HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A little girl who lost a teddy bear she’d had since being adopted from an Ethiopian orphanage thought it was gone forever when she forgot it along a trail in Glacier National Park last year. 

But thanks to a social media plea, the sharp eyes and soft heart of a park ranger and the closure of a hiking trail because of grizzly bear activity on the same day a family friend visited the park, the teddy bear is back in the arms of 6-year-old Naomi Pascal in Jackson, Wyoming.

 Ben Pascal says the bear's return to his daughter is a story of hope and kindness and people working together.

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A little girl who lost a teddy bear she’d had since being adopted from an Ethiopian orphanage thought it was gone forever when she forgot it along a trail in Glacier National Park last year. But thanks to a social media plea, the sharp eyes and soft heart of a park ranger and the closure of a hiking trail because of grizzly bear activity on the same day a family friend visited the park, the teddy bear is back in the arms of 6-year-old Naomi Pascal in Jackson, Wyoming. Ben Pascal says the bear's return to his daughter is a story of hope and kindness and people working together.

Teddy bear lost in Glacier park returned to 6-year-old girl

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department
 announced today that millions of American families will soon receive 
their advance Child Tax Credit (CTC) payment for the month of November. 
Low-income families who are not getting payments and have not filed a 
tax return can still get one, but they must sign up on IRS.gov by 11:59 
pm Eastern Time on Monday, Nov. 15.

This fifth batch of advance monthly payments, totaling about $15 
billion, will reach about 36 million families across the country.&nbsp;The 
majority of payments are being made by direct deposit.

Under the American Rescue Plan, most eligible families received 
payments dated July 15, Aug. 13, Sept. 15 and Oct. 15. The last payment 
for 2021 is scheduled for Dec. 15. For these families, each&nbsp;payment is 
up to $300 per month for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month
 for each child ages 6 through 17.

Here are more details on the November payments:

Recently, the IRS sent letters to many Americans urging them to check
 out the Child Tax Credit and if they qualify, to sign up soon to get 
advance payments. Whether or not they got one of these letters, an 
eligible family who is not already getting monthly payments can still 
sign up to get an advance payment of the Child Tax Credit.

Treasury and IRS urge any low-income family who doesn’t normally need
 to file a return to sign up now to get their payment. The deadline is 
11:59 pm Eastern Time on Monday, November 15.

Right now, they can only sign up online. To do so, quickly and securely, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a>. Families can choose to file either in English or Spanish. 
Families signing up now will normally&nbsp;receive half of their total Child Tax Credit receive on
 Dec. 15. This means a payment of up to $1,800 for each child under 6, 
and up to $1,500 for each child age 6 to 17. This is the same total 
amount that most other families have been receiving in up to six monthly
 payments that began in July. 
Any family who receives advance payments of the CTC during 2021 can 
claim the rest of the credit when they file their 2021 Federal income 
tax return. To help them do that, early in 2022 families will receive 
Letter 6419 documenting any advance payments issued to them during 2021 
and the number of qualifying children used to calculate the advance 
payments.

Families can make changes to their account

Families who are already receiving monthly payments can use the Child
 Tax Credit Update Portal (CTC-UP) to quickly update their account. 
Available only on IRS.gov, CTC-UP already allows families to verify 
their eligibility for the payments and then, if they choose to:

Updates made by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on Nov. 29 will be reflected in the monthly payment scheduled for Dec. 15.

Later this month, the IRS will launch a Spanish-language version of 
the tool. In addition, new features will be added to enable families to 
raise or lower their final monthly payment to reflect life changes, such
 as another child born or adopted in 2021.

The IRS encourages partners and community groups to share information and use available <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">online tools and toolkits</a> to help non-filers, low-income families and other underserved groups sign up to receive these benefits. 
Links to online tools, answers to frequently asked questions and other helpful resources are available on the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS’ special advance CTC 2021 page</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department
 announced today that millions of American families will soon receive 
their advance Child Tax Credit (CTC) payment for the month of November. 
Low-income families who are not getting payments and have not filed a 
tax return can still get one, but they must sign up on IRS.gov by 11:59 
pm Eastern Time on Monday, Nov. 15.This fifth batch of advance monthly payments, totaling about $15 
billion, will reach about 36 million families across the country.&nbsp;The 
majority of payments are being made by direct deposit.Under the American Rescue Plan, most eligible families received 
payments dated July 15, Aug. 13, Sept. 15 and Oct. 15. The last payment 
for 2021 is scheduled for Dec. 15. For these families, each&nbsp;payment is 
up to $300 per month for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month
 for each child ages 6 through 17.Here are more details on the November payments:<ul>
 <li>Families will see the direct deposit payments in their accounts 
starting Nov. 15. Like the prior payments, the vast majority of families
 will receive them by direct deposit.</li><li>For those receiving payments by paper check, be sure to allow extra time, through the end of November, for delivery by mail.</li><li>Those wishing to receive their December payment by direct deposit can make this change using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-update-portal">Child Tax Credit Update Portal</a>, available only on IRS.gov. Be sure to make the change by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on Nov. 29. To access the portal, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a>.</li><li>Payments are going to eligible families who filed a 2019 or 2020 
income tax return. Returns processed by Nov. 1 are reflected in these 
payments. This includes people who don’t typically file a return but 
either during 2020 successfully filed a return to register for Economic 
Impact Payments using the IRS Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov, or in 2021 
successfully filed a return by using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-non-filer-sign-up-tool">Non-filer Sign-up Tool for advance CTC</a>.</li><li>Payments are automatic. Aside from filing a tax return, including a
 return from the Non-filer Sign-up Tool, families don’t have to do 
anything if they are eligible to receive monthly payments.</li><li>Families who did not get a July, August, September or October 
payment and are getting their first monthly payment this month will 
still receive their total advance payment amount for the year (which is 
half of their total Child Tax Credit). This means that the total payment
 will be spread over two months, rather than six, making each monthly 
payment larger.</li>
 </ul><h2>Sign up by Nov. 15</h2>Recently, the IRS sent letters to many Americans urging them to check
 out the Child Tax Credit and if they qualify, to sign up soon to get 
advance payments. Whether or not they got one of these letters, an 
eligible family who is not already getting monthly payments can still 
sign up to get an advance payment of the Child Tax Credit.Treasury and IRS urge any low-income family who doesn’t normally need
 to file a return to sign up now to get their payment. The deadline is 
11:59 pm Eastern Time on Monday, November 15.Right now, they can only sign up online. To do so, quickly and securely, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a>. Families can choose to file either in English or Spanish. 
Families signing up now will normally&nbsp;receive half of their total Child Tax Credit receive on
 Dec. 15. This means a payment of up to $1,800 for each child under 6, 
and up to $1,500 for each child age 6 to 17. This is the same total 
amount that most other families have been receiving in up to six monthly
 payments that began in July. 
Any family who receives advance payments of the CTC during 2021 can 
claim the rest of the credit when they file their 2021 Federal income 
tax return. To help them do that, early in 2022 families will receive 
Letter 6419 documenting any advance payments issued to them during 2021 
and the number of qualifying children used to calculate the advance 
payments.<h2>Families can make changes to their account</h2>Families who are already receiving monthly payments can use the Child
 Tax Credit Update Portal (CTC-UP) to quickly update their account. 
Available only on IRS.gov, CTC-UP already allows families to verify 
their eligibility for the payments and then, if they choose to:<ul>
 <li>Switch from receiving a paper check to direct deposit;</li><li>Change the account where their payment is direct deposited;</li><li>Update their mailing address;</li><li>Stop monthly payments and</li><li>Reflect significant changes in their income that could potentially raise or lower their monthly payments.</li>
 </ul>Updates made by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on Nov. 29 will be reflected in the monthly payment scheduled for Dec. 15.Later this month, the IRS will launch a Spanish-language version of 
the tool. In addition, new features will be added to enable families to 
raise or lower their final monthly payment to reflect life changes, such
 as another child born or adopted in 2021.<h2>Community partners can help</h2>The IRS encourages partners and community groups to share information and use available <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">online tools and toolkits</a> to help non-filers, low-income families and other underserved groups sign up to receive these benefits. 
Links to online tools, answers to frequently asked questions and other helpful resources are available on the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS’ special advance CTC 2021 page</a>.

November Child Tax Credit payments on the way, December deadline looms

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service recently announced that, 
effective Nov. 15, 2021, tax professionals are able to order up to 30 
Transcript Delivery System (TDS) transcripts per client through the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/practitioner-priority-service-r">Practitioner Priority Service®</a> line. This is an increase from the previous 10 transcripts per client limit.

"Increasing the number of transcripts a caller can receive addresses 
the concerns the IRS has received from PPS callers. This is another 
example of addressing concerns from our partners and stakeholders," said
 Ken Corbin, the Wage and Investment Commissioner and the IRS Taxpayer 
Experience Officer.

Through PPS, tax professionals can order a variety of transcripts. 
Practitioners can receive transcripts for up to five clients per call. 
There's no change to the number of clients.

Transcripts available under this newly-expanded limit include the:

Transcripts not listed above continue to be limited to 10 per client and count toward the total of 30 transcripts per client.

Tax professionals will continue to receive TDS transcripts in their 
e-Services Secure Object Repository mailboxes. The change also applies 
to other IRS toll-free lines.

Tax practitioners can continue to order TDS transcripts using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/transcript-delivery-system-tds">Transcript Delivery System</a> application on IRS.gov. Individual taxpayers can request their own TDS transcripts using <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript">Get Transcript</a>. These tools remain the fastest way to receive transcripts.

More information is available at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/transcript-types-and-ways-to-order-them">Transcript Types and Ways to Order Them </a>on IRS.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service recently announced that, 
effective Nov. 15, 2021, tax professionals are able to order up to 30 
Transcript Delivery System (TDS) transcripts per client through the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/practitioner-priority-service-r">Practitioner Priority Service®</a> line. This is an increase from the previous 10 transcripts per client limit."Increasing the number of transcripts a caller can receive addresses 
the concerns the IRS has received from PPS callers. This is another 
example of addressing concerns from our partners and stakeholders," said
 Ken Corbin, the Wage and Investment Commissioner and the IRS Taxpayer 
Experience Officer.Through PPS, tax professionals can order a variety of transcripts. 
Practitioners can receive transcripts for up to five clients per call. 
There's no change to the number of clients.Transcripts available under this newly-expanded limit include the:<ul>
 <li>Tax Return Transcript,</li><li>Tax Account Transcript,</li><li>Wage and Income Transcript,</li><li>Record of Account and</li><li>Verification of Non-Filing Letter.</li>
 </ul>Transcripts not listed above continue to be limited to 10 per client and count toward the total of 30 transcripts per client.Tax professionals will continue to receive TDS transcripts in their 
e-Services Secure Object Repository mailboxes. The change also applies 
to other IRS toll-free lines.<h2>Ordering transcripts online</h2>Tax practitioners can continue to order TDS transcripts using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/transcript-delivery-system-tds">Transcript Delivery System</a> application on IRS.gov. Individual taxpayers can request their own TDS transcripts using <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript">Get Transcript</a>. These tools remain the fastest way to receive transcripts.More information is available at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/transcript-types-and-ways-to-order-them">Transcript Types and Ways to Order Them </a>on IRS.gov.

Tax professionals can now order more transcripts from the IRS

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The contagious delta variant is driving up COVID-19 hospitalizations in the Mountain West and fueling disruptive outbreaks in the North, a worrisome sign of what could be ahead this winter in the U.S.

While trends are improving in Florida, Texas and other Southern states that bore the worst of the summer surge, it’s clear that delta isn’t done with the United States. COVID-19 is moving north and west for the winter as people head indoors, close their windows and breathe stagnant air.

“We’re going to see a lot of outbreaks in unvaccinated people that will result in serious illness, and it will be tragic,” said Dr. Donald Milton of the University of Maryland School of Public Health.

In recent days, a Vermont college suspended social gatherings after a spike in cases tied to Halloween parties. Boston officials shut down an elementary school to control an outbreak. Hospitals in New Mexico and Colorado are overwhelmed.

In Michigan, the three-county metro Detroit area is again becoming a hot spot for transmissions, with one hospital system reporting nearly 400 COVID-19 patients. Mask-wearing in Michigan has declined to about 25% of people, according to a combination of surveys tracked by an influential modeling group at the University of Washington.

“Concern over COVID in general is pretty much gone, which is unfortunate,” said Dr. Jennifer Morse, medical director at health departments in 20 central and northern Michigan counties. “I feel strange going into a store masked. I’m a minority. It’s very different. It’s just a really unusual atmosphere right now.”

New Mexico is running out of intensive care beds despite the state’s above-average vaccination rate. Waning immunity may be playing a role. People who were vaccinated early and have not yet received booster shots may be driving up infection numbers, even if they still have some protection from the most dire consequences of the virus.

“Delta and waning immunity — the combination of these two have set us back,” said Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington. “This virus is going to stick with us for a long, long time.”

The delta variant dominates infections across the U.S., accounting for more than 99% of the samples analyzed.

No state has achieved a high enough vaccination rate, even when combined with infection-induced immunity, to avoid the type of outbreaks happening now, Mokdad said.

In a deviation from national recommendations, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order Thursday that allows any resident 18 or older access to a COVID-19 booster shot, another step to prevent hospitals and health care workers from being overwhelmed by the state’s surge in delta infections.

Progress on vaccination continues, yet nearly 60 million Americans age 12 and older remain unvaccinated. That’s an improvement since July, when 100 million were unvaccinated, said White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients.

First shots are averaging about 300,000 per day, and the effort to vaccinate children ages 5 to 11 is off to a strong start, Zients said at a briefing Wednesday.

Virginia Tech’s Linsey Marr, a leading researcher on the airborne spread of the coronavirus, predicted the northward spread of the virus in a Twitter post Sept. 15. The virus spreads in the air and can build up in enclosed rooms with poor ventilation. Colder weather means more people are indoors breathing the same air, Marr said.

Imagine that everyone you spend time with is a smoker and you want to breathe as little of their smoke as possible, she said.

“The closer you are to a smoker the more exposure you have to that smoke,” Marr said. “And if you’re in a poorly ventilated room, the smoke builds up over time.”

Marr said she and her vaccinated family will use rapid tests before gathering for Christmas to check for infection.

“It’s hard to know what’s coming next with this virus,” Marr said. “We thought we knew, but delta really surprised us. We thought the vaccine would help end this, but things are still dragging on. It’s hard to know what’s going to happen next.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The contagious delta variant is driving up COVID-19 hospitalizations in the Mountain West and fueling disruptive outbreaks in the North, a worrisome sign of what could be ahead this winter in the U.S.While trends are improving in Florida, Texas and other Southern states that bore the worst of the summer surge, it’s clear that delta isn’t done with the United States. COVID-19 is moving north and west for the winter as people head indoors, close their windows and breathe stagnant air.“We’re going to see a lot of outbreaks in unvaccinated people that will result in serious illness, and it will be tragic,” said Dr. Donald Milton of the University of Maryland School of Public Health.In recent days, a Vermont college suspended social gatherings after a spike in cases tied to Halloween parties. Boston officials shut down an elementary school to control an outbreak. Hospitals in New Mexico and Colorado are overwhelmed.In Michigan, the three-county metro Detroit area is again becoming a hot spot for transmissions, with one hospital system reporting nearly 400 COVID-19 patients. Mask-wearing in Michigan has declined to about 25% of people, according to a combination of surveys tracked by an influential modeling group at the University of Washington.“Concern over COVID in general is pretty much gone, which is unfortunate,” said Dr. Jennifer Morse, medical director at health departments in 20 central and northern Michigan counties. “I feel strange going into a store masked. I’m a minority. It’s very different. It’s just a really unusual atmosphere right now.”New Mexico is running out of intensive care beds despite the state’s above-average vaccination rate. Waning immunity may be playing a role. People who were vaccinated early and have not yet received booster shots may be driving up infection numbers, even if they still have some protection from the most dire consequences of the virus.“Delta and waning immunity — the combination of these two have set us back,” said Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington. “This virus is going to stick with us for a long, long time.”The delta variant dominates infections across the U.S., accounting for more than 99% of the samples analyzed.No state has achieved a high enough vaccination rate, even when combined with infection-induced immunity, to avoid the type of outbreaks happening now, Mokdad said.In a deviation from national recommendations, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order Thursday that allows any resident 18 or older access to a COVID-19 booster shot, another step to prevent hospitals and health care workers from being overwhelmed by the state’s surge in delta infections.Progress on vaccination continues, yet nearly 60 million Americans age 12 and older remain unvaccinated. That’s an improvement since July, when 100 million were unvaccinated, said White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients.First shots are averaging about 300,000 per day, and the effort to vaccinate children ages 5 to 11 is off to a strong start, Zients said at a briefing Wednesday.Virginia Tech’s Linsey Marr, a leading researcher on the airborne spread of the coronavirus, predicted the northward spread of the virus in a Twitter post Sept. 15. The virus spreads in the air and can build up in enclosed rooms with poor ventilation. Colder weather means more people are indoors breathing the same air, Marr said.Imagine that everyone you spend time with is a smoker and you want to breathe as little of their smoke as possible, she said.“The closer you are to a smoker the more exposure you have to that smoke,” Marr said. “And if you’re in a poorly ventilated room, the smoke builds up over time.”Marr said she and her vaccinated family will use rapid tests before gathering for Christmas to check for infection.“It’s hard to know what’s coming next with this virus,” Marr said. “We thought we knew, but delta really surprised us. We thought the vaccine would help end this, but things are still dragging on. It’s hard to know what’s going to happen next.”___

COVID-19 hot spots offer sign of what could be ahead for US

SAN DIEGO (AP) — It’s a hidden crisis that's existed for years inside one of the most well-funded institutions on the planet and has only worsened during the coronavirus pandemic. 

As many of 160,000 active-duty military members are having trouble feeding their families. That word comes from Feeding America, which coordinates the work of more than 200 food banks around the United States. 

The group estimates that 29% of troops in the most junior enlisted ranks faced food insecurity during the previous year. 

In response, a robust network of military-adjacent charitable organizations such as the Armed Services YMCA and Blue Star Families has developed an infrastructure of food banks near major domestic bases.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619477585755.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SAN DIEGO (AP) — It’s a hidden crisis that's existed for years inside one of the most well-funded institutions on the planet and has only worsened during the coronavirus pandemic. As many of 160,000 active-duty military members are having trouble feeding their families. That word comes from Feeding America, which coordinates the work of more than 200 food banks around the United States. The group estimates that 29% of troops in the most junior enlisted ranks faced food insecurity during the previous year. In response, a robust network of military-adjacent charitable organizations such as the Armed Services YMCA and Blue Star Families has developed an infrastructure of food banks near major domestic bases.

Thousands of military families struggle with food insecurity

GENOA, Neb. (AP) — Researchers say they have uncovered the names of 102 Native American students who died at a federally operated boarding school in Nebraska. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the discovery comes as ground-penetrating radar has been used in recent weeks to search for a cemetery once used by the school that operated in Genoa from 1884 to 1934. 

The Genoa school was one of the largest in a system of 25 federally run boarding schools for Native Americans. 

The dark history of abuses at the schools is now the subject of a nationwide investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636894626456.png" alt="Google Maps" />
 <figcaption>Google Maps</figcaption>
 </figure>GENOA, Neb. (AP) — Researchers say they have uncovered the names of 102 Native American students who died at a federally operated boarding school in Nebraska. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the discovery comes as ground-penetrating radar has been used in recent weeks to search for a cemetery once used by the school that operated in Genoa from 1884 to 1934. So far, no graves have been found. The Genoa school was one of the largest in a system of 25 federally run boarding schools for Native Americans. The dark history of abuses at the schools is now the subject of a nationwide investigation.

102 died at Native American boarding school in Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Three snow leopards have died at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo in Nebraska of complications from COVID-19. 

The zoo made the announcement in a Facebook post Friday, describing the deaths of the three leopards _ named Ranney, Everest, and Makalu_ as “truly heartbreaking.” 

The zoo began treating the leopards and two Sumatran tigers for the virus last month. The zoo said the tigers, Axl and Kumar, have made what appears to be a full recovery. 

The zoo said it remains open to the public and continues to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to humans and animals. 

Zoos across the country, including at the St. Louis Zoo and the Denver Zoo, have battled COVID-19 outbreaks among their animals.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636894295827.png" alt="Photo: lincolnzoo.org" />
 <figcaption>Photo: lincolnzoo.org</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Three snow leopards have died at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo in Nebraska of complications from COVID-19. The zoo made the announcement in a Facebook post Friday, describing the deaths of the three leopards _ named Ranney, Everest, and Makalu_ as “truly heartbreaking.” The zoo began treating the leopards and two Sumatran tigers for the virus last month. The zoo said the tigers, Axl and Kumar, have made what appears to be a full recovery. The zoo said it remains open to the public and continues to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to humans and animals. Zoos across the country, including at the St. Louis Zoo and the Denver Zoo, have battled COVID-19 outbreaks among their animals.

3 snow leopards with COVID-19 die at Lincoln Children’s Zoo

WASHINGTON (AP) — To enforce President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 mandate, the U.S. Labor Department is going to need a lot of help. Its Occupational Safety and Health Administration doesn’t have nearly enough workplace safety inspectors to do the job.

On Friday, federal appeals court in New Orleans halted the Biden administration’s vaccine or testing requirement for private businesses, delivering another political setback to one of the White House’s signature public health policies.

If the mandate survives the legal fight, the government will rely upon a corps of informers to identify violations of the order: Employees who will presumably be concerned enough to turn in their own employers if their co-workers go unvaccinated or fail to undergo weekly tests to show they’re virus-free.

What’s not known is just how many employees will be willing to accept some risk to themselves — or their job security — for blowing the whistle on their own employers. Without them, though, experts say the government would find it harder to achieve its goal of requiring tens of millions of workers at companies with 100 or more employees to be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4 or be tested weekly and wear a mask on the job.

“There is no army of OSHA inspectors that is going to be knocking on employers door or even calling them,” said Debbie Berkowitz, a former OSHA chief of staff who is a fellow at Georgetown University’s Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor. “They’re going to rely on workers and their union representatives to file complaints where the company is totally flouting the law.”

Jim Frederick, the acting chief of OSHA, told reporters that this agency will focus on job sites “where workers need assistance to have a safe and healthy workplace.”

“That typically comes through in the form of a complaint,” Frederick added.

Critics warn that whistleblowers have often faced retaliation from their employers and that OSHA has offered little protection when they do.

The new mandate, which Biden announced last month, is the administration’s most far-reaching step yet to prod more Americans to get a vaccine that has been widely available since early spring. The mandate will cover an estimated 84 million employees.

The president called the move necessary to combat an outbreak that has killed 750,000 Americans and that continues to spread. Companies that fail to comply will face fines of nearly $14,000 per “serious” violation. Employers found to be “willful’’ or repeat violators would be subject to fines of up to ten times that amount.

The mandate has run into furious opposition, though, from leaders of mainly Republican-led states who have condemned the plan as an unlawful case of federal overreach and who immediately challenged the vaccine-or-test requirements in court. On Saturday, the Biden administration endured a setback when a federal appeals court in New Orleans temporarily halted the mandate, saying it posed “grave statutory and constitutional issues.”

Should the mandate survive its legal challenges, though, the task of enforcing it would fall on OSHA, the small Labor Department agency that was established 50 years ago to police workplace safety and protect workers from such dangers as toxic chemicals, rickety ladders and cave-ins at construction sites.

OSHA has jurisdiction in 29 states. Other states, including California and Michigan, have their own federally approved workplace safety agencies. These states will have an additional month — until early February — to adopt their own version of the COVID mandate, equal to or tougher than OSHA’s.

For a task as enormous as enforcing the new vaccine mandate, OSHA and its state “partners” are stretched thin. Just 1,850 inspectors will oversee 130 million workers at 8 million job sites. So the agencies must rely on whistleblowers.

OSHA urges workers to first bring unsafe or unhealthy working conditions to the attention of their employers “if possible.” Employees could also file a confidential safety complaint with OSHA or have a case filed by a representative, such as a lawyer, a union representative or a member of the clergy. But they have no right to sue their employer in court for federal safety violations.

Typically, 20% to 25% of OSHA inspections originate with a complaint.

“You fill out a form or somebody fills out a form for you,” said Berkowitz, the former OSHA chief of staff. “And that’s all workers have. If OSHA decides not to inspect, that’s it. Or if OSHA inspects but decides not to cite the employer, that’s it. ... So it’s a pretty weak law.”

Only OSHA can bring cases over violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, the law that is meant to provide safe workplaces. Going outside OSHA to sue employers for negligence is all but impossible, say Berkowitz and other worker advocates.

State worker compensation programs — which reimburse injured workers for medical costs and lost wages and provide death benefits to survivors of those killed — include no-fault provisions that block most lawsuits.

“Technically,” Berkowitz said, “the law says that companies can’t retaliate against a worker for raising a health and safety issue or filing an OSHA complaint or even reporting an injury. But retaliation is rampant.”

OSHA can pursue employers who punish workers for speaking out against unsafe working conditions. Last month, for example, the agency sued a luxury car dealer in Austin, Texas, that it said fired an employee who had warned co-workers about potential coronavirus hazards in the workplace.

But in a report co-written by Berkowitz, the National Employment Law Project, which advocates for worker rights, found that OSHA dismissed — without investigating — more than half the COVID-related complaints of retaliation it received from whistleblowers. Just 2% of complaints were resolved in the five-month period last year that the law project studied. Workers have just 30 days to file an OSHA complaint over retaliation.

“OSHA needs to improve its handling of whistleblower complaints,” the Labor Department’s Inspector General, its internal watchdog, concluded last year. “When OSHA fails to respond in a timely manner, it could leave workers to suffer emotionally and financially, and may also lead to the erosion of key evidence and witnesses.’’

Still, most companies are considered likely to comply with the COVID mandate, as they mostly do with other OSHA rules. Some employers were likely relieved: They may have wanted to require inoculations on their own but worried that they’d alienate anti-vax workers and possibly lose them to employers that didn’t require vaccinations.

“Most employers — they’re law abiding,” says David Michaels, a former OSHA chief who is an epidemiologist and professor of public health at George Washington University. “They’re trying to make sure that they meet the requirements of every law and regulation .. Now OSHA will follow up. They’ll respond to complaints. They’ll do spot checks. They’ll issue citations and fines, and they’ll make a big deal of those” to discourage other potential violators.

WASHINGTON (AP) — To enforce President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 mandate, the U.S. Labor Department is going to need a lot of help. Its Occupational Safety and Health Administration doesn’t have nearly enough workplace safety inspectors to do the job.On Friday, federal appeals court in New Orleans halted the Biden administration’s vaccine or testing requirement for private businesses, delivering another political setback to one of the White House’s signature public health policies.If the mandate survives the legal fight, the government will rely upon a corps of informers to identify violations of the order: Employees who will presumably be concerned enough to turn in their own employers if their co-workers go unvaccinated or fail to undergo weekly tests to show they’re virus-free.What’s not known is just how many employees will be willing to accept some risk to themselves — or their job security — for blowing the whistle on their own employers. Without them, though, experts say the government would find it harder to achieve its goal of requiring tens of millions of workers at companies with 100 or more employees to be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4 or be tested weekly and wear a mask on the job.“There is no army of OSHA inspectors that is going to be knocking on employers door or even calling them,” said Debbie Berkowitz, a former OSHA chief of staff who is a fellow at Georgetown University’s Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor. “They’re going to rely on workers and their union representatives to file complaints where the company is totally flouting the law.”Jim Frederick, the acting chief of OSHA, told reporters that this agency will focus on job sites “where workers need assistance to have a safe and healthy workplace.”“That typically comes through in the form of a complaint,” Frederick added.Critics warn that whistleblowers have often faced retaliation from their employers and that OSHA has offered little protection when they do.The new mandate, which Biden announced last month, is the administration’s most far-reaching step yet to prod more Americans to get a vaccine that has been widely available since early spring. The mandate will cover an estimated 84 million employees.The president called the move necessary to combat an outbreak that has killed 750,000 Americans and that continues to spread. Companies that fail to comply will face fines of nearly $14,000 per “serious” violation. Employers found to be “willful’’ or repeat violators would be subject to fines of up to ten times that amount.The mandate has run into furious opposition, though, from leaders of mainly Republican-led states who have condemned the plan as an unlawful case of federal overreach and who immediately challenged the vaccine-or-test requirements in court. On Saturday, the Biden administration endured a setback when a federal appeals court in New Orleans temporarily halted the mandate, saying it posed “grave statutory and constitutional issues.”Should the mandate survive its legal challenges, though, the task of enforcing it would fall on OSHA, the small Labor Department agency that was established 50 years ago to police workplace safety and protect workers from such dangers as toxic chemicals, rickety ladders and cave-ins at construction sites.OSHA has jurisdiction in 29 states. Other states, including California and Michigan, have their own federally approved workplace safety agencies. These states will have an additional month — until early February — to adopt their own version of the COVID mandate, equal to or tougher than OSHA’s.For a task as enormous as enforcing the new vaccine mandate, OSHA and its state “partners” are stretched thin. Just 1,850 inspectors will oversee 130 million workers at 8 million job sites. So the agencies must rely on whistleblowers.OSHA urges workers to first bring unsafe or unhealthy working conditions to the attention of their employers “if possible.” Employees could also file a confidential safety complaint with OSHA or have a case filed by a representative, such as a lawyer, a union representative or a member of the clergy. But they have no right to sue their employer in court for federal safety violations.Typically, 20% to 25% of OSHA inspections originate with a complaint.“You fill out a form or somebody fills out a form for you,” said Berkowitz, the former OSHA chief of staff. “And that’s all workers have. If OSHA decides not to inspect, that’s it. Or if OSHA inspects but decides not to cite the employer, that’s it. ... So it’s a pretty weak law.”Only OSHA can bring cases over violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, the law that is meant to provide safe workplaces. Going outside OSHA to sue employers for negligence is all but impossible, say Berkowitz and other worker advocates.State worker compensation programs — which reimburse injured workers for medical costs and lost wages and provide death benefits to survivors of those killed — include no-fault provisions that block most lawsuits.Even sounding the alarm can be risky.“Technically,” Berkowitz said, “the law says that companies can’t retaliate against a worker for raising a health and safety issue or filing an OSHA complaint or even reporting an injury. But retaliation is rampant.”OSHA can pursue employers who punish workers for speaking out against unsafe working conditions. Last month, for example, the agency sued a luxury car dealer in Austin, Texas, that it said fired an employee who had warned co-workers about potential coronavirus hazards in the workplace.But in a report co-written by Berkowitz, the National Employment Law Project, which advocates for worker rights, found that OSHA dismissed — without investigating — more than half the COVID-related complaints of retaliation it received from whistleblowers. Just 2% of complaints were resolved in the five-month period last year that the law project studied. Workers have just 30 days to file an OSHA complaint over retaliation.“OSHA needs to improve its handling of whistleblower complaints,” the Labor Department’s Inspector General, its internal watchdog, concluded last year. “When OSHA fails to respond in a timely manner, it could leave workers to suffer emotionally and financially, and may also lead to the erosion of key evidence and witnesses.’’Still, most companies are considered likely to comply with the COVID mandate, as they mostly do with other OSHA rules. Some employers were likely relieved: They may have wanted to require inoculations on their own but worried that they’d alienate anti-vax workers and possibly lose them to employers that didn’t require vaccinations.“Most employers — they’re law abiding,” says David Michaels, a former OSHA chief who is an epidemiologist and professor of public health at George Washington University. “They’re trying to make sure that they meet the requirements of every law and regulation .. Now OSHA will follow up. They’ll respond to complaints. They’ll do spot checks. They’ll issue citations and fines, and they’ll make a big deal of those” to discourage other potential violators.

Whistleblowers to play key role in enforcing vaccine mandate

DICKINSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal 2018 crash have filed charges in the case.

The one-car rollover crash near the intersection of Hawk Road ad 800 Avenue killed an Abilene High School student Isaiah Johnson.

According to the Dickinson County Sheriff, Hayden Cook, who was also a student at Abilene High School at the time of the crash, was driving the 2005 Buick involved in the accident. He was treated for minor injuries.

&nbsp;Earlier this year Isaac’s mother contacted the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office requesting additional investigation in her son’s death and asked that authorities reopen the case, according to Sheriff Jerry Davis.

The Sheriff’s Office reviewed the case and determined additional investigation was necessary. The Sheriff’s Office concluded its investigation and forwarded the case to the Dickinson County Attorney Office for review. Charges have been filed in Dickinson County District Court against now 20-year-old Cook of St. George, Kansas. Hayden is charged with Involuntary Manslaughter, two counts of Aggravated Battery, three counts of Endangering a Child, Reckless Driving, Driving in Violation of Driver’s License Restrictions and Speeding.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636755691210.png" alt="Cook photo Geary Co." />
 <figcaption>Cook photo Geary Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>DICKINSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal 2018 crash have filed charges in the case.The one-car rollover crash near the intersection of Hawk Road ad 800 Avenue killed an Abilene High School student Isaiah Johnson.According to the Dickinson County Sheriff, Hayden Cook, who was also a student at Abilene High School at the time of the crash, was driving the 2005 Buick involved in the accident. He was treated for minor injuries.&nbsp;Earlier this year Isaac’s mother contacted the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office requesting additional investigation in her son’s death and asked that authorities reopen the case, according to Sheriff Jerry Davis.The Sheriff’s Office reviewed the case and determined additional investigation was necessary. The Sheriff’s Office concluded its investigation and forwarded the case to the Dickinson County Attorney Office for review. Charges have been filed in Dickinson County District Court against now 20-year-old Cook of St. George, Kansas. Hayden is charged with Involuntary Manslaughter, two counts of Aggravated Battery, three counts of Endangering a Child, Reckless Driving, Driving in Violation of Driver’s License Restrictions and Speeding.

Kan. man charged for fatal crash when he was in high school

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans quit their jobs at a record pace for the second straight month in September, while businesses and other employers posted a near-record number of available jobs.

The Labor Department said Friday that 4.4 million people quit their jobs that month, or about 3% of the nation's workforce. That's up from 4.3 million in August. There were 10.4 million job openings, down from 10.6 million in August, which was revised higher.

The Little Apple Post has <a href="https://littleapplepost.com/posts/5ce59562-e9a6-4f21-affa-5d7ee3e5086c">a great visualization of the phenomenon</a> today.

The figures point to a historic level of turmoil in the job market as newly-empowered workers quit jobs to take higher pay that is being dangled by increasingly-desperate employers in need of help. Incomes are rising, Americans are spending more and the economy is growing, and employers have ramped up hiring to keep the pace. Rising inflation, however, is offsetting much of the pay gains for workers.

It is typically perceived as a signal of worker confidence when people begin to leave the jobs they hold. The vast majority of people quit for a new position.

Competition for workers is particularly intense for retailers and delivery companies, particularly as they staff up for what is expected to be a healthy winter holiday shopping season.

Online giant Amazon is hiring 125,000 permanent drivers and warehouse workers and offer pay between $18 and $22 an hour. It's also paying sign-on bonuses of up to $3,000.

Seasonal hiring is also ramping up. Package delivery company UPS is seeking to add 100,000 workers to help with the crush of holiday orders, and plans to make job offers to some applicants within 30 minutes.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans quit their jobs at a record pace for the second straight month in September, while businesses and other employers posted a near-record number of available jobs.The Labor Department said Friday that 4.4 million people quit their jobs that month, or about 3% of the nation's workforce. That's up from 4.3 million in August. There were 10.4 million job openings, down from 10.6 million in August, which was revised higher.The Little Apple Post has <a href="https://littleapplepost.com/posts/5ce59562-e9a6-4f21-affa-5d7ee3e5086c">a great visualization of the phenomenon</a> today.The figures point to a historic level of turmoil in the job market as newly-empowered workers quit jobs to take higher pay that is being dangled by increasingly-desperate employers in need of help. Incomes are rising, Americans are spending more and the economy is growing, and employers have ramped up hiring to keep the pace. Rising inflation, however, is offsetting much of the pay gains for workers.It is typically perceived as a signal of worker confidence when people begin to leave the jobs they hold. The vast majority of people quit for a new position.Competition for workers is particularly intense for retailers and delivery companies, particularly as they staff up for what is expected to be a healthy winter holiday shopping season.Online giant Amazon is hiring 125,000 permanent drivers and warehouse workers and offer pay between $18 and $22 an hour. It's also paying sign-on bonuses of up to $3,000.Seasonal hiring is also ramping up. Package delivery company UPS is seeking to add 100,000 workers to help with the crush of holiday orders, and plans to make job offers to some applicants within 30 minutes.

Record resignations: 4 million Americans quit jobs in  September 

<a href="https://littleapplepost.com/posts/8fd1bb4f-0626-46cb-b97a-7f82f98d3524">RELATED:&nbsp;November Child Tax Credit payments on the way, December deadline looms</a>

WASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp;The Internal Revenue Service today updated its frequently-asked-questions (FAQs) on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2020-unemployment-compensation-exclusion-faqs">2020 Unemployment Compensation Exclusion</a>.

These <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/fs-2021-14.pdf">updated FAQs (FS-2021-14)</a>&nbsp;PDF&nbsp;are:

Question 2, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2020-unemployment-compensation-exclusion-faqs-topic-d-amended-return-form-1040-x">Topic D: Amended Return (Form 1040-X)</a>&nbsp; 
Questions 8 &amp; 9, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2020-unemployment-compensation-exclusion-faqs-topic-g-receiving-a-refund-letter-or-notice">Topic G: Receiving a Refund, Letter, or Notice</a>&nbsp; 
Question 3, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2020-unemployment-compensation-exclusion-faqs-topic-i-post-unemployment-compensation-exclusion-adjustment">Topic I: Post Unemployment Compensation Exclusion Adjustment</a>.

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

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

<a href="https://littleapplepost.com/posts/8fd1bb4f-0626-46cb-b97a-7f82f98d3524">RELATED:&nbsp;November Child Tax Credit payments on the way, December deadline looms</a>IRSWASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp;The Internal Revenue Service today updated its frequently-asked-questions (FAQs) on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2020-unemployment-compensation-exclusion-faqs">2020 Unemployment Compensation Exclusion</a>.These <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/fs-2021-14.pdf">updated FAQs (FS-2021-14)</a>&nbsp;PDF&nbsp;are:Question 2, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2020-unemployment-compensation-exclusion-faqs-topic-d-amended-return-form-1040-x">Topic D: Amended Return (Form 1040-X)</a>&nbsp; 
Questions 8 &amp; 9, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2020-unemployment-compensation-exclusion-faqs-topic-g-receiving-a-refund-letter-or-notice">Topic G: Receiving a Refund, Letter, or Notice</a>&nbsp; 
Question 3, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2020-unemployment-compensation-exclusion-faqs-topic-i-post-unemployment-compensation-exclusion-adjustment">Topic I: Post Unemployment Compensation Exclusion Adjustment</a>.These FAQs are being issued to provide general information to taxpayers and tax professionals as expeditiously as possible.More information about <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/general-overview-of-taxpayer-reliance-on-guidance-published-in-the-internal-revenue-bulletin-and-faqs">reliance is available</a>.

IRS updates FAQs for 2020 Unemployment Compensation Exclusion

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal court declined Friday to lift its stay on the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for businesses with 100 or more workers.

The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted an emergency stay last Saturday of the requirement by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration that those workers be vaccinated by Jan. 4 or face mask requirements and weekly tests.

Lawyers for the Justice and Labor departments filed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-19-pandemic-employer-vaccine-mandate-joe-biden-152b777c2d5861f342810a819e7d8407">response</a>&nbsp;Monday in which they said stopping the mandate from taking effect will only prolong the COVID-19 pandemic and would “cost dozens or even hundreds of lives per day.”

But the appeals court rejected that argument Friday. Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt wrote that the stay “is firmly in the public interest.”

“From economic uncertainty to workplace strife, the mere specter of the Mandate has contributed to untold economic upheaval in recent months,” Engelhardt wrote.

At least 27 states have filed legal challenges in at least six federal appeals courts after OSHA released its rules on Nov. 4. The federal government said in its court filings Monday that the cases should be consolidated and that one of the circuit courts where a legal challenge has been filed should be chosen at random on Nov. 16 to hear it.

Administration lawyers said there is no reason to keep the vaccine mandate on hold while the court where the cases ultimately land remains undetermined.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632661305209.png" alt="Biden administration lawyers said there is no reason to keep the vaccine mandate on hold while the court where the cases ultimately land remains undetermined.-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Biden administration lawyers said there is no reason to keep the vaccine mandate on hold while the court where the cases ultimately land remains undetermined.-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal court declined Friday to lift its stay on the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for businesses with 100 or more workers.The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted an emergency stay last Saturday of the requirement by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration that those workers be vaccinated by Jan. 4 or face mask requirements and weekly tests.Lawyers for the Justice and Labor departments filed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-19-pandemic-employer-vaccine-mandate-joe-biden-152b777c2d5861f342810a819e7d8407">response</a>&nbsp;Monday in which they said stopping the mandate from taking effect will only prolong the COVID-19 pandemic and would “cost dozens or even hundreds of lives per day.”But the appeals court rejected that argument Friday. Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt wrote that the stay “is firmly in the public interest.”“From economic uncertainty to workplace strife, the mere specter of the Mandate has contributed to untold economic upheaval in recent months,” Engelhardt wrote.At least 27 states have filed legal challenges in at least six federal appeals courts after OSHA released its rules on Nov. 4. The federal government said in its court filings Monday that the cases should be consolidated and that one of the circuit courts where a legal challenge has been filed should be chosen at random on Nov. 16 to hear it.Administration lawyers said there is no reason to keep the vaccine mandate on hold while the court where the cases ultimately land remains undetermined.

Federal court declines to lift stay on Biden vaccine mandate

&nbsp;Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested an Arizona man after locating 33 pounds of methamphetamine during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 in Hamilton County.

At approximately 10:05 a.m. Thursday, a trooper performed a traffic stop on an eastbound Nissan Altima near mile marker 338. During the traffic stop, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity.

A search of the vehicle revealed 33 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in a duffle bag in the trunk of the vehicle. The trooper determined that the methamphetamine was in the possession of the passenger.

The passenger, Jared Cain, 39, of Phoenix, Arizona, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute, and no drug tax stamp. Cain was lodged in Hamilton County Jail. The driver was released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636740388918.png" alt="NSP Photo" />
 <figcaption>NSP Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>News Release Nebraska State Patrol&nbsp;Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested an Arizona man after locating 33 pounds of methamphetamine during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 in Hamilton County.At approximately 10:05 a.m. Thursday, a trooper performed a traffic stop on an eastbound Nissan Altima near mile marker 338. During the traffic stop, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity.A search of the vehicle revealed 33 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in a duffle bag in the trunk of the vehicle. The trooper determined that the methamphetamine was in the possession of the passenger.The passenger, Jared Cain, 39, of Phoenix, Arizona, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute, and no drug tax stamp. Cain was lodged in Hamilton County Jail. The driver was released.

Troopers seize 33 pounds of meth in Hamilton County traffic stop

BUTLER COUNTY —The family of a Kansas woman who died in a head-on crash Wednesday was the mother of four children, according to a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-for-sarahs-funeral-and-children">GoFundMe</a> page established by her sister.

Elizabeth Colling, 39, Potwin, died just before 7a.m. Wednesday when a 2006 Honda Pilot driven by Trella Marie Batten, 62, Whitewater, was westbound on Kansas 196 just east of Hillside Road passing two other vehicles.

The Honda struck an eastbound 2008 Hyundai Elantra driven by Colling head-on. After the crash, the Honda veered right and struck a westbound 2018 Freightliner semi driven by Joseph Leigh Maske, 43, Salina.&nbsp;

Debris from the head-on crash struck westbound 2016 Chevy driven by Gregg Edward Ewing, 47, Carterville, Missouri. The Hyundai veered right and rolled onto its top in the south ditch.

Colling was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp; Preferred Mortuary.&nbsp; EMS transported Batten to Wesley Medical Center. Maske and Ewing were not injured. The KHP had incomplete seat belt usage information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636665561941.png" alt="Colling was a single mother with four children; two girls ages 11 and 13, and two boys ages 15 and 18, all still in school-photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Colling was a single mother with four children; two girls ages 11 and 13, and two boys ages 15 and 18, all still in school-photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY —The family of a Kansas woman who died in a head-on crash Wednesday was the mother of four children, according to a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-for-sarahs-funeral-and-children">GoFundMe</a> page established by her sister.Elizabeth Colling, 39, Potwin, died just before 7a.m. Wednesday when a 2006 Honda Pilot driven by Trella Marie Batten, 62, Whitewater, was westbound on Kansas 196 just east of Hillside Road passing two other vehicles.The Honda struck an eastbound 2008 Hyundai Elantra driven by Colling head-on. After the crash, the Honda veered right and struck a westbound 2018 Freightliner semi driven by Joseph Leigh Maske, 43, Salina.&nbsp;Debris from the head-on crash struck westbound 2016 Chevy driven by Gregg Edward Ewing, 47, Carterville, Missouri. The Hyundai veered right and rolled onto its top in the south ditch.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636574315320.png" alt="photo courtesy KWCH&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy KWCH&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Colling was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp; Preferred Mortuary.&nbsp; EMS transported Batten to Wesley Medical Center. Maske and Ewing were not injured. The KHP had incomplete seat belt usage information.

Family: Kan. woman who died in head-on crash was mother of 4

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Kellogg Co. has filed a lawsuit against its local union in Omaha. 

It's complaining that striking workers are blocking entrances to its cereal plant and intimidating replacement workers who are entering the plant. 

The company based in Battle Creek, Michigan, asked a judge to order the Omaha chapter of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union to stop interfering with its business while workers picket outside the plant. 

The workers in Omaha and at Kellogg’s three other U.S. cereal plants in Battle Creek; Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Memphis, Tennessee, have been on strike since Oct. 5. Two days of contract talks earlier this month failed to produce an agreement.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Kellogg Co. has filed a lawsuit against its local union in Omaha. It's complaining that striking workers are blocking entrances to its cereal plant and intimidating replacement workers who are entering the plant. The company based in Battle Creek, Michigan, asked a judge to order the Omaha chapter of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union to stop interfering with its business while workers picket outside the plant. The workers in Omaha and at Kellogg’s three other U.S. cereal plants in Battle Creek; Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Memphis, Tennessee, have been on strike since Oct. 5. Two days of contract talks earlier this month failed to produce an agreement.

Kellogg's files lawsuit against its striking cereal workers

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers that the last quarter of 2021 is a good time to check withholding.

Life brings constant changes to individual financial situations. 
Events like marriage, divorce, a new child or home purchase can all be 
reasons to adjust withholding.

The convenient <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator">Tax Withholding Estimator</a>,
 also available in Spanish, will help taxpayers determine if they have 
too much withheld and how to make an adjustment to put more cash into 
their own pocket now. In other cases, it will help taxpayers see that 
they should withhold more or make an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">estimated tax payment</a> to avoid a tax bill when they file their tax return next year.

Things to consider when adjusting withholding for 2021 are:

Taxes are generally <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-as-you-go-so-you-wont-owe-a-guide-to-withholding-estimated-taxes-and-ways-to-avoid-the-estimated-tax-penalty">paid throughout the year</a> whether from salary withholding, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estimated-taxes">quarterly estimated tax payments</a>
 or a combination of both. About 70% of taxpayers, however, over 
withhold their taxes every year, which typically results in a refund. 
The average refund in 2021 was more than $2,700.

Taxpayers can pay online, by phone or from the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go app</a>.
 They can schedule payments for future dates, which can be useful during
 filing season, for payment plan payments or for estimated tax payments.

Taxpayers can also log into their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/view-your-tax-account">IRS.gov/account</a>
 to view the amount they owe, their payment plan details and options, 
their payment history (up to 5 years), any scheduled or pending 
payments, and key tax return information from their most recent tax 
return.

The IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator">Tax Withholding Estimator</a>
 makes it easier for everyone to have the right amount of tax withheld. 
This is especially important for anyone who faced an unexpected tax bill
 or a penalty when they filed this year, or whose jobs or tax 
circumstances have changed during the year.

The tool offers workers, as well as retirees, self-employed 
individuals and other taxpayers, a user-friendly, step-by-step tool for 
effectively tailoring the amount of income tax they have withheld from 
wages and pension payments.

For more information about taxes, estimated taxes and tax withholding, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/tax-withholding">Tax Withholding</a> at IRS.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers that the last quarter of 2021 is a good time to check withholding.Life brings constant changes to individual financial situations. 
Events like marriage, divorce, a new child or home purchase can all be 
reasons to adjust withholding.The convenient <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator">Tax Withholding Estimator</a>,
 also available in Spanish, will help taxpayers determine if they have 
too much withheld and how to make an adjustment to put more cash into 
their own pocket now. In other cases, it will help taxpayers see that 
they should withhold more or make an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">estimated tax payment</a> to avoid a tax bill when they file their tax return next year.<h2>Items that may affect 2021 taxes</h2>Things to consider when adjusting withholding for 2021 are:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus-tax-relief-and-economic-impact-payments">Coronavirus tax relief</a>
 – Tax help for taxpayers, businesses, tax-exempt organizations and 
others – including health plans – affected by coronavirus (COVID-19).</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/disaster-assistance-and-emergency-relief-for-individuals-and-businesses">Disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes</a> –
 Special tax law provisions may help taxpayers and businesses recover 
financially from the impact of a disaster, especially when the federal 
government declares their location to be a major disaster area.</li><li>Job loss – <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4128.pdf">IRS Publication 4128, Tax Impact of Job Loss</a>&nbsp;PDF, explains how this unfortunate circumstance can create new tax issues.</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/gig-economy-tax-center">Workers moving into the gig economy due to the pandemic</a>
 – IRS advises people earning income in the gig economy to consider 
estimated tax payments to avoid a balance or penalties when they file.</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/a-tax-checklist-for-newly-married-couples">Life changes such as marriage or childbirth</a> – Getting married or having a child are just a couple of life events that can affect your refund or how much you owe.</li>
 </ul><h2>Pay as you go</h2>Taxes are generally <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-as-you-go-so-you-wont-owe-a-guide-to-withholding-estimated-taxes-and-ways-to-avoid-the-estimated-tax-penalty">paid throughout the year</a> whether from salary withholding, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estimated-taxes">quarterly estimated tax payments</a>
 or a combination of both. About 70% of taxpayers, however, over 
withhold their taxes every year, which typically results in a refund. 
The average refund in 2021 was more than $2,700.Taxpayers can pay online, by phone or from the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go app</a>.
 They can schedule payments for future dates, which can be useful during
 filing season, for payment plan payments or for estimated tax payments.Taxpayers can also log into their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/view-your-tax-account">IRS.gov/account</a>
 to view the amount they owe, their payment plan details and options, 
their payment history (up to 5 years), any scheduled or pending 
payments, and key tax return information from their most recent tax 
return.<h2>Tax Withholding Estimator</h2>The IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator">Tax Withholding Estimator</a>
 makes it easier for everyone to have the right amount of tax withheld. 
This is especially important for anyone who faced an unexpected tax bill
 or a penalty when they filed this year, or whose jobs or tax 
circumstances have changed during the year.The tool offers workers, as well as retirees, self-employed 
individuals and other taxpayers, a user-friendly, step-by-step tool for 
effectively tailoring the amount of income tax they have withheld from 
wages and pension payments.For more information about taxes, estimated taxes and tax withholding, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/tax-withholding">Tax Withholding</a> at IRS.gov.

Give tax withholding a fresh look as 2021 year-end nears

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 5p.m. Thursday in Wyandotte County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Kia Forte driven by&nbsp; Shailee Y.&nbsp;Viramontes, 23, Leavenworth, was southbound on Interstate 435 at Wolcott. The vehicle traveled off the road and struck a pole.

Viramontes was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. EMS transported a&nbsp; 3-year-old passenger&nbsp; Malachi M.&nbsp;Viramonte of Leavenworth to Children's Mercy. Both were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 5p.m. Thursday in Wyandotte County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Kia Forte driven by&nbsp; Shailee Y.&nbsp;Viramontes, 23, Leavenworth, was southbound on Interstate 435 at Wolcott. The vehicle traveled off the road and struck a pole.Viramontes was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. EMS transported a&nbsp; 3-year-old passenger&nbsp; Malachi M.&nbsp;Viramonte of Leavenworth to Children's Mercy. Both were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman dead, 3-year-old injured after car strikes a pole

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former Omaha-area high school English teacher is unlikely to be prosecuted further over allegations of sexually abusing five young women and a girl after a judge dismissed one of the criminal charges against him. 

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine told the Omaha World-Herald on Wednesday that the now-dismissed first-degree sexual assault charge against Andrew McGreevy was his office’s best case. 

He said prosecutors planned to dismiss the other five charges against McGreevy. 

The 41-year-old McGreevy faced criminal charges over allegations dating from 2002 through 2014. 

The judge dismissed a first-degree sexual assault charge after concluding prosecutors didn't have enough evidence for a jury to consider.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former Omaha-area high school English teacher is unlikely to be prosecuted further over allegations of sexually abusing five young women and a girl after a judge dismissed one of the criminal charges against him. Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine told the Omaha World-Herald on Wednesday that the now-dismissed first-degree sexual assault charge against Andrew McGreevy was his office’s best case. He said prosecutors planned to dismiss the other five charges against McGreevy. The 41-year-old McGreevy faced criminal charges over allegations dating from 2002 through 2014. The judge dismissed a first-degree sexual assault charge after concluding prosecutors didn't have enough evidence for a jury to consider.

Trials unlikely for ex-Omaha teacher after charge is dropped

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A federal court jury has been unable to agree on whether a former Nebraska state trooper violated a motorist’s civil rights by hitting in the head with the butt of a rifle. 

A federal judge declared a mistrial Thursday in Lindsey Bixby’s case after the jury’s forewoman said it had deadlocked following 2 1/2 days of deliberations.

 The Omaha World-Herald reported that she said 10 jurors voted to find Bixby not guilty and two voted to find him guilty. 

Video recorded after a March 2016 high-speed chase in western Nebraska showed Bixby hitting a Colorado man in the head with the trooper's AR 15.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A federal court jury has been unable to agree on whether a former Nebraska state trooper violated a motorist’s civil rights by hitting in the head with the butt of a rifle. A federal judge declared a mistrial Thursday in Lindsey Bixby’s case after the jury’s forewoman said it had deadlocked following 2 1/2 days of deliberations. The Omaha World-Herald reported that she said 10 jurors voted to find Bixby not guilty and two voted to find him guilty. Video recorded after a March 2016 high-speed chase in western Nebraska showed Bixby hitting a Colorado man in the head with the trooper's AR 15.

Mistrial declared for ex-Nebraska trooper who hit motorist with rifle

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday ordered a halt to the enforcement of Texas' ban on mask mandates in the state's schools.

U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel ruled in Austin that the ban ordered by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott violated a federal law protecting disabled students’ access to public education. The nonprofit advocacy group Disabled Rights Texas argued that Abbott’s ban prohibited accommodations for disabled children particularly vulnerable to COVID-19.

Yeakel prohibited Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton from suing school districts that require students to wear masks as a safety measure. Paxton already had sued 15 school districts to overturn those local mask mandates.

“Governor Abbott’s executive order clearly violates federal law, and Attorney General Paxton’s enforcement of the order against school districts is now stopped," Kym Davis Johnson of Disability Rights Texas said in a statement. “As the court found, Texas is not above federal law, and state officials cannot prevent school districts from providing accommodations to students who are especially vulnerable to the risks of COVID-19.”

Messages seeking comment from Abbott's and Paxton's offices were not immediately returned Wednesday.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday ordered a halt to the enforcement of Texas' ban on mask mandates in the state's schools.U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel ruled in Austin that the ban ordered by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott violated a federal law protecting disabled students’ access to public education. The nonprofit advocacy group Disabled Rights Texas argued that Abbott’s ban prohibited accommodations for disabled children particularly vulnerable to COVID-19.Yeakel prohibited Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton from suing school districts that require students to wear masks as a safety measure. Paxton already had sued 15 school districts to overturn those local mask mandates.“Governor Abbott’s executive order clearly violates federal law, and Attorney General Paxton’s enforcement of the order against school districts is now stopped," Kym Davis Johnson of Disability Rights Texas said in a statement. “As the court found, Texas is not above federal law, and state officials cannot prevent school districts from providing accommodations to students who are especially vulnerable to the risks of COVID-19.”Messages seeking comment from Abbott's and Paxton's offices were not immediately returned Wednesday.

Federal judge: School mask ban violates Americans with Disabilities Act

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.

<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.