WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is set to vote to protect same-sex and interracial marriages, a direct confrontation with the Supreme Court, whose conservative majority in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturning Roe v. Wade abortion access</a>&nbsp;has sparked concerns that other rights enjoyed by countless Americans may be in jeopardy.

Tuesday’s vote in the House is part political strategy setting up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-bills-house-vote-fc24d99f184d7aeec4926a6520311da5">an election-year roll call</a>&nbsp;that will force all lawmakers, Republicans and Democrats, to go on the record with their views on the high-profile social issue. It’s also part of the legislative branch asserting its authority, pushing back against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-us-supreme-court-right-to-privacy-6e1d7ee2a6d26bef09392971fd4948b5">an aggressive court that appears intent on revisiting many settled U.S. laws.</a>

“As this Court may take aim at other fundamental rights, we cannot sit idly by,” Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said in a statement.

While the Respect for Marriage Act is expected to pass the House, it is almost certain to stall in the Senate, where most Republicans would surely block it. It’s one of several bills, including those enshrining abortion access, that Democrats are pushing to confront the court’s conservative majority. Another bill, guaranteeing access to contraceptive services, is set for a vote later this week.

The Respect for Marriage Act would repeal a leftover law still on the books from the Clinton era that defines marriage as a heterogeneous relationship between man and woman. It would also provide legal protections for interracial marriages by prohibiting any state from denying out-of-state marriage licenses and benefits on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.

The 1996 law, the Defense of Marriage Act, had basically been sidelined by Obama-era court rulings, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-courts-marriage-supreme-court-of-the-united-states-united-states-government-9e1933cd1e1a4e969ab45f5952bbb45f">Obergefell v. Hodges, which established the rights of same-sex couples to marry nationwide,</a>&nbsp;a landmark case for gay rights.

But last month, in doing away with the Roe v. Wade constitutional right to an abortion, the conservative court majority put in place during the Trump era left critics concerned there may be more to come.

In writing for the majority overturning Roe, Justice Samuel Alito argued for a more narrow interpretation of the rights guaranteed to Americans, saying the right to an abortion is not spelled out in the Constitution.

“We therefore hold that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion,” Alito wrote.

In a concurring opinion, conservative Justice Clarence Thomas went further, saying other rulings similar to Roe, including those around same-sex marriage and the right for couples to use contraception,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-government-and-politics-marriage-a0cee537c6f9f10d29fa71f6e7a4d19d">should be reconsidered</a>.

While Alito insisted in the majority opinion that “this decision concerns the constitutional right to abortion and no other right,” others have taken notice.

Jim Obergefell, the plaintiff in the landmark ruling legalizing same-sex marriage and now running as a Democrat for the Ohio House,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-government-and-politics-marriage-a0cee537c6f9f10d29fa71f6e7a4d19d">said after the court’s ruling on abortion</a>, “When we lose one right that we have relied on and enjoyed, other rights are at risk.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658238554165.png" alt="“As this Court may take aim at other fundamental rights, we cannot sit idly by,” Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said in a statement." />
 <figcaption>“As this Court may take aim at other fundamental rights, we cannot sit idly by,” Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said in a statement.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is set to vote to protect same-sex and interracial marriages, a direct confrontation with the Supreme Court, whose conservative majority in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturning Roe v. Wade abortion access</a>&nbsp;has sparked concerns that other rights enjoyed by countless Americans may be in jeopardy.Tuesday’s vote in the House is part political strategy setting up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-bills-house-vote-fc24d99f184d7aeec4926a6520311da5">an election-year roll call</a>&nbsp;that will force all lawmakers, Republicans and Democrats, to go on the record with their views on the high-profile social issue. It’s also part of the legislative branch asserting its authority, pushing back against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-us-supreme-court-right-to-privacy-6e1d7ee2a6d26bef09392971fd4948b5">an aggressive court that appears intent on revisiting many settled U.S. laws.</a>“As this Court may take aim at other fundamental rights, we cannot sit idly by,” Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said in a statement.While the Respect for Marriage Act is expected to pass the House, it is almost certain to stall in the Senate, where most Republicans would surely block it. It’s one of several bills, including those enshrining abortion access, that Democrats are pushing to confront the court’s conservative majority. Another bill, guaranteeing access to contraceptive services, is set for a vote later this week.The Respect for Marriage Act would repeal a leftover law still on the books from the Clinton era that defines marriage as a heterogeneous relationship between man and woman. It would also provide legal protections for interracial marriages by prohibiting any state from denying out-of-state marriage licenses and benefits on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.The 1996 law, the Defense of Marriage Act, had basically been sidelined by Obama-era court rulings, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-courts-marriage-supreme-court-of-the-united-states-united-states-government-9e1933cd1e1a4e969ab45f5952bbb45f">Obergefell v. Hodges, which established the rights of same-sex couples to marry nationwide,</a>&nbsp;a landmark case for gay rights.But last month, in doing away with the Roe v. Wade constitutional right to an abortion, the conservative court majority put in place during the Trump era left critics concerned there may be more to come.In writing for the majority overturning Roe, Justice Samuel Alito argued for a more narrow interpretation of the rights guaranteed to Americans, saying the right to an abortion is not spelled out in the Constitution.“We therefore hold that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion,” Alito wrote.In a concurring opinion, conservative Justice Clarence Thomas went further, saying other rulings similar to Roe, including those around same-sex marriage and the right for couples to use contraception,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-government-and-politics-marriage-a0cee537c6f9f10d29fa71f6e7a4d19d">should be reconsidered</a>.While Alito insisted in the majority opinion that “this decision concerns the constitutional right to abortion and no other right,” others have taken notice.Jim Obergefell, the plaintiff in the landmark ruling legalizing same-sex marriage and now running as a Democrat for the Ohio House,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-government-and-politics-marriage-a0cee537c6f9f10d29fa71f6e7a4d19d">said after the court’s ruling on abortion</a>, “When we lose one right that we have relied on and enjoyed, other rights are at risk.”

House set to vote to protect same-sex and interracial marriage 

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/anthony-fauci">Dr. Anthony Fauci,</a>&nbsp;the government's top infectious disease expert, said Monday he plans to retire by the end of President Joe Biden's term in January 2025.&nbsp;Fauci said his decision to eventually leave his role was unrelated to politics.

During a January 11, 2022 hearing, Fauci lost his temper when Senator Roger Marshall accused him of hiding financial disclosure forms required of public officials. <a href="https://store.kansansformarshall.com/storefront/moron-white-t-shirt/details/">Marshall's campaign is selling t-shirts</a> over the heated exchange. (Click below to watch the exchange)

Fauci testified repeatedly to Congress about the virus, and he and other Republicans, including Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, engaged in heated exchanges over the origins of the virus.

&nbsp;"My decision has nothing to do with pressures, nothing to do with all of the other nonsense that you hear about, all the barbs, the slings and the arrows. That has no influence on me,” he said.

Fauci, 81, was appointed director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 1984, and has led research in HIV/AIDS, respiratory infections, Ebola, Zika and the coronavirus. He has advised seven presidents and is Biden's chief medical adviser.

In an interview with Politico, Fauci said he hoped to "leave behind an institution where I have picked the best people in the country, if not the world, who will continue my vision.”

Asked Monday on CNN when he planned to retire, Fauci said he does not have a specific retirement date in mind and hasn't started the process. He said he expects to leave government before the end of Biden’s current term, which ends in January 2025.

“By the time we get to the end of Biden’s first term, I will very likely (retire),” Fauci said. He added: “it is extremely unlikely — in fact, for sure — that I am not going to be here beyond January 2025.”

Fauci, long a prominent figure of the government's response to infectious disease, was thrust even more into the spotlight at the height of the coronavirus pandemic under then-President Donald Trump. As the pandemic response became politicized, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-ap-top-news-politics-pandemics-1b92ce21f8ddf7eefb634b92fee38fed">Trump suggesting the pandemic would “fade away,” promoting unproven treatment methods and vilifying scientists</a>&nbsp;who countered him, Fauci had to get security protection when he and his family received death threats and harassment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642525933058.png" alt="In January, Fauci angrily accused Kansas Senator Roger Marshall of making false accusations that are leading to threats against him -- all to raise political cash.&nbsp; Marshall's campaign is&nbsp;<a href="https://store.kansansformarshall.com/storefront/moron-white-t-shirt/details/">selling t-shirts over</a>&nbsp;the heated exchange during the Senate hearing." />
 <figcaption>In January, Fauci angrily accused Kansas Senator Roger Marshall of making false accusations that are leading to threats against him -- all to raise political cash.&nbsp; Marshall's campaign is&nbsp;<a href="https://store.kansansformarshall.com/storefront/moron-white-t-shirt/details/">selling t-shirts over</a>&nbsp;the heated exchange during the Senate hearing.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/anthony-fauci">Dr. Anthony Fauci,</a>&nbsp;the government's top infectious disease expert, said Monday he plans to retire by the end of President Joe Biden's term in January 2025.&nbsp;Fauci said his decision to eventually leave his role was unrelated to politics.During a January 11, 2022 hearing, Fauci lost his temper when Senator Roger Marshall accused him of hiding financial disclosure forms required of public officials. <a href="https://store.kansansformarshall.com/storefront/moron-white-t-shirt/details/">Marshall's campaign is selling t-shirts</a> over the heated exchange. (Click below to watch the exchange)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gB4Q4tCBsh4?start=80" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Fauci testified repeatedly to Congress about the virus, and he and other Republicans, including Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, engaged in heated exchanges over the origins of the virus.&nbsp;"My decision has nothing to do with pressures, nothing to do with all of the other nonsense that you hear about, all the barbs, the slings and the arrows. That has no influence on me,” he said.Fauci, 81, was appointed director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 1984, and has led research in HIV/AIDS, respiratory infections, Ebola, Zika and the coronavirus. He has advised seven presidents and is Biden's chief medical adviser.In an interview with Politico, Fauci said he hoped to "leave behind an institution where I have picked the best people in the country, if not the world, who will continue my vision.”Asked Monday on CNN when he planned to retire, Fauci said he does not have a specific retirement date in mind and hasn't started the process. He said he expects to leave government before the end of Biden’s current term, which ends in January 2025.“By the time we get to the end of Biden’s first term, I will very likely (retire),” Fauci said. He added: “it is extremely unlikely — in fact, for sure — that I am not going to be here beyond January 2025.”Fauci, long a prominent figure of the government's response to infectious disease, was thrust even more into the spotlight at the height of the coronavirus pandemic under then-President Donald Trump. As the pandemic response became politicized, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-ap-top-news-politics-pandemics-1b92ce21f8ddf7eefb634b92fee38fed">Trump suggesting the pandemic would “fade away,” promoting unproven treatment methods and vilifying scientists</a>&nbsp;who countered him, Fauci had to get security protection when he and his family received death threats and harassment.

🎥 Dr. Fauci: Retirement announcement unrelated to politics

DENVER (AP) — Four people died in a small plane crash Sunday in the foothills west of Boulder, Colorado, the Federal Aviation Administration said Monday.

The crash sparked a small fire that was quickly contained in the forested area. The cause of the crash was unknown, according to the FAA's preliminary report. FAA spokesman Steve Kulm did not provide more information about the crash.

A witness called in the crash at 9:41 a.m. Sunday morning when the plane went down in a wooded area called Lefthand Canyon west of Denver near the college town of Boulder, said Boulder County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Carrie Haverfield. She said the fire and heat blocked responders from entering the plane until Monday.

The plane, a twin-engine Cessna T337G, took off with three passengers and the pilot, Haverfield said.

Aerial footage shot by news station Denver7 shows first responders weaving through charred trees at the crash site.

Peter Knudson, spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board, said that an investigator is arriving to the site Monday and will spend two to three days documenting the crash site. A report about the crash is expected in several weeks, he said.

The NTSB investigator is coming from Wyoming, where two people died in a plane crash Thursday.

<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/2019/8/1564663567068.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSDENVER (AP) — Four people died in a small plane crash Sunday in the foothills west of Boulder, Colorado, the Federal Aviation Administration said Monday.The crash sparked a small fire that was quickly contained in the forested area. The cause of the crash was unknown, according to the FAA's preliminary report. FAA spokesman Steve Kulm did not provide more information about the crash.A witness called in the crash at 9:41 a.m. Sunday morning when the plane went down in a wooded area called Lefthand Canyon west of Denver near the college town of Boulder, said Boulder County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Carrie Haverfield. She said the fire and heat blocked responders from entering the plane until Monday.The plane, a twin-engine Cessna T337G, took off with three passengers and the pilot, Haverfield said.Aerial footage shot by news station Denver7 shows first responders weaving through charred trees at the crash site.Peter Knudson, spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board, said that an investigator is arriving to the site Monday and will spend two to three days documenting the crash site. A report about the crash is expected in several weeks, he said.The NTSB investigator is coming from Wyoming, where two people died in a plane crash Thursday.<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://lh6.googleusercontent.com/y0sEshok_vkmKpDx_KKD-696cgYaAOKzO2u4pwvlpDkD53XEXtgWppTwybfVFk2xEKCwfcgc57GtFKQYI6_yaZnsz1570WilX4Jsd_maQilu4XKPjTVPIK13_lND7SlujqeQ02ONloCSX5YlPg" alt="" />
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4 dead in weekend Colorado crash of small plane in woods

GREENWOOD, Ind. (AP) — A gunman who shot five people at a suburban Indianapolis shopping mall, killing three of them before a shopper shot and killed him, was a 20-year-old local man who was apparently facing eviction, authorities said Monday.

Jonathan Sapirman, of Greenwood, began firing after leaving a bathroom at the Greenwood Park Mall shortly before it closed Sunday evening, the city's police chief, James Ison, said at a news conference.

Sapirman continued shooting people until he was shot and killed by 22-year-old Elisjsha Dicken, of Seymour, a city about 45 miles (72 kilometers) south of Greenwood, who was shopping with his girlfriend, Ison said, calling Dicken's quick action “nothing short of heroic."

“Many more people would have died last night if not for a responsible armed citizen,” said the chief, noting that authorities were still trying to determine a motive for the attack.

The Johnson County and Marion County coroners' offices identified the slain victims as a married Indianapolis couple — Pedro Pineda, 56, and Rosa Mirian Rivera de Pineda, 37 — and Victor Gomez, 30, also of Indianapolis. A woman and a 12-year-old girl who was hit by shrapnel were wounded in the attack, police said.

Although authorities said Dicken was legally armed,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.simon.com/legal/code-of-conduct">the mall prohibits people</a>&nbsp;from carrying weapons on its property.

As of July 1, Indiana law allows anyone age 18 or older to carry a handgun in public except for those prohibited for reasons such as having a felony conviction, facing a restraining order or having a dangerous mental illness as determined by a court. Indiana’s Republican-dominated Legislature retained provisions in the law that allow private property owners to prohibit firearms.

The attack Sunday was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mass-shootings-america-list-901b8663c97acbdde2b0bdba51a86b50">the latest</a>&nbsp;in a string of mass shootings in the U.S. Schools, churches, grocery stores and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/highland-park-chicago-shooting-updates-4e9e0cf0aaa9954ae4fee30c5dd28bc8">a July Fourth parade</a>&nbsp;near Chicago have all become killing grounds in recent months, though the country's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gun-violence-America-shootings-b980438ded3a80a8c6bb78bd2e0327c1">staggering murder rate</a>&nbsp;can often be seen more clearly in individual killings that rarely make major headlines.

Authorities said Sunday that four of the victims were female and one was male, but they corrected that Monday to two males and three females.

Ison said Sapirman entered the mall and walked into a bathroom, where he spent about an hour before he emerged and opened fire. He said investigators believe Sapirman spent that time preparing and possibly assembling a disassembled rifle that he had brought in his backpack. He ended up firing 24 rounds within two minutes.

Ison said Sapirman used an AR-15-style rifle during the shooting and that investigators found another one and magazines with more than 100 rounds of ammunition in the bathroom. They also found a handgun on Sapirman.

Although police don't know a motive for the attack, Sapirman’s relatives told investigators that he recently received notice that he was being evicted from his apartment, though Ison said authorities were still trying to confirm that. Relatives also said Sapirman resigned from a warehouse job in May, he said.

The chief said Dicken fired 10 rounds from his handgun, and that as he fired, Sapirman “attempted to retreat back into the restroom and failed, and fell to the ground after being shot."

“He engaged the gunman from quite a distance with a handgun and was very proficient in that, very tactically sound. And as he moved to close in on the suspect, he was also motioning for people to exit behind him,” Ison said of Dicken.

Sapirman had a juvenile record, including for a fight at school and an incident where he ran away from home, but he had no criminal record as an adult, the chief said.

He said relatives told investigators that Sapirman has been practicing shooting at a gun range, and that records obtained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed he had frequented the range and bought ammunition there over the past two years.

Ison said officers recovered a cellphone from a toilet in the mall bathroom, while in Sapirman’s apartment they found its oven set on a high temperature with a laptop inside. The laptop and cellphone will be analyzed, he said.

Mark Myers, the mayor of Greenwood, a city of roughly 60,000 people just south of Indianapolis, said the grieving community is shocked to be the scene of a mass shooting.

“I don’t want to be among the mayors that has to share these statements. But sadly, I am,” he said. “I grieve for these senseless killings, and I ache for the scars that are left behind on the victims and on our community.”

Callahan reported from Indianapolis. Arleigh Rodgers is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reportforamerica.org/">Report for America</a>&nbsp;is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1560127290802.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSGREENWOOD, Ind. (AP) — A gunman who shot five people at a suburban Indianapolis shopping mall, killing three of them before a shopper shot and killed him, was a 20-year-old local man who was apparently facing eviction, authorities said Monday.Jonathan Sapirman, of Greenwood, began firing after leaving a bathroom at the Greenwood Park Mall shortly before it closed Sunday evening, the city's police chief, James Ison, said at a news conference.Sapirman continued shooting people until he was shot and killed by 22-year-old Elisjsha Dicken, of Seymour, a city about 45 miles (72 kilometers) south of Greenwood, who was shopping with his girlfriend, Ison said, calling Dicken's quick action “nothing short of heroic."“Many more people would have died last night if not for a responsible armed citizen,” said the chief, noting that authorities were still trying to determine a motive for the attack.The Johnson County and Marion County coroners' offices identified the slain victims as a married Indianapolis couple — Pedro Pineda, 56, and Rosa Mirian Rivera de Pineda, 37 — and Victor Gomez, 30, also of Indianapolis. A woman and a 12-year-old girl who was hit by shrapnel were wounded in the attack, police said.Although authorities said Dicken was legally armed,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.simon.com/legal/code-of-conduct">the mall prohibits people</a>&nbsp;from carrying weapons on its property.As of July 1, Indiana law allows anyone age 18 or older to carry a handgun in public except for those prohibited for reasons such as having a felony conviction, facing a restraining order or having a dangerous mental illness as determined by a court. Indiana’s Republican-dominated Legislature retained provisions in the law that allow private property owners to prohibit firearms.The attack Sunday was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mass-shootings-america-list-901b8663c97acbdde2b0bdba51a86b50">the latest</a>&nbsp;in a string of mass shootings in the U.S. Schools, churches, grocery stores and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/highland-park-chicago-shooting-updates-4e9e0cf0aaa9954ae4fee30c5dd28bc8">a July Fourth parade</a>&nbsp;near Chicago have all become killing grounds in recent months, though the country's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gun-violence-America-shootings-b980438ded3a80a8c6bb78bd2e0327c1">staggering murder rate</a>&nbsp;can often be seen more clearly in individual killings that rarely make major headlines.Authorities said Sunday that four of the victims were female and one was male, but they corrected that Monday to two males and three females.Ison said Sapirman entered the mall and walked into a bathroom, where he spent about an hour before he emerged and opened fire. He said investigators believe Sapirman spent that time preparing and possibly assembling a disassembled rifle that he had brought in his backpack. He ended up firing 24 rounds within two minutes.Ison said Sapirman used an AR-15-style rifle during the shooting and that investigators found another one and magazines with more than 100 rounds of ammunition in the bathroom. They also found a handgun on Sapirman.Although police don't know a motive for the attack, Sapirman’s relatives told investigators that he recently received notice that he was being evicted from his apartment, though Ison said authorities were still trying to confirm that. Relatives also said Sapirman resigned from a warehouse job in May, he said.The chief said Dicken fired 10 rounds from his handgun, and that as he fired, Sapirman “attempted to retreat back into the restroom and failed, and fell to the ground after being shot."“He engaged the gunman from quite a distance with a handgun and was very proficient in that, very tactically sound. And as he moved to close in on the suspect, he was also motioning for people to exit behind him,” Ison said of Dicken.Sapirman had a juvenile record, including for a fight at school and an incident where he ran away from home, but he had no criminal record as an adult, the chief said.He said relatives told investigators that Sapirman has been practicing shooting at a gun range, and that records obtained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed he had frequented the range and bought ammunition there over the past two years.Ison said officers recovered a cellphone from a toilet in the mall bathroom, while in Sapirman’s apartment they found its oven set on a high temperature with a laptop inside. The laptop and cellphone will be analyzed, he said.Mark Myers, the mayor of Greenwood, a city of roughly 60,000 people just south of Indianapolis, said the grieving community is shocked to be the scene of a mass shooting.“I don’t want to be among the mayors that has to share these statements. But sadly, I am,” he said. “I grieve for these senseless killings, and I ache for the scars that are left behind on the victims and on our community.”___Callahan reported from Indianapolis. Arleigh Rodgers is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reportforamerica.org/">Report for America</a>&nbsp;is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.<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://lh6.googleusercontent.com/y0sEshok_vkmKpDx_KKD-696cgYaAOKzO2u4pwvlpDkD53XEXtgWppTwybfVFk2xEKCwfcgc57GtFKQYI6_yaZnsz1570WilX4Jsd_maQilu4XKPjTVPIK13_lND7SlujqeQ02ONloCSX5YlPg" alt="" />
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Police laud actions of man who killed Indiana mall attacker

By KATHRYN H. JACOBSEN <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-monkeypox-a-pandemic-an-epidemiologist-explains-why-it-isnt-likely-to-become-as-widespread-as-covid-19-but-is-worth-watching-186872">The Conversation</a>

Monkeypox is the latest global public health threat to make 
headlines. Most people who contract the monkeypox virus experience 
flu-like symptoms and a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/symptoms.html">blistery rash</a> that lasts two to four weeks, but a small percentage of infected people develop sepsis or other severe and <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/monkeypox">potentially fatal complications</a>.

It is not uncommon for there to be <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007791">small outbreaks of monkeypox</a> in Central and West Africa, but in the last few weeks, dozens of countries from other world regions have reported <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/monkeypox">thousands of cases of monkeypox</a>.

As an infectious disease epidemiologist, I’ve received many inquiries
 from colleagues and friends about whether a monkeypox pandemic will be 
the next big disruption to our lives. A disease is considered to be <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780192897855.003.0002">pandemic</a>
 when two separate conditions are met: cases are occurring globally and 
the number of cases being diagnosed is large enough to qualify as <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-pandemic-epidemic-and-outbreak-133048">epidemic</a>. An epidemic is characterized by new cases of a disease occurring at a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dsepd/ss1978/lesson1/section11.html">higher than typical rate in at least several communities</a>.

While the monkeypox situation is certainly newsworthy, as of mid-July
 2022, it did not clearly meet both of the requirements for pandemic 
status. More importantly, the current evidence suggests that <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-monkeypox-a-microbiologist-explains-whats-known-about-this-smallpox-cousin-183499">monkeypox</a> is very unlikely to become a global health catastrophe even if the virus spreads and becomes pandemic.

Both the 2009 <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/influenza-a-(h1n1)-outbreak">H1N1 influenza</a> virus and the <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019">SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus</a>
 that emerged in 2019 quickly spread to every region of the world. 
Global health experts were in full agreement that those were pandemic 
events. By contrast, the <a href="https://www.who.int/groups/ebola-virus-disease-in-west-africa-(2014-2015)-ihr-emergency-committee">Ebola virus</a> epidemic in West Africa from 2014 to 2016 was mostly contained to just that one region of the world and never spread globally.

The <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/monkeypox-oubreak-2022">current distribution</a> of monkeypox cases is somewhere between those two scenarios. As of mid-July 2022, about <a href="https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-covid-19-media-briefing--12-july-2022">9,200 total cases</a>
 of monkeypox had been reported by 63 countries. For reasons that are 
not yet fully understood, almost all of those cases happened in <a href="https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/2021-dha-docs/20220706_monkeypox_external_sitrep_final.pdf">Europe and the Americas</a>, and only a few cases were reported by <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/monkeypox">African, Asian and Middle Eastern</a> countries.

Is that distribution sufficiently global to meet the definition of a pandemic? Maybe. 

The next condition to meet the pandemic threshold is whether places where monkeypox is present are experiencing epidemics.

Europe and the Americas typically have <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010141">zero cases</a> of monkeypox per year, so the current case counts in these regions are much higher than normal.

But it is also important to look at how much community transmission 
is happening. If hundreds of people get sick after attending a single 
event – like a concert or festival – that would typically be classified 
as an outbreak. The situation would only become an epidemic if 
infections started occurring among many people who were not close 
contacts of event attendees. Once widespread and sustained community 
transmission begins occurring, it is much harder to control a virus. 

Most of the people diagnosed with monkeypox in May and June 2022 were 20- to 50-year-old men who identify as members of the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.add5497">LGBT+ community</a>. In July 2022, cases were not yet occurring at significant levels in multiple age and sociodemographic groups.

Is the current pattern of spread sufficient to classify monkeypox as 
an epidemic rather than an outbreak? Maybe, but only in some of the 
countries that have reported monkeypox cases this year.

Since the answers to whether monkeypox is global and an epidemic are 
both “maybe” rather than “yes,” this suggests that monkeypox is not a 
pandemic – at least not yet. But it could become one soon.

How worried should you be about monkeypox?

Pathogens like <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00241">monkeypox</a> are usually spread through touch and other types of <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/transmission.html">close contact</a>
 with an infected person. Epidemiologists worry much less about 
pathogens with “person-to-person” transmission than they do about 
respiratory viruses like influenza and the coronavirus that can spread 
easily through the air.

Over the course of just a few months, COVID-19 transitioned from a 
local concern in Wuhan, China, into the worst pandemic in a century. 
That is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cit703">not going to happen with monkeypox</a>.

Why? First, the monkeypox virus is <a href="https://doi.org/10.2471%2FBLT.19.242347">much less contagious</a> than the circulating strains of coronavirus. Second, monkeypox is less deadly than COVID-19. The <a href="https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/2021-dha-docs/20220706_monkeypox_external_sitrep_final.pdf">case fatality rate</a>
 during the current international outbreak is less than one death for 
every 1,000 adult cases, which is lower than the percentage of 
unvaccinated people who die after getting <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30244-9">COVID-19</a>. And, third, <a href="https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1433527/retrieve">existing vaccines</a> will be able to help slow the spread of monkeypox in high-risk populations if <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/public-health-clinics-running-out-of-monkeypox-vaccine-as-lines-form-and-systems-crash/ar-AAZxMuv">problems with limited supplies</a> can be resolved.

The World Health Organization follows a set of rules called the <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241580496">International Health Regulations</a>
 that guide global public health responses to emerging threats. Under 
these regulations, the WHO has the authority to declare a “public health
 emergency of international concern” – commonly shortened to the acronym
 <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fjtm%2Ftaaa227">PHEIC</a> – when an 
infectious disease is spreading internationally and might “potentially 
require a coordinated international response.” The goal is to detect and
 respond to potential global health crises and prevent them from 
becoming pandemics.

An <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/monkeypox-oubreak-2022">expert panel convened by the World Health Organization on June 23</a>
 determined that monkeypox was a “multi-country outbreak” but did not 
meet the criteria to be a public health emergency of international 
concern. The panel will meet again on July 21 to examine the 
distribution and frequency of new case reports. If the rate of new cases
 continues to increase and there is evidence of transmission within more
 diverse populations, monkeypox may be declared a public health 
emergency.

But even if monkeypox is declared to be a public health emergency of 
international concern, it is not going to become a devastating pandemic 
like COVID-19.

Kathryn H. Jacobsen is William E. Cooper Distinguished University Chair, Professor of Health Studies, University of Richmond.

By KATHRYN H. JACOBSEN <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-monkeypox-a-pandemic-an-epidemiologist-explains-why-it-isnt-likely-to-become-as-widespread-as-covid-19-but-is-worth-watching-186872">The Conversation</a>Monkeypox is the latest global public health threat to make 
headlines. Most people who contract the monkeypox virus experience 
flu-like symptoms and a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/symptoms.html">blistery rash</a> that lasts two to four weeks, but a small percentage of infected people develop sepsis or other severe and <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/monkeypox">potentially fatal complications</a>.It is not uncommon for there to be <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007791">small outbreaks of monkeypox</a> in Central and West Africa, but in the last few weeks, dozens of countries from other world regions have reported <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/monkeypox">thousands of cases of monkeypox</a>. As an infectious disease epidemiologist, I’ve received many inquiries
 from colleagues and friends about whether a monkeypox pandemic will be 
the next big disruption to our lives. A disease is considered to be <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780192897855.003.0002">pandemic</a>
 when two separate conditions are met: cases are occurring globally and 
the number of cases being diagnosed is large enough to qualify as <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-pandemic-epidemic-and-outbreak-133048">epidemic</a>. An epidemic is characterized by new cases of a disease occurring at a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dsepd/ss1978/lesson1/section11.html">higher than typical rate in at least several communities</a>.While the monkeypox situation is certainly newsworthy, as of mid-July
 2022, it did not clearly meet both of the requirements for pandemic 
status. More importantly, the current evidence suggests that <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-monkeypox-a-microbiologist-explains-whats-known-about-this-smallpox-cousin-183499">monkeypox</a> is very unlikely to become a global health catastrophe even if the virus spreads and becomes pandemic.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657902105594.png" alt=" As of mid-July 2022, monkeypox cases associated with the current outbreak (shown in red on the map, with previous outbreaks in other colors) were occurring mostly in Europe and the Americas, and few cases were being reported from Africa and Asia. ArcMachaon/Wikimedia Commons " />
 <figcaption> As of mid-July 2022, monkeypox cases associated with the current outbreak (shown in red on the map, with previous outbreaks in other colors) were occurring mostly in Europe and the Americas, and few cases were being reported from Africa and Asia. ArcMachaon/Wikimedia Commons </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Is monkeypox global?</h2>Both the 2009 <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/influenza-a-(h1n1)-outbreak">H1N1 influenza</a> virus and the <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019">SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus</a>
 that emerged in 2019 quickly spread to every region of the world. 
Global health experts were in full agreement that those were pandemic 
events. By contrast, the <a href="https://www.who.int/groups/ebola-virus-disease-in-west-africa-(2014-2015)-ihr-emergency-committee">Ebola virus</a> epidemic in West Africa from 2014 to 2016 was mostly contained to just that one region of the world and never spread globally. The <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/monkeypox-oubreak-2022">current distribution</a> of monkeypox cases is somewhere between those two scenarios. As of mid-July 2022, about <a href="https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-covid-19-media-briefing--12-july-2022">9,200 total cases</a>
 of monkeypox had been reported by 63 countries. For reasons that are 
not yet fully understood, almost all of those cases happened in <a href="https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/2021-dha-docs/20220706_monkeypox_external_sitrep_final.pdf">Europe and the Americas</a>, and only a few cases were reported by <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/monkeypox">African, Asian and Middle Eastern</a> countries.Is that distribution sufficiently global to meet the definition of a pandemic? Maybe. <h2>Is monkeypox an epidemic?</h2>The next condition to meet the pandemic threshold is whether places where monkeypox is present are experiencing epidemics.Europe and the Americas typically have <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010141">zero cases</a> of monkeypox per year, so the current case counts in these regions are much higher than normal. But it is also important to look at how much community transmission 
is happening. If hundreds of people get sick after attending a single 
event – like a concert or festival – that would typically be classified 
as an outbreak. The situation would only become an epidemic if 
infections started occurring among many people who were not close 
contacts of event attendees. Once widespread and sustained community 
transmission begins occurring, it is much harder to control a virus. Most of the people diagnosed with monkeypox in May and June 2022 were 20- to 50-year-old men who identify as members of the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.add5497">LGBT+ community</a>. In July 2022, cases were not yet occurring at significant levels in multiple age and sociodemographic groups. Is the current pattern of spread sufficient to classify monkeypox as 
an epidemic rather than an outbreak? Maybe, but only in some of the 
countries that have reported monkeypox cases this year.Since the answers to whether monkeypox is global and an epidemic are 
both “maybe” rather than “yes,” this suggests that monkeypox is not a 
pandemic – at least not yet. But it could become one soon.<h2>How worried should you be about monkeypox?</h2>Pathogens like <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00241">monkeypox</a> are usually spread through touch and other types of <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/transmission.html">close contact</a>
 with an infected person. Epidemiologists worry much less about 
pathogens with “person-to-person” transmission than they do about 
respiratory viruses like influenza and the coronavirus that can spread 
easily through the air.Over the course of just a few months, COVID-19 transitioned from a 
local concern in Wuhan, China, into the worst pandemic in a century. 
That is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cit703">not going to happen with monkeypox</a>.Why? First, the monkeypox virus is <a href="https://doi.org/10.2471%2FBLT.19.242347">much less contagious</a> than the circulating strains of coronavirus. Second, monkeypox is less deadly than COVID-19. The <a href="https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/2021-dha-docs/20220706_monkeypox_external_sitrep_final.pdf">case fatality rate</a>
 during the current international outbreak is less than one death for 
every 1,000 adult cases, which is lower than the percentage of 
unvaccinated people who die after getting <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30244-9">COVID-19</a>. And, third, <a href="https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1433527/retrieve">existing vaccines</a> will be able to help slow the spread of monkeypox in high-risk populations if <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/public-health-clinics-running-out-of-monkeypox-vaccine-as-lines-form-and-systems-crash/ar-AAZxMuv">problems with limited supplies</a> can be resolved.The World Health Organization follows a set of rules called the <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241580496">International Health Regulations</a>
 that guide global public health responses to emerging threats. Under 
these regulations, the WHO has the authority to declare a “public health
 emergency of international concern” – commonly shortened to the acronym
 <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fjtm%2Ftaaa227">PHEIC</a> – when an 
infectious disease is spreading internationally and might “potentially 
require a coordinated international response.” The goal is to detect and
 respond to potential global health crises and prevent them from 
becoming pandemics.An <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/monkeypox-oubreak-2022">expert panel convened by the World Health Organization on June 23</a>
 determined that monkeypox was a “multi-country outbreak” but did not 
meet the criteria to be a public health emergency of international 
concern. The panel will meet again on July 21 to examine the 
distribution and frequency of new case reports. If the rate of new cases
 continues to increase and there is evidence of transmission within more
 diverse populations, monkeypox may be declared a public health 
emergency. But even if monkeypox is declared to be a public health emergency of 
international concern, it is not going to become a devastating pandemic 
like COVID-19.Kathryn H. Jacobsen is William E. Cooper Distinguished University Chair, Professor of Health Studies, University of Richmond.<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/186872/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1"></iframe></div>

Epidemiologist: Monkeypox not a pandemic yet — but worth watching

By PAUL HAMMELL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/public-hearings-scheduled-for-latest-nominees-to-nebraska-hall-of-fame/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Three public hearing have been set to gather testimony about the eight new nominees to the Nebraska Hall of Fame.

The State Hall of Fame Commission will hold hearings in each of the state’s three congressional districts.

The first public hearing will be held 
Monday, at 6 p.m., at the Nebraska History Museum in Lincoln. For the 
first time, the Hall of Fame Commission will consider nominees based on 
the location of their nomination, so Alexander, Clover, Hanson and Pound
 will be considered in Lincoln.

The Omaha hearing will be held Wednesday 
at 6 p.m. at the Revive Center, 2402 Lizzie Robinson Ave. Nominees for 
discussion are Chapman and Malcolm X.

The hearing for the 3rd Congressional 
District will be held July 25 at 6 p.m. at the Phelps County Historical 
Society, 2701 Burlington St. in Holdrege. Alexander, Herminghaus and 
Kano are the nominees to be considered.

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established
 in 1961 to recognize prominent Nebraskans. One inductee is added every 
five years. To be eligible, a person must have been dead for at least 35
 years. Busts of the Hall of Fame selections are displayed at the State 
Capitol.

Honorees must have been born in Nebraska 
or gained prominence while living in Nebraska, or whose residence in 
Nebraska was an important influence on their lives and their greatness.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658159710554.png" alt="Famed Oglala Lakota Chief Red Cloud is among those enshrined in the Nebraska Hall of Fame, located in the State Capitol. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner) " />
 <figcaption>Famed Oglala Lakota Chief Red Cloud is among those enshrined in the Nebraska Hall of Fame, located in the State Capitol. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner) </figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMELL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/public-hearings-scheduled-for-latest-nominees-to-nebraska-hall-of-fame/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Three public hearing have been set to gather testimony about the eight new nominees to the Nebraska Hall of Fame.The State Hall of Fame Commission will hold hearings in each of the state’s three congressional districts.This year’s nominees are:<ul>
 <li>Famed baseball pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander of St. Paul.</li><li>Calvin Chapman of Nebraska City, said to be a key figure in the Underground Railroad and a former mayor.&nbsp;</li><li>Elzada Urseba Clover, born in Auburn, the first botanist to catalog plants in the Grand Canyon.</li><li>Howard Hanson of Wahoo, a composer, 
educator and champion of classical music. Won a Pulitzer Prize in 1944 
for his Symphony No. 4.</li><li>Ernst H. Herminghaus of Omaha and 
Lincoln. A landscape architect, he designed Lincoln’s Pioneers Park and 
was one of the founders of the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra.</li><li>The Rev. Hiram Hisanori Kano of 
Litchfield, an Episcopal priest who was interred during World War II 
along with other Japanese-Americans. He is considered a saint by the 
Episcopal Church.</li><li>Malcolm X, born in Omaha, also known as
 Malcolm Little and El Hajj Malik El Shabazz. He was a major figure in 
the Black power movement of the 1960s and an advocate for civil rights.</li><li>Emma Louise Pound of Lincoln, author 
and folklorist. She taught English at the University of Nebraska and was
 a pioneer in linguistic studies. As an athlete, Pound was the first
 and only woman in NU history to earn a men’s varsity letter, winning 
the university tennis title in 1891 and 1892 against men.</li>
 </ul>The first public hearing will be held 
Monday, at 6 p.m., at the Nebraska History Museum in Lincoln. For the 
first time, the Hall of Fame Commission will consider nominees based on 
the location of their nomination, so Alexander, Clover, Hanson and Pound
 will be considered in Lincoln.The Omaha hearing will be held Wednesday 
at 6 p.m. at the Revive Center, 2402 Lizzie Robinson Ave. Nominees for 
discussion are Chapman and Malcolm X.The hearing for the 3rd Congressional 
District will be held July 25 at 6 p.m. at the Phelps County Historical 
Society, 2701 Burlington St. in Holdrege. Alexander, Herminghaus and 
Kano are the nominees to be considered.The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established
 in 1961 to recognize prominent Nebraskans. One inductee is added every 
five years. To be eligible, a person must have been dead for at least 35
 years. Busts of the Hall of Fame selections are displayed at the State 
Capitol.Honorees must have been born in Nebraska 
or gained prominence while living in Nebraska, or whose residence in 
Nebraska was an important influence on their lives and their greatness.

Hearings scheduled for latest nominees to Nebraska Hall of Fame

WASHINGTON (AP) —A judge has temporarily barred two federal agencies from enforcing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-business-us-supreme-court-c462bcdd2ef65573712a916177e1ca32">directives issued by President Joe Biden's</a>&nbsp;administration that extended protections for LGBTQ people in schools and workplaces.

U.S. District Judge Charles Atchley Jr. in an order on Friday ruled for the 20 state attorneys general including Doug Peterson of Nebraska and Derek Schmidt of Kansas who sued last August claiming the Biden administration directives infringe on states' right to enact laws that, for example, prevent students from participating in sports based on their gender identity or requiring schools and businesses to provide bathrooms and showers to accommodate transgender people.

Atchley, appointed by President Donald Trump in 2020, agreed with the attorneys generals’ argument and issued a temporary injunction that prevents the agencies from applying that guidance on LGBTQ discrimination until the matter can be resolved by courts.

“As demonstrated above, the harm alleged by Plaintiff States is already occurring — their sovereign power to enforce their own legal code is hampered by the issuance of Defendants’ guidance and they face substantial pressure to change their state laws as a result,” Atchley wrote.

The attorneys general are from Nebraska, Kansas, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia.

The directives regarding discrimination based on sexual orientation was issued by the U.S. Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in June following a landmark civil rights decision by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/courts-supreme-courts-mi-state-wire-neil-gorsuch-ap-top-news-5a7b0e41a47a3c571dda69194758e7b1">U.S. Supreme Court in 2020</a>&nbsp;that, under a provision called Title VII, protects gay, lesbian and transgender people from discrimination in the workplace.

The Department of Education guidance from June 2021 said discrimination based on a student's sexual orientation or gender identity would be treated as a violation of Title IX, the 1972 federal law that protects sex discrimination in education.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission released guidance that month about what could constitute discrimination against LGBTQ people and advised the public about how to file a complaint.

With its guidance, the Biden administration in part took a stand against laws and proposals in a growing number of states that aim to forbid transgender girls from participating on female sports teams. The state attorneys general contend that the authority over such policies “properly belongs to Congress, the States, and the people.”

The education policy carried the possibility of federal sanctions against schools and colleges that fail to protect gay and transgender students.

The attorneys general argued that a delaying a legal review of the directives would “cause them significant hardship, as Defendants would be allowed to use the ‘fear of future sanctions’ to force ‘immediate compliance’ with the challenged guidance,” Atchley wrote.

“The Court finds that Plaintiffs have shown a credible threat of enforcement,” Atchley wrote. “Plaintiffs highlight that private litigants are relying on Defendants’ guidance to challenge Plaintiffs’ state laws.”

Atchley noted that the U.S. Department of Education has filed a statement of interest in a West Virginia lawsuit taking a position that Title IX prohibits the state from excluding transgender girls from participating in single-sex sports restricted to girls.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656352811868.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —A judge has temporarily barred two federal agencies from enforcing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-business-us-supreme-court-c462bcdd2ef65573712a916177e1ca32">directives issued by President Joe Biden's</a>&nbsp;administration that extended protections for LGBTQ people in schools and workplaces.U.S. District Judge Charles Atchley Jr. in an order on Friday ruled for the 20 state attorneys general including Doug Peterson of Nebraska and Derek Schmidt of Kansas who sued last August claiming the Biden administration directives infringe on states' right to enact laws that, for example, prevent students from participating in sports based on their gender identity or requiring schools and businesses to provide bathrooms and showers to accommodate transgender people.Atchley, appointed by President Donald Trump in 2020, agreed with the attorneys generals’ argument and issued a temporary injunction that prevents the agencies from applying that guidance on LGBTQ discrimination until the matter can be resolved by courts.“As demonstrated above, the harm alleged by Plaintiff States is already occurring — their sovereign power to enforce their own legal code is hampered by the issuance of Defendants’ guidance and they face substantial pressure to change their state laws as a result,” Atchley wrote.The attorneys general are from Nebraska, Kansas, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia.The directives regarding discrimination based on sexual orientation was issued by the U.S. Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in June following a landmark civil rights decision by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/courts-supreme-courts-mi-state-wire-neil-gorsuch-ap-top-news-5a7b0e41a47a3c571dda69194758e7b1">U.S. Supreme Court in 2020</a>&nbsp;that, under a provision called Title VII, protects gay, lesbian and transgender people from discrimination in the workplace.The Department of Education guidance from June 2021 said discrimination based on a student's sexual orientation or gender identity would be treated as a violation of Title IX, the 1972 federal law that protects sex discrimination in education.The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission released guidance that month about what could constitute discrimination against LGBTQ people and advised the public about how to file a complaint.With its guidance, the Biden administration in part took a stand against laws and proposals in a growing number of states that aim to forbid transgender girls from participating on female sports teams. The state attorneys general contend that the authority over such policies “properly belongs to Congress, the States, and the people.”The education policy carried the possibility of federal sanctions against schools and colleges that fail to protect gay and transgender students.The attorneys general argued that a delaying a legal review of the directives would “cause them significant hardship, as Defendants would be allowed to use the ‘fear of future sanctions’ to force ‘immediate compliance’ with the challenged guidance,” Atchley wrote.“The Court finds that Plaintiffs have shown a credible threat of enforcement,” Atchley wrote. “Plaintiffs highlight that private litigants are relying on Defendants’ guidance to challenge Plaintiffs’ state laws.”Atchley noted that the U.S. Department of Education has filed a statement of interest in a West Virginia lawsuit taking a position that Title IX prohibits the state from excluding transgender girls from participating in single-sex sports restricted to girls.

Win for Neb. AG: US agencies barred from enforcing LGBTQ guidance

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — The area in northern Colorado where a flash flood swept away a camping trailer, killing a woman and a child, received nearly an inch of rain in a matter of minutes.

Frank Cooper, a National Weather Service meteorologist, tells the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2022/07/16/fatal-larimer-county-flood-caused-by-20-minute-downpour-on-burn-scar/65375001007/">Fort Collins Coloradoan</a>&nbsp;that a gauge 3 to 4 miles (4.8 to 6.4 kilometers) northwest of Crystal Mountain received .91 inches (2.3 centimeters) of rain, with .67 inches (1.7 centimeters) of that coming from 5 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. Friday. He noted that radar estimated higher amounts of rain in the area that includes the burn scar left by the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire.

“The threshold for flash flooding is pretty low up there because of the soils in the burn scar,″ Cooper said. “One to two inches of rain in an hour is plenty sufficient to cause problems.″

David Moore, a spokesman for the Larimer County Sheriff's Office, told the newspaper that multiple reports of flash flooding in the area west of Fort Collins started coming in Friday evening, including one about a trailer being washed away in the upper to middle section of Buckhorn Canyon.

The victims — a woman and a girl — were found dead Friday night. Their names have not been released.

The flash flooding also destroyed a home, but the occupants were accounted for and no injuries were reported.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSFORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — The area in northern Colorado where a flash flood swept away a camping trailer, killing a woman and a child, received nearly an inch of rain in a matter of minutes.Frank Cooper, a National Weather Service meteorologist, tells the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2022/07/16/fatal-larimer-county-flood-caused-by-20-minute-downpour-on-burn-scar/65375001007/">Fort Collins Coloradoan</a>&nbsp;that a gauge 3 to 4 miles (4.8 to 6.4 kilometers) northwest of Crystal Mountain received .91 inches (2.3 centimeters) of rain, with .67 inches (1.7 centimeters) of that coming from 5 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. Friday. He noted that radar estimated higher amounts of rain in the area that includes the burn scar left by the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire.“The threshold for flash flooding is pretty low up there because of the soils in the burn scar,″ Cooper said. “One to two inches of rain in an hour is plenty sufficient to cause problems.″David Moore, a spokesman for the Larimer County Sheriff's Office, told the newspaper that multiple reports of flash flooding in the area west of Fort Collins started coming in Friday evening, including one about a trailer being washed away in the upper to middle section of Buckhorn Canyon.The victims — a woman and a girl — were found dead Friday night. Their names have not been released.The flash flooding also destroyed a home, but the occupants were accounted for and no injuries were reported.

Fatal Colorado flood caused by quick downpour on burn scar

JEFFERSON COUNTY— Two people died in an accident and one was arrested just after 2:30a.m. Sunday in Jefferson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Joseph Platt, 27, Meriden, was&nbsp; northbound on Kansas Highway 4 and NE Spring Creek Road&nbsp;

The motorcycle struck the passenger side rear door of a southbound 2003 Nissan Xterra driven by Jeremy Burd, 20, Topeka, that was turning left into a private drive.

Platt and a passenger in the Nissan 22-year-old Cameron Meinholdt of Topeka were pronounced dead at the scene and transported to&nbsp;Barnett Family Funeral Home.&nbsp;

EMS transported a passenger 20-year-old Grace Sheets of Topeka to Stormont Vail.&nbsp; A third passenger in the Nissan was not injured.

Burd is being held on a $100,000 bond on requested charges of Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol; 1st conv;competent evidence of blood/breath .08+: STAT and Vehicular homicide, according to online jail records. 

Meinholdt was not wearing a seat belt and Platt was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

JEFFERSON COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal accident that occurred just before 2:30a.m. Sunday in Jefferson&nbsp; County.

A vehicle northbound on Kansas Highway 4 and NE Spring Creek Road struck the passenger side rear door of a southbound vehicle that was turning left into a private drive.

The KHP released no additional details early Sunday afternoon. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658089631924.png" alt="Burd photo Jefferson Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Burd photo Jefferson Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON COUNTY— Two people died in an accident and one was arrested just after 2:30a.m. Sunday in Jefferson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Joseph Platt, 27, Meriden, was&nbsp; northbound on Kansas Highway 4 and NE Spring Creek Road&nbsp;The motorcycle struck the passenger side rear door of a southbound 2003 Nissan Xterra driven by Jeremy Burd, 20, Topeka, that was turning left into a private drive.Platt and a passenger in the Nissan 22-year-old Cameron Meinholdt of Topeka were pronounced dead at the scene and transported to&nbsp;Barnett Family Funeral Home.&nbsp;EMS transported a passenger 20-year-old Grace Sheets of Topeka to Stormont Vail.&nbsp; A third passenger in the Nissan was not injured.Burd is being held on a $100,000 bond on requested charges of Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol; 1st conv;competent evidence of blood/breath .08+: STAT and Vehicular homicide, according to online jail records. Meinholdt was not wearing a seat belt and Platt was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.------JEFFERSON COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal accident that occurred just before 2:30a.m. Sunday in Jefferson&nbsp; County.A vehicle northbound on Kansas Highway 4 and NE Spring Creek Road struck the passenger side rear door of a southbound vehicle that was turning left into a private drive.The KHP released no additional details early Sunday afternoon. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

Kansas man jailed after 2 killed in crash

The Endangered Missing Advisory activated to determine the whereabouts of Robert Francis has been canceled. The alert has been canceled due to being found safe.

Issued On: Sunday, July 17, 2022 at 5:10:18 PM Name:&nbsp;<a href="https://statepatrol.nebraska.gov/ema#">Robert Francis</a> Description: An Endangered Missing Advisory has been activated to determine the whereabouts of Robert Francis. An Endangered Missing Advisory has been issued for Eastern Nebraska. The Papillion Police Department is attempting to locate Robert W FRANCIS, an 85-year-old white male, approximately 5’ 10" tall, approximately 180 pounds, with white hair and brown eyes.

FRANCIS was wearing brown shoes, a grey t-shirt, and blue jeans. 

FRANCIS is missing from the 1400 block of south Grandview, Papillion, Nebraska, and last seen at 1:30 p.m. today. 

He left walking on foot and has dementia which may cause him to become disoriented and needs medication. 

If you have any information, please call 911, or contact the Papillion Police Department at (402) 597-2068 immediately.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658096236041.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Update 7.17.22 5:30 p.m.&nbsp; The Endangered Missing Advisory activated to determine the whereabouts of Robert Francis has been canceled. The alert has been canceled due to being found safe. Issued On: Sunday, July 17, 2022 at 5:10:18 PM Name:&nbsp;<a href="https://statepatrol.nebraska.gov/ema#">Robert Francis</a> Description: An Endangered Missing Advisory has been activated to determine the whereabouts of Robert Francis. An Endangered Missing Advisory has been issued for Eastern Nebraska. The Papillion Police Department is attempting to locate Robert W FRANCIS, an 85-year-old white male, approximately 5’ 10" tall, approximately 180 pounds, with white hair and brown eyes. FRANCIS was wearing brown shoes, a grey t-shirt, and blue jeans. FRANCIS is missing from the 1400 block of south Grandview, Papillion, Nebraska, and last seen at 1:30 p.m. today. He left walking on foot and has dementia which may cause him to become disoriented and needs medication. If you have any information, please call 911, or contact the Papillion Police Department at (402) 597-2068 immediately.&nbsp;&nbsp;<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://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ccyYLYb3lLZvcalpRn7FOx66ngWgB6DQYt1hwUm51Kbi4eiCwD2eoZBvL8N7CuGK62JnGEw7ERh8XARoiq-Sbh__hwyVay1DQ_XHtGgEe9y-tpol_NdIJn7IJJLkqprgTUXuBDjU7fmPn6itRA" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

UPDATED Missing Endangered Advisory issued for Papillion man with dementia

NUCKOLLS COUNTY, NE. — The U.S. Geological Survey says an earthquake centered near the Kansas, Nebraska state line in Nuckolls County had a preliminary magnitude of 3.7.

 The quake was reported just before 8a.m. Sunday, 4.3 miles southwest of Superior, Nebraska and was felt in many areas of Jewell County, Kansas. The Kansas Geological Survey indicated the quake measured magnitude 4.0.&nbsp;There were no immediate reports of damage.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658096570056.png" alt="Location of Sunday's quake-USGS image" />
 <figcaption>Location of Sunday's quake-USGS image</figcaption>
 </figure>NUCKOLLS COUNTY, NE. — The U.S. Geological Survey says an earthquake centered near the Kansas, Nebraska state line in Nuckolls County had a preliminary magnitude of 3.7. The quake was reported just before 8a.m. Sunday, 4.3 miles southwest of Superior, Nebraska and was felt in many areas of Jewell County, Kansas. The Kansas Geological Survey indicated the quake measured magnitude 4.0.&nbsp;There were no immediate reports of damage.&nbsp;

Earthquake reported near the Nebraska, Kansas state line

Eagle Radio operates <a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/post-news-network">nine Post news sites</a> in communities across Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri.

Here is a sampling of stories from last week:

<a href="https://littleapplepost.com/posts/c6b40452-04cf-43f9-9543-51f0dc203a79">🎥: Kansas-native plays Country Stampede for 10th time</a> From Little Apple Post

<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/406c2e91-d9da-4b84-9332-990b9cc7fb74#//">It's not too late to seek a new career, Missouri Western can help</a> From St. Joseph Post

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/63c386cd-e851-43c7-b628-073b8f2d09bf">NAMI brings mental health support to jails, prisons</a> From Hays Post

<a href="https://panhandlepost.com/posts/e2a29261-117a-4410-a9ac-44d9ca43da85">A-Town Zesto continues burger legacy in Alliance</a> From Panhandle Post

<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/a9425a02-e0c5-4309-95ef-4cc50c2acd9e">$60,000 customized car missing from Salina dealership</a> From Salina Post

<a href="https://jcpost.com/posts/e942541b-d464-490b-b88d-8cc5d6ef7a67">Concrete grandstand at Al Simpler Stadium is taken down</a> From JC Post

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/257df2ac-df7b-496b-9643-3eefc15df397">Edward's Street Brew &amp; Bites cuts ribbon in Larned</a> From Great Bend Post

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/ca578a56-f6d6-4f47-9ebc-f854801e657f">Communities That Care data shows kids in Reno County need help</a> From Hutch Post

<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/9e9ec18a-adf5-45ab-a8e0-80c7991fdf01">Eagle Radio employee-owner, Schmidt Foundation make donation to North Platte Habitat for Humanity</a> From North Platte Post

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587155364471.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Eagle Radio operates <a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/post-news-network">nine Post news sites</a> in communities across Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri.Here is a sampling of stories from last week:<a href="https://littleapplepost.com/posts/c6b40452-04cf-43f9-9543-51f0dc203a79">🎥: Kansas-native plays Country Stampede for 10th time</a> From Little Apple Post<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/406c2e91-d9da-4b84-9332-990b9cc7fb74#//">It's not too late to seek a new career, Missouri Western can help</a> From St. Joseph Post<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/63c386cd-e851-43c7-b628-073b8f2d09bf">NAMI brings mental health support to jails, prisons</a> From Hays Post<a href="https://panhandlepost.com/posts/e2a29261-117a-4410-a9ac-44d9ca43da85">A-Town Zesto continues burger legacy in Alliance</a> From Panhandle Post<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/a9425a02-e0c5-4309-95ef-4cc50c2acd9e">$60,000 customized car missing from Salina dealership</a> From Salina Post<a href="https://jcpost.com/posts/e942541b-d464-490b-b88d-8cc5d6ef7a67">Concrete grandstand at Al Simpler Stadium is taken down</a> From JC Post<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/257df2ac-df7b-496b-9643-3eefc15df397">Edward's Street Brew &amp; Bites cuts ribbon in Larned</a> From Great Bend Post<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/ca578a56-f6d6-4f47-9ebc-f854801e657f">Communities That Care data shows kids in Reno County need help</a> From Hutch Post<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/9e9ec18a-adf5-45ab-a8e0-80c7991fdf01">Eagle Radio employee-owner, Schmidt Foundation make donation to North Platte Habitat for Humanity</a> From North Platte Post

News From Around the Post News Network

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Long lines are back at food banks around the U.S. as working Americans overwhelmed by inflation turn to handouts to help feed their families.

With gas prices soaring along with grocery costs, many people are seeking charitable food for the first time, and more are arriving on foot.

Inflation in the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">is at a 40-year high</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-us-supreme-court-united-states-prices-congress-fd9b475349dc1d8365fbc2497a07de3b">gas prices have been surging</a>&nbsp;since April 2020, with the average cost nationwide briefly hitting $5 a gallon in June. Rapidly rising rents and an end to federal COVID-19 relief have also taken a financial toll.

The food banks, which had started to see some relief as people returned to work after pandemic shutdowns, are struggling to meet the latest need even as federal programs provide less food to distribute, grocery store donations wane and cash gifts don’t go nearly as far.

Tomasina John was among hundreds of families lined up in several lanes of cars that went around the block one recent day outside St. Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix. John said her family had never visited a food bank before because her husband had easily supported her and their four children with his construction work.

“But it’s really impossible to get by now without some help,” said John, who traveled with a neighbor to share gas costs as they idled under a scorching desert sun. “The prices are way too high.”

“It’s a real struggle,” said Pascual, a janitor who estimated he spends several hundred dollars a month on groceries for him, his wife and their five children aged 11 to 19.

The same scene is repeated across the nation, where food bank workers predict a rough summer keeping ahead of demand.

The surge in food prices comes after state governments&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-nebraska-iowa-des-moines-4ff5e0d51f61e6704f44dfc31279376a">ended COVID-19 disaster declarations</a>&nbsp;that temporarily allowed increased benefits under SNAP, the federal food stamp program covering some 40 million Americans .

“It does not look like it’s going to get better overnight,” said Katie Fitzgerald, president and chief operating officer for the national food bank network Feeding America. “Demand is really making the supply challenges complex.”

Charitable food distribution&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-hunger-coronavirus-pandemic-4c7f1705c6d8ef5bac241e6cc8e331bb">has remained far above amounts given away before the coronavirus pandemic</a>, even though&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-united-states-health-hunger-2c509e7e1ce108c47287b42315e2a0c3">demand tapered off somewhat late last year</a>.

Feeding America officials say second quarter data won't be ready until August, but they are hearing anecdotally from food banks nationwide that demand is soaring.

The Phoenix food bank's main distribution center doled out food packages to 4,271 families during the third week in June, a 78% increase over the 2,396 families served during the same week last year, said St. Mary's spokesman Jerry Brown.

More than 900 families line up at the distribution center every weekday for an emergency government food box stuffed with goods such as canned beans, peanut butter and rice, said Brown. St. Mary’s adds products purchased with cash donations, as well as food provided by local supermarkets like bread, carrots and pork chops for a combined package worth about $75.

Distribution by the Alameda County Community Food Bank in Northern California has ticked up since hitting a pandemic low at the beginning of this year, increasing from 890 households served on the third Friday in January to 1,410 households on the third Friday in June, said marketing director Michael Altfest.

At the Houston Food Bank, the largest food bank in the U.S. where food distribution levels earlier in the pandemic briefly peaked at a staggering 1 million pounds a day, an average of 610,000 pounds is now being given out daily.

That's up from about 500,000 pounds a day before the pandemic, said spokeswoman Paula Murphy said.

Murphy said cash donations have not eased, but inflation ensures they don’t go as far.

Food bank executives said the sudden surge in demand caught them off guard.

“Last year, we had expected a decrease in demand for 2022 because the economy had been doing so well,” said Michael Flood, CEO for the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. “This issue with inflation came on pretty suddenly.”

“A lot of these are people who are working and did OK during the pandemic and maybe even saw their wages go up,” said Flood. “But they have also seen food prices go up beyond their budgets.”

The Los Angeles bank gave away about 30 million pounds of food during the first three months of this year, slightly less than the previous quarter but still far more than the 22 million pounds given away during the first quarter of 2020.

Feeding America's Fitzgerald is calling on USDA and Congress to find a way to restore hundreds of millions of dollars worth of commodities recently lost with the end of several temporary programs to provide food to people in need. USDA commodities, which generally can represent as much as 30% of the food the banks disperse, accounted for more than 40% of all food distributed in fiscal year 2021 by the Feeding America network.

“There is a critical need for the public sector to purchase more food now," said Fitzgerald.

During the Trump administration, USDA bought several billions of dollars in pork, apples, dairy, potatoes and other products in a program that gave most of it to food banks. The “Food Purchase &amp; Distribution Program” designed to help American farmers harmed by tariffs and other practices of U.S. trade partners has since ended. There was $1.2 billion authorized for the 2019 fiscal year and another $1.4 billion authorized for fiscal 2020.

Another temporary&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food-to-usda/farmers-to-families-food-box">USDA “Farmers to Families” program</a>&nbsp;that provided emergency relief provided more than 155 million food boxes for families in need across the U.S. during the height of the pandemic before ending May 31, 2021.

For now, there's enough food, but there might not be in the future, said Michael G. Manning, president and CEO at Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank in Louisiana. He said high fuel costs also make it far more expensive to collect and distribute food.

The USDA's Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, which included Farmers to Families, was "a boon” for the Alameda County Community Food Bank, providing 5 billion pounds of commodities over a single year, said spokesman Altfest.

“So losing that was a big hit,” he said.

Altfest said as many as 10% of the people now seeking food are first timers, and a growing number are showing up on foot rather than in cars to save gas.

“The food they get from us is helping them save already-stretched budgets for other expenses like gas, rent, diapers and baby formula,” he said.

Meanwhile, food purchases by the bank have jumped from a monthly average of $250,000 before the pandemic to as high as $1.5 million now because of food prices. Rocketing gasoline costs forced the bank to increase its fuel budget by 66%, Altfest said.

Supply chain issues are also a problem, requiring the food bank to become more aggressive with procurement.

“We used to reorder when our inventory dropped to three weeks’ worth, now we reorder up to six weeks out,” said Altfest.

He said the food bank has already ordered and paid for whole chickens, stuffing, cranberries and other holiday feast items it will distribute for Thanksgiving, the busiest time of the year.

At the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation in Montebello east of Los Angeles, workers say they are seeing many families along with older people like Diane Martinez, who lined up one recent morning on foot.

Some of the hundreds of mostly Spanish-speaking recipients had cars parked nearby. They carried cloth bags, cardboard boxes or shoved pushcarts to pick up their food packages from the distribution site the Los Angeles bank serves.

“The prices of food are so high and they’re going up higher every day,” said Martinez, who expressed gratitude for the bags of black beans, ground beef and other groceries. “I’m so glad that they’re able to help us.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657814437167.png" alt="The surge in food prices comes after state governments&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-nebraska-iowa-des-moines-4ff5e0d51f61e6704f44dfc31279376a">ended COVID-19 disaster declarations</a>&nbsp;that temporarily allowed increased benefits under SNAP, the federal food stamp program covering some 40 million Americans." />
 <figcaption>The surge in food prices comes after state governments&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-nebraska-iowa-des-moines-4ff5e0d51f61e6704f44dfc31279376a">ended COVID-19 disaster declarations</a>&nbsp;that temporarily allowed increased benefits under SNAP, the federal food stamp program covering some 40 million Americans.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Long lines are back at food banks around the U.S. as working Americans overwhelmed by inflation turn to handouts to help feed their families.With gas prices soaring along with grocery costs, many people are seeking charitable food for the first time, and more are arriving on foot.Inflation in the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">is at a 40-year high</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-us-supreme-court-united-states-prices-congress-fd9b475349dc1d8365fbc2497a07de3b">gas prices have been surging</a>&nbsp;since April 2020, with the average cost nationwide briefly hitting $5 a gallon in June. Rapidly rising rents and an end to federal COVID-19 relief have also taken a financial toll.The food banks, which had started to see some relief as people returned to work after pandemic shutdowns, are struggling to meet the latest need even as federal programs provide less food to distribute, grocery store donations wane and cash gifts don’t go nearly as far.Tomasina John was among hundreds of families lined up in several lanes of cars that went around the block one recent day outside St. Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix. John said her family had never visited a food bank before because her husband had easily supported her and their four children with his construction work.“But it’s really impossible to get by now without some help,” said John, who traveled with a neighbor to share gas costs as they idled under a scorching desert sun. “The prices are way too high.”Jesus Pascual was also in the queue.“It’s a real struggle,” said Pascual, a janitor who estimated he spends several hundred dollars a month on groceries for him, his wife and their five children aged 11 to 19.The same scene is repeated across the nation, where food bank workers predict a rough summer keeping ahead of demand.The surge in food prices comes after state governments&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-nebraska-iowa-des-moines-4ff5e0d51f61e6704f44dfc31279376a">ended COVID-19 disaster declarations</a>&nbsp;that temporarily allowed increased benefits under SNAP, the federal food stamp program covering some 40 million Americans .“It does not look like it’s going to get better overnight,” said Katie Fitzgerald, president and chief operating officer for the national food bank network Feeding America. “Demand is really making the supply challenges complex.”Charitable food distribution&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-hunger-coronavirus-pandemic-4c7f1705c6d8ef5bac241e6cc8e331bb">has remained far above amounts given away before the coronavirus pandemic</a>, even though&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-united-states-health-hunger-2c509e7e1ce108c47287b42315e2a0c3">demand tapered off somewhat late last year</a>.Feeding America officials say second quarter data won't be ready until August, but they are hearing anecdotally from food banks nationwide that demand is soaring.The Phoenix food bank's main distribution center doled out food packages to 4,271 families during the third week in June, a 78% increase over the 2,396 families served during the same week last year, said St. Mary's spokesman Jerry Brown.More than 900 families line up at the distribution center every weekday for an emergency government food box stuffed with goods such as canned beans, peanut butter and rice, said Brown. St. Mary’s adds products purchased with cash donations, as well as food provided by local supermarkets like bread, carrots and pork chops for a combined package worth about $75.Distribution by the Alameda County Community Food Bank in Northern California has ticked up since hitting a pandemic low at the beginning of this year, increasing from 890 households served on the third Friday in January to 1,410 households on the third Friday in June, said marketing director Michael Altfest.At the Houston Food Bank, the largest food bank in the U.S. where food distribution levels earlier in the pandemic briefly peaked at a staggering 1 million pounds a day, an average of 610,000 pounds is now being given out daily.That's up from about 500,000 pounds a day before the pandemic, said spokeswoman Paula Murphy said.Murphy said cash donations have not eased, but inflation ensures they don’t go as far.Food bank executives said the sudden surge in demand caught them off guard.“Last year, we had expected a decrease in demand for 2022 because the economy had been doing so well,” said Michael Flood, CEO for the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. “This issue with inflation came on pretty suddenly.”“A lot of these are people who are working and did OK during the pandemic and maybe even saw their wages go up,” said Flood. “But they have also seen food prices go up beyond their budgets.”The Los Angeles bank gave away about 30 million pounds of food during the first three months of this year, slightly less than the previous quarter but still far more than the 22 million pounds given away during the first quarter of 2020.Feeding America's Fitzgerald is calling on USDA and Congress to find a way to restore hundreds of millions of dollars worth of commodities recently lost with the end of several temporary programs to provide food to people in need. USDA commodities, which generally can represent as much as 30% of the food the banks disperse, accounted for more than 40% of all food distributed in fiscal year 2021 by the Feeding America network.“There is a critical need for the public sector to purchase more food now," said Fitzgerald.During the Trump administration, USDA bought several billions of dollars in pork, apples, dairy, potatoes and other products in a program that gave most of it to food banks. The “Food Purchase &amp; Distribution Program” designed to help American farmers harmed by tariffs and other practices of U.S. trade partners has since ended. There was $1.2 billion authorized for the 2019 fiscal year and another $1.4 billion authorized for fiscal 2020.Another temporary&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food-to-usda/farmers-to-families-food-box">USDA “Farmers to Families” program</a>&nbsp;that provided emergency relief provided more than 155 million food boxes for families in need across the U.S. during the height of the pandemic before ending May 31, 2021.For now, there's enough food, but there might not be in the future, said Michael G. Manning, president and CEO at Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank in Louisiana. He said high fuel costs also make it far more expensive to collect and distribute food.The USDA's Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, which included Farmers to Families, was "a boon” for the Alameda County Community Food Bank, providing 5 billion pounds of commodities over a single year, said spokesman Altfest.“So losing that was a big hit,” he said.Altfest said as many as 10% of the people now seeking food are first timers, and a growing number are showing up on foot rather than in cars to save gas.“The food they get from us is helping them save already-stretched budgets for other expenses like gas, rent, diapers and baby formula,” he said.Meanwhile, food purchases by the bank have jumped from a monthly average of $250,000 before the pandemic to as high as $1.5 million now because of food prices. Rocketing gasoline costs forced the bank to increase its fuel budget by 66%, Altfest said.Supply chain issues are also a problem, requiring the food bank to become more aggressive with procurement.“We used to reorder when our inventory dropped to three weeks’ worth, now we reorder up to six weeks out,” said Altfest.He said the food bank has already ordered and paid for whole chickens, stuffing, cranberries and other holiday feast items it will distribute for Thanksgiving, the busiest time of the year.At the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation in Montebello east of Los Angeles, workers say they are seeing many families along with older people like Diane Martinez, who lined up one recent morning on foot.Some of the hundreds of mostly Spanish-speaking recipients had cars parked nearby. They carried cloth bags, cardboard boxes or shoved pushcarts to pick up their food packages from the distribution site the Los Angeles bank serves.“The prices of food are so high and they’re going up higher every day,” said Martinez, who expressed gratitude for the bags of black beans, ground beef and other groceries. “I’m so glad that they’re able to help us.”

Long lines are back at US food banks as inflation hits high

By ALLISON WINTER <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/07/14/as-aging-farmers-retire-lawmakers-explore-how-to-boost-beginning-producers/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON — More
 than half of American farmers will reach retirement age in the next 10 
years, but the steep price of entry to start a farm, along with rising 
input costs and volatile markets, make it tough for young and beginning 
farmers to take their places.

“Farming is inherently a risky 
business, but in the environment we are in right now, that risk is 
elevated,” Nathan Kauffman, vice president and economist at the Federal 
Reserve Bank of Kansas City in Omaha, testified at a U.S. House 
Agriculture Committee hearing Thursday.&nbsp;

The current financial outlook for farmers is particularly challenging.&nbsp;

Farmers face rising costs for not 
only farmland, but also fertilizer, fuel, seeds and chemicals. These 
rising costs are due in part to the war in Ukraine, strains on the 
global supply system, inflation and severe weather.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, high crop prices that have buoyed farmers over the past year are expected to go down.&nbsp;

“Uncertainty about the outlook for 
the U.S. agriculture economy is high and will depend significantly on 
global factors, particularly the war in Ukraine and the strength of 
global economic activity,” said Kauffman.

Demand for farm loans is expected to 
rise notably, and capital expenditure is expected to decline in the 
coming months for the first time since 2020, according to Kauffman.&nbsp;

House lawmakers are looking for ways 
to mitigate some of these risks and support young and beginning farmers 
in the next farm bill, the sweeping legislation that will set programs 
and funding levels for farm and food support for the next five years.&nbsp;

“It is a national and very critical 
issue. And we must ensure that the next generation of men and women can 
take the place of those who are retiring from this grand occupation 
called farming,”&nbsp; House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott, a 
Georgia Democrat, told his colleagues at the hearing.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657894752931.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALLISON WINTER <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/07/14/as-aging-farmers-retire-lawmakers-explore-how-to-boost-beginning-producers/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON — More
 than half of American farmers will reach retirement age in the next 10 
years, but the steep price of entry to start a farm, along with rising 
input costs and volatile markets, make it tough for young and beginning 
farmers to take their places.“Farming is inherently a risky 
business, but in the environment we are in right now, that risk is 
elevated,” Nathan Kauffman, vice president and economist at the Federal 
Reserve Bank of Kansas City in Omaha, testified at a U.S. House 
Agriculture Committee hearing Thursday.&nbsp;The current financial outlook for farmers is particularly challenging.&nbsp;Farmers face rising costs for not 
only farmland, but also fertilizer, fuel, seeds and chemicals. These 
rising costs are due in part to the war in Ukraine, strains on the 
global supply system, inflation and severe weather.&nbsp;Meanwhile, high crop prices that have buoyed farmers over the past year are expected to go down.&nbsp;“Uncertainty about the outlook for 
the U.S. agriculture economy is high and will depend significantly on 
global factors, particularly the war in Ukraine and the strength of 
global economic activity,” said Kauffman.Demand for farm loans is expected to 
rise notably, and capital expenditure is expected to decline in the 
coming months for the first time since 2020, according to Kauffman.&nbsp;House lawmakers are looking for ways 
to mitigate some of these risks and support young and beginning farmers 
in the next farm bill, the sweeping legislation that will set programs 
and funding levels for farm and food support for the next five years.&nbsp;“It is a national and very critical 
issue. And we must ensure that the next generation of men and women can 
take the place of those who are retiring from this grand occupation 
called farming,”&nbsp; House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott, a 
Georgia Democrat, told his colleagues at the hearing.&nbsp;“This is very critical to me. And credit is one of those tools that we must make readily available,” Scott said.<h2>An aging demographic</h2>Aging farmers and the price of entry in the industry pose a challenge for U.S. agriculture.A third of America’s 3.4 million 
farmers are over 65, according to the most recent agricultural census 
from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The census was taken in 2017 
and published in 2019.&nbsp;At the time, nearly a million more farmers were within a decade of the milestone retirement age of 65.&nbsp;The census found that 27% of farmers 
qualify as “new and beginning producers,” with 10 years or less of 
experience in agriculture. Most of those farmers have operations that 
are smaller than average, both in terms of acres and value of 
production, according to USDA.Members of the House Agriculture 
Committee said they are particularly interested in whether young, 
beginning or underserved farmers have access to credit, so they can get 
started in the high-capital world of agriculture.“In any agriculture operation, one of
 the most critical relationships the farmer may have is with his or her 
lender. This is especially true for young and beginning producers. 
Farming is capital intensive,” said Rep. Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania,
 the top Republican on the committee.“The cost of entry is incredibly high
 and can act as a barrier to entry for these new agriculturalists trying
 to start or grow their farm operations.”<h2>Challenge for federal loans</h2>The Agriculture Department’s Farm 
Services Agency has an array of different loans available to farmers, 
including one targeted at young and beginning farmers.&nbsp;But in practice, producers say, the federal loan process can be laborious, slow and hard to access.The struggle to obtain a loan can be 
especially acute for Black farmers, who can face racism and 
discrimination in applying for a loan, according to Dania Davy of the 
Alcorn State University Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers 
Policy Research Center in East Point, Georgia.Black farmers have reached out to her
 group for help when the Farm Services Agency recommended they use their
 credit card instead of a federal loan, or when loan delays put a 
generational family farm at risk.“As we review the farm bill and 
prepare for the scheduled reauthorization, we must make use of the 
opportunity to prevent the looming threat of loss of Black farms, land 
and livelihoods that has been institutionalized by racially disparate 
credit access,” Davy told the committee.&nbsp;Davy recommends a more robust civil rights process at the local level with farm loan field agencies.<h2>Long wait for loan approval</h2>Julia Asherman, who owns a small 
organic farm in Jeffersonville, Georgia, was able to finance her 
operation with three different Farm Service Agency loans.&nbsp;But she said even her success story 
highlights some roadblocks in the process. It took two months for her to
 get approval for her loan, and there was no option for pre-approval 
before she identified land to purchase. In a competitive market, a 
landowner would likely move on to the next bidder rather than wait that 
long for a loan.“Farmers easily lose out on potential
 properties by not being able to act fast, and I’ve known several 
farmers personally who have not been able to use FSA loans to purchase 
for this reason,” Asherman said.Asherman has a three-acre certified 
organic vegetable and specialty cut flower farm with five employees, 
three full-time and two part-time — a business she runs with no off-farm
 income.&nbsp;But the FSA loan process is geared toward much larger operations, and it was a struggle to prove the validity of her farm.“Their expectation of what a farm 
would look like, what it would gross per acre, and what it could produce
 per acre was in a totally different realm from what my understanding 
was, because they were really talking about a different kind of 
farming,” Asherman said.The hearing was one in a series as the House Agriculture Committee ramps up its oversight work for the 2023 farm bill.&nbsp;Hearings are set in Washington this 
month to examine farm credit, crop insurance and forestry programs. 
Lawmakers plan to take their show on the road in August with field 
hearings slated in committee members’ districts across the country.