WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing stark criticism from civil rights leaders, senators return to Capitol Hill under intense pressure to change their rules and break a Republican filibuster that has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-joe-biden-voting-elections-wv-state-wire-28fce7f5190404f5091158c912bf8d5d">hopelessly stalled voting legislation</a>.

The Senate is set to launch debate Tuesday on the voting bill with attention focused intently on two pivotal Democrats — Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia — who were singled out with a barrage of criticism during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/martin-luther-king-jr-day-fd2a76d5bae88e107592b52f2e7f898b">Martin Luther King Jr. Day events</a>&nbsp;for their refusal to change what civil rights leaders call the “Jim Crow filibuster.”

Martin Luther King III, the son of the late civil rights leader, compared Sinema and Manchin to the white moderate his father wrote about during the civil rights battles of the 1950s and 1960s — a person who declared support for the goals of Black voting rights but not the direct actions or demonstrations that ultimately led to passage of the landmark legislation.

“History will not remember them kindly,” the younger King said, referring to Sinema and Manchin by name.

This will be the fifth time the Senate will try to pass voting legislation this Congress, as elections officials warn that new state laws are making it more difficult to vote in some parts of the country.

The House has passed the package, but the legislation is stalled in the Senate, opposed by Republicans. With a 50-50 split, Democrats have a narrow Senate majority — Vice President Kamala Harris can break a tie — but they lack the 60 votes needed to overcome the GOP&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-bills-filibusters-legislation-voting-rights-4b2f6cff2030420b21a6e394641d5fe1">filibuster</a>.

Once reluctant to change Senate rules, President Joe Biden used the King holiday to pressure senators to do just that. But the push from the White House, including Biden’s blistering speech last week in Atlanta comparing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-joe-biden-georgia-voting-martin-luther-king-jr-dc4544c23622f35fc95d63afe512554d">opponents to segregationists</a>, is seen as too late, coming as the president ends his first year in office with his popularity sagging.

“It’s time for every elected official in America to make it clear where they stand,” Biden said on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “It’s time for every American to stand up. Speak out, be heard. Where do you stand?”

The Senate is launching what could become a weeklong debate, but the outcome is expected to be no different than past failed votes on the legislation. Biden has been unable to persuade Sinema and Manchin to join other Democrats in changing the rules to lower the 60-vote threshold. In fact, Sinema upstaged the president last week, reiterating her opposition to the rules changes just before Biden arrived on Capitol Hill to court senators’ votes.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., had shelved a promised Monday rules change vote that would have been linked to the King holiday. But he is pressing ahead Tuesday as advocates push to put senators on record, despite the expectation that no bill will pass by week’s end.

Senators have been working nonstop for weeks on rules changes that could win support from Sinema and Manchin, only to see their efforts repeatedly dashed. The two senators, both moderates, have expressed openness to discussing the ideas, but have not given them their backing.

Both Manchin and Sinema have argued that preserving the Senate filibuster rules as they are, at the 60-vote threshold to advance legislation, is important for fostering bipartisanship. They also warn of what would happen if Republicans win back majority control, as is distinctly possible this election year, and could easily pass GOP-backed bills.

Sinema came under particularly fierce criticism on social media for invoking King as well as the late Rep. John Lewis, whose name is on the legislation, despite her refusal to change the rules.

Blame also fell to Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who is leading his party against the voting legislation. The Kentucky Republican has argued the legislation is a federal overreach into state-run elections, and he harshly criticized Biden’s speech last week as “unpresidential.”

Civil rights leaders have implored the Senate to act swiftly, as states are passing laws that many argue will make it more difficult for Black Americans and others to vote by consolidating polling locations, refusing to allow water distribution in long lines and requiring certain types of identification.

“We cannot think of a time more defining to the American story than the chapter you are presently writing,” NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson wrote in an open letter to the Senate.

“What country will your children and grandchildren be left with, given the relentless assaults on American freedom and democracy?”

Manchin spokeswoman Sam Runyon said in a statement late Monday: “Senator Manchin believes strongly that every American citizen of legal age has not only the right, but also the responsibility to vote and that right must be protected by law. He continues to work on legislation to protect this right.”

Sinema’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

The voting bill was the Democrats’ top priority this Congress, and the House swiftly approved H.R. 1 only to see it languish in the Senate.

Now called the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, the package before the Senate includes some of the most sweeping changes to elections in a generation, including making Election Day a national holiday and requiring access to early voting and mail-in ballots that became overwhelmingly popular during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The package is coupled with the John R. Lewis Voting Advancement Act, which would require voting protections that had been stripped by the Supreme Court and would again allow Justice Department scrutiny of states with a pattern of elections violations.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing stark criticism from civil rights leaders, senators return to Capitol Hill under intense pressure to change their rules and break a Republican filibuster that has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-joe-biden-voting-elections-wv-state-wire-28fce7f5190404f5091158c912bf8d5d">hopelessly stalled voting legislation</a>.The Senate is set to launch debate Tuesday on the voting bill with attention focused intently on two pivotal Democrats — Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia — who were singled out with a barrage of criticism during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/martin-luther-king-jr-day-fd2a76d5bae88e107592b52f2e7f898b">Martin Luther King Jr. Day events</a>&nbsp;for their refusal to change what civil rights leaders call the “Jim Crow filibuster.”Martin Luther King III, the son of the late civil rights leader, compared Sinema and Manchin to the white moderate his father wrote about during the civil rights battles of the 1950s and 1960s — a person who declared support for the goals of Black voting rights but not the direct actions or demonstrations that ultimately led to passage of the landmark legislation.“History will not remember them kindly,” the younger King said, referring to Sinema and Manchin by name.This will be the fifth time the Senate will try to pass voting legislation this Congress, as elections officials warn that new state laws are making it more difficult to vote in some parts of the country.The House has passed the package, but the legislation is stalled in the Senate, opposed by Republicans. With a 50-50 split, Democrats have a narrow Senate majority — Vice President Kamala Harris can break a tie — but they lack the 60 votes needed to overcome the GOP&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-bills-filibusters-legislation-voting-rights-4b2f6cff2030420b21a6e394641d5fe1">filibuster</a>.Once reluctant to change Senate rules, President Joe Biden used the King holiday to pressure senators to do just that. But the push from the White House, including Biden’s blistering speech last week in Atlanta comparing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-joe-biden-georgia-voting-martin-luther-king-jr-dc4544c23622f35fc95d63afe512554d">opponents to segregationists</a>, is seen as too late, coming as the president ends his first year in office with his popularity sagging.“It’s time for every elected official in America to make it clear where they stand,” Biden said on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “It’s time for every American to stand up. Speak out, be heard. Where do you stand?”The Senate is launching what could become a weeklong debate, but the outcome is expected to be no different than past failed votes on the legislation. Biden has been unable to persuade Sinema and Manchin to join other Democrats in changing the rules to lower the 60-vote threshold. In fact, Sinema upstaged the president last week, reiterating her opposition to the rules changes just before Biden arrived on Capitol Hill to court senators’ votes.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., had shelved a promised Monday rules change vote that would have been linked to the King holiday. But he is pressing ahead Tuesday as advocates push to put senators on record, despite the expectation that no bill will pass by week’s end.Senators have been working nonstop for weeks on rules changes that could win support from Sinema and Manchin, only to see their efforts repeatedly dashed. The two senators, both moderates, have expressed openness to discussing the ideas, but have not given them their backing.Both Manchin and Sinema have argued that preserving the Senate filibuster rules as they are, at the 60-vote threshold to advance legislation, is important for fostering bipartisanship. They also warn of what would happen if Republicans win back majority control, as is distinctly possible this election year, and could easily pass GOP-backed bills.Sinema came under particularly fierce criticism on social media for invoking King as well as the late Rep. John Lewis, whose name is on the legislation, despite her refusal to change the rules.Blame also fell to Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who is leading his party against the voting legislation. The Kentucky Republican has argued the legislation is a federal overreach into state-run elections, and he harshly criticized Biden’s speech last week as “unpresidential.”Civil rights leaders have implored the Senate to act swiftly, as states are passing laws that many argue will make it more difficult for Black Americans and others to vote by consolidating polling locations, refusing to allow water distribution in long lines and requiring certain types of identification.“We cannot think of a time more defining to the American story than the chapter you are presently writing,” NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson wrote in an open letter to the Senate.“What country will your children and grandchildren be left with, given the relentless assaults on American freedom and democracy?”Manchin spokeswoman Sam Runyon said in a statement late Monday: “Senator Manchin believes strongly that every American citizen of legal age has not only the right, but also the responsibility to vote and that right must be protected by law. He continues to work on legislation to protect this right.”Sinema’s office did not respond to a request for comment.The voting bill was the Democrats’ top priority this Congress, and the House swiftly approved H.R. 1 only to see it languish in the Senate.Now called the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, the package before the Senate includes some of the most sweeping changes to elections in a generation, including making Election Day a national holiday and requiring access to early voting and mail-in ballots that became overwhelmingly popular during the COVID-19 pandemic.The package is coupled with the John R. Lewis Voting Advancement Act, which would require voting protections that had been stripped by the Supreme Court and would again allow Justice Department scrutiny of states with a pattern of elections violations.

Senators return to work, begin debate on stalled voting rights bills

GRETNA, Neb. (AP) — Sarpy County authorities say searchers found the body of a Gretna man who disappeared after he collided with a snow plow during a storm. 

Sheriff Jeff Davis said a volunteer found the body of 45-year-old Jason Schram Monday, about a mile from the scene of the crash on Friday night. 

The sheriff said Schram went into a field after he crashed into a snow plow. He says Schram lived close to the crash site but he apparently did not have a coat with him.

 Davis says it is not yet clear what caused the crash with the snowplow, or if Schram was hurt. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642470056590.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>GRETNA, Neb. (AP) — Sarpy County authorities say searchers found the body of a Gretna man who disappeared after he collided with a snow plow during a storm. Sheriff Jeff Davis said a volunteer found the body of 45-year-old Jason Schram Monday, about a mile from the scene of the crash on Friday night. The sheriff said Schram went into a field after he crashed into a snow plow. He says Schram lived close to the crash site but he apparently did not have a coat with him. Davis says it is not yet clear what caused the crash with the snowplow, or if Schram was hurt. An autopsy has been scheduled.

Body of Gretna man who went missing in snow storm is found

WASHINGTON (AP) —Federal safety officials are directing operators of some Boeing planes to adopt extra procedures when landing on wet or snowy runways near impending 5G service because, they say, interference from the wireless networks could mean that the planes need more room to land.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday that interference could delay systems like thrust reversers on Boeing 787s from kicking in, leaving only the brakes to slow the plane.

That “could prevent an aircraft from stopping on the runway,” the FAA said.

Similar orders could be issued in the coming days for other planes. The FAA has asked Boeing and Airbus for information about many models. Boeing said it is working with its suppliers, airlines, telecom companies and regulators “to ensure that every commercial airplane model can safely and confidently operate when 5G is implemented in the United States.”

The order for the Boeing jets comes a day after the FAA began issuing restrictions that airlines and other aircraft operators will face at many airports when AT&amp;T and Verizon launch new, faster 5G wireless service Wednesday.

The agency is still studying whether those wireless networks will interfere with altimeters, which measure an aircraft’s height above the ground. Data from altimeters is used to help pilots land when visibility is poor.

The devices operate on a portion of the radio spectrum that is close to the range used by the new 5G service, called C-Band.

This week’s FAA actions are part of a larger fight between the aviation regulator and the telecom industry. The telecom companies and the Federal Communications Commission say 5G networks do not pose a threat to aviation. The FAA says more study is needed.

The FAA is conducting tests to learn how many commercial planes have altimeters that might be vulnerable to spectrum interference. The agency said this week it expects to estimate the percentage of those planes soon, but didn’t put a date on it.

“Aircraft with untested altimeters or that need retrofitting or replacement will be unable to perform low-visibility landings where 5G is deployed,” the agency said in a statement.

The order regarding Boeing 787s covers 137 planes in the U.S. and 1,010 worldwide. The 787 is a two-aisle plane that is popular on longer routes, including many international flights.

The FAA said that based on information from Boeing, the 787s might not shift properly from flying to landing mode if there is interference, which could delay the activation of systems that help slow the plane.

AT&amp;T and Verizon&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-business-federal-aviation-administration-658c00d4d281bf11772b7ce457c3e244">have twice agreed to postpone</a>&nbsp;activating their new networks because of concerns raised by aviation groups and the FAA, most recently after the FAA and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg weighed in on the aviation industry’s side. Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson warned that flights could be canceled or diverted to avoid potential safety risks.

Under an agreement with the telecom companies, the FAA designated 50 airports that will have buffer zones in which the companies will turn off 5G transmitters or make other changes to limit potential interference through early July.

The 50 include the three major airports in the New York City area — LaGuardia, JFK and Newark Liberty — O’Hare and Midway in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth International, Bush Intercontinental in Houston, Los Angeles International and San Francisco.

That concession by the telecoms was modeled after an approach used in France, although the FAA said last week that France requires more dramatic reductions in cell-tower reach around airports.

WASHINGTON (AP) —Federal safety officials are directing operators of some Boeing planes to adopt extra procedures when landing on wet or snowy runways near impending 5G service because, they say, interference from the wireless networks could mean that the planes need more room to land.The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday that interference could delay systems like thrust reversers on Boeing 787s from kicking in, leaving only the brakes to slow the plane.That “could prevent an aircraft from stopping on the runway,” the FAA said.Similar orders could be issued in the coming days for other planes. The FAA has asked Boeing and Airbus for information about many models. Boeing said it is working with its suppliers, airlines, telecom companies and regulators “to ensure that every commercial airplane model can safely and confidently operate when 5G is implemented in the United States.”The order for the Boeing jets comes a day after the FAA began issuing restrictions that airlines and other aircraft operators will face at many airports when AT&amp;T and Verizon launch new, faster 5G wireless service Wednesday.The agency is still studying whether those wireless networks will interfere with altimeters, which measure an aircraft’s height above the ground. Data from altimeters is used to help pilots land when visibility is poor.The devices operate on a portion of the radio spectrum that is close to the range used by the new 5G service, called C-Band.This week’s FAA actions are part of a larger fight between the aviation regulator and the telecom industry. The telecom companies and the Federal Communications Commission say 5G networks do not pose a threat to aviation. The FAA says more study is needed.The FAA is conducting tests to learn how many commercial planes have altimeters that might be vulnerable to spectrum interference. The agency said this week it expects to estimate the percentage of those planes soon, but didn’t put a date on it.“Aircraft with untested altimeters or that need retrofitting or replacement will be unable to perform low-visibility landings where 5G is deployed,” the agency said in a statement.The order regarding Boeing 787s covers 137 planes in the U.S. and 1,010 worldwide. The 787 is a two-aisle plane that is popular on longer routes, including many international flights.The FAA said that based on information from Boeing, the 787s might not shift properly from flying to landing mode if there is interference, which could delay the activation of systems that help slow the plane.AT&amp;T and Verizon&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-business-federal-aviation-administration-658c00d4d281bf11772b7ce457c3e244">have twice agreed to postpone</a>&nbsp;activating their new networks because of concerns raised by aviation groups and the FAA, most recently after the FAA and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg weighed in on the aviation industry’s side. Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson warned that flights could be canceled or diverted to avoid potential safety risks.Under an agreement with the telecom companies, the FAA designated 50 airports that will have buffer zones in which the companies will turn off 5G transmitters or make other changes to limit potential interference through early July.The 50 include the three major airports in the New York City area — LaGuardia, JFK and Newark Liberty — O’Hare and Midway in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth International, Bush Intercontinental in Houston, Los Angeles International and San Francisco.That concession by the telecoms was modeled after an approach used in France, although the FAA said last week that France requires more dramatic reductions in cell-tower reach around airports.

FAA sets rules for some airline landings near 5G service

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The family of a delivery driver who died last month when a tornado collapsed the Amazon warehouse in central Illinois where he worked has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.

The Madison County action Monday on behalf of Austin McEwen, 26, claims that Amazon failed to warn employees of dangerous weather or provide safe shelter before a tornado slammed the Edwardsville facility Dec. 10, killing McEwen and five others.

McEwen’s parents, Randy and Alice McEwen, allege that Amazon administrators knew severe weather was imminent but had no emergency plan nor evacuated employees from the fulfillment center. 

It is believed to be the first legal action taken in response to the deaths.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642455955529.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The family of a delivery driver who died last month when a tornado collapsed the Amazon warehouse in central Illinois where he worked has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.The Madison County action Monday on behalf of Austin McEwen, 26, claims that Amazon failed to warn employees of dangerous weather or provide safe shelter before a tornado slammed the Edwardsville facility Dec. 10, killing McEwen and five others.McEwen’s parents, Randy and Alice McEwen, allege that Amazon administrators knew severe weather was imminent but had no emergency plan nor evacuated employees from the fulfillment center. It is believed to be the first legal action taken in response to the deaths.

Tornado victim's family sues Amazon over warehouse collapse

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former chancellor for the Roman Catholic Church’s Archdiocese of Omaha who is already charged with two felony counts has been charged with a new count of theft after authorities say he stole more than $100,000 from a church in Sarpy County. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the Rev. Michael Gutgsell was charged with the third count last week and faces a preliminary hearing on the new charge on Feb. 8. 

Gutgsell was first arrested in October and charged with attempted theft and abuse of a vulnerable adult.

 Police say Gutgsell admitted taking $180,000 from the bank accounts of retired Omaha priest Theodore Richling, who was suffering from Alzheimer's at the time and to stealing $106,000 from his former parish, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Springfield.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642455637625.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former chancellor for the Roman Catholic Church’s Archdiocese of Omaha who is already charged with two felony counts has been charged with a new count of theft after authorities say he stole more than $100,000 from a church in Sarpy County. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the Rev. Michael Gutgsell was charged with the third count last week and faces a preliminary hearing on the new charge on Feb. 8. Gutgsell was first arrested in October and charged with attempted theft and abuse of a vulnerable adult. Police say Gutgsell admitted taking $180,000 from the bank accounts of retired Omaha priest Theodore Richling, who was suffering from Alzheimer's at the time and to stealing $106,000 from his former parish, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Springfield.

Ex-Omaha Archdiocese chancellor faces new theft charge

By KAVAHN MANSOURI and HOLLY EDGELL <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-01-17/got-an-old-flip-phone-5g-technology-continues-to-roll-out-leaving-3g-users-disconnected">Midwest Newsroom</a>

A landmark day in the rollout of the 5G cellular network will take 
place on Jan. 19, giving millions of cell phones throughout the country 
faster speeds and wider coverage. But the coming switch, the latest in 
the advent of 5G, could leave some devices in the dark.

Both 
Verizon and AT&amp;T plan to switch on their C-band networks on 
Wednesday, a change that is expected to further increase the speed and 
availability of the two providers’ networks.

5G stands for “fifth-generation cellular” and is touted as the next big thing for cellular devices. 

“This is the second wave of the 5G era,” Andy Choi, a communication 
manager with Verizon, said. “You’re looking at more than 100 million 
people in 1,700 cities across the country that will have access to 
Version’s Ultra Wideband network.”

While 5G has been available to 
customers of cellular providers like AT&amp;T, Verizon and T-Mobile for 
more than a year, the new C-band networks set to go live Wednesday are 
expected to further improve the speed and availability of the network. 
The improvements will be most noticeable during crowded events like 
concerts or sporting events, Choi said.

As
 5G’s implementation nears completion, deadlines for Americans who are 
still using devices that rely on 3G networks are looming.

Mobile 
carriers like AT&amp;T and Verizon are shutting down their 3G networks 
due to the network relying on old technology and a need for more 
frequency space that is being taken up by old cellular devices. The 
shutdowns begin in February with AT&amp;T and will wrap up by the end of
 the year.

That means older cell phones that use 3G won’t be able 
to receive calls or texts –including to 91 – or use data services, 
according to the FCC.

OATS (Older Adults Technology Services), an 
AARP affiliate that help seniors learn and use technology, is advising 
all Americans that the phase-out of 3G could affect:

“One
 of the things that we've learned over the years is, many seniors tend 
to hang on to their technology devices a little bit too long,” said Tom 
Kamber, OATS founder and executive director. “And after three or four 
years that software and an old device tends to be obsolete and that puts
 you at risk for breakdowns in the device for problems that it does 
everything it's supposed to do.”

Kamber
 says obsolete technology can leave consumers open to security breaches,
 and that now is as good a time as any to ask providers whether devices 
you rely on are using 3G technology.

“We know that for a fact that
 millions of people are relying on outmoded devices and we're sure that 
some people in America are not going to know about this transition and 
they're going to open up their phone or hit their alarm button and it's 
not going to work,” Kamber said.

While the leader wireless providers like Verizon tout 5G as a solution to <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/16EOw21AbREm0ZBkT4Fr2LZkJ7_lr99kPjj5_An2tC9Y/edit" target="_blank">bridging the digital divide</a>, so far that hasn’t proven true, according to Angela Siefer, executive director, of the <a href="https://www.digitalinclusion.org/" target="_blank">National Digital Inclusion Alliance</a>.

“5G
 will not bridge the digital divide,” she said. “Because the digital 
divide is not just an issue of availability of broadband services; it’s 
an issue of affordability, digital literacy and the appropriate 
devices.”

Historically, Siefer said, wireless providers have 
rolled out new services and technology in communities where consumers 
can afford to upgrade, largely leaving rural communities and low-income 
consumers out.

“We know that the lower one's income, the less 
likely one is to have home broadband service,” Siefer said. “The lower 
one's income, the more likely a household is to rely upon a mobile 
phone, as their only source of internet service or other public free 
Wifi solutions.”

Siefer pointed to financial support for consumers
 who may not be able to afford new devices as well as higher cellular 
phone bills. The federal Lifeline program provides a discount on 
wireless and internet service to <a href="https://www.usac.org/lifeline/consumer-eligibility/" target="_blank">consumers who qualify</a>. Siefert said it’s an underutilized benefit.

“Some
 people find out because sometimes the carrier tells them that it's 
there,” Siefer said. “Information often occurs through community-based 
organizations or other social service entities, and that's how a lot of 
word has spread.”

In addition to Lifeline, the federal government funds a <a href="https://www.usac.org/high-cost/program-overview/" target="_blank">program called High Cost</a>
 to the tune of $4.5 billion annually. Its mission is to incentivize 
communication technology companies to expand their networks, “in rural 
areas where the market alone cannot support the substantial cost of 
deploying network infrastructure and providing connectivity.”

“We need all the solutions that are out there to be options for various communities in rural areas,” Siefert said.

The Midwest Newsroom is an investigative journalism collaboration including&nbsp;KCUR,&nbsp;St. Louis Public Radio,&nbsp;Iowa Public Radio,&nbsp;Nebraska Public Media&nbsp;and&nbsp;NPR.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642433370143.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAVAHN MANSOURI and HOLLY EDGELL <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-01-17/got-an-old-flip-phone-5g-technology-continues-to-roll-out-leaving-3g-users-disconnected">Midwest Newsroom</a>A landmark day in the rollout of the 5G cellular network will take 
place on Jan. 19, giving millions of cell phones throughout the country 
faster speeds and wider coverage. But the coming switch, the latest in 
the advent of 5G, could leave some devices in the dark.Both 
Verizon and AT&amp;T plan to switch on their C-band networks on 
Wednesday, a change that is expected to further increase the speed and 
availability of the two providers’ networks.5G stands for “fifth-generation cellular” and is touted as the next big thing for cellular devices. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642433438747.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“This is the second wave of the 5G era,” Andy Choi, a communication 
manager with Verizon, said. “You’re looking at more than 100 million 
people in 1,700 cities across the country that will have access to 
Version’s Ultra Wideband network.”While 5G has been available to 
customers of cellular providers like AT&amp;T, Verizon and T-Mobile for 
more than a year, the new C-band networks set to go live Wednesday are 
expected to further improve the speed and availability of the network. 
The improvements will be most noticeable during crowded events like 
concerts or sporting events, Choi said.<h2>‘It's not going to work'</h2>As
 5G’s implementation nears completion, deadlines for Americans who are 
still using devices that rely on 3G networks are looming.Mobile 
carriers like AT&amp;T and Verizon are shutting down their 3G networks 
due to the network relying on old technology and a need for more 
frequency space that is being taken up by old cellular devices. The 
shutdowns begin in February with AT&amp;T and will wrap up by the end of
 the year.That means older cell phones that use 3G won’t be able 
to receive calls or texts –including to 91 – or use data services, 
according to the FCC.OATS (Older Adults Technology Services), an 
AARP affiliate that help seniors learn and use technology, is advising 
all Americans that the phase-out of 3G could affect: <ul>
 <li>Mobile phones from 2012 or earlier (including flip phones, pre-2012 smartphones)</li><li>Home security systems</li><li>Smartwatches</li><li>Medical devices and medical alert bracelets</li>
 </ul>“One
 of the things that we've learned over the years is, many seniors tend 
to hang on to their technology devices a little bit too long,” said Tom 
Kamber, OATS founder and executive director. “And after three or four 
years that software and an old device tends to be obsolete and that puts
 you at risk for breakdowns in the device for problems that it does 
everything it's supposed to do.”<ul>
 <li>For help navigating new technology, visit <a href="https://seniorplanet.org/about/our-purpose/" target="_blank">SeniorPlanet.og from AARP</a></li>
 </ul>Kamber
 says obsolete technology can leave consumers open to security breaches,
 and that now is as good a time as any to ask providers whether devices 
you rely on are using 3G technology.“We know that for a fact that
 millions of people are relying on outmoded devices and we're sure that 
some people in America are not going to know about this transition and 
they're going to open up their phone or hit their alarm button and it's 
not going to work,” Kamber said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642433489046.png" alt="The nation's leading wireless providers, like T-Mobile and Spring, will phase-out 3G service by the end of 2022. Peggy Lowe / KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption>The nation's leading wireless providers, like T-Mobile and Spring, will phase-out 3G service by the end of 2022. Peggy Lowe / KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>5G and the digital divide</h2>While the leader wireless providers like Verizon tout 5G as a solution to <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/16EOw21AbREm0ZBkT4Fr2LZkJ7_lr99kPjj5_An2tC9Y/edit" target="_blank">bridging the digital divide</a>, so far that hasn’t proven true, according to Angela Siefer, executive director, of the <a href="https://www.digitalinclusion.org/" target="_blank">National Digital Inclusion Alliance</a>.“5G
 will not bridge the digital divide,” she said. “Because the digital 
divide is not just an issue of availability of broadband services; it’s 
an issue of affordability, digital literacy and the appropriate 
devices.”Historically, Siefer said, wireless providers have 
rolled out new services and technology in communities where consumers 
can afford to upgrade, largely leaving rural communities and low-income 
consumers out.“We know that the lower one's income, the less 
likely one is to have home broadband service,” Siefer said. “The lower 
one's income, the more likely a household is to rely upon a mobile 
phone, as their only source of internet service or other public free 
Wifi solutions.”Siefer pointed to financial support for consumers
 who may not be able to afford new devices as well as higher cellular 
phone bills. The federal Lifeline program provides a discount on 
wireless and internet service to <a href="https://www.usac.org/lifeline/consumer-eligibility/" target="_blank">consumers who qualify</a>. Siefert said it’s an underutilized benefit.“Some
 people find out because sometimes the carrier tells them that it's 
there,” Siefer said. “Information often occurs through community-based 
organizations or other social service entities, and that's how a lot of 
word has spread.”In addition to Lifeline, the federal government funds a <a href="https://www.usac.org/high-cost/program-overview/" target="_blank">program called High Cost</a>
 to the tune of $4.5 billion annually. Its mission is to incentivize 
communication technology companies to expand their networks, “in rural 
areas where the market alone cannot support the substantial cost of 
deploying network infrastructure and providing connectivity.”“We need all the solutions that are out there to be options for various communities in rural areas,” Siefert said.The Midwest Newsroom is an investigative journalism collaboration including&nbsp;KCUR,&nbsp;St. Louis Public Radio,&nbsp;Iowa Public Radio,&nbsp;Nebraska Public Media&nbsp;and&nbsp;NPR.

Got an old flip phone? 5G rollout is leaving 3G users disconnected

MADISON, Neb. (AP) — A driver has died in a rollover crash near Madison in northeastern Nebraska. 

Madison County Sheriff Todd Volk says in a news release that the crash happened around 8:30 Sunday night when a car went off the road near a rural intersection northwest of Madison and rolled. 

Volk says the driver, 37-year-old Shane Melcher of Meadow Grove, was thrown from the car and died at the scene. 

A 37-year-old woman who was a passenger in the car was flown from the scene in a medical helicopter to a hospital. 

The sheriff's office is investigating the cause of the crash.

MADISON, Neb. (AP) — A driver has died in a rollover crash near Madison in northeastern Nebraska. Madison County Sheriff Todd Volk says in a news release that the crash happened around 8:30 Sunday night when a car went off the road near a rural intersection northwest of Madison and rolled. Volk says the driver, 37-year-old Shane Melcher of Meadow Grove, was thrown from the car and died at the scene. A 37-year-old woman who was a passenger in the car was flown from the scene in a medical helicopter to a hospital. The sheriff's office is investigating the cause of the crash.

Sheriff says 1 man killed in rollover crash near Madison

By Scott Carlson, North Platte Post

COLUMBUS, Neb.-Police in Columbus have arrested a man after he allegedly admitted to a murder.

On Sunday at around 4:19 p.m., officers responded to the report of a man who fell and "had a bump on his head" outside of a residence in the 1300 block of 8th St.

Police said officers located the man, Michael Keener, 28, and made contact with him.

Police said as Keener was talking to officers, he told them that he had killed a person at another location.

Police said Keener took them to that location, 216 16th Ave., where officers found Larry Houdek, 77, deceased. Police said Keener also had items belonging to Houdek in his possession.

Following further investigation, Keener was arrested on suspicion of 1st-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony.

Keener was jailed at the Platte County Detention Center.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642437646661.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By Scott Carlson, North Platte PostCOLUMBUS, Neb.-Police in Columbus have arrested a man after he allegedly admitted to a murder.On Sunday at around 4:19 p.m., officers responded to the report of a man who fell and "had a bump on his head" outside of a residence in the 1300 block of 8th St.Police said officers located the man, Michael Keener, 28, and made contact with him.Police said as Keener was talking to officers, he told them that he had killed a person at another location.Police said Keener took them to that location, 216 16th Ave., where officers found Larry Houdek, 77, deceased. Police said Keener also had items belonging to Houdek in his possession.Following further investigation, Keener was arrested on suspicion of 1st-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony.Keener was jailed at the Platte County Detention Center.The investigation is ongoing.

Columbus man arrested after telling police he killed a man

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Kansas City police have identified a man found shot to death inside a vehicle over the weekend.

Maurice Bell, 45, was found Saturday night unresponsive inside a vehicle sitting in the front yard of a home, police said in a news release. Bell died at the scene.

Kansas City police spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said investigators believe Bell was shot while he was inside the vehicle before it rolled to a stop in the yard.

No arrests had been announced by Monday morning in the shooting.

The Kansas City Star reported that Bell's death marked the city's third homicide for 2022.

KANSAS CITY(AP) — Kansas City police are investigating the death of a man who was found shot inside a vehicle.

Kansas City police spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said gunshots were reported just before 9:30 p.m. Saturday in the 1800 block of East 78th Street, which is near Hickman Mills Drive.

When officers arrived they found a vehicle sitting in the front yard of a home. They found an unresponsive man who had been shot inside the vehicle. He died at the scene.

The victim was not immediately identified.

Becchina said investigators believe the man was shot while inside the vehicle before it rolled to a stop in the yard.

The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article257379522.html">reports&nbsp;</a>that this is the city's third homicide of 2022.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Kansas City police have identified a man found shot to death inside a vehicle over the weekend.Maurice Bell, 45, was found Saturday night unresponsive inside a vehicle sitting in the front yard of a home, police said in a news release. Bell died at the scene.Kansas City police spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said investigators believe Bell was shot while he was inside the vehicle before it rolled to a stop in the yard.No arrests had been announced by Monday morning in the shooting.The Kansas City Star reported that Bell's death marked the city's third homicide for 2022.---------------KANSAS CITY(AP) — Kansas City police are investigating the death of a man who was found shot inside a vehicle.Kansas City police spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said gunshots were reported just before 9:30 p.m. Saturday in the 1800 block of East 78th Street, which is near Hickman Mills Drive.When officers arrived they found a vehicle sitting in the front yard of a home. They found an unresponsive man who had been shot inside the vehicle. He died at the scene.The victim was not immediately identified.Becchina said investigators believe the man was shot while inside the vehicle before it rolled to a stop in the yard.The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article257379522.html">reports&nbsp;</a>that this is the city's third homicide of 2022.

KC police ID city's third homicide victim of 2022

BEIJING (AP) — Only “selected” spectators will be permitted at next month's Beijing Olympics because of the coronavirus pandemic, organizers said Monday.

Beijing had already announced that no fans from outside the country would be permitted at the events, and had not offered tickets to the general public.

Monday’s announcement posted on the organizing committee’s website confirmed expectations that the Winter Games would have few onlookers at the venues, under even more strict conditions than imposed during last year’s Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

China has largely avoided major virus outbreaks with a regimen of lockdowns, mass testing for COVID-19 and travel restrictions, although it continues to fight surges in several cities, including the port of Tianjin, about an hour from Beijing. The capital itself confirmed over the weekend that a 26-year-old woman had contracted the omicron variant of the virus and has tested more than 13,000 people in search of cases of cross transmission.

In its statement, the organizing committee said its measures were intended to “create a pleasant environment for the holding of the Games."

“Given the difficult and complicated work of controlling the epidemic, and to protect the health and safety of those involved with the Games, the original plan of offering tickets to the general public has been altered toward spectators from selected groups," the statement said.

BEIJING (AP) — Only “selected” spectators will be permitted at next month's Beijing Olympics because of the coronavirus pandemic, organizers said Monday.Beijing had already announced that no fans from outside the country would be permitted at the events, and had not offered tickets to the general public.Monday’s announcement posted on the organizing committee’s website confirmed expectations that the Winter Games would have few onlookers at the venues, under even more strict conditions than imposed during last year’s Summer Olympics in Tokyo.China has largely avoided major virus outbreaks with a regimen of lockdowns, mass testing for COVID-19 and travel restrictions, although it continues to fight surges in several cities, including the port of Tianjin, about an hour from Beijing. The capital itself confirmed over the weekend that a 26-year-old woman had contracted the omicron variant of the virus and has tested more than 13,000 people in search of cases of cross transmission.In its statement, the organizing committee said its measures were intended to “create a pleasant environment for the holding of the Games."“Given the difficult and complicated work of controlling the epidemic, and to protect the health and safety of those involved with the Games, the original plan of offering tickets to the general public has been altered toward spectators from selected groups," the statement said.

China: Tickets for Winter Olympics won't be sold to general public

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska meatpacking plant worker died after he was injured on the job. 

Grand Island police said 48-year-old Esteban Mantilla of Grand Island died at the hospital where he was taken after he was hurt Friday afternoon.

 Police and paramedics were called to the JBS meat processing plant around 3:30 p.m. Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642429702518.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska meatpacking plant worker died after he was injured on the job. Grand Island police said 48-year-old Esteban Mantilla of Grand Island died at the hospital where he was taken after he was hurt Friday afternoon. Police and paramedics were called to the JBS meat processing plant around 3:30 p.m. Friday.

Nebraska meatpacking worker dies after being hurt on the job

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden packed carrots and apples into food boxes for the hungry and chatted with volunteers Sunday at a food bank as part of a day of service for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

The couple traveled about a half-hour from their Wilmington, Delaware, residence to Philabundance, a hunger relief organization in Philadelphia which serves about 140,000 people a week in the Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey region. Before heading to the warehouse floor where conveyor belts carried cardboard boxes full of donated food, Biden said the child tax credit needed to be renewed.

The traditional day of service is on the holiday, Monday, but there was a bad winter storm heading for the area and events were being rescheduled around the region.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/child-tax-credits-program-ends-5ded3907c72ee0c3ad8a067a29d6b2c0">The monthly credits were part&nbsp;</a>of Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package — and the president had proposed extending them for another full year as part of a separate measure focused on economic and social programs. The added boost was used by families to buy food and other supplies.

But Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., objected to extending the credit out of concern that the money would discourage people from working and that any additional federal spending would fuel inflation that has already climbed to a nearly 40-year high.

“The child tax credit was really helpful. We’ve got to get it renewed,” Biden said.

They walked out to the warehouse floor as “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” by Angie Stone played softly, donned some gloves and got to work. Jill Biden wore a Philadelphia Eagles T-shirt under her blazer in a nod to the team’s playoff game Sunday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Biden chatted with volunteers, including one man standing near a crate of macaroni and cheese who told the president his daughter was a teacher. Biden spoke of the first lady’s teaching career and then asked the man for his daughter’s number and said he’d give her a ring.

The food boxes contained spices, fruits, vegetables, noodles, tea and juice boxes plus peanut butter and chickpeas.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the Senate will take up voting rights legislation on Tuesday, missing a deadline he initially set for action by Monday, which is MLK Day. Biden spoke forcefully of the need to pass the legislation, likening the modern concerns over election subversion and increasing voting restrictions in states to the civil rights struggles of the 1960s.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-joe-biden-voting-elections-wv-state-wire-28fce7f5190404f5091158c912bf8d5d">Biden last week said he supported changing</a>&nbsp;Senate rules to allow the slim Democratic majority to push the package through, though he later acknowledged uncertainty it can pass Congress this year following objections from Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.

ADVERTISEMENTTrending on AP News<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-business-colorado-river-droughts-canyons-b499fa7949c5de28b52b9c43aa175af3">Scientists see silver lining in fed’s efforts at Lake Powell</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-oklahoma-c28e7cbe63a18652d0ea26f365b01528">Bond revoked for businessman accused of killing employee</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/bill-cosby-chicago-illinois-8f712678855ce6b9c76baefefa9a0645">Illinois judge disparaged lawyer in comments caught on video</a><a href="https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&amp;utm_source=associatedpress-apnews&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=organic-thumbnails-rr:Right%20Rail%20Thumbnails:" target="_blank">by Taboola</a>ADVERTISEMENT

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642419526976.png" alt="The traditional day of service is on the holiday, Monday, but there was a bad winter storm heading for the area and events were being rescheduled around the region-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The traditional day of service is on the holiday, Monday, but there was a bad winter storm heading for the area and events were being rescheduled around the region-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>PHILADELPHIA (AP) — President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden packed carrots and apples into food boxes for the hungry and chatted with volunteers Sunday at a food bank as part of a day of service for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.The couple traveled about a half-hour from their Wilmington, Delaware, residence to Philabundance, a hunger relief organization in Philadelphia which serves about 140,000 people a week in the Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey region. Before heading to the warehouse floor where conveyor belts carried cardboard boxes full of donated food, Biden said the child tax credit needed to be renewed.The traditional day of service is on the holiday, Monday, but there was a bad winter storm heading for the area and events were being rescheduled around the region.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/child-tax-credits-program-ends-5ded3907c72ee0c3ad8a067a29d6b2c0">The monthly credits were part&nbsp;</a>of Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package — and the president had proposed extending them for another full year as part of a separate measure focused on economic and social programs. The added boost was used by families to buy food and other supplies.But Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., objected to extending the credit out of concern that the money would discourage people from working and that any additional federal spending would fuel inflation that has already climbed to a nearly 40-year high.“The child tax credit was really helpful. We’ve got to get it renewed,” Biden said.They walked out to the warehouse floor as “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” by Angie Stone played softly, donned some gloves and got to work. Jill Biden wore a Philadelphia Eagles T-shirt under her blazer in a nod to the team’s playoff game Sunday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Biden chatted with volunteers, including one man standing near a crate of macaroni and cheese who told the president his daughter was a teacher. Biden spoke of the first lady’s teaching career and then asked the man for his daughter’s number and said he’d give her a ring.The food boxes contained spices, fruits, vegetables, noodles, tea and juice boxes plus peanut butter and chickpeas.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the Senate will take up voting rights legislation on Tuesday, missing a deadline he initially set for action by Monday, which is MLK Day. Biden spoke forcefully of the need to pass the legislation, likening the modern concerns over election subversion and increasing voting restrictions in states to the civil rights struggles of the 1960s.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-joe-biden-voting-elections-wv-state-wire-28fce7f5190404f5091158c912bf8d5d">Biden last week said he supported changing</a>&nbsp;Senate rules to allow the slim Democratic majority to push the package through, though he later acknowledged uncertainty it can pass Congress this year following objections from Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.ADVERTISEMENTTrending on AP News<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-business-colorado-river-droughts-canyons-b499fa7949c5de28b52b9c43aa175af3">Scientists see silver lining in fed’s efforts at Lake Powell</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-oklahoma-c28e7cbe63a18652d0ea26f365b01528">Bond revoked for businessman accused of killing employee</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/bill-cosby-chicago-illinois-8f712678855ce6b9c76baefefa9a0645">Illinois judge disparaged lawyer in comments caught on video</a><a href="https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&amp;utm_source=associatedpress-apnews&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=organic-thumbnails-rr:Right%20Rail%20Thumbnails:" target="_blank">by Taboola</a>ADVERTISEMENT

Bidens volunteer at food bank in honor of Martin Luther King Day

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 68-year-old man died at an Omaha hospital Friday just over a week after he pled guilty to starting the fire that led to his wife’s death. 

Douglas County jail officials said Carl Bohm of Omaha had been hospitalized since Jan. 6 — one day after he was found guilty of first-degree arson and first-degree assault in connection with the February 2019 fire. 

Authorities said the fire critically injured Janet Franks-Bohm who needed to have at least 30 surgeries to repair third-degree burns that covered more than 60% of her body. She died in October. 

The fire also injured the couple’s daughter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642427987302.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 68-year-old man died at an Omaha hospital Friday just over a week after he pled guilty to starting the fire that led to his wife’s death. Douglas County jail officials said Carl Bohm of Omaha had been hospitalized since Jan. 6 — one day after he was found guilty of first-degree arson and first-degree assault in connection with the February 2019 fire. Authorities said the fire critically injured Janet Franks-Bohm who needed to have at least 30 surgeries to repair third-degree burns that covered more than 60% of her body. She died in October. The fire also injured the couple’s daughter.

Omaha man who pled guilty to setting fatal fire dies at hospital

Get ready to learn more Greek letters. Scientists warn that omicron’s whirlwind advance practically ensures it won’t be the last version of the coronavirus to worry the world.

Every infection provides a chance for the virus to mutate, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-lifestyle-recycling-louisville-102ea8cdc6a38f01a54816d9f0780aa1">omicron has an edge</a>&nbsp;over its predecessors:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-winter-olympics-sports-health-beijing-32bcad4283011feeff66804e466dedbe">It spreads way faster</a>&nbsp;despite emerging on a planet with a stronger patchwork of immunity from vaccines and prior illness.

That means more people in whom the virus can further evolve. Experts don’t know what the next variants will look like or how they might&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/health?utm_source=apnewsnav&amp;utm_medium=navigation">shape the pandemic</a>, but they say there’s no guarantee the sequels of omicron will cause milder illness or that existing vaccines will work against them.

They urge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-jair-bolsonaro-health-caribbean-brazil-f67aca81ae08c0a76a1314b4945c4c6c">wider vaccination</a>&nbsp;now, while today’s shots still work.

“The faster omicron spreads, the more opportunities there are for mutation, potentially leading to more variants,” Leonardo Martinez, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Boston University, said.

Since it emerged in mid-November, omicron has raced across the globe like fire through dry grass. Research shows the variant is at least twice as contagious as delta and at least four times as contagious as the original version of the virus.

Omicron is more likely than delta to reinfect individuals who previously had COVID-19 and to cause “breakthrough infections” in vaccinated people while also attacking the unvaccinated. The World Health Organization reported a record 15 million new COVID-19 cases for the week of Jan. 3-9, a 55% increase from the previous week.

Along with keeping comparatively healthy people out of work and school, the ease with which the variant spreads increases the odds the virus will infect and linger inside people with weakened immune systems - giving it more time to develop potent mutations.

“It’s the longer, persistent infections that seem to be the most likely breeding grounds for new variants,” said Dr. Stuart Campbell Ray, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins University. “It’s only when you have very widespread infection that you’re going to provide the opportunity for that to occur.”

Because omicron appears to cause less severe disease than delta, its behavior has kindled hope that it could be the start of a trend that eventually makes the virus milder like a common cold.

It’s a possibility, experts say, given that viruses don’t spread well if they kill their hosts very quickly. But viruses don’t always get less deadly over time.

A variant could also achieve its main goal - replicating - if infected people developed mild symptoms initially, spread the virus by interacting with others, then got very sick later, Ray explained by way of example.

“People have wondered whether the virus will evolve to mildness. But there’s no particular reason for it to do so,” he said. “I don’t think we can be confident that the virus will become less lethal over time.”

Getting progressively better at evading immunity helps a virus to survive over the long term. When SARS-CoV-2 first struck, no one was immune. But infections and vaccines have conferred at least some immunity to much of the world, so the virus must adapt.

There are many possible avenues for evolution. Animals could potentially incubate and unleash new variants. Pet dogs and cats, deer and farm-raised mink are only a few of the animals vulnerable to the virus, which can potentially mutate within them and leap back to people.

Another potential route: With both omicron and delta circulating, people may get double infections that could spawn what Ray calls “Frankenvariants,” hybrids with characteristics of both types.

When new variants do develop, scientists said it’s still very difficult to know from genetic features which ones might take off. For example, omicron has many more mutations than previous variants, around 30 in the spike protein that lets it attach to human cells. But the so-called IHU variant identified in France and being monitored by the WHO has 46 mutations and doesn’t seem to have spread much at all.

To curb the emergence of variants, scientists stress continuing with public health measures such as masking and getting vaccinated. While omicron is better able to evade immunity than delta, experts said, vaccines still offer protection and booster shots greatly reduce serious illness, hospitalizations and deaths.

Anne Thomas, a 64-year-old IT analyst in Westerly, Rhode Island, said she’s fully vaccinated and boosted and also tries to stay safe by mostly staying home while her state has one of the highest COVID-19 case rates in the U.S.

“I have no doubt at all that these viruses are going to continue to mutate and we’re going to be dealing with this for a very long time,” she said.

Ray likened vaccines to armor for humanity that greatly hinders viral spread even if it doesn’t completely stop it. For a virus that spreads exponentially, he said, “anything that curbs transmission can have a great effect.” Also, when vaccinated people get sick, Ray said their illness is usually milder and clears more quickly, leaving less time to spawn dangerous variants.

Experts say the virus won’t become endemic like the flu as long as global vaccination rates are so low. During a recent press conference, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that protecting people from future variants — including those that may be fully resistant to today’s shots — depends on ending global vaccine inequity.

Tedros said he’d like to see 70% of people in every country vaccinated by mid-year. Currently, there are dozens of countries where less than a quarter of the population is fully vaccinated, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/vaccines/international" target="_blank">Johns Hopkins University statistics</a>. And in the United States, many people continue to resist available vaccines.

“These huge unvaccinated swaths in the U.S., Africa, Asia, Latin America and elsewhere are basically variant factories,” said Dr. Prabhat Jha of the Centre for Global Health Research at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. “It’s been a colossal failure in global leadership that we have not been able to do this.”

In the meantime, new variants are inevitable, said Louis Mansky, director of the Institute for Molecular Virology at the University of Minnesota.

With so many unvaccinated people, he said, “the virus is still kind of in control of what’s going on.”

By LAURA UNGAR, Associated PressGet ready to learn more Greek letters. Scientists warn that omicron’s whirlwind advance practically ensures it won’t be the last version of the coronavirus to worry the world.Every infection provides a chance for the virus to mutate, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-lifestyle-recycling-louisville-102ea8cdc6a38f01a54816d9f0780aa1">omicron has an edge</a>&nbsp;over its predecessors:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-winter-olympics-sports-health-beijing-32bcad4283011feeff66804e466dedbe">It spreads way faster</a>&nbsp;despite emerging on a planet with a stronger patchwork of immunity from vaccines and prior illness.That means more people in whom the virus can further evolve. Experts don’t know what the next variants will look like or how they might&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/health?utm_source=apnewsnav&amp;utm_medium=navigation">shape the pandemic</a>, but they say there’s no guarantee the sequels of omicron will cause milder illness or that existing vaccines will work against them.They urge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-jair-bolsonaro-health-caribbean-brazil-f67aca81ae08c0a76a1314b4945c4c6c">wider vaccination</a>&nbsp;now, while today’s shots still work.“The faster omicron spreads, the more opportunities there are for mutation, potentially leading to more variants,” Leonardo Martinez, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Boston University, said.Since it emerged in mid-November, omicron has raced across the globe like fire through dry grass. Research shows the variant is at least twice as contagious as delta and at least four times as contagious as the original version of the virus.Omicron is more likely than delta to reinfect individuals who previously had COVID-19 and to cause “breakthrough infections” in vaccinated people while also attacking the unvaccinated. The World Health Organization reported a record 15 million new COVID-19 cases for the week of Jan. 3-9, a 55% increase from the previous week.Along with keeping comparatively healthy people out of work and school, the ease with which the variant spreads increases the odds the virus will infect and linger inside people with weakened immune systems - giving it more time to develop potent mutations.“It’s the longer, persistent infections that seem to be the most likely breeding grounds for new variants,” said Dr. Stuart Campbell Ray, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins University. “It’s only when you have very widespread infection that you’re going to provide the opportunity for that to occur.”Because omicron appears to cause less severe disease than delta, its behavior has kindled hope that it could be the start of a trend that eventually makes the virus milder like a common cold.It’s a possibility, experts say, given that viruses don’t spread well if they kill their hosts very quickly. But viruses don’t always get less deadly over time.A variant could also achieve its main goal - replicating - if infected people developed mild symptoms initially, spread the virus by interacting with others, then got very sick later, Ray explained by way of example.“People have wondered whether the virus will evolve to mildness. But there’s no particular reason for it to do so,” he said. “I don’t think we can be confident that the virus will become less lethal over time.”Getting progressively better at evading immunity helps a virus to survive over the long term. When SARS-CoV-2 first struck, no one was immune. But infections and vaccines have conferred at least some immunity to much of the world, so the virus must adapt.There are many possible avenues for evolution. Animals could potentially incubate and unleash new variants. Pet dogs and cats, deer and farm-raised mink are only a few of the animals vulnerable to the virus, which can potentially mutate within them and leap back to people.Another potential route: With both omicron and delta circulating, people may get double infections that could spawn what Ray calls “Frankenvariants,” hybrids with characteristics of both types.When new variants do develop, scientists said it’s still very difficult to know from genetic features which ones might take off. For example, omicron has many more mutations than previous variants, around 30 in the spike protein that lets it attach to human cells. But the so-called IHU variant identified in France and being monitored by the WHO has 46 mutations and doesn’t seem to have spread much at all.To curb the emergence of variants, scientists stress continuing with public health measures such as masking and getting vaccinated. While omicron is better able to evade immunity than delta, experts said, vaccines still offer protection and booster shots greatly reduce serious illness, hospitalizations and deaths.Anne Thomas, a 64-year-old IT analyst in Westerly, Rhode Island, said she’s fully vaccinated and boosted and also tries to stay safe by mostly staying home while her state has one of the highest COVID-19 case rates in the U.S.“I have no doubt at all that these viruses are going to continue to mutate and we’re going to be dealing with this for a very long time,” she said.Ray likened vaccines to armor for humanity that greatly hinders viral spread even if it doesn’t completely stop it. For a virus that spreads exponentially, he said, “anything that curbs transmission can have a great effect.” Also, when vaccinated people get sick, Ray said their illness is usually milder and clears more quickly, leaving less time to spawn dangerous variants.Experts say the virus won’t become endemic like the flu as long as global vaccination rates are so low. During a recent press conference, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that protecting people from future variants — including those that may be fully resistant to today’s shots — depends on ending global vaccine inequity.Tedros said he’d like to see 70% of people in every country vaccinated by mid-year. Currently, there are dozens of countries where less than a quarter of the population is fully vaccinated, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/vaccines/international" target="_blank">Johns Hopkins University statistics</a>. And in the United States, many people continue to resist available vaccines.“These huge unvaccinated swaths in the U.S., Africa, Asia, Latin America and elsewhere are basically variant factories,” said Dr. Prabhat Jha of the Centre for Global Health Research at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. “It’s been a colossal failure in global leadership that we have not been able to do this.”In the meantime, new variants are inevitable, said Louis Mansky, director of the Institute for Molecular Virology at the University of Minnesota.With so many unvaccinated people, he said, “the virus is still kind of in control of what’s going on.”___

Scientists: Omicron won't be the last coronavirus variant

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming has asked the federal government to remove protections from grizzly bears in and around Yellowstone National Park. 

If approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the request could allow the animals to be hunted. 

Wyoming officials say in their petition Monday the bears have recovered from as few as 136 animals in the 1970s to more than 1,000 today. 

The federal government removed protections for Yellowstone's grizzlies in 2017. 

Wyoming and Idaho were set to allow grizzly hunting when a judge restored those protections under the Endangered Species Act. 

The Center for Biological Diversity says grizzly delisting still isn't supported by science.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming has asked the federal government to remove protections from grizzly bears in and around Yellowstone National Park. If approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the request could allow the animals to be hunted. Wyoming officials say in their petition Monday the bears have recovered from as few as 136 animals in the 1970s to more than 1,000 today. The federal government removed protections for Yellowstone's grizzlies in 2017. Wyoming and Idaho were set to allow grizzly hunting when a judge restored those protections under the Endangered Species Act. The Center for Biological Diversity says grizzly delisting still isn't supported by science.

Wyoming tries again to remove Yellowstone grizzly protection

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials have updated their mask guidance, encouraging more Americans to wear N95 or KN95 masks to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Those kinds of masks are considered better at filtering the air. But they were in short supply previously, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials had said they should be prioritized for health care workers.

 President Joe Biden continues to urge Americans to get vaccinated and to wear a mask. "I think it's part of your patriotic duty to wear a mask," he said ahead of a meeting with his COVID response team.

In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/types-of-masks.html" target="_blank">updated guidance</a>&nbsp;posted late Friday,&nbsp; CDC officials removed concerns related to supply shortages and more clearly said that properly fitted N95 and KN95 masks offer the most protection.

However, agency officials noted some masks are harder to tolerate than others, and urged people to choose good-fitting masks that they will wear consistently.

“Our main message continues to be that any mask is better than no mask,” Kristen Nordlund, a CDC spokeswoman, said in a statement.

The CDC has evolved its mask guidance throughout the pandemic.

In its last update, in September, CDC officials became more encouraging of disposable N95 masks, saying they could be used in certain situations if supplies were available. Examples included being near a lot of people for extended periods of time on a train, bus or airplane; taking care of someone in poor health; or being more susceptible to severe illness.

On Thursday, President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-6eb679fb606d9ec2e98db7ab2767d1c0">announced</a>&nbsp;that his administration was planning to make “high-quality masks,” including N95s, available for free. He said more details were coming next week. The federal government has a stockpile of more than 750 million N95 masks, the White House said.

The latest CDC guidance notes that there is a special category of “surgical N95” masks, that are specially designed for protection against blood splashes and other operating room hazards. Those are not generally available for sale to the public, and should continue to be reserved for health care workers, the agency said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642088735613.png" alt="President Biden said it's your patriotic duty to wear a mask-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden said it's your patriotic duty to wear a mask-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials have updated their mask guidance, encouraging more Americans to wear N95 or KN95 masks to slow the spread of the coronavirus.Those kinds of masks are considered better at filtering the air. But they were in short supply previously, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials had said they should be prioritized for health care workers. President Joe Biden continues to urge Americans to get vaccinated and to wear a mask. "I think it's part of your patriotic duty to wear a mask," he said ahead of a meeting with his COVID response team.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F627100008618297%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=182" 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>In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/types-of-masks.html" target="_blank">updated guidance</a>&nbsp;posted late Friday,&nbsp; CDC officials removed concerns related to supply shortages and more clearly said that properly fitted N95 and KN95 masks offer the most protection.However, agency officials noted some masks are harder to tolerate than others, and urged people to choose good-fitting masks that they will wear consistently.“Our main message continues to be that any mask is better than no mask,” Kristen Nordlund, a CDC spokeswoman, said in a statement.The CDC has evolved its mask guidance throughout the pandemic.In its last update, in September, CDC officials became more encouraging of disposable N95 masks, saying they could be used in certain situations if supplies were available. Examples included being near a lot of people for extended periods of time on a train, bus or airplane; taking care of someone in poor health; or being more susceptible to severe illness.On Thursday, President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-6eb679fb606d9ec2e98db7ab2767d1c0">announced</a>&nbsp;that his administration was planning to make “high-quality masks,” including N95s, available for free. He said more details were coming next week. The federal government has a stockpile of more than 750 million N95 masks, the White House said.The latest CDC guidance notes that there is a special category of “surgical N95” masks, that are specially designed for protection against blood splashes and other operating room hazards. Those are not generally available for sale to the public, and should continue to be reserved for health care workers, the agency said.

 🎥 Biden: It's part of your patriotic duty to wear a mask

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said Friday it will hear the case of a former Seattle-area football coach who was removed from his job because he refused to stop praying on the field.

Former Bremerton High School coach Joe Kennedy’s lawyers say the religious beliefs of their client, who is Christian, “compelled him to give thanks through prayer at the conclusion of each game for what the players accomplished and for the opportunity to be part of their lives through football.” After games had ended and after both teams’ players and coaches met at midfield to shake hands, Kennedy would kneel and offer a silent or quiet prayer.

His practice evolved, however. Students came to join him, and he eventually began to give motivational speeches that often included religious content and a short prayer.

The school district says that when it learned what Kennedy was doing it tried to accommodate him, asking that he pray separately from students. But the district says Kennedy ultimately declined to change his practice, was put on paid leave and sued. Lower courts sided with the school district.

In 2019, at an earlier stage of the case, the high court rejected getting involved. At that time, however, four conservative justices said while it was too early to get involved, they were interested in the case and the legal issues it raises.

In a statement issued Friday after the court agreed to hear the case, Kelly Shackelford, the head of First Liberty Institute, which is representing Kennedy, said, “No teacher or coach should lose their job for simply expressing their faith while in public.”

“By taking this important case, the Supreme Court can protect the right of every American to engage in private religious expression, including praying in public, without fear of punishment,” Shackelford said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641555607497.png" alt="The case is expected to be argued in the spring -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>The case is expected to be argued in the spring -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said Friday it will hear the case of a former Seattle-area football coach who was removed from his job because he refused to stop praying on the field.Former Bremerton High School coach Joe Kennedy’s lawyers say the religious beliefs of their client, who is Christian, “compelled him to give thanks through prayer at the conclusion of each game for what the players accomplished and for the opportunity to be part of their lives through football.” After games had ended and after both teams’ players and coaches met at midfield to shake hands, Kennedy would kneel and offer a silent or quiet prayer.His practice evolved, however. Students came to join him, and he eventually began to give motivational speeches that often included religious content and a short prayer.The school district says that when it learned what Kennedy was doing it tried to accommodate him, asking that he pray separately from students. But the district says Kennedy ultimately declined to change his practice, was put on paid leave and sued. Lower courts sided with the school district.In 2019, at an earlier stage of the case, the high court rejected getting involved. At that time, however, four conservative justices said while it was too early to get involved, they were interested in the case and the legal issues it raises.In a statement issued Friday after the court agreed to hear the case, Kelly Shackelford, the head of First Liberty Institute, which is representing Kennedy, said, “No teacher or coach should lose their job for simply expressing their faith while in public.”“By taking this important case, the Supreme Court can protect the right of every American to engage in private religious expression, including praying in public, without fear of punishment,” Shackelford said.But the head of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which represents the school district, said it had followed the law, calling Kennedy's actions “coercive prayers.”"This case is not about a school employee praying silently during a private religious devotion. Rather, this case is about protecting impressionable students who felt pressured by their coach to participate repeatedly in public prayer, and a public school district that did right by its students and families,” Rachel Laser said in a statement.The case is expected to be argued in the spring.