WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced the launch 
of an improved identity verification and sign-in process that enables 
more people to securely access and use IRS online tools and 
applications.

Taxpayers using the new mobile-friendly verification procedure can gain entry to existing IRS online services such as the:

Additional IRS applications will transition to the new method over the next year.

"Identity verification is critical to protect taxpayers and their 
information. The IRS has been working hard to make improvements in this 
area, and this new verification process is designed to make IRS online 
applications as secure as possible for people," said IRS Commissioner 
Chuck Rettig. "To help taxpayers and the tax community, we are improving
 the accessibility of online tools that help families manage their Child
 Tax Credit, check on their IRS accounts and securely perform other 
routine tasks online."

The new process can reach more people through the expanded use of 
identity documents and increased help desk assistance for taxpayers who 
encounter a problem when attempting to verify their identity online. 
Developed under the Secure Access Digital Identity initiative (SADI), 
the new process complies with a federal mandate.

To provide verification services, the IRS is using ID.me, a trusted 
technology provider. The new process is one more step the IRS is taking 
to ensure that taxpayer information is provided only to the person who 
legally has a right to the data.

The IRS also integrated this new account-creation process into some 
applications used by tax professionals, including those used to request 
powers of attorney or tax information authorizations online using <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/use-tax-pro-account">Tax Pro Account</a> or to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/submit-forms-2848-and-8821-online">submit Forms 2848 and 8821 online</a>.

When accessing the tools listed above, taxpayers will be asked to 
sign in with an ID.me account. People who already have IRS usernames may
 continue to use their credentials from the old system to sign-in until 
summer 2022, but are prompted to create an ID.me account as soon as 
possible. Anyone with an existing ID.me account from the Child Tax 
Credit Update Portal, or from another government agency, can sign in 
with their existing credentials.

To verify their identity with ID.me, taxpayers need to provide a 
photo of an identity document such as a driver's license, state ID or 
passport. They'll also need to take a selfie with a smartphone or a 
computer with a webcam. Once their identity has been verified, they can 
securely access IRS online services.

Taxpayers who need help verifying their identity or submitting a support ticket can visit the <a href="https://help.id.me/hc/en-us/categories/1500002213102?utm_campaign=IRS-group1&amp;utm_medium=sadi&amp;utm_source=irs-website&amp;utm_content=newsrelease&amp;utm_term=news">ID.me IRS Help Site</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced the launch 
of an improved identity verification and sign-in process that enables 
more people to securely access and use IRS online tools and 
applications.Taxpayers using the new mobile-friendly verification procedure can gain entry to existing IRS online services such as the:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-update-portal">Child Tax Credit Update Portal</a>,</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/view-your-tax-account">Online Account</a>,</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript">Get Transcript Online</a>,</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin">Get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN)</a> and</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application">Online Payment Agreement</a>.</li>
 </ul>Additional IRS applications will transition to the new method over the next year."Identity verification is critical to protect taxpayers and their 
information. The IRS has been working hard to make improvements in this 
area, and this new verification process is designed to make IRS online 
applications as secure as possible for people," said IRS Commissioner 
Chuck Rettig. "To help taxpayers and the tax community, we are improving
 the accessibility of online tools that help families manage their Child
 Tax Credit, check on their IRS accounts and securely perform other 
routine tasks online."The new process can reach more people through the expanded use of 
identity documents and increased help desk assistance for taxpayers who 
encounter a problem when attempting to verify their identity online. 
Developed under the Secure Access Digital Identity initiative (SADI), 
the new process complies with a federal mandate.To provide verification services, the IRS is using ID.me, a trusted 
technology provider. The new process is one more step the IRS is taking 
to ensure that taxpayer information is provided only to the person who 
legally has a right to the data.The IRS also integrated this new account-creation process into some 
applications used by tax professionals, including those used to request 
powers of attorney or tax information authorizations online using <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/use-tax-pro-account">Tax Pro Account</a> or to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/submit-forms-2848-and-8821-online">submit Forms 2848 and 8821 online</a>.<h2>Accessing IRS tools</h2>When accessing the tools listed above, taxpayers will be asked to 
sign in with an ID.me account. People who already have IRS usernames may
 continue to use their credentials from the old system to sign-in until 
summer 2022, but are prompted to create an ID.me account as soon as 
possible. Anyone with an existing ID.me account from the Child Tax 
Credit Update Portal, or from another government agency, can sign in 
with their existing credentials.To verify their identity with ID.me, taxpayers need to provide a 
photo of an identity document such as a driver's license, state ID or 
passport. They'll also need to take a selfie with a smartphone or a 
computer with a webcam. Once their identity has been verified, they can 
securely access IRS online services.Taxpayers who need help verifying their identity or submitting a support ticket can visit the <a href="https://help.id.me/hc/en-us/categories/1500002213102?utm_campaign=IRS-group1&amp;utm_medium=sadi&amp;utm_source=irs-website&amp;utm_content=newsrelease&amp;utm_term=news">ID.me IRS Help Site</a>.

IRS changes identity verification process for accessing self-help tools

BALTIMORE (AP) — U.S. Catholic bishops overwhelmingly approved a long-anticipated document on Communion on Wednesday that stops short of calling for withholding the sacrament from politicians such as President Joe Biden who support abortion rights but offers plenty of tacit justification for individual bishops to do so.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ first major statement on Communion in 15 years, “The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church,” does not explicitly address the debate over elected officials, abortion and the sacrament that has surrounded the document over the past several months and partly inspired its creation in the first place.

Instead, it gives an overview of church teaching, emphasizing the centrality of the Eucharist in the faith and worship and in part reflecting concern among bishops that many Catholics don’t know or accept such teachings.

It was approved by a 222-8 vote at the conference’s fall assembly in Maryland after receiving only minor revisions in recent days by drafters on the bishops’ Committee on Doctrine.

Drafters added a reference to defending “the unborn” along with other vulnerable persons, such as immigrants, older adults and victims of racial injustice. They also bolstered the definition of “scandal” as weakening the resolve of other Catholics to follow church teachings.

The latter revision came in a passage reaffirming a 2006 statement saying it’s a scandal if a Catholic “in his or her personal or professional life were knowingly or obstinately to reject” the church’s doctrines or moral teachings.

The document does not identify Biden or other politicians by name, though it says at one point, “Lay people who exercise some form of public authority have a special responsibility to embody Church teaching.”

It calls on Catholics to examine their conscience and make sure they’re in harmony with church teachings, and says bishops have a “special responsibility” to respond to situations “that involve public actions at variance with the visible communion of the church and the moral law.”

Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, who chairs the Committee on Pro-Life Activities and whose work includes advocacy against abortion, took the document as affirming the importance of “our responsibility for the care of the souls of these politicians.”

Naumann, wearing a facemask with the words “REMEMBER The Unborn,” called for bishops to find common ground where politicians agree with the church’s vision for “the dignity of the human person.” But he also urged them “not to be afraid to fulfill our obligations to let them know how serious” it is to dissent from church teaching.

Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, an outspoken critic of the president, asked colleagues to amend the document by quoting the church catechism and the Bible as saying anyone who creates scandal would be better off having a “millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in ... the sea.”

The proposal was met with silence when put to a voice vote and was not adopted.

The conference cannot dictate a blanket policy on denying Communion to politicians; each bishop has authority in his own diocese.

While some bishops have said they would deny the sacrament to Biden, the archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Wilton Gregory, has affirmed that the president is welcome to receive the sacrament there.

Biden has said that Pope Francis, too, told him in a recent private meeting in Rome to continue receiving Communion. While the Vatican has not confirmed that, Biden did subsequently go to Mass and receive Communion at a church in Rome — evidence that Francis did not forbid priests in the Diocese of Rome, which he oversees, from giving Communion to Biden.

The document highlights the centrality of the doctrine of transubstantiation, which says that when a priest celebrates Mass, the bread and wine is transformed into Jesus’ actual body and blood. It says Catholics can perceive this as a reality through faith, even though the elements appear to the senses to be bread and wine.

Some bishops have expressed concern over Catholics’ acceptance of the doctrine, citing a 2019 survey that found most church members don’t believe in transubstantiation. Other researchers have questioned that finding, however, saying that when survey questions are phrased differently, higher numbers of Catholics align with church teaching.

The document also says the sacrament is central to church unity and worship and leads to “personal and moral transformation,” motivating believers to take care of vulnerable people and, in a broader sense, the environment.

Bishops began working on the document after Biden took office, with some citing “confusion” over the president presenting himself as a devout Catholic despite his political stance on abortion.

The Vatican repeatedly sent caution signals to the U.S. bishops as they prepared the document.

The papal ambassador to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, on Tuesday urged bishops to listen before they teach, even in situations where some want to clarify “confusion.” And earlier this year, the head of the Vatican’s doctrine office urged bishops to go slowly on the document, pursuing dialogue among themselves and with Catholic politicians.

Also during the fall meeting, bishops are launching a broader initiative to promote devotions centered on the Eucharist with plans for a major gathering focused on the sacrament in 2024 in Indianapolis.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635513708354.png" alt="President Biden with the Pope during a visit at the Vatican earlier this month-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Biden with the Pope during a visit at the Vatican earlier this month-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BALTIMORE (AP) — U.S. Catholic bishops overwhelmingly approved a long-anticipated document on Communion on Wednesday that stops short of calling for withholding the sacrament from politicians such as President Joe Biden who support abortion rights but offers plenty of tacit justification for individual bishops to do so.The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ first major statement on Communion in 15 years, “The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church,” does not explicitly address the debate over elected officials, abortion and the sacrament that has surrounded the document over the past several months and partly inspired its creation in the first place.Instead, it gives an overview of church teaching, emphasizing the centrality of the Eucharist in the faith and worship and in part reflecting concern among bishops that many Catholics don’t know or accept such teachings.It was approved by a 222-8 vote at the conference’s fall assembly in Maryland after receiving only minor revisions in recent days by drafters on the bishops’ Committee on Doctrine.Drafters added a reference to defending “the unborn” along with other vulnerable persons, such as immigrants, older adults and victims of racial injustice. They also bolstered the definition of “scandal” as weakening the resolve of other Catholics to follow church teachings.The latter revision came in a passage reaffirming a 2006 statement saying it’s a scandal if a Catholic “in his or her personal or professional life were knowingly or obstinately to reject” the church’s doctrines or moral teachings.The document does not identify Biden or other politicians by name, though it says at one point, “Lay people who exercise some form of public authority have a special responsibility to embody Church teaching.”It calls on Catholics to examine their conscience and make sure they’re in harmony with church teachings, and says bishops have a “special responsibility” to respond to situations “that involve public actions at variance with the visible communion of the church and the moral law.”Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, who chairs the Committee on Pro-Life Activities and whose work includes advocacy against abortion, took the document as affirming the importance of “our responsibility for the care of the souls of these politicians.”Naumann, wearing a facemask with the words “REMEMBER The Unborn,” called for bishops to find common ground where politicians agree with the church’s vision for “the dignity of the human person.” But he also urged them “not to be afraid to fulfill our obligations to let them know how serious” it is to dissent from church teaching.Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, an outspoken critic of the president, asked colleagues to amend the document by quoting the church catechism and the Bible as saying anyone who creates scandal would be better off having a “millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in ... the sea.”The proposal was met with silence when put to a voice vote and was not adopted.The conference cannot dictate a blanket policy on denying Communion to politicians; each bishop has authority in his own diocese.While some bishops have said they would deny the sacrament to Biden, the archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Wilton Gregory, has affirmed that the president is welcome to receive the sacrament there.Biden has said that Pope Francis, too, told him in a recent private meeting in Rome to continue receiving Communion. While the Vatican has not confirmed that, Biden did subsequently go to Mass and receive Communion at a church in Rome — evidence that Francis did not forbid priests in the Diocese of Rome, which he oversees, from giving Communion to Biden.The document highlights the centrality of the doctrine of transubstantiation, which says that when a priest celebrates Mass, the bread and wine is transformed into Jesus’ actual body and blood. It says Catholics can perceive this as a reality through faith, even though the elements appear to the senses to be bread and wine.Some bishops have expressed concern over Catholics’ acceptance of the doctrine, citing a 2019 survey that found most church members don’t believe in transubstantiation. Other researchers have questioned that finding, however, saying that when survey questions are phrased differently, higher numbers of Catholics align with church teaching.The document also says the sacrament is central to church unity and worship and leads to “personal and moral transformation,” motivating believers to take care of vulnerable people and, in a broader sense, the environment.Bishops began working on the document after Biden took office, with some citing “confusion” over the president presenting himself as a devout Catholic despite his political stance on abortion.The Vatican repeatedly sent caution signals to the U.S. bishops as they prepared the document.The papal ambassador to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, on Tuesday urged bishops to listen before they teach, even in situations where some want to clarify “confusion.” And earlier this year, the head of the Vatican’s doctrine office urged bishops to go slowly on the document, pursuing dialogue among themselves and with Catholic politicians.Also during the fall meeting, bishops are launching a broader initiative to promote devotions centered on the Eucharist with plans for a major gathering focused on the sacrament in 2024 in Indianapolis.

Bishops OK Communion document, avoid direct rebuff to Biden

ESTES PARK, Colo. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of a pilot who crashed while fighting a wildfire near Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.

 The pilot is the second person to die amid wind-driven, late-season wildfires in the Rockies this week. 

The crash happened Tuesday night. Another person died after downed power lines sparked a wildfire near the Wyoming community of Clark on Monday. 

A tree falling on power lines is believed to have started the fire in Colorado. 

Fire crews there are hoping to take advantage of cooler temperatures and lighter winds to fight the fire.

ESTES PARK, Colo. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of a pilot who crashed while fighting a wildfire near Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. The pilot is the second person to die amid wind-driven, late-season wildfires in the Rockies this week. The crash happened Tuesday night. Another person died after downed power lines sparked a wildfire near the Wyoming community of Clark on Monday. A tree falling on power lines is believed to have started the fire in Colorado. Fire crews there are hoping to take advantage of cooler temperatures and lighter winds to fight the fire.

Pilot death is 2nd amid late season wildfires in Rockies

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials say an estimated 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in one year. That's a total the nation has never seen. 

Experts say it's tied to the COVID-19 pandemic and a more dangerous drug supply. 

Overdose deaths have been rising for more than two decades. But they accelerated dramatically in the past two years — jumping nearly 30% in the last year alone. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the new figures Wednesday. 

The numbers for the period from May 2020 to April 2021 aren't yet final.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1560348099371.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials say an estimated 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in one year. That's a total the nation has never seen. Experts say it's tied to the COVID-19 pandemic and a more dangerous drug supply. Overdose deaths have been rising for more than two decades. But they accelerated dramatically in the past two years — jumping nearly 30% in the last year alone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the new figures Wednesday. The numbers for the period from May 2020 to April 2021 aren't yet final.

US overdose deaths topped 100,000 in one year, officials say

KEARNEY, Neb (AP) — Bill McMullen, the current chairman and nearly three-decade member of the Buffalo County Board, has died following recent heart problems. 

 O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home of Kearney said McMullen died Friday at the Nebraska Heart Institute in Lincoln. 

McMullen joined the board in 1992 and first served as its chairman from 2000 to 2003. 

He was selected as chairman again in 2012 and served in that role until his death. 

A memorial service will be held Saturday at the American Legion Club in Kearney, where he worked as manager for decades.

KEARNEY, Neb (AP) — Bill McMullen, the current chairman and nearly three-decade member of the Buffalo County Board, has died following recent heart problems. He was 64. O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home of Kearney said McMullen died Friday at the Nebraska Heart Institute in Lincoln. McMullen joined the board in 1992 and first served as its chairman from 2000 to 2003. He was selected as chairman again in 2012 and served in that role until his death. A memorial service will be held Saturday at the American Legion Club in Kearney, where he worked as manager for decades.

Longtime Buffalo County Board member Bill McMullen dies

&nbsp;Acting United States Attorney Jan W. Sharp announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 7 unsealed Indictments charging 7 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Timothy S. Daly, age 49, of Ponca, Nebraska, is charged with attempted enticement of a minor on or about August 26, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a life term of supervised release, a $100 special assessment, and a $5,000 additional special assessment.&nbsp;

*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Christian Genchi, age 28, of Omaha, is charged in a two-count Indictment.&nbsp;Count I charges Genchi with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about August 9, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, a ten-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp; Count II charges the defendant with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on or about August 9, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment consecutive to Count I, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Bryan William Gloe, age 44, of Plainview, Nebraska, is charged in a four-count Indictment.&nbsp;Count I charges Gloe with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about June 3, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a 10,000,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp; Counts II through IV charge the defendant with distribution of methamphetamine on or about May 7, 2021 and continuing through on or about May 27, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp;

*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Omar Vaillant, Jr., age 39, of Omaha, is charged in a three-count Indictment.&nbsp;Count I charges Vaillant with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on or about April 9, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp; Count II charges the defendant with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on or about April 9, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment consecutive to Count I, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment

Count III charges the defendant with felon in possession of a firearm on or about April 9, 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp;

*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Patrick Walker, age 55, is charged in a two-count Indictment.&nbsp; Count I charges Walker with assault on an officer with physical contact and bodily injury on or about October 30, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp; Count II charges the defendant with assault resulting in serious bodily injury on or about October 30, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp;

*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Leonard Woodrum, Jr., age 56, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about July 9, 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, a ten-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment&nbsp;&nbsp; There is also an allegation to forfeit United States currency seized on or about July 9, 2021.

*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Domingo Zacarias-Ciprian, age 41, is charged in a three-count Indictment.&nbsp; Count I charges&nbsp;Zacarias-Ciprian with unlawful transfer of a document or authentication feature on or about September 21, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp; Count II charges the defendant with possession with intent to transfer five or more documents or authentication features on or about November 3, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp; Count III charges the defendant with sale of a card purporting a social security card on or about September 21, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp; There is also an allegation to forfeit United States currency seized on or about November 3, 2021.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637167352924.png" alt="us-attorney.png" />
 <figcaption>us-attorney.png</figcaption>
 </figure>From the United States Attorney-Omaha&nbsp;Acting United States Attorney Jan W. Sharp announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 7 unsealed Indictments charging 7 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Timothy S. Daly, age 49, of Ponca, Nebraska, is charged with attempted enticement of a minor on or about August 26, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a life term of supervised release, a $100 special assessment, and a $5,000 additional special assessment.&nbsp;*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Christian Genchi, age 28, of Omaha, is charged in a two-count Indictment.&nbsp;Count I charges Genchi with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about August 9, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, a ten-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp; Count II charges the defendant with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on or about August 9, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment consecutive to Count I, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Bryan William Gloe, age 44, of Plainview, Nebraska, is charged in a four-count Indictment.&nbsp;Count I charges Gloe with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about June 3, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a 10,000,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp; Counts II through IV charge the defendant with distribution of methamphetamine on or about May 7, 2021 and continuing through on or about May 27, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp;*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Omar Vaillant, Jr., age 39, of Omaha, is charged in a three-count Indictment.&nbsp;Count I charges Vaillant with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on or about April 9, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp; Count II charges the defendant with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on or about April 9, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment consecutive to Count I, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessmentCount III charges the defendant with felon in possession of a firearm on or about April 9, 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp;*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Patrick Walker, age 55, is charged in a two-count Indictment.&nbsp; Count I charges Walker with assault on an officer with physical contact and bodily injury on or about October 30, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp; Count II charges the defendant with assault resulting in serious bodily injury on or about October 30, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp;*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Leonard Woodrum, Jr., age 56, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about July 9, 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, a ten-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment&nbsp;&nbsp; There is also an allegation to forfeit United States currency seized on or about July 9, 2021.*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Domingo Zacarias-Ciprian, age 41, is charged in a three-count Indictment.&nbsp; Count I charges&nbsp;Zacarias-Ciprian with unlawful transfer of a document or authentication feature on or about September 21, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp; Count II charges the defendant with possession with intent to transfer five or more documents or authentication features on or about November 3, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp; Count III charges the defendant with sale of a card purporting a social security card on or about September 21, 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp; There is also an allegation to forfeit United States currency seized on or about November 3, 2021.&nbsp;

Dist. of Nebraska federal Grand Jury Indictments

SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — Construction of new homes in the U.S. fell 0.7% in October, a sign that builders are still facing difficulties keeping up with demand as supply chain problems persist. 

The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that October’s decline put home construction at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.52 million units, which is an increase of 0.4% from the rate at this time last year. 

Applications for building permits, a barometer of future activity, rose 4% from September and is up 3.4% from October of last year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637159337174.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — Construction of new homes in the U.S. fell 0.7% in October, a sign that builders are still facing difficulties keeping up with demand as supply chain problems persist. The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that October’s decline put home construction at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.52 million units, which is an increase of 0.4% from the rate at this time last year. Applications for building permits, a barometer of future activity, rose 4% from September and is up 3.4% from October of last year.

US home construction dips 0.7% in October, but permits jump

GEARY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal October shooting are asking the public for help with information in the case.

According to the Geary County Sheriff,&nbsp; On October 3, a man described as 6-foot-1 or taller and dressed in all black approached 22-year-old Enfinnity Hayes and her husband at the&nbsp; Milford State Park Group Shelter. The suspect&nbsp; attempted to rob the couple at gun point. 

There was a gun shot and Hayes fell to the ground. Her husband drove her to Geary Community Hospital where she died.

Anyone with any information on a suspect is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 785-238-2261, or after hours at 785-762-5912.

You can also report information on this case to&nbsp;david.gilbert@gearycountysheriff.org&nbsp;or anonymously to the Junction City Geary County Crime Stoppers at 762-TIPS or text TIPJC to 274637.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637156736481.png" alt="Enfinnity Hayes-Lawson-courtesy Joe Morris and Sons funeral home" />
 <figcaption>Enfinnity Hayes-Lawson-courtesy Joe Morris and Sons funeral home</figcaption>
 </figure>GEARY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal October shooting are asking the public for help with information in the case.According to the Geary County Sheriff,&nbsp; On October 3, a man described as 6-foot-1 or taller and dressed in all black approached 22-year-old Enfinnity Hayes and her husband at the&nbsp; Milford State Park Group Shelter. The suspect&nbsp; attempted to rob the couple at gun point. There was a gun shot and Hayes fell to the ground. Her husband drove her to Geary Community Hospital where she died.Anyone with any information on a suspect is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 785-238-2261, or after hours at 785-762-5912.You can also report information on this case to&nbsp;david.gilbert@gearycountysheriff.org&nbsp;or anonymously to the Junction City Geary County Crime Stoppers at 762-TIPS or text TIPJC to 274637.

Sheriff investigates robbery, fatal shooting of Kan. woman

WASHINGTON (AP) —Challenges to President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for private employers will be consolidated in the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, a panel dominated by judges appointed by Republicans.

The Cincinnati-based court was selected Tuesday in a random drawing using ping-pong balls, a process employed when challenges to certain federal agency actions are filed in multiple courts.

The selection could be good news for those challenging the administration’s vaccine requirement, which includes officials in 27 Republican-led states, employers and several conservative and business organizations. They argue the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration does not have the authority to impose the mandate.

The challenges, along with some from unions that said the vaccine mandate didn’t go far enough, were made this month in 12 circuit courts. Under an arcane system, it was up to the clerk of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict litigation to select a ping-pong ball from a bin to choose where the cases would be heard.

It was a favorable outcome for Republicans. Eleven of the 16 full-time judges in the 6th Circuit were appointed by Republican presidents. Accounting for one of the Republican-appointed judges, Helene White, who often sides with judges appointed by Democrats and adding senior judges who are semi-retired but still hear cases, the split is 19-9 in favor of Republicans. Six of the full-time judges were appointed by former President Donald Trump.

Another court where a majority of judges were nominated by Republicans, the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, issued a ruling that put the mandate on hold.

It’s not clear whether the court that will hear the case will act as the 5th Circuit did and side quickly with the Republican challengers. But legal experts have become increasingly concerned in recent years about the politicization of both federal and state courts, raising questions about whether justice is fairly administered or dispensed through a partisan lens.

Allison Orr Larsen, a professor at William &amp; Mary Law School, coauthored a study published this year that found growing partisanship in federal judicial decisions. For decades, the study found that rulings on cases in which all judges in a circuit weighed in generally were not decided along party lines based on the presidents who appointed the judges.

“We did see a concerning spike starting in 2018 that led us to wring our hands,” Larsen said in an interview.

The increasing partisanship in a branch of government that is supposed to be blind to partisan politics was seen in judges appointed by presidents of both parties, but Larsen said it’s not clear why that was or whether it will last.

Some of the federal courts moved to the right when Donald Trump was president and Republicans controlled the U.S. Senate, which confirms judicial nominees. Trump appointed 54 judges to the circuit courts, which are one step below the U.S. Supreme Court, including filling one seat twice. That represents nearly 30% of the seats on the circuit courts, where cases are most often considered by three-judge panels.

Trump’s appointees flipped the 11th Circuit in the South to Republican control and expanded the GOP-appointed majorities in the 5th, 6th and 8th Circuits in the Midwest and South. Biden’s three appointees switched the New York-based 2nd Circuit to Democratic control.

Republican state attorneys general and conservative groups mostly filed their challenges in circuit courts dominated by conservative judges, while the unions went to circuits with more judges nominated by Democratic presidents.

In all, 34 objections have been filed in all 11 regional circuits plus the one for the District of Columbia. That’s where the ping-pong balls came in to play.

Under federal law, cases challenging federal agency actions get consolidated upon the agency’s request if they are filed in multiple circuit courts. Each circuit where a challenge is filed within the first 10 days of the agency taking action has an equal chance of being selected.

It was up to the judicial panel’s clerk, John W. Nichols, to select a ping-pong ball from a bin, according to a Tuesday court filing by the panel. The office denied a request by The Associated Press to allow media access to the drawing.

Previously this year, the lottery had been used to assign just two cases. One involved fallout from a National Labor Relations Board ruling on an anti-union Twitter message by Tesla founder Elon Musk where objectors filed in two circuits. The other was over orders from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in which objectors filed in three.

The employer vaccine mandate is higher profile and further reaching. It calls for businesses with more than 100 workers to require employees to be vaccinated by Jan. 4 or wear masks and be tested weekly for COVID-19. Exemptions are provided for religious reasons and for those who work at home or only outdoors.

Because it’s an unusual rule from the workplace safety agency, there is no consensus among lawyers on how the challenges will go. OSHA has issued just 10 emergency rules in the half century since it was formed. Of the six challenged in court, only one survived intact.

The Biden administration has insisted it’s on strong legal footing. It also has the backing of the American Medical Association, which filed papers in support of the mandate.

“The AMA’s extensive review of the medical literature demonstrates that COVID-19 vaccines authorized or approved by FDA are safe and effective, and the widespread use of those vaccines is the best way to keep COVID-19 from spreading within workplaces,” the group said in its filing.

Among those challenging the rule is a consortium of construction contractors. They say they want their workers vaccinated, but that a requirement only on larger companies is just pushing vaccine-hesitant workers to take jobs with companies that have fewer than 100 employees.

“Crafting an unworkable rule that will do little to get construction workers vaccinated is an approach that is not only wrong, but likely counterproductive,” said Scott Casabona, president of Signatory Wall and Ceiling Contractors Alliance.

Officials with the workplace safety agency say they’re considering extending the mandate to smaller employers.

A three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit extended the stay of the OSHA rule in an opinion released last Friday, expressing skepticism that the agency had authority to implement the vaccine requirement. The 6th Circuit could modify, revoke or extend the stay.

It had not yet been determined which judges from the 6th Circuit will be on a three-judge panel to hear the case or whether it will be considered by all the judges.

The U.S. Department of Justice declined to comment on the selection of the court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637084886815.png" alt="President Biden received his COVID booster shot earlier this month-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden received his COVID booster shot earlier this month-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Challenges to President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for private employers will be consolidated in the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, a panel dominated by judges appointed by Republicans.The Cincinnati-based court was selected Tuesday in a random drawing using ping-pong balls, a process employed when challenges to certain federal agency actions are filed in multiple courts.The selection could be good news for those challenging the administration’s vaccine requirement, which includes officials in 27 Republican-led states, employers and several conservative and business organizations. They argue the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration does not have the authority to impose the mandate.The challenges, along with some from unions that said the vaccine mandate didn’t go far enough, were made this month in 12 circuit courts. Under an arcane system, it was up to the clerk of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict litigation to select a ping-pong ball from a bin to choose where the cases would be heard.It was a favorable outcome for Republicans. Eleven of the 16 full-time judges in the 6th Circuit were appointed by Republican presidents. Accounting for one of the Republican-appointed judges, Helene White, who often sides with judges appointed by Democrats and adding senior judges who are semi-retired but still hear cases, the split is 19-9 in favor of Republicans. Six of the full-time judges were appointed by former President Donald Trump.Another court where a majority of judges were nominated by Republicans, the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, issued a ruling that put the mandate on hold.It’s not clear whether the court that will hear the case will act as the 5th Circuit did and side quickly with the Republican challengers. But legal experts have become increasingly concerned in recent years about the politicization of both federal and state courts, raising questions about whether justice is fairly administered or dispensed through a partisan lens.Allison Orr Larsen, a professor at William &amp; Mary Law School, coauthored a study published this year that found growing partisanship in federal judicial decisions. For decades, the study found that rulings on cases in which all judges in a circuit weighed in generally were not decided along party lines based on the presidents who appointed the judges.“We did see a concerning spike starting in 2018 that led us to wring our hands,” Larsen said in an interview.The increasing partisanship in a branch of government that is supposed to be blind to partisan politics was seen in judges appointed by presidents of both parties, but Larsen said it’s not clear why that was or whether it will last.Some of the federal courts moved to the right when Donald Trump was president and Republicans controlled the U.S. Senate, which confirms judicial nominees. Trump appointed 54 judges to the circuit courts, which are one step below the U.S. Supreme Court, including filling one seat twice. That represents nearly 30% of the seats on the circuit courts, where cases are most often considered by three-judge panels.Trump’s appointees flipped the 11th Circuit in the South to Republican control and expanded the GOP-appointed majorities in the 5th, 6th and 8th Circuits in the Midwest and South. Biden’s three appointees switched the New York-based 2nd Circuit to Democratic control.Republican state attorneys general and conservative groups mostly filed their challenges in circuit courts dominated by conservative judges, while the unions went to circuits with more judges nominated by Democratic presidents.In all, 34 objections have been filed in all 11 regional circuits plus the one for the District of Columbia. That’s where the ping-pong balls came in to play.Under federal law, cases challenging federal agency actions get consolidated upon the agency’s request if they are filed in multiple circuit courts. Each circuit where a challenge is filed within the first 10 days of the agency taking action has an equal chance of being selected.It was up to the judicial panel’s clerk, John W. Nichols, to select a ping-pong ball from a bin, according to a Tuesday court filing by the panel. The office denied a request by The Associated Press to allow media access to the drawing.Previously this year, the lottery had been used to assign just two cases. One involved fallout from a National Labor Relations Board ruling on an anti-union Twitter message by Tesla founder Elon Musk where objectors filed in two circuits. The other was over orders from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in which objectors filed in three.The employer vaccine mandate is higher profile and further reaching. It calls for businesses with more than 100 workers to require employees to be vaccinated by Jan. 4 or wear masks and be tested weekly for COVID-19. Exemptions are provided for religious reasons and for those who work at home or only outdoors.Because it’s an unusual rule from the workplace safety agency, there is no consensus among lawyers on how the challenges will go. OSHA has issued just 10 emergency rules in the half century since it was formed. Of the six challenged in court, only one survived intact.The Biden administration has insisted it’s on strong legal footing. It also has the backing of the American Medical Association, which filed papers in support of the mandate.“The AMA’s extensive review of the medical literature demonstrates that COVID-19 vaccines authorized or approved by FDA are safe and effective, and the widespread use of those vaccines is the best way to keep COVID-19 from spreading within workplaces,” the group said in its filing.Among those challenging the rule is a consortium of construction contractors. They say they want their workers vaccinated, but that a requirement only on larger companies is just pushing vaccine-hesitant workers to take jobs with companies that have fewer than 100 employees.“Crafting an unworkable rule that will do little to get construction workers vaccinated is an approach that is not only wrong, but likely counterproductive,” said Scott Casabona, president of Signatory Wall and Ceiling Contractors Alliance.Officials with the workplace safety agency say they’re considering extending the mandate to smaller employers.A three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit extended the stay of the OSHA rule in an opinion released last Friday, expressing skepticism that the agency had authority to implement the vaccine requirement. The 6th Circuit could modify, revoke or extend the stay.It had not yet been determined which judges from the 6th Circuit will be on a three-judge panel to hear the case or whether it will be considered by all the judges.The U.S. Department of Justice declined to comment on the selection of the court.___

GOP-majority court chosen to consider Biden vaccine mandate

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Authorities say a longtime University of Michigan violin professor pleaded guilty to transporting an underage girl across states lines for sex back in 2002. 

The U.S. attorney’s office in Detroit said Tuesday that 68-year-old Stephen Shipps faces up to 15 years in prison when he’s sentenced. 

Shipps was indicted last year on charges alleging that he took a girl across state lines several times between February and July of 2002 with the intention of having sex with her. 

His arrest came two years after the university placed him on paid leave when former students accused him of sexual misconduct while he taught them in the 1970s and 1980s in Nebraska and North Carolina.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Authorities say a longtime University of Michigan violin professor pleaded guilty to transporting an underage girl across states lines for sex back in 2002. The U.S. attorney’s office in Detroit said Tuesday that 68-year-old Stephen Shipps faces up to 15 years in prison when he’s sentenced. Shipps was indicted last year on charges alleging that he took a girl across state lines several times between February and July of 2002 with the intention of having sex with her. His arrest came two years after the university placed him on paid leave when former students accused him of sexual misconduct while he taught them in the 1970s and 1980s in Nebraska and North Carolina.

Retired violin professor pleads guilty to child sex charges

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Federal regulators have proposed suspending a Trump administration rule that would have allowed railroads to haul liquefied natural gas while they take a closer look at the potential safety risks. 

The rule, which was backed by both the natural gas and freight rail industries, had already been on hold because several environmental groups and 14 states filed lawsuits challenging it. 

In their lawsuit, environmental groups argued that those new railcars required by the rule were untested and might not withstand high-speed impacts, increasing the threat of an explosive train derailment along rail lines that cross directly through the heart of most cities.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Federal regulators have proposed suspending a Trump administration rule that would have allowed railroads to haul liquefied natural gas while they take a closer look at the potential safety risks. The rule, which was backed by both the natural gas and freight rail industries, had already been on hold because several environmental groups and 14 states filed lawsuits challenging it. In their lawsuit, environmental groups argued that those new railcars required by the rule were untested and might not withstand high-speed impacts, increasing the threat of an explosive train derailment along rail lines that cross directly through the heart of most cities.

Regulators seek to suspend Trump rule on railway natural gas

Experts are predicting an earlier start to the 2021 holiday shopping 
season because of supply chain concerns and holiday hiring. This entices
 scammers to find ways to take advantage of the situation. According to 
the analysis of <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/26013-online-purchase-scams-up-bbb-warns-holiday-shopping-is-at-risk" target="_blank">online purchase scam reports</a>
 submitted to BBB Scam Tracker, more than 400 different types of 
products were used by scammers to perpetrate fraud, including 
counterfeit products.

Scammers may capitalize on what people are looking for online, paying
 close attention to the most sought-after gifts such as electronics, 
toys, and other trendy gift items. Footwear and apparel were the most 
common counterfeit product types, with Nike the most impostered brand. 
Other top brands that scammers focus on, according to BBB research, 
include NFL clothing, Apple gadgets, Louis Vuitton handbags, Tiffany 
jewelry, LEGO toys, and 3M N95 masks.&nbsp;

Other items that scammers promote include luggage, collectibles, and 
medical/nutrition products. BBBs analysis also shows that pets and pet 
supplies are the riskiest online purchase scams, with 70% of people 
losing money, and a median dollar loss of $750. The French Bulldog was 
the top breed used to perpetuate puppy scams.

BBB offers the following tips on how to identify a potential online shopping scam:

To check the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/search" target="_blank">reliability of a company</a>, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/" target="_blank">BBB.org</a>.&nbsp;To report a scam, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/ScamTracker" target="_blank">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a>.&nbsp;Find more <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/holiday" target="_blank">online holiday shopping tips</a> from BBB.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBExperts are predicting an earlier start to the 2021 holiday shopping 
season because of supply chain concerns and holiday hiring. This entices
 scammers to find ways to take advantage of the situation. According to 
the analysis of <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/26013-online-purchase-scams-up-bbb-warns-holiday-shopping-is-at-risk" target="_blank">online purchase scam reports</a>
 submitted to BBB Scam Tracker, more than 400 different types of 
products were used by scammers to perpetrate fraud, including 
counterfeit products.Scammers may capitalize on what people are looking for online, paying
 close attention to the most sought-after gifts such as electronics, 
toys, and other trendy gift items. Footwear and apparel were the most 
common counterfeit product types, with Nike the most impostered brand. 
Other top brands that scammers focus on, according to BBB research, 
include NFL clothing, Apple gadgets, Louis Vuitton handbags, Tiffany 
jewelry, LEGO toys, and 3M N95 masks.&nbsp;Other items that scammers promote include luggage, collectibles, and 
medical/nutrition products. BBBs analysis also shows that pets and pet 
supplies are the riskiest online purchase scams, with 70% of people 
losing money, and a median dollar loss of $750. The French Bulldog was 
the top breed used to perpetuate puppy scams.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637159358617.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBB offers the following tips on how to identify a potential online shopping scam:<ul>
 <li>Watch for low-priced or mid-priced items, usually in the hundreds of
 dollar range for an item that is typically offered at a much higher 
price at a retailer.</li><li>Consumers expect quality from things like shoes, clothing, and 
jewelry. If an online search for these items comes up with a range of 
items between $100 to $300 and associated with a name brand or a popular
 luxury item versus a search using a designer name and presents a much 
higher priced result, chances are it is probably not the real product.</li><li>Read the website and look for grammatical errors. Typographical 
errors indicate the site was more than likely put together quickly.</li><li>Search for contact information. Search for a phone, email address, 
online chat function, and check to see if there is a brick-and-mortar 
address for the business.</li><li>Check BBB. If a business displays a BBB Accredited Business seal, verify its legitimacy by going to <a href="https://www.bbb.org" target="_blank">BBB.org </a>and looking up the company.</li>
 </ul>To check the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/search" target="_blank">reliability of a company</a>, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/" target="_blank">BBB.org</a>.&nbsp;To report a scam, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/ScamTracker" target="_blank">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a>.&nbsp;Find more <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/holiday" target="_blank">online holiday shopping tips</a> from BBB.&nbsp;

Watch out for counterfeit items when shopping online this holiday season

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A second set of states has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Biden administration's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers.

he latest suit, dated Monday, was filed in&nbsp;Louisiana&nbsp;on behalf of 12 states and comes less than a week after another lawsuit challenging the rule was filed in&nbsp;Missouri&nbsp;by a coalition of 10 states.

"The federal government will not impose medical tyranny on Louisiana’s people without my best fight," Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said in a news release announcing the lawsuit.

Both lawsuits say the vaccine mandate threatens to drive away health care workers who refuse to get vaccinated at a time when such workers are badly needed. They also contend the rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services violates federal law and unconstitutionally encroaches on powers reserved to the states.

The Louisiana lawsuit quotes from Friday's order by the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocking a broader Biden administration vaccine mandate that businesses with more than 100 workers require employees to be vaccinated by Jan. 4 or wear masks and be tested weekly for COVID-19.

Borrowing language from the 5th Circuit, the Louisiana lawsuit calls the health care worker vaccine requirement a “one-size-fits-all” sledgehammer. In addition to Louisiana, the suit covers&nbsp;Montana,&nbsp;Arizona,&nbsp;Alabama,&nbsp;Georgia,&nbsp;Idaho,&nbsp;Indiana,&nbsp;Mississippi,&nbsp;Oklahoma,&nbsp;South Carolina,&nbsp;Utah&nbsp;and West&nbsp;Virginia.

The Missouri suit includes Kansas, Nebraska, Alaska,&nbsp;Arkansas,&nbsp;Iowa, New Hampshire,&nbsp;North Dakota,&nbsp;South Dakota&nbsp;and&nbsp;Wyoming.

The Biden administration has not yet filed responses in either of the suits.

The Louisiana-based lawsuit was assigned to U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, an appointee of President Donald Trump. Any appeals of a Doughty decision would go to the 5th Circuit.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637099598329.png" alt="Protesters on November 12 against the hospital vaccine mandate in Wichita-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Protesters on November 12 against the hospital vaccine mandate in Wichita-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A second set of states has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Biden administration's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers.he latest suit, dated Monday, was filed in&nbsp;Louisiana&nbsp;on behalf of 12 states and comes less than a week after another lawsuit challenging the rule was filed in&nbsp;Missouri&nbsp;by a coalition of 10 states."The federal government will not impose medical tyranny on Louisiana’s people without my best fight," Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said in a news release announcing the lawsuit.Both lawsuits say the vaccine mandate threatens to drive away health care workers who refuse to get vaccinated at a time when such workers are badly needed. They also contend the rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services violates federal law and unconstitutionally encroaches on powers reserved to the states.The Louisiana lawsuit quotes from Friday's order by the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocking a broader Biden administration vaccine mandate that businesses with more than 100 workers require employees to be vaccinated by Jan. 4 or wear masks and be tested weekly for COVID-19.Borrowing language from the 5th Circuit, the Louisiana lawsuit calls the health care worker vaccine requirement a “one-size-fits-all” sledgehammer. In addition to Louisiana, the suit covers&nbsp;Montana,&nbsp;Arizona,&nbsp;Alabama,&nbsp;Georgia,&nbsp;Idaho,&nbsp;Indiana,&nbsp;Mississippi,&nbsp;Oklahoma,&nbsp;South Carolina,&nbsp;Utah&nbsp;and West&nbsp;Virginia.The Missouri suit includes Kansas, Nebraska, Alaska,&nbsp;Arkansas,&nbsp;Iowa, New Hampshire,&nbsp;North Dakota,&nbsp;South Dakota&nbsp;and&nbsp;Wyoming.The Biden administration has not yet filed responses in either of the suits.The Louisiana-based lawsuit was assigned to U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, an appointee of President Donald Trump. Any appeals of a Doughty decision would go to the 5th Circuit.

2nd group of states challenges health worker vaccine mandate

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina has introduced legislation to federally decriminalize marijuana. It's a measure she says would give states freer rein to pass their own laws and regulations without fear of federal reprisals. 

The measure announced Monday was met immediately with criticism from conservatives in her home state, some of whom vowed opposition to any effort toward legalization. 

Mace says a half-dozen GOP House members would be cosponsors of the bill, which she says would aim to regulate marijuana similarly to alcohol and prohibit its use for anyone under 21. 

It would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level but would not change local-level restrictions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620155146441.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina has introduced legislation to federally decriminalize marijuana. It's a measure she says would give states freer rein to pass their own laws and regulations without fear of federal reprisals. The measure announced Monday was met immediately with criticism from conservatives in her home state, some of whom vowed opposition to any effort toward legalization. Mace says a half-dozen GOP House members would be cosponsors of the bill, which she says would aim to regulate marijuana similarly to alcohol and prohibit its use for anyone under 21. It would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level but would not change local-level restrictions.

GOP Rep. Mace's bill would federally decriminalize marijuana

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A second set of states has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers. 

The suit filed in Louisiana on behalf of 12 states was dated Monday. It comes less than a week after another lawsuit challenging the rule was filed in Missouri by a coalition of 10 states. 

Both lawsuits say the rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services violates federal law and unconstitutionally encroaches on powers reserved to the states. 

In addition to Louisiana, the latest suit covers Montana, Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1633022671635.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A second set of states has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers. The suit filed in Louisiana on behalf of 12 states was dated Monday. It comes less than a week after another lawsuit challenging the rule was filed in Missouri by a coalition of 10 states. Both lawsuits say the rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services violates federal law and unconstitutionally encroaches on powers reserved to the states. In addition to Louisiana, the latest suit covers Montana, Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia.

TAYLOR, Neb. (AP) — Investigators say a propane leak caused an explosion last month that leveled a vacant building in the small north-central Nebraska town of Taylor. 

No one was injured in the explosion that happened the afternoon Oct. 19 explosion. 

Loup County volunteer firefighters called to the town of fewer than 150 people found the shattered ruins of a vacant downtown building that had been converted into a home. 

The blast damaged the post office and a livestock barn on either side of the building and blew out windows for blocks around.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633366237911.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TAYLOR, Neb. (AP) — Investigators say a propane leak caused an explosion last month that leveled a vacant building in the small north-central Nebraska town of Taylor. No one was injured in the explosion that happened the afternoon Oct. 19 explosion. Loup County volunteer firefighters called to the town of fewer than 150 people found the shattered ruins of a vacant downtown building that had been converted into a home. The blast damaged the post office and a livestock barn on either side of the building and blew out windows for blocks around.

Investigators: Propane leak was cause of Taylor explosion

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina introduced legislation Monday to federally decriminalize marijuana, a measure she said would give states freer rein to pass their own laws and regulations without fear of federal reprisals.

The measure, which Mace said she hoped would garner broad GOP support, was met immediately with criticism from conservatives in her home state, some of whom vowed opposition to any effort toward legalization.

In announcing the bill during a Washington news conference on Monday, Mace said a half-dozen GOP House members would be original co-sponsors of the bill, which she said would aim to regulate marijuana similarly to alcohol and prohibit its use for anyone under 21 years of age.

The measure would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level, an impediment cited in many states that have opted not to pursue legalization on their own. But it would not change local-level restrictions, meaning that states would still determine their own marijuana statutes.

“It protects each state’s unique laws and reforms,” Mace said. “It takes into account at the federal level that every state is different.”

American support for marijuana legalization has grown, underscoring a national shift as more states have embraced cannabis for medical or recreational use. According to&nbsp;<a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/356939/support-legal-marijuana-holds-record-high.aspx" target="_blank">a Gallup survey conducted earlier this year,</a>&nbsp;more than two in three Americans supported legalizing marijuana, maintaining a record-high reached a year earlier.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 36 states and four territories allow medical cannabis use, while 18 states, two territories and the District of Columbia allow non-medical, adult use.

But in South Carolina, where lawmakers have only passed one marijuana-related bill, allowing prescriptions for products with CBD — a hemp component that alone does not cause a “high” — Mace swiftly drew criticism from some conservatives over her proposal.

Calling marijuana “the number one gateway drug to the exploding opioid crisis that is ravaging our state,” Dave Wilson, president of Palmetto Family, a conservative Christian lobbying organization, warned in a statement that efforts to decriminalize marijuana “will make this crisis exponentially worse.”

Winning back Mace’s 1st District was among South Carolina Republicans’ top priorities in 2020, with GOP Chairman Drew McKissick appearing alongside Mace the day after she defeated U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham.

But on Monday, McKissick swiftly released a statement rebuking Mace’s bill, not referencing her by name but saying the state GOP opposed “any effort to legalize, decriminalize the use of controlled substances, and that includes this bill.”

In his own campaign for South Carolina governor, Cunningham has already introduced a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-marijuana-only-on-ap-8c3a1f6db3265e9eef2580461145a4bf">marijuana legalization proposal</a>&nbsp;of his own.

Mace’s proposal did garner support from some groups, like South Carolina’s arm of Americans for Prosperity, a political advocacy group funded by the Koch brothers, which lauded the effort as a “step in the right direction” for the leeway it would give states “to determine the best policies for cannabis governance in their states.”

The measure would tackle regulation of marijuana in three silos, giving the U.S. Department of Agriculture purview over growers, while the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives would oversee the cannabis industry. Medical marijuana would be regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, Mace said, adding that she would propose the drug be regulated similarly to alcohol.

It would also levy a 3% federal excise tax on all cannabis products, proceeds from which would go to small businesses, retraining law enforcement and mental health services, among other services. The measure would also expunge nonviolent, cannabis-only related offenses.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637076720518.png" alt="In announcing the bill during a Washington news conference on Monday, Rep. Mace said a half-dozen GOP House members would be original co-sponsors of the bill, which she said would aim to regulate marijuana similarly to alcohol and prohibit its use for anyone under 21 years of age.-photo courtesy office of Rep. Nancy Mace" />
 <figcaption>In announcing the bill during a Washington news conference on Monday, Rep. Mace said a half-dozen GOP House members would be original co-sponsors of the bill, which she said would aim to regulate marijuana similarly to alcohol and prohibit its use for anyone under 21 years of age.-photo courtesy office of Rep. Nancy Mace</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina introduced legislation Monday to federally decriminalize marijuana, a measure she said would give states freer rein to pass their own laws and regulations without fear of federal reprisals.The measure, which Mace said she hoped would garner broad GOP support, was met immediately with criticism from conservatives in her home state, some of whom vowed opposition to any effort toward legalization.In announcing the bill during a Washington news conference on Monday, Mace said a half-dozen GOP House members would be original co-sponsors of the bill, which she said would aim to regulate marijuana similarly to alcohol and prohibit its use for anyone under 21 years of age.The measure would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level, an impediment cited in many states that have opted not to pursue legalization on their own. But it would not change local-level restrictions, meaning that states would still determine their own marijuana statutes.“It protects each state’s unique laws and reforms,” Mace said. “It takes into account at the federal level that every state is different.”American support for marijuana legalization has grown, underscoring a national shift as more states have embraced cannabis for medical or recreational use. According to&nbsp;<a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/356939/support-legal-marijuana-holds-record-high.aspx" target="_blank">a Gallup survey conducted earlier this year,</a>&nbsp;more than two in three Americans supported legalizing marijuana, maintaining a record-high reached a year earlier.According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 36 states and four territories allow medical cannabis use, while 18 states, two territories and the District of Columbia allow non-medical, adult use.But in South Carolina, where lawmakers have only passed one marijuana-related bill, allowing prescriptions for products with CBD — a hemp component that alone does not cause a “high” — Mace swiftly drew criticism from some conservatives over her proposal.Calling marijuana “the number one gateway drug to the exploding opioid crisis that is ravaging our state,” Dave Wilson, president of Palmetto Family, a conservative Christian lobbying organization, warned in a statement that efforts to decriminalize marijuana “will make this crisis exponentially worse.”Winning back Mace’s 1st District was among South Carolina Republicans’ top priorities in 2020, with GOP Chairman Drew McKissick appearing alongside Mace the day after she defeated U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham.But on Monday, McKissick swiftly released a statement rebuking Mace’s bill, not referencing her by name but saying the state GOP opposed “any effort to legalize, decriminalize the use of controlled substances, and that includes this bill.”In his own campaign for South Carolina governor, Cunningham has already introduced a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-marijuana-only-on-ap-8c3a1f6db3265e9eef2580461145a4bf">marijuana legalization proposal</a>&nbsp;of his own.Mace’s proposal did garner support from some groups, like South Carolina’s arm of Americans for Prosperity, a political advocacy group funded by the Koch brothers, which lauded the effort as a “step in the right direction” for the leeway it would give states “to determine the best policies for cannabis governance in their states.”The measure would tackle regulation of marijuana in three silos, giving the U.S. Department of Agriculture purview over growers, while the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives would oversee the cannabis industry. Medical marijuana would be regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, Mace said, adding that she would propose the drug be regulated similarly to alcohol.It would also levy a 3% federal excise tax on all cannabis products, proceeds from which would go to small businesses, retraining law enforcement and mental health services, among other services. The measure would also expunge nonviolent, cannabis-only related offenses.

GOP Rep's bill would federally decriminalize marijuana

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities&nbsp;investigating a fatal accident involving a 71-year-old man in a wheel chair released new details Tuesday morning.

Just before 8p.m. on Monday, police responded to an injury accident call in the 1900 block of North Hillside involving a vehicle and a pedestrian, according to Officer Charley Davidson.

Upon arrival, officers located the victim who was in critical condition. Life-saving measures were attempted by fire and EMS personnel, however, he succumbed to his injures on the scene.

The investigation revealed a 27-year-old man was driving north on Hillside and the victim was crossing Hillside in a wheelchair from the west to the east in a non-activated crosswalk at Stadium and Hillside,&nbsp;northwest of the Wichita State University campus.

The 27-year-old driver not see the victim and struck him. The driver stayed at the scene and contacted 911 for emergency assistance.

The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. Police have not released the victim's name.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A man in a wheelchair has died after being hit by a car as he crossed a street in Wichita. Police say the crash happened around 8 p.m. Monday in a business district just northwest of the Wichita State University campus. 

Police say the man was crossing Hillside Street when a northbound car hit him. The man was declared dead at the scene. Police have not released the man's name, but say he was in his 60s. 

The driver of the car remained at the scene of the crash and is cooperating with police. Investigators are trying to determine whether the man killed was crossing the street outside of the designated crosswalk.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637068129713.png" alt="First responders at the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities&nbsp;investigating a fatal accident involving a 71-year-old man in a wheel chair released new details Tuesday morning.Just before 8p.m. on Monday, police responded to an injury accident call in the 1900 block of North Hillside involving a vehicle and a pedestrian, according to Officer Charley Davidson.Upon arrival, officers located the victim who was in critical condition. Life-saving measures were attempted by fire and EMS personnel, however, he succumbed to his injures on the scene.The investigation revealed a 27-year-old man was driving north on Hillside and the victim was crossing Hillside in a wheelchair from the west to the east in a non-activated crosswalk at Stadium and Hillside,&nbsp;northwest of the Wichita State University campus.The 27-year-old driver not see the victim and struck him. The driver stayed at the scene and contacted 911 for emergency assistance.The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. Police have not released the victim's name.--------------WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A man in a wheelchair has died after being hit by a car as he crossed a street in Wichita. Police say the crash happened around 8 p.m. Monday in a business district just northwest of the Wichita State University campus. Police say the man was crossing Hillside Street when a northbound car hit him. The man was declared dead at the scene. Police have not released the man's name, but say he was in his 60s. The driver of the car remained at the scene of the crash and is cooperating with police. Investigators are trying to determine whether the man killed was crossing the street outside of the designated crosswalk.

Update: 71-year-old in wheelchair fatally hit by car near WSU campus

WASHINGTON
 — Over 2,500 criminal investigations, the identification of more than 
$10 billion from tax fraud and financial crimes, and a nearly 90% 
conviction rate are just a few highlights from the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p3583.pdf">IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Report</a>&nbsp;PDF.
 The report, released Thursday, details statistics, important 
partnerships and significant criminal enforcement actions from IRS-CI, 
the criminal investigative arm of the IRS, for the past fiscal year, 
which began October 1, 2020 and ended September 30, 2021.

"IRS-CI agents are the only federal law enforcement officers with the
 authority to investigate criminal violations of the U.S. tax code. 
Their work reinforces the backbone of our voluntary compliance tax 
system – a system that funds services and benefits for our nation, 
including defense, infrastructure and education," said IRS Commissioner 
Chuck Rettig.

In fiscal year 2021, IRS-CI built upon its existing network of U.S. 
field offices and international attachés to combat financial crimes 
across the globe. The agency's alliance with the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/compliance/joint-chiefs-of-global-tax-enforcement">Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5)</a>
 helped strengthen public-private partnerships with financial 
institutions and the Fin-Tech industry to deter and identify criminal 
activity. Additionally, IRS-CI established its first cyber attaché in 
The Hague, Netherlands, to proactively support cyber investigative needs
 in coordination with Europol.

"IRS-CI continues to lead tax and financial investigations here in 
the U.S. and across the globe," said IRS-CI Chief Jim Lee. "In fiscal 
year 2021, as we faced the second year of a global pandemic, our team of
 agents continued to overcome personal and professional challenges to 
target criminals who exploited the U.S. tax and financial systems for 
personal gain."

While IRS-CI agents spent most of their investigative man-hours, 
about 72%, investigating tax-related crimes like tax evasion and tax 
fraud during fiscal year 2021, they also made significant contributions 
to money laundering, narcotics trafficking, public corruption, terrorism
 and COVID-19 fraud investigations.

In April 2021, a dual Russian-Swedish national was arrested in Los 
Angeles on criminal charges related to his alleged operation of the 
longest-running bitcoin money laundering service on the darknet dubbed 
Bitcoin Fog. The bulk of cryptocurrency laundered through Bitcoin Fog 
came from darknet marketplaces and was tied to illegal narcotics, 
computer fraud and identity theft. This case marked the second U.S. 
prosecution of a cryptocurrency mixing service; both were investigated 
by IRS-CI.

The ringleader of a transnational criminal organization, with ties to
 the Sinaloa Cartel, operating in California and along the East Coast 
was sentenced to 33 years in prison in July 2021 for narcotics 
trafficking-related charges. The sentencing followed a multiagency 
operation dubbed Operation Cookout that netted 65 kilograms of illegal 
drugs, 24 firearms, more than $700,000 in cash and guilty pleas from 45 
defendants.

Numerous IRS-CI investigations resulted in individuals being 
sentenced for fraudulently obtaining small business relief loans under 
the CARES Act. One of those cases involved a Texas businessman who was 
sentenced in September 2021 to 31 months confinement and 36 months of 
supervised release after he created a scheme to fraudulently obtain more
 than $3.3 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans for personal 
use.

The report includes additional case examples for each U.S. field 
office, an overview of IRS-CI's international footprint, details about 
the specialized services provided by IRS-CI and investigative 
statistics, broken down by discipline, for fiscal year 2021.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON
 — Over 2,500 criminal investigations, the identification of more than 
$10 billion from tax fraud and financial crimes, and a nearly 90% 
conviction rate are just a few highlights from the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p3583.pdf">IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Report</a>&nbsp;PDF.
 The report, released Thursday, details statistics, important 
partnerships and significant criminal enforcement actions from IRS-CI, 
the criminal investigative arm of the IRS, for the past fiscal year, 
which began October 1, 2020 and ended September 30, 2021."IRS-CI agents are the only federal law enforcement officers with the
 authority to investigate criminal violations of the U.S. tax code. 
Their work reinforces the backbone of our voluntary compliance tax 
system – a system that funds services and benefits for our nation, 
including defense, infrastructure and education," said IRS Commissioner 
Chuck Rettig.In fiscal year 2021, IRS-CI built upon its existing network of U.S. 
field offices and international attachés to combat financial crimes 
across the globe. The agency's alliance with the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/compliance/joint-chiefs-of-global-tax-enforcement">Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5)</a>
 helped strengthen public-private partnerships with financial 
institutions and the Fin-Tech industry to deter and identify criminal 
activity. Additionally, IRS-CI established its first cyber attaché in 
The Hague, Netherlands, to proactively support cyber investigative needs
 in coordination with Europol."IRS-CI continues to lead tax and financial investigations here in 
the U.S. and across the globe," said IRS-CI Chief Jim Lee. "In fiscal 
year 2021, as we faced the second year of a global pandemic, our team of
 agents continued to overcome personal and professional challenges to 
target criminals who exploited the U.S. tax and financial systems for 
personal gain."While IRS-CI agents spent most of their investigative man-hours, 
about 72%, investigating tax-related crimes like tax evasion and tax 
fraud during fiscal year 2021, they also made significant contributions 
to money laundering, narcotics trafficking, public corruption, terrorism
 and COVID-19 fraud investigations.<h2>Case examples include:</h2>In April 2021, a dual Russian-Swedish national was arrested in Los 
Angeles on criminal charges related to his alleged operation of the 
longest-running bitcoin money laundering service on the darknet dubbed 
Bitcoin Fog. The bulk of cryptocurrency laundered through Bitcoin Fog 
came from darknet marketplaces and was tied to illegal narcotics, 
computer fraud and identity theft. This case marked the second U.S. 
prosecution of a cryptocurrency mixing service; both were investigated 
by IRS-CI.The ringleader of a transnational criminal organization, with ties to
 the Sinaloa Cartel, operating in California and along the East Coast 
was sentenced to 33 years in prison in July 2021 for narcotics 
trafficking-related charges. The sentencing followed a multiagency 
operation dubbed Operation Cookout that netted 65 kilograms of illegal 
drugs, 24 firearms, more than $700,000 in cash and guilty pleas from 45 
defendants.Numerous IRS-CI investigations resulted in individuals being 
sentenced for fraudulently obtaining small business relief loans under 
the CARES Act. One of those cases involved a Texas businessman who was 
sentenced in September 2021 to 31 months confinement and 36 months of 
supervised release after he created a scheme to fraudulently obtain more
 than $3.3 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans for personal 
use.The report includes additional case examples for each U.S. field 
office, an overview of IRS-CI's international footprint, details about 
the specialized services provided by IRS-CI and investigative 
statistics, broken down by discipline, for fiscal year 2021.

IRS: 90% conviction rate on $10B in tax and COVID frauds, cybercrime

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — Contempt charges have been dismissed for three supervisors in the U.S. Marshals Service for a series of events that began with a deputy marshal refusing to disclose her vaccination status while serving in federal court in Aberdeen. 

Federal Judge Charles Kornmann filed the charges after directing anybody in his courtroom to be vaccinated for COVID-19. When a deputy marshal refused to disclose her status during a proceeding last May, she was directed to leave the courtroom in Aberdeen. 

The Argus Leaders reports that upon the direction of her supervisors, she took the defendants with her in court out of the courthouse and the proceedings were held virtually. 

Kornmann filed charges that were dismissed by a Nebraska judge appointed to the case.

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — Contempt charges have been dismissed for three supervisors in the U.S. Marshals Service for a series of events that began with a deputy marshal refusing to disclose her vaccination status while serving in federal court in Aberdeen. Federal Judge Charles Kornmann filed the charges after directing anybody in his courtroom to be vaccinated for COVID-19. When a deputy marshal refused to disclose her status during a proceeding last May, she was directed to leave the courtroom in Aberdeen. The Argus Leaders reports that upon the direction of her supervisors, she took the defendants with her in court out of the courthouse and the proceedings were held virtually. Kornmann filed charges that were dismissed by a Nebraska judge appointed to the case.

Contempt charges dropped for 3 Marshals Service supervisors

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Marine from Nebraska who was killed in Afghanistan in a suicide bombing earlier this year was honored during the Omaha Lancers' Military Appreciation Night. 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Marine from Nebraska who was killed in Afghanistan in a suicide bombing earlier this year was honored during the Omaha Lancers' Military Appreciation Night. WOWT reports that the family of Marine Cpl. Daegan Page was on hand Friday night to drop the puck for the start of the Lancers game against the Sioux Falls Stampede. Page was an avid hockey fan who played throughout his childhood and was a member of the 2016 state champion Westside Warriors hockey team. Page, of Omaha, was one of 13 U.S. service members killed Aug. 26 in the bombing at the Kabul airport, which also killed at least 169 Afghans.