PAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. —One person died in an accident just after 7p.m. Tuesday in Pawnee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Toyota passenger car driven by Barbara N.&nbsp;Westeman, 60, Syracuse, Kansas, was northbound on U.S. 183 eleven miles south of Rush Center.

The Toyota was passing a 2000 International semi driven by Nathaniel J. Dunlay, 40, Torrington, Wyoming, in a No Passing Zone. 

A southbound, non-contact vehicle, traveled into the west ditch to avoid a head-on collision with Toyota. 

Dunlay lost control of the semi as the vehicle traveled partially onto the east shoulder. He overcorrected, the semi crossed the roadway, entered the west ditch and came to rest on its top, facing southwest.

Dunlay was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Beckwith Mortuary. Westeman was not injured. Dunlay was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

PAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. —One person died in an accident just after 7p.m. Tuesday in Pawnee County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Toyota passenger car driven by Barbara N.&nbsp;Westeman, 60, Syracuse, Kansas, was northbound on U.S. 183 eleven miles south of Rush Center.The Toyota was passing a 2000 International semi driven by Nathaniel J. Dunlay, 40, Torrington, Wyoming, in a No Passing Zone. A southbound, non-contact vehicle, traveled into the west ditch to avoid a head-on collision with Toyota. Dunlay lost control of the semi as the vehicle traveled partially onto the east shoulder. He overcorrected, the semi crossed the roadway, entered the west ditch and came to rest on its top, facing southwest.Dunlay was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Beckwith Mortuary. Westeman was not injured. Dunlay was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Driver dead after semi swerves to avoid driver in no passing zone

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded employers to
 file the next quarterly payroll tax return by the approaching October 
31, 2022, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employment-tax-due-dates">due date</a>, and urged them to do so electronically.

While paper filing is available, the IRS strongly encourages 
e-filing. E-filing is the most secure, accurate method to file returns 
and saves taxpayers' time.

E-filing is easy with auto-populating forms and schedules with a 
step-by-step process that performs calculations for the employer.

The IRS acknowledges receipt of e-filed returns within 24 hours, 
giving taxpayers reassurance that their return was not misplaced or lost
 in the mail. E-file users also receive missing information alerts.

Two options to electronically file payroll tax returns

Employers can choose to self-file by purchasing IRS-approved <a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/94x-mef-providers">software</a>
 that meets their specific needs. There may be a fee to electronically 
file returns through the software, and the software will require a 
signature to e-file the returns.

Depending on the software they choose, taxpayers will have one or both of the following options:

The second option for employers is to hire a tax professional to
 prepare and file their employment tax returns. Taxpayers can use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/authorized-irs-e-file-provider-locator-service-for-tax-professionals">Authorized IRS e-file Provider Locator Service</a>&nbsp;to find a tax professional who can file on behalf of the business.

For more information on electronic filing of payroll tax returns, see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/e-file-employment-tax-forms">E-file Employment Tax Forms</a>&nbsp;page.

Employers can find information on the most recent tax relief provisions for taxpayers affected by <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">disaster</a> situations on IRS.gov. See&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/faqs-for-disaster-victims">FAQs for Disaster Victims&nbsp;</a>for information about the definition of an affected taxpayer.

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/around-the-nation">IRS News from Around the Nation</a>&nbsp;provides IRS news specific to local areas, primarily disaster relief or tax provisions that affect certain states.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded employers to
 file the next quarterly payroll tax return by the approaching October 
31, 2022, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employment-tax-due-dates">due date</a>, and urged them to do so electronically.While paper filing is available, the IRS strongly encourages 
e-filing. E-filing is the most secure, accurate method to file returns 
and saves taxpayers' time.E-filing is easy with auto-populating forms and schedules with a 
step-by-step process that performs calculations for the employer.The IRS acknowledges receipt of e-filed returns within 24 hours, 
giving taxpayers reassurance that their return was not misplaced or lost
 in the mail. E-file users also receive missing information alerts.<h2>Two options to electronically file payroll tax returns</h2>Employers can choose to self-file by purchasing IRS-approved <a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/94x-mef-providers">software</a>
 that meets their specific needs. There may be a fee to electronically 
file returns through the software, and the software will require a 
signature to e-file the returns.Depending on the software they choose, taxpayers will have one or both of the following options:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/use-an-on-line-signature-pin-to-e-file-employment-tax-forms">Apply for an online signature PIN</a></li><li>Scan and attach <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8453-emp">Form 8453-EMP, Employment Tax Declaration for an IRS e-file Return</a>, for the required signature.</li>
 </ul>The second option for employers is to hire a tax professional to
 prepare and file their employment tax returns. Taxpayers can use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/authorized-irs-e-file-provider-locator-service-for-tax-professionals">Authorized IRS e-file Provider Locator Service</a>&nbsp;to find a tax professional who can file on behalf of the business.For more information on electronic filing of payroll tax returns, see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/e-file-employment-tax-forms">E-file Employment Tax Forms</a>&nbsp;page.<h2>Tax relief in disaster situations</h2>Employers can find information on the most recent tax relief provisions for taxpayers affected by <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">disaster</a> situations on IRS.gov. See&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/faqs-for-disaster-victims">FAQs for Disaster Victims&nbsp;</a>for information about the definition of an affected taxpayer.<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/around-the-nation">IRS News from Around the Nation</a>&nbsp;provides IRS news specific to local areas, primarily disaster relief or tax provisions that affect certain states.

Employers urged to electronically file payroll tax returns by Oct. 31

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will announce the release of 15 million barrels of oil from the U.S. strategic reserve Wednesday as part of a response to recent production cuts announced by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/opec">OPEC+ nations</a>, and he will say more oil sales are possible this winter, as his administration rushes to be seen as pulling out all the stops ahead of next month’s midterm elections.

Biden will deliver remarks Wednesday to announce the drawdown from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-prices-ae5200310e3d3c0390d9e1cbb3c5a964">strategic reserve</a>, senior administration officials said Tuesday on the condition of anonymity to outline Biden's plans. It completes the release of 180 million barrels over six months authorized by Biden in March. That has sent the strategic reserve to its lowest level since 1984 in what the president called a “bridge” until domestic production could be increased. The reserve now contains roughly 400 million barrels of oil.

Biden will also open the door to additional releases this winter in an effort to bring prices down, but administration officials would not detail how much the president would be willing to tap and the conditions under which he would do so.

Biden will also say that the U.S. government will restock the strategic reserve when oil prices are at or lower than $67 to $72 a barrel, an offer that administration officials argue will increase domestic production by guaranteeing a baseline level of demand even if prices fall. Yet the president is also expected to renew his criticism of the profits reaped by oil companies — repeating a bet made this summer that public condemnation would matter more to these companies than shareholders’ focus on returns.

It marks the continuation of an about-face by Biden, who has tried to move the U.S. past fossil fuels to identify additional sources of energy to satisfy U.S. and global supply as a result of disruptions from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and production cuts announced by the Saudi Arabia-led oil cartel.

The prospective loss of 2 million barrels a day — 2% of global supply — has had the White House saying Saudi Arabia sided with Russian President Vladimir Putin and pledging there will be consequences for supply cuts that could prop up energy prices. The 15 million-barrel release would not cover even one full day's use of oil in the U.S., according to the Energy Information Administration.

The administration could make a decision on future releases a month from now, as it requires a month and a half for the strategic reserve to notify would-be buyers.

Biden had pledged to speak about his plans to reduce gasoline prices this week. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to say what policies Biden will discuss, telling reporters at Tuesday's briefing, “I will let the president speak for himself."

Jared Bernstein, a member of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, said a past release of oil from the U.S. strategic reserve contributed to a decline in prices at the pump this summer. That decline ended last month as prices began to rise again, though they've eased somewhat in the past week.

Bernstein suggested to Fox News Sunday that the reserve is large enough that the White House could tap it again.

“There are still 400 million barrels of oil in the strategic reserve — it is more than half full,” Bernstein said, adding that Biden had not yet made a final decision on releasing more barrels.

Biden still faces political headwinds because of gas prices. AAA reports that gas is averaging $3.87 a gallon, up from a month ago when falling prices at the pump suggested that the president and his fellow Democrats were faring better in surveys.

An analysis Monday by ClearView Energy Partners, an independent energy research firm based in Washington, suggested that two states that could decide control of the evenly split Senate — Nevada and Pennsylvania — are sensitive to energy prices. The analysis noted that gas prices over the past month rose above the national average in 18 states, which are home to 29 potentially “at risk” House seats.

Even if voters want cheaper gasoline, expected gains in supply are not materializing because of a weaker global economy. The U.S. government last week revised downward its forecasts, saying that domestic firms would produce 270,000 fewer barrels a day in 2023 than was forecast in September. Global production would be 600,000 barrels a day lower than forecast in September.

The hard math for Biden is that oil production has yet to return to its pre-pandemic level of roughly 13 million barrels a day. It's about a million barrels a day shy of that level. The oil industry would like the administration to open up more federal lands for drilling, approve pipeline construction and reverse its recent changes to raise corporate taxes. The administration counters that the oil industry is sitting on thousands of unused federal leases and says new permits would take years to produce oil with no impact on current gas prices. Environmental groups, meanwhile, have asked Biden to keep a campaign promise to block new drilling on federal lands.

Biden has resisted the policies favored by U.S. oil producers. Instead, he's sought to reduce prices by releasing oil from the U.S. reserve, shaming oil companies for their profits and calling on greater production from countries in OPEC+ that have different geopolitical interests, said Frank Macchiarola, senior vice president of policy, economics and regulatory affairs at the American Petroleum Institute.

“If they continue to offer the same old so-called solutions, they’ll continue to get the same old results,” Macchiarola said.

Because fossil fuels lead to carbon emissions, Biden has sought to move away from them entirely with a commitment to zero emissions by 2050. When discussing that commitment nearly a year ago after the G-20 leading rich and developing nations met in Rome, the president said he still wanted to also lower gas prices because at “$3.35 a gallon, it has profound impact on working-class families just to get back and forth to work."

Since Biden spoke of the pain of gas at $3.35 a gallon and his hopes to reduce costs, the price has risen another 15.5%.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will announce the release of 15 million barrels of oil from the U.S. strategic reserve Wednesday as part of a response to recent production cuts announced by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/opec">OPEC+ nations</a>, and he will say more oil sales are possible this winter, as his administration rushes to be seen as pulling out all the stops ahead of next month’s midterm elections.Biden will deliver remarks Wednesday to announce the drawdown from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-prices-ae5200310e3d3c0390d9e1cbb3c5a964">strategic reserve</a>, senior administration officials said Tuesday on the condition of anonymity to outline Biden's plans. It completes the release of 180 million barrels over six months authorized by Biden in March. That has sent the strategic reserve to its lowest level since 1984 in what the president called a “bridge” until domestic production could be increased. The reserve now contains roughly 400 million barrels of oil.Biden will also open the door to additional releases this winter in an effort to bring prices down, but administration officials would not detail how much the president would be willing to tap and the conditions under which he would do so.Biden will also say that the U.S. government will restock the strategic reserve when oil prices are at or lower than $67 to $72 a barrel, an offer that administration officials argue will increase domestic production by guaranteeing a baseline level of demand even if prices fall. Yet the president is also expected to renew his criticism of the profits reaped by oil companies — repeating a bet made this summer that public condemnation would matter more to these companies than shareholders’ focus on returns.It marks the continuation of an about-face by Biden, who has tried to move the U.S. past fossil fuels to identify additional sources of energy to satisfy U.S. and global supply as a result of disruptions from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and production cuts announced by the Saudi Arabia-led oil cartel.The prospective loss of 2 million barrels a day — 2% of global supply — has had the White House saying Saudi Arabia sided with Russian President Vladimir Putin and pledging there will be consequences for supply cuts that could prop up energy prices. The 15 million-barrel release would not cover even one full day's use of oil in the U.S., according to the Energy Information Administration.The administration could make a decision on future releases a month from now, as it requires a month and a half for the strategic reserve to notify would-be buyers.Biden had pledged to speak about his plans to reduce gasoline prices this week. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to say what policies Biden will discuss, telling reporters at Tuesday's briefing, “I will let the president speak for himself."Jared Bernstein, a member of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, said a past release of oil from the U.S. strategic reserve contributed to a decline in prices at the pump this summer. That decline ended last month as prices began to rise again, though they've eased somewhat in the past week.Bernstein suggested to Fox News Sunday that the reserve is large enough that the White House could tap it again.“There are still 400 million barrels of oil in the strategic reserve — it is more than half full,” Bernstein said, adding that Biden had not yet made a final decision on releasing more barrels.Biden still faces political headwinds because of gas prices. AAA reports that gas is averaging $3.87 a gallon, up from a month ago when falling prices at the pump suggested that the president and his fellow Democrats were faring better in surveys.An analysis Monday by ClearView Energy Partners, an independent energy research firm based in Washington, suggested that two states that could decide control of the evenly split Senate — Nevada and Pennsylvania — are sensitive to energy prices. The analysis noted that gas prices over the past month rose above the national average in 18 states, which are home to 29 potentially “at risk” House seats.Even if voters want cheaper gasoline, expected gains in supply are not materializing because of a weaker global economy. The U.S. government last week revised downward its forecasts, saying that domestic firms would produce 270,000 fewer barrels a day in 2023 than was forecast in September. Global production would be 600,000 barrels a day lower than forecast in September.The hard math for Biden is that oil production has yet to return to its pre-pandemic level of roughly 13 million barrels a day. It's about a million barrels a day shy of that level. The oil industry would like the administration to open up more federal lands for drilling, approve pipeline construction and reverse its recent changes to raise corporate taxes. The administration counters that the oil industry is sitting on thousands of unused federal leases and says new permits would take years to produce oil with no impact on current gas prices. Environmental groups, meanwhile, have asked Biden to keep a campaign promise to block new drilling on federal lands.Biden has resisted the policies favored by U.S. oil producers. Instead, he's sought to reduce prices by releasing oil from the U.S. reserve, shaming oil companies for their profits and calling on greater production from countries in OPEC+ that have different geopolitical interests, said Frank Macchiarola, senior vice president of policy, economics and regulatory affairs at the American Petroleum Institute.“If they continue to offer the same old so-called solutions, they’ll continue to get the same old results,” Macchiarola said.Because fossil fuels lead to carbon emissions, Biden has sought to move away from them entirely with a commitment to zero emissions by 2050. When discussing that commitment nearly a year ago after the G-20 leading rich and developing nations met in Rome, the president said he still wanted to also lower gas prices because at “$3.35 a gallon, it has profound impact on working-class families just to get back and forth to work."Since Biden spoke of the pain of gas at $3.35 a gallon and his hopes to reduce costs, the price has risen another 15.5%.

Biden to release 15M barrels from oil reserve, more possible

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A college wrestler from a small Wyoming school helped his teammate survive a grizzly mauling over the weekend by trying to wrestle the massive bear off his friend, eventually drawing a more brutal attack to himself.

The men are crediting their bonds as wrestling teammates at Northwest College in Cody, Wyoming, with helping them survive the attack Saturday evening southeast of Yellowstone National Park.

Brady Lowry of Cedar City, Utah, suffered a broken arm and puncture wounds in the initial attack after they surprised the bear while searching for antlers shed by elk and deer in the Shoshone National Forest.

“It shook me around and I didn't know what to do,” Lowry told&nbsp;<a href="https://ksltv.com/508792/college-student-from-utah-injured-in-grizzly-bear-attack/">KSL-TV</a>&nbsp;Monday in an interview from a hospital in Billings, Montana. “I curled up in a ball and it got me a few more times.”

His teammate — Kendell Cummings of Evanston, Wyoming — tried to stop the attack on Lowry by yelling, kicking and hitting the bear and pulling on its fur.

“I didn't want to lose my friend. It was bad,” Cummings told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.deseret.com/utah/2022/10/17/23408910/grizzly-bear-attacks-college-wrestlers">the Deseret News</a>. “There was a big ol' bear on top of him. I could have run and potentially lost a friend, or get him off and save him.”

The bear quickly turned its fury onto Cummings.

“It tackled me, chewed me up a bit, and then when it was done it wandered off, and I started calling out for Brady to make sure he was alright,” Cummings told KSL.

“The bear circled back around, and it got me again, chewed on me, and that's when it got my head and cheek,” Cummings said. “And then it went away again for whatever reason.”

Cummings pulled himself up and began looking for his teammates. In the meantime, Lowry was able to walk to an area with cell service and call 911.

Two other teammates — August Harrison of Vernal, Utah, and Orrin Jackson of Kersey, Colorado — helped the badly injured Cummings off the mountain, carrying him at times. Lowry was able to walk by himself.

Both ended up at Billings Clinic Hospital, where Cummings underwent surgery. Neither man was listed as a patient there on Tuesday, hospital spokesperson Zach Benoit said.

Other members of the wrestling team joined coach Jim Zeigler at the hospital to support their injured teammates.

“I'm proud of them, just the way they love each other, they way they protected each other, the way they stuck together,” Zeigler told the Deseret News. “I can't imagine the horror, the terror of it. I don't think they realized until after it was over how frightening it was. They just did what they did, helped each other survive and they lived to tell about it and I'm proud of them.”

Dallas Lowry credited Cummings with saving his son's life.

“That young man over there — Kendell is a hero,” Dallas Lowry told KSL. “Any normal person would have turned and ran, but these bonds that they build in college athletics last forever.”

“Me and (Cummings) would both be dead if it wasn’t all four of us — if it wasn’t for (Cummings) pulling the hair, if it wasn’t for (Harrison) running up and scaring the bear away and not coming back for more,” Brady Lowry said. “It was a team effort. We love each other. We’re going to be best friends for the rest of our lives because of this.”

Wyoming wildlife officials said they will not try to capture and relocate or kill the bear because it was a surprise attack and because there are many other bears in the area, making it difficult for them to determine which bear was involved.

<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625674135638.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSBILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A college wrestler from a small Wyoming school helped his teammate survive a grizzly mauling over the weekend by trying to wrestle the massive bear off his friend, eventually drawing a more brutal attack to himself.The men are crediting their bonds as wrestling teammates at Northwest College in Cody, Wyoming, with helping them survive the attack Saturday evening southeast of Yellowstone National Park.Brady Lowry of Cedar City, Utah, suffered a broken arm and puncture wounds in the initial attack after they surprised the bear while searching for antlers shed by elk and deer in the Shoshone National Forest.“It shook me around and I didn't know what to do,” Lowry told&nbsp;<a href="https://ksltv.com/508792/college-student-from-utah-injured-in-grizzly-bear-attack/">KSL-TV</a>&nbsp;Monday in an interview from a hospital in Billings, Montana. “I curled up in a ball and it got me a few more times.”His teammate — Kendell Cummings of Evanston, Wyoming — tried to stop the attack on Lowry by yelling, kicking and hitting the bear and pulling on its fur.“I didn't want to lose my friend. It was bad,” Cummings told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.deseret.com/utah/2022/10/17/23408910/grizzly-bear-attacks-college-wrestlers">the Deseret News</a>. “There was a big ol' bear on top of him. I could have run and potentially lost a friend, or get him off and save him.”The bear quickly turned its fury onto Cummings.“It tackled me, chewed me up a bit, and then when it was done it wandered off, and I started calling out for Brady to make sure he was alright,” Cummings told KSL.The bear was only gone briefly.“The bear circled back around, and it got me again, chewed on me, and that's when it got my head and cheek,” Cummings said. “And then it went away again for whatever reason.”Cummings pulled himself up and began looking for his teammates. In the meantime, Lowry was able to walk to an area with cell service and call 911.Two other teammates — August Harrison of Vernal, Utah, and Orrin Jackson of Kersey, Colorado — helped the badly injured Cummings off the mountain, carrying him at times. Lowry was able to walk by himself.Both ended up at Billings Clinic Hospital, where Cummings underwent surgery. Neither man was listed as a patient there on Tuesday, hospital spokesperson Zach Benoit said.Other members of the wrestling team joined coach Jim Zeigler at the hospital to support their injured teammates.“I'm proud of them, just the way they love each other, they way they protected each other, the way they stuck together,” Zeigler told the Deseret News. “I can't imagine the horror, the terror of it. I don't think they realized until after it was over how frightening it was. They just did what they did, helped each other survive and they lived to tell about it and I'm proud of them.”Dallas Lowry credited Cummings with saving his son's life.“That young man over there — Kendell is a hero,” Dallas Lowry told KSL. “Any normal person would have turned and ran, but these bonds that they build in college athletics last forever.”Brady Lowry echoed his father's remarks.“Me and (Cummings) would both be dead if it wasn’t all four of us — if it wasn’t for (Cummings) pulling the hair, if it wasn’t for (Harrison) running up and scaring the bear away and not coming back for more,” Brady Lowry said. “It was a team effort. We love each other. We’re going to be best friends for the rest of our lives because of this.”Wyoming wildlife officials said they will not try to capture and relocate or kill the bear because it was a surprise attack and because there are many other bears in the area, making it difficult for them to determine which bear was involved.<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a><figure>
 <img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/yHXSZc0xBXuTgl2pNcDIfdTdZ2oB6vJ6nKR6_TMI44NtBcelbBamAX2s9P4K4Zdl5HzEqH6uItXsM2E2ziqfPeW9lNqbMw3eD3fZk7-2OGbGOxGxdi_URnmk9HMpk2SqP9G0OnN7wWJkc8lgtXAirE3xeaJee1hjPaNc6X2_W2KRzB35lTpHjz4v" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

College wrestler saves teammate from grizzly bear mauling

<a href="https://theconversation.com/us/topics/curious-kids-us-74795">Curious Kids</a> is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to <a href="mailto:curiouskidsus@theconversation.com">curiouskidsus@theconversation.com</a>.

By ANNE GOODCHILD and RISHI VERMA <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-many-amazon-packages-get-delivered-each-year-187587">The Conversation</a>

It’s incredibly convenient to buy something online, right from your 
computer or phone. Whether it’s a high-end telescope or a resupply of 
toothpaste, the goods appear right at your doorstep. This kind of 
shopping is called “e-commerce” and it’s becoming more popular each 
year. In the U.S., it has grown from a mere 7% of retail purchases in 
2012 to <a href="https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2022/04/ecommerce-sales-surged-during-pandemic.html">19.6% of retail and US$791.7 billion in sales in 2020</a>.

For Amazon, the biggest player in e-commerce, this means delivering lots of packages. In 2021 the company shipped an <a href="https://www.mwpvl.com/html/amazon_com.html">estimated</a> 7.7 billion packages globally, based on its nearly <a href="https://ir.aboutamazon.com/quarterly-results/default.aspx">$470 billion in sales</a>.

If each of these packages were a 1-foot square box and they were 
stacked on top of one another, the pile would be six times higher than 
the distance from the Earth to the Moon. Laid end to end, they would 
wrap around the Earth 62 times.  

Back in the early 2010s, most things bought from Amazon.com were shipped using a third-party carrier like <a href="https://www.fedex.com/global/choose-location.html">FedEx</a> or <a href="https://www.ups.com/ship/guided/origin?tx=16615836120951417&amp;loc=en_US">UPS</a>. In 2014, however, Amazon began delivering packages itself with a service called “Fulfilled by Amazon.” That’s when those <a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/09/amazon-delivery-contractors-operates-with-little-oversight-report-finds/">signature blue delivery vans</a> started appearing on local streets.

Since then, Amazon’s logistics arm has grown from relying entirely on other carriers to shipping <a href="https://news.pb.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=6046">22% of all packages</a> in the U.S. in 2021. This is greater than FedEx’s 19% market share and within striking distance of UPS’s 24%. Amazon’s <a href="https://sell.amazon.com/fulfillment-by-amazon/fba-multi-channel">multichannel fulfillment service</a>
 allows other websites to use its warehousing and shipping services. So 
your order from Etsy or eBay could also be packed and shipped by Amazon.

To handle that many packages, shipping companies need an extensive 
network of manufacturers, vehicles and warehouses that can coordinate 
together. This is called the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-your-local-store-keeps-running-out-of-flour-toilet-paper-and-prescription-drugs-135786">supply chain</a>. If you’ve ever used a tracking number to follow a package, you’ve seen it in action.

People who make decisions about where to send vehicles and how to 
route packages are constantly trying to keep costs down while still 
getting packages to customers on time. The supply chain can do this very
 effectively, but it also has downsides. 

More delivery vehicles on the road produce more <a href="https://www.epa.gov/transportation-air-pollution-and-climate-change/carbon-pollution-transportation">greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change</a>, along with pollutants like <a href="https://www.epa.gov/transportation-air-pollution-and-climate-change/smog-soot-and-other-air-pollution-transportation">nitrogen oxides and particulate matter that are hazardous to breathe</a>. <a href="https://www.governing.com/archive/gov-delivery-trucks-traffic.html">Traffic congestion</a> is also a major concern in cities as delivery drivers try to find parking on busy streets.

Are there ways to balance the increasing number of deliveries while 
making freight safe, sustainable and fast? At the University of 
Washington’s <a href="https://www.supply-chain-transportation.uw.edu/about/sctl-center">Supply Chain Transportation and Logistics Center</a>,
 we work with companies like Amazon and UPS and others in the shipping, 
transportation and real estate sectors to answer questions like this. 
Here are some solutions for what we and our colleagues call the “last 
mile” – the last leg of a package’s long journey to your doorstep.

– Electrification: Transitioning from gasoline and diesel vehicles to
 fleets of electric or other zero-emission vehicles reduces pollution 
from delivery trucks. Tax credits and local policies, such as creating 
so-called <a href="https://depts.washington.edu/sctlctr/sites/default/files/research_pub_files/Urban_Delivery_Company_Needs_and_Preferences_for_GLZ.pdf">green loading zones</a> and zero-emission zones for clean vehicles, create incentives for companies to make the switch.

– Common carrier lockers: Buildings can install <a href="https://depts.washington.edu/sctlctr/sites/default/files/research_pub_files/Final-50-Feet-Common-Carrier-Locker-Pilot-Report.pdf">lockers</a>
 at central locations, such as busy transit stops, so that drivers can 
drop off packages without going all the way to your doorstep. When 
you’re ready to pick up your items, you just stop by at a time that’s 
convenient for you. This reduces both delivery truck mileage and the 
risk of packages being stolen off of porches.

– Cargo bicycles: Companies can take the delivery truck out of the equation and use <a href="http://depts.washington.edu/sctlctr/sites/default/files/research_pub_files/Cargo-E-Bike-Delivery-Report.pdf">electric cargo bicycles</a>
 to drop off smaller packages. In addition to being zero-emission, cargo
 bicycles are relatively inexpensive and easy to park, and they provide a
 healthier alternative for delivery workers.

To learn more about supply chains and delivery logistics, check with 
your town or city’s transportation department to see if they are testing
 or already have goods delivery programs or policies, like those in <a href="https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/ssi10-offhour.pdf">New York</a> and <a href="https://www.seattleneighborhoodhub.com/">Seattle</a>.
 And the next time you order something for delivery, consider your 
options for receiving it, such as walking or biking to a package locker 
or pickup point, or consolidating your items into a single delivery.

Package delivery can be both convenient and sustainable if companies 
keep evolving their supply chains, and everyone thinks about how they 
want delivery to work in their neighborhoods.

Anne Goodchild is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Director, Supply Chain Transportation and Logistics Center, University of 
Washington. Rishi Verma is a PhD Student in Industrial Engineering and Research Assistant, Urban Freight Lab, University of Washington.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666123069174.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://theconversation.com/us/topics/curious-kids-us-74795">Curious Kids</a> is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to <a href="mailto:curiouskidsus@theconversation.com">curiouskidsus@theconversation.com</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666123136951.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ANNE GOODCHILD and RISHI VERMA <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-many-amazon-packages-get-delivered-each-year-187587">The Conversation</a>It’s incredibly convenient to buy something online, right from your 
computer or phone. Whether it’s a high-end telescope or a resupply of 
toothpaste, the goods appear right at your doorstep. This kind of 
shopping is called “e-commerce” and it’s becoming more popular each 
year. In the U.S., it has grown from a mere 7% of retail purchases in 
2012 to <a href="https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2022/04/ecommerce-sales-surged-during-pandemic.html">19.6% of retail and US$791.7 billion in sales in 2020</a>. <h2>Amazon’s growing reach</h2>For Amazon, the biggest player in e-commerce, this means delivering lots of packages. In 2021 the company shipped an <a href="https://www.mwpvl.com/html/amazon_com.html">estimated</a> 7.7 billion packages globally, based on its nearly <a href="https://ir.aboutamazon.com/quarterly-results/default.aspx">$470 billion in sales</a>. If each of these packages were a 1-foot square box and they were 
stacked on top of one another, the pile would be six times higher than 
the distance from the Earth to the Moon. Laid end to end, they would 
wrap around the Earth 62 times. Back in the early 2010s, most things bought from Amazon.com were shipped using a third-party carrier like <a href="https://www.fedex.com/global/choose-location.html">FedEx</a> or <a href="https://www.ups.com/ship/guided/origin?tx=16615836120951417&amp;loc=en_US">UPS</a>. In 2014, however, Amazon began delivering packages itself with a service called “Fulfilled by Amazon.” That’s when those <a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/09/amazon-delivery-contractors-operates-with-little-oversight-report-finds/">signature blue delivery vans</a> started appearing on local streets.Since then, Amazon’s logistics arm has grown from relying entirely on other carriers to shipping <a href="https://news.pb.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=6046">22% of all packages</a> in the U.S. in 2021. This is greater than FedEx’s 19% market share and within striking distance of UPS’s 24%. Amazon’s <a href="https://sell.amazon.com/fulfillment-by-amazon/fba-multi-channel">multichannel fulfillment service</a>
 allows other websites to use its warehousing and shipping services. So 
your order from Etsy or eBay could also be packed and shipped by Amazon.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3K2RaQ63w28"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The supply chain</h2>To handle that many packages, shipping companies need an extensive 
network of manufacturers, vehicles and warehouses that can coordinate 
together. This is called the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-your-local-store-keeps-running-out-of-flour-toilet-paper-and-prescription-drugs-135786">supply chain</a>. If you’ve ever used a tracking number to follow a package, you’ve seen it in action. People who make decisions about where to send vehicles and how to 
route packages are constantly trying to keep costs down while still 
getting packages to customers on time. The supply chain can do this very
 effectively, but it also has downsides. More delivery vehicles on the road produce more <a href="https://www.epa.gov/transportation-air-pollution-and-climate-change/carbon-pollution-transportation">greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change</a>, along with pollutants like <a href="https://www.epa.gov/transportation-air-pollution-and-climate-change/smog-soot-and-other-air-pollution-transportation">nitrogen oxides and particulate matter that are hazardous to breathe</a>. <a href="https://www.governing.com/archive/gov-delivery-trucks-traffic.html">Traffic congestion</a> is also a major concern in cities as delivery drivers try to find parking on busy streets.<h2>Urban freight solutions</h2>Are there ways to balance the increasing number of deliveries while 
making freight safe, sustainable and fast? At the University of 
Washington’s <a href="https://www.supply-chain-transportation.uw.edu/about/sctl-center">Supply Chain Transportation and Logistics Center</a>,
 we work with companies like Amazon and UPS and others in the shipping, 
transportation and real estate sectors to answer questions like this. 
Here are some solutions for what we and our colleagues call the “last 
mile” – the last leg of a package’s long journey to your doorstep. – Electrification: Transitioning from gasoline and diesel vehicles to
 fleets of electric or other zero-emission vehicles reduces pollution 
from delivery trucks. Tax credits and local policies, such as creating 
so-called <a href="https://depts.washington.edu/sctlctr/sites/default/files/research_pub_files/Urban_Delivery_Company_Needs_and_Preferences_for_GLZ.pdf">green loading zones</a> and zero-emission zones for clean vehicles, create incentives for companies to make the switch. – Common carrier lockers: Buildings can install <a href="https://depts.washington.edu/sctlctr/sites/default/files/research_pub_files/Final-50-Feet-Common-Carrier-Locker-Pilot-Report.pdf">lockers</a>
 at central locations, such as busy transit stops, so that drivers can 
drop off packages without going all the way to your doorstep. When 
you’re ready to pick up your items, you just stop by at a time that’s 
convenient for you. This reduces both delivery truck mileage and the 
risk of packages being stolen off of porches.– Cargo bicycles: Companies can take the delivery truck out of the equation and use <a href="http://depts.washington.edu/sctlctr/sites/default/files/research_pub_files/Cargo-E-Bike-Delivery-Report.pdf">electric cargo bicycles</a>
 to drop off smaller packages. In addition to being zero-emission, cargo
 bicycles are relatively inexpensive and easy to park, and they provide a
 healthier alternative for delivery workers. <div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Our 2021 Seattle Neighborhood Delivery Hub pilot replaced 📦 delivery vans with e-cargo <a href="https://twitter.com/CoasterCycles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoasterCycles</a> bikes, and found that 🚴‍♂️ trips were faster and more direct than vans, halved <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VMT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VMT</a>, and reduced tailpipe <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/emissions?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#emissions</a> by 30% per delivery. ➡️ The report:<a href="https://t.co/Kjxime6SsI">https://t.co/Kjxime6SsI</a> <a href="https://t.co/v3pVsy3oAy">pic.twitter.com/v3pVsy3oAy</a>&mdash; UW Supply Chain Transportation &amp; Logistics (@SCTLCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SCTLCenter/status/1570100146246934537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div>To learn more about supply chains and delivery logistics, check with 
your town or city’s transportation department to see if they are testing
 or already have goods delivery programs or policies, like those in <a href="https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/ssi10-offhour.pdf">New York</a> and <a href="https://www.seattleneighborhoodhub.com/">Seattle</a>.
 And the next time you order something for delivery, consider your 
options for receiving it, such as walking or biking to a package locker 
or pickup point, or consolidating your items into a single delivery.Package delivery can be both convenient and sustainable if companies 
keep evolving their supply chains, and everyone thinks about how they 
want delivery to work in their neighborhoods.Anne Goodchild is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Director, Supply Chain Transportation and Logistics Center, University of 
Washington. Rishi Verma is a PhD Student in Industrial Engineering and Research Assistant, Urban Freight Lab, University of Washington.<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/187587/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>

🎥 How many Amazon packages get delivered each year?

WASHINGTON (AP) — The news that 70 million people will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-cola-increase-8778d4aa9da4102edc79762ea622196f">see an 8.7% boost in their Social Security checks</a>&nbsp;next year came just weeks before Election Day, but it is unlikely to give Democrats the edge they are desperately seeking at the polls.

In fact, the promise of bigger payments could call even more attention to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-business-prices-consumer-aed3121e4d5e3ec37cf1591995f13ce0">surging prices</a>&nbsp;that have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-consumer-spending-prices-87798a21acc765400c98ff8b07fae96a">inflicting pain on households</a>&nbsp;— and the reason behind Thursday's announcement of the the program's largest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/cola/">cost-of-living increase</a>&nbsp;in four decades.

“It’s going to bring more money to people’s pockets, but it primes people to think about high inflation,” said Marty Cohen, a James Madison University political science professor.

“This is being done because inflation is bad, and that’s the reason for the large adjustment. It’s not an issue that Democrats want on the front burner for voters.”

Voters have ranked the economy as a higher priority than Social Security,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2022/02/16/publics-top-priority-for-2022-strengthening-the-nations-economy/">with 71% of U.S. adults telling Pew Research Center in January that strengthening the economy was a top priority</a>&nbsp;for the president and Congress versus 57% saying the same about ensuring the Social Security system is financially sound.

The 8.7% boost in benefits brought a one-word response from 76-year-old retiree and genealogy hobbyist Paul Phelps: “Ouch.”

In Phelps’ mind, the increase is so large because inflation is so bad.

Rising costs will not have any bearing on how he votes in the Nov. 8 election. Neither will the boost he will see in his monthly checks beginning next year.

“No, it’s a good example of the government running as the government should,” said Phelps, of Alexandria, Virginia.

Mary Browning, a 69-year-old Social Security recipient in Minneapolis, said she credits Democrats and the Biden administration entirely for the revved up checks she will get starting in January. But that did not change how the self-described “die-hard progressive” she plans to vote.

“I don’t think that people understand how difficult it is to get these changes through. And Biden is getting them through,” Browning said.

Yet Biden and his administration played no role in the calculation of the cost-of-living adjustment. It is arrived at by a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-cola-increase-what-to-know-a36405a429b647e32e8fe6ac51f9e6e6">formula based on inflation.</a>

The White House messaging on Social Security highlights how older people will save hundreds of dollars next year thanks to the 8.7% Social Security increase, a roughly $5 monthly decrease in Medicare premiums and a new law -- which Republicans unanimously opposed -- that that will cut some prescription drug prices for Medicare recipients.

“Seniors are gonna get ahead of inflation next year,” President Joe Biden said Thursday. “For the first time in 10 years, their Social Security checks will go up while their Medicare premiums go down.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-economy-only-on-ap-65540cfa0f493ca94afd1fefd69df33e">A new poll</a>&nbsp;by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that only 36% of people in the United States approve of Biden's handling of the economy. But they are not putting all the blame for inflation on him, with 55% saying higher than usual prices are mostly because of factors outside Biden’s control and 44% saying that’s happening mostly because of Biden’s policies.

Republicans have been quick to point out other ways costs are up for older people, highlighting private retirement plan losses over the last year, high gas prices and rising costs at the grocery store.

“Seniors are having to delay their retirement, retirees on fixed incomes are struggling, retirement funds are plummeting and Biden and Democrats have only themselves to blame,” said Republican National Committee spokeswoman Emma Vaughn.

Some Democratic candidates have put Social Security at the center of campaign ads attacking their opponents. In some cases, the ads have made misleading suggestions about Republican plans for Social Security, echoing recent claims from Biden that Social Security will be “on the chopping block” under a Republican-controlled Senate.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., proposed plan earlier this year that would require Congress to come up with a proposal to adequately fund Social Security and Medicare or consider phasing them out.

That idea has won little public support from Republican lawmakers. It will “not be part of our agenda,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

To Jaime Harrison, the Democratic National Committee chair, Republicans “want to cut Social Security and they’re openly plotting to raise prescription drug prices on millions of seniors.”

Nowhere has Social Security become more of a campaign issue than the Senate race in Wisconsin, where Democrat Mandela Barnes, the lieutenant governor, is challenging Republican incumbent Ron Johnson.

Johnson, one of a few politicians who expressed support for Scott’s plan, has repeatedly criticized Social Security over the years, calling it a “Ponzi scheme.” He has proposed moving Social Security from mandatory spending into the discretionary fund, which would mean the money spent on the program would not be automatic and require Congress to approve the funds every year.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-wisconsin-campaigns-congress-9642479425ea1b0039817333d6faac28">During their debate</a>&nbsp;Thursday, Johnson defended his comments on Social Security.

“I never said I wanted to cut or put Social Security on the chopping block,” Johnson said.

“He’s coming for your retirement,” he said.

It is unlikely that with such meager support to overhaul Social Security that anything will be done in the coming years, said Cohen, the James Madison political scientist. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2019/03/21/retirement-social-security-and-long-term-care/">program is also extremely popular, with 74% of U.S. adults saying in 2019</a>&nbsp;that the program’s benefits should not be reduced in any way.

“Saying is one thing, and getting things done is another,” Cohen said. “It’s a program that’s broadly popular, for the reason that it benefits people. It’s somewhat untouchable.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The news that 70 million people will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-cola-increase-8778d4aa9da4102edc79762ea622196f">see an 8.7% boost in their Social Security checks</a>&nbsp;next year came just weeks before Election Day, but it is unlikely to give Democrats the edge they are desperately seeking at the polls.In fact, the promise of bigger payments could call even more attention to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-business-prices-consumer-aed3121e4d5e3ec37cf1591995f13ce0">surging prices</a>&nbsp;that have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-consumer-spending-prices-87798a21acc765400c98ff8b07fae96a">inflicting pain on households</a>&nbsp;— and the reason behind Thursday's announcement of the the program's largest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/cola/">cost-of-living increase</a>&nbsp;in four decades.“It’s going to bring more money to people’s pockets, but it primes people to think about high inflation,” said Marty Cohen, a James Madison University political science professor.“This is being done because inflation is bad, and that’s the reason for the large adjustment. It’s not an issue that Democrats want on the front burner for voters.”Voters have ranked the economy as a higher priority than Social Security,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2022/02/16/publics-top-priority-for-2022-strengthening-the-nations-economy/">with 71% of U.S. adults telling Pew Research Center in January that strengthening the economy was a top priority</a>&nbsp;for the president and Congress versus 57% saying the same about ensuring the Social Security system is financially sound.The 8.7% boost in benefits brought a one-word response from 76-year-old retiree and genealogy hobbyist Paul Phelps: “Ouch.”In Phelps’ mind, the increase is so large because inflation is so bad.Rising costs will not have any bearing on how he votes in the Nov. 8 election. Neither will the boost he will see in his monthly checks beginning next year.“No, it’s a good example of the government running as the government should,” said Phelps, of Alexandria, Virginia.Mary Browning, a 69-year-old Social Security recipient in Minneapolis, said she credits Democrats and the Biden administration entirely for the revved up checks she will get starting in January. But that did not change how the self-described “die-hard progressive” she plans to vote.“I don’t think that people understand how difficult it is to get these changes through. And Biden is getting them through,” Browning said.Yet Biden and his administration played no role in the calculation of the cost-of-living adjustment. It is arrived at by a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-cola-increase-what-to-know-a36405a429b647e32e8fe6ac51f9e6e6">formula based on inflation.</a>The White House messaging on Social Security highlights how older people will save hundreds of dollars next year thanks to the 8.7% Social Security increase, a roughly $5 monthly decrease in Medicare premiums and a new law -- which Republicans unanimously opposed -- that that will cut some prescription drug prices for Medicare recipients.“Seniors are gonna get ahead of inflation next year,” President Joe Biden said Thursday. “For the first time in 10 years, their Social Security checks will go up while their Medicare premiums go down.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-economy-only-on-ap-65540cfa0f493ca94afd1fefd69df33e">A new poll</a>&nbsp;by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that only 36% of people in the United States approve of Biden's handling of the economy. But they are not putting all the blame for inflation on him, with 55% saying higher than usual prices are mostly because of factors outside Biden’s control and 44% saying that’s happening mostly because of Biden’s policies.Republicans have been quick to point out other ways costs are up for older people, highlighting private retirement plan losses over the last year, high gas prices and rising costs at the grocery store.“Seniors are having to delay their retirement, retirees on fixed incomes are struggling, retirement funds are plummeting and Biden and Democrats have only themselves to blame,” said Republican National Committee spokeswoman Emma Vaughn.Some Democratic candidates have put Social Security at the center of campaign ads attacking their opponents. In some cases, the ads have made misleading suggestions about Republican plans for Social Security, echoing recent claims from Biden that Social Security will be “on the chopping block” under a Republican-controlled Senate.Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., proposed plan earlier this year that would require Congress to come up with a proposal to adequately fund Social Security and Medicare or consider phasing them out.That idea has won little public support from Republican lawmakers. It will “not be part of our agenda,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.To Jaime Harrison, the Democratic National Committee chair, Republicans “want to cut Social Security and they’re openly plotting to raise prescription drug prices on millions of seniors.”Nowhere has Social Security become more of a campaign issue than the Senate race in Wisconsin, where Democrat Mandela Barnes, the lieutenant governor, is challenging Republican incumbent Ron Johnson.Johnson, one of a few politicians who expressed support for Scott’s plan, has repeatedly criticized Social Security over the years, calling it a “Ponzi scheme.” He has proposed moving Social Security from mandatory spending into the discretionary fund, which would mean the money spent on the program would not be automatic and require Congress to approve the funds every year.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-wisconsin-campaigns-congress-9642479425ea1b0039817333d6faac28">During their debate</a>&nbsp;Thursday, Johnson defended his comments on Social Security.“I never said I wanted to cut or put Social Security on the chopping block,” Johnson said.Barnes pushed back.“He’s coming for your retirement,” he said.It is unlikely that with such meager support to overhaul Social Security that anything will be done in the coming years, said Cohen, the James Madison political scientist. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2019/03/21/retirement-social-security-and-long-term-care/">program is also extremely popular, with 74% of U.S. adults saying in 2019</a>&nbsp;that the program’s benefits should not be reduced in any way.“Saying is one thing, and getting things done is another,” Cohen said. “It’s a program that’s broadly popular, for the reason that it benefits people. It’s somewhat untouchable.”___

Social Security boost seen as unlikely to help Dems at polls

WASHINGTON — The
 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Peloton are jointly 
announcing that consumers now have more time to get a refund for the 
recalled Peloton Tread+ treadmill. Peloton Interactive Inc. has agreed 
to extend the full refund period for these treadmills for one additional
 year to November 6, 2023.&nbsp;

On May 5, 2021, CPSC and Peloton announced the <a href="https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Peloton-Recalls-Tread-Plus-Treadmills-After-One-Child-Died-and-More-than-70-Incidents-Reported">recall</a>
 of 125,000 Tread+ treadmills following the death of a child and dozens 
of incidents. The hazard with the treadmills is that adult users, 
children, pets, and objects can be pulled underneath the rear roller, 
posing a risk of injury or death. To date, in addition to the reported 
death, Peloton has received 335 incident reports, including 87 reports 
of injuries to consumers.

Consumers should immediately stop
 using the recalled Tread+ treadmills and view the link below to the 
recall for more information on how to take advantage of the refund offer
 or offer to move the Tread+ free of charge to another room in the 
consumer’s house. Peloton is working on a rear guard that would address 
the hazard at the back of the treadmill but no repair has been approved 
to date.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The treadmill was launched as the
 Peloton Tread in 2018 but renamed Tread+ in September 2020. Consumers 
returning units after November 6, 2023, will receive a prorated refund. 

CPSCWASHINGTON — The
 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Peloton are jointly 
announcing that consumers now have more time to get a refund for the 
recalled Peloton Tread+ treadmill. Peloton Interactive Inc. has agreed 
to extend the full refund period for these treadmills for one additional
 year to November 6, 2023.&nbsp;On May 5, 2021, CPSC and Peloton announced the <a href="https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Peloton-Recalls-Tread-Plus-Treadmills-After-One-Child-Died-and-More-than-70-Incidents-Reported">recall</a>
 of 125,000 Tread+ treadmills following the death of a child and dozens 
of incidents. The hazard with the treadmills is that adult users, 
children, pets, and objects can be pulled underneath the rear roller, 
posing a risk of injury or death. To date, in addition to the reported 
death, Peloton has received 335 incident reports, including 87 reports 
of injuries to consumers.Consumers should immediately stop
 using the recalled Tread+ treadmills and view the link below to the 
recall for more information on how to take advantage of the refund offer
 or offer to move the Tread+ free of charge to another room in the 
consumer’s house. Peloton is working on a rear guard that would address 
the hazard at the back of the treadmill but no repair has been approved 
to date.&nbsp;&nbsp;The treadmill was launched as the
 Peloton Tread in 2018 but renamed Tread+ in September 2020. Consumers 
returning units after November 6, 2023, will receive a prorated refund.

Peloton extends full rebate for recalled Tread+ another year

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced the tax 
year 2023 annual inflation adjustments for more than 60 tax provisions, 
including the tax rate schedules and other tax changes. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-22-38.pdf">Revenue Procedure 2022-38</a>PDF provides details about these annual adjustments.

The Inflation Reduction Act extended certain energy related tax 
breaks and indexed for inflation the energy efficient commercial 
buildings deduction beginning with tax year 2023. For tax year 2023, the
 applicable dollar value used to determine the maximum allowance of the 
deduction is $0.54 increased (but not above $1.07) by $0.02 for each 
percentage point by which the total annual energy and power costs for 
the building are certified to be reduced by a percentage greater than 25
 percent. The applicable dollar value used to determine the increased 
deduction amount for certain property is $2.68 increased (but not above 
$5.36) by $0.11 for each percentage point by which the total annual 
energy and power costs for the building are certified to be reduced by a
 percentage greater than 25 percent.

Highlights of changes in Revenue Procedure 2021-38:

The tax year 2023 adjustments described below generally apply to tax returns filed in 2024.

The tax items for tax year 2023 of greatest interest to most taxpayers include the following dollar amounts:

By statute, certain items that were indexed for inflation in the past are currently not adjusted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced the tax 
year 2023 annual inflation adjustments for more than 60 tax provisions, 
including the tax rate schedules and other tax changes. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-22-38.pdf">Revenue Procedure 2022-38</a>PDF provides details about these annual adjustments.<h2>New for 2023</h2>The Inflation Reduction Act extended certain energy related tax 
breaks and indexed for inflation the energy efficient commercial 
buildings deduction beginning with tax year 2023. For tax year 2023, the
 applicable dollar value used to determine the maximum allowance of the 
deduction is $0.54 increased (but not above $1.07) by $0.02 for each 
percentage point by which the total annual energy and power costs for 
the building are certified to be reduced by a percentage greater than 25
 percent. The applicable dollar value used to determine the increased 
deduction amount for certain property is $2.68 increased (but not above 
$5.36) by $0.11 for each percentage point by which the total annual 
energy and power costs for the building are certified to be reduced by a
 percentage greater than 25 percent.<h2>Highlights of changes in Revenue Procedure 2021-38:</h2>The tax year 2023 adjustments described below generally apply to tax returns filed in 2024.The tax items for tax year 2023 of greatest interest to most taxpayers include the following dollar amounts:<ul>
 <li>The standard deduction for married couples filing jointly for 
tax year 2023 rises to $27,700 up $1,800 from the prior year. For single
 taxpayers and married individuals filing separately, the standard 
deduction rises to $13,850 for 2023, up $900, and for heads of 
households, the standard deduction will be $20,800 for tax year 2023, up
 $1,400 from the amount for tax year 2022. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>Marginal Rates: For tax year 2023, the top tax 
rate remains 37% for individual single taxpayers with incomes greater 
than $578,125 ($693,750 for married couples filing jointly).
	The other rates are:35% for incomes over $231,250 ($462,500 for married couples filing jointly); 
	32% for incomes over $182,100 ($364,200 for married couples filing jointly); 
	24% for incomes over $95,375 ($190,750 for married couples filing jointly); 
	22% for incomes over $44,725 ($89,450 for married couples filing jointly); 
	12% for incomes over $11,000 ($22,000 for married couples filing jointly).The lowest rate is 10% for incomes of single individuals with 
incomes of $11,000 or less ($22,000 for married couples filing jointly). 
	&nbsp;
	</li><li>The Alternative Minimum Tax exemption amount for tax year 2023 is 
$81,300 and begins to phase out at $578,150 ($126,500 for married 
couples filing jointly for whom the exemption begins to phase out at 
$1,156,300). The 2022 exemption amount was $75,900 and began to phase 
out at $539,900 ($118,100 for married couples filing jointly for whom 
the exemption began to phase out at $1,079,800). 
	&nbsp;</li><li>The tax year 2023 maximum Earned Income Tax Credit amount is $7,430
 for qualifying taxpayers who have three or more qualifying children, up
 from $6,935 for tax year 2022. The revenue procedure contains a table 
providing maximum EITC amount for other categories, income thresholds 
and phase-outs. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>For tax year 2023, the monthly limitation for the qualified 
transportation fringe benefit and the monthly limitation for qualified 
parking increases to $300, up $20 from the limit for 2022. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>For the taxable years beginning in 2023, the dollar limitation for 
employee salary reductions for contributions to health flexible spending
 arrangements increases to $3,050. For cafeteria plans that permit the 
carryover of unused amounts, the maximum carryover amount is $610, an 
increase of $40 from taxable years beginning in 2022. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>For tax year 2023, participants who have self-only coverage in a 
Medical Savings Account, the plan must have an annual deductible that is
 not less than $2,650, up $200 from tax year 2022; but not more than 
$3,950, an increase of $250 from tax year 2022. For self-only coverage, 
the maximum out-of-pocket expense amount is $5,300, up $350 from 2022. 
For tax year 2023, for family coverage, the annual deductible is not 
less than $5,300, up from $4,950 for 2022; however, the deductible 
cannot be more than $7,900, up $500 from the limit for tax year 2022. 
For family coverage, the out-of-pocket expense limit is $9,650 for tax 
year 2023, an increase of $600 from tax year 2022. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>For tax year 2023, the foreign earned income exclusion is $120,000 up from $112,000 for tax year 2022. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>Estates of decedents who die during 2023 have a basic exclusion 
amount of $12,920,000, up from a total of $12,060,000 for estates of 
decedents who died in 2022. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>The annual exclusion for gifts increases to $17,000 for calendar year 2023, up from $16,000 for calendar year 2021. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>The maximum credit allowed for adoptions for tax year 2023 is the 
amount of qualified adoption expenses up to $15,950, up from $14,890 for
 2022</li>
 </ul><h2>Items unaffected by indexing:</h2>By statute, certain items that were indexed for inflation in the past are currently not adjusted.<ul>
 <li>The personal exemption for tax year 2023 remains at 0, as it was
 for 2022, this elimination of the personal exemption was a provision in
 the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.&nbsp; 
	&nbsp;</li><li>For 2023, as in 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018, there is no 
limitation on itemized deductions, as that limitation was eliminated by 
the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>The modified adjusted gross income amount used by joint filers to 
determine the reduction in the Lifetime Learning Credit provided in 
§&nbsp;25A(d)(2) is not adjusted for inflation for taxable years beginning 
after December 31, 2020. The Lifetime Learning Credit is phased out for 
taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income in excess of $80,000 
($160,000 for joint returns).</li>
 </ul>

IRS provides inflation adjustments, top rates for tax year 2023

By ARIANA FIGUEROA <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/the-student-debt-relief-application-is-live-heres-what-you-need-to-know/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced Monday that student loan borrowers can begin to apply for debt relief through <a target="_blank" href="https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief/application">a new online application.</a>

Biden said the application is easy and fast. It will allow every borrower with an income of $125,000 or less ($250,000 for married couples) to have up to $10,000 in <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/08/24/biden-to-wipe-out-10000-in-student-loan-debt-for-many-borrowers/">debt forgiven</a>, or $20,000 forgiven for those with Pell Grants. Those income levels have to have been during 2020 or 2021.

No documents need to be uploaded with the application, Biden said.

Late Friday, <a target="_blank" href="https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief/application">a beta version</a>
 of the student loan forgiveness application was released by the 
Department of Education. Biden said 8 million borrowers were able to 
fill out the application “without a glitch.”&nbsp;

The White House <a target="_blank" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/08/24/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-student-loan-relief-for-borrowers-who-need-it-most/">estimated</a> that 43 million borrowers would qualify for some relief.

Those who qualify have until December 31, 2023, to fill out the application.

The president called out Republicans 
for attacking the debt relief program, as well as Republican-led states 
that filed a lawsuit to prevent borrowers from applying for financial 
relief. <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/ag-joins-five-others-in-suing-the-biden-administration-to-stop-student-debt-cancellation/">The suit argues</a>&nbsp;thatCongress did not approve the debt cancellation and that the Department of Education is misusing its emergency authority.

“Their outrage is wrong and 
hypocritical,” Biden said. “I don’t want to hear from Republican 
officials who had hundreds of thousands of dollars, even millions of 
dollars, in pandemic relief loans — PPP loans — who now attack working 
class Americans for getting relief.”&nbsp;

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel
 Cardona joined the president for the announcement. Cardona said the 
department is working to also include borrowers with private loans to 
qualify for debt relief.

“We are working on pathways there to 
support those,” Cardona said. “But we’re moving as quickly as possible 
to provide relief to as many people as possible.”

The administration quietly dropped a 
section of borrowers — nearly 800,000 — from qualifying for the student 
loan forgiveness plan if they have loans administered through the now-defunct <a target="_blank" href="https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/what-types-of-loans-fall-under-ffel-program">Federal Family Education Loan program</a>, or <a target="_blank" href="https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/perkins">Perkins loans</a>, following a lawsuit from half-a-dozen Republican-led states.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/missouri-judge-hears-lawsuit-challenging-biden-student-debt-relief-plan">A Missouri judge</a>
 will issue a decision on the lawsuit filed by attorneys general from 
Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas, Kansas and South Carolina and on behalf of
 Iowa’s governor.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/new-lawsuit-from-small-business-group-seeks-to-block-biden-student-debt-relief-plan">Another lawsuit</a>,
 filed in Texas, seeks to block the program, arguing that the Biden 
administration did not ask for public comment before moving forward with
 its action&nbsp;

​​<a target="_blank" href="https://educationdata.org/how-many-people-have-student-loans">More than 43 million </a>Americans have student loan debt, and the Federal Reserve <a target="_blank" href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SLOAS">estimates</a> that the total U.S. student loan debt is more than $1.75 trillion.

Biden also warned of a scam in which 
callers will pretend to be from the federal government, asking about 
assisting a borrower with student loan debt.

“Let’s be clear,” Biden said. “Hang up. You never have to pay for any federal help from the student loan program.”&nbsp;

He said student loan repayment, which has been paused since early 2020, will resume in January.&nbsp;

Those borrowers who continued to pay off their loans during the student loan freeze in the early stages of the pandemic <a target="_blank" href="https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/covid-19/payment-pause-zero-interest">are allowed to get reimbursed</a> for payments made beginning March 13, 2020, by<a target="_blank" href="https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/servicers"> contacting their loan servicers</a> to request a refund.

By ARIANA FIGUEROA <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/the-student-debt-relief-application-is-live-heres-what-you-need-to-know/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced Monday that student loan borrowers can begin to apply for debt relief through <a target="_blank" href="https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief/application">a new online application.</a>Biden said the application is easy and fast. It will allow every borrower with an income of $125,000 or less ($250,000 for married couples) to have up to $10,000 in <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/08/24/biden-to-wipe-out-10000-in-student-loan-debt-for-many-borrowers/">debt forgiven</a>, or $20,000 forgiven for those with Pell Grants. Those income levels have to have been during 2020 or 2021.No documents need to be uploaded with the application, Biden said.Late Friday, <a target="_blank" href="https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief/application">a beta version</a>
 of the student loan forgiveness application was released by the 
Department of Education. Biden said 8 million borrowers were able to 
fill out the application “without a glitch.”&nbsp;The White House <a target="_blank" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/08/24/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-student-loan-relief-for-borrowers-who-need-it-most/">estimated</a> that 43 million borrowers would qualify for some relief.Those who qualify have until December 31, 2023, to fill out the application.<h2>GOP lawsuit</h2>The president called out Republicans 
for attacking the debt relief program, as well as Republican-led states 
that filed a lawsuit to prevent borrowers from applying for financial 
relief. <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/ag-joins-five-others-in-suing-the-biden-administration-to-stop-student-debt-cancellation/">The suit argues</a>&nbsp;thatCongress did not approve the debt cancellation and that the Department of Education is misusing its emergency authority.“Their outrage is wrong and 
hypocritical,” Biden said. “I don’t want to hear from Republican 
officials who had hundreds of thousands of dollars, even millions of 
dollars, in pandemic relief loans — PPP loans — who now attack working 
class Americans for getting relief.”&nbsp;U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel
 Cardona joined the president for the announcement. Cardona said the 
department is working to also include borrowers with private loans to 
qualify for debt relief.“We are working on pathways there to 
support those,” Cardona said. “But we’re moving as quickly as possible 
to provide relief to as many people as possible.”The administration quietly dropped a 
section of borrowers — nearly 800,000 — from qualifying for the student 
loan forgiveness plan if they have loans administered through the now-defunct <a target="_blank" href="https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/what-types-of-loans-fall-under-ffel-program">Federal Family Education Loan program</a>, or <a target="_blank" href="https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/perkins">Perkins loans</a>, following a lawsuit from half-a-dozen Republican-led states.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/missouri-judge-hears-lawsuit-challenging-biden-student-debt-relief-plan">A Missouri judge</a>
 will issue a decision on the lawsuit filed by attorneys general from 
Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas, Kansas and South Carolina and on behalf of
 Iowa’s governor.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/new-lawsuit-from-small-business-group-seeks-to-block-biden-student-debt-relief-plan">Another lawsuit</a>,
 filed in Texas, seeks to block the program, arguing that the Biden 
administration did not ask for public comment before moving forward with
 its action&nbsp;​​<a target="_blank" href="https://educationdata.org/how-many-people-have-student-loans">More than 43 million </a>Americans have student loan debt, and the Federal Reserve <a target="_blank" href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SLOAS">estimates</a> that the total U.S. student loan debt is more than $1.75 trillion.<h2>Watch out for scams</h2>Biden also warned of a scam in which 
callers will pretend to be from the federal government, asking about 
assisting a borrower with student loan debt.“Let’s be clear,” Biden said. “Hang up. You never have to pay for any federal help from the student loan program.”&nbsp;He said student loan repayment, which has been paused since early 2020, will resume in January.&nbsp;Those borrowers who continued to pay off their loans during the student loan freeze in the early stages of the pandemic <a target="_blank" href="https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/covid-19/payment-pause-zero-interest">are allowed to get reimbursed</a> for payments made beginning March 13, 2020, by<a target="_blank" href="https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/servicers"> contacting their loan servicers</a> to request a refund.

Student debt relief application is live: Here’s what you need to know

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.–Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on multiple charges after a traffic stop.

Just before 4p.m. Friday, a sheriff's deputy stopped a 2011 Dodge Dakota pickup truck near 142nd and U.S. Highway 75 for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 The traffic stop led to the discovery of contraband in the vehicle.  The driver, Sandra Groves, 64, of Topeka, was arrested on requested charges of unlawful possession of a prescription drugs, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of THC, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended and transporting an open container. 

Groves is being held in the Jackson County Jail. The Kansas Highway Patrol assisted with the arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666003498732.png" alt="Groves-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Groves-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.–Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on multiple charges after a traffic stop.Just before 4p.m. Friday, a sheriff's deputy stopped a 2011 Dodge Dakota pickup truck near 142nd and U.S. Highway 75 for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. The traffic stop led to the discovery of contraband in the vehicle. The driver, Sandra Groves, 64, of Topeka, was arrested on requested charges of unlawful possession of a prescription drugs, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of THC, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended and transporting an open container. Groves is being held in the Jackson County Jail. The Kansas Highway Patrol assisted with the arrest.

64-year-old Kan. woman accused of numerous drug crimes

Link that prompted the call was removed from department website in June

By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/10/17/five-state-senators-call-for-investigation-of-nebraska-department-of-education/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — 
Three weeks before an election in which concerns about education could 
motivate Republican turnout, five conservative state senators called 
Monday for a legislative investigation into the Nebraska Department of 
Education.&nbsp;

The 
senators said one of their staffers found a link in June to a New York 
University center for culturally responsive education on “Launch 
Nebraska,” a state Department of Education website built for schools 
reopening during the pandemic. Two or three clicks into the NYU website,
 they found a document defending critical race theory and discussing 
racial justice.

State Sens.
 Dave Murman of Glenvil, Steve Erdman of Bayard, Robert Clements of 
Elmwood, Steve Halloran of Hastings and Myron Dorn of Adams said they 
want the Legislature’s Education Committee to investigate who shared the
 link and what else was shared. They also said they want to know who 
might have promoted a new sex education curriculum.

“After a year of operation, ‘Launch Nebraska’ posted left-wing agenda
 items completely foreign to Nebraska public schools before the 
pandemic…,” Murman said. “Now we’ve uncovered documents that show 
unequivocally, unequivocally that the department has also been promoting
 critical race theory.”

Erdman said the department needs to be reined in.

Nebraska 
Department of Education spokesman David Jespersen said the agency 
removed the link to the NYU center back in June, after Gov. Pete 
Ricketts’ office raised concerns about material found elsewhere on the 
NYU site. Jespersen said the department found no evidence that teachers 
or schools used the documents.

He said the department “looked into” the governor’s concerns “and we 
agreed.” Governor’s Office spokeswoman Alex Reuss on Monday confirmed 
the summer conversation.

“Yes that’s
 true,” Reuss said. “When the Governor’s Office became aware of the 
information contained on the site that link led to, we contacted the 
Commissioner to let him know. From there, it appears they removed that 
link as a resource.”

The timing of the push for an investigation fits a nationally and 
locally organized GOP political effort to energize conservative parents.
 Much of the effort is modeled after the purple-state success of 
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, whose 2021 campaign rode similar questions
 about education to victory.

Critical 
race theorists essentially believe that race in America must be viewed 
through a lens that is conscious of color, not blind to it. Academics 
have described it as a way of analyzing, explaining and realistically 
addressing the persistence of racism in economic, social and 
governmental structures.&nbsp;

Politicians
 nationally have expanded that definition to include efforts to teach 
the evils of racism and how to push back against it — what the K-12 
world calls anti-racism.

Murman, 
when asked by reporters why the senators waited four months to call for 
an investigation instead of doing so before the school year started, 
said they needed more time. He later acknowledged that a call for an 
investigation could&nbsp; potentially affect State Board of Education races 
this November.

Murman said
 if an investigation is held, he did not it to begin any sooner than the
 next legislative session in January. Murman, Erdman, Clements and 
Halloran did not contact the state Education Department before calling 
for the investigation, officials confirmed.&nbsp;

Murman 
called the chair of the Education Committee, State Sen. Lynne Walz of 
Fremont, 10 minutes before Monday’s press conference, she said, days 
after senators first <a target="_blank" href="https://dailycaller.com/2022/10/12/nebraska-legislators-prep-investigation-education-dept/">discussed the potential investigation</a> with The Daily Caller, a political website founded by conservative podcaster Ben Shapiro.&nbsp;

Walz, a 
Democrat in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, said she was 
frustrated that senators, including some like Murman on her committee, 
are wasting time on made-up issues instead of working to address 
learning loss and making sure schools are meeting the future workforce 
needs of businesses.

“You would 
think if there was a serious concern that they would bring this to me,” 
Walz said of the call for an investigation. “I had to find out on social
 media. I do understand that we are three weeks out from a really 
contentious election.”&nbsp;

Jespersen, 
speaking for the Education Department, said the Nebraska website link, 
which was up for months, provided “a resource for teachers as they were 
getting back into the classroom to be able to look through a lens of 
their students,” because COVID-19 affected different populations 
differently.

Communities of color in Nebraska and nationally saw higher rates of 
death and serious injury from COVID-19, according to data from the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The department has been inundated with public records requests since 
critical race theory and sex education became divisive political issues.
 He had no ballpark estimate but said the number had increased 
“exponentially.” He said the department welcomes public input on links 
and sources it shares.

“We do try to vet all the sources that we provide on our website,” 
Jespersen said. “But the nature of the internet is the farther that you 
click, the farther away from the source that was originally intended 
that you’re going to get.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666037498433.png" alt="State Sen. Dave Murman, at the podium, calls for a legislative investigation of the Nebraska Department of Education. He was joined by, from left, State Sens. Myron Dorn, Steve Erdman, Steve Halloran and Robert Clements. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Dave Murman, at the podium, calls for a legislative investigation of the Nebraska Department of Education. He was joined by, from left, State Sens. Myron Dorn, Steve Erdman, Steve Halloran and Robert Clements. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Link that prompted the call was removed from department website in June</h2>By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/10/17/five-state-senators-call-for-investigation-of-nebraska-department-of-education/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — 
Three weeks before an election in which concerns about education could 
motivate Republican turnout, five conservative state senators called 
Monday for a legislative investigation into the Nebraska Department of 
Education.&nbsp;The 
senators said one of their staffers found a link in June to a New York 
University center for culturally responsive education on “Launch 
Nebraska,” a state Department of Education website built for schools 
reopening during the pandemic. Two or three clicks into the NYU website,
 they found a document defending critical race theory and discussing 
racial justice.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666037557502.jpeg" alt="The Nebraska Department of Education website that five state senators objected to Monday. Until June the site had linked to a New York University center where a legislative staffer found the material. (Screenshot)" />
 <figcaption>The Nebraska Department of Education website that five state senators objected to Monday. Until June the site had linked to a New York University center where a legislative staffer found the material. (Screenshot)</figcaption>
 </figure>State Sens.
 Dave Murman of Glenvil, Steve Erdman of Bayard, Robert Clements of 
Elmwood, Steve Halloran of Hastings and Myron Dorn of Adams said they 
want the Legislature’s Education Committee to investigate who shared the
 link and what else was shared. They also said they want to know who 
might have promoted a new sex education curriculum.“After a year of operation, ‘Launch Nebraska’ posted left-wing agenda
 items completely foreign to Nebraska public schools before the 
pandemic…,” Murman said. “Now we’ve uncovered documents that show 
unequivocally, unequivocally that the department has also been promoting
 critical race theory.”Erdman said the department needs to be reined in.Nebraska 
Department of Education spokesman David Jespersen said the agency 
removed the link to the NYU center back in June, after Gov. Pete 
Ricketts’ office raised concerns about material found elsewhere on the 
NYU site. Jespersen said the department found no evidence that teachers 
or schools used the documents.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666037587817.jpeg" alt="This is a document defending critical race theory that a staffer for State Sen. Dave Murman found deeper into a New York University website linked to by the Nebraska Department of Education. (Screenshot)" />
 <figcaption>This is a document defending critical race theory that a staffer for State Sen. Dave Murman found deeper into a New York University website linked to by the Nebraska Department of Education. (Screenshot)</figcaption>
 </figure>He said the department “looked into” the governor’s concerns “and we 
agreed.” Governor’s Office spokeswoman Alex Reuss on Monday confirmed 
the summer conversation.“Yes that’s
 true,” Reuss said. “When the Governor’s Office became aware of the 
information contained on the site that link led to, we contacted the 
Commissioner to let him know. From there, it appears they removed that 
link as a resource.”The timing of the push for an investigation fits a nationally and 
locally organized GOP political effort to energize conservative parents.
 Much of the effort is modeled after the purple-state success of 
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, whose 2021 campaign rode similar questions
 about education to victory.Critical 
race theorists essentially believe that race in America must be viewed 
through a lens that is conscious of color, not blind to it. Academics 
have described it as a way of analyzing, explaining and realistically 
addressing the persistence of racism in economic, social and 
governmental structures.&nbsp;Politicians
 nationally have expanded that definition to include efforts to teach 
the evils of racism and how to push back against it — what the K-12 
world calls anti-racism.Murman, 
when asked by reporters why the senators waited four months to call for 
an investigation instead of doing so before the school year started, 
said they needed more time. He later acknowledged that a call for an 
investigation could&nbsp; potentially affect State Board of Education races 
this November.Murman said
 if an investigation is held, he did not it to begin any sooner than the
 next legislative session in January. Murman, Erdman, Clements and 
Halloran did not contact the state Education Department before calling 
for the investigation, officials confirmed.&nbsp;Murman 
called the chair of the Education Committee, State Sen. Lynne Walz of 
Fremont, 10 minutes before Monday’s press conference, she said, days 
after senators first <a target="_blank" href="https://dailycaller.com/2022/10/12/nebraska-legislators-prep-investigation-education-dept/">discussed the potential investigation</a> with The Daily Caller, a political website founded by conservative podcaster Ben Shapiro.&nbsp;Walz, a 
Democrat in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, said she was 
frustrated that senators, including some like Murman on her committee, 
are wasting time on made-up issues instead of working to address 
learning loss and making sure schools are meeting the future workforce 
needs of businesses.“You would 
think if there was a serious concern that they would bring this to me,” 
Walz said of the call for an investigation. “I had to find out on social
 media. I do understand that we are three weeks out from a really 
contentious election.”&nbsp;Jespersen, 
speaking for the Education Department, said the Nebraska website link, 
which was up for months, provided “a resource for teachers as they were 
getting back into the classroom to be able to look through a lens of 
their students,” because COVID-19 affected different populations 
differently.Communities of color in Nebraska and nationally saw higher rates of 
death and serious injury from COVID-19, according to data from the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The department has been inundated with public records requests since 
critical race theory and sex education became divisive political issues.
 He had no ballpark estimate but said the number had increased 
“exponentially.” He said the department welcomes public input on links 
and sources it shares.“We do try to vet all the sources that we provide on our website,” 
Jespersen said. “But the nature of the internet is the farther that you 
click, the farther away from the source that was originally intended 
that you’re going to get.”

State senators call for investigation of Neb. education department

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — The body of a Texas woman found in the trunk of a car that crashed in south-central Nebraska during a police chase was the mother of the teenage driver, police have confirmed.

The crash happened Friday along Interstate 80 near Grand Island, shortly after Nebraska authorities were alerted to be on the lookout for a vehicle out of Texas believed to be involved in a possible homicide there, the Nebraska State Patrol said.

A trooper spotted the car minutes later and attempted to stop it, but the driver refused to pull over and a chase ensued reaching speeds of more than 110 mph (177 kph), the patrol said. The car soon crashed, and the 17-year-old driver suffered serious but non-lethal injuries, police said. Police also found the body of a woman in the car's trunk.

The following day, the patrol identified the woman as 49-year-old Michelle Roenz, of Harris County, Texas. The Harris County Sheriff's Office confirmed Monday she is the mother of the 17-year-old boy who was driving the car.

Both Michelle Roenz and her son had been reported missing from their Texas home Thursday by the teen's father. The father also reported the family car missing. Homicide investigators in Texas responded to the Texas home and, based on evidence collected at the scene, issued a rescue alert for both Michelle Roenz and her son.

Preliminary reports show Michelle Roenz died from strangulation and blunt force trauma, Harris County Deputy Thomas Gilliland said Monday.

Gilliland said Texas authorities are working with Nebraska officials to extradite the teen to Harris County to face a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

“Once investigators interview (the teen), an additional charge of murder is expected,” Gilliland said.

The Associated Press does not typically name juveniles charged with a crime.

No charges against the teen appeared Monday in Nebraska online court records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666033906736.png" alt="Michelle Roenz (Harris County)" />
 <figcaption>Michelle Roenz (Harris County)</figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSGRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — The body of a Texas woman found in the trunk of a car that crashed in south-central Nebraska during a police chase was the mother of the teenage driver, police have confirmed.The crash happened Friday along Interstate 80 near Grand Island, shortly after Nebraska authorities were alerted to be on the lookout for a vehicle out of Texas believed to be involved in a possible homicide there, the Nebraska State Patrol said.A trooper spotted the car minutes later and attempted to stop it, but the driver refused to pull over and a chase ensued reaching speeds of more than 110 mph (177 kph), the patrol said. The car soon crashed, and the 17-year-old driver suffered serious but non-lethal injuries, police said. Police also found the body of a woman in the car's trunk.The following day, the patrol identified the woman as 49-year-old Michelle Roenz, of Harris County, Texas. The Harris County Sheriff's Office confirmed Monday she is the mother of the 17-year-old boy who was driving the car.Both Michelle Roenz and her son had been reported missing from their Texas home Thursday by the teen's father. The father also reported the family car missing. Homicide investigators in Texas responded to the Texas home and, based on evidence collected at the scene, issued a rescue alert for both Michelle Roenz and her son.Preliminary reports show Michelle Roenz died from strangulation and blunt force trauma, Harris County Deputy Thomas Gilliland said Monday.Gilliland said Texas authorities are working with Nebraska officials to extradite the teen to Harris County to face a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.“Once investigators interview (the teen), an additional charge of murder is expected,” Gilliland said.The Associated Press does not typically name juveniles charged with a crime.No charges against the teen appeared Monday in Nebraska online court records.

Body of woman found in crashed car that of teen driver's mom

By JOHNATHAN HEtTINGER <a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2022/10/13/epa-to-ban-flea-and-tick-collars-linked-to-brain-damage-in-children/">Investigate Midwest</a>

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will ban the sale of flea 
and tick collars containing a chemical linked to neurological damage in 
children,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-10/TCVP%20Final%20Petition%20Response_10-6-22_0.pdf">the agency announced last week.</a>

The collars, which contain the chemical tetrachlorvinphos, make up 
more than half of flea and tick collars sold in the U.S., according to 
the EPA. They are much cheaper than many name brand collars and are 
largely aimed at low-income pet owners.

Tetrachlorvinphos, often shortened as TCVP, is a type of 
organophosphate chemical, which were originally developed as nerve 
agents in World War II. Most organophosphates were banned for in-home 
use, after the passage of the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act.

The EPA will publish a regulation in the coming months, called a 
Notice of Intent to Cancel, explaining its rationale and will open the 
rule up to public comment, the agency announced. The agency said that 
Hartz is conducting more research into TCVP, and it will incorporate any
 studies into its future decision.

Hartz, the largest seller of collars containing TCVP, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Natural Resource Defense Council, which petitioned the EPA to ban the chemical in 2009, praised the move.

“It’s great news,” said Miriam Rotkin-Ellman, an NRDC senior scientist. “It’s unfortunate that it took this long.”

It is unclear how long it will take until the products are removed 
from the shelves, Pete DeMarco, an attorney with NRDC, said. DeMarco 
said that’s because the agency “very rarely” takes an adversarial 
process to ban a product. Instead, it usually negotiates a voluntary 
cancellation with the product’s makers.

“It’s not a quick process,” DeMarco said.

In response to questions, the EPA provided its announcement. In it, 
the agency said it has given Hartz the opportunity to submit new 
information in response to the human health risk assessment, and that 
information could change the agency’s decision to cancel the product.

“Should data be submitted to EPA by the end of the year that 
demonstrates that there is no longer a risk of concern for any TCVP pet 
collars, the Agency would no longer pursue” the Notice of Intent to 
Cancel, it said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666029095688.png" alt="A Hartz Ultraguard collar photographed on June 22, 2021 (Darrell Hoemann/The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting)." />
 <figcaption>A Hartz Ultraguard collar photographed on June 22, 2021 (Darrell Hoemann/The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting).</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHNATHAN HEtTINGER <a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2022/10/13/epa-to-ban-flea-and-tick-collars-linked-to-brain-damage-in-children/">Investigate Midwest</a>The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will ban the sale of flea 
and tick collars containing a chemical linked to neurological damage in 
children,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-10/TCVP%20Final%20Petition%20Response_10-6-22_0.pdf">the agency announced last week.</a>The collars, which contain the chemical tetrachlorvinphos, make up 
more than half of flea and tick collars sold in the U.S., according to 
the EPA. They are much cheaper than many name brand collars and are 
largely aimed at low-income pet owners.Tetrachlorvinphos, often shortened as TCVP, is a type of 
organophosphate chemical, which were originally developed as nerve 
agents in World War II. Most organophosphates were banned for in-home 
use, after the passage of the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act.The EPA will publish a regulation in the coming months, called a 
Notice of Intent to Cancel, explaining its rationale and will open the 
rule up to public comment, the agency announced. The agency said that 
Hartz is conducting more research into TCVP, and it will incorporate any
 studies into its future decision.Hartz, the largest seller of collars containing TCVP, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The Natural Resource Defense Council, which petitioned the EPA to ban the chemical in 2009, praised the move.“It’s great news,” said Miriam Rotkin-Ellman, an NRDC senior scientist. “It’s unfortunate that it took this long.”It is unclear how long it will take until the products are removed 
from the shelves, Pete DeMarco, an attorney with NRDC, said. DeMarco 
said that’s because the agency “very rarely” takes an adversarial 
process to ban a product. Instead, it usually negotiates a voluntary 
cancellation with the product’s makers.“It’s not a quick process,” DeMarco said.In response to questions, the EPA provided its announcement. In it, 
the agency said it has given Hartz the opportunity to submit new 
information in response to the human health risk assessment, and that 
information could change the agency’s decision to cancel the product.“Should data be submitted to EPA by the end of the year that 
demonstrates that there is no longer a risk of concern for any TCVP pet 
collars, the Agency would no longer pursue” the Notice of Intent to 
Cancel, it said.DeMarco said the NRDC would monitor the process.“EPA said they may reevaluate this decision based on new information,
 but we’re going to remain vigilant to ensure EPA protects kids and pet 
owners,” he said.The EPA’s decision is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2021/06/24/414795/amp/">a result of a yearslong legal battle</a>&nbsp;over the chemical that included four separate lawsuits. The EPA lost two cases and refused to defend itself in two cases.In the risk assessment released this week, the EPA threw out a Trump 
administration-era study into TCVP and returned to science conducted in 
the Obama administration.That study by the Obama administration, in late 2016, had found that 
children are exposed to TCVP at such high levels in the collars that 
they are at risk of delayed mental development, lowered IQ scores and 
increased chances of autism and attention disorders in children. The 
administration pledged to take action within 90 days, but the Trump 
administration never took action until forced by a court to do so.After the court decision, the Trump administration conducted a new risk assessment, which downplayed those risks.Earlier this year,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2022/04/20/20-72794.pdf">a panel of federal judges ruled that the EPA had violated the law</a>&nbsp;in that risk assessment and needed to take action within 120 days.“EPA returned to that (Obama-era) risk assessment for the basis of 
this decision,” Rotkin-Ellman said. “Six years later, unfortunately.”The EPA is currently evaluating all uses of TCVP, which include use 
on animal agriculture and liquid pet sprays. The agency is supposed to 
review chemicals every 15 years, and last approved the use of TCVP in 
products in 2006. Children can be exposed to TCVP through their diet, 
and the EPA is evaluating the risk that exposure takes.Flea and tick collars have come under increased scrutiny at the EPA 
in recent years. The agency is conducting a formal review of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2021/03/02/popular-flea-collar-linked-to-almost-1700-pet-deaths-the-epa-has-issued-no-warning/">Seresto</a>, a popular flea and tick collar that has been linked to nearly 100,000 incidents of harm to pets and people. The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2022/05/19/epa-watchdog-launches-probe-into-incidents-linked-to-popular-seresto-pet-collar/">agency’s internal watchdog has also launched an investigation</a>&nbsp;into the EPA’s handling of incident reports.A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2022/06/15/congressional-subcommittee-epa-must-cancel-popular-seresto-collar-over-link-to-pet-deaths/">Congressional subcommittee has called for the EPA</a>&nbsp;to ban Seresto because of the risks associated with the collar.An Investigate Midwest and USA TODAY investigation&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2022/03/24/seresto-epa-fda-elanco/">published earlier this year found that EPA scientists have raised concerns about Seresto to their superiors for years.</a> Elanco, the company that sells Seresto, has repeatedly&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2021/11/08/maker-of-seresto-defends-flea-and-tick-collar-amid-calls-for-a-ban-over-safety-concerns/">defended the collar,&nbsp;</a>saying
 that its own extensive studies into the collar show that the incidents 
of harm related to the collar are likely related to factors other than 
the two pesticides in the collar, imidacloprid and flumethrin.Investigate Midwest is an independent, nonprofit newsroom. Its 
mission is to serve the public interest by exposing dangerous and costly
 practices of influential agricultural corporations and institutions 
through in-depth and data-driven investigative journalism. Visit online 
at www.investigatemidwest.org