NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Naomi Judd, the Kentucky-born singer of the Grammy-winning duo The Judds and mother of Wynonna and Ashley Judd, has died. She was 76.

The daughters announced her death on Saturday in a statement provided to The Associated Press.

“Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness,” the statement said. “We are shattered. We are navigating profound grief and know that as we loved her, she was loved by her public. We are in unknown territory.” The statement did not elaborate further.

The Judds were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday.

The mother-daughter performers scored 14 No. 1 songs in a career that spanned nearly three decades. After rising to the top of country music, they called it quits in 1991 after doctors diagnosed Naomi Judd with hepatitis.

The Judds’ hits included “Love Can Build a Bridge” in 1990,“Mama He’s Crazy” in 1984, “Why Not Me” in 1984,“Turn It Loose” in 1988, “Girls Night Out” in 1985, “Rockin’ With the Rhythm of the Rain” in 1986 and “Grandpa” in 1986.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651348297370.png" alt="The Judds were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday." />
 <figcaption>The Judds were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday.</figcaption>
 </figure>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Naomi Judd, the Kentucky-born singer of the Grammy-winning duo The Judds and mother of Wynonna and Ashley Judd, has died. She was 76.The daughters announced her death on Saturday in a statement provided to The Associated Press.“Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness,” the statement said. “We are shattered. We are navigating profound grief and know that as we loved her, she was loved by her public. We are in unknown territory.” The statement did not elaborate further.The Judds were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday.The mother-daughter performers scored 14 No. 1 songs in a career that spanned nearly three decades. After rising to the top of country music, they called it quits in 1991 after doctors diagnosed Naomi Judd with hepatitis.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651348227459.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Judds’ hits included “Love Can Build a Bridge” in 1990,“Mama He’s Crazy” in 1984, “Why Not Me” in 1984,“Turn It Loose” in 1988, “Girls Night Out” in 1985, “Rockin’ With the Rhythm of the Rain” in 1986 and “Grandpa” in 1986.

Naomi Judd, of Grammy-winning duo The Judds, has died

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is scrapping old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs, speeding an ongoing trend toward more efficient lighting that officials say will save households, schools and businesses billions of dollars a year.

Rules finalized by the Energy Department will require manufacturers to sell energy-efficient light bulbs, accelerating a longtime industry practice to use compact fluorescent and LED bulbs that last 25 to 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs. The Trump administration had slowed an earlier phaseout of incandescents, saying it was targeting rules that burden businesses.

Once the new rules are fully in place next year, consumers should save nearly $3 billion per year on their utility bills, the Energy Department said. The rules are projected to cut planet-warming carbon emissions by 222 million metric tons over the next 30 years, an amount equivalent to emissions generated by 28 million homes in one year, officials said.

“By raising energy efficiency standards for lightbulbs, we’re putting $3 billion back in the pockets of American consumers every year and substantially reducing domestic carbon emissions,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement Tuesday. “The lighting industry is already embracing more energy efficient products, and this measure will accelerate progress to deliver the best products to American consumers and build a better and brighter future.”

The new rules expand energy-efficiency requirements to more types of light bulbs and ban sale of bulbs that produce less than 45 lumens per watt — a measure of how much light is emitted for each unit of electricity.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-business-politics-30f1a41f331c43509e02f3fea4d20e95">Trump administration in 2019 had slowed a years-long push</a>&nbsp;by Congress and past administrations to switch Americans to LED bulbs and other lighting that uses less electricity. Former President Donald Trump said in September 2019 that the Energy Department canceled a pending phaseout of incandescent bulbs because “what’s saved is not worth it.”

Advocates hailed the latest rule change, saying it would ensure that commonly used light bulbs meet an easily achieved efficiency standard.

“This is a victory for consumers and for the climate — one that’s been a long time coming,” said Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, a nonprofit organization that seeks to reduce energy waste and combat climate change.

LED bulbs “have become so inexpensive that there’s no good reason for manufacturers to keep selling 19th-century technology that just isn’t very good at turning electrical energy into light,″ Nadel said. The new standards “will finally phase out energy-wasting bulbs across the country.”

Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, said that while retailers will be able to sell inefficient bulbs until July 2023, “responsible chains ought to get them off their shelves as soon as possible and certainly by the end of this year.″

In 2020, about 30% of light bulbs sold in the United States were incandescent or halogen incandescent bulbs, according to industry groups. The new rule bars manufacture or importation of incandescent bulbs as of Jan. 1.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association said in statement that LED lighting, “spurred by research scientists and lighting manufacturers,” has been fully embraced by consumers and is “an unqualified success.″

The manufacturers group “appreciates the administration’s recognition of the challenges industry faces in complying” with the new rule and its “adoption of a more manageable compliance timeframe” than earlier proposals, said spokesman Spencer Pederson.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is scrapping old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs, speeding an ongoing trend toward more efficient lighting that officials say will save households, schools and businesses billions of dollars a year.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Here&#39;s some news to light up your day.💡 Our new energy-efficiency standards for light bulbs will: 💵 Save consumers $3B a year on utility bills 📉 Cut 222M metric tons of carbon emissions over three decades 📚 <a href="https://t.co/GNjtzvh3DF">https://t.co/GNjtzvh3DF</a> <a href="https://t.co/Phl6qHquK6">pic.twitter.com/Phl6qHquK6</a>&mdash; U.S. Department of Energy (@ENERGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/ENERGY/status/1518986019630206976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Rules finalized by the Energy Department will require manufacturers to sell energy-efficient light bulbs, accelerating a longtime industry practice to use compact fluorescent and LED bulbs that last 25 to 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs. The Trump administration had slowed an earlier phaseout of incandescents, saying it was targeting rules that burden businesses.Once the new rules are fully in place next year, consumers should save nearly $3 billion per year on their utility bills, the Energy Department said. The rules are projected to cut planet-warming carbon emissions by 222 million metric tons over the next 30 years, an amount equivalent to emissions generated by 28 million homes in one year, officials said.“By raising energy efficiency standards for lightbulbs, we’re putting $3 billion back in the pockets of American consumers every year and substantially reducing domestic carbon emissions,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement Tuesday. “The lighting industry is already embracing more energy efficient products, and this measure will accelerate progress to deliver the best products to American consumers and build a better and brighter future.”The new rules expand energy-efficiency requirements to more types of light bulbs and ban sale of bulbs that produce less than 45 lumens per watt — a measure of how much light is emitted for each unit of electricity.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-business-politics-30f1a41f331c43509e02f3fea4d20e95">Trump administration in 2019 had slowed a years-long push</a>&nbsp;by Congress and past administrations to switch Americans to LED bulbs and other lighting that uses less electricity. Former President Donald Trump said in September 2019 that the Energy Department canceled a pending phaseout of incandescent bulbs because “what’s saved is not worth it.”Advocates hailed the latest rule change, saying it would ensure that commonly used light bulbs meet an easily achieved efficiency standard.“This is a victory for consumers and for the climate — one that’s been a long time coming,” said Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, a nonprofit organization that seeks to reduce energy waste and combat climate change.LED bulbs “have become so inexpensive that there’s no good reason for manufacturers to keep selling 19th-century technology that just isn’t very good at turning electrical energy into light,″ Nadel said. The new standards “will finally phase out energy-wasting bulbs across the country.”Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, said that while retailers will be able to sell inefficient bulbs until July 2023, “responsible chains ought to get them off their shelves as soon as possible and certainly by the end of this year.″In 2020, about 30% of light bulbs sold in the United States were incandescent or halogen incandescent bulbs, according to industry groups. The new rule bars manufacture or importation of incandescent bulbs as of Jan. 1.The National Electrical Manufacturers Association said in statement that LED lighting, “spurred by research scientists and lighting manufacturers,” has been fully embraced by consumers and is “an unqualified success.″The manufacturers group “appreciates the administration’s recognition of the challenges industry faces in complying” with the new rule and its “adoption of a more manageable compliance timeframe” than earlier proposals, said spokesman Spencer Pederson.

Biden admin. scrapping old-fashioned light bulbs

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man who pleaded no contest to shooting an Omaha officer during a 2018 traffic stop before being shot himself by other officers has been sentenced to the equivalent of life behind bars.

John Ezell Jr., 39, was sentenced Thursday to 96 to 106 years for the Sept. 11, 2018, shooting that injured Officer Ken Fortune,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wowt.com/2022/04/28/omaha-man-sentenced-shooting-opd-officer-2018/" target="_blank">television station WOWT reported</a>.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-shootings-omaha-18a75b2a07069f75178b645e64c22e92">Ezell pleaded no contest in January</a>&nbsp;to two counts of attempted first-degree assault on an officer and two weapons counts.

Police have said Ezell was a passenger in a car that fled police. Once the car was stopped,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5192040bd2bd4007abce13a1429264db">Ezell opened the car door holding a gun and shot Fortune&nbsp;</a>at point-blank range. The shooting was caught on officer body camera video.

Ezell also fired at Office Jeffrey Wasmund, but missed, police said. Ezell then fled and was shot several times by police.

Both Fortune and Ezell have since recovered.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651326306550.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ASSOCIATED PRESSOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man who pleaded no contest to shooting an Omaha officer during a 2018 traffic stop before being shot himself by other officers has been sentenced to the equivalent of life behind bars.John Ezell Jr., 39, was sentenced Thursday to 96 to 106 years for the Sept. 11, 2018, shooting that injured Officer Ken Fortune,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wowt.com/2022/04/28/omaha-man-sentenced-shooting-opd-officer-2018/" target="_blank">television station WOWT reported</a>.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-shootings-omaha-18a75b2a07069f75178b645e64c22e92">Ezell pleaded no contest in January</a>&nbsp;to two counts of attempted first-degree assault on an officer and two weapons counts.Police have said Ezell was a passenger in a car that fled police. Once the car was stopped,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5192040bd2bd4007abce13a1429264db">Ezell opened the car door holding a gun and shot Fortune&nbsp;</a>at point-blank range. The shooting was caught on officer body camera video.Ezell also fired at Office Jeffrey Wasmund, but missed, police said. Ezell then fled and was shot several times by police.Both Fortune and Ezell have since recovered.

Man gets equivalent of life for shooting Omaha officer

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha woman accused of sexually assaulting much younger members of her dance team has pleaded no contest to four felony counts in a deal with prosecutors.

Court records show that Brittianee Bates, 24, pleaded no contest Thursday to two counts of first-degree sexual assault and one count each of third-degree sexual assault of a child and intentional child abuse.

Bates doesn’t admit guilty with the plea, but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict her. In exchange for her pleas, four other felony counts were dropped.

Police have said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/omaha-28335941d7bef35533517719bc17e928">Bates sexually assaulted three girls&nbsp;</a>who were on the same drill team as Bates and a fourth girl who went to a day care where Bates worked. Prosecutors say the abuse dates back to 2015 and that all of victims were younger than 13.

Bates faces more than 100 years in prison when she’s sentenced in July.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651326232978.png" alt="Bates" />
 <figcaption>Bates</figcaption>
 </figure>By ASSOCIATED PRESSOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha woman accused of sexually assaulting much younger members of her dance team has pleaded no contest to four felony counts in a deal with prosecutors.Court records show that Brittianee Bates, 24, pleaded no contest Thursday to two counts of first-degree sexual assault and one count each of third-degree sexual assault of a child and intentional child abuse.Bates doesn’t admit guilty with the plea, but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict her. In exchange for her pleas, four other felony counts were dropped.Police have said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/omaha-28335941d7bef35533517719bc17e928">Bates sexually assaulted three girls&nbsp;</a>who were on the same drill team as Bates and a fourth girl who went to a day care where Bates worked. Prosecutors say the abuse dates back to 2015 and that all of victims were younger than 13.Bates faces more than 100 years in prison when she’s sentenced in July.

Omaha woman accused of molesting young drill team members

By SCOTT CARLSON North Platte Post

SEWARD COUNTY, Neb.-Authorities in Seward County are seeking information on the killing of a bald eagle.

The Seward County Sheriff's Office is working with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to find the individual or individuals responsible for the killing of the eagle which was found near Garland.

Authorities said the eagle was nesting when it was shot and abandoned.

Anyone with information is asked to submit tips to Dina Barta, Nebraska Conservation Officer, at dina.barta@nebraska.gov or by calling 402.890.6463.

Tips can remain anonymous and information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward.

The killing or harvesting of bald eagles is a felony under federal law, punishable by two years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

<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/2022/4/1651319973039.png" alt="Photo: Seward County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Photo: Seward County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>By SCOTT CARLSON North Platte PostSEWARD COUNTY, Neb.-Authorities in Seward County are seeking information on the killing of a bald eagle.The Seward County Sheriff's Office is working with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to find the individual or individuals responsible for the killing of the eagle which was found near Garland.Authorities said the eagle was nesting when it was shot and abandoned.Anyone with information is asked to submit tips to Dina Barta, Nebraska Conservation Officer, at dina.barta@nebraska.gov or by calling 402.890.6463.Tips can remain anonymous and information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward.The killing or harvesting of bald eagles is a felony under federal law, punishable by two years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine.<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a><figure>
 <img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/um8wLMKcZ-uyyPGpagxZ4_a_Au8Ytk3tFkiBOThyXiSzj8HTu83huas2FwCUEzK4LE44Nx16Fv1qkbYzdAhpdaFVcfj8DvUE8lv-3y0ISkoNVPNNUz_g7BHHJQddnsr1vRJeoI43c9Cez37xyw" alt="" />
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Authorities seek information in killing of bald eagle in Seward County

By MORGAN LEE AND CEDAR ATTANASIO Associated Press

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Thousands of firefighters battled destructive wildfires in the Southwest as more residents prepared to evacuate Friday into the weekend in northern New Mexico where strong winds and dangerously dry conditions have made the blazes hard to contain.

The biggest fire in the U.S. grew to more than 117 square miles through the afternoon northeast of Santa Fe. Gusty winds prevented any aerial attacks by midmorning and crews lost some of the containment they had established in previous days.

The rapid rate of the spread of the fire was exceeding dire predictions in some areas, incident commander Carl Schwope said Friday night.

“We’re in a very dangerous situation. Evacuation statuses are changing as we speak,” he warned at a briefing in Las Vegas, New Mexico, about 50 miles east of Santa Fe.

More air and ground forces were on the way, he said, to fortify the nearly 1,000 firefighters on the fire lines there and winds that gusted up to 65 mph were beginning to subside as nightfall approached.

There were no immediate reports of any new structures have been lost since the local sheriff confirmed Thursday night at least 166 homes have been destroyed in northeast New Mexico’s rural San Miguel County.

But erratic wind shifts in some of the driest conditions the region has seen in years were forecast again Saturday, and authorities were making preparations to evacuate some residents as far north as Taos.

“Just getting people out of the way, that’s been the mission today,” Sheriff Chris Lopez said at the briefing in Las Vegas. Some of the most active fire was heading in the direction of that town but he said the town itself was not in immediate danger.

Fire lines were bolstered outside the rural New Mexico community of Ledoux in efforts to save structures, and they appeared to be holding.

More than 2,000 firefighters were battling fires in Arizona and New Mexico on Friday — about half of those in northeast New Mexico, where a total of more than 187 square miles of mostly timber and brush have been charred.

Red flag warnings for extreme fire danger were in place Friday for nearly all of New Mexico and parts of Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

The fires are burning unusually hot and fast for this time of year, especially in the Southwest, where experts said some timber in the region is drier than kiln-dried wood.

“We still have some fire weather to get through tonight, tomorrow and several days afterwards,” fire behavior specialist Stewart Turner said at Friday night’s briefing in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

“It’s very important that everybody pays attention to the evacuation orders because this is a very, very serious fire — very dangerous fire behavior out there.”

Matthew Probst, Las Vegas-based medical director for the health clinic network El Centro Family Health, said the nearby fire has swept through impoverished communities already frayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Here, you’re losing meager homes, but it’s everything. It’s all they had,” said Probst, a coordinator of county health services for wildfire evacuees.

Rural families in the area were caught off guard after heading home from an early evacuation — only to be ambushed by a fast-moving fire last week.

A 79-year-old widow from the tiny community of Sapello left her house and a blue heeler cattle dog for a doctor’s appointment, with boxes packed for possible evacuation with jewelry and her 1964 wedding photos. Winds kicked up, and police said it was too late to go back for anything.

“They said, ‘No ma’am, it’s far too dangerous,’” said Sonya Berg in a phone interview Friday from an emergency shelter at a nearby middle school.

A close friend says the house burned, but Berg doesn’t want to believe it. A neighbor rescued the dog.

“I’m in denial until I go and see it,” said Berg, whose husband passed away in 2019 and was buried outside the home. “He’s up there, he’s been through the whole thing. I’m hoping the gravestone we put up is still there.”

In the Jemez Mountains east of Los Alamos, another wildfire spanning 12 square miles (30 square kilometers) crept in the direction of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nps.gov/band/index.htm" target="_blank">Bandelier National Monument</a>, which closed its backcountry hiking trails as a precaution while central visiting areas remained open.

In northern Arizona, authorities are nearing full containment of a 30 square-mile blaze that destroyed at least 30 homes near Flagstaff and forced hundreds to evacuate. A top-level national management team turned it back over to the local forest Friday.

“It’s pretty stable for the most part,” said Coconino National Forest spokeswoman Randi Shaffer. “We’re not seeing any forecasted crazy weather patterns. We have fire crews monitoring, all of our suppression efforts have been holding.”

Some residents near another fire 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Prescott haven’t been allowed back home. Firefighters have about one-third of the 14 square-mile fire’s perimeter contained. Lighter winds were expected into the weekend, but low humidity will be a concern, fire officials said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651319056841.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By MORGAN LEE AND CEDAR ATTANASIO Associated PressSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Thousands of firefighters battled destructive wildfires in the Southwest as more residents prepared to evacuate Friday into the weekend in northern New Mexico where strong winds and dangerously dry conditions have made the blazes hard to contain.The biggest fire in the U.S. grew to more than 117 square miles through the afternoon northeast of Santa Fe. Gusty winds prevented any aerial attacks by midmorning and crews lost some of the containment they had established in previous days.The rapid rate of the spread of the fire was exceeding dire predictions in some areas, incident commander Carl Schwope said Friday night.“We’re in a very dangerous situation. Evacuation statuses are changing as we speak,” he warned at a briefing in Las Vegas, New Mexico, about 50 miles east of Santa Fe.More air and ground forces were on the way, he said, to fortify the nearly 1,000 firefighters on the fire lines there and winds that gusted up to 65 mph were beginning to subside as nightfall approached.There were no immediate reports of any new structures have been lost since the local sheriff confirmed Thursday night at least 166 homes have been destroyed in northeast New Mexico’s rural San Miguel County.But erratic wind shifts in some of the driest conditions the region has seen in years were forecast again Saturday, and authorities were making preparations to evacuate some residents as far north as Taos.“Just getting people out of the way, that’s been the mission today,” Sheriff Chris Lopez said at the briefing in Las Vegas. Some of the most active fire was heading in the direction of that town but he said the town itself was not in immediate danger.Fire lines were bolstered outside the rural New Mexico community of Ledoux in efforts to save structures, and they appeared to be holding.More than 2,000 firefighters were battling fires in Arizona and New Mexico on Friday — about half of those in northeast New Mexico, where a total of more than 187 square miles of mostly timber and brush have been charred.Red flag warnings for extreme fire danger were in place Friday for nearly all of New Mexico and parts of Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.The fires are burning unusually hot and fast for this time of year, especially in the Southwest, where experts said some timber in the region is drier than kiln-dried wood.“We still have some fire weather to get through tonight, tomorrow and several days afterwards,” fire behavior specialist Stewart Turner said at Friday night’s briefing in Las Vegas, New Mexico.“It’s very important that everybody pays attention to the evacuation orders because this is a very, very serious fire — very dangerous fire behavior out there.”Matthew Probst, Las Vegas-based medical director for the health clinic network El Centro Family Health, said the nearby fire has swept through impoverished communities already frayed by the coronavirus pandemic.“Here, you’re losing meager homes, but it’s everything. It’s all they had,” said Probst, a coordinator of county health services for wildfire evacuees.Rural families in the area were caught off guard after heading home from an early evacuation — only to be ambushed by a fast-moving fire last week.A 79-year-old widow from the tiny community of Sapello left her house and a blue heeler cattle dog for a doctor’s appointment, with boxes packed for possible evacuation with jewelry and her 1964 wedding photos. Winds kicked up, and police said it was too late to go back for anything.“They said, ‘No ma’am, it’s far too dangerous,’” said Sonya Berg in a phone interview Friday from an emergency shelter at a nearby middle school.A close friend says the house burned, but Berg doesn’t want to believe it. A neighbor rescued the dog.“I’m in denial until I go and see it,” said Berg, whose husband passed away in 2019 and was buried outside the home. “He’s up there, he’s been through the whole thing. I’m hoping the gravestone we put up is still there.”In the Jemez Mountains east of Los Alamos, another wildfire spanning 12 square miles (30 square kilometers) crept in the direction of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nps.gov/band/index.htm" target="_blank">Bandelier National Monument</a>, which closed its backcountry hiking trails as a precaution while central visiting areas remained open.In northern Arizona, authorities are nearing full containment of a 30 square-mile blaze that destroyed at least 30 homes near Flagstaff and forced hundreds to evacuate. A top-level national management team turned it back over to the local forest Friday.“It’s pretty stable for the most part,” said Coconino National Forest spokeswoman Randi Shaffer. “We’re not seeing any forecasted crazy weather patterns. We have fire crews monitoring, all of our suppression efforts have been holding.”Some residents near another fire 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Prescott haven’t been allowed back home. Firefighters have about one-third of the 14 square-mile fire’s perimeter contained. Lighter winds were expected into the weekend, but low humidity will be a concern, fire officials said.

More evacuations expected near dangerous Southwest wildfires

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas saw a 4.1% increase in the number of abortions performed in the state in 2021 compared with 2020, with more Missouri residents but fewer Oklahoma and Texas residents coming into the state to terminate their pregnancies.

A preliminary report Tuesday from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment showed that 7,849 abortions were performed in the state last year. That's 303 more than the 7,546 performed in Kansas in 2020.

The state saw an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ok-state-wire-kansas-lifestyle-travel-health-046fe86893322c77fef7c6f0e9a1210f">increase of more than 9%&nbsp;</a>in the number of abortions performed in 2020 over 2019, due to an influx of patients from Oklahoma and Texas, where Republican governors shut down providers early in the coronavirus pandemic, while Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, kept them, open in her state.

But the number of abortions performed in Kansas for women from Oklahoma and Texas dropped to a total of 370 in 2021 from 566 in 2020, a drop of nearly 35%.

Meanwhile, the number of abortions for women from Missouri was 3,458 last year, up 8% or 257 from 2020.

And 8% more Kansas residents had abortions in the state in 2021 than in 2020. The increase was 292, making the total 3,937.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas saw a 4.1% increase in the number of abortions performed in the state in 2021 compared with 2020, with more Missouri residents but fewer Oklahoma and Texas residents coming into the state to terminate their pregnancies.A preliminary report Tuesday from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment showed that 7,849 abortions were performed in the state last year. That's 303 more than the 7,546 performed in Kansas in 2020.The state saw an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ok-state-wire-kansas-lifestyle-travel-health-046fe86893322c77fef7c6f0e9a1210f">increase of more than 9%&nbsp;</a>in the number of abortions performed in 2020 over 2019, due to an influx of patients from Oklahoma and Texas, where Republican governors shut down providers early in the coronavirus pandemic, while Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, kept them, open in her state.But the number of abortions performed in Kansas for women from Oklahoma and Texas dropped to a total of 370 in 2021 from 566 in 2020, a drop of nearly 35%.Meanwhile, the number of abortions for women from Missouri was 3,458 last year, up 8% or 257 from 2020.And 8% more Kansas residents had abortions in the state in 2021 than in 2020. The increase was 292, making the total 3,937.

KDHE: 7,849 abortions performed in Kansas in 2021

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Thursday that he’s “taking a hard look” at canceling additional federal student loan debt and will reach a decision within a month.

“I am considering dealing with some debt reduction,” Biden told reporters in the Roosevelt Room at the White House.

The comments came days after Biden had a private meeting with Democratic lawmakers who pressed him on the issue. One of the lawmakers, Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., said afterwards that Biden disclosed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-race-and-ethnicity-hispanics-b27b4325aba74e63cc7d3cfcb962daa5">he was exploring the possibility.</a>

However, Biden signaled in his Thursday remarks that he wouldn’t go as far as some activists want, saying $50,000 in debt forgiveness was not under consideration. He did not give a number for what he was considering.

“I’m in the process of taking a hard look at whether or not there will be additional debt forgiveness,” he said. “And I’ll have an answer on that in the next couple of weeks.”

During his campaign, Biden said he wanted to “immediately cancel” at least $10,000 in student debt per person. So far he’s repeatedly extended a pause on requiring borrowers to repay their loans, a moratorium that was put in place under then-President Donald Trump near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although activists have been encouraged by their increasing traction on this issue, some said they were concerned that Biden wouldn’t go far enough.

“President Biden, we agree that we shouldn’t cancel $50,000 in student loan debt. We should cancel all of it,” said Wisdom Cole, national director of the NAACP Youth &amp; College Division. “$50,000 was just the bottom line.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has signaled he might forgive some student loan debt and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-congress-miguel-cardona-lifestyle-education-2fad4da6c3fee980b5dacc65561ffa81">further extend the federal moratorium on repayments</a>, a lawmaker who discussed the issue with him said Wednesday.

The White House was notably more measured about Biden’s stance, but such moves would be a boon to many of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-education-6ce97ddc9db7f777e8e6fb2d7a8fb2cd">43 million Americans carrying student loans&nbsp;</a>worth $1.6 trillion, according to federal figures. It would also be a win for Democratic and progressive leaders who have long pressed Biden to carry through on a 2020 campaign promise that as president he would “immediately” cancel up to $10,000 in debt per student.

Biden’s remarks came during a wide-ranging Monday meeting at the White House with seven members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, according to Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., who was among them. He said in an interview Wednesday that he asked Biden to extend the moratorium on debt payments through this year, instead of letting it expire Aug. 31.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Thursday that he’s “taking a hard look” at canceling additional federal student loan debt and will reach a decision within a month.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F298694382441190%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1140" 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>“I am considering dealing with some debt reduction,” Biden told reporters in the Roosevelt Room at the White House.The comments came days after Biden had a private meeting with Democratic lawmakers who pressed him on the issue. One of the lawmakers, Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., said afterwards that Biden disclosed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-race-and-ethnicity-hispanics-b27b4325aba74e63cc7d3cfcb962daa5">he was exploring the possibility.</a>However, Biden signaled in his Thursday remarks that he wouldn’t go as far as some activists want, saying $50,000 in debt forgiveness was not under consideration. He did not give a number for what he was considering.“I’m in the process of taking a hard look at whether or not there will be additional debt forgiveness,” he said. “And I’ll have an answer on that in the next couple of weeks.”During his campaign, Biden said he wanted to “immediately cancel” at least $10,000 in student debt per person. So far he’s repeatedly extended a pause on requiring borrowers to repay their loans, a moratorium that was put in place under then-President Donald Trump near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.Although activists have been encouraged by their increasing traction on this issue, some said they were concerned that Biden wouldn’t go far enough.“President Biden, we agree that we shouldn’t cancel $50,000 in student loan debt. We should cancel all of it,” said Wisdom Cole, national director of the NAACP Youth &amp; College Division. “$50,000 was just the bottom line.”---------WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has signaled he might forgive some student loan debt and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-congress-miguel-cardona-lifestyle-education-2fad4da6c3fee980b5dacc65561ffa81">further extend the federal moratorium on repayments</a>, a lawmaker who discussed the issue with him said Wednesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651153391885.png" alt="Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., accompanied by Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-Calif., Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., speaks to members of the media following a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday-photo courtesy Congressional Hispanic Caucus" />
 <figcaption>Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., accompanied by Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-Calif., Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., speaks to members of the media following a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday-photo courtesy Congressional Hispanic Caucus</figcaption>
 </figure>The White House was notably more measured about Biden’s stance, but such moves would be a boon to many of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-education-6ce97ddc9db7f777e8e6fb2d7a8fb2cd">43 million Americans carrying student loans&nbsp;</a>worth $1.6 trillion, according to federal figures. It would also be a win for Democratic and progressive leaders who have long pressed Biden to carry through on a 2020 campaign promise that as president he would “immediately” cancel up to $10,000 in debt per student.Biden’s remarks came during a wide-ranging Monday meeting at the White House with seven members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, according to Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., who was among them. He said in an interview Wednesday that he asked Biden to extend the moratorium on debt payments through this year, instead of letting it expire Aug. 31.

🎥Biden talks about canceling federal student loan debts

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement officers with the Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force executed search warrants on multiple retail businesses throughout Topeka and Shawnee County on Thursday, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 Task Force officers seized illegal products that were being offered for sale and distributed to the general public.

These unlawful products, in various forms and packaging, were identified as Delta-8 THC, Delta9 THC and Delta-10 THC products that have been determined to be unlawful schedule I drugs under Kansas law. 

Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force reports that no retail businesses were shut down during the operation and no arrests have been made at this time.

Each retail business was served with a cease and desist notice calling for an immediate stop to the sale of all Delta-8 THC, Delta-9 THC and Delta-10 THC products. 

Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force will continue to address this issue with other retail businesses that may be engaged in the unlawful sale of these products.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement officers with the Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force executed search warrants on multiple retail businesses throughout Topeka and Shawnee County on Thursday, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. Task Force officers seized illegal products that were being offered for sale and distributed to the general public.These unlawful products, in various forms and packaging, were identified as Delta-8 THC, Delta9 THC and Delta-10 THC products that have been determined to be unlawful schedule I drugs under Kansas law. Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force reports that no retail businesses were shut down during the operation and no arrests have been made at this time.Each retail business was served with a cease and desist notice calling for an immediate stop to the sale of all Delta-8 THC, Delta-9 THC and Delta-10 THC products. Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force will continue to address this issue with other retail businesses that may be engaged in the unlawful sale of these products.

Kan. deputies seize Delta-8 THC products at multiple businesses 

DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than a quarter-million Explorer SUVs in the U.S. because they can roll away unexpectedly while shifted into park.

The recall covers certain 2020 through 2022 Explorers with 2.3-liter engines, as well as 3-liter and 3.3-liter hybrids and the 3-liter ST. Also included are 2020 and 2021 Explorer Police hybrids and those with 3.3-liter gas engines.

Documents posted Friday by U.S. safety regulators say that a rear axle mounting bolt can fracture and cause the drive shaft to disconnect. If that happens, the SUVs can roll away even if they are placed in park gear, without the parking brake on.

The documents say Ford has 235 warranty claims due to the problem. The company says it knows of no crashes or injuries.

Depending on the model, dealers will replace a bushing and the axle cover, or they will update electronic parking brake software. Owners will be notified by mail starting June 6.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651238741541.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ASSOCIATED PRESSDETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than a quarter-million Explorer SUVs in the U.S. because they can roll away unexpectedly while shifted into park.The recall covers certain 2020 through 2022 Explorers with 2.3-liter engines, as well as 3-liter and 3.3-liter hybrids and the 3-liter ST. Also included are 2020 and 2021 Explorer Police hybrids and those with 3.3-liter gas engines.Documents posted Friday by U.S. safety regulators say that a rear axle mounting bolt can fracture and cause the drive shaft to disconnect. If that happens, the SUVs can roll away even if they are placed in park gear, without the parking brake on.The documents say Ford has 235 warranty claims due to the problem. The company says it knows of no crashes or injuries.Depending on the model, dealers will replace a bushing and the axle cover, or they will update electronic parking brake software. Owners will be notified by mail starting June 6.<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs</a><figure>
 <img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/um8wLMKcZ-uyyPGpagxZ4_a_Au8Ytk3tFkiBOThyXiSzj8HTu83huas2FwCUEzK4LE44Nx16Fv1qkbYzdAhpdaFVcfj8DvUE8lv-3y0ISkoNVPNNUz_g7BHHJQddnsr1vRJeoI43c9Cez37xyw" alt="" />
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Ford recalls Explorer SUVs that can roll away while in park

ULYSSES – A southwest Kansas man has been convicted of murder in connection with the 2019 death of a child, according to Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Uraquio Agustin Arredondo, 31, of Ulysses, was convicted in Grant County District Court following a bench trial before Judge Clinton Peterson. Arredondo was found guilty of one count of first degree felony murder and one count of child abuse. Sentencing was set for June 13.

The case involved the death of a 3-year-old child that occurred while the child was being physically abused.

On Feb. 24, 2019 authorities arrested Uraquio “Rocky” A. Arredondo, at his home in the 900 Block of S. Cheyenne in Ulysses, Kan, according to a media release from the KBI.

Arredondo was arrested for first degree murder and abuse of a child. He was booked into the Grant County Jail on $500,000 bond.

The arrest followed a yearlong investigation by the KBI and the Ulysses Police Department into the death of 3-year-old Carlos Valenzuela III. On Feb. 26, 2019, police and EMS were dispatched to the child’s home after they received a 911 call reporting an unresponsive child.

Valenzuela was first transported to Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital and was then transferred to a Denver, Colo. hospital for treatment. He died Feb. 27, 2019 in Denver. Arredondo was in a relationship with child’s mother, according to the KBI.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582652296671.png" alt=" Arredondo photo Grant Co." />
 <figcaption> Arredondo photo Grant Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ULYSSES – A southwest Kansas man has been convicted of murder in connection with the 2019 death of a child, according to Attorney General Derek Schmidt.Uraquio Agustin Arredondo, 31, of Ulysses, was convicted in Grant County District Court following a bench trial before Judge Clinton Peterson. Arredondo was found guilty of one count of first degree felony murder and one count of child abuse. Sentencing was set for June 13.The case involved the death of a 3-year-old child that occurred while the child was being physically abused.On Feb. 24, 2019 authorities arrested Uraquio “Rocky” A. Arredondo, at his home in the 900 Block of S. Cheyenne in Ulysses, Kan, according to a media release from the KBI.Arredondo was arrested for first degree murder and abuse of a child. He was booked into the Grant County Jail on $500,000 bond.The arrest followed a yearlong investigation by the KBI and the Ulysses Police Department into the death of 3-year-old Carlos Valenzuela III. On Feb. 26, 2019, police and EMS were dispatched to the child’s home after they received a 911 call reporting an unresponsive child.Valenzuela was first transported to Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital and was then transferred to a Denver, Colo. hospital for treatment. He died Feb. 27, 2019 in Denver. Arredondo was in a relationship with child’s mother, according to the KBI.&nbsp;Sentencing is set for June 13.--------

Kan. man guilty in death of girlfriend's 3-year-old son

BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — Authorities said a woman and one of her dogs were found dead inside a Bellevue home where a fire had burned. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that 73-year-old Kathleen Janus was found dead around 10 a.m. Thursday. Police say parts of the inside of the house showed signs of a recent fire. Fire crews also found a dead dog in the home. A second dog belonging to Janus was found alive. 

Police said a neighbor found Janus' body after using a key to enter the home after being unable to reach Janus by phone or by knocking on the door.

 Police and fire officials are investigating.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651237139165.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ASSOCIATED PRESSBELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — Authorities said a woman and one of her dogs were found dead inside a Bellevue home where a fire had burned. The Omaha World-Herald reports that 73-year-old Kathleen Janus was found dead around 10 a.m. Thursday. Police say parts of the inside of the house showed signs of a recent fire. Fire crews also found a dead dog in the home. A second dog belonging to Janus was found alive. Police said a neighbor found Janus' body after using a key to enter the home after being unable to reach Janus by phone or by knocking on the door. Police and fire officials are investigating.<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs</a><figure>
 <img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/um8wLMKcZ-uyyPGpagxZ4_a_Au8Ytk3tFkiBOThyXiSzj8HTu83huas2FwCUEzK4LE44Nx16Fv1qkbYzdAhpdaFVcfj8DvUE8lv-3y0ISkoNVPNNUz_g7BHHJQddnsr1vRJeoI43c9Cez37xyw" alt="" />
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 </figure>

Woman, dog found dead inside burned home south of Omaha

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government on Thursday released its long-awaited plan to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, citing the toll on Black smokers and young people.

“The proposed rules would help prevent children from becoming the next generation of smokers and help adult smokers quit,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, in a statement.

He added that the ban would also be an “important step to advance health equity” by reducing disparities in tobacco-related diseases.

The Food and Drug Administration said eliminating menthol cigarettes could prevent between 300,000 and 650,000 smoking deaths over 40 years.

Menthol accounts for more than a third of cigarettes sold in the U.S, and the mint flavor is favored by Black smokers and young people. Menthol’s cooling effect has been shown to mask the throat harshness of smoking, making it easier to start and harder to quit.

The FDA said it will also seek to ban menthol and dozens of other flavors like grape and strawberry from cigars, which are increasingly popular with young people, especially Black teens.

The agency’s proposals on both cigarettes and cigars are only initial drafts and are unlikely to be finalized before next year. Companies would then have one additional year to phase out their products. Tobacco industry lawsuits could delay the prohibition for several more years, according to experts. For now, FDA leaders said they will take comments for two months and then proceed “as expeditiously as possible.”

Altria, which sells menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, said it disagreed with the ban.

“Taking these products out of the legal marketplace will push them into unregulated, criminal markets,” the company said in a statement. “We will continue to engage in this long-term regulatory process.”

The FDA has attempted several times to get rid of menthol but faced pushback from Big Tobacco, members of Congress and competing political interests under both Democratic and Republican administrations.

Regulators have been under legal pressure to issue a decision after anti-smoking and civil rights groups sued the FDA for “unreasonably” delaying action on earlier requests to ban menthol.

Menthol is the only cigarette flavor that was not prohibited under the 2009 law that gave the FDA authority over tobacco products, an exemption negotiated by industry lobbyists. The act did, though, instruct the agency to continue to weigh a ban. To date, the FDA has yet to eliminate any traditional tobacco product, though it has had that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-us-news-ap-top-news-barack-obama-health-9c1f5991cfb5400ca57e80470e064ed9">authority for over a decade</a>.

Last April, the Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-race-and-ethnicity-science-business-tobacco-industry-regulation-ce47f1f2527f5fbadcb18d58e7e97f7f">pledged to try to ban menthol</a>&nbsp;within the year, responding in part to African American groups who say menthol has led to lower quit rates and higher rates of death among Black people. Menthols are used by 85% of Black smokers.

“Black folks die disproportionately of heart disease, lung cancer and stroke,” said Phillip Gardiner of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council. “Menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars are the main vectors of those diseases in the Black and brown communities, and have been for a long time.”

In 2020, Gardiner’s group and several others sued to compel the FDA to make a decision on a ban.

More than 12% of Americans smoke cigarettes, with rates roughly even between white and Black populations.

In 2019, more than 18 million Americans smoked menthol cigarettes, with higher rates among young people, African Americans and other racial groups, according to the FDA. Menthol smoking declined among white teenagers between 2011 and 2018, but not among Black and Hispanic youth, the agency noted.

Thursday’s proposals would not apply to electronic cigarettes, including leading brands like Juul and Vuse, which come in menthol. The FDA has been conducting a separate review of vaping products and has so far authorized a handful of tobacco-flavored products from smaller manufacturers.

The FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6773f62603764a68a2ec27764865ff10">made several efforts</a>&nbsp;to begin eliminating menthol cigarettes under both the Obama and Trump administrations, but had never previously released a formal roadmap of how to accomplish the ban.

“This is the first time there’s been support from an administration,” said Mitch Zeller, who recently retired after nine years leading FDA’s tobacco center. “If these rules are finalized they become the law of the land and it becomes illegal for menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars to be sold.”

In recent weeks,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dozens%20of%20interest%20groups" target="_blank">dozens of interest groups</a>&nbsp;— for and against the ban — met with Biden administration officials to try and influence the proposed rules, which would wipe out billions in tobacco sales. Conservative and civil rights groups that accept tobacco funding warned officials that banning could menthol could result in increased policing in Black communities.

While acknowledging those concerns, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf stressed that the agency’s rules would target companies, not smokers.

“These measures and related enforcement would be on the tobacco industry, not individuals who possess or use these products,” Califf told reporters.

For decades, tobacco companies focused menthol advertising and promotions in Black communities, sponsoring music festivals and neighborhood events. Industry documents released via litigation show companies viewed menthol cigarettes as a good “starter product” because they were more palatable to teens.

Menthol’s elimination would be a huge blow to tobacco companies, including Reynolds American, which sells the leading menthol brands, Newport and Kool. With the slow decline of smoking, tobacco companies have been diversifying into alternative products, including electronic cigarettes and tobacco pouches. But those ventures still account for a tiny slice of industry sales.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651232162458.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By ASSOCIATED PRESSWASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government on Thursday released its long-awaited plan to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, citing the toll on Black smokers and young people.“The proposed rules would help prevent children from becoming the next generation of smokers and help adult smokers quit,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, in a statement.He added that the ban would also be an “important step to advance health equity” by reducing disparities in tobacco-related diseases.The Food and Drug Administration said eliminating menthol cigarettes could prevent between 300,000 and 650,000 smoking deaths over 40 years.Menthol accounts for more than a third of cigarettes sold in the U.S, and the mint flavor is favored by Black smokers and young people. Menthol’s cooling effect has been shown to mask the throat harshness of smoking, making it easier to start and harder to quit.The FDA said it will also seek to ban menthol and dozens of other flavors like grape and strawberry from cigars, which are increasingly popular with young people, especially Black teens.The agency’s proposals on both cigarettes and cigars are only initial drafts and are unlikely to be finalized before next year. Companies would then have one additional year to phase out their products. Tobacco industry lawsuits could delay the prohibition for several more years, according to experts. For now, FDA leaders said they will take comments for two months and then proceed “as expeditiously as possible.”Altria, which sells menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, said it disagreed with the ban.“Taking these products out of the legal marketplace will push them into unregulated, criminal markets,” the company said in a statement. “We will continue to engage in this long-term regulatory process.”The FDA has attempted several times to get rid of menthol but faced pushback from Big Tobacco, members of Congress and competing political interests under both Democratic and Republican administrations.Regulators have been under legal pressure to issue a decision after anti-smoking and civil rights groups sued the FDA for “unreasonably” delaying action on earlier requests to ban menthol.Menthol is the only cigarette flavor that was not prohibited under the 2009 law that gave the FDA authority over tobacco products, an exemption negotiated by industry lobbyists. The act did, though, instruct the agency to continue to weigh a ban. To date, the FDA has yet to eliminate any traditional tobacco product, though it has had that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-us-news-ap-top-news-barack-obama-health-9c1f5991cfb5400ca57e80470e064ed9">authority for over a decade</a>.Last April, the Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-race-and-ethnicity-science-business-tobacco-industry-regulation-ce47f1f2527f5fbadcb18d58e7e97f7f">pledged to try to ban menthol</a>&nbsp;within the year, responding in part to African American groups who say menthol has led to lower quit rates and higher rates of death among Black people. Menthols are used by 85% of Black smokers.“Black folks die disproportionately of heart disease, lung cancer and stroke,” said Phillip Gardiner of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council. “Menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars are the main vectors of those diseases in the Black and brown communities, and have been for a long time.”In 2020, Gardiner’s group and several others sued to compel the FDA to make a decision on a ban.More than 12% of Americans smoke cigarettes, with rates roughly even between white and Black populations.In 2019, more than 18 million Americans smoked menthol cigarettes, with higher rates among young people, African Americans and other racial groups, according to the FDA. Menthol smoking declined among white teenagers between 2011 and 2018, but not among Black and Hispanic youth, the agency noted.Thursday’s proposals would not apply to electronic cigarettes, including leading brands like Juul and Vuse, which come in menthol. The FDA has been conducting a separate review of vaping products and has so far authorized a handful of tobacco-flavored products from smaller manufacturers.The FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6773f62603764a68a2ec27764865ff10">made several efforts</a>&nbsp;to begin eliminating menthol cigarettes under both the Obama and Trump administrations, but had never previously released a formal roadmap of how to accomplish the ban.“This is the first time there’s been support from an administration,” said Mitch Zeller, who recently retired after nine years leading FDA’s tobacco center. “If these rules are finalized they become the law of the land and it becomes illegal for menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars to be sold.”In recent weeks,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dozens%20of%20interest%20groups" target="_blank">dozens of interest groups</a>&nbsp;— for and against the ban — met with Biden administration officials to try and influence the proposed rules, which would wipe out billions in tobacco sales. Conservative and civil rights groups that accept tobacco funding warned officials that banning could menthol could result in increased policing in Black communities.While acknowledging those concerns, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf stressed that the agency’s rules would target companies, not smokers.“These measures and related enforcement would be on the tobacco industry, not individuals who possess or use these products,” Califf told reporters.For decades, tobacco companies focused menthol advertising and promotions in Black communities, sponsoring music festivals and neighborhood events. Industry documents released via litigation show companies viewed menthol cigarettes as a good “starter product” because they were more palatable to teens.Menthol’s elimination would be a huge blow to tobacco companies, including Reynolds American, which sells the leading menthol brands, Newport and Kool. With the slow decline of smoking, tobacco companies have been diversifying into alternative products, including electronic cigarettes and tobacco pouches. But those ventures still account for a tiny slice of industry sales.

FDA issues plan to ban menthol in cigarettes, cigars

California and 15 states that want the U.S. Postal Service to electrify its mail delivery vehicles are suing to halt purchases of thousands of gas-powered trucks as the agency modernizes its delivery fleet.

Three separate lawsuits, filed Thursday by the states and environmental groups in New York and California, ask judges to order a more thorough environmental review before the Postal Service moves forward with the next-generation delivery vehicle program.

Plaintiffs contend that purchases of fossil fuel-powered delivery vehicles will cause environmental harm for decades to come. The lawsuits could further delay the Postal Service’s efforts to replace the ubiquitous delivery trucks that went into service between 1987 and 1994.

“Louis DeJoy’s gas-guzzling fleet guarantees decades of pollution with every postcard and package,” said Scott Hochberg, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, referring to the postmaster general.

Attorneys general from 16 states — 14 of which have Democratic governors — sued in San Francisco. A separate lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, Earthjustice, CleanAirNow KC and Sierra Club was filed in the same venue. Another was filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council and United Auto Workers in New York.

All three of them target the environmental review underpinning the Postal Service’s planned purchase of up to 165,000 next-generation delivery vehicles over the next decade.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said it’s key to stop the process before it’s too late.

“Once this purchase goes through, we’ll be stuck with more than 100,000 new gas-guzzling vehicles on neighborhood streets, serving homes across our state and across the country, for the next 30 years. There won’t be a reset button,” he said.

The Postal Service defended the process it followed under DeJoy, a wealthy former logistics executive and Republican donor who was appointed by a board of governors controlled by then-President Donald Trump.

“The Postal Service conducted a robust and thorough review and fully complied with all of our obligations under (the National Environmental Policy Act),” spokesperson Kim Frum said Thursday in an email.

The Postal Service contract calls for 10% of the new vehicles to be electric but the Postal Service contends more electric vehicles can be purchased based on financial outlook and strategic considerations.

The percentage of battery-electric vehicles was doubled — to 20% — in the initial $2.98 billion order for 50,000 vehicles.

Environmental advocates contend the Postal Service’s environmental review was inadequate and flawed, and that the contract represented a missed opportunity to electrify the fleet and reduce emissions.

The review process “was so rickety and riddled with error that it failed to meet the basic standards of the National Environmental Policy Act,” said Adrian Martinez, senior attorney on Earthjustice’s Right to Zero campaign.

New York Attorney General Letitia James said the Postal Service used “fatally flawed decision-making” that led to an outcome that was “fiscally and environmentally irresponsible.” New York is among the plaintiffs.

If the parties can’t agree on a settlement, the lawsuit could drag on for months, possibly into next year, if there are appeals, said University of Richmond School of Law professor Carl Tobias.

The new gasoline-powered vehicles would get 14.7 miles per gallon without air conditioning, compared to 8.4 mpg for the older vehicles, the Postal Service said.

All told, the Postal Service’s fleet includes 190,000 local delivery vehicles. More than 141,000 of those are the old models that lack safety features like airbags, anti-lock brakes and backup cameras.

The new vehicles are taller to make it easier for postal carriers to grab packages and parcels that make up a greater share of volume. They also have improved ergonomics and climate control.

The states that sued are California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District in California, District of Columbia and city of New York joined that lawsuit, as well.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651231176060.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By ASSOCIATED PRESSCalifornia and 15 states that want the U.S. Postal Service to electrify its mail delivery vehicles are suing to halt purchases of thousands of gas-powered trucks as the agency modernizes its delivery fleet.Three separate lawsuits, filed Thursday by the states and environmental groups in New York and California, ask judges to order a more thorough environmental review before the Postal Service moves forward with the next-generation delivery vehicle program.Plaintiffs contend that purchases of fossil fuel-powered delivery vehicles will cause environmental harm for decades to come. The lawsuits could further delay the Postal Service’s efforts to replace the ubiquitous delivery trucks that went into service between 1987 and 1994.“Louis DeJoy’s gas-guzzling fleet guarantees decades of pollution with every postcard and package,” said Scott Hochberg, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, referring to the postmaster general.Attorneys general from 16 states — 14 of which have Democratic governors — sued in San Francisco. A separate lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, Earthjustice, CleanAirNow KC and Sierra Club was filed in the same venue. Another was filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council and United Auto Workers in New York.All three of them target the environmental review underpinning the Postal Service’s planned purchase of up to 165,000 next-generation delivery vehicles over the next decade.California Attorney General Rob Bonta said it’s key to stop the process before it’s too late.“Once this purchase goes through, we’ll be stuck with more than 100,000 new gas-guzzling vehicles on neighborhood streets, serving homes across our state and across the country, for the next 30 years. There won’t be a reset button,” he said.The Postal Service defended the process it followed under DeJoy, a wealthy former logistics executive and Republican donor who was appointed by a board of governors controlled by then-President Donald Trump.“The Postal Service conducted a robust and thorough review and fully complied with all of our obligations under (the National Environmental Policy Act),” spokesperson Kim Frum said Thursday in an email.The Postal Service contract calls for 10% of the new vehicles to be electric but the Postal Service contends more electric vehicles can be purchased based on financial outlook and strategic considerations.The percentage of battery-electric vehicles was doubled — to 20% — in the initial $2.98 billion order for 50,000 vehicles.Environmental advocates contend the Postal Service’s environmental review was inadequate and flawed, and that the contract represented a missed opportunity to electrify the fleet and reduce emissions.The review process “was so rickety and riddled with error that it failed to meet the basic standards of the National Environmental Policy Act,” said Adrian Martinez, senior attorney on Earthjustice’s Right to Zero campaign.New York Attorney General Letitia James said the Postal Service used “fatally flawed decision-making” that led to an outcome that was “fiscally and environmentally irresponsible.” New York is among the plaintiffs.If the parties can’t agree on a settlement, the lawsuit could drag on for months, possibly into next year, if there are appeals, said University of Richmond School of Law professor Carl Tobias.The new gasoline-powered vehicles would get 14.7 miles per gallon without air conditioning, compared to 8.4 mpg for the older vehicles, the Postal Service said.All told, the Postal Service’s fleet includes 190,000 local delivery vehicles. More than 141,000 of those are the old models that lack safety features like airbags, anti-lock brakes and backup cameras.The new vehicles are taller to make it easier for postal carriers to grab packages and parcels that make up a greater share of volume. They also have improved ergonomics and climate control.The states that sued are California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.The Bay Area Air Quality Management District in California, District of Columbia and city of New York joined that lawsuit, as well.

16 states that want to electrify USPS fleet file lawsuits

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Thousands of firefighters continued to slow the advance of destructive wildfires in the Southwestern U.S. but warned they were bracing for the return Friday of the same dangerous conditions that quickly spread the wind-fueled blazes a week ago.

At least 166 homes have been destroyed in one rural county in northeast New Mexico since the biggest fire currently burning in the U.S. started racing through small towns east and northeast of Santa Fe on April 22, the local sheriff said.

Winds gusting up to 50 mph (80 kph) were forecast Friday in the drought-stricken region. One expert said it’s a recipe for disaster on the wildlands where some timber has a fuel moisture drier than kiln-dried wood.

“It’s a very, very dangerous fire day tomorrow,” fire behavior specialist Stewart Turner said at a briefing Thursday night on the edge of the Santa Fe National Forest in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

“Like we saw last Friday, epic fire behavior,” Turner said. “It’s a day that as a firefighter, we’ll write about, we’ll read studies about. It’s going to be a big fire day.”

A swath of the country stretching from Arizona to the Texas panhandle is expected to be hit the hardest by the return of the bad firefighting weather that has generated unusually hot and fast-moving fires for this time of year, forecasters warned.

Red flag warnings were in place Thursday for all of New Mexico and parts of Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska.

More than 3,000 firefighters were battling fires in Arizona and New Mexico on Thursday — about half of those in northeast New Mexico, where more than 187 square miles (484 square kilometers) of mostly timber and brush has been charred.

They focused Thursday on preventing it from moving into the rural New Mexico community of Ledoux. That meant bolstering fire lines and sending in crews tasked with protecting structures.

“Great progress again today,” incident commander Carl Schwope said Thursday night. But “tomorrow has the potential to be a very destructive day.”

“It will be chaotic if anything close to what happened (last) Friday occurs,” added operations chief Jayson Coil.

Sheriff Chris Lopez, of New Mexico’s Miguel County, confirmed for the first time Thursday night the fire there has destroyed at least 166 residences, 108 outbuildings and three commercial buildings. He joined authorities in neighboring Mora County in pleading with residents to pay close attention Friday to sudden changes in closures and evacuation orders.

“Falling trees, possibly falling power lines, that’s the kind of winds we’re looking at,” Lopez said.

Turner, the fire behavior specialist, said the gusty winds are only part of the problem. He said moisture levels in downed logs and woody debris are “extremely dry”— just 2% in small twigs, pine needles and grasses that “actually carry a forest fire across the landscape.”

Moisture in a small log “the size of a 4-by-4 post you buy at the lumber store ... are coming down to 8%,” he said. “Kiln-dry is 12%. So out there, that’s drying to what a kiln would do.”

In northern Arizona, authorities downgraded some evacuation orders at a fire that has destroyed at least 20 homes near Flagstaff. It’s now estimated to be 43% contained. Another fire 10 miles (16 km) south of Prescott was 23% contained, but officials at both blazes warned of worsening conditions expected Friday.

Elsewhere, one national incident team continued to oversee a large prairie fire in Nebraska, where more than 200 firefighters were battling a blaze that has been burning since last week.

About 68 square miles of mostly grasses and farmland have been blackened near Nebraska’s state line with Kansas, several homes were destroyed and at least one person was killed. That fire was 88% contained Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651231030622.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By ASSOCIATED PRESSALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Thousands of firefighters continued to slow the advance of destructive wildfires in the Southwestern U.S. but warned they were bracing for the return Friday of the same dangerous conditions that quickly spread the wind-fueled blazes a week ago.At least 166 homes have been destroyed in one rural county in northeast New Mexico since the biggest fire currently burning in the U.S. started racing through small towns east and northeast of Santa Fe on April 22, the local sheriff said.Winds gusting up to 50 mph (80 kph) were forecast Friday in the drought-stricken region. One expert said it’s a recipe for disaster on the wildlands where some timber has a fuel moisture drier than kiln-dried wood.“It’s a very, very dangerous fire day tomorrow,” fire behavior specialist Stewart Turner said at a briefing Thursday night on the edge of the Santa Fe National Forest in Las Vegas, New Mexico.“Like we saw last Friday, epic fire behavior,” Turner said. “It’s a day that as a firefighter, we’ll write about, we’ll read studies about. It’s going to be a big fire day.”A swath of the country stretching from Arizona to the Texas panhandle is expected to be hit the hardest by the return of the bad firefighting weather that has generated unusually hot and fast-moving fires for this time of year, forecasters warned.Red flag warnings were in place Thursday for all of New Mexico and parts of Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska.More than 3,000 firefighters were battling fires in Arizona and New Mexico on Thursday — about half of those in northeast New Mexico, where more than 187 square miles (484 square kilometers) of mostly timber and brush has been charred.They focused Thursday on preventing it from moving into the rural New Mexico community of Ledoux. That meant bolstering fire lines and sending in crews tasked with protecting structures.“Great progress again today,” incident commander Carl Schwope said Thursday night. But “tomorrow has the potential to be a very destructive day.”“It will be chaotic if anything close to what happened (last) Friday occurs,” added operations chief Jayson Coil.Sheriff Chris Lopez, of New Mexico’s Miguel County, confirmed for the first time Thursday night the fire there has destroyed at least 166 residences, 108 outbuildings and three commercial buildings. He joined authorities in neighboring Mora County in pleading with residents to pay close attention Friday to sudden changes in closures and evacuation orders.“Falling trees, possibly falling power lines, that’s the kind of winds we’re looking at,” Lopez said.Turner, the fire behavior specialist, said the gusty winds are only part of the problem. He said moisture levels in downed logs and woody debris are “extremely dry”— just 2% in small twigs, pine needles and grasses that “actually carry a forest fire across the landscape.”Moisture in a small log “the size of a 4-by-4 post you buy at the lumber store ... are coming down to 8%,” he said. “Kiln-dry is 12%. So out there, that’s drying to what a kiln would do.”In northern Arizona, authorities downgraded some evacuation orders at a fire that has destroyed at least 20 homes near Flagstaff. It’s now estimated to be 43% contained. Another fire 10 miles (16 km) south of Prescott was 23% contained, but officials at both blazes warned of worsening conditions expected Friday.Elsewhere, one national incident team continued to oversee a large prairie fire in Nebraska, where more than 200 firefighters were battling a blaze that has been burning since last week.About 68 square miles of mostly grasses and farmland have been blackened near Nebraska’s state line with Kansas, several homes were destroyed and at least one person was killed. That fire was 88% contained Thursday.

Dry Southwest braces for stiffer winds, 'epic' fire danger

(AP)-Google has expanded options for keeping personal information private from online searches.

The company said Friday it will&nbsp;<a href="https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/9673730" target="_blank">let people request</a>&nbsp;that more types of content such as personal contact information like phone numbers, email and physical addresses be removed from search results.

The new policy also allows the removal of other information that may pose a risk for identity theft, such as confidential log-in credentials.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651230878550.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By ASSOCIATED PRESS(AP)-Google has expanded options for keeping personal information private from online searches.The company said Friday it will&nbsp;<a href="https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/9673730" target="_blank">let people request</a>&nbsp;that more types of content such as personal contact information like phone numbers, email and physical addresses be removed from search results.The new policy also allows the removal of other information that may pose a risk for identity theft, such as confidential log-in credentials.The company said in a statement that open access to information is vital, “but so is empowering people with the tools they need to protect themselves and keep their sensitive, personally identifiable information private.”“Privacy and online safety go hand in hand. And when you’re using the internet, it’s important to have control over how your sensitive, personally identifiable information can be found,” it said.Google Search earlier had permitted people to request that highly personal content that could cause direct harm be removed. That includes information removed due to doxxing and personal details like bank accounts or credit card numbers that could be used for fraud.But information increasing pops up in unexpected places and is used in new ways, so policies need to evolve, the company said.Having personal contact information openly available online also can pose a threat and Google said it had received requests for the option to remove that content, too.It said that when it receives such requests it will study all the content on the web page to avoid limiting availability of useful information or of content on the public record on government or other official websites.“It’s important to remember that removing content from Google Search won’t remove it from the internet, which is why you may wish to contact the hosting site directly, if you’re comfortable doing so,” it said.