SEATTLE (AP) — Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson has vowed to fight the rapid sale of the National Archives facility in Seattle in court, saying it’s “outrageous” that there wasn’t more public notice given about an Oct. 1 meeting where federal officials fast-tracked the process.

The 10-acre site contains the history of 272 federally recognized tribes, including drafts of many tribal treaties, and only a tiny fraction of the material has been digitized, The Seattle Times&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/sale-of-seattle-national-archives-property-rushed-ferguson-suing/">reported</a>&nbsp;Saturday.

The trove of documents is important to members of Pacific Northwest and Alaskan tribes, who will now have to travel hundreds of miles to Southern California or Kansas City to view them.

The five-member federal Public Buildings Reform Board made the decision to close the facility in January after it concluded that the 73-year-old building had “a deferred maintenance backlog of $2.5 million,” and that its annual maintenance costs were $357,000.

Under an accelerated timeline determined at the October meeting, a real estate contract will be awarded this month and the property will be sold by spring. The archives will be moved to facilities in Riverside, California, and Kansas City, Missouri.

Ferguson told the newspaper Friday that he was disgusted by the lack of transparency in the process and plans to sue “anyone in the decision-making in the sale of the property.”

His office is already in the midst of another lawsuit over the archives, this one over documents it has yet to receive.

“It’s the most common courtesy to give heads up to our office, or to the public. It’s outrageous," he said.

The archives here has about a million boxes of documents and is the repository of all federal records generated in the Pacific Northwest, and includes military, land, court, tax and census papers.

Already, the National Archives facility in Anchorage was closed in 2016, and those millions of documents went to Seattle. Now those seeking Alaska records would have to travel even farther.

Yakama Nation Chairman Delano Saluskin said “this is the first I heard” about the Oct. 1 virtual meeting. It was held by the little-known, five-person Public Buildings Reform Board, charged with finding excess federal property and putting it up for bids.

Jeromy Sullivan, chairman of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, said he first heard of the Oct. 1 meeting when Ferguson sent out an email Friday.

Adam Bodner, executive director or the buildings board, said the public meeting was listed on the agency’s website, the Federal Register and that congressional offices and “different subcommittee staff” were informed.

Ferguson’s office said the plan was listed simply as an “update” on the board’s website and was listed under such an obscure title that almost no one not directly involved would have realized its importance.

The facility was one of 12 surplus properties identified by the board. The original plan was to sell them individually but the board also voted in that meeting to sell the properties as a “portfolio” due to the pandemic and a challenging real estate market.

Ferguson’s office is already involved in one lawsuit against three federal agencies filed under the federal public records law asking for documents on the decision to sell the Seattle property.

On Friday, his office asked a federal court in Seattle for permission to file a summary judgment that would force the three agencies to turn over documents.

The agencies has asked the court to delay their response until March, he said, but under the new timeline the property will likely already be sold by then.

Some U.S. lawmakers also slammed the decision and expressed hope that President-elect Joe Biden's administration will intervene.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607264514991.png" alt="Photo courtesy National Archives" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy National Archives</figcaption>
 </figure>SEATTLE (AP) — Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson has vowed to fight the rapid sale of the National Archives facility in Seattle in court, saying it’s “outrageous” that there wasn’t more public notice given about an Oct. 1 meeting where federal officials fast-tracked the process.The 10-acre site contains the history of 272 federally recognized tribes, including drafts of many tribal treaties, and only a tiny fraction of the material has been digitized, The Seattle Times&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/sale-of-seattle-national-archives-property-rushed-ferguson-suing/">reported</a>&nbsp;Saturday. The trove of documents is important to members of Pacific Northwest and Alaskan tribes, who will now have to travel hundreds of miles to Southern California or Kansas City to view them.The five-member federal Public Buildings Reform Board made the decision to close the facility in January after it concluded that the 73-year-old building had “a deferred maintenance backlog of $2.5 million,” and that its annual maintenance costs were $357,000.Under an accelerated timeline determined at the October meeting, a real estate contract will be awarded this month and the property will be sold by spring. The archives will be moved to facilities in Riverside, California, and Kansas City, Missouri.Ferguson told the newspaper Friday that he was disgusted by the lack of transparency in the process and plans to sue “anyone in the decision-making in the sale of the property.”His office is already in the midst of another lawsuit over the archives, this one over documents it has yet to receive.“It’s the most common courtesy to give heads up to our office, or to the public. It’s outrageous," he said.The archives here has about a million boxes of documents and is the repository of all federal records generated in the Pacific Northwest, and includes military, land, court, tax and census papers.Already, the National Archives facility in Anchorage was closed in 2016, and those millions of documents went to Seattle. Now those seeking Alaska records would have to travel even farther.Yakama Nation Chairman Delano Saluskin said “this is the first I heard” about the Oct. 1 virtual meeting. It was held by the little-known, five-person Public Buildings Reform Board, charged with finding excess federal property and putting it up for bids.Jeromy Sullivan, chairman of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, said he first heard of the Oct. 1 meeting when Ferguson sent out an email Friday.Adam Bodner, executive director or the buildings board, said the public meeting was listed on the agency’s website, the Federal Register and that congressional offices and “different subcommittee staff” were informed.Ferguson’s office said the plan was listed simply as an “update” on the board’s website and was listed under such an obscure title that almost no one not directly involved would have realized its importance.The facility was one of 12 surplus properties identified by the board. The original plan was to sell them individually but the board also voted in that meeting to sell the properties as a “portfolio” due to the pandemic and a challenging real estate market.Ferguson’s office is already involved in one lawsuit against three federal agencies filed under the federal public records law asking for documents on the decision to sell the Seattle property.On Friday, his office asked a federal court in Seattle for permission to file a summary judgment that would force the three agencies to turn over documents.The agencies has asked the court to delay their response until March, he said, but under the new timeline the property will likely already be sold by then.Some U.S. lawmakers also slammed the decision and expressed hope that President-elect Joe Biden's administration will intervene.

Lawsuit could delay move of archive documents to Kansas City

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - A Nebraska man says his apartment was trashed and his puppy and two swords are missing after his girlfriend discovered he cheated on her, the Omaha Journal-World&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/omaha-man-whose-apartment-was-trashed-tells-police-he-cheated-on-his-girlfriend/article_a8886dec-82c8-51db-b0a6-0c5b99f1861c.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;Saturday.

The 20-year-old man told Omaha police that he came home to a ransacked apartment Friday after his girlfriend confronted him about cheating on her.

Police say clothes were tossed in his bathtub and soaked in bleach, the Christmas tree was knocked over and dirty diapers were dumped on the bed.

The man also told police that his white Siberian husky puppy, PlayStation 4 and two katana swords are gone.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - A Nebraska man says his apartment was trashed and his puppy and two swords are missing after his girlfriend discovered he cheated on her, the Omaha Journal-World&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/omaha-man-whose-apartment-was-trashed-tells-police-he-cheated-on-his-girlfriend/article_a8886dec-82c8-51db-b0a6-0c5b99f1861c.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;Saturday.The 20-year-old man told Omaha police that he came home to a ransacked apartment Friday after his girlfriend confronted him about cheating on her.Police say clothes were tossed in his bathtub and soaked in bleach, the Christmas tree was knocked over and dirty diapers were dumped on the bed.The man also told police that his white Siberian husky puppy, PlayStation 4 and two katana swords are gone.

Cheating Nebraska man's clothes bleached, puppy missing

MILLER, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 14-year-old central Nebraska boy has died, days after a crash last month that left him critically injured. 

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that Ely Dehart, of Ansley, died two days after the Nov. 17 crash in rural Buffalo County. 

Sheriff's investigators say the boy was driving a pickup truck east on a gravel road north of Miller when he lost control on the crest of a hill. 

Investigators say the truck ran off into a ditch and rolled. Authorities say two other teens were also in the front cab of the truck and suffered injuries in the crash.

 Investigators say none of the teens was wearing a seat belt.

MILLER, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 14-year-old central Nebraska boy has died, days after a crash last month that left him critically injured. The Lincoln Journal Star reports that Ely Dehart, of Ansley, died two days after the Nov. 17 crash in rural Buffalo County. Sheriff's investigators say the boy was driving a pickup truck east on a gravel road north of Miller when he lost control on the crest of a hill. Investigators say the truck ran off into a ditch and rolled. Authorities say two other teens were also in the front cab of the truck and suffered injuries in the crash. Investigators say none of the teens was wearing a seat belt.

Central Nebraska teen died days after being injured in crash

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — The owner of a Montana coal mine has filed for bankruptcy and laid off nearly half of its workforce at the facility near the Wyoming border. 

The Casper Star-Tribune reports Lighthouse Resources Inc. filed a petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Wednesday. 

The company based in South Jordan, Utah, owns the Decker coal mine in Montana's Big Horn County. 

Lighthouse says 76 employees were laid off, but the company plans to continue the Decker mine operations at a significantly reduced capacity. 

Lighthouse CEO Everett King cited market conditions and other factors including the coronavirus pandemic that required cost and workforce reductions.

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — The owner of a Montana coal mine has filed for bankruptcy and laid off nearly half of its workforce at the facility near the Wyoming border. The Casper Star-Tribune reports Lighthouse Resources Inc. filed a petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Wednesday. The company based in South Jordan, Utah, owns the Decker coal mine in Montana's Big Horn County. Lighthouse says 76 employees were laid off, but the company plans to continue the Decker mine operations at a significantly reduced capacity. Lighthouse CEO Everett King cited market conditions and other factors including the coronavirus pandemic that required cost and workforce reductions.

Montana mine declares bankruptcy, lays off 76 employees

BOSTON (AP) — IBM security researchers say they have detected a cyberespionage effort using targeted phishing emails to try to collect vital information on the World Health Organization’s initiative for distributing COVID-19 vaccine to developing countries.

The researchers said they could not be sure who was behind the campaign, which began in September, or if it was successful. But the precision targeting and careful efforts to leave no tracks bore “the potential hallmarks of nation-state tradecraft,” they said in&nbsp;<a href="http://securityintelligence.com/posts/ibm-uncovers-global-phishing-covid-19-vaccine-cold-chain" target="_blank">a blog post</a>&nbsp;Thursday.

The campaign’s targets, in countries including Germany, Italy, South Korea and Taiwan, are likely associated with the development of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-burkina-faso-immunizations-united-nations-7f5526f46ce5e15ba8bb51fe62569ee6">“cold chain”&nbsp;</a>needed to ensure coronavirus vaccines get the nonstop sterile refrigeration they need to be effective for the nearly 3 billion people who live where temperature-controlled storage is insufficient, IBM said.

“Think of it as the bloodline that will be supplying the most vital vaccines globally,” said Claire Zaboeva, an IBM analyst involved in the detection.

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency later&nbsp;<a href="https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/current-activity/2020/12/03/ibm-releases-report-cyber-actors-targeting-covid-19-vaccine-supply" target="_blank">issued an advisory&nbsp;</a>encouraging Operation Warp Speed, the Trump administration’s vaccine program, and other organizations involved in vaccine storage and transport, to review IBM’s findings.

Whoever is behind the operation could be motivated by a desire to learn how the vaccines are best able to be shipped and stored — the entire refrigeration process — in order to copy it, said Nick Rossmann, the IBM team’s global threat intelligence lead. Or they might want to be able to undermine a vaccine’s legitimacy or launch a disruptive or destructive attack, he added.

In the ploy, executives with groups likely associated with the initiative known as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/initiatives/act-accelerator/covax" target="_blank">Covax&nbsp;</a>— created by the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization and other U.N. agencies — were sent spoofed emails appearing to come from an executive of Haier Biomedical, a Chinese company considered the world’s main cold-chain supplier, the analyst said.

The phishing emails posed as requests for price quotations and bore malicious attachments that prompted recipients to enter credentials that could have been used to harvest sensitive information about partners vital to the vaccine-delivery platform.

Targets included the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union and companies that make solar panels for powering portable vaccine refrigerators. Other targets were petrochemical companies, likely because they produce dry ice, which is used in the cold chain, Zaboeva said.

The EU agency has been busy revising new import and export regimes for coronavirus vaccines and would be a gold mine for hackers seeking stepping stones into partnering organizations, she said.

Covax has struggled to raise enough money to compete for vaccine contracts against the world’s wealthiest nations in the race to secure doses as fast as they can be produced. But the UN and Gavi have invested millions in cold-chain equipment across Africa and Asia. The investment, in the works well before the pandemic, was accelerated to prepare for an eventual global rollout of coronavirus vaccines.

Whoever was behind the phishing operation likely sought “advanced insight into the purchase and movement of a vaccine that can impact life and the global economy,” the blog post said. Coronavirus vaccines will be one of the world’s most sought-after products as they are distributed, so theft may also be a danger.

In the U.S., the FBI has been working with other federal agencies and private industry to protect vaccine development and delivery, Tonya Ugoretz, the agency’s deputy assistant director for cyber readiness and intelligence, said Thursday at the online Aspen Cyber Summit.

The aim is to ward off not just cyberthreats but also more traditional human-centric espionage by adversaries who may seek to steal intellectual property for financial gain, to benefit another country or to “undermine confidence in U.S. efforts to provide an effective vaccine,” she said.

On the same panel, Marene Allison, the chief information security officer (CISO) at Johnson &amp; Johnson, said that while she was confident that major pharmaceutical companies like hers developing coronavirus vaccines have strong defenses in place against hackers, some third parties involved in the process may not.

There have been reports that Johnson &amp; Johnson has been targeted by North Korean hackers, but Allison said that doesn’t mean the attempts have been successful.

“I and all CISOs in health care are seeing attempted penetrations by nation-state actors, not just North Korea, every single minute of every single day,” she said.

Last month,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-russia-north-korea-vaccines-efc925638332b4a42d06d36066802d33">Microsoft said&nbsp;</a>it had detected mostly unsuccessful attempts by state-backed Russian and North Korean hackers to steal data from leading pharmaceutical companies and vaccine researchers. It gave no information on how many succeeded or how serious those breaches were. Chinese state-backed hackers have also targeted vaccine makers, the U.S. government said in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-international-news-general-news-indictments-politics-7aa7a893d0dc15da21a5920ab7d9f221">announcing criminal charges in July.</a>

Microsoft said most of the targets — located in Canada, France, India, South Korea and the United States — were researching vaccines and COVID-19 treatments. It did not name the targets.

On Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-authorizes-vaccine-emergency-use-ea0170c978eb281a905866e5bd78bbdf">Britain became the first to country&nbsp;</a>to authorize a rigorously tested COVID-19 vaccine, the one developed by American drugmaker Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech.

Other countries aren’t far behind: Regulators not only in the U.S. but in the European Union and Canada also are vetting the Pfizer vaccine along with a shot made by Moderna Inc. British and Canadian regulators are also considering a vaccine made by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

The logistical challenges of distributing vaccines globally are huge. The Pfizer-BioNTech one must be stored and shipped at ultra-cold temperatures of around minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit).

Unlike the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, Johnson &amp; Johnson’s requires refrigeration but does not need to be frozen.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600861747887.png" alt="Photo courtesy Johnson &amp; Johnson" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Johnson &amp; Johnson</figcaption>
 </figure>BOSTON (AP) — IBM security researchers say they have detected a cyberespionage effort using targeted phishing emails to try to collect vital information on the World Health Organization’s initiative for distributing COVID-19 vaccine to developing countries.The researchers said they could not be sure who was behind the campaign, which began in September, or if it was successful. But the precision targeting and careful efforts to leave no tracks bore “the potential hallmarks of nation-state tradecraft,” they said in&nbsp;<a href="http://securityintelligence.com/posts/ibm-uncovers-global-phishing-covid-19-vaccine-cold-chain" target="_blank">a blog post</a>&nbsp;Thursday.The campaign’s targets, in countries including Germany, Italy, South Korea and Taiwan, are likely associated with the development of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-burkina-faso-immunizations-united-nations-7f5526f46ce5e15ba8bb51fe62569ee6">“cold chain”&nbsp;</a>needed to ensure coronavirus vaccines get the nonstop sterile refrigeration they need to be effective for the nearly 3 billion people who live where temperature-controlled storage is insufficient, IBM said.“Think of it as the bloodline that will be supplying the most vital vaccines globally,” said Claire Zaboeva, an IBM analyst involved in the detection.The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency later&nbsp;<a href="https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/current-activity/2020/12/03/ibm-releases-report-cyber-actors-targeting-covid-19-vaccine-supply" target="_blank">issued an advisory&nbsp;</a>encouraging Operation Warp Speed, the Trump administration’s vaccine program, and other organizations involved in vaccine storage and transport, to review IBM’s findings.Whoever is behind the operation could be motivated by a desire to learn how the vaccines are best able to be shipped and stored — the entire refrigeration process — in order to copy it, said Nick Rossmann, the IBM team’s global threat intelligence lead. Or they might want to be able to undermine a vaccine’s legitimacy or launch a disruptive or destructive attack, he added.In the ploy, executives with groups likely associated with the initiative known as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/initiatives/act-accelerator/covax" target="_blank">Covax&nbsp;</a>— created by the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization and other U.N. agencies — were sent spoofed emails appearing to come from an executive of Haier Biomedical, a Chinese company considered the world’s main cold-chain supplier, the analyst said.The phishing emails posed as requests for price quotations and bore malicious attachments that prompted recipients to enter credentials that could have been used to harvest sensitive information about partners vital to the vaccine-delivery platform.Targets included the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union and companies that make solar panels for powering portable vaccine refrigerators. Other targets were petrochemical companies, likely because they produce dry ice, which is used in the cold chain, Zaboeva said.The EU agency has been busy revising new import and export regimes for coronavirus vaccines and would be a gold mine for hackers seeking stepping stones into partnering organizations, she said.Covax has struggled to raise enough money to compete for vaccine contracts against the world’s wealthiest nations in the race to secure doses as fast as they can be produced. But the UN and Gavi have invested millions in cold-chain equipment across Africa and Asia. The investment, in the works well before the pandemic, was accelerated to prepare for an eventual global rollout of coronavirus vaccines.Whoever was behind the phishing operation likely sought “advanced insight into the purchase and movement of a vaccine that can impact life and the global economy,” the blog post said. Coronavirus vaccines will be one of the world’s most sought-after products as they are distributed, so theft may also be a danger.In the U.S., the FBI has been working with other federal agencies and private industry to protect vaccine development and delivery, Tonya Ugoretz, the agency’s deputy assistant director for cyber readiness and intelligence, said Thursday at the online Aspen Cyber Summit.The aim is to ward off not just cyberthreats but also more traditional human-centric espionage by adversaries who may seek to steal intellectual property for financial gain, to benefit another country or to “undermine confidence in U.S. efforts to provide an effective vaccine,” she said.On the same panel, Marene Allison, the chief information security officer (CISO) at Johnson &amp; Johnson, said that while she was confident that major pharmaceutical companies like hers developing coronavirus vaccines have strong defenses in place against hackers, some third parties involved in the process may not.There have been reports that Johnson &amp; Johnson has been targeted by North Korean hackers, but Allison said that doesn’t mean the attempts have been successful.“I and all CISOs in health care are seeing attempted penetrations by nation-state actors, not just North Korea, every single minute of every single day,” she said.Last month,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-russia-north-korea-vaccines-efc925638332b4a42d06d36066802d33">Microsoft said&nbsp;</a>it had detected mostly unsuccessful attempts by state-backed Russian and North Korean hackers to steal data from leading pharmaceutical companies and vaccine researchers. It gave no information on how many succeeded or how serious those breaches were. Chinese state-backed hackers have also targeted vaccine makers, the U.S. government said in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-international-news-general-news-indictments-politics-7aa7a893d0dc15da21a5920ab7d9f221">announcing criminal charges in July.</a>Microsoft said most of the targets — located in Canada, France, India, South Korea and the United States — were researching vaccines and COVID-19 treatments. It did not name the targets.On Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-authorizes-vaccine-emergency-use-ea0170c978eb281a905866e5bd78bbdf">Britain became the first to country&nbsp;</a>to authorize a rigorously tested COVID-19 vaccine, the one developed by American drugmaker Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech.Other countries aren’t far behind: Regulators not only in the U.S. but in the European Union and Canada also are vetting the Pfizer vaccine along with a shot made by Moderna Inc. British and Canadian regulators are also considering a vaccine made by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.The logistical challenges of distributing vaccines globally are huge. The Pfizer-BioNTech one must be stored and shipped at ultra-cold temperatures of around minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit).Unlike the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, Johnson &amp; Johnson’s requires refrigeration but does not need to be frozen.___

COVID-19 vaccine distribution effort hit by cyberespionage

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-controlled House on Friday approved a bill to decriminalize and tax marijuana at the federal level. The bill would reverse what supporters called a failed policy of criminalization of pot use and take steps to address racial disparities in enforcement of federal drug laws.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?506855-1/us-house-passes-federal-decriminalization-marijuana-228-164&amp;live&amp;vod">Click here to watch </a>a replay of the debate and vote.

Opponents, mostly Republicans, called the bill a hollow political gesture and mocked Democrats for bringing it up at a time when thousands of Americans are dying from the coronavirus pandemic.

Supporters say it would help reverse adverse effects of the decades-long “war on drugs” by removing marijuana, or cannabis, from the list of federally controlled substances while allowing states to set their own rules on pot. The bill also would use money from an excise tax on marijuana to address the needs of groups and communities harmed by the drug war and provide for the expungement of federal marijuana convictions and arrests.

“For far too long, we have treated marijuana as a criminal justice problem instead of as a matter of personal choice and public health,'' said Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and a key sponsor of the bill. "Whatever one’s views are on the use of marijuana for recreational or medicinal use, the policy of arrests, prosecution and incarceration at the federal level has proven unwise and unjust.''

The vote comes at a time when most Americans live in states where marijuana is legal in some form, and lawmakers from both parties agreed that national cannabis policy has lagged woefully behind changes at the state level. That divide has created a host of problems — loans and other banking services, for example, are hard to get for many marijuana companies because pot remains illegal at the federal level.

The bill also would open up more opportunities for marijuana businesses, including access to Small Business Administration loans to help ensure that minorities can take part in an industry dominated by white famers and growers.

The bill, which passed 228-164, now goes to the Republican-controlled Senate, where it is unlikely to advance. A related bill that would give pot businesses access to traditional banking services has languished in the Senate after being approved by the House last year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607109294204.png" alt="Democrat Representatives speaking on behalf of the bill Friday morning in the U.S. House of Representatives-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Democrat Representatives speaking on behalf of the bill Friday morning in the U.S. House of Representatives-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-controlled House on Friday approved a bill to decriminalize and tax marijuana at the federal level. The bill would reverse what supporters called a failed policy of criminalization of pot use and take steps to address racial disparities in enforcement of federal drug laws.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?506855-1/us-house-passes-federal-decriminalization-marijuana-228-164&amp;live&amp;vod">Click here to watch </a>a replay of the debate and vote.Opponents, mostly Republicans, called the bill a hollow political gesture and mocked Democrats for bringing it up at a time when thousands of Americans are dying from the coronavirus pandemic.Supporters say it would help reverse adverse effects of the decades-long “war on drugs” by removing marijuana, or cannabis, from the list of federally controlled substances while allowing states to set their own rules on pot. The bill also would use money from an excise tax on marijuana to address the needs of groups and communities harmed by the drug war and provide for the expungement of federal marijuana convictions and arrests.“For far too long, we have treated marijuana as a criminal justice problem instead of as a matter of personal choice and public health,'' said Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and a key sponsor of the bill. "Whatever one’s views are on the use of marijuana for recreational or medicinal use, the policy of arrests, prosecution and incarceration at the federal level has proven unwise and unjust.''The vote comes at a time when most Americans live in states where marijuana is legal in some form, and lawmakers from both parties agreed that national cannabis policy has lagged woefully behind changes at the state level. That divide has created a host of problems — loans and other banking services, for example, are hard to get for many marijuana companies because pot remains illegal at the federal level.The bill also would open up more opportunities for marijuana businesses, including access to Small Business Administration loans to help ensure that minorities can take part in an industry dominated by white famers and growers.The bill, which passed 228-164, now goes to the Republican-controlled Senate, where it is unlikely to advance. A related bill that would give pot businesses access to traditional banking services has languished in the Senate after being approved by the House last year.

🎥 House passes landmark bill decriminalizing marijuana 

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) - The FBI is pleading with the public for any information on a missing Iowa girl on what marks her 11th birthday.

The FBI field office in Omaha, Nebraska, posted a plea on its Twitter page Friday asking for any information on Breasia Terrell, who has been missing since July.

"Today is her 11th birthday," the agency tweeted Friday. The FBI says an award of more than $10,000 is being offered for information on the girl's whereabouts.

Authorities say Breasia was last seen on July 9 at a Davenport apartment complex with her half-brother and his 47-year-old father. Police have not made any arrests in the girl's disappearance but have labeled the father of Breasia's half-brother a person of interest. The man was convicted of a sex crime in 1990 when he was 17.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607100147968.png" alt="Breasia Terrell" />
 <figcaption>Breasia Terrell</figcaption>
 </figure>DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) - The FBI is pleading with the public for any information on a missing Iowa girl on what marks her 11th birthday.The FBI field office in Omaha, Nebraska, posted a plea on its Twitter page Friday asking for any information on Breasia Terrell, who has been missing since July."Today is her 11th birthday," the agency tweeted Friday. The FBI says an award of more than $10,000 is being offered for information on the girl's whereabouts.Authorities say Breasia was last seen on July 9 at a Davenport apartment complex with her half-brother and his 47-year-old father. Police have not made any arrests in the girl's disappearance but have labeled the father of Breasia's half-brother a person of interest. The man was convicted of a sex crime in 1990 when he was 17.

FBI asks for information on missing Iowa girl's birthday

LINCOLN, Neb . (AP) — A Lincoln police officer and a Nebraska state trooper were injured when a suspect pinned them next to a cruiser while trying to flee from arrest. 

Lincoln police spokeswoman Officer Erin Spilker said police received several reports early Thursday of a man acting erratically at convenience stores around Lincoln. 

Spilker says the two law enforcement officers were walking toward the suspect when he got into his car and rammed the cruiser several times, pinning both officers in the open door frame. 

The suspect, 29-year-old Connor Sweeney, was later stopped and arrested. 

The officers were taken to a hospital to be treated for their injuries.

LINCOLN, Neb . (AP) — A Lincoln police officer and a Nebraska state trooper were injured when a suspect pinned them next to a cruiser while trying to flee from arrest. Lincoln police spokeswoman Officer Erin Spilker said police received several reports early Thursday of a man acting erratically at convenience stores around Lincoln. Spilker says the two law enforcement officers were walking toward the suspect when he got into his car and rammed the cruiser several times, pinning both officers in the open door frame. The suspect, 29-year-old Connor Sweeney, was later stopped and arrested. The officers were taken to a hospital to be treated for their injuries.

Lincoln officer, trooper hurt after suspect rams cruiser

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a lower federal court to reexamine restrictions on indoor religious services in areas hard hit by the coronavirus in light of the justices’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ruth-bader-ginsburg-amy-coney-barrett-coronavirus-pandemic-us-supreme-court-john-roberts-d0de27dbb3e16f49d1e73718bd56448d">recent ruling in favor of churches and synagogues in New York</a>.

The high court’s unsigned order, with no noted dissent, leaves the California restrictions in place for now. But it throws out a federal district court ruling that rejected a challenge to the limits from Pasadena-based Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministry, which has more than 160 churches across the state.

Last week, the Supreme Court split 5-4 in holding that New York could not enforce certain limits on attendance at churches and synagogues.

With a sharp increase in coronavirus cases in recent weeks, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has put most of the state under heightened restrictions, which include a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/7c11840c31de504a939c926f63006102">ban on indoor singing and chanting</a>.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a lower federal court to reexamine restrictions on indoor religious services in areas hard hit by the coronavirus in light of the justices’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ruth-bader-ginsburg-amy-coney-barrett-coronavirus-pandemic-us-supreme-court-john-roberts-d0de27dbb3e16f49d1e73718bd56448d">recent ruling in favor of churches and synagogues in New York</a>.The high court’s unsigned order, with no noted dissent, leaves the California restrictions in place for now. But it throws out a federal district court ruling that rejected a challenge to the limits from Pasadena-based Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministry, which has more than 160 churches across the state.Last week, the Supreme Court split 5-4 in holding that New York could not enforce certain limits on attendance at churches and synagogues.With a sharp increase in coronavirus cases in recent weeks, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has put most of the state under heightened restrictions, which include a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/7c11840c31de504a939c926f63006102">ban on indoor singing and chanting</a>.

Justices order review of more virus rules for churches

OCALA, Fla. (AP) - A man who fled a drug conspiracy charge in Nebraska 35 years ago has been arrested in Florida, where he was living under a false identity, authorities said.

Howard D. Farley Jr., 72, was arrested Wednesday at his north Florida home, according to court records. He faces a passport charge in Ocala federal court and up to 10 years in prison.

According to a criminal complaint, Farley applied for a passport in February using the name, birth date and Social Security number of a person who had died as an infant in 1955.

In 1985, Farley and 73 others were indicted by a federal grand jury in Nebraska. Prosecutors identified Farley as the "drug kingpin" of the Southern Line, a railroad line that drug dealers used to move narcotics throughout the U.S. Records show that Farley was the only defendant not apprehended in the case.

Fingerprints confirmed Farley's identity after his arrest this week, officials said.

Online court records didn't list an attorney for Farley.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607079653789.png" alt="Howard Farley, Jr." />
 <figcaption>Howard Farley, Jr.</figcaption>
 </figure>OCALA, Fla. (AP) - A man who fled a drug conspiracy charge in Nebraska 35 years ago has been arrested in Florida, where he was living under a false identity, authorities said.Howard D. Farley Jr., 72, was arrested Wednesday at his north Florida home, according to court records. He faces a passport charge in Ocala federal court and up to 10 years in prison.According to a criminal complaint, Farley applied for a passport in February using the name, birth date and Social Security number of a person who had died as an infant in 1955.In 1985, Farley and 73 others were indicted by a federal grand jury in Nebraska. Prosecutors identified Farley as the "drug kingpin" of the Southern Line, a railroad line that drug dealers used to move narcotics throughout the U.S. Records show that Farley was the only defendant not apprehended in the case.Fingerprints confirmed Farley's identity after his arrest this week, officials said.Online court records didn't list an attorney for Farley.

Nebraska fugitive arrested in Florida after 35 years

WASHINGTON (AP) —Joe Biden said Thursday that he will ask Americans to commit to 100 days of wearing masks as one of his first acts as president, stopping just short of the nationwide mandate he’s pushed before to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The move marks a notable shift from President Donald Trump, whose own skepticism of mask-wearing has contributed to a politicization of the issue. That’s made many people reticent to embrace a practice that public health experts say is one of the easiest ways to manage the pandemic, which has killed more than 275,000 Americans.

The president-elect has frequently emphasized mask-wearing as a “patriotic duty” and during the campaign floated the idea of instituting a nationwide mask mandate, which he later acknowledged would be beyond the ability of the president to enforce.

Speaking with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Biden said he would make the request of Americans on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20.

“On the first day I’m inaugurated, I’m going to ask the public for 100 days to mask. Just 100 days to mask — not forever, just 100 days. And I think we’ll see a significant reduction” in the virus, Biden said.

The president-elect reiterated his call for lawmakers on Capitol Hill to pass a coronavirus aid bill and expressed support for a $900 billion compromise bill that a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced this week.

“That would be a good start. It’s not enough,” he said, adding, “I’m going to need to ask for more help.”

Biden has said his transition team is working on its own coronavirus relief package, and his aides have signaled they plan for that to be their first legislative push.

The president-elect also said he asked Dr. Anthony Fauci to stay on in his administration, “in the exact same role he’s had for the past several presidents,” as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the nation’s top infectious-disease expert.

He said he’s asked Fauci to be a “chief medical adviser” as well as part of his COVID-19 advisory team.

Regarding a coronavirus vaccine, Biden offered begrudging credit for the work Trump’s administration has done in expediting the development of a vaccine but said that planning the distribution properly will be “critically important.”

“It’s a really difficult but doable project, but it has to be well planned, ” he said.

Part of the challenge the Biden administration will face in distributing the vaccine will be instilling public confidence in it. Biden said he’d be “happy” to get inoculated in public to assuage any concerns about its efficacy and safety. Three former presidents — Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton — have said they’d also get vaccinated publicly to show that it’s safe.

“People have lost faith in the ability of the vaccine to work,” Biden said, adding that “it matters what a president and the vice president do.”

In the same interview, Biden also weighed in on reports that Trump is considering pardons of himself and his allies.

“It concerns me in terms of what kind of precedent it sets and how the rest of the world looks at us as a nation of laws and justice,” Biden said.

Biden committed that his Justice Department will “operate independently” and that whoever he chooses to lead the department will have the “independent capacity to decide who gets investigated.”

“You’re not going to see in our administration that kind of approach to pardons, nor are you going to see in our administration the approach to making policy by tweets,” he said.

In addition to considering preemptive pardons, Trump has spent much of his time post-election trying to raise questions about an election he lost by millions of votes while his lawyers pursue baseless lawsuits alleging voter fraud in multiple states.

Republicans on Capitol Hill, meanwhile, have largely given the president cover, with many defending the lawsuits and few publicly congratulating Biden on his win.

But Biden said Thursday that he’s received private calls of congratulations from “more than several sitting Republican senators” and that he has confidence in his ability to cut bipartisan deals with Republicans despite the rancor that’s characterized the last four years on Capitol Hill.

Trump aides have expressed skepticism that the president, who continues to falsely claim victory and spread baseless claims of fraud, would attend Biden’s inauguration. Biden said Thursday night that he believes it’s “important” that Trump attend, largely to demonstrate the nation’s commitment to peaceful transfer of power between political rivals.

“It is totally his decision,” Biden said of Trump, adding, “It is of no personal consequence to me, but I think it is to the country.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607037343523.png" alt="President-elect Joe Biden-&nbsp; courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>President-elect Joe Biden-&nbsp; courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Joe Biden said Thursday that he will ask Americans to commit to 100 days of wearing masks as one of his first acts as president, stopping just short of the nationwide mandate he’s pushed before to stop the spread of the coronavirus.The move marks a notable shift from President Donald Trump, whose own skepticism of mask-wearing has contributed to a politicization of the issue. That’s made many people reticent to embrace a practice that public health experts say is one of the easiest ways to manage the pandemic, which has killed more than 275,000 Americans.The president-elect has frequently emphasized mask-wearing as a “patriotic duty” and during the campaign floated the idea of instituting a nationwide mask mandate, which he later acknowledged would be beyond the ability of the president to enforce.Speaking with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Biden said he would make the request of Americans on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20.“On the first day I’m inaugurated, I’m going to ask the public for 100 days to mask. Just 100 days to mask — not forever, just 100 days. And I think we’ll see a significant reduction” in the virus, Biden said.The president-elect reiterated his call for lawmakers on Capitol Hill to pass a coronavirus aid bill and expressed support for a $900 billion compromise bill that a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced this week.“That would be a good start. It’s not enough,” he said, adding, “I’m going to need to ask for more help.”Biden has said his transition team is working on its own coronavirus relief package, and his aides have signaled they plan for that to be their first legislative push.The president-elect also said he asked Dr. Anthony Fauci to stay on in his administration, “in the exact same role he’s had for the past several presidents,” as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the nation’s top infectious-disease expert.He said he’s asked Fauci to be a “chief medical adviser” as well as part of his COVID-19 advisory team.Regarding a coronavirus vaccine, Biden offered begrudging credit for the work Trump’s administration has done in expediting the development of a vaccine but said that planning the distribution properly will be “critically important.”“It’s a really difficult but doable project, but it has to be well planned, ” he said.Part of the challenge the Biden administration will face in distributing the vaccine will be instilling public confidence in it. Biden said he’d be “happy” to get inoculated in public to assuage any concerns about its efficacy and safety. Three former presidents — Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton — have said they’d also get vaccinated publicly to show that it’s safe.“People have lost faith in the ability of the vaccine to work,” Biden said, adding that “it matters what a president and the vice president do.”In the same interview, Biden also weighed in on reports that Trump is considering pardons of himself and his allies.“It concerns me in terms of what kind of precedent it sets and how the rest of the world looks at us as a nation of laws and justice,” Biden said.Biden committed that his Justice Department will “operate independently” and that whoever he chooses to lead the department will have the “independent capacity to decide who gets investigated.”“You’re not going to see in our administration that kind of approach to pardons, nor are you going to see in our administration the approach to making policy by tweets,” he said.In addition to considering preemptive pardons, Trump has spent much of his time post-election trying to raise questions about an election he lost by millions of votes while his lawyers pursue baseless lawsuits alleging voter fraud in multiple states.Republicans on Capitol Hill, meanwhile, have largely given the president cover, with many defending the lawsuits and few publicly congratulating Biden on his win.But Biden said Thursday that he’s received private calls of congratulations from “more than several sitting Republican senators” and that he has confidence in his ability to cut bipartisan deals with Republicans despite the rancor that’s characterized the last four years on Capitol Hill.Trump aides have expressed skepticism that the president, who continues to falsely claim victory and spread baseless claims of fraud, would attend Biden’s inauguration. Biden said Thursday night that he believes it’s “important” that Trump attend, largely to demonstrate the nation’s commitment to peaceful transfer of power between political rivals.“It is totally his decision,” Biden said of Trump, adding, “It is of no personal consequence to me, but I think it is to the country.”

Biden to call for 100 days of mask-wearing

By TOM SHINE <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/pizza-hut-co-founder-frank-carney-remembered-entrepreneurial-spirit">Kansas News Service</a>

When Wichita University students Frank and Dan Carney opened their first Pizza Hut, they had simple ambitions.

"In
 1958, we started it to pay our way through college," Frank Carney said 
in an interview from the 1970s, after the company had grown into the 
largest pizza restaurant chain in the world.

Frank Carney, a legendary Wichita entrepreneur, died Wednesday. He was 82.

Kansas
 Gov. Laura Kelly said Carney was "one of Kansas' most notable 
entrepreneurs," and Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Pete Meitzner 
called him "a fantastic person" whose company "created incredible value 
for our community and worldwide."

Pizza Hut was a source of local
 pride for Wichitans for decades, even after it was acquired by PepsiCo 
in 1977. It was mentioned along with other venerable Wichita business 
brands as Beech, Cessna, Coleman, Learjet and Koch.

The Carney brothers borrowed $600 from their mother to open their 
first restaurant in 1958 at Kellogg and Bluff. They named it "Pizza Hut"
 because the sign on the building only had room for eight letters. The 
original restaurant is now a museum on the Wichita State University 
campus, filled with personal memorabilia from the Carneys.

Bill 
Kentling, then a college student, worked alongside Carney in the 
original Pizza Hut in 1959. He later worked with him in the company’s 
towering corporate headquarters in east Wichita.

When Carney and a group of investors bought the Wichita Wings indoor soccer team, Kentling became the team’s general manager.

He said part of Pizza Hut’s success was that the Carney brothers were always looking ahead.

"Frank
 and Dan Carney always knew the next logical step," Kentling said. 
"Whether that was a new product, a decision to put in a salad bar or to 
have different kinds of crusts, they always knew the next logical step.

"I've never known Frank Carney to not do the right thing."

The Carney brothers began franchising the restaurant a year after it 
opened, initially to friends and acquaintances. By 1971, it was the 
largest pizza chain in the world and dominated the industry for decades.

Today, Pizza Hut has more than 19,000 restaurants in 100 countries, though Domino’s has surpassed it in terms of revenue.

Carney later became an owner in some Papa John’s pizza franchises.

Kentling
 said Carney’s legacy will include "helping make Wichita famous, whether
 that was with Pizza Hut or the Wichita Wings or his devotion to Wichita
 State University."

"This is a guy who never moved to Boston or LA or Chicago. He lived out his life in Wichita, Kansas."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607029886365.png" alt="Frank Carney, right, and his brother, Dan, stand outside the first Pizza Hut restaurant. Frank died Dec. 2 at the age of 82. Courtesy" />
 <figcaption>Frank Carney, right, and his brother, Dan, stand outside the first Pizza Hut restaurant. Frank died Dec. 2 at the age of 82. Courtesy</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOM SHINE <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/pizza-hut-co-founder-frank-carney-remembered-entrepreneurial-spirit">Kansas News Service</a>When Wichita University students Frank and Dan Carney opened their first Pizza Hut, they had simple ambitions."In
 1958, we started it to pay our way through college," Frank Carney said 
in an interview from the 1970s, after the company had grown into the 
largest pizza restaurant chain in the world.Frank Carney, a legendary Wichita entrepreneur, died Wednesday. He was 82.Kansas
 Gov. Laura Kelly said Carney was "one of Kansas' most notable 
entrepreneurs," and Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Pete Meitzner 
called him "a fantastic person" whose company "created incredible value 
for our community and worldwide."Pizza Hut was a source of local
 pride for Wichitans for decades, even after it was acquired by PepsiCo 
in 1977. It was mentioned along with other venerable Wichita business 
brands as Beech, Cessna, Coleman, Learjet and Koch.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607029944125.png" alt=" Frank Carney, right, and his brother, Dan, founded Pizza Hut in 1958 when they were students at what was then the University of Wichita. Credit Courtesy Dan Carney" />
 <figcaption> Frank Carney, right, and his brother, Dan, founded Pizza Hut in 1958 when they were students at what was then the University of Wichita. Credit Courtesy Dan Carney</figcaption>
 </figure>The Carney brothers borrowed $600 from their mother to open their 
first restaurant in 1958 at Kellogg and Bluff. They named it "Pizza Hut"
 because the sign on the building only had room for eight letters. The 
original restaurant is now a museum on the Wichita State University 
campus, filled with personal memorabilia from the Carneys.Bill 
Kentling, then a college student, worked alongside Carney in the 
original Pizza Hut in 1959. He later worked with him in the company’s 
towering corporate headquarters in east Wichita.When Carney and a group of investors bought the Wichita Wings indoor soccer team, Kentling became the team’s general manager.He said part of Pizza Hut’s success was that the Carney brothers were always looking ahead."Frank
 and Dan Carney always knew the next logical step," Kentling said. 
"Whether that was a new product, a decision to put in a salad bar or to 
have different kinds of crusts, they always knew the next logical step."I've never known Frank Carney to not do the right thing."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607029970068.png" alt="Frank, left, and Dan Carney / courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Frank, left, and Dan Carney / courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The Carney brothers began franchising the restaurant a year after it 
opened, initially to friends and acquaintances. By 1971, it was the 
largest pizza chain in the world and dominated the industry for decades.Today, Pizza Hut has more than 19,000 restaurants in 100 countries, though Domino’s has surpassed it in terms of revenue.Carney later became an owner in some Papa John’s pizza franchises.Kentling
 said Carney’s legacy will include "helping make Wichita famous, whether
 that was with Pizza Hut or the Wichita Wings or his devotion to Wichita
 State University.""This is a guy who never moved to Boston or LA or Chicago. He lived out his life in Wichita, Kansas."

Pizza Hut co-founder remembered for entrepreneurial spirit 

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Waddell &amp; Reed Financial, a Kansas investment and wealth management company, will be sold to an Australian firm for $1.7 billion.

Macquarie Asset Management, an arm of Australia’s Macquarie Group, announced late Wednesday that it will buy all outstanding shares of Waddell and Reed for $25 apiece.

Macquarie plans to sell Waddell &amp; Reed’s wealth management platform to Boston’s LPL Financial Holdings for $300 million when the deal closes, the companies said.

The sale has been approved by the boards of both companies and is expected to close by mid-2021, pending regulatory approval.

Waddell &amp; Reed, based in Overland Park, Kansas, has provided investment and wealth management services throughout the U.S. since 1937.

Philip Sanders, CEO of Waddell &amp; Reed Financial, Inc., said in a prepared statement that the partnership with Macquarie and LPL will help the company accelerate its goal of transitioning to a more diversified and growth-oriented financial services company.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607016123211.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Waddell &amp; Reed Financial, a Kansas investment and wealth management company, will be sold to an Australian firm for $1.7 billion.Macquarie Asset Management, an arm of Australia’s Macquarie Group, announced late Wednesday that it will buy all outstanding shares of Waddell and Reed for $25 apiece.Macquarie plans to sell Waddell &amp; Reed’s wealth management platform to Boston’s LPL Financial Holdings for $300 million when the deal closes, the companies said.The sale has been approved by the boards of both companies and is expected to close by mid-2021, pending regulatory approval.Waddell &amp; Reed, based in Overland Park, Kansas, has provided investment and wealth management services throughout the U.S. since 1937.Philip Sanders, CEO of Waddell &amp; Reed Financial, Inc., said in a prepared statement that the partnership with Macquarie and LPL will help the company accelerate its goal of transitioning to a more diversified and growth-oriented financial services company.

Australian firm to buy Kansas-based Waddell & Reed

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Cities in Nebraska juggle the issue of whether to require masks as the state's governor continues to resist issuing a statewide mask mandate while the coronavirus pandemic takes a toll on the state. 

The Omaha suburb of Papillion is voting Thursday on a proposal to require masks in public buildings. 

Grand Island police have made clear they'll enforce that city's mandate, passed last week, by charging violators with public nuisance counts.

 A surge in cases in recent weeks led Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts to reissue some statewide restrictions, including requiring masks in salons and tattoo parlors.

 But Ricketts has refused to impose a statewide mask mandate.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Cities in Nebraska juggle the issue of whether to require masks as the state's governor continues to resist issuing a statewide mask mandate while the coronavirus pandemic takes a toll on the state. The Omaha suburb of Papillion is voting Thursday on a proposal to require masks in public buildings. Grand Island police have made clear they'll enforce that city's mandate, passed last week, by charging violators with public nuisance counts. A surge in cases in recent weeks led Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts to reissue some statewide restrictions, including requiring masks in salons and tattoo parlors. But Ricketts has refused to impose a statewide mask mandate.

Mask orders stay at forefront of virus outbreak in Nebraska

(AP)-Without any in-school special education services for months, 14-year-old Joshua Nazzaro’s normally sweet demeanor has sometimes given way to aggressive meltdowns that had been under control before the pandemic.

The teenager, who has autism and is nonverbal, often wanted no part of his online group speech therapy sessions, and when he did participate, he needed constant hands-on guidance from aides hired by his family. He briefly returned to his private Denville, New Jersey, school for two days a week, but surging coronavirus infections quickly pushed learning back online through at least Dec. 10.

Some of Josh’s progress “has been undone, and there are no plans to make it up,” said Sharon MacGregor, who has been involved in the boy’s care since she began dating his father several years ago.

The same frustrations are shared by many of the nation’s 7 million students with disabilities — a group representing 14% of American schoolchildren. Advocates for these students say the extended months of learning from home and erratic attempts to reopen schools are deepening a crisis that began with the switch to distance learning in March.

Some schools have prioritized high-needs students in reopening plans, bringing small numbers of them back to campuses that otherwise are sticking with distance learning. But those options have only fueled further anguish when they have been reversed because of the virus, and educators say personalized video sessions remain poor substitutes for classroom experience.

Alarmed by their children’s setbacks in skills and behaviors, parents are pursuing legal challenges and requesting makeup services. Many worry that the ground lost will be impossible to recover.

“Regression is something that will be very, very hard to recuperate from,” said Robin Lake, director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education.

In a move that seemed to acknowledge the importance of in-person learning, New York City announced Sunday that it will reopen the nation’s largest school system to in-person learning, including programs serving special-needs students at all grade levels. The announcement marked a major reversal after New York schools were shut down because of rising COVID-19 cases.

School districts have also struggled to deliver guaranteed services such as physical therapy that must be done in person or that require equipment, according to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office.

To his family’s relief, sixth-grader Griffin Stinner returned to school four days a week in mid-October when special education students were among the first to return to the Kenmore Town of Tonawanda Union Free School District in western New York state. But it did not last. Shortly before Thanksgiving, the district announced it would revert to fully remote learning because of the region’s rising virus caseload.

Griffin’s mother, Dawn, a teacher who is leading her preschool class of 4- and 5-year-olds remotely, called the situation “frustrating beyond belief.” After the initial shutdown in the spring, Griffin, who is nonverbal and has autism, would put on his shoes after breakfast to await the bus and cry over the loss of routine.

His mother would stand next to him and sign him in and out of lessons on a computer multiple times a day. “It was just really hard for him to grasp the concept that this was school,” she said.

Having to pivot again is “going to be a huge disruption in his life,” she said.

The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act guarantees a free public education to children with disabilities and allows for “compensatory” services if a state education agency, in response to a complaint, determines that more needs to be done. Now parents are starting to make requests.

“It is becoming a major issue for our local directors,” said Phyllis Wolfram, executive director of the Council of Administrators of Special Education, or CASE.

To make up every hour lost — on top of providing services going forward — would be impossible. Educators will need to make individual decisions based on where a student is today, compared with their status before services stopped or changed, she said.

Speech pathologist Tara Kirkpatrick said the video sessions she conducts from her Comal, Texas, school office bear little resemblance to speech therapy delivered face to face. On video, she cannot tap a student’s desk to get them back on track.

Still, she believes teachers and families are doing their best under the circumstances.

“It’s not ideal ... and there’s nothing that we can do about that right now,” she said.

Not everyone agrees. A federal class-action lawsuit that named every state education department in the country sought a court order to either immediately reopen schools for students with special needs or issue vouchers for parents who have had to leave jobs or hire outside help to fill in the gaps.

A judge in New York City dismissed the suit, ruling that the court lacked jurisdiction, but not before more than 500 families in 35 states had moved to sign on.

“It’s a horror what’s going on,” said attorney Patrick Donohue, who filed the complaint and plans to appeal its dismissal. “We have kids who were walking, now aren’t walking. Kids who were talking, now aren’t talking. Kids who didn’t have any potty-training issues, now they’re not potty-trained.”

Older students aging out of services will not have time to recover, Donohue said. Federal law entitles students with disabilities educational services up to the age of 21.

Educators, Wolfram said, share parents’ concerns about students falling behind, but they are “at the mercy of the pandemic” and the rules adopted by governors and health departments.

Even fully reopening schools will not be enough, she said.

“It’s going to depend a lot on the resources that are available,” she said, citing potential help from local, state and federal governments. “And do we have the staff to do it? There are a lot of obstacles.”

By CAROLYN THOMPSON-Associated Press(AP)-Without any in-school special education services for months, 14-year-old Joshua Nazzaro’s normally sweet demeanor has sometimes given way to aggressive meltdowns that had been under control before the pandemic.The teenager, who has autism and is nonverbal, often wanted no part of his online group speech therapy sessions, and when he did participate, he needed constant hands-on guidance from aides hired by his family. He briefly returned to his private Denville, New Jersey, school for two days a week, but surging coronavirus infections quickly pushed learning back online through at least Dec. 10.Some of Josh’s progress “has been undone, and there are no plans to make it up,” said Sharon MacGregor, who has been involved in the boy’s care since she began dating his father several years ago.The same frustrations are shared by many of the nation’s 7 million students with disabilities — a group representing 14% of American schoolchildren. Advocates for these students say the extended months of learning from home and erratic attempts to reopen schools are deepening a crisis that began with the switch to distance learning in March.Some schools have prioritized high-needs students in reopening plans, bringing small numbers of them back to campuses that otherwise are sticking with distance learning. But those options have only fueled further anguish when they have been reversed because of the virus, and educators say personalized video sessions remain poor substitutes for classroom experience.Alarmed by their children’s setbacks in skills and behaviors, parents are pursuing legal challenges and requesting makeup services. Many worry that the ground lost will be impossible to recover.“Regression is something that will be very, very hard to recuperate from,” said Robin Lake, director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education.In a move that seemed to acknowledge the importance of in-person learning, New York City announced Sunday that it will reopen the nation’s largest school system to in-person learning, including programs serving special-needs students at all grade levels. The announcement marked a major reversal after New York schools were shut down because of rising COVID-19 cases.School districts have also struggled to deliver guaranteed services such as physical therapy that must be done in person or that require equipment, according to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office.To his family’s relief, sixth-grader Griffin Stinner returned to school four days a week in mid-October when special education students were among the first to return to the Kenmore Town of Tonawanda Union Free School District in western New York state. But it did not last. Shortly before Thanksgiving, the district announced it would revert to fully remote learning because of the region’s rising virus caseload.Griffin’s mother, Dawn, a teacher who is leading her preschool class of 4- and 5-year-olds remotely, called the situation “frustrating beyond belief.” After the initial shutdown in the spring, Griffin, who is nonverbal and has autism, would put on his shoes after breakfast to await the bus and cry over the loss of routine.His mother would stand next to him and sign him in and out of lessons on a computer multiple times a day. “It was just really hard for him to grasp the concept that this was school,” she said.Having to pivot again is “going to be a huge disruption in his life,” she said.The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act guarantees a free public education to children with disabilities and allows for “compensatory” services if a state education agency, in response to a complaint, determines that more needs to be done. Now parents are starting to make requests.“It is becoming a major issue for our local directors,” said Phyllis Wolfram, executive director of the Council of Administrators of Special Education, or CASE.To make up every hour lost — on top of providing services going forward — would be impossible. Educators will need to make individual decisions based on where a student is today, compared with their status before services stopped or changed, she said.Speech pathologist Tara Kirkpatrick said the video sessions she conducts from her Comal, Texas, school office bear little resemblance to speech therapy delivered face to face. On video, she cannot tap a student’s desk to get them back on track.Still, she believes teachers and families are doing their best under the circumstances.“It’s not ideal ... and there’s nothing that we can do about that right now,” she said.Not everyone agrees. A federal class-action lawsuit that named every state education department in the country sought a court order to either immediately reopen schools for students with special needs or issue vouchers for parents who have had to leave jobs or hire outside help to fill in the gaps.A judge in New York City dismissed the suit, ruling that the court lacked jurisdiction, but not before more than 500 families in 35 states had moved to sign on.“It’s a horror what’s going on,” said attorney Patrick Donohue, who filed the complaint and plans to appeal its dismissal. “We have kids who were walking, now aren’t walking. Kids who were talking, now aren’t talking. Kids who didn’t have any potty-training issues, now they’re not potty-trained.”Older students aging out of services will not have time to recover, Donohue said. Federal law entitles students with disabilities educational services up to the age of 21.Educators, Wolfram said, share parents’ concerns about students falling behind, but they are “at the mercy of the pandemic” and the rules adopted by governors and health departments.Even fully reopening schools will not be enough, she said.“It’s going to depend a lot on the resources that are available,” she said, citing potential help from local, state and federal governments. “And do we have the staff to do it? There are a lot of obstacles.”

School closings threaten gains of students with disabilities

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden swung behind a bipartisan COVID-19 relief effort Wednesday and his top Capitol Hill allies cut their demands for a $2 trillion-plus measure by more than half in hopes of breaking a monthslong logjam and delivering much-sought aid as the tempestuous congressional session speeds to a close.

Biden said the developing aid package “wouldn’t be the answer, but it would be the immediate help for a lot of things.” He wants a relief bill to pass Congress now, with more aid to come next year.

Biden’s remarks followed an announcement by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Democrat leader Chuck Schumer of New York in support of an almost $1 trillion approach as the “basis” for discussions. The announcement appeared aimed at budging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who so far has been unwilling to abandon a $550 billion Senate GOP plan that has failed twice this fall.

The Democrats embraced a $908 billion approach from moderate Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, among others. It would establish a $300 per week jobless benefit, send $160 billion to help state and local governments, boost schools and universities, revive popular “paycheck protection” subsidies for businesses, and bail out transit systems and airlines.

“In the spirit of compromise we believe the bipartisan framework introduced by Senators yesterday should be used as the basis for immediate bipartisan, bicameral negotiations,” Pelosi and Schumer said. They said they would try to build upon the approach, which has support in the House from a bipartisan “problem solvers” coalition.

The statement was a significant concession by Pelosi and Schumer, who played hardball this fall during failed preelection discussions with the administration on a costlier bill. They wanted a more generous unemployment benefit and far more for state and local government. Their embrace of the $908 billion measure was a retreat from a secret $1.3 trillion offer the two Democrats gave McConnell just on Monday.

It’s another sign of urgency for additional COVID aid and economic stimulus as the economy struggles to recover from being slammed by the novel coronavirus. While the jobless rate isn’t as high as was feared, the restaurant and airline industries are desperate for aid, as are other businesses, state and local officials, transit systems and the Postal Service, among others.

The new plan includes a liability shield for businesses and other organizations that have reopened their doors during the pandemic. It’s the first time Pelosi and Schumer have shown a willingness to consider the idea, a top priority of McConnell, though there’s been no discussion on the details, which are sure to be tricky.

McConnell had dismissed the bipartisan offer on Tuesday, instead aiming to rally Republicans around the $550 billion GOP proposal. But McConnell himself endorsed a $1 trillion-or so plan this summer, only to encounter resistance from conservatives that prompted him to retrench. He has acknowledged that another infusion of aid to states and local governments, a key Pelosi demand, probably will pass eventually.

McConnell wouldn’t respond when asked about the Democratic statement. His top deputy, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said GOP leaders might agree to merging the bipartisan proposal with McConnell’s bill.

“I think there’s still time, although it’s short, to put a bill together,” Thune said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1606837391482.png" alt="Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi struggled over a relief bill for weeks before the November election. On Tuesday, Mnuchin called on Congress to take additional action to pass coronavirus pandemic economic relief." />
 <figcaption>Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi struggled over a relief bill for weeks before the November election. On Tuesday, Mnuchin called on Congress to take additional action to pass coronavirus pandemic economic relief.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden swung behind a bipartisan COVID-19 relief effort Wednesday and his top Capitol Hill allies cut their demands for a $2 trillion-plus measure by more than half in hopes of breaking a monthslong logjam and delivering much-sought aid as the tempestuous congressional session speeds to a close.Biden said the developing aid package “wouldn’t be the answer, but it would be the immediate help for a lot of things.” He wants a relief bill to pass Congress now, with more aid to come next year.Biden’s remarks followed an announcement by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Democrat leader Chuck Schumer of New York in support of an almost $1 trillion approach as the “basis” for discussions. The announcement appeared aimed at budging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who so far has been unwilling to abandon a $550 billion Senate GOP plan that has failed twice this fall.The Democrats embraced a $908 billion approach from moderate Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, among others. It would establish a $300 per week jobless benefit, send $160 billion to help state and local governments, boost schools and universities, revive popular “paycheck protection” subsidies for businesses, and bail out transit systems and airlines.“In the spirit of compromise we believe the bipartisan framework introduced by Senators yesterday should be used as the basis for immediate bipartisan, bicameral negotiations,” Pelosi and Schumer said. They said they would try to build upon the approach, which has support in the House from a bipartisan “problem solvers” coalition.The statement was a significant concession by Pelosi and Schumer, who played hardball this fall during failed preelection discussions with the administration on a costlier bill. They wanted a more generous unemployment benefit and far more for state and local government. Their embrace of the $908 billion measure was a retreat from a secret $1.3 trillion offer the two Democrats gave McConnell just on Monday.It’s another sign of urgency for additional COVID aid and economic stimulus as the economy struggles to recover from being slammed by the novel coronavirus. While the jobless rate isn’t as high as was feared, the restaurant and airline industries are desperate for aid, as are other businesses, state and local officials, transit systems and the Postal Service, among others.The new plan includes a liability shield for businesses and other organizations that have reopened their doors during the pandemic. It’s the first time Pelosi and Schumer have shown a willingness to consider the idea, a top priority of McConnell, though there’s been no discussion on the details, which are sure to be tricky.McConnell had dismissed the bipartisan offer on Tuesday, instead aiming to rally Republicans around the $550 billion GOP proposal. But McConnell himself endorsed a $1 trillion-or so plan this summer, only to encounter resistance from conservatives that prompted him to retrench. He has acknowledged that another infusion of aid to states and local governments, a key Pelosi demand, probably will pass eventually.McConnell wouldn’t respond when asked about the Democratic statement. His top deputy, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said GOP leaders might agree to merging the bipartisan proposal with McConnell’s bill.“I think there’s still time, although it’s short, to put a bill together,” Thune said.Any relief package would be attached to a $1.4 trillion year-end spending bill required to avert a government shutdown next weekend. Talks on that measure are proceeding but if lawmakers should stumble, a temporary spending bill would be needed as a bridge into next year.The bipartisan group of lawmakers proposed a split-the-difference solution to the protracted impasse, hoping to speed overdue help to a hurting nation before Congress adjourns for the holidays. It was a sign that some lawmakers reluctant to adjourn for the year without approving some pandemic aid.Their proposal includes $228 billion to extend and upgrade “paycheck protection” subsidies for businesses for a second round of relief to hard-hit businesses such as restaurants. It would revive a special jobless benefit, but at a reduced level of $300 per week rather than the $600 benefit enacted in March. State and local governments would receive $160 billion.There’s also $45 billion for transportation, including aid to transit systems and Amtrak; $82 billion to reopen schools and universities; and money for vaccines and health care providers, as well as for food stamps, rental assistance and the Postal Service.The new effort follows a split-decision election that delivered the White House to Democrats and gave Republicans down-ballot success.Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin struggled over a relief bill for weeks before the November election, discussing legislation of up to $2 trillion. Senate GOP conservatives opposed their efforts and Pelosi refused to yield on key points.