WASHINGTON (AP) — With a personal push, President Joe Biden pressed fellow Democrats to hasten work on his big “build back better” agenda, telling them to come up with a final framework and their best topline budget figure as the party labors to bridge its divisions in Congress ahead of crucial voting deadlines.

Biden and Democratic House and Senate lawmakers met for hours of back-to-back-to-back private White House sessions stretching into Wednesday evening, convened at a pivotal juncture for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-5ff8a8f7403e1e8cc27f192d87894d9e">Biden’s $3.5 trillion package</a>&nbsp;as lawmakers struggle to draft details of the ambitious effort. With Republicans solidly opposed, Democratic leaders are counting on the president to galvanize consensus between progressives and centrists in their party.

Biden first conferred with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, then held separate sessions with moderate and progressive senators and representatives. The president listened intently, lawmakers said, but also indicated strongly he wanted progress soon, by next week.

“We’re in good shape,” Pelosi told reporters after returning to the Capitol.

The White House called the meetings “productive and candid” and said follow-up work would be immediately underway. Earlier in the day, press secretary Jen Psaki said the White House realized that with time growing short “there needs to be deeper engagement by the president.”

The intense focus on Biden’s big-money domestic proposal showcases how much is at stake politically for the president and his party in Congress. The administration has suffered setbacks elsewhere, notably with the Afghanistan withdrawal and prolonged COVID-19 crisis, and Democrats are running short of time, anxious to make good on campaign promises.

Congress is racing toward Monday’s deadline for a House vote on the first part of Biden’s plan — a $1 trillion public works measure — which now also serves as a deadline for producing a compromise framework for the broader package.

At one point, Biden told the lawmakers there were plenty of conference rooms at the White House they could use to hunker down this weekend as some suggested they roll up their sleeves and stay to get final details done.

Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a key centrist who has balked at the $3.5 trillion price tag, said the president told him to come up with a number he could live with.

“He just basically said, ‘Find it,’” Manchin said. ”‘Just work on it, give me a number.’”

“The president is really fired up,” said Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, after the evening’s final session.

Meanwhile, the House and Senate remained at a standstill over a separate package to keep the government funded past the Sept. 30 fiscal yearend and to suspend the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-explained-8c9cbcd3d0c4a8fe989a0110f5159f7c">federal debt limit</a>&nbsp;to avert a shutdown and a devastating U.S. default on payments. Senate Republicans are refusing the House-passed bill.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said at a news conference Tuesday that failing to extend the debt limit was “just not something we can contemplate or we should contemplate.”

As for Biden’s big plans, the president and the Democratic lawmakers appeared to have not fully resolved their differences ahead of Monday’s test vote on the smaller public works bill for roads, broadband and public water projects.

Centrist Democrats want swift passage of the slimmer public works bill and have raised concerns about the price tag of Biden’s broader vision, but progressive Democrats are withholding their votes for the $1 trillion measure they view as inadequate unless it’s linked to the bigger package.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, a leader of the centrist coalition who attended one of the White House meetings, said all agreed on doing both — passing the bill Monday and working on the bigger package.

But Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, issued a statement after another meeting with Biden reiterating that some 50 members plan to vote against the bipartisan measure unless it’s linked to the broader bill. She has said the two bills must move “in tandem” to win the progressive votes.

Beyond the public works measure, Biden’s “build back” agenda is a sweeping overhaul of federal taxes and spending to make what the president views as overdue investments in health care, family services and efforts to fight climate change.

The $3.5 trillion package would impose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-joe-biden-business-personal-taxes-137e00b41f113f85cc241438c780785b">tax hikes on corporations and wealthy Americans</a>&nbsp;earning beyond $400,000 a year and plow that money back into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-health-care-69c7bb592f8d73232bec1d8e15be82e3">federal programs for young and old,</a>&nbsp;along with investments to tackle climate change.

Tensions are high as the Biden agenda is a key campaign promise not only from the president but most of the the Democratic lawmakers, including those in the House who face re-election next year.

“It wasn’t a matter of when we get it done, it was how we get it done,” said Rep. Steven Horsford of Nevada, who was with the moderate group meeting with Biden.

All told, more than 20 lawmakers were invited to confer with Biden, moderates and progressives in separate meetings stretching into the evening, making their best pitches, Manchin and another key centrist Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, among them.

Despite disputes, many Democrats say they expect the final product to align with Biden’s broader vision and eventually have robust party support, even if that version is adjusted or scaled back.

But Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., a leader of the centrist Blue Dog caucus, said the big bill will take more time. “I’m not sure that we’re at a place of closing out just yet,” she said.

While all this is going on, the government faces a shutdown if funding stops on Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. Additionally, at some point in October the U.S. risks defaulting on its accumulated debt load if its borrowing limits are not waived or adjusted.

Rushing to prevent that dire outcome, the Democratic-led House passed the funding-and-debt measure Tuesday night, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-mitch-mcconnell-janet-yellen-eb14f403fb747f6ec0e05ad4f382bc91">Republicans are refusing to give their support</a>&nbsp;in the Senate, despite the risk of triggering a fiscal crisis.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has said since Democrats control the White House and Congress, it’s their problem to find the votes — though he had relied on bipartisan cooperation to approve debt limit measures when Republicans were in charge.

But in the 50-50 Senate, Democrats will be hard-pressed to find 10 Republicans to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to overcome a filibuster. Other options to try to pass the debt ceiling package could be procedurally difficult.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632405115581.png" alt="The intense focus on Biden’s big-money domestic proposal showcases how much is at stake politically for the president and his party in Congress.-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>The intense focus on Biden’s big-money domestic proposal showcases how much is at stake politically for the president and his party in Congress.-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — With a personal push, President Joe Biden pressed fellow Democrats to hasten work on his big “build back better” agenda, telling them to come up with a final framework and their best topline budget figure as the party labors to bridge its divisions in Congress ahead of crucial voting deadlines.Biden and Democratic House and Senate lawmakers met for hours of back-to-back-to-back private White House sessions stretching into Wednesday evening, convened at a pivotal juncture for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-5ff8a8f7403e1e8cc27f192d87894d9e">Biden’s $3.5 trillion package</a>&nbsp;as lawmakers struggle to draft details of the ambitious effort. With Republicans solidly opposed, Democratic leaders are counting on the president to galvanize consensus between progressives and centrists in their party.Biden first conferred with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, then held separate sessions with moderate and progressive senators and representatives. The president listened intently, lawmakers said, but also indicated strongly he wanted progress soon, by next week.“We’re in good shape,” Pelosi told reporters after returning to the Capitol.The White House called the meetings “productive and candid” and said follow-up work would be immediately underway. Earlier in the day, press secretary Jen Psaki said the White House realized that with time growing short “there needs to be deeper engagement by the president.”The intense focus on Biden’s big-money domestic proposal showcases how much is at stake politically for the president and his party in Congress. The administration has suffered setbacks elsewhere, notably with the Afghanistan withdrawal and prolonged COVID-19 crisis, and Democrats are running short of time, anxious to make good on campaign promises.Congress is racing toward Monday’s deadline for a House vote on the first part of Biden’s plan — a $1 trillion public works measure — which now also serves as a deadline for producing a compromise framework for the broader package.At one point, Biden told the lawmakers there were plenty of conference rooms at the White House they could use to hunker down this weekend as some suggested they roll up their sleeves and stay to get final details done.Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a key centrist who has balked at the $3.5 trillion price tag, said the president told him to come up with a number he could live with.“He just basically said, ‘Find it,’” Manchin said. ”‘Just work on it, give me a number.’”“The president is really fired up,” said Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, after the evening’s final session.Meanwhile, the House and Senate remained at a standstill over a separate package to keep the government funded past the Sept. 30 fiscal yearend and to suspend the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-explained-8c9cbcd3d0c4a8fe989a0110f5159f7c">federal debt limit</a>&nbsp;to avert a shutdown and a devastating U.S. default on payments. Senate Republicans are refusing the House-passed bill.Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said at a news conference Tuesday that failing to extend the debt limit was “just not something we can contemplate or we should contemplate.”As for Biden’s big plans, the president and the Democratic lawmakers appeared to have not fully resolved their differences ahead of Monday’s test vote on the smaller public works bill for roads, broadband and public water projects.Centrist Democrats want swift passage of the slimmer public works bill and have raised concerns about the price tag of Biden’s broader vision, but progressive Democrats are withholding their votes for the $1 trillion measure they view as inadequate unless it’s linked to the bigger package.Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, a leader of the centrist coalition who attended one of the White House meetings, said all agreed on doing both — passing the bill Monday and working on the bigger package.But Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, issued a statement after another meeting with Biden reiterating that some 50 members plan to vote against the bipartisan measure unless it’s linked to the broader bill. She has said the two bills must move “in tandem” to win the progressive votes.Beyond the public works measure, Biden’s “build back” agenda is a sweeping overhaul of federal taxes and spending to make what the president views as overdue investments in health care, family services and efforts to fight climate change.The $3.5 trillion package would impose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-joe-biden-business-personal-taxes-137e00b41f113f85cc241438c780785b">tax hikes on corporations and wealthy Americans</a>&nbsp;earning beyond $400,000 a year and plow that money back into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-health-care-69c7bb592f8d73232bec1d8e15be82e3">federal programs for young and old,</a>&nbsp;along with investments to tackle climate change.Tensions are high as the Biden agenda is a key campaign promise not only from the president but most of the the Democratic lawmakers, including those in the House who face re-election next year.“It wasn’t a matter of when we get it done, it was how we get it done,” said Rep. Steven Horsford of Nevada, who was with the moderate group meeting with Biden.All told, more than 20 lawmakers were invited to confer with Biden, moderates and progressives in separate meetings stretching into the evening, making their best pitches, Manchin and another key centrist Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, among them.Despite disputes, many Democrats say they expect the final product to align with Biden’s broader vision and eventually have robust party support, even if that version is adjusted or scaled back.But Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., a leader of the centrist Blue Dog caucus, said the big bill will take more time. “I’m not sure that we’re at a place of closing out just yet,” she said.While all this is going on, the government faces a shutdown if funding stops on Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. Additionally, at some point in October the U.S. risks defaulting on its accumulated debt load if its borrowing limits are not waived or adjusted.Rushing to prevent that dire outcome, the Democratic-led House passed the funding-and-debt measure Tuesday night, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-mitch-mcconnell-janet-yellen-eb14f403fb747f6ec0e05ad4f382bc91">Republicans are refusing to give their support</a>&nbsp;in the Senate, despite the risk of triggering a fiscal crisis.Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has said since Democrats control the White House and Congress, it’s their problem to find the votes — though he had relied on bipartisan cooperation to approve debt limit measures when Republicans were in charge.But in the 50-50 Senate, Democrats will be hard-pressed to find 10 Republicans to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to overcome a filibuster. Other options to try to pass the debt ceiling package could be procedurally difficult.___

Biden presses fellow Dems: Resolve party split on $3.5T plan

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. moved a step closer Wednesday to offering booster doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to senior citizens and others at high risk from the virus as the Food and Drug Administration signed off on the targeted use of extra shots.

The FDA authorized booster doses for Americans who are 65 and older, younger adults with underlying health conditions and those in jobs that put them at high risk for COVID-19. The ruling represents a drastically scaled back version of the Biden administration’s sweeping plan to give third doses to nearly all American adults to shore up their protection amid the spread of the highly contagious delta variant.

However, more regulatory hurdles lie ahead before the dispensing of boosters can begin.

Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention opened a two-day meeting Wednesday to make their own, more specific recommendations about who should get the extra shots and when. And in their first day of discussions, some experts were so perplexed by the questions surrounding the rationale for boosters that they suggested putting off a decision for a month in hopes of more evidence.

The uncertainties were yet another reminder that the science surrounding boosters is more complicated than the Biden administration suggested when the president and his top aides&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-booster-shots-a10daad08f6d47aa5beca0b4da9da9d2">rolled out their plan at the White House&nbsp;</a>last month.

The FDA decision Wednesday was expected after the agency’s own panel of advisers last week overwhelmingly rejected the Biden plan. The panel instead recommended boosters only for those most vulnerable to severe cases of COVID-19.

FDA acting commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said in a statement that the FDA authorization would allow for boosters in health care workers, teachers, grocery workers and those in homeless shelters or prisons.

“As we learn more about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, including the use of a booster dose, we will continue to evaluate the rapidly changing science and keep the public informed,” Woodcock said.

Under the FDA authorization, vaccinated Americans are eligible for a third dose six months after receiving their second Pfizer shot. That’s different than the Biden proposal announced in August, which called for boosters after eight months.

“Today’s FDA decision is a major step forward in our effort to provide Americans with additional protection from COVID-19,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted Wednesday night. “We have been preparing for weeks to administer booster shots to eligible Americans and are ready to do so following CDC’s final recommendation later this week.”

The timing of the FDA decision was highly unusual given that the agency typically takes action before the CDC convenes its own experts.

The CDC panelists heard a series of presentations Wednesday outlining the knotty state of science on boosters. On one hand, the COVID-19 vaccines continue to offer strong protection against severe illness, hospitalization and death. On the other hand, there are signs of more low-grade infections among the vaccinated as immunity wanes.

Ultimately the committee must decide who is considered at high enough risk for an extra dose. Data provided by Pfizer and the Israeli government suggests a strong case for boosters in people 65 and older, but there is less evidence that extra shots provide much benefit for younger people with underlying health conditions.

Several CDC advisers agreed boosters are also important for keeping health care workers on the job.

“We don’t have enough health care workers to take care of the unvaccinated,” said Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot of Vanderbilt University. “They just keep coming.”

The CDC has already said it is considering boosters for older people, nursing home residents and front-line health care workers, rather than all adults.

The World Health Organization and other global health advocates are opposed to wealthy nations dispensing a third round of shots when poor countries don’t have enough vaccine for their first doses. And many independent scientists say that the vaccines continue to perform well against the worst effects of COVID-19 and that their ability to curb the overall trajectory of the epidemic is uncertain.

U.S. regulators will decide at a later date on boosters for people who have received the Moderna or Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccines. They indicated the Pfizer shots would not be recommended for people who got a different brand of vaccine initially.

The across-the-board rollout of boosters proposed by the White House was supposed to have begun this week. Some questioned whether President Joe Biden had gotten ahead of the science by announcing his plans before government regulators had reached any conclusions.

Despite the resistance in recent days, some top U.S. health officials said they expect boosters to eventually win broader approval in the coming weeks or months. Dr. Anthony Fauci said over the weekend that “this is not the end of the story.”

Other administration officials noted that the FDA decision covers tens of millions of Americans and that seniors and other high-risk groups would have been the first to get boosters even if extra shots had been authorized for the entire population. Seniors were in the first group of Americans eligible for vaccination last December.

The U.S. has already authorized third doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for certain people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients and transplant recipients. Other Americans, healthy or not, have managed to get boosters, in some cases simply by asking.

The U.S. is dispensing around 760,000 vaccinations per day on average, down from a high of 3.4 million a day in mid-April. About 180 million Americans are fully vaccinated, or 64% of those who are eligible.

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. moved a step closer Wednesday to offering booster doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to senior citizens and others at high risk from the virus as the Food and Drug Administration signed off on the targeted use of extra shots.The FDA authorized booster doses for Americans who are 65 and older, younger adults with underlying health conditions and those in jobs that put them at high risk for COVID-19. The ruling represents a drastically scaled back version of the Biden administration’s sweeping plan to give third doses to nearly all American adults to shore up their protection amid the spread of the highly contagious delta variant.However, more regulatory hurdles lie ahead before the dispensing of boosters can begin.Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention opened a two-day meeting Wednesday to make their own, more specific recommendations about who should get the extra shots and when. And in their first day of discussions, some experts were so perplexed by the questions surrounding the rationale for boosters that they suggested putting off a decision for a month in hopes of more evidence.The uncertainties were yet another reminder that the science surrounding boosters is more complicated than the Biden administration suggested when the president and his top aides&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-booster-shots-a10daad08f6d47aa5beca0b4da9da9d2">rolled out their plan at the White House&nbsp;</a>last month.The FDA decision Wednesday was expected after the agency’s own panel of advisers last week overwhelmingly rejected the Biden plan. The panel instead recommended boosters only for those most vulnerable to severe cases of COVID-19.FDA acting commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said in a statement that the FDA authorization would allow for boosters in health care workers, teachers, grocery workers and those in homeless shelters or prisons.“As we learn more about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, including the use of a booster dose, we will continue to evaluate the rapidly changing science and keep the public informed,” Woodcock said.Under the FDA authorization, vaccinated Americans are eligible for a third dose six months after receiving their second Pfizer shot. That’s different than the Biden proposal announced in August, which called for boosters after eight months.“Today’s FDA decision is a major step forward in our effort to provide Americans with additional protection from COVID-19,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted Wednesday night. “We have been preparing for weeks to administer booster shots to eligible Americans and are ready to do so following CDC’s final recommendation later this week.”The timing of the FDA decision was highly unusual given that the agency typically takes action before the CDC convenes its own experts.The CDC panelists heard a series of presentations Wednesday outlining the knotty state of science on boosters. On one hand, the COVID-19 vaccines continue to offer strong protection against severe illness, hospitalization and death. On the other hand, there are signs of more low-grade infections among the vaccinated as immunity wanes.Ultimately the committee must decide who is considered at high enough risk for an extra dose. Data provided by Pfizer and the Israeli government suggests a strong case for boosters in people 65 and older, but there is less evidence that extra shots provide much benefit for younger people with underlying health conditions.Several CDC advisers agreed boosters are also important for keeping health care workers on the job.“We don’t have enough health care workers to take care of the unvaccinated,” said Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot of Vanderbilt University. “They just keep coming.”The CDC has already said it is considering boosters for older people, nursing home residents and front-line health care workers, rather than all adults.The World Health Organization and other global health advocates are opposed to wealthy nations dispensing a third round of shots when poor countries don’t have enough vaccine for their first doses. And many independent scientists say that the vaccines continue to perform well against the worst effects of COVID-19 and that their ability to curb the overall trajectory of the epidemic is uncertain.U.S. regulators will decide at a later date on boosters for people who have received the Moderna or Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccines. They indicated the Pfizer shots would not be recommended for people who got a different brand of vaccine initially.The across-the-board rollout of boosters proposed by the White House was supposed to have begun this week. Some questioned whether President Joe Biden had gotten ahead of the science by announcing his plans before government regulators had reached any conclusions.Despite the resistance in recent days, some top U.S. health officials said they expect boosters to eventually win broader approval in the coming weeks or months. Dr. Anthony Fauci said over the weekend that “this is not the end of the story.”Other administration officials noted that the FDA decision covers tens of millions of Americans and that seniors and other high-risk groups would have been the first to get boosters even if extra shots had been authorized for the entire population. Seniors were in the first group of Americans eligible for vaccination last December.The U.S. has already authorized third doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for certain people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients and transplant recipients. Other Americans, healthy or not, have managed to get boosters, in some cases simply by asking.The U.S. is dispensing around 760,000 vaccinations per day on average, down from a high of 3.4 million a day in mid-April. About 180 million Americans are fully vaccinated, or 64% of those who are eligible.___

FDA OKs extra shots of Pfizer COVID vaccine for seniors, others at high risk

HALL COUNTY, Neb.-A man has died after his vehicle struck a train in Central Nebraska.

On Sept. 22 at around 10:13 p.m., the Hall County Sheriff's Department responded to a report of an injury accident at Highway 30 and Schimmer Road. 

 Upon arrival, deputies discovered that a Red 2001 Dodge Van had struck a Union Pacific train.

  Preliminary investigation indicates that the van had been westbound on Highway 30.

The train had been moving several train cars from the main track on the south side of Highway 30, across highway 30 to the north.  This track is located just East of Highway 30 and Schimmer.

The driver and lone occupant in the vehicle was identified to be Paul Arndt. Arndt was pronounced deceased on the scene.  The operators of the train were not injured.

The HCSO Accident Reconstruction Team responded to the scene and conducted an investigation which is currently ongoing. &nbsp;

By Scott Carlson North Platte PostHALL COUNTY, Neb.-A man has died after his vehicle struck a train in Central Nebraska.On Sept. 22 at around 10:13 p.m., the Hall County Sheriff's Department responded to a report of an injury accident at Highway 30 and Schimmer Road. Upon arrival, deputies discovered that a Red 2001 Dodge Van had struck a Union Pacific train. Preliminary investigation indicates that the van had been westbound on Highway 30.The train had been moving several train cars from the main track on the south side of Highway 30, across highway 30 to the north. This track is located just East of Highway 30 and Schimmer.The driver and lone occupant in the vehicle was identified to be Paul Arndt. Arndt was pronounced deceased on the scene. The operators of the train were not injured.The HCSO Accident Reconstruction Team responded to the scene and conducted an investigation which is currently ongoing. &nbsp;Arndt's next of kin have been notified.

One dead after vehicle collides with train in Hall County

MEADE COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just after 8p.m. Wednesday in Meade County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 driven by Neil&nbsp;Peters-Krahn, 53, Montezuma, Kan. was northbound on Road 26 nine miles east of Kansas 23.

The driver failed to yield at U.S. 54. A&nbsp; westbound 2018 Freightliner semi driven by Victor Manuel Campos-Ramirez, Victor Manuel, 59, Los Angeles, CA., struck the Dodge Ram.

Peters-Krahn was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; EMS transported Campos-Ramirez to the hospital in Meade. Peters-Krahn was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

MEADE COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just after 8p.m. Wednesday in Meade County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 driven by Neil&nbsp;Peters-Krahn, 53, Montezuma, Kan. was northbound on Road 26 nine miles east of Kansas 23.The driver failed to yield at U.S. 54. A&nbsp; westbound 2018 Freightliner semi driven by Victor Manuel Campos-Ramirez, Victor Manuel, 59, Los Angeles, CA., struck the Dodge Ram.Peters-Krahn was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; EMS transported Campos-Ramirez to the hospital in Meade. Peters-Krahn was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after crash with a semi

The
 Federal Trade Commission is sending refund checks totaling nearly $5 
million to people who lost money to a cramming scheme that added charges
 to their home phone bills without their permission.

The refunds stem from money the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2016/05/company-placed-crammed-charges-consumers-phone-bills-settles-ftc">FTC collected from a group of defendants</a>
 who admitted that they violated a 1999 FTC settlement order that 
prohibited them from unauthorized billing. For years, the defendants, 
Billing Services Group (BSG), operated as a phone billing aggregator, 
passing charges from third parties to telephone companies so that those 
charges could be placed on consumers’ landline telephone bills. The 
defendants admitted that they did not vet the charges before processing 
them and did not investigate consumer complaints about unauthorized 
charges.

<a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase"></a>The
 FTC will be sending 86,752 checks averaging about $56 each. People who 
receive checks should deposit or cash them within 90 days, as indicated 
on the check. Recipients who have questions about their checks can call 
the refund administrator, Epiq, at 800-591-4238. The FTC never requires 
people to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund 
check.

The FTC’s <a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase">interactive dashboards for refund data(link is external)</a>
 provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds. In 2020, FTC actions
 led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers across the 
country, but recently the United States Supreme Court ruled the FTC 
lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief in federal 
court going forward. The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a> to restore the FTC’s ability to get money back for consumers.

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>FTCThe
 Federal Trade Commission is sending refund checks totaling nearly $5 
million to people who lost money to a cramming scheme that added charges
 to their home phone bills without their permission.The refunds stem from money the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2016/05/company-placed-crammed-charges-consumers-phone-bills-settles-ftc">FTC collected from a group of defendants</a>
 who admitted that they violated a 1999 FTC settlement order that 
prohibited them from unauthorized billing. For years, the defendants, 
Billing Services Group (BSG), operated as a phone billing aggregator, 
passing charges from third parties to telephone companies so that those 
charges could be placed on consumers’ landline telephone bills. The 
defendants admitted that they did not vet the charges before processing 
them and did not investigate consumer complaints about unauthorized 
charges.<a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase"></a>The
 FTC will be sending 86,752 checks averaging about $56 each. People who 
receive checks should deposit or cash them within 90 days, as indicated 
on the check. Recipients who have questions about their checks can call 
the refund administrator, Epiq, at 800-591-4238. The FTC never requires 
people to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund 
check.The FTC’s <a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase">interactive dashboards for refund data(link is external)</a>
 provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds. In 2020, FTC actions
 led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers across the 
country, but recently the United States Supreme Court ruled the FTC 
lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief in federal 
court going forward. The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a> to restore the FTC’s ability to get money back for consumers.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 sends nearly $5 million to victims of phone bill scheme

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service has awarded new contracts 
to three private-sector collection agencies for collection of overdue 
tax debts. The new contracts begin Thursday following today's expiration
 of the old contracts.

Beginning Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, taxpayers with unpaid tax bills may be contacted by one of the following three agencies:

CBE Group, Inc. 
PO Box 2217 
Waterloo, IA 50704 
800-910-5837

Coast Professional, Inc. 
PO Box 526 
Albion, NY 14411 
888-928-0510

ConServe 
PO Box 307 
Fairport, NY 14450 
844-853-4875

Notification by IRS and the private collection agencies

The IRS will always notify a taxpayer before transferring their account to a private collection agency (PCA).

The private collectors will identify themselves as contractors 
collecting taxes on behalf of the IRS. Employees of these collection 
agencies must follow the provisions of the Fair Debt Collection 
Practices Act, and like IRS employees, must be courteous and must 
respect taxpayer rights.

Private firms are not authorized to take enforcement actions against 
taxpayers. Only IRS employees can take these actions, such as filing a 
notice of Federal Tax Lien or issuing a levy.

The private firms are authorized to discuss payment options, 
including setting up payment agreements with taxpayers. But as with 
cases assigned to IRS employees, any tax payment must be made directly 
to the IRS. A payment should never be sent to the private firm or anyone
 besides the IRS or the U.S. Treasury. Checks should only be made 
payable to the United States Treasury. To find out more about available 
payment options, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a>.

The IRS established the Private Debt Collection program in 2016, as 
authorized under federal law, and contracted with several agencies to 
collect certain unpaid tax debts on the government's behalf. To learn 
more about the private debt collection program, visit the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/private-debt-collection">Private Debt Collection</a> page. Additional information can be found at the following links:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service has awarded new contracts 
to three private-sector collection agencies for collection of overdue 
tax debts. The new contracts begin Thursday following today's expiration
 of the old contracts.Beginning Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, taxpayers with unpaid tax bills may be contacted by one of the following three agencies:CBE Group, Inc. 
PO Box 2217 
Waterloo, IA 50704 
800-910-5837Coast Professional, Inc. 
PO Box 526 
Albion, NY 14411 
888-928-0510ConServe 
PO Box 307 
Fairport, NY 14450 
844-853-4875<h2>Notification by IRS and the private collection agencies</h2>The IRS will always notify a taxpayer before transferring their account to a private collection agency (PCA).<ul>
 <li>First, the IRS will send a letter to the taxpayer and their tax 
representative informing them that their account was assigned to a PCA 
and giving the name and contact information for the PCA. This mailing 
will include a copy of <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4518.pdf">Publication 4518, What You Can Expect When the IRS Assigns Your Account to a Private Collection Agency</a>. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>Following IRS notification, the PCA will send its own letter to the
 taxpayer and their representative confirming the account transfer. To 
protect the taxpayer's privacy and security, both the IRS letter and the
 PCA's letter will contain information that will help taxpayers identify
 the tax amount owed and assure taxpayers that future collection agency 
calls they may receive are legitimate.</li>
 </ul><h2>How it works</h2>The private collectors will identify themselves as contractors 
collecting taxes on behalf of the IRS. Employees of these collection 
agencies must follow the provisions of the Fair Debt Collection 
Practices Act, and like IRS employees, must be courteous and must 
respect taxpayer rights.Private firms are not authorized to take enforcement actions against 
taxpayers. Only IRS employees can take these actions, such as filing a 
notice of Federal Tax Lien or issuing a levy.<h2>Payment options</h2>The private firms are authorized to discuss payment options, 
including setting up payment agreements with taxpayers. But as with 
cases assigned to IRS employees, any tax payment must be made directly 
to the IRS. A payment should never be sent to the private firm or anyone
 besides the IRS or the U.S. Treasury. Checks should only be made 
payable to the United States Treasury. To find out more about available 
payment options, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a>.<h2>More information</h2>The IRS established the Private Debt Collection program in 2016, as 
authorized under federal law, and contracted with several agencies to 
collect certain unpaid tax debts on the government's behalf. To learn 
more about the private debt collection program, visit the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/private-debt-collection">Private Debt Collection</a> page. Additional information can be found at the following links:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/private-debt-collection-accounts-assigned-to-private-collection-agencies">Private Debt Collection – Accounts Assigned to Private Collection Agencies</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/private-debt-collection-faqs-0">Questions and answers</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript">Get Transcript</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuONAnr38Bk">Private Collection of Overdue Taxes YouTube Video</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4518.pdf">Publication 4518, What You Can Expect When the IRS Assigns Your Account to a Private Collection Agency</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-cp40-notice">Understanding Your CP40 Notice</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights">Taxpayer Bill of Rights</a></li>
 </ul>

IRS announces new private-sector collection agencies

MANHATTAN — Investigators from the Manhattan Fire Department have determined that improperly disposed of smoking materials caused the house fire that occurred on Tuesday evening at 3341 Effingham Drive in Mahattan, according to Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Almes. T

The building is a two-story single-family dwelling and was unoccupied at the time of the fire.&nbsp; Six pets were rescued from the fire and two of them succumbed to injuries at the scene.&nbsp; Loss is estimated at $60,000 to contents and $260,000 to the structure. The owner is listed as Michele Ulmer of the same address.&nbsp;

Manhattan—Authorities are working to determine the cause a house fire in Manhattan.&nbsp;

Just after 6:30 p.m. Tuesday evening, fire crews were dispatched to 3341 Effingham Drive for a report of a house on fire, according to assistant Chief Sam Dameron.

Upon arrival, crews found a two-story single-family home with heavy smoke and fire showing from the rear of the structure. Five dogs and one cat were rescued from the home. Two pets succumbed to their injuries at the scene.&nbsp; 

The fire reached a second alarm before it was contained within 40 minutes.&nbsp; The building is a two-story single-family dwelling and was unoccupied at the time of the fire. The residents were displaced from the building due to damage.&nbsp;

 Loss is estimated at $60,000 to contents and $260,000 to the structure.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632274029672.png" alt="Tuesday evening fire-photo Manhattan Fire Dept." />
 <figcaption>Tuesday evening fire-photo Manhattan Fire Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN — Investigators from the Manhattan Fire Department have determined that improperly disposed of smoking materials caused the house fire that occurred on Tuesday evening at 3341 Effingham Drive in Mahattan, according to Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Almes. T The building is a two-story single-family dwelling and was unoccupied at the time of the fire.&nbsp; Six pets were rescued from the fire and two of them succumbed to injuries at the scene.&nbsp; Loss is estimated at $60,000 to contents and $260,000 to the structure. The owner is listed as Michele Ulmer of the same address.&nbsp;Manhattan—Authorities are working to determine the cause a house fire in Manhattan.&nbsp;Just after 6:30 p.m. Tuesday evening, fire crews were dispatched to 3341 Effingham Drive for a report of a house on fire, according to assistant Chief Sam Dameron.Upon arrival, crews found a two-story single-family home with heavy smoke and fire showing from the rear of the structure. Five dogs and one cat were rescued from the home. Two pets succumbed to their injuries at the scene.&nbsp; The fire reached a second alarm before it was contained within 40 minutes.&nbsp; The building is a two-story single-family dwelling and was unoccupied at the time of the fire. The residents were displaced from the building due to damage.&nbsp; Loss is estimated at $60,000 to contents and $260,000 to the structure.&nbsp;

Update: Investigators determine cause of 2-alarm Kan. house fire 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A third person in eastern Nebraska has died from the West Nile virus this year. 

The Douglas County Health Department said a man in his 80s who was hospitalized after developing symptoms of the West Nile virus in August has died. 

The man had several other health conditions, but officials didn’t provide details of them. 

Last week, the state Department of Health and Human Services said two people in Dodge, Saunders or Washington counties had died after contracting the West Nile virus. 

The virus, which is transmitted by mosquito bites after a mosquito fed on an infected bird, has been found in the state every year since 2002.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1560010809375.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A third person in eastern Nebraska has died from the West Nile virus this year. The Douglas County Health Department said a man in his 80s who was hospitalized after developing symptoms of the West Nile virus in August has died. The man had several other health conditions, but officials didn’t provide details of them. Last week, the state Department of Health and Human Services said two people in Dodge, Saunders or Washington counties had died after contracting the West Nile virus. The virus, which is transmitted by mosquito bites after a mosquito fed on an infected bird, has been found in the state every year since 2002.

Douglas County man dies from West Nile Virus

DEL RIO, Texas (AP) — Three hours after being freed from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-mexico-texas-caribbean-united-states-ac7f598bafd44b3f95b786d2d800f3ce">giant migrant camp&nbsp;</a>under an international bridge, Mackenson Veillard stood outside a gas station and took stock of his sudden good fortune as he and pregnant wife waited for a Greyhound bus to take them to a cousin in San Antonio.

The couple camped with thousands for a week under the bridge in Del Rio, Texas, sleeping on concrete and getting by on bread and bottled water.

“I felt so stressed,” Veillard, 25, said this week. “But now, I feel better. It’s like I’m starting a new life.”

Many Haitian migrants in Del Rio are being released in the United States, according to two U.S. officials, undercutting the Biden administration’s public statements that the thousands in the camp faced immediate expulsion to Haiti.

Haitians have been freed on a “very, very large scale” in recent days, one official said Tuesday. The official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter and thus spoke on condition of anonymity, put the figure in the thousands.

Many have been released with notices to appear at an immigration office within 60 days, an outcome that requires less processing time from Border Patrol agents than ordering an appearance in immigration court and points to the speed at which authorities are moving.

The releases come despite a massive effort to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/port-au-prince-haiti-c01b09afb49c4586fdd718031d32402a">expel Haitians on flights</a>&nbsp;under pandemic-related authority that denies migrants a chance to seek asylum. A third U.S. official not authorized to discuss operations said there were seven daily flights to Haiti planned starting Wednesday.

Ten flights arrived in Haiti from Sunday to Tuesday in planes designed for 135 passengers, according to Haitian officials, who didn’t provide a complete count but said six of those flights carried 713 migrants combined.

The camp held more than 14,000 people over the weekend, according to some estimates. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, during a visit Tuesday to Del Rio, said the county’s top official told him the most recent tally was about 8,600 migrants. U.S. authorities have declined to say how many have been released in the U.S. in recent days.

The Homeland Security Department has been busing Haitians from Del Rio, a town of 35,000 people, to El Paso, Laredo and Rio Grande Valley along the Texas border, and this week added flights to Tucson, Arizona, the official said. They are processed by the Border Patrol at those locations.

Criteria for deciding who is flown to Haiti and who is released in the U.S. is a mystery but two officials said single adults were a priority. If previous handling of asylum-seekers is any guide, the administration is more likely to release those deemed vulnerable, including pregnant women, families with young children and those with medical issues.

The Biden administration exempts unaccompanied children from expulsion flights on humanitarian grounds.

Wilgens Jean and his wife Junia Michel waited in Del Rio this week for relatives to send the $439 in bus fare to get to Springfield, Ohio, where Jean’s brother lives. Michel, who is pregnant, huddled under the little shade the parking lot had to offer from the brutal heat. Her only request was for sunscreen that she softly rubbed on her pregnant belly.

On the concrete in front of them lay two backpacks and a black garbage bag which held everything the couple owns. The pair left in Haiti in April and were in the Del Rio camp for five days. Jean said because his wife is expecting, they were released from the camp on Monday.

“I entered by crossing the river,” Jean said. “Immigration gave me a ticket.”

The system is a “black box,” said Wade McMullen, an attorney with the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, who was in Del Rio. “Right now, we have no official access to understand what processes are under way, what protections are being provided for the migrants.”

Accounts of wide-scale releases — some observed at the Del Rio bus station by Associated Press journalists -- are at odds with statements Monday by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who traveled to Del Rio to promise swift action.

“If you come to the United States illegally, you will be returned, your journey will not succeed, and you will be endangering your life and your family’s life,” he said at a news conference.

Homeland Security, asked to comment on releases in the United States, said Wednesday that migrants who are not immediately expelled to Haiti may be detained or released with a notice to appear in immigration court or report to an immigration office, depending on available custody space.

“The Biden Administration has reiterated that our borders are not open, and people should not make the dangerous journey,” the department said in a statement. “Individuals and families are subject to border restrictions, including expulsion.”

Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-immigration-mexico-texas-haiti-b7c55977dcb543262aae0e4ac0acd115">Mexico has begun busing and flying Haitian migrants away from the U.S. border,</a>&nbsp;signaling a new level of support for the United States as the camp presented President Joe Biden with a humanitarian and increasingly political challenge.

The White House is facing sharp bipartisan condemnation. Republicans say Biden administration policies led Haitians to believe they would get asylum. Democrats are expressing outrage after images went viral this week of Border Patrol agents on horseback using aggressive tactics against the migrants.

Immigrants have described a screening process at the camp where individuals are given a colored tickets for four categories: single men; single women; pregnant women; and families with young children, McMullen said. The vast majority of immigrants he and other advocates have interviewed and who have been released into the U.S. have been families with young children and pregnant women.

About 200 migrants were released on Monday in Del Rio. About 50 of them, mostly Haitian and many pregnant or with small children, boarded a bus to Houston, from where they would fly to destinations across the country. The Val Verde Border Humanitarian Coalition advocacy group arranged the charter bus and supplied sack lunches of a sandwich and cookies.

After an initial stay with family in San Antonio, Veillard eventually hopes to get to New York City to live with his sister. He will take any job he can find to support his growing family.

Veillard and his wife left Haiti four years ago and had been living in Brazil until they began their journey to the United States in June, much of it on foot.

“I don’t know how I’m going to feel tomorrow but now I feel lucky,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632317716965.png" alt="Migrants at the Texas border this week- photo Rep. Tony Gonzales" />
 <figcaption>Migrants at the Texas border this week- photo Rep. Tony Gonzales</figcaption>
 </figure>DEL RIO, Texas (AP) — Three hours after being freed from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-mexico-texas-caribbean-united-states-ac7f598bafd44b3f95b786d2d800f3ce">giant migrant camp&nbsp;</a>under an international bridge, Mackenson Veillard stood outside a gas station and took stock of his sudden good fortune as he and pregnant wife waited for a Greyhound bus to take them to a cousin in San Antonio.The couple camped with thousands for a week under the bridge in Del Rio, Texas, sleeping on concrete and getting by on bread and bottled water.“I felt so stressed,” Veillard, 25, said this week. “But now, I feel better. It’s like I’m starting a new life.”Many Haitian migrants in Del Rio are being released in the United States, according to two U.S. officials, undercutting the Biden administration’s public statements that the thousands in the camp faced immediate expulsion to Haiti.Haitians have been freed on a “very, very large scale” in recent days, one official said Tuesday. The official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter and thus spoke on condition of anonymity, put the figure in the thousands.Many have been released with notices to appear at an immigration office within 60 days, an outcome that requires less processing time from Border Patrol agents than ordering an appearance in immigration court and points to the speed at which authorities are moving.The releases come despite a massive effort to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/port-au-prince-haiti-c01b09afb49c4586fdd718031d32402a">expel Haitians on flights</a>&nbsp;under pandemic-related authority that denies migrants a chance to seek asylum. A third U.S. official not authorized to discuss operations said there were seven daily flights to Haiti planned starting Wednesday.Ten flights arrived in Haiti from Sunday to Tuesday in planes designed for 135 passengers, according to Haitian officials, who didn’t provide a complete count but said six of those flights carried 713 migrants combined.The camp held more than 14,000 people over the weekend, according to some estimates. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, during a visit Tuesday to Del Rio, said the county’s top official told him the most recent tally was about 8,600 migrants. U.S. authorities have declined to say how many have been released in the U.S. in recent days.The Homeland Security Department has been busing Haitians from Del Rio, a town of 35,000 people, to El Paso, Laredo and Rio Grande Valley along the Texas border, and this week added flights to Tucson, Arizona, the official said. They are processed by the Border Patrol at those locations.Criteria for deciding who is flown to Haiti and who is released in the U.S. is a mystery but two officials said single adults were a priority. If previous handling of asylum-seekers is any guide, the administration is more likely to release those deemed vulnerable, including pregnant women, families with young children and those with medical issues.The Biden administration exempts unaccompanied children from expulsion flights on humanitarian grounds.Wilgens Jean and his wife Junia Michel waited in Del Rio this week for relatives to send the $439 in bus fare to get to Springfield, Ohio, where Jean’s brother lives. Michel, who is pregnant, huddled under the little shade the parking lot had to offer from the brutal heat. Her only request was for sunscreen that she softly rubbed on her pregnant belly.On the concrete in front of them lay two backpacks and a black garbage bag which held everything the couple owns. The pair left in Haiti in April and were in the Del Rio camp for five days. Jean said because his wife is expecting, they were released from the camp on Monday.“I entered by crossing the river,” Jean said. “Immigration gave me a ticket.”The system is a “black box,” said Wade McMullen, an attorney with the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, who was in Del Rio. “Right now, we have no official access to understand what processes are under way, what protections are being provided for the migrants.”Accounts of wide-scale releases — some observed at the Del Rio bus station by Associated Press journalists -- are at odds with statements Monday by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who traveled to Del Rio to promise swift action.“If you come to the United States illegally, you will be returned, your journey will not succeed, and you will be endangering your life and your family’s life,” he said at a news conference.Homeland Security, asked to comment on releases in the United States, said Wednesday that migrants who are not immediately expelled to Haiti may be detained or released with a notice to appear in immigration court or report to an immigration office, depending on available custody space.“The Biden Administration has reiterated that our borders are not open, and people should not make the dangerous journey,” the department said in a statement. “Individuals and families are subject to border restrictions, including expulsion.”Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-immigration-mexico-texas-haiti-b7c55977dcb543262aae0e4ac0acd115">Mexico has begun busing and flying Haitian migrants away from the U.S. border,</a>&nbsp;signaling a new level of support for the United States as the camp presented President Joe Biden with a humanitarian and increasingly political challenge.The White House is facing sharp bipartisan condemnation. Republicans say Biden administration policies led Haitians to believe they would get asylum. Democrats are expressing outrage after images went viral this week of Border Patrol agents on horseback using aggressive tactics against the migrants.Immigrants have described a screening process at the camp where individuals are given a colored tickets for four categories: single men; single women; pregnant women; and families with young children, McMullen said. The vast majority of immigrants he and other advocates have interviewed and who have been released into the U.S. have been families with young children and pregnant women.About 200 migrants were released on Monday in Del Rio. About 50 of them, mostly Haitian and many pregnant or with small children, boarded a bus to Houston, from where they would fly to destinations across the country. The Val Verde Border Humanitarian Coalition advocacy group arranged the charter bus and supplied sack lunches of a sandwich and cookies.After an initial stay with family in San Antonio, Veillard eventually hopes to get to New York City to live with his sister. He will take any job he can find to support his growing family.Veillard and his wife left Haiti four years ago and had been living in Brazil until they began their journey to the United States in June, much of it on foot.“I don’t know how I’m going to feel tomorrow but now I feel lucky,” he said.___

Officials: Many migrants from border camp staying in US

DETROIT (AP) — Over 30 million air bags in more than 200 models from 20 car and truck makers are being investigated by a U.S. safety agency because they have the potential to explode and hurl shrapnel.

In a document posted Tuesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it opened the probe into air bag inflators made from 2011 through 2019 by now-bankrupt Takata that weren’t recalled previously.

The probe could reverse a decision made in May of last year not to recall the inflators, which contain a moisture-absorbing chemical called a dessicant.

It wasn’t clear what prompted the agency to open the investigation. Last year, it decided against recalling the inflators, based largely on industry research, and said it would monitor them.

“While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled dessicated inflators,” the agency said in the document.

Included in the probe are models made by Honda, Fiat Chrysler (now Stellantis), General Motors, Ford, Nissan, Tesla, BMW, Toyota, Jaguar Land Rover, Daimler Vans, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche, Mazda, Karma, Fisker, Spartan Fire vehicles.

Some of the most popular vehicles in the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2021/INOA-EA21002-7663.PDF" target="_blank">are identified in the probe</a>, including certain Chevrolet Silverado pickups from 2014 and 2015, some Jeep Grand Cherokees from 2011 through 2019 and the Honda CR-V from 2012 through 2015.

The document posted Tuesday said none of the inflators under investigation have blown apart while in use. About 25 million vehicles have the questionable driver or front passenger inflators that were installed at the factory. At least 5 million more had the inflators installed as replacement parts for more dangerous Takata inflators that have been recalled.

NHTSA didn’t immediately comment when asked what changed, prompting it to open the investigation. The agency said in a statement Monday that drivers don’t need to take any action. “NHTSA will conduct a thorough investigation, and should we determine that a safety defect exists, we will act,” the agency said.

At least&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-carolina-business-61e8b31d57720ccfe704d2bd500b096c">19 people in the U.S. and 28 worldwide have been killed&nbsp;</a>by exploding Takata inflators. More than 400 have been injured in the U.S.

The Japanese company used ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate air bags in a crash. But the chemical can become more volatile over time when exposed to moisture in the air and high temperatures. The explosion can blow apart a metal canister and hurl shrapnel into the passenger compartment.

The problem caused the largest series of auto recalls in U.S. history, with at least 67 million inflators recalled. About 17 million had not been repaired as of January. Worldwide, around 100 million inflators have been recalled.

Takata added the dessicant to absorb moisture and stop the ammonium nitrate from deteriorating. But in the document, NHTSA said at some point the dessicants will become saturated. In the most hot and humid locations, saturation can take place in five years, the agency said.

Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, a nonprofit advocacy group, said he’s not sure what caused the agency to change from last year. But he said NHTSA is opening the probe before something bad happens. “What’s refreshing here is that NHTSA is taking a step that says we don’t have to wait for a body count. That’s great,” Levine said.

Under President Donald Trump, the agency enacted few safety regulations and was less active in regulating the industry than under past administrations. But Levine said it is being far more active under President Joe Biden.

Levine said the agency should have begun the investigation last year so owners of vehicles with the questionable inflators could know by now whether their air bag systems are safe or whether they’re defective.

“It leaves consumers in an unnecessary state of concern,” Levine said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576782225717.png" alt="photo National Highway Traffic Safety Administration" />
 <figcaption>photo National Highway Traffic Safety Administration</figcaption>
 </figure>DETROIT (AP) — Over 30 million air bags in more than 200 models from 20 car and truck makers are being investigated by a U.S. safety agency because they have the potential to explode and hurl shrapnel.In a document posted Tuesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it opened the probe into air bag inflators made from 2011 through 2019 by now-bankrupt Takata that weren’t recalled previously.The probe could reverse a decision made in May of last year not to recall the inflators, which contain a moisture-absorbing chemical called a dessicant.It wasn’t clear what prompted the agency to open the investigation. Last year, it decided against recalling the inflators, based largely on industry research, and said it would monitor them.“While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled dessicated inflators,” the agency said in the document.Included in the probe are models made by Honda, Fiat Chrysler (now Stellantis), General Motors, Ford, Nissan, Tesla, BMW, Toyota, Jaguar Land Rover, Daimler Vans, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche, Mazda, Karma, Fisker, Spartan Fire vehicles.Some of the most popular vehicles in the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2021/INOA-EA21002-7663.PDF" target="_blank">are identified in the probe</a>, including certain Chevrolet Silverado pickups from 2014 and 2015, some Jeep Grand Cherokees from 2011 through 2019 and the Honda CR-V from 2012 through 2015.The document posted Tuesday said none of the inflators under investigation have blown apart while in use. About 25 million vehicles have the questionable driver or front passenger inflators that were installed at the factory. At least 5 million more had the inflators installed as replacement parts for more dangerous Takata inflators that have been recalled.NHTSA didn’t immediately comment when asked what changed, prompting it to open the investigation. The agency said in a statement Monday that drivers don’t need to take any action. “NHTSA will conduct a thorough investigation, and should we determine that a safety defect exists, we will act,” the agency said.At least&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-carolina-business-61e8b31d57720ccfe704d2bd500b096c">19 people in the U.S. and 28 worldwide have been killed&nbsp;</a>by exploding Takata inflators. More than 400 have been injured in the U.S.The Japanese company used ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate air bags in a crash. But the chemical can become more volatile over time when exposed to moisture in the air and high temperatures. The explosion can blow apart a metal canister and hurl shrapnel into the passenger compartment.The problem caused the largest series of auto recalls in U.S. history, with at least 67 million inflators recalled. About 17 million had not been repaired as of January. Worldwide, around 100 million inflators have been recalled.Takata added the dessicant to absorb moisture and stop the ammonium nitrate from deteriorating. But in the document, NHTSA said at some point the dessicants will become saturated. In the most hot and humid locations, saturation can take place in five years, the agency said.Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, a nonprofit advocacy group, said he’s not sure what caused the agency to change from last year. But he said NHTSA is opening the probe before something bad happens. “What’s refreshing here is that NHTSA is taking a step that says we don’t have to wait for a body count. That’s great,” Levine said.Under President Donald Trump, the agency enacted few safety regulations and was less active in regulating the industry than under past administrations. But Levine said it is being far more active under President Joe Biden.Levine said the agency should have begun the investigation last year so owners of vehicles with the questionable inflators could know by now whether their air bag systems are safe or whether they’re defective.“It leaves consumers in an unnecessary state of concern,” Levine said.

US probes Takata air bags in 200 models from 20 automakers

(AP)-The vast majority of United Airlines employees are deciding to get vaccinated against COVID-19 rather than risk losing their job. 

United said Wednesday that more than 97% of its U.S.-based employees are fully vaccinated. 

There's less than a week to go before United employees face a deadline to get the shots or get fired. 

The airline says a small number of employees are seeking a medical or religious exemption from vaccination. 

Employees who win an exemption will be placed on leave starting Oct. 2 and could eventually come back, although they might have to wear a mask and undergo weekly testing for the virus.

(AP)-The vast majority of United Airlines employees are deciding to get vaccinated against COVID-19 rather than risk losing their job. United said Wednesday that more than 97% of its U.S.-based employees are fully vaccinated. There's less than a week to go before United employees face a deadline to get the shots or get fired. The airline says a small number of employees are seeking a medical or religious exemption from vaccination. Employees who win an exemption will be placed on leave starting Oct. 2 and could eventually come back, although they might have to wear a mask and undergo weekly testing for the virus.

United Airlines say 97% of US employees have been vaccinated

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Authorities say two victims who died recently in a highway crash in southeastern South Dakota were from Nebraska. 

The state Department of Public Safety says 75-year-old Albert Wingate and Marilyn Wingate, 74, of Norfolk, died a week or more following the Sept. 11 crash in Hutchinson County. 

Safety officials say the driver of a pickup truck pulling an empty horse trailer tried to pass a semi on Highway 81 near Freeman but collided head-on with the Wingates’ Chevy Corvette. 

The couple was airlifted to a Sioux Falls hospital. Marilyn Wingate died Monday. Albert Wingate died Sept. 18. 

The 28-year-old pickup driver was taken to a Freeman hospital for treatment of his injuries.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Authorities say two victims who died recently in a highway crash in southeastern South Dakota were from Nebraska. The state Department of Public Safety says 75-year-old Albert Wingate and Marilyn Wingate, 74, of Norfolk, died a week or more following the Sept. 11 crash in Hutchinson County. Safety officials say the driver of a pickup truck pulling an empty horse trailer tried to pass a semi on Highway 81 near Freeman but collided head-on with the Wingates’ Chevy Corvette. The couple was airlifted to a Sioux Falls hospital. Marilyn Wingate died Monday. Albert Wingate died Sept. 18. The 28-year-old pickup driver was taken to a Freeman hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Couple from Nebraska killed in South Dakota highway crash

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) — Colorado officials say three assisted living facility workers are being prosecuted in the death of an 86-year-old woman with Alzheimer’s disease who was allegedly left outside in sweltering weather. 

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced the charges Tuesday in the death of Hazel Place died at at Cappella Assisted Living and Memory in Grand Junction on June 14. 

The high temperature was 102 degrees. Cappella Assisted Living and Memory says two of the workers were fired and that the third is on leave. 

A lawyer for one of the workers says her client has concerns that the facility has not been held accountable.

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) — Colorado officials say three assisted living facility workers are being prosecuted in the death of an 86-year-old woman with Alzheimer’s disease who was allegedly left outside in sweltering weather. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced the charges Tuesday in the death of Hazel Place died at at Cappella Assisted Living and Memory in Grand Junction on June 14. The high temperature was 102 degrees. Cappella Assisted Living and Memory says two of the workers were fired and that the third is on leave. A lawyer for one of the workers says her client has concerns that the facility has not been held accountable.

3 charged in death of elderly Colo. woman left outside in heat

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

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — A proposal being pushed by the Biden administration that banks
report all transactions of more than $600 and keep tabs on accounts above that
threshold is strongly opposed by the Missouri Bankers Association.

Executive Vice President of Member Services Jackson Hataway
says the IRS claims the proposal would catch the wealthiest Americans
attempting to move money around outside of the tax system.

“And the reality is our federal agencies do not use data that
well as it is now,” Hataway tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “So, what in the world
would lead us to believe that a landslide of more data from millions of Americans
is suddenly going to make our tax policy more effective? The ones and zeroes
don’t add up. The math doesn’t make sense.”

Hataway says the $600-dollar threshold would affect the vast
majority of bank customers.

“Basically, affects every consumer at every bank,” according
to Hataway. “There will certainly be those who have underneath the $600
threshold, but the vast majority of accounts will be subject to this kind of
regulation and intrusive action from the government.”

Hataway says the federal government at present requires banks
to report transactions of more than $10,000 under the Currency Transaction
Report (CTR). This proposal greatly expands that requirement, lowering the
threshold to transactions exceeding $600.

The proposal was attached to the $3.5 trillion reconciliation
bill, but removed. The MBA expects it to resurface in another form.

Hataway calls the proposal a breach of privacy.

“While we can appreciate the objective goal of trying to track
down more revenues from people who are dodging the tax system, this methodology
for doing it is unproven, it’s unsound, and honestly in a world of data
breaches, where we see the IRS and other agencies constantly dealing with cyber
struggles, the thought of all of our account information flowing into an entity
that can’t keep data secure, should reasonably be something that we’re all deeply
concerned about,” Hataway says.

The proposal seems to have flown under the radar for a while,
but Hataway says more and more banks report customers have started complaining
about the proposal. The MBA is encouraging Missourians to contact members of Congress
and voice opposition to the proposal.

By BRENT MARTIN <a href="https://stjosephpost.com">St. Joseph Post</a>ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — A proposal being pushed by the Biden administration that banks
report all transactions of more than $600 and keep tabs on accounts above that
threshold is strongly opposed by the Missouri Bankers Association.Executive Vice President of Member Services Jackson Hataway
says the IRS claims the proposal would catch the wealthiest Americans
attempting to move money around outside of the tax system.“And the reality is our federal agencies do not use data that
well as it is now,” Hataway tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “So, what in the world
would lead us to believe that a landslide of more data from millions of Americans
is suddenly going to make our tax policy more effective? The ones and zeroes
don’t add up. The math doesn’t make sense.”Hataway says the $600-dollar threshold would affect the vast
majority of bank customers.“Basically, affects every consumer at every bank,” according
to Hataway. “There will certainly be those who have underneath the $600
threshold, but the vast majority of accounts will be subject to this kind of
regulation and intrusive action from the government.”Hataway says the federal government at present requires banks
to report transactions of more than $10,000 under the Currency Transaction
Report (CTR). This proposal greatly expands that requirement, lowering the
threshold to transactions exceeding $600.The proposal was attached to the $3.5 trillion reconciliation
bill, but removed. The MBA expects it to resurface in another form.Hataway calls the proposal a breach of privacy.“While we can appreciate the objective goal of trying to track
down more revenues from people who are dodging the tax system, this methodology
for doing it is unproven, it’s unsound, and honestly in a world of data
breaches, where we see the IRS and other agencies constantly dealing with cyber
struggles, the thought of all of our account information flowing into an entity
that can’t keep data secure, should reasonably be something that we’re all deeply
concerned about,” Hataway says.The proposal seems to have flown under the radar for a while,
but Hataway says more and more banks report customers have started complaining
about the proposal. The MBA is encouraging Missourians to contact members of Congress
and voice opposition to the proposal.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Mo. bankers object to Biden proposal to track $600 cash transactions

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator and veteran Roger Marshall, M.D. joined Senators Ted Cruz, James Lankford, and Tommy Tuberville&nbsp;in introducing the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/HEY21B23-2.pdf" target="_blank">COVID-19 Vaccine Dishonorable Discharge Prevention Act</a>.

It prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from giving U.S. service members a dishonorable discharge for choosing not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

The House Armed Services Committee recently passed similar language led by Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) in an amendment to the FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This legislation comes on the heels of President Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/09/09/1035149651/biden-will-require-vaccines-for-federal-workers-as-part-of-a-new-covid-strategy" target="_blank">mandating millions</a>&nbsp;of Americans – including service members – to get vaccinated and the DOD issuing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-army/2021/09/14/armys-plan-for-mandatory-covid-19-vaccines-is-here/" target="_blank">guidance</a>&nbsp;stating that soldiers who refuse the vaccine will face “administrative or non-judicial punishment [under UCMJ] – to include relief of duties or discharge.”

“As a physician and veteran who is confident that the vaccine has saved countless lives, I believe vaccinating our service members against COVID-19 is an important effort; however, whether or not to receive the vaccine should be a personal choice between an individual and their doctor,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall.&nbsp;“Service members who refuse to get vaccinated, and are subsequently separated from the service, should not receive anything other than an honorable discharge. There is no question about it: American heroes should not be treated as felons because of their personal medical choices.”

“It’s an insult to our servicemen and women who have served with honor to dishonorably discharge them for refusing the COVID vaccine. It is the same way we dishonorably discharge those convicted of serious crimes such as treason, desertion, sexual assault, and murder. Forcing all service members, including pregnant women and those who have already had COVID-19, to receive the vaccine is just one more example of President Biden and his administration putting politics ahead of science. I am proud to join Sen. Marshall on this crucial bill to ensure the proper steps are taken by the military chain of command in response to those seeking exemptions from this vaccine,”&nbsp;said Senator Cruz.

“When America shut down last year, our military personnel continued to serve us at home and abroad,”&nbsp;said Senator Lankford.&nbsp;“Now, Biden wants to remove service members who have already recovered from COVID, but will not also take the vaccine, or have a medical, religious or personal reason not to take the vaccine.&nbsp;Our men and women in uniform have fought to protect the freedoms we enjoy, and it’s right for us to protect their freedom now to choose whether or not to get the vaccine. President Biden should not give our military members a ‘less than honorable’ or ‘dishonorable’ discharge from the military for a conscious objection to a vaccine after they have risked their lives for our country. ”

“The brave men and women of our military who make the personal medical decision to not to take the COVID-19 vaccine should not receive anything other than an honorable discharge. I was proud to get this legislation included as an amendment to the NDAA in the House and am grateful to Senator Marshall for his leadership in the Senate,”&nbsp;said Representative Green.

Dishonorably discharged U.S. service members surrender the following rights and benefits:

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ownership of any sort of firearm or ammunition

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Access to the GI Bill for further education

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;VA home loans

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;VA medical benefits

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Military Funeral Honors

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Re-enlistment in another military branch

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629972789785.png" alt="&nbsp;photo U.S. Dept. of Defense" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;photo U.S. Dept. of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator and veteran Roger Marshall, M.D. joined Senators Ted Cruz, James Lankford, and Tommy Tuberville&nbsp;in introducing the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/HEY21B23-2.pdf" target="_blank">COVID-19 Vaccine Dishonorable Discharge Prevention Act</a>.It prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from giving U.S. service members a dishonorable discharge for choosing not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The House Armed Services Committee recently passed similar language led by Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) in an amendment to the FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This legislation comes on the heels of President Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/09/09/1035149651/biden-will-require-vaccines-for-federal-workers-as-part-of-a-new-covid-strategy" target="_blank">mandating millions</a>&nbsp;of Americans – including service members – to get vaccinated and the DOD issuing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-army/2021/09/14/armys-plan-for-mandatory-covid-19-vaccines-is-here/" target="_blank">guidance</a>&nbsp;stating that soldiers who refuse the vaccine will face “administrative or non-judicial punishment [under UCMJ] – to include relief of duties or discharge.”“As a physician and veteran who is confident that the vaccine has saved countless lives, I believe vaccinating our service members against COVID-19 is an important effort; however, whether or not to receive the vaccine should be a personal choice between an individual and their doctor,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall.&nbsp;“Service members who refuse to get vaccinated, and are subsequently separated from the service, should not receive anything other than an honorable discharge. There is no question about it: American heroes should not be treated as felons because of their personal medical choices.”“It’s an insult to our servicemen and women who have served with honor to dishonorably discharge them for refusing the COVID vaccine. It is the same way we dishonorably discharge those convicted of serious crimes such as treason, desertion, sexual assault, and murder. Forcing all service members, including pregnant women and those who have already had COVID-19, to receive the vaccine is just one more example of President Biden and his administration putting politics ahead of science. I am proud to join Sen. Marshall on this crucial bill to ensure the proper steps are taken by the military chain of command in response to those seeking exemptions from this vaccine,”&nbsp;said Senator Cruz.“When America shut down last year, our military personnel continued to serve us at home and abroad,”&nbsp;said Senator Lankford.&nbsp;“Now, Biden wants to remove service members who have already recovered from COVID, but will not also take the vaccine, or have a medical, religious or personal reason not to take the vaccine.&nbsp;Our men and women in uniform have fought to protect the freedoms we enjoy, and it’s right for us to protect their freedom now to choose whether or not to get the vaccine. President Biden should not give our military members a ‘less than honorable’ or ‘dishonorable’ discharge from the military for a conscious objection to a vaccine after they have risked their lives for our country. ”“The brave men and women of our military who make the personal medical decision to not to take the COVID-19 vaccine should not receive anything other than an honorable discharge. I was proud to get this legislation included as an amendment to the NDAA in the House and am grateful to Senator Marshall for his leadership in the Senate,”&nbsp;said Representative Green.Background:Dishonorably discharged U.S. service members surrender the following rights and benefits:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ownership of any sort of firearm or ammunition·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Access to the GI Bill for further education·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;VA home loans·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;VA medical benefits·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Military Funeral Honors·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Re-enlistment in another military branch