WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. announced it will send an additional $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine, as America and its allies provide longer-range weapons they say can make a difference in a fight where Ukrainian forces are outnumbered and outgunned by their Russian invaders.

President Joe Biden and his top national security leaders said Wednesday the U.S. is moving as fast as possible to get critical weapons to the fight, even as Ukrainian officials protest that they need more, faster, in order to survive.

The latest package, the U.S. said, includes anti-ship missile launchers, howitzers and more rounds for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) that U.S. forces are training Ukrainian troops on now. All are key weapons systems that Ukrainian leaders have urgently requested as they battle to stall Russia’s slow but steady march to conquer the eastern Donbas region.

“Gen. Milley and I have been in a number of fights. And when you’re in a fight, you can never get enough,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at a press conference in Brussels, referring to Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“I certainly understand where the Ukrainians are coming from, and we’re gonna fight hard to give them everything they need.”

The HIMARS and anti-ship systems are the kinds of longer range capabilities that over time can make a difference in the fight, Milley said. He said Ukraine will have trained HIMARS crews in the fight in a few weeks.

“If they use the weapon properly and it’s employed properly, they ought to be able to take out a significant amount of targets and that will make a difference,” he said. But he also noted that the numbers clearly favor the Russians.

“In terms of artillery, they do outnumber, they out-gun and out-range” the Ukrainian forces.

The aid is the largest single tranche of weapons and equipment since the war began. Biden, who spoke by phone with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for about 40 minutes Wednesday, also said the U.S. will send $225 million more in humanitarian assistance to provide safe drinking water, medical supplies, food, health care, shelter and money for families to buy essential items.

The U.S. remains committed, Biden said in a statement, “to supporting the Ukrainian people whose lives have been ripped apart by this war.”

The aid comes as Austin convened a meeting in Brussels of more than 45 nations to discuss support for Ukraine. At the start of the meeting, he warned that the West must step up weapons deliveries to Ukraine and prove its commitment to helping the country’s military fight along a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line in a grinding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-united-nations-business-374b9aab6f67f78839b2cbb630bd6a45">war of attrition</a>&nbsp;with Russia.

He told the participating nations, “We can’t afford to let up and we can’t lose steam. The stakes are too high.”

Overall, since the war began in late February, the U.S. has committed about $5.6 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, including this latest package. Officials said that about one-third of the latest $1 billion will be from presidential drawdown authority, which means the Pentagon will take weapons and equipment from it’s own stock and ship them to Ukraine. The remaining two-thirds would be equipment and weapons purchased from industry by the U.S. and then transferred to Ukraine.

Austin’s meeting, also attended by Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, came on the opening day of a two-day gathering of NATO defense ministers at the alliance headquarters.

Increased arms supplies can’t come too soon for the Ukrainian forces battling to keep Russia from taking control of their country’s industrial east after more than 3½ months of war. In his nightly address to the nation, President Zelenskyy pleaded Tuesday for more and faster deliveries of Western arms, specifically asking for anti-missile defense systems.

“Allies are committed to continue providing the military equipment that Ukraine needs to prevail, including heavy weapons and long-range systems,” said Jens Stoltenberg, NATO secretary-general.

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said Tuesday that without help from the West, “we will not be able to win this war.” She said Ukraine uses 5,000 to 6,000 artillery rounds a day, while Russia uses 10 times that many.

The defense ministers also planned to discuss moves to beef up forces along NATO’s own eastern flank and elsewhere, which have gathered strength since Russia invaded Ukraine.

“This will mean more presence, more capabilities and higher readiness, with more NATO forward deployed combat formations to strengthen our battlegroups in the East, more air, sea and cyber defenses, pre-positioned equipment and weapon stockpiles,” Stoltenberg said.

On a separate but related subject, he wouldn’t commit to a timeframe for Sweden and Finland joining NATO. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is blocking the membership bids, accusing the Nordic nations of supporting Kurdish militants deemed by Turkey to be terrorists.

“My aim is to solve this issue as soon as possible, but since we are several nations involved in this process, there is no way to tell you exactly when we will solve it,” Stoltenberg said.

Because of Turkey’s concerns, “this will take some more time than we originally expected,” he said.

Erdogan signaled Wednesday he won’t back down.

“We will most definitely not change our stance until Sweden and Finland take clear, concrete and determined steps in the fight against terrorism,” Erdogan said in an address to his ruling party’s legislators.

All 30 NATO members must agree to admit new members.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. announced it will send an additional $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine, as America and its allies provide longer-range weapons they say can make a difference in a fight where Ukrainian forces are outnumbered and outgunned by their Russian invaders.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Right now, <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a> is in Brussels hosting the next iteration of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. More than 50 countries gathered today to coordinate bolstering Ukraine’s defense capabilities against Russia’s invasion. <a href="https://t.co/mSuRzQeYl4">pic.twitter.com/mSuRzQeYl4</a>&mdash; Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofDefense/status/1537144797244313600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>President Joe Biden and his top national security leaders said Wednesday the U.S. is moving as fast as possible to get critical weapons to the fight, even as Ukrainian officials protest that they need more, faster, in order to survive.The latest package, the U.S. said, includes anti-ship missile launchers, howitzers and more rounds for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) that U.S. forces are training Ukrainian troops on now. All are key weapons systems that Ukrainian leaders have urgently requested as they battle to stall Russia’s slow but steady march to conquer the eastern Donbas region.“Gen. Milley and I have been in a number of fights. And when you’re in a fight, you can never get enough,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at a press conference in Brussels, referring to Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.“I certainly understand where the Ukrainians are coming from, and we’re gonna fight hard to give them everything they need.”The HIMARS and anti-ship systems are the kinds of longer range capabilities that over time can make a difference in the fight, Milley said. He said Ukraine will have trained HIMARS crews in the fight in a few weeks.“If they use the weapon properly and it’s employed properly, they ought to be able to take out a significant amount of targets and that will make a difference,” he said. But he also noted that the numbers clearly favor the Russians.“In terms of artillery, they do outnumber, they out-gun and out-range” the Ukrainian forces.The aid is the largest single tranche of weapons and equipment since the war began. Biden, who spoke by phone with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for about 40 minutes Wednesday, also said the U.S. will send $225 million more in humanitarian assistance to provide safe drinking water, medical supplies, food, health care, shelter and money for families to buy essential items.The U.S. remains committed, Biden said in a statement, “to supporting the Ukrainian people whose lives have been ripped apart by this war.”The aid comes as Austin convened a meeting in Brussels of more than 45 nations to discuss support for Ukraine. At the start of the meeting, he warned that the West must step up weapons deliveries to Ukraine and prove its commitment to helping the country’s military fight along a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line in a grinding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-united-nations-business-374b9aab6f67f78839b2cbb630bd6a45">war of attrition</a>&nbsp;with Russia.He told the participating nations, “We can’t afford to let up and we can’t lose steam. The stakes are too high.”Overall, since the war began in late February, the U.S. has committed about $5.6 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, including this latest package. Officials said that about one-third of the latest $1 billion will be from presidential drawdown authority, which means the Pentagon will take weapons and equipment from it’s own stock and ship them to Ukraine. The remaining two-thirds would be equipment and weapons purchased from industry by the U.S. and then transferred to Ukraine.Austin’s meeting, also attended by Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, came on the opening day of a two-day gathering of NATO defense ministers at the alliance headquarters.Increased arms supplies can’t come too soon for the Ukrainian forces battling to keep Russia from taking control of their country’s industrial east after more than 3½ months of war. In his nightly address to the nation, President Zelenskyy pleaded Tuesday for more and faster deliveries of Western arms, specifically asking for anti-missile defense systems.“Allies are committed to continue providing the military equipment that Ukraine needs to prevail, including heavy weapons and long-range systems,” said Jens Stoltenberg, NATO secretary-general.Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said Tuesday that without help from the West, “we will not be able to win this war.” She said Ukraine uses 5,000 to 6,000 artillery rounds a day, while Russia uses 10 times that many.The defense ministers also planned to discuss moves to beef up forces along NATO’s own eastern flank and elsewhere, which have gathered strength since Russia invaded Ukraine.“This will mean more presence, more capabilities and higher readiness, with more NATO forward deployed combat formations to strengthen our battlegroups in the East, more air, sea and cyber defenses, pre-positioned equipment and weapon stockpiles,” Stoltenberg said.On a separate but related subject, he wouldn’t commit to a timeframe for Sweden and Finland joining NATO. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is blocking the membership bids, accusing the Nordic nations of supporting Kurdish militants deemed by Turkey to be terrorists.“My aim is to solve this issue as soon as possible, but since we are several nations involved in this process, there is no way to tell you exactly when we will solve it,” Stoltenberg said.Because of Turkey’s concerns, “this will take some more time than we originally expected,” he said.Erdogan signaled Wednesday he won’t back down.“We will most definitely not change our stance until Sweden and Finland take clear, concrete and determined steps in the fight against terrorism,” Erdogan said in an address to his ruling party’s legislators.All 30 NATO members must agree to admit new members.

Biden: US will send another $1 billion in aid to Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve on Wednesday intensified its drive to tame high inflation by raising its key interest rate by three-quarters of a point — its largest hike in nearly three decades — and signaling more large rate increases to come that would raise the risk of another recession.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?521042-1/fed-chair-powell-briefs-reporters-announcing-75-percent-interest-rate-hike&amp;live">Click here to watch</a> Fed Chairman Powell's news confrerence

The move the Fed announced after its latest policy meeting will raise its benchmark short-term rate, which affects many consumer and business loans, to a range of 1.5% to 1.75%. With the additional rate hikes they foresee, the policymakers expect their key rate to reach a range of 3.25% to 3.5% by year’s end — the highest level since 2008 — meaning that most forms of borrowing will become sharply more expensive.

The central bank is ramping up its drive to tighten credit and slow growth with inflation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/key-inflation-report-highest-level-in-four-decades-c0248c5b5705cd1523d3dab3771983b4">having reached a four-decade high of 8.6%</a>, spreading to more areas of the economy and showing no sign of slowing. Americans are also starting to expect high inflation to last longer than they had before. This sentiment could embed an inflationary psychology in the economy that would make it harder to bring inflation back to the Fed’s 2% target.

The Fed’s three-quarter-point rate increase exceeds the half-point hike that Chair Jerome Powell had previously suggested was likely to be announced this week. The Fed’s decision to impose a rate hike as large as it did Wednesday was an acknowledgment that it’s struggling to curb the pace and persistence of inflation, which has been worsened by Russia’s war against Ukraine and its effects on energy prices.

Borrowing costs have already risen sharply across much of the U.S. economy in response to the Fed’s moves, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate topping 6%, its highest level since before the 2008 financial crisis, up from just 3% at the start of the year. The yield on the 2-year Treasury note, a benchmark for corporate borrowing, has jumped to 3.3%, its highest level since 2007.

Even if a recession can be avoided, economists say it’s almost inevitable that the Fed will have to inflict some pain — most likely in the form of higher unemployment — as the price of defeating chronically high inflation.

Inflation has shot to the top of voter concerns in the months before Congress’ midterm elections, souring the public’s view of the economy, weakening President Joe Biden’s approval ratings and raising the likelihood of Democratic losses in November. Biden has sought to show he recognizes the pain that inflation is causing American households but has struggled to find policy actions that might make a real difference. The president has stressed his belief that the power to curb inflation rests mainly with the Fed.

Yet the Fed’s rate hikes are blunt tools for trying to lower inflation while also sustaining growth. Shortages of oil, gasoline and food are propelling inflation. The Fed isn’t ideally suited to address many of the roots of inflation, which involve Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, still-clogged global supply chains, labor shortages and surging demand for services from airline tickets to restaurant meals.

In their updated forecasts Wednesday, the Fed’s policymakers indicated that after this year’s rate increases, they foresee two more rate hikes by the end of 2023, at which point they expect inflation to finally fall below 3%, close to their 2% target. But they expect inflation to still be 5.2% at the end of this year, much higher than they’d estimated in March.

Over the next two years, the officials are forecasting a much weaker economy than was envisioned in March. They expect the unemployment rate to reach 3.7% by year’s end and 3.9% by the end of 2023. Those are only slight increases from the current 3.6% jobless rate. But they mark the first time since it began raising rates that the Fed has acknowledged that its actions will weaken the economy.

The central bank has also sharply lowered its projections for economic growth, to 1.7% this year and next. That’s below its outlook in March but better than some economists’ expectation for a recession next year.

Expectations for larger Fed hikes have sent a range of interest rates to their highest points in years. The yield on the 2-year Treasury note, a benchmark for corporate bonds, has reached 3.3%, its highest level since 2007. The 10-year Treasury yield, which directly affects mortgage rates, has hit 3.4%, up nearly a half-point since last week and the highest level since 2011.

Investments around the world, from bonds to bitcoin, have tumbled on fears surrounding high inflation and the prospect that the Fed’s aggressive drive to control it will cause a recession. Even if the Fed manages the delicate trick of curbing inflation without causing a recession, higher rates will nevertheless inflict pressure on stock prices. The S&amp;P 500 has already sunk more than 20% this year, meeting the definition of a bear market.

Other central banks are also acting swiftly to try to quell surging inflation, even with their nations at greater risk of recession than the U.S. The European Central Bank is expected to raise rates by a quarter-point in July, its first increase in 11 years. It could announce a larger hike in September if record-high levels of inflation persist. On Wednesday, the ECB vowed to create a market backstop that could buffer member countries against financial turmoil of the kind that erupted during a debt crisis more than a decade ago.

The Bank of England has raised rates four times since December to a 13-year high, despite predictions that economic growth will be unchanged in the second quarter. The BOE will hold an interest rate meeting on Thursday.

Last week, the World Bank warned of the threat of “stagflation” — slow growth accompanied by high inflation — around the world.

A key reason why a recession is now likelier is that economists increasingly believe that for the Fed to slow inflation to its 2% target, it will need to sharply reduce consumer spending, wage gains and economic growth. Ultimately, the unemployment rate will almost certainly have to rise — something the Fed hasn’t yet forecast but could in updated economic projections it will issue Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655318695067.png" alt="Borrowing costs have already risen sharply across much of the U.S. economy in response to the Fed’s moves, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate topping 6%, its highest level since before the 2008 financial crisis.-Fed Chairman Jerome Powell during Wednesday's news conference- courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Borrowing costs have already risen sharply across much of the U.S. economy in response to the Fed’s moves, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate topping 6%, its highest level since before the 2008 financial crisis.-Fed Chairman Jerome Powell during Wednesday's news conference- courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve on Wednesday intensified its drive to tame high inflation by raising its key interest rate by three-quarters of a point — its largest hike in nearly three decades — and signaling more large rate increases to come that would raise the risk of another recession.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?521042-1/fed-chair-powell-briefs-reporters-announcing-75-percent-interest-rate-hike&amp;live">Click here to watch</a> Fed Chairman Powell's news confrerenceThe move the Fed announced after its latest policy meeting will raise its benchmark short-term rate, which affects many consumer and business loans, to a range of 1.5% to 1.75%. With the additional rate hikes they foresee, the policymakers expect their key rate to reach a range of 3.25% to 3.5% by year’s end — the highest level since 2008 — meaning that most forms of borrowing will become sharply more expensive.The central bank is ramping up its drive to tighten credit and slow growth with inflation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/key-inflation-report-highest-level-in-four-decades-c0248c5b5705cd1523d3dab3771983b4">having reached a four-decade high of 8.6%</a>, spreading to more areas of the economy and showing no sign of slowing. Americans are also starting to expect high inflation to last longer than they had before. This sentiment could embed an inflationary psychology in the economy that would make it harder to bring inflation back to the Fed’s 2% target.The Fed’s three-quarter-point rate increase exceeds the half-point hike that Chair Jerome Powell had previously suggested was likely to be announced this week. The Fed’s decision to impose a rate hike as large as it did Wednesday was an acknowledgment that it’s struggling to curb the pace and persistence of inflation, which has been worsened by Russia’s war against Ukraine and its effects on energy prices.Borrowing costs have already risen sharply across much of the U.S. economy in response to the Fed’s moves, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate topping 6%, its highest level since before the 2008 financial crisis, up from just 3% at the start of the year. The yield on the 2-year Treasury note, a benchmark for corporate borrowing, has jumped to 3.3%, its highest level since 2007.Even if a recession can be avoided, economists say it’s almost inevitable that the Fed will have to inflict some pain — most likely in the form of higher unemployment — as the price of defeating chronically high inflation.Inflation has shot to the top of voter concerns in the months before Congress’ midterm elections, souring the public’s view of the economy, weakening President Joe Biden’s approval ratings and raising the likelihood of Democratic losses in November. Biden has sought to show he recognizes the pain that inflation is causing American households but has struggled to find policy actions that might make a real difference. The president has stressed his belief that the power to curb inflation rests mainly with the Fed.Yet the Fed’s rate hikes are blunt tools for trying to lower inflation while also sustaining growth. Shortages of oil, gasoline and food are propelling inflation. The Fed isn’t ideally suited to address many of the roots of inflation, which involve Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, still-clogged global supply chains, labor shortages and surging demand for services from airline tickets to restaurant meals.In their updated forecasts Wednesday, the Fed’s policymakers indicated that after this year’s rate increases, they foresee two more rate hikes by the end of 2023, at which point they expect inflation to finally fall below 3%, close to their 2% target. But they expect inflation to still be 5.2% at the end of this year, much higher than they’d estimated in March.Over the next two years, the officials are forecasting a much weaker economy than was envisioned in March. They expect the unemployment rate to reach 3.7% by year’s end and 3.9% by the end of 2023. Those are only slight increases from the current 3.6% jobless rate. But they mark the first time since it began raising rates that the Fed has acknowledged that its actions will weaken the economy.The central bank has also sharply lowered its projections for economic growth, to 1.7% this year and next. That’s below its outlook in March but better than some economists’ expectation for a recession next year.Expectations for larger Fed hikes have sent a range of interest rates to their highest points in years. The yield on the 2-year Treasury note, a benchmark for corporate bonds, has reached 3.3%, its highest level since 2007. The 10-year Treasury yield, which directly affects mortgage rates, has hit 3.4%, up nearly a half-point since last week and the highest level since 2011.Investments around the world, from bonds to bitcoin, have tumbled on fears surrounding high inflation and the prospect that the Fed’s aggressive drive to control it will cause a recession. Even if the Fed manages the delicate trick of curbing inflation without causing a recession, higher rates will nevertheless inflict pressure on stock prices. The S&amp;P 500 has already sunk more than 20% this year, meeting the definition of a bear market.Other central banks are also acting swiftly to try to quell surging inflation, even with their nations at greater risk of recession than the U.S. The European Central Bank is expected to raise rates by a quarter-point in July, its first increase in 11 years. It could announce a larger hike in September if record-high levels of inflation persist. On Wednesday, the ECB vowed to create a market backstop that could buffer member countries against financial turmoil of the kind that erupted during a debt crisis more than a decade ago.The Bank of England has raised rates four times since December to a 13-year high, despite predictions that economic growth will be unchanged in the second quarter. The BOE will hold an interest rate meeting on Thursday.Last week, the World Bank warned of the threat of “stagflation” — slow growth accompanied by high inflation — around the world.A key reason why a recession is now likelier is that economists increasingly believe that for the Fed to slow inflation to its 2% target, it will need to sharply reduce consumer spending, wage gains and economic growth. Ultimately, the unemployment rate will almost certainly have to rise — something the Fed hasn’t yet forecast but could in updated economic projections it will issue Wednesday.

🎥 Largest interest rate hike since 1994 to attack inflation

News Release Lincoln Police Department

The Lincoln Police Department is investigating an incident where an officer fired his service weapon at an aggressive dog. 

On June 14, at approximately 7:45 pm, officers were at a residence in the 1300 block of Manatt St. for a follow-up investigation.  After knocking at the door, the officer stepped back from the front porch while a second officer was standing further back. A woman answered the door and stepped outside and upon learning that the officers were there to speak to her boyfriend, she turned back into the home to yell to him, while still holding the door open.  At that point, her 5-year-old, large breed dog ran past her outside, charging the officers.  

Officers reported that the dog was growling as she ran toward the officer closest to the porch.  He quickly retreated backward and felt the dog bite and pull on his uniform pants, knocking him down in the process, and then let go. The dog then charged aggressively toward the second officer. He also retreated backward and, as he did, fired his service weapon, striking the dog. The officer’s momentum caused him to fall backward but he was uninjured.

The boyfriend came out of the house, picked up the dog and took her to an emergency veterinarian. Unfortunately, the dog, Deva, was euthanized due to her injuries.

The Lincoln Police Department is investigating the incident to include a review of all available video and witness statements. Lincoln Police Officers are trained to handle aggressive dogs, and part of the investigation will be to determine if that training was followed. It should also be recognized that oftentimes situations unfold rapidly and not every aggressive dog can be deescalated. 

Animal Control responded to assist in the investigation. It was learned Deva has been deemed a potentially dangerous dog, having previously bit another community member. 

Despite this, the Lincoln Police Department recognizes how important dogs are in our lives and understands that the loss of any pet is painful.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655303522957.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release Lincoln Police DepartmentThe Lincoln Police Department is investigating an incident where an officer fired his service weapon at an aggressive dog. On June 14, at approximately 7:45 pm, officers were at a residence in the 1300 block of Manatt St. for a follow-up investigation. After knocking at the door, the officer stepped back from the front porch while a second officer was standing further back. A woman answered the door and stepped outside and upon learning that the officers were there to speak to her boyfriend, she turned back into the home to yell to him, while still holding the door open. At that point, her 5-year-old, large breed dog ran past her outside, charging the officers. Officers reported that the dog was growling as she ran toward the officer closest to the porch. He quickly retreated backward and felt the dog bite and pull on his uniform pants, knocking him down in the process, and then let go. The dog then charged aggressively toward the second officer. He also retreated backward and, as he did, fired his service weapon, striking the dog. The officer’s momentum caused him to fall backward but he was uninjured.The boyfriend came out of the house, picked up the dog and took her to an emergency veterinarian. Unfortunately, the dog, Deva, was euthanized due to her injuries.The Lincoln Police Department is investigating the incident to include a review of all available video and witness statements. Lincoln Police Officers are trained to handle aggressive dogs, and part of the investigation will be to determine if that training was followed. It should also be recognized that oftentimes situations unfold rapidly and not every aggressive dog can be deescalated. Animal Control responded to assist in the investigation. It was learned Deva has been deemed a potentially dangerous dog, having previously bit another community member. Despite this, the Lincoln Police Department recognizes how important dogs are in our lives and understands that the loss of any pet is painful.

'Agressive dog' shot by Lincoln police officer

NEW YORK (AP) — A government advisory panel Tuesday endorsed a second brand of COVID-19 vaccine for school-age children and teens.

The Food and Drug Administration’s outside experts voted unanimously that Moderna’s vaccine is safe and effective enough to give kids ages 6 to 17. If the FDA agrees, it would become the second option for those children, joining Pfizer’s vaccine.

The same FDA expert panel will meet Wednesday to consider&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-business-688e324a3e42ed8149887be533738ca7">tot-sized shots from Moderna and Pfizer for the littlest kids</a>, those under 5.

Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine has long been available for adults in the U.S. and elsewhere and more than three dozen countries offer it to older children, too. If the FDA authorizes Moderna’s vaccine for teens and younger children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will next decide whether to formally recommend the shots.

The Massachusetts company is seeking clearance for two doses, and plans to later offer a booster. Tuesday’s vote was only for two doses — full-strength for 12-17 and half-sized doses for those 6-11.

“The data do support that the benefits outweigh the risks for both of these doses, in both of these age groups,” said the CDC’s Dr. Melinda Wharton, a member of the panel.

“I believe that this will provide families an important option” and may be particularly important for families who live in areas where coronavirus spread is increasing, said another panel member, Dr. Ofer Levy of Boston Children’s Hospital.

The FDA held up Moderna’s teen vaccine for months while it investigated a rare side effect, heart inflammation. That’s mostly a risk for teen boys and young men, and also can occur with the Pfizer vaccine. Moderna got extra scrutiny because its shots are a far higher dose.

In their review, FDA scientists said there were no confirmed cases of the heart inflammation in Moderna’s kid studies. But experts say the studies may have had too few participants for a rare side effect like that to appear.

“That clearly needs to be watched closely going forward as we expand the use of the vaccine,” said Dr. Mark Sawyer, a panel member from the University of California, San Diego’s medical school.

As for other side effects, FDA officials said nothing worrisome was reported — mainly sore arms, headache and fatigue.

The FDA analysis concluded that two doses of Moderna are effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 illness in teens and younger kids, with the levels of virus-fighting antibodies comparable to those developed in young adults.

Vaccine effectiveness was estimated at 93% for the teens, and 77% for the younger children, according to the FDA analysis. However, the research was done when earlier versions of the coronavirus were causing most U.S. infections, before more contagious versions emerged. It’s also based on a limited number of COVID-19 cases, making the estimates a bit rough.

A booster shot was added to the studies, and data is expected in about the next month, Moderna officials said. Booster shots are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-260b31d4232472e68540cca834f0f57e">now recommended for children vaccinated with Pfizer’s shots</a>, as well as for all adults.

One panel member, Dr. Paul Offit, noted that vaccine effectiveness has declined against newer variants of the coronavirus. Offit, of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said he supported Moderna’s proposals only because he expects a third dose will be offered, which he says is needed before someone should be considered fully vaccinated.

How much demand there will be for even two Moderna shots isn’t clear. Teens became eligible a year ago for Pfizer’s vaccine, which uses the same technology, and only 60% have gotten two doses. Shots for younger kids started in November; about 29% have been fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

If the FDA authorizes Moderna shots for teens and schoolchildren, a CDC spokesperson said the agency is not expected to review the vaccine until later this month.

NEW YORK (AP) — A government advisory panel Tuesday endorsed a second brand of COVID-19 vaccine for school-age children and teens.The Food and Drug Administration’s outside experts voted unanimously that Moderna’s vaccine is safe and effective enough to give kids ages 6 to 17. If the FDA agrees, it would become the second option for those children, joining Pfizer’s vaccine.The same FDA expert panel will meet Wednesday to consider&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-business-688e324a3e42ed8149887be533738ca7">tot-sized shots from Moderna and Pfizer for the littlest kids</a>, those under 5.Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine has long been available for adults in the U.S. and elsewhere and more than three dozen countries offer it to older children, too. If the FDA authorizes Moderna’s vaccine for teens and younger children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will next decide whether to formally recommend the shots.The Massachusetts company is seeking clearance for two doses, and plans to later offer a booster. Tuesday’s vote was only for two doses — full-strength for 12-17 and half-sized doses for those 6-11.“The data do support that the benefits outweigh the risks for both of these doses, in both of these age groups,” said the CDC’s Dr. Melinda Wharton, a member of the panel.“I believe that this will provide families an important option” and may be particularly important for families who live in areas where coronavirus spread is increasing, said another panel member, Dr. Ofer Levy of Boston Children’s Hospital.The FDA held up Moderna’s teen vaccine for months while it investigated a rare side effect, heart inflammation. That’s mostly a risk for teen boys and young men, and also can occur with the Pfizer vaccine. Moderna got extra scrutiny because its shots are a far higher dose.In their review, FDA scientists said there were no confirmed cases of the heart inflammation in Moderna’s kid studies. But experts say the studies may have had too few participants for a rare side effect like that to appear.“That clearly needs to be watched closely going forward as we expand the use of the vaccine,” said Dr. Mark Sawyer, a panel member from the University of California, San Diego’s medical school.As for other side effects, FDA officials said nothing worrisome was reported — mainly sore arms, headache and fatigue.The FDA analysis concluded that two doses of Moderna are effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 illness in teens and younger kids, with the levels of virus-fighting antibodies comparable to those developed in young adults.Vaccine effectiveness was estimated at 93% for the teens, and 77% for the younger children, according to the FDA analysis. However, the research was done when earlier versions of the coronavirus were causing most U.S. infections, before more contagious versions emerged. It’s also based on a limited number of COVID-19 cases, making the estimates a bit rough.A booster shot was added to the studies, and data is expected in about the next month, Moderna officials said. Booster shots are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-260b31d4232472e68540cca834f0f57e">now recommended for children vaccinated with Pfizer’s shots</a>, as well as for all adults.One panel member, Dr. Paul Offit, noted that vaccine effectiveness has declined against newer variants of the coronavirus. Offit, of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said he supported Moderna’s proposals only because he expects a third dose will be offered, which he says is needed before someone should be considered fully vaccinated.How much demand there will be for even two Moderna shots isn’t clear. Teens became eligible a year ago for Pfizer’s vaccine, which uses the same technology, and only 60% have gotten two doses. Shots for younger kids started in November; about 29% have been fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.If the FDA authorizes Moderna shots for teens and schoolchildren, a CDC spokesperson said the agency is not expected to review the vaccine until later this month.___

FDA advisers back a second COVID-19 vaccine for older kids

New technology makes it nearly impossible to tell fake video or audio
 clips from real ones. Now, as the software used to create these 
“deepfakes” becomes more widespread, scammers are using it to steal 
money and sensitive information.

Deepfakes use artificial intelligence technology to create a 
seemingly real video or audio clip that mimics a person’s face, voice, 
or both. This kind of <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/glenngow/2021/05/02/the-scary-truth-behind-the-fbi-warning-deepfake-fraud-is-here-and-its-serious-we-are-not-prepared/?sh=764802bb3179" target="_blank">synthetic content</a> is often used to spread misinformation by impersonating <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/08/11/fact-check-video-pelosi-altered-and-selectively-edited/3332920001/" target="_blank">politicians</a> and celebrities on social media.

However, that’s not the only use. Scammers are currently using deepfakes of corporate executives to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/fraudsters-use-ai-to-mimic-ceos-voice-in-unusual-cybercrime-case-11567157402" target="_blank">steal from large companies</a>.
 As the technology improves and becomes easier to use, we’ll likely see 
scammers using deepfakes to target individuals and small businesses too.

How can you spot a deepfake and avoid getting scammed? BBB recommends the following tips:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBNew technology makes it nearly impossible to tell fake video or audio
 clips from real ones. Now, as the software used to create these 
“deepfakes” becomes more widespread, scammers are using it to steal 
money and sensitive information.<h2>What is a deepfake?&nbsp;</h2>Deepfakes use artificial intelligence technology to create a 
seemingly real video or audio clip that mimics a person’s face, voice, 
or both. This kind of <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/glenngow/2021/05/02/the-scary-truth-behind-the-fbi-warning-deepfake-fraud-is-here-and-its-serious-we-are-not-prepared/?sh=764802bb3179" target="_blank">synthetic content</a> is often used to spread misinformation by impersonating <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/08/11/fact-check-video-pelosi-altered-and-selectively-edited/3332920001/" target="_blank">politicians</a> and celebrities on social media.However, that’s not the only use. Scammers are currently using deepfakes of corporate executives to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/fraudsters-use-ai-to-mimic-ceos-voice-in-unusual-cybercrime-case-11567157402" target="_blank">steal from large companies</a>.
 As the technology improves and becomes easier to use, we’ll likely see 
scammers using deepfakes to target individuals and small businesses too.How can you spot a deepfake and avoid getting scammed? BBB recommends the following tips:<h2>Protect yourself from deepfake scams </h2><ul>
 <li>Take a closer look at that video. <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/increasing_threats_of_deepfake_identities_0.pdf" target="_blank">Poor quality deepfakes are easy to identify</a>.
 Look for isolated blurry spots in the video, double edges to the face, 
changes in video quality during the video, unnatural blinking or no 
blinking, and changes in the background or lighting. If you notice any 
of these telltale signs, you’re probably looking at a deepfake video. </li><li>Listen closely to the audio. Fake audio might 
include choppy sentences, unnatural or out-of-place inflection, odd 
phrasing, or background sounds that don’t match the speaker’s location. 
These are all signs of fake audio. </li><li>Don’t believe everything you see online. Scammers 
count on you to take them at their word without verifying their 
identity. Always use a healthy dose of skepticism when contacted by a 
person or company if you can’t validate who they really are. Be wary of 
videos featuring celebrities or politicians that are especially divisive
 or scandalous. </li><li>Make sure you know who you are talking to. As 
deepfake technology progresses, you’ll need to confirm the identity of 
who you are speaking with – even if you think you know and trust them. 
You might not send money to a stranger who calls you out of the blue, 
but if scammers start using deepfakes to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jan/13/what-are-deepfakes-and-how-can-you-spot-them" target="_blank">impersonate your loved ones</a>,
 falling victim could be easier. Pay attention if a friend or family 
member makes an out-of-character request and confirms their identity 
before sending money or giving up sensitive personal information. </li><li>Be careful what you post online. The only way a 
scammer can make a deepfake video of you is if they have access to a 
selection of photos and videos featuring your face. Stay alert to the 
possibility of impersonation. Make sure your family knows about 
deepfakes, and use caution when posting things publicly. </li><li>Don’t make financial decisions based on viral videos.
 If a celebrity insists you invest in bitcoin or donate funds to a 
specific charity in a viral video, do some research before you send 
money. Scammers would love to get their hands on your money by 
impersonating someone you trust. </li><li>Don’t assume an online persona is the real deal. 
Whether you are hiring a new employee or contacting an outside vendor, 
don’t assume someone exists just because they have video, photos, or 
audio on their online profiles. </li><li>Protect your business accounts. Use <a href="https://www.ic3.gov/Media/News/2021/210310-2.pdf" target="_blank">multi-factor authentication</a> on all systems to prevent scammers from using a deepfake to hack your account and impersonate you. </li><li>Train your employees to recognize deepfakes. Ensure your employees know what to look for, especially if they are in charge of your business’s finances or assets. </li><li>Be cautious when sharing information digitally. Don’t give in to <a href="https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/technology/pages/deepfake-scams-may-be-on-the-rise.aspx#:~:text=Deepfake%20technology%20uses%20artificial%20intelligence,to%20identify%20the%20fake%20version." target="_blank">urgent requests</a>. Even if someone is threatening immediate action against you or your business. Take the time to verify their identity.</li>
 </ul>

BBB: How to spot a deepfake and avoid scams

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The City Council in Nebraska’s capital city has rescinded an anti-discrimination measure that extended protections to sexual orientation and gender identity just four months after unanimously approving it.

The Lincoln City Council voted 4-3 Monday to rescind the February revision to the city’s fairness ordinance in the face of a successful petition effort by a conservative group that would have put the measure on the November ballot,&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/feeling-of-despair-as-lincoln-city-council-rescinds-fairness-ordinance-on-4-3-vote/article_d963181d-728b-51d2-982c-7d5191d3e45a.html#tracking-source=most-popular-homepage" target="_blank">the Lincoln Journal Star reported</a>. The fairness ordinance addresses equal opportunity in housing, employment and public accommodations.

Then Nebraska Family Alliance&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-discrimination-veterans-gender-identity-nebraska-289b215ec3533812e61c7b3a78890016">launched the petition effort</a>&nbsp;a day after the measure was adopted by the City-County in February, with the conservative group painting the effort as a “transgender bathroom ordinance.” The group’s petition effort gathered 18,502 signatures — more than four times the number needed — in just two weeks, forcing the City Council to either vote to rescind it or put it to a vote of the people.

Two of the council members who voted to rescind the measure — Tom Beckius and James Michael Bowers — are openly gay. They said they voted to rescind the protection for fear the measure would not survive at the ballot box. Beckius also noted that LGBTQ members of the community are already protected under a 2020 Supreme Court ruling saying that sexual orientation and gender identity are protected under Civil Rights Act.

Councilman Bennie Shobe, who had declined to say how he would vote before Monday, joined Beckius, Bowers and Richard Meginnis in voting to rescind. Shobe, who is Black, said he did so because civil rights should not be decided by public vote. He noted that his parents went to segregated schools and lived as second-class citizens in Kentucky until the U.S. Supreme Court and the Civil Rights Act guaranteed their rights under the law.

“However, if the civil rights of my parents had been put to a vote of the people, I am confident they would have been denied,” Shobe said.

Sändra Washington, the council’s third openly gay member who introduced the measure, and the two other women on the council — Jane Raybould and Tammy Ward — voted against rescinding the measure. Washington rebutted fears that it would fail at the ballot box, saying it was more likely that voters who elected a Democratic mayor and three openly gay council members would uphold the ordinance.

She and others vowed to keep working to codify LGBTQ rights.

“To the upcoming generations – to the youth of our city – I want you to know I see you,” Washington said. “I have been where you stand now, and I promise you it will get better.”

<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/2022/6/1655293196383.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By ASSOCIATED PRESSLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The City Council in Nebraska’s capital city has rescinded an anti-discrimination measure that extended protections to sexual orientation and gender identity just four months after unanimously approving it.The Lincoln City Council voted 4-3 Monday to rescind the February revision to the city’s fairness ordinance in the face of a successful petition effort by a conservative group that would have put the measure on the November ballot,&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/feeling-of-despair-as-lincoln-city-council-rescinds-fairness-ordinance-on-4-3-vote/article_d963181d-728b-51d2-982c-7d5191d3e45a.html#tracking-source=most-popular-homepage" target="_blank">the Lincoln Journal Star reported</a>. The fairness ordinance addresses equal opportunity in housing, employment and public accommodations.Then Nebraska Family Alliance&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-discrimination-veterans-gender-identity-nebraska-289b215ec3533812e61c7b3a78890016">launched the petition effort</a>&nbsp;a day after the measure was adopted by the City-County in February, with the conservative group painting the effort as a “transgender bathroom ordinance.” The group’s petition effort gathered 18,502 signatures — more than four times the number needed — in just two weeks, forcing the City Council to either vote to rescind it or put it to a vote of the people.Two of the council members who voted to rescind the measure — Tom Beckius and James Michael Bowers — are openly gay. They said they voted to rescind the protection for fear the measure would not survive at the ballot box. Beckius also noted that LGBTQ members of the community are already protected under a 2020 Supreme Court ruling saying that sexual orientation and gender identity are protected under Civil Rights Act.Councilman Bennie Shobe, who had declined to say how he would vote before Monday, joined Beckius, Bowers and Richard Meginnis in voting to rescind. Shobe, who is Black, said he did so because civil rights should not be decided by public vote. He noted that his parents went to segregated schools and lived as second-class citizens in Kentucky until the U.S. Supreme Court and the Civil Rights Act guaranteed their rights under the law.“However, if the civil rights of my parents had been put to a vote of the people, I am confident they would have been denied,” Shobe said.Sändra Washington, the council’s third openly gay member who introduced the measure, and the two other women on the council — Jane Raybould and Tammy Ward — voted against rescinding the measure. Washington rebutted fears that it would fail at the ballot box, saying it was more likely that voters who elected a Democratic mayor and three openly gay council members would uphold the ordinance.She and others vowed to keep working to codify LGBTQ rights.“To the upcoming generations – to the youth of our city – I want you to know I see you,” Washington said. “I have been where you stand now, and I promise you it will get better.”<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/ZAlA0ZmZs7eAPSNvrjZ2kl8B39EzXYuRY0y8yFoiBiLdqjFRH4lKcFYkRAsKVLeO-jPrdEtNbsiRe_jQMWIW-qS1SfL2O6cw0cMJGObvtkicgZan9lBinWu6VpqcoI9VY1nh1AqJ9dBcJCQuFw" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Nebraska's capital city rescinds LGBTQ fairness ordinance

PHILADELPHIA (AP) —President Joe Biden on Wednesday called on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/oil-and-gas-industry">U.S. oil refiners</a>&nbsp;to produce more gasoline and diesel, saying their profits have tripled during a time of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war between Russia and Ukraine</a>&nbsp;as Americans struggle with record high prices at the pump.

(Click below to watch the President's comments)

“The crunch that families are facing deserves immediate action,” Biden wrote in the draft of a letter to oil refiners obtained by The Associated Press. “Your companies need to work with my Administration to bring forward concrete, near-term solutions that address the crisis.”

Gas prices nationwide are averaging roughly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-states-business-fdcf2e9fbb835cd9bc3886b8dc4a7bc0">$5 a gallon</a>, an economic burden for many Americans and a political threat for the president’s fellow Democrats going into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections">the midterm elections</a>. Broader inflation began to rise last year as the U.S. economy recovered from the coronavirus pandemic, but it accelerated in recent months as energy and food prices climbed after Russia invaded Ukraine in February and disrupted global commodity markets.

The government reported on Friday that consumer prices had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/key-inflation-report-highest-level-in-four-decades-c0248c5b5705cd1523d3dab3771983b4">jumped 8.6%</a>&nbsp;from a year ago, the worst increase in more than 40 years.

The draft letter notes that gas prices were averaging $4.25 a gallon when oil was last near the current price of $120 a barrel in March. That 75-cent difference in average gas prices in a matter of just a few months reflects both a shortage of refinery capacity and profits that “are currently at their highest levels ever recorded,” the letter states.

As Biden sees it, refineries are capitalizing on the uncertainties caused by “a time of war.” His message that corporate greed is contributing to higher prices has been controversial among many economists, yet the claim may have some resonance with voters.

Some liberal lawmakers have proposed cracking down on corporate profits amid the higher inflation. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, in March proposed a 95% tax on profits in excess of companies’ pre-pandemic averages.

The president has harshly criticized what he views as profiteering amid a global crisis that could potentially push Europe and other parts of the world into a recession,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-government-and-politics-business-bdd0fae8b6a45ed786d8891049ca606a">saying after a speech Friday</a>&nbsp;that ExxonMobil “made more money than God this year.” ExxonMobil responded by saying it has already informed the administration of its planned investments to increase oil production and refining capacity.

“There is no question that (Russian President) Vladimir Putin is principally responsible for the intense financial pain the American people and their families are bearing,” Biden’s draft letter says. “But amid a war that has raised gasoline prices more than $1.70 per gallon, historically high refinery profit margins are worsening that pain.”

The letter says the administration is ready to “use all reasonable and appropriate Federal Government tools and emergency authorities to increase refinery capacity and output in the near term, and to ensure that every region of this country is appropriately supplied.” It notes that Biden has already released oil from the U.S. strategic reserve and increased ethanol blending standards, though neither action put a lasting downward pressure on prices.

The president is sending the letter to Marathon Petroleum, Valero Energy, ExxonMobil, Phillips 66, Chevron, BP and Shell.

He also has directed Energy Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jennifer-granholm">Jennifer Granholm</a>&nbsp;to convene an emergency meeting and consult with the National Petroleum Council, a federal advisory group that is drawn from the energy sector.

Biden is asking each company to explain to Granholm any drop in refining capacity since 2020, when the pandemic began. He also wants the companies to provide “any concrete ideas that would address the immediate inventory, price, and refining capacity issues in the coming months -- including transportation measures to get refined product to market.”

There may be limits on how much more capacity can be added. The U.S. Energy Information Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=52718" target="_blank">on Friday released estimates</a>&nbsp;that “refinery utilization will reach a monthly average level of 96% twice this summer, near the upper limits of what refiners can consistently maintain.”

The draft letter notes that roughly 3 million barrels a day of refining capacity around the world have gone offline since the pandemic began. In the U.S., refining capacity fell by more than 800,000 barrels a day in 2020.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) —President Joe Biden on Wednesday called on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/oil-and-gas-industry">U.S. oil refiners</a>&nbsp;to produce more gasoline and diesel, saying their profits have tripled during a time of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war between Russia and Ukraine</a>&nbsp;as Americans struggle with record high prices at the pump.(Click below to watch the President's comments)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1684169685260076%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1274" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>“The crunch that families are facing deserves immediate action,” Biden wrote in the draft of a letter to oil refiners obtained by The Associated Press. “Your companies need to work with my Administration to bring forward concrete, near-term solutions that address the crisis.”Gas prices nationwide are averaging roughly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-states-business-fdcf2e9fbb835cd9bc3886b8dc4a7bc0">$5 a gallon</a>, an economic burden for many Americans and a political threat for the president’s fellow Democrats going into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections">the midterm elections</a>. Broader inflation began to rise last year as the U.S. economy recovered from the coronavirus pandemic, but it accelerated in recent months as energy and food prices climbed after Russia invaded Ukraine in February and disrupted global commodity markets.The government reported on Friday that consumer prices had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/key-inflation-report-highest-level-in-four-decades-c0248c5b5705cd1523d3dab3771983b4">jumped 8.6%</a>&nbsp;from a year ago, the worst increase in more than 40 years.The draft letter notes that gas prices were averaging $4.25 a gallon when oil was last near the current price of $120 a barrel in March. That 75-cent difference in average gas prices in a matter of just a few months reflects both a shortage of refinery capacity and profits that “are currently at their highest levels ever recorded,” the letter states.As Biden sees it, refineries are capitalizing on the uncertainties caused by “a time of war.” His message that corporate greed is contributing to higher prices has been controversial among many economists, yet the claim may have some resonance with voters.Some liberal lawmakers have proposed cracking down on corporate profits amid the higher inflation. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, in March proposed a 95% tax on profits in excess of companies’ pre-pandemic averages.The president has harshly criticized what he views as profiteering amid a global crisis that could potentially push Europe and other parts of the world into a recession,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-government-and-politics-business-bdd0fae8b6a45ed786d8891049ca606a">saying after a speech Friday</a>&nbsp;that ExxonMobil “made more money than God this year.” ExxonMobil responded by saying it has already informed the administration of its planned investments to increase oil production and refining capacity.“There is no question that (Russian President) Vladimir Putin is principally responsible for the intense financial pain the American people and their families are bearing,” Biden’s draft letter says. “But amid a war that has raised gasoline prices more than $1.70 per gallon, historically high refinery profit margins are worsening that pain.”The letter says the administration is ready to “use all reasonable and appropriate Federal Government tools and emergency authorities to increase refinery capacity and output in the near term, and to ensure that every region of this country is appropriately supplied.” It notes that Biden has already released oil from the U.S. strategic reserve and increased ethanol blending standards, though neither action put a lasting downward pressure on prices.The president is sending the letter to Marathon Petroleum, Valero Energy, ExxonMobil, Phillips 66, Chevron, BP and Shell.He also has directed Energy Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jennifer-granholm">Jennifer Granholm</a>&nbsp;to convene an emergency meeting and consult with the National Petroleum Council, a federal advisory group that is drawn from the energy sector.Biden is asking each company to explain to Granholm any drop in refining capacity since 2020, when the pandemic began. He also wants the companies to provide “any concrete ideas that would address the immediate inventory, price, and refining capacity issues in the coming months -- including transportation measures to get refined product to market.”There may be limits on how much more capacity can be added. The U.S. Energy Information Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=52718" target="_blank">on Friday released estimates</a>&nbsp;that “refinery utilization will reach a monthly average level of 96% twice this summer, near the upper limits of what refiners can consistently maintain.”The draft letter notes that roughly 3 million barrels a day of refining capacity around the world have gone offline since the pandemic began. In the U.S., refining capacity fell by more than 800,000 barrels a day in 2020.

🎥 Biden tells oil refiners: Produce more gas, fewer profits

The Nebraska State Patrol, with the assistance of the SNARE Drug Task Force, Merrick County Sheriff’s Office, and Central City Police Department, have arrested two people as part of an ongoing drug investigation. The investigation resulted in the location of several controlled substances in traffic stops in central Nebraska.

The first traffic stop occurred in Central City at approximately 9:30 p.m. Sunday. During the traffic stop, an NSP K-9 detected the odor of a controlled substance inside the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed 145 grams of methamphetamine and smaller amounts of cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, oxycodone pills, alprazolam pills, dextroamphetamine pills, liquid methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia. The driver, Jake Spiegel, 41, of Albion, was arrested for several drug-related charges.

The second traffic stop occurred in Chapman, at approximately 12:00 a.m. Monday. Investigators located 183 grams of methamphetamine and smaller amounts of heroin, psilocybin mushrooms, cocaine, marijuana, unknown liquids, and drug paraphernalia. The driver, Cheryl Gonzales, 42, of Spencer, was arrested for several drug-related charges.

Both Spiegel and Gonzales were lodged in Merrick County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655245196401.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By NEBRASKA STATE PATROLThe Nebraska State Patrol, with the assistance of the SNARE Drug Task Force, Merrick County Sheriff’s Office, and Central City Police Department, have arrested two people as part of an ongoing drug investigation. The investigation resulted in the location of several controlled substances in traffic stops in central Nebraska.The first traffic stop occurred in Central City at approximately 9:30 p.m. Sunday. During the traffic stop, an NSP K-9 detected the odor of a controlled substance inside the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed 145 grams of methamphetamine and smaller amounts of cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, oxycodone pills, alprazolam pills, dextroamphetamine pills, liquid methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia. The driver, Jake Spiegel, 41, of Albion, was arrested for several drug-related charges.The second traffic stop occurred in Chapman, at approximately 12:00 a.m. Monday. Investigators located 183 grams of methamphetamine and smaller amounts of heroin, psilocybin mushrooms, cocaine, marijuana, unknown liquids, and drug paraphernalia. The driver, Cheryl Gonzales, 42, of Spencer, was arrested for several drug-related charges.Both Spiegel and Gonzales were lodged in Merrick County Jail.<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a><figure>
 <img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Rl_HrHnoJPHQVu2KpseEVBXAeYRCSmiOIYF0ibSex_Qy6OksRKdSSenal5arIkygJ9PaAwsoBdpb6i_QtLfgQ4r26xzfYVX5JZ1yMT8sli77LfcongmQsgbQgivZpi6f6GcHg81tf9Tom462aA" alt="" />
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 </figure>

2 arrested after meth, cocaine, mushrooms, more found in Neb. traffic stops

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. producer prices surged 10.8% in May from a year earlier, underscoring the ongoing threat to the economy from inflation that shows no sign of slowing.

Tuesday’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ppi.pdf" target="_blank">report from the Labor Department</a>&nbsp;showed that the producer price index — which measures inflation before it reaches consumers — rose at slightly slower pace last month than in April, when it jumped 10.9% from a year earlier, and is down from an 11.5% yearly gain in March.

On a monthly basis, producer prices climbed 0.8% in May from April, above the previous month, when they increased 0.4%.

Energy prices, led by gas, rose 5% just in May from April. Another big driver of the price gains last month was a sharp 2.9% increase in the cost of truck freight hauling, a sign that supply chain problems still aren’t fully resolved. Food costs were unchanged.

The figures indicate that rising prices will continue to erode Americans’ paychecks and wreak havoc on household budgets in the coming months. Inflation has created major political headaches for President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats and has forced the Federal Reserve into a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-business-economy-inflation-jerome-powell-3e11a4955e372f297905ce645c321c9a">series of rapid interest rate hikes</a>&nbsp;intended to slow the economy and cool price increases.

On Friday, the government reported that inflation — as measured by the consumer price index — jumped to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/key-inflation-report-highest-level-in-four-decades-c0248c5b5705cd1523d3dab3771983b4">new 40-year high of 8.6% in May,</a>&nbsp;a surprise gain that disappointed expectations that price increases might be slowing. Gas and food costs rose sharply, pushed higher by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but the costs for rent, new and used cars, medical care, and clothing also rose, evidence that inflation is spreading more broadly through the economy.

The Federal Reserve is expected to hike its short-term interest rate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-business-economy-inflation-jerome-powell-3e11a4955e372f297905ce645c321c9a">by three-quarters of a point on Wednesday</a>, the largest increase since 1994, as it ramps up its efforts to rein in higher prices.

The producer price data captures inflation at an earlier stage of production and can sometimes signal where consumer prices are headed. It also feeds into the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation, the personal consumption expenditures price index.

Strong consumer spending has pushed up demand for a range of goods and services, which has in turn overwhelmed supply chains, creating shortages in some cases and pushing up prices. Greater demand for travel this spring and summer has also sent hotel and airfare prices soaring.

How long that consumer demand will last is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-inflation-prices-4e671c834fb40342d544362f2bdf5791">a key question for the economy going forward</a>. Millions of Americans have enjoyed solid pay raises in the past year, including lower-income workers at restaurants, hotels, and warehouses.

Consumers also have greater savings than is typically the case from government stimulus checks and because they weren’t able to spend as much on travel and entertainment in the past two years. Those savings are supporting ongoing spending even amid high prices.

Yet prices are rising at a faster pace than wages, on average, suggesting that eventually consumers may have little choice but to pull back on spending.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626184911218.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. producer prices surged 10.8% in May from a year earlier, underscoring the ongoing threat to the economy from inflation that shows no sign of slowing.Tuesday’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ppi.pdf" target="_blank">report from the Labor Department</a>&nbsp;showed that the producer price index — which measures inflation before it reaches consumers — rose at slightly slower pace last month than in April, when it jumped 10.9% from a year earlier, and is down from an 11.5% yearly gain in March.On a monthly basis, producer prices climbed 0.8% in May from April, above the previous month, when they increased 0.4%.Energy prices, led by gas, rose 5% just in May from April. Another big driver of the price gains last month was a sharp 2.9% increase in the cost of truck freight hauling, a sign that supply chain problems still aren’t fully resolved. Food costs were unchanged.The figures indicate that rising prices will continue to erode Americans’ paychecks and wreak havoc on household budgets in the coming months. Inflation has created major political headaches for President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats and has forced the Federal Reserve into a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-business-economy-inflation-jerome-powell-3e11a4955e372f297905ce645c321c9a">series of rapid interest rate hikes</a>&nbsp;intended to slow the economy and cool price increases.On Friday, the government reported that inflation — as measured by the consumer price index — jumped to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/key-inflation-report-highest-level-in-four-decades-c0248c5b5705cd1523d3dab3771983b4">new 40-year high of 8.6% in May,</a>&nbsp;a surprise gain that disappointed expectations that price increases might be slowing. Gas and food costs rose sharply, pushed higher by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but the costs for rent, new and used cars, medical care, and clothing also rose, evidence that inflation is spreading more broadly through the economy.The Federal Reserve is expected to hike its short-term interest rate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-business-economy-inflation-jerome-powell-3e11a4955e372f297905ce645c321c9a">by three-quarters of a point on Wednesday</a>, the largest increase since 1994, as it ramps up its efforts to rein in higher prices.The producer price data captures inflation at an earlier stage of production and can sometimes signal where consumer prices are headed. It also feeds into the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation, the personal consumption expenditures price index.Strong consumer spending has pushed up demand for a range of goods and services, which has in turn overwhelmed supply chains, creating shortages in some cases and pushing up prices. Greater demand for travel this spring and summer has also sent hotel and airfare prices soaring.How long that consumer demand will last is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-inflation-prices-4e671c834fb40342d544362f2bdf5791">a key question for the economy going forward</a>. Millions of Americans have enjoyed solid pay raises in the past year, including lower-income workers at restaurants, hotels, and warehouses.Consumers also have greater savings than is typically the case from government stimulus checks and because they weren’t able to spend as much on travel and entertainment in the past two years. Those savings are supporting ongoing spending even amid high prices.Yet prices are rising at a faster pace than wages, on average, suggesting that eventually consumers may have little choice but to pull back on spending.

US producer prices soar 10.8%  as energy costs spike

Parents anxious to finally vaccinate their youngest children against COVID-19, strap in: A lot is set to happen over the next week.

On Wednesday, both&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/moderna-low-dose-vaccine-children-c7702f93e863d74b712791b55e54bdc1">Moderna</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pfizer-covid-vaccine-children-under-5-bb01e939338991f83a84f5c1a2aabafa">Pfizer</a>&nbsp;will have to convince what’s essentially a science court -- advisers to the Food and Drug Administration -- that their shots work well in babies, toddlers and preschoolers.

The FDA weighed in late Friday with its own analysis of Moderna’s vaccine, finding the shots appear safe and effective for children as young as 6 months old. A federal review of Pfizer’s vaccine for the littlest kids is expected by Monday.

Kids under 5 are the only group not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in the U.S. If the FDA’s advisers endorse one or both shots for them -- and the FDA agrees -- there’s still another hurdle. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must recommend whether all tots need immunization or just those at high risk from the virus.

Adding to the complexity, each company is offering different dose sizes and number of shots. And the week won’t even start with the littlest kid debate: Moderna first will ask FDA’s advisers to support its vaccine for older children.

Only a handful of countries, including China and Cuba, have offered different types of COVID-19 vaccinations to children younger than 5.

Pfizer has a pediatric track record -- its COVID-19 vaccine is the only type the FDA allows for children of any age. Two doses plus a booster are cleared for everyone 5 and older. Shots for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-260b31d4232472e68540cca834f0f57e">5- to 11-year-olds</a>&nbsp;contain a third of the dose given to teens and adults.

For kids younger than 5, Pfizer and its partner BioNTech lowered the dose even more, to a tenth of the adult dose. The trade-off is a need for three shots, the first two given three weeks apart and the last at least two months later.

Moderna is seeking FDA clearance for two shots, each a quarter of its adult dose, given about four weeks apart for kids younger than 6. (Moderna tested a slightly different age limit than Pfizer.)

The FDA currently allows Moderna’s vaccine to be used only in adults. But some countries allow two full-size doses for teens and half-size shots for kids ages 6 to 11 — which Moderna also hopes to offer in the U.S.

Pfizer disappointed parents back in December when a study found two shots weren’t quite strong enough. So researchers tested a third shot in youngsters age 6 months through 4 years during the winter surge of the omicron variant.

Pfizer’s preliminary data showed after three shots, children developed high levels of virus-fighting antibodies with no safety problems. In addition, the vaccine appeared 80% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19. But that calculation was based on just 10 cases diagnosed among study participants by the end of April, and it could change if more cases have occurred since.

Moderna’s study found tots ages 6 months through 5 years developed high antibody levels after two of its shots. But while there were no severe cases of COVID-19 during the trial, the vaccine was only about 40% to 50% effective at preventing milder infections.

In their review, FDA scientists noted the study was too short to determine how long the vaccine’s effectiveness would last. They also said that it was likely that a booster would be needed, based on the experience with adults.

Moderna recently added a booster dose to the tot study — and disclosed in a presentation for Wednesday’s meeting that it also plans to allow participants a chance to help test an omicron-targeting booster.

If the FDA authorizes one or both shots — a decision expected shortly after its advisory panel’s meeting — all eyes move to the CDC. That agency recommends how to use vaccines. Which tots should get COVID-19 vaccination will be an important debate as the coronavirus doesn’t tend to make children as sick as adults yet nearly 500 deaths in U.S. children under 5 have been reported.

The CDC’s own vaccine advisers are scheduled to meet next Friday and Saturday, and a final decision by the CDC’s director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, should come shortly after they’re done.

If all those steps fall into place, vaccinations could begin in many areas June 21.

Pediatricians, other primary care physicians and children’s hospitals are expected to vaccinate most of the youngest kids. Limited drugstores will offer them for at least some of the under-5 group — parents should check local availability for different ages. The Biden administration says it also is working with a variety of other groups, such as children’s museums, to offer pop-up clinics and reach even more youngsters.

About&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-covid-infections-kids-baefa22555970245f0ff939e7bbc7c80">three-quarters of children</a>&nbsp;of all ages are estimated to have been infected at some point during the pandemic. It’s a question sure to come up as CDC’s advisers make recommendations for the littlest kids, so stay tuned.

For older ages, the CDC has recommended vaccination anyway to lower the chances of reinfection. There’s no firm guidance on how long to wait; the CDC has said people may wait as long as three months.

There are roughly 18 million children younger than 5, and many parents are eager to get their tots vaccinated. But it’s unclear how many ultimately will, given disappointing vaccine uptake by older children.

According to the CDC, just 29% of kids ages 5 to 11 have gotten two doses, and about 60% of 12- to 17-year-olds.

On Tuesday, the FDA’s advisers will consider Moderna shots for older kids, those 6 to 17 -- a decision that might alleviate some parent confusion. The FDA review released Friday also included an analysis of the company’s shots for that age group.

The FDA has held up Moderna’s teen vaccine for months while it investigated a rare side effect, heart inflammation. That’s mostly a risk for teen boys and young men, and also can occur with the Pfizer vaccine. The FDA review said its latest analysis of reports of myocarditis both in the U.S. and in other countries did not find conclusive evidence of a difference in risk between the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

By LAURAN NEERGAARD, Associated PressParents anxious to finally vaccinate their youngest children against COVID-19, strap in: A lot is set to happen over the next week.On Wednesday, both&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/moderna-low-dose-vaccine-children-c7702f93e863d74b712791b55e54bdc1">Moderna</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pfizer-covid-vaccine-children-under-5-bb01e939338991f83a84f5c1a2aabafa">Pfizer</a>&nbsp;will have to convince what’s essentially a science court -- advisers to the Food and Drug Administration -- that their shots work well in babies, toddlers and preschoolers.The FDA weighed in late Friday with its own analysis of Moderna’s vaccine, finding the shots appear safe and effective for children as young as 6 months old. A federal review of Pfizer’s vaccine for the littlest kids is expected by Monday.Kids under 5 are the only group not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in the U.S. If the FDA’s advisers endorse one or both shots for them -- and the FDA agrees -- there’s still another hurdle. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must recommend whether all tots need immunization or just those at high risk from the virus.Adding to the complexity, each company is offering different dose sizes and number of shots. And the week won’t even start with the littlest kid debate: Moderna first will ask FDA’s advisers to support its vaccine for older children.Only a handful of countries, including China and Cuba, have offered different types of COVID-19 vaccinations to children younger than 5.PFIZER’S PLAN FOR THE LITTLESTPfizer has a pediatric track record -- its COVID-19 vaccine is the only type the FDA allows for children of any age. Two doses plus a booster are cleared for everyone 5 and older. Shots for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-260b31d4232472e68540cca834f0f57e">5- to 11-year-olds</a>&nbsp;contain a third of the dose given to teens and adults.For kids younger than 5, Pfizer and its partner BioNTech lowered the dose even more, to a tenth of the adult dose. The trade-off is a need for three shots, the first two given three weeks apart and the last at least two months later.MODERNA’S PLAN FOR THE LITTLESTModerna is seeking FDA clearance for two shots, each a quarter of its adult dose, given about four weeks apart for kids younger than 6. (Moderna tested a slightly different age limit than Pfizer.)The FDA currently allows Moderna’s vaccine to be used only in adults. But some countries allow two full-size doses for teens and half-size shots for kids ages 6 to 11 — which Moderna also hopes to offer in the U.S.MAKING THEIR CASEPfizer disappointed parents back in December when a study found two shots weren’t quite strong enough. So researchers tested a third shot in youngsters age 6 months through 4 years during the winter surge of the omicron variant.Pfizer’s preliminary data showed after three shots, children developed high levels of virus-fighting antibodies with no safety problems. In addition, the vaccine appeared 80% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19. But that calculation was based on just 10 cases diagnosed among study participants by the end of April, and it could change if more cases have occurred since.Moderna’s study found tots ages 6 months through 5 years developed high antibody levels after two of its shots. But while there were no severe cases of COVID-19 during the trial, the vaccine was only about 40% to 50% effective at preventing milder infections.In their review, FDA scientists noted the study was too short to determine how long the vaccine’s effectiveness would last. They also said that it was likely that a booster would be needed, based on the experience with adults.Moderna recently added a booster dose to the tot study — and disclosed in a presentation for Wednesday’s meeting that it also plans to allow participants a chance to help test an omicron-targeting booster.WHEN COULD SHOTS START?If the FDA authorizes one or both shots — a decision expected shortly after its advisory panel’s meeting — all eyes move to the CDC. That agency recommends how to use vaccines. Which tots should get COVID-19 vaccination will be an important debate as the coronavirus doesn’t tend to make children as sick as adults yet nearly 500 deaths in U.S. children under 5 have been reported.The CDC’s own vaccine advisers are scheduled to meet next Friday and Saturday, and a final decision by the CDC’s director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, should come shortly after they’re done.If all those steps fall into place, vaccinations could begin in many areas June 21.VACCINATION SITESPediatricians, other primary care physicians and children’s hospitals are expected to vaccinate most of the youngest kids. Limited drugstores will offer them for at least some of the under-5 group — parents should check local availability for different ages. The Biden administration says it also is working with a variety of other groups, such as children’s museums, to offer pop-up clinics and reach even more youngsters.WHAT IF MY CHILD RECENTLY HAD COVID-19?About&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-covid-infections-kids-baefa22555970245f0ff939e7bbc7c80">three-quarters of children</a>&nbsp;of all ages are estimated to have been infected at some point during the pandemic. It’s a question sure to come up as CDC’s advisers make recommendations for the littlest kids, so stay tuned.For older ages, the CDC has recommended vaccination anyway to lower the chances of reinfection. There’s no firm guidance on how long to wait; the CDC has said people may wait as long as three months.DEMAND IS UNCLEARThere are roughly 18 million children younger than 5, and many parents are eager to get their tots vaccinated. But it’s unclear how many ultimately will, given disappointing vaccine uptake by older children.According to the CDC, just 29% of kids ages 5 to 11 have gotten two doses, and about 60% of 12- to 17-year-olds.WHAT ABOUT MODERNA AND OLDER KIDS?On Tuesday, the FDA’s advisers will consider Moderna shots for older kids, those 6 to 17 -- a decision that might alleviate some parent confusion. The FDA review released Friday also included an analysis of the company’s shots for that age group.The FDA has held up Moderna’s teen vaccine for months while it investigated a rare side effect, heart inflammation. That’s mostly a risk for teen boys and young men, and also can occur with the Pfizer vaccine. The FDA review said its latest analysis of reports of myocarditis both in the U.S. and in other countries did not find conclusive evidence of a difference in risk between the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.___

Marathon US hearings to decide fate of COVID shots for tots

WASHINGTON (AP) — The outline of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gun-laws-senate-bipartisan-agreement-59d553f3d1e35fdbe4930e4341e74efb">bipartisan Senate agreement to rein in gun violence</a>&nbsp;has no game-changing steps banning the deadliest firearms. It does propose measured provisions making it harder for some young gun buyers, or people considered threatening, to have weapons.

And there are meaningful efforts to address mental health and school safety concerns. It all reflects&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-parkland-florida-school-shooting-gun-violence-shootings-public-opinion-06cd760edf8977716dba0c2b157a1a91">election-year pressure to act</a>&nbsp;both parties feel after mass shootings in May killed 10 people in Buffalo, New York, and 21 more in Uvalde, Texas.

Details of the plan remain in negotiation between Democrats and Republicans, with disagreements over how tightly the initiatives should be drawn. That means the proposal’s potency — and perhaps whether some parts survive — remain undetermined as it’s translated into legislation.

Here’s what’s in and out of the agreement:

A STRENGTHENING, NARROWLY, OF BACKGROUND CHECKS

When people age 18 to 20 try buying firearms, the required federal background check would for the first time include their juvenile crime and mental health records. To allow time for getting data from state and local authorities, the process’ current three-day maximum would be extended up to seven more days, according to aides following the talks. Once the 10 days lapse, the buyer could get the weapon, even if the record search is incomplete.

Currently, dealers considered in the “business” of selling guns are required to get federal firearms licenses. Such sellers must conduct background checks. Bargainers want to cover more people who, while not running a formal business, occasionally sell weapons.

The framework calls for grants to help states enforce or enact “red flag” laws that let authorities get court orders temporarily taking guns from people deemed dangerous. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have such statutes, but some lack funds to enforce them robustly.

Penalties would be toughened for so-called straw purchasers, those buying guns for others who don’t qualify. More current or former romantic partners convicted of domestic abuse, or targeted with restraining orders by their victims, would be barred from getting guns. The ban applies today if the couple was married, lived together or had children together.

Inclusion of the tougher restrictions against straw purchasers and estranged partners were surprises because they’d been blocked by Republicans before.

Democrats say there will be billions of dollars to expand mental health initiatives. This would pay for more community behavioral health centers, strengthened suicide prevention and violence intervention efforts and increased access to mental telehealth visits.

There would be new sums for school safety. These could include better security at building entrances, training for staff and violence prevention programs. The dollar amount is unclear.

Democrats responsive to constituents who strongly favor gun curbs want the new law to be as stringent as possible. Republicans want nothing that would turn their adamantly pro-gun voters against them.

This means tough bargaining on the fine print of the legislation.

How narrowly will a new definition of which sellers need federal firearms licenses be written? Are there limits on which juvenile records would be accessible during background checks for younger buyers?

What conditions would states have to meet to qualify for “red flag” funds? What legal protections would people have if the authorities consider them too risky to have firearms?

How much money will the package cost? No one has said, though people familiar with the discussions say a ballpark $15 billion is possible. And how will it be paid for?

A leader of the effort, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., told reporters Monday that bargainers plan to pay for the costs with offsetting spending cuts or new revenues. The latter could be a no-go for Republicans.

Leaders hope the package can be written and approved before Congress begins its July 4 recess.

President Joe Biden has proposed reviving the 1994 assault weapons ban, which expired after a decade, or raising the minimum age for buying one from 18 to 21. He wants to ban high-capacity magazines.

He’d repeal the legal immunity from liability protecting gun makers. He wants safe storage requirements for guns and a federal “red-flag” law to cover states without one.

None of those made it into the bill; nor did universal background checks. Biden backs the agreement anyway in the name of a compromise that would produce an achievement.

Ten senators from each party joined in announcing the gun outline and saying they backed it. Those numbers are not a coincidence.

They signal potentially enough support for passage by the 50-50 Senate, where Democrats will need at least 10 GOP backers to reach the usual 60-vote threshold. Besides Murphy, the other lead negotiators were Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-jerrold-nadler-district-of-columbia-judiciary-government-and-politics-982c04dba1f131f4893d14ad010d31ca">Approval in the Democratic-run House is expected</a>, though complications could always emerge.

Another bargainer, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said he hopes Republicans will see that “the gun lobby is weaker than they think.” But there are signs that approving future restrictions will be challenging.

For one thing, this spurt of action on guns is Congress’ most significant since the now-expired assault weapons ban was enacted three decades ago. That spotlights how hardened positions can be lasting.

Another clue is the makeup of the agreement’s 20 announced supporters. Blumenthal and Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., are the only two running for reelection this year.

Four others, all Republicans, are retiring in January: Sens. Roy Blunt of Missouri, Richard Burr of North Carolina, Rob Portman of Ohio and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

The rest don’t face reelection until 2024 or 2026.

They are Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Mitt Romney of Utah.

The Democrats are Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Chris Coons of Delaware, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan.

Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine, allied with Democrats, also backed the proposal.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654991563265.png" alt="March For our Lives rally at at the National Mall on Saturday photo courtesy March for our Lives" />
 <figcaption>March For our Lives rally at at the National Mall on Saturday photo courtesy March for our Lives</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The outline of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gun-laws-senate-bipartisan-agreement-59d553f3d1e35fdbe4930e4341e74efb">bipartisan Senate agreement to rein in gun violence</a>&nbsp;has no game-changing steps banning the deadliest firearms. It does propose measured provisions making it harder for some young gun buyers, or people considered threatening, to have weapons.And there are meaningful efforts to address mental health and school safety concerns. It all reflects&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-parkland-florida-school-shooting-gun-violence-shootings-public-opinion-06cd760edf8977716dba0c2b157a1a91">election-year pressure to act</a>&nbsp;both parties feel after mass shootings in May killed 10 people in Buffalo, New York, and 21 more in Uvalde, Texas.Details of the plan remain in negotiation between Democrats and Republicans, with disagreements over how tightly the initiatives should be drawn. That means the proposal’s potency — and perhaps whether some parts survive — remain undetermined as it’s translated into legislation.Here’s what’s in and out of the agreement:A STRENGTHENING, NARROWLY, OF BACKGROUND CHECKSWhen people age 18 to 20 try buying firearms, the required federal background check would for the first time include their juvenile crime and mental health records. To allow time for getting data from state and local authorities, the process’ current three-day maximum would be extended up to seven more days, according to aides following the talks. Once the 10 days lapse, the buyer could get the weapon, even if the record search is incomplete.Currently, dealers considered in the “business” of selling guns are required to get federal firearms licenses. Such sellers must conduct background checks. Bargainers want to cover more people who, while not running a formal business, occasionally sell weapons.OTHER MEASURED CURBSThe framework calls for grants to help states enforce or enact “red flag” laws that let authorities get court orders temporarily taking guns from people deemed dangerous. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have such statutes, but some lack funds to enforce them robustly.Penalties would be toughened for so-called straw purchasers, those buying guns for others who don’t qualify. More current or former romantic partners convicted of domestic abuse, or targeted with restraining orders by their victims, would be barred from getting guns. The ban applies today if the couple was married, lived together or had children together.Inclusion of the tougher restrictions against straw purchasers and estranged partners were surprises because they’d been blocked by Republicans before.ADDRESSING BROADER PROBLEMSDemocrats say there will be billions of dollars to expand mental health initiatives. This would pay for more community behavioral health centers, strengthened suicide prevention and violence intervention efforts and increased access to mental telehealth visits.There would be new sums for school safety. These could include better security at building entrances, training for staff and violence prevention programs. The dollar amount is unclear.HURDLES AHEADDemocrats responsive to constituents who strongly favor gun curbs want the new law to be as stringent as possible. Republicans want nothing that would turn their adamantly pro-gun voters against them.This means tough bargaining on the fine print of the legislation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654991535181.png" alt="March for out Lives protest Saturday -Photo courtesy American Federation of Teachers Union" />
 <figcaption>March for out Lives protest Saturday -Photo courtesy American Federation of Teachers Union</figcaption>
 </figure>How narrowly will a new definition of which sellers need federal firearms licenses be written? Are there limits on which juvenile records would be accessible during background checks for younger buyers?What conditions would states have to meet to qualify for “red flag” funds? What legal protections would people have if the authorities consider them too risky to have firearms?How much money will the package cost? No one has said, though people familiar with the discussions say a ballpark $15 billion is possible. And how will it be paid for?A leader of the effort, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., told reporters Monday that bargainers plan to pay for the costs with offsetting spending cuts or new revenues. The latter could be a no-go for Republicans.Leaders hope the package can be written and approved before Congress begins its July 4 recess.WHAT’S OUT?President Joe Biden has proposed reviving the 1994 assault weapons ban, which expired after a decade, or raising the minimum age for buying one from 18 to 21. He wants to ban high-capacity magazines.He’d repeal the legal immunity from liability protecting gun makers. He wants safe storage requirements for guns and a federal “red-flag” law to cover states without one.None of those made it into the bill; nor did universal background checks. Biden backs the agreement anyway in the name of a compromise that would produce an achievement.PROSPECTS AHEAD?Ten senators from each party joined in announcing the gun outline and saying they backed it. Those numbers are not a coincidence.They signal potentially enough support for passage by the 50-50 Senate, where Democrats will need at least 10 GOP backers to reach the usual 60-vote threshold. Besides Murphy, the other lead negotiators were Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-jerrold-nadler-district-of-columbia-judiciary-government-and-politics-982c04dba1f131f4893d14ad010d31ca">Approval in the Democratic-run House is expected</a>, though complications could always emerge.MORE RESTRICTIONS?Another bargainer, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said he hopes Republicans will see that “the gun lobby is weaker than they think.” But there are signs that approving future restrictions will be challenging.For one thing, this spurt of action on guns is Congress’ most significant since the now-expired assault weapons ban was enacted three decades ago. That spotlights how hardened positions can be lasting.Another clue is the makeup of the agreement’s 20 announced supporters. Blumenthal and Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., are the only two running for reelection this year.Four others, all Republicans, are retiring in January: Sens. Roy Blunt of Missouri, Richard Burr of North Carolina, Rob Portman of Ohio and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.The rest don’t face reelection until 2024 or 2026.They are Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Mitt Romney of Utah.The Democrats are Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Chris Coons of Delaware, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan.Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine, allied with Democrats, also backed the proposal.___

Tentative Senate gun deal has surprises and loose ends

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple charges after a 2-state chase.

Early Monday, Richardson County Nebraska deputies engaged in a vehicle pursuit. Speeds reached over 100 mile per hour and continued into Brown County Kansas, according to a media&nbsp; release.

Brown County Deputies, were able to spike the driver's front tire successfully. Once the vehicle finally came to a stop, and the driver identified as 33-year-old Nathan Wagner of Ashland, Nebraska was taken into custody.

Deputies learned the vehicle had been stolen out of Lincoln, Nebraska, on June 1.&nbsp;&nbsp;Wagner had multiple warrants for his arrest and was booked into the Brown County jail on requested charges of theft, driving while license cancelled/ revoked and reckless driving, according to online jail records.

&nbsp;Wagner will be extradited back to Nebraska, where he will face additional requested charges of Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, Flight to Avoid Arrest, Willful Reckless Driving, Driving Revoked, Driving Left of Center, Fail to use Turn Signal, Defective Vehicle Lighting, Speeding and and Fictitious Plates, according to the sheriff's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655150742513.png" alt="Wagner photo Brown Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Wagner photo Brown Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple charges after a 2-state chase.Early Monday, Richardson County Nebraska deputies engaged in a vehicle pursuit. Speeds reached over 100 mile per hour and continued into Brown County Kansas, according to a media&nbsp; release.Brown County Deputies, were able to spike the driver's front tire successfully. Once the vehicle finally came to a stop, and the driver identified as 33-year-old Nathan Wagner of Ashland, Nebraska was taken into custody.Deputies learned the vehicle had been stolen out of Lincoln, Nebraska, on June 1.&nbsp;&nbsp;Wagner had multiple warrants for his arrest and was booked into the Brown County jail on requested charges of theft, driving while license cancelled/ revoked and reckless driving, according to online jail records.&nbsp;Wagner will be extradited back to Nebraska, where he will face additional requested charges of Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, Flight to Avoid Arrest, Willful Reckless Driving, Driving Revoked, Driving Left of Center, Fail to use Turn Signal, Defective Vehicle Lighting, Speeding and and Fictitious Plates, according to the sheriff's office.