WASHINGTON – Nearly 150 lawmakers including all GOP members of the Kansas Congressional delegation except Senator Jerry Moran signed a brief on Tuesday urging the United State's Supreme Court to uphold a ruling limiting the use of the abortion pill.&nbsp;The U.S. Senators from Nebraska Deb Fisher and Pete Rickets and 2nd congressional district Representative Don Bacon joined Moran and didn't sign.

The 23 members of the Senate are nearly half the Senate GOP conference supporting the 5th circuit’s ruling that put sharply stricter limits on the abortion drug nationwide

<a href="https://aul.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Brief-Amici-Curiae-of-147-MOC.pdf">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;the brief

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/Brief%20Amici%20Curiae%20of%20147%20MOC%20041823.pdf">updated brief</a>&nbsp;filed Tuesday is similar to the briefs filed by Members in&nbsp;Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA&nbsp;at the&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txnd.370067/gov.uscourts.txnd.370067.84.0_5.pdf">district</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca5.213145/gov.uscourts.ca5.213145.84.0_3.pdf">circuit court</a>&nbsp;levels, but with updates in light of the Fifth Circuit’s ruling. &nbsp;Americans United for Life authored the briefs, according to a statement from&nbsp;U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi.

“The FDA’s unlawful deregulation of chemical abortion drugs subverts Congress’ public policy considerations and safeguards for patient safety. &nbsp;Amici respectfully urge this Court to deny the application for a stay of the District Court’s order because the FDA exceeded the scope of its authorized power, and endangered the health and safety of women and girls seeking chemical abortion drugs,”&nbsp;the lawmakers’ brief concludes.

The Supreme Court brief argues that emergency appeals by DOJ and Danco Laboratories, LLC should be denied because:

In response to the emergency appeals, the Supreme Court issued an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/041423zr2_c9dh.pdf">administrative stay</a>&nbsp;of the&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txnd.370067/gov.uscourts.txnd.370067.137.0_8.pdf">district court’s order</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, as&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca5.213145/gov.uscourts.ca5.213145.183.2_1.pdf">partially stayed</a>&nbsp;by the Fifth Circuit, until 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, April 19.

In addition to Hyde-Smith, chair of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus, the amicus brief was signed by U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

124 Members of the House of Representatives signed including Mike Flood and Adrian Smith.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680967457500.png" alt="About 60% of abortions in Kansas involve the abortion pill. photo Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>About 60% of abortions in Kansas involve the abortion pill. photo Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON – Nearly 150 lawmakers including all GOP members of the Kansas Congressional delegation except Senator Jerry Moran signed a brief on Tuesday urging the United State's Supreme Court to uphold a ruling limiting the use of the abortion pill.&nbsp;The U.S. Senators from Nebraska Deb Fisher and Pete Rickets and 2nd congressional district Representative Don Bacon joined Moran and didn't sign.The 23 members of the Senate are nearly half the Senate GOP conference supporting the 5th circuit’s ruling that put sharply stricter limits on the abortion drug nationwide<a href="https://aul.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Brief-Amici-Curiae-of-147-MOC.pdf">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;the briefThe&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/Brief%20Amici%20Curiae%20of%20147%20MOC%20041823.pdf">updated brief</a>&nbsp;filed Tuesday is similar to the briefs filed by Members in&nbsp;Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA&nbsp;at the&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txnd.370067/gov.uscourts.txnd.370067.84.0_5.pdf">district</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca5.213145/gov.uscourts.ca5.213145.84.0_3.pdf">circuit court</a>&nbsp;levels, but with updates in light of the Fifth Circuit’s ruling. &nbsp;Americans United for Life authored the briefs, according to a statement from&nbsp;U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi.“The FDA’s unlawful deregulation of chemical abortion drugs subverts Congress’ public policy considerations and safeguards for patient safety. &nbsp;Amici respectfully urge this Court to deny the application for a stay of the District Court’s order because the FDA exceeded the scope of its authorized power, and endangered the health and safety of women and girls seeking chemical abortion drugs,”&nbsp;the lawmakers’ brief concludes.The Supreme Court brief argues that emergency appeals by DOJ and Danco Laboratories, LLC should be denied because:<ul>
 <li>The FDA failure to adhere to the FFDCA drug approval process has created grave risks to the health and safety of women and girls.</li><li>The FDA endangers pregnant adolescents seeking chemical abortion drugs by unlawfully subverting the pediatric study requirement.</li><li>The FDA has created serious hazards for women’s health and safety by permitting mail-order chemical abortion drugs in violation of federal law.</li>
 </ul>In response to the emergency appeals, the Supreme Court issued an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/041423zr2_c9dh.pdf">administrative stay</a>&nbsp;of the&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txnd.370067/gov.uscourts.txnd.370067.137.0_8.pdf">district court’s order</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, as&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca5.213145/gov.uscourts.ca5.213145.183.2_1.pdf">partially stayed</a>&nbsp;by the Fifth Circuit, until 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, April 19.In addition to Hyde-Smith, chair of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus, the amicus brief was signed by U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).124 Members of the House of Representatives signed including Mike Flood and Adrian Smith.

Nebraska GOP Senators did not sign brief supporting abortion pill ban

HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp; City Beverage, a beer distributor in Hutchinson, issued a statement on social media Tuesday addressing Bud Light's partnership with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681838709394.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy City Beverage" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy City Beverage</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp; City Beverage, a beer distributor in Hutchinson, issued a statement on social media Tuesday addressing Bud Light's partnership with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681838615205.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Kan. beer distributor responds to Bud Light can controversy

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s that day when throngs of taxpayers&nbsp; file their income tax returns before the deadline. Many often pay to use software from private companies such as Intuit and H&amp;R Block.

Almost one-quarter of Americans wait until the last minute to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taxes-deadline-refund-irs-extension-penalties-563500015ec236b55a75798c3138ba60">file their taxes</a>.

There could be a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/irs-free-file-system-expansion-one-step-closer-democrats-b2c39db83e4a95f1d1cd1aa488495256">new, free option in future years</a>. The IRS has been tasked with looking into how to create a government-operated electronic free-file tax return system for all. But that doesn’t sit well with the big tax-prep companies.

The idea has been batted around and hotly debated for a long time. Congress now has directed the IRS to report in on how such a system might work.

The order came as part of the $80 billion infusion of money for the tax agency over the next 10 years under the Democrats' flagship climate and health care measure, known as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-health-seniors-medicare-economy-68f2df858de98487e82e236ab31fab7e">Inflation Reduction Act</a>, that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-congress-climate-and-environment-63df07e15002c01fb560a6f0e69fcb03">President Joe Biden signed</a>&nbsp;last summer. It gave the IRS nine months and $15 million to report in on how it might implement such a program and how much it would cost.

Next month, the IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/irs-taxes-audits-customer-service-wealthy-taxpayers-c845bfbfb32aaf24ae52f464b537e6cb">will release</a>&nbsp;the first in a series of reports looking into how it might be done.

The possibility of an electronic free-file system operated by Washington is being celebrated by some taxpayer advocates who for years have said that would reflect good governance and well serve taxpayers. Critics voice skepticism about the IRS taking on the dual roles of both tax collector and tax preparer, arguing that the new service could create a power imbalance between taxpayers and the government.

Robert Marvin, an IRS spokesperson, said in an email that a key goal of the study is to “look for ways to make filing taxes as easy as possible.”

“It’s important that Americans have choices that work best for them when preparing their taxes, whether it’s by using a tax professional, tax software or free options,” he said.

But big tax preparation companies have millions of dollars to lose if the program comes to fruition. Last year, more than 60 million taxpayers were serviced between Intuit, the parent company of TurboTax, and H&amp;R Block.

Tens of millions of dollars have been spent trying to influence policymakers on the issue, and lobbying data shows that the big tax companies in particular have spent heavily.

An analysis shows that Intuit, H&amp;R Block, and other private companies and advocacy groups for large tax preparation businesses, as well as proponents in favor of electronic free file, have reported spending $39.3 million since 2006 to lobby on “free-file” and other matters. Federal law doesn’t require domestic lobbyists to itemize expenses by specific issue, so the sums are not limited to free-file.

Intuit has spent $25.6 million since 2006 on lobbying, H&amp;R Block about $9.6 million and the conservative Americans for Tax Reform roughly $3 million.

Derrick Plummer, a spokesman for Intuit, said taxpayers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-personal-taxes-internal-revenue-service-5e5a3d855ba42d3e0174462050f11b3c">can already file</a>&nbsp;their taxes for free and there are online free-file programs available to some people. Individuals of all income levels can submit their returns for free via the mail.

A “direct-to-IRS e-file system is a solution in search of a problem, and that solution will unnecessarily cost taxpayers billions of dollars,” he said. “We will continue unapologetically advocating for American taxpayers and against a direct-to-IRS e-file system because it’s a bad idea.”

Starting in 2006,&nbsp;<a href="https://freefilealliance.org/">an agreement between</a>&nbsp;the IRS and some commercial tax preparation companies, known as the Free File Alliance, prevented the IRS from creating its own free tax return filing system. In exchange, tax preparation companies agreed to provide free services to taxpayers making $73,000 or less.

The provision that barred the IRS from exploring a free-file system expired in 2019, but the Free File Alliance agreement to provide free services for low-income taxpayers remains in effect.

Ariel Jurow-Kleiman, a tax law professor at Loyola Law School, and the New America think tank have been selected by the IRS to conduct the congressionally mandated study for the agency. Jurow-Kleiman said their mandate is “evaluating the feasibility, approach, schedule, cost, organizational design, and IRS capacity to deliver a possible direct e-file system.”

But she has faced pushback from Republicans who say she does not fit the law’s requirement that an independent third party assess what it would take to deliver a direct file program.

Rep. Jason Smith, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, sent a letter to the IRS in March questioning Jurow-Kleiman’s ability to be an independent reviewer, saying her work indicates “a clear preference for an expansive government-run system.”

Smith, R-Mo., said the selection of Jurow-Kleiman and New America shows that “the Administration has already predetermined that a government-directed e-file system should exist regardless of what might be found in a truly nonpartisan, independent, third-party review.”

Jurow-Kleiman said the GOP pushback to her selection was based on an unpublished draft of an article about tax compliance costs and that none of her writings have “addressed the questions that we are assessing in the feasibility study.”

Molly Martin, director of strategy at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newamerica.org/">New America</a>, referred requests for comment to the IRS, saying the organization “is still working on its report.”

David Williams, at the right-leaning, nonprofit Taxpayers Protection Alliance, says the “government preparing taxes is problematic.”

“The taxpayer is looking for the biggest refund possible, but for the IRS that’s not their job to look for the biggest refund for filers,” he said. “We’re concerned about that conflict of interest, but also really the ability of the IRS to do this.”

To Gabriel Zucker, who helped create the tool to help families access the Advance Child Tax Credit during the pandemic, successfully setting up a free-file program is possible. "It is a really great way for government to better serve people,'' said Zucker, associate policy director for tax benefits at Code for America.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579706571729.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s that day when throngs of taxpayers&nbsp; file their income tax returns before the deadline. Many often pay to use software from private companies such as Intuit and H&amp;R Block.Almost one-quarter of Americans wait until the last minute to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taxes-deadline-refund-irs-extension-penalties-563500015ec236b55a75798c3138ba60">file their taxes</a>.There could be a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/irs-free-file-system-expansion-one-step-closer-democrats-b2c39db83e4a95f1d1cd1aa488495256">new, free option in future years</a>. The IRS has been tasked with looking into how to create a government-operated electronic free-file tax return system for all. But that doesn’t sit well with the big tax-prep companies.The idea has been batted around and hotly debated for a long time. Congress now has directed the IRS to report in on how such a system might work.The order came as part of the $80 billion infusion of money for the tax agency over the next 10 years under the Democrats' flagship climate and health care measure, known as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-health-seniors-medicare-economy-68f2df858de98487e82e236ab31fab7e">Inflation Reduction Act</a>, that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-congress-climate-and-environment-63df07e15002c01fb560a6f0e69fcb03">President Joe Biden signed</a>&nbsp;last summer. It gave the IRS nine months and $15 million to report in on how it might implement such a program and how much it would cost.Next month, the IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/irs-taxes-audits-customer-service-wealthy-taxpayers-c845bfbfb32aaf24ae52f464b537e6cb">will release</a>&nbsp;the first in a series of reports looking into how it might be done.The possibility of an electronic free-file system operated by Washington is being celebrated by some taxpayer advocates who for years have said that would reflect good governance and well serve taxpayers. Critics voice skepticism about the IRS taking on the dual roles of both tax collector and tax preparer, arguing that the new service could create a power imbalance between taxpayers and the government.Robert Marvin, an IRS spokesperson, said in an email that a key goal of the study is to “look for ways to make filing taxes as easy as possible.”“It’s important that Americans have choices that work best for them when preparing their taxes, whether it’s by using a tax professional, tax software or free options,” he said.But big tax preparation companies have millions of dollars to lose if the program comes to fruition. Last year, more than 60 million taxpayers were serviced between Intuit, the parent company of TurboTax, and H&amp;R Block.Tens of millions of dollars have been spent trying to influence policymakers on the issue, and lobbying data shows that the big tax companies in particular have spent heavily.An analysis shows that Intuit, H&amp;R Block, and other private companies and advocacy groups for large tax preparation businesses, as well as proponents in favor of electronic free file, have reported spending $39.3 million since 2006 to lobby on “free-file” and other matters. Federal law doesn’t require domestic lobbyists to itemize expenses by specific issue, so the sums are not limited to free-file.Intuit has spent $25.6 million since 2006 on lobbying, H&amp;R Block about $9.6 million and the conservative Americans for Tax Reform roughly $3 million.Derrick Plummer, a spokesman for Intuit, said taxpayers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-personal-taxes-internal-revenue-service-5e5a3d855ba42d3e0174462050f11b3c">can already file</a>&nbsp;their taxes for free and there are online free-file programs available to some people. Individuals of all income levels can submit their returns for free via the mail.A “direct-to-IRS e-file system is a solution in search of a problem, and that solution will unnecessarily cost taxpayers billions of dollars,” he said. “We will continue unapologetically advocating for American taxpayers and against a direct-to-IRS e-file system because it’s a bad idea.”Starting in 2006,&nbsp;<a href="https://freefilealliance.org/">an agreement between</a>&nbsp;the IRS and some commercial tax preparation companies, known as the Free File Alliance, prevented the IRS from creating its own free tax return filing system. In exchange, tax preparation companies agreed to provide free services to taxpayers making $73,000 or less.The provision that barred the IRS from exploring a free-file system expired in 2019, but the Free File Alliance agreement to provide free services for low-income taxpayers remains in effect.Ariel Jurow-Kleiman, a tax law professor at Loyola Law School, and the New America think tank have been selected by the IRS to conduct the congressionally mandated study for the agency. Jurow-Kleiman said their mandate is “evaluating the feasibility, approach, schedule, cost, organizational design, and IRS capacity to deliver a possible direct e-file system.”But she has faced pushback from Republicans who say she does not fit the law’s requirement that an independent third party assess what it would take to deliver a direct file program.Rep. Jason Smith, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, sent a letter to the IRS in March questioning Jurow-Kleiman’s ability to be an independent reviewer, saying her work indicates “a clear preference for an expansive government-run system.”Smith, R-Mo., said the selection of Jurow-Kleiman and New America shows that “the Administration has already predetermined that a government-directed e-file system should exist regardless of what might be found in a truly nonpartisan, independent, third-party review.”Jurow-Kleiman said the GOP pushback to her selection was based on an unpublished draft of an article about tax compliance costs and that none of her writings have “addressed the questions that we are assessing in the feasibility study.”Molly Martin, director of strategy at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newamerica.org/">New America</a>, referred requests for comment to the IRS, saying the organization “is still working on its report.”David Williams, at the right-leaning, nonprofit Taxpayers Protection Alliance, says the “government preparing taxes is problematic.”“The taxpayer is looking for the biggest refund possible, but for the IRS that’s not their job to look for the biggest refund for filers,” he said. “We’re concerned about that conflict of interest, but also really the ability of the IRS to do this.”To Gabriel Zucker, who helped create the tool to help families access the Advance Child Tax Credit during the pandemic, successfully setting up a free-file program is possible. "It is a really great way for government to better serve people,'' said Zucker, associate policy director for tax benefits at Code for America.

On Tax Day there is a push for free electronic tax-filing system 

CHADRON — The city of Chadron water tower located to the southeast of the 
Chadron State College campus received over $22,000 worth of damage as 
the result of being shot six times on its east side.

 Evidence suggests the shots were fired from the area of the CSC Rangeland Building or South Ridgeview Road area. 

The
 shots appear to be of varying calibers and depths on the water tower. 
It is suspected the damage occurred some time between April 11 and 12.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to&nbsp; contact the Chadron Police Department at (308) 432-0510 or Crime 
Stoppers at (308) 432-0519.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681842211437.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Chadron Police DepartmentCHADRON — The city of Chadron water tower located to the southeast of the 
Chadron State College campus received over $22,000 worth of damage as 
the result of being shot six times on its east side. Evidence suggests the shots were fired from the area of the CSC Rangeland Building or South Ridgeview Road area. The
 shots appear to be of varying calibers and depths on the water tower. 
It is suspected the damage occurred some time between April 11 and 12.Anyone with information about the incident is asked to&nbsp; contact the Chadron Police Department at (308) 432-0510 or Crime 
Stoppers at (308) 432-0519.&nbsp;

Water tower shot: Chadron police seeking info from public

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Wearing a red cap and a Buffalo Bills pullover, safety Damar Hamlin sat down at the podium and declared he’s ready to resume playing football.

“This event was life-changing, but it’s not the end of my story,” Hamlin said Tuesday, speaking at a news conference at the team’s facility for the first time since he went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the field during a game at Cincinnati four months ago.

“I plan on making a comeback to the NFL,” Hamlin added. “My heart is still in the game.”

Hamlin spoke a few hours after general manager Brandon Beane announced Hamlin was cleared to play and was attending the team’s voluntary workout program, the latest and biggest steps in the 25-year-old’s remarkable recovery.

“He’s fully cleared. He’s here and he is of the mindset. He’s in a great headspace to come back and make his return,” Beane told reporters.

Beane said the clearance came after Hamlin met with a third and final specialist on Friday, with all three being in agreement that Hamlin can resume playing without any fear of setbacks or complications. While the Bills had their head athletic trainer sit in on Hamlin’s meetings with specialists, Beane said the team is following the lead of the specialists.

“He’s such a great kid and has such a great family, and it’s exciting to go from a guy who was fighting for his life to now,” Beane said. “His story hasn’t been written. Now it’s about his comeback.”

Hamlin’s teammates were elated to see him back in the facility working out.

“D-Ham is a special person, a beautiful soul,” fellow safety Micah Hyde said. “I look up to him, especially how he’s bounced back after facing adversity. A little scary. But to see him well and in the building and move around a little bit, it gives you a little energy.”

Hamlin’s recovery is personal to many who watched in shock as Hamlin collapsed on the field on a nationally televised “Monday Night Football” game, but moreso for Beane. While the Bills returned home after the game initially was suspended and eventually canceled, Beane spent the first four days at Hamlin’s side, including when he was awakened from a medically induced coma at the University Cincinnati Medical Center.

“It was all about his health, and it’s always going to be about his health,” Beane said. “But to truly, you know, however many months later be talking about he’s fully cleared is pretty remarkable. And I’m excited for him and his family where for where they are on his journey.”

Hamlin collapsed after making what appeared to be a routine tackle in the first quarter of a Jan. 2 game against the Bengals. His collapse led to an outporing of support from around the NFL and across North America, with donations made to Hamlin’s charitable organization topping more than $9 million.

The second-year player from Pittsburgh’s exurb of McKee’s Rock spent nearly 10 days recovering in hospitals in Cincinnati and Buffalo before being released. He eventually began visiting the Bills’ facility and attended the team’s season-ending 27-10 loss to Cincinnati in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Hamlin has since made numerous appearances around the country, including meeting with President Joe Biden last month.

Biden posted a tweet on the visit that read: “Hamlin’s courage, resilience, and spirit inspired the American people. And what’s more: he turned recovery into action — and our country is better for it.”

The White House said in a statement that Hamlin’s efforts during his recovery had helped to “make life-saving technologies more widely available.” Biden previously spoke by phone with Hamlin’s parents while visiting Cincinnati on Jan. 4, two days after the game and while Hamlin was in the hospital.

Hamlin’s visit to Washington came as part of the player’s desire to back a bill that would increase access to defibrillators in public and private elementary and secondary schools.

During the Super Bowl festivities in Arizona in February, he received the NFLPA’s Alan Page Community Award. He also took part in a pregame ceremony in which the NFL honored the Bills’ and Bengals’ training and medical staffs and first responders who treated him.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Wearing a red cap and a Buffalo Bills pullover, safety Damar Hamlin sat down at the podium and declared he’s ready to resume playing football.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“This is not the end of my story. I plan to make a comeback to the NFL.” 🫶 <a href="https://t.co/jlAMdErKWk">pic.twitter.com/jlAMdErKWk</a>&mdash; Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) <a href="https://twitter.com/BuffaloBills/status/1648384392128020481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“This event was life-changing, but it’s not the end of my story,” Hamlin said Tuesday, speaking at a news conference at the team’s facility for the first time since he went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the field during a game at Cincinnati four months ago.“I plan on making a comeback to the NFL,” Hamlin added. “My heart is still in the game.”Hamlin spoke a few hours after general manager Brandon Beane announced Hamlin was cleared to play and was attending the team’s voluntary workout program, the latest and biggest steps in the 25-year-old’s remarkable recovery.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Per GM Brandon Beane, Damar Hamlin has been cleared to resume full football activities.<a href="https://twitter.com/HamlinIsland?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HamlinIsland</a> is in Buffalo and in a great headspace. ❤️💙 <a href="https://t.co/wa2ZfGm8mX">pic.twitter.com/wa2ZfGm8mX</a>&mdash; Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) <a href="https://twitter.com/BuffaloBills/status/1648340190140956676?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“He’s fully cleared. He’s here and he is of the mindset. He’s in a great headspace to come back and make his return,” Beane told reporters.Beane said the clearance came after Hamlin met with a third and final specialist on Friday, with all three being in agreement that Hamlin can resume playing without any fear of setbacks or complications. While the Bills had their head athletic trainer sit in on Hamlin’s meetings with specialists, Beane said the team is following the lead of the specialists.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Damar Hamlin is working out with the team today in Buffalo. Glad to have you back, 3. 🫶 <a href="https://t.co/n80HheSIaG">pic.twitter.com/n80HheSIaG</a>&mdash; Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) <a href="https://twitter.com/BuffaloBills/status/1648342750566182915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“He’s such a great kid and has such a great family, and it’s exciting to go from a guy who was fighting for his life to now,” Beane said. “His story hasn’t been written. Now it’s about his comeback.”Hamlin’s teammates were elated to see him back in the facility working out.“D-Ham is a special person, a beautiful soul,” fellow safety Micah Hyde said. “I look up to him, especially how he’s bounced back after facing adversity. A little scary. But to see him well and in the building and move around a little bit, it gives you a little energy.”Hamlin’s recovery is personal to many who watched in shock as Hamlin collapsed on the field on a nationally televised “Monday Night Football” game, but moreso for Beane. While the Bills returned home after the game initially was suspended and eventually canceled, Beane spent the first four days at Hamlin’s side, including when he was awakened from a medically induced coma at the University Cincinnati Medical Center.“It was all about his health, and it’s always going to be about his health,” Beane said. “But to truly, you know, however many months later be talking about he’s fully cleared is pretty remarkable. And I’m excited for him and his family where for where they are on his journey.”Hamlin collapsed after making what appeared to be a routine tackle in the first quarter of a Jan. 2 game against the Bengals. His collapse led to an outporing of support from around the NFL and across North America, with donations made to Hamlin’s charitable organization topping more than $9 million.The second-year player from Pittsburgh’s exurb of McKee’s Rock spent nearly 10 days recovering in hospitals in Cincinnati and Buffalo before being released. He eventually began visiting the Bills’ facility and attended the team’s season-ending 27-10 loss to Cincinnati in the divisional round of the playoffs.Hamlin has since made numerous appearances around the country, including meeting with President Joe Biden last month.Biden posted a tweet on the visit that read: “Hamlin’s courage, resilience, and spirit inspired the American people. And what’s more: he turned recovery into action — and our country is better for it.”The White House said in a statement that Hamlin’s efforts during his recovery had helped to “make life-saving technologies more widely available.” Biden previously spoke by phone with Hamlin’s parents while visiting Cincinnati on Jan. 4, two days after the game and while Hamlin was in the hospital.Hamlin’s visit to Washington came as part of the player’s desire to back a bill that would increase access to defibrillators in public and private elementary and secondary schools.During the Super Bowl festivities in Arizona in February, he received the NFLPA’s Alan Page Community Award. He also took part in a pregame ceremony in which the NFL honored the Bills’ and Bengals’ training and medical staffs and first responders who treated him.___

🎥Damar Hamlin cleared to play football after cardiac arrest

DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines planes were grounded nationwide for what the airline called an intermittent technology issue, causing more than 1,700 flight delays Tuesday just four months after the carrier suffered a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-transportation-us-department-of-0925834b8cfcf1150358f874334d16d7">meltdown</a>&nbsp;over the Christmas travel rush.

The hold on departures was lifted by late morning, shortly after it was announced, according to Southwest and the Federal Aviation Administration, but not before traffic at airports from Denver to New York City backed up.

“Southwest has resumed operations after temporarily pausing flight activity this morning to work through data connection issues resulting from a firewall failure,” the Dallas airline said in a prepared statement. “Early this morning, a vendor-supplied firewall went down and connection to some operational data was unexpectedly lost.”

The airline urged customers to check on their flight status “and explore self-service options” for travel as the airline worked on restoring its operation.

By late morning on the East Coast, Southwest accounted for well over half of all delays nationwide, but the airline had canceled fewer than a dozen flights, according to FlightAware.

Tuesday's flight freeze was brief, but it added to the picture of an airline that has struggled more than most with technology issues. CEO Robert Jordan has embarked on a campaign to repair the airline's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-texas-arizona-california-da3b72f2350b0f77498f7f67316facb5">damaged reputation</a>.

In December, Southwest canceled nearly 17,000 flights over the Christmas holiday due to bad weather and its crew-scheduling system becoming overwhelmed. Those cancellations cost the airline more than $1 billion. The Transportation Department is investigating the breakdown.

The airline’s unions have said they warned management about problems with the crew-scheduling system after a previous meltdown in October 2021.

Southwest said last month it would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-cancellations-technology-weather-314069ab4bb9de5eb804c566927606ec">add deicing equipment and increase staffing</a>&nbsp;during winter weather that is cold enough to limit the amount of time that ground workers can stay outside.

DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines planes were stopped from taking off nationwide for what the airline called an intermittent technology issue, causing more than 1,500 flight delays Tuesday just four months after the carrier suffered a meltdown over the Christmas travel rush.

Southwest and the Federal Aviation Administration said by late morning on the East Coast that the pause had been lifted.

In December, Southwest canceled nearly 17,000 flights over the Christmas holiday due to bad weather and its crew-scheduling system becoming overwhelmed. Those cancellations cost the airline more than $1 billion and are being investigated by the Transportation Department.

DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines scrubbed thousands of flights again Tuesday in the aftermath of the massive winter storm that wrecked Christmas travel plans across the U.S., and the federal government said it would investigate why the company lagged so far behind other carriers.

y late morning on the East Coast, more than 1,500 Southwest flights had been delayed, accounting for well over half of all delays nationwide, according to FlightAware.

Southwest said on Twitter that it asked the Federal Aviation Administration to hold up departures because of “intermittent" technical issues and hoped to resume flights as soon as possible.

The airline did not immediately respond to questions about the nature of the technical problem.

The FAA said only that Southwest requested the pause on flights, and referred questions to the Dallas-based airline.

KANSAS CITY —All Southwest Airlines flight departures were halted nationwide just before 10a.m. Tuesday due to technical issues, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Grounds stops prevent any flights not already in the air from departing, according to the FAA.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

In December, Southwest Airlines scrubbed thousands of flights in the aftermath of the massive winter storm that wrecked Christmas travel plans across the U.S.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681829765447.png" alt="Image Kansas City International Airport" />
 <figcaption>Image Kansas City International Airport</figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This morning <a href="https://twitter.com/SouthwestAir?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SouthwestAir</a> experienced a technical issue with one of their internal systems. At the airline’s request, the FAA paused Southwest’s departures as they resolved the issue. The pause has been lifted and their service has resumed.&mdash; The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) <a href="https://twitter.com/FAANews/status/1648343231569035266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines planes were grounded nationwide for what the airline called an intermittent technology issue, causing more than 1,700 flight delays Tuesday just four months after the carrier suffered a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-transportation-us-department-of-0925834b8cfcf1150358f874334d16d7">meltdown</a>&nbsp;over the Christmas travel rush.The hold on departures was lifted by late morning, shortly after it was announced, according to Southwest and the Federal Aviation Administration, but not before traffic at airports from Denver to New York City backed up.“Southwest has resumed operations after temporarily pausing flight activity this morning to work through data connection issues resulting from a firewall failure,” the Dallas airline said in a prepared statement. “Early this morning, a vendor-supplied firewall went down and connection to some operational data was unexpectedly lost.”The airline urged customers to check on their flight status “and explore self-service options” for travel as the airline worked on restoring its operation.By late morning on the East Coast, Southwest accounted for well over half of all delays nationwide, but the airline had canceled fewer than a dozen flights, according to FlightAware.Tuesday's flight freeze was brief, but it added to the picture of an airline that has struggled more than most with technology issues. CEO Robert Jordan has embarked on a campaign to repair the airline's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-texas-arizona-california-da3b72f2350b0f77498f7f67316facb5">damaged reputation</a>.In December, Southwest canceled nearly 17,000 flights over the Christmas holiday due to bad weather and its crew-scheduling system becoming overwhelmed. Those cancellations cost the airline more than $1 billion. The Transportation Department is investigating the breakdown.The airline’s unions have said they warned management about problems with the crew-scheduling system after a previous meltdown in October 2021.Southwest said last month it would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-cancellations-technology-weather-314069ab4bb9de5eb804c566927606ec">add deicing equipment and increase staffing</a>&nbsp;during winter weather that is cold enough to limit the amount of time that ground workers can stay outside.------------DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines planes were stopped from taking off nationwide for what the airline called an intermittent technology issue, causing more than 1,500 flight delays Tuesday just four months after the carrier suffered a meltdown over the Christmas travel rush.Southwest and the Federal Aviation Administration said by late morning on the East Coast that the pause had been lifted.“Southwest has resumed operations after temporarily pausing flight activity this morning to work through data connection issues resulting from a firewall failure,” the Dallas airline said in a prepared statement. “Early this morning, a vendor-supplied firewall went down and connection to some operational data was unexpectedly lost.”By late morning on the East Coast, Southwest accounted for well over half of all delays nationwide, but the airline had canceled fewer than a dozen flights, according to FlightAware.In December, Southwest canceled nearly 17,000 flights over the Christmas holiday due to bad weather and its crew-scheduling system becoming overwhelmed. Those cancellations cost the airline more than $1 billion and are being investigated by the Transportation Department.------------DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines scrubbed thousands of flights again Tuesday in the aftermath of the massive winter storm that wrecked Christmas travel plans across the U.S., and the federal government said it would investigate why the company lagged so far behind other carriers.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Southwest Airlines requested the FAA pause the airline’s departures. Please contact Southwest Airlines for more.&mdash; The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) <a href="https://twitter.com/FAANews/status/1648334637574356994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>y late morning on the East Coast, more than 1,500 Southwest flights had been delayed, accounting for well over half of all delays nationwide, according to FlightAware.Southwest said on Twitter that it asked the Federal Aviation Administration to hold up departures because of “intermittent" technical issues and hoped to resume flights as soon as possible.The airline did not immediately respond to questions about the nature of the technical problem.The FAA said only that Southwest requested the pause on flights, and referred questions to the Dallas-based airline.In December, Southwest canceled nearly 17,000 flights over the Christmas holiday due to bad weather and its crew-scheduling system becoming overwhelmed. Those cancellations cost the airline more than $1 billion and are being investigated by the Transportation Department.-----------------KANSAS CITY —All Southwest Airlines flight departures were halted nationwide just before 10a.m. Tuesday due to technical issues, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Southwest Airlines requested the FAA pause the airline’s departures. Please contact Southwest Airlines for more.&mdash; The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) <a href="https://twitter.com/FAANews/status/1648334637574356994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Grounds stops prevent any flights not already in the air from departing, according to the FAA.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.In December, Southwest Airlines scrubbed thousands of flights in the aftermath of the massive winter storm that wrecked Christmas travel plans across the U.S.

Southwest passengers face delays after nationwide grounding

CONSHOKOCKEN, Pa. (AP) — David’s Bridal has filed for bankruptcy protection, the second time for the chain in the past five years.

The announcement Monday arrives days after the company, one of the largest sellers of wedding gowns and formal wear, said it could eliminate more than 9,200 jobs across the United States. Based in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the company has about 300 stores across dozens of states and employs more than 11,000 workers,

David’s Bridal is looking to sell the company, but its stores remain open and its fulfilling orders without delay. Its online platforms also remain available to help people with their wedding planning needs.

The company last filed for bankruptcy protection in 2018 but reemerged a year later. Monday's filing was made in New Jersey.

The company has Nebraska locations in Omaha and Lincoln.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681826105095.png" alt="David's Bridal in Topeka-&nbsp; Google image" />
 <figcaption>David's Bridal in Topeka-&nbsp; Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>CONSHOKOCKEN, Pa. (AP) — David’s Bridal has filed for bankruptcy protection, the second time for the chain in the past five years.The announcement Monday arrives days after the company, one of the largest sellers of wedding gowns and formal wear, said it could eliminate more than 9,200 jobs across the United States. Based in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the company has about 300 stores across dozens of states and employs more than 11,000 workers,David’s Bridal is looking to sell the company, but its stores remain open and its fulfilling orders without delay. Its online platforms also remain available to help people with their wedding planning needs.The company last filed for bankruptcy protection in 2018 but reemerged a year later. Monday's filing was made in New Jersey.The company has Nebraska locations in Omaha and Lincoln.

David's Bridal files for bankruptcy, but your order is safe

'We are a new unsettling force that has arisen to disrupt the status flow'

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-poor-peoples-campaign-rooted-in-national-civil-rights-movement-rallies-at-state-capitol/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN
 — About 50 Nebraskans rallied on the steps of the State Capitol for a 
“Moral Monday” demonstration, saying they won’t be silent about state 
lawmakers’ actions that affect voting rights, transgender kids, gun 
control, a proposed sub-minimum wage for youths and more.

The event was organized by the Nebraska Poor People’s Campaign, which represents a local revival of a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/about/">national network</a> founded by civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

“We are a new unsettling force that 
has arisen to disrupt the status flow,” said Angela Montalvo of 
Ogallala, a member of the coordinating committee.&nbsp;

Prior to the rally, the group — 
carrying signs with messages such as&nbsp; “Living Wage” and “Stop the Wars, 
Feed the Poor” — was inside the State Capitol handing out a list of 
“demands” and positions on certain bills to state lawmakers who would 
meet with them. 

Outside, State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha appeared to be the lone legislator who stopped by.

Similar rallies are being held in 
various other states, Montalvo said. She said the Nebraska group formed 
in 2020 but this year has taken on a more active role, given 
high-profile proposed laws related to such topics as voter ID, abortion,
 a gender-affirming care ban and child care subsidies.

“Rather than make Nebraska a 
hospitable home for everyone, we have seen most of our senators turning 
our state into a space for a very specific demographic,” said the Rev. 
Zac Wolfe of Lincoln. “A place that cares about the bottom line of 
business rather than the embodied life of the constituents.”

He said that those who resist “returning to the wild, wild west” have been called ignorant and told to stay quiet.

During the rally, a dozen or so 
Nebraskans stood up to speak about personal experiences and how certain 
legislation or state policies impact their families.

Sierra Edmisten of Hastings said she 
is a working mom whose family has suffered from “food insecurity.” She 
said she and her husband at times had to choose which of them was going 
to eat that day.

Edmisten pushed against tightening eligibility levels for state SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.

She said that to stay within SNAP eligibility limits, she already has had to forgo pay raises she should be “celebrating.”

Emma Haar, 15, of Grand Island spoke against proposed legislation to pay minors in Nebraska less than minimum wage.

“It makes me sad to know I have to come here repeatedly … for what should be basic human rights for teenagers,” she said.

Among other speakers were Blanca 
Mejia, founder of Generation Diamond, a South Omaha-based organization 
that helps the homeless and those seeking to re-enter the workforce 
after prison.

She said many view poor people as “losers.”

“Really, you don’t know their story,”
 she said, adding that there are many different reasons for being poor. 
Policy decisions can help or hurt, Mejia and others said.

Mejia looked toward the State Capitol and said: “Please do something.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681825698728.png" alt="The “Nebraska Poor People’s Campaign,” representing a reactivated national movement founded by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., held a rally Monday at the State Capitol. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>The “Nebraska Poor People’s Campaign,” representing a reactivated national movement founded by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., held a rally Monday at the State Capitol. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>'We are a new unsettling force that has arisen to disrupt the status flow'</h2>By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-poor-peoples-campaign-rooted-in-national-civil-rights-movement-rallies-at-state-capitol/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN
 — About 50 Nebraskans rallied on the steps of the State Capitol for a 
“Moral Monday” demonstration, saying they won’t be silent about state 
lawmakers’ actions that affect voting rights, transgender kids, gun 
control, a proposed sub-minimum wage for youths and more.The event was organized by the Nebraska Poor People’s Campaign, which represents a local revival of a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/about/">national network</a> founded by civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.“We are a new unsettling force that 
has arisen to disrupt the status flow,” said Angela Montalvo of 
Ogallala, a member of the coordinating committee.&nbsp;Prior to the rally, the group — 
carrying signs with messages such as&nbsp; “Living Wage” and “Stop the Wars, 
Feed the Poor” — was inside the State Capitol handing out a list of 
“demands” and positions on certain bills to state lawmakers who would 
meet with them. Outside, State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha appeared to be the lone legislator who stopped by.Similar rallies are being held in 
various other states, Montalvo said. She said the Nebraska group formed 
in 2020 but this year has taken on a more active role, given 
high-profile proposed laws related to such topics as voter ID, abortion,
 a gender-affirming care ban and child care subsidies.“Rather than make Nebraska a 
hospitable home for everyone, we have seen most of our senators turning 
our state into a space for a very specific demographic,” said the Rev. 
Zac Wolfe of Lincoln. “A place that cares about the bottom line of 
business rather than the embodied life of the constituents.”He said that those who resist “returning to the wild, wild west” have been called ignorant and told to stay quiet.During the rally, a dozen or so 
Nebraskans stood up to speak about personal experiences and how certain 
legislation or state policies impact their families.Sierra Edmisten of Hastings said she 
is a working mom whose family has suffered from “food insecurity.” She 
said she and her husband at times had to choose which of them was going 
to eat that day.Edmisten pushed against tightening eligibility levels for state SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.She said that to stay within SNAP eligibility limits, she already has had to forgo pay raises she should be “celebrating.”Emma Haar, 15, of Grand Island spoke against proposed legislation to pay minors in Nebraska less than minimum wage.“It makes me sad to know I have to come here repeatedly … for what should be basic human rights for teenagers,” she said.Among other speakers were Blanca 
Mejia, founder of Generation Diamond, a South Omaha-based organization 
that helps the homeless and those seeking to re-enter the workforce 
after prison.She said many view poor people as “losers.”“Really, you don’t know their story,”
 she said, adding that there are many different reasons for being poor. 
Policy decisions can help or hurt, Mejia and others said.Mejia looked toward the State Capitol and said: “Please do something.”

‘Nebraska Poor People’s Campaign’ rallies at State Capitol

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/18/sleuthing-discovers-thousands-of-locations-missed-as-unserved-by-broadband-on-federal-map/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Using a laptop at her farm near Clatonia, and some help 
from the state’s public power districts, a rural broadband advocate has 
uncovered oversights that may brings millions of extra federal dollars 
to Nebraska to expand high-speed internet service.

Emily Haxby, who also serves on the Gage County Board, said she 
started doubting the accuracy of federal maps showing areas that were 
“unserved” by broadband.

Just in her own rural neighborhood, Haxby said, she could tell there 
were at least a dozen rural homes, machine shops and other locations 
that were listed as “served” by broadband when they weren’t.

That’s important because a new pile of federal money — $42.45 billion
 via the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program — is 
being distributed on the basis of how many “unserved” locations there 
are in each state compared to other states.

And with the help of the Nebraska Public Power District and the 
Nebraska Rural Electric Association, she found 11,367 farms, homes and 
other locations across the state that should have been labeled as 
“unserved” on federal broadband maps.

The discovery could mean tens of millions of extra federal dollars 
for Nebraska to get broadband to unserved areas, according to Pat Pope, 
the former president/CEO of the Nebraska Public Power District.

“This was above and beyond the call of duty,” said Pope of Haxby’s discoveries.

It’s the kind of work, Pope said, that should have been done by a 
state broadband office, something Gov. Jim Pillen has proposed creating 
at the urging of Pope and others.

A proposal to do that, <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/02/07/proposed-state-broadband-office-touted-as-more-effective-creative-in-closing-digital-divide/">Legislative Bill 683</a>,
 recently advanced from first-round debate in the State Legislature. 
Pillen has yet to name a director of the new broadband office. Haxby has
 applied for the job.

“The real key now is to get the right person to run that office, and I think it’s Emily,” Pope said. “She’s lived this, she’s breathed this, she’s felt the pain of living in rural Gage County without adequate broadband.”

State Sen. Bruce Bostelman of Brainard, a key senator on broadband 
issues, said that Haxby’s “out of the box” work is what’s needed to 
accomplish the elusive goal of getting high-speed internet across the 
state.

Under the BEAD Act, part of the Biden administration’s “Internet for 
All” initiative, each state is assured of getting at least $100 million.
 The priority is to fund projects that reach currently unserved areas. 
The FCC defines “unserved” areas as those with internet service that is 
less than 25/3 — 25 megabits per second download speed and 3 mbps 
upload.

Internet speeds are important — the higher the speeds, the more 
capacity to operate computers, play video game or stream TV shows at a 
time.

But additional federal funds will be doled out based on how many 
locations a state can show are unserved in comparison with other states.
 So showing more “unserved” areas should result in more federal funds.

Haxby became interested in broadband coverage after some federal 
American Rescue Plan Act funds became available to her county to expand 
high-speed service in rural Nebraska.

Through her work on the Gage County Board, Haxby helped put together a
 collaboration with an internet provider to string high-speed, fiber 
internet to nearly 1,000 locations. It’s a partnership that other 
counties in the state are now seeking to duplicate, she said.

During that project, Haxby was able to show that several farms, rural
 homes and repair shops in Gage County where internet was needed were 
being listed on Federal Communications Commission maps as either 
“underserved” (less than 100/20 mbps) or “served” (speeded above that) 
when they were really “unserved.”

That led to speculation about how many locations statewide were wrongly labeled.

“This is bad, and this is how our funding is coming,” Haxby said.

It led to enlisting NPPD and the NREA to provide electric meter data 
to show locations where internet was needed. Then, Haxby and a fellow 
with the Americorps program working for the Southeast Nebraska 
Development District, Oliver Borchers-Williams, sifted through the data 
to identify farms and homes missing on the FCC map.

The FCC is allowing states to challenge its map prior to the 
distribution of the federal BEAD funds by the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in June.

Nebraska missed the first round of “location” challenges in December,
 but both Haxby and the Nebraska Public Service Commission submitted 
“availability” challenges in January.

In March, Haxby met a federal deadline to submit her 11,367 
challenges to locations missed as “unserved” on the FCC map. She said 
that seven counties across the state had more than 5% of their farms and
 homes missing on the map, with Banner County off by 11%.

Tom Rolfes, a federal program
 officer with the NTIA, said he was unaware of any individual like Haxby
 who submitted challenges to the FCC broadband map. Challenges are 
typically done by internet providers and state agencies, he said.

The challenges, once verified federally, would serve to enhance a 
state’s chances of getting more of the $42 billion in BEAD funding, 
Rolfes said.

For certain, Haxby said, a more accurate map will mean that more 
unserved locations of the state will be getting high-speed internet.

Rolfes added that another influx of federal money for broadband expansion will be awarded in June, with $87
 million targeted for Nebraska’s 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts. 
Another $35 million has been set aside to improve high-speed internet in
 areas of North and South Omaha.

The Nebraska Public Service Commission, 
along with the Nebraska Broadband Office and the Office of the 
OCIO/NITC, has scheduled a series of&nbsp;sessions to get community input on 
improving broadband access:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681822931473.png" alt="Emily Haxby, a farmer and Gage County commissioner, used a laptop and help from the state’s public power districts to discover hundreds of “unserved” broadband locations in the state. (Courtesy of Emily Haxby)" />
 <figcaption>Emily Haxby, a farmer and Gage County commissioner, used a laptop and help from the state’s public power districts to discover hundreds of “unserved” broadband locations in the state. (Courtesy of Emily Haxby)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/18/sleuthing-discovers-thousands-of-locations-missed-as-unserved-by-broadband-on-federal-map/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Using a laptop at her farm near Clatonia, and some help 
from the state’s public power districts, a rural broadband advocate has 
uncovered oversights that may brings millions of extra federal dollars 
to Nebraska to expand high-speed internet service.Emily Haxby, who also serves on the Gage County Board, said she 
started doubting the accuracy of federal maps showing areas that were 
“unserved” by broadband.Just in her own rural neighborhood, Haxby said, she could tell there 
were at least a dozen rural homes, machine shops and other locations 
that were listed as “served” by broadband when they weren’t.That’s important because a new pile of federal money — $42.45 billion
 via the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program — is 
being distributed on the basis of how many “unserved” locations there 
are in each state compared to other states.So, Haxby did some digital sleuthing.And with the help of the Nebraska Public Power District and the 
Nebraska Rural Electric Association, she found 11,367 farms, homes and 
other locations across the state that should have been labeled as 
“unserved” on federal broadband maps.The discovery could mean tens of millions of extra federal dollars 
for Nebraska to get broadband to unserved areas, according to Pat Pope, 
the former president/CEO of the Nebraska Public Power District.<h2>‘Beyond the call of duty’</h2>“This was above and beyond the call of duty,” said Pope of Haxby’s discoveries.It’s the kind of work, Pope said, that should have been done by a 
state broadband office, something Gov. Jim Pillen has proposed creating 
at the urging of Pope and others.A proposal to do that, <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/02/07/proposed-state-broadband-office-touted-as-more-effective-creative-in-closing-digital-divide/">Legislative Bill 683</a>,
 recently advanced from first-round debate in the State Legislature. 
Pillen has yet to name a director of the new broadband office. Haxby has
 applied for the job.“The real key now is to get the right person to run that office, and I think it’s Emily,” Pope said. “She’s lived this, she’s breathed this, she’s felt the pain of living in rural Gage County without adequate broadband.”State Sen. Bruce Bostelman of Brainard, a key senator on broadband 
issues, said that Haxby’s “out of the box” work is what’s needed to 
accomplish the elusive goal of getting high-speed internet across the 
state.<h2>BEAD Act</h2>Under the BEAD Act, part of the Biden administration’s “Internet for 
All” initiative, each state is assured of getting at least $100 million.
 The priority is to fund projects that reach currently unserved areas. 
The FCC defines “unserved” areas as those with internet service that is 
less than 25/3 — 25 megabits per second download speed and 3 mbps 
upload.Internet speeds are important — the higher the speeds, the more 
capacity to operate computers, play video game or stream TV shows at a 
time.But additional federal funds will be doled out based on how many 
locations a state can show are unserved in comparison with other states.
 So showing more “unserved” areas should result in more federal funds.Haxby became interested in broadband coverage after some federal 
American Rescue Plan Act funds became available to her county to expand 
high-speed service in rural Nebraska.Through her work on the Gage County Board, Haxby helped put together a
 collaboration with an internet provider to string high-speed, fiber 
internet to nearly 1,000 locations. It’s a partnership that other 
counties in the state are now seeking to duplicate, she said.During that project, Haxby was able to show that several farms, rural
 homes and repair shops in Gage County where internet was needed were 
being listed on Federal Communications Commission maps as either 
“underserved” (less than 100/20 mbps) or “served” (speeded above that) 
when they were really “unserved.”That led to speculation about how many locations statewide were wrongly labeled.<h2>‘This is bad’</h2>“This is bad, and this is how our funding is coming,” Haxby said.It led to enlisting NPPD and the NREA to provide electric meter data 
to show locations where internet was needed. Then, Haxby and a fellow 
with the Americorps program working for the Southeast Nebraska 
Development District, Oliver Borchers-Williams, sifted through the data 
to identify farms and homes missing on the FCC map.The FCC is allowing states to challenge its map prior to the 
distribution of the federal BEAD funds by the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in June.Nebraska missed the first round of “location” challenges in December,
 but both Haxby and the Nebraska Public Service Commission submitted 
“availability” challenges in January.In March, Haxby met a federal deadline to submit her 11,367 
challenges to locations missed as “unserved” on the FCC map. She said 
that seven counties across the state had more than 5% of their farms and
 homes missing on the map, with Banner County off by 11%.<h2>Another batch of federal money</h2>Tom Rolfes, a federal program
 officer with the NTIA, said he was unaware of any individual like Haxby
 who submitted challenges to the FCC broadband map. Challenges are 
typically done by internet providers and state agencies, he said.The challenges, once verified federally, would serve to enhance a 
state’s chances of getting more of the $42 billion in BEAD funding, 
Rolfes said.For certain, Haxby said, a more accurate map will mean that more 
unserved locations of the state will be getting high-speed internet.Rolfes added that another influx of federal money for broadband expansion will be awarded in June, with $87
 million targeted for Nebraska’s 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts. 
Another $35 million has been set aside to improve high-speed internet in
 areas of North and South Omaha.<h2>Community input sought</h2>The Nebraska Public Service Commission, 
along with the Nebraska Broadband Office and the Office of the 
OCIO/NITC, has scheduled a series of&nbsp;sessions to get community input on 
improving broadband access:<ul>
 <li>Wednesday, 5:30 p.m.,&nbsp;Hall County Extension, 3180 W. Highway 34, Grand Island.</li><li>April 26, noon, Niobrara Village Fire Hall, 259 Spruce Ave., Niobrara.</li><li>April 26, 5 p.m., Norfolk Public Library, 308 W. Prospect Avenue, Norfolk.</li>
 </ul>

Sleuthing: Thousands missed as ‘unserved’ by broadband on federal map

MOSCOW (AP) —An American journalist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-wall-street-journal-reporter-espionage-152e4bc8c9c97c36d263898c9cf44ad9">arrested on spying charges</a>&nbsp;as part of a sweeping Kremlin crackdown on press freedom amid the war in Ukraine will remain jailed, a Russian judge ruled Tuesday. Evan Gershkovich and the U.S. government vehemently deny the allegations.

The Wall Street Journal reporter is the first U.S. correspondent since the Cold War to be detained in Russia on spying allegations and his arrest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-journalists-danger-reporter-detained-2172a2edc07d652ebaf000eb1c3e3618">rattled journalists in the country</a>&nbsp;and elicited outrage in the West.

Dozens of journalists crowded into the courtroom to catch a glimpse of Gershkovich. Clad in pale-blue jeans and a plaid shirt, the 31-year-old reporter looked calm and even smiled at times as he stood inside a glass cage to appeal his detention.

Russian journalist Vasily Polonsky posted a video online of Gerhskovich nodding as Polonsky shouted at him: “Evan, hang in there. Everyone says hello!”

Russia’s Federal Security Service detained the 31-year-old in Yekaterinburg in March and accused him of trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory.

Gershkovich, his employer and the U.S. government deny he was involved in spying and have demanded his release.

“Evan is a member of the free press who right up until he was arrested was engaged in newsgathering. Any suggestions otherwise are false," the Journal has said in a statement.

Last week, the U.S. officially declared that Gershkovich was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-gershkovich-detained-reporter-ec01fede36db839b4c09c4c071e8da9f">“wrongfully detained.”</a>

A judge with the Moscow City Court rejected the reporter’s appeal of his detention on Tuesday, ruling that he must stay in jail until at least May 29.

Gershkovich could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Russian lawyers have said past investigations into espionage cases took a year to 18 months, during which time he could have little contact with the outside world.

He has been held in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/moscow-lefortovo-prison-gershkovich-russia-wall-street-journal-2b160207d8c08f8ca0cc30b619daf6e9">Moscow’s Lefortovo prison</a>, which dates from the czarist era and has been a terrifying symbol of repression since Soviet times.

The arrest comes at a moment of bitter tensions between the West and Moscow over its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">invasion of Ukraine</a>&nbsp;and as the Kremlin intensifies a crackdown on opposition activists, independent journalists and civil society groups.

The sweeping campaign of repression is unprecedented since the Soviet era. Activists say it often means the very profession of journalism is criminalized, along with the activities of ordinary Russians who oppose the war.

Last month, a Russian court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-crackdown-opposition-father-drawing-7ef43a8fb8f0110638b96a677a222b2b">convicted a father over social media posts critical of the war</a>&nbsp;and sentenced him to two years in prison. On Monday, a Russian court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-kara-murza-sentence-b9d389feeb468ca3d19171d0440faa7d">convicted top opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr.</a>&nbsp;of treason for publicly denouncing the war and sentenced him to 25 years in prison.

The U.S. has pressed Moscow to grant consular access to Gershkovich. U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy, who attended Tuesday's hearing, said a day earlier that she had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-ambassador-visits-evan-gershkovich-russia-prison-245159c600fccbc6b9a300c9a8c2c29e">visited Gershkovich in prison</a>. She said on Twitter that “he is in good health and remains strong,” reiterating a U.S. call for his immediate release.

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke to Greshkovich’s parents last week and again condemned his detention.

“We’re making it real clear that it’s totally illegal what’s happening, and we declared it so,” he said.

Gershkovich is the first American reporter to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was arrested. Daniloff was released without charge 20 days later in a swap for an employee of the Soviet Union’s United Nations mission who was arrested by the FBI, also on spying charges.

A top Russian diplomat said last week that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-detained-wall-street-journal-reporter-d3a51b09c1db6b1d5b8012367bff51c4">Russia might be willing to discuss</a>&nbsp;a potential prisoner swap with the U.S. involving Gershkovich after his trial. That means any exchange is unlikely to happen any time soon.

In December, American basketball star Brittney Griner&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/54de0cc371615a7165053a76eff17380">was exchanged for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout</a>&nbsp;following her trial and conviction on drug possession charges. She had been sentenced to nine years in prison and ended up spending 10 months behind bars.

Another American, Michigan corporate security executive Paul Whelan, has been imprisoned in Russia since December 2018 on espionage charges, which his family and the U.S. government have called baseless.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681820900687.png" alt="Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich stands in a glass cage in a courtroom at the Moscow City Court, in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)" />
 <figcaption>Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich stands in a glass cage in a courtroom at the Moscow City Court, in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)</figcaption>
 </figure>MOSCOW (AP) —An American journalist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-wall-street-journal-reporter-espionage-152e4bc8c9c97c36d263898c9cf44ad9">arrested on spying charges</a>&nbsp;as part of a sweeping Kremlin crackdown on press freedom amid the war in Ukraine will remain jailed, a Russian judge ruled Tuesday. Evan Gershkovich and the U.S. government vehemently deny the allegations.The Wall Street Journal reporter is the first U.S. correspondent since the Cold War to be detained in Russia on spying allegations and his arrest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-journalists-danger-reporter-detained-2172a2edc07d652ebaf000eb1c3e3618">rattled journalists in the country</a>&nbsp;and elicited outrage in the West.Dozens of journalists crowded into the courtroom to catch a glimpse of Gershkovich. Clad in pale-blue jeans and a plaid shirt, the 31-year-old reporter looked calm and even smiled at times as he stood inside a glass cage to appeal his detention.Russian journalist Vasily Polonsky posted a video online of Gerhskovich nodding as Polonsky shouted at him: “Evan, hang in there. Everyone says hello!”Russia’s Federal Security Service detained the 31-year-old in Yekaterinburg in March and accused him of trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory.Gershkovich, his employer and the U.S. government deny he was involved in spying and have demanded his release.“Evan is a member of the free press who right up until he was arrested was engaged in newsgathering. Any suggestions otherwise are false," the Journal has said in a statement.Last week, the U.S. officially declared that Gershkovich was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-gershkovich-detained-reporter-ec01fede36db839b4c09c4c071e8da9f">“wrongfully detained.”</a>A judge with the Moscow City Court rejected the reporter’s appeal of his detention on Tuesday, ruling that he must stay in jail until at least May 29.Gershkovich could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Russian lawyers have said past investigations into espionage cases took a year to 18 months, during which time he could have little contact with the outside world.He has been held in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/moscow-lefortovo-prison-gershkovich-russia-wall-street-journal-2b160207d8c08f8ca0cc30b619daf6e9">Moscow’s Lefortovo prison</a>, which dates from the czarist era and has been a terrifying symbol of repression since Soviet times.The arrest comes at a moment of bitter tensions between the West and Moscow over its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">invasion of Ukraine</a>&nbsp;and as the Kremlin intensifies a crackdown on opposition activists, independent journalists and civil society groups.The sweeping campaign of repression is unprecedented since the Soviet era. Activists say it often means the very profession of journalism is criminalized, along with the activities of ordinary Russians who oppose the war.Last month, a Russian court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-crackdown-opposition-father-drawing-7ef43a8fb8f0110638b96a677a222b2b">convicted a father over social media posts critical of the war</a>&nbsp;and sentenced him to two years in prison. On Monday, a Russian court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-kara-murza-sentence-b9d389feeb468ca3d19171d0440faa7d">convicted top opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr.</a>&nbsp;of treason for publicly denouncing the war and sentenced him to 25 years in prison.The U.S. has pressed Moscow to grant consular access to Gershkovich. U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy, who attended Tuesday's hearing, said a day earlier that she had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-ambassador-visits-evan-gershkovich-russia-prison-245159c600fccbc6b9a300c9a8c2c29e">visited Gershkovich in prison</a>. She said on Twitter that “he is in good health and remains strong,” reiterating a U.S. call for his immediate release.U.S. President Joe Biden spoke to Greshkovich’s parents last week and again condemned his detention.“We’re making it real clear that it’s totally illegal what’s happening, and we declared it so,” he said.Gershkovich is the first American reporter to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was arrested. Daniloff was released without charge 20 days later in a swap for an employee of the Soviet Union’s United Nations mission who was arrested by the FBI, also on spying charges.A top Russian diplomat said last week that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-detained-wall-street-journal-reporter-d3a51b09c1db6b1d5b8012367bff51c4">Russia might be willing to discuss</a>&nbsp;a potential prisoner swap with the U.S. involving Gershkovich after his trial. That means any exchange is unlikely to happen any time soon.In December, American basketball star Brittney Griner&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/54de0cc371615a7165053a76eff17380">was exchanged for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout</a>&nbsp;following her trial and conviction on drug possession charges. She had been sentenced to nine years in prison and ended up spending 10 months behind bars.Another American, Michigan corporate security executive Paul Whelan, has been imprisoned in Russia since December 2018 on espionage charges, which his family and the U.S. government have called baseless.

US reporter held by Russia on spying charges to stay in jail

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Cindy Powers was driven into bankruptcy by 19 life-saving abdominal operations. Medical debt started stacking up for Lindsey Vance after she crashed her skateboard and had to get nine stitches in her chin. And for Misty Castaneda, open heart surgery for a disease she'd had since birth saddled her with $200,000 in bills.

These are three of an estimated 100 million Americans who have amassed nearly $200 billion in collective medical debt — almost the size of Greece’s economy — according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Now lawmakers in at least a dozen states and the U.S. Congress have pushed legislation to curtail the financial burden that’s pushed many into untenable situations: forgoing needed care for fear of added debt, taking a second mortgage to pay for cancer treatment or slashing grocery budgets to keep up with payments.

Some of the bills would create medical debt relief programs or protect personal property from collections, while others would lower interest rates, keep medical debt from tanking credit scores or require greater transparency in the costs of care.

In Colorado, House lawmakers approved a measure Wednesday that would lower the maximum interest rate for medical debt to 3%, require greater transparency in costs of treatment and prohibit debt collection during an appeals process.

If it became law, Colorado would join Arizona in having one of the lowest medical debt interest rates in the country. North Carolina lawmakers have also started mulling a 5% interest ceiling.

But there are opponents. Colorado Republican state Sen. Janice Rich said she worried that the proposal could “constrain hospitals’ debt collecting ability and hurt their cash flow.”

For patients, medical debt has become a leading cause of personal bankruptcy, with an estimated $88 billion of that debt in collections nationwide, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Roughly 530,000 people reported falling into bankruptcy annually due partly to medical bills and time away from work, according to a 2019 study from the American Journal of Public Health.

Powers’ family ended up owing $250,000 for the 19 life-saving abdominal surgeries. They declared bankruptcy in 2009, then the bank foreclosed on their home.

“Only recently have we begun to pick up the pieces,” said James Powers, Cindy’s husband, during his February testimony in favor of Colorado's bill.

In Pennsylvania and Arizona, lawmakers are considering medical debt relief programs that would use state funds to help eradicate debt for residents. A New Jersey proposal would use federal funds from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-costs-boston-toledo-e423c64c1322bc8e4254b7a70b1da50c">American Rescue Plan Act</a>&nbsp;to achieve the same end.

Bills in Florida and Massachusetts would protect some personal property — such as a car that is needed for work — from medical debt collections and force providers to be more transparent about costs. Florida’s legislation received unanimous approval in House and Senate committees on its way to votes in both chambers.

In Colorado, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts and the U.S. Congress lawmakers are contemplating bills that would bar medical debt from being included on consumer reports, thereby protecting debtors' credit scores.

Castaneda, who was born with a congenital heart defect, found herself $200,000 in debt when she was 23 and had to have surgery. The debt tanked her credit score and, she said, forced her to rely on her emotionally abusive husband's credit.

For over a decade Castaneda wanted out of the relationship, but everything they owned was in her husband's name, making it nearly impossible to break away. She finally divorced her husband in 2017.

“I’m trying to play catch-up for the last 20 years,” said Castaneda, 45, a hairstylist from Grand Junction on Colorado's Western Slope.

Medical debt isn't a strong indicator of people's credit-worthiness, said Isabel Cruz, policy director at the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative.

While buying a car beyond your means or overspending on vacation can partly be chalked up to poor decision making, medical debt often comes from short, acute-care treatments that are unexpected — leaving patients with hefty bills that exceed their budgets.

For both Colorado bills — to limit interest rates and remove medical debt from consumer reports — a spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Jared Polis said the governor will “review these policies with a lens towards saving people money on health care.”

While neither bill garnered stiff political opposition, a spokesperson for the Colorado Hospital Association said the organization is working with sponsors to amend the interest rate bill “to align the legislation with the multitude of existing protections.”

The association did not provide further details.

To Vance, protecting her credit score early could have had a major impact. Vance’s medical debt began at age 19 from the skateboard crash, and then was compounded when she broke her arm soon after. Now 39, she has never been able to qualify for a credit card or car loan. Her in-laws cosigned for her Colorado apartment.

“My credit identity was medical debt,” she said, “and that set the tone for my life.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Cindy Powers was driven into bankruptcy by 19 life-saving abdominal operations. Medical debt started stacking up for Lindsey Vance after she crashed her skateboard and had to get nine stitches in her chin. And for Misty Castaneda, open heart surgery for a disease she'd had since birth saddled her with $200,000 in bills.These are three of an estimated 100 million Americans who have amassed nearly $200 billion in collective medical debt — almost the size of Greece’s economy — according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.Now lawmakers in at least a dozen states and the U.S. Congress have pushed legislation to curtail the financial burden that’s pushed many into untenable situations: forgoing needed care for fear of added debt, taking a second mortgage to pay for cancer treatment or slashing grocery budgets to keep up with payments.Some of the bills would create medical debt relief programs or protect personal property from collections, while others would lower interest rates, keep medical debt from tanking credit scores or require greater transparency in the costs of care.In Colorado, House lawmakers approved a measure Wednesday that would lower the maximum interest rate for medical debt to 3%, require greater transparency in costs of treatment and prohibit debt collection during an appeals process.If it became law, Colorado would join Arizona in having one of the lowest medical debt interest rates in the country. North Carolina lawmakers have also started mulling a 5% interest ceiling.But there are opponents. Colorado Republican state Sen. Janice Rich said she worried that the proposal could “constrain hospitals’ debt collecting ability and hurt their cash flow.”For patients, medical debt has become a leading cause of personal bankruptcy, with an estimated $88 billion of that debt in collections nationwide, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Roughly 530,000 people reported falling into bankruptcy annually due partly to medical bills and time away from work, according to a 2019 study from the American Journal of Public Health.Powers’ family ended up owing $250,000 for the 19 life-saving abdominal surgeries. They declared bankruptcy in 2009, then the bank foreclosed on their home.“Only recently have we begun to pick up the pieces,” said James Powers, Cindy’s husband, during his February testimony in favor of Colorado's bill.In Pennsylvania and Arizona, lawmakers are considering medical debt relief programs that would use state funds to help eradicate debt for residents. A New Jersey proposal would use federal funds from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-costs-boston-toledo-e423c64c1322bc8e4254b7a70b1da50c">American Rescue Plan Act</a>&nbsp;to achieve the same end.Bills in Florida and Massachusetts would protect some personal property — such as a car that is needed for work — from medical debt collections and force providers to be more transparent about costs. Florida’s legislation received unanimous approval in House and Senate committees on its way to votes in both chambers.In Colorado, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts and the U.S. Congress lawmakers are contemplating bills that would bar medical debt from being included on consumer reports, thereby protecting debtors' credit scores.Castaneda, who was born with a congenital heart defect, found herself $200,000 in debt when she was 23 and had to have surgery. The debt tanked her credit score and, she said, forced her to rely on her emotionally abusive husband's credit.For over a decade Castaneda wanted out of the relationship, but everything they owned was in her husband's name, making it nearly impossible to break away. She finally divorced her husband in 2017.“I’m trying to play catch-up for the last 20 years,” said Castaneda, 45, a hairstylist from Grand Junction on Colorado's Western Slope.Medical debt isn't a strong indicator of people's credit-worthiness, said Isabel Cruz, policy director at the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative.While buying a car beyond your means or overspending on vacation can partly be chalked up to poor decision making, medical debt often comes from short, acute-care treatments that are unexpected — leaving patients with hefty bills that exceed their budgets.For both Colorado bills — to limit interest rates and remove medical debt from consumer reports — a spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Jared Polis said the governor will “review these policies with a lens towards saving people money on health care.”While neither bill garnered stiff political opposition, a spokesperson for the Colorado Hospital Association said the organization is working with sponsors to amend the interest rate bill “to align the legislation with the multitude of existing protections.”The association did not provide further details.To Vance, protecting her credit score early could have had a major impact. Vance’s medical debt began at age 19 from the skateboard crash, and then was compounded when she broke her arm soon after. Now 39, she has never been able to qualify for a credit card or car loan. Her in-laws cosigned for her Colorado apartment.“My credit identity was medical debt,” she said, “and that set the tone for my life.”

States confront medical debt that's bankrupting millions

By CASEY QUINLAN <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/17/long-covid-is-hurting-business-workplace-accommodations-could-help/">States Newsroom</a>

Three years after the start of the 
pandemic, millions of working age people still suffer from long 
COVID-19, and some lawmakers and advocates, including people with long 
COVID, say not enough is being done to protect their well-being and 
ensure they can continue to be employed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681752945920.jpg" alt="Allowing employees with long COVID to have flexible hours and work from home are just two ways companies can help accommodate workers with long COVID. Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Allowing employees with long COVID to have flexible hours and work from home are just two ways companies can help accommodate workers with long COVID. Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By CASEY QUINLAN <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/17/long-covid-is-hurting-business-workplace-accommodations-could-help/">States Newsroom</a>Three years after the start of the 
pandemic, millions of working age people still suffer from long 
COVID-19, and some lawmakers and advocates, including people with long 
COVID, say not enough is being done to protect their well-being and 
ensure they can continue to be employed.Proposed federal legislation, better 
workplace accommodations and more federal funding could make a 
difference, advocates say. The mitigation of COVID spread would also 
serve to prevent more people from getting long COVID or worsening the 
health of those who already experience it.Long COVID has a <a target="_blank" href="https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-learning-more-about-long-haul-covid-19/">wide variety</a>
 of symptoms, including fatigue, dizziness, rapid heart rate and brain 
fog, and for some people those symptoms can come and go. The challenges 
in receiving a diagnosis, due to the similarity in other medical 
conditions and other barriers, can make it hard to document their 
illness for employers.“There’s a lack of consistency in how
 long COVID is defined and diagnosed and that can directly impact 
whether accommodations are provided because employers often are not sure
 how to proceed,” said Tracie DeFreitas, director of training, services,
 and outreach for the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), a consulting 
service for employers funded by the U.S. Labor Department. “… People may
 have a wide variety of symptoms that could come from other medical 
conditions and health care providers are sort of excluding other types 
of medical conditions first.”DeFreitas said JAN’s practical 
guidance is for employers not to get stuck in determining whether 
someone’s long COVID is a disability through a diagnosis, since federal 
agencies including the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-providers/civil-rights-covid19/guidance-long-covid-disability/index.html">Department of Health and Human Services</a> and the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.eeoc.gov/wysk/what-you-should-know-about-covid-19-and-ada-rehabilitation-act-and-other-eeo-laws">Equal Employment Opportunity Commission</a> have made it clear that it can be disability. Employers should instead focus on making accommodations for workers, she said.With roughly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.brookings.edu/research/new-data-shows-long-covid-is-keeping-as-many-as-4-million-people-out-of-work/">16 million people</a>
 of working age reported to have some symptoms of long COVID, economists
 say there are long-term implications for the U.S. economy if workplace 
needs are not addressed.The total cost of long COVID to the U.S. economy is a fluid figure. Last year, a <a target="_blank" href="https://scholar.harvard.edu/sites/scholar.harvard.edu/files/cutler/files/long_covid_update_7-22.pdf">Harvard University economist</a>
 upped his initial estimate by roughly a trillion dollars to $3.7 
trillion, with $997 billion of that amount being from lost earnings. In 
addition, studies have found that people with long COVID <a target="_blank" href="https://researchdatabase.minneapolisfed.org/concern/publications/td96k268d">work 50% fewer hours</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://siepr.stanford.edu/news/study-finds-substantial-costs-workers-severe-covid-19-illnesses">earn on average 18% less</a> over the course of a year because of their illness.&nbsp;Meanwhile, a January <a target="_blank" href="https://ww3.nysif.com/">report</a> from the New York State Insurance Fund analyzing its compensation claims found
 that&nbsp; 31% of claimants were experiencing long COVID or had had long 
COVID. The data, according to the report, highlighted an 
“underappreciated reason for the many unfilled jobs and the declining 
labor participation rate since the emergence of the pandemic.”Those lost earnings, of course, can 
lead to reduced household spending, while the decline in labor 
participation caused many employers to raise wages, which has helped to 
fuel inflation.Katie Brach, with the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.brookings.edu/research/new-data-shows-long-covid-is-keeping-as-many-as-4-million-people-out-of-work/">Brookings Institution</a>,
 makes the case for more policy initiatives and workplace accommodations
 to enable long COVID sufferers to increase work hours, writing “long COVID is
 already a meaningful drag on U.S. economic performance and household 
financial health. And absent intervention, the situation is likely to 
worsen.”<h2>Maintaining pandemic accommodations</h2>Shelby Seier runs her own consulting 
practice in Omaha, Nebraska, All Kinds Accessibility Consulting, where 
she advises employers on how to provide accommodations, including for 
people with long COVID. Seier, who is disabled and chronically ill, has 
had firsthand experience with long COVID after getting COVID-19 last 
year.“On a personal level, it was very 
mentally debilitating to have to rearrange my plans and just 
consistently wake up and not be able to do the things I wanted to do,” 
she said. “It’s a very heartbreaking experience and totally isolating, 
and it is emotionally compounding where if you have several days in a 
row of just not being able to stay on top of emails, which was a task 
that I could do prior, it just feels awful.”Seier, who said she has suffered from
 post-viral illnesses since she was a teenager, said that running her 
own business allowed her to build accommodations for her own needs. Her 
experience informs her work with clients; showing them how to make the 
accommodations that previous workplaces did not provide her.&nbsp;“A lot of my work is convincing 
people not to abandon all of the great accommodations that they so 
easily, or perhaps not easily, implemented early in the pandemic, like 
flexible work schedules, virtual options, and reducing the amount of 
labor that your team does,” she said.Seier added that disability awareness
 and inclusion training can be a crucial step for employers to prevent 
poor communication and ableism in the workplace.“The team needs to know how to
 communicate with a person who has fluctuating abilities and there needs
 to be capacity-building about learning to understand an onset of acute 
illness,” she said. “Without those crucial educational components, I 
often see that resentment builds within an organization, if a team 
member can no longer do what they were previously able to do.”Bryon Bass, senior vice president 
workforce absence and disability practice leader at Sedgwick, a global 
business solutions business, said it is likely that many people with 
long COVID will meet the requirements under the ADA, where a mental or 
physical impairment prevents participation in one or more major life 
activities, including work. Restructuring someone’s job through flexible
 work hours would be one way to accommodate someone with long COVID.Some employers can provide 
intermittent leave as an ADA accommodation when workers with long COVID 
say they feel sick and need time off, according to a <a target="_blank" href="https://production-askearn-org.s3.amazonaws.com/EARN_JAN_Guide_Supporting_Employees_with_Long_COVID_191b071ceb.pdf">guide</a>
 from JAN and the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability
 and Inclusion. If an employee is no longer qualified for their current 
position, employers could also train them for a different one so that 
they can remain employed at the company. A March 9 webinar from Bass, 
DeFreitas and other accommodation experts, included solutions for 
addressing memory deficits, such as providing written instructions, 
using voice recorders, creating the minutes of meetings and training and
 making flowcharts to show the steps for a particular task. But most of 
all, many experts on accommodations say to go straight to the source, 
the worker, and ask what they need help with and what could work best 
for them.In addition to JAN’s services for 
employers and guidance on long COVID as a disability, the Department of 
Health and Human Services created a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.covid.gov/assets/files/Services-and-Supports-for-Longer-Term-Impacts-of-COVID-19-08012022.pdf">guide</a>
 in August on services and support for the long-term impacts of 
COVID-19, which also provides information for employers. In April, the 
department <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/04/05/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-makes-progress-whole-government-response-long-covid.html">released</a> a comprehensive fact sheet on defining Long COVID, workplace interventions, and research on Long COVID.&nbsp;<h2>Federal legislation proposed</h2>The Biden administration also proposed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/hhs_fy2024.pdf">$130 million</a>
 for long COVID programs in fiscal year 2024 and $130 million for 
diagnosing and treating long COVID in fiscal year 2025 in his budget 
request.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681753001334.png" alt="U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, who suffers from long COVID, has introduced a bill which would, among other things, disseminate information about long COVID to employers. He is shown here during a congressional hearing in March 2020. (Screen grab)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, who suffers from long COVID, has introduced a bill which would, among other things, disseminate information about long COVID to employers. He is shown here during a congressional hearing in March 2020. (Screen grab)</figcaption>
 </figure>Some lawmakers are intent on 
providing more resources and guidance to workers with long COVID as well
 as their employers. U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-markey-and-duckworth-reintroduce-bill-to-help-millions-of-americans-living-with-long-covid">reintroduced</a>
 the Comprehensive Access to Resources and Education (CARE) for Long 
COVID Act in March with Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illl., and Ed Markey, 
D-Mass. Kaine has long COVID himself and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?c5062093/senator-tim-kaine-shares-experiences-long-covid">said</a> during his reintroduction of the bill that his symptoms included intense nerve tingling for three years.Kaine’s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/801/text?format=txt&amp;q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22actionDateChamber%3A%5C%22118%7CS%7C2023-03-15%5C%22+AND+%28billIsReserved%3A%5C%22N%5C%22+OR+type%3A%5C%22AMENDMENT%5C%22%29%22%5D%7D&amp;r=2&amp;s=1">bill</a>,
 which hasn’t made progress in the Senate since it was reintroduced, 
would authorize $30 million to be spent for each of the fiscal years 
from 2024 to 2026 to create and disseminate information about long COVID
 to employers on the rights of people with disabilities as well as 
educational materials for school administrators, school nurses, and 
other school staff on support services and students’ rights. It would also support long COVID 
research, interagency coordination to educate the public, and 
“recommendations to streamline the process of applying for benefits 
through the Social Security Administration.” The bill creates a grant 
program to support partnerships that help people with long COVID find 
health care services and legal assistance.&nbsp;“Millions of Americans have had to 
step back from work or school due to Long COVID. This hurts families, 
communities, and our economy as a whole,” Kaine said to States Newsroom 
in an email. “… I’ve heard from many Virginians who have been sidelined 
from work by their debilitating Long COVID symptoms about the barriers 
they face seeking accommodations in the workplace, in schools, and 
applying for Social Security disability benefits. Barriers applying for 
benefits include long applications, difficulties accessing in-person 
appointments, a lack of clear-cut eligibility criteria, long appeals 
times, and an overly complex system.”When asked how Seier pushes back when
 employers question the immediate costs involved in providing 
accommodations, she said employers can’t afford not to focus on them, as
 well as on measures preventing the spread of COVID, such as improving 
air quality.&nbsp;“‘I want you to do the mental math of
 thinking about how much it costs to hire someone to replace anyone on 
your team,’ and just helping them understand that a post-COVID illness 
can happen to anyone at any time after infection … I also let them know 
that aging is often the experience of the onset of disability, so if 
you’re investing in accommodations now you’re going to allow people to 
stay with you for a longer period.”Seier added that she doesn’t believe 
the government is doing enough to address long COVID or the spread of 
COVID-19 in general. She said she’d like to see more resources spent on 
making schools, workplaces, and places of public accommodation safer, 
such as improving ventilation systems.“I would like the government to do 
anything more than the bare minimum that they’re doing right now and I 
think ‘bare minimum’ is generous. I think we are witnessing the complete
 abandonment of the disability community at an alarming and inexcusable 
rate from all levels of government and elected leadership.”