By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-11-10/goddard-school-district-reverses-decision-to-pull-library-books">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA, Kansas — The Goddard school district reversed its 
decision to remove nearly 30 books from circulation in its libraries 
after receiving national pushback from authors and free speech 
advocates.

An email sent to families Wednesday said all library 
books are once again available for students to check out while the 
district reviews its vetting process for library materials.

The district had <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-11-09/goddard-school-district-orders-29-books-removed-from-circulation" target="_blank">removed more than two dozen books from circulation</a> earlier this week after a parent complained.

The
 list of books initially barred from checkout included classics such as 
“The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Fences” and “The Bluest Eye,” as well as 
contemporary bestsellers such as “The Hate U Give.”

The decision was widely criticized on social media, including by several authors.

“When you’re banning books, you’re on the wrong side of history,” <a href="https://twitter.com/bradmeltzer/status/1458433866742603786" target="_blank">tweeted author Brad Meltzer</a>.

The
 email to Goddard families on Wednesday said a parent “had questions 
about language and graphics from a specific book” their child had 
checked out in September. The parent then submitted a list of 28 books, 
met with the building principal and filled out a “request for review” 
form with the school, the email said.

“When this list came to our 
attention, we checked with multiple school librarians regarding the 
national push to challenge these books,” the email said.

Officials decided to form a committee to examine the vetting process of library materials and the review process for parents.

“At
 that point, the decision was made to hold these books until the 
committee could begin meeting and collect feedback from all principals 
and librarians,” the email said.

The group was set to assemble next week but met Wednesday afternoon instead.

Principals
 and librarians decided to put the challenged books back into 
circulation, the email said. Some of the books on the list are not part 
of the district’s library collection.

Goddard parents have access 
to a database of books their children check out and can receive 
notifications when their children check out a book. In addition, <a href="http://library.goddardusd.com/" target="_blank">library catalogs for all Goddard schools</a> are available on the district’s website.

“Parents are encouraged to always contact their building principal or librarian with concerns,” the email said.

The
 majority of books on Goddard’s list are written by people of color or 
feature characters from diverse backgrounds. Many deal with issues of 
race, gender or sexuality.

Authors and free speech advocates said 
the case is part of a national trend that has school boards trying to 
balance parental outrage with students’ access to diverse books.

The American Library Association said book challenges are up about 60% over the same time last year.

In recent months, many books have been challenged by parents and community members under the guise that they’re <a href="https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/calls-to-ban-books-by-black-authors-are-increasing-amid-critical-race-theory-debates/2021/09" target="_blank">promoting critical race theory</a>.

Last month, a Texas lawmaker <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/10/28/1050013664/texas-lawmaker-matt-krause-launches-inquiry-into-850-books" target="_blank">circulated a list of about 850 books</a> and asked schools statewide to tell him whether they have any books on the list and how much money was spent on them.

Jonathan
 Friedman, director of free expression and education for PEN America, 
said the Goddard case was especially troubling because books were pulled
 out of circulation without a review.

“You have a single parent . .
 . produce a list of books, and the district says, ‘Sure, no problem. We
 won’t let anybody read those books because one parent complained,’” 
Friedman said.

“That's very concerning, considering the importance
 of individual liberties and the importance of the freedom to read in a 
democratic society.”

Amanda Hope Perez, author of “Out of 
Darkness” and a former high school English teacher, said public book 
challenges are troubling. But she’s more concerned about what may be 
happening behind the scenes.

“I've heard from librarians (that) 
folks are being quietly asked to pull materials preemptively. And I 
think that’s even more alarming – the chilling effect,” Perez said.

“It's much harder to respond to that kind of softer censorship that’s occurring.”

Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636644419064.png" alt="Authors and free speech advocates say book challenges are increasing, and more school boards are trying to balance parental outrage with students’ access to diverse books. Suzanne Perez / KMUW" />
 <figcaption>Authors and free speech advocates say book challenges are increasing, and more school boards are trying to balance parental outrage with students’ access to diverse books. Suzanne Perez / KMUW</figcaption>
 </figure>By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-11-10/goddard-school-district-reverses-decision-to-pull-library-books">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA, Kansas — The Goddard school district reversed its 
decision to remove nearly 30 books from circulation in its libraries 
after receiving national pushback from authors and free speech 
advocates.An email sent to families Wednesday said all library 
books are once again available for students to check out while the 
district reviews its vetting process for library materials.The district had <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-11-09/goddard-school-district-orders-29-books-removed-from-circulation" target="_blank">removed more than two dozen books from circulation</a> earlier this week after a parent complained.The
 list of books initially barred from checkout included classics such as 
“The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Fences” and “The Bluest Eye,” as well as 
contemporary bestsellers such as “The Hate U Give.”The decision was widely criticized on social media, including by several authors.“When you’re banning books, you’re on the wrong side of history,” <a href="https://twitter.com/bradmeltzer/status/1458433866742603786" target="_blank">tweeted author Brad Meltzer</a>.The
 email to Goddard families on Wednesday said a parent “had questions 
about language and graphics from a specific book” their child had 
checked out in September. The parent then submitted a list of 28 books, 
met with the building principal and filled out a “request for review” 
form with the school, the email said.“When this list came to our 
attention, we checked with multiple school librarians regarding the 
national push to challenge these books,” the email said.Officials decided to form a committee to examine the vetting process of library materials and the review process for parents.“At
 that point, the decision was made to hold these books until the 
committee could begin meeting and collect feedback from all principals 
and librarians,” the email said.The group was set to assemble next week but met Wednesday afternoon instead.Principals
 and librarians decided to put the challenged books back into 
circulation, the email said. Some of the books on the list are not part 
of the district’s library collection.Goddard parents have access 
to a database of books their children check out and can receive 
notifications when their children check out a book. In addition, <a href="http://library.goddardusd.com/" target="_blank">library catalogs for all Goddard schools</a> are available on the district’s website.“Parents are encouraged to always contact their building principal or librarian with concerns,” the email said.The
 majority of books on Goddard’s list are written by people of color or 
feature characters from diverse backgrounds. Many deal with issues of 
race, gender or sexuality.Authors and free speech advocates said 
the case is part of a national trend that has school boards trying to 
balance parental outrage with students’ access to diverse books.The American Library Association said book challenges are up about 60% over the same time last year.In recent months, many books have been challenged by parents and community members under the guise that they’re <a href="https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/calls-to-ban-books-by-black-authors-are-increasing-amid-critical-race-theory-debates/2021/09" target="_blank">promoting critical race theory</a>.Last month, a Texas lawmaker <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/10/28/1050013664/texas-lawmaker-matt-krause-launches-inquiry-into-850-books" target="_blank">circulated a list of about 850 books</a> and asked schools statewide to tell him whether they have any books on the list and how much money was spent on them.Jonathan
 Friedman, director of free expression and education for PEN America, 
said the Goddard case was especially troubling because books were pulled
 out of circulation without a review.“You have a single parent . .
 . produce a list of books, and the district says, ‘Sure, no problem. We
 won’t let anybody read those books because one parent complained,’” 
Friedman said.“That's very concerning, considering the importance
 of individual liberties and the importance of the freedom to read in a 
democratic society.”Amanda Hope Perez, author of “Out of 
Darkness” and a former high school English teacher, said public book 
challenges are troubling. But she’s more concerned about what may be 
happening behind the scenes.“I've heard from librarians (that) 
folks are being quietly asked to pull materials preemptively. And I 
think that’s even more alarming – the chilling effect,” Perez said.“It's much harder to respond to that kind of softer censorship that’s occurring.”Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

Kansas school district reverses decision to pull library books

On Wednesday, the Nebraska State Patrol provided an update on the investigation of a shooting at a Superior grain elevator.

On Wednesday, the Nebraska State Patrol provided an update on the investigation of a shooting at a Superior grain elevator.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fPEH0vqVMYQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

📽 NSP gives update on Superior grain elevator shooting investigation

BALTIMORE (AP) — President Joe Biden touted his $1 trillion infrastructure plan Wednesday as an eventual fix for the nation’s inflation and supply chain woes -- if Americans just have the patience to wait for the construction to begin.

The president toured the Port of Baltimore at the start of what is likely to be a national tour to showcase his signature legislation that cleared Congress last week and that he intends to sign on Monday. He declared that the spending would improve transportation of products and supplies from overseas and within the U.S. to help lower prices, reduce shortages and add union jobs.

That message is becoming more critical as the government reported Wednesday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-consumer-prices-inflation-economy-prices-10e00ba16f8fb94f45ced724f2ea2e45">consumer prices in October climbed 6.2% from a year ago.</a>&nbsp;Inflation has intensified instead of fading as the economy reopened after the coronavirus pandemic, creating a major challenge for Biden whose administration repeatedly said that the price increases were temporary. During remarks at the port, he acknowledged that consumer prices remained “too high.”

“Everything from a gallon of gas to a loaf of bread costs more,” he said. “We still face challenges and we have to tackle them ... we have to tackle them head on.”

Higher prices have eaten into wages and turned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-business-health-d14c1764e3967c36d29d93ff7ff4bb72">public sentiment</a>&nbsp;on the economy against Biden in polls. One of the obstacles for reducing inflation has been backlogged ports with ships waiting to dock at major transit hubs, causing shortages and leaving some store shelves depleted ahead of the holiday shopping season.

“Many people remain unsettled about the economy and we all know why,” Biden said.

He offered his infrastructure plan as the solution, albeit one that will take time to manifest. Better infrastructure — whether roads, bridges, ports or whatever — would give more capacity and resiliency for the supply chain. There would be more capacity to unload ships and move goods, which in turn would reduce price pressures and shortages.

Biden said the infrastructure spending would create jobs paying $45 an hour, nearly 50% above the current national average. It would create a wealth of jobs to fix aging pipes, bridges and roads, and boost clean energy and cybersecurity. And most wouldn’t require college degrees.

“This is a once in a generation investment,” he said.

The president pointed to Baltimore’s port as a blueprint on how to reduce shipping bottlenecks that have held back the economic recovery. The facility is adding container cranes as well as a 50-foot berth where ships can be unloaded. Baltimore’s port is also benefiting from grants to upgrade the Howard Street Tunnel, a brick-lined underpass for trains that opened in 1895. The tunnel would be expanded so that shipping containers could be double-stacked on railcars, making it easier to move goods out of the port.

The president, who consulted with the CEOs of Walmart, Target, FedEx and UPS on Tuesday, emphasized that these investments are part of a national effort to relieve supply chain bottlenecks in ways that can aid broader growth.

His administration also announced new investments to reduce congestion at the Port of Savannah in Georgia, nearly a month after the administration helped broker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-los-angeles-health-48ff262b882a37308e4a3f15934b2ee4">a deal for the Port of Los Angeles to operate nonstop</a>.

The president has been trying to explain that the port congestion shows just how strong the economic rebound from the pandemic has been. A forecast by the National Retail Federation suggests a record level of imports this year.

The inflation phenomenon is also global in nature, with Germany and China recently reporting high levels.

The president made his case Wednesday in a city of nearly 600,000 people that supports him. Nearly 90% of voters in Baltimore backed Biden in last year’s election. The president also stopped in the city for a CNN town hall on Oct. 21.

Baltimore embodies the complexities of an increasingly diverse America at a time of heated national politics.

Many Americans have seen a TV version of the city’s poverty, crime, political corruption and vacant row houses on shows such as HBO’s “The Wire.” Unrest following the 2015 death of Freddie Gray from injuries in a police van helped to propel a national movement for respecting the rights and lives of Black Americans.

But Baltimore also contains deep pockets of wealth and prosperity in what is a microcosm of the broader inequality confronting the nation. There are the mansions of the Guilford neighborhood, elite private schools, celebrated restaurants and the prestige of Johns Hopkins University.

As president, Donald Trump slammed the majority Black city on Twitter frequently, calling it “the WORST IN NATION.” But while Trump scorned Baltimore, Biden sees a test case for his agenda that goes beyond the ports. His child tax credits are sending thousands of dollars to families in a city with a child poverty rate north of 30%. Work has begun to renovate and modernize the historic Penn Station, possibly improving rail transit across the Northeast.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636579435172.png" alt="“Everything from a gallon of gas to a loaf of bread costs more,” President Biden said during a tour of the&nbsp; Port of Baltimore on Wednesday. “We still face challenges and we have to tackle them ... we have to tackle them head on.”-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>“Everything from a gallon of gas to a loaf of bread costs more,” President Biden said during a tour of the&nbsp; Port of Baltimore on Wednesday. “We still face challenges and we have to tackle them ... we have to tackle them head on.”-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>BALTIMORE (AP) — President Joe Biden touted his $1 trillion infrastructure plan Wednesday as an eventual fix for the nation’s inflation and supply chain woes -- if Americans just have the patience to wait for the construction to begin.The president toured the Port of Baltimore at the start of what is likely to be a national tour to showcase his signature legislation that cleared Congress last week and that he intends to sign on Monday. He declared that the spending would improve transportation of products and supplies from overseas and within the U.S. to help lower prices, reduce shortages and add union jobs.That message is becoming more critical as the government reported Wednesday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-consumer-prices-inflation-economy-prices-10e00ba16f8fb94f45ced724f2ea2e45">consumer prices in October climbed 6.2% from a year ago.</a>&nbsp;Inflation has intensified instead of fading as the economy reopened after the coronavirus pandemic, creating a major challenge for Biden whose administration repeatedly said that the price increases were temporary. During remarks at the port, he acknowledged that consumer prices remained “too high.”“Everything from a gallon of gas to a loaf of bread costs more,” he said. “We still face challenges and we have to tackle them ... we have to tackle them head on.”Higher prices have eaten into wages and turned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-business-health-d14c1764e3967c36d29d93ff7ff4bb72">public sentiment</a>&nbsp;on the economy against Biden in polls. One of the obstacles for reducing inflation has been backlogged ports with ships waiting to dock at major transit hubs, causing shortages and leaving some store shelves depleted ahead of the holiday shopping season.“Many people remain unsettled about the economy and we all know why,” Biden said.He offered his infrastructure plan as the solution, albeit one that will take time to manifest. Better infrastructure — whether roads, bridges, ports or whatever — would give more capacity and resiliency for the supply chain. There would be more capacity to unload ships and move goods, which in turn would reduce price pressures and shortages.Biden said the infrastructure spending would create jobs paying $45 an hour, nearly 50% above the current national average. It would create a wealth of jobs to fix aging pipes, bridges and roads, and boost clean energy and cybersecurity. And most wouldn’t require college degrees.“This is a once in a generation investment,” he said.The president pointed to Baltimore’s port as a blueprint on how to reduce shipping bottlenecks that have held back the economic recovery. The facility is adding container cranes as well as a 50-foot berth where ships can be unloaded. Baltimore’s port is also benefiting from grants to upgrade the Howard Street Tunnel, a brick-lined underpass for trains that opened in 1895. The tunnel would be expanded so that shipping containers could be double-stacked on railcars, making it easier to move goods out of the port.The president, who consulted with the CEOs of Walmart, Target, FedEx and UPS on Tuesday, emphasized that these investments are part of a national effort to relieve supply chain bottlenecks in ways that can aid broader growth.His administration also announced new investments to reduce congestion at the Port of Savannah in Georgia, nearly a month after the administration helped broker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-los-angeles-health-48ff262b882a37308e4a3f15934b2ee4">a deal for the Port of Los Angeles to operate nonstop</a>.The president has been trying to explain that the port congestion shows just how strong the economic rebound from the pandemic has been. A forecast by the National Retail Federation suggests a record level of imports this year.The inflation phenomenon is also global in nature, with Germany and China recently reporting high levels.The president made his case Wednesday in a city of nearly 600,000 people that supports him. Nearly 90% of voters in Baltimore backed Biden in last year’s election. The president also stopped in the city for a CNN town hall on Oct. 21.Baltimore embodies the complexities of an increasingly diverse America at a time of heated national politics.Many Americans have seen a TV version of the city’s poverty, crime, political corruption and vacant row houses on shows such as HBO’s “The Wire.” Unrest following the 2015 death of Freddie Gray from injuries in a police van helped to propel a national movement for respecting the rights and lives of Black Americans.But Baltimore also contains deep pockets of wealth and prosperity in what is a microcosm of the broader inequality confronting the nation. There are the mansions of the Guilford neighborhood, elite private schools, celebrated restaurants and the prestige of Johns Hopkins University.As president, Donald Trump slammed the majority Black city on Twitter frequently, calling it “the WORST IN NATION.” But while Trump scorned Baltimore, Biden sees a test case for his agenda that goes beyond the ports. His child tax credits are sending thousands of dollars to families in a city with a child poverty rate north of 30%. Work has begun to renovate and modernize the historic Penn Station, possibly improving rail transit across the Northeast.

Biden: My $1.7T infrastructure plan will ease economic woes

A recent <a href="https://bbb.org/employmentscams" target="_blank">Better Business Bureau (BBB) report</a>
 shed light on those most impacted by employment scams: military spouses
 and veterans. Military spouses and veterans were both more likely to be
 victimized than non-military consumers, and more notably, the median 
dollar loss was significantly higher – nearly double – than those 
reported by non-military consumers.

Employment scams were the #1 riskiest scam in 2018 and 2019 according
 to the BBB Risk Index, which measures exposure, susceptibility, and 
monetary loss based on reports to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>.
 This was true for both the overall consumer population as well as 
military consumers specifically. When broken out by military 
demographic, employment scams are the most risky scam for military 
spouses and the second most risky scam for veterans. The <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/24536-military-families-and-veterans-more-likely-to-lose-money-to-scams" target="_blank">2020 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report</a>
 indicated veterans reported a median loss of $133, military spouses 
reported a median $132 loss, and active duty service members reported a 
median loss of $269 – all of which were higher than the $115 median loss
 reported across all consumers in 2020.

In the wake of COVID-19, the <a href="https://bbb.org/employmentscams" target="_blank">Employment Scams Report</a>,
 which surveyed 10,670 U.S. and Canadian consumers who reported 
encountering an employment scam in the last three years, found that 
nearly three-quarters of those who lost money had trouble paying their 
monthly bills and more than half were unemployed. The top reason victims
 engaged with the scammer was the ability to work from home – a critical
 need of those balancing family obligations and unpredictable PCOS 
moves. Flexibility was also noted as a top reason for engaging in these 
opportunities.

The 2019 <a href="https://www.bbb.org/militaryreport" target="_blank">Military Consumers and Marketplace Trust</a> report, published with support from the <a href="https://www.ambahq.org/" target="_blank">Association of Military Banks of America</a>,
 highlighted some of the unique challenges and key risk factors faced by
 military and veteran families, especially in regard to employment 
scams. A cumulative look of self-reported data in the Employment Scams 
Report between February 2016 and May 2020 shows that employment scams 
are even riskier than previously reported; 19.2% of military spouse and 
16.6% of veterans encountering the scam reported a financial loss, 
compared with 15.5% for non-military consumers. And for every person 
that reported losing money, at least another worked without pay, and yet
 another lost personal information that could lead to identity theft.&nbsp;

While the largest financial losses were reported by military spouses 
($1,825) and veterans ($1,905), even service members reported much 
higher median losses ($1,680) than non-military consumers ($1,000). This
 likely correlates with the 28% of survey respondents stating that they 
were looking for flexible, “gig” type employment opportunities when they
 encountered the fraudulent job.

The study showed that prevention and intervention methods can reduce 
the likelihood of a financial loss. Those who heard of employment scams 
and tactics prior to the encounter were significantly less likely to 
lose money, which reinforces the need to continue outreach about these 
risky scams. In addition, respondents reported that interventions by 
bank tellers and retail employees were very helpful in convincing them 
to walk away before losing money; 13% of survey respondents said an 
organization, company or agency employee tried to intervene and stop the
 scam – and 69% of the time, they were successful in their efforts.&nbsp;

As soldiers return to civilian life and re-enter the workforce, they 
face unique difficulties. Some veterans find challenges in applying for 
education benefits, navigating disability claims or searching for 
employment. Finding trustworthy sources is the best way to avoid scams. 
BBB recommends beginning with these organizations:

For tips on how to avoid employment scams, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/employmentscams" target="_blank">BBB.org/EmploymentScams</a>.

To read the Military Consumers and Marketplace Trust report, visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org/militaryreport" target="_blank">BBB.org/MilitaryReport</a>.

To report a scam, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a>.

For more information about BBB’s Military and Veterans Initiative and consumer resources, visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org/military" target="_blank">BBB.org/Military</a>.

BBB Serving the Heart of Texas contributed to this article.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBA recent <a href="https://bbb.org/employmentscams" target="_blank">Better Business Bureau (BBB) report</a>
 shed light on those most impacted by employment scams: military spouses
 and veterans. Military spouses and veterans were both more likely to be
 victimized than non-military consumers, and more notably, the median 
dollar loss was significantly higher – nearly double – than those 
reported by non-military consumers.Employment scams were the #1 riskiest scam in 2018 and 2019 according
 to the BBB Risk Index, which measures exposure, susceptibility, and 
monetary loss based on reports to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>.
 This was true for both the overall consumer population as well as 
military consumers specifically. When broken out by military 
demographic, employment scams are the most risky scam for military 
spouses and the second most risky scam for veterans. The <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/24536-military-families-and-veterans-more-likely-to-lose-money-to-scams" target="_blank">2020 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report</a>
 indicated veterans reported a median loss of $133, military spouses 
reported a median $132 loss, and active duty service members reported a 
median loss of $269 – all of which were higher than the $115 median loss
 reported across all consumers in 2020.In the wake of COVID-19, the <a href="https://bbb.org/employmentscams" target="_blank">Employment Scams Report</a>,
 which surveyed 10,670 U.S. and Canadian consumers who reported 
encountering an employment scam in the last three years, found that 
nearly three-quarters of those who lost money had trouble paying their 
monthly bills and more than half were unemployed. The top reason victims
 engaged with the scammer was the ability to work from home – a critical
 need of those balancing family obligations and unpredictable PCOS 
moves. Flexibility was also noted as a top reason for engaging in these 
opportunities.The 2019 <a href="https://www.bbb.org/militaryreport" target="_blank">Military Consumers and Marketplace Trust</a> report, published with support from the <a href="https://www.ambahq.org/" target="_blank">Association of Military Banks of America</a>,
 highlighted some of the unique challenges and key risk factors faced by
 military and veteran families, especially in regard to employment 
scams. A cumulative look of self-reported data in the Employment Scams 
Report between February 2016 and May 2020 shows that employment scams 
are even riskier than previously reported; 19.2% of military spouse and 
16.6% of veterans encountering the scam reported a financial loss, 
compared with 15.5% for non-military consumers. And for every person 
that reported losing money, at least another worked without pay, and yet
 another lost personal information that could lead to identity theft.&nbsp;While the largest financial losses were reported by military spouses 
($1,825) and veterans ($1,905), even service members reported much 
higher median losses ($1,680) than non-military consumers ($1,000). This
 likely correlates with the 28% of survey respondents stating that they 
were looking for flexible, “gig” type employment opportunities when they
 encountered the fraudulent job.The study showed that prevention and intervention methods can reduce 
the likelihood of a financial loss. Those who heard of employment scams 
and tactics prior to the encounter were significantly less likely to 
lose money, which reinforces the need to continue outreach about these 
risky scams. In addition, respondents reported that interventions by 
bank tellers and retail employees were very helpful in convincing them 
to walk away before losing money; 13% of survey respondents said an 
organization, company or agency employee tried to intervene and stop the
 scam – and 69% of the time, they were successful in their efforts.&nbsp;As soldiers return to civilian life and re-enter the workforce, they 
face unique difficulties. Some veterans find challenges in applying for 
education benefits, navigating disability claims or searching for 
employment. Finding trustworthy sources is the best way to avoid scams. 
BBB recommends beginning with these organizations:<ul>
 <li>BBB Military and Veteran Consumer Information. <a href="https://www.bbbmarketplacetrust.org/military-and-veterans-initiative" target="_blank">BBB Military and Veteran Consumer Information</a> offers free consumer education and financial literacy resources for military families and veterans.</li><li>U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.). <a href="https://www.va.gov/" target="_blank">VA.gov</a>,
 the official website for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, is a 
hub for materials on every aspect that may impact the transition to 
civilian life. Information on education benefits, pensions and life 
insurance can all be found on the Veterans Affairs official website.</li><li>Veteran Employment Services Office (VESO). <a href="https://www.vaforvets.va.gov/vaforvets/veso/Pages/default.asp" target="_blank">VESO</a>
 offers career opportunity resources within the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, assisting in the transition from active duty to civilian life.</li><li>USA Military Assistance. Like the V.A., USA 
Military Assistance provides guidance in a wide variety of areas. For 
those on active duty, military tax guidance and free credit monitoring 
can also be found at <a href="https://www.usa.gov/military-assistance" target="_blank">usa.gov/Military-Assistance</a>.</li><li>Veterans Health Administration. An extension of the V.A., <a href="https://www.va.gov/health/" target="_blank">the Veterans Health Administration</a>
 is a health care system specifically for veterans. The administration 
also offers resources for veterans during the COVID-19 crisis.</li><li>Canadian Resources: Services and benefits for members of the Canadian Armed forces can be found <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/government/publicservice/benefitsmilitary.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng" target="_blank">Veterans Affairs Canada</a> is a resource for those who have served in the Canadian Armed Forces or Royal Canadian Mounted Police.</li>
 </ul>For tips on how to avoid employment scams, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/employmentscams" target="_blank">BBB.org/EmploymentScams</a>.To read the Military Consumers and Marketplace Trust report, visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org/militaryreport" target="_blank">BBB.org/MilitaryReport</a>.To report a scam, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a>.For more information about BBB’s Military and Veterans Initiative and consumer resources, visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org/military" target="_blank">BBB.org/Military</a>.BBB Serving the Heart of Texas contributed to this article.

Military spouses, veterans report highest losses to employment scams

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a pair of armed robberies and have made an arrest.

Lenexa Police reported two&nbsp;armed robberies Tuesday involving Facebook Marketplace sales of electronics. 

The sales took place in the parking lots of a gas station and a grocery store.&nbsp; Police in Olathe arrested one suspect Tuesday night. The suspect is believed to be tied to both cases.&nbsp; According to the Johnson County Police Department booking report, officers arrested 22-year-old Terrell Harris in Olathe Tuesday on a requested charge of aggravated robbery.

"With the holidays approaching, these types of person-to-person sales are likely to increase. Police strongly recommend meeting at a police station to conduct these transactions. For example, the front circle drive, front entrance walkway and even our front lobby of the Lenexa Police are considered good options.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636562894250.png" alt="Police arrested 22-year-old Terrell Harris in Olathe Tuesday on a requested charge of aggravated robbery, according to the Johnson County booking report." />
 <figcaption>Police arrested 22-year-old Terrell Harris in Olathe Tuesday on a requested charge of aggravated robbery, according to the Johnson County booking report.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a pair of armed robberies and have made an arrest.Lenexa Police reported two&nbsp;armed robberies Tuesday involving Facebook Marketplace sales of electronics. The sales took place in the parking lots of a gas station and a grocery store.&nbsp; Police in Olathe arrested one suspect Tuesday night. The suspect is believed to be tied to both cases.&nbsp; According to the Johnson County Police Department booking report, officers arrested 22-year-old Terrell Harris in Olathe Tuesday on a requested charge of aggravated robbery."With the holidays approaching, these types of person-to-person sales are likely to increase. Police strongly recommend meeting at a police station to conduct these transactions. For example, the front circle drive, front entrance walkway and even our front lobby of the Lenexa Police are considered good options.

Police investigate Facebook Marketplace armed robberies in Kansas

By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-11-09/goddard-school-district-orders-29-books-removed-from-circulation">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA — The Goddard school district has removed more
 than two dozen books from circulation in the district’s school 
libraries, citing national attention and challenges to the books 
elsewhere.

The list of books includes several well-known novels, 
including “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood, “The Bluest Eye” by 
Toni Morrison, “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas and “The Perks of Being
 a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky.

It also includes “Fences,” a 
play by August Wilson that won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1987, and
 “They Called Themselves the K.K.K.,” a historical look at how the white
 supremacist group took root in America.

Julie Cannizzo, assistant
 superintendent for academic affairs in Goddard, sent an email to 
principals and librarians last week with the list of 29 books.

“At
 this time, the district is not in a position to know if the books 
contained on this list meet our educational goals or not,” Cannizzo 
wrote in the email. “Additionally, we need to gain a better 
understanding of the processes utilized to select books for our school 
libraries.

“For these reasons, please do not allow any of these 
books to be checked out while we are in the process of gathering more 
information. If a book on this list is currently checked out, please do 
(not) allow it to be checked out again once it's returned.”

Cannizzo
 said in the email that the district is assembling a committee to “rate 
the content of the books on the list” and to review the selection 
process. She did not say how long the process is expected to take.

Cannizzo
 said Tuesday that one parent objected to language he found offensive in
 “The Hate U Give,” a novel about the aftermath of a police officer 
killing a Black teenager. The parent then submitted a list of books he 
questioned, and district officials agreed to halt checkouts and complete
 a review.

"We're not banning these books or anything like that as
 a district," she said. "It was just brought to our attention that that 
list of books may have content that's unsuitable for children."

Cannizzo
 said she plans to meet with school librarians this week. She wouldn't 
say when or if the books would return to circulation.

“We haven’t 
even evaluated these books," she said. "I couldn’t even tell you what 
these books have in them or why someone may find them offensive or not."

<a href="http://library.goddardusd.com/" target="_blank">Library catalogs for all 12 Goddard schools</a> are available on the district’s website.

A <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/scschoolfiles/236/section_i_-_final_copy_-_2020.pdf" target="_blank">Goddard district policy</a>
 adopted in 2016 spells out procedures for challenging textbooks, 
library books or instructional materials. Anyone with a complaint about a
 book is directed to meet first with the school principal and submit a 
“request for review” form.

If a challenge isn’t resolved at the 
school level, it goes to the superintendent and then the school board. 
Board members may forward a complaint to a review committee made up of 
the building principal, media specialist, two subject area specialists 
and two community members.

According to the district’s policy, “Challenged materials shall not be removed from use during the review period.”

The development comes just days after a <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/10/28/1050013664/texas-lawmaker-matt-krause-launches-inquiry-into-850-books" target="_blank">Texas state lawmaker launched an investigation</a>
 into Texas school districts over the type of books they have, 
particularly if they pertain to race or sexuality or “make students feel
 discomfort.”

Goddard’s list includes several books written by 
people of color or featuring characters from diverse backgrounds. Some 
feature LGBTQ protagonists or young people struggling with issues of 
gender or sexuality.

Jaime Prothro, Wichita’s director of libraries, said there’s an increase in challenges to library purchases nationwide.

“What
 we’re seeing in the publishing world is a lot more marginalized voices —
 LGBTQ, Black experiences,” Prothro said. “These are books that people 
have been yearning to read, and they're being published with more 
frequency.

“And when more diverse books are published, that is 
actually going to impact the collection makeup of any library. . . . 
That’s definitely something that’s kind of pushing on a nerve for a 
number of people who are more comfortable with more mainstream 
lifestyles.”

“The Hate U Give” is a young adult novel about the 
aftermath of a police officer killing a Black teenager. “Black Girl 
Unlimited” explores issues of poverty, sexual violence, depression and 
racism. “Blended” is about an 11-year-old biracial girl dealing with her
 parents’ divorce.

Prothro said she can’t speak specifically to 
issues at play in Goddard or other districts. But she worries that 
current debates over books could limit access to diverse stories and 
experiences.

“That one family may choose not to read something 
does not determine whether or not it’s appropriate for another family,” 
she said.

“We really do celebrate the freedom of choice. And in a library situation, if that book isn’t for you, just return it.”

Here is the list of books ordered to be removed from circulation in Goddard school libraries:

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34521785-murdertrending?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=eUhzvUPTLS&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“#MurderTrending”</a> by Gretchen McNeil

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44280883-all-boys-aren-t-blue?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=i2CuDFYHxR&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“All Boys Aren’t Blue”</a> by George M. Johnson

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36142487-anger-is-a-gift?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=J2u1pJn8TZ&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Anger is a Gift”</a> by Mark Oshiro

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38599259-black-girl-unlimited?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=bnEcc7fJCG&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Black Girl Unlimited”</a> by Echo Brown

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38351370-blended?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=fYMfC3wYTY&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Blended”</a> by Sharon M. Draper

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/270730.Crank?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=ODDNTOMarC&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Crank”</a> by Ellen Hopkins

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/539282.Fences?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=y8a28PHiFF&amp;rank=2" target="_blank">“Fences”</a> by August Wilson

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26135825-fun-home?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=0HqwPpVWCi&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic”</a> by Alison Bechdel

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42837514-gender-queer?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=Z6IDJGaKE8&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Gender Queer”</a> by Maia Kobabe

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29430746-heavy?from_search=true&amp;from_srp=true&amp;qid=6ikbGT68Nm&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Heavy”</a> by Kiese Laymon

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35489159-lawn-boy?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=anpBXcmTMP&amp;rank=2" target="_blank">“Lawn Boy”</a> by Jonathan Evison

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23203257-lily-and-dunkin?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=orTTshzqL5&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Lily and Dunkin”</a> by Donna Gephart

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2954411-living-dead-girl?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=J3Em3CqF0u&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Living Dead Girl”</a> by Elizabeth Scott

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35068534-monday-s-not-coming?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=AOad2xpeyH&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Monday’s Not Coming”</a> by Tiffany D. Jackson

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25256386-out-of-darkness?from_search=true&amp;from_srp=true&amp;qid=R7f8mRv70Y&amp;rank=3" target="_blank">“Out of Darkness”</a> by Ashley Hope Perez

<a href="https://www.amazon.com/At-Issue-hardcover-Tamara-Roleff/dp/0737708077" target="_blank">“Satanism”</a> by Tamara L. Roleff

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33155325-the-57-bus?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=7jacyegYWp&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime that Changed Their Lives”</a> by Dashka Slater

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/693208.The_Absolutely_True_Diary_of_a_Part_Time_Indian?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=EdHeX2qKsj&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian”</a> by Sherman Alexie

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11337.The_Bluest_Eye?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=MBCTYR23UB&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“The Bluest Eye”</a> by Toni Morrison

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6449290-the-girl-who-fell-from-the-sky?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=p4kt5K6EXg&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“The Girl Who Fell From the Sky”</a> by Heidi W. Durrow

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38447.The_Handmaid_s_Tale?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=vGWGRC5r6k&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“The Handmaid’s Tale”</a> by Margaret Atwood

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40766383-the-handmaid-s-tale?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=p6Ev8vRJra&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“The Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel”</a> adapted by Renee Nault

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32075671-the-hate-u-give?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=ObWQru6sLx&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“The Hate U Give”</a> by Angie Thomas

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22628.The_Perks_of_Being_a_Wallflower?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=EUlSZisHmJ&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“The Perks of Being a Wallflower”</a> by Stephen Chbosky

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42975172-the-testaments?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=A9MpVqtVTR&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“The Testaments”</a> by Margaret Atwood

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7029188-they-called-themselves-the-k-k-k?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=56KXirJkW5&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group”</a> by Susan Campbell Bertoletti

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22074335-this-book-is-gay?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=nC5HI6MPpH&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“This Book is Gay”</a> by James Dawson

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18465566-this-one-summer?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=uvkSDLcblz&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“This One Summer”</a> (graphic novel) by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34609406-trans-mission?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=bsd6YWj63m&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Trans Mission: My Quest to a Beard”</a> by Alex Bertie

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636562361011.png" alt="A list of books removed from circulation in Goddard school libraries includes novels by Margaret Atwood and Toni Morrison. Suzanne Perez / KMUW" />
 <figcaption>A list of books removed from circulation in Goddard school libraries includes novels by Margaret Atwood and Toni Morrison. Suzanne Perez / KMUW</figcaption>
 </figure>By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-11-09/goddard-school-district-orders-29-books-removed-from-circulation">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA — The Goddard school district has removed more
 than two dozen books from circulation in the district’s school 
libraries, citing national attention and challenges to the books 
elsewhere.The list of books includes several well-known novels, 
including “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood, “The Bluest Eye” by 
Toni Morrison, “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas and “The Perks of Being
 a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky.It also includes “Fences,” a 
play by August Wilson that won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1987, and
 “They Called Themselves the K.K.K.,” a historical look at how the white
 supremacist group took root in America.Julie Cannizzo, assistant
 superintendent for academic affairs in Goddard, sent an email to 
principals and librarians last week with the list of 29 books.“At
 this time, the district is not in a position to know if the books 
contained on this list meet our educational goals or not,” Cannizzo 
wrote in the email. “Additionally, we need to gain a better 
understanding of the processes utilized to select books for our school 
libraries.“For these reasons, please do not allow any of these 
books to be checked out while we are in the process of gathering more 
information. If a book on this list is currently checked out, please do 
(not) allow it to be checked out again once it's returned.”Cannizzo
 said in the email that the district is assembling a committee to “rate 
the content of the books on the list” and to review the selection 
process. She did not say how long the process is expected to take.Cannizzo
 said Tuesday that one parent objected to language he found offensive in
 “The Hate U Give,” a novel about the aftermath of a police officer 
killing a Black teenager. The parent then submitted a list of books he 
questioned, and district officials agreed to halt checkouts and complete
 a review."We're not banning these books or anything like that as
 a district," she said. "It was just brought to our attention that that 
list of books may have content that's unsuitable for children."Cannizzo
 said she plans to meet with school librarians this week. She wouldn't 
say when or if the books would return to circulation.“We haven’t 
even evaluated these books," she said. "I couldn’t even tell you what 
these books have in them or why someone may find them offensive or not."<a href="http://library.goddardusd.com/" target="_blank">Library catalogs for all 12 Goddard schools</a> are available on the district’s website.A <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/scschoolfiles/236/section_i_-_final_copy_-_2020.pdf" target="_blank">Goddard district policy</a>
 adopted in 2016 spells out procedures for challenging textbooks, 
library books or instructional materials. Anyone with a complaint about a
 book is directed to meet first with the school principal and submit a 
“request for review” form.If a challenge isn’t resolved at the 
school level, it goes to the superintendent and then the school board. 
Board members may forward a complaint to a review committee made up of 
the building principal, media specialist, two subject area specialists 
and two community members.According to the district’s policy, “Challenged materials shall not be removed from use during the review period.”The development comes just days after a <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/10/28/1050013664/texas-lawmaker-matt-krause-launches-inquiry-into-850-books" target="_blank">Texas state lawmaker launched an investigation</a>
 into Texas school districts over the type of books they have, 
particularly if they pertain to race or sexuality or “make students feel
 discomfort.”Goddard’s list includes several books written by 
people of color or featuring characters from diverse backgrounds. Some 
feature LGBTQ protagonists or young people struggling with issues of 
gender or sexuality.Jaime Prothro, Wichita’s director of libraries, said there’s an increase in challenges to library purchases nationwide.“What
 we’re seeing in the publishing world is a lot more marginalized voices —
 LGBTQ, Black experiences,” Prothro said. “These are books that people 
have been yearning to read, and they're being published with more 
frequency.“And when more diverse books are published, that is 
actually going to impact the collection makeup of any library. . . . 
That’s definitely something that’s kind of pushing on a nerve for a 
number of people who are more comfortable with more mainstream 
lifestyles.”“The Hate U Give” is a young adult novel about the 
aftermath of a police officer killing a Black teenager. “Black Girl 
Unlimited” explores issues of poverty, sexual violence, depression and 
racism. “Blended” is about an 11-year-old biracial girl dealing with her
 parents’ divorce.Prothro said she can’t speak specifically to 
issues at play in Goddard or other districts. But she worries that 
current debates over books could limit access to diverse stories and 
experiences.“That one family may choose not to read something 
does not determine whether or not it’s appropriate for another family,” 
she said.“We really do celebrate the freedom of choice. And in a library situation, if that book isn’t for you, just return it.”Here is the list of books ordered to be removed from circulation in Goddard school libraries:<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34521785-murdertrending?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=eUhzvUPTLS&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“#MurderTrending”</a> by Gretchen McNeil<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44280883-all-boys-aren-t-blue?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=i2CuDFYHxR&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“All Boys Aren’t Blue”</a> by George M. Johnson<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36142487-anger-is-a-gift?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=J2u1pJn8TZ&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Anger is a Gift”</a> by Mark Oshiro<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38599259-black-girl-unlimited?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=bnEcc7fJCG&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Black Girl Unlimited”</a> by Echo Brown<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38351370-blended?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=fYMfC3wYTY&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Blended”</a> by Sharon M. Draper<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/270730.Crank?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=ODDNTOMarC&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Crank”</a> by Ellen Hopkins<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/539282.Fences?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=y8a28PHiFF&amp;rank=2" target="_blank">“Fences”</a> by August Wilson<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26135825-fun-home?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=0HqwPpVWCi&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic”</a> by Alison Bechdel<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42837514-gender-queer?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=Z6IDJGaKE8&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Gender Queer”</a> by Maia Kobabe<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29430746-heavy?from_search=true&amp;from_srp=true&amp;qid=6ikbGT68Nm&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Heavy”</a> by Kiese Laymon<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35489159-lawn-boy?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=anpBXcmTMP&amp;rank=2" target="_blank">“Lawn Boy”</a> by Jonathan Evison<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23203257-lily-and-dunkin?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=orTTshzqL5&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Lily and Dunkin”</a> by Donna Gephart<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2954411-living-dead-girl?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=J3Em3CqF0u&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Living Dead Girl”</a> by Elizabeth Scott<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35068534-monday-s-not-coming?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=AOad2xpeyH&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Monday’s Not Coming”</a> by Tiffany D. Jackson<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25256386-out-of-darkness?from_search=true&amp;from_srp=true&amp;qid=R7f8mRv70Y&amp;rank=3" target="_blank">“Out of Darkness”</a> by Ashley Hope Perez<a href="https://www.amazon.com/At-Issue-hardcover-Tamara-Roleff/dp/0737708077" target="_blank">“Satanism”</a> by Tamara L. Roleff<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33155325-the-57-bus?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=7jacyegYWp&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime that Changed Their Lives”</a> by Dashka Slater<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/693208.The_Absolutely_True_Diary_of_a_Part_Time_Indian?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=EdHeX2qKsj&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian”</a> by Sherman Alexie<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11337.The_Bluest_Eye?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=MBCTYR23UB&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“The Bluest Eye”</a> by Toni Morrison<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6449290-the-girl-who-fell-from-the-sky?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=p4kt5K6EXg&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“The Girl Who Fell From the Sky”</a> by Heidi W. Durrow<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38447.The_Handmaid_s_Tale?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=vGWGRC5r6k&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“The Handmaid’s Tale”</a> by Margaret Atwood<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40766383-the-handmaid-s-tale?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=p6Ev8vRJra&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“The Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel”</a> adapted by Renee Nault<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32075671-the-hate-u-give?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=ObWQru6sLx&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“The Hate U Give”</a> by Angie Thomas<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22628.The_Perks_of_Being_a_Wallflower?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=EUlSZisHmJ&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“The Perks of Being a Wallflower”</a> by Stephen Chbosky<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42975172-the-testaments?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=A9MpVqtVTR&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“The Testaments”</a> by Margaret Atwood<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7029188-they-called-themselves-the-k-k-k?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=56KXirJkW5&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group”</a> by Susan Campbell Bertoletti<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22074335-this-book-is-gay?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=nC5HI6MPpH&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“This Book is Gay”</a> by James Dawson<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18465566-this-one-summer?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=uvkSDLcblz&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“This One Summer”</a> (graphic novel) by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34609406-trans-mission?ac=1&amp;from_search=true&amp;qid=bsd6YWj63m&amp;rank=1" target="_blank">“Trans Mission: My Quest to a Beard”</a> by Alex BertieSuzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

Kan. school district orders 29 books removed from circulation

LINCOLN—Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson and Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt on&nbsp; Wednesday led a coalition of 10 states in challenging the vaccine mandate propagated by the Biden Administration’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on healthcare workers across the nation, becoming the first states to file a lawsuit challenging this mandate. Attorney General Eric Schmitt previously filed suit to halt the vaccine mandate on federal contractors and OSHA’s vaccine mandate on private employers.

“Unfortunately, with this latest mandate from the Biden Administration, last year’s healthcare heroes are turning into this year’s unemployed. Requiring healthcare workers to get a vaccination or face termination is unconstitutional and unlawful, and could exacerbate healthcare staffing shortages to the point of collapse, especially in Missouri’s rural areas,” said&nbsp;Attorney General Schmitt. “My Office has been, and will continue to be, a national leader in challenging the Biden Administration’s illegal edicts, and this instance is our latest effort to push back on this unprecedented federal overreach.” &nbsp; The CMS vaccine mandate, as the lawsuit mentions, “imposes an unprecedented federal vaccine mandate on nearly every full-time employee, part-time employee, volunteer, and contractor working at a wide range of healthcare facilities receiving Medicaid or Medicaid funding.” &nbsp; Addressing what is at stake in the case, the lawsuit explains: “The CMS vaccine mandate also threatens to exacerbate an alarming shortage of healthcare workers, particularly in rural communities, that has already reached a boiling point.&nbsp; Indeed, the circumstances in the Plaintiff States—facts that CMS, which skipped notice-and-comment rulemaking, did not fully consider—foreshadow an impending disaster in the healthcare industry.&nbsp; By ignoring the facts on the ground and unreasonably dismissing concerns about workforce short­ages, the CMS vaccine mandate jeopardizes the healthcare interests of rural Americans.” &nbsp; To bolster this claim, the lawsuit cites Dr. Randy Tobler, CEO of Scotland County Hospital in Memphis, Missouri, who states: “There were people in the hospital that freely shared that if the vaccine mandate happened . . . , they would not work here.&nbsp; That’s just something they weren’t going to put in their body.” &nbsp; The lawsuit incorporates nine counts: a substantive violation of the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) for an arbitrary and capricious action not in accordance with law, a substantive violation of the APA for an action in excess of authority and not in according with law, a procedural violation of the APA for an action without notice and comment, a procedural violation of the Social Security Act for an action without notice and comment, a violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1395z for failure to consult with appropriate state agencies, a violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1302 for failure to prepare regulatory impact analysis, unconstitutional exercise of the spending power, a violation of the Anti-Commandeering Doctrine, and a violation of the Tenth Amendment and federalism. &nbsp; The lawsuit asks the Court to declare that the vaccine mandate violates the APA and to enjoin defendants from enforcing the mandate. &nbsp; In addition to Missouri and Nebraska, attorneys general from Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa, Wyoming, Alaska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and New Hampshire also joined the lawsuit. The full, as<a href="https://ago.mo.gov/docs/default-source/press-releases/doc-1---complaint-cms.pdf?sfvrsn=7953e41b_2"> filed petition can be found here</a>

LINCOLN—Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson and Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt on&nbsp; Wednesday led a coalition of 10 states in challenging the vaccine mandate propagated by the Biden Administration’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on healthcare workers across the nation, becoming the first states to file a lawsuit challenging this mandate. Attorney General Eric Schmitt previously filed suit to halt the vaccine mandate on federal contractors and OSHA’s vaccine mandate on private employers.“Unfortunately, with this latest mandate from the Biden Administration, last year’s healthcare heroes are turning into this year’s unemployed. Requiring healthcare workers to get a vaccination or face termination is unconstitutional and unlawful, and could exacerbate healthcare staffing shortages to the point of collapse, especially in Missouri’s rural areas,” said&nbsp;Attorney General Schmitt. “My Office has been, and will continue to be, a national leader in challenging the Biden Administration’s illegal edicts, and this instance is our latest effort to push back on this unprecedented federal overreach.” &nbsp; The CMS vaccine mandate, as the lawsuit mentions, “imposes an unprecedented federal vaccine mandate on nearly every full-time employee, part-time employee, volunteer, and contractor working at a wide range of healthcare facilities receiving Medicaid or Medicaid funding.” &nbsp; Addressing what is at stake in the case, the lawsuit explains: “The CMS vaccine mandate also threatens to exacerbate an alarming shortage of healthcare workers, particularly in rural communities, that has already reached a boiling point.&nbsp; Indeed, the circumstances in the Plaintiff States—facts that CMS, which skipped notice-and-comment rulemaking, did not fully consider—foreshadow an impending disaster in the healthcare industry.&nbsp; By ignoring the facts on the ground and unreasonably dismissing concerns about workforce short­ages, the CMS vaccine mandate jeopardizes the healthcare interests of rural Americans.” &nbsp; To bolster this claim, the lawsuit cites Dr. Randy Tobler, CEO of Scotland County Hospital in Memphis, Missouri, who states: “There were people in the hospital that freely shared that if the vaccine mandate happened . . . , they would not work here.&nbsp; That’s just something they weren’t going to put in their body.” &nbsp; The lawsuit incorporates nine counts: a substantive violation of the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) for an arbitrary and capricious action not in accordance with law, a substantive violation of the APA for an action in excess of authority and not in according with law, a procedural violation of the APA for an action without notice and comment, a procedural violation of the Social Security Act for an action without notice and comment, a violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1395z for failure to consult with appropriate state agencies, a violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1302 for failure to prepare regulatory impact analysis, unconstitutional exercise of the spending power, a violation of the Anti-Commandeering Doctrine, and a violation of the Tenth Amendment and federalism. &nbsp; The lawsuit asks the Court to declare that the vaccine mandate violates the APA and to enjoin defendants from enforcing the mandate. &nbsp; In addition to Missouri and Nebraska, attorneys general from Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa, Wyoming, Alaska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and New Hampshire also joined the lawsuit. The full, as<a href="https://ago.mo.gov/docs/default-source/press-releases/doc-1---complaint-cms.pdf?sfvrsn=7953e41b_2"> filed petition can be found here</a>

Neb. AG leads coalition to challenge the Biden vaccine mandate on healthcare workers

SCOTLAND, S.D. (AP) — State investigators say a third person has died in a shooting in southeastern South Dakota that has left two others injured.

 The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation says Bon Homme County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of shots fired at a residence in Scotland Tuesday evening.

 When law enforcement officers arrived, they found two people dead and three others who had suffered gunshot wounds. 

DCI says one of the three injured later died. DCI special agents arrested one man without incident on possible charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder and aggravated assault. 

Investigators say the shooting was the result of a domestic-related alternation.

SCOTLAND, S.D. (AP) — State investigators say a third person has died in a shooting in southeastern South Dakota that has left two others injured. The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation says Bon Homme County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of shots fired at a residence in Scotland Tuesday evening. When law enforcement officers arrived, they found two people dead and three others who had suffered gunshot wounds. DCI says one of the three injured later died. DCI special agents arrested one man without incident on possible charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder and aggravated assault. Investigators say the shooting was the result of a domestic-related alternation.

1 arrested in SD shooting that left 3 dead, 2 injured

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Biden administration is relying on infrastructure dollars to help fix the clogged ports and blanket the nation with internet access — but a series of initiatives rolled out on Tuesday show that the urgent pace might not be fast enough to address the immediate needs of an economy coping with a supply chain squeeze and a shift to remote work.

President Joe Biden spoke with the CEOs of Wal-Mart, Target, UPS and FedEx on Tuesday about how to relieve the supply chain challenges as ships are still waiting to dock at some of the country's leading ports. The key problem is that these ports are experiencing record volumes of shipping containers as the economy has recovered from the pandemic.

Biden received updates from the CEOs on how deliveries are being sped up to ensure that store shelves will be well-stocked this holiday season, according to a White House official. Bloomberg News first reported Biden's conversations with the corporate leaders.

Yet the concrete policy steps being discussed by the administration show that there is no quick fix to supply chain issues that are still hurting smaller businesses and causing consumers to face higher prices. Nor can the administration build out a national broadband network fast enough as more Americans are pivoting toward remote work.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo highlighted at the White House briefing the $65 billion for broadband access in the the $1 trillion infrastructure package that cleared the House on Friday. She said that jobs would be created and poorer Americans would receive “affordable” internet service, though she did not spell out a precise dollar amount on what the monthly bills could be.

The plan involves careful logistics that would take time to implement. Each state would receive at least $100 million to help lay fiberoptic cables and ensure its citizens can access the internet. This process would occur as jobseekers are increasingly requesting remote work where they can work from home on their computers.

“The president wants us to get it right,” Raimondo said. “And if it takes a little longer to lay the groundwork for fiber and broadband, then we’re going to do that.”

Similarly, the administration announced plans on Tuesday to identify and pay for possible upgrades to U.S. ports within the next 90 days — hoping to ultimately tamp down the inflation being caused by ships waiting to dock and a shortage of truck drivers to haul goods.

As the U.S. emerges from the coronavirus pandemic, the economic recovery has been hampered by congested and aging ports. The mix of inflation and the potential for empty store shelves during holiday shopping has created a sense of frustration for many Americans and hurt President Joe Biden and Democrats politically.

Senior administration officials said Tuesday that the Transportation Department would allow port authorities to redirect any leftover money from grant projects to address the supply chain issues. For example, the Georgia Ports Authority will use $8 million to convert its inland facilities for the port of Savannah into container yards, freeing up dock space and speeding the flow of goods to their final destinations.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the forthcoming plans, which come on the heels of the House backing the bipartisan infrastructure package late Friday. The package includes $17 billion to improve coastal and land-based ports that can help to tackle the challenges in the longer term.

Biden's team is moving straight ahead in promoting the possible benefits from the broader infrastructure package, though they've largely shied away from claiming that Americans could see clear and demonstrable changes to their lives before the 2022 midterm elections. The focus, instead, has been on how the spending on roads, bridges and broadband will help the U.S. economy compete against the rest of the world.

The president in remarks to Democratic supporters on Tuesday signaled that he will look to remind voters in the months ahead of the infrastructure win. He noted “the last president” promised to pursue legislation but failed to deliver.

“So it was left to us,” Biden said at the virtual event hosted by the Democratic National Committee. “We got the job done.”

Administration officials said the ports initiatives being announced Tuesday would make the supply chain faster, more efficient and environmentally friendly in the medium to longer term.

Biden will highlight the administration's efforts by visiting Baltimore's port on Wednesday. It's part of a broader effort to show that the administration will tackle the inflation that has left Americans feeling more pessimistic about the economy. Updated figures for the consumer price index will be released Wednesday, with the previous report showing prices were 5.4% higher than a year ago.

The Baltimore trip is designed to highlight the types of investments that the administration believes will help unclog the supply chain. The port in Baltimore is adding container cranes and adding a 50-foot berth where ships can be unloaded. The administration has also approved grants so that the Howard Street Tunnel — a train artery that opened in 1895 — can be expanded to ferry double-stacked containers on railcars.

The Biden administration earlier helped broker an agreement to increase the hours of operation at the Port of Los Angeles, but it's been difficult to immediately fix this challenge.

Additional steps include launching a $240 million grant program in the next 45 days to modernize ports and marine highways. Within 60 days, the government wants to identify repair projects and opportunities to deepen harbors for larger ships that can be a guide for more than $4 billion in construction by the Army Corps of Engineers.

The government will also look over the next 90 days at which ports of entry should be upgraded and expanded as part of a $3.4 billion investment. It also plans within 90 days to open the first round of more than $475 million in grants for ports made possible through the newly passed infrastructure package.

The Transportation Department intends to publish a playbook for states on freight movement and issue guidance on best practices, so that the value of the infrastructure investments can be maximized. There will also be a request for information by the Transportation Department to improve data collection and sharing to improve the efficiency and transparency of the supply chain.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636510961577.png" alt="Biden will highlight the administration's efforts by visiting Baltimore's port on Wednesday-photos courtesy Port of Baltimore" />
 <figcaption>Biden will highlight the administration's efforts by visiting Baltimore's port on Wednesday-photos courtesy Port of Baltimore</figcaption>
 </figure>BALTIMORE (AP) — The Biden administration is relying on infrastructure dollars to help fix the clogged ports and blanket the nation with internet access — but a series of initiatives rolled out on Tuesday show that the urgent pace might not be fast enough to address the immediate needs of an economy coping with a supply chain squeeze and a shift to remote work.President Joe Biden spoke with the CEOs of Wal-Mart, Target, UPS and FedEx on Tuesday about how to relieve the supply chain challenges as ships are still waiting to dock at some of the country's leading ports. The key problem is that these ports are experiencing record volumes of shipping containers as the economy has recovered from the pandemic.Biden received updates from the CEOs on how deliveries are being sped up to ensure that store shelves will be well-stocked this holiday season, according to a White House official. Bloomberg News first reported Biden's conversations with the corporate leaders.Yet the concrete policy steps being discussed by the administration show that there is no quick fix to supply chain issues that are still hurting smaller businesses and causing consumers to face higher prices. Nor can the administration build out a national broadband network fast enough as more Americans are pivoting toward remote work.Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo highlighted at the White House briefing the $65 billion for broadband access in the the $1 trillion infrastructure package that cleared the House on Friday. She said that jobs would be created and poorer Americans would receive “affordable” internet service, though she did not spell out a precise dollar amount on what the monthly bills could be.The plan involves careful logistics that would take time to implement. Each state would receive at least $100 million to help lay fiberoptic cables and ensure its citizens can access the internet. This process would occur as jobseekers are increasingly requesting remote work where they can work from home on their computers.“The president wants us to get it right,” Raimondo said. “And if it takes a little longer to lay the groundwork for fiber and broadband, then we’re going to do that.”Similarly, the administration announced plans on Tuesday to identify and pay for possible upgrades to U.S. ports within the next 90 days — hoping to ultimately tamp down the inflation being caused by ships waiting to dock and a shortage of truck drivers to haul goods.As the U.S. emerges from the coronavirus pandemic, the economic recovery has been hampered by congested and aging ports. The mix of inflation and the potential for empty store shelves during holiday shopping has created a sense of frustration for many Americans and hurt President Joe Biden and Democrats politically.Senior administration officials said Tuesday that the Transportation Department would allow port authorities to redirect any leftover money from grant projects to address the supply chain issues. For example, the Georgia Ports Authority will use $8 million to convert its inland facilities for the port of Savannah into container yards, freeing up dock space and speeding the flow of goods to their final destinations.The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the forthcoming plans, which come on the heels of the House backing the bipartisan infrastructure package late Friday. The package includes $17 billion to improve coastal and land-based ports that can help to tackle the challenges in the longer term.Biden's team is moving straight ahead in promoting the possible benefits from the broader infrastructure package, though they've largely shied away from claiming that Americans could see clear and demonstrable changes to their lives before the 2022 midterm elections. The focus, instead, has been on how the spending on roads, bridges and broadband will help the U.S. economy compete against the rest of the world.The president in remarks to Democratic supporters on Tuesday signaled that he will look to remind voters in the months ahead of the infrastructure win. He noted “the last president” promised to pursue legislation but failed to deliver.“So it was left to us,” Biden said at the virtual event hosted by the Democratic National Committee. “We got the job done.”Administration officials said the ports initiatives being announced Tuesday would make the supply chain faster, more efficient and environmentally friendly in the medium to longer term.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636511034475.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Biden will highlight the administration's efforts by visiting Baltimore's port on Wednesday. It's part of a broader effort to show that the administration will tackle the inflation that has left Americans feeling more pessimistic about the economy. Updated figures for the consumer price index will be released Wednesday, with the previous report showing prices were 5.4% higher than a year ago.The Baltimore trip is designed to highlight the types of investments that the administration believes will help unclog the supply chain. The port in Baltimore is adding container cranes and adding a 50-foot berth where ships can be unloaded. The administration has also approved grants so that the Howard Street Tunnel — a train artery that opened in 1895 — can be expanded to ferry double-stacked containers on railcars.The Biden administration earlier helped broker an agreement to increase the hours of operation at the Port of Los Angeles, but it's been difficult to immediately fix this challenge.Additional steps include launching a $240 million grant program in the next 45 days to modernize ports and marine highways. Within 60 days, the government wants to identify repair projects and opportunities to deepen harbors for larger ships that can be a guide for more than $4 billion in construction by the Army Corps of Engineers.The government will also look over the next 90 days at which ports of entry should be upgraded and expanded as part of a $3.4 billion investment. It also plans within 90 days to open the first round of more than $475 million in grants for ports made possible through the newly passed infrastructure package.The Transportation Department intends to publish a playbook for states on freight movement and issue guidance on best practices, so that the value of the infrastructure investments can be maximized. There will also be a request for information by the Transportation Department to improve data collection and sharing to improve the efficiency and transparency of the supply chain.

White House rushes with infrastructure fixes for US economy

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced the tax 
year 2022 annual inflation adjustments for more than 60 tax provisions, 
including the tax rate schedules and other tax changes. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-21-45.pdf">Revenue Procedure 2021-45</a>&nbsp;PDF provides details about these annual adjustments.

Highlights of changes in Revenue Procedure 2021-45:

The tax year 2022 adjustments described below generally apply to tax returns filed in 2023.

The tax items for tax year 2022 of greatest interest to most taxpayers include the following dollar amounts:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced the tax 
year 2022 annual inflation adjustments for more than 60 tax provisions, 
including the tax rate schedules and other tax changes. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-21-45.pdf">Revenue Procedure 2021-45</a>&nbsp;PDF provides details about these annual adjustments.<h2>Highlights of changes in Revenue Procedure 2021-45:</h2>The tax year 2022 adjustments described below generally apply to tax returns filed in 2023.The tax items for tax year 2022 of greatest interest to most taxpayers include the following dollar amounts:<ul>
 <li>The standard deduction for married couples filing jointly for 
tax year 2022 rises to $25,900 up $800 from the prior year. For single 
taxpayers and married individuals filing separately, the standard 
deduction rises to $12,950 for 2022, up $400, and for heads of 
households, the standard deduction will be $19,400 for tax year 2022, up
 $600. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>The personal exemption for tax year 2022 remains at 0, as it was 
for 2021, this elimination of the personal exemption was a provision in 
the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.&nbsp; 
	&nbsp;</li><li>Marginal Rates: For tax year 2022, the top tax 
rate remains 37% for individual single taxpayers with incomes greater 
than $539,900 ($647,850 for married couples filing jointly).
	The other rates are: 
	35%, for incomes over $215,950 ($431,900 for married couples filing jointly); 
	32% for incomes over $170,050 ($340,100 for married couples filing jointly); 
	24% for incomes over $89,075 ($178,150 for married couples filing jointly); 
	22% for incomes over $41,775 ($83,550 for married couples filing jointly); 
	12% for incomes over $10,275 ($20,550 for married couples filing jointly). 
	The lowest rate is 10% for incomes of single individuals with incomes 
of $10,275 or less ($20,550 for married couples filing jointly). 
	&nbsp;
	</li><li>For 2022, as in 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018, there is no limitation 
on itemized deductions, as that limitation was eliminated by the Tax 
Cuts and Jobs Act. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>The Alternative Minimum Tax exemption amount for tax year 2022 is 
$75,900 and begins to phase out at $539,900 ($118,100 for married 
couples filing jointly for whom the exemption begins to phase out at 
$1,079,800). The 2021 exemption amount was $73,600 and began to phase 
out at $523,600 ($114,600 for married couples filing jointly for whom 
the exemption began to phase out at $1,047,200). 
	&nbsp;</li><li>The tax year 2022 maximum Earned Income Tax Credit amount is $6,935
 for qualifying taxpayers who have three or more qualifying children, up
 from $6,728 for tax year 2021. The revenue procedure contains a table 
providing maximum EITC amount for other categories, income thresholds 
and phase-outs. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>For tax year 2022, the monthly limitation for the qualified 
transportation fringe benefit and the monthly limitation for qualified 
parking increases to $280. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>For the taxable years beginning in 2022, the dollar limitation for 
employee salary reductions for contributions to health flexible spending
 arrangements increases to $2,850. For cafeteria plans that permit the 
carryover of unused amounts, the maximum carryover amount is $570, an 
increase of $20 from taxable years beginning in 2021. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>For tax year 2022, participants who have self-only coverage in a 
Medical Savings Account, the plan must have an annual deductible that is
 not less than $2,450, up $50 from tax year 2021; but not more than 
$3,700, an increase of $100 from tax year 2021. For self-only coverage, 
the maximum out-of-pocket expense amount is $4,950, up $150 from 2021. 
For tax year 2022, for family coverage, the annual deductible is not 
less than $4,950, up from $4,800 in 2021; however, the deductible cannot
 be more than $7,400, up $250 from the limit for tax year 2021. For 
family coverage, the out-of-pocket expense limit is $9,050 for tax year 
2022, an increase of $300 from tax year 2021. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>The modified adjusted gross income amount used by joint filers to 
determine the reduction in the Lifetime Learning Credit provided in 
§&nbsp;25A(d)(2) is not adjusted for inflation for taxable years beginning 
after December 31, 2020. The Lifetime Learning Credit is phased out for 
taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income in excess of $80,000 
($160,000 for joint returns). 
	&nbsp;</li><li>For tax year 2022, the foreign earned income exclusion is $112,000 up from $108,700 for tax year 2021. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>Estates of decedents who die during 2022 have a basic exclusion 
amount of $12,060,000, up from a total of $11,700,000 for estates of 
decedents who died in 2021. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>The annual exclusion for gifts increases to $16,000 for calendar year 2022, up from $15,000 for calendar year 2021. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>The maximum credit allowed for adoptions for tax year 2022 is the 
amount of qualified adoption expenses up to $14,890, up from $14,440 for
 2021.</li>
 </ul>

IRS provides tax inflation adjustments for coming tax year

While 2021 is quickly winding down, scams targeting
 the public continue to cause trouble. Consumers should watch out for 
any fraudulent schemes aimed at swiping their cash and stealing personal
 information. Better Business Bureau (BBB) has a Naughty List with the top 12 scams of Christmas that are most likely to catch consumers and donors off guard during this season.Many of the scams on this list are facilitated 
through emails and social media platforms, however the latter is where 
most people are vulnerable. Exercise caution when coming across social 
media ads about discounted items, event promotions, job opportunities 
and donation requests, as well as direct messages from strangers. If you
 are asked to make a payment or donation by wire or e-transfer, through 
third parties, by prepaid debit or gift cards, treat this as a red flag.

Be mindful of these scams that could cut into your holiday cheer and our tips to avoid them:

1.&nbsp;Misleading Social Media Ads: As
 you scroll through your social media feed, you often see items for sale
 from a small business. Sometimes the business even claims to support a 
charity to try to get you to order, or they offer a free trial. BBB Scam
 Tracker receives reports of people paying for items that they never 
receive, getting charged monthly for a free trial they never signed up 
for, or receiving an item that is counterfeit or much different from the
 one advertised. The <a href="https://www.bbb.org/bbbscamtrackerriskreport/" target="_blank">2020 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report</a>
 found that online purchase scams were the most common cons reported to 
Scam Tracker and the category with the most victims. Do your homework 
and research the company before ordering. Check out the business profile
 on <a href="https://www.bbb.org/search" target="_blank">BBB.org</a> and read the reviews.&nbsp;Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/20678-scam-alert-think-twice-before-buying-from-these-social-media-ads" target="_blank">misleading ads</a>. <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/24189-bbb-tip-read-the-fine-print-before-signing-up-for-a-free-trial-offer" target="_blank">free trial offers</a>, and <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16910-bbb-tip-counterfeit-product-scams" target="_blank">counterfeit goods</a>.2.&nbsp;Social Media Gift Exchanges: 
Each holiday season this scheme pops back up, and this year is no 
different. A newer version of this scam revolves around exchanging 
bottles of wine; another suggests purchasing $10 gifts online. Another 
twist asks you to submit your email into a list where participants get 
to pick a name and send money to strangers to "pay it forward." There is
 even a twist about "Secret Santa Dog" where you buy a $10 gift for your
 "secret dog."&nbsp;In all of these versions, participants unwittingly 
share their personal information, along with those of their family 
members and friends, and are further tricked into buying and shipping 
gifts or money to unknown individuals. And-- it's an illegal pyramid 
scheme.Read more about the <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/18854-bbb-warning-secret-sister-gift-exchange-is-illegal" target="_blank">social media gift exhange</a>.3.&nbsp;Holiday Apps: Apple's App Store
 and Google Play list dozens of holiday-themed apps where children can 
video chat live with Santa, light the menorah, watch Santa feed live 
reindeer, track his sleigh on Christmas Eve, or relay their holiday wish
 lists. This holiday season, like last year when COVID-19 caused 
children to skip the traditional in-person visit with Santa, apps may 
play a more important role than ever. Review privacy policies to see 
what information will be collected. Be wary of free apps, as they can 
sometimes contain more advertising than apps that require a nominal fee.
 Free apps can also contain malware.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/18957-bbb-tip-is-that-santa-app-safe-better-check-it-twice" target="_blank">holiday apps</a>.4.&nbsp;Alerts About Compromised Accounts: BBB has been receiving reports on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/" target="_blank">Scam Tracker</a>
 about a con claiming your Amazon, Paypal, Netflix or bank account has 
been compromised. Victims receive an email, call, or text message which 
explains that there has been suspicious activity on one of their 
accounts, and it further urges them to take immediate action to prevent 
the account from being compromised. Be extra cautious about unsolicited 
calls, emails, and texts.

Read more about c<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/23491-bbb-scam-alert-compromised-account-think-twice-before-you-panic" target="_blank">ompromised accounts scams</a>.

5.&nbsp;Free Gift Cards: Nothing brings
 good cheer like the word 'FREE'. Scammers have been known to take 
advantage of this weakness by sending bulk phishing emails requesting 
personal information to receive free gift cards. In some of these 
emails, scammers impersonate legitimate companies like Starbucks and 
promise gift cards to loyal customers that have been supporting their 
business throughout the pandemic. They may also use pop-up ads or send 
text messages with links saying you were randomly selected as the winner
 for a prize.

If you have received an unsolicited email with gift card offers, do 
not open it. Instead, mark it as Spam or Junk. However, if you opened 
the email, do not click on any links.

Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/14400-dont-get-scammed-out-of-a-gift-card-this-season" target="_blank">gift card scams</a>.

6.&nbsp;Temporary Holiday Jobs: 
Retailers typically hire seasonal workers to help meet the demands of 
holiday shoppers. Shippers and delivery services are top holiday 
employers this year because of the increase in online orders and the 
need to get most of these packages delivered before Christmas. These 
jobs are a great way to make extra money, sometimes with the possibility
 of turning into a long-term employment opportunity. However, jobseekers
 need to be wary of employment scams aimed at stealing money and 
personal information from job applicants. Keep an eye out for 
opportunities that seem too good to be true.

Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/14438-bbb-tips-for-avoiding-job-scams-this-holiday-season" target="_blank">holiday job scams</a>.

7.&nbsp;Look-Alike Websites: The 
holiday season brings endless emails offering deals, sales and bargains.
 Be wary of emails with links enclosed. Some may lead to look-alike 
websites created by scammers to trick people into downloading malware, 
making dead-end purchases and sharing private information. If you are 
uncertain about the email, do not click any of the links. Instead, hover
 over them to see where they reroute.

Read more on <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/19251-scam-alert-dont-lose-money-to-fake-lookalike-websites" target="_blank">look-alike websites</a>.

8.&nbsp;Fake Charities: Typically, 40% 
of all charitable donations are received during the last few weeks of 
the year. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations had 
to cancel their usual fundraising events and awareness campaigns and are
 now inviting donors to support online. Donors are advised to lookout 
for fraudulent charities and scammers pretending to be individuals in 
need. Avoid impromptu donation decisions to unfamiliar organizations. 
Responsible organizations will welcome a gift tomorrow as much as they 
do today. Verify a charity at BBB's <a href="https://www.give.org" target="_blank">give.org</a> or on the <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html" target="_blank">Canada Revenue Agency</a> website. Where possible, donate to the charity through their website and use a credit card.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/23282-bbb-scam-alert-fake-charities-trick-would-be-instagram-influencers" target="_blank">fake charities</a>.9.&nbsp;Fake Shipping Notifications: 
More consumers are making purchases online, there is also an increase in
 the number of notifications about shipping details from retailers and 
carriers. Scammers are using this new surge to send phishing emails with
 links enclosed that may allow unwanted access to your private 
information or download malware onto your device. They may also try to 
trick people into paying new shipping fees.

Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/16460-scam-alert-fake-text-delivery-scam" target="_blank">delivery and package scams</a>.

10.&nbsp;Pop Up Holiday Virtual Events:
 This year, many local in-person events such as pop-up holiday markets 
or craft fairs, have moved online. Scammers are creating fake event 
pages, social media posts, and emails, charging admission for what used 
to be a free event. The goal is to steal credit card information. 
Confirm with the organizer of the event if there is an admission fee. In
 the cases where there is a charge, use a credit card. If the event is 
free, watch for scammers trying to claim otherwise.

Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/18892-bbb-tip-holiday-pop-up-shops" target="_blank">pop up holiday shops</a>.

11.&nbsp;Top Holiday Wishlist Items: 
Low or ridiculously priced luxury goods, jewelry, designer clothing, and
 electronics are almost always cheap counterfeits and knockoffs. This 
year, the Galactic Snackin’ Grogu Animatronic (aka Baby Yoda) and game 
consoles are some of the items in high demand. Be very cautious when 
considering to purchase these high-value items from individuals through 
social sites.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16580-scam-alert-looking-for-this-seasons-hot-toy-beware-of-scams" target="_blank">holiday hot toy scams</a>.12.&nbsp;Puppy Scams: Many families, 
especially those with children, may be considering to add a furry friend
 to their household this year. However, you could fall victim to a pet 
scam, which are on the rise this year. Request to see the pet in person 
before making a purchase.&nbsp;Read more on <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/petscams" target="_blank">pet scams</a>.&nbsp;For general information on how to avoid scams, visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/8767-bbb-tips-10-steps-to-avoid-scams" target="_blank">BBB.org/AvoidScams</a>. &nbsp;For more advice, read&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/14040-bbb-tip-smart-shopping-online" target="_blank">BBB’s tips on online shopping</a>. If you’ve spotted an online scam, report it to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/ScamTracker" target="_blank">BBB ScamTracker</a>.

<a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/holiday" target="_blank">Read more BBB Holiday Tips at BBB.org/holiday.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBWhile 2021 is quickly winding down, scams targeting
 the public continue to cause trouble. Consumers should watch out for 
any fraudulent schemes aimed at swiping their cash and stealing personal
 information. Better Business Bureau (BBB) has a Naughty List with the top 12 scams of Christmas that are most likely to catch consumers and donors off guard during this season.Many of the scams on this list are facilitated 
through emails and social media platforms, however the latter is where 
most people are vulnerable. Exercise caution when coming across social 
media ads about discounted items, event promotions, job opportunities 
and donation requests, as well as direct messages from strangers. If you
 are asked to make a payment or donation by wire or e-transfer, through 
third parties, by prepaid debit or gift cards, treat this as a red flag.<h2>Be mindful of these scams that could cut into your holiday cheer and our tips to avoid them:</h2>1.&nbsp;Misleading Social Media Ads: As
 you scroll through your social media feed, you often see items for sale
 from a small business. Sometimes the business even claims to support a 
charity to try to get you to order, or they offer a free trial. BBB Scam
 Tracker receives reports of people paying for items that they never 
receive, getting charged monthly for a free trial they never signed up 
for, or receiving an item that is counterfeit or much different from the
 one advertised. The <a href="https://www.bbb.org/bbbscamtrackerriskreport/" target="_blank">2020 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report</a>
 found that online purchase scams were the most common cons reported to 
Scam Tracker and the category with the most victims. Do your homework 
and research the company before ordering. Check out the business profile
 on <a href="https://www.bbb.org/search" target="_blank">BBB.org</a> and read the reviews.&nbsp;Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/20678-scam-alert-think-twice-before-buying-from-these-social-media-ads" target="_blank">misleading ads</a>. <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/24189-bbb-tip-read-the-fine-print-before-signing-up-for-a-free-trial-offer" target="_blank">free trial offers</a>, and <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16910-bbb-tip-counterfeit-product-scams" target="_blank">counterfeit goods</a>.2.&nbsp;Social Media Gift Exchanges: 
Each holiday season this scheme pops back up, and this year is no 
different. A newer version of this scam revolves around exchanging 
bottles of wine; another suggests purchasing $10 gifts online. Another 
twist asks you to submit your email into a list where participants get 
to pick a name and send money to strangers to "pay it forward." There is
 even a twist about "Secret Santa Dog" where you buy a $10 gift for your
 "secret dog."&nbsp;In all of these versions, participants unwittingly 
share their personal information, along with those of their family 
members and friends, and are further tricked into buying and shipping 
gifts or money to unknown individuals. And-- it's an illegal pyramid 
scheme.Read more about the <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/18854-bbb-warning-secret-sister-gift-exchange-is-illegal" target="_blank">social media gift exhange</a>.3.&nbsp;Holiday Apps: Apple's App Store
 and Google Play list dozens of holiday-themed apps where children can 
video chat live with Santa, light the menorah, watch Santa feed live 
reindeer, track his sleigh on Christmas Eve, or relay their holiday wish
 lists. This holiday season, like last year when COVID-19 caused 
children to skip the traditional in-person visit with Santa, apps may 
play a more important role than ever. Review privacy policies to see 
what information will be collected. Be wary of free apps, as they can 
sometimes contain more advertising than apps that require a nominal fee.
 Free apps can also contain malware.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/18957-bbb-tip-is-that-santa-app-safe-better-check-it-twice" target="_blank">holiday apps</a>.4.&nbsp;Alerts About Compromised Accounts: BBB has been receiving reports on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/" target="_blank">Scam Tracker</a>
 about a con claiming your Amazon, Paypal, Netflix or bank account has 
been compromised. Victims receive an email, call, or text message which 
explains that there has been suspicious activity on one of their 
accounts, and it further urges them to take immediate action to prevent 
the account from being compromised. Be extra cautious about unsolicited 
calls, emails, and texts.Read more about c<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/23491-bbb-scam-alert-compromised-account-think-twice-before-you-panic" target="_blank">ompromised accounts scams</a>.5.&nbsp;Free Gift Cards: Nothing brings
 good cheer like the word 'FREE'. Scammers have been known to take 
advantage of this weakness by sending bulk phishing emails requesting 
personal information to receive free gift cards. In some of these 
emails, scammers impersonate legitimate companies like Starbucks and 
promise gift cards to loyal customers that have been supporting their 
business throughout the pandemic. They may also use pop-up ads or send 
text messages with links saying you were randomly selected as the winner
 for a prize.If you have received an unsolicited email with gift card offers, do 
not open it. Instead, mark it as Spam or Junk. However, if you opened 
the email, do not click on any links.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/14400-dont-get-scammed-out-of-a-gift-card-this-season" target="_blank">gift card scams</a>.6.&nbsp;Temporary Holiday Jobs: 
Retailers typically hire seasonal workers to help meet the demands of 
holiday shoppers. Shippers and delivery services are top holiday 
employers this year because of the increase in online orders and the 
need to get most of these packages delivered before Christmas. These 
jobs are a great way to make extra money, sometimes with the possibility
 of turning into a long-term employment opportunity. However, jobseekers
 need to be wary of employment scams aimed at stealing money and 
personal information from job applicants. Keep an eye out for 
opportunities that seem too good to be true.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/14438-bbb-tips-for-avoiding-job-scams-this-holiday-season" target="_blank">holiday job scams</a>.7.&nbsp;Look-Alike Websites: The 
holiday season brings endless emails offering deals, sales and bargains.
 Be wary of emails with links enclosed. Some may lead to look-alike 
websites created by scammers to trick people into downloading malware, 
making dead-end purchases and sharing private information. If you are 
uncertain about the email, do not click any of the links. Instead, hover
 over them to see where they reroute.Read more on <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/19251-scam-alert-dont-lose-money-to-fake-lookalike-websites" target="_blank">look-alike websites</a>.8.&nbsp;Fake Charities: Typically, 40% 
of all charitable donations are received during the last few weeks of 
the year. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations had 
to cancel their usual fundraising events and awareness campaigns and are
 now inviting donors to support online. Donors are advised to lookout 
for fraudulent charities and scammers pretending to be individuals in 
need. Avoid impromptu donation decisions to unfamiliar organizations. 
Responsible organizations will welcome a gift tomorrow as much as they 
do today. Verify a charity at BBB's <a href="https://www.give.org" target="_blank">give.org</a> or on the <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html" target="_blank">Canada Revenue Agency</a> website. Where possible, donate to the charity through their website and use a credit card.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/23282-bbb-scam-alert-fake-charities-trick-would-be-instagram-influencers" target="_blank">fake charities</a>.9.&nbsp;Fake Shipping Notifications: 
More consumers are making purchases online, there is also an increase in
 the number of notifications about shipping details from retailers and 
carriers. Scammers are using this new surge to send phishing emails with
 links enclosed that may allow unwanted access to your private 
information or download malware onto your device. They may also try to 
trick people into paying new shipping fees.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/16460-scam-alert-fake-text-delivery-scam" target="_blank">delivery and package scams</a>.10.&nbsp;Pop Up Holiday Virtual Events:
 This year, many local in-person events such as pop-up holiday markets 
or craft fairs, have moved online. Scammers are creating fake event 
pages, social media posts, and emails, charging admission for what used 
to be a free event. The goal is to steal credit card information. 
Confirm with the organizer of the event if there is an admission fee. In
 the cases where there is a charge, use a credit card. If the event is 
free, watch for scammers trying to claim otherwise.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/18892-bbb-tip-holiday-pop-up-shops" target="_blank">pop up holiday shops</a>.11.&nbsp;Top Holiday Wishlist Items: 
Low or ridiculously priced luxury goods, jewelry, designer clothing, and
 electronics are almost always cheap counterfeits and knockoffs. This 
year, the Galactic Snackin’ Grogu Animatronic (aka Baby Yoda) and game 
consoles are some of the items in high demand. Be very cautious when 
considering to purchase these high-value items from individuals through 
social sites.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16580-scam-alert-looking-for-this-seasons-hot-toy-beware-of-scams" target="_blank">holiday hot toy scams</a>.12.&nbsp;Puppy Scams: Many families, 
especially those with children, may be considering to add a furry friend
 to their household this year. However, you could fall victim to a pet 
scam, which are on the rise this year. Request to see the pet in person 
before making a purchase.&nbsp;Read more on <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/petscams" target="_blank">pet scams</a>.&nbsp;For general information on how to avoid scams, visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/8767-bbb-tips-10-steps-to-avoid-scams" target="_blank">BBB.org/AvoidScams</a>. &nbsp;For more advice, read&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/14040-bbb-tip-smart-shopping-online" target="_blank">BBB’s tips on online shopping</a>. If you’ve spotted an online scam, report it to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/ScamTracker" target="_blank">BBB ScamTracker</a>.<a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/holiday" target="_blank">Read more BBB Holiday Tips at BBB.org/holiday.</a>

The Naughty List: BBB's 12 Scams of Christmas

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police have identified the 55-year-old man who was killed Tuesday in a fiery rollover crash in far western Omaha. 

The crash happened around 11:30 a.m. on West Dodge Road at 192nd Street. Police said Martin Robinson died in the crash after his vehicle drifted off the road, struck a pole and caught on fire. 

The crash closed the eastbound lanes of West Dodge as well as the street's eastbound onramp at 192nd for about half an hour while firefighters extinguished the fire. 

Witnesses pulled Robinson from the vehicle and paramedics tried to save his life, but he died at the scene of the crash.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police have identified the 55-year-old man who was killed Tuesday in a fiery rollover crash in far western Omaha. The crash happened around 11:30 a.m. on West Dodge Road at 192nd Street. Police said Martin Robinson died in the crash after his vehicle drifted off the road, struck a pole and caught on fire. The crash closed the eastbound lanes of West Dodge as well as the street's eastbound onramp at 192nd for about half an hour while firefighters extinguished the fire. Witnesses pulled Robinson from the vehicle and paramedics tried to save his life, but he died at the scene of the crash.

Police ID man killed in fiery rollover crash in west Omaha

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 19-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death last year of a pregnant Kansas City woman as she was pushing her baby in a stroller.

David Everson was charged Monday in the July 2020 death of 20-year-old Diamon Eichelburger. He also faces a charge of armed criminal action in Eichelburger's killing.

Everson is the second person charged in Eichelburger’s death. Last year, police arrested Jovon Burrell in the killing, saying he was driving the car from which Eichelburger was shot.

Police have said Eichelburger was pushing a stroller holding her 1-year-old child and walking with her boyfriend at a convenience store when a car pulled up and someone inside it asked if she was Diamon. When she confirmed her identity, someone in the car shot her several times, witnesses told police. The child in the stroller was not hurt.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636487390305.png" alt="Everson photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Everson photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 19-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death last year of a pregnant Kansas City woman as she was pushing her baby in a stroller.David Everson was charged Monday in the July 2020 death of 20-year-old Diamon Eichelburger. He also faces a charge of armed criminal action in Eichelburger's killing.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595470452421.png" alt="Jovon Burrell phot Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Jovon Burrell phot Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Everson is the second person charged in Eichelburger’s death. Last year, police arrested Jovon Burrell in the killing, saying he was driving the car from which Eichelburger was shot.Police have said Eichelburger was pushing a stroller holding her 1-year-old child and walking with her boyfriend at a convenience store when a car pulled up and someone inside it asked if she was Diamon. When she confirmed her identity, someone in the car shot her several times, witnesses told police. The child in the stroller was not hurt.