A handful of the dozens of experimental COVID-19 vaccines in human testing have reached the last and biggest hurdle — looking for the needed proof that they really work as a U.S. advisory panel suggested Tuesday a way to ration the first limited doses once a vaccine wins approval.

AstraZeneca announced Monday its vaccine candidate has entered the final testing stage in the U.S. The Cambridge, England-based company said the study will involve up to 30,000 adults from various racial, ethnic and geographic groups.

Two other vaccine candidates began final testing this summer in tens of thousands of people in the U.S. One was created by the National Institutes of Health and manufactured by Moderna Inc., and the other developed by Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech.

“To have just one vaccine enter the final stage of trials eight months after discovering a virus would be a remarkable achievement; to have three at that point with more on the way is extraordinary,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement.

NIH Director Francis Collins tweeted that his agency "is supporting several vaccine trials since more than one may be needed. We have all hands on deck."

AstraZeneca said development of the vaccine, known as AZD1222, is moving ahead globally with late-stage trials in the U.K., Brazil and South Africa. Further trials are planned in Japan and Russia. The potential vaccine was invented by the University of Oxford and an associated company, Vaccitech.

Meanwhile, a U.S. advisory panel released a draft plan Tuesday for how to ration the first doses of vaccine. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine proposed giving the first vaccine doses — initial supplies are expected to be limited to up to 15 million people — to high-risk health care workers and first responders.

Next, older residents of nursing homes and other crowded facilities and people of all ages with health conditions that put them at significant danger would be given priority. In following waves of vaccination, teachers, other school staff, workers in essential industries, and people living in homeless shelters, group homes, prisons and other facilities would get the shots.

Healthy children, young adults and everyone else would not get the first vaccinations, but would be able to get them once supplies increase.

The panel of experts described “a moral imperative” to lessen the heavy disease burden of COVID-19 on Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and Alaska Natives, and suggested state and local authorities could target vulnerable neighborhoods using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The National Academies will solicit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nap.edu/vaccine/">public comments</a>&nbsp;on the plan through Friday.

There’s a good reason so many COVID-19 vaccines are in development.

“The first vaccines that come out are probably not going to be the best vaccines,” Dr. Nicole Lurie, who helped lead pandemic planning under the Obama administration, said at a University of Minnesota vaccine symposium.

There’s no guarantee that any of the leading candidates will pan out — and the bar is higher than for COVID-19 treatments, because these vaccines will be given to healthy people. Final testing, experts stress, must be in large numbers of people to know if they’re safe enough for mass vaccinations.

They’re made in a wide variety of ways, each with pros and cons. One problem: Most of the leading candidates are being tested with two doses, which lengthens the time required to get an answer — and, if one works, to fully vaccinate people.

Another: They’re all shots. Vaccine experts are closely watching development of some nasal-spray alternatives that just might begin the first step of human testing later this year — late to the race, but possibly advantageous against a virus that sneaks into the airways.

For now, here’s a scorecard of vaccines that already have begun or are getting close to final-stage tests:

The Moderna and Pfizer candidates began Phase 3 testing in late July.

Neither uses the actual coronavirus. Instead, they’re made with the genetic code for the aptly named “spike” protein that coats the surface of the coronavirus. Inject the vaccine containing that code, called mRNA, and the body’s cells will make some harmless spike protein — just enough for the immune system to respond, priming it to react if it later encounters the real virus.

These mRNA vaccines are easier and faster to make than traditional vaccines, but it’s a new and unproven technology.

Britain’s Oxford University and AstraZeneca are making what scientists call a “viral vector” vaccine but a good analogy is the Trojan horse. The shots are made with a harmless virus — a cold virus that normally infects chimpanzees — that carries the spike protein’s genetic material into the body. Once again, the body produces some spike protein and primes the immune system, but it, too, is a fairly new technology.

Two possible competitors are made with different human cold viruses.

Shots made by Johnson &amp; Johnson began initial human studies in late July. The company plans to begin Phase 3 testing in September in as many as 60,000 people in the U.S. and elsewhere.

China’s government authorized emergency use of CanSino Biologics’ adenovirus shots in the military ahead of any final testing.

Making vaccines by growing a disease-causing virus and then killing it is a tried-and-true approach — it’s the way Jonas Salk’s famed polio shots were made. China has three so-called “inactivated” vaccine candidates against COVID-19 made this way.

Sinovac has final studies of its candidate underway in Brazil and Indonesia. Competitor SinoPharm has announced plans for final testing in some other countries.

Safely brewing and then killing the virus takes longer than newer technologies. But inactivated vaccines give the body a sneak peek at the germ itself rather than just that single spike protein.

Novavax makes “protein subunit” vaccines, growing harmless copies of the coronavirus spike protein in the laboratory and packaging them into virus-sized nanoparticles.

There are protein-based vaccines against other diseases, so it’s not as novel a technology as some of its competitors. But it only recently finished its first-step study; the U.S. government’s Operation Warp Speed aims for advanced testing later in the fall.

By LAURAN NEERGAARD and CARLA K. JOHNSONAP Medical WritersA handful of the dozens of experimental COVID-19 vaccines in human testing have reached the last and biggest hurdle — looking for the needed proof that they really work as a U.S. advisory panel suggested Tuesday a way to ration the first limited doses once a vaccine wins approval.AstraZeneca announced Monday its vaccine candidate has entered the final testing stage in the U.S. The Cambridge, England-based company said the study will involve up to 30,000 adults from various racial, ethnic and geographic groups.Two other vaccine candidates began final testing this summer in tens of thousands of people in the U.S. One was created by the National Institutes of Health and manufactured by Moderna Inc., and the other developed by Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech.“To have just one vaccine enter the final stage of trials eight months after discovering a virus would be a remarkable achievement; to have three at that point with more on the way is extraordinary,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement.NIH Director Francis Collins tweeted that his agency "is supporting several vaccine trials since more than one may be needed. We have all hands on deck."AstraZeneca said development of the vaccine, known as AZD1222, is moving ahead globally with late-stage trials in the U.K., Brazil and South Africa. Further trials are planned in Japan and Russia. The potential vaccine was invented by the University of Oxford and an associated company, Vaccitech.Meanwhile, a U.S. advisory panel released a draft plan Tuesday for how to ration the first doses of vaccine. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine proposed giving the first vaccine doses — initial supplies are expected to be limited to up to 15 million people — to high-risk health care workers and first responders.Next, older residents of nursing homes and other crowded facilities and people of all ages with health conditions that put them at significant danger would be given priority. In following waves of vaccination, teachers, other school staff, workers in essential industries, and people living in homeless shelters, group homes, prisons and other facilities would get the shots.Healthy children, young adults and everyone else would not get the first vaccinations, but would be able to get them once supplies increase.The panel of experts described “a moral imperative” to lessen the heavy disease burden of COVID-19 on Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and Alaska Natives, and suggested state and local authorities could target vulnerable neighborhoods using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The National Academies will solicit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nap.edu/vaccine/">public comments</a>&nbsp;on the plan through Friday.There’s a good reason so many COVID-19 vaccines are in development.“The first vaccines that come out are probably not going to be the best vaccines,” Dr. Nicole Lurie, who helped lead pandemic planning under the Obama administration, said at a University of Minnesota vaccine symposium.There’s no guarantee that any of the leading candidates will pan out — and the bar is higher than for COVID-19 treatments, because these vaccines will be given to healthy people. Final testing, experts stress, must be in large numbers of people to know if they’re safe enough for mass vaccinations.They’re made in a wide variety of ways, each with pros and cons. One problem: Most of the leading candidates are being tested with two doses, which lengthens the time required to get an answer — and, if one works, to fully vaccinate people.Another: They’re all shots. Vaccine experts are closely watching development of some nasal-spray alternatives that just might begin the first step of human testing later this year — late to the race, but possibly advantageous against a virus that sneaks into the airways.For now, here’s a scorecard of vaccines that already have begun or are getting close to final-stage tests:GENETIC CODE VACCINESThe Moderna and Pfizer candidates began Phase 3 testing in late July.Neither uses the actual coronavirus. Instead, they’re made with the genetic code for the aptly named “spike” protein that coats the surface of the coronavirus. Inject the vaccine containing that code, called mRNA, and the body’s cells will make some harmless spike protein — just enough for the immune system to respond, priming it to react if it later encounters the real virus.These mRNA vaccines are easier and faster to make than traditional vaccines, but it’s a new and unproven technology.TROJAN HORSE VACCINESBritain’s Oxford University and AstraZeneca are making what scientists call a “viral vector” vaccine but a good analogy is the Trojan horse. The shots are made with a harmless virus — a cold virus that normally infects chimpanzees — that carries the spike protein’s genetic material into the body. Once again, the body produces some spike protein and primes the immune system, but it, too, is a fairly new technology.Two possible competitors are made with different human cold viruses.Shots made by Johnson &amp; Johnson began initial human studies in late July. The company plans to begin Phase 3 testing in September in as many as 60,000 people in the U.S. and elsewhere.China’s government authorized emergency use of CanSino Biologics’ adenovirus shots in the military ahead of any final testing.‘KILLED’ VACCINESMaking vaccines by growing a disease-causing virus and then killing it is a tried-and-true approach — it’s the way Jonas Salk’s famed polio shots were made. China has three so-called “inactivated” vaccine candidates against COVID-19 made this way.Sinovac has final studies of its candidate underway in Brazil and Indonesia. Competitor SinoPharm has announced plans for final testing in some other countries.Safely brewing and then killing the virus takes longer than newer technologies. But inactivated vaccines give the body a sneak peek at the germ itself rather than just that single spike protein.PROTEIN VACCINESNovavax makes “protein subunit” vaccines, growing harmless copies of the coronavirus spike protein in the laboratory and packaging them into virus-sized nanoparticles.There are protein-based vaccines against other diseases, so it’s not as novel a technology as some of its competitors. But it only recently finished its first-step study; the U.S. government’s Operation Warp Speed aims for advanced testing later in the fall.___

Third virus vaccine reaches major hurdle: final US testing

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Coronavirus cases continued to climb in South Dakota on Tuesday, with the state reporting 240 news cases, but no deaths. 

Over the past two weeks, the rolling average number of daily new cases has increased by 198, almost doubling. 

The state currently ranks third in the country for new cases per capita, with 357 new cases per 100,000 people, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins. 

As schools reopened, the state has seen dramatic inclines in the number of cases statewide. 

There are currently 78 people hospitalized with COVID-19 and half of the hospital beds in the state remain available.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Coronavirus cases continued to climb in South Dakota on Tuesday, with the state reporting 240 news cases, but no deaths. Over the past two weeks, the rolling average number of daily new cases has increased by 198, almost doubling. The state currently ranks third in the country for new cases per capita, with 357 new cases per 100,000 people, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins. As schools reopened, the state has seen dramatic inclines in the number of cases statewide. There are currently 78 people hospitalized with COVID-19 and half of the hospital beds in the state remain available.

South Dakota reports 240 COVID-19 cases as infections climb

WASHINGTON —U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will extend summer meal program operators to continue serving free meals to all children into the fall months, according to a media release from USDA.

This unprecedented move will help ensure – no matter what the situation is on-the-ground – children have access to nutritious food as the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. USDA has been and continues to be committed to using the Congressionally appropriated funding that has been made available.

“As our nation reopens and people return to work, it remains critical our children continue to receive safe, healthy, and nutritious food. During the COVID-19 pandemic, USDA has provided an unprecedented amount of flexibilities to help schools feed kids through the school meal programs, and today, we are also extending summer meal program flexibilities for as long as we can, legally and financially,”&nbsp;said Secretary Perdue. “We appreciate the incredible efforts by our school foodservice professionals year in and year out, but this year we have an unprecedented situation. This extension of summer program authority will employ summer program sponsors to ensure meals are reaching all children – whether they are learning in the classroom or virtually –&nbsp; so they are fed and ready to learn, even in new and ever-changing learning environments.”

“School Nutrition Association greatly appreciates USDA addressing the critical challenges shared by our members serving students on the frontlines these first weeks of school. These waivers will allow school nutrition professionals to focus on nourishing hungry children for success, rather than scrambling to process paperwork and verify eligibility in the midst of a pandemic."&nbsp;said School Nutrition Association (SNA) President Reggie Ross, SNS. "We look forward to continuing our dialogue with USDA to ensure school meal programs are equipped to meet the future needs of America’s students.”&nbsp;

“The announcement brings a huge relief to our school meal program and the community we serve,”&nbsp;said Lindsay Aguilar, RD, SNS, Director of Food Services for Tucson Unified School District, AZ. “Many of our families who might not qualify for free meals are still going through a tough time and are worried about how to keep food on the table. Now their children will have one less thing to worry about as they adjust to evolving in-school and remote learning scenarios. These waivers also eliminate a massive administrative burden for our school nutrition staff, allowing them to focus on feeding children.”&nbsp;

“These waivers will ensure every hungry child in the city of Cleveland has access to healthy school meals, while eliminating the burdensome, time consuming process of verifying and documenting enrollment,”&nbsp;said Chris Burkhardt, SNS, Executive Director of School Nutrition for Cleveland Metropolitan School District, OH. “Our school nutrition team had to develop and implement a bar code verification system this fall that has greatly complicated and slowed service. With these waivers, we’ll be able to speed up meal distribution for the safety of staff and families and ensure no student is denied access to healthy meals.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1598979151835.png" alt="On Monday, Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue at Bonaire Elementary School in Georgia&nbsp; announced USDA will extend free school meals for kids through December 31st, 2020.&nbsp; Photo courtesy USDA" />
 <figcaption>On Monday, Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue at Bonaire Elementary School in Georgia&nbsp; announced USDA will extend free school meals for kids through December 31st, 2020.&nbsp; Photo courtesy USDA</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will extend summer meal program operators to continue serving free meals to all children into the fall months, according to a media release from USDA.This unprecedented move will help ensure – no matter what the situation is on-the-ground – children have access to nutritious food as the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. USDA has been and continues to be committed to using the Congressionally appropriated funding that has been made available.“As our nation reopens and people return to work, it remains critical our children continue to receive safe, healthy, and nutritious food. During the COVID-19 pandemic, USDA has provided an unprecedented amount of flexibilities to help schools feed kids through the school meal programs, and today, we are also extending summer meal program flexibilities for as long as we can, legally and financially,”&nbsp;said Secretary Perdue. “We appreciate the incredible efforts by our school foodservice professionals year in and year out, but this year we have an unprecedented situation. This extension of summer program authority will employ summer program sponsors to ensure meals are reaching all children – whether they are learning in the classroom or virtually –&nbsp; so they are fed and ready to learn, even in new and ever-changing learning environments.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1598979100594.png" alt="&nbsp;photo&nbsp; courtesy USDA" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;photo&nbsp; courtesy USDA</figcaption>
 </figure>“School Nutrition Association greatly appreciates USDA addressing the critical challenges shared by our members serving students on the frontlines these first weeks of school. These waivers will allow school nutrition professionals to focus on nourishing hungry children for success, rather than scrambling to process paperwork and verify eligibility in the midst of a pandemic."&nbsp;said School Nutrition Association (SNA) President Reggie Ross, SNS. "We look forward to continuing our dialogue with USDA to ensure school meal programs are equipped to meet the future needs of America’s students.”&nbsp;“The announcement brings a huge relief to our school meal program and the community we serve,”&nbsp;said Lindsay Aguilar, RD, SNS, Director of Food Services for Tucson Unified School District, AZ. “Many of our families who might not qualify for free meals are still going through a tough time and are worried about how to keep food on the table. Now their children will have one less thing to worry about as they adjust to evolving in-school and remote learning scenarios. These waivers also eliminate a massive administrative burden for our school nutrition staff, allowing them to focus on feeding children.”&nbsp;“These waivers will ensure every hungry child in the city of Cleveland has access to healthy school meals, while eliminating the burdensome, time consuming process of verifying and documenting enrollment,”&nbsp;said Chris Burkhardt, SNS, Executive Director of School Nutrition for Cleveland Metropolitan School District, OH. “Our school nutrition team had to develop and implement a bar code verification system this fall that has greatly complicated and slowed service. With these waivers, we’ll be able to speed up meal distribution for the safety of staff and families and ensure no student is denied access to healthy meals.”&nbsp;

USDA: Free meals for kids extended through Dec. 31

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Cheyenne teenager Sarah Keefe is riding her bicycle to raise money to fight childhood cancer. 

The 14-year-old incoming freshman at Cheyenne South High School is pledging to ride her bike at least 100 miles this September to raise money through the Great Cycle ChallengeUSA. 

 All proceeds will go to the Children’s Cancer Research Fund. 

The cycling program has raised over $24 million since launching in 2015.

 While Keefe hasn't had childhood cancer, her uncle recently died of cancer.

 Keefe says she also feels sad for children with cancer who can't experience the outdoors.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Cheyenne teenager Sarah Keefe is riding her bicycle to raise money to fight childhood cancer. The 14-year-old incoming freshman at Cheyenne South High School is pledging to ride her bike at least 100 miles this September to raise money through the Great Cycle ChallengeUSA. Her goal is to raise $2,500. All proceeds will go to the Children’s Cancer Research Fund. The cycling program has raised over $24 million since launching in 2015. While Keefe hasn't had childhood cancer, her uncle recently died of cancer. Keefe says she also feels sad for children with cancer who can't experience the outdoors.

Cheyenne teen riding bike to boost childhood cancer research

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new survey of business leaders released Tuesday shows economic improvement in nine Midwest and Plains states. 

That includes improvements in employment and economic outlook amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak and the devastation from a rare wind storm earlier in the month. 

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the survey's employment index moved above growth neutral 50 for the first time since January, coming in at 54.8 for August, compared with 48.5 in July. 

The overall index for the region improved to 60 in August from July's  57.4. Any score above 50 suggests growth. 

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

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new survey of business leaders released Tuesday shows economic improvement in nine Midwest and Plains states. That includes improvements in employment and economic outlook amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak and the devastation from a rare wind storm earlier in the month. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the survey's employment index moved above growth neutral 50 for the first time since January, coming in at 54.8 for August, compared with 48.5 in July. The overall index for the region improved to 60 in August from July's 57.4. Any score above 50 suggests growth. The monthly survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Survey: Midwest economy improves despite pandemic, derecho

NORFOLK&nbsp; — Troopers and investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested a Newman Grove man and have recovered stolen property thanks to continued investigation.

Friday morning, troopers arrested Roger Weichman, 49, of Newman Grove, for possession of methamphetamine after contacting him in a pickup that was stopped in rural Pierce County. During the ongoing investigation, troopers located an ATV that had previously been reported stolen from Knox County. Additional potentially stolen items were located in the vehicle, which was discovered on Saturday.

Weichman was lodged in Pierce County Jail. The investigation remains ongoing.

NORFOLK&nbsp; — Troopers and investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested a Newman Grove man and have recovered stolen property thanks to continued investigation.Friday morning, troopers arrested Roger Weichman, 49, of Newman Grove, for possession of methamphetamine after contacting him in a pickup that was stopped in rural Pierce County. During the ongoing investigation, troopers located an ATV that had previously been reported stolen from Knox County. Additional potentially stolen items were located in the vehicle, which was discovered on Saturday.Weichman was lodged in Pierce County Jail. The investigation remains ongoing.

Meth arrest leads to discovery of stolen ATV

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln says four sororities and one fraternity are under quarantine because of confirmed COVID-19 cases. 

The university said the five houses initially reported each reported four or five cases, which was enough to impose a quarantine. 

The four sororities are Kappa Alpha Theta, Delta Delta Delta, Alpha Phi and Kappa Kappa Gamma. 

A university spokeswoman says it's unclear if the houses have confirmed more cases since the initial report. 

The university reported a total of 197 positive cases as of Sunday.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln says four sororities and one fraternity are under quarantine because of confirmed COVID-19 cases. The university said the five houses initially reported each reported four or five cases, which was enough to impose a quarantine. The four sororities are Kappa Alpha Theta, Delta Delta Delta, Alpha Phi and Kappa Kappa Gamma. The fraternity is is Beta Theta Pi. A university spokeswoman says it's unclear if the houses have confirmed more cases since the initial report. The university reported a total of 197 positive cases as of Sunday.

Five Greek Houses at University of Nebraska under quarantine

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not “backpedal” on the number of deaths caused by COVID-19, reducing the figure from nearly 154,000 to just over 9,000, as social media posts claimed.

The term “Only 6%” trended widely on Twitter over the weekend as supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory promoted tweets that falsely suggested <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm?fbclid=IwAR3-wrg3tTKK5-9tOHPGAHWFVO3DfslkJ0KsDEPQpWmPbKtp6EsoVV2Qs1Q">the CDC had updated</a> its records to show that only 6% of U.S. deaths tied to COVID-19 were legitimate. President Donald Trump was among those who tweeted the information, which was later taken down by Twitter for violating platform rules.

The posts, which received hundreds of thousands of shares online, were based on a regularly updated CDC data table showing underlying conditions for those who died of COVID-19. The conditions included high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, as well as problems that are caused by COVID-19 itself, such as respiratory failure and pneumonia.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm#Comorbidities" target="_blank">CDC data table&nbsp;</a>is based on an analysis of death certificates that mention COVID-19 as a cause. For 6% of the deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned, the CDC notes.

The other 94% list COVID-19 and other conditions together. Among those deaths, there were, on average, 2.6 additional conditions or causes per death, the public health agency said.

As of Aug. 26, the CDC said, there were 161,332 deaths where COVID-19 was listed on the death certificate. Social media users over the weekend posted an older screenshot of the data that showed 153,504 deaths. The posts used the 6% figure to claim the U.S. death toll was much lower — 9,210.

“CDC just backpedaled (quietly) and adjusted the U.S. COVID deaths from 153,504 to 9,210. Admitting that their numbers are so (expletive) that they are off by a whopping 94%,” said a post being shared on Facebook Monday.

But such claims misrepresent the data. A death isn’t excluded from the COVID-19 tally just because the person was obese or had diabetes or dementia. Someone with heart problems can still be killed by COVID-19, and the death certificate could mention both as contributing.

Experts say it’s not surprising that so few people who died from COVID-19 had no underlying conditions listed on their death certificates. It is rare for people not to have multiple medical issues at death.

“The underlying cause of death is the condition that began the chain of events that ultimately led to the person’s death,” Dr. Robert Anderson, who oversees the CDC’s death statistics work, said in a statement. “In 92% of all deaths that mention COVID-19, COVID-19 is listed as the underlying cause of death.”

Also, while death certificates are supposed to list any causes or conditions that contributed, past research has shown that the documents aren’t perfect. Doctors might not know – or specify – all the reasons behind a particular death.

More important, the CDC figures show what medical professionals have been saying since the outset of the pandemic — that the virus tends to have a more severe impact on people with underlying conditions.

For example, people died with diabetes not because of it, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious-diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.

“If it hadn’t been for the COVID virus infection, these people would be living today,” he said. “So yes, although they have contributing underlying chronic health factors, it’s still the COVID virus that killed them.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598927207022.png" alt="Robert R. Redfield, MD, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during a weekend Zoom conference" />
 <figcaption>Robert R. Redfield, MD, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during a weekend Zoom conference</figcaption>
 </figure>By BEATRICE DUPUY, Associated PressThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not “backpedal” on the number of deaths caused by COVID-19, reducing the figure from nearly 154,000 to just over 9,000, as social media posts claimed.The term “Only 6%” trended widely on Twitter over the weekend as supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory promoted tweets that falsely suggested <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm?fbclid=IwAR3-wrg3tTKK5-9tOHPGAHWFVO3DfslkJ0KsDEPQpWmPbKtp6EsoVV2Qs1Q">the CDC had updated</a> its records to show that only 6% of U.S. deaths tied to COVID-19 were legitimate. President Donald Trump was among those who tweeted the information, which was later taken down by Twitter for violating platform rules.The posts, which received hundreds of thousands of shares online, were based on a regularly updated CDC data table showing underlying conditions for those who died of COVID-19. The conditions included high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, as well as problems that are caused by COVID-19 itself, such as respiratory failure and pneumonia.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm#Comorbidities" target="_blank">CDC data table&nbsp;</a>is based on an analysis of death certificates that mention COVID-19 as a cause. For 6% of the deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned, the CDC notes.The other 94% list COVID-19 and other conditions together. Among those deaths, there were, on average, 2.6 additional conditions or causes per death, the public health agency said.As of Aug. 26, the CDC said, there were 161,332 deaths where COVID-19 was listed on the death certificate. Social media users over the weekend posted an older screenshot of the data that showed 153,504 deaths. The posts used the 6% figure to claim the U.S. death toll was much lower — 9,210.“CDC just backpedaled (quietly) and adjusted the U.S. COVID deaths from 153,504 to 9,210. Admitting that their numbers are so (expletive) that they are off by a whopping 94%,” said a post being shared on Facebook Monday.But such claims misrepresent the data. A death isn’t excluded from the COVID-19 tally just because the person was obese or had diabetes or dementia. Someone with heart problems can still be killed by COVID-19, and the death certificate could mention both as contributing.Experts say it’s not surprising that so few people who died from COVID-19 had no underlying conditions listed on their death certificates. It is rare for people not to have multiple medical issues at death.“The underlying cause of death is the condition that began the chain of events that ultimately led to the person’s death,” Dr. Robert Anderson, who oversees the CDC’s death statistics work, said in a statement. “In 92% of all deaths that mention COVID-19, COVID-19 is listed as the underlying cause of death.”Also, while death certificates are supposed to list any causes or conditions that contributed, past research has shown that the documents aren’t perfect. Doctors might not know – or specify – all the reasons behind a particular death.More important, the CDC figures show what medical professionals have been saying since the outset of the pandemic — that the virus tends to have a more severe impact on people with underlying conditions.For example, people died with diabetes not because of it, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious-diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.“If it hadn’t been for the COVID virus infection, these people would be living today,” he said. “So yes, although they have contributing underlying chronic health factors, it’s still the COVID virus that killed them.”

CDC has not reduced the death count for COVID-19

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Men from Missouri and Wisconsin are the latest to be sentenced in a federal probe of illegal hunting connected to a Broken Bow outfitting business.

 Federal prosecutors say 32-year-old Jacob Wideman, of Pevely, Missouri, and 40-year-old Duane Mulvaine, of Fox Lake, Wisconsin, were sentenced last week in Omaha's federal court. 

Wideman received a year of probation and was ordered to pay $10,000 in fines and restitution for shooting a mule deer with a firearm during archery season in 2017, with the help of Hidden Hills Outfitters's owner. 

Mulvaine was sentenced to five years' probation and ordered to pay $95,000 in fines and restitution for six violations carried out between 2012 and 2017 with Hidden Hills' help.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Men from Missouri and Wisconsin are the latest to be sentenced in a federal probe of illegal hunting connected to a Broken Bow outfitting business. Federal prosecutors say 32-year-old Jacob Wideman, of Pevely, Missouri, and 40-year-old Duane Mulvaine, of Fox Lake, Wisconsin, were sentenced last week in Omaha's federal court. Wideman received a year of probation and was ordered to pay $10,000 in fines and restitution for shooting a mule deer with a firearm during archery season in 2017, with the help of Hidden Hills Outfitters's owner. Mulvaine was sentenced to five years' probation and ordered to pay $95,000 in fines and restitution for six violations carried out between 2012 and 2017 with Hidden Hills' help.

2 men are latest sentenced in Nebraska illegal hunting case

MILLER, S.D. (AP) — A man driving a recreational vehicle died when a tornado blew it off the highway near the central South Dakota town of Miller. 

The state Department of Public Safety says the 73-year-old man was driving an RV with a car trailer southbound on South Dakota Highway 45 when the tornado struck around 6:15 p.m. Sunday. 

Authorities say the tornado caused the RV and trailer to detach. 

The RV came down on its roof 150 to 200 yards west of the road. 

MILLER, S.D. (AP) — A man driving a recreational vehicle died when a tornado blew it off the highway near the central South Dakota town of Miller. The state Department of Public Safety says the 73-year-old man was driving an RV with a car trailer southbound on South Dakota Highway 45 when the tornado struck around 6:15 p.m. Sunday. Authorities say the tornado caused the RV and trailer to detach. The trailer flipped in the west ditch. The RV came down on its roof 150 to 200 yards west of the road. The man died at the scene. His name has not been released.

Man dies when tornado blows RV off South Dakota highway

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police are investing a weekend shooting in which a man told officers he accidentally shot his wife while unpacking from a trip. 

Police say the shooting happened around 3 p.m. Sunday at a home in south-central Omaha.

 Police say the 57-year-old woman was shot in the abdomen and taken to an Omaha hospital in critical condition. 

The 60-year-old husband told officers his handgun accidentally went off as he was unpacking in it. 

Neither the woman's name nor her husband's name has been released.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police are investing a weekend shooting in which a man told officers he accidentally shot his wife while unpacking from a trip. Police say the shooting happened around 3 p.m. Sunday at a home in south-central Omaha. Police say the 57-year-old woman was shot in the abdomen and taken to an Omaha hospital in critical condition. The 60-year-old husband told officers his handgun accidentally went off as he was unpacking in it. Neither the woman's name nor her husband's name has been released.

Man tells police he accidentally shot wife while unpacking

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Monument Health leaders have told physicians and caregivers to prepare for a surge in coronavirus cases in the coming weeks. 

The Rapid City Journal reports the warning came from system-wide email after a total of 60 physicians and caregivers tested positive for COVID-19 in August, including 44 in the past week.

 Another 167 caregivers are being monitored following COVID-19 exposures either at work or in the community. 

Brad Archer, chief medical officer, said in the email that the staff should be “extra diligent" to protect their health.&nbsp;&nbsp;

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Monument Health leaders have told physicians and caregivers to prepare for a surge in coronavirus cases in the coming weeks. The Rapid City Journal reports the warning came from system-wide email after a total of 60 physicians and caregivers tested positive for COVID-19 in August, including 44 in the past week. Another 167 caregivers are being monitored following COVID-19 exposures either at work or in the community. Brad Archer, chief medical officer, said in the email that the staff should be “extra diligent" to protect their health.&nbsp;&nbsp;

South Dakota hospital system warns of surge in virus cases

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota health officials say the state has exceeded 13,000 total confirmed cases of the coronavirus. 

The South Dakota Department of Health on Sunday reported 380 newly confirmed cases of the coronavirus, raising the state’s total to 13,322 since the pandemic hit. 

The Argus Leader reports more than 2,000 cases have been reported in the last seven days. 

That accounts for about 15% of South Dakota’s total cases during the pandemic. 

No new deaths were reported, keeping the state's total at 167. 

Of the new cases reported Sunday, over half were attributed to people between the ages of 10-29. 

Officials report 154 of them were people aged 20-29 and 60 were in those between the ages of 10-19.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota health officials say the state has exceeded 13,000 total confirmed cases of the coronavirus. The South Dakota Department of Health on Sunday reported 380 newly confirmed cases of the coronavirus, raising the state’s total to 13,322 since the pandemic hit. The Argus Leader reports more than 2,000 cases have been reported in the last seven days. That accounts for about 15% of South Dakota’s total cases during the pandemic. No new deaths were reported, keeping the state's total at 167. Of the new cases reported Sunday, over half were attributed to people between the ages of 10-29. Officials report 154 of them were people aged 20-29 and 60 were in those between the ages of 10-19.

South Dakota exceeds 13K total coronavirus cases

WASHINGTON (AP) — Threatening fines and funding cut-offs, the Trump administration issued new COVID-19 requirements for nursing homes and hospitals, prompting immediate pushback from beleaguered industries.

To check the spread of the coronavirus in nursing homes, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced it will require facilities to test staff regularly or face fines.

<a href="https://apnews.com/681479be1d9f1a0fea4d64b1a44d5b9e">The move comes months after the White House</a>&nbsp;first urged governors to test all nursing home residents and staff. With residents, nursing homes are being required to offer them coronavirus tests if there is an outbreak or if any show symptoms.

Officials also reinforced a reporting mandate for hospitals. It included a thinly veiled threat to cut off Medicare and Medicaid funds to facilities that fail to report certain COVID-19 data daily to the federal Health and Human Services department. Hospitals responded with a sharp rebuke, calling the move “heavy-handed” and raising the specter of loss of vital services for local communities in a pandemic, less than three months before Election Day.

Long-term care facilities represent less than 1% of the U.S. population, but they account for 42% of the COVID-19 deaths, with more than 70,000 fatalities reported by the COVID Tracking Project.

The plight of frail elders in nursing homes is politically sensitive for President Donald Trump, who is trying to maintain support from older voters amid disapproval of the government’s pandemic response. His administration is distributing fast-test machines to nursing homes, but there are continued reports that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ae2b6d71bdc3a9391ae02910d8f0491f">cases have been rising</a>&nbsp;and facilities still face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ff2bbfb4a7431e86cdca5132042d4a0e">shortages of supplies</a>&nbsp;like masks.

“Our recommendations for testing in nursing homes go back as far back as March and April,” said Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS. “What’s different about today is that this is now a requirement ... we want to make sure every single nursing home is complying.”

Independent research indicates that the coronavirus most likely gets into nursing homes via staffers who unwittingly bring it in from surrounding communities where it has started to spread. Staffers who have yet to develop symptoms may have no clue that they’re infected.

Verma said the testing requirement for staff will be keyed to the level of virus activity in local areas. If the positive rate is below 5%, nursing homes will have to test staff once a month. If the rate is 5% - 10%, testing will be required once a week. If the rate is above 10%, staff will have to be tested twice a week. Florida, Iowa and Nevada are examples of states where the COVID-19 positive rate is now above 10%.

The government will provide $2.5 billion to help nursing homes with testing costs, Verma also announced. The administration’s campaign to distribute fast-test machines and an initial supply of tests is supposed to be done by the end of September.

The nursing home industry said it supports mandatory testing as long as facilities are given what they need to comply with requirements.

Mark Parkinson, head of the industry group American Health Care Association, said nursing homes in many parts of the country still can’t get timely results on COVID-19 tests.

CMS “must factor in the delays that continue to be a reality,” Parkinson said in a statement. “Otherwise facilities could face fines for circumstances beyond their control and be conducting tests that are so delayed that they have little clinical value.”

The hospital reporting requirement that was also announced Tuesday follows confusion and misgivings surrounding a Trump administration directive that facilities send critical COVID-19 data directly to HHS instead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as had been the case.

The information includes numbers of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, how many intensive-care beds are occupied, and the availability of essential supplies and equipment such as ventilators and masks and gowns.

The regulation basically says if hospitals want to continue to participate in Medicare and Medicaid, they must report the information as required. The American Hospital Association called for the requirement to be immediately rescinded.

“Hospitals and health systems consistently have put forward a good faith effort to report the data needed to battle COVID-19 under very trying circumstances, despite the ever-changing requests from the government on data reporting,” Rick Pollack, president of the American Hospital Association, said in a statement. “Since February, the government has made at least six changes to how they want hospitals to report data.”

Federal statistics show that 94% of hospitals are reporting the required data, said Pollack. He added his organization has done some investigation of its own and found that in some cases hospitals had sent in their reports, but the information had not gotten through the government system.

“It’s beyond perplexing why CMS would use a regulatory sledgehammer — threatening Medicare participation — to the very organizations that are on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19.”

CMS chief Verma said the requirement is meant to correct deficiencies in reporting vital data needed to track and contain the pandemic.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Threatening fines and funding cut-offs, the Trump administration issued new COVID-19 requirements for nursing homes and hospitals, prompting immediate pushback from beleaguered industries.To check the spread of the coronavirus in nursing homes, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced it will require facilities to test staff regularly or face fines.<a href="https://apnews.com/681479be1d9f1a0fea4d64b1a44d5b9e">The move comes months after the White House</a>&nbsp;first urged governors to test all nursing home residents and staff. With residents, nursing homes are being required to offer them coronavirus tests if there is an outbreak or if any show symptoms.Officials also reinforced a reporting mandate for hospitals. It included a thinly veiled threat to cut off Medicare and Medicaid funds to facilities that fail to report certain COVID-19 data daily to the federal Health and Human Services department. Hospitals responded with a sharp rebuke, calling the move “heavy-handed” and raising the specter of loss of vital services for local communities in a pandemic, less than three months before Election Day.Long-term care facilities represent less than 1% of the U.S. population, but they account for 42% of the COVID-19 deaths, with more than 70,000 fatalities reported by the COVID Tracking Project.The plight of frail elders in nursing homes is politically sensitive for President Donald Trump, who is trying to maintain support from older voters amid disapproval of the government’s pandemic response. His administration is distributing fast-test machines to nursing homes, but there are continued reports that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ae2b6d71bdc3a9391ae02910d8f0491f">cases have been rising</a>&nbsp;and facilities still face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ff2bbfb4a7431e86cdca5132042d4a0e">shortages of supplies</a>&nbsp;like masks.“Our recommendations for testing in nursing homes go back as far back as March and April,” said Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS. “What’s different about today is that this is now a requirement ... we want to make sure every single nursing home is complying.”Independent research indicates that the coronavirus most likely gets into nursing homes via staffers who unwittingly bring it in from surrounding communities where it has started to spread. Staffers who have yet to develop symptoms may have no clue that they’re infected.Verma said the testing requirement for staff will be keyed to the level of virus activity in local areas. If the positive rate is below 5%, nursing homes will have to test staff once a month. If the rate is 5% - 10%, testing will be required once a week. If the rate is above 10%, staff will have to be tested twice a week. Florida, Iowa and Nevada are examples of states where the COVID-19 positive rate is now above 10%.The government will provide $2.5 billion to help nursing homes with testing costs, Verma also announced. The administration’s campaign to distribute fast-test machines and an initial supply of tests is supposed to be done by the end of September.The nursing home industry said it supports mandatory testing as long as facilities are given what they need to comply with requirements.Mark Parkinson, head of the industry group American Health Care Association, said nursing homes in many parts of the country still can’t get timely results on COVID-19 tests.CMS “must factor in the delays that continue to be a reality,” Parkinson said in a statement. “Otherwise facilities could face fines for circumstances beyond their control and be conducting tests that are so delayed that they have little clinical value.”The hospital reporting requirement that was also announced Tuesday follows confusion and misgivings surrounding a Trump administration directive that facilities send critical COVID-19 data directly to HHS instead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as had been the case.The information includes numbers of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, how many intensive-care beds are occupied, and the availability of essential supplies and equipment such as ventilators and masks and gowns.The regulation basically says if hospitals want to continue to participate in Medicare and Medicaid, they must report the information as required. The American Hospital Association called for the requirement to be immediately rescinded.“Hospitals and health systems consistently have put forward a good faith effort to report the data needed to battle COVID-19 under very trying circumstances, despite the ever-changing requests from the government on data reporting,” Rick Pollack, president of the American Hospital Association, said in a statement. “Since February, the government has made at least six changes to how they want hospitals to report data.”Federal statistics show that 94% of hospitals are reporting the required data, said Pollack. He added his organization has done some investigation of its own and found that in some cases hospitals had sent in their reports, but the information had not gotten through the government system.“It’s beyond perplexing why CMS would use a regulatory sledgehammer — threatening Medicare participation — to the very organizations that are on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19.”CMS chief Verma said the requirement is meant to correct deficiencies in reporting vital data needed to track and contain the pandemic.

New COVID-19 mandates on health care facilities get pushback

KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — A former 17-year-old female Boy Scout member contends in a lawsuit against a Kansas City-area chapter that she faced sexual harassment and discrimination before she was fired from a camp last summer.

The plaintiff and her mother, who are not identified, claim in the lawsuit against the Heart of America Council that she saw Boy Scout members barge in on women while they changed clothes at a camp and that staff also attended drunken parties, KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-08-27/female-boy-scout-alleges-rampant-sexual-harassment-by-kansas-city-boy-scout-group" target="_blank">reported</a>.

The lawsuit alleges the girl was punished for actions male Scouts got away while she was a staff member at H. Roe Bartle Scout Camp in Osceola, Missouri, last summer. She said she was sent home from camp after only 12 days for leaving camp with a male, despite having her mother’s permission to do so.

The Heart of America Council also routinely violated its policy requiring an adult to be present when another adult has a conversation with someone younger than 18, the lawsuit claims.

Brick Huffman, Scout Executive for the Heart of America Council, said in a statement Friday that the organization cannot comment on the lawsuit, but officials are looking into the matter “and can assure you that the conduct alleged in the complaint runs counter to everything Scouting represents.”

Huffman said Scouting members and staff are expected to treat everyone with respect, and the organization does not allow bullying or harassment. Scouting values diversity and seeks to provide a safe environment for everyone, he said.

“Prejudice, intolerance, discrimination and harassment are unacceptable in our organization,” Huffman said.

The Heart of America Council oversees scouting in 19 counties in eastern Kansas and western Missouri, including Kansas City.

Girls were allowed to join the Boy Scouts in 2017, and the plaintiff said she was one of the first female staff members at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Camp.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for sex discrimination, sexual harassment, breach of contract and retaliation.

The national Boy Scouts of America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February in response to hundreds of lawsuits by Scouts alleging they were sexually abused.

KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — A former 17-year-old female Boy Scout member contends in a lawsuit against a Kansas City-area chapter that she faced sexual harassment and discrimination before she was fired from a camp last summer.The plaintiff and her mother, who are not identified, claim in the lawsuit against the Heart of America Council that she saw Boy Scout members barge in on women while they changed clothes at a camp and that staff also attended drunken parties, KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-08-27/female-boy-scout-alleges-rampant-sexual-harassment-by-kansas-city-boy-scout-group" target="_blank">reported</a>.The lawsuit alleges the girl was punished for actions male Scouts got away while she was a staff member at H. Roe Bartle Scout Camp in Osceola, Missouri, last summer. She said she was sent home from camp after only 12 days for leaving camp with a male, despite having her mother’s permission to do so.The Heart of America Council also routinely violated its policy requiring an adult to be present when another adult has a conversation with someone younger than 18, the lawsuit claims.Brick Huffman, Scout Executive for the Heart of America Council, said in a statement Friday that the organization cannot comment on the lawsuit, but officials are looking into the matter “and can assure you that the conduct alleged in the complaint runs counter to everything Scouting represents.”Huffman said Scouting members and staff are expected to treat everyone with respect, and the organization does not allow bullying or harassment. Scouting values diversity and seeks to provide a safe environment for everyone, he said.“Prejudice, intolerance, discrimination and harassment are unacceptable in our organization,” Huffman said.The Heart of America Council oversees scouting in 19 counties in eastern Kansas and western Missouri, including Kansas City.Girls were allowed to join the Boy Scouts in 2017, and the plaintiff said she was one of the first female staff members at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Camp.The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for sex discrimination, sexual harassment, breach of contract and retaliation.The national Boy Scouts of America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February in response to hundreds of lawsuits by Scouts alleging they were sexually abused.

Suit: Ex-Female Boy Scout faced harassment, discrimination

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The Douglas County board has abandoned a plan to spend $1.85 million in federal coronavirus relief funding to buy a mobile command center for the county sheriff's office.

Sheriff Tim Dunning withdrew his request for the RV-like truck because he said his office couldn't find a manufacturer who could build and deliver one in 2020 when the federal aid must be spent. Officials had argued that the command center could have helped officials respond to the coronavirus outbreak by supporting mass vaccination efforts in the area.

County Board Member Mary Ann Borgeson, who had supported the mobile command center funding, said the county board will look at several ideas on how to spend the money, and she said officials will have to figure out how to sustain funding for a new program after the relief money is gone.

Borgeson said she wants to use the $1.85 million for mental health services instead.

"I'd like to talk about using those funds and actually rounding it up to $2 million for mental health services," Borgeson said.

Borgeson wants to look into starting a mobile mental health crisis response team program that would be staffed by mental health professionals.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The Douglas County board has abandoned a plan to spend $1.85 million in federal coronavirus relief funding to buy a mobile command center for the county sheriff's office.Sheriff Tim Dunning withdrew his request for the RV-like truck because he said his office couldn't find a manufacturer who could build and deliver one in 2020 when the federal aid must be spent. Officials had argued that the command center could have helped officials respond to the coronavirus outbreak by supporting mass vaccination efforts in the area.County Board Member Mary Ann Borgeson, who had supported the mobile command center funding, said the county board will look at several ideas on how to spend the money, and she said officials will have to figure out how to sustain funding for a new program after the relief money is gone.Borgeson said she wants to use the $1.85 million for mental health services instead."I'd like to talk about using those funds and actually rounding it up to $2 million for mental health services," Borgeson said.Borgeson wants to look into starting a mobile mental health crisis response team program that would be staffed by mental health professionals.

Douglas County won't spend $1.85M in virus relief on vehicle

LINCOLN, Neb. -- U.S. Senator Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and children's advocates are calling on U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to extend child nutrition waivers that helped schools and community groups continue serving meals when schools closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Crystal FitzSimons, director of school and out-of-school-time programs for the&nbsp;<a href="https://frac.org/" target="_blank">Food Research and Action Center</a>, said kids returning to school will get traditional free and reduced-price breakfasts and lunches, but many will be learning remotely, far from school cafeterias. "We need to make sure that there's enough flexibility within the child-nutrition program so that communities can operate the child-nutrition programs and provide meals to the families who need them," FitzSimons said. The Senate Agriculture Committee recently&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/08.17.2020%20School%20Year%20Waiver%20Final.pdf" target="_blank">sent a letter</a>&nbsp;urging Perdue to extend waivers, but FitzSimons said that alone won't get the job done. Her group and others also want Congress to extend Pandemic EBT benefits, a program meant to help families pay for meals kids normally would have received at school. More than 50,000 Nebraska children have not yet been enrolled in the initial P-EBT program, which would put up to $281 per eligible child into their parents' wallets. FitzSimons said Governor Pete Ricketts could reopen the application process, which lasted just one month. She added the program also would benefit state and local economies. "$281 on a P-EBT card to purchase food, and an additional 50,000 kids receiving that," FitzSimons said. "That is a pretty significant financial input into the state of Nebraska, to support local grocers and retailers." If a child attended a school that offered free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program, they're eligible for P-EBT, regardless of a family's immigration status. P-EBT benefits will not impact Public Charge determination, and can be tapped in addition to SNAP - the program formerly known as food stamps - as well as food pantries or any other assistance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598799157067.png" alt="Some 53,000 eligible Nebraska children have not been enrolled in the Pandemic EBT program, which would put up to $281 per child into their parents' wallets to help pay for food. (USDA)" />
 <figcaption>Some 53,000 eligible Nebraska children have not been enrolled in the Pandemic EBT program, which would put up to $281 per child into their parents' wallets to help pay for food. (USDA)</figcaption>
 </figure>Nebraska News ConnectionBy Eric GalatasLINCOLN, Neb. -- U.S. Senator Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and children's advocates are calling on U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to extend child nutrition waivers that helped schools and community groups continue serving meals when schools closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Crystal FitzSimons, director of school and out-of-school-time programs for the&nbsp;<a href="https://frac.org/" target="_blank">Food Research and Action Center</a>, said kids returning to school will get traditional free and reduced-price breakfasts and lunches, but many will be learning remotely, far from school cafeterias. "We need to make sure that there's enough flexibility within the child-nutrition program so that communities can operate the child-nutrition programs and provide meals to the families who need them," FitzSimons said. The Senate Agriculture Committee recently&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/08.17.2020%20School%20Year%20Waiver%20Final.pdf" target="_blank">sent a letter</a>&nbsp;urging Perdue to extend waivers, but FitzSimons said that alone won't get the job done. Her group and others also want Congress to extend Pandemic EBT benefits, a program meant to help families pay for meals kids normally would have received at school. More than 50,000 Nebraska children have not yet been enrolled in the initial P-EBT program, which would put up to $281 per eligible child into their parents' wallets. FitzSimons said Governor Pete Ricketts could reopen the application process, which lasted just one month. She added the program also would benefit state and local economies. "$281 on a P-EBT card to purchase food, and an additional 50,000 kids receiving that," FitzSimons said. "That is a pretty significant financial input into the state of Nebraska, to support local grocers and retailers." If a child attended a school that offered free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program, they're eligible for P-EBT, regardless of a family's immigration status. P-EBT benefits will not impact Public Charge determination, and can be tapped in addition to SNAP - the program formerly known as food stamps - as well as food pantries or any other assistance.

Ensuring kids get meals as they head back to school

ATLANTA (AP) — Nearly 40 missing or endangered children have been rescued by federal and state agents during a law enforcement operation in Georgia, authorities say.

The U.S. Marshals Service&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usmarshals.gov/news/chron/2020/082720.htm" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;Thursday that 13 missing children were found and an additional 26 endangered children were rescued during the two-week operation centered on Atlanta and a city to its south, Macon.

The missing children were considered to be “some of the most at-risk and challenging recovery cases” and some were likely victims of child sex trafficking, child exploitation, abuse and had medical or mental health conditions, authorities said.

Nine people were arrested on charges including sex trafficking, parental kidnapping and custodial interference, as well as being a registered sex offender and weapons violations.

Authorities did not identify the suspects.

“When we track down fugitives, it’s a good feeling to know that we’re putting the bad guy behind bars. But that sense of accomplishment is nothing compared to finding a missing child,” said Darby Kirby, chief of the Missing Child Unit. “It’s hard to put into words what we feel when we rescue a missing child, but I can tell you that this operation has impacted every single one of us out here.”

U.S. Marshals Director Donald Washington said the FBI has reports of more than 421,000 missing children and of those, around 90% are considered endangered runaways. One in 6 of the endangered runaways is likely to become the victim of sex trafficking, authorities said.

According to Washington, roughly 300 young girls in the Atlanta area are lured into trafficking every month. One of his most important messages was directed to victims of trafficking — “We will never stop looking for you.”

ATLANTA (AP) — Nearly 40 missing or endangered children have been rescued by federal and state agents during a law enforcement operation in Georgia, authorities say.The U.S. Marshals Service&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usmarshals.gov/news/chron/2020/082720.htm" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;Thursday that 13 missing children were found and an additional 26 endangered children were rescued during the two-week operation centered on Atlanta and a city to its south, Macon.The missing children were considered to be “some of the most at-risk and challenging recovery cases” and some were likely victims of child sex trafficking, child exploitation, abuse and had medical or mental health conditions, authorities said.Nine people were arrested on charges including sex trafficking, parental kidnapping and custodial interference, as well as being a registered sex offender and weapons violations.Authorities did not identify the suspects.“When we track down fugitives, it’s a good feeling to know that we’re putting the bad guy behind bars. But that sense of accomplishment is nothing compared to finding a missing child,” said Darby Kirby, chief of the Missing Child Unit. “It’s hard to put into words what we feel when we rescue a missing child, but I can tell you that this operation has impacted every single one of us out here.”U.S. Marshals Director Donald Washington said the FBI has reports of more than 421,000 missing children and of those, around 90% are considered endangered runaways. One in 6 of the endangered runaways is likely to become the victim of sex trafficking, authorities said.According to Washington, roughly 300 young girls in the Atlanta area are lured into trafficking every month. One of his most important messages was directed to victims of trafficking — “We will never stop looking for you.”

Missing children rescued in Georgia sex trafficking bust

BROWN COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 11p.m. Saturday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Ford F150 driven by Lana M. Bachman, 46, Centralia, was southbound on U.S. 75 just south of 190th Road.

The pickup crossed the center line and struck&nbsp; a 2002 Chrysler Town and Country driven by&nbsp;Aston, Glenn D. Aston, 66, Humbolt, Nebraska, head-on.

Aston was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Chapel Oaks Funeral Home. EMS transported Bachman to Stormont Vail in Topeka. Aston was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

BROWN COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 11p.m. Saturday in Brown County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Ford F150 driven by Lana M. Bachman, 46, Centralia, was southbound on U.S. 75 just south of 190th Road.The pickup crossed the center line and struck&nbsp; a 2002 Chrysler Town and Country driven by&nbsp;Aston, Glenn D. Aston, 66, Humbolt, Nebraska, head-on.Aston was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Chapel Oaks Funeral Home. EMS transported Bachman to Stormont Vail in Topeka. Aston was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Nebraska man dead after Kansas head-on crash

LAWRENCE (AP) — As waves of schools and businesses around the country are cleared to reopen, college towns are moving toward renewed shutdowns because of too many parties and too many COVID-19 infections among students.

With more than 300 students at the University of Missouri testing positive for the coronavirus and an alarming 44% positivity rate for the surrounding county, the local health director Friday ordered bars to stop serving alcohol at 9 p.m. and close by 10 p.m.

Iowa’s governor has ordered all bars shut down around The University of Iowa and Iowa State, while the mayor of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, did the same in the hometown of the state’s flagship university

“What we’re seeing in our violations is they’re coming late at night,” said Stephanie Browning, head of the health department for Columbia, Missouri. “Big groups gathering. They’re not wearing their masks, they’re not social distancing.”

In Utah, the city council in Provo overrode a mayoral veto to pass a mask mandate, which includes a $500 fine for organizing large mask-less gatherings, days before students return to Brigham Young University from around the country.

But the council was nevertheless worried that college students sharing dorms, bathrooms and showers could become “super-spreaders” and bring the virus off campus, council chair George Handley said.

“We’re already seeing what’s happened across the country at other universities,” he said.

But a recent warehouse party organized by a BYU student’s promotional company called Young/Dumb also raised concern when pictures of hundreds of revelers without masks surfaced online.

BYU, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has its own rules requiring masks on campus. Requirements for indoor public spaces in town will help people stay healthy and businesses stay open, Handley said.

“This is actually about preserving our way of life, it’s not about destroying it — contrary to what some people say,” Handley said.

The outbreaks since students began returning to campus in the past few weeks have heightened tensions between colleges and their towns and led to recriminations between local politicians and university officials.

Meanwhile, California announced a four-tiered, color-coded plan Friday for gradually reopening businesses after abandoning a reopening attempt earlier this summer. It requires counties to meet certain benchmarks showing progress in controlling the virus.

In Arizona, another deadly hot spot this summer, a drop in transmission numbers allowed the Phoenix and Tucson areas to reopen gyms and some bars.

The U.S. has recorded over 180,000 deaths from the coronavirus and 5.9 million confirmed infections. Worldwide, the death toll is put at more than 830,000, with at least 24.5 million cases.

Drugmaker Gilead Sciences said Friday that U.S. regulators are now allowing use of experimental antiviral drug remdesivir for all patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

It said the Food and Drug Administration has expanded its emergency use authorization, which lets doctors administer the IV drug during the pandemic. Until now, that was limited to patients with severe COVID-19.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597942736026.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE (AP) — As waves of schools and businesses around the country are cleared to reopen, college towns are moving toward renewed shutdowns because of too many parties and too many COVID-19 infections among students.With more than 300 students at the University of Missouri testing positive for the coronavirus and an alarming 44% positivity rate for the surrounding county, the local health director Friday ordered bars to stop serving alcohol at 9 p.m. and close by 10 p.m.Iowa’s governor has ordered all bars shut down around The University of Iowa and Iowa State, while the mayor of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, did the same in the hometown of the state’s flagship university“What we’re seeing in our violations is they’re coming late at night,” said Stephanie Browning, head of the health department for Columbia, Missouri. “Big groups gathering. They’re not wearing their masks, they’re not social distancing.”In Utah, the city council in Provo overrode a mayoral veto to pass a mask mandate, which includes a $500 fine for organizing large mask-less gatherings, days before students return to Brigham Young University from around the country.But the council was nevertheless worried that college students sharing dorms, bathrooms and showers could become “super-spreaders” and bring the virus off campus, council chair George Handley said.“We’re already seeing what’s happened across the country at other universities,” he said.But a recent warehouse party organized by a BYU student’s promotional company called Young/Dumb also raised concern when pictures of hundreds of revelers without masks surfaced online.BYU, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has its own rules requiring masks on campus. Requirements for indoor public spaces in town will help people stay healthy and businesses stay open, Handley said.“This is actually about preserving our way of life, it’s not about destroying it — contrary to what some people say,” Handley said.The outbreaks since students began returning to campus in the past few weeks have heightened tensions between colleges and their towns and led to recriminations between local politicians and university officials.Meanwhile, California announced a four-tiered, color-coded plan Friday for gradually reopening businesses after abandoning a reopening attempt earlier this summer. It requires counties to meet certain benchmarks showing progress in controlling the virus.In Arizona, another deadly hot spot this summer, a drop in transmission numbers allowed the Phoenix and Tucson areas to reopen gyms and some bars.The U.S. has recorded over 180,000 deaths from the coronavirus and 5.9 million confirmed infections. Worldwide, the death toll is put at more than 830,000, with at least 24.5 million cases.Drugmaker Gilead Sciences said Friday that U.S. regulators are now allowing use of experimental antiviral drug remdesivir for all patients hospitalized with COVID-19.It said the Food and Drug Administration has expanded its emergency use authorization, which lets doctors administer the IV drug during the pandemic. Until now, that was limited to patients with severe COVID-19.Remdesivir previously was shown to shorten treatment by about four days for hospitalized patients with severe disease, compared with those getting standard supportive care.Surging infection numbers around the U.S. have been blamed in part on young people ignoring mask and social distancing requirements.In Iowa’s Story County, home to Iowa State, 74% of new cases over the past seven days were among people ages 19 to 24, Gov. Kim Reynolds said Thursday. In the same time period, 69% of new cases in Johnson County, the home of the University of Iowa, were in that age group.“It is increasing the virus activity in the community, and it’s spilling over to other segments of the population,” Reynolds said.Fueled in part by clusters where college students are returning to classes, Kansas has had its highest seven-day increase in coronavirus cases.Gov. Laura Kelly said outbreaks on college campuses and fraternities and sororities are at least a factor in the surge.“We cannot continue to go down this path,” she told reporters Friday.The number of positive coronavirus cases continues to climb at the University of Kansas, with 10% of fraternity and sorority members infected. The school said Friday in a news release that it has conducted 21,719 tests and 474 have been positive, for a positive rate of 2.18%. But among sororities and fraternities, there have been 270 positives among 2,698 members tested. Earlier this week, the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department issued an order placing nine chapter houses under quarantine.&nbsp;At Kansas State University, four new outbreaks are associated with sororities on campus, <a href="https://www.rileycountyks.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1184">according to the </a>Riley County Health Department. All residents of any Greek house at K-State where an outbreak has been declared should quarantine for 14 days.The University of Alabama has recorded over 1,000 cases on campus since the fall semester began last week. In closing the town’s bars Monday for the next two weeks, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said that an unchecked spread of the virus threatens both the health care system and the local economy if students have to be sent home for the semester for remote learning.Three of North Carolina’s largest public universities have abruptly halted in-person undergraduate instruction and directed students to move out of the dorms after hundreds tested positive following their return to campus. More than 800 have been infected at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and over 670 at North Carolina State.Leaders at UNC-Chapel Hill, which has shifted to online classes, wrote an open letter Thursday to the mayor outlining steps the university is taking to curb off-campus parties.“We recognize the very real problems with the behaviors of some of our fraternities and sororities,” the letter said.Oyeronke Popoola, a 17-year-old freshman at UNC-Chapel Hill who moved out of her dorm, said that administrators, not students, deserve most of the blame for the virus-related problems after they ushered students back to campus.“They should’ve put everything online from the beginning, but they wanted the money,” she said. And she said fraternities and sororities weren’t the only ones at fault among the students: “I feel like Greek life gets a lot of blame, which is understandable, but there are other students who were meeting without masks.”The problems did not change the thinking of other schools around the country.The University of Virginia announced Friday that it is moving ahead with plans to offer in-person instruction for the fall semester, after delaying the start of classes for two weeks to assess the spread of COVID-19.“We know some will be delighted to hear this news and others will be disappointed,” a university statement said. “To be frank, it was a very difficult decision, made in the face of much uncertainty, and with full awareness that future events may force us to change course.”