WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service joined today with several 
leading nonprofit groups to highlight a special tax provision that 
allows more people to deduct donations to qualifying charities on their 
2021 federal income tax return.

The Independent Sector and National Council of Nonprofits joined with
 the IRS to highlight this pandemic-related provision where married 
couples filing jointly can deduct up to $600 in cash donations and 
individual taxpayers can deduct up to $300 in donations.

Under the temporary law, taxpayers don't need to itemize deductions 
on their tax returns to take advantage of this, which creates 
tax-favorable donation options not normally available to about 90 
percent of tax filers. Ordinarily, people who choose to take the 
standard deduction cannot claim a deduction for their charitable 
contributions. But this special provision permits them to claim a 
limited deduction on their 2021 federal income tax returns for cash 
contributions made to qualifying charitable organizations by year's end,
 December 31, 2021.

At a time when many charitable groups are struggling during the 
pandemic, the IRS highlights the new provision and urges people to make 
sure they donate to a qualifying charity. The special <a href="https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search">Tax Exempt Organization Search</a> tool on IRS.gov can help people make sure they donate to a qualified charity.

"The pandemic has created unique challenges for tax-exempt 
organizations, and we want to make sure people don't overlook this 
special tax deduction that's available this year," said Sunita Lough, 
IRS Commissioner of the Tax Exempt and Government Entities division. 
"Donations to qualifying charities can reduce people's tax bill when 
they file in 2022."

Leaders from the National Council of Nonprofits and the Independent 
Sector, two prominent organizations representing the nation's charitable
 groups, highlighted that the special tax provision can provide 
additional assistance to organizations hit hard by the pandemic. Some 
groups have seen reduced charitable donations and others have seen 
increased demand for their services during this unprecedented period.

"At a time when nonprofits continue to see immense demand for 
services, are facing significant challenges hiring and retaining staff 
to deliver those services--every donation counts," said David L. 
Thompson, Vice President of Public Policy at National Council of 
Nonprofits. "We're thankful that the universal (or non-itemizer) 
deduction is available through the end of the year to encourage every 
taxpayer give a little bit more to the missions they care about."

"Over the past two years, charities have helped America confront 
generational health, economic and social crises. They have answered the 
call to serve their communities despite facing lost revenue, disrupted 
operations and dramatically increased need," said Daniel J. Cardinali, 
president and CEO of Independent Sector. "Congress has sent a powerful 
message that everyone – not just those who itemize on their taxes – has a
 role to play in helping meet this moment, and we know people in America
 will respond in kind. We hope charitable contributions and deductions 
will increase in the coming years."

Included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security 
(CARES) Act, enacted in March 2020, a more limited version of this 
temporary tax benefit originally only applied to tax-year 2020. The 
Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, enacted last 
December, generally extended it through the end of 2021.

Nearly nine in 10 taxpayers now take the standard deduction and could
 potentially qualify. Under this provision, tax year 2021 individual tax
 filers, including married individuals filing separate returns, can 
claim a deduction of up to $300 for cash contributions made to 
qualifying charities during 2021. The maximum deduction is increased to 
$600 for married individuals filing joint returns.

Cash contributions include those made by check, credit card or debit 
card as well as amounts incurred by an individual for unreimbursed 
out-of-pocket expenses in connection with their volunteer services to a 
qualifying charitable organization. Cash contributions don't include the
 value of volunteer services, securities, household items or other 
property.

The IRS reminds taxpayers that to receive a deduction, they must 
donate to a qualified charity. To check the status of a charity, they 
can use the IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search">Tax Exempt Organization Search</a> tool.

Cash contributions to most charitable organizations qualify for a 
deduction. But contributions made either to supporting organizations or 
to establish or maintain a donor advised fund do not. Contributions 
carried forward from prior years do not qualify, nor do contributions to
 most private foundations and most cash contributions to charitable 
remainder trusts.

In general, a donor-advised fund is a fund or account maintained by a
 charity in which a donor can, because of their donor status, advise the
 fund on how to distribute or invest amounts contributed by the donor 
and held in the fund. A supporting organization is a charity that 
carries out its exempt purposes by supporting other exempt 
organizations, usually other public charities.

The IRS encourages all donors to be wary of scams masked as 
charitable solicitations. Criminals create fake charities to take 
advantage of the public's generosity. Fake charities once again made the
 IRS's <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-dirty-dozen-list-warns-people-to-watch-out-for-tax-related-scams-involving-fake-charities-ghost-preparers-and-other-schemes">Dirty Dozen</a>&nbsp;list of tax scams for 2021. In October, the IRS also <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-joins-international-organizations-in-fighting-charity-fraud-during-special-awareness-week">joined international organizations</a> and other regulators in highlighting the fight against charity fraud.

Special recordkeeping rules apply to any taxpayer claiming a 
charitable contribution deduction. Usually, this includes obtaining an 
acknowledgment letter from the charity before filing a return and 
retaining a cancelled check or credit card receipt for contributions of 
cash.

For details on the recordkeeping rules for substantiating gifts to charity, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-526">Publication 526, Charitable Contributions</a>, available on IRS.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service joined today with several 
leading nonprofit groups to highlight a special tax provision that 
allows more people to deduct donations to qualifying charities on their 
2021 federal income tax return.The Independent Sector and National Council of Nonprofits joined with
 the IRS to highlight this pandemic-related provision where married 
couples filing jointly can deduct up to $600 in cash donations and 
individual taxpayers can deduct up to $300 in donations.Under the temporary law, taxpayers don't need to itemize deductions 
on their tax returns to take advantage of this, which creates 
tax-favorable donation options not normally available to about 90 
percent of tax filers. Ordinarily, people who choose to take the 
standard deduction cannot claim a deduction for their charitable 
contributions. But this special provision permits them to claim a 
limited deduction on their 2021 federal income tax returns for cash 
contributions made to qualifying charitable organizations by year's end,
 December 31, 2021.At a time when many charitable groups are struggling during the 
pandemic, the IRS highlights the new provision and urges people to make 
sure they donate to a qualifying charity. The special <a href="https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search">Tax Exempt Organization Search</a> tool on IRS.gov can help people make sure they donate to a qualified charity."The pandemic has created unique challenges for tax-exempt 
organizations, and we want to make sure people don't overlook this 
special tax deduction that's available this year," said Sunita Lough, 
IRS Commissioner of the Tax Exempt and Government Entities division. 
"Donations to qualifying charities can reduce people's tax bill when 
they file in 2022."Leaders from the National Council of Nonprofits and the Independent 
Sector, two prominent organizations representing the nation's charitable
 groups, highlighted that the special tax provision can provide 
additional assistance to organizations hit hard by the pandemic. Some 
groups have seen reduced charitable donations and others have seen 
increased demand for their services during this unprecedented period."At a time when nonprofits continue to see immense demand for 
services, are facing significant challenges hiring and retaining staff 
to deliver those services--every donation counts," said David L. 
Thompson, Vice President of Public Policy at National Council of 
Nonprofits. "We're thankful that the universal (or non-itemizer) 
deduction is available through the end of the year to encourage every 
taxpayer give a little bit more to the missions they care about.""Over the past two years, charities have helped America confront 
generational health, economic and social crises. They have answered the 
call to serve their communities despite facing lost revenue, disrupted 
operations and dramatically increased need," said Daniel J. Cardinali, 
president and CEO of Independent Sector. "Congress has sent a powerful 
message that everyone – not just those who itemize on their taxes – has a
 role to play in helping meet this moment, and we know people in America
 will respond in kind. We hope charitable contributions and deductions 
will increase in the coming years."Included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security 
(CARES) Act, enacted in March 2020, a more limited version of this 
temporary tax benefit originally only applied to tax-year 2020. The 
Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, enacted last 
December, generally extended it through the end of 2021.Nearly nine in 10 taxpayers now take the standard deduction and could
 potentially qualify. Under this provision, tax year 2021 individual tax
 filers, including married individuals filing separate returns, can 
claim a deduction of up to $300 for cash contributions made to 
qualifying charities during 2021. The maximum deduction is increased to 
$600 for married individuals filing joint returns.Cash contributions include those made by check, credit card or debit 
card as well as amounts incurred by an individual for unreimbursed 
out-of-pocket expenses in connection with their volunteer services to a 
qualifying charitable organization. Cash contributions don't include the
 value of volunteer services, securities, household items or other 
property.The IRS reminds taxpayers that to receive a deduction, they must 
donate to a qualified charity. To check the status of a charity, they 
can use the IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search">Tax Exempt Organization Search</a> tool.Cash contributions to most charitable organizations qualify for a 
deduction. But contributions made either to supporting organizations or 
to establish or maintain a donor advised fund do not. Contributions 
carried forward from prior years do not qualify, nor do contributions to
 most private foundations and most cash contributions to charitable 
remainder trusts.In general, a donor-advised fund is a fund or account maintained by a
 charity in which a donor can, because of their donor status, advise the
 fund on how to distribute or invest amounts contributed by the donor 
and held in the fund. A supporting organization is a charity that 
carries out its exempt purposes by supporting other exempt 
organizations, usually other public charities.The IRS encourages all donors to be wary of scams masked as 
charitable solicitations. Criminals create fake charities to take 
advantage of the public's generosity. Fake charities once again made the
 IRS's <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-dirty-dozen-list-warns-people-to-watch-out-for-tax-related-scams-involving-fake-charities-ghost-preparers-and-other-schemes">Dirty Dozen</a>&nbsp;list of tax scams for 2021. In October, the IRS also <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-joins-international-organizations-in-fighting-charity-fraud-during-special-awareness-week">joined international organizations</a> and other regulators in highlighting the fight against charity fraud.<h2>Keep good records</h2>Special recordkeeping rules apply to any taxpayer claiming a 
charitable contribution deduction. Usually, this includes obtaining an 
acknowledgment letter from the charity before filing a return and 
retaining a cancelled check or credit card receipt for contributions of 
cash.For details on the recordkeeping rules for substantiating gifts to charity, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-526">Publication 526, Charitable Contributions</a>, available on IRS.gov.

Special tax benefit will allow for additional tax-deductible gifts

DOVER, Del. (AP) — Attorneys in the Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy case have reached a tentative settlement under which one of the organization’s largest insurers would contribute $800 million into a fund for victims of child sexual abuse.

The agreement announced Monday calls for Century Indemnity Co. and affiliated companies to contribute $800 million into the fund in return for being released from further liability for abuse claims. The payment would bring the amount of money in the proposed trust to more than $2.6 billion, which would be the largest sexual abuse settlement in U.S. history.

The settlement comes as more than 82,000 sexual abuse claimants face a Dec. 28 deadline to vote on a previously announced Boy Scouts reorganization plan.

That plan called for the Boys Scouts and its roughly 250 local councils to contribute up to $820 million in cash and property into a fund for victims. They also would assign certain insurance rights to the fund. In return, the local councils and national organization would be released from further liability for sexual abuse claims.

DOVER, Del. (AP) — Attorneys in the Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy case have reached a tentative settlement under which one of the organization’s largest insurers would contribute $800 million into a fund for victims of child sexual abuse.The agreement announced Monday calls for Century Indemnity Co. and affiliated companies to contribute $800 million into the fund in return for being released from further liability for abuse claims. The payment would bring the amount of money in the proposed trust to more than $2.6 billion, which would be the largest sexual abuse settlement in U.S. history.The settlement comes as more than 82,000 sexual abuse claimants face a Dec. 28 deadline to vote on a previously announced Boy Scouts reorganization plan.That plan called for the Boys Scouts and its roughly 250 local councils to contribute up to $820 million in cash and property into a fund for victims. They also would assign certain insurance rights to the fund. In return, the local councils and national organization would be released from further liability for sexual abuse claims.

Boy Scouts secure $800M from insurer for sex abuse settlements

The NFL is requiring players, coaches and other team personnel to receive a COVID-19 booster by Dec. 27.

In a memo sent to teams on Monday and obtained by The Associated Press, the league said: “Given the increased prevalence of the virus in our communities, our experts have recommended that we implement the CDC’s recommendation.”

The league’s requirement extends to all Tier 1 and Tier 2 individuals who have previously received the vaccine. The CDC recommends an individual who received a second Pfizer or Moderna shot to complete the primary vaccine series more than six months earlier should receive a booster shot. An individual that received the Johnson and Johnson shot more than two months earlier should receive a booster shot.

The following do not have to meet the requirement:

—An individual who is not eligible for a booster pursuant to the CDC definition.

—An individual who is in the 90-day test holiday after a confirmed positive COVID-19 test

—An individual who received monoclonal antibodies within the immediately preceding 90

—An individual whose “S” antibody level on an antibody test administered via BRL (BioReference Lab) at the club facility is 2500 or greater.

The league says any individual who is not currently subject to the requirement for boosters will be required to obtain the booster within 14 days of becoming eligible.

Teams were asked to provide booster shots to all eligible tiered staff as soon as possible, and to consider making booster shots available for player and staff families and cohabitants.

A season-high total of 36 players were placed on the COVID-19/reserve list Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593142110654.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ROB MAADDI, AP Pro Football WriterThe NFL is requiring players, coaches and other team personnel to receive a COVID-19 booster by Dec. 27.In a memo sent to teams on Monday and obtained by The Associated Press, the league said: “Given the increased prevalence of the virus in our communities, our experts have recommended that we implement the CDC’s recommendation.”The league’s requirement extends to all Tier 1 and Tier 2 individuals who have previously received the vaccine. The CDC recommends an individual who received a second Pfizer or Moderna shot to complete the primary vaccine series more than six months earlier should receive a booster shot. An individual that received the Johnson and Johnson shot more than two months earlier should receive a booster shot.The following do not have to meet the requirement:—An individual who is not eligible for a booster pursuant to the CDC definition.—An individual who is in the 90-day test holiday after a confirmed positive COVID-19 testunder the league protocols.—An individual who received monoclonal antibodies within the immediately preceding 90days.—An individual whose “S” antibody level on an antibody test administered via BRL (BioReference Lab) at the club facility is 2500 or greater.The league says any individual who is not currently subject to the requirement for boosters will be required to obtain the booster within 14 days of becoming eligible.Teams were asked to provide booster shots to all eligible tiered staff as soon as possible, and to consider making booster shots available for player and staff families and cohabitants.A season-high total of 36 players were placed on the COVID-19/reserve list Monday.___

NFL sets deadline for COVID-19 booster shots 

MAYFIELD, Ky. (AP) —&nbsp;Residents of Kentucky counties&nbsp;where tornadoes killed dozens of people could be without heat, water or electricity in frigid temperatures for weeks or longer, state officials warned Monday, as the toll of damage and deaths came into clearer focus in five states slammed by the swarm of twisters.

Kentucky authorities said the sheer level of destruction was hindering their ability to tally the damage&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tornadoes-kentucky-illinois-arkansas-tennessee-missouri-e1ae21e0b7521c28411f8c360b756700">from Friday night’s storms</a>. At least 88 people — including 74 in Kentucky — were killed by the tornado outbreak that also destroyed a nursing home in Arkansas, heavily damaged an Amazon distribution center in Illinois and spread its deadly effects into Tennessee and Missouri.

In Kentucky, as searches continued for those still missing, efforts also turned to repairing the power grid, sheltering those whose homes were destroyed and delivering drinking water and other supplies.

“We’re not going to let any of our families go homeless,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in announcing that lodges in state parks were being used to provide shelter.

In Mayfield, one of the hardest hit towns, those who survived faced a high in the 50s and a low below freezing Monday without any utilities.

“Our infrastructure is so damaged. We have no running water. Our water tower was lost. Our wastewater management was lost, and there’s no natural gas to the city. So we have nothing to rely on there,” Mayfield Mayor Kathy Stewart O’Nan said on ”CBS Mornings.” “So that is purely survival at this point for so many of our people.”

Across the state, about 26,000 homes and businesses were without electricity, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://poweroutage.us/area/state/kentucky" target="_blank">poweroutage.us</a>, including nearly all of those in Mayfield. More than 10,000 homes and businesses have no water, and another 17,000 are under boil-water advisories, Kentucky Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett told reporters.

Kentucky was the worst hit by far in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tornadoes-lifestyle-kentucky-illinois-missouri-99e9ada849486d9689ade7ce486841f3">the cluster of twisters across several states</a>, remarkable because they came at a time of year when cold weather normally limits tornadoes. At least 74 people died in the state, Beshear said Monday, offering the first specific count of the dead.

Still, Beshear warned that it could take days longer to pin down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tornadoes-lifestyle-kentucky-illinois-missouri-99e9ada849486d9689ade7ce486841f3">the full death toll</a>, with door-to-door searches impossible in some places.

“With this amount of damage and rubble, it may be a week or even more before we have a final count on the number of lost lives,” the governor said.

Initially as many as 70 people were feared dead in the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory, but the company said Sunday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kentucky-tornado-candle-factory-missing-fce20cb5fc709e158a8869f0ffcadee5">eight deaths were confirmed</a>&nbsp;and eight people remained missing, while more than 90 others had been located. Bob Ferguson, a spokesman for the company, said many employees gathered in a tornado shelter, then left the site and were hard to reach because phone service was out.

Debris from destroyed buildings and shredded trees covered the ground in Mayfield, a city of about 10,000 in western Kentucky. Twisted sheet metal, downed power lines and wrecked vehicles lined the streets. Windows were blown out and roofs torn off the buildings that were still standing.

Five twisters hit Kentucky in all, including one with an extraordinarily long path of about 200 miles, authorities said.

In addition to the deaths in Kentucky, the tornadoes also killed at least six people in Illinois, where the Amazon distribution center in Edwardsville was hit; four in Tennessee; two in Arkansas, where the nursing home was destroyed and the governor said workers shielded residents with their own bodies; and two in Missouri.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Monday that it has opened an investigation into the collapse of the Amazon warehouse in Illinois.

Amazon’s Kelly Nantel said the Illinois warehouse was “constructed consistent with code.” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said there would be an investigation into updating code “given serious change in climate that we are seeing across the country” that appears to factor into stronger tornadoes.

Not far from Mayfield, 67 people spent Sunday night at a church serving as a shelter in Wingo, and 40 more were expected to arrive Monday. Organizers were working to find a mobile outdoor shower facility and a laundry truck, expecting many of the displaced to need a long-term place to stay. Volunteers were scrambling to meet more immediate needs, too, such as underwear and socks.

Lifelong Mayfield resident Cynthia Gargis, 51, is staying with her daughter after the storm tore off the front of her apartment and sucked out almost everything inside. She came to the shelter to offer help and visit with friends who lost their homes.

“I don’t know, I don’t see how we’ll ever get over this,” she said. “It won’t ever be the same.”

Glynda Glover, 82, said she had no idea how long she would stay at the Wingo shelter: Her apartment is uninhabitable since the wind blew out the windows and covered her bed in glass and asphalt.

“I’ll stay here until we get back to whatever normal is,” she said, “and I don’t know what normal is anymore.”

On the outskirts of Dawson Springs, another town devastated by the storms, homes were reduced to rubble and trees toppled, littering the landscape for a span of at least a mile.

“It looks like a bomb went off. It’s just completely destroyed in areas,” said Jack Whitfield Jr., the Hopkins County judge-executive.

He estimated that more than 60% of the town, including hundreds of homes, was “beyond repair.”

“A full recovering is going to take years,” he said.

Tim Morgan, a volunteer chaplain for the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department, said he’s seen the aftermath of tornadoes and hurricanes before, but nothing like this.

“Just absolute decimation. There is an entire hillside of houses that are 3 feet tall now,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639432926077.png" alt="Tornado damage in Missouri -photo courtesy American Red Cross" />
 <figcaption>Tornado damage in Missouri -photo courtesy American Red Cross</figcaption>
 </figure>MAYFIELD, Ky. (AP) —&nbsp;Residents of Kentucky counties&nbsp;where tornadoes killed dozens of people could be without heat, water or electricity in frigid temperatures for weeks or longer, state officials warned Monday, as the toll of damage and deaths came into clearer focus in five states slammed by the swarm of twisters.Kentucky authorities said the sheer level of destruction was hindering their ability to tally the damage&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tornadoes-kentucky-illinois-arkansas-tennessee-missouri-e1ae21e0b7521c28411f8c360b756700">from Friday night’s storms</a>. At least 88 people — including 74 in Kentucky — were killed by the tornado outbreak that also destroyed a nursing home in Arkansas, heavily damaged an Amazon distribution center in Illinois and spread its deadly effects into Tennessee and Missouri.In Kentucky, as searches continued for those still missing, efforts also turned to repairing the power grid, sheltering those whose homes were destroyed and delivering drinking water and other supplies.“We’re not going to let any of our families go homeless,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in announcing that lodges in state parks were being used to provide shelter.In Mayfield, one of the hardest hit towns, those who survived faced a high in the 50s and a low below freezing Monday without any utilities.“Our infrastructure is so damaged. We have no running water. Our water tower was lost. Our wastewater management was lost, and there’s no natural gas to the city. So we have nothing to rely on there,” Mayfield Mayor Kathy Stewart O’Nan said on ”CBS Mornings.” “So that is purely survival at this point for so many of our people.”Across the state, about 26,000 homes and businesses were without electricity, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://poweroutage.us/area/state/kentucky" target="_blank">poweroutage.us</a>, including nearly all of those in Mayfield. More than 10,000 homes and businesses have no water, and another 17,000 are under boil-water advisories, Kentucky Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett told reporters.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639275139848.png" alt="Tornado damage in Missouri -photo Gov. Mike Parson" />
 <figcaption>Tornado damage in Missouri -photo Gov. Mike Parson</figcaption>
 </figure>Kentucky was the worst hit by far in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tornadoes-lifestyle-kentucky-illinois-missouri-99e9ada849486d9689ade7ce486841f3">the cluster of twisters across several states</a>, remarkable because they came at a time of year when cold weather normally limits tornadoes. At least 74 people died in the state, Beshear said Monday, offering the first specific count of the dead.Still, Beshear warned that it could take days longer to pin down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tornadoes-lifestyle-kentucky-illinois-missouri-99e9ada849486d9689ade7ce486841f3">the full death toll</a>, with door-to-door searches impossible in some places.“With this amount of damage and rubble, it may be a week or even more before we have a final count on the number of lost lives,” the governor said.Initially as many as 70 people were feared dead in the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory, but the company said Sunday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kentucky-tornado-candle-factory-missing-fce20cb5fc709e158a8869f0ffcadee5">eight deaths were confirmed</a>&nbsp;and eight people remained missing, while more than 90 others had been located. Bob Ferguson, a spokesman for the company, said many employees gathered in a tornado shelter, then left the site and were hard to reach because phone service was out.Debris from destroyed buildings and shredded trees covered the ground in Mayfield, a city of about 10,000 in western Kentucky. Twisted sheet metal, downed power lines and wrecked vehicles lined the streets. Windows were blown out and roofs torn off the buildings that were still standing.Five twisters hit Kentucky in all, including one with an extraordinarily long path of about 200 miles, authorities said.In addition to the deaths in Kentucky, the tornadoes also killed at least six people in Illinois, where the Amazon distribution center in Edwardsville was hit; four in Tennessee; two in Arkansas, where the nursing home was destroyed and the governor said workers shielded residents with their own bodies; and two in Missouri.The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Monday that it has opened an investigation into the collapse of the Amazon warehouse in Illinois.Amazon’s Kelly Nantel said the Illinois warehouse was “constructed consistent with code.” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said there would be an investigation into updating code “given serious change in climate that we are seeing across the country” that appears to factor into stronger tornadoes.Not far from Mayfield, 67 people spent Sunday night at a church serving as a shelter in Wingo, and 40 more were expected to arrive Monday. Organizers were working to find a mobile outdoor shower facility and a laundry truck, expecting many of the displaced to need a long-term place to stay. Volunteers were scrambling to meet more immediate needs, too, such as underwear and socks.Lifelong Mayfield resident Cynthia Gargis, 51, is staying with her daughter after the storm tore off the front of her apartment and sucked out almost everything inside. She came to the shelter to offer help and visit with friends who lost their homes.“I don’t know, I don’t see how we’ll ever get over this,” she said. “It won’t ever be the same.”Glynda Glover, 82, said she had no idea how long she would stay at the Wingo shelter: Her apartment is uninhabitable since the wind blew out the windows and covered her bed in glass and asphalt.“I’ll stay here until we get back to whatever normal is,” she said, “and I don’t know what normal is anymore.”On the outskirts of Dawson Springs, another town devastated by the storms, homes were reduced to rubble and trees toppled, littering the landscape for a span of at least a mile.“It looks like a bomb went off. It’s just completely destroyed in areas,” said Jack Whitfield Jr., the Hopkins County judge-executive.He estimated that more than 60% of the town, including hundreds of homes, was “beyond repair.”“A full recovering is going to take years,” he said.Tim Morgan, a volunteer chaplain for the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department, said he’s seen the aftermath of tornadoes and hurricanes before, but nothing like this.“Just absolute decimation. There is an entire hillside of houses that are 3 feet tall now,” he said.___

Thousands without heat, water after tornadoes kill dozens

LONDON (AP) — Long lines formed Monday at vaccination centers across England as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect themselves against the omicron variant, as the U.K. recorded its first death of a patient infected with omicron.

In a televised announcement late Sunday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-europe-england-a32ff1844911b50d0b09dd1013e16bab">everyone 18 and up</a>&nbsp;would be offered a third vaccine dose by Dec. 31 — less than three weeks away, and a month earlier than the previous target.

Johnson said said boosters would “reinforce our wall of vaccine protection” against an anticipated “tidal wave of omicron.” The British government raised the country’s official coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning that the rapid spread of omicron “adds additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and health care services.”

U.K. health authorities say omicron cases are doubling every two to three days in Britain, and it will replace delta as the dominant coronavirus strain within days. But it’s unclear whether the expected wave of infections will inundate the country’s state-funded health care system.

Scientists in South Africa, where omicron was first identified, say they see signs the variant may cause less severe disease than delta but caution that it’s too soon to be certain. Health authorities around the world are watching Britain closely to see what an omicron surge looks like in a country with an older, more highly vaccinated population than South Africa’s.

About 10 people are in U.K. hospitals with COVID-19 caused by omicron, and Johnson on Monday said the country’s first COVID-19 death involving the variant had been confirmed.

“So I think the idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus, I think that’s something we need to set on one side and just recognize the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population,” Johnson said as he visited a vaccination center in London. “So the best thing we can do is all get our boosters.”

The U.K. Health Security Agency says existing vaccines appear less effective in preventing symptomatic infections in people exposed to omicron, though effectiveness appears to rise to between 70% and 75% after a third dose.

More than 80% of people age 12 and up in Britain have received two vaccine doses, and 40% of adults have had three. Giving the rest boosters by the end of the month will be a huge challenge, requiring almost 1 million vaccine shots delivered a day. Johnson acknowledged that many routine medical procedures would have to be postponed to meet the goal.

Some 750 soldiers and thousands of volunteer vaccinators will help give the jabs at doctors’ offices, hospitals, pharmacies and pop-up vaccination centers.

While the online appointment booking system will not be open to under-30s until Wednesday, Johnson said any adult could show up at a walk-in center to get a booster starting Monday.

Lines built up at big London vaccination clinics on Monday morning. The line for shots at St. Thomas’ Hospital, on the south bank of the River Thames in London, stretched across Westminster Bridge toward Parliament. At many clinics people queued patiently despite being told they faced a wait of several hours.

The government’s appointment-booking website struggled to keep up with demand, and also ran out of rapid at-home virus test kits, which have been distributed free to households during the pandemic. The website where tests can be ordered said none were available Monday. Starting Wednesday, people in England must show proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter nightclubs and other crowded venues.

Johnson’s Dec. 31 target applies to England. The other parts of the U.K. — Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — are also expected to speed up their vaccination campaigns.

While omicron is spreading around the world, Britain may be especially affected because it ordinarily has high levels of travel to South Africa. The omicron outbreak is also more visible because U.K. is also a world leader in genomic sequencing, the technique used to identify and track new variants.

Researchers in the U.K. have sequenced about 13.3% of all positive cases, compared with 3.8% in the U.S., according to GISAID, which promotes rapid sharing of data on COVID-19 and the flu. While nations such as Iceland and Denmark have sequenced a greater percentage of their positive cases, the size of the U.K.’s population and the scope of its outbreak mean Britain has sequenced many more cases.

This surveillance provided a key piece of the evidence that Johnson and the nation’s chief medical officers used in deciding to tighten pandemic restrictions and ramp up the U.K.’s vaccination program.

Johnson’s Conservative government is bringing in vaccine certificates for nightclubs and reintroducing restrictions that were lifted almost six months ago. Masks must once again be worn in most indoor settings and as of Monday, people were urged to work from home if possible.

Many scientists say those measures are unlikely to be enough and are calling for tougher ones. But cafes, pubs and shops in city centers fear that plummeting commuter numbers will hammer business in the usually busy pre-Christmas period.

Johnson is facing a major rebellion from unhappy Conservative lawmakers when Parliament votes on the new virus restrictions Tuesday. Dozens are expected to oppose the restrictions — especially vaccine passports, which they say are unfair and economically damaging.

The measures are still highly likely to pass, with support from the opposition Labour Party.

Robert Read, professor of infectious diseases at the University of Southampton, said it was still unclear how severe cases of COVID-19 from omicron would be, but “the evidence is that omicron probably requires much larger amounts of antibody in the blood in order to thwart the virus as much as possible.”

“We need to get those third doses into as many adults as we possibly can, just in case this virus turns out to be a raging bull rather than a pussy cat,” Read told radio station LBC.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638297902218.png" alt="Riders on earlier this month aboard the Underground in London-image courtesy Underground Web Camera" />
 <figcaption>Riders on earlier this month aboard the Underground in London-image courtesy Underground Web Camera</figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — Long lines formed Monday at vaccination centers across England as people heeded the government’s call for all adults to get booster shots to protect themselves against the omicron variant, as the U.K. recorded its first death of a patient infected with omicron.In a televised announcement late Sunday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-europe-england-a32ff1844911b50d0b09dd1013e16bab">everyone 18 and up</a>&nbsp;would be offered a third vaccine dose by Dec. 31 — less than three weeks away, and a month earlier than the previous target.Johnson said said boosters would “reinforce our wall of vaccine protection” against an anticipated “tidal wave of omicron.” The British government raised the country’s official coronavirus threat level on Sunday, warning that the rapid spread of omicron “adds additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and health care services.”U.K. health authorities say omicron cases are doubling every two to three days in Britain, and it will replace delta as the dominant coronavirus strain within days. But it’s unclear whether the expected wave of infections will inundate the country’s state-funded health care system.Scientists in South Africa, where omicron was first identified, say they see signs the variant may cause less severe disease than delta but caution that it’s too soon to be certain. Health authorities around the world are watching Britain closely to see what an omicron surge looks like in a country with an older, more highly vaccinated population than South Africa’s.About 10 people are in U.K. hospitals with COVID-19 caused by omicron, and Johnson on Monday said the country’s first COVID-19 death involving the variant had been confirmed.“So I think the idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus, I think that’s something we need to set on one side and just recognize the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population,” Johnson said as he visited a vaccination center in London. “So the best thing we can do is all get our boosters.”The U.K. Health Security Agency says existing vaccines appear less effective in preventing symptomatic infections in people exposed to omicron, though effectiveness appears to rise to between 70% and 75% after a third dose.More than 80% of people age 12 and up in Britain have received two vaccine doses, and 40% of adults have had three. Giving the rest boosters by the end of the month will be a huge challenge, requiring almost 1 million vaccine shots delivered a day. Johnson acknowledged that many routine medical procedures would have to be postponed to meet the goal.Some 750 soldiers and thousands of volunteer vaccinators will help give the jabs at doctors’ offices, hospitals, pharmacies and pop-up vaccination centers.While the online appointment booking system will not be open to under-30s until Wednesday, Johnson said any adult could show up at a walk-in center to get a booster starting Monday.Lines built up at big London vaccination clinics on Monday morning. The line for shots at St. Thomas’ Hospital, on the south bank of the River Thames in London, stretched across Westminster Bridge toward Parliament. At many clinics people queued patiently despite being told they faced a wait of several hours.The government’s appointment-booking website struggled to keep up with demand, and also ran out of rapid at-home virus test kits, which have been distributed free to households during the pandemic. The website where tests can be ordered said none were available Monday. Starting Wednesday, people in England must show proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter nightclubs and other crowded venues.Johnson’s Dec. 31 target applies to England. The other parts of the U.K. — Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — are also expected to speed up their vaccination campaigns.While omicron is spreading around the world, Britain may be especially affected because it ordinarily has high levels of travel to South Africa. The omicron outbreak is also more visible because U.K. is also a world leader in genomic sequencing, the technique used to identify and track new variants.Researchers in the U.K. have sequenced about 13.3% of all positive cases, compared with 3.8% in the U.S., according to GISAID, which promotes rapid sharing of data on COVID-19 and the flu. While nations such as Iceland and Denmark have sequenced a greater percentage of their positive cases, the size of the U.K.’s population and the scope of its outbreak mean Britain has sequenced many more cases.This surveillance provided a key piece of the evidence that Johnson and the nation’s chief medical officers used in deciding to tighten pandemic restrictions and ramp up the U.K.’s vaccination program.Johnson’s Conservative government is bringing in vaccine certificates for nightclubs and reintroducing restrictions that were lifted almost six months ago. Masks must once again be worn in most indoor settings and as of Monday, people were urged to work from home if possible.Many scientists say those measures are unlikely to be enough and are calling for tougher ones. But cafes, pubs and shops in city centers fear that plummeting commuter numbers will hammer business in the usually busy pre-Christmas period.Johnson is facing a major rebellion from unhappy Conservative lawmakers when Parliament votes on the new virus restrictions Tuesday. Dozens are expected to oppose the restrictions — especially vaccine passports, which they say are unfair and economically damaging.The measures are still highly likely to pass, with support from the opposition Labour Party.Robert Read, professor of infectious diseases at the University of Southampton, said it was still unclear how severe cases of COVID-19 from omicron would be, but “the evidence is that omicron probably requires much larger amounts of antibody in the blood in order to thwart the virus as much as possible.”“We need to get those third doses into as many adults as we possibly can, just in case this virus turns out to be a raging bull rather than a pussy cat,” Read told radio station LBC.

World's 1st omicron death; cases doubling every 2 to 3 days in Britain

WASHINGTON (AP) — Government reports on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/latest-inflation-numbers-consumer-prices-616055db3bf67691b4fdc0015fc00783">rising inflation</a>&nbsp;and the potential costs of President Joe Biden’s social and environment legislation raised fresh questions about the bill’s fate, with both sides hoping the new numbers would influence pivotal Sen. Joe Manchin.

The moderate Manchin, D-W.Va., has spent months forcing Democrats to trim&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-congress-161b5e35f8db33bb664b55cd7a74a681">the 10-year, $2 trillion package</a>, arguing it’s too expensive and at times citing growing inflation as a reason to slow work on the bill. On Friday, the Labor Department said consumer prices grew last month at an annual rate of 6.8%, the highest in 39 years.

A separate report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said that if many of the bill’s temporary spending boosts and tax cuts were made permanent, it would add $3 trillion to the price tag. That would more than double its 10-year cost to around $5 trillion. Democrats called the projections from the Republican-requested report fictitious.

On Monday, Manchin said in a brief interview that he wanted to know “where we are in inflation and where we are on the true price” of the bill, adding he was “very concerned.” He said he expects to meet with Biden late Monday.

The latest inflation figures prompted Biden to use some of his strongest language yet, telling reporters at the White House on Friday, “I think this is the peak of the crisis.” While the numbers illustrate a clear political danger for the administration, the recent performance of financial markets suggests investors don’t see inflation as a long-term problem.

Friday’s reports popped out two weeks before Christmas, by when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., hopes to end months of talks among Democrats and finally push a compromise bill through the Senate. The House approved an initial version last month.

With Manchin still seeking cuts in a measure that originally cost $3.5 trillion, the day’s reports at the least increased his leverage in a tortuous process that’s already seen several near-death moments caused by Democratic infighting. At worst, the numbers fueled worries that Manchin might abandon the package, sinking it.

“I don’t know the answer to that,” Biden said at the White House when asked if he could win Manchin’s support.

Every Democrat in the 50-50 chamber will have to back the bill so Vice President Kamala Harris can cast a tie-breaking vote to approve it.

The political sensitivity of inflation and its impact on the Democratic bill, a collection of family services, health care and climate change priorities, was illustrated as leaders of both parties tried to spin the numbers to their advantage.

Democrats argued that the inflation report intensified the need to approve the measure. They said the legislation’s spending and tax credits for health care, children’s costs, education and other programs would help families cope with rising prices. Most of the bill is paid for with tax boosts on the wealthy and big corporations.

The legislation’s impact will be “reducing costs for ordinary people,” Biden said.

Republicans said the legislation’s expenditures would further feed inflation, which has been driven by supply chain delays making products less available and spending prompted by a strong underlying economy.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said inflation means “the average American has gotten a pay cut,” adding, “It is unthinkable that Senate Democrats would try to respond to this inflation report by ramming through another massive socialist spending package in a matter of days.”

Possibly mitigating the political impact of Friday’s inflation numbers was that they were expected and represented a modest rise from October’s 6.2%.

Adding any additional juice to the economy might worsen inflation. But the extra fiscal stimulus over the next several years in Democrats’ bill would be less than 1% the size of the entire U.S. economy, making its likely inflationary impact mild, said the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

Democrats limited the duration of many initiatives in their package to help contain the bill’s price tag. That includes extending enhancements to the child tax credit for just one year and free, universal pre-school for only six years.

It’s an accounting move both parties have used to make their budget plans seem more affordable — even though they would like their proposals to be permanent and some may be extended because they are popular. Republicans used such phaseouts robustly for their big tax cuts in 2001 and 2017.

“If you believe these programs go away after one, two or three years, you shouldn’t have a driver’s license,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, who requested the CBO estimates. He said the bill’s higher price tag and rising inflation meant Democrats’ legislation would be “lethal to the economy and lethal to your paycheck.”

Democrats argued the estimated added $3 trillion cost was bogus because if they decided to seek any future extensions of their initiatives, they would propose savings to pay for them.

As if sharing a script, Psaki called the GOP claims “fundamentally dishonest” and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Republicans were using “fake scores based on mistruths.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called the numbers “a phony score of an imaginary bill.”

Outside groups have produced similar estimates about the legislation’s cost if its programs were permanent. CBO numbers usually have more clout in Congress because the agency’s impartiality is respected.

Much about the legislation remains in play. Manchin still wants to remove a paid family leave program and curb or eliminate some tax breaks aimed at encouraging a shift to cleaner energy. Moderate Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., has also pushed to trim the measure.

Democrats have also had differences over how to ease limits on federal tax deductions that people can take on state and local taxes. In addition, the Senate parliamentarian must decide whether some provisions — including a top party priority of letting millions of migrants remain in the U.S. — violate the chamber’s rules and should be removed.

That’s left it unclear whether Schumer will be able to meet his Christmas deadline.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639015686812.png" alt="President Biden spent a day in Kansas City last week to sell his his $2Trillion plan and said, "the legislation’s impact will be reducing costs for ordinary people." -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden spent a day in Kansas City last week to sell his his $2Trillion plan and said, "the legislation’s impact will be reducing costs for ordinary people." -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Government reports on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/latest-inflation-numbers-consumer-prices-616055db3bf67691b4fdc0015fc00783">rising inflation</a>&nbsp;and the potential costs of President Joe Biden’s social and environment legislation raised fresh questions about the bill’s fate, with both sides hoping the new numbers would influence pivotal Sen. Joe Manchin.The moderate Manchin, D-W.Va., has spent months forcing Democrats to trim&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-congress-161b5e35f8db33bb664b55cd7a74a681">the 10-year, $2 trillion package</a>, arguing it’s too expensive and at times citing growing inflation as a reason to slow work on the bill. On Friday, the Labor Department said consumer prices grew last month at an annual rate of 6.8%, the highest in 39 years.A separate report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said that if many of the bill’s temporary spending boosts and tax cuts were made permanent, it would add $3 trillion to the price tag. That would more than double its 10-year cost to around $5 trillion. Democrats called the projections from the Republican-requested report fictitious.On Monday, Manchin said in a brief interview that he wanted to know “where we are in inflation and where we are on the true price” of the bill, adding he was “very concerned.” He said he expects to meet with Biden late Monday.The latest inflation figures prompted Biden to use some of his strongest language yet, telling reporters at the White House on Friday, “I think this is the peak of the crisis.” While the numbers illustrate a clear political danger for the administration, the recent performance of financial markets suggests investors don’t see inflation as a long-term problem.Friday’s reports popped out two weeks before Christmas, by when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., hopes to end months of talks among Democrats and finally push a compromise bill through the Senate. The House approved an initial version last month.With Manchin still seeking cuts in a measure that originally cost $3.5 trillion, the day’s reports at the least increased his leverage in a tortuous process that’s already seen several near-death moments caused by Democratic infighting. At worst, the numbers fueled worries that Manchin might abandon the package, sinking it.“I don’t know the answer to that,” Biden said at the White House when asked if he could win Manchin’s support.Every Democrat in the 50-50 chamber will have to back the bill so Vice President Kamala Harris can cast a tie-breaking vote to approve it.The political sensitivity of inflation and its impact on the Democratic bill, a collection of family services, health care and climate change priorities, was illustrated as leaders of both parties tried to spin the numbers to their advantage.Democrats argued that the inflation report intensified the need to approve the measure. They said the legislation’s spending and tax credits for health care, children’s costs, education and other programs would help families cope with rising prices. Most of the bill is paid for with tax boosts on the wealthy and big corporations.The legislation’s impact will be “reducing costs for ordinary people,” Biden said.Republicans said the legislation’s expenditures would further feed inflation, which has been driven by supply chain delays making products less available and spending prompted by a strong underlying economy.Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said inflation means “the average American has gotten a pay cut,” adding, “It is unthinkable that Senate Democrats would try to respond to this inflation report by ramming through another massive socialist spending package in a matter of days.”Possibly mitigating the political impact of Friday’s inflation numbers was that they were expected and represented a modest rise from October’s 6.2%.Adding any additional juice to the economy might worsen inflation. But the extra fiscal stimulus over the next several years in Democrats’ bill would be less than 1% the size of the entire U.S. economy, making its likely inflationary impact mild, said the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.Democrats limited the duration of many initiatives in their package to help contain the bill’s price tag. That includes extending enhancements to the child tax credit for just one year and free, universal pre-school for only six years.It’s an accounting move both parties have used to make their budget plans seem more affordable — even though they would like their proposals to be permanent and some may be extended because they are popular. Republicans used such phaseouts robustly for their big tax cuts in 2001 and 2017.“If you believe these programs go away after one, two or three years, you shouldn’t have a driver’s license,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, who requested the CBO estimates. He said the bill’s higher price tag and rising inflation meant Democrats’ legislation would be “lethal to the economy and lethal to your paycheck.”Democrats argued the estimated added $3 trillion cost was bogus because if they decided to seek any future extensions of their initiatives, they would propose savings to pay for them.As if sharing a script, Psaki called the GOP claims “fundamentally dishonest” and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Republicans were using “fake scores based on mistruths.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called the numbers “a phony score of an imaginary bill.”Outside groups have produced similar estimates about the legislation’s cost if its programs were permanent. CBO numbers usually have more clout in Congress because the agency’s impartiality is respected.Much about the legislation remains in play. Manchin still wants to remove a paid family leave program and curb or eliminate some tax breaks aimed at encouraging a shift to cleaner energy. Moderate Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., has also pushed to trim the measure.Democrats have also had differences over how to ease limits on federal tax deductions that people can take on state and local taxes. In addition, the Senate parliamentarian must decide whether some provisions — including a top party priority of letting millions of migrants remain in the U.S. — violate the chamber’s rules and should be removed.That’s left it unclear whether Schumer will be able to meet his Christmas deadline.

Rising inflation places Biden's $2T spending bill in jeopardy

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska authorities have identified two people killed in a crash in eastern Nebraska on a snow and ice-slicked highway. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that 46-year-old Hector Martinez Mezquita, of Fremont, and 26-year-old Francisco Alfaro died in the Saturday morning crash on U.S. Highway 77 near Mead.

 The Saunders County Sheriff's Office says Mezquita was driving a car south on the highway and lost control because of ice and snow on the roadway.

 The car was then hit on its passenger side by a northbound pickup truck. Mezquita and Alfaro died at the scene. 

Investigators say a 37-year-old Yutan woman and a child who was her passenger were seriously injured in the crash and taken to an Omaha hospital.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska authorities have identified two people killed in a crash in eastern Nebraska on a snow and ice-slicked highway. The Omaha World-Herald reports that 46-year-old Hector Martinez Mezquita, of Fremont, and 26-year-old Francisco Alfaro died in the Saturday morning crash on U.S. Highway 77 near Mead. The Saunders County Sheriff's Office says Mezquita was driving a car south on the highway and lost control because of ice and snow on the roadway. The car was then hit on its passenger side by a northbound pickup truck. Mezquita and Alfaro died at the scene. Investigators say a 37-year-old Yutan woman and a child who was her passenger were seriously injured in the crash and taken to an Omaha hospital.

Officials ID 2 killed in eastern Nebraska crash during storm

WASHINGTON (AP) —More U.S. states desperate to defend against COVID-19 are calling on the National Guard and other military personnel to assist virus-weary medical staffs at hospitals and other care centers.

People who became sick after refusing to get vaccinated are overwhelming hospitals in certain states, especially in the Northeast and the Upper Midwest. New York, meanwhile, announced a statewide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-mask-mandate-coronavirus-cfe8fb80401bb0fe66f3260bf5f51dda">indoor mask order</a>, effective Monday and lasting five weeks through the holiday season.

“We’re entering a time of uncertainty, and we could either plateau here or our cases could get out of control,” Gov. Kathy Hochul warned Friday.

In Michigan, health director Elizabeth Hertel was equally blunt: “I want to be absolutely clear: You are risking serious illness, hospitalization and even death” without a vaccination.

The seven-day rolling average for daily new cases in the U.S. rose over the past two weeks to 117,677 by Thursday, compared to 84,756 on Nov. 25, Thanksgiving Day, according to Johns Hopkins University. The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has soared to about 54,000 on average, according&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#hospitalizations" target="_blank">to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</a>

Meanwhile, the country is approaching a new milestone of 800,000 COVID-19 deaths. More than 200 million Americans, or about 60% of the population, are now fully vaccinated.

In Maine, which hit a pandemic high this week with nearly 400 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, as many as 75 members of the National Guard were being summoned to try to keep people out of critical care with monoclonal antibodies and to perform other non-clinical tasks.

Maine has one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.maine.gov/covid19/vaccines/dashboard" target="_blank">highest COVID-19 vaccination rates&nbsp;</a>in the country — 73% — but that rate lags in many of the state’s rural pockets.

The New York National Guard said it had deployed 120 Army medics and Air Force medical technicians to 12 nursing homes and long-term care facilities to relieve fatigued staff.

Dr. Paolo Marciano, chief medical officer at Beaumont Hospital in Dearborn, Michigan, said it was a “tremendous lifeline” to get assistance from the Defense Department, which has more than 60 nurses, doctors and respiratory therapists assigned to the state.

“It allowed us to be able to care for the COVID patients and at the same time still maintain the level of care that cancer patients require or people with chronic illnesses,” Marciano said. “Where we are today is really just keeping our heads above water.”

New York’s mask order covers all indoor public places unless a business or venue has a vaccine requirement. The state reported more than 68,000 positive tests for the virus in a seven-day period that ended Wednesday, the most for any seven-day stretch since February.

New York City and several upstate New York counties already have mask mandates. Critics, however, said the governor’s announcement was another burden for businesses.

“Government overreach at its worst,” said Republican Assemblyman Mike Lawler.

Michigan is sending more ventilators to hospitals and asking for even more from the national stockpile. Infection rates and hospitalizations are at record levels, 21 months into the pandemic. The first case of the omicron variant was confirmed Thursday in the Grand Rapids area.

The largest hospital system in Indiana enlisted National Guard for support this week at a time when the number of COVID-19 patients in the state has more than doubled in the past month. The state’s COVID-19 hospitalizations are now higher than Indiana’s summer surge that peaked in September and are approaching the pandemic peak reached in late 2020.

WASHINGTON (AP) —More U.S. states desperate to defend against COVID-19 are calling on the National Guard and other military personnel to assist virus-weary medical staffs at hospitals and other care centers.People who became sick after refusing to get vaccinated are overwhelming hospitals in certain states, especially in the Northeast and the Upper Midwest. New York, meanwhile, announced a statewide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-mask-mandate-coronavirus-cfe8fb80401bb0fe66f3260bf5f51dda">indoor mask order</a>, effective Monday and lasting five weeks through the holiday season.“We’re entering a time of uncertainty, and we could either plateau here or our cases could get out of control,” Gov. Kathy Hochul warned Friday.In Michigan, health director Elizabeth Hertel was equally blunt: “I want to be absolutely clear: You are risking serious illness, hospitalization and even death” without a vaccination.The seven-day rolling average for daily new cases in the U.S. rose over the past two weeks to 117,677 by Thursday, compared to 84,756 on Nov. 25, Thanksgiving Day, according to Johns Hopkins University. The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has soared to about 54,000 on average, according&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#hospitalizations" target="_blank">to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</a>Meanwhile, the country is approaching a new milestone of 800,000 COVID-19 deaths. More than 200 million Americans, or about 60% of the population, are now fully vaccinated.In Maine, which hit a pandemic high this week with nearly 400 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, as many as 75 members of the National Guard were being summoned to try to keep people out of critical care with monoclonal antibodies and to perform other non-clinical tasks.Maine has one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.maine.gov/covid19/vaccines/dashboard" target="_blank">highest COVID-19 vaccination rates&nbsp;</a>in the country — 73% — but that rate lags in many of the state’s rural pockets.The New York National Guard said it had deployed 120 Army medics and Air Force medical technicians to 12 nursing homes and long-term care facilities to relieve fatigued staff.Dr. Paolo Marciano, chief medical officer at Beaumont Hospital in Dearborn, Michigan, said it was a “tremendous lifeline” to get assistance from the Defense Department, which has more than 60 nurses, doctors and respiratory therapists assigned to the state.“It allowed us to be able to care for the COVID patients and at the same time still maintain the level of care that cancer patients require or people with chronic illnesses,” Marciano said. “Where we are today is really just keeping our heads above water.”New York’s mask order covers all indoor public places unless a business or venue has a vaccine requirement. The state reported more than 68,000 positive tests for the virus in a seven-day period that ended Wednesday, the most for any seven-day stretch since February.New York City and several upstate New York counties already have mask mandates. Critics, however, said the governor’s announcement was another burden for businesses.“Government overreach at its worst,” said Republican Assemblyman Mike Lawler.Michigan is sending more ventilators to hospitals and asking for even more from the national stockpile. Infection rates and hospitalizations are at record levels, 21 months into the pandemic. The first case of the omicron variant was confirmed Thursday in the Grand Rapids area.The largest hospital system in Indiana enlisted National Guard for support this week at a time when the number of COVID-19 patients in the state has more than doubled in the past month. The state’s COVID-19 hospitalizations are now higher than Indiana’s summer surge that peaked in September and are approaching the pandemic peak reached in late 2020.___

National Guard helping virus-sapped states, hospitals

BOSTON (AP) — A critical vulnerability in a widely used software tool — one quickly exploited in the online game Minecraft — is rapidly emerging as a major threat to organizations around the world.

“The internet’s on fire right now,” said Adam Meyers, senior vice president of intelligence at the cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike. “People are scrambling to patch,” he said, “and all kinds of people scrambling to exploit it.” He said Friday that in the 12 hours since the bug’s existence was disclosed that it had been “fully weaponized,” meaning malefactors had developed and distributed tools to exploit it.

The flaw may be the worst computer vulnerability discovered in years. It was uncovered in a utility that’s ubiquitous in cloud servers and enterprise software used across industry and government. Unless it is fixed, it grants criminals, spies and programming novices alike easy access to internal networks where they can loot valuable data, plant malware, erase crucial information and much more.

“I’d be hard-pressed to think of a company that’s not at risk,” said Joe Sullivan, chief security officer for Cloudflare, whose online infrastructure protects websites from malicious actors. Untold millions of servers have it installed, and experts said the fallout would not be known for several days.

Amit Yoran, CEO of the cybersecurity firm Tenable, called it “the single biggest, most critical vulnerability of the last decade” — and possibly the biggest in the history of modern computing.

The vulnerability,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lunasec.io/docs/blog/log4j-zero-day/" target="_blank">dubbed ‘Log4Shell,’</a>&nbsp;was rated 10 on a scale of one to 10 the Apache Software Foundation, which oversees development of the software. Anyone with the exploit can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ncas/current-activity/2021/12/10/apache-releases-log4j-version-2150-address-critical-rce" target="_blank">obtain full access to an unpatched computer</a>&nbsp;that uses the software,

Experts said the extreme ease with which the vulnerability lets an attacker access a web server — no password required — is what makes it so dangerous.

New Zealand’s computer emergency response team was among the first to report that the flaw was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cert.govt.nz/it-specialists/advisories/log4j-rce-0-day-actively-exploited/" target="_blank">being “actively exploited in the wild”</a>&nbsp;just hours after it was publicly reported Thursday and a patch released.

The vulnerability, located in open-source Apache software used to run websites and other web services, was reported to the foundation on Nov. 24 by the Chinese tech giant Alibaba, it&nbsp;<a href="https://logging.apache.org/log4j/2.x/security.html" target="_blank">said</a>. It took two weeks to develop and release a fix.

But patching systems around the world could be a complicated task. While most organizations and cloud providers such as Amazon should be able to update their web servers easily, the same Apache software is also often embedded in third-party programs, which often can only be updated by their owners.

Yoran, of Tenable, said organizations need to presume they’ve been compromised and act quickly.

The first obvious signs of the flaw’s exploitation appeared in Minecraft, an online game hugely popular with kids and owned by Microsoft. Meyers and security expert Marcus Hutchins said&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/MalwareTechBlog/status/1469290238702874625?s=20" target="_blank">Minecraft users were already using it to execute programs</a>&nbsp;on the computers of other users by pasting a short message in a chat box.

Microsoft said it had issued a software update for Minecraft users. “Customers who apply the fix are protected,” it said.

Researchers reported finding evidence the vulnerability could be exploited in servers run by companies such as Apple, Amazon, Twitter and Cloudflare.

Cloudflare’s Sullivan said there we no indication his company’s servers had been compromised. Apple, Amazon and Twitter did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

BOSTON (AP) — A critical vulnerability in a widely used software tool — one quickly exploited in the online game Minecraft — is rapidly emerging as a major threat to organizations around the world.“The internet’s on fire right now,” said Adam Meyers, senior vice president of intelligence at the cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike. “People are scrambling to patch,” he said, “and all kinds of people scrambling to exploit it.” He said Friday that in the 12 hours since the bug’s existence was disclosed that it had been “fully weaponized,” meaning malefactors had developed and distributed tools to exploit it.The flaw may be the worst computer vulnerability discovered in years. It was uncovered in a utility that’s ubiquitous in cloud servers and enterprise software used across industry and government. Unless it is fixed, it grants criminals, spies and programming novices alike easy access to internal networks where they can loot valuable data, plant malware, erase crucial information and much more.“I’d be hard-pressed to think of a company that’s not at risk,” said Joe Sullivan, chief security officer for Cloudflare, whose online infrastructure protects websites from malicious actors. Untold millions of servers have it installed, and experts said the fallout would not be known for several days.Amit Yoran, CEO of the cybersecurity firm Tenable, called it “the single biggest, most critical vulnerability of the last decade” — and possibly the biggest in the history of modern computing.The vulnerability,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lunasec.io/docs/blog/log4j-zero-day/" target="_blank">dubbed ‘Log4Shell,’</a>&nbsp;was rated 10 on a scale of one to 10 the Apache Software Foundation, which oversees development of the software. Anyone with the exploit can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ncas/current-activity/2021/12/10/apache-releases-log4j-version-2150-address-critical-rce" target="_blank">obtain full access to an unpatched computer</a>&nbsp;that uses the software,Experts said the extreme ease with which the vulnerability lets an attacker access a web server — no password required — is what makes it so dangerous.New Zealand’s computer emergency response team was among the first to report that the flaw was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cert.govt.nz/it-specialists/advisories/log4j-rce-0-day-actively-exploited/" target="_blank">being “actively exploited in the wild”</a>&nbsp;just hours after it was publicly reported Thursday and a patch released.The vulnerability, located in open-source Apache software used to run websites and other web services, was reported to the foundation on Nov. 24 by the Chinese tech giant Alibaba, it&nbsp;<a href="https://logging.apache.org/log4j/2.x/security.html" target="_blank">said</a>. It took two weeks to develop and release a fix.But patching systems around the world could be a complicated task. While most organizations and cloud providers such as Amazon should be able to update their web servers easily, the same Apache software is also often embedded in third-party programs, which often can only be updated by their owners.Yoran, of Tenable, said organizations need to presume they’ve been compromised and act quickly.The first obvious signs of the flaw’s exploitation appeared in Minecraft, an online game hugely popular with kids and owned by Microsoft. Meyers and security expert Marcus Hutchins said&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/MalwareTechBlog/status/1469290238702874625?s=20" target="_blank">Minecraft users were already using it to execute programs</a>&nbsp;on the computers of other users by pasting a short message in a chat box.Microsoft said it had issued a software update for Minecraft users. “Customers who apply the fix are protected,” it said.Researchers reported finding evidence the vulnerability could be exploited in servers run by companies such as Apple, Amazon, Twitter and Cloudflare.Cloudflare’s Sullivan said there we no indication his company’s servers had been compromised. Apple, Amazon and Twitter did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Critical internet issue: Techs race to fix software flaw

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service today <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/fs-2021-17.pdf">updated frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit</a>&nbsp;PDF
 (FS-2021-17). Individuals who didn't get the full first and second 
Economic Impact Payments may be eligible to claim the 2020 Recovery 
Rebate Credit.

The first and second rounds of Economic Impact Payments were issued 
in 2020 and early 2021. The first two rounds of Economic Impact Payments
 were advance payments of the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit claimed on a 
2020 tax return.

Individuals who are missing the first or second stimulus payments 
should review the revised answers to determine their eligibility and 
whether they need to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit for tax year 2020. 
If they're eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit, they will need 
to file a 2020 tax return if they have not filed yet or amend their 2020
 tax return if it's already been processed.

These FAQs are being issued to provide general information to taxpayers and tax professionals as expeditiously as possible

More information about <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/general-overview-of-taxpayer-reliance-on-guidance-published-in-the-internal-revenue-bulletin-and-faqs">reliance</a> is available.

More information on the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit</a> is available on IRS.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service today <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/fs-2021-17.pdf">updated frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit</a>&nbsp;PDF
 (FS-2021-17). Individuals who didn't get the full first and second 
Economic Impact Payments may be eligible to claim the 2020 Recovery 
Rebate Credit.The first and second rounds of Economic Impact Payments were issued 
in 2020 and early 2021. The first two rounds of Economic Impact Payments
 were advance payments of the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit claimed on a 
2020 tax return.Individuals who are missing the first or second stimulus payments 
should review the revised answers to determine their eligibility and 
whether they need to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit for tax year 2020. 
If they're eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit, they will need 
to file a 2020 tax return if they have not filed yet or amend their 2020
 tax return if it's already been processed.These FAQs are being issued to provide general information to taxpayers and tax professionals as expeditiously as possibleMore information about <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/general-overview-of-taxpayer-reliance-on-guidance-published-in-the-internal-revenue-bulletin-and-faqs">reliance</a> is available.More information on the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit</a> is available on IRS.gov.

IRS on COVID payments: New 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit eligibility Q&A

By LAURA OLSON <a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2021/12/10/cdc-25-states-report-omicron-strain-of-covid-19-but-delta-remains-biggest-threat/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON —&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/omicron-variant.html">Twenty-five states</a> have identified cases of the new omicron variant of COVID-19, federal public health officials said Friday as they released&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7050e1.htm?s_cid=mm7050e1_w">new data</a>&nbsp;on the first 43 U.S. cases.

Of those initial, confirmed cases, more than half were among people 
between the ages of 18 and 39, according to Dr. Rochelle Walensky, 
director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About one-third of the infections were among individuals who recently
 had traveled internationally, Walensky said during a news briefing 
Friday. And 80%, or 34 individuals, were fully vaccinated, including 
some who had recently received a booster.

Most of the omicron infections so far have resulted in only mild 
symptoms, Walensky said, adding that’s in line with what would be 
expected among individuals who were fully vaccinated.

Walensky and other public health officials said early data suggests 
that getting a vaccine booster could bolster protection against the new 
variant, urging anyone who is currently eligible — including the 16- and
 17-year-olds&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1208-16-17-booster.html">who became eligible this week</a>&nbsp;— to get a follow-up shot.

While the unknowns of the new variant still loom, officials 
emphasized that the highly transmissible delta variant that caused the 
summer surge in infections still remains the main threat.

“Over 99% of cases in this country right now are caused by the delta 
variant, which is driving increases in cases and hospitalizations,” 
Walensky said.

The seven-day average of infections nationally increased by 37% over 
the last week, while hospitalizations increased by 16% and deaths rose 
by 28% over that same time period.

Those rising numbers come after families gathered for Thanksgiving 
last month, and many are preparing for holiday gatherings this month.

Asked for any guidance for those wondering if they should reassess 
holiday travel plans, Walensky said gathering together this season will 
require Americans to be “vigilant” about safety precautions. She 
reiterated the need to ensure those getting together are fully 
vaccinated and boosted if possible, as well as wearing masks in the 
weeks leading up to any gatherings and taking a COVID-19 test.

By LAURA OLSON <a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2021/12/10/cdc-25-states-report-omicron-strain-of-covid-19-but-delta-remains-biggest-threat/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON —&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/omicron-variant.html">Twenty-five states</a> have identified cases of the new omicron variant of COVID-19, federal public health officials said Friday as they released&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7050e1.htm?s_cid=mm7050e1_w">new data</a>&nbsp;on the first 43 U.S. cases.Of those initial, confirmed cases, more than half were among people 
between the ages of 18 and 39, according to Dr. Rochelle Walensky, 
director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About one-third of the infections were among individuals who recently
 had traveled internationally, Walensky said during a news briefing 
Friday. And 80%, or 34 individuals, were fully vaccinated, including 
some who had recently received a booster.Most of the omicron infections so far have resulted in only mild 
symptoms, Walensky said, adding that’s in line with what would be 
expected among individuals who were fully vaccinated.Walensky and other public health officials said early data suggests 
that getting a vaccine booster could bolster protection against the new 
variant, urging anyone who is currently eligible — including the 16- and
 17-year-olds&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1208-16-17-booster.html">who became eligible this week</a>&nbsp;— to get a follow-up shot.While the unknowns of the new variant still loom, officials 
emphasized that the highly transmissible delta variant that caused the 
summer surge in infections still remains the main threat.“Over 99% of cases in this country right now are caused by the delta 
variant, which is driving increases in cases and hospitalizations,” 
Walensky said.The seven-day average of infections nationally increased by 37% over 
the last week, while hospitalizations increased by 16% and deaths rose 
by 28% over that same time period.Those rising numbers come after families gathered for Thanksgiving 
last month, and many are preparing for holiday gatherings this month.Asked for any guidance for those wondering if they should reassess 
holiday travel plans, Walensky said gathering together this season will 
require Americans to be “vigilant” about safety precautions. She 
reiterated the need to ensure those getting together are fully 
vaccinated and boosted if possible, as well as wearing masks in the 
weeks leading up to any gatherings and taking a COVID-19 test.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

CDC: 25 states report omicron, but delta remains biggest threat

SPRINGFIELD, Neb. (AP) — Sarpy County authorities are investigating after a 19-year-old man was struck and killed by a pickup truck early Sunday near Springfield 

Sarpy County Sheriff’s Capt. Brian Richards said the man died at the scene of the crash near 132nd and Main streets. 

The crash happened around 12:45 a.m. &nbsp;Sunday. 

Richards said the 19-year-old and two 18-year-old men were in a Ford pickup truck, but the 19-year-old got out of the truck before the crash. 

Investigators are trying to determine how the 19-year-old came to be struck by the pickup. 

His name was not immediately released on Sunday.

SPRINGFIELD, Neb. (AP) — Sarpy County authorities are investigating after a 19-year-old man was struck and killed by a pickup truck early Sunday near Springfield Sarpy County Sheriff’s Capt. Brian Richards said the man died at the scene of the crash near 132nd and Main streets. The crash happened around 12:45 a.m. &nbsp;Sunday. Richards said the 19-year-old and two 18-year-old men were in a Ford pickup truck, but the 19-year-old got out of the truck before the crash. Investigators are trying to determine how the 19-year-old came to be struck by the pickup. His name was not immediately released on Sunday.

Nineteen-year-old Nebraska man struck by pickup and killed

By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-12-08/thousands-of-kansas-families-stick-with-homeschooling-after-getting-a-taste-during-the-pandemic">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA&nbsp;— Worried about safety, resistant to 
mask orders and troubled by a lack of confidence in public schools, 
thousands more Kansas parents are opting to teach their kids at home.

The shift comes in the wake of the pandemic that convinced those families they could handle the job.

“We
 just had call after call after call,” said Bert Moore, who oversees 
home-school registrations for the Kansas Department of Education. “And 
they continue to call us. This isn’t something that occurs in just 
August. . . . It will be May before we have the final number.”

During a normal school year, about 1,400 Kansas families <a href="https://www.ksde.org/Agency/Division-of-Learning-Services/Special-Education-and-Title-Services/Title-Services/Non-Accredited-Private-Schools" target="_blank">newly register to home school</a>.
 Last year that number more than tripled — to 5,527 — and the trend 
doesn’t seem to be slowing. So far this year, more than 2,250 new 
families have registered.

Experts say the switch to remote 
learning during the pandemic persuaded record numbers of families to 
consider home-schooling long-term. Some want more flexible schedules or 
greater control over their children’s lessons. Others are disillusioned 
with the traditional model of education or worried about <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-11-23/test-scores-show-kansas-students-fell-further-behind-during-pandemic" target="_blank">plummeting test scores</a>.

“This
 increase in homeschooling is something that was ratcheting up for many 
years prior to the pandemic, but the pandemic has certainly jump-started
 it and caused it to spike,” said Lance Izumi, author of “The Homeschool
 Boom.”

During the early stages of lockdowns, parents got 
front-row seats to their children’s schooling. That, Izumi said, 
“demystified the learning process for them.”

“You’re seeing people
 discovering home-schooling as something that is doable, which they 
thought was not prior to the pandemic,” he said.

Moore, the state 
education official, said it’s hard to know whether COVID-19 is causing a
 temporary increase in home-schooling or a larger shift that will 
continue after the virus is controlled.

The number of students 
enrolled in Kansas public and private schools in dropped by more than 
15,000 in 2021 compared to 2019, according to state data. Some of those 
students may have moved out of the state, but many likely enrolled in 
virtual or homeschooling.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638994123574.png" alt="Across the country this fall, a record 8 million students are being home-schooled. Stephan Bisaha / KMUW" />
 <figcaption>Across the country this fall, a record 8 million students are being home-schooled. Stephan Bisaha / KMUW</figcaption>
 </figure>By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-12-08/thousands-of-kansas-families-stick-with-homeschooling-after-getting-a-taste-during-the-pandemic">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA&nbsp;— Worried about safety, resistant to 
mask orders and troubled by a lack of confidence in public schools, 
thousands more Kansas parents are opting to teach their kids at home.The shift comes in the wake of the pandemic that convinced those families they could handle the job.“We
 just had call after call after call,” said Bert Moore, who oversees 
home-school registrations for the Kansas Department of Education. “And 
they continue to call us. This isn’t something that occurs in just 
August. . . . It will be May before we have the final number.”During a normal school year, about 1,400 Kansas families <a href="https://www.ksde.org/Agency/Division-of-Learning-Services/Special-Education-and-Title-Services/Title-Services/Non-Accredited-Private-Schools" target="_blank">newly register to home school</a>.
 Last year that number more than tripled — to 5,527 — and the trend 
doesn’t seem to be slowing. So far this year, more than 2,250 new 
families have registered.Experts say the switch to remote 
learning during the pandemic persuaded record numbers of families to 
consider home-schooling long-term. Some want more flexible schedules or 
greater control over their children’s lessons. Others are disillusioned 
with the traditional model of education or worried about <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-11-23/test-scores-show-kansas-students-fell-further-behind-during-pandemic" target="_blank">plummeting test scores</a>.“This
 increase in homeschooling is something that was ratcheting up for many 
years prior to the pandemic, but the pandemic has certainly jump-started
 it and caused it to spike,” said Lance Izumi, author of “The Homeschool
 Boom.”During the early stages of lockdowns, parents got 
front-row seats to their children’s schooling. That, Izumi said, 
“demystified the learning process for them.”“You’re seeing people
 discovering home-schooling as something that is doable, which they 
thought was not prior to the pandemic,” he said.Moore, the state 
education official, said it’s hard to know whether COVID-19 is causing a
 temporary increase in home-schooling or a larger shift that will 
continue after the virus is controlled.The number of students 
enrolled in Kansas public and private schools in dropped by more than 
15,000 in 2021 compared to 2019, according to state data. Some of those 
students may have moved out of the state, but many likely enrolled in 
virtual or homeschooling.“It’s not going to be a momentary blip,”
 said Izumi, the author. “That’s the incentive for regular public 
schools to address those gaps in order to entice these parents to come 
back.”Enrollment in Wichita, the state’s largest district, fell 
by 5.6% during the 2020-21 school year — much of that in pre-school and 
kindergarten. Officials hired two full-time staff members to visit 
preschools and daycare centers in an <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-04-26/wichita-schools-looking-to-recruit-back-students-after-enrollment-dips" target="_blank">attempt to recruit them back</a>.Across the country this fall, a record 8 million students are being home-schooled, including a <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/black-families-are-choosing-home-school-children-fall-rcna1869" target="_blank">growing number of Black children</a>. A <a href="https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/03/homeschooling-on-the-rise-during-covid-19-pandemic.html" target="_blank">survey by the U.S. Census Bureau</a> showed that more than 16% of Black families were homeschooling in the fall of 2020 – up from about 3% the previous spring.Some education advocates raise concerns about the quality of home schools, since there is little state oversight.“There
 are good quality programs out there for home-schooling,” Moore said. 
“But I am concerned about students’ exposure to collaboration, to 
cooperative learning, to working in teams and having that experience of 
participating in the things that students in our schools get to 
experience.”Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.