OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police in Omaha say an arrest has been made a day after a man crossing a south Omaha street was hit by a car and killed.

Police said the crash happened before 1:30 a.m. Saturday in southeast Omaha between Highland and Spring Lake parks. 

Police said the man, later identified as 43-year-old Tommy Tsosie, was crossing 24th Street when he was hit by a southbound vehicle, which fled without stopping. 

Tsosie was declared dead at the scene by paramedics. 

On Sunday, police arrested 20-year-old Santiago Paiz-Bautista, of Omaha, on suspicion of leaving the scene of a fatal crash.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645457347899.png" alt="Paiz-Bautista " />
 <figcaption>Paiz-Bautista </figcaption>
 </figure>From the Associated PressOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police in Omaha say an arrest has been made a day after a man crossing a south Omaha street was hit by a car and killed.Police said the crash happened before 1:30 a.m. Saturday in southeast Omaha between Highland and Spring Lake parks. Police said the man, later identified as 43-year-old Tommy Tsosie, was crossing 24th Street when he was hit by a southbound vehicle, which fled without stopping. Tsosie was declared dead at the scene by paramedics. On Sunday, police arrested 20-year-old Santiago Paiz-Bautista, of Omaha, on suspicion of leaving the scene of a fatal crash.

Police say man crossing Omaha street fatally hit; 1 arrested

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/18/help-coming-2-2-million-in-federal-funds-to-help-extinguish-nurse-burnout/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

As
 a sleep researcher and nursing instructor at the University of Nebraska
 Medical Center, Alyson Hanish saw plenty of colleagues and students 
burn out during the pandemic.

So
 when she saw an invite from the Biden administration, she seized the 
grant opportunity — and now will lead a $2.2 million project to promote 
resilience and mental health in the state’s nursing workforce.

The
 competitive award is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act and 
aimed at retaining and strengthening nurses of various levels, as well 
as students and employers, who work in rural and medically underserved 
areas.&nbsp;

“We’re
 in a complicated environment,” said Hanish, a pediatric nurse and sleep
 researcher who teaches in the College of Nursing. “We know burnout is 
increasing and about 25-30% of new nurses quit in their first year.”

Her
 “gut reaction” to do something has the mother of three now assembling a
 team involving the UNMC College of Medicine and College of Public 
Health, Nebraska Board of Nursing, Nebraska Center for Nursing, Nebraska
 Hospital Association and Critical Access Hospitals.

“The
 health of nurses has to be a priority,” Hanish said. She said the team 
will develop and implement wellness interventions so nurses, in turn, 
can provide the best care to patients.&nbsp;

The
 team will lean on a UNMC-developed stress management program called 
WHOLE (Wellness — How One Lives Effectively). It will be tailored to 
nurses whose traditional training is how to help others, not necessarily
 themselves, Hanish said.

Examples
 of stress-reducing techniques and strategies to be explored with nurses
 as a result of the grant include: meditation, diet, breathing through 
acute stress, decluttering physical and mental space, even the role 
humor can play.

Talking
 about each other’s stress and burnout is relatively new in the 
industry, yet it has been a pronounced need brought to light by the 
pandemic, Hanish said.

To
 be sure, she said, systematic conditions, including staff and equipment
 shortages, contribute to stress. The outreach afforded by the 
three-year grant will give nurses tools to reduce stress within their 
control.

“It’s part of the puzzle,” Hanish said. “An investment in nurses.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645453335560.jpeg" alt=" Alyson Hanish, PhD, MSN, RN (Courtesy of University of Nebraska Medical Center)" />
 <figcaption> Alyson Hanish, PhD, MSN, RN (Courtesy of University of Nebraska Medical Center)</figcaption>
 </figure>By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/18/help-coming-2-2-million-in-federal-funds-to-help-extinguish-nurse-burnout/">Nebraska Examiner</a>As
 a sleep researcher and nursing instructor at the University of Nebraska
 Medical Center, Alyson Hanish saw plenty of colleagues and students 
burn out during the pandemic.So
 when she saw an invite from the Biden administration, she seized the 
grant opportunity — and now will lead a $2.2 million project to promote 
resilience and mental health in the state’s nursing workforce.The
 competitive award is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act and 
aimed at retaining and strengthening nurses of various levels, as well 
as students and employers, who work in rural and medically underserved 
areas.&nbsp;<h2>Nurses quitting in first year</h2>“We’re
 in a complicated environment,” said Hanish, a pediatric nurse and sleep
 researcher who teaches in the College of Nursing. “We know burnout is 
increasing and about 25-30% of new nurses quit in their first year.”Her
 “gut reaction” to do something has the mother of three now assembling a
 team involving the UNMC College of Medicine and College of Public 
Health, Nebraska Board of Nursing, Nebraska Center for Nursing, Nebraska
 Hospital Association and Critical Access Hospitals.“The
 health of nurses has to be a priority,” Hanish said. She said the team 
will develop and implement wellness interventions so nurses, in turn, 
can provide the best care to patients.&nbsp;The
 team will lean on a UNMC-developed stress management program called 
WHOLE (Wellness — How One Lives Effectively). It will be tailored to 
nurses whose traditional training is how to help others, not necessarily
 themselves, Hanish said.<h2>Declutter mind and physical space </h2>Examples
 of stress-reducing techniques and strategies to be explored with nurses
 as a result of the grant include: meditation, diet, breathing through 
acute stress, decluttering physical and mental space, even the role 
humor can play.Talking
 about each other’s stress and burnout is relatively new in the 
industry, yet it has been a pronounced need brought to light by the 
pandemic, Hanish said.To
 be sure, she said, systematic conditions, including staff and equipment
 shortages, contribute to stress. The outreach afforded by the 
three-year grant will give nurses tools to reduce stress within their 
control.“It’s part of the puzzle,” Hanish said. “An investment in nurses.”

$2.2M in federal funds to help extinguish nurse burnout in Neb.

If you are looking for new ways to save money on daily 
purchases, latest trend isn’t clipping coupons; it’s cashback apps. By 
using apps such as <a href="https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/online-shopping/rakuten-1116-20543" target="_blank">Rakuten</a> and <a href="https://www.bbb.org/us/co/denver/profile/mobile-apps/ibotta-inc-1296-90153015" target="_blank">Ibotta</a>
 (both BBB Accredited Businesses), shoppers can earn rewards, such as 
cash or gift cards, after making a purchase. &nbsp;But before you sign up for
 one or more of these apps, be sure to do your research.

Some cashback companies build relationships with stores and brands 
and receive a commission for purchases made through their apps and 
extensions. Then, they pass on a portion of the commission to the 
consumer. Other companies offer payouts based on accumulated points, 
which consumers can earn uploading receipts, purchasing specific 
products, or scanning products in store.

Many such apps and <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/select/browser-extensions-for-saving-money/" target="_blank">browser extensions</a> are legitimate, but, as always, exercise caution when any company promises big rewards for minimal effort.

To find and use cashback apps safely, BBB recommends the following tips:

Go to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/" target="_blank">BBB.org</a>&nbsp;to look up online marketplace business profiles, file a complaint, or write a customer review. &nbsp;Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>&nbsp;to research and report scams.

Read more about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/bbb-accreditation-standards" target="_blank">BBB Accreditation Standards</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/standards-for-trust" target="_blank">BBB Standards for Trust</a>.&nbsp;Learn how to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/become-accredited" target="_blank">become a BBB Accredited Business</a>.

<a href="https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/online-shopping/rakuten-1116-20543" target="_blank">Rakuten</a> and <a href="https://www.bbb.org/us/co/denver/profile/mobile-apps/ibotta-inc-1296-90153015" target="_blank">Ibotta</a> are BBB Accredited Businesses.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBIf you are looking for new ways to save money on daily 
purchases, latest trend isn’t clipping coupons; it’s cashback apps. By 
using apps such as <a href="https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/online-shopping/rakuten-1116-20543" target="_blank">Rakuten</a> and <a href="https://www.bbb.org/us/co/denver/profile/mobile-apps/ibotta-inc-1296-90153015" target="_blank">Ibotta</a>
 (both BBB Accredited Businesses), shoppers can earn rewards, such as 
cash or gift cards, after making a purchase. &nbsp;But before you sign up for
 one or more of these apps, be sure to do your research.<h2>How do cashback apps work? </h2>Some cashback companies build relationships with stores and brands 
and receive a commission for purchases made through their apps and 
extensions. Then, they pass on a portion of the commission to the 
consumer. Other companies offer payouts based on accumulated points, 
which consumers can earn uploading receipts, purchasing specific 
products, or scanning products in store.Many such apps and <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/select/browser-extensions-for-saving-money/" target="_blank">browser extensions</a> are legitimate, but, as always, exercise caution when any company promises big rewards for minimal effort.To find and use cashback apps safely, BBB recommends the following tips:<ul>
 <li>Get to know the company behind the app or browser extension. Before
 you install a cashback program on your phone or browser, find out more 
about the company that runs it. Look the company up on <a href="https://www.BBB.org" target="_blank">BBB.org</a> to see its business rating and read consumer reviews and complaints. </li><li>Choose an app that fits your shopping patterns. The way apps reward consumers can vary. Some offer coupons or price comparisons to help you find the best deal. <a href="https://www.techentice.com/how-cashback-apps-work/" target="_blank">Passive cashback apps</a>
 simply run in the background on your phone and track your purchases, 
giving you rebates when you shop at partner locations. Other apps reward
 you for shopping at specific retailers. Think about your shopping 
habits as you chose an app or extension to score the most savings. </li><li>Never pay a membership fee. You should never have 
to pay a fee to receive “free” money. Be wary of any app that claims to 
be free but asks you to pay a fee to receive a payout. Don’t agree – it 
could be a scam. </li><li>Read the fine print. Most apps require you sign up 
for a free membership before you can receive rebates. Read the fine 
print before you commit to make sure you understand what personal 
information you will need to share, how the app works, and how it 
tallies your purchases and rewards. </li><li>Protect your privacy. Keeping in mind that since 
many cashback apps ask you to connect your credit card, debit card or 
bank account to receive rebates and make purchases, keeping your data 
safe is critical. Before sharing your sensitive information with any 
company, FTC suggests <a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0515-apps-help-you-shop-stores" target="_blank">reviewing the company’s privacy policy</a>. </li><li>Find out how payouts work. <a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/finance/what-to-know-cash-back-shopping-sites/" target="_blank">NerdWallet</a>
 reminds consumers that payout methods can vary from company to company.
 Do a little research to find out what the company’s payout frequency 
and threshold is, as well as their payout method and qualifications. </li><li>Avoid unnecessary spending. Take advantage of good 
deals on the products you need but remember that making unnecessary 
purchases just because you’ll receive points or modest cashback bonuses 
will not save you money in the long run. In addition, when taking 
advantage of a product-specific deal, <a href="https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/make-money/quick-money/cash-back-sites/" target="_blank">The Penny Hoarder</a>
 advises, “Read the offer’s fine print. Make sure you’re purchasing the 
correct brand and quantity.” If you purchase the wrong size or flavor 
product, for example, the offer may not be valid.</li>
 </ul><h2>For more infomation</h2>Go to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/" target="_blank">BBB.org</a>&nbsp;to look up online marketplace business profiles, file a complaint, or write a customer review. &nbsp;Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>&nbsp;to research and report scams.Read more about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/bbb-accreditation-standards" target="_blank">BBB Accreditation Standards</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/standards-for-trust" target="_blank">BBB Standards for Trust</a>.&nbsp;Learn how to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/become-accredited" target="_blank">become a BBB Accredited Business</a>.<a href="https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/online-shopping/rakuten-1116-20543" target="_blank">Rakuten</a> and <a href="https://www.bbb.org/us/co/denver/profile/mobile-apps/ibotta-inc-1296-90153015" target="_blank">Ibotta</a> are BBB Accredited Businesses.&nbsp;

Tip: What to know before downloading a cashback app

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — What appeared to be a deadly motorcycle crash turned into a homicide investigation after a medical examiner determined the driver had been shot before the crash. 

The crash was reported shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday after the motorcycle driver went straight into a roundabout at the intersection of Benton Boulevard and St. John Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Police department spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said the motorcycle driver was thrown off his burnt orange Harley Davidson in the crash. 

The driver, who was identified as 50-year-old Jeffrey Nemitz of Omaha, Nebraska, was pronounced dead at a hospital. 

The Jackson County Medical Examiner determined later that Nemitz had been shot.

From the Associated PressKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — What appeared to be a deadly motorcycle crash turned into a homicide investigation after a medical examiner determined the driver had been shot before the crash. The crash was reported shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday after the motorcycle driver went straight into a roundabout at the intersection of Benton Boulevard and St. John Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. Police department spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said the motorcycle driver was thrown off his burnt orange Harley Davidson in the crash. The driver, who was identified as 50-year-old Jeffrey Nemitz of Omaha, Nebraska, was pronounced dead at a hospital. The Jackson County Medical Examiner determined later that Nemitz had been shot.

Medical examiner says motorcycle driver shot before crash

MOSCOW (AP) — The U.S. and Russian presidents have tentatively agreed to meet in a last-ditch diplomatic effort to stave off Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine as heavy shelling continued Monday in a conflict in eastern Ukraine that is feared will spark the Russian offensive.

French President Emmanuel Macron sought to broker a possible meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a series of phone calls that dragged into the night.

Macron’s office said both leaders had “accepted the principle of such a summit,” to be followed by a broader summit meeting also involving other “relevant stakeholders to discuss security and strategic stability in Europe.” It added that the meetings “can only be held on the condition that Russia does not invade Ukraine.”

White House press secretary Jen Psaki, said the administration has been clear that “we are committed to pursuing diplomacy until the moment an invasion begins.” She noted that “currently, Russia appears to be continuing preparations for a full-scale assault on Ukraine very soon.”

Macron’s office said that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are set to lay the groundwork for the summit when they meet Thursday.

It followed a flurry of calls by Macron to Putin, Biden and also British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Putin and Biden could meet if they consider it necessary, but emphasized that “it’s premature to talk about specific plans for a summit.”

“The meeting is possible if the leaders consider it feasible,” he said in a conference call with reporters.

The prospective meeting offers new hope of averting a Russian invasion that U.S. officials said could begin any moment with an estimated 150,000 Russian troops amassed near Ukraine.

Adding to fears of an imminent attack, Russia and its ally Belarus announced Sunday that they were extending massive war games on Belarusian territory that offers a convenient bridgehead for an attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, located just 75 kilometers (less than 50 miles) south of the border with Belarus.

Starting Thursday, shelling also spiked along the tense line of contact between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatist rebels in Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland, Donbas, where over 14,000 people have been killed since conflict erupted in 2014 shortly after Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.

Ukraine and the rebels have traded blame for massive cease-fire violations with hundreds of explosions recorded daily.

On Friday, separatist officials announced the evacuation of civilians and military mobilization in the face of what they described as an imminent Ukrainian offensive on the rebel regions. Ukrainian officials have strongly denied any plans to launch such an attack and described the evacuation order as part of Russian provocations intended to set the stage for an invasion.

The separatist authorities said Monday that at least four civilians were killed by Ukrainian shelling over the past 24 hours and several others were injured. Ukraine’s military said two Ukrainian soldiers were killed over the weekend, and another serviceman was wounded Monday.

Ukrainian military spokesman Pavlo Kovalchyuk said the Ukrainian positions were shelled 80 times Sunday and eight times early Monday, noting that the separatists were “cynically firing from residential areas using civilians as shields.” He insisted that Ukrainian forces weren’t returning fire.

In the village of Novognativka on the government-controlled side, 60-year-old Ekaterina Evseeva, said the shelling was worse than at the height of fighting early in the conflict.

“It’s worse than 2014,” she said, her voice trembling. “We are on the edge of nervous breakdowns. And there is nowhere to run.”

Evseeva said that residents were hunkering down in basements amid the renewed fighting: “Yesterday I saw my neighbor with her 2-month-old as she was running to the basement. It shouldn’t be like this.”

Amid the heightened invasion fears, the Kremlin reacted angrily to a New York Times report that the U.S. administration has sent a letter to the United Nations human rights chief claiming that Moscow has compiled a list of Ukrainians to be killed or sent to detention camps after the invasion. Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said the claim was a lie and no such list exists.

Moscow denies any plans to invade Ukraine, but wants Western guarantees that NATO won’t allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join as members. It also urges the alliance to halt weapons deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe — demands flatly rejected by the West.

Russian officials have shrugged off Western calls to deescalate by pulling back troops, arguing that Moscow is free to deploy troops and conduct drills wherever it likes on its territory. Last week, Western officials dismissed Russian statements about some of the troops returning to their bases, saying that Moscow was actually beefing up its forces around Ukraine.

Despite Biden’s assertion last week that Putin has made the decision to roll Russian forces into Ukraine, Ukrainian officials sought to project calm, saying that they aren’t seeing invasion as imminent.

Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said Monday that Russia has amassed 147,000 troops around Ukraine, including 9,000 in Belarus, arguing that the number is clearly insufficient for an offensive on the Ukrainian capital from the north.

“The talk about an attack on Kyiv from the Belarusian side sounds ridiculous,” he said, charging that Russia is using the troops there as a scare.

Russia upped the ante Saturday with sweeping nuclear drills that included multiple practice launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and cruise missiles that Putin personally oversaw.

The European Union’s top diplomat, foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, welcomed the prospect of a Biden-Putin summit but said that should diplomacy fail the 27-nation bloc has finalized its package of sanctions for use if Putin orders an invasion.

“The work is done. We are ready,” said Borrell, who is chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers and was tasked with drawing up a list of people in Russia to be hit with asset freezes and travel bans. He provided no details about who might be targeted.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock welcomed Macron’s summit initiative and warned Russia against any false flag action to provoke hostilities. “I appeal urgently to the Russian government, to the Russian president: Don’t play with human lives,” she said as she arrived at the EU top diplomats’ meeting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645441664062.png" alt="On Sunday President Biden convened a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the latest developments regarding Russia’s military buildup on the borders of Ukraine-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>On Sunday President Biden convened a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the latest developments regarding Russia’s military buildup on the borders of Ukraine-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>MOSCOW (AP) — The U.S. and Russian presidents have tentatively agreed to meet in a last-ditch diplomatic effort to stave off Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine as heavy shelling continued Monday in a conflict in eastern Ukraine that is feared will spark the Russian offensive.French President Emmanuel Macron sought to broker a possible meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a series of phone calls that dragged into the night.Macron’s office said both leaders had “accepted the principle of such a summit,” to be followed by a broader summit meeting also involving other “relevant stakeholders to discuss security and strategic stability in Europe.” It added that the meetings “can only be held on the condition that Russia does not invade Ukraine.”White House press secretary Jen Psaki, said the administration has been clear that “we are committed to pursuing diplomacy until the moment an invasion begins.” She noted that “currently, Russia appears to be continuing preparations for a full-scale assault on Ukraine very soon.”Macron’s office said that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are set to lay the groundwork for the summit when they meet Thursday.It followed a flurry of calls by Macron to Putin, Biden and also British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Putin and Biden could meet if they consider it necessary, but emphasized that “it’s premature to talk about specific plans for a summit.”“The meeting is possible if the leaders consider it feasible,” he said in a conference call with reporters.The prospective meeting offers new hope of averting a Russian invasion that U.S. officials said could begin any moment with an estimated 150,000 Russian troops amassed near Ukraine.Adding to fears of an imminent attack, Russia and its ally Belarus announced Sunday that they were extending massive war games on Belarusian territory that offers a convenient bridgehead for an attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, located just 75 kilometers (less than 50 miles) south of the border with Belarus.Starting Thursday, shelling also spiked along the tense line of contact between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatist rebels in Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland, Donbas, where over 14,000 people have been killed since conflict erupted in 2014 shortly after Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.Ukraine and the rebels have traded blame for massive cease-fire violations with hundreds of explosions recorded daily.On Friday, separatist officials announced the evacuation of civilians and military mobilization in the face of what they described as an imminent Ukrainian offensive on the rebel regions. Ukrainian officials have strongly denied any plans to launch such an attack and described the evacuation order as part of Russian provocations intended to set the stage for an invasion.The separatist authorities said Monday that at least four civilians were killed by Ukrainian shelling over the past 24 hours and several others were injured. Ukraine’s military said two Ukrainian soldiers were killed over the weekend, and another serviceman was wounded Monday.Ukrainian military spokesman Pavlo Kovalchyuk said the Ukrainian positions were shelled 80 times Sunday and eight times early Monday, noting that the separatists were “cynically firing from residential areas using civilians as shields.” He insisted that Ukrainian forces weren’t returning fire.In the village of Novognativka on the government-controlled side, 60-year-old Ekaterina Evseeva, said the shelling was worse than at the height of fighting early in the conflict.“It’s worse than 2014,” she said, her voice trembling. “We are on the edge of nervous breakdowns. And there is nowhere to run.”Evseeva said that residents were hunkering down in basements amid the renewed fighting: “Yesterday I saw my neighbor with her 2-month-old as she was running to the basement. It shouldn’t be like this.”Amid the heightened invasion fears, the Kremlin reacted angrily to a New York Times report that the U.S. administration has sent a letter to the United Nations human rights chief claiming that Moscow has compiled a list of Ukrainians to be killed or sent to detention camps after the invasion. Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said the claim was a lie and no such list exists.Moscow denies any plans to invade Ukraine, but wants Western guarantees that NATO won’t allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join as members. It also urges the alliance to halt weapons deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe — demands flatly rejected by the West.Russian officials have shrugged off Western calls to deescalate by pulling back troops, arguing that Moscow is free to deploy troops and conduct drills wherever it likes on its territory. Last week, Western officials dismissed Russian statements about some of the troops returning to their bases, saying that Moscow was actually beefing up its forces around Ukraine.Despite Biden’s assertion last week that Putin has made the decision to roll Russian forces into Ukraine, Ukrainian officials sought to project calm, saying that they aren’t seeing invasion as imminent.Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said Monday that Russia has amassed 147,000 troops around Ukraine, including 9,000 in Belarus, arguing that the number is clearly insufficient for an offensive on the Ukrainian capital from the north.“The talk about an attack on Kyiv from the Belarusian side sounds ridiculous,” he said, charging that Russia is using the troops there as a scare.Russia upped the ante Saturday with sweeping nuclear drills that included multiple practice launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and cruise missiles that Putin personally oversaw.The European Union’s top diplomat, foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, welcomed the prospect of a Biden-Putin summit but said that should diplomacy fail the 27-nation bloc has finalized its package of sanctions for use if Putin orders an invasion.“The work is done. We are ready,” said Borrell, who is chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers and was tasked with drawing up a list of people in Russia to be hit with asset freezes and travel bans. He provided no details about who might be targeted.German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock welcomed Macron’s summit initiative and warned Russia against any false flag action to provoke hostilities. “I appeal urgently to the Russian government, to the Russian president: Don’t play with human lives,” she said as she arrived at the EU top diplomats’ meeting.___

Biden agrees to meet with Putin again as war fears loom

The
 IRS announced today that a new option in the agency’s authentication 
system is now available for taxpayers to sign up for IRS online accounts
 without the use of any biometric data, including facial recognition. 
This is consistent with the IRS’s commitment earlier this month to 
transition away from the requirement for taxpayers creating an IRS 
online account to provide a selfie to a third-party service to help 
authenticate their identity. Taxpayers will have the option of verifying
 their identity during a live, virtual interview with agents; no 
biometric data – including facial recognition – will be required if 
taxpayers choose to authenticate their identity through a virtual 
interview.

Taxpayers will still have the option to verify their identity 
automatically through the use of biometric verification through ID.me’s 
self-assistance tool if they choose. For taxpayers who select this 
option, new requirements are in place to ensure images provided by 
taxpayers are deleted for the account being created. Any existing 
biometric data from taxpayers who previously created an IRS Online 
Account that has already been collected will also be permanently deleted
 over the course of the next few weeks.

While this short-term solution is in place for this year’s filing 
season, the IRS will work closely with partners across government to 
roll out Login.Gov as an authentication tool. The General Services 
Administration is currently working with the IRS to achieve the security
 standards and scale required of Login.Gov, with the goal of moving 
toward introducing this option after the 2022 filing deadline.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSThe
 IRS announced today that a new option in the agency’s authentication 
system is now available for taxpayers to sign up for IRS online accounts
 without the use of any biometric data, including facial recognition. 
This is consistent with the IRS’s commitment earlier this month to 
transition away from the requirement for taxpayers creating an IRS 
online account to provide a selfie to a third-party service to help 
authenticate their identity. Taxpayers will have the option of verifying
 their identity during a live, virtual interview with agents; no 
biometric data – including facial recognition – will be required if 
taxpayers choose to authenticate their identity through a virtual 
interview.Taxpayers will still have the option to verify their identity 
automatically through the use of biometric verification through ID.me’s 
self-assistance tool if they choose. For taxpayers who select this 
option, new requirements are in place to ensure images provided by 
taxpayers are deleted for the account being created. Any existing 
biometric data from taxpayers who previously created an IRS Online 
Account that has already been collected will also be permanently deleted
 over the course of the next few weeks.While this short-term solution is in place for this year’s filing 
season, the IRS will work closely with partners across government to 
roll out Login.Gov as an authentication tool. The General Services 
Administration is currently working with the IRS to achieve the security
 standards and scale required of Login.Gov, with the goal of moving 
toward introducing this option after the 2022 filing deadline.

IRS: Online account signups available without facial recognition

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges after an investigation.

 On Friday, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit and the Shawnee County Drug Task Force served a search warrant in the 1300 Block of NE Jefferson in Topeka as part of an ongoing investigation, according to Lt. Ronnie Connell.

&nbsp;Officers located methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and firearms.

They arrested Robert Adams, 57 and Tammy Wampler, 46, and transported them to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.

&nbsp;Adams is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;Distribution of methamphetamine within 1000’ of a school, Distribution of marijuana within 1000’ of a school, Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent of distribution, Aggravated Endangering a Child, Unlawful to acquire proceeds from drug transaction and Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance using a communication facility

Wampler was booking on requested charges of&nbsp; Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Possession of drug paraphernalia and Aggravated Endangering a Child.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645286261984.png" alt="Adams-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Adams-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges after an investigation. On Friday, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit and the Shawnee County Drug Task Force served a search warrant in the 1300 Block of NE Jefferson in Topeka as part of an ongoing investigation, according to Lt. Ronnie Connell.&nbsp;Officers located methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and firearms.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645286183436.png" alt="Wampler-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Wampler-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>They arrested Robert Adams, 57 and Tammy Wampler, 46, and transported them to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.&nbsp;Adams is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;Distribution of methamphetamine within 1000’ of a school, Distribution of marijuana within 1000’ of a school, Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent of distribution, Aggravated Endangering a Child, Unlawful to acquire proceeds from drug transaction and Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance using a communication facilityWampler was booking on requested charges of&nbsp; Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Possession of drug paraphernalia and Aggravated Endangering a Child.

Couple jailed after drug bust at Kansas home with children

&nbsp;MCPHERSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after an overnight standoff in McPherson County.&nbsp;

Just after 1a.m. Sunday, sheriff's deputies responded on an ongoing domestic situation in the 1000 Block of 6th Avenue in rural McPherson County, according to Sheriff Jerry Montagne.

The suspect identified as 39-year-old Justin St John was armed with a rifle and had made threats of violence. Just after 2a.m. the McPherson County Special Response Team was asked to help resolve the situation. Negotiators reached St. John by phone and communicated with him for approximately 30 minutes.&nbsp;

At 4:30a.m., members of the Special Response team took St. John into custody and booked him on requested charges of aggravated assault and criminal threat, according to Montagne.&nbsp; Authorities will forward a report to the county attorney.&nbsp; St. John was no longer in custody Sunday afternoon, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645396530287.png" alt="St. John-photo McPherson Co." />
 <figcaption>St. John-photo McPherson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;MCPHERSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after an overnight standoff in McPherson County.&nbsp;Just after 1a.m. Sunday, sheriff's deputies responded on an ongoing domestic situation in the 1000 Block of 6th Avenue in rural McPherson County, according to Sheriff Jerry Montagne.The suspect identified as 39-year-old Justin St John was armed with a rifle and had made threats of violence. Just after 2a.m. the McPherson County Special Response Team was asked to help resolve the situation. Negotiators reached St. John by phone and communicated with him for approximately 30 minutes.&nbsp;At 4:30a.m., members of the Special Response team took St. John into custody and booked him on requested charges of aggravated assault and criminal threat, according to Montagne.&nbsp; Authorities will forward a report to the county attorney.&nbsp; St. John was no longer in custody Sunday afternoon, according to online jail records.

Man arrested after long standoff at rural Kansas home

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The owner of a Lincoln bowling alley has dropped a lawsuit he filed in 2020 challenging a mask mandate and other restrictions the city put in place to limit the spread of the coronavirus. 

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that the case filed by the owner of Madsen's Bowling &amp; Billiards was dismissed Friday on the same day the city's latest mask mandate expired. 

The dismissal also came two weeks after the business agreed to plead guilty to six misdemeanor violations of public health orders. 

Madsen’s attorney, J.L. Spray, said even the lawsuit influenced the city to not aggressively enforce its mask mandates.

 City Attorney Yohance Christie said officials are glad the lawsuit has been resolved.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643166827968.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>From the Associated PressLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The owner of a Lincoln bowling alley has dropped a lawsuit he filed in 2020 challenging a mask mandate and other restrictions the city put in place to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The Lincoln Journal Star reports that the case filed by the owner of Madsen's Bowling &amp; Billiards was dismissed Friday on the same day the city's latest mask mandate expired. The dismissal also came two weeks after the business agreed to plead guilty to six misdemeanor violations of public health orders. Madsen’s attorney, J.L. Spray, said even the lawsuit influenced the city to not aggressively enforce its mask mandates. City Attorney Yohance Christie said officials are glad the lawsuit has been resolved.

Lawsuit challenging Lincoln's virus restrictions dismissed

LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday and is experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms, Buckingham Palace said, adding that the famously stoic 95-year-old monarch still plans to carry on working. The diagnosis prompted concern and get-well wishes from across Britain’s political spectrum.

Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and a fixture in the life of the nation, the queen reached the milestone of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-europe-arts-and-entertainment-prince-charles-85988dc8f2b109ded943169dfc18fa27">70 years on the throne on Feb. 6,</a>&nbsp;the anniversary of the 1952 death of her father, King George VI. She will turn 96 on April 21.

The palace said the queen, who has been fully vaccinated and had a booster shot, would continue with “light” duties at Windsor Castle over the coming week.

“She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all the appropriate guidelines,” the palace said in a statement.

People in the U.K. who test positive for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">COVID-19</a>&nbsp;are required to self-isolate for at least five days, although the British government says it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boris-johnson-coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-pandemics-2a717a276b483431f30622f7fa7602cb">plans to lift that requirement for England</a>&nbsp;this week.

Both the queen’s eldest son&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-queen-elizabeth-ii-health-king-felipe-vi-british-museum-9cf9c919c194398968bdbee381c07a28">Prince Charles</a>, 73, and her 74-year-old daughter-in-law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-coronavirus-pandemic-health-arts-and-entertainment-europe-e8ffffb2dd3a0b2ca4631938dc89325d">Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall</a>&nbsp;contracted COVID-19 earlier this month. Charles has since returned to work. There are also thought to be several recent virus cases among staff at Windsor Castle, where the queen is staying.

A host of senior British politicians sent get-well messages. Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: “I’m sure I speak for everyone in wishing Her Majesty The Queen a swift recovery from COVID and a rapid return to vibrant good health.”

Health Secretary Sajid Javid wrote that he was “Wishing Her Majesty The Queen a quick recovery,” while opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer wished the queen “good health and a speedy recovery. Get well soon, Ma’am.”

Elizabeth has been in robust health for most of her reign and has been photographed riding a horse as recently as 2020. In the past year she has been seen using a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-entertainment-princess-anne-royalty-arts-and-entertainment-64794d87da24ab3f61675b523000ab97">walking stick</a>, and in October she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-entertainment-europe-london-royalty-c9e4d83169f38fcff329adc02f969704">spent a night in a London hospital</a>&nbsp;for unspecified tests.

The queen’s doctors ordered her to rest after that and she was forced to cancel appearances at several key events, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-back-spring-remembrance-day-3b90d882719307bcb0c815091ceb53f8">Remembrance Sunday</a>&nbsp;services and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-entertainment-europe-environment-and-nature-london-b00e0b26dd216974aa59fe957fc438c5">COP26 climate conference</a>&nbsp;in Glasgow, Scotland in November.

This month she returned to public duties and has held audiences both virtually and in person with diplomats, politicians and senior military officers. During one exchange caught on camera last week, she walked slowly with a stick and said “as you can see I can’t move” in apparent reference to her leg.

Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, said members of the royal family would be very concerned by the COVID-19 diagnosis.

“I would guess that she will be matter-of-fact about the diagnosis in a way perhaps that the people around her are less matter-of-fact,” he said.

The queen has a busy schedule over the next few months of her Platinum Jubilee year, and is scheduled to attend in-person public engagements in the coming weeks, including a diplomatic reception at Windsor on March 2 and the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 14.

On March 29, she has a remembrance service at Westminster Abbey for her husband Prince Philip, who died in April 2021 at 99.

Public celebrations of the Platinum Jubilee are scheduled over a long weekend June 2-5, with festivities including a military parade, a day of horse racing and neighborhood parties.

The queen is the latest monarch from around the world to catch COVID-19. Queen Margrethe of Denmark, 82, and Spain’s King Felipe VI, 54,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-spain-europe-arts-and-entertainment-62f6dc8c38afc40b20d7059a910ddf0e">both tested positive</a>&nbsp;for the illness earlier in February and had mild symptoms.

Her diagnosis comes after a difficult week for Britain’s royal family.

On Tuesday the queen’s second son,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prince-andrew-virginia-giuffre-lawsuit-settlement-8b04c775aa46f761d81c05ef12e3a94f">Prince Andrew, settled a U.S. lawsuit</a>&nbsp;brought by a woman who claimed he had sexually abused with her when she was 17 and traveling with the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew strenuously denied the claim by Virginia Giuffre. He agreed in a settlement to make a substantial donation to his accuser’s charity.

On Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-police-london-philanthropy-6573c05f26a12cebe15de1940536587c">London’s Metropolitan Police launched an investigation</a>&nbsp;into allegations that people associated with one of Prince Charles’ charities offered to help a Saudi billionaire secure honors and citizenship in return for donations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634738473421.png" alt="Queen Elizabeth at the G7 conference in June -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Queen Elizabeth at the G7 conference in June -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday and is experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms, Buckingham Palace said, adding that the famously stoic 95-year-old monarch still plans to carry on working. The diagnosis prompted concern and get-well wishes from across Britain’s political spectrum.Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and a fixture in the life of the nation, the queen reached the milestone of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-europe-arts-and-entertainment-prince-charles-85988dc8f2b109ded943169dfc18fa27">70 years on the throne on Feb. 6,</a>&nbsp;the anniversary of the 1952 death of her father, King George VI. She will turn 96 on April 21.The palace said the queen, who has been fully vaccinated and had a booster shot, would continue with “light” duties at Windsor Castle over the coming week.“She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all the appropriate guidelines,” the palace said in a statement.People in the U.K. who test positive for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">COVID-19</a>&nbsp;are required to self-isolate for at least five days, although the British government says it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boris-johnson-coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-pandemics-2a717a276b483431f30622f7fa7602cb">plans to lift that requirement for England</a>&nbsp;this week.Both the queen’s eldest son&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-queen-elizabeth-ii-health-king-felipe-vi-british-museum-9cf9c919c194398968bdbee381c07a28">Prince Charles</a>, 73, and her 74-year-old daughter-in-law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-coronavirus-pandemic-health-arts-and-entertainment-europe-e8ffffb2dd3a0b2ca4631938dc89325d">Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall</a>&nbsp;contracted COVID-19 earlier this month. Charles has since returned to work. There are also thought to be several recent virus cases among staff at Windsor Castle, where the queen is staying.A host of senior British politicians sent get-well messages. Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: “I’m sure I speak for everyone in wishing Her Majesty The Queen a swift recovery from COVID and a rapid return to vibrant good health.”Health Secretary Sajid Javid wrote that he was “Wishing Her Majesty The Queen a quick recovery,” while opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer wished the queen “good health and a speedy recovery. Get well soon, Ma’am.”Elizabeth has been in robust health for most of her reign and has been photographed riding a horse as recently as 2020. In the past year she has been seen using a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-entertainment-princess-anne-royalty-arts-and-entertainment-64794d87da24ab3f61675b523000ab97">walking stick</a>, and in October she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-entertainment-europe-london-royalty-c9e4d83169f38fcff329adc02f969704">spent a night in a London hospital</a>&nbsp;for unspecified tests.The queen’s doctors ordered her to rest after that and she was forced to cancel appearances at several key events, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-back-spring-remembrance-day-3b90d882719307bcb0c815091ceb53f8">Remembrance Sunday</a>&nbsp;services and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-entertainment-europe-environment-and-nature-london-b00e0b26dd216974aa59fe957fc438c5">COP26 climate conference</a>&nbsp;in Glasgow, Scotland in November.This month she returned to public duties and has held audiences both virtually and in person with diplomats, politicians and senior military officers. During one exchange caught on camera last week, she walked slowly with a stick and said “as you can see I can’t move” in apparent reference to her leg.Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, said members of the royal family would be very concerned by the COVID-19 diagnosis.“I would guess that she will be matter-of-fact about the diagnosis in a way perhaps that the people around her are less matter-of-fact,” he said.The queen has a busy schedule over the next few months of her Platinum Jubilee year, and is scheduled to attend in-person public engagements in the coming weeks, including a diplomatic reception at Windsor on March 2 and the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 14.On March 29, she has a remembrance service at Westminster Abbey for her husband Prince Philip, who died in April 2021 at 99.Public celebrations of the Platinum Jubilee are scheduled over a long weekend June 2-5, with festivities including a military parade, a day of horse racing and neighborhood parties.The queen is the latest monarch from around the world to catch COVID-19. Queen Margrethe of Denmark, 82, and Spain’s King Felipe VI, 54,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-spain-europe-arts-and-entertainment-62f6dc8c38afc40b20d7059a910ddf0e">both tested positive</a>&nbsp;for the illness earlier in February and had mild symptoms.Her diagnosis comes after a difficult week for Britain’s royal family.On Tuesday the queen’s second son,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prince-andrew-virginia-giuffre-lawsuit-settlement-8b04c775aa46f761d81c05ef12e3a94f">Prince Andrew, settled a U.S. lawsuit</a>&nbsp;brought by a woman who claimed he had sexually abused with her when she was 17 and traveling with the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew strenuously denied the claim by Virginia Giuffre. He agreed in a settlement to make a substantial donation to his accuser’s charity.On Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-police-london-philanthropy-6573c05f26a12cebe15de1940536587c">London’s Metropolitan Police launched an investigation</a>&nbsp;into allegations that people associated with one of Prince Charles’ charities offered to help a Saudi billionaire secure honors and citizenship in return for donations.___

Fully vaccinated Queen Elizabeth II tests positive for COVID

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/18/additional-funding-urged-for-research-into-deadly-pancreatic-cancer/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — The list of Nebraskans claimed by pancreatic cancer is a long one, a state legislative committee was told Thursday.

Former
 Creighton University President John Schlegel, former University of 
Nebraska Regent Bob Whitehouse and even baseball Hall of Famer Bob 
Gibson are among the widely-known victims of the rare but deadly cancer.

About 200 Nebraskans a year die from pancreatic cancer, which has a five-year survival rate of only 10%.

“I
 bet everyone here knows someone who has died from this disease,” said 
Jim Armitage, an oncologist at the University of Nebraska Medical 
Center, whose wife died from pancreatic cancer.

Armitage
 is now married to Shirley Young-Armitage, who lost her husband, Union 
Pacific President Jim Young, to the disease in 2014.

Jim
 and Shirley were among those urging support for a bill that would 
earmark $15 million of the state’s $1.04 billion in American Rescue Plan
 Act funds to expand research into pancreatic cancer at the University 
of Nebraska Medical Center. That money would be matched with $15 million
 in private donations under Legislative Bill 766.

It’s a “silent killer,” according to State Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward, who lost his wife to the disease.

Researchers
 are still working on an effective way to screen for pancreatic cancer 
and still looking for the best ways to treat it, the Legislature’s 
Appropriations Committee was told.

“My wife’s diagnosis came without warning,” Kolterman said. “She was the picture of health until she started showing symptoms.”

Because
 it’s so difficult to detect, the cancer has often spread to the point 
that surgery is pointless once it’s found, said Dr. Kelsey Klute, 
another UNMC oncologist. Most people die within a year, she said.

In
 recent years, the Buffett Cancer Institute has built a national 
reputation for its research into pancreatic cancer. In 2018, the 
University of Nebraska Board of Regents&nbsp;established the UNMC&nbsp;Pancreatic 
Cancer Center of Excellence, which increases its profile and chances for
 grant funding, Kolterman said.

UNMC
 researchers were the first in the country to launch a study of people 
whose families have a history of pancreatic cancer. That study, started 
in 2018, now takes regular blood samples from 500 people in hopes of 
developing an early detection test, Klute said.

In
 a couple of months, a top cancer researcher from Seattle, Dr. Sunil 
Hingorani, will become the director of the UNMC pancreatic cancer 
center.&nbsp;

But
 Klute and others said the program needs additional funding. Its current
 grant funding allows research into only about 20% of “our best ideas,” 
she said. More money would allow recruitment of more scientists and 
researchers.&nbsp;

“There’s no reason we in Nebraska can’t be the best at this,” Armitage said, in urging support for LB 766.

The
 Appropriations Committee took no action on the bill after Thursday’s 
hearing. The committee is expected to make its recommendations next 
month on how to spend the ARPA funds.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645222001366.png" alt="State Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/18/additional-funding-urged-for-research-into-deadly-pancreatic-cancer/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — The list of Nebraskans claimed by pancreatic cancer is a long one, a state legislative committee was told Thursday.Former
 Creighton University President John Schlegel, former University of 
Nebraska Regent Bob Whitehouse and even baseball Hall of Famer Bob 
Gibson are among the widely-known victims of the rare but deadly cancer.About 200 Nebraskans a year die from pancreatic cancer, which has a five-year survival rate of only 10%.“I
 bet everyone here knows someone who has died from this disease,” said 
Jim Armitage, an oncologist at the University of Nebraska Medical 
Center, whose wife died from pancreatic cancer.<h2>‘Silent killer’</h2>Armitage
 is now married to Shirley Young-Armitage, who lost her husband, Union 
Pacific President Jim Young, to the disease in 2014.Jim
 and Shirley were among those urging support for a bill that would 
earmark $15 million of the state’s $1.04 billion in American Rescue Plan
 Act funds to expand research into pancreatic cancer at the University 
of Nebraska Medical Center. That money would be matched with $15 million
 in private donations under Legislative Bill 766.It’s a “silent killer,” according to State Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward, who lost his wife to the disease.Researchers
 are still working on an effective way to screen for pancreatic cancer 
and still looking for the best ways to treat it, the Legislature’s 
Appropriations Committee was told.<h2>Difficult to detect</h2>“My wife’s diagnosis came without warning,” Kolterman said. “She was the picture of health until she started showing symptoms.”Because
 it’s so difficult to detect, the cancer has often spread to the point 
that surgery is pointless once it’s found, said Dr. Kelsey Klute, 
another UNMC oncologist. Most people die within a year, she said.In
 recent years, the Buffett Cancer Institute has built a national 
reputation for its research into pancreatic cancer. In 2018, the 
University of Nebraska Board of Regents&nbsp;established the UNMC&nbsp;Pancreatic 
Cancer Center of Excellence, which increases its profile and chances for
 grant funding, Kolterman said.<h2>First study of its kind</h2>UNMC
 researchers were the first in the country to launch a study of people 
whose families have a history of pancreatic cancer. That study, started 
in 2018, now takes regular blood samples from 500 people in hopes of 
developing an early detection test, Klute said.In
 a couple of months, a top cancer researcher from Seattle, Dr. Sunil 
Hingorani, will become the director of the UNMC pancreatic cancer 
center.&nbsp;But
 Klute and others said the program needs additional funding. Its current
 grant funding allows research into only about 20% of “our best ideas,” 
she said. More money would allow recruitment of more scientists and 
researchers.&nbsp;“There’s no reason we in Nebraska can’t be the best at this,” Armitage said, in urging support for LB 766.The
 Appropriations Committee took no action on the bill after Thursday’s 
hearing. The committee is expected to make its recommendations next 
month on how to spend the ARPA funds.

Additional funding urged for UNMC research into pancreatic cancer

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is hoping to use his upcoming State of the Union address to nudge the pandemic into the nation’s rear-view mirror. But it could turn into yet another disruptive display of national tensions and frustration over trying to move past COVID-19.

Biden’s March 1 address to Congress will play out against what Vice President Kamala Harris has called a “malaise” over the persistence of COVID and growing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-pandemics-f78e81ca7e93e03141250e78a7d70ebb">public impatience to get back to normal</a>&nbsp;after two years of pandemic restrictions. Even Democratic-run state and local governments are lifting restrictions&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/web/stories/details/e847a2d6099fe8ebe82d9eb5bd7f5111.1.3.json?type=tab" target="_blank">as cases, hospitalizations and deaths decline</a>.

However, the State of the Union setting — Capitol Hill — remains one of the most significantly disrupted workplaces in the country, something of a ground zero for culture wars over the lingering restrictions and security concerns from the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

Proxy voting in the House allows lawmakers to work from home and skip going into the office, and has been extended through March. Tours and office visits are limited. GOP lawmakers have racked up thousands of dollars in fines for violating mask-wearing mandates on the House floor.

Seating for Biden’s first address to a joint session of Congress last April was capped at about 200 — about 20% of usual capacity for a presidential presentation. White House officials say the protocols for Biden’s next one will be determined by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Pelosi indicated last week that lawmakers are aiming for “fuller participation” than last year, including inviting every member of Congress. She said, “I think the people are ready to pivot in a way that shows to the American people we largely have been vaccinated here.”

But attendance, she added, will be “up to the Capitol physician.”

In an interview on the eve of the 1/6 anniversary last month, Pelosi said she hoped the Capitol, which remained closed in part for security concerns, would reopen soon.

Republicans, meanwhile, have grown increasingly vocal about rolling back restrictions at the Capitol. In the Senate, more than half of GOP lawmakers this week signed a resolution calling on Congress to lift all virus rules and reopen to visitors.

“From stores to venues and most workplaces and schools, the rest of the United States has reopened, and it’s time for the Senate to do the same,” said Sen. Bill Hagerty, author of the resolution.

Though the Capitol and other federal properties set their own rules, the District of Columbia’s indoor mask requirement for most indoor gatherings and businesses is to be lifted on the same day as Biden’s address, The White House, for its part, says it will set rules for the complex based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.

There are no indications that Pelosi is prepared to lift the House chamber’s mask guidance, which she maintained last year even when the CDC eased indoor mask-wearing requirements for fully vaccinated individuals before the emergence of the delta variant.

The White House has taken extraordinary precautions to keep Biden from getting the virus, including requiring high-quality masks in his vicinity and limiting his travel and participation in large events.

In addition to members of Congress, the State of the Union audience traditionally includes Cabinet members, military leaders, Supreme Court justices, diplomats and other invited guests. It’s not yet clear if Pelosi has decided whether to send invitations to Washington’s diplomatic corps and other guests who normally fill the galleries for the address.

A speech to a full House chamber would be by far the densest audience of Biden’s presidency to date.

The debate over rules on wearing masks and getting vaccinated has become a major front in the nation’s culture wars, breaking down along regional and political lines. Scenes of mask-less celebrities enjoying the Super Bowl — when schoolchildren in some jurisdictions are required to wear masks even when outside at recess — have drawn criticism for unfairness.

Some Biden allies are fretting that the Capitol scene could add fuel to the fire, or that anti-mask conservative Republicans would use the speech for some stunt or protest.

More broadly, federal officials are racing to finalize new, more flexible national guidance on mask-wearing and other policies before Biden steps up to the rostrum in the House chamber at 9:01 p.m.

“We want to give people a break from things like mask-wearing, when these metrics are better, and then have the ability to reach for them again, should things worsen,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said Wednesday.

She indicated the revised guidelines, to be coordinated with a broad administration plan for the “next phase” of the virus response, should come around the end of February.

Administration officials expect that new strategy and message to figure prominently in Biden’s speech as pandemic fatigue becomes more pronounced.

The White House sees his speech — in concert with the expected loosening of virus limits — as an opportunity to help stem an erosion of public confidence in his leadership. According to an AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll last month, just 45% of Americans said they approved of Biden’s handling of COVID-19, down from 57% in December and 66% in July.

“This is an opportunity for the president to acknowledge the challenge that we faced over the last few years, but also acknowledge that we’re gonna have to learn how to live with COVID, and we know how to do that,” said Democratic Rep. Ami Bera, a California physician.

In an interview, Bera said he hoped Congress would roll back some of its limits, including its mask mandate, and that Biden could speak to an audience that would symbolize the emergency phase of the pandemic was over.

“It is a real bully pulpit and the president could take this opportunity to move the country to a more normal space,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell this week criticized the Democrats’ approach, saying they only recently changed their tune because of shifting public opinion.

“The only science that’s changed in the last two weeks is the political science,” he said. “The only data that’s changed in the last two weeks is Democrats’ polling data.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645100329185.png" alt="The White House has taken extraordinary precautions to keep Biden from getting the virus, including requiring high-quality masks in his vicinity and limiting his travel and participation in large events-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The White House has taken extraordinary precautions to keep Biden from getting the virus, including requiring high-quality masks in his vicinity and limiting his travel and participation in large events-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is hoping to use his upcoming State of the Union address to nudge the pandemic into the nation’s rear-view mirror. But it could turn into yet another disruptive display of national tensions and frustration over trying to move past COVID-19.Biden’s March 1 address to Congress will play out against what Vice President Kamala Harris has called a “malaise” over the persistence of COVID and growing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-pandemics-f78e81ca7e93e03141250e78a7d70ebb">public impatience to get back to normal</a>&nbsp;after two years of pandemic restrictions. Even Democratic-run state and local governments are lifting restrictions&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/web/stories/details/e847a2d6099fe8ebe82d9eb5bd7f5111.1.3.json?type=tab" target="_blank">as cases, hospitalizations and deaths decline</a>.However, the State of the Union setting — Capitol Hill — remains one of the most significantly disrupted workplaces in the country, something of a ground zero for culture wars over the lingering restrictions and security concerns from the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.Proxy voting in the House allows lawmakers to work from home and skip going into the office, and has been extended through March. Tours and office visits are limited. GOP lawmakers have racked up thousands of dollars in fines for violating mask-wearing mandates on the House floor.Seating for Biden’s first address to a joint session of Congress last April was capped at about 200 — about 20% of usual capacity for a presidential presentation. White House officials say the protocols for Biden’s next one will be determined by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.Pelosi indicated last week that lawmakers are aiming for “fuller participation” than last year, including inviting every member of Congress. She said, “I think the people are ready to pivot in a way that shows to the American people we largely have been vaccinated here.”But attendance, she added, will be “up to the Capitol physician.”In an interview on the eve of the 1/6 anniversary last month, Pelosi said she hoped the Capitol, which remained closed in part for security concerns, would reopen soon.Republicans, meanwhile, have grown increasingly vocal about rolling back restrictions at the Capitol. In the Senate, more than half of GOP lawmakers this week signed a resolution calling on Congress to lift all virus rules and reopen to visitors.“From stores to venues and most workplaces and schools, the rest of the United States has reopened, and it’s time for the Senate to do the same,” said Sen. Bill Hagerty, author of the resolution.Though the Capitol and other federal properties set their own rules, the District of Columbia’s indoor mask requirement for most indoor gatherings and businesses is to be lifted on the same day as Biden’s address, The White House, for its part, says it will set rules for the complex based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.There are no indications that Pelosi is prepared to lift the House chamber’s mask guidance, which she maintained last year even when the CDC eased indoor mask-wearing requirements for fully vaccinated individuals before the emergence of the delta variant.The White House has taken extraordinary precautions to keep Biden from getting the virus, including requiring high-quality masks in his vicinity and limiting his travel and participation in large events.In addition to members of Congress, the State of the Union audience traditionally includes Cabinet members, military leaders, Supreme Court justices, diplomats and other invited guests. It’s not yet clear if Pelosi has decided whether to send invitations to Washington’s diplomatic corps and other guests who normally fill the galleries for the address.A speech to a full House chamber would be by far the densest audience of Biden’s presidency to date.The debate over rules on wearing masks and getting vaccinated has become a major front in the nation’s culture wars, breaking down along regional and political lines. Scenes of mask-less celebrities enjoying the Super Bowl — when schoolchildren in some jurisdictions are required to wear masks even when outside at recess — have drawn criticism for unfairness.Some Biden allies are fretting that the Capitol scene could add fuel to the fire, or that anti-mask conservative Republicans would use the speech for some stunt or protest.More broadly, federal officials are racing to finalize new, more flexible national guidance on mask-wearing and other policies before Biden steps up to the rostrum in the House chamber at 9:01 p.m.“We want to give people a break from things like mask-wearing, when these metrics are better, and then have the ability to reach for them again, should things worsen,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said Wednesday.She indicated the revised guidelines, to be coordinated with a broad administration plan for the “next phase” of the virus response, should come around the end of February.Administration officials expect that new strategy and message to figure prominently in Biden’s speech as pandemic fatigue becomes more pronounced.The White House sees his speech — in concert with the expected loosening of virus limits — as an opportunity to help stem an erosion of public confidence in his leadership. According to an AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll last month, just 45% of Americans said they approved of Biden’s handling of COVID-19, down from 57% in December and 66% in July.There is growing clamor in both parties.“This is an opportunity for the president to acknowledge the challenge that we faced over the last few years, but also acknowledge that we’re gonna have to learn how to live with COVID, and we know how to do that,” said Democratic Rep. Ami Bera, a California physician.In an interview, Bera said he hoped Congress would roll back some of its limits, including its mask mandate, and that Biden could speak to an audience that would symbolize the emergency phase of the pandemic was over.“It is a real bully pulpit and the president could take this opportunity to move the country to a more normal space,” he said.Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell this week criticized the Democrats’ approach, saying they only recently changed their tune because of shifting public opinion.“The only science that’s changed in the last two weeks is the political science,” he said. “The only data that’s changed in the last two weeks is Democrats’ polling data.”

COVID a wildcard as Biden prepares for State of the Union

GENOA, Neb. (AP) — An official leading the search for the remains of students who died at the Genoa U.S. Indian Boarding School said no graves were found during a search last year. 

But Judi Gaiashkibos, executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, said the work will continue. 

Researchers finished their analysis of data from searches conducted late last year and found no evidence of graves. But evidence has clearly indicated children were buried on the school grounds, which operated from 1884 to 1934. 

She said former students and newspaper stories from the time remember student burials at the school, which once had a 640-acre campus.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645327209481.png" alt="Google Maps" />
 <figcaption>Google Maps</figcaption>
 </figure>From the Associated PressGENOA, Neb. (AP) — An official leading the search for the remains of students who died at the Genoa U.S. Indian Boarding School said no graves were found during a search last year. But Judi Gaiashkibos, executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, said the work will continue. Researchers finished their analysis of data from searches conducted late last year and found no evidence of graves. But evidence has clearly indicated children were buried on the school grounds, which operated from 1884 to 1934. She said former students and newspaper stories from the time remember student burials at the school, which once had a 640-acre campus.

No graves found at Genoa Indian School; search continues

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAyMTguNTM2Nzk0ODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5mZGEuZ292L25ld3MtZXZlbnRzL3ByZXNzLWFubm91bmNlbWVudHMvZmRhLXdhcm5zLWNvbnN1bWVycy1ub3QtdXNlLWNlcnRhaW4tcG93ZGVyZWQtaW5mYW50LWZvcm11bGEtcHJvZHVjZWQtYWJib3R0LW51dHJpdGlvbnMtZmFjaWxpdHk_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.CAPF1nLUS0LjoQ3ASigV1TgOw3_ZPe6D50BWG-zhFZg/s/1305913448/br/126886855246-l" target="_blank">announced it is investigating complaints</a>&nbsp;of infant illness related to products from Abbott’s Nutrition’s Sturgis, Michigan facility, according to a media release from the KDHE.

Three brands of powdered infant&nbsp;formula&nbsp;were recalled for possible&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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._NF-CYmRtE7N24u_Ds9_BMnyCsKqMdPnTYN69MjJc5I/s/1305913448/br/126886855246-l" target="_blank">Cronobacter</a>&nbsp;contamination.&nbsp;As a result of the ongoing investigation,&nbsp;the&nbsp;FDA is alerting consumers to avoid purchasing or using certain powdered infant&nbsp;formula&nbsp;products produced at this facility.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The FDA is <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAyMTguNTM2Nzk0ODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5mZGEuZ292L2Zvb2Qvb3V0YnJlYWtzLWZvb2Rib3JuZS1pbGxuZXNzL2ZkYS1pbnZlc3RpZ2F0aW9uLWNyb25vYmFjdGVyLWFuZC1zYWxtb25lbGxhLWNvbXBsYWludHMtcG93ZGVyZWQtaW5mYW50LWZvcm11bGEtZmVicnVhcnktMjAyMj91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.TEnta1hVWkOgUmiTNvESkrlg3gT1KwttQcGCMeCCAeU/s/1305913448/br/126886855246-l" target="_blank">advising</a> consumers not to use Similac,&nbsp;Alimentum, or&nbsp;EleCare&nbsp;powdered infant&nbsp;formulas if:&nbsp;

Abbott has initiated a voluntary recall of certain powdered infant&nbsp;formulas. Products made at the Sturgis facility can be found across the United States. Individuals can find more information about&nbsp;returning&nbsp;the product directly to Abbott by using the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAyMTguNTM2Nzk0ODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5zaW1pbGFjcmVjYWxsLmNvbS91cy9lbi9ob21lLmh0bWw_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.O4GnPwqAMhACFq4yRvKVpmNC2WWCQGkLXi0sJISoRlA/s/1305913448/br/126886855246-l" target="_blank">Product Recall tool</a>.&nbsp;

Cronobacter infections are rare, but they can be deadly in newborns. Infections in infants usually occur in the first days or weeks of life. About two to four cases are reported to CDC every year, but this figure may not reflect the true number of illnesses because most hospitals and laboratories are not required to report Cronobacter infections to health departments.&nbsp;

The first <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAyMTguNTM2Nzk0ODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jZGMuZ292L2Nyb25vYmFjdGVyL2RlZmluaXRpb24uaHRtbD91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.reQVI2eDYANx8V4NFdRueFRWlBm_WucB5dYV-LqXTtk/s/1305913448/br/126886855246-l" target="_blank">symptom of Cronobacter</a> infection in infants is usually a fever, accompanied by poor feeding, crying, or very low energy. Infants with these symptoms should be&nbsp;immediately evaluated&nbsp;by a health&nbsp;care provider.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645299455131.png" alt="Photo FDA" />
 <figcaption>Photo FDA</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;– The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAyMTguNTM2Nzk0ODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5mZGEuZ292L25ld3MtZXZlbnRzL3ByZXNzLWFubm91bmNlbWVudHMvZmRhLXdhcm5zLWNvbnN1bWVycy1ub3QtdXNlLWNlcnRhaW4tcG93ZGVyZWQtaW5mYW50LWZvcm11bGEtcHJvZHVjZWQtYWJib3R0LW51dHJpdGlvbnMtZmFjaWxpdHk_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.CAPF1nLUS0LjoQ3ASigV1TgOw3_ZPe6D50BWG-zhFZg/s/1305913448/br/126886855246-l" target="_blank">announced it is investigating complaints</a>&nbsp;of infant illness related to products from Abbott’s Nutrition’s Sturgis, Michigan facility, according to a media release from the KDHE.Three brands of powdered infant&nbsp;formula&nbsp;were recalled for possible&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAyMTguNTM2Nzk0ODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jZGMuZ292L2Nyb25vYmFjdGVyL2luZmVjdGlvbi1hbmQtaW5mYW50cy5odG1sP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSM6fjp0ZXh0PVRocmVlJTIwYnJhbmRzJTIwb2YlMjBwb3dkZXJlZCUyMGluZmFudCwyMDIyJTJDJTIwZm9yJTIwcG9zc2libGUlMjBDcm9ub2JhY3RlciUyMGNvbnRhbWluYXRpb24uJnRleHQ9UmVjYWxsZWQlMjBwb3dkZXJlZCUyMGluZmFudCUyMGZvcm11bGElMjBpbmNsdWRlcyxTSCUyQyVFMiU4MCU5RCUyMG9yJTIwJUUyJTgwJTlDWjIlRTIlODAlOUQifQ._NF-CYmRtE7N24u_Ds9_BMnyCsKqMdPnTYN69MjJc5I/s/1305913448/br/126886855246-l" target="_blank">Cronobacter</a>&nbsp;contamination.&nbsp;As a result of the ongoing investigation,&nbsp;the&nbsp;FDA is alerting consumers to avoid purchasing or using certain powdered infant&nbsp;formula&nbsp;products produced at this facility.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645299498245.png" alt="Photo FDA" />
 <figcaption>Photo FDA</figcaption>
 </figure>The FDA is <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAyMTguNTM2Nzk0ODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5mZGEuZ292L2Zvb2Qvb3V0YnJlYWtzLWZvb2Rib3JuZS1pbGxuZXNzL2ZkYS1pbnZlc3RpZ2F0aW9uLWNyb25vYmFjdGVyLWFuZC1zYWxtb25lbGxhLWNvbXBsYWludHMtcG93ZGVyZWQtaW5mYW50LWZvcm11bGEtZmVicnVhcnktMjAyMj91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.TEnta1hVWkOgUmiTNvESkrlg3gT1KwttQcGCMeCCAeU/s/1305913448/br/126886855246-l" target="_blank">advising</a> consumers not to use Similac,&nbsp;Alimentum, or&nbsp;EleCare&nbsp;powdered infant&nbsp;formulas if:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>the first two digits of the code are 22 through 37; and &nbsp;</li><li>the code on the container contains K8, SH or Z2; and &nbsp;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>the expiration date is 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Abbott has initiated a voluntary recall of certain powdered infant&nbsp;formulas. Products made at the Sturgis facility can be found across the United States. Individuals can find more information about&nbsp;returning&nbsp;the product directly to Abbott by using the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAyMTguNTM2Nzk0ODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5zaW1pbGFjcmVjYWxsLmNvbS91cy9lbi9ob21lLmh0bWw_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.O4GnPwqAMhACFq4yRvKVpmNC2WWCQGkLXi0sJISoRlA/s/1305913448/br/126886855246-l" target="_blank">Product Recall tool</a>.&nbsp;Cronobacter infections are rare, but they can be deadly in newborns. Infections in infants usually occur in the first days or weeks of life. About two to four cases are reported to CDC every year, but this figure may not reflect the true number of illnesses because most hospitals and laboratories are not required to report Cronobacter infections to health departments.&nbsp;The first <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAyMTguNTM2Nzk0ODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jZGMuZ292L2Nyb25vYmFjdGVyL2RlZmluaXRpb24uaHRtbD91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.reQVI2eDYANx8V4NFdRueFRWlBm_WucB5dYV-LqXTtk/s/1305913448/br/126886855246-l" target="_blank">symptom of Cronobacter</a> infection in infants is usually a fever, accompanied by poor feeding, crying, or very low energy. Infants with these symptoms should be&nbsp;immediately evaluated&nbsp;by a health&nbsp;care provider.&nbsp;

KDHE, FDA warn consumers to avoid some powdered infant formulas

MUNICH (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris warned Russia on Saturday that it will face “unprecedented” financial penalties&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-europe-moscow-donetsk-4596388ab5f4ee61cee94f4f9a993915">if it invades Ukraine</a>&nbsp;and predicted that such an attack would draw European allies closer to the United States. The world is at “a decisive moment in history,” she told Ukraine’s president, who said he just wants peace for his nation.

Harris spoke at the annual Munich Security Conference the day after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-europe-russia-moscow-c2e55b8b2b061b58e2b140d2a6dc1d57">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;said he was “convinced” that Russia’s Vladimir Putin has made the decision to invade neighboring Ukraine.

“Let me be clear, I can say with absolute certainty: If Russia further invades Ukraine, the United States, together with our allies and partners, will impose significant, and unprecedented economic costs,” Harris said.

Harris aimed to make the case to a largely European audience that the West has “strength through unity” and that an invasion would likely lead to an even bigger NATO presence on Russia’s doorstep.

Later, at the start of a meeting with Ukraine’s leader, Harris called it “a decisive moment in history” and told Volodymyr Zelenskyy, “Any threat to your country we take seriously.” He responded: “We clearly understand what is going on. This is our land. We want peace.”

He also said he needs Western allies to take “specific steps,” alluding to Ukraine’s requests for even more military and economic assistance. Zelensky also noted that with Russian troops at his country’s borders, Ukraine’s army is in fact “defending all of Europe.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-ukraine-crimea-42d26f5c29cd6daa59abe010882bf952">Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula</a>&nbsp;in 2014, and pro-Russia separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces in the country’s east for almost eight years. The United States and the European Union previously sanctioned Russia over its seizure of Crimea.

Western fears of an invasion have escalated in recent months as Russia amassed more than 150,000 troops near Ukraine’s borders.

Harris said the Biden administration, along with its allies, had tried to engage with Moscow in good faith to find a diplomatic resolution but that effort was not reciprocated by the Kremlin.

“Russia continues to say it is ready to talk while at the same time it narrows the avenues for diplomacy,” Harris said. “Their actions simply do not match their words.”

Harris credited European allies for speaking with a largely unified voice as the latest Ukraine crisis has unfolded. The vice president said Republicans and Democrats in Washington — who rarely agree on many major issues — are generally in agreement on the necessity of confronting Putin.

“We didn’t all start out in the same place,” Harris said. “We came together and are now speaking with a unified voice. And that voice was a function of not only dialogue and debate, some concessions, but also the practical realization of the moment that we are in, which is that we are looking at a sovereign nation that may very well be on the verge of being invaded yet again.”

Harris on Friday met in Munich with the leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, who stressed that a U.S. increase in its troop presence on the eastern edge of NATO is necessary.

The White House has not yet said whether it will fulfill those requests, but Harris suggested in her address on Saturday that an invasion could lead to a bolstered American presence.

“The imposition of these sweeping and coordinated measures will inflict great damage on those who must be held accountable. And we will not stop with economic measures,” Harris said. “We will further reinforce our NATO allies on the eastern flank.”

Biden and other U.S. have offered increasingly dire warnings that the window for diplomacy is narrow.

Biden told reporters Friday that he believes Putin has decided to invade in the coming days, taking military action that could go far beyond the disputed Donbas region in eastern Ukraine and include the capital of Kyiv.

The vice president was scheduled to meet later Saturday with Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz.

Harris noted in her remarks that “not since the end of the Cold War” has the Munich conference “convened under such dire circumstances.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645278575486.png" alt="“We didn’t all start out in the same place,” Harris said. “We came together and are now speaking with a unified voice.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>“We didn’t all start out in the same place,” Harris said. “We came together and are now speaking with a unified voice.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>MUNICH (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris warned Russia on Saturday that it will face “unprecedented” financial penalties&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-europe-moscow-donetsk-4596388ab5f4ee61cee94f4f9a993915">if it invades Ukraine</a>&nbsp;and predicted that such an attack would draw European allies closer to the United States. The world is at “a decisive moment in history,” she told Ukraine’s president, who said he just wants peace for his nation.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FVicePresident%2Fvideos%2F448098990389296%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=7" 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>Harris spoke at the annual Munich Security Conference the day after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-europe-russia-moscow-c2e55b8b2b061b58e2b140d2a6dc1d57">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;said he was “convinced” that Russia’s Vladimir Putin has made the decision to invade neighboring Ukraine.“Let me be clear, I can say with absolute certainty: If Russia further invades Ukraine, the United States, together with our allies and partners, will impose significant, and unprecedented economic costs,” Harris said.Harris aimed to make the case to a largely European audience that the West has “strength through unity” and that an invasion would likely lead to an even bigger NATO presence on Russia’s doorstep.Later, at the start of a meeting with Ukraine’s leader, Harris called it “a decisive moment in history” and told Volodymyr Zelenskyy, “Any threat to your country we take seriously.” He responded: “We clearly understand what is going on. This is our land. We want peace.”He also said he needs Western allies to take “specific steps,” alluding to Ukraine’s requests for even more military and economic assistance. Zelensky also noted that with Russian troops at his country’s borders, Ukraine’s army is in fact “defending all of Europe.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-ukraine-crimea-42d26f5c29cd6daa59abe010882bf952">Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula</a>&nbsp;in 2014, and pro-Russia separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces in the country’s east for almost eight years. The United States and the European Union previously sanctioned Russia over its seizure of Crimea.Western fears of an invasion have escalated in recent months as Russia amassed more than 150,000 troops near Ukraine’s borders.Harris said the Biden administration, along with its allies, had tried to engage with Moscow in good faith to find a diplomatic resolution but that effort was not reciprocated by the Kremlin.“Russia continues to say it is ready to talk while at the same time it narrows the avenues for diplomacy,” Harris said. “Their actions simply do not match their words.”Harris credited European allies for speaking with a largely unified voice as the latest Ukraine crisis has unfolded. The vice president said Republicans and Democrats in Washington — who rarely agree on many major issues — are generally in agreement on the necessity of confronting Putin.“We didn’t all start out in the same place,” Harris said. “We came together and are now speaking with a unified voice. And that voice was a function of not only dialogue and debate, some concessions, but also the practical realization of the moment that we are in, which is that we are looking at a sovereign nation that may very well be on the verge of being invaded yet again.”Harris on Friday met in Munich with the leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, who stressed that a U.S. increase in its troop presence on the eastern edge of NATO is necessary.The White House has not yet said whether it will fulfill those requests, but Harris suggested in her address on Saturday that an invasion could lead to a bolstered American presence.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645278546336.png" alt="Harris noted in her remarks that “not since the end of the Cold War” has the Munich conference “convened under such dire circumstances.”-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Harris noted in her remarks that “not since the end of the Cold War” has the Munich conference “convened under such dire circumstances.”-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>“The imposition of these sweeping and coordinated measures will inflict great damage on those who must be held accountable. And we will not stop with economic measures,” Harris said. “We will further reinforce our NATO allies on the eastern flank.”Biden and other U.S. have offered increasingly dire warnings that the window for diplomacy is narrow.Biden told reporters Friday that he believes Putin has decided to invade in the coming days, taking military action that could go far beyond the disputed Donbas region in eastern Ukraine and include the capital of Kyiv.The vice president was scheduled to meet later Saturday with Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz.Harris noted in her remarks that “not since the end of the Cold War” has the Munich conference “convened under such dire circumstances.”___

🎥 VP Harris in Munich: World at 'a decisive moment in history'

WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. (AP) — Federal inspectors say they found more than 1,000 rodents inside a Family Dollar distribution facility in Arkansas. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says a consumer complaint prompted officials to inspect the West Memphis, Arkansas, facility last month. Inside the building, inspectors said they found live rodents, dead rodents, rodent feces and dead birds. 

The FDA said it is working with Family Dollar to begin a voluntary recall of affected products. 

From the Associated PressWEST MEMPHIS, Ark. (AP) — Federal inspectors say they found more than 1,000 rodents inside a Family Dollar distribution facility in Arkansas. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says a consumer complaint prompted officials to inspect the West Memphis, Arkansas, facility last month. Inside the building, inspectors said they found live rodents, dead rodents, rodent feces and dead birds. The FDA said it is working with Family Dollar to begin a voluntary recall of affected products. Those products include food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, medical devices and over-the-counter medications that were purchased in January or February from Family Dollars stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri or Tennessee.