that was rapidly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-omaha-nebraska-4081f394b3b66965af10a148643c188a">running out of money&nbsp;</a>after significantly underbidding the company that used to provide child welfare services in the Omaha area.

The total cost of the new 25-month contract with St. Francis Ministries totals more than $147 million.

St. Francis won the Nebraska job in 2019 by offering to do it for less than 60% of the bid from PromiseShip, the Omaha-based agency that held the previous contract.

At the time, PromiseShip executives and some state lawmakers questioned how St. Francis could provide care in Douglas and Sarpy Counties for that much less money. As it turned out, they couldn’t.

St. Francis said it was in the hole by nearly $35 million over the time it took over services from PromiseShip. State officials say it needs to continue working with St. Francis to ensure continuity of services for the children, families and caseworkers involved in the two counties’ foster care and child welfare system.

The yearly cost for services from St. Francis will now exceed what it would have cost if PromiseShip had been given a renewed contract.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611946908688.jpeg" alt="Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska has agreed to pay millions more to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/salina-kansas-topeka-1b3b0e420e470e18a7dec207441ad8f7">troubled</a>&nbsp;Kansas-based foster care contractor that was rapidly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-omaha-nebraska-4081f394b3b66965af10a148643c188a">running out of money&nbsp;</a>after significantly underbidding the company that used to provide child welfare services in the Omaha area.The total cost of the new 25-month contract with St. Francis Ministries totals more than $147 million.St. Francis won the Nebraska job in 2019 by offering to do it for less than 60% of the bid from PromiseShip, the Omaha-based agency that held the previous contract.At the time, PromiseShip executives and some state lawmakers questioned how St. Francis could provide care in Douglas and Sarpy Counties for that much less money. As it turned out, they couldn’t.St. Francis said it was in the hole by nearly $35 million over the time it took over services from PromiseShip. State officials say it needs to continue working with St. Francis to ensure continuity of services for the children, families and caseworkers involved in the two counties’ foster care and child welfare system.The yearly cost for services from St. Francis will now exceed what it would have cost if PromiseShip had been given a renewed contract.

Troubled Kansas foster care agency gets big boost from Nebraska

The University of Nebraska Medical Center, in partnership with Nebraska Medicine, has been awarded a $9.5 million grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to enhance infection prevention and control (IPC) initiatives in small and rural health care facilities and advance the ability of health care workers to provide safe and effective clinical care.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Three innovations are being proposed for this project:&nbsp;&nbsp;

The ISTARI Care Cube 2.0 is an advanced, independent, modular and field-adapted version of ISTARI Care Cube.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"It is intended to enable safe infection prevention and control practices and provide highly effective patient care in the field in a manner that is highly scalable," said James Lawler, MD, director, international programs and innovation, Global Center for Health Security. "ISTARI is a negative pressure envelope that is easily portable and can be assembled in minutes. It features an integrated, HEPA-equivalent air filtration and ventilation system; flexible, transparent walls for patient interactions and procedures; airlock pass-through chambers; and compatibility with routine hospital equipment and facilities."&nbsp;&nbsp;

By wrapping personal protective equipment (PPE) around the patient rather than the health care worker, we can drastically conserve PPE, Dr. Lawler said. In turn, there is less risk to the health care worker and less risk of hospital-acquired infection overall. ISTARI 2.0 increases the national capacity for IPC during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as provides for future public health emergencies.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Many health care settings endure gaps and challenges to IPC programs, and UNMC/Nebraska Medicine intend to resolve these issues with mixed reality for consultation, assessment and education," Dr. Lawler said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Mixed reality is an environment where physical reality and digital content are combined to enable interaction with real world and virtual objects -- blending real world and digital settings. It is a fusion of technologies that will be used to assist rural and acute facility infection preventionists with training, assessment and mentoring.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"By designing a virtual hospital with various infection prevention and control scenarios, the virtual reality environment can be used to train additional staff through engaging technology while maintaining and updating their own skills with more comprehensive hands-on challenges," said Pam Pizzi, Nebraska Regional Disaster Health Response Ecosystem consultant. "IPs can also engage with virtual subject matter experts using an artificial intelligence 'chatline' to find immediate, authoritative answers to pressing issues or, alternatively, complete holistic self-assessments for their facility.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Global Center for Health Security will establish a NICS test bed network to ensure the generation, transfer and translation of infection prevention and control innovations for varied clinical environments in frontline and critical access facilities. GCHS's outreach includes more than 32,500 health care workers and 109 facilities of varying size, both domestically and internationally.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"The innovation test bed will allow us to take innovation and put it in places where they will be used for patient care," said David Brett-Major, MD, professor of epidemiology in the UNMC College of Public Health. "The more we are able to bring innovation into the test beds, the more we can ensure these ideas are developed, and are developed in a way they will be useful."&nbsp;&nbsp;

By the end of the project period, the program will have identified gaps as well as opportunities to optimize IPC in small, rural health care facilities; increased the ability of small, rural facilities to implement mitigation strategies; and accelerate the development of novel approaches to advance isolation care.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center, in partnership with Nebraska Medicine, has been awarded a $9.5 million grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to enhance infection prevention and control (IPC) initiatives in small and rural health care facilities and advance the ability of health care workers to provide safe and effective clinical care.&nbsp;&nbsp;Three innovations are being proposed for this project:&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>he Isolation System for Treatment and Agile Response for high risk infections (ISTARI) Care Cube 2.0;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>the Mixed Reality for Consultation, Assessment and Education; and&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>the&nbsp;National Infection Control Strengthening&nbsp;(NICS)&nbsp;for Small and Rural Hospitals&nbsp;Innovation Test Bed Network.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>ISTARI Care Cube 2.0&nbsp;The ISTARI Care Cube 2.0 is an advanced, independent, modular and field-adapted version of ISTARI Care Cube.&nbsp;&nbsp;"It is intended to enable safe infection prevention and control practices and provide highly effective patient care in the field in a manner that is highly scalable," said James Lawler, MD, director, international programs and innovation, Global Center for Health Security. "ISTARI is a negative pressure envelope that is easily portable and can be assembled in minutes. It features an integrated, HEPA-equivalent air filtration and ventilation system; flexible, transparent walls for patient interactions and procedures; airlock pass-through chambers; and compatibility with routine hospital equipment and facilities."&nbsp;&nbsp;By wrapping personal protective equipment (PPE) around the patient rather than the health care worker, we can drastically conserve PPE, Dr. Lawler said. In turn, there is less risk to the health care worker and less risk of hospital-acquired infection overall. ISTARI 2.0 increases the national capacity for IPC during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as provides for future public health emergencies.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Many health care settings endure gaps and challenges to IPC programs, and UNMC/Nebraska Medicine intend to resolve these issues with mixed reality for consultation, assessment and education," Dr. Lawler said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Mixed reality is an environment where physical reality and digital content are combined to enable interaction with real world and virtual objects -- blending real world and digital settings. It is a fusion of technologies that will be used to assist rural and acute facility infection preventionists with training, assessment and mentoring.&nbsp;&nbsp;"By designing a virtual hospital with various infection prevention and control scenarios, the virtual reality environment can be used to train additional staff through engaging technology while maintaining and updating their own skills with more comprehensive hands-on challenges," said Pam Pizzi, Nebraska Regional Disaster Health Response Ecosystem consultant. "IPs can also engage with virtual subject matter experts using an artificial intelligence 'chatline' to find immediate, authoritative answers to pressing issues or, alternatively, complete holistic self-assessments for their facility.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Global Center for Health Security will establish a NICS test bed network to ensure the generation, transfer and translation of infection prevention and control innovations for varied clinical environments in frontline and critical access facilities. GCHS's outreach includes more than 32,500 health care workers and 109 facilities of varying size, both domestically and internationally.&nbsp;&nbsp;"The innovation test bed will allow us to take innovation and put it in places where they will be used for patient care," said David Brett-Major, MD, professor of epidemiology in the UNMC College of Public Health. "The more we are able to bring innovation into the test beds, the more we can ensure these ideas are developed, and are developed in a way they will be useful."&nbsp;&nbsp;By the end of the project period, the program will have identified gaps as well as opportunities to optimize IPC in small, rural health care facilities; increased the ability of small, rural facilities to implement mitigation strategies; and accelerate the development of novel approaches to advance isolation care.

UNMC receives $9.5 million CDC grant to enhance infection prevention 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden warned Friday of a steep and growing “cost of inaction” on his $1.9 trillion COVID relief plan as the White House searched for “creative” ways to win public support for a package that is getting a cold shoulder from Senate Republicans.

In the age of COVID, it’s not as simple as jumping on a plane to travel the country and try to gin up a groundswell. And at a time of deep polarization, Biden may struggle to convince Republican voters of the urgency when Congress already has approved $4 trillion in aid, including $900 billion last month.

Biden signaled on Friday for the first time that he’s willing to move ahead without Republicans.

“I support passing COVID relief with support from Republicans if we can get it,” he told reporters. “But the COVID relief has to pass. No ifs, ands or buts.”

His message so far has been that a fresh $1.9 trillion in aid would be a bargain compared to the potential damage to the world’s largest economy if it doesn’t pass.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/j-and-j-coronavirus-vaccine-a7d254f0299d846062bf6195031880a3">An aggressive push for vaccinations&nbsp;</a>and generous aid to individuals would help put parents back to work and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-anthony-fauci-coronavirus-pandemic-infectious-diseases-coronavirus-vaccine-47af1ca6b75a2cedaac7923b7b084404">let children return to school&nbsp;</a>and improve their lifetime earnings, Biden said at a Friday meeting with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. They met in the Oval Office, where the fireplace was lit to protect against the chill in Washington.

“We have learned from past crises that the risk is not doing too much,” he said. “The risk is not doing enough.”

Only a week into his presidency, Biden is confronting the challenge of selling his first major piece of legislation to a country he has pledged to unite. Private calls with Republican lawmakers have yet to produce any progress on reaching a deal, while Senate Democrats are now preparing to pass the measure strictly on partisan lines as soon as next week.

Some Biden allies have expressed frustration that the administration has not more clearly defined what the massive legislation would actually accomplish. The new president instead has largely focused his first nine days in office on signing executive orders rolling back his predecessor’s policies.

In particular, Biden, for whom the widespread distribution of coronavirus vaccines will be a defining test, has not explained what the increased money for testing and vaccination would achieve -- including how much quicker the White House believes it would help bring about an end to the pandemic.

Biden’s outreach to senators has largely brought criticism that the plan should be more targeted and that the country can afford to wait to see the effects of the stimulus dollars that were approved in December.

Republican lawmakers see a need for speeding vaccinations, but one Senate aide said their offices are not being bombarded with calls for an additional aid package. Constituents are more focused on the looming impeachment trial, said the aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.

This has left the Biden team trying to expand its outreach beyond Capitol Hill.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden recognizes the importance of speaking directly to the American people about his plan for vaccinations and supporting the economy, but the pandemic has limited his ability to safely travel to drum up support. The administration is relying on TV interviews by White House officials and allies with local media and national shows like “The View,” as well as calls with governors, local officials and progressive and civic groups.

“We’re taking a number of creative steps, a little outside of the box,” Psaki said. “Certainly, his preference would be to get on a plane and fly around the country.”

Part of the challenge is that Biden must convince the public how different components of his proposal would work together. His plan allots $400 billion to spearhead a national vaccination program and the reopening of schools. It also includes $1,400 in direct payments to individuals, which critics say should be more targeted. And it includes a raise in the the minimum wage to $15 and aid for state and local governments, a nonstarter for most Republicans.

Many Republicans are under more political pressure from donors and activists back home to rein in spending than to approve more. Some Republicans particularly object to what are still seen by many as bailouts for cash-strapped state and local governments.

Some do support a deal, just not what Biden is offering. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, a member of a bipartisan group of legislators contacted by the administration, said he supports funds for vaccine distribution and even potentially extra jobless benefits, but he wants a full accounting of what funding remains from previous aid packages.

“Unemployment insurance, they think it’s an emergency, well we have unemployment insurance in place until mid March. Where’s the emergency?” Portman said. “Am I against extending it, no I’m not. I think we should, based on some economic factors. But it just doesn’t make sense.”

Recent economic reports show the economy is still under severe strain, yet there is also the potential for the strongest growth in more than two decades once the coronavirus is contained.

The Commerce Department said Thursday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-economy-shrink-in-2020-b59f9be06dcf1da924f64afde2ce094c">the U.S. economy shrank 3.5% last year</a>, and on Friday it reported that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-consumer-spending-coronavirus-pandemic-economy-088b1827e27203cb018f3d5d99eb3289">consumer spending — the main driver of growth — had slumped 0.2% in December.</a>&nbsp;But the consumer spending report also suggested that the expanded unemployment benefits from the $900 billion aid package passed that same month had managed to boost incomes.

Gregory Daco, an economist at Oxford Economics, said, “The COVID relief bill of December essentially addressed the past, the dwindling aid at the end of 2020,” Now the administration must sell the public on what lies ahead.

He said, “The American Rescue Plan — it’s a plan geared toward the future, bridging the gap between January and September, when people will be able to spend more freely.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611954809362.png" alt="President Biden expressed the importance of passing the White House’s proposed COVID-19 relief package during a Friday meeting -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden expressed the importance of passing the White House’s proposed COVID-19 relief package during a Friday meeting -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden warned Friday of a steep and growing “cost of inaction” on his $1.9 trillion COVID relief plan as the White House searched for “creative” ways to win public support for a package that is getting a cold shoulder from Senate Republicans.In the age of COVID, it’s not as simple as jumping on a plane to travel the country and try to gin up a groundswell. And at a time of deep polarization, Biden may struggle to convince Republican voters of the urgency when Congress already has approved $4 trillion in aid, including $900 billion last month.Biden signaled on Friday for the first time that he’s willing to move ahead without Republicans.“I support passing COVID relief with support from Republicans if we can get it,” he told reporters. “But the COVID relief has to pass. No ifs, ands or buts.”His message so far has been that a fresh $1.9 trillion in aid would be a bargain compared to the potential damage to the world’s largest economy if it doesn’t pass.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/j-and-j-coronavirus-vaccine-a7d254f0299d846062bf6195031880a3">An aggressive push for vaccinations&nbsp;</a>and generous aid to individuals would help put parents back to work and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-anthony-fauci-coronavirus-pandemic-infectious-diseases-coronavirus-vaccine-47af1ca6b75a2cedaac7923b7b084404">let children return to school&nbsp;</a>and improve their lifetime earnings, Biden said at a Friday meeting with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. They met in the Oval Office, where the fireplace was lit to protect against the chill in Washington.“We have learned from past crises that the risk is not doing too much,” he said. “The risk is not doing enough.”Only a week into his presidency, Biden is confronting the challenge of selling his first major piece of legislation to a country he has pledged to unite. Private calls with Republican lawmakers have yet to produce any progress on reaching a deal, while Senate Democrats are now preparing to pass the measure strictly on partisan lines as soon as next week.Some Biden allies have expressed frustration that the administration has not more clearly defined what the massive legislation would actually accomplish. The new president instead has largely focused his first nine days in office on signing executive orders rolling back his predecessor’s policies.In particular, Biden, for whom the widespread distribution of coronavirus vaccines will be a defining test, has not explained what the increased money for testing and vaccination would achieve -- including how much quicker the White House believes it would help bring about an end to the pandemic.Biden’s outreach to senators has largely brought criticism that the plan should be more targeted and that the country can afford to wait to see the effects of the stimulus dollars that were approved in December.Republican lawmakers see a need for speeding vaccinations, but one Senate aide said their offices are not being bombarded with calls for an additional aid package. Constituents are more focused on the looming impeachment trial, said the aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.This has left the Biden team trying to expand its outreach beyond Capitol Hill.White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden recognizes the importance of speaking directly to the American people about his plan for vaccinations and supporting the economy, but the pandemic has limited his ability to safely travel to drum up support. The administration is relying on TV interviews by White House officials and allies with local media and national shows like “The View,” as well as calls with governors, local officials and progressive and civic groups.“We’re taking a number of creative steps, a little outside of the box,” Psaki said. “Certainly, his preference would be to get on a plane and fly around the country.”Part of the challenge is that Biden must convince the public how different components of his proposal would work together. His plan allots $400 billion to spearhead a national vaccination program and the reopening of schools. It also includes $1,400 in direct payments to individuals, which critics say should be more targeted. And it includes a raise in the the minimum wage to $15 and aid for state and local governments, a nonstarter for most Republicans.Many Republicans are under more political pressure from donors and activists back home to rein in spending than to approve more. Some Republicans particularly object to what are still seen by many as bailouts for cash-strapped state and local governments.Some do support a deal, just not what Biden is offering. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, a member of a bipartisan group of legislators contacted by the administration, said he supports funds for vaccine distribution and even potentially extra jobless benefits, but he wants a full accounting of what funding remains from previous aid packages.“Unemployment insurance, they think it’s an emergency, well we have unemployment insurance in place until mid March. Where’s the emergency?” Portman said. “Am I against extending it, no I’m not. I think we should, based on some economic factors. But it just doesn’t make sense.”Recent economic reports show the economy is still under severe strain, yet there is also the potential for the strongest growth in more than two decades once the coronavirus is contained.The Commerce Department said Thursday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-economy-shrink-in-2020-b59f9be06dcf1da924f64afde2ce094c">the U.S. economy shrank 3.5% last year</a>, and on Friday it reported that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-consumer-spending-coronavirus-pandemic-economy-088b1827e27203cb018f3d5d99eb3289">consumer spending — the main driver of growth — had slumped 0.2% in December.</a>&nbsp;But the consumer spending report also suggested that the expanded unemployment benefits from the $900 billion aid package passed that same month had managed to boost incomes.Gregory Daco, an economist at Oxford Economics, said, “The COVID relief bill of December essentially addressed the past, the dwindling aid at the end of 2020,” Now the administration must sell the public on what lies ahead.He said, “The American Rescue Plan — it’s a plan geared toward the future, bridging the gap between January and September, when people will be able to spend more freely.”

Biden warns of growing cost of delay on $1.9T virus relief plan

WASHINGTON — Dr. Anthony Fauci says the Biden administration hopes to begin vaccinating younger children by late spring or early summer.

The government’s top public health expert says clinical studies to determine whether approved coronavirus vaccines are safe for younger children will begin in the “next couple of months.”

The results could influence the debate over how to safely reopen public schools.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines currently given to health care workers, nursing home residents and older Americans weren’t tested on younger children.

Biden has set a goal of reopening most schools in his first 100 days in office or near the end of April.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611941719034.png" alt="Dr. Fauci during Friday's virtual White House virus briefing" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Fauci during Friday's virtual White House virus briefing</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — Dr. Anthony Fauci says the Biden administration hopes to begin vaccinating younger children by late spring or early summer.The government’s top public health expert says clinical studies to determine whether approved coronavirus vaccines are safe for younger children will begin in the “next couple of months.”The results could influence the debate over how to safely reopen public schools.The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines currently given to health care workers, nursing home residents and older Americans weren’t tested on younger children.Biden has set a goal of reopening most schools in his first 100 days in office or near the end of April.

Dr. Fauci: May start vaccinating children by summer

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a woman remained hospitalized in critical condition Friday a day after a Kearney house fire that injured her and two police officers. 

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a woman remained hospitalized in critical condition Friday a day after a Kearney house fire that injured her and two police officers. The Kearney Hub reports that the fire was reported Thursday morning by a neighbor who spotted heavy smoke coming from the home. The neighbor said he saw officers who were first to arrive kick open a door to the home, and firefighters soon arrived and pulled a woman in her 70s from the burning house. The woman was taken with life-threatening injuries to a Kearney hospital, then to a Lincoln burn unit. Her name had not been released by midday Friday. The two officers were treated for smoke inhalation and released.