GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) — A south Mississippi family has finally found answers to an eight-decade mystery. 

The fate of Private Andrew Ladner, a soldier from Harrison County, has been unknown since he disappeared during World War II, during the Battle of Buna-Gona. 

This month, the U.S. government announced that Ladner’s remains had been identified. The Sun Herald reports that the notification came from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. 

In November 1942, Ladner was posted in the southeastern mountain jungles of what was then the Australian territory of New Guinea, fighting Japanese troops for control of the port of Buna. Ladner was killed in action. 

Ladner was a native of Lizana, Mississippi, and 30 years old at the time of his death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1565272523999.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) — A south Mississippi family has finally found answers to an eight-decade mystery. The fate of Private Andrew Ladner, a soldier from Harrison County, has been unknown since he disappeared during World War II, during the Battle of Buna-Gona. This month, the U.S. government announced that Ladner’s remains had been identified. The Sun Herald reports that the notification came from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. In November 1942, Ladner was posted in the southeastern mountain jungles of what was then the Australian territory of New Guinea, fighting Japanese troops for control of the port of Buna. Ladner was killed in action. Ladner was a native of Lizana, Mississippi, and 30 years old at the time of his death.

Mississippi soldier, missing in action in 1942, finally ID'd

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting.

The incident occurred just before 8 a.m. Sunday, as deputies were in the 1200 block of SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka attempting to make a felony arrest of a suspect involved in a vehicle pursuit that occurred in Shawnee County on Friday, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.&nbsp; 

One male subject was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The Northeast Kansas Sheriffs’ Officer-Involved Critical Incident Response Team is in charge of the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644160820448.png" alt="Law enforcement on the scene of Sunday's fatal officer-involved shooting-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Law enforcement on the scene of Sunday's fatal officer-involved shooting-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting.The incident occurred just before 8 a.m. Sunday, as deputies were in the 1200 block of SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka attempting to make a felony arrest of a suspect involved in a vehicle pursuit that occurred in Shawnee County on Friday, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.&nbsp; One male subject was pronounced deceased at the scene.The Northeast Kansas Sheriffs’ Officer-Involved Critical Incident Response Team is in charge of the investigation.

Man dead after Kansas officer-involved shooting

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha Police say a 48-year-old man died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Saturday after a standoff that lasted over seven hours. 

The standoff began Saturday morning after a domestic disturbance was reported at a home near 72nd Street and Western Avenue. 

Police said Michael Jones had barricaded himself inside a garage with a gun before officers arrived. The standoff forced the closure of the busy artery of 72nd Street for hours on Saturday as police talked with Jones. 

Shortly before 7 p.m. officers heard a gunshot, and a short time later they found Jones dead inside the garage. A grand jury will review the incident as required under state law.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1560127290802.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha Police say a 48-year-old man died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Saturday after a standoff that lasted over seven hours. The standoff began Saturday morning after a domestic disturbance was reported at a home near 72nd Street and Western Avenue. Police said Michael Jones had barricaded himself inside a garage with a gun before officers arrived. The standoff forced the closure of the busy artery of 72nd Street for hours on Saturday as police talked with Jones. Shortly before 7 p.m. officers heard a gunshot, and a short time later they found Jones dead inside the garage. A grand jury will review the incident as required under state law.

Omaha Police say man dies by suicide at end of standoff

NEW YORK (AP) — Delta Air Lines has told the U.S. Department of Justice that any person convicted of a disruption on board a flight should be put on the national “no fly” list. 

In a letter to the Justice Department dated Thursday, Delta CEO Ed Bastian said there should be “zero tolerance” for any behavior that affects flight safety. He noted while such incidents of bad behavior represent a small fraction of overall flights on Delta, the rate of incidents on the airline has increased nearly 100% since 2019. 

Delta and its industry partner Airlines for America have been pushing since last year for heightened reporting, investigation and prosecution of those who interfere with on-board safety.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644151313919.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Delta Air Lines has told the U.S. Department of Justice that any person convicted of a disruption on board a flight should be put on the national “no fly” list. In a letter to the Justice Department dated Thursday, Delta CEO Ed Bastian said there should be “zero tolerance” for any behavior that affects flight safety. He noted while such incidents of bad behavior represent a small fraction of overall flights on Delta, the rate of incidents on the airline has increased nearly 100% since 2019. Delta and its industry partner Airlines for America have been pushing since last year for heightened reporting, investigation and prosecution of those who interfere with on-board safety.

Delta asks DOJ to put unruly passengers on no-fly list

This Valentine’s Day is shaping up to be big, according to projections by the <a href="https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/americans-spend-239-billion-valentines-day-year" target="_blank">National Retail Federation</a>, which suggests that consumer spending will reach nearly $24 billion.

As you prepare to celebrate, there 
are few common scams that you need to be aware of. Whether you’re hoping
 to spark a new relationship or buying gifts for loved ones, beware of 
these three scams regularly reported to BBB.

From fake <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16832-tips-for-buying-and-selling-jewelry" target="_blank">jewelry</a> sellers to online dating sites, consumers should always be on the alert for <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21686-how-to-avoid-impostor-scams" target="_blank">impostor websites</a>.
 Scammers can easily lift official photos, sale promotions and logos 
directly from the website for a popular jewelry brand. With professional
 graphics and unbeatable prices, scammers build an attractive website 
that looks eerily similar to the real thing.&nbsp;

Similar methods may be used to build 
fake online dating platforms, which are often used to steal personal 
data and credit card information. For more tips to spot fake websites, 
read our <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/14040-bbb-tip-smart-shopping-online" target="_blank">guide to smart shopping online</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Romance scammers often target 
vulnerable people who have experienced a recent breakup or other 
hardship. They take advantage of that heartbreak to establish a 
connection and gain sympathy. Once they’ve gotten their victim on the 
hook with a sad story, they begin pursuing their true goal–money.

Falling victim to a romance scam can 
be particularly devastating. Victims can lose thousands of dollars, and 
they’re often left feeling heartbroken and betrayed because they really 
believed they’d found a good partner. Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/17012-bbb-tip-romance-scams" target="_blank">romance scams</a> for safe online dating advice.&nbsp;

Responding to a text message from 
someone who messaged the wrong number might seem harmless. In fact, it 
might even seem like the polite thing to do, if they say they’re looking
 to reconnect with a potential match.&nbsp;

The text message, however, is bait to
 lure you into a conversation. If you keep chatting, they eventually try
 to get your personal information by directing you to sign up for an 
adult site. Learn more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/26053-bbb-scam-alert-wrong-number-text-message-could-be-a-scam-bot" target="_blank">wrong number texts and scam bots</a>.

Ordering flowers for Valentine’s Day?
 Don’t procrastinate or you may end up falling for a scam. BBB has 
received many reports of shoppers who thought they were ordering flowers
 from an online florist... but either got nothing at all, or a 
disappointing arrangement. <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/21490-scam-alert-dont-let-phony-florists-ruin-valentines-day" target="_blank">Don't let phony florists ruin Valentine's Day</a>.

If you encounter a suspected romance 
scam, cut off all contact with the perpetrator by blocking their 
accounts and phone number. Then, report your experience to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a>.
 Dating site users should also report suspicious activity to the 
platform, so they can take action against the scammers account.&nbsp;

For more information about romance scams, visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/romance_scams">BBB.org/romance</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBThis Valentine’s Day is shaping up to be big, according to projections by the <a href="https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/americans-spend-239-billion-valentines-day-year" target="_blank">National Retail Federation</a>, which suggests that consumer spending will reach nearly $24 billion. As you prepare to celebrate, there 
are few common scams that you need to be aware of. Whether you’re hoping
 to spark a new relationship or buying gifts for loved ones, beware of 
these three scams regularly reported to BBB.<h2>Impostor websites</h2>From fake <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16832-tips-for-buying-and-selling-jewelry" target="_blank">jewelry</a> sellers to online dating sites, consumers should always be on the alert for <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21686-how-to-avoid-impostor-scams" target="_blank">impostor websites</a>.
 Scammers can easily lift official photos, sale promotions and logos 
directly from the website for a popular jewelry brand. With professional
 graphics and unbeatable prices, scammers build an attractive website 
that looks eerily similar to the real thing.&nbsp;Similar methods may be used to build 
fake online dating platforms, which are often used to steal personal 
data and credit card information. For more tips to spot fake websites, 
read our <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/14040-bbb-tip-smart-shopping-online" target="_blank">guide to smart shopping online</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Red flags:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Products are available at extreme discounts.</li><li>The seller requests customers pay with <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/23140-bbb-scam-alert-scammers-trick-victims-into-sending-money-through-cashapp" target="_blank">cash transfer apps</a> or <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/cryptocurrency-tips" target="_blank">cryptocurrency</a>.</li><li>Customer service is unreachable.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><h2>Romance scams</h2>Romance scammers often target 
vulnerable people who have experienced a recent breakup or other 
hardship. They take advantage of that heartbreak to establish a 
connection and gain sympathy. Once they’ve gotten their victim on the 
hook with a sad story, they begin pursuing their true goal–money.Falling victim to a romance scam can 
be particularly devastating. Victims can lose thousands of dollars, and 
they’re often left feeling heartbroken and betrayed because they really 
believed they’d found a good partner. Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/17012-bbb-tip-romance-scams" target="_blank">romance scams</a> for safe online dating advice.&nbsp;Red flags:<ul>
 <li>The relationship moves very fast.</li><li>You never meet in person.</li><li>They ask for money.</li>
 </ul><h2>Wrong number scam</h2>Responding to a text message from 
someone who messaged the wrong number might seem harmless. In fact, it 
might even seem like the polite thing to do, if they say they’re looking
 to reconnect with a potential match.&nbsp;The text message, however, is bait to
 lure you into a conversation. If you keep chatting, they eventually try
 to get your personal information by directing you to sign up for an 
adult site. Learn more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/26053-bbb-scam-alert-wrong-number-text-message-could-be-a-scam-bot" target="_blank">wrong number texts and scam bots</a>.Red flags:<ul>
 <li>The messages don’t stop.</li><li>The sender directs you to sign up for a website.</li><li>They try to get your personal information.</li>
 </ul><h2>Fake florist scam</h2>Ordering flowers for Valentine’s Day?
 Don’t procrastinate or you may end up falling for a scam. BBB has 
received many reports of shoppers who thought they were ordering flowers
 from an online florist... but either got nothing at all, or a 
disappointing arrangement. <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/21490-scam-alert-dont-let-phony-florists-ruin-valentines-day" target="_blank">Don't let phony florists ruin Valentine's Day</a>.Red Flags: <ul>
 <li>The business has no reviews or bad reviews (always check <a href="https://www.bbb.org/search" target="_blank">BBB.org</a>!)</li><li>You can't find a return policy or satisfaction guarantee.</li><li>The deal is "too good to be true."&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><h2>What to do if you encounter a scam</h2>If you encounter a suspected romance 
scam, cut off all contact with the perpetrator by blocking their 
accounts and phone number. Then, report your experience to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a>.
 Dating site users should also report suspicious activity to the 
platform, so they can take action against the scammers account.&nbsp;For more information about romance scams, visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/romance_scams">BBB.org/romance</a>.&nbsp;

BBB Scam Alert: Beware these Valentine’s Day, romance scams

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on drug charges after a search of four locations in Shawnee County.

On Feb. 1, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit, Shawnee County Drug Task Force, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation served search warrants in the 2700 Block SW Stutley Road, 1700 Block SW Belle Avenue, 5500 SW 17th Terrace and 5300 Block SW 17th Street, according to Lt. Jerry Monasmith.

While conducting the search warrants, officers located marijuana, drug paraphernalia and firearms.

As a result officers arrested Xin Zhu, 29, Ru Zhu, 50 and Sun Teng, 33, all living in Topeka. 

Offices transported then to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.

Xin Zhu is being held on requested charges of Possession of marijuana with the intent of distribution, Use of a communication facility in commission of a felony drug violation, and Possession of drug paraphernalia with the intent of distribution.

Ru Zhu is jailed on requested charges of Possession of marijuana with the intent of distribution and Possession of drug paraphernalia with the intent of distribution.

Sun Teng is being held on requested charges of Possession of marijuana with the intent of distribution and Possession of drug paraphernalia with the intent of distribution.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643822296459.png" alt="Teng-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Teng-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on drug charges after a search of four locations in Shawnee County.On Feb. 1, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit, Shawnee County Drug Task Force, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation served search warrants in the 2700 Block SW Stutley Road, 1700 Block SW Belle Avenue, 5500 SW 17th Terrace and 5300 Block SW 17th Street, according to Lt. Jerry Monasmith.While conducting the search warrants, officers located marijuana, drug paraphernalia and firearms.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643822510059.png" alt="Ru Zhu-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Ru Zhu-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>As a result officers arrested Xin Zhu, 29, Ru Zhu, 50 and Sun Teng, 33, all living in Topeka. Offices transported then to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.Xin Zhu is being held on requested charges of Possession of marijuana with the intent of distribution, Use of a communication facility in commission of a felony drug violation, and Possession of drug paraphernalia with the intent of distribution.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643822136695.png" alt="Xin Zhu-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Xin Zhu-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Ru Zhu is jailed on requested charges of Possession of marijuana with the intent of distribution and Possession of drug paraphernalia with the intent of distribution.Sun Teng is being held on requested charges of Possession of marijuana with the intent of distribution and Possession of drug paraphernalia with the intent of distribution.

KBI assists with breakup of marijuana distribution ring

WASHINGTON (AP) — When President Joe Biden met with U.S. governors at the White House this week, he was the only one given a glass of water — lest anyone else remove their mask to take a drink.

The president was seated more than 10 feet from everyone, including Vice President Kamala Harris and members of his Cabinet.

A White House staffer who was wearing a surgical mask when Biden entered the room was quickly handed an N95 version.

These are just some of the extraordinary efforts on the part of the White House to keep the president from getting COVID-19, even though he’s gotten both of his regular vaccinations and his booster.

It’s no surprise that unusual steps are taken to protect any president. But the strict precautions could also threaten to undercut the Biden administration’s own efforts to tell Americans — especially those who are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-moderna-vaccine-approved-dc6f5ac9eeb31667d5a28f0954335b65">vaccinated and boosted</a>&nbsp;— that they can get on with something closer to their normal lives&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/long-covid-omicron-research-45986f5b42e47e656d5b385bd51b2bb2">in the face of the omicron wave.</a>

And it’s emblematic of the messaging challenges surrounding the administration’s approach to COVID-19 as the virus becomes endemic, familiar and somewhat controlled but still menacing, with hard-to-follow guidelines&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-education-new-orleans-be05bf784db523aab6ff1645616e762a">often unevenly implemented</a>.

For months, Biden aides have fretted that the people who are most protected against COVID-19 remain the most cautious, a dynamic they view as a drag on the nation’s economic and psychological recovery.

When the highly transmissible omicron variant hit, Biden said it was a “cause for concern, not cause for panic.”

In recent weeks, his aides and science advisers have highlighted study after study showing the strong protection offered by the COVID vaccines against the variant and reassuring vaccinated people they can go about their daily lives. At a Jan. 19 press conference, Biden declared: “We have the tools — vaccines, boosters, masks, tests, pills — to save lives and keep businesses and schools open” and rejected the notion that still-widespread restrictions reflect a “’new normal.”

Since even before Biden was elected, his aides have gone all-out to protect the now-79-year-old president from potential infection. He spent much of the 2020 campaign season holding remote events from a studio in the basement of his home, venturing out for travel in a bubble of frequently tested aides subject to an array of restrictions.

That caution continued well after he was fully vaccinated and living at the White House. The president has held up his administration’s fidelity to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines as a virtue, after they were regularly flouted by former President Donald Trump, who became seriously ill after contracting the virus.

As the nation’s virus response and vaccination campaign has become increasingly politicized, White House officials have expressed both political and policy concerns over a possible Biden infection. Though the vaccines are highly effective, a breakthrough case could erode public confidence in the shots and be used as a political cudgel against a president who was elected to bring an end to the pandemic.

Biden himself has at times taken a more relaxed approach to restrictions.

When the CDC last May surprised the White House by easing its guidelines on indoor mask-wearing by fully vaccinated individuals, Biden sought to publicly model the policy for the rest of the nation. He was meeting with vaccinated Republican lawmakers when the change was announced and led the group in removing their masks.

But that CDC guidance proved to be premature and was reversed over the summer, because vaccinated people could still transmit the virus, potentially endangering the tens of millions of Americans who are still unvaccinated.

When the delta strain surged last fall, the White House strengthened its testing protocols for everyone close to Biden — restrictions that had been lessened once aides were fully vaccinated and case counts began to fall nationally. In-person meetings were once again curtailed. Aides began increasing the distance between Biden and even vaccinated-and-tested individuals as a precaution, reminiscent of his earliest days in office.

In early January, as the nation’s capital led the country in per capita COVID-19 cases, White House press secretary Jen Psaki highlighted the “very strict precautions” taken to keep Biden and Harris safe, including mandatory mask-wearing and daily testing for those coming in contact with them.

She also said the White House had taken to limiting gatherings “to under 30 people.” But there were nearly 40 participants named by the administration — as well as two dozen members of the press — at Biden’s Monday meeting with the governors.

Psaki said the administration takes extra precautions any time the president removes his mask to speak to a group. She noted that the nation continues to set records in reported cases and hospital admissions.

“The president’s view is that right now we still need to keep our heads down and stay at it to fight what is still surging in parts of the country,” she said. “But we do have the tools to get to a point where it does not disrupt our daily lives.”

Biden, aides say, has relished opportunities outside the White House when he can engage in the sort of political glad-handing that has been suppressed by the pandemic. And in public, he’s chafed at some of the precautions, saying that the first thing he aims to do differently in his second year in the White House is “I’m going to get out of this place more often.”

On Monday, seated across a large gap from Biden in the East Room, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, the chair of the governors’ association, appealed for the government to more clearly define a pathway out of the pandemic.

“We need the CDC to help us to have the right standards to end this pandemic and move to more endemic status,” he said. “We want to go from today to more normal.”

The night before, the president and first lady Jill Biden did attend the black-tie National Governors Association dinner at Mount Vernon. Biden spoke, but he didn’t stay for dinner.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643714792801.png" alt="The president was seated more than 10 feet from everyone, including Vice President Kamala Harris and members of his Cabinet-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>The president was seated more than 10 feet from everyone, including Vice President Kamala Harris and members of his Cabinet-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — When President Joe Biden met with U.S. governors at the White House this week, he was the only one given a glass of water — lest anyone else remove their mask to take a drink.The president was seated more than 10 feet from everyone, including Vice President Kamala Harris and members of his Cabinet.A White House staffer who was wearing a surgical mask when Biden entered the room was quickly handed an N95 version.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643974310025.png" alt="The president was seated at a distance from everyone, including Attorney General Garland during his stop in New York Thursday-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>The president was seated at a distance from everyone, including Attorney General Garland during his stop in New York Thursday-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>These are just some of the extraordinary efforts on the part of the White House to keep the president from getting COVID-19, even though he’s gotten both of his regular vaccinations and his booster.It’s no surprise that unusual steps are taken to protect any president. But the strict precautions could also threaten to undercut the Biden administration’s own efforts to tell Americans — especially those who are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-moderna-vaccine-approved-dc6f5ac9eeb31667d5a28f0954335b65">vaccinated and boosted</a>&nbsp;— that they can get on with something closer to their normal lives&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/long-covid-omicron-research-45986f5b42e47e656d5b385bd51b2bb2">in the face of the omicron wave.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643815123727.png" alt="The Bidens during a Lunar New Year celebration Tuesday-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The Bidens during a Lunar New Year celebration Tuesday-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>And it’s emblematic of the messaging challenges surrounding the administration’s approach to COVID-19 as the virus becomes endemic, familiar and somewhat controlled but still menacing, with hard-to-follow guidelines&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-education-new-orleans-be05bf784db523aab6ff1645616e762a">often unevenly implemented</a>.For months, Biden aides have fretted that the people who are most protected against COVID-19 remain the most cautious, a dynamic they view as a drag on the nation’s economic and psychological recovery.When the highly transmissible omicron variant hit, Biden said it was a “cause for concern, not cause for panic.”In recent weeks, his aides and science advisers have highlighted study after study showing the strong protection offered by the COVID vaccines against the variant and reassuring vaccinated people they can go about their daily lives. At a Jan. 19 press conference, Biden declared: “We have the tools — vaccines, boosters, masks, tests, pills — to save lives and keep businesses and schools open” and rejected the notion that still-widespread restrictions reflect a “’new normal.”“It will get better,” he promised.Since even before Biden was elected, his aides have gone all-out to protect the now-79-year-old president from potential infection. He spent much of the 2020 campaign season holding remote events from a studio in the basement of his home, venturing out for travel in a bubble of frequently tested aides subject to an array of restrictions.That caution continued well after he was fully vaccinated and living at the White House. The president has held up his administration’s fidelity to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines as a virtue, after they were regularly flouted by former President Donald Trump, who became seriously ill after contracting the virus.As the nation’s virus response and vaccination campaign has become increasingly politicized, White House officials have expressed both political and policy concerns over a possible Biden infection. Though the vaccines are highly effective, a breakthrough case could erode public confidence in the shots and be used as a political cudgel against a president who was elected to bring an end to the pandemic.Biden himself has at times taken a more relaxed approach to restrictions.When the CDC last May surprised the White House by easing its guidelines on indoor mask-wearing by fully vaccinated individuals, Biden sought to publicly model the policy for the rest of the nation. He was meeting with vaccinated Republican lawmakers when the change was announced and led the group in removing their masks.But that CDC guidance proved to be premature and was reversed over the summer, because vaccinated people could still transmit the virus, potentially endangering the tens of millions of Americans who are still unvaccinated.When the delta strain surged last fall, the White House strengthened its testing protocols for everyone close to Biden — restrictions that had been lessened once aides were fully vaccinated and case counts began to fall nationally. In-person meetings were once again curtailed. Aides began increasing the distance between Biden and even vaccinated-and-tested individuals as a precaution, reminiscent of his earliest days in office.In early January, as the nation’s capital led the country in per capita COVID-19 cases, White House press secretary Jen Psaki highlighted the “very strict precautions” taken to keep Biden and Harris safe, including mandatory mask-wearing and daily testing for those coming in contact with them.She also said the White House had taken to limiting gatherings “to under 30 people.” But there were nearly 40 participants named by the administration — as well as two dozen members of the press — at Biden’s Monday meeting with the governors.Psaki said the administration takes extra precautions any time the president removes his mask to speak to a group. She noted that the nation continues to set records in reported cases and hospital admissions.“The president’s view is that right now we still need to keep our heads down and stay at it to fight what is still surging in parts of the country,” she said. “But we do have the tools to get to a point where it does not disrupt our daily lives.”Biden, aides say, has relished opportunities outside the White House when he can engage in the sort of political glad-handing that has been suppressed by the pandemic. And in public, he’s chafed at some of the precautions, saying that the first thing he aims to do differently in his second year in the White House is “I’m going to get out of this place more often.”He’s hardly alone in his impatience.On Monday, seated across a large gap from Biden in the East Room, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, the chair of the governors’ association, appealed for the government to more clearly define a pathway out of the pandemic.“We need the CDC to help us to have the right standards to end this pandemic and move to more endemic status,” he said. “We want to go from today to more normal.”The night before, the president and first lady Jill Biden did attend the black-tie National Governors Association dinner at Mount Vernon. Biden spoke, but he didn’t stay for dinner.

All-out effort to keep Biden COVID-free; no 'normal' yet

BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — A Beatrice man who pleaded no contest in the fatal shooting of a man outside his home has been sentenced to six years of probation.

The Beatrice Daily Sun reports that 26-year-old Brandon Long was sentenced Wednesday for the killing of Alex Rader. 

Long pleaded no contest in December to counts of making terroristic threats and being a felon in possession of a deadly weapon. 

In exchange, a second-degree murder charge and another weapons count were dismissed. Police arrested Long after Rader, of Beatrice, was found shot Dec. 30, 2020, outside Long's home. 

Police say Long told officers he heard a disturbance outside his home, saw a man standing next to his house wearing a face mask and shot him.

BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — A Beatrice man who pleaded no contest in the fatal shooting of a man outside his home has been sentenced to six years of probation.The Beatrice Daily Sun reports that 26-year-old Brandon Long was sentenced Wednesday for the killing of Alex Rader. Long pleaded no contest in December to counts of making terroristic threats and being a felon in possession of a deadly weapon. In exchange, a second-degree murder charge and another weapons count were dismissed. Police arrested Long after Rader, of Beatrice, was found shot Dec. 30, 2020, outside Long's home. Police say Long told officers he heard a disturbance outside his home, saw a man standing next to his house wearing a face mask and shot him.

Beatrice man sentenced to probation for fatal 2020 shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — The military investigation into the deadly attack during the Afghanistan evacuation has concluded that a suicide bomber, carrying 20 pounds of explosives packed with ball bearings, acted alone, and that the deaths of more than 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members were not preventable.

The blast at Abbey Gate outside the Kabul airport on Aug. 26 killed 11 U.S. Marines, a sailor and a soldier, who were screening the thousands of Afghans frantically trying to get onto one of the crowded flights leaving the country after the Taliban takeover. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.

At the Pentagon on Friday, military officials laid out a detailed and graphic minute-by-minute account of the bombing. The bottom line, they said, was that those who died had wounds that were “so catastrophic” that they couldn’t be overcome. And they said that earlier thoughts that it was a complex attack involving gunfire turned out to be unfounded.

“A single, explosive device killed at least 170 Afghan civilians and 13 U.S. servicemembers by explosively directing ball bearings through a packed crowd and into our men and women at Abbey gate,” said Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command. “The disturbing lethality of this device was confirmed by the 58 U.S. servicemembers who were killed and wounded despite the universal wear of body armor and helmets that did stop ball bearings that impacted them, but could not prevent catastrophic injuries to areas not covered.”

Investigators said the bomber likely got near the gate by bypassing Taliban and other security checkpoints. They said it appears the Taliban didn’t know of the attack, that security precautions were being taken and that intelligence about potential threats that was circulating that day was not specific.

“Based upon our investigation, at the tactical level this was not preventable,” said Brig. Gen. Lance Curtis, who led the investigation. He added that military leaders on the ground in Kabul followed proper security measures, at times closing the gate or pausing the processing of evacuees.

Military officials said that gunfire after the blast was found to be warning shots fired by U.S. and British troops, and that no one was killed or wounded by gunshots.

McKenzie said the investigation revealed that the ball bearings caused wounds that looked like gunshots. He said some troops in the area fired a number of warning shots, and that led others to believe that the attack also included gunmen.

U.S. military officials have said all along that the U.S. forces at the gates were doing a dangerous job. Overall the U.S.-led coalition evacuated about 126,000 people in about three weeks, and the U.S. left Afghanistan for the last time at about midnight on Aug. 30.

Early on, McKenzie said troops at the gates had to get close to the people they were screening.

“This is close up work. The breath of the person you are searching is upon you,” McKenzie said in August soon after the attack.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630087261414.png" alt="Soldiers with the 82nd Airborn Division escort evacuees at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.-photo Courtesy U.S. Dept. of Defense" />
 <figcaption>Soldiers with the 82nd Airborn Division escort evacuees at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.-photo Courtesy U.S. Dept. of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The military investigation into the deadly attack during the Afghanistan evacuation has concluded that a suicide bomber, carrying 20 pounds of explosives packed with ball bearings, acted alone, and that the deaths of more than 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members were not preventable.The blast at Abbey Gate outside the Kabul airport on Aug. 26 killed 11 U.S. Marines, a sailor and a soldier, who were screening the thousands of Afghans frantically trying to get onto one of the crowded flights leaving the country after the Taliban takeover. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.At the Pentagon on Friday, military officials laid out a detailed and graphic minute-by-minute account of the bombing. The bottom line, they said, was that those who died had wounds that were “so catastrophic” that they couldn’t be overcome. And they said that earlier thoughts that it was a complex attack involving gunfire turned out to be unfounded.“A single, explosive device killed at least 170 Afghan civilians and 13 U.S. servicemembers by explosively directing ball bearings through a packed crowd and into our men and women at Abbey gate,” said Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command. “The disturbing lethality of this device was confirmed by the 58 U.S. servicemembers who were killed and wounded despite the universal wear of body armor and helmets that did stop ball bearings that impacted them, but could not prevent catastrophic injuries to areas not covered.”Investigators said the bomber likely got near the gate by bypassing Taliban and other security checkpoints. They said it appears the Taliban didn’t know of the attack, that security precautions were being taken and that intelligence about potential threats that was circulating that day was not specific.“Based upon our investigation, at the tactical level this was not preventable,” said Brig. Gen. Lance Curtis, who led the investigation. He added that military leaders on the ground in Kabul followed proper security measures, at times closing the gate or pausing the processing of evacuees.Military officials said that gunfire after the blast was found to be warning shots fired by U.S. and British troops, and that no one was killed or wounded by gunshots.McKenzie said the investigation revealed that the ball bearings caused wounds that looked like gunshots. He said some troops in the area fired a number of warning shots, and that led others to believe that the attack also included gunmen.U.S. military officials have said all along that the U.S. forces at the gates were doing a dangerous job. Overall the U.S.-led coalition evacuated about 126,000 people in about three weeks, and the U.S. left Afghanistan for the last time at about midnight on Aug. 30.Early on, McKenzie said troops at the gates had to get close to the people they were screening.“This is close up work. The breath of the person you are searching is upon you,” McKenzie said in August soon after the attack.

Pentagon: Deadly Afghan airport attack was not preventable

By MARK KENNEDY and KEN SWEET, Associated Press

Propelled in part by the wildly contagious omicron variant, the U.S. <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html]">death toll from COVID-19 hit </a>900,000 on Friday, less than two months after eclipsing 800,000.

The two-year total, as compiled by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of Indianapolis, San Francisco, or Charlotte, North Carolina.

The milestone comes more than 13 months into a vaccination drive that has been beset by misinformation and political and legal strife, though the shots have proved safe and highly effective at preventing serious illness and death.

“It is an astronomically high number. If you had told most Americans two years ago as this pandemic was getting going that 900,000 Americans would die over the next few years, I think most people would not have believed it,” said Dr. Ashish K. Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health.

He lamented that most of the deaths happened after the vaccine gained authorization.

“We got the medical science right. We failed on the social science. We failed on how to help people get vaccinated, to combat disinformation, to not politicize this,” Jha said. “Those are the places where we have failed as America.”

Just 64% of the population is fully vaccinated, or about 212 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We have underestimated our enemy here, and we have under-prepared to protect ourselves,” said Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, a public health professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “We’ve learned a tremendous amount of humility in the face of a lethal and contagious respiratory virus.”

Nor is COVID-19 finished with the United States. Dr. Andrew Noymer, a professor of public health at the University of California at Irvine, predicted the U.S. will hit 1 million deaths by March 1.

“I think it’s important for us not to be numbed. Each one of those numbers is someone,” said the Rev. Gina Anderson-Cloud, senior pastor of Fredericksburg United Methodist Church in Virginia. “Those are mothers, fathers, children, our elders.”

The milestone came as omicron is loosening its grip on the country.

New cases per day day have plunged by almost half since mid-January, when they hit a record-shattering peak of more than 800,000.

Cases have been declining in 49 out of 50 states over the past two weeks, by Johns Hopkins’ count, and the 50th state, Maine, reported that confirmed infections are falling there, too, dropping sharply over the past week.

Also, the number of Americans in the hospital with COVID-19 has declined 15% since mid-January to about 124,000.

But deaths are still running high at more than 2,400 per day on average, the most since last winter. And deaths per day are on the rise in at least 35 states, reflecting the lag time between when victims become infected and when they succumb.

Still, public health officials have expressed hope that the worst of omicron is coming to an end. While they caution that things could still go bad again and dangerous new variants could emerge, some places are already talking about easing precautions.

Los Angeles County may end outdoor mask requirements in a few weeks, Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said Thursday.

“Post-surge does not imply that the pandemic is over or that transmission is low, or that there will not be unpredictable waves of surges in the future,” she warned.

Despite its wealth and its world-class medical institutions, the U.S. has the highest reported toll of any country, and even then, the real number of lives lost directly or indirectly to the coronavirus is thought to be significantly higher.

Experts believe some COVID-19 deaths have been misattributed to other conditions. And some Americans are thought to have died of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes because they were unable or unwilling to obtain treatment during the crisis.

Anderson-Cloud lost her dementia-stricken father after he was hospitalized for cancer surgery and then isolated in a COVID-19 ward. He went into cardiac arrest, was revived, but died about a week later.

She had planned to be by his bedside, but the rules barred her from going to the hospital. She wonders if his condition was made worse by his isolation. She wonders if he was scared. She wonders how many other cases like his there are.

“There are all these stories and all that pain,” she said.

When the vaccine was rolled out in mid-December 2020, the death toll stood at about 300,000. It hit 600,000 in mid-June 2021 and 700,000 on Oct. 1. On Dec. 14, it reached 800,000.

It took just 51 more days to get to 900,000, the fastest 100,000-death jump since last winter.

The latest 100,000 deaths encompass those caused by both the delta variant and omicron, which began spreading rapidly in December and became the predominant version in the U.S. before the month was out.

While omicron has proved less likely to cause severe illness than delta, the sheer number of people who became infected with omicron contributed to the high number of deaths.

Ja said he and other medical professionals are frustrated that policymakers are seemingly running out of ideas for getting people to roll up their sleeves.

“There aren’t a whole lot of tools left. We need to double down and come up with new ones,” he said.

COVID-19 has become one of the top three causes of death in America, behind the big two — heart disease and cancer. Noymer, at the University of California, said if the mortality rate from COVID-19 continues, it will shave up to two years off U.S. life expectancy.

“We have been fighting among ourselves about tools that actually do save lives. Just the sheer amount of politics and misinformation around vaccines, which are remarkably effective and safe, is staggering,” Sharfstein said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586622276831.png" alt="John Hopkins death toll map" />
 <figcaption>John Hopkins death toll map</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARK KENNEDY and KEN SWEET, Associated PressPropelled in part by the wildly contagious omicron variant, the U.S. <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html]">death toll from COVID-19 hit </a>900,000 on Friday, less than two months after eclipsing 800,000.The two-year total, as compiled by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of Indianapolis, San Francisco, or Charlotte, North Carolina.The milestone comes more than 13 months into a vaccination drive that has been beset by misinformation and political and legal strife, though the shots have proved safe and highly effective at preventing serious illness and death.“It is an astronomically high number. If you had told most Americans two years ago as this pandemic was getting going that 900,000 Americans would die over the next few years, I think most people would not have believed it,” said Dr. Ashish K. Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health.He lamented that most of the deaths happened after the vaccine gained authorization.“We got the medical science right. We failed on the social science. We failed on how to help people get vaccinated, to combat disinformation, to not politicize this,” Jha said. “Those are the places where we have failed as America.”Just 64% of the population is fully vaccinated, or about 212 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.“We have underestimated our enemy here, and we have under-prepared to protect ourselves,” said Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, a public health professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “We’ve learned a tremendous amount of humility in the face of a lethal and contagious respiratory virus.”Nor is COVID-19 finished with the United States. Dr. Andrew Noymer, a professor of public health at the University of California at Irvine, predicted the U.S. will hit 1 million deaths by March 1.“I think it’s important for us not to be numbed. Each one of those numbers is someone,” said the Rev. Gina Anderson-Cloud, senior pastor of Fredericksburg United Methodist Church in Virginia. “Those are mothers, fathers, children, our elders.”The milestone came as omicron is loosening its grip on the country.New cases per day day have plunged by almost half since mid-January, when they hit a record-shattering peak of more than 800,000.Cases have been declining in 49 out of 50 states over the past two weeks, by Johns Hopkins’ count, and the 50th state, Maine, reported that confirmed infections are falling there, too, dropping sharply over the past week.Also, the number of Americans in the hospital with COVID-19 has declined 15% since mid-January to about 124,000.But deaths are still running high at more than 2,400 per day on average, the most since last winter. And deaths per day are on the rise in at least 35 states, reflecting the lag time between when victims become infected and when they succumb.Still, public health officials have expressed hope that the worst of omicron is coming to an end. While they caution that things could still go bad again and dangerous new variants could emerge, some places are already talking about easing precautions.Los Angeles County may end outdoor mask requirements in a few weeks, Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said Thursday.“Post-surge does not imply that the pandemic is over or that transmission is low, or that there will not be unpredictable waves of surges in the future,” she warned.Despite its wealth and its world-class medical institutions, the U.S. has the highest reported toll of any country, and even then, the real number of lives lost directly or indirectly to the coronavirus is thought to be significantly higher.Experts believe some COVID-19 deaths have been misattributed to other conditions. And some Americans are thought to have died of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes because they were unable or unwilling to obtain treatment during the crisis.Anderson-Cloud lost her dementia-stricken father after he was hospitalized for cancer surgery and then isolated in a COVID-19 ward. He went into cardiac arrest, was revived, but died about a week later.She had planned to be by his bedside, but the rules barred her from going to the hospital. She wonders if his condition was made worse by his isolation. She wonders if he was scared. She wonders how many other cases like his there are.“There are all these stories and all that pain,” she said.When the vaccine was rolled out in mid-December 2020, the death toll stood at about 300,000. It hit 600,000 in mid-June 2021 and 700,000 on Oct. 1. On Dec. 14, it reached 800,000.It took just 51 more days to get to 900,000, the fastest 100,000-death jump since last winter.The latest 100,000 deaths encompass those caused by both the delta variant and omicron, which began spreading rapidly in December and became the predominant version in the U.S. before the month was out.While omicron has proved less likely to cause severe illness than delta, the sheer number of people who became infected with omicron contributed to the high number of deaths.Ja said he and other medical professionals are frustrated that policymakers are seemingly running out of ideas for getting people to roll up their sleeves.“There aren’t a whole lot of tools left. We need to double down and come up with new ones,” he said.COVID-19 has become one of the top three causes of death in America, behind the big two — heart disease and cancer. Noymer, at the University of California, said if the mortality rate from COVID-19 continues, it will shave up to two years off U.S. life expectancy.“We have been fighting among ourselves about tools that actually do save lives. Just the sheer amount of politics and misinformation around vaccines, which are remarkably effective and safe, is staggering,” Sharfstein said.He added: “This is the consequence.”

US death toll from COVID-19 hits 900,000, sped by omicron

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal advisory panel voted unanimously Friday to continue to endorse Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for adults, now that U.S. regulators have given the shots their full approval.

The decision has little practical effect. Tens of millions of Americans have already gotten Moderna shots, following its emergency authorization by the Food and Drug Administration more than a year ago.

Earlier this week, the FDA gave the product full licensure, following the kind of rigorous, time-consuming review given to other vaccines.

While the FDA licenses vaccines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention makes recommendations to doctors and patients about how they should be used. So the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices took up the matter on Friday.

The panel heard summaries of medical studies that showed the vaccine is working against the coronavirus and there is no evidence of new safety concerns.

The Moderna vaccine, now being marketed under the name Spikevax, is licensed as a two-dose series for people 18 and older. Under earlier emergency use authorizations, additional doses can be given as additional doses for people with weakened immune systems or as half-dose boosters.

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal advisory panel voted unanimously Friday to continue to endorse Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for adults, now that U.S. regulators have given the shots their full approval.The decision has little practical effect. Tens of millions of Americans have already gotten Moderna shots, following its emergency authorization by the Food and Drug Administration more than a year ago.Earlier this week, the FDA gave the product full licensure, following the kind of rigorous, time-consuming review given to other vaccines.While the FDA licenses vaccines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention makes recommendations to doctors and patients about how they should be used. So the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices took up the matter on Friday.The panel heard summaries of medical studies that showed the vaccine is working against the coronavirus and there is no evidence of new safety concerns.The Moderna vaccine, now being marketed under the name Spikevax, is licensed as a two-dose series for people 18 and older. Under earlier emergency use authorizations, additional doses can be given as additional doses for people with weakened immune systems or as half-dose boosters.___

Expert panel backs Moderna COVID shots after full US approval

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/03/270-million-prison-proposal-runs-into-tough-questions-and-calls-for-alternatives/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN
 — Gov. Pete Ricketts’ proposal to build a new, $270 million prison to 
replace the aging State Penitentiary ran into some tough questions 
Thursday from a legislative committee.

State
 Sen. John Stinner of Gering, chairman of the legislative committee that
 writes the state budget, led the criticism, saying the state has 
increased prison spending by more than $300 million over the past seven 
years without solving Nebraska’s nation-leading prison overcrowding.

Building
 a 1,500-bed prison won’t remedy the problem, he said, when projections 
show that within five years of opening the facility, another 1,300-bed 
prison will be needed.

“If
 I’m going to plan for 20 years, like I should, we should be allocating a
 billion dollars,” Stinner said, the chairman of the Appropriations 
Committee.&nbsp;

After
 the hearing, the senator said he thinks the committee will need more 
information, including the results of a prison facilities study that 
won’t be done until August, before members will be comfortable spending 
that much taxpayer money on a new prison.

“It’s a little hard to greenlight something when you don’t have all the facts and figures yet,” Stinner said.

Thursday’s
 public hearing on the Nebraska Department of Corrections’ proposed 
budget, provided one of the first opportunities for senators and the 
public to weigh in on the prison construction plan, which is among the 
most expensive state building projects in history.

The
 hearing came as state prisons hold about 1,900 more inmates than they 
were designed to hold, and when emergency procedures have been 
implemented at three prisons because of a staff shortage.

Representatives
 of the Omaha police and corrections officers unions spoke in favor of a
 new prison, saying that Nebraska has not kept pace with neighboring 
states in expanding prison capacity and that a new prison would be safer
 for workers.

“(The
 State Penitentiary) has a lot of blind spots,” said Mike Chipman, 
president of the corrections worker union. “We need to build a new 
facility.”

Chipman
 said newly implemented pay raises seem to be working to ease staffing 
shortages and high turnover, with 600 applications in December and only 
13 staffers quitting in January.

But
 a wave of testifiers said Nebraska’s money would be more wisely spent 
on sentencing reforms and on programs that keep people out of prison, 
speed up their release on parole and ensure they don’t commit repeat 
offenses.

“Other
 states have charted a different course without sacrificing public 
safety, and Nebraska can do the same,” said Danielle Conrad, a former 
state senator who serves as executive director of the ACLU of Nebraska.

Nebraska
 has not built a new, stand-alone prison since opening the Tecumseh 
State Prison in 1997. State Corrections Director Scott Frakes said state
 prisons have been below the desired “operational capacity” — defined as
 125% of design capacity — for 40 years.

He
 and his boss, the governor, maintain that the 818-bed State 
Penitentiary in Lincoln has outlived its useful life and would require 
$220 million in repairs for water, sewer and electrical improvements.&nbsp;

Frakes
 said it makes more sense, both fiscally and to improve security and 
rehabilitation programming, to tear down the State Penitentiary and 
“build new and fresh.”&nbsp;

He
 told the Appropriations Committee that an option on one parcel of land 
has been signed already. But Frakes said he could not “confirm or deny” 
rumors that a site in Fremont has been picked.&nbsp;

One
 senator on the committee questioned whether Fremont would be an 
appropriate location, given the chronic staffing shortages at the rural 
Tecumseh prison, which is about the same distance from Omaha and Lincoln
 as Fremont is.

Seward
 Sen. Mark Kolterman asked whether it wouldn’t be smarter to situate the
 new prison in Lincoln, where the state already has trained staff.&nbsp;Frakes said sites in Omaha, Lincoln and areas in between are being considered to ensure an adequate workforce.&nbsp;

He added that it was “absolutely my desire” to build in a community where “a majority agrees it’s a good thing.”

Frakes
 fended off questions about the Ricketts administration’s “narrative” 
for building a new prison had changed in recent months.

Initially,
 a public-private partnership was being pursued. Then the new prison was
 billed as allowing the State Penitentiary to be repurposed as a minimum
 security facility. Now, the plan is to tear down the Penitentiary — 
despite having some housing units that are nearly new — and replace it.

Frakes
 said he changed his mind about establishing a worker-training program 
at the State Pen after a recent report showed how expensive it would be 
to bring the facility up to standards. Last year, the water system 
failed for 36 hours — suspending showers and requiring portable toilets —
 which he said could have led to a prison riot if it had not been 
resolved.&nbsp;

Besides
 Stinner and Kolterman, several of those testifying against the new 
prison said sentencing reforms are needed, including diversion programs 
that treat addicts and the mentally ill instead of sending them behind 
bars.

Omaha
 Sen. Steve Lathrop has a proposal, Legislative Bill 920, that would 
implement several reforms that grew out of a study of the state’s 
criminal justice system last year by&nbsp;the nonprofit Crime and Justice 
Institute. That institute has helped a dozen states reduce prison 
populations and save money.

Carol
 Dennison of the League of Women Voters said diversion programs, 
education programs and workforce training are better solutions than 
continuing to pour money into “a failing system that is in desperate 
need of reform.”

The
 Appropriations Committee took no action on the proposed budget after 
the hearing. It is still working through various spending proposals 
before issuing a proposed budget later this session.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643988792331.png" alt="The Nebraska State Penitentiary on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, in Lincoln. (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner, courtesy Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>The Nebraska State Penitentiary on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, in Lincoln. (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner, courtesy Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/03/270-million-prison-proposal-runs-into-tough-questions-and-calls-for-alternatives/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN
 — Gov. Pete Ricketts’ proposal to build a new, $270 million prison to 
replace the aging State Penitentiary ran into some tough questions 
Thursday from a legislative committee.State
 Sen. John Stinner of Gering, chairman of the legislative committee that
 writes the state budget, led the criticism, saying the state has 
increased prison spending by more than $300 million over the past seven 
years without solving Nebraska’s nation-leading prison overcrowding.Building
 a 1,500-bed prison won’t remedy the problem, he said, when projections 
show that within five years of opening the facility, another 1,300-bed 
prison will be needed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643988853986.jpeg" alt=" State Sen. John Stinner (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> State Sen. John Stinner (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>“If
 I’m going to plan for 20 years, like I should, we should be allocating a
 billion dollars,” Stinner said, the chairman of the Appropriations 
Committee.&nbsp;After
 the hearing, the senator said he thinks the committee will need more 
information, including the results of a prison facilities study that 
won’t be done until August, before members will be comfortable spending 
that much taxpayer money on a new prison.“It’s a little hard to greenlight something when you don’t have all the facts and figures yet,” Stinner said.Thursday’s
 public hearing on the Nebraska Department of Corrections’ proposed 
budget, provided one of the first opportunities for senators and the 
public to weigh in on the prison construction plan, which is among the 
most expensive state building projects in history.The
 hearing came as state prisons hold about 1,900 more inmates than they 
were designed to hold, and when emergency procedures have been 
implemented at three prisons because of a staff shortage.<h2>‘We need a new facility’</h2>Representatives
 of the Omaha police and corrections officers unions spoke in favor of a
 new prison, saying that Nebraska has not kept pace with neighboring 
states in expanding prison capacity and that a new prison would be safer
 for workers.“(The
 State Penitentiary) has a lot of blind spots,” said Mike Chipman, 
president of the corrections worker union. “We need to build a new 
facility.”Chipman
 said newly implemented pay raises seem to be working to ease staffing 
shortages and high turnover, with 600 applications in December and only 
13 staffers quitting in January.But
 a wave of testifiers said Nebraska’s money would be more wisely spent 
on sentencing reforms and on programs that keep people out of prison, 
speed up their release on parole and ensure they don’t commit repeat 
offenses.<h2>‘Other states’ approve reforms</h2>“Other
 states have charted a different course without sacrificing public 
safety, and Nebraska can do the same,” said Danielle Conrad, a former 
state senator who serves as executive director of the ACLU of Nebraska.Nebraska
 has not built a new, stand-alone prison since opening the Tecumseh 
State Prison in 1997. State Corrections Director Scott Frakes said state
 prisons have been below the desired “operational capacity” — defined as
 125% of design capacity — for 40 years.He
 and his boss, the governor, maintain that the 818-bed State 
Penitentiary in Lincoln has outlived its useful life and would require 
$220 million in repairs for water, sewer and electrical improvements.&nbsp;Frakes
 said it makes more sense, both fiscally and to improve security and 
rehabilitation programming, to tear down the State Penitentiary and 
“build new and fresh.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643988883718.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>He
 told the Appropriations Committee that an option on one parcel of land 
has been signed already. But Frakes said he could not “confirm or deny” 
rumors that a site in Fremont has been picked.&nbsp;One
 senator on the committee questioned whether Fremont would be an 
appropriate location, given the chronic staffing shortages at the rural 
Tecumseh prison, which is about the same distance from Omaha and Lincoln
 as Fremont is.Seward
 Sen. Mark Kolterman asked whether it wouldn’t be smarter to situate the
 new prison in Lincoln, where the state already has trained staff.&nbsp;Frakes said sites in Omaha, Lincoln and areas in between are being considered to ensure an adequate workforce.&nbsp;He added that it was “absolutely my desire” to build in a community where “a majority agrees it’s a good thing.”<h2>Changing ‘narratives’</h2>Frakes
 fended off questions about the Ricketts administration’s “narrative” 
for building a new prison had changed in recent months.Initially,
 a public-private partnership was being pursued. Then the new prison was
 billed as allowing the State Penitentiary to be repurposed as a minimum
 security facility. Now, the plan is to tear down the Penitentiary — 
despite having some housing units that are nearly new — and replace it.Frakes
 said he changed his mind about establishing a worker-training program 
at the State Pen after a recent report showed how expensive it would be 
to bring the facility up to standards. Last year, the water system 
failed for 36 hours — suspending showers and requiring portable toilets —
 which he said could have led to a prison riot if it had not been 
resolved.&nbsp;Besides
 Stinner and Kolterman, several of those testifying against the new 
prison said sentencing reforms are needed, including diversion programs 
that treat addicts and the mentally ill instead of sending them behind 
bars.Omaha
 Sen. Steve Lathrop has a proposal, Legislative Bill 920, that would 
implement several reforms that grew out of a study of the state’s 
criminal justice system last year by&nbsp;the nonprofit Crime and Justice 
Institute. That institute has helped a dozen states reduce prison 
populations and save money.Carol
 Dennison of the League of Women Voters said diversion programs, 
education programs and workforce training are better solutions than 
continuing to pour money into “a failing system that is in desperate 
need of reform.”The
 Appropriations Committee took no action on the proposed budget after 
the hearing. It is still working through various spending proposals 
before issuing a proposed budget later this session.

$270M prison proposal runs into questions, calls for alternatives

(AP)-A major winter storm that already cut electric power to about 350,000 homes and businesses from Texas to the Ohio Valley is now causing misery in the Northeast. 

The storm disrupted flights at major hubs in the U.S. on Friday morning, and ice threatened to wreak havoc on road travel and electric service before the storm heads out to sea late Friday and Saturday. 

The storm began Tuesday and moved across the country during the week, causing a deadly tornado in Alabama and dumping more than a foot of snow in parts of the Midwest. 

In Oklahoma, a 12-year-old boy was killed by a vehicle while sledding.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643906333045.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>(AP)-A major winter storm that already cut electric power to about 350,000 homes and businesses from Texas to the Ohio Valley is now causing misery in the Northeast. The storm disrupted flights at major hubs in the U.S. on Friday morning, and ice threatened to wreak havoc on road travel and electric service before the storm heads out to sea late Friday and Saturday. The storm began Tuesday and moved across the country during the week, causing a deadly tornado in Alabama and dumping more than a foot of snow in parts of the Midwest. In Oklahoma, a 12-year-old boy was killed by a vehicle while sledding.

Storm that slugged South, Midwest brings misery to Northeast

BY AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/03/nebraska-governor-candidates-talk-taxes-attracting-talent-and-helping-entrepreneurs/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN
 — Nebraska’s top candidates for governor tussled Thursday over taxes, 
attracting talent to the state and helping local entrepreneurs 
innovate.&nbsp;

The
 most interesting exchanges at a forum hosted by the Nebraska Chamber of
 Commerce and Industry addressed how the candidates would persuade more 
young people to live in the state.&nbsp;

Republican
 Charles Herbster, the race’s biggest spender and the owner of Conklin 
Inc., a manufacturing and distribution company, said the state needs to 
do a better job of marketing itself.&nbsp;

He stressed the importance of emphasizing technology and trades and said young people need more “mentorship and apprenticeship.”

“Nebraska has so much to offer,” he said. “I’ve said on the campaign trail:&nbsp; We have to market what we are.”

Republican
 Jim Pillen, the race’s biggest fundraiser and owner of a Columbus-area 
hog operation, said he is working with people in the private sector on 
creating a privately funded scholarship program for every Nebraskan, 
including for trade and technical schools.

Pillen,
 a University of Nebraska regent, said Nebraska needs to get its 
regulations out of the way of the next generation of entrepreneurs. “The
 biggest issue is getting people to understand the government is not 
going to solve this,” he said.&nbsp;

He said abortion has cost Nebraska too many young lives and that ending it would help the state.

Republican
 Brett Lindstrom, a state senator and a financial adviser, said he wants
 more public-private partnerships focused on child care, like one 
operating in Red Cloud. He also said he would work to encourage 
developers to build more affordable housing.

Nebraska
 needs to stop embracing divisive political fights that alienate young 
people, Lindstrom said. It makes them want to move away or stay away 
from the state, he said.&nbsp;

“We need people in this state, and not just people who think and believe like I do,” he said after the forum.&nbsp;

Republican
 Theresa Thibodeau, a former state senator and former owner of a day 
care and preschool, said she would work with the state’s high schools 
and community colleges to make sure kids are prepared for the jobs of 
the future.

She
 would like to help more smaller Nebraska cities emulate Norfolk, which 
engaged its private and public sectors in offering more entertainment 
and amenities.

“We need to look at what our children are looking for in our state,” she said.&nbsp;

Democrat
 Carol Blood, a state senator and former Bellevue City Council member, 
said Nebraska’s governor needs to encourage more people sitting out of 
the workforce to renew their job hunt. She also wants to end 
restrictions that prevent nonviolent felons from obtaining professional 
licenses for certain careers.

She
 said she agreed with Lindstrom that Nebraska should make sure young 
people know that the state welcomes them. That includes listening to 
what they want and need.&nbsp;

“Until
 we hear their voices, until we address those issues and they feel 
welcome, we will continue to have that brain drain,” she said.&nbsp;

The
 four top Republicans agreed in broad strokes about the need for tax 
reform. Most of their policy differences hinged on how they would fund 
schools, roads and other priorities that are currently paid for with 
property taxes.&nbsp;

Blood also said property taxes are too high.

Herbster
 said the state should cut income taxes for middle-income earners such 
as teachers and nurses, rather than cutting taxes for high earners like 
him or Gov. Pete Ricketts. Herbster spoke about the need to consider all
 options to offset property taxes. He repeated his idea for a potential 
consumption tax and said he wants to evaluate tax exemptions.

“You’ve
 got to have a revenue-neutral tax base, and you absolutely have to 
address real, long-term property tax relief,” he said after the forum.

Pillen
 said a consumption tax was the wrong approach, arguing that it would 
drive consumer dollars to other states. He said he wants to cut spending
 before cutting taxes. He said he would incentivize state agencies and 
political subdivisions that didn’t spend all the dollars allocated to 
them.

“Our
 property tax problem has impeded growth in this state,” he said. “It’s 
so out of whack, it’s so far over that we can’t sit on the three-legged 
stool.”

Lindstrom
 talked about his legislative work, including Legislative Bill 432, 
which would cut the state’s top income tax rate. He said small 
businesses file as individuals and need the tax relief. He also wants 
more school districts to receive state education aid.

“We
 will roll into session in 2023, putting together a plan to tackle all 
these things that have been talked about for years” if elected, he said.

Thibodeau
 said she would focus first on cutting wasteful spending by state 
agencies and make sure a baseline of state aid to education follows each
 student. She, like Herbster, said she would seek input from rural and 
urban Nebraskans on a tax reform plan.

“We need tax reform now,” she said.&nbsp;

Blood
 said the only meaningful way to offer property tax relief is to address
 the number of unfunded state mandates on cities, counties and other 
political subdivisions that tax people’s property.&nbsp;

The state, she said, should restore aid to cities and counties.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643988331574.png" alt="Six Nebraska’s candidates for governor participated in a forum in Lincoln hosted by the Nebraska Chambers Association. From left: State Sen. Carol Blood, Charles Herbster, State Sen. Brett Lindstrom, NU Regent Jim Pillen, Breeland Ridenour and former State Sen. Theresa Thibodeau. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Six Nebraska’s candidates for governor participated in a forum in Lincoln hosted by the Nebraska Chambers Association. From left: State Sen. Carol Blood, Charles Herbster, State Sen. Brett Lindstrom, NU Regent Jim Pillen, Breeland Ridenour and former State Sen. Theresa Thibodeau. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/03/nebraska-governor-candidates-talk-taxes-attracting-talent-and-helping-entrepreneurs/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN
 — Nebraska’s top candidates for governor tussled Thursday over taxes, 
attracting talent to the state and helping local entrepreneurs 
innovate.&nbsp;The
 most interesting exchanges at a forum hosted by the Nebraska Chamber of
 Commerce and Industry addressed how the candidates would persuade more 
young people to live in the state.&nbsp;Republican
 Charles Herbster, the race’s biggest spender and the owner of Conklin 
Inc., a manufacturing and distribution company, said the state needs to 
do a better job of marketing itself.&nbsp;He stressed the importance of emphasizing technology and trades and said young people need more “mentorship and apprenticeship.”“Nebraska has so much to offer,” he said. “I’ve said on the campaign trail:&nbsp; We have to market what we are.”Republican
 Jim Pillen, the race’s biggest fundraiser and owner of a Columbus-area 
hog operation, said he is working with people in the private sector on 
creating a privately funded scholarship program for every Nebraskan, 
including for trade and technical schools.Pillen,
 a University of Nebraska regent, said Nebraska needs to get its 
regulations out of the way of the next generation of entrepreneurs. “The
 biggest issue is getting people to understand the government is not 
going to solve this,” he said.&nbsp;He said abortion has cost Nebraska too many young lives and that ending it would help the state.Republican
 Brett Lindstrom, a state senator and a financial adviser, said he wants
 more public-private partnerships focused on child care, like one 
operating in Red Cloud. He also said he would work to encourage 
developers to build more affordable housing.Nebraska
 needs to stop embracing divisive political fights that alienate young 
people, Lindstrom said. It makes them want to move away or stay away 
from the state, he said.&nbsp;“We need people in this state, and not just people who think and believe like I do,” he said after the forum.&nbsp;Republican
 Theresa Thibodeau, a former state senator and former owner of a day 
care and preschool, said she would work with the state’s high schools 
and community colleges to make sure kids are prepared for the jobs of 
the future.She
 would like to help more smaller Nebraska cities emulate Norfolk, which 
engaged its private and public sectors in offering more entertainment 
and amenities.“We need to look at what our children are looking for in our state,” she said.&nbsp;Democrat
 Carol Blood, a state senator and former Bellevue City Council member, 
said Nebraska’s governor needs to encourage more people sitting out of 
the workforce to renew their job hunt. She also wants to end 
restrictions that prevent nonviolent felons from obtaining professional 
licenses for certain careers.She
 said she agreed with Lindstrom that Nebraska should make sure young 
people know that the state welcomes them. That includes listening to 
what they want and need.&nbsp;“Until
 we hear their voices, until we address those issues and they feel 
welcome, we will continue to have that brain drain,” she said.&nbsp;The
 four top Republicans agreed in broad strokes about the need for tax 
reform. Most of their policy differences hinged on how they would fund 
schools, roads and other priorities that are currently paid for with 
property taxes.&nbsp;Blood also said property taxes are too high.Herbster
 said the state should cut income taxes for middle-income earners such 
as teachers and nurses, rather than cutting taxes for high earners like 
him or Gov. Pete Ricketts. Herbster spoke about the need to consider all
 options to offset property taxes. He repeated his idea for a potential 
consumption tax and said he wants to evaluate tax exemptions.“You’ve
 got to have a revenue-neutral tax base, and you absolutely have to 
address real, long-term property tax relief,” he said after the forum.Pillen
 said a consumption tax was the wrong approach, arguing that it would 
drive consumer dollars to other states. He said he wants to cut spending
 before cutting taxes. He said he would incentivize state agencies and 
political subdivisions that didn’t spend all the dollars allocated to 
them.“Our
 property tax problem has impeded growth in this state,” he said. “It’s 
so out of whack, it’s so far over that we can’t sit on the three-legged 
stool.”Lindstrom
 talked about his legislative work, including Legislative Bill 432, 
which would cut the state’s top income tax rate. He said small 
businesses file as individuals and need the tax relief. He also wants 
more school districts to receive state education aid.“We
 will roll into session in 2023, putting together a plan to tackle all 
these things that have been talked about for years” if elected, he said.Thibodeau
 said she would focus first on cutting wasteful spending by state 
agencies and make sure a baseline of state aid to education follows each
 student. She, like Herbster, said she would seek input from rural and 
urban Nebraskans on a tax reform plan.“We need tax reform now,” she said.&nbsp;Blood
 said the only meaningful way to offer property tax relief is to address
 the number of unfunded state mandates on cities, counties and other 
political subdivisions that tax people’s property.&nbsp;The state, she said, should restore aid to cities and counties.“Until you change that one thing, you will never have true relief,” she said.&nbsp;Republican Breeland Ridenour, the&nbsp; other candidate who attended the forum at the Marriott Cornhusker Hotel, has not raised or spent the $5,000 minimum triggering the need to file campaign finance reports with the state.&nbsp;Nebraska’s gubernatorial primary is May 10. Early voting starts in April.