LA VISTA, Neb. (AP) — The Papillion La Vista school district is planning to install surveillance cameras at its 16 elementary schools after a boy walked out of one of their schools last year and disappeared. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the district is considering spending $900,000 on the cameras inside and outside the schools with $500,000 of that coming from COVID-19 relief money. 

Last May 17, Ryan Larsen slipped out of La Vista West Elementary School during classes around noon. 

Ryan, who has autism and suffers from epileptic seizures, was 11 years old at the time of his disappearance, but his 12th birthday was June 8.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643577112214.png" alt="Larsen" />
 <figcaption>Larsen</figcaption>
 </figure>LA VISTA, Neb. (AP) — The Papillion La Vista school district is planning to install surveillance cameras at its 16 elementary schools after a boy walked out of one of their schools last year and disappeared. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the district is considering spending $900,000 on the cameras inside and outside the schools with $500,000 of that coming from COVID-19 relief money. Last May 17, Ryan Larsen slipped out of La Vista West Elementary School during classes around noon. Ryan, who has autism and suffers from epileptic seizures, was 11 years old at the time of his disappearance, but his 12th birthday was June 8.

Nebraska school district to install cameras after boy's disappearance

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Omicron, the highly contagious coronavirus variant sweeping across the country, is driving the daily American death toll higher than during last fall’s delta wave, with deaths likely to keep rising for days or even weeks.

The seven-day rolling average for daily new COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. has been climbing since mid-November, reaching 2,267 on Thursday and surpassing a September peak of 2,100 when delta was the dominant variant.

Now omicron is estimated to account for nearly all the virus circulating in the nation. And even though it causes less severe disease for most people, the fact that it is more transmissible means more people are falling ill and dying.

“Omicron will push us over a million deaths,” said Andrew Noymer, a public health professor at the University of California, Irvine. “That will cause a lot of soul searching. There will be a lot of discussion about what we could have done differently, how many of the deaths were preventable.”

The average daily death toll is now at the same level as last February, when the country was slowly coming off its all-time high of 3,300 a day.

More Americans are taking precautionary measures against the virus than before the omicron surge, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/when-will-coronavirus-pandemic-end-poll-3eae1f01412794b152934501f4b2c30f">AP-NORC poll this week</a>. But many people, fatigued by crisis, are returning to some level of normality with hopes that vaccinations or prior infections will protect them.

Omicron symptoms are often milder, and some infected people show none, researchers agree. But like the flu, it can be deadly, especially for people who are older, have other health problems or who are unvaccinated.

“Importantly, ‘milder’ does not mean ‘mild,’” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said this week during a White House briefing.

Until recently, Chuck Culotta was a healthy middle-aged man who ran a power-washing business in Milford, Delaware. As the omicron wave was ravaging the Northeast, he felt the first symptoms before Christmas and tested positive on Christmas Day. He died less than a week later, on Dec. 31, nine days short of his 51st birthday.

He was unvaccinated, said his brother, Todd, because he had questions about the long-term effects of the vaccine.

“He just wasn’t sure it was the right thing to do — yet,” said Todd Culotta, who got his shots during the summer.

At one urban hospital in Kansas, 50 COVID-19 patients have died this month and more than 200 are being treated. University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, posted a video from its morgue showing bagged bodies in a refrigeration unit and a worker marking one white body bag with the word “COVID.”

“This is real,” said Ciara Wright, the hospital’s decedent affairs coordinator. “Our concerns are, ‘Are the funeral homes going to come fast enough?’ We do have access to a refrigerated truck. We don’t want to use it if we don’t have to.”

Dr. Katie Dennis, a pathologist who does autopsies for the health system, said the morgue has been at or above capacity almost every day in January, “which is definitely unusual.”

With more than 878,000 deaths, the United States has the largest COVID-19 toll of any nation.

During the coming week, almost every U.S. state will see a faster increase in deaths, although deaths have peaked in a few states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Maryland, Alaska and Georgia, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://covid19forecasthub.org/" target="_blank">the COVID-19 Forecast Hub.</a>

New hospital admissions have started to fall for all age groups, according to CDC data, and a drop in deaths is expected to follow.

“In a pre-pandemic world, during some flu seasons, we see 10,000 or 15,000 deaths. We see that in the course of a week sometimes with COVID,” said Nicholas Reich, who aggregates coronavirus projections for the hub in collaboration with the CDC.

“The toll and the sadness and suffering is staggering and very humbling,” said Reich, a professor of biostatistics at University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

— The White House said Friday that about 60 million households ordered 240 million home-test kits under a new government program to expand testing opportunities. The government also said it has shipped tens of millions of masks to convenient locations around the country, including deliveries Friday to community centers in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

— The national drugstore chain Walgreens is among pharmacies receiving the government-provided masks. The chain has started offering N95 masks for free at several stores, as long as supplies last. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walgreens.com/images/adaptive/pdf/covid/mask_stores.pdf" target="_blank">company’s website</a>&nbsp;lists locations in the Midwest for the initial wave of stores offering masks, but Walgreens said more stores will offer them soon.

— The leading organization for state and local public health officials has called on governments to stop conducting widespread contact tracing, saying it’s no longer necessary. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials urged governments to focus contact tracing efforts on high-risk, vulnerable populations such as people in homeless shelters and nursing homes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639778741791.png" alt="Hospital-photo courtesy University of Kansas Health System" />
 <figcaption>Hospital-photo courtesy University of Kansas Health System</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —Omicron, the highly contagious coronavirus variant sweeping across the country, is driving the daily American death toll higher than during last fall’s delta wave, with deaths likely to keep rising for days or even weeks.The seven-day rolling average for daily new COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. has been climbing since mid-November, reaching 2,267 on Thursday and surpassing a September peak of 2,100 when delta was the dominant variant.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643392776971.png" alt="KDHE reported 134 additional COVID deaths" />
 <figcaption>KDHE reported 134 additional COVID deaths</figcaption>
 </figure>Now omicron is estimated to account for nearly all the virus circulating in the nation. And even though it causes less severe disease for most people, the fact that it is more transmissible means more people are falling ill and dying.“Omicron will push us over a million deaths,” said Andrew Noymer, a public health professor at the University of California, Irvine. “That will cause a lot of soul searching. There will be a lot of discussion about what we could have done differently, how many of the deaths were preventable.”The average daily death toll is now at the same level as last February, when the country was slowly coming off its all-time high of 3,300 a day.More Americans are taking precautionary measures against the virus than before the omicron surge, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/when-will-coronavirus-pandemic-end-poll-3eae1f01412794b152934501f4b2c30f">AP-NORC poll this week</a>. But many people, fatigued by crisis, are returning to some level of normality with hopes that vaccinations or prior infections will protect them.Omicron symptoms are often milder, and some infected people show none, researchers agree. But like the flu, it can be deadly, especially for people who are older, have other health problems or who are unvaccinated.“Importantly, ‘milder’ does not mean ‘mild,’” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said this week during a White House briefing.Until recently, Chuck Culotta was a healthy middle-aged man who ran a power-washing business in Milford, Delaware. As the omicron wave was ravaging the Northeast, he felt the first symptoms before Christmas and tested positive on Christmas Day. He died less than a week later, on Dec. 31, nine days short of his 51st birthday.He was unvaccinated, said his brother, Todd, because he had questions about the long-term effects of the vaccine.“He just wasn’t sure it was the right thing to do — yet,” said Todd Culotta, who got his shots during the summer.At one urban hospital in Kansas, 50 COVID-19 patients have died this month and more than 200 are being treated. University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, posted a video from its morgue showing bagged bodies in a refrigeration unit and a worker marking one white body bag with the word “COVID.”“This is real,” said Ciara Wright, the hospital’s decedent affairs coordinator. “Our concerns are, ‘Are the funeral homes going to come fast enough?’ We do have access to a refrigerated truck. We don’t want to use it if we don’t have to.”Dr. Katie Dennis, a pathologist who does autopsies for the health system, said the morgue has been at or above capacity almost every day in January, “which is definitely unusual.”With more than 878,000 deaths, the United States has the largest COVID-19 toll of any nation.During the coming week, almost every U.S. state will see a faster increase in deaths, although deaths have peaked in a few states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Maryland, Alaska and Georgia, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://covid19forecasthub.org/" target="_blank">the COVID-19 Forecast Hub.</a>New hospital admissions have started to fall for all age groups, according to CDC data, and a drop in deaths is expected to follow.“In a pre-pandemic world, during some flu seasons, we see 10,000 or 15,000 deaths. We see that in the course of a week sometimes with COVID,” said Nicholas Reich, who aggregates coronavirus projections for the hub in collaboration with the CDC.“The toll and the sadness and suffering is staggering and very humbling,” said Reich, a professor of biostatistics at University of Massachusetts, Amherst.In other developments:— The White House said Friday that about 60 million households ordered 240 million home-test kits under a new government program to expand testing opportunities. The government also said it has shipped tens of millions of masks to convenient locations around the country, including deliveries Friday to community centers in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.— The national drugstore chain Walgreens is among pharmacies receiving the government-provided masks. The chain has started offering N95 masks for free at several stores, as long as supplies last. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walgreens.com/images/adaptive/pdf/covid/mask_stores.pdf" target="_blank">company’s website</a>&nbsp;lists locations in the Midwest for the initial wave of stores offering masks, but Walgreens said more stores will offer them soon.— The leading organization for state and local public health officials has called on governments to stop conducting widespread contact tracing, saying it’s no longer necessary. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials urged governments to focus contact tracing efforts on high-risk, vulnerable populations such as people in homeless shelters and nursing homes.___

Omicron drives US deaths higher than in fall's delta wave

PIERCE, Neb.-The Nebraska State Fire Marshal said a fire that claimed the life of three children was accidental

Around
3:34 a.m. on Saturday, the Pierce Fire Department responded to a report of
a house fire
at
222 E Nebraska Street.

Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke
and fire coming from the house. 

Six individuals were occupying the
house at the time of the fire. Three occupants were able to
self-evacuate; two reported no injuries and one was transported to a
local hospital and later was released. The remaining three occupants
(ages 17, 15, 12) were pronounced deceased at the scene. 

The Pierce
County Attorney has ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of
death of the deceased.


State
Fire Marshal Investigators have determined the fire was accidental
and was caused by a wood-burning stove.


Responding
agencies included Pierce Fire Department, Plainview Fire Department,
Hadar Fire Department, Osmond Fire Department, Norfolk Fire Division,
Pierce County Sheriff Office, Pierce Police Department, Pierce County
Attorney Office, and the Nebraska State Fire Marshal Agency.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643547429110.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By Scott CarlsonPIERCE, Neb.-The Nebraska State Fire Marshal said a fire that claimed the life of three children was accidental
Around
3:34 a.m. on Saturday, the Pierce Fire Department responded to a report of
a house fire
at
222 E Nebraska Street. Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke
and fire coming from the house. Six individuals were occupying the
house at the time of the fire. Three occupants were able to
self-evacuate; two reported no injuries and one was transported to a
local hospital and later was released. The remaining three occupants
(ages 17, 15, 12) were pronounced deceased at the scene. The Pierce
County Attorney has ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of
death of the deceased.
State
Fire Marshal Investigators have determined the fire was accidental
and was caused by a wood-burning stove.
Responding
agencies included Pierce Fire Department, Plainview Fire Department,
Hadar Fire Department, Osmond Fire Department, Norfolk Fire Division,
Pierce County Sheriff Office, Pierce Police Department, Pierce County
Attorney Office, and the Nebraska State Fire Marshal Agency.

Fire that killed 3 children in Pierce ruled accidental

PIERCE, Neb. (AP) — Two school-aged children are among those killed after a fire broke out at a home in rural northern Nebraska. 

The Norfolk Daily News reports that firefighters were called to a home in the small town of Pierce at 5:46 a.m. Saturday. 

The newspaper, citing an emergency responder who spoke on condition of anonymity, reported “multiple deaths.” 

No one was answering phones at the Pierce Fire Department office on Saturday. 

A woman who answered the phone at the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment. But Pierce Public Schools posted on its Facebook page that it was opening the high school Saturday to students seeking support due after “the loss of Pierce High and Pierce Elementary students.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640701133686.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>PIERCE, Neb. (AP) — Two school-aged children are among those killed after a fire broke out at a home in rural northern Nebraska. The Norfolk Daily News reports that firefighters were called to a home in the small town of Pierce at 5:46 a.m. Saturday. The newspaper, citing an emergency responder who spoke on condition of anonymity, reported “multiple deaths.” No one was answering phones at the Pierce Fire Department office on Saturday. A woman who answered the phone at the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment. But Pierce Public Schools posted on its Facebook page that it was opening the high school Saturday to students seeking support due after “the loss of Pierce High and Pierce Elementary students.”

Multiple deaths reported in fire at home in rural Nebraska

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police have arrested a man in connection with a fatal shooting. 

The 37-year-old suspect was arrested Friday on suspicion of first-degree murder and weapons charges. It wasn’t immediately clear on Saturday if he has been charged. 

Police say 46-year-old Daron Hunter of Omaha was found Thursday night inside a car with gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital where he died. 

Police have not disclosed a motive in the shooting, the third homicide in Omaha this year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597182198955.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police have arrested a man in connection with a fatal shooting. The 37-year-old suspect was arrested Friday on suspicion of first-degree murder and weapons charges. It wasn’t immediately clear on Saturday if he has been charged. Police say 46-year-old Daron Hunter of Omaha was found Thursday night inside a car with gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital where he died. Police have not disclosed a motive in the shooting, the third homicide in Omaha this year.

Man arrested in fatal shooting in Omaha

HUMBOLDT, Neb. (AP) — Investigators say they do not suspect foul play after two people were found dead in a home in southeastern Nebraska. 

Pawnee County deputies on a welfare check found the bodies of 55-year-old Dirk Dobrovolny and 86-year-old Ila Dobrovolny on Wednesday. 

The Nebraska State Patrol says an investigation is ongoing. Investigators say they found no evidence of injuries. 

A postal worker had requested the welfare check after noticing that mail hadn’t been retrieved for several weeks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637273510413.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUMBOLDT, Neb. (AP) — Investigators say they do not suspect foul play after two people were found dead in a home in southeastern Nebraska. Pawnee County deputies on a welfare check found the bodies of 55-year-old Dirk Dobrovolny and 86-year-old Ila Dobrovolny on Wednesday. The Nebraska State Patrol says an investigation is ongoing. Investigators say they found no evidence of injuries. A postal worker had requested the welfare check after noticing that mail hadn’t been retrieved for several weeks.

Foul play not suspected after 2 found dead in SE Nebraska

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is making 400 million N95 masks available for free to U.S. residents.

The masks are available for pickup at pharmacies and community health centers across the country.&nbsp; Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/retail-pharmacy-program/participating-pharmacies.html">here to find a list of participating retailers</a>.

 The comes after federal officials emphasized the masks' better protection against the omicron variant of COVID-19 over cloth face coverings. The masks will come from the government's Strategic National Stockpile, which has more than 750 million of the highly protective masks on hand. 

How many times can you reuse an N95 mask?

The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention says health care workers can wear an N95 mask up to five times. But experts say how often the average person can safely wear one will vary depending on how it’s used.

Using the same mask to run to the grocery store, for example, is very different than wearing it all day at work.

The amount of time a mask is worn is more important than how frequently it’s worn, says Richard Flagan, who studies masks and aerosols at the California Institute of Technology.

In general, he recommends limiting the use of an N95 mask to about two or three days.

With every breath you take in an N95, particles accumulate on the mask, Flagan says. That could make it more difficult to breathe if the mask has trapped a lot of particles.

“They are degrading the performance of the mask,” Flagan says.

The elastic band on the mask could also get worn out and not fit around your face as snugly. It might also get dirty or wet, especially if you’re using it while exercising.

If you notice any of these changes to your mask, it’s time to stop using it — even if you’ve only used it a few hours. And since N95 masks can’t be washed, they should be thrown away once you can no longer use them.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642088735613.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is making 400 million N95 masks available for free to U.S. residents.The masks are available for pickup at pharmacies and community health centers across the country.&nbsp; Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/retail-pharmacy-program/participating-pharmacies.html">here to find a list of participating retailers</a>. The comes after federal officials emphasized the masks' better protection against the omicron variant of COVID-19 over cloth face coverings. The masks will come from the government's Strategic National Stockpile, which has more than 750 million of the highly protective masks on hand. How many times can you reuse an N95 mask?The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention says health care workers can wear an N95 mask up to five times. But experts say how often the average person can safely wear one will vary depending on how it’s used.Using the same mask to run to the grocery store, for example, is very different than wearing it all day at work.The amount of time a mask is worn is more important than how frequently it’s worn, says Richard Flagan, who studies masks and aerosols at the California Institute of Technology.In general, he recommends limiting the use of an N95 mask to about two or three days.With every breath you take in an N95, particles accumulate on the mask, Flagan says. That could make it more difficult to breathe if the mask has trapped a lot of particles.“They are degrading the performance of the mask,” Flagan says.The elastic band on the mask could also get worn out and not fit around your face as snugly. It might also get dirty or wet, especially if you’re using it while exercising.If you notice any of these changes to your mask, it’s time to stop using it — even if you’ve only used it a few hours. And since N95 masks can’t be washed, they should be thrown away once you can no longer use them.___

Free N95 masks now available at many pharmacies nationwide

By JILL BLEED and SEAN MURPHY Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A federal judge has resentenced "Tiger King" Joe Exotic to 21 years in prison. The former zookeeper — whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage — was convicted in a murder-for-hire case involving his chief rival, Carole Baskin. 

He was sentenced two years ago to 22 years in prison, but a federal appeals court ruled last year that the proper sentencing guidelines weren't used.  He was resentenced Friday in Oklahoma City.

Prosecutors say Maldonado-Passage tried to hire two different people — including an undercover FBI agent — to kill Baskin, who'd criticized his treatment of animals. 

Baskin attended Friday's sentencing and said Maldonado-Passage "continues to harbor intense feelings of ill will toward me."

By JILL BLEED and SEAN MURPHY Associated PressOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A federal judge has resentenced "Tiger King" Joe Exotic to 21 years in prison. The former zookeeper — whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage — was convicted in a murder-for-hire case involving his chief rival, Carole Baskin. He was sentenced two years ago to 22 years in prison, but a federal appeals court ruled last year that the proper sentencing guidelines weren't used. He was resentenced Friday in Oklahoma City.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643400522851.png" alt="Santa Rose County (Fla.) Jail" />
 <figcaption>Santa Rose County (Fla.) Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>Prosecutors say Maldonado-Passage tried to hire two different people — including an undercover FBI agent — to kill Baskin, who'd criticized his treatment of animals. Baskin attended Friday's sentencing and said Maldonado-Passage "continues to harbor intense feelings of ill will toward me."

'Tiger King' Joe Exotic resentenced to 21 years in prison

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say an Omaha man who was found inside a car with gunshot wounds has died from his injuries. 

Omaha police say in a news release that officers were called around 11 p.m. Thursday to a residential area just north of Sorenson Parkway and found the victim. He was rushed to an Omaha hospital, where he later died. 

Police identified the victim as 46-year-old Daron Hunter of Omaha. 

Police have not announced any suspects or arrests in the case and have asked anyone with information on the shooting to contact CrimeStoppers. 

Any tip leading to an arrest is eligible for a $25,000 reward.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643391397152.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say an Omaha man who was found inside a car with gunshot wounds has died from his injuries. Omaha police say in a news release that officers were called around 11 p.m. Thursday to a residential area just north of Sorenson Parkway and found the victim. He was rushed to an Omaha hospital, where he later died. Police identified the victim as 46-year-old Daron Hunter of Omaha. Police have not announced any suspects or arrests in the case and have asked anyone with information on the shooting to contact CrimeStoppers. Any tip leading to an arrest is eligible for a $25,000 reward.

Police say Omaha man found in car had been fatally shot

WASHINGTON – More people without children now qualify for the Earned 
Income Tax Credit (EITC), the federal government's largest refundable 
tax credit for low- to moderate-income families.

In addition, families can use pre-pandemic income levels to qualify 
if it results in a larger credit. The Internal Revenue Service and 
partners across the nation highlight those changes today as they mark 
the 16th annual EITC Awareness Day.

Enacted in 1975, EITC is regarded as one of the government's largest 
antipoverty programs helping millions of American families every year. 
The IRS and partners nationwide urge people to check to see if they 
qualify for this important credit, and also urge people who don't 
normally file a tax return to review whether they qualify for EITC and 
other valuable credits like the Child Tax Credit or the Recovery Rebate 
Credit, also referred to as stimulus payments.

"There are important changes to EITC that will help this credit reach
 more hard-working families this year," said IRS Commissioner Chuck 
Rettig. "We urge people potentially eligible for this valuable credit to
 review the guidelines; many people each year overlook this and leave 
money on the table. On this EITC Awareness Day, we want to make sure 
everyone who qualifies for the credit knows about it and has the 
information they need to get it."

The IRS began accepting 2021 tax returns on January 24, 2022. 
Taxpayers can ensure they're getting all the credits and deductions for 
which they qualify, including EITC, by filing their taxes 
electronically, using a trusted tax professional or using an <a href="https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/filing-status">IRS Free File</a>
 partner's name-brand software. Taxpayers whose adjusted gross income 
(or AGI) is $73,000 or less qualify for Free File partner offers.

The IRS also reminds taxpayers that the quickest way to get a tax 
refund is by filing an accurate tax return electronically and choosing 
direct deposit for their refund. Tax software, tax professionals and 
other free options can help people see if they qualify for the EITC.

For 2021 only, more childless workers and couples can qualify for the
 EITC, and the maximum credit is nearly tripled for these taxpayers. For
 the first time, the credit is now available to both younger workers and
 senior citizens.

For 2021, the EITC is generally available to filers without 
qualifying children who are at least 19 years old with earned income 
below $21,430; $27,380 for spouses filing a joint return. The maximum 
EITC for filers with no qualifying children is $1,502, up from $538 in 
2020. There are also special exceptions for people who are 18 years old 
and were formerly in foster care or are experiencing homelessness. 
Full-time students under age 24 don't qualify. There is no upper age 
limit for claiming the credit if taxpayers have earned income. In the 
past, the EITC for those with no dependents was only available to people
 ages 25 to 64.

Another change for 2021 allows individuals to figure the EITC using 
their 2019 earned income if it was higher than their 2021 earned income.
 To qualify for the EITC, people must have earned income through 
employment or other sources, so this option may help workers get a 
larger credit if they earned less in 2021 or received unemployment 
income instead of their regular wages. See the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf">instructions for Form 1040</a>&nbsp;PDF, line 27 c.

For 2021, the amount of the credit has been increased and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/earned-income-and-earned-income-tax-credit-eitc-tables">phaseout income limits</a>
 at which taxpayers can claim the credit have been expanded. For 
instance, the maximum EITC for a married couple filing jointly with 
three or more children is $6,728 and the upper-income level for that 
same family is $57,414. In 2020, the maximum EITC for a family in that 
situation was $6,660 and the upper-income level was $56,844.

Taxpayers should also note that any <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments">Economic Impact Payments or Child Tax Credit payments</a>
 received are not taxable or counted as income for purposes of claiming 
the EITC. Eligible individuals who did not receive the full amounts of 
their Economic Impact Payments may claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on 
their 2021 tax return. See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">IRS.gov/rrc</a> for more information.

New law changes expand the EITC for 2021 and future years. These changes include:

The EITC is the federal government's largest refundable federal 
income tax credit for low- to moderate-income workers. For those who 
qualify, and if the credit is larger than the amount of tax they owe, 
they will receive a refund for the difference. While the majority of 
those eligible claim the EITC every year, IRS estimates that one of five
 eligible taxpayers do not claim the credit.

Nationwide last year, almost 25 million eligible workers and families
 received over $60 billion in EITC allowing for the payment of 
necessities, housing, and educational training, with an average EITC 
nationwide of $2,411. For 2021, the EITC is worth as much as $6,728 for a
 family with three or more children or up to $1,502 for taxpayers who do
 not have a qualifying child.

Look for EITC Refunds by early March if no issues with tax return

By law, the IRS cannot issue refunds before mid-February for tax 
returns that claim the EITC or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). 
The IRS must hold the entire refund − even the portion not associated 
with the EITC or ACTC and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit</a>
 if applicable. This helps ensure taxpayers receive the refund they 
deserve and gives the agency more time to detect and prevent errors and 
fraud.

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where’s My Refund?</a> on IRS.gov and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go app</a>
 will be updated with projected deposit dates for most early EITC/ACTC 
refund filers by February 19. Therefore, EITC/ACTC filers will not see 
an update to their refund status for several days after February 15. Due
 to weekends and other factors, the IRS expects most EITC or ACTC 
related refunds to be available in taxpayer bank accounts or on debit 
cards by the first week of March, if they choose direct deposit and 
there are no other issues with their tax return.&nbsp;

Workers at risk for overlooking this important credit include taxpayers:

To get the EITC, workers must file a tax return and claim the credit.
 Eligible taxpayers should claim the credit even if their earnings were 
below the income requirement to file a tax return. Free tax preparation 
help is available online and through volunteer organizations.

Those eligible for the EITC have these options:

The IRS reminds taxpayers to be sure they have valid Social 
Security numbers for themselves, their spouse if filing a joint return, 
and for each qualifying child claimed for the EITC. The SSNs must be 
issued before the due date of the return, including extensions. There 
are special rules for those in the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/military-and-clergy-rules-for-the-earned-income-tax-credit">military</a> or those out of the country.

Taxpayers are responsible for the accuracy of their tax return even 
if someone else prepares it for them. Since the rules for claiming the 
EITC can be complex, the IRS urges taxpayers to understand all of them. 
People can find help to make sure they're eligible by visiting a free 
tax return preparation site, or using Free File software or by using a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc254">paid tax professional</a>.

Be sure to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">choose a tax preparer</a>
 wisely. Beware of scams that claim to increase the EITC refund. Scams 
that create fictitious qualifying children or inflate income levels to 
get the maximum EITC could leave taxpayers with a penalty.

IRS.gov is a valuable first stop to help taxpayers get it right this filing season. Information on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions-for-individuals">other tax credits</a>, such as the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents">Child Tax Credit</a>, is also available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON – More people without children now qualify for the Earned 
Income Tax Credit (EITC), the federal government's largest refundable 
tax credit for low- to moderate-income families.In addition, families can use pre-pandemic income levels to qualify 
if it results in a larger credit. The Internal Revenue Service and 
partners across the nation highlight those changes today as they mark 
the 16th annual EITC Awareness Day.Enacted in 1975, EITC is regarded as one of the government's largest 
antipoverty programs helping millions of American families every year. 
The IRS and partners nationwide urge people to check to see if they 
qualify for this important credit, and also urge people who don't 
normally file a tax return to review whether they qualify for EITC and 
other valuable credits like the Child Tax Credit or the Recovery Rebate 
Credit, also referred to as stimulus payments."There are important changes to EITC that will help this credit reach
 more hard-working families this year," said IRS Commissioner Chuck 
Rettig. "We urge people potentially eligible for this valuable credit to
 review the guidelines; many people each year overlook this and leave 
money on the table. On this EITC Awareness Day, we want to make sure 
everyone who qualifies for the credit knows about it and has the 
information they need to get it."The IRS began accepting 2021 tax returns on January 24, 2022. 
Taxpayers can ensure they're getting all the credits and deductions for 
which they qualify, including EITC, by filing their taxes 
electronically, using a trusted tax professional or using an <a href="https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/filing-status">IRS Free File</a>
 partner's name-brand software. Taxpayers whose adjusted gross income 
(or AGI) is $73,000 or less qualify for Free File partner offers.The IRS also reminds taxpayers that the quickest way to get a tax 
refund is by filing an accurate tax return electronically and choosing 
direct deposit for their refund. Tax software, tax professionals and 
other free options can help people see if they qualify for the EITC.<h2>What's new?</h2><h2>Childless EITC expanded for 2021</h2>For 2021 only, more childless workers and couples can qualify for the
 EITC, and the maximum credit is nearly tripled for these taxpayers. For
 the first time, the credit is now available to both younger workers and
 senior citizens.For 2021, the EITC is generally available to filers without 
qualifying children who are at least 19 years old with earned income 
below $21,430; $27,380 for spouses filing a joint return. The maximum 
EITC for filers with no qualifying children is $1,502, up from $538 in 
2020. There are also special exceptions for people who are 18 years old 
and were formerly in foster care or are experiencing homelessness. 
Full-time students under age 24 don't qualify. There is no upper age 
limit for claiming the credit if taxpayers have earned income. In the 
past, the EITC for those with no dependents was only available to people
 ages 25 to 64.<h2>Income from 2019</h2>Another change for 2021 allows individuals to figure the EITC using 
their 2019 earned income if it was higher than their 2021 earned income.
 To qualify for the EITC, people must have earned income through 
employment or other sources, so this option may help workers get a 
larger credit if they earned less in 2021 or received unemployment 
income instead of their regular wages. See the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf">instructions for Form 1040</a>&nbsp;PDF, line 27 c.<h2>Phase out and credit limits</h2>For 2021, the amount of the credit has been increased and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/earned-income-and-earned-income-tax-credit-eitc-tables">phaseout income limits</a>
 at which taxpayers can claim the credit have been expanded. For 
instance, the maximum EITC for a married couple filing jointly with 
three or more children is $6,728 and the upper-income level for that 
same family is $57,414. In 2020, the maximum EITC for a family in that 
situation was $6,660 and the upper-income level was $56,844.Taxpayers should also note that any <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments">Economic Impact Payments or Child Tax Credit payments</a>
 received are not taxable or counted as income for purposes of claiming 
the EITC. Eligible individuals who did not receive the full amounts of 
their Economic Impact Payments may claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on 
their 2021 tax return. See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">IRS.gov/rrc</a> for more information.<h2>2021 and beyond</h2>New law changes expand the EITC for 2021 and future years. These changes include:<ul>
 <li>More workers and working families who also have investment 
income can get the credit. Starting in 2021, the amount of investment 
income they can receive and still be eligible for the EITC increases to 
$10,000. In 2020, the limit was $3,650. After 2021, the $10,000 limit is
 indexed for inflation.</li><li>Married but separated spouses can choose to be treated as not 
married for EITC purposes. To qualify, the spouse claiming the credit 
cannot file jointly with the other spouse, must have a qualifying child 
living with them for more than half the year and either:
	Do not have the same principal residence as the other spouse for at least the last six months out of the year.Are legally separated according to their state law under a written
 separation agreement or a decree of separate maintenance and not live 
in the same household as their spouse at the end of the tax year for 
which the EITC is being claimed.
		Taxpayers should file <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-eic-form-1040">Schedule EIC (Form 1040)</a> and check the box showing them as married filing separately with a qualifying child.In the past, married taxpayers had to file with their spouse to claim the EITC.</li><li>Do not have the same principal residence as the other spouse for at least the last six months out of the year.</li><li>Are legally separated according to their state law under a written
 separation agreement or a decree of separate maintenance and not live 
in the same household as their spouse at the end of the tax year for 
which the EITC is being claimed.
		Taxpayers should file <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-eic-form-1040">Schedule EIC (Form 1040)</a> and check the box showing them as married filing separately with a qualifying child.In the past, married taxpayers had to file with their spouse to claim the EITC.</li><li>Taxpayers should file <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-eic-form-1040">Schedule EIC (Form 1040)</a> and check the box showing them as married filing separately with a qualifying child.</li><li>In the past, married taxpayers had to file with their spouse to claim the EITC.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Single people and couples with children who have Social 
Security numbers can claim the credit, even if their children do not 
have SSNs. In this instance, they would get the smaller credit available
 to childless workers. In the past, these filers didn't qualify for the 
credit.
	Taxpayers should file <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-eic-form-1040">Schedule EIC (Form 1040)</a>
 if they have a qualifying child. If they have at least one child who 
meets the conditions to be their qualifying child for purposes of 
claiming the EITC, they should complete and attach Schedule EIC to their
 Form 1040 or 1040-SR even if that child doesn't have a valid SSN. For 
more information, including how to complete Schedule EIC if your 
qualifying child doesn't have a valid SSN, see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf">instructions for Form 1040</a>&nbsp;PDF, line 27a, and Schedule EIC.</li><li>Taxpayers should file <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-eic-form-1040">Schedule EIC (Form 1040)</a>
 if they have a qualifying child. If they have at least one child who 
meets the conditions to be their qualifying child for purposes of 
claiming the EITC, they should complete and attach Schedule EIC to their
 Form 1040 or 1040-SR even if that child doesn't have a valid SSN. For 
more information, including how to complete Schedule EIC if your 
qualifying child doesn't have a valid SSN, see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf">instructions for Form 1040</a>&nbsp;PDF, line 27a, and Schedule EIC.</li>
 </ul><h2>Vital refund boost</h2>The EITC is the federal government's largest refundable federal 
income tax credit for low- to moderate-income workers. For those who 
qualify, and if the credit is larger than the amount of tax they owe, 
they will receive a refund for the difference. While the majority of 
those eligible claim the EITC every year, IRS estimates that one of five
 eligible taxpayers do not claim the credit.Nationwide last year, almost 25 million eligible workers and families
 received over $60 billion in EITC allowing for the payment of 
necessities, housing, and educational training, with an average EITC 
nationwide of $2,411. For 2021, the EITC is worth as much as $6,728 for a
 family with three or more children or up to $1,502 for taxpayers who do
 not have a qualifying child.<h2>Look for EITC Refunds by early March if no issues with tax return</h2>By law, the IRS cannot issue refunds before mid-February for tax 
returns that claim the EITC or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). 
The IRS must hold the entire refund − even the portion not associated 
with the EITC or ACTC and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit</a>
 if applicable. This helps ensure taxpayers receive the refund they 
deserve and gives the agency more time to detect and prevent errors and 
fraud.<a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where’s My Refund?</a> on IRS.gov and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go app</a>
 will be updated with projected deposit dates for most early EITC/ACTC 
refund filers by February 19. Therefore, EITC/ACTC filers will not see 
an update to their refund status for several days after February 15. Due
 to weekends and other factors, the IRS expects most EITC or ACTC 
related refunds to be available in taxpayer bank accounts or on debit 
cards by the first week of March, if they choose direct deposit and 
there are no other issues with their tax return.&nbsp;<h2>Workers who can claim the EITC</h2>Workers at risk for overlooking this important credit include taxpayers:<ul>
 <li>Without children, including those workers who are at least 19 years old and older than 64</li><li>Living in non-traditional families, such as a grandparent raising a grandchild</li><li>Whose earnings declined or whose marital or parental status changed</li><li>With limited English language skills</li><li>Who are members of the armed forces</li><li>Living in rural areas</li><li>Who are Native Americans</li><li>With disabilities or who provide care for a disabled dependent</li>
 </ul><h2>How to claim the EITC</h2>To get the EITC, workers must file a tax return and claim the credit.
 Eligible taxpayers should claim the credit even if their earnings were 
below the income requirement to file a tax return. Free tax preparation 
help is available online and through volunteer organizations.Those eligible for the EITC have these options:<ul>
 <li>Find a trusted tax professional. The IRS also reminds taxpayers 
that a trusted tax professional can prepare their tax return and provide
 helpful information and advice. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">Tips for choosing a return preparer</a>,
 including certified public accountants, enrolled agents, attorneys and 
many others who don't have a professional credential, and details about <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/irs-tax-pro-association-partners">national tax professional groups</a> are available on IRS.gov. EITC recipients should be careful not to be duped by an unscrupulous return preparer.</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File on IRS.gov</a>.
 Free brand-name tax software is available that leads taxpayers through a
 question-and-answer format to help prepare the tax return and claim 
credits and deductions if they're eligible. Free File also provides 
online versions of IRS paper forms, an option called <a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/before-starting-free-file-fillable-forms">Free File Fillable Forms</a>, best suited for taxpayers comfortable preparing their own returns.</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/irs-free-tax-return-preparation-programs">Free tax preparation sites</a>.
 EITC-eligible workers can seek free tax preparation at thousands of 
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the 
Elderly (TCE) sites. To locate the nearest site, use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/find-a-location-for-free-tax-prep">search tool</a> on IRS.gov, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go smartphone application</a>, or call toll-free <a href="tel:800-906-9887">800-906-9887</a>. Taxpayers should bring all required documents and information.</li>
 </ul>The IRS reminds taxpayers to be sure they have valid Social 
Security numbers for themselves, their spouse if filing a joint return, 
and for each qualifying child claimed for the EITC. The SSNs must be 
issued before the due date of the return, including extensions. There 
are special rules for those in the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/military-and-clergy-rules-for-the-earned-income-tax-credit">military</a> or those out of the country.<h2>Avoid errors</h2>Taxpayers are responsible for the accuracy of their tax return even 
if someone else prepares it for them. Since the rules for claiming the 
EITC can be complex, the IRS urges taxpayers to understand all of them. 
People can find help to make sure they're eligible by visiting a free 
tax return preparation site, or using Free File software or by using a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc254">paid tax professional</a>.<h2>Beware of scams</h2>Be sure to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">choose a tax preparer</a>
 wisely. Beware of scams that claim to increase the EITC refund. Scams 
that create fictitious qualifying children or inflate income levels to 
get the maximum EITC could leave taxpayers with a penalty.<h2>Visit IRS online</h2>IRS.gov is a valuable first stop to help taxpayers get it right this filing season. Information on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions-for-individuals">other tax credits</a>, such as the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents">Child Tax Credit</a>, is also available.<h2>Related items</h2><ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.eitc.irs.gov/">EITC Central</a>, helpful resources for IRS partners and others.</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-596">Publication 596, Earned Income Credit (EIC)</a>.</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals">Tax Professionals</a>, another place for valuable EITC resources and assistance.</li>
 </ul>

IRS: Changes mean more qualify for Earned Income Tax Credit 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man who spent nearly 22 years in prison after six Kansas City firefighters died in an explosion in 1988 has been awarded more than $344,000 in legal fees from a lawsuit he filed against the federal government.

Bryan Sheppard sued the U.S. Justice Department in 2017, seeking records from a federal investigation into the Nov. 29, 1988, explosion at a construction site in south Kansas City, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article257754498.html">reported</a>.

Sheppard, one of five people convicted after the explosion, was 17 when the firefighters died. He was&nbsp;<a href="https://hosted.ap.org/semissourian/article/02482b1ab7327d3aab62faab00a141ce/apnews.com/29b2f3ffd74a4e0a809b181fd7b9f762">released from prison</a>&nbsp;in 2017 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it violated the Constitution to impose mandatory sentences of life without parole for juveniles.

Sheppard and the other four defendants have always maintained they were innocent.

He filed a Freedom on Information request for records from a 2011 U.S. Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://hosted.ap.org/semissourian/article/02482b1ab7327d3aab62faab00a141ce/c11fc19763484a259f6766ede49fffa0">review of the explosion,</a>&nbsp;which was prompted by an investigation in The Star. The federal investigation found no evidence the defendants were innocent but suggested others might have been involved.

U.S. District Judge Nanette K. Laughrey issued earlier rulings that the Justice Department improperly withheld documents requested by Sheppard.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643378398426.png" alt="Photo courtesy Free Bryan Sheppard" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Free Bryan Sheppard</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man who spent nearly 22 years in prison after six Kansas City firefighters died in an explosion in 1988 has been awarded more than $344,000 in legal fees from a lawsuit he filed against the federal government.Bryan Sheppard sued the U.S. Justice Department in 2017, seeking records from a federal investigation into the Nov. 29, 1988, explosion at a construction site in south Kansas City, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article257754498.html">reported</a>.Sheppard, one of five people convicted after the explosion, was 17 when the firefighters died. He was&nbsp;<a href="https://hosted.ap.org/semissourian/article/02482b1ab7327d3aab62faab00a141ce/apnews.com/29b2f3ffd74a4e0a809b181fd7b9f762">released from prison</a>&nbsp;in 2017 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it violated the Constitution to impose mandatory sentences of life without parole for juveniles.Sheppard and the other four defendants have always maintained they were innocent.He filed a Freedom on Information request for records from a 2011 U.S. Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://hosted.ap.org/semissourian/article/02482b1ab7327d3aab62faab00a141ce/c11fc19763484a259f6766ede49fffa0">review of the explosion,</a>&nbsp;which was prompted by an investigation in The Star. The federal investigation found no evidence the defendants were innocent but suggested others might have been involved.U.S. District Judge Nanette K. Laughrey issued earlier rulings that the Justice Department improperly withheld documents requested by Sheppard.

Man convicted in deaths of 6 Kansas City firefighters wins lawsuit

Consumers
 in 2021 reported losing about $770 million to fraud initiated on social
 media—about one fourth of all reported fraud losses for the year and an
 18-fold increase from 2017, according to the Federal Trade Commission’s
 <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/data-spotlight/2022/01/social-media-gold-mine-scammers-2021">latest Consumer Protection Data Spotlight</a>.

Of
 those who reported losing money to fraud in 2021, more than 95,000 
indicated that they were first contacted on social media—more than twice
 the 2020 number. Investment scams topped the list of total reported 
dollar losses, followed by romance scams. The largest number of reports 
came from people who lost money to online shopping scams. Most of the 
reports about online shopping scams involved someone who ordered a 
product they saw marketed on social media that never arrived. Consumers 
who listed the social media platform where the undelivered products were
 marketed most often named Facebook or Instagram.

To learn more about how to spot, avoid, and report scams—and how to recover money if you have paid a scammer—visit <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/scams">ftc.gov/scams</a>. If you spot a scam, report it to the FTC at <a href="http://www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.

The Federal Trade Commission works to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-competition">promote competition</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">stop deceptive and unfair business practices and scams</a>, and <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">educate consumers</a>. Report fraud, scams, or bad business practices at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Get consumer advice at <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">consumer.ftc.gov</a>. Also, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a>, and read the FTC’s <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCConsumers
 in 2021 reported losing about $770 million to fraud initiated on social
 media—about one fourth of all reported fraud losses for the year and an
 18-fold increase from 2017, according to the Federal Trade Commission’s
 <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/data-spotlight/2022/01/social-media-gold-mine-scammers-2021">latest Consumer Protection Data Spotlight</a>. Of
 those who reported losing money to fraud in 2021, more than 95,000 
indicated that they were first contacted on social media—more than twice
 the 2020 number. Investment scams topped the list of total reported 
dollar losses, followed by romance scams. The largest number of reports 
came from people who lost money to online shopping scams. Most of the 
reports about online shopping scams involved someone who ordered a 
product they saw marketed on social media that never arrived. Consumers 
who listed the social media platform where the undelivered products were
 marketed most often named Facebook or Instagram.To learn more about how to spot, avoid, and report scams—and how to recover money if you have paid a scammer—visit <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/scams">ftc.gov/scams</a>. If you spot a scam, report it to the FTC at <a href="http://www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.The Federal Trade Commission works to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-competition">promote competition</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">stop deceptive and unfair business practices and scams</a>, and <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">educate consumers</a>. Report fraud, scams, or bad business practices at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Get consumer advice at <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">consumer.ftc.gov</a>. Also, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a>, and read the FTC’s <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>.

FTC: Huge surge in consumers losing money in social media scams

No foul play is suspected in two deaths discovered Wednesday in Pawnee County.

The Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol following the discovery of two deceased individuals in a residence at 62955 Highway 4, near Humboldt. The Sheriff’s Office performed a welfare check at the residence after a postal worker noticed that mail hadn’t been retrieved at the home for multiple weeks. Deputies located two deceased individuals inside the home.

Investigators found no apparent injuries on either of the individuals. The two individuals are identified as Dirk Dobrovolny, 55, and Ila Dobrovolny, 86, both residents of the home. The investigation is ongoing. No foul play is suspected.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643328752163.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Nebraska State PatrolNo foul play is suspected in two deaths discovered Wednesday in Pawnee County.The Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol following the discovery of two deceased individuals in a residence at 62955 Highway 4, near Humboldt. The Sheriff’s Office performed a welfare check at the residence after a postal worker noticed that mail hadn’t been retrieved at the home for multiple weeks. Deputies located two deceased individuals inside the home.Investigators found no apparent injuries on either of the individuals. The two individuals are identified as Dirk Dobrovolny, 55, and Ila Dobrovolny, 86, both residents of the home. The investigation is ongoing. No foul play is suspected.

NSP investigating 2 unattended deaths in Pawnee County

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A teachers union has accused the Grand Island Public Schools district of misclassifying several teachers as substitutes, even though they essentially work as full-time teachers. 

The Grand Island Education Association says that's an unfair labor practice that underpays those teachers by up to several thousand dollars.

 The association says in a news release that it has filed a complaint over the practice with Nebraska's Commission of Industrial Relations. 

The district defended itself in a statement to the Grand Island Independent, saying it's "confident that we are operating in good standing with the terms of our existing agreement.”

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A teachers union has accused the Grand Island Public Schools district of misclassifying several teachers as substitutes, even though they essentially work as full-time teachers. The Grand Island Education Association says that's an unfair labor practice that underpays those teachers by up to several thousand dollars. The association says in a news release that it has filed a complaint over the practice with Nebraska's Commission of Industrial Relations. The district defended itself in a statement to the Grand Island Independent, saying it's "confident that we are operating in good standing with the terms of our existing agreement.”

Teachers union files complaint against Grand Island schools

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Nebraska-based voting machine company has told the Republican-hired attorney leading an investigation into the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin that it will not comply with subpoenas issued seeking a broad array of information. 

Attorneys for Election Systems &amp; Software told former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman in a letter dated Jan. 21 that it would not comply, calling the subpoenas issued last month a “quintessential fishing expedition.” 

The letter was obtained Thursday by The Associated Press after it was first reported on by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

Gableman's investigation into President Joe Biden's win in Wisconsin is ongoing.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Nebraska-based voting machine company has told the Republican-hired attorney leading an investigation into the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin that it will not comply with subpoenas issued seeking a broad array of information. Attorneys for Election Systems &amp; Software told former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman in a letter dated Jan. 21 that it would not comply, calling the subpoenas issued last month a “quintessential fishing expedition.” The letter was obtained Thursday by The Associated Press after it was first reported on by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Gableman's investigation into President Joe Biden's win in Wisconsin is ongoing.

Nebraska voting machine company won't comply with Wisconsin subpoena

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Stephen Breyer is making it official, telling President Joe Biden in a letter that he will step down from the court later this year.

The Supreme Court released Breyer’s retirement letter Thursday, ahead of the 83-year-old justice’s appearance with the president at the White House. 

During a White House ceremony, Biden reiterated his pledge to nominate the first Black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court, saying it was “long overdue,” as he praised retiring Justice Stephen Breyer as a model public servant. 

Breyer joined Biden at the White House Thursday, a day after news broke of the 83-year-old’s upcoming retirement. “It’s long overdue, in my view,” Biden said of the nominee. He promised to have a choice by the end of February.

The president is considering at least three judges for the expected vacancy on the Supreme Court as he prepares to quickly deliver on his campaign pledge to nominate the first Black woman to the nation’s highest court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643305191667.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Stephen Breyer is making it official, telling President Joe Biden in a letter that he will step down from the court later this year.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F460338765647933%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=445" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The Supreme Court released Breyer’s retirement letter Thursday, ahead of the 83-year-old justice’s appearance with the president at the White House. During a White House ceremony, Biden reiterated his pledge to nominate the first Black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court, saying it was “long overdue,” as he praised retiring Justice Stephen Breyer as a model public servant. Breyer joined Biden at the White House Thursday, a day after news broke of the 83-year-old’s upcoming retirement. “It’s long overdue, in my view,” Biden said of the nominee. He promised to have a choice by the end of February.The president is considering at least three judges for the expected vacancy on the Supreme Court as he prepares to quickly deliver on his campaign pledge to nominate the first Black woman to the nation’s highest court.

🎥 Biden to name new Supreme Court Justice by end of February

By DAVID A. LIEB and HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, Associated Press

Health care workers in about half the states face a Thursday deadline to get their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine under a Biden administration mandate that will be rolled out across the rest of the country in the coming weeks.

While the requirement is welcomed by some, others fear it will worsen already serious staff shortages if employees quit rather than comply.

“We would like to see staff vaccinated. We think that it’s the safest option for residents, which is our biggest concern,” said Marjorie Moore, executive director of VOYCE, a St. Louis County,&nbsp;Missouri, nonprofit that works on behalf of nursing home residents. “But not having staff is also a really big concern, because the neglect that happens as a result of that is severe and very scary.”

The mandate affects a wide swath of the health care industry, covering doctors, nurses, technicians, aides and even volunteers at hospitals, nursing homes, home-health agencies and other providers that participate in the federal Medicare or Medicaid programs.

It comes as many places are stretched thin by the omicron surge, which is putting record numbers of people in the hospital with COVID-19 while sickening many health workers.

Nationwide, about 81% of nursing home staff members already were fully vaccinated as of earlier this month, ranging from a high of 98% in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rhode-island">Rhode Island</a>&nbsp;to a low of 67% in Missouri, according to the federal Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services. The data is unclear about the vaccination levels in hospitals and other health care sites.

The mandate ultimately will cover 10.4 million health care workers at 76,000 facilities.

It is taking effect first in jurisdictions that didn’t challenge the requirement in court. Those include some of the biggest states, with some of the largest populations of senior citizens, among them:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/california">California</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/florida">Florida</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-york">New York</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a>.

Some of the states already have their own vaccine requirements for health care workers. In California, for example, they have been required to be fully vaccinated since Sept. 30 and must get a booster b y Feb. 1.

The federal mandate is “better late than never," said Sal Rosselli, president of the National Union of Healthcare Workers, which represents about 15,000 people in California. "But if it happened sooner, we wouldn’t have gone through the surge, and a lot more people would be alive today.”

The government said it will begin enforcing the first-dose vaccine requirement Feb. 14 in two dozen other states where injunctions were lifted when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the mandate two weeks ago. The requirement will kick in on Feb. 22 in&nbsp;Texas, which had filed suit separately.

In Missouri, one nursing home served notice this week that it intends to take advantage of a state rule that allows facilities to close for up to two years if they are short-staffed because of the vaccine requirement. The state health department would not identify the nursing home, saying it is still notifying families and arranging transfer plans.

“Obviously we are proponents of vaccines," said department spokeswoman Lisa Cox. But "throughout all of this, we knew that mandating it would be a negative impact really on our health care system ... just because of crippling staffing levels.”

The Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services ultimately could cut off funding to places that fail to comply with the mandate. But it plans to begin enforcement with encouragement rather than a heavy hand.

CMS guidance documents indicate it will grant leniency to places that have at least 80% compliance and an improvement plan in place, and it will seek to prod others.

“The overarching goal is to get providers over that finish line and not be cutting off federal dollars,” said MaryBeth Musumeci, a Medicaid expert with the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation.

The states affected on Thursday are: California,&nbsp;Colorado,&nbsp;Connecticut,&nbsp;Delaware, Florida,&nbsp;Hawaii,&nbsp;Illinois,&nbsp;Maine,&nbsp;Maryland,&nbsp;Massachusetts,&nbsp;Michigan,&nbsp;Minnesota,&nbsp;Nevada,&nbsp;New Jersey,&nbsp;New Mexico, New York,&nbsp;North Carolina,&nbsp;Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,&nbsp;Tennessee,&nbsp;Vermont,&nbsp;Virginia, Washington and&nbsp;Wisconsin, along with the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627688144182.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID A. LIEB and HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, Associated PressHealth care workers in about half the states face a Thursday deadline to get their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine under a Biden administration mandate that will be rolled out across the rest of the country in the coming weeks.While the requirement is welcomed by some, others fear it will worsen already serious staff shortages if employees quit rather than comply.“We would like to see staff vaccinated. We think that it’s the safest option for residents, which is our biggest concern,” said Marjorie Moore, executive director of VOYCE, a St. Louis County,&nbsp;Missouri, nonprofit that works on behalf of nursing home residents. “But not having staff is also a really big concern, because the neglect that happens as a result of that is severe and very scary.”The mandate affects a wide swath of the health care industry, covering doctors, nurses, technicians, aides and even volunteers at hospitals, nursing homes, home-health agencies and other providers that participate in the federal Medicare or Medicaid programs.It comes as many places are stretched thin by the omicron surge, which is putting record numbers of people in the hospital with COVID-19 while sickening many health workers.Nationwide, about 81% of nursing home staff members already were fully vaccinated as of earlier this month, ranging from a high of 98% in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rhode-island">Rhode Island</a>&nbsp;to a low of 67% in Missouri, according to the federal Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services. The data is unclear about the vaccination levels in hospitals and other health care sites.The mandate ultimately will cover 10.4 million health care workers at 76,000 facilities.It is taking effect first in jurisdictions that didn’t challenge the requirement in court. Those include some of the biggest states, with some of the largest populations of senior citizens, among them:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/california">California</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/florida">Florida</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-york">New York</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a>.Some of the states already have their own vaccine requirements for health care workers. In California, for example, they have been required to be fully vaccinated since Sept. 30 and must get a booster b y Feb. 1.The federal mandate is “better late than never," said Sal Rosselli, president of the National Union of Healthcare Workers, which represents about 15,000 people in California. "But if it happened sooner, we wouldn’t have gone through the surge, and a lot more people would be alive today.”The government said it will begin enforcing the first-dose vaccine requirement Feb. 14 in two dozen other states where injunctions were lifted when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the mandate two weeks ago. The requirement will kick in on Feb. 22 in&nbsp;Texas, which had filed suit separately.In Missouri, one nursing home served notice this week that it intends to take advantage of a state rule that allows facilities to close for up to two years if they are short-staffed because of the vaccine requirement. The state health department would not identify the nursing home, saying it is still notifying families and arranging transfer plans.“Obviously we are proponents of vaccines," said department spokeswoman Lisa Cox. But "throughout all of this, we knew that mandating it would be a negative impact really on our health care system ... just because of crippling staffing levels.”The Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services ultimately could cut off funding to places that fail to comply with the mandate. But it plans to begin enforcement with encouragement rather than a heavy hand.CMS guidance documents indicate it will grant leniency to places that have at least 80% compliance and an improvement plan in place, and it will seek to prod others.“The overarching goal is to get providers over that finish line and not be cutting off federal dollars,” said MaryBeth Musumeci, a Medicaid expert with the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation.The states affected on Thursday are: California,&nbsp;Colorado,&nbsp;Connecticut,&nbsp;Delaware, Florida,&nbsp;Hawaii,&nbsp;Illinois,&nbsp;Maine,&nbsp;Maryland,&nbsp;Massachusetts,&nbsp;Michigan,&nbsp;Minnesota,&nbsp;Nevada,&nbsp;New Jersey,&nbsp;New Mexico, New York,&nbsp;North Carolina,&nbsp;Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,&nbsp;Tennessee,&nbsp;Vermont,&nbsp;Virginia, Washington and&nbsp;Wisconsin, along with the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.

Vaccine mandate to kick in for first wave of health workers

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Mutual of Omaha and the city of Omaha say the insurance giant plans to build a skyscraper at the site of current downtown public library.

 The announcement Wednesday comes even as the city's plan to tear down the library and move it to another, less-desirable location has drawn public scorn. 

Mayor Jean Stothert said Wednesday at a news conference that the city plans to have the W. Dale Clark Library out of its current building by September and have the building torn down by December. 

The would make way for what’s conceived as a 40- to 50-story, glass-fronted tower that would serve as the new headquarters for Mutual of Omaha. 

Stothert also announced a planned streetcar system connecting downtown to midtown.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643234293120.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Mutual of Omaha and the city of Omaha say the insurance giant plans to build a skyscraper at the site of current downtown public library. The announcement Wednesday comes even as the city's plan to tear down the library and move it to another, less-desirable location has drawn public scorn. Mayor Jean Stothert said Wednesday at a news conference that the city plans to have the W. Dale Clark Library out of its current building by September and have the building torn down by December. The would make way for what’s conceived as a 40- to 50-story, glass-fronted tower that would serve as the new headquarters for Mutual of Omaha. Stothert also announced a planned streetcar system connecting downtown to midtown.

Mutual of Omaha plans skyscraper at downtown library site

WASHINGTON (AP) — Liberal Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is retiring, giving President Joe Biden an opening he has pledged to fill by naming the first Black woman to the high court, two sources told The Associated Press Wednesday.

Breyer, 83, has been a pragmatic force on a court that has grown increasingly conservative in recent years, trying to forge majorities with more moderate justices right and left of center.

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to preempt Breyer's eventual announcement. NBC first reported the justice's plans.

Breyer has been a justice since 1994, appointed by President Bill Clinton. Along with the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Breyer opted not to step down the last time the Democrats controlled the White House and the Senate during Barack Obama’s presidency. Ginsburg died in September 2020, and then-President Donald Trump filled the vacancy with a conservative justice, Amy Coney Barrett.

Breyer’s departure, expected over the summer, won’t change the 6-3 conservative advantage on the court because his replacement will be nominated by Biden and almost certainly confirmed by a Senate where Democrats have the slimmest majority. It also makes conservative Justice Clarence Thomas the oldest member of the court at 73.

Among the names being circulated as potential nominees are California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, U.S. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, prominent civil rights lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill and U.S. District Judge Michelle Childs, whom Biden has nominated to be an appeals court. Childs is a favorite of Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., who made a crucial endorsement of Biden just before South Carolina's presidential primary in 2020.

Often overshadowed by his fellow liberal Ginsburg, Breyer authored two major opinions in support of abortion rights on a court closely divided over the issue, and he laid out his growing discomfort with the death penalty in a series of dissenting opinions in recent years.

Breyer’s views on displaying the Ten Commandments on government property illustrate his search for a middle ground. He was the only member of the court in the majority in twin cases in 2005 that barred Ten Commandments displays in two Kentucky courthouses, but allowed one to remain on the grounds of the state capitol in Austin, Texas.

In more than 27 years on the court, Breyer has been an active and cheerful questioner during arguments, a frequent public speaker and quick with a joke, often at his own expense. He made a good natured appearance on a humorous National Public Radio program in 2007, failing to answer obscure questions about pop stars.

He is known for his elaborate, at times far-fetched, hypothetical questions to lawyers during arguments and he sometimes had the air of an absent-minded professor. In fact, he taught antitrust law at Harvard earlier in his professional career.

He also spent time working for the late Sen. Edward Kennedy when the Massachusetts Democrat was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. That experience, Breyer said, made him a firm believer in compromise.

Still, he could write fierce dissents, as he did in the Bush v. Gore case that effectively decided the 2000 election in favor of Republican George W. Bush. Breyer unsuccessfully urged his colleagues to return the case to the Florida courts so they could create “a constitutionally proper contest” by which to decide the winner.

And at the end of a trying term in June 2007 in which he found himself on the losing end of roughly two dozen 5-4 rulings, Breyer’s frustrations bubbled over as he summarized his dissent from a decision that invalidated public school integration plans.

“It is not often that so few have so quickly changed so much,” Breyer said in a packed courtroom, an ad-libbed line that was not part of his opinion.

His time working in the Senate led to his appointment by President Jimmy Carter as a federal appeals court judge in Boston, and he was confirmed with bipartisan support even after Carter’s defeat for reelection in 1980. Breyer served for 14 years on the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals before moving up to the Supreme Court.

His 87-9 high-court confirmation was the last with fewer than 10 dissenting votes. Breyer’s opinions were notable because they never contained footnotes. Breyer was warned off such a writing device by Arthur Goldberg, the Supreme Court justice for whom Breyer clerked as a young lawyer.

“It is an important point to make if you believe, as I do, that the major function of an opinion is to explain to the audience of readers why it is that the court has reached that decision,” Breyer once said. “It’s not to prove that you’re right. You can’t prove that your right; there is no such proof.”

Born in San Francisco, Breyer became an Eagle Scout as a teenager and began a stellar academic career at Stanford, graduating with highest honors. He attended Oxford, where he received first-class honors in philosophy, politics and economics.

Breyer then attended Harvard’s law school, where he worked on the Law Review and graduated with highest honors.

Breyer’s first job after law school was as a law clerk to Goldberg. He then worked in the Justice Department’s antitrust division before splitting time as a Harvard law professor and a lawyer for the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Breyer and his wife, Joanna, a psychologist and daughter of the late British Conservative leader John Blakenham, have three children — daughters Chloe and Nell and a son, Michael — and six grandchildren.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643217782138.png" alt="Justice Stephen Breyer <a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?443300-1/supreme-court-justice-stephen-breyer-discusses-law-tufts">during a 2018 interview </a>-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Justice Stephen Breyer <a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?443300-1/supreme-court-justice-stephen-breyer-discusses-law-tufts">during a 2018 interview </a>-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Liberal Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is retiring, giving President Joe Biden an opening he has pledged to fill by naming the first Black woman to the high court, two sources told The Associated Press Wednesday.Breyer, 83, has been a pragmatic force on a court that has grown increasingly conservative in recent years, trying to forge majorities with more moderate justices right and left of center.The sources spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to preempt Breyer's eventual announcement. NBC first reported the justice's plans.Breyer has been a justice since 1994, appointed by President Bill Clinton. Along with the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Breyer opted not to step down the last time the Democrats controlled the White House and the Senate during Barack Obama’s presidency. Ginsburg died in September 2020, and then-President Donald Trump filled the vacancy with a conservative justice, Amy Coney Barrett.Breyer’s departure, expected over the summer, won’t change the 6-3 conservative advantage on the court because his replacement will be nominated by Biden and almost certainly confirmed by a Senate where Democrats have the slimmest majority. It also makes conservative Justice Clarence Thomas the oldest member of the court at 73.Among the names being circulated as potential nominees are California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, U.S. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, prominent civil rights lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill and U.S. District Judge Michelle Childs, whom Biden has nominated to be an appeals court. Childs is a favorite of Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., who made a crucial endorsement of Biden just before South Carolina's presidential primary in 2020.Often overshadowed by his fellow liberal Ginsburg, Breyer authored two major opinions in support of abortion rights on a court closely divided over the issue, and he laid out his growing discomfort with the death penalty in a series of dissenting opinions in recent years.Breyer’s views on displaying the Ten Commandments on government property illustrate his search for a middle ground. He was the only member of the court in the majority in twin cases in 2005 that barred Ten Commandments displays in two Kentucky courthouses, but allowed one to remain on the grounds of the state capitol in Austin, Texas.In more than 27 years on the court, Breyer has been an active and cheerful questioner during arguments, a frequent public speaker and quick with a joke, often at his own expense. He made a good natured appearance on a humorous National Public Radio program in 2007, failing to answer obscure questions about pop stars.He is known for his elaborate, at times far-fetched, hypothetical questions to lawyers during arguments and he sometimes had the air of an absent-minded professor. In fact, he taught antitrust law at Harvard earlier in his professional career.He also spent time working for the late Sen. Edward Kennedy when the Massachusetts Democrat was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. That experience, Breyer said, made him a firm believer in compromise.Still, he could write fierce dissents, as he did in the Bush v. Gore case that effectively decided the 2000 election in favor of Republican George W. Bush. Breyer unsuccessfully urged his colleagues to return the case to the Florida courts so they could create “a constitutionally proper contest” by which to decide the winner.And at the end of a trying term in June 2007 in which he found himself on the losing end of roughly two dozen 5-4 rulings, Breyer’s frustrations bubbled over as he summarized his dissent from a decision that invalidated public school integration plans.“It is not often that so few have so quickly changed so much,” Breyer said in a packed courtroom, an ad-libbed line that was not part of his opinion.His time working in the Senate led to his appointment by President Jimmy Carter as a federal appeals court judge in Boston, and he was confirmed with bipartisan support even after Carter’s defeat for reelection in 1980. Breyer served for 14 years on the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals before moving up to the Supreme Court.His 87-9 high-court confirmation was the last with fewer than 10 dissenting votes. Breyer’s opinions were notable because they never contained footnotes. Breyer was warned off such a writing device by Arthur Goldberg, the Supreme Court justice for whom Breyer clerked as a young lawyer.“It is an important point to make if you believe, as I do, that the major function of an opinion is to explain to the audience of readers why it is that the court has reached that decision,” Breyer once said. “It’s not to prove that you’re right. You can’t prove that your right; there is no such proof.”Born in San Francisco, Breyer became an Eagle Scout as a teenager and began a stellar academic career at Stanford, graduating with highest honors. He attended Oxford, where he received first-class honors in philosophy, politics and economics.Breyer then attended Harvard’s law school, where he worked on the Law Review and graduated with highest honors.Breyer’s first job after law school was as a law clerk to Goldberg. He then worked in the Justice Department’s antitrust division before splitting time as a Harvard law professor and a lawyer for the Senate Judiciary Committee.Breyer and his wife, Joanna, a psychologist and daughter of the late British Conservative leader John Blakenham, have three children — daughters Chloe and Nell and a son, Michael — and six grandchildren.

Supreme Court Justice Breyer to retire; Biden to fill vacancy

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new state program will add nearly 100 new nursing home beds in three of Nebraska’s largest cities to help relieve some of the pressure on hospitals that are struggling with the surge in COVID-19 cases. 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new state program will add nearly 100 new nursing home beds in three of Nebraska’s largest cities to help relieve some of the pressure on hospitals that are struggling with the surge in COVID-19 cases. The state Department of Health and Human Services said between 78 and 98 skilled nursing care beds will be added in Omaha, Lincoln and Grand Island starting next month. Nebraska Hospital Association President Jeremy Nordquist said those additional beds will allow hospitals to discharge some of their patients. But the number of virus hospitalizations remains high at 745 across the state and hospitals are treating a large number of non-COVID patients.