YUTAN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities in eastern Nebraska say a Wahoo man was killed when the tractor he was driving rolled into a ditch.

 The Saunders County Sheriff’s Office says deputies and medics were called around 1 p.m.

 Sunday to the scene along a county road about two miles west of Yutan. 

Investigators say 66-year-old Jerry Ostransky had been mowing a ditch along the road, pulling a shredder behind the tractor, when he attempted to make a U-turn on the road. 

Investigators say the maneuver sent the wheels of the shredder went into the opposite ditch, causing the tractor to roll, pinning Ostransky underneath it. Ostransky was pronounced dead at the scene.

YUTAN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities in eastern Nebraska say a Wahoo man was killed when the tractor he was driving rolled into a ditch. The Saunders County Sheriff’s Office says deputies and medics were called around 1 p.m. Sunday to the scene along a county road about two miles west of Yutan. Investigators say 66-year-old Jerry Ostransky had been mowing a ditch along the road, pulling a shredder behind the tractor, when he attempted to make a U-turn on the road. Investigators say the maneuver sent the wheels of the shredder went into the opposite ditch, causing the tractor to roll, pinning Ostransky underneath it. Ostransky was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities say Wahoo man killed when tractor overturned

LINCOLN, Neb.-One lucky player who bought a 2by2 ticket for the Friday, July 24 drawing is holding a ticket worth $22,000.

The Nebraska Lottery has confirmed that one ticket sold for Friday’s 2by2 draw matched all four winning numbers for the $22,000 top prize. The ticket was sold at Short Stop, 1008 7th St, in Alma. The winning numbers from Friday’s 2by2 draw were Red 08, 18, and White 06, 15. Players are encouraged to check their tickets at any Nebraska Lottery retailer, online at nelottery.com, or by calling the Lottery office at 402-471-6100.

Winning Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Prizes of $20,000 or more must be claimed in person at Lottery headquarters in Lincoln. Additional information about claiming prizes can be found at the Nebraska Lottery website, nelottery.com, or by calling 800-587-5200.

2by2 is run by the Multi-State Lottery Association and was introduced in June 2002. Players in Kansas, Nebraska and North Dakota have the opportunity to win up to $22,000 Monday through Sunday by playing 2by2. The odds of winning the $22,000 2by2 top prize are 1 in 105,625. The overall odds of winning any 2by2 prize are 1 in 3.59.

The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $782 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

LINCOLN, Neb.-One lucky player who bought a 2by2 ticket for the Friday, July 24 drawing is holding a ticket worth $22,000.The Nebraska Lottery has confirmed that one ticket sold for Friday’s 2by2 draw matched all four winning numbers for the $22,000 top prize. The ticket was sold at Short Stop, 1008 7th St, in Alma. The winning numbers from Friday’s 2by2 draw were Red 08, 18, and White 06, 15. Players are encouraged to check their tickets at any Nebraska Lottery retailer, online at nelottery.com, or by calling the Lottery office at 402-471-6100.Winning Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Prizes of $20,000 or more must be claimed in person at Lottery headquarters in Lincoln. Additional information about claiming prizes can be found at the Nebraska Lottery website, nelottery.com, or by calling 800-587-5200.2by2 is run by the Multi-State Lottery Association and was introduced in June 2002. Players in Kansas, Nebraska and North Dakota have the opportunity to win up to $22,000 Monday through Sunday by playing 2by2. The odds of winning the $22,000 2by2 top prize are 1 in 105,625. The overall odds of winning any 2by2 prize are 1 in 3.59.The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $782 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

$22,000 2by2 winning ticket sold in Alma

WASHINGTON (AP) — Suggesting a narrower&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">pandemic&nbsp;</a>relief package may be all that’s possible, the White House still pushed ahead with Monday’s planned rollout of the Senate Republicans’ $1 trillion effort as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi assailed the GOP “disarray” as time-wasting during the crisis.

The administration’s chief negotiators — White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin — spent the weekend on Capitol Hill to put what Meadows described as “final touches” on the relief bill Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is expected to bring forward Monday afternoon.

“We’re done,” Mnuchin said as he and Meadows left Capitol Hill on Sunday after meeting with GOP staff.

But looming deadlines may force them to consider other options. By Friday, millions of out-of-work Americans will lose an $600 federal unemployment benefit that is expiring and federal eviction protections for many renters are also coming to an end. President Donald Trump’s standing is at one of the lowest points of his term, according to a new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/43a096bc2bcf376de04b696c5143ee99">AP-NORC poll</a>.

“They’re in disarray and that delay is causing suffering for America’s families,” Pelosi said.

Pelosi panned the Trump administration’s desire to trim the $600 weekly unemployment boost to about 70% of pre-pandemic wages. She also said she opposes tackling a relief package in piecemeal fashion.

With the virus death toll climbing and 4.2 million infections nationwide, the administration officials converged on the Capitol to revive the Republican package that unraveled last week. Republican senators and the White House are at odds over various items, including how to cutback the jobless benefit without fully doing away with it.

Meadows said as the White House was “looking for clarity” on a “handful” of remaining issues with Republicans, but they had yet to talk to McConnell. “We have an agreement in principle,” he said.

Both Mnuchin and Meadows said earlier Sunday that narrower legislation might need to be passed first to ensure that enhanced unemployment benefits don’t run out for millions of Americans. They cited unemployment benefits, money to help schools reopen, tax credits to keep people from losing their jobs, and lawsuit protections for schools and businesses as priorities.

“We can move very quickly with the Democrats on these issues,” Mnuchin said.

But negotiations with Democrats have yet to begin with billions at stake and deadlines near.

Separately, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said a federal eviction moratorium on millions of rental units, due to expire at the end of the month, will be extended. “We will lengthen it,” he said, without specifying for how long.

On the jobless benefits, Republicans have argued that federal jobless benefits should be trimmed because the combination of state and federal unemployment assistance left many people better off financially than they were before the pandemic and therefore disinclined to return to their jobs.

Many Democrats contend that a lot of people don’t feel safe going back to work when the coronavirus is surging again around the country.

Meadows, a former congressman who was the head of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, said he is working with Mnuchin and Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia to address complaints that outdated state computer systems will make it difficult for the jobless to get their benefits in a timely fashion if the formula is changed.

“It’s our goal to make sure that it’s not antiquated computers that keep people from getting their benefits,” Meadows said.

Pelosi criticized the hold-up on the GOP side. House Democrats passed a&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/:%20https://apnews.com/55887a1d2b734020c8dae29004f087d6" target="_blank">$3 trillion relief package&nbsp;</a>a couple of months ago, with the aim of jump-starting negotiations.

The White House and Senate Republicans were racing to regroup after plans to introduce a $1 trillion virus rescue bill collapsed Thursday during GOP infighting over its size, scope and details.

It was expected to bring $105 billion to help schools reopen, new money for virus testing and benefits for businesses, including a fresh round of loans, tax breaks and a sweeping liability shield from COVID-19-related lawsuits.

The expiration of the $600 weekly jobless benefits boost had been propelling the Republicans to act, bracing to prevent social and economic fallout.

The White House floated plans to cut the additional aid back to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4965723ba65a47582f384c185680a29c">$100 a week</a>, while Senate Republicans preferred $200, with general GOP agreement about phasing out the flat boost in favor of one that ensures no more than 70% of an employee’s previous pay.

Apart from jobless benefits, Mnuchin said Saturday that new $1,200 direct payments would be based on the same formula from the earlier aid bill. Then, people making $75,000 or less received the full amount and those making more than $75,000 received less, depending on their income. People earning above $100,000 did not qualify for the payment.

The jobless benefit officially expires July 31, but due to the way states process unemployment payments, the cutoff was effectively Saturday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595844870529.png" alt="Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows following their meetings on Sunday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows following their meetings on Sunday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Suggesting a narrower&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">pandemic&nbsp;</a>relief package may be all that’s possible, the White House still pushed ahead with Monday’s planned rollout of the Senate Republicans’ $1 trillion effort as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi assailed the GOP “disarray” as time-wasting during the crisis.The administration’s chief negotiators — White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin — spent the weekend on Capitol Hill to put what Meadows described as “final touches” on the relief bill Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is expected to bring forward Monday afternoon.“We’re done,” Mnuchin said as he and Meadows left Capitol Hill on Sunday after meeting with GOP staff.But looming deadlines may force them to consider other options. By Friday, millions of out-of-work Americans will lose an $600 federal unemployment benefit that is expiring and federal eviction protections for many renters are also coming to an end. President Donald Trump’s standing is at one of the lowest points of his term, according to a new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/43a096bc2bcf376de04b696c5143ee99">AP-NORC poll</a>.“They’re in disarray and that delay is causing suffering for America’s families,” Pelosi said.Pelosi panned the Trump administration’s desire to trim the $600 weekly unemployment boost to about 70% of pre-pandemic wages. She also said she opposes tackling a relief package in piecemeal fashion.With the virus death toll climbing and 4.2 million infections nationwide, the administration officials converged on the Capitol to revive the Republican package that unraveled last week. Republican senators and the White House are at odds over various items, including how to cutback the jobless benefit without fully doing away with it.Meadows said as the White House was “looking for clarity” on a “handful” of remaining issues with Republicans, but they had yet to talk to McConnell. “We have an agreement in principle,” he said.Both Mnuchin and Meadows said earlier Sunday that narrower legislation might need to be passed first to ensure that enhanced unemployment benefits don’t run out for millions of Americans. They cited unemployment benefits, money to help schools reopen, tax credits to keep people from losing their jobs, and lawsuit protections for schools and businesses as priorities.“We can move very quickly with the Democrats on these issues,” Mnuchin said.But negotiations with Democrats have yet to begin with billions at stake and deadlines near.Separately, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said a federal eviction moratorium on millions of rental units, due to expire at the end of the month, will be extended. “We will lengthen it,” he said, without specifying for how long.On the jobless benefits, Republicans have argued that federal jobless benefits should be trimmed because the combination of state and federal unemployment assistance left many people better off financially than they were before the pandemic and therefore disinclined to return to their jobs.Many Democrats contend that a lot of people don’t feel safe going back to work when the coronavirus is surging again around the country.Meadows, a former congressman who was the head of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, said he is working with Mnuchin and Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia to address complaints that outdated state computer systems will make it difficult for the jobless to get their benefits in a timely fashion if the formula is changed.“It’s our goal to make sure that it’s not antiquated computers that keep people from getting their benefits,” Meadows said.Pelosi criticized the hold-up on the GOP side. House Democrats passed a&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/:%20https://apnews.com/55887a1d2b734020c8dae29004f087d6" target="_blank">$3 trillion relief package&nbsp;</a>a couple of months ago, with the aim of jump-starting negotiations.The White House and Senate Republicans were racing to regroup after plans to introduce a $1 trillion virus rescue bill collapsed Thursday during GOP infighting over its size, scope and details.It was expected to bring $105 billion to help schools reopen, new money for virus testing and benefits for businesses, including a fresh round of loans, tax breaks and a sweeping liability shield from COVID-19-related lawsuits.The expiration of the $600 weekly jobless benefits boost had been propelling the Republicans to act, bracing to prevent social and economic fallout.The White House floated plans to cut the additional aid back to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4965723ba65a47582f384c185680a29c">$100 a week</a>, while Senate Republicans preferred $200, with general GOP agreement about phasing out the flat boost in favor of one that ensures no more than 70% of an employee’s previous pay.Apart from jobless benefits, Mnuchin said Saturday that new $1,200 direct payments would be based on the same formula from the earlier aid bill. Then, people making $75,000 or less received the full amount and those making more than $75,000 received less, depending on their income. People earning above $100,000 did not qualify for the payment.The jobless benefit officially expires July 31, but due to the way states process unemployment payments, the cutoff was effectively Saturday.___

Extra unemployment aid expires, federal eviction moratorium to end

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota health officials report 90 newly confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the state and one new death. 

The state has now had a total of 8,395 cases of COVID-19 as of Sunday, with 908 cases still active. 

The Argus Leader reports there have been 7,364 recoveries from the disease, and a total of 48 people are currently hospitalized, up slightly from 46 on Saturday.

 With the new death reported Sunday, South Dakota's death toll from the disease has risen to 123. 

Minnehaha County added 35 cases, Lincoln County added 14 and Pennington County added four.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota health officials report 90 newly confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the state and one new death. The state has now had a total of 8,395 cases of COVID-19 as of Sunday, with 908 cases still active. The Argus Leader reports there have been 7,364 recoveries from the disease, and a total of 48 people are currently hospitalized, up slightly from 46 on Saturday. With the new death reported Sunday, South Dakota's death toll from the disease has risen to 123. Minnehaha County added 35 cases, Lincoln County added 14 and Pennington County added four.

South Dakota reports 90 new COVID cases, 1 new death

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) — The suspect in the shooting death of a northeast Nebraska woman has been arrested in Sioux City, Iowa. 

Sioux City police say Deshawn Gleaton Jr. was arrested without incident Friday night. He is facing a possible first-degree murder charge in the killing of 29-year-old Hailey Christiansen in Norfolk on Friday morning.

 Christiansen was found suffering from a gunshot wound at a Norfolk home and died during surgery. 

Gleaton was out of prison on bond on suspicion of third-degree domestic assault and first-degree trespassing.

 Authorities say Christiansen was the victim in those cases.

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) — The suspect in the shooting death of a northeast Nebraska woman has been arrested in Sioux City, Iowa. Sioux City police say Deshawn Gleaton Jr. was arrested without incident Friday night. He is facing a possible first-degree murder charge in the killing of 29-year-old Hailey Christiansen in Norfolk on Friday morning. Christiansen was found suffering from a gunshot wound at a Norfolk home and died during surgery. Gleaton was out of prison on bond on suspicion of third-degree domestic assault and first-degree trespassing. Authorities say Christiansen was the victim in those cases.

Suspect in Nebraska woman's death arrested in Iowa

WASHINGTON (AP) — A sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court denied a rural Nevada church’s request late Friday to strike down as unconstitutional a 50-person cap on worship services as part of the state’s ongoing response to the coronavirus.

In a 5-4 decision, the high court refused to grant the request from the Christian church east of Reno to be subjected to the same COVID-19 restrictions in Nevada that allow casinos, restaurants and other businesses to operate at 50% of capacity with proper social distancing.

Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley argued that the hard cap on religious gatherings was an unconstitutional violation of its parishioners’ First Amendment rights to express and exercise their beliefs.

Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberal majority in denying the request without explanation.

Three justices wrote strongly worded dissenting opinions on behalf of the four conservatives who said they would have granted the injunctive relief while the court fully considers the merits of the case.

“That Nevada would discriminate in favor of the powerful gaming industry and its employees may not come as a surprise, but this Court’s willingness to allow such discrimination is disappointing,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote in a dissent joined by Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh.

“We have a duty to defend the Constitution, and even a public health emergency does not absolve us of that responsibility,” Alito said. “The Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion. It says nothing about freedom to play craps or blackjack, to feed tokens into a slot machine or to engage in any other game of chance.”

Kavanaugh also wrote his own dissent, as did Justice Neil Gorsuch, who said today’s world “with a pandemic upon us, poses unusual challenges.”

“But there is no world in which the Constitution permits Nevada to favor Caesars Palace over Calvary Chapel,” Gorsuch wrote.

David Cortman, senior counsel for Georgia-based Alliance Defending Freedom representing the church, said in an email sent to The Associated Press late Friday that they were disappointed in the ruling but will continue to work to protect Calvary Chapel and others “from discriminatory policies that put religious groups at the back of the line for reopening.”

“When the government treats churches worse than casinos, gyms, and indoor amusement parks in its COVID-19 response, it clearly violates the Constitution,” he said.

The governor’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley appealed to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last month after a U.S. judge in Nevada upheld the state’s policy that allows casinos and other businesses to operate at 50% of normal capacity.

The appellate court in San Francisco is still considering the appeal, but it has denied the church’s request for an emergency injunction in the meantime. Its ruling July 2 pointed to the Supreme Court’s refusal in May to strike down California’s limit on the size of religious gatherings.

The church in Nevada’s Lyon County appealed to the Supreme Court six days later, asking for an emergency injunction prohibiting the state from enforcing the cap on religious gatherings at least temporarily while the justices consider the merits of the case.

“The governor allows hundreds to thousands to assemble in pursuit of financial fortunes but only 50 to gather in pursuit of spiritual ones. That is unconstitutional,” its lawyers wrote in their most recent filing to the high court last week.

The church wants to allow as many as 90 people to attend services at the same time — with masks required, sitting 6-feet apart — at the sanctuary with a capacity of 200. Other secular businesses in the state that are allowed to operate at half capacity include gyms, hair salons, bowling alleys and water parks.

Nevada’s lawyers said last week several courts nationwide have followed the Supreme Court’s lead in upholding state authority to impose emergency restrictions in response to COVID-19.

“Temporarily narrowing restrictions on the size of mass gatherings, including for religious services, protects the health and well-being of Nevada citizens during a global pandemic,” they wrote.

Alito said in the lead dissent that by allowing thousands to gather in casinos, the state cannot claim to have a compelling interest in limiting religious gatherings to 50 people — regardless of the size of the facility and the measures adopted to prevent the spread of the virus.

“The idea that allowing Calvary Chapel to admit 90 worshipers present a greater public health risk than allowing casinos to operate at 50% capacity is hard to swallow,” he wrote.

Kavanaugh said he agreed that courts should be “very deferential to the states’ line-drawing in opening businesses and allowing certain activities during the pandemic.”

“But COVID-19 is not a blank check for a state to discriminate against religious people, religious organizations and religious services,” he wrote in his own dissent. “Nevada is discriminating against religion.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588794154314.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court denied a rural Nevada church’s request late Friday to strike down as unconstitutional a 50-person cap on worship services as part of the state’s ongoing response to the coronavirus.In a 5-4 decision, the high court refused to grant the request from the Christian church east of Reno to be subjected to the same COVID-19 restrictions in Nevada that allow casinos, restaurants and other businesses to operate at 50% of capacity with proper social distancing.Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley argued that the hard cap on religious gatherings was an unconstitutional violation of its parishioners’ First Amendment rights to express and exercise their beliefs.Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberal majority in denying the request without explanation.Three justices wrote strongly worded dissenting opinions on behalf of the four conservatives who said they would have granted the injunctive relief while the court fully considers the merits of the case.“That Nevada would discriminate in favor of the powerful gaming industry and its employees may not come as a surprise, but this Court’s willingness to allow such discrimination is disappointing,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote in a dissent joined by Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh.“We have a duty to defend the Constitution, and even a public health emergency does not absolve us of that responsibility,” Alito said. “The Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion. It says nothing about freedom to play craps or blackjack, to feed tokens into a slot machine or to engage in any other game of chance.”Kavanaugh also wrote his own dissent, as did Justice Neil Gorsuch, who said today’s world “with a pandemic upon us, poses unusual challenges.”“But there is no world in which the Constitution permits Nevada to favor Caesars Palace over Calvary Chapel,” Gorsuch wrote.David Cortman, senior counsel for Georgia-based Alliance Defending Freedom representing the church, said in an email sent to The Associated Press late Friday that they were disappointed in the ruling but will continue to work to protect Calvary Chapel and others “from discriminatory policies that put religious groups at the back of the line for reopening.”“When the government treats churches worse than casinos, gyms, and indoor amusement parks in its COVID-19 response, it clearly violates the Constitution,” he said.The governor’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley appealed to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last month after a U.S. judge in Nevada upheld the state’s policy that allows casinos and other businesses to operate at 50% of normal capacity.The appellate court in San Francisco is still considering the appeal, but it has denied the church’s request for an emergency injunction in the meantime. Its ruling July 2 pointed to the Supreme Court’s refusal in May to strike down California’s limit on the size of religious gatherings.The church in Nevada’s Lyon County appealed to the Supreme Court six days later, asking for an emergency injunction prohibiting the state from enforcing the cap on religious gatherings at least temporarily while the justices consider the merits of the case.“The governor allows hundreds to thousands to assemble in pursuit of financial fortunes but only 50 to gather in pursuit of spiritual ones. That is unconstitutional,” its lawyers wrote in their most recent filing to the high court last week.The church wants to allow as many as 90 people to attend services at the same time — with masks required, sitting 6-feet apart — at the sanctuary with a capacity of 200. Other secular businesses in the state that are allowed to operate at half capacity include gyms, hair salons, bowling alleys and water parks.Nevada’s lawyers said last week several courts nationwide have followed the Supreme Court’s lead in upholding state authority to impose emergency restrictions in response to COVID-19.“Temporarily narrowing restrictions on the size of mass gatherings, including for religious services, protects the health and well-being of Nevada citizens during a global pandemic,” they wrote.Alito said in the lead dissent that by allowing thousands to gather in casinos, the state cannot claim to have a compelling interest in limiting religious gatherings to 50 people — regardless of the size of the facility and the measures adopted to prevent the spread of the virus.“The idea that allowing Calvary Chapel to admit 90 worshipers present a greater public health risk than allowing casinos to operate at 50% capacity is hard to swallow,” he wrote.Kavanaugh said he agreed that courts should be “very deferential to the states’ line-drawing in opening businesses and allowing certain activities during the pandemic.”“But COVID-19 is not a blank check for a state to discriminate against religious people, religious organizations and religious services,” he wrote in his own dissent. “Nevada is discriminating against religion.”___

US Supreme Court denies church's appeal of virus rule

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka therapist at a treatment facility for at-risk girls has been arrested on suspicion of having sexual encounters with a teenage patient. 

Police arrested 51-year-old Julie Herron Wednesday on suspicion of unlawful sexual relations with a patient. 

Investigators say Herron was a therapist at Florence Crittenton Services in Topeka and a contractor for the Kansas Department for Children and Families when she began an inappropriate relationship with a resident there, who was 16 at the time, in 2015. 

Court records say Herron often took the teen off-site against facility rules and told the girl that sex was part of her therapy. The teen, who is now an adult, also says Herron raped her in a hotel room.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595598825960.png" alt="Herron-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Herron-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka therapist at a treatment facility for at-risk girls has been arrested on suspicion of having sexual encounters with a teenage patient. Police arrested 51-year-old Julie Herron Wednesday on suspicion of unlawful sexual relations with a patient. Investigators say Herron was a therapist at Florence Crittenton Services in Topeka and a contractor for the Kansas Department for Children and Families when she began an inappropriate relationship with a resident there, who was 16 at the time, in 2015. Court records say Herron often took the teen off-site against facility rules and told the girl that sex was part of her therapy. The teen, who is now an adult, also says Herron raped her in a hotel room.&nbsp;

Therapist in Kansas accused of sex with teen patient

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) - A man suspected of killing a Norfolk woman Friday is believed to have fled the area, police said.

Norfolk Police Chief Don Miller said the woman was shot at a home early Friday and died during surgery.

Suspect Deshawn Gleaton Jr. had left the house before officers arrived. His car was later found near the village of Jackson and it is possible he is in the Sioux City, Iowa, area, Miller said.

Gleaton is facing possible charges of first-degree murder, first-degree assault, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and use of a firearm to commit a felony, The Norfolk Daily News&nbsp;<a href="https://norfolkdailynews.com/news/one-dead-suspect-still-at-large-in-norfolk-shooting/article_6d8f9dee-cdb7-11ea-9033-b72cb697a4c2.html" target="_blank">reported</a>.

Gleaton was out of prison on bond for third-degree domestic assault and first-degree trespassing. The woman who died was the victim in those cases, Miller said. Her name wasn't immediately released.

Two other men were arrested when they went to a home connected to Gleaton with a handgun and intending to confront him, Miller said. Officers were at the house when the men arrived.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595635231552.png" alt="Deshawn Gleaton Jr." />
 <figcaption>Deshawn Gleaton Jr.</figcaption>
 </figure>NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) - A man suspected of killing a Norfolk woman Friday is believed to have fled the area, police said.Norfolk Police Chief Don Miller said the woman was shot at a home early Friday and died during surgery.Suspect Deshawn Gleaton Jr. had left the house before officers arrived. His car was later found near the village of Jackson and it is possible he is in the Sioux City, Iowa, area, Miller said.Gleaton is facing possible charges of first-degree murder, first-degree assault, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and use of a firearm to commit a felony, The Norfolk Daily News&nbsp;<a href="https://norfolkdailynews.com/news/one-dead-suspect-still-at-large-in-norfolk-shooting/article_6d8f9dee-cdb7-11ea-9033-b72cb697a4c2.html" target="_blank">reported</a>.Gleaton was out of prison on bond for third-degree domestic assault and first-degree trespassing. The woman who died was the victim in those cases, Miller said. Her name wasn't immediately released.Two other men were arrested when they went to a home connected to Gleaton with a handgun and intending to confront him, Miller said. Officers were at the house when the men arrived.

Police search for suspect after Norfolk woman killed

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota health officials report 57 cases of COVID-19 as the number of daily cases remained constant over the past two weeks.

 A woman from Pennington County died after contracting COVID-19, according to data from the Department of Health. She was in her 50s. 

The state has recorded a total of 8,200 cases of the coronavirus, but over 88% of them have recovered.

 A total of 122 people have died. Monument Health has announced that it will allow limited visitors in its hospitals beginning on Monday. 

The hospitals are limiting the number of visitors allowed and requiring them to wear masks.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota health officials report 57 cases of COVID-19 as the number of daily cases remained constant over the past two weeks. A woman from Pennington County died after contracting COVID-19, according to data from the Department of Health. She was in her 50s. The state has recorded a total of 8,200 cases of the coronavirus, but over 88% of them have recovered. A total of 122 people have died. Monument Health has announced that it will allow limited visitors in its hospitals beginning on Monday. The hospitals are limiting the number of visitors allowed and requiring them to wear masks.

South Dakota reports 57 COVID-19 cases, one death

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Police say an arrest has been made in the shooting death of a woman who was hit by a bullet as she rode on a Lincoln city bus. 

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that 28-year-old Joel Jones Jr., of Lincoln, has been arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder and several weapons counts in the Thursday afternoon death of 69-year-old Sharon Johnson. 

Police say Johnson was the only passenger on the eastbound bus when a bullet entered it through the driver's side and hit her in the head. 

Johnson was taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. 

Johnson's killing is Lincoln’s third homicide in July and the city’s seventh for the year.&nbsp;

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Police say an arrest has been made in the shooting death of a woman who was hit by a bullet as she rode on a Lincoln city bus. The Lincoln Journal Star reports that 28-year-old Joel Jones Jr., of Lincoln, has been arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder and several weapons counts in the Thursday afternoon death of 69-year-old Sharon Johnson. Police say Johnson was the only passenger on the eastbound bus when a bullet entered it through the driver's side and hit her in the head. Johnson was taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Johnson's killing is Lincoln’s third homicide in July and the city’s seventh for the year.&nbsp;

Arrest made in shooting that killed woman on Lincoln bus

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota health officials say that one of their top priorities is helping schools reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic. But they're leaving it up to school administrators to decide whether to require masks. Most South Dakota schools are planning to allow students into classrooms in the coming months. 

Requiring teachers and students to wear masks has been an item of debate at school board meetings statewide. 

The South Dakota State Medical Association has urged school administrators to require masks. 

The Department of Health is preparing to conduct contact tracing in schools. 

The state's largest district, in Sioux Falls, doesn’t have a requirement for face coverings in its reopening plan.&nbsp;

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota health officials say that one of their top priorities is helping schools reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic. But they're leaving it up to school administrators to decide whether to require masks. Most South Dakota schools are planning to allow students into classrooms in the coming months. Requiring teachers and students to wear masks has been an item of debate at school board meetings statewide. The South Dakota State Medical Association has urged school administrators to require masks. The Department of Health is preparing to conduct contact tracing in schools. The state's largest district, in Sioux Falls, doesn’t have a requirement for face coverings in its reopening plan.&nbsp;

South Dakota health officials weigh in on masks in schools

LINCOLN&nbsp; — The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating a crash that occurred at the Interstate&nbsp;80 westbound weigh station near Waverly, in&nbsp;which a minivan crashed into and entered the weigh station building itself.

At approximately 6:35 p.m. July 23, a Mazda MPV minivan crashed into the west side of the building, which is an office and work area for troopers in the Carrier Enforcement Division. The weigh station was closed at the time of the crash and there was no personnel inside.

The sole occupant of the minivan was transported to Bryan Health Center West Campus in Lincoln with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries. NSP is working to determine the cause of the crash. The Nebraska Department of Transportation also responded to address the significant damage to the building.&nbsp;

LINCOLN&nbsp; — The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating a crash that occurred at the Interstate&nbsp;80 westbound weigh station near Waverly, in&nbsp;which a minivan crashed into and entered the weigh station building itself.At approximately 6:35 p.m. July 23, a Mazda MPV minivan crashed into the west side of the building, which is an office and work area for troopers in the Carrier Enforcement Division. The weigh station was closed at the time of the crash and there was no personnel inside.The sole occupant of the minivan was transported to Bryan Health Center West Campus in Lincoln with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries. NSP is working to determine the cause of the crash. The Nebraska Department of Transportation also responded to address the significant damage to the building.&nbsp;

NSP investigating minivan crash into I-80 weigh station

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The owner of a pharmacy that provided drugs to Nebraska for use in a 2018 execution is expressing remorse for making the sale, but acknowledging that he knew that prison officials wanted them for a lethal injection. 

Public records released late Thursday show that Community Pharmacy Services, a pharmacy in Gretna, Nebraska, agreed to sell the drugs to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services for two payments totaling $10,500. 

State officials had refused to identify their supplier until the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled in May that they cannot withhold that information.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The owner of a pharmacy that provided drugs to Nebraska for use in a 2018 execution is expressing remorse for making the sale, but acknowledging that he knew that prison officials wanted them for a lethal injection. Public records released late Thursday show that Community Pharmacy Services, a pharmacy in Gretna, Nebraska, agreed to sell the drugs to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services for two payments totaling $10,500. State officials had refused to identify their supplier until the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled in May that they cannot withhold that information.

Nebraska got lethal injection drugs from Omaha-area pharmacy

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A Rapid City man is accused of stealing two pickup trucks, breaking into three homes and stabbing, assaulting or threatening five people during a nearly hour-long crime spree. 

Police say 33-year-old Billy Robertson was arrested Tuesday after driving toward an officer who fired multiple shots at him, but did not hit him. 

According to officials, the crime spree began when Robertson was involved in a disturbance at one home about 4 a.m. where he stole a pickup truck. 

Later he struggled with a homeowner at another house and stabbed him. Officials say he was eventually arrested after driving across a golf course just before he veered toward the officer who fired his weapon.&nbsp;

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A Rapid City man is accused of stealing two pickup trucks, breaking into three homes and stabbing, assaulting or threatening five people during a nearly hour-long crime spree. Police say 33-year-old Billy Robertson was arrested Tuesday after driving toward an officer who fired multiple shots at him, but did not hit him. According to officials, the crime spree began when Robertson was involved in a disturbance at one home about 4 a.m. where he stole a pickup truck. Later he struggled with a homeowner at another house and stabbed him. Officials say he was eventually arrested after driving across a golf course just before he veered toward the officer who fired his weapon.&nbsp;

Rapid City man accused of stabbing, assaulting, threatening 5 people

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation got another dose of bad economic news Thursday as the number of laid-off workers seeking jobless benefits rose for the first time since late March, intensifying concerns the resurgent coronavirus is stalling or even reversing the economic recovery.

And an extra $600 in weekly unemployment benefits, provided by the federal government on top of whatever assistance states provide, is set to expire July 31, though this is the last week recipients will get the extra funds. It is the last major source of economic help from the $2 trillion relief package that Congress approved in March. A small business lending program and one-time $1,200 payment have largely run their course.

With the count of U.S. infections passing 4 million and the aid ending, nearly 30 million unemployed people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0f7785a3823891bbb46cf3cc5fea68ea">could struggle to pay rent</a>, utilities or other bills, and economists worry that overall consumer spending will drop, adding another economic blow.

“I’m going to be broke,” said Melissa Bennett, who was laid off from her job at a vacation time-share in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. “I’ll be broke-broke. I want to go to work, I want health insurance, I want a 401K. I want a life; I have no life right now.”

Without the extra unemployment benefits, Bennett will receive just $200 a week, and she’ll have to decide whether to pay her mortgage or her utilities first.

More than 1.4 million people applied for jobless benefits last week, the Labor Department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dol.gov/ui/data.pdf" target="_blank">said Thursday</a>, up from 1.3 million the previous week. That is the first increase since March and 18th straight week that it has topped 1 million. Before the pandemic, applications had never exceeded 700,000. An additional 975,000 people applied for aid under a separate program that has made self-employed and gig workers eligible for the first time.

The news sent stocks slumping on Wall Street, with the S&amp;P 500 recording its worst loss in nearly four weeks. Uncertainty across markets helped gold touch its highest price in nearly nine years.

The weakening of the labor market has raised fears the economy will shed jobs again in July, after two sharp hiring gains in May and June.

Analysts say the economy can’t improve until authorities can control the spread of the virus, a need that is complicating the reopening of businesses and schools.

Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary of health and a member of the Trump administration’s coronavirus task force, even suggested another shutdown might be necessary. He noted that nearly universal mask-wearing, sharp restrictions on restaurant occupancy and shutting down bars were nearly as effective in controlling the virus as another shutdown of all nonessential businesses.

“Now, if you don’t do that, and people don’t achieve those goals, particularly mask-wearing, there may be no alternative,” Giroir said on MSNBC.

Congress is negotiating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b3ef7ed649eca2c3ee6438408243df8a">another aid package</a>&nbsp;that could extend the extra unemployment support, though likely at less than $600. With the extra $600, roughly two-thirds of the unemployed are receiving more than they earned at their former jobs, research has shown. Republicans argue that it’s discouraging people from returning to work.

On Thursday, Senate Republicans unveiled a $1 trillion package that would replace the $600 with an amount that would bring a laid-off worker’s jobless benefits to 70% of their previous income. Both parties have agreed on another $1,200 stimulus check.

Democrats in the House approved a $3 trillion package last month that would extend the $600 through January. Given the limited time available, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin urged a bill dealing with jobless benefits and aid to schools be considered next week. Democrats say the Republican plans are not enough.

The economic woes come as outbreaks worsen, particularly in the South and West. Florida officials reported 173 new virus deaths Thursday, a daily high that brings the overall number to more than 5,500. With cases surging, President Donald Trump scrapped plans for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fc18446b58a6c265b054934780f51ca8">Republican National Convention</a>&nbsp;celebration in the state.

California saw a record 157 new deaths, raising its toll to 8,027. An additional 89 deaths in Arizona pushed its total to 3,000, with over 1,000 deaths reported in the past 15 days.

Desperate to stop the spread of the virus and its resulting economic impact, more states are adding or broadening mask requirements. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9126a38ef22c244f9ca18f9584061f8d">new survey</a>&nbsp;from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research says three out of four Americans, including a majority of Republicans, favor requiring people to wear face coverings outside their homes.

In a small step toward normalcy, many Americans eagerly welcomed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/62d86588e4926d68875a8cf0ce985746">baseball’s opening day</a>, which arrived four months late.

In contrast to the U.S., the outlook has brightened for some other major economies. Europe is forecast to rebound next year after it managed to shrink its coronavirus caseload. Unemployment in the 19 countries that use the euro has remained contained, reflecting aggressive government efforts to keep workers on payrolls.

China has become the first major economy to grow since the start of the pandemic. Economists say China will likely recover relatively fast because of the Communist Party’s move to impose early and intensive anti-disease measures.

In the U.S., applications for unemployment benefits declined in many states hard hit by the virus, including Texas, Florida, Georgia and Arizona. But claims rose in other states seeing increases, including Louisiana, California and Tennessee.

The U.S. government said the total number of people receiving jobless benefits fell 1.1 million, to 16.2 million. It’s a hopeful sign that even as layoffs remain high, some companies are recalling workers. Yet that figure is still roughly 10 times what it was before the pandemic.

Unemployment aid accounted for 6% of all U.S. income in May, a greater share than even Social Security. Economists say it’s one reason why retail spending rebounded as quickly as it did in May and June.

The end of the added benefit coincides with the expiration of a federal moratorium on evictions Saturday. Without it, about 22 million people are at risk of losing their federally subsidized housing.

“It’s scary, it’s really scary,” said Victorita Raaen, 46, who was laid off in March from her job as a light and sound technician in Boise, Idaho.

The extra payments helped her build a thin financial cushion, but once it goes away, things will get significantly tighter. She figures she can live on ramen, hot dogs and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a while but might not be able to pay for gas.

“I want to go back to work,” she said. “I’d rather go back than sitting here earning unemployment.”

Real-time measures of the economy suggest companies are pulling back on hiring and more small businesses are closing permanently. Credit card spending has been stuck at about 10% below year-ago levels for nearly a month, according to JPMorgan Chase, after having risen steadily from mid-April to mid-June.

Data from the consumer-review website Yelp, which tracks millions of small businesses, shows more such companies are permanently shutting down. Nearly 73,000 small businesses have closed for good since the pandemic intensified in March, up 28% from mid-June.

“Every time a business closes, that makes the recovery longer and harder, so that worries me,” said Ernie Tedeschi, an economist at the investment bank Evercore ISI.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation got another dose of bad economic news Thursday as the number of laid-off workers seeking jobless benefits rose for the first time since late March, intensifying concerns the resurgent coronavirus is stalling or even reversing the economic recovery.And an extra $600 in weekly unemployment benefits, provided by the federal government on top of whatever assistance states provide, is set to expire July 31, though this is the last week recipients will get the extra funds. It is the last major source of economic help from the $2 trillion relief package that Congress approved in March. A small business lending program and one-time $1,200 payment have largely run their course.With the count of U.S. infections passing 4 million and the aid ending, nearly 30 million unemployed people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0f7785a3823891bbb46cf3cc5fea68ea">could struggle to pay rent</a>, utilities or other bills, and economists worry that overall consumer spending will drop, adding another economic blow.“I’m going to be broke,” said Melissa Bennett, who was laid off from her job at a vacation time-share in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. “I’ll be broke-broke. I want to go to work, I want health insurance, I want a 401K. I want a life; I have no life right now.”Without the extra unemployment benefits, Bennett will receive just $200 a week, and she’ll have to decide whether to pay her mortgage or her utilities first.More than 1.4 million people applied for jobless benefits last week, the Labor Department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dol.gov/ui/data.pdf" target="_blank">said Thursday</a>, up from 1.3 million the previous week. That is the first increase since March and 18th straight week that it has topped 1 million. Before the pandemic, applications had never exceeded 700,000. An additional 975,000 people applied for aid under a separate program that has made self-employed and gig workers eligible for the first time.The news sent stocks slumping on Wall Street, with the S&amp;P 500 recording its worst loss in nearly four weeks. Uncertainty across markets helped gold touch its highest price in nearly nine years.The weakening of the labor market has raised fears the economy will shed jobs again in July, after two sharp hiring gains in May and June.Analysts say the economy can’t improve until authorities can control the spread of the virus, a need that is complicating the reopening of businesses and schools.Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary of health and a member of the Trump administration’s coronavirus task force, even suggested another shutdown might be necessary. He noted that nearly universal mask-wearing, sharp restrictions on restaurant occupancy and shutting down bars were nearly as effective in controlling the virus as another shutdown of all nonessential businesses.“Now, if you don’t do that, and people don’t achieve those goals, particularly mask-wearing, there may be no alternative,” Giroir said on MSNBC.Congress is negotiating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b3ef7ed649eca2c3ee6438408243df8a">another aid package</a>&nbsp;that could extend the extra unemployment support, though likely at less than $600. With the extra $600, roughly two-thirds of the unemployed are receiving more than they earned at their former jobs, research has shown. Republicans argue that it’s discouraging people from returning to work.On Thursday, Senate Republicans unveiled a $1 trillion package that would replace the $600 with an amount that would bring a laid-off worker’s jobless benefits to 70% of their previous income. Both parties have agreed on another $1,200 stimulus check.Democrats in the House approved a $3 trillion package last month that would extend the $600 through January. Given the limited time available, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin urged a bill dealing with jobless benefits and aid to schools be considered next week. Democrats say the Republican plans are not enough.The economic woes come as outbreaks worsen, particularly in the South and West. Florida officials reported 173 new virus deaths Thursday, a daily high that brings the overall number to more than 5,500. With cases surging, President Donald Trump scrapped plans for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fc18446b58a6c265b054934780f51ca8">Republican National Convention</a>&nbsp;celebration in the state.California saw a record 157 new deaths, raising its toll to 8,027. An additional 89 deaths in Arizona pushed its total to 3,000, with over 1,000 deaths reported in the past 15 days.Desperate to stop the spread of the virus and its resulting economic impact, more states are adding or broadening mask requirements. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9126a38ef22c244f9ca18f9584061f8d">new survey</a>&nbsp;from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research says three out of four Americans, including a majority of Republicans, favor requiring people to wear face coverings outside their homes.In a small step toward normalcy, many Americans eagerly welcomed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/62d86588e4926d68875a8cf0ce985746">baseball’s opening day</a>, which arrived four months late.In contrast to the U.S., the outlook has brightened for some other major economies. Europe is forecast to rebound next year after it managed to shrink its coronavirus caseload. Unemployment in the 19 countries that use the euro has remained contained, reflecting aggressive government efforts to keep workers on payrolls.China has become the first major economy to grow since the start of the pandemic. Economists say China will likely recover relatively fast because of the Communist Party’s move to impose early and intensive anti-disease measures.In the U.S., applications for unemployment benefits declined in many states hard hit by the virus, including Texas, Florida, Georgia and Arizona. But claims rose in other states seeing increases, including Louisiana, California and Tennessee.The U.S. government said the total number of people receiving jobless benefits fell 1.1 million, to 16.2 million. It’s a hopeful sign that even as layoffs remain high, some companies are recalling workers. Yet that figure is still roughly 10 times what it was before the pandemic.Unemployment aid accounted for 6% of all U.S. income in May, a greater share than even Social Security. Economists say it’s one reason why retail spending rebounded as quickly as it did in May and June.The end of the added benefit coincides with the expiration of a federal moratorium on evictions Saturday. Without it, about 22 million people are at risk of losing their federally subsidized housing.“It’s scary, it’s really scary,” said Victorita Raaen, 46, who was laid off in March from her job as a light and sound technician in Boise, Idaho.The extra payments helped her build a thin financial cushion, but once it goes away, things will get significantly tighter. She figures she can live on ramen, hot dogs and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a while but might not be able to pay for gas.“I want to go back to work,” she said. “I’d rather go back than sitting here earning unemployment.”Real-time measures of the economy suggest companies are pulling back on hiring and more small businesses are closing permanently. Credit card spending has been stuck at about 10% below year-ago levels for nearly a month, according to JPMorgan Chase, after having risen steadily from mid-April to mid-June.Data from the consumer-review website Yelp, which tracks millions of small businesses, shows more such companies are permanently shutting down. Nearly 73,000 small businesses have closed for good since the pandemic intensified in March, up 28% from mid-June.“Every time a business closes, that makes the recovery longer and harder, so that worries me,” said Ernie Tedeschi, an economist at the investment bank Evercore ISI.

Jobless claims rise as cutoff of extra $600 benefit nears

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln police say a woman who was riding in a city bus died after she was hit by a bullet fired from outside the bus.

 The shooting occurred Thursday afternoon.

  Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister said in a news release the woman was the only passenger when a bullet entered the moving bus through the driver's side and hit her where she was seated. 

She was taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. 

The woman's name was not released. Bliemeister said the investigation is continuing and further information would be released Friday.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln police say a woman who was riding in a city bus died after she was hit by a bullet fired from outside the bus. The shooting occurred Thursday afternoon. Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister said in a news release the woman was the only passenger when a bullet entered the moving bus through the driver's side and hit her where she was seated. She was taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The woman's name was not released. Bliemeister said the investigation is continuing and further information would be released Friday.

Police: Woman shot and killed on city bus in Lincoln

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two University of Nebraska campuses in Omaha have announced they will lay off a total of nine people and let about 16 vacant positions go unfilled to meet budget constraints.

 The cuts comes as the university system looks to cut $43 million from its budget over the next three years. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the news came Wednesday from Dr. Jeffrey Gold, chancellor of both the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. 

Officials said six of the position cuts will be seen at UNO and three at UNMC. 

Each campus faces more than $6 million in budget cuts over the next three years.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two University of Nebraska campuses in Omaha have announced they will lay off a total of nine people and let about 16 vacant positions go unfilled to meet budget constraints. The cuts comes as the university system looks to cut $43 million from its budget over the next three years. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the news came Wednesday from Dr. Jeffrey Gold, chancellor of both the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Officials said six of the position cuts will be seen at UNO and three at UNMC. Each campus faces more than $6 million in budget cuts over the next three years.

NU Omaha campuses to lay off 9 in budget-cutting effort

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have cleared the way for a new proposal that would require cities to create civilian police oversight boards following public outrage over the deaths of Black men in confrontations with police. 

Lawmakers took the rare step of allowing Sen. Justin Wayne to introduce the new bill late in their session, when such action is normally prohibited. 

Senators voted 32-4 to temporarily suspend their own rules so that Wayne, of Omaha, could bring the bill.

 The vote came after Wayne, who is Black, talked about his own experience being pulled over by police for a broken tail light and having a gun pointed at him in front of the fifth-graders he was driving to a basketball practice.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have cleared the way for a new proposal that would require cities to create civilian police oversight boards following public outrage over the deaths of Black men in confrontations with police. Lawmakers took the rare step of allowing Sen. Justin Wayne to introduce the new bill late in their session, when such action is normally prohibited. Senators voted 32-4 to temporarily suspend their own rules so that Wayne, of Omaha, could bring the bill. The vote came after Wayne, who is Black, talked about his own experience being pulled over by police for a broken tail light and having a gun pointed at him in front of the fifth-graders he was driving to a basketball practice.

Nebraska lawmakers clear the way for police oversight bill

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say a driver involved in a weekend crash in north Omaha that killed a woman has been released from a hospital and arrested on a vehicular homicide charge.

 Officials say 18-year-old Jayden Johnson, of Omaha, was arrested Tuesday and booked on counts of vehicular homicide and willful reckless driving. Police say the crash happened around 10 p.m. Sunday at a north Omaha intersection, killing 33-year-old Brittni McBride, of Omaha. 

Investigators say Johnson was speeding when his sport utility vehicle ran a stop sign and hit McBride's. 

McBride was thrown from her SUV and died at the scene. Johnson and his passenger were taken to a hospital with injuries.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say a driver involved in a weekend crash in north Omaha that killed a woman has been released from a hospital and arrested on a vehicular homicide charge. Officials say 18-year-old Jayden Johnson, of Omaha, was arrested Tuesday and booked on counts of vehicular homicide and willful reckless driving. Police say the crash happened around 10 p.m. Sunday at a north Omaha intersection, killing 33-year-old Brittni McBride, of Omaha. Investigators say Johnson was speeding when his sport utility vehicle ran a stop sign and hit McBride's. McBride was thrown from her SUV and died at the scene. Johnson and his passenger were taken to a hospital with injuries.

Police arrest driver in north Omaha crash that killed woman

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Nebraska is doubling down on his promise to stay in the race, despite growing pressure to drop out after he sent sexually vulgar text messages to a campaign staffer. 

Chris Janicek says he won’t withdraw from the race, and he blames the state’s top Democratic leaders for the party’s recent struggles to win statewide office in Republican-dominated Nebraska.

 His comments came just days after the Nebraska Democratic Party endorsed one of Janicek’s former primary opponents, Alisha Shelton, to try to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse. 

The endorsement won’t necessarily stop Janicek, however, because he already won the Democratic nomination in May. 

State law doesn’t allow party officials to remove him from the ballot without his consent.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Nebraska is doubling down on his promise to stay in the race, despite growing pressure to drop out after he sent sexually vulgar text messages to a campaign staffer. Chris Janicek says he won’t withdraw from the race, and he blames the state’s top Democratic leaders for the party’s recent struggles to win statewide office in Republican-dominated Nebraska. His comments came just days after the Nebraska Democratic Party endorsed one of Janicek’s former primary opponents, Alisha Shelton, to try to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse. The endorsement won’t necessarily stop Janicek, however, because he already won the Democratic nomination in May. State law doesn’t allow party officials to remove him from the ballot without his consent.

Nebraska Senate hopeful who sent vulgar texts declines exit

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A study released by the U.S. Agriculture Department into the disparity between cattle prices paid to ranchers and the higher prices earned by meat processors offers more details about the factors that have led to the situation. 

The 20-page analysis by the USDA released Wednesday explains how after a 2019 fire at a Tyson Foods beef plant in Holcomb, Kansas, and this year’s temporary closure of slaughterhouses amid the coronavirus pandemic, ranchers saw cattle prices drop while concerns about meat scarcity caused prices at grocery stores to rise. 

Some members of Congress have called for an investigation into possible violations of the Packers and Stockyard Act, which is designed to protect ranchers and consumers.&nbsp;

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A study released by the U.S. Agriculture Department into the disparity between cattle prices paid to ranchers and the higher prices earned by meat processors offers more details about the factors that have led to the situation. The 20-page analysis by the USDA released Wednesday explains how after a 2019 fire at a Tyson Foods beef plant in Holcomb, Kansas, and this year’s temporary closure of slaughterhouses amid the coronavirus pandemic, ranchers saw cattle prices drop while concerns about meat scarcity caused prices at grocery stores to rise. Some members of Congress have called for an investigation into possible violations of the Packers and Stockyard Act, which is designed to protect ranchers and consumers.&nbsp;

USDA study shows gulf between cattle, processed beef prices

By ALLISON WINTER <a href="http://n">Kansas Reflector</a>

Leaders of the companies 
working on some of the top candidates for COVID-19 vaccines predict they
 should have shots available by early 2021 but said they will rely on 
the federal government to determine how to distribute them.

By ALLISON WINTER <a href="http://n">Kansas Reflector</a>Leaders of the companies 
working on some of the top candidates for COVID-19 vaccines predict they
 should have shots available by early 2021 but said they will rely on 
the federal government to determine how to distribute them.The heads of five 
biopharmaceutical companies with promising vaccine candidates told 
members of Congress on Tuesday they think they will be able to produce a
 safe and effective vaccine by next year.“Unfortunately, today the 
pandemic is far ahead of us, but we in the biopharmaceutical industry 
are closing in faster than we ever imagined possible,” said Julie 
Gerberding, a vice president and chief patient officer at Merck.Gerberding, the former 
director of the Centers for Disease Control from 2002-2009, said there 
has been no political pressure to lower standards to speed up the 
vaccine and she was “relieved” by the rigor of the Food and Drug 
Administration’s guidelines for COVID-19 vaccine development.“Speed is important but we
 will not compromise careful scientific efficacy, quality and above all 
safety as we evaluate the candidates, despite the emergency we all 
feel,” Gerberding said.Lawmakers heard from the 
vaccine developers at a virtual hearing in the House Energy &amp; 
Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. Colorado Democrat
 Diane DeGette, the chairwoman of the committee, said the updates on 
vaccine development is a “rare bit of good news in a harrowing time.”Six months into the 
national public health crisis, she told the panel, COVID-19 case numbers
 continue to climb at a staggering rate and more than 140,000 Americans 
have died from the disease.“As long as the Trump 
administration continues to shirk their responsibility to lead a 
coordinated national response effort, sickness and deaths are going to 
continue to mount,” DeGette said. “It is also clear we are not going to 
be able to contain this without a rapid and robust deployment of public 
health measures and medical countermeasures, including a safe and 
effective vaccine.”The hearing came as 
President Donald Trump shifted his tone on the virus Tuesday, telling 
reporters it would “probably, unfortunately, get worse before it gets 
better,” <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-coronavirus-will-get-worse-briefing/2020/07/21/2e224734-cb63-11ea-b0e3-d55bda07d66a_story.html">according to the&nbsp;Washington Post</a>. The United States has the highest number of coronavirus cases in the world.In Kansas, health officials have recorded 23,000 infections and 307 deaths from the illness. The state Board of Education was <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/07/21/kansas-board-of-education-to-vote-on-gov-laura-kellys-plan-to-delay-school-opening/">expected to vote Wednesday morning</a>
 on Gov. Laura Kelly’s orders to delay in-person instruction in public 
schools and require daily temperature checks and the wearing of masks 
inside schools when they open.‘Encouraging, early signs’There is a massive 
worldwide effort to develop vaccines and treatment for COVID-19. There 
are more than 660 unique compounds in various stages of development, 
including 173 vaccine candidates, 196 antivirals and 292 treatments, 
according to Gerberding.The United States already has invested nearly $2.3 billion in the effort to find a vaccine.The five companies that 
testified before House lawmakers Tuesday have each had promising 
responses in early trials for their vaccines. Several, including 
AstraZeneca and Moderna, have begun to test the vaccines on humans and 
published positive results. They both found creation of COVID antibodies
 and a T-cell immune response that could help fend off future 
infections.“Everybody knows time is 
of the essence in the search for a vaccine and obviously everybody wants
 one as quickly as possible, but we need to make sure it is going to be 
safe and effective,” DeGette said.She asked the medical executives for a “quick and honest assessment” on the likelihood of success and timeline for the vaccines.Most said they expect to 
have millions of doses available by 2021, depending on the success of 
their phase three trials. The first two trials of vaccines focus 
primarily on smaller groups of volunteers that are healthy. Phase three 
will branch out to test tens of thousands of volunteers representing a 
spectrum of ages, races and risk groups.The executives testifying before DeGette’s committee were largely optimistic.“We have a line of sight 
on a clear, critical path to be able to deliver up to 100 million 
vaccines on a commercial scale in 2020 and up to a billion in 2021,” 
said John Young, chief business officer for Pfizer, the only company at 
the hearing that did not take federal research money. “There are 
encouraging early signs but there is much work left to do.”Once a vaccine is 
approved, there remains the question of how to get it to the people that
 need it. Each of the company executives said they would rely on the 
government to allocate and distribute the vaccines — an approach that 
concerned some Democrats.“The availability of 
ancillary supplies for a vaccine will require coordination. … Past 
supply failures by this administration make me wary,” said Rep. Paul 
Tonko (D-NY).Rep. Jan Schakowsky 
(D-Ill.) asked each company if they would make their vaccine available 
at cost. Most replies were in the negative.“We will not sell it at 
cost, no ma’am,” said Moderna president Stephen Hoge. Moderna received 
$480 million from the U.S. government to help speed its research on a 
vaccine.Gerberding said Merck also would not offer its vaccine at cost.Mene Pangalos, executive 
vice president at AstraZeneca, said under the terms of its agreement 
with the U.S. government his company would offer the first 300 million 
doses to the government without making a profit. And Johnson &amp; 
Johnson’s head of clinical development, Macaya Douoguih, said it plans 
to offer the vaccine at a “not for profit price during the emergency 
pandemic.”John Young, chief business
 officer at Pfizer, said his company would charge a price “consistent 
with the urgent global health emergency” during the pandemic.‘Not loosening any standards’Trump has promised a 
vaccine by the end of the year, also raising concerns among some 
Democrats that his administration would rush to approve one. But company
 executives said there has been no political pressure to speed up a 
vaccine and compromise safety or efficacy.“The FDA is not loosening any standards,” Gerberding said.Rep. John Sarbanes, a Democrat who represents Maryland’s 3rd District, was skeptical.“There is a tension 
between safety and speed,” Sarbanes said. “Tell me why it is you are 
able to move so fast without sacrificing safety, when we lay that 
against what the normal procedures would be?”Company executives replied
 that their unusually fast timelines for vaccine development are a 
result of collaboration, extra funding for research, and prioritization 
from the FDA, including clear guidelines ahead of time on what will be 
needed for approval.AstraZeneca’s Pangalos 
said the global nature of the vaccine creates many backstops. His 
company this week published a new study that shows promising early 
findings on its vaccine candidate.“Remember this is going to
 be a vaccine that is going to be used globally, so every regulatory 
authority is going to have a view on the safety and efficacy of our 
vaccine,” Pangalos said.He said the FDA’s guidelines “do not lower standards in any way.”FDA released detailed 
guidance at the end of June detailing what would be necessary for a 
vaccine to be approved. One requirement is that it must be at least 50% 
effective at preventing COVID-19 infections.Allison Winter is a Washington, D.C., correspondent for States Newsroom, a network of state-based nonprofit news outlets that includes Kansas Reflector.