A Kansas man is dead and another injured following a one-vehicle crash in the north-central part of the state.

The Phillips County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that at around 7:56 p.m. on Friday, Brian Martin, 39, of Smith Center, was driving a 2008 Nissan passenger car in Phillipsburg when he swerved to miss a deer.

Authorities said Martin lost control of the vehicle which went airborne and rolled.&nbsp;

A passenger in the vehicle, Lucas Martin, 42, of Phillipsburg, was ejected from the vehicle.

Authorities said Brian was able to call 911 but was unable to give an exact location. He succumbed to his injuries prior to emergency personnel locating the crash.

Disoriented, Lucas wandered from the crash scene, but was eventually located by a family member and transported via ambulance to Phillips County Hospital. His condition is unknown.

By Scott Carlson North Platte PostA Kansas man is dead and another injured following a one-vehicle crash in the north-central part of the state.The Phillips County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that at around 7:56 p.m. on Friday, Brian Martin, 39, of Smith Center, was driving a 2008 Nissan passenger car in Phillipsburg when he swerved to miss a deer.Authorities said Martin lost control of the vehicle which went airborne and rolled.&nbsp;A passenger in the vehicle, Lucas Martin, 42, of Phillipsburg, was ejected from the vehicle.Authorities said Brian was able to call 911 but was unable to give an exact location. He succumbed to his injuries prior to emergency personnel locating the crash.Disoriented, Lucas wandered from the crash scene, but was eventually located by a family member and transported via ambulance to Phillips County Hospital. His condition is unknown.

Kansas man calls 911 after crash before succumbing to injuries

WASHINGTON (AP) — More than six weeks after promising a new vaccination-or-testing rule covering the millions of Americans at companies with 100 or more workers, President Joe Biden’s most aggressive move yet to combat the COVID-19 pandemic is almost ready to see the light of day.

The three largest public universities in Kansas will require all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Officials with Kansas State, the University of Kansas and Wichita State all announced Friday that employees will need to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 8. The announcement came after the Board of Regents determined that an executive order from President Joe Biden applies to universities that work on federal contracts.&nbsp;

An obscure White House office is expected to give the green light any day to the rule’s fine print detailing how and when companies will have to require their employees to be vaccinated or undergo weekly testing.

The full enforcement deadline, which could carry penalties of about $14,000 per violation, may not take effect until after the new year. That’s why Biden and his aides have for weeks encouraged businesses to act as though the rule was already in effect and start imposing vaccination requirements.

The regulation, to be published in the Federal Register, was drafted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration under emergency authorities to protect worker safety and will cover an estimated 80 million U.S. workers. The White House sees it as a potent tool to winnow down the ranks of roughly 65 million Americans who have thus far refused to get a shot.

Unlike healthcare providers or federal employees, who may not have a testing alternative to vaccination, private sector workers won’t necessarily face termination if they don’t get vaccinated. But some businesses may choose to impose their own more stringent vaccination mandate, and it’s possible that businesses may be allowed to pass on the cost of weekly COVID-19 testing to their unvaccinated employees.

White House officials declined to discuss when the rule will be published or go into details on when businesses will have to comply.

For the last week, federal officials have hosted more than two dozen listening sessions with industry groups, businesses and advocacy organizations. Some have been supportive of the rule, others vehemently opposed, but all are eager to learn more about the fine print of the regulation.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other groups that represent large employers are worried that the proposal’s threshold -– applying to companies with 100 or more employees – could cause workers to migrate to jobs at smaller employers where they won’t need to be vaccinated.

“We really stressed the concern about employers losing employees, and what that would mean in the context of current supply-chain challenges and the upcoming holiday season,” said Marc Freedman, vice president for employment policy at the Chamber of Commerce. “You could start to see some very serious disruptions.”

Freedman, who took part in the chamber’s call with administration officials, said the 100-worker threshold would also hurt job creation by giving employers who have 90 or 95 employees a reason not to expand.

The experience of United Airlines and health-care providers that acted early to require vaccination suggests that very few employees will give up their jobs because of a vaccine mandate. United says about 200 of its 67,000 U.S. workers face termination for refusing to get vaccinated and another 2,000 are still seeking medical or religious exemptions.

State government vaccination mandate deadlines went into effect this week in Washington state, Massachusetts and New Jersey after a host of legal challenges by state employees and first responders’ unions.

In Washington, the state patrol lost 127 employees, including 67 troopers, who left due to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for state employees, about 6% of the agency’s staff, officials said.

The Northwest state’s mandate also led to the high-profile firing of Washington State football coach Nick Rolovich and his four assistants, who wouldn’t get vaccinated.

In Massachusetts, nearly 1,600 state employees had not proved they were vaccinated or had sought a vaccine exemption by a Sunday deadline. Republican Gov. Charlie Baker announced in August that some 44,000 executive branch workers and contractors would be required to get vaccinated or face suspension and ultimately the loss of their jobs.

The National Association of Manufacturers is arguing that companies should get credit — perhaps an exemption from the rules — for taking early steps to get a high percentage of workers vaccinated. Manufacturers have expressed worry that they could see higher quit rates because many plants are located in rural areas where opposition to vaccination is stronger.

The manufacturers, the Chamber of Commerce and other business groups are also pushing the administration to let employers make unvaccinated workers pay for their own weekly COVID-19 testing.

“A lot of our members feel strongly that the vaccine is widely available, it is free, and so if a person opts not to be vaccinated potentially the onus of the test can and should fall on the employee who has made a choice not to vaccinate,” said Robyn Boerstling, a NAM vice president. She said employers should pay for testing if an employee has a medical condition or a “proven and true” religious reason for seeking an exemption.

Business groups, however, are not optimistic on the test-cost issue, saying that OSHA has a history of making employers bear the cost of new regulations.

Retailers are worried about the timing of the new regulation taking effect as they prepare for the critical holiday season. They want to push the rule’s effective date into next year.

Several people who took part in the discussions with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, which is doing the final review of the proposal, said they got no hints whether their arguments would sway the administration. They described conference-call meetings –- virtual because of the pandemic -– in which White House staffers listened and did not respond to their arguments.

It is not clear how the business community will respond once the final rule is published.

Business officials said legal challenges are more likely to come from Republican-led states such as Texas. And Alfredo Ortiz, president and CEO of the conservative Job Creators Network, reiterated his pledge Tuesday after meeting with the White House officials to sue to block the rule’s implementation. Two dozen attorneys general in GOP states vowed last month to use “every available legal option” to kill the mandate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631817363595.png" alt="President Biden says,"just get the shot." However, White House officials declined to discuss when the rule will be published or go into details on when businesses will have to comply.-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden says,"just get the shot." However, White House officials declined to discuss when the rule will be published or go into details on when businesses will have to comply.-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — More than six weeks after promising a new vaccination-or-testing rule covering the millions of Americans at companies with 100 or more workers, President Joe Biden’s most aggressive move yet to combat the COVID-19 pandemic is almost ready to see the light of day.The three largest public universities in Kansas will require all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Officials with Kansas State, the University of Kansas and Wichita State all announced Friday that employees will need to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 8. The announcement came after the Board of Regents determined that an executive order from President Joe Biden applies to universities that work on federal contracts.&nbsp;An obscure White House office is expected to give the green light any day to the rule’s fine print detailing how and when companies will have to require their employees to be vaccinated or undergo weekly testing.The full enforcement deadline, which could carry penalties of about $14,000 per violation, may not take effect until after the new year. That’s why Biden and his aides have for weeks encouraged businesses to act as though the rule was already in effect and start imposing vaccination requirements.The regulation, to be published in the Federal Register, was drafted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration under emergency authorities to protect worker safety and will cover an estimated 80 million U.S. workers. The White House sees it as a potent tool to winnow down the ranks of roughly 65 million Americans who have thus far refused to get a shot.Unlike healthcare providers or federal employees, who may not have a testing alternative to vaccination, private sector workers won’t necessarily face termination if they don’t get vaccinated. But some businesses may choose to impose their own more stringent vaccination mandate, and it’s possible that businesses may be allowed to pass on the cost of weekly COVID-19 testing to their unvaccinated employees.White House officials declined to discuss when the rule will be published or go into details on when businesses will have to comply.For the last week, federal officials have hosted more than two dozen listening sessions with industry groups, businesses and advocacy organizations. Some have been supportive of the rule, others vehemently opposed, but all are eager to learn more about the fine print of the regulation.The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other groups that represent large employers are worried that the proposal’s threshold -– applying to companies with 100 or more employees – could cause workers to migrate to jobs at smaller employers where they won’t need to be vaccinated.“We really stressed the concern about employers losing employees, and what that would mean in the context of current supply-chain challenges and the upcoming holiday season,” said Marc Freedman, vice president for employment policy at the Chamber of Commerce. “You could start to see some very serious disruptions.”Freedman, who took part in the chamber’s call with administration officials, said the 100-worker threshold would also hurt job creation by giving employers who have 90 or 95 employees a reason not to expand.The experience of United Airlines and health-care providers that acted early to require vaccination suggests that very few employees will give up their jobs because of a vaccine mandate. United says about 200 of its 67,000 U.S. workers face termination for refusing to get vaccinated and another 2,000 are still seeking medical or religious exemptions.State government vaccination mandate deadlines went into effect this week in Washington state, Massachusetts and New Jersey after a host of legal challenges by state employees and first responders’ unions.In Washington, the state patrol lost 127 employees, including 67 troopers, who left due to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for state employees, about 6% of the agency’s staff, officials said.The Northwest state’s mandate also led to the high-profile firing of Washington State football coach Nick Rolovich and his four assistants, who wouldn’t get vaccinated.In Massachusetts, nearly 1,600 state employees had not proved they were vaccinated or had sought a vaccine exemption by a Sunday deadline. Republican Gov. Charlie Baker announced in August that some 44,000 executive branch workers and contractors would be required to get vaccinated or face suspension and ultimately the loss of their jobs.The National Association of Manufacturers is arguing that companies should get credit — perhaps an exemption from the rules — for taking early steps to get a high percentage of workers vaccinated. Manufacturers have expressed worry that they could see higher quit rates because many plants are located in rural areas where opposition to vaccination is stronger.The manufacturers, the Chamber of Commerce and other business groups are also pushing the administration to let employers make unvaccinated workers pay for their own weekly COVID-19 testing.“A lot of our members feel strongly that the vaccine is widely available, it is free, and so if a person opts not to be vaccinated potentially the onus of the test can and should fall on the employee who has made a choice not to vaccinate,” said Robyn Boerstling, a NAM vice president. She said employers should pay for testing if an employee has a medical condition or a “proven and true” religious reason for seeking an exemption.Business groups, however, are not optimistic on the test-cost issue, saying that OSHA has a history of making employers bear the cost of new regulations.Retailers are worried about the timing of the new regulation taking effect as they prepare for the critical holiday season. They want to push the rule’s effective date into next year.Several people who took part in the discussions with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, which is doing the final review of the proposal, said they got no hints whether their arguments would sway the administration. They described conference-call meetings –- virtual because of the pandemic -– in which White House staffers listened and did not respond to their arguments.It is not clear how the business community will respond once the final rule is published.Business officials said legal challenges are more likely to come from Republican-led states such as Texas. And Alfredo Ortiz, president and CEO of the conservative Job Creators Network, reiterated his pledge Tuesday after meeting with the White House officials to sue to block the rule’s implementation. Two dozen attorneys general in GOP states vowed last month to use “every available legal option” to kill the mandate.

Businesses nervously await fine print of Biden vax-or-test rule

FORD COUNTY – The Stanton County Sheriff’s Office reported that 70-year-old Jim Hines, of Johnson, was located safe this afternoon along the Ford County and Edwards County line.&nbsp;

FORD COUNTY –&nbsp;The Stanton County Sheriff’s Office requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Johnson man who was last seen at Boot Hill Casino and Resort in Dodge City, Kansas.

The whereabouts of James “Jim” W. Hines, 70, are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate him.

Hines was last seen at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 21 at the Boot Hill Casino and Resort. He may be driving a white or tan 2011 Ford F-150 pickup truck with Kansas license HAPWT. 

He was last known wearing a bright pink button-down shirt, bright yellow running shoes, and jeans.

Hines is a 70-year-old white male, around 5 foot-11 in. tall, who weighs approximately 200 pounds He has gray and brown hair and brown eyes. He also wears glasses and has a mustache. Hines has dementia.

If you see Hines or his vehicle, or have information about his whereabouts, please immediately contact 911 or the Stanton County Sheriff’s Office at&nbsp;(620) 492-6866.

FORD COUNTY – The Stanton County Sheriff’s Office reported that 70-year-old Jim Hines, of Johnson, was located safe this afternoon along the Ford County and Edwards County line.&nbsp;--------FORD COUNTY –&nbsp;The Stanton County Sheriff’s Office requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Johnson man who was last seen at Boot Hill Casino and Resort in Dodge City, Kansas.The whereabouts of James “Jim” W. Hines, 70, are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate him.Hines was last seen at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 21 at the Boot Hill Casino and Resort. He may be driving a white or tan 2011 Ford F-150 pickup truck with Kansas license HAPWT. He was last known wearing a bright pink button-down shirt, bright yellow running shoes, and jeans.Hines is a 70-year-old white male, around 5 foot-11 in. tall, who weighs approximately 200 pounds He has gray and brown hair and brown eyes. He also wears glasses and has a mustache. Hines has dementia.If you see Hines or his vehicle, or have information about his whereabouts, please immediately contact 911 or the Stanton County Sheriff’s Office at&nbsp;(620) 492-6866.

KBI: Silver Alert cancelled, missing Kansas man safe

By BRENT MARTIN <a href="https://stjosephpost.com">St. Joseph Post</a>

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — St. Joseph police have been seeing more and more dangerous
overdoses, such as the one that led to the death of a Chillicothe teen earlier
this week.

St. Joseph Police Chief Chris Connally says opioid overdoses
have become such a problem concerned citizens have begun holding an annual
opioid awareness event each August at Civic Center Park. Connally made a point
to attend this year.

“The more powerful part of the event was some of those that
have overcome opioid problems speaking about what it took to overcome opioid
problems, the things that made a difference in their life to help them get on
the right track to turn it around,” Connally tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ
Hotline.

Connally says the counterfeit drugs, such as those found in
the system of the 17-year-old Chillicothe girl, are often laced with fentanyl,
a powerful synthetic opioid.

Connally says opioid addiction is a terribly difficult
addiction to break.

“There’s a lot of very committed people in our community that
work hard to work with folks to get help them get it turned around,” Connally
says.

Connally says law enforcement cannot solve the problem by
itself. He says it will take an entire community commitment. But, Connally
cautions there are a lot of different views about how best to tackle the
problem.

“There’s got to be a negative consequence if we’re going to
make more progress,” Connally says. “But I think when you bring things like the
Opioid Task Force around, you get all different minds around, attacking it from
different directions that what it’s going to continue to take.”

Connally says opioid overdoses have become so common that his
officers carry NARCAN with them at all times. NARCAN, the product name of naloxone,
is a nasal spray that can counteract the effects of an opioid overdose.

By BRENT MARTIN <a href="https://stjosephpost.com">St. Joseph Post</a>ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — St. Joseph police have been seeing more and more dangerous
overdoses, such as the one that led to the death of a Chillicothe teen earlier
this week.St. Joseph Police Chief Chris Connally says opioid overdoses
have become such a problem concerned citizens have begun holding an annual
opioid awareness event each August at Civic Center Park. Connally made a point
to attend this year.“The more powerful part of the event was some of those that
have overcome opioid problems speaking about what it took to overcome opioid
problems, the things that made a difference in their life to help them get on
the right track to turn it around,” Connally tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ
Hotline.Connally says the counterfeit drugs, such as those found in
the system of the 17-year-old Chillicothe girl, are often laced with fentanyl,
a powerful synthetic opioid.Connally says opioid addiction is a terribly difficult
addiction to break.“There’s a lot of very committed people in our community that
work hard to work with folks to get help them get it turned around,” Connally
says.Connally says law enforcement cannot solve the problem by
itself. He says it will take an entire community commitment. But, Connally
cautions there are a lot of different views about how best to tackle the
problem.“There’s got to be a negative consequence if we’re going to
make more progress,” Connally says. “But I think when you bring things like the
Opioid Task Force around, you get all different minds around, attacking it from
different directions that what it’s going to continue to take.”Connally says opioid overdoses have become so common that his
officers carry NARCAN with them at all times. NARCAN, the product name of naloxone,
is a nasal spray that can counteract the effects of an opioid overdose.

Teen's overdose death raises fears of counterfeit drugs

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A Council Bluffs woman was fatally shot in her home early Friday, and police are searching for a 28-year-old man in the killing. 

Police say officers called to a home just before 3:30 a.m. Friday found 24-year-old McKayla Glover with a gunshot wound. She was rushed to a hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, where she died. 

Police say they've identified a 28-year-old man as a person of interest in the shooting and were trying to find him. No arrests in the killing had been made by midday Friday. 

Police did not offer details on what led up to the shooting.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A Council Bluffs woman was fatally shot in her home early Friday, and police are searching for a 28-year-old man in the killing. Police say officers called to a home just before 3:30 a.m. Friday found 24-year-old McKayla Glover with a gunshot wound. She was rushed to a hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, where she died. Police say they've identified a 28-year-old man as a person of interest in the shooting and were trying to find him. No arrests in the killing had been made by midday Friday. Police did not offer details on what led up to the shooting.

Police seek 28-year-old man in killing of western Iowa woman

TAYLOR, Neb. (AP) — Investigators are looking for the cause of an explosion that leveled a vacant building in the small north-central Nebraska town of Taylor.&nbsp; The explosion happened Tuesday afternoon, when Loup County volunteer firefighters were called to the town of about 200 people and found the shattered ruins of a vacant downtown building that had been converted into a home.&nbsp; No injuries were reported, but the Lincoln Journal Star reports that the blast damaged the post office and a livestock barn on either side of the building and blew out windows for blocks around.

TAYLOR, Neb. (AP) — Investigators are looking for the cause of an explosion that leveled a vacant building in the small north-central Nebraska town of Taylor.&nbsp; The explosion happened Tuesday afternoon, when Loup County volunteer firefighters were called to the town of about 200 people and found the shattered ruins of a vacant downtown building that had been converted into a home.&nbsp; No injuries were reported, but the Lincoln Journal Star reports that the blast damaged the post office and a livestock barn on either side of the building and blew out windows for blocks around.

Cause of explosion sought that leveled building in Taylor

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House and Democrats are hurriedly reworking key aspects of President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion domestic policy plan, trimming the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-health-care-69c7bb592f8d73232bec1d8e15be82e3">social services&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-joe-biden-business-environment-and-nature-environment-e9b976d57b1b8b35e459c9950b34fca0">climate change programs</a>&nbsp;and rethinking new taxes on corporations and the wealthy to pay for a scaled-back package.

The changes come as Biden more forcefully appeals to the American public, including in a televised town hall Thursday, for what he says are the middle-class values at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-seniors-medicare-congress-c544f9a1cd4d3ef0d7d5b99b129ccca7">the heart of his proposal</a>.

Biden mentioned during the evening event the challenge he faces in wrangling the sharply divergent factions in the Democratic party to agree to the final contours of the bill. With an evenly divided Senate, he can’t afford to lose a single vote, and he is navigating the competing demands of progressives, who want major investments in social services, and centrists, who want to see the price tag on the package come down.

“When you’re president of the United States, you have 50 Democrats — every one is a president. Every single one. So you gotta work things out,” he said during a CNN town hall.

Still, he expressed optimism about the process, saying “I think so” when asked if Democrats were close to a deal.

“It’s all about compromise. Compromise has become a dirty word, but bipartisanship and compromise still has to be possible,” he said.

Biden later said the discussions are “down to four or five issues.”

On one issue — the taxes to pay for the package — the White House idea seemed to be making headway with a new strategy of abandoning plans for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-joe-biden-business-personal-taxes-137e00b41f113f85cc241438c780785b">reversing Trump-era tax cuts&nbsp;</a>in favor of an approach that would involve taxing the investment incomes of billionaires to help finance the deal.

Biden has faced resistance from key holdouts, in particular&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-az-state-wire-government-and-politics-6632b84d43dcd5f897dbaea36d780bbb">Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.,</a>&nbsp;who has not been on board with her party’s plan to undo President Donald Trump’s tax breaks for big corporations or individuals earning more than $400,000 a year.

The president was unusually forthcoming Thursday night about the sticking points in the negotiations with Sinema and another key Democrat, conservative Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia.

While the president said Sinema “will not raise a single penny in taxes” on the wealthy or corporations, a White House official later clarified that the president was referring to raising the top tax rates, not the range of tax proposals “which Senator Sinema supports.”

Biden said Manchin doesn’t want to “rush” the transition to clean energy so quickly it will result in major job losses in his coal-producing state.

Even as he seemed encouraged by progress, Biden acknowledged major reductions to his original vision. He signaled the final plan would no longer provide free community college, but said he hoped to increase Pell Grants to compensate for the loss of the policy.

“It’s not going to get us the whole thing, but it is a start,” he said.

He also said that what had been envisioned as a federally paid, months-long family leave program would be just four weeks.

As long-sought programs are adjusted or eliminated, Democratic leaders are working to swiftly wrap up talks, possibly in the days ahead.

Talks between the White House and Democratic lawmakers are focused on reducing what had been a $3.5 trillion package to about $2 trillion, in what would be an unprecedented federal effort to expand social services for millions and address the rising threat of climate change.

“We have a goal. We have a timetable. We have milestones, and we’ve met them all,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who predicted Thursday, “It will pass soon.”

An abrupt change of course came late Wednesday when the White House floated new ways to pay for parts of the proposal.

Biden himself signaled flexibility on the tax provisions of the bill, as long as it’s paid for and it doesn’t increase taxes on those earning $400,000 or less.

“I’m willing to make sure that we pay for everything,” he said when pressed on what tax proposal he’d support.

The newly proposed tax provisions, though, are likely to sour progressives and even some moderate Democrats who have long campaigned on scrapping the Republican-backed 2017 tax cuts that many believe unduly reward the wealthy and cost the government untold sums in lost revenue at a time of gaping income inequality. Many are furious that perhaps a lone senator could stymie that goal.

The chairman of the tax-writing Ways &amp; Means Committee, Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., said he spoke for more than 30 minutes with the centrist Arizona senator, whose closely held views are a mystery to her colleagues.

“I said, Kyrsten, you and I both know this has got to pass. She said: ‘I couldn’t agree more,’” Neal told reporters at the Capitol.

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

Under existing law passed in 2017, the corporate tax rate is 21%. Democrats had proposed raising it to 26.5% for companies earning more than $5 million a year. The top individual income tax rate would go from 37% to 39.6% for those earning more than $400,000, or $450,000 for married couples.

Under the changes being floated the corporate rate would not change. But the revisions would not be all positive for big companies and the wealthy.

The White House is reviving the idea of a minimum corporate tax rate, similar to the 15% rate Biden had proposed this year. That’s even for companies that say they had no taxable income — a frequent target of Biden, who complains they pay “zero” in taxes.

The new tax on the wealthiest individuals would be modeled on legislation from Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. He has proposed taxing stock gains of people with more than $1 billion in assets — fewer than 1,000 Americans.

Other tax options are also being considered, and Democrats are almost certain to include a provision to beef up the Internal Revenue Service to go after tax dodgers.

Biden and his party are trying to shore up middle-class households, tackle climate change and stem the trend toward rising income inequality.

In the mix are at least $500 billion to battle climate change, $350 billion for child care subsidies and free prekindergarten, a one-year extension of the $300 monthly child tax credit put in place during the COVID-19 crisis, and money for health care provided through the Affordable Care Act and Medicare.

The president especially wants to advance the legislation by the time he departs next week for a global climate summit in Scotland.

Manchin has made clear&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-joe-biden-business-environment-environment-and-nature-81ccfa671e8cdd095ce26b62c33641ce">he opposes the president’s initial energy plan,&nbsp;</a>which was to have the government impose penalties on electric utilities that fail to meet clean energy benchmarks and provide financial rewards to those that do.

Instead, Biden is focused on providing at least $500 billion in tax credits, grants and loans for energy producers that reach emission-reduction goals.

Democrats also want to add funding to provide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-seniors-environment-health-7c573827e3e96f1f4c15bb3234815321">dental, vision and hearing aid benefits&nbsp;</a>to people on Medicare proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634847207082.png" alt="“We have a goal. We have a timetable. We have milestones, and we’ve met them all,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who predicted Thursday, “It will pass soon.”-photo courtesy office of House Speaker" />
 <figcaption>“We have a goal. We have a timetable. We have milestones, and we’ve met them all,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who predicted Thursday, “It will pass soon.”-photo courtesy office of House Speaker</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House and Democrats are hurriedly reworking key aspects of President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion domestic policy plan, trimming the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-health-care-69c7bb592f8d73232bec1d8e15be82e3">social services&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-joe-biden-business-environment-and-nature-environment-e9b976d57b1b8b35e459c9950b34fca0">climate change programs</a>&nbsp;and rethinking new taxes on corporations and the wealthy to pay for a scaled-back package.The changes come as Biden more forcefully appeals to the American public, including in a televised town hall Thursday, for what he says are the middle-class values at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-seniors-medicare-congress-c544f9a1cd4d3ef0d7d5b99b129ccca7">the heart of his proposal</a>.Biden mentioned during the evening event the challenge he faces in wrangling the sharply divergent factions in the Democratic party to agree to the final contours of the bill. With an evenly divided Senate, he can’t afford to lose a single vote, and he is navigating the competing demands of progressives, who want major investments in social services, and centrists, who want to see the price tag on the package come down.“When you’re president of the United States, you have 50 Democrats — every one is a president. Every single one. So you gotta work things out,” he said during a CNN town hall.Still, he expressed optimism about the process, saying “I think so” when asked if Democrats were close to a deal.“It’s all about compromise. Compromise has become a dirty word, but bipartisanship and compromise still has to be possible,” he said.Biden later said the discussions are “down to four or five issues.”On one issue — the taxes to pay for the package — the White House idea seemed to be making headway with a new strategy of abandoning plans for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-joe-biden-business-personal-taxes-137e00b41f113f85cc241438c780785b">reversing Trump-era tax cuts&nbsp;</a>in favor of an approach that would involve taxing the investment incomes of billionaires to help finance the deal.Biden has faced resistance from key holdouts, in particular&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-az-state-wire-government-and-politics-6632b84d43dcd5f897dbaea36d780bbb">Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.,</a>&nbsp;who has not been on board with her party’s plan to undo President Donald Trump’s tax breaks for big corporations or individuals earning more than $400,000 a year.The president was unusually forthcoming Thursday night about the sticking points in the negotiations with Sinema and another key Democrat, conservative Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia.While the president said Sinema “will not raise a single penny in taxes” on the wealthy or corporations, a White House official later clarified that the president was referring to raising the top tax rates, not the range of tax proposals “which Senator Sinema supports.”Biden said Manchin doesn’t want to “rush” the transition to clean energy so quickly it will result in major job losses in his coal-producing state.Even as he seemed encouraged by progress, Biden acknowledged major reductions to his original vision. He signaled the final plan would no longer provide free community college, but said he hoped to increase Pell Grants to compensate for the loss of the policy.“It’s not going to get us the whole thing, but it is a start,” he said.He also said that what had been envisioned as a federally paid, months-long family leave program would be just four weeks.As long-sought programs are adjusted or eliminated, Democratic leaders are working to swiftly wrap up talks, possibly in the days ahead.Talks between the White House and Democratic lawmakers are focused on reducing what had been a $3.5 trillion package to about $2 trillion, in what would be an unprecedented federal effort to expand social services for millions and address the rising threat of climate change.“We have a goal. We have a timetable. We have milestones, and we’ve met them all,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who predicted Thursday, “It will pass soon.”An abrupt change of course came late Wednesday when the White House floated new ways to pay for parts of the proposal.Biden himself signaled flexibility on the tax provisions of the bill, as long as it’s paid for and it doesn’t increase taxes on those earning $400,000 or less.“I’m willing to make sure that we pay for everything,” he said when pressed on what tax proposal he’d support.The newly proposed tax provisions, though, are likely to sour progressives and even some moderate Democrats who have long campaigned on scrapping the Republican-backed 2017 tax cuts that many believe unduly reward the wealthy and cost the government untold sums in lost revenue at a time of gaping income inequality. Many are furious that perhaps a lone senator could stymie that goal.The chairman of the tax-writing Ways &amp; Means Committee, Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., said he spoke for more than 30 minutes with the centrist Arizona senator, whose closely held views are a mystery to her colleagues.“I said, Kyrsten, you and I both know this has got to pass. She said: ‘I couldn’t agree more,’” Neal told reporters at the Capitol.Sinema’s office did not respond to a request for comment.Under existing law passed in 2017, the corporate tax rate is 21%. Democrats had proposed raising it to 26.5% for companies earning more than $5 million a year. The top individual income tax rate would go from 37% to 39.6% for those earning more than $400,000, or $450,000 for married couples.Under the changes being floated the corporate rate would not change. But the revisions would not be all positive for big companies and the wealthy.The White House is reviving the idea of a minimum corporate tax rate, similar to the 15% rate Biden had proposed this year. That’s even for companies that say they had no taxable income — a frequent target of Biden, who complains they pay “zero” in taxes.The new tax on the wealthiest individuals would be modeled on legislation from Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. He has proposed taxing stock gains of people with more than $1 billion in assets — fewer than 1,000 Americans.Other tax options are also being considered, and Democrats are almost certain to include a provision to beef up the Internal Revenue Service to go after tax dodgers.Biden and his party are trying to shore up middle-class households, tackle climate change and stem the trend toward rising income inequality.In the mix are at least $500 billion to battle climate change, $350 billion for child care subsidies and free prekindergarten, a one-year extension of the $300 monthly child tax credit put in place during the COVID-19 crisis, and money for health care provided through the Affordable Care Act and Medicare.The president especially wants to advance the legislation by the time he departs next week for a global climate summit in Scotland.Manchin has made clear&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-joe-biden-business-environment-environment-and-nature-81ccfa671e8cdd095ce26b62c33641ce">he opposes the president’s initial energy plan,&nbsp;</a>which was to have the government impose penalties on electric utilities that fail to meet clean energy benchmarks and provide financial rewards to those that do.Instead, Biden is focused on providing at least $500 billion in tax credits, grants and loans for energy producers that reach emission-reduction goals.Democrats also want to add funding to provide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-seniors-environment-health-7c573827e3e96f1f4c15bb3234815321">dental, vision and hearing aid benefits&nbsp;</a>to people on Medicare proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

White House, Dems hurriedly reworking Biden's $2 trillion plan

On October 19, 2021, United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose sentenced Abraham Christopher Smith, age 39, formerly of Pleasant Hill, to 288 months in prison for Enticement of a Minor announced Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal. Smith pleaded guilty to the offense on June 10, 2021. Following completion of his prison term, Smith is required to register as a sex offender and will be on supervised release for ten additional years. Under federal law, Enticement of a Minor carries a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison and a maximum term of life in prison.

According to court documents, Smith was a full-time teacher at Southeast Polk High School for several years. Beginning by at least early October 2020 and continuing to on or about October 28, 2020, Smith used a cell phone and the internet to persuade, induce, and entice Minor Victim #1—a minor student at the school—to engage in sexual activity with Smith. Additionally, Smith used his own iPhone to record Minor Victim #1 engaging in sexual activity with Smith.

“A teacher sexually exploiting a student is a very serious crime. Students must be safe at school. Parents deserve to have confidence that educators to whom they entrust their children are not preying on them. This prosecution and sentence should send a message to any school staff member contemplating exploiting a minor that the consequences may be decades in prison,” said Acting United States Attorney Westphal.

This case was investigated by the Iowa DCI Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Altoona Police Department, Polk County Attorney’s Office, and the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force.

The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the United States Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children.

Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579101364118.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release FBIOn October 19, 2021, United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose sentenced Abraham Christopher Smith, age 39, formerly of Pleasant Hill, to 288 months in prison for Enticement of a Minor announced Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal. Smith pleaded guilty to the offense on June 10, 2021. Following completion of his prison term, Smith is required to register as a sex offender and will be on supervised release for ten additional years. Under federal law, Enticement of a Minor carries a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison and a maximum term of life in prison.According to court documents, Smith was a full-time teacher at Southeast Polk High School for several years. Beginning by at least early October 2020 and continuing to on or about October 28, 2020, Smith used a cell phone and the internet to persuade, induce, and entice Minor Victim #1—a minor student at the school—to engage in sexual activity with Smith. Additionally, Smith used his own iPhone to record Minor Victim #1 engaging in sexual activity with Smith.“A teacher sexually exploiting a student is a very serious crime. Students must be safe at school. Parents deserve to have confidence that educators to whom they entrust their children are not preying on them. This prosecution and sentence should send a message to any school staff member contemplating exploiting a minor that the consequences may be decades in prison,” said Acting United States Attorney Westphal.This case was investigated by the Iowa DCI Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Altoona Police Department, Polk County Attorney’s Office, and the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force.The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the United States Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children.Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.

Former Iowa teacher gets 24 years for sexually exploiting student

WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions more Americans can get a COVID-19 booster and choose a different company’s vaccine for that next shot, federal health officials said Thursday.

Certain people who received Pfizer vaccinations months ago already are eligible for a booster and now the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says specific Moderna and Johnson &amp; Johnson recipients qualify, too. And in a bigger change, the agency is allowing the flexibility of “mixing and matching” that extra dose regardless of which type people received first.

The Food and Drug Administration had already authorized such an expansion of the nation’s booster campaign on Wednesday, and it was also endorsed Thursday by a CDC advisory panel. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky had the final word on who gets the extra doses.

“These past 20 months have taught us many things, but mostly to have humility,” she told the panel. “We are constantly learning about this virus, growing the evidence base and accumulating more data.”

There still are restrictions on who qualifies and when for a booster. Starting six months past their last Pfizer or Moderna vaccination, people are urged to get a booster if they’re 65 or older, nursing home residents, or at least 50 and at increased risk of severe disease because of health problems. Boosters also were allowed, but not urged, for adults of any age at increased risk of infection because of health problems or their jobs or living conditions. That includes health care workers, teachers and people in jails or homeless shelters.

Moderna’s booster will come at half the dose of the original two shots.

As for recipients of the single-shot J&amp;J vaccine, a COVID-19 booster is recommended for everyone at least two months after their vaccination. That’s because the J&amp;J vaccine hasn’t proved as protective as the two-dose Moderna or Pfizer options.

The CDC panel didn’t explicitly recommend anyone get a different brand than they started with but left open the option — saying only that a booster of some sort was recommended. And some of the advisers said they would prefer that J&amp;J recipients receive a competitor’s booster, citing preliminary data from an ongoing government study that suggested a bigger boost in virus-fighting antibodies from that combination.

“We’re at a different place in the pandemic than we were earlier” when supply constraints meant people had to take whatever shot they were offered, noted CDC adviser Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot of Vanderbilt University.

She called it “priceless” to be able to choose a different kind for the booster if, for example, someone might be at risk for a rare side effect from a specific vaccine.

About two-thirds of Americans eligible for COVID-19 shots are fully vaccinated, and the government says getting first shots to the unvaccinated remain the priority. While health authorities hope boosters will shore up waning immunity against milder coronavirus infections, all the vaccines still offer strong protection against hospitalizations and death, even as the extra-contagious delta variant burned through the country.

And CDC’s advisers wrestled with whether people who didn’t really need boosters might be getting them, especially young, otherwise healthy adults whose only qualification was their job.

Dr. Sarah Long of Drexel University voiced concerns about opening those people to rare but serious side effects from another dose if they already were adequately protected.

“I have my own concerns that we appear to be recommending vaccines for people who I don’t think need it,” added Dr. Beth Bell of the University of Washington.

But she stressed that the vaccines work and that moving forward with the recommendations makes sense for the sake of being clear and allowing flexibility when it comes to boosters.

Despite the concerns by some members, the panels’ votes ended up being unanimous.

The vast majority of the nearly 190 million Americans who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 have received the Pfizer or Moderna options, while J&amp;J recipients account for only about 15 million.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634854349255.png" alt="CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky had the final word on who gets the extra doses." />
 <figcaption>CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky had the final word on who gets the extra doses.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions more Americans can get a COVID-19 booster and choose a different company’s vaccine for that next shot, federal health officials said Thursday.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qoqia5YkwHc?start=24501" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Certain people who received Pfizer vaccinations months ago already are eligible for a booster and now the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says specific Moderna and Johnson &amp; Johnson recipients qualify, too. And in a bigger change, the agency is allowing the flexibility of “mixing and matching” that extra dose regardless of which type people received first.The Food and Drug Administration had already authorized such an expansion of the nation’s booster campaign on Wednesday, and it was also endorsed Thursday by a CDC advisory panel. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky had the final word on who gets the extra doses.“These past 20 months have taught us many things, but mostly to have humility,” she told the panel. “We are constantly learning about this virus, growing the evidence base and accumulating more data.”There still are restrictions on who qualifies and when for a booster. Starting six months past their last Pfizer or Moderna vaccination, people are urged to get a booster if they’re 65 or older, nursing home residents, or at least 50 and at increased risk of severe disease because of health problems. Boosters also were allowed, but not urged, for adults of any age at increased risk of infection because of health problems or their jobs or living conditions. That includes health care workers, teachers and people in jails or homeless shelters.Moderna’s booster will come at half the dose of the original two shots.As for recipients of the single-shot J&amp;J vaccine, a COVID-19 booster is recommended for everyone at least two months after their vaccination. That’s because the J&amp;J vaccine hasn’t proved as protective as the two-dose Moderna or Pfizer options.The CDC panel didn’t explicitly recommend anyone get a different brand than they started with but left open the option — saying only that a booster of some sort was recommended. And some of the advisers said they would prefer that J&amp;J recipients receive a competitor’s booster, citing preliminary data from an ongoing government study that suggested a bigger boost in virus-fighting antibodies from that combination.“We’re at a different place in the pandemic than we were earlier” when supply constraints meant people had to take whatever shot they were offered, noted CDC adviser Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot of Vanderbilt University.She called it “priceless” to be able to choose a different kind for the booster if, for example, someone might be at risk for a rare side effect from a specific vaccine.About two-thirds of Americans eligible for COVID-19 shots are fully vaccinated, and the government says getting first shots to the unvaccinated remain the priority. While health authorities hope boosters will shore up waning immunity against milder coronavirus infections, all the vaccines still offer strong protection against hospitalizations and death, even as the extra-contagious delta variant burned through the country.And CDC’s advisers wrestled with whether people who didn’t really need boosters might be getting them, especially young, otherwise healthy adults whose only qualification was their job.Dr. Sarah Long of Drexel University voiced concerns about opening those people to rare but serious side effects from another dose if they already were adequately protected.“I have my own concerns that we appear to be recommending vaccines for people who I don’t think need it,” added Dr. Beth Bell of the University of Washington.But she stressed that the vaccines work and that moving forward with the recommendations makes sense for the sake of being clear and allowing flexibility when it comes to boosters.Despite the concerns by some members, the panels’ votes ended up being unanimous.The vast majority of the nearly 190 million Americans who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 have received the Pfizer or Moderna options, while J&amp;J recipients account for only about 15 million.___

🎥 COVID-19 vaccine: CDC panel backs expanded booster rollout

SEWARD COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged human trafficking.

On Thursday, police stopped a westbound mini van on U.S. 54 in Liberal, according to a media release.&nbsp; Through the investigation officers also found 14 passengers in the vehicle who were being smuggled through the United States by a criminal organization, according to the release.

Some of the individuals were stacked on top of each other in the trunk.

Police arrested a 23-year-old man on a requested charge of human trafficking.&nbsp; Police released no additional details

SEWARD COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged human trafficking.On Thursday, police stopped a westbound mini van on U.S. 54 in Liberal, according to a media release.&nbsp; Through the investigation officers also found 14 passengers in the vehicle who were being smuggled through the United States by a criminal organization, according to the release.Some of the individuals were stacked on top of each other in the trunk.Police arrested a 23-year-old man on a requested charge of human trafficking.&nbsp; Police released no additional details

Human trafficking: Police find 14 stacked in van in SW Kansas

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities are investigating after confirming that a prop firearm discharged by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie, killed the cinematographer and wounded the director.

Santa Fe County Sheriff’s officials said Halyna Hutchins, cinematographer on the movie “Rust,” and director Joel Souza were shot Thursday on the rustic film set in the desert on the southern outskirts of Santa Fe.

Hutchins, 42, was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where she was pronounced dead by medical personnel, the sheriff’s department said.

Souza, 48, was taken by ambulance to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, where he is undergoing treatment for his injuries.

A spokesperson for Baldwin said there was an accident on the set involving the misfire of a prop gun with blanks, though a charge without a metal projectile is unlikely to kill at a moderate distance.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reported the 63-year-old Baldwin was seen Thursday outside the sheriff’s office in tears, but attempts to get comment from him were unsuccessful.

The International Cinematographers Guild confirmed that the woman fatally shot was Hutchins, a cinematographer.

“The details are unclear at this moment, but we are working to learn more, and we support a full investigation into this tragic event,” guild president John Lindley and executive director Rebecca Rhine said in a statement.

Hutchins, a 2015 graduate of the American Film Institute, worked as director of photography on the 2020 action film “Archenemy,” starring Joe Manganiello. She was named a “rising star” by American Cinematographer in 2019.

“I’m so sad about losing Halyna. And so infuriated that this could happen on a set,” said “Archenemy” director Adam Egypt Mortimer on Twitter. “She was a brilliant talent who was absolutely committed to art and to film.”

Film colleague Manganiello called her “an incredible talent” and “a great person” on his Instagram account. He said he was lucky to have worked with Hutchins.

Baldwin teamed up as a producer previously with Souza on the 2019 film, “Crown Vic,” which starred Thomas Jane as a veteran Los Angeles police officer on a manhunt for two violent bank robbers. His first credited film, 2010’s “Hanna’s Gold,” was a treasure hunt adventure featuring Luke Perry.

Deputies responded about 2 p.m. to the movie set at the Bonanza Creek Ranch after 911 calls described a person being shot on set, sheriff’s spokesman Juan Rios said. The ranch has been used in dozens of films, including the recent Tom Hanks Western “News of the World.”

Rios said detectives were investigating how and what type of projectile was discharged.

“This investigation remains open and active,” Rios said in a statement. “No charges have been filed in regard to this incident. Witnesses continue to be interviewed by detectives.”

Filming for “Rust” was set to continue into early November, according to a news release from the New Mexico Film Office.

The movie is about a 13-year-old boy who is left to fend for himself and his younger brother following the death of their parents in 1880s’ Kansas, according to the Internet Movie Database website. The teen goes on the run with his long-estranged grandfather (played by Baldwin) after the boy is sentenced to hang for the accidental killing of a local rancher.

In 1993, Brandon Lee, 28, son of the late martial-arts star Bruce Lee, died after being hit by a .44-caliber slug while filming a death scene for the movie “The Crow.” The gun was supposed to have fired a blank, but an autopsy turned up a bullet lodged near his spine.

A Twitter account run by Lee’s sister Shannon said: “Our hearts go out to the family of Halyna Hutchins and to Joel Souza and all involved in the incident on ‘Rust.’ No one should ever be killed by a gun on a film set. Period.”

In 1984, actor Jon-Erik Hexum died after shooting himself in the head with a prop gun blank while pretending to play Russian roulette with a .44 Magnum on the set of the television series “Cover Up.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634895692026.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities are investigating after confirming that a prop firearm discharged by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie, killed the cinematographer and wounded the director.Santa Fe County Sheriff’s officials said Halyna Hutchins, cinematographer on the movie “Rust,” and director Joel Souza were shot Thursday on the rustic film set in the desert on the southern outskirts of Santa Fe.Hutchins, 42, was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where she was pronounced dead by medical personnel, the sheriff’s department said.Souza, 48, was taken by ambulance to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, where he is undergoing treatment for his injuries.Production was halted on the film.A spokesperson for Baldwin said there was an accident on the set involving the misfire of a prop gun with blanks, though a charge without a metal projectile is unlikely to kill at a moderate distance.The Santa Fe New Mexican reported the 63-year-old Baldwin was seen Thursday outside the sheriff’s office in tears, but attempts to get comment from him were unsuccessful.The International Cinematographers Guild confirmed that the woman fatally shot was Hutchins, a cinematographer.“The details are unclear at this moment, but we are working to learn more, and we support a full investigation into this tragic event,” guild president John Lindley and executive director Rebecca Rhine said in a statement.Hutchins, a 2015 graduate of the American Film Institute, worked as director of photography on the 2020 action film “Archenemy,” starring Joe Manganiello. She was named a “rising star” by American Cinematographer in 2019.“I’m so sad about losing Halyna. And so infuriated that this could happen on a set,” said “Archenemy” director Adam Egypt Mortimer on Twitter. “She was a brilliant talent who was absolutely committed to art and to film.”Film colleague Manganiello called her “an incredible talent” and “a great person” on his Instagram account. He said he was lucky to have worked with Hutchins.Baldwin teamed up as a producer previously with Souza on the 2019 film, “Crown Vic,” which starred Thomas Jane as a veteran Los Angeles police officer on a manhunt for two violent bank robbers. His first credited film, 2010’s “Hanna’s Gold,” was a treasure hunt adventure featuring Luke Perry.Deputies responded about 2 p.m. to the movie set at the Bonanza Creek Ranch after 911 calls described a person being shot on set, sheriff’s spokesman Juan Rios said. The ranch has been used in dozens of films, including the recent Tom Hanks Western “News of the World.”Rios said detectives were investigating how and what type of projectile was discharged.“This investigation remains open and active,” Rios said in a statement. “No charges have been filed in regard to this incident. Witnesses continue to be interviewed by detectives.”Filming for “Rust” was set to continue into early November, according to a news release from the New Mexico Film Office.The movie is about a 13-year-old boy who is left to fend for himself and his younger brother following the death of their parents in 1880s’ Kansas, according to the Internet Movie Database website. The teen goes on the run with his long-estranged grandfather (played by Baldwin) after the boy is sentenced to hang for the accidental killing of a local rancher.In 1993, Brandon Lee, 28, son of the late martial-arts star Bruce Lee, died after being hit by a .44-caliber slug while filming a death scene for the movie “The Crow.” The gun was supposed to have fired a blank, but an autopsy turned up a bullet lodged near his spine.A Twitter account run by Lee’s sister Shannon said: “Our hearts go out to the family of Halyna Hutchins and to Joel Souza and all involved in the incident on ‘Rust.’ No one should ever be killed by a gun on a film set. Period.”In 1984, actor Jon-Erik Hexum died after shooting himself in the head with a prop gun blank while pretending to play Russian roulette with a .44 Magnum on the set of the television series “Cover Up.”

Sheriff: Baldwin fired shot on movie set that killed woman

A new text message scam seems so innocent that it’s tempting to reply. But con artists are using phony “wrong number” texts to lure victims into conversation and falling for a scam.

You receive a text that reads something like this: “Hey 
is this John? It’s Amanda. We chatted on Tinder before when I came to 
visit my cousin but we never met irl. I’m back in town if you want to 
meet up this time, are you free?”

If you reply to a text like this, even with a polite, “Sorry, wrong 
number,” the stranger responds anyway, seemingly ignoring your answer. 
Usually, you’ll receive a few compliments and some photos of “Amanda,” 
who appears to be a scantily clad blonde woman. However, as the word 
gets out about this scam, scammers will change up the names, backstory, 
and photos.

If you continue to engage with the stranger, who is really a chat 
bot, it tries to trick you into registering for dating or adult 
websites. Your new “friend” will encourage you to sign up for a specific
 website to see more explicit photos, which may involve offering up your
 credit card number. &nbsp;Considering the dubious nature of this scam, if 
you hand over your credit card information at any point, you could be 
putting yourself at risk for fraudulent charges and identity theft.

Read the <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/spot-a-scam/how-to-spot-a-phony-text-message" target="_blank">BBB Tip: Spot the red flags of fake text messages</a>. Read more about similar scams, such about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/25888-bbb-scam-alert-receive-a-text-with-a-surprise-offer-dont-click-that-link" target="_blank">text messages with surprise offers</a> or <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21903-scam-alert-mandatory-covid-19-test-texts-are-a-scam" target="_blank">mandatory COVID-19 tests</a>.&nbsp;

If you’ve been the victim of a text message scam, report it at <a href="http://www.BBB.org/ScamTracker" target="_blank">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a>. Your report can help expose scammers’ tactics so others won’t fall prey.&nbsp;

Check out our <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/spot-a-scam" target="_blank">Spot a Scam</a> page for more ways to keep yourself safe.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBA new text message scam seems so innocent that it’s tempting to reply. But con artists are using phony “wrong number” texts to lure victims into conversation and falling for a scam.How the Scam Works You receive a text that reads something like this: “Hey 
is this John? It’s Amanda. We chatted on Tinder before when I came to 
visit my cousin but we never met irl. I’m back in town if you want to 
meet up this time, are you free?”If you reply to a text like this, even with a polite, “Sorry, wrong 
number,” the stranger responds anyway, seemingly ignoring your answer. 
Usually, you’ll receive a few compliments and some photos of “Amanda,” 
who appears to be a scantily clad blonde woman. However, as the word 
gets out about this scam, scammers will change up the names, backstory, 
and photos.If you continue to engage with the stranger, who is really a chat 
bot, it tries to trick you into registering for dating or adult 
websites. Your new “friend” will encourage you to sign up for a specific
 website to see more explicit photos, which may involve offering up your
 credit card number. &nbsp;Considering the dubious nature of this scam, if 
you hand over your credit card information at any point, you could be 
putting yourself at risk for fraudulent charges and identity theft.How to Avoid Chat Bot Scams&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Ignore texts from strangers. If you receive a text 
from someone you don’t know, simply don’t reply. It’s the safest route. 
If you engage with a scammer, even briefly, they will mark your number 
as active and you could receive even more shady texts in the future. </li><li>Block numbers that appear to come from scammers. 
Unsolicited texts that look like they come from a chat bot or that ask 
you to click on suspicious links are probably not safe. Block these 
numbers to prevent scammers from contacting you through them again. </li><li>Never give your personal information to strangers. 
Never share your credit card or banking information, your full name, 
home address, or social security number with someone you never met in 
person.</li>
 </ul>For More Information Read the <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/spot-a-scam/how-to-spot-a-phony-text-message" target="_blank">BBB Tip: Spot the red flags of fake text messages</a>. Read more about similar scams, such about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/25888-bbb-scam-alert-receive-a-text-with-a-surprise-offer-dont-click-that-link" target="_blank">text messages with surprise offers</a> or <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21903-scam-alert-mandatory-covid-19-test-texts-are-a-scam" target="_blank">mandatory COVID-19 tests</a>.&nbsp;If you’ve been the victim of a text message scam, report it at <a href="http://www.BBB.org/ScamTracker" target="_blank">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a>. Your report can help expose scammers’ tactics so others won’t fall prey.&nbsp;Check out our <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/spot-a-scam" target="_blank">Spot a Scam</a> page for more ways to keep yourself safe.

Innocent wrong number text? It could be a scam bot!

Report identifies troubling data collection practices among several ISPs

Many
 internet service providers (ISPs) collect and share far more data about
 their customers than many consumers may expect—including access to all 
of their Internet traffic and real-time location data—while failing to 
offer consumers meaningful choices about how this data can be used, 
according to an<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/reports/look-what-isps-know-about-you-examining-privacy-practices-six-major-internet-service"> FTC staff report</a>&nbsp;on ISPs’ data collection and use practices.

The
 staff report, which details the expanding scope and some troubling 
aspects of some ISP data collection practices, stems from &nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2019/08/ftc-revises-list-companies-subject-broadband-privacy-study">orders the FTC issued in 2019</a>
 using its authority under 6(b) of the FTC Act to six internet service 
providers, which make up about 98 percent of the mobile Internet market:

The
 FTC also issued orders to three advertising entities affiliated with 
these ISPs: AT&amp;T’s Appnexus Inc., rebranded as Xandr; Verizon’s 
Verizon Online LLC; and Oath Americas Inc., rebranded as Verizon Media. 
The FTC sought information on their data collection and use practices, 
as well as any tools provided to consumers to control these practices.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As
 noted in the report, these companies have evolved into technology 
giants who offer not just internet services but also provide a range of 
other services including voice, content, smart devices, advertising, and
 analytics—which has increased the volume of information they are 
capable of collecting about their customers. The report identified 
several troubling data collection practices among several of the ISPs, 
including that they combine data across product lines; combine personal,
 app usage, and web browsing data to target ads; place consumers into 
sensitive categories such as by race and sexual orientation; and share 
real-time location data with third-parties.

At the same time, the 
report found the privacy protections many of the companies offer raised 
several concerns. Even though several of the ISPs promise not to sell 
consumers personal data, they allow it to be used, transferred, and 
monetized by others and hide disclosures about such practices in fine 
print of their privacy policies. For example, several news outlets noted
 that subscribers’ real-time location data shared with third-party 
customers was being accessed by car salesmen, property managers, bail 
bondsmen, bounty hunters, and others without reasonable protections or 
consumers’ knowledge and consent, according to the report.

Many of
 the ISPs also claim to offer consumers choices about how their data is 
used and allow them to access such data. The FTC found, however, that 
many of these companies often make it difficult for consumers to 
exercise such choices and sometimes even nudge them to share even more 
information. In addition, while several of the ISPs promise to only keep
 the data for as long as needed for business purposes, the definition of
 what constitutes a “business purpose” varies widely among the 
companies.

The report concludes that many of the ISPs’ data 
collection and use practices mirror problems identified in other 
industries and underscore the importance of restricting data collection 
and use.

The Commission voted 4-0 to approve and issue the report. Staff presented findings from the report at today’s <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/events-calendar/open-commission-meeting-october-21-2021">open virtual Commission meeting</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Chair Lina M. Khan <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/2021/10/remarks-chair-lina-m-khan-regarding-6b-study-privacy-practices-six-major">issued a separate statement</a>&nbsp;on the report.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">protect and educate consumers</a>. You can <a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/">learn more about consumer topics</a> and file a <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/complaint">consumer complaint online</a> or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357).&nbsp;For the latest news and resources, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a> and read our <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Report identifies troubling data collection practices among several ISPs</h2>FTCMany
 internet service providers (ISPs) collect and share far more data about
 their customers than many consumers may expect—including access to all 
of their Internet traffic and real-time location data—while failing to 
offer consumers meaningful choices about how this data can be used, 
according to an<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/reports/look-what-isps-know-about-you-examining-privacy-practices-six-major-internet-service"> FTC staff report</a>&nbsp;on ISPs’ data collection and use practices.The
 staff report, which details the expanding scope and some troubling 
aspects of some ISP data collection practices, stems from &nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2019/08/ftc-revises-list-companies-subject-broadband-privacy-study">orders the FTC issued in 2019</a>
 using its authority under 6(b) of the FTC Act to six internet service 
providers, which make up about 98 percent of the mobile Internet market:<ul>
 <li>AT&amp;T Mobility LLC;</li><li>Cellco Partnership, which does business as Verizon Wireless;</li><li>Charter Communications Operating LLC;</li><li>Comcast Cable Communications, which does business as Xfinity;</li><li>T-Mobile US Inc.; and</li><li>Google Fiber Inc.</li>
 </ul>The
 FTC also issued orders to three advertising entities affiliated with 
these ISPs: AT&amp;T’s Appnexus Inc., rebranded as Xandr; Verizon’s 
Verizon Online LLC; and Oath Americas Inc., rebranded as Verizon Media. 
The FTC sought information on their data collection and use practices, 
as well as any tools provided to consumers to control these practices.&nbsp;&nbsp;As
 noted in the report, these companies have evolved into technology 
giants who offer not just internet services but also provide a range of 
other services including voice, content, smart devices, advertising, and
 analytics—which has increased the volume of information they are 
capable of collecting about their customers. The report identified 
several troubling data collection practices among several of the ISPs, 
including that they combine data across product lines; combine personal,
 app usage, and web browsing data to target ads; place consumers into 
sensitive categories such as by race and sexual orientation; and share 
real-time location data with third-parties.At the same time, the 
report found the privacy protections many of the companies offer raised 
several concerns. Even though several of the ISPs promise not to sell 
consumers personal data, they allow it to be used, transferred, and 
monetized by others and hide disclosures about such practices in fine 
print of their privacy policies. For example, several news outlets noted
 that subscribers’ real-time location data shared with third-party 
customers was being accessed by car salesmen, property managers, bail 
bondsmen, bounty hunters, and others without reasonable protections or 
consumers’ knowledge and consent, according to the report.Many of
 the ISPs also claim to offer consumers choices about how their data is 
used and allow them to access such data. The FTC found, however, that 
many of these companies often make it difficult for consumers to 
exercise such choices and sometimes even nudge them to share even more 
information. In addition, while several of the ISPs promise to only keep
 the data for as long as needed for business purposes, the definition of
 what constitutes a “business purpose” varies widely among the 
companies.The report concludes that many of the ISPs’ data 
collection and use practices mirror problems identified in other 
industries and underscore the importance of restricting data collection 
and use.The Commission voted 4-0 to approve and issue the report. Staff presented findings from the report at today’s <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/events-calendar/open-commission-meeting-october-21-2021">open virtual Commission meeting</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Chair Lina M. Khan <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/2021/10/remarks-chair-lina-m-khan-regarding-6b-study-privacy-practices-six-major">issued a separate statement</a>&nbsp;on the report.The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">protect and educate consumers</a>. You can <a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/">learn more about consumer topics</a> and file a <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/complaint">consumer complaint online</a> or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357).&nbsp;For the latest news and resources, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a> and read our <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>.

FTC: ISPs collecting troves of personal data with few restrictions on use

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 48-year-old Bellevue man has been sentenced for cyberstalking in a case involving threats against the wife of a candidate for the Nebraska Legislature.

 Dennis Sryniawski was sentenced Thursday to a year and a day in federal prison. He was convicted in June of cyberstalking. 

FBI investigators determined that Sryniawski sent threatening and sexually explicit emails to Jeff Parris, of La Vista, who was running for the Nebraska Legislature in October 2018. He threatened to release personal information and a nude photo of Parris' wife if he didn't drop out of the race. 

Parris' wife was married to Sryniawski for two years about 25 years ago.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 48-year-old Bellevue man has been sentenced for cyberstalking in a case involving threats against the wife of a candidate for the Nebraska Legislature. Dennis Sryniawski was sentenced Thursday to a year and a day in federal prison. He was convicted in June of cyberstalking. FBI investigators determined that Sryniawski sent threatening and sexually explicit emails to Jeff Parris, of La Vista, who was running for the Nebraska Legislature in October 2018. He threatened to release personal information and a nude photo of Parris' wife if he didn't drop out of the race. Parris' wife was married to Sryniawski for two years about 25 years ago.

Bellevue man sentenced for cyberstalking legislative candidate's wife

A second victim has passed away as the result of a shooting in Superior Thursday afternoon. That victim had been life-flighted from Superior to Bryan Health West Campus in Lincoln with life-threatening injuries.

&nbsp;The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating a shooting incident that occurred in Superior Thursday afternoon. There is no active threat to the public at this time

At approximately 2:00 p.m. Thursday, NSP was dispatched to assist the Nuckolls County Sheriff’s Office and Superior Police Department with response to an active shooter incident at the Agrex Elevator in Superior. The Superior and Nelson Fire Departments also responded to the scene. The facility is located at 1401 E. 3rd&nbsp;Street in Superior.

Upon arrival, investigators located one deceased individual and multiple other victims. The reported shooter was also injured. There were no outstanding suspects at the time investigators arrived on scene.

A preliminary investigation has identified the shooter as Max Hoskinson, 61, of Superior. Hoskinson’s employment with Agrex had been terminated earlier in the day.

Shortly before 2:00 p.m., Hoskinson returned to Agrex with a handgun and opened fire, striking three individuals. An employee then retrieved a shotgun from an office and returned fire, striking Hoskinson.

One of the victims shot by Hoskinson has been pronounced deceased at the scene. Another has been transported by life-flight to Bryan Health West Campus in Lincoln with life-threatening injuries. The third victim has been treated and released from the hospital in Superior. Hoskinson was transported to the hospital in Superior and was pronounced deceased.

The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating, with assistance from the Nuckolls County Sheriff’s Office, Superior Police Department, and Nuckolls County Attorney’s Office. The investigation is ongoing. Further information will be released when possible.

News Release Nebraska State PatrolUpdateA second victim has passed away as the result of a shooting in Superior Thursday afternoon. That victim had been life-flighted from Superior to Bryan Health West Campus in Lincoln with life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating a shooting incident that occurred in Superior Thursday afternoon. There is no active threat to the public at this timeAt approximately 2:00 p.m. Thursday, NSP was dispatched to assist the Nuckolls County Sheriff’s Office and Superior Police Department with response to an active shooter incident at the Agrex Elevator in Superior. The Superior and Nelson Fire Departments also responded to the scene. The facility is located at 1401 E. 3rd&nbsp;Street in Superior.Upon arrival, investigators located one deceased individual and multiple other victims. The reported shooter was also injured. There were no outstanding suspects at the time investigators arrived on scene.A preliminary investigation has identified the shooter as Max Hoskinson, 61, of Superior. Hoskinson’s employment with Agrex had been terminated earlier in the day.Shortly before 2:00 p.m., Hoskinson returned to Agrex with a handgun and opened fire, striking three individuals. An employee then retrieved a shotgun from an office and returned fire, striking Hoskinson.One of the victims shot by Hoskinson has been pronounced deceased at the scene. Another has been transported by life-flight to Bryan Health West Campus in Lincoln with life-threatening injuries. The third victim has been treated and released from the hospital in Superior. Hoskinson was transported to the hospital in Superior and was pronounced deceased.The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating, with assistance from the Nuckolls County Sheriff’s Office, Superior Police Department, and Nuckolls County Attorney’s Office. The investigation is ongoing. Further information will be released when possible.

UPDATED NSP investigating shooting at Superior elevator, 2 dead

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say remains found in a Florida wilderness park are those of Brian Laundrie, who was a person of interest in the death of girlfriend Gabby Petito. Petito was found slain at a Wyoming national park months while the pair was on a cross-country van trip chronicled on social media. 

The FBI’s Denver office said in a news release that a comparison of dental records confirmed that the remains were Laundrie. The remains were discovered Wednesday in a swampy nature preserve near North Port, Florida, after a massive search. That search began shortly after Laundrie disappeared Sept. 14, two weeks after the 23-year-old returned alone to his parents’ home in Florida.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634065104645.png" alt="Laundrie and girlfriend Gabby Petito traveled across Kansas during their trip to Wyoming." />
 <figcaption>Laundrie and girlfriend Gabby Petito traveled across Kansas during their trip to Wyoming.</figcaption>
 </figure>ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say remains found in a Florida wilderness park are those of Brian Laundrie, who was a person of interest in the death of girlfriend Gabby Petito. Petito was found slain at a Wyoming national park months while the pair was on a cross-country van trip chronicled on social media. The FBI’s Denver office said in a news release that a comparison of dental records confirmed that the remains were Laundrie. The remains were discovered Wednesday in a swampy nature preserve near North Port, Florida, after a massive search. That search began shortly after Laundrie disappeared Sept. 14, two weeks after the 23-year-old returned alone to his parents’ home in Florida.

FBI: Remains found in Florida park ID'd as Brian Laundrie

The Nebraska State Patrol has requested the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office investigate a fatal crash that involved an NSP investigator in the early morning hours Thursday near Walthill.

The incident occurred this morning at approximately 5:08 a.m., when an NSP investigator was traveling southbound on Highway 77. The investigator was on duty and driving an unmarked NSP vehicle. As the vehicle was approximately one mile north of Walthill, it struck a pedestrian in the southbound lane of Highway 77.

The investigator immediately called for paramedics. Macy Rescue responded to the scene, but the pedestrian, an adult female, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634849690285.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release Nebraska State PatrolThe Nebraska State Patrol has requested the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office investigate a fatal crash that involved an NSP investigator in the early morning hours Thursday near Walthill.The incident occurred this morning at approximately 5:08 a.m., when an NSP investigator was traveling southbound on Highway 77. The investigator was on duty and driving an unmarked NSP vehicle. As the vehicle was approximately one mile north of Walthill, it struck a pedestrian in the southbound lane of Highway 77.The investigator immediately called for paramedics. Macy Rescue responded to the scene, but the pedestrian, an adult female, was pronounced deceased at the scene.Preliminary investigation shows that the pedestrian had left a rural home on the east side of Highway 77, crossed the northbound lane of Highway 77, and was in the southbound lane at the time the collision. No other persons were injured in the incident.“We are heartbroken at this tragic incident,” said Colonel John Bolduc. “Our condolences are with the family of the pedestrian and our thoughts are also with our investigator who was involved in this unfortunate situation.”The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office is the primary investigating agency. NSP has also requested assistance from the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office with the crash reconstruction aspect of the investigation. Any further questions should be directed to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.