DAKOTA CITY, Nebraska (AP) — Construction is starting on a Nebraska plant that will pretreat animal fat for eventual conversion into renewable diesel fuel. 

The Sioux City Journal reports that the &nbsp;JST Global facility is a joint venture between Tyson Foods’ and Jacob Stern &amp; Sons. 

It will be built on 6.5 acres next to Tyson’s flagship beef plant in Dakota City and will complement a similar JST plant in Houston. 

Construction begins this week, with plans to have it up and running by the end of 2022. 

It will employ 22 people, including management and operations.

DAKOTA CITY, Nebraska (AP) — Construction is starting on a Nebraska plant that will pretreat animal fat for eventual conversion into renewable diesel fuel. The Sioux City Journal reports that the &nbsp;JST Global facility is a joint venture between Tyson Foods’ and Jacob Stern &amp; Sons. It will be built on 6.5 acres next to Tyson’s flagship beef plant in Dakota City and will complement a similar JST plant in Houston. Construction begins this week, with plans to have it up and running by the end of 2022. It will employ 22 people, including management and operations.

Plant to pretreat animal fats for renewable fuel industry

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Two people have now died from West Nile virus in eastern Nebraska this year. 

The state Department of Health and Human Services said both deaths were confirmed this week within the territory served by the Three Rivers District Health Department, which includes Dodge, Saunders and Washington counties in eastern Nebraska. 

Officials said both people who died with the mosquito-borne virus were older adults with underlying health conditions. 

So far this year, West Nile virus has been found in 12 Nebraska counties, and 27 human cases have been confirmed. 

Last year, the state reported 15 human cases of the virus and one death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1560010809375.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Two people have now died from West Nile virus in eastern Nebraska this year. The state Department of Health and Human Services said both deaths were confirmed this week within the territory served by the Three Rivers District Health Department, which includes Dodge, Saunders and Washington counties in eastern Nebraska. Officials said both people who died with the mosquito-borne virus were older adults with underlying health conditions. So far this year, West Nile virus has been found in 12 Nebraska counties, and 27 human cases have been confirmed. Last year, the state reported 15 human cases of the virus and one death.

Two Nebraskans die from West Nile virus this week

(AP)-About 775 evacuees from Afghanistan are expected to settle in Nebraska as part of the first group arriving in the United States. &nbsp;

State department data obtained by The Associated Press detailed how a first wave of 37,000 Afghanistan evacuees will be resettled across the country after they fled from their country when the U.S. ended its long war there and withdrew last month. 

The Biden administration on Wednesday began notifying governors and state refugee coordinators across the country about how many are slated to be resettled in their states.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630691600635.png" alt="U.S. Army soldiers with the 82nd Airborne Division escort evacuees to buses at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. -photo courtesy U.S. Dept. of Defense" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Army soldiers with the 82nd Airborne Division escort evacuees to buses at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. -photo courtesy U.S. Dept. of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>(AP)-About 775 evacuees from Afghanistan are expected to settle in Nebraska as part of the first group arriving in the United States. &nbsp;State department data obtained by The Associated Press detailed how a first wave of 37,000 Afghanistan evacuees will be resettled across the country after they fled from their country when the U.S. ended its long war there and withdrew last month. The Biden administration on Wednesday began notifying governors and state refugee coordinators across the country about how many are slated to be resettled in their states.

775 evacuees from Afghanistan expected to settle in Nebraska

WASHINGTON (AP) — Influential government advisers will debate Friday if there's enough proof that a booster dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective — the first step toward deciding which Americans need one and when.

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday posted much of the evidence its advisory panel will consider. The agency struck a decidedly neutral tone on the rationale for boosters — an unusual and careful approach that's all the more striking after President Joe Biden and his top health advisers trumpeted a booster campaign they hoped to begin next week.

Pfizer’s argument: While protection against severe disease is holding strong in the U.S., immunity against milder infection wanes somewhere around six to eight months after the second dose. The company gave an extra dose to 306 people at that point and recorded levels of virus-fighting antibodies threefold higher than after the earlier shots.

More important, Pfizer said, those antibodies appear strong enough to handle the extra-contagious delta variant that is surging around the country.

New public artwork above an alley in Philadelphia attracts attention

To bolster its case, Pfizer pointed the FDA to data from Israel, which began offering boosters over the summer.

That study tracked about 1 million people 60 and older and found those who got the extra shot were far less likely to become infected soon afterward. Pfizer said that translates to “roughly 95% effectiveness” when delta was spreading, comparable to the protection seen shortly after the vaccine’s rollout earlier in the year.

The Israeli data, also published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, cannot say how long the boosted protection lasts.

The FDA's reviewers, however, suggested they would mainly look to research on how the vaccines are working among Americans, saying that “may most accurately represent vaccine effectiveness in the U.S. population.”

Overall, the data show that the Pfizer and other U.S.-authorized COVID-19 vaccines “still afford protection against severe COVID-19 disease and death in the United States,” the agency said, summarizing the evidence.

The FDA is not bound to follow the advice of its independent advisory panel. But if the agency overrules its own experts, that could stoke public confusion. Earlier this week, two top FDA vaccine regulators joined a group of international scientists in rejecting boosters now for otherwise healthy individuals, citing the strong continuing protection against severe disease.

Dr. Anna Durbin of Johns Hopkins School of Public Health said it’s important to understand the FDA’s decision simply is whether an extra dose is safe and does what it promises — to raise immunity levels.

If the FDA decides the extra shot does those two things, then the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will have to decide who should get another dose. The CDC has scheduled a meeting of its own advisers for next week and has signaled it is considering a booster for certain people — such as older adults, nursing home residents and front-line health workers — rather than the general population.

The broader issue: "What really is going to control the delta variant is vaccinating the unvaccinated, not boosters,” Durbin said. More than one-third of Americans who are eligible for the shots aren't yet fully vaccinated, according to CDC data.

The U.S. already offers an extra dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to people with severely weakened immune systems.

For the average person, what’s the evidence that immunity is waning? The CDC says real-world data show protection against severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths is holding strong. But in one recent study, protection against infection slipped as the delta variant hit: It was 91% in the spring but 78% in June and July. The CDC also has seen a hint that for people 75 and older, protection against hospitalizations slightly declined in the summer.

Moderna also has asked FDA to allow a booster dose of its vaccine, and on Wednesday posted its own study of waning immunity.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Influential government advisers will debate Friday if there's enough proof that a booster dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective — the first step toward deciding which Americans need one and when.The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday posted much of the evidence its advisory panel will consider. The agency struck a decidedly neutral tone on the rationale for boosters — an unusual and careful approach that's all the more striking after President Joe Biden and his top health advisers trumpeted a booster campaign they hoped to begin next week.Pfizer’s argument: While protection against severe disease is holding strong in the U.S., immunity against milder infection wanes somewhere around six to eight months after the second dose. The company gave an extra dose to 306 people at that point and recorded levels of virus-fighting antibodies threefold higher than after the earlier shots.More important, Pfizer said, those antibodies appear strong enough to handle the extra-contagious delta variant that is surging around the country.New public artwork above an alley in Philadelphia attracts attentionTo bolster its case, Pfizer pointed the FDA to data from Israel, which began offering boosters over the summer.That study tracked about 1 million people 60 and older and found those who got the extra shot were far less likely to become infected soon afterward. Pfizer said that translates to “roughly 95% effectiveness” when delta was spreading, comparable to the protection seen shortly after the vaccine’s rollout earlier in the year.The Israeli data, also published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, cannot say how long the boosted protection lasts.The FDA's reviewers, however, suggested they would mainly look to research on how the vaccines are working among Americans, saying that “may most accurately represent vaccine effectiveness in the U.S. population.”Overall, the data show that the Pfizer and other U.S.-authorized COVID-19 vaccines “still afford protection against severe COVID-19 disease and death in the United States,” the agency said, summarizing the evidence.The FDA is not bound to follow the advice of its independent advisory panel. But if the agency overrules its own experts, that could stoke public confusion. Earlier this week, two top FDA vaccine regulators joined a group of international scientists in rejecting boosters now for otherwise healthy individuals, citing the strong continuing protection against severe disease.Dr. Anna Durbin of Johns Hopkins School of Public Health said it’s important to understand the FDA’s decision simply is whether an extra dose is safe and does what it promises — to raise immunity levels.If the FDA decides the extra shot does those two things, then the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will have to decide who should get another dose. The CDC has scheduled a meeting of its own advisers for next week and has signaled it is considering a booster for certain people — such as older adults, nursing home residents and front-line health workers — rather than the general population.The broader issue: "What really is going to control the delta variant is vaccinating the unvaccinated, not boosters,” Durbin said. More than one-third of Americans who are eligible for the shots aren't yet fully vaccinated, according to CDC data.The U.S. already offers an extra dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to people with severely weakened immune systems.For the average person, what’s the evidence that immunity is waning? The CDC says real-world data show protection against severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths is holding strong. But in one recent study, protection against infection slipped as the delta variant hit: It was 91% in the spring but 78% in June and July. The CDC also has seen a hint that for people 75 and older, protection against hospitalizations slightly declined in the summer.Moderna also has asked FDA to allow a booster dose of its vaccine, and on Wednesday posted its own study of waning immunity.

Experts at FDA still disagree over need for COVID vaccine booster 

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminds taxpayers 
about the upcoming October 15 due date to file 2020 tax returns. People 
who asked for an extension should file on or before the extension 
deadline to avoid the penalty for filing late. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">Electronic filing options</a>, such as IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a>, are still available.

Although October 15 is the last day for most people to file, some taxpayers may have more time. They include:

There is usually no penalty for failure to file if the taxpayer 
is due a refund. However, people who wait too long to file and claim a 
refund, risk losing it altogether. Those who have yet to file a 2020 tax
 return, owe tax, and did not request an extension can generally avoid 
additional penalties and interest by filing the return as soon as 
possible and paying any taxes owed.

Schedule federal tax payments electronically

Taxpayers can file now and schedule their federal tax payments up to 
the October 15 due date. They can pay online, by phone or with their 
mobile device and the IRS2Go app. When paying federal taxes 
electronically taxpayers should remember:

Taxpayers can use their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/view-your-tax-account">online account</a>&nbsp;to
 securely see important information when preparing to file their tax 
return or following up on balances or notices. This includes:

The safest and fastest way for people to get a refund is to file 
electronically and have their refund electronically deposited into their
 bank or other financial account. Taxpayers can use&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a>&nbsp;to deposit their refund into one, two or even three accounts. They can also <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/now-you-can-buy-us-series-i-savings-bonds-for-anyone-with-your-tax-refund">purchase U.S. Savings Bonds</a>.

People who don't have a bank account can go to the <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/about/initiatives/getbanked/index.html">FDIC website</a>&nbsp;or the National Credit Union Association to use their <a href="https://www.mycreditunion.gov/about-credit-unions/credit-union-locator">Credit Union Locator Tool</a> for information on where to open an online bank or credit union account. Veterans can use the <a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/banking.asp">Veterans Benefits Banking Program (VBBP)</a>&nbsp;for access to financial services at participating banks.

Monthly advance Child Tax Credit payments

Millions of American families currently receive <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">monthly advance Child Tax Credit payments</a>
 either through direct deposit or paper check. These payments represent 
half of the increased Child Tax Credit from the American Rescue Plan and
 will continue through the end of the year.

For those <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-eligibility-assistant">eligible</a>
 and on extension for their 2020 tax returns, the IRS is using previous 
year tax information, 2019 for most, to determine the credit amount. The
 IRS urges people who requested an extension to file as soon as possible
 if they experienced a major change such as the birth of a child in 
2020. Once that return is processed, the IRS can <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-topic-c-calculation-of-the-2021-child-tax-credit">calculate the credit</a> based on the 2020 return and pay it out in full over the remaining months in 2021.

Those who file and have their 2020 return processed on or before 
November&nbsp;1, may be eligible for two payments of half the credit in 2021.
 Similarly, people who file and have their return processed on or before
 November&nbsp;29, may be eligible for one payment.

To speed the processing of returns and to avoid delays, the IRS urges everyone to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">file electronically</a>.

Complete information on the advance Child Tax Credit is available on IRS.gov.

Act soon to claim missing stimulus payments

For anyone who missed out on the first two rounds of stimulus 
payments, it's not too late. People who didn't get a first and second 
Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amounts can get that 
missing money if they're eligible for it, but they need to act soon.

When it comes to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">missing stimulus payments,</a> it's critical that eligible people file a 2020 tax return or use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">Child Tax Credit Non-filer Sign-up Tool</a>
 soon even if they don't usually file to provide information the IRS 
needs to send the payments. The IRS will also automatically evaluate the
 taxpayer's eligibility for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/third-economic-impact-payment">the third economic impact payment</a> when the 2020 return is processed.

The IRS will continue to issue eligible taxpayers their third 
economic impact payment and plus-up payments through the end of 2021. 
File a 2020 tax return electronically as soon as possible to give the IRS time to process and issue the payments before the end of 2021.

Taxpayers will find answers to many questions using the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA)</a>, a tax law resource that works using a series of questions and responses. Additionally, the IRS provides payment options at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a> and tax information is available in several languages by clicking on the "English" tab on the front page of IRS.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminds taxpayers 
about the upcoming October 15 due date to file 2020 tax returns. People 
who asked for an extension should file on or before the extension 
deadline to avoid the penalty for filing late. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">Electronic filing options</a>, such as IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a>, are still available.Although October 15 is the last day for most people to file, some taxpayers may have more time. They include:<ul>
 <li>Members of the military and others serving in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/combat-zones">combat zone</a>. They typically have 180 days after they leave the combat zone to file returns and pay any taxes due.</li><li>Taxpayers in federally declared disaster areas who already had valid extensions. For details, see the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">disaster relief</a>&nbsp;page on IRS.gov.</li>
 </ul>There is usually no penalty for failure to file if the taxpayer 
is due a refund. However, people who wait too long to file and claim a 
refund, risk losing it altogether. Those who have yet to file a 2020 tax
 return, owe tax, and did not request an extension can generally avoid 
additional penalties and interest by filing the return as soon as 
possible and paying any taxes owed.<h2>Schedule federal tax payments electronically</h2>Taxpayers can file now and schedule their federal tax payments up to 
the October 15 due date. They can pay online, by phone or with their 
mobile device and the IRS2Go app. When paying federal taxes 
electronically taxpayers should remember:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">Electronic payment options</a>&nbsp;are the optimal way to make a tax payment.</li><li>They can pay when they file electronically using tax software 
online. If using a tax preparer, taxpayers should ask the preparer to 
make the tax payment through an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-taxes-by-electronic-funds-withdrawal">electronic funds withdrawal</a>&nbsp;from a bank account.</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">IRS Direct Pay</a>&nbsp;allows
 taxpayers to pay online directly from a checking or savings account for
 free, and to schedule payments up to 365 days in advance.</li><li>Choices to pay with a credit card, debit card or digital wallet option are available through a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">payment processor</a>. The payment processor, not the IRS, charges a fee for this service.</li><li>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go</a>&nbsp;app provides the mobile-friendly payment options, including Direct Pay and debit or credit card payments on mobile devices.</li><li>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>&nbsp;is convenient, safe and easy. Choose to pay online or by phone by using the EFTPS Voice Response System.</li>
 </ul><h2>View tax account online</h2>Taxpayers can use their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/view-your-tax-account">online account</a>&nbsp;to
 securely see important information when preparing to file their tax 
return or following up on balances or notices. This includes:<ul>
 <li>Adjusted Gross Income: This can be useful if using a different tax software or tax preparer this year.</li><li>Economic Impact Payment amounts: Eligible 
individuals who did not receive the full amounts of both Economic Impact
 Payments may claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2020 federal tax
 return. To claim the full amount, taxpayers will need to know the 
amounts of the Economic Impact Payments received. These amounts can be 
found on the Tax Records tab in online account.</li><li>Estimated tax payment amounts:&nbsp;The total of any 
estimated tax payments made during the year or refunds applied as a 
credit can be found on the Account Balance tab in online account, and a 
record of each payment appears under Payment Activity.</li>
 </ul>Additionally, taxpayers can view the:<ul>
 <li>Amount owed for any past years, updated for the current calendar day,</li><li>Payment history and any scheduled or pending payments,</li><li>Payment plan details,</li><li>Digital copies of select notices from the IRS, and</li><li>Approve or reject authorization requests from tax professionals.</li>
 </ul><h2>Choose direct deposit for refunds</h2>The safest and fastest way for people to get a refund is to file 
electronically and have their refund electronically deposited into their
 bank or other financial account. Taxpayers can use&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a>&nbsp;to deposit their refund into one, two or even three accounts. They can also <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/now-you-can-buy-us-series-i-savings-bonds-for-anyone-with-your-tax-refund">purchase U.S. Savings Bonds</a>.People who don't have a bank account can go to the <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/about/initiatives/getbanked/index.html">FDIC website</a>&nbsp;or the National Credit Union Association to use their <a href="https://www.mycreditunion.gov/about-credit-unions/credit-union-locator">Credit Union Locator Tool</a> for information on where to open an online bank or credit union account. Veterans can use the <a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/banking.asp">Veterans Benefits Banking Program (VBBP)</a>&nbsp;for access to financial services at participating banks.<h2>Monthly advance Child Tax Credit payments</h2>Millions of American families currently receive <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">monthly advance Child Tax Credit payments</a>
 either through direct deposit or paper check. These payments represent 
half of the increased Child Tax Credit from the American Rescue Plan and
 will continue through the end of the year.For those <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-eligibility-assistant">eligible</a>
 and on extension for their 2020 tax returns, the IRS is using previous 
year tax information, 2019 for most, to determine the credit amount. The
 IRS urges people who requested an extension to file as soon as possible
 if they experienced a major change such as the birth of a child in 
2020. Once that return is processed, the IRS can <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-topic-c-calculation-of-the-2021-child-tax-credit">calculate the credit</a> based on the 2020 return and pay it out in full over the remaining months in 2021.Those who file and have their 2020 return processed on or before 
November&nbsp;1, may be eligible for two payments of half the credit in 2021.
 Similarly, people who file and have their return processed on or before
 November&nbsp;29, may be eligible for one payment.To speed the processing of returns and to avoid delays, the IRS urges everyone to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">file electronically</a>.Complete information on the advance Child Tax Credit is available on IRS.gov.<h2>Act soon to claim missing stimulus payments</h2>For anyone who missed out on the first two rounds of stimulus 
payments, it's not too late. People who didn't get a first and second 
Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amounts can get that 
missing money if they're eligible for it, but they need to act soon.When it comes to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">missing stimulus payments,</a> it's critical that eligible people file a 2020 tax return or use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">Child Tax Credit Non-filer Sign-up Tool</a>
 soon even if they don't usually file to provide information the IRS 
needs to send the payments. The IRS will also automatically evaluate the
 taxpayer's eligibility for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/third-economic-impact-payment">the third economic impact payment</a> when the 2020 return is processed.The IRS will continue to issue eligible taxpayers their third 
economic impact payment and plus-up payments through the end of 2021. 
File a 2020 tax return electronically as soon as possible to give the IRS time to process and issue the payments before the end of 2021.<h2>IRS.gov assistance</h2>Taxpayers will find answers to many questions using the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA)</a>, a tax law resource that works using a series of questions and responses. Additionally, the IRS provides payment options at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a> and tax information is available in several languages by clicking on the "English" tab on the front page of IRS.gov.

Deadline looms for taxpayers who requested extensions to file 2020 returns

The University of Kansas Health System

The number of active COVID patients at The
 University of Kansas Health System is steady Wednesday. 38 patients with 
the active virus are being treated, the same as yesterday. Only five of 
those 38 are vaccinated. 16 patients are in the ICU, up from 13 
yesterday and only one of those patients is vaccinated.

Nine are on 
ventilators, up from seven yesterday. 40 other patients are still 
hospitalized because of COVID but are out of the acute infection phase, 
down from 41 yesterday. That’s a total of 78 patients, down from 79 
yesterday. HaysMed has 15 total patients, up from 14 yesterday.

Today, 
another episode of Open Mics With Dr. Stites. Steve Stites, MD, chief 
medical officer at The University of Kansas Health System, was joined by
 Colette Lasack, Vice President of Revenue Cycle at the health system. 
They took a close look at how insurance is changing for COVID patients.&nbsp;

Lasack revealed an eye-popping
 number. She says it’s common for a COVID patient who’s been 
hospitalized for several weeks with intensive and extraordinary care to 
end up with a bill of more than one million dollars. Some have been more
 than two million dollars. How is anyone supposed to pay that staggering
 amount back? In her words, “You don’t.” 

She explained how the health 
system does everything possible to help patients secure coverage, and 
says there’s a high discount rate for the uninsured, but sometimes that 
still leaves people with a bill of a hundred thousand dollars, which is 
still impossible for many to pay. In that case, when all other avenues 
are exhausted, sometimes the health system has to write off the bill as 
charity care. That puts a burden on the whole system. She says most 
people don’t realize how COVID can be financially devastating for 
patients and their families, especially for those younger patients who 
might not be able to go back to work for a long time, if ever. 

She 
mentioned things aren’t likely to get better for insurance as many 
companies are starting to end their initial practice of waiving 
deductibles and copays for COVID treatment. That’s because they are 
starting to treat COVID as a preventable disease, and the unvaccinated 
may have to pay more for insurance, similar to smokers, because they are
 at higher risk. That’s already happening for employees of Delta 
Airlines, and she says that’s an employer’s choice. Lasack also 
mentioned long haul patients, and said for now there is no special 
coverage for them beyond their normal insurance if they have it. The 
only things for which there is still no cost is COVID testing, 
vaccination, and treatment such as monoclonal antibodies. She urges 
everyone who is resisting the vaccine or even wearing a mask to think 
about your risk and the consequences of your behavior. She says, 
“Consider not only your health but also your financial health and what 
this could mean to you and your family.”

Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at The University of Kansas Health System, pointed to <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7036e2.htm?s_cid=mm7036e2_w">recent CDC findings</a>
 that even with Delta, fully vaccinated people have a reduced risk of 
infection by five times, they had a reduced risk of hospitalization by 
ten times and a reduced risk of death by more than 10 times. To those 
who worry about reports of blood clots and myocarditis from the vaccine,
 especially in teens, he says those cases are extremely rare. He says 
the risk of those conditions from getting COVID is much higher and the 
effects much more severe. He urges parents not to be swayed by protests 
and demonstrations against masks in schools, saying there is good real 
world evidence from large random controlled trials that masks work to 
keep COVID from spreading. He thinks increased vaccination is helping 
with the current downward trend of hospitalizations.

Dr. Stites says the biggest 
threat of unvaccinated people is that we can’t get back to real life. He
 believes the reason we’re not succeeding with the pandemic in the U.S. 
is not that we don’t have a way out. It’s those who refuse to follow the
 science and do the right thing. 

He says, “For all those folks who said 
it wasn’t safe, there are two billion doses that say it’s overwhelmingly
 safe, and it’s much safer than having COVID.” To those who say masks 
and vaccinations are unconstitutional, he points out the Constitution 
says with freedom comes responsibility. 

“At some point we have to quit 
fighting about whether COVID is real. Of course it’s real.” He asks, “At
 what point is it not OK to have an increasingly smaller group of 
individuals keep the rest of society hostage from getting back to normal
 life?” 

He stresses that vaccinated patients don’t die, they spread the 
virus to a much lesser degree and vaccinated countries like Denmark with
 a 75 percent vaccination rate are able to lift restrictions and reopen 
society. “Vaccination is safe and it’s effective and it works.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584374089535.png" alt="Steve Stites, MD, Chief Medical Officer" />
 <figcaption>Steve Stites, MD, Chief Medical Officer</figcaption>
 </figure>The University of Kansas Health SystemThe number of active COVID patients at The
 University of Kansas Health System is steady Wednesday. 38 patients with 
the active virus are being treated, the same as yesterday. Only five of 
those 38 are vaccinated. 16 patients are in the ICU, up from 13 
yesterday and only one of those patients is vaccinated.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5wKYHa2ckvY?start=68" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Nine are on 
ventilators, up from seven yesterday. 40 other patients are still 
hospitalized because of COVID but are out of the acute infection phase, 
down from 41 yesterday. That’s a total of 78 patients, down from 79 
yesterday. HaysMed has 15 total patients, up from 14 yesterday.Today, 
another episode of Open Mics With Dr. Stites. Steve Stites, MD, chief 
medical officer at The University of Kansas Health System, was joined by
 Colette Lasack, Vice President of Revenue Cycle at the health system. 
They took a close look at how insurance is changing for COVID patients.&nbsp;Lasack revealed an eye-popping
 number. She says it’s common for a COVID patient who’s been 
hospitalized for several weeks with intensive and extraordinary care to 
end up with a bill of more than one million dollars. Some have been more
 than two million dollars. How is anyone supposed to pay that staggering
 amount back? In her words, “You don’t.” She explained how the health 
system does everything possible to help patients secure coverage, and 
says there’s a high discount rate for the uninsured, but sometimes that 
still leaves people with a bill of a hundred thousand dollars, which is 
still impossible for many to pay. In that case, when all other avenues 
are exhausted, sometimes the health system has to write off the bill as 
charity care. That puts a burden on the whole system. She says most 
people don’t realize how COVID can be financially devastating for 
patients and their families, especially for those younger patients who 
might not be able to go back to work for a long time, if ever. She 
mentioned things aren’t likely to get better for insurance as many 
companies are starting to end their initial practice of waiving 
deductibles and copays for COVID treatment. That’s because they are 
starting to treat COVID as a preventable disease, and the unvaccinated 
may have to pay more for insurance, similar to smokers, because they are
 at higher risk. That’s already happening for employees of Delta 
Airlines, and she says that’s an employer’s choice. Lasack also 
mentioned long haul patients, and said for now there is no special 
coverage for them beyond their normal insurance if they have it. The 
only things for which there is still no cost is COVID testing, 
vaccination, and treatment such as monoclonal antibodies. She urges 
everyone who is resisting the vaccine or even wearing a mask to think 
about your risk and the consequences of your behavior. She says, 
“Consider not only your health but also your financial health and what 
this could mean to you and your family.”Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at The University of Kansas Health System, pointed to <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7036e2.htm?s_cid=mm7036e2_w">recent CDC findings</a>
 that even with Delta, fully vaccinated people have a reduced risk of 
infection by five times, they had a reduced risk of hospitalization by 
ten times and a reduced risk of death by more than 10 times. To those 
who worry about reports of blood clots and myocarditis from the vaccine,
 especially in teens, he says those cases are extremely rare. He says 
the risk of those conditions from getting COVID is much higher and the 
effects much more severe. He urges parents not to be swayed by protests 
and demonstrations against masks in schools, saying there is good real 
world evidence from large random controlled trials that masks work to 
keep COVID from spreading. He thinks increased vaccination is helping 
with the current downward trend of hospitalizations.Dr. Stites says the biggest 
threat of unvaccinated people is that we can’t get back to real life. He
 believes the reason we’re not succeeding with the pandemic in the U.S. 
is not that we don’t have a way out. It’s those who refuse to follow the
 science and do the right thing. He says, “For all those folks who said 
it wasn’t safe, there are two billion doses that say it’s overwhelmingly
 safe, and it’s much safer than having COVID.” To those who say masks 
and vaccinations are unconstitutional, he points out the Constitution 
says with freedom comes responsibility. “At some point we have to quit 
fighting about whether COVID is real. Of course it’s real.” He asks, “At
 what point is it not OK to have an increasingly smaller group of 
individuals keep the rest of society hostage from getting back to normal
 life?” He stresses that vaccinated patients don’t die, they spread the 
virus to a much lesser degree and vaccinated countries like Denmark with
 a 75 percent vaccination rate are able to lift restrictions and reopen 
society. “Vaccination is safe and it’s effective and it works.”

🎥 Expert: COVID treatment can ring up bills of $1-2M for patients 

DOVER, Del. (AP) — One of the primary insurers of the Boy Scouts of America announced Tuesday that it has reached a tentative settlement agreement with the organization and with attorneys representing tens of thousands of men who say they were molested decades ago by scoutmasters and others.

Under the agreement, insurance company The Hartford will pay $787 million into a fund to be established for the men, the company said in a news release. In exchange for the payment, the Boy Scouts organization and its local councils have agreed to release The Hartford from further liability regarding sexual abuse claims.

Under a separate settlement, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has agreed to pay $250 million into the fund for abuse claimants, said church spokesman Eric Hawkins. The denomination, commonly known as the Mormon church, was the largest single sponsor of Boy Scout troops before ending its partnership with the BSA at the beginning of last year.

The proposed settlements are part of an ongoing effort by the Boy Scouts, which declared bankruptcy in February 2020, to forge a reorganization plan that must win approval by a majority of abuse victims and the court. Attorneys are still trying to negotiate a settlement with the Boy Scouts’ other major insurer, Century Indemnity.

The proposed settlements are opposed by the official victims committee appointed by the U.S. bankruptcy trustee, as well as law firms separately representing hundreds of men who have filed sexual abuse claims. Representatives of the official victims committee described the proposed settlements as “grossly unfair.”

“The only winners in this latest proposal are the Boy Scouts, their local councils, the Mormon Church, and the Hartford insurance company,” Michael Pfau, an attorney whose firm represents more than 1,000 abuse claimants in the bankruptcy, said in a prepared statement.

“The Boy Scouts are offering abuse survivors a fraction of what their cases are worth and the assets available to pay them,” Pfau added. “The Mormon church is reported to have roughly $100 billion in assets, but it is offering a paltry $250 million to compensate the thousands of abuse survivors who were abused in Mormon Boy Scout troops by Mormon Scout leaders.”

The proposed settlements will be incorporated into a new reorganization plan that attorneys for the Boy Scouts were expected to file late Tuesday night.

The new agreement with The Hartford was negotiated after the bankruptcy judge last month rejected two key provisions of an $850 million deal that the BSA had reached with attorneys representing a majority of abuse claimants.

Judge Laura Selber Silverstein denied the BSA’s request as part of that deal for permission to withdraw from a previous $650 million settlement it had reached with The Hartford. The Boy Scouts sought to withdraw from that April agreement after attorneys for abuse claimants repeatedly insisted that their clients would never vote for a reorganization plan that included it.

Silverstein also rejected a proposal for the Boy Scouts to pay millions of dollars in legal fees and expenses of attorneys hired by a coalition of law firms that represent tens of thousands of abuse claimants. The judge noted that any such payment would come out of the pockets of abuse claimants themselves.

The new settlement with The Hartford was the product of negotiations that included attorneys representing an ad hoc group called the Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice. Law firms affiliated with the group represent more than 60,000 sex abuse claimants.

“These are very significant developments,” said Ken Rothweiler, whose law firm is affiliated with the coalition and represents roughly 16,800 abuse claimants.

The proposed settlements, coupled with the $850 million contribution from the BSA and local councils, would bring the fund for abuse claimants to almost $1.9 billion. If the plan is approved, it would represent one of the largest sex-abuse settlements in U.S. history.

Meanwhile, the official victims committee has estimated the total liability exposure of Boy Scouts insurers for abuse claims at more than $100 billion.

The committee supported the previous arrangement, which called for the earlier settlement with The Hartford to be scrapped and for the Boy Scouts and local BSA councils, which run day-to-day operations for Boy Scout troops, to contribute $850 million and their rights to insurance policies to the fund for abuse claimants. The committee noted that the primary value for abuse survivors under that deal would come from available insurance coverage.

Insurance companies pushed back hard against that plan, arguing that the proposed transfer of insurance rights unlawfully stripped them of their ability to question claims and improperly allowed the trustee overseeing the victims fund to determine what insurers owed without being challenged. Insurers also questioned a provision allowing expedited payments of $3,500 from the fund to resolve abuse claims, no questions asked.

DOVER, Del. (AP) — One of the primary insurers of the Boy Scouts of America announced Tuesday that it has reached a tentative settlement agreement with the organization and with attorneys representing tens of thousands of men who say they were molested decades ago by scoutmasters and others.Under the agreement, insurance company The Hartford will pay $787 million into a fund to be established for the men, the company said in a news release. In exchange for the payment, the Boy Scouts organization and its local councils have agreed to release The Hartford from further liability regarding sexual abuse claims.Under a separate settlement, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has agreed to pay $250 million into the fund for abuse claimants, said church spokesman Eric Hawkins. The denomination, commonly known as the Mormon church, was the largest single sponsor of Boy Scout troops before ending its partnership with the BSA at the beginning of last year.The proposed settlements are part of an ongoing effort by the Boy Scouts, which declared bankruptcy in February 2020, to forge a reorganization plan that must win approval by a majority of abuse victims and the court. Attorneys are still trying to negotiate a settlement with the Boy Scouts’ other major insurer, Century Indemnity.The proposed settlements are opposed by the official victims committee appointed by the U.S. bankruptcy trustee, as well as law firms separately representing hundreds of men who have filed sexual abuse claims. Representatives of the official victims committee described the proposed settlements as “grossly unfair.”“The only winners in this latest proposal are the Boy Scouts, their local councils, the Mormon Church, and the Hartford insurance company,” Michael Pfau, an attorney whose firm represents more than 1,000 abuse claimants in the bankruptcy, said in a prepared statement.“The Boy Scouts are offering abuse survivors a fraction of what their cases are worth and the assets available to pay them,” Pfau added. “The Mormon church is reported to have roughly $100 billion in assets, but it is offering a paltry $250 million to compensate the thousands of abuse survivors who were abused in Mormon Boy Scout troops by Mormon Scout leaders.”The proposed settlements will be incorporated into a new reorganization plan that attorneys for the Boy Scouts were expected to file late Tuesday night.The new agreement with The Hartford was negotiated after the bankruptcy judge last month rejected two key provisions of an $850 million deal that the BSA had reached with attorneys representing a majority of abuse claimants.Judge Laura Selber Silverstein denied the BSA’s request as part of that deal for permission to withdraw from a previous $650 million settlement it had reached with The Hartford. The Boy Scouts sought to withdraw from that April agreement after attorneys for abuse claimants repeatedly insisted that their clients would never vote for a reorganization plan that included it.Silverstein also rejected a proposal for the Boy Scouts to pay millions of dollars in legal fees and expenses of attorneys hired by a coalition of law firms that represent tens of thousands of abuse claimants. The judge noted that any such payment would come out of the pockets of abuse claimants themselves.The new settlement with The Hartford was the product of negotiations that included attorneys representing an ad hoc group called the Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice. Law firms affiliated with the group represent more than 60,000 sex abuse claimants.“These are very significant developments,” said Ken Rothweiler, whose law firm is affiliated with the coalition and represents roughly 16,800 abuse claimants.The proposed settlements, coupled with the $850 million contribution from the BSA and local councils, would bring the fund for abuse claimants to almost $1.9 billion. If the plan is approved, it would represent one of the largest sex-abuse settlements in U.S. history.Meanwhile, the official victims committee has estimated the total liability exposure of Boy Scouts insurers for abuse claims at more than $100 billion.The committee supported the previous arrangement, which called for the earlier settlement with The Hartford to be scrapped and for the Boy Scouts and local BSA councils, which run day-to-day operations for Boy Scout troops, to contribute $850 million and their rights to insurance policies to the fund for abuse claimants. The committee noted that the primary value for abuse survivors under that deal would come from available insurance coverage.Insurance companies pushed back hard against that plan, arguing that the proposed transfer of insurance rights unlawfully stripped them of their ability to question claims and improperly allowed the trustee overseeing the victims fund to determine what insurers owed without being challenged. Insurers also questioned a provision allowing expedited payments of $3,500 from the fund to resolve abuse claims, no questions asked.

Sex abuse claim: Boy Scouts settlements reached with insurer

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The new federal vaccine requirement announced by President Joe Biden has created another worry for large businesses: With help wanted signs up almost everywhere, some could lose valuable employees or won’t be able to find new ones.

Biden announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-executive-branch-18fb12993f05be13bf760946a6fb89be">sweeping new orders</a>&nbsp;last week that will require employers with more than 100 workers to mandate vaccinations against COVID-19 or offer weekly testing. The new rules could affect as many as 100 million Americans, although it’s not clear how many of those people are currently unvaccinated.

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, says the vaccine mandate could go a long way to boost the economy.

“The evidence across countries is that more vaccinations means fewer infections, hospitalizations and deaths, which in turn means a stronger economy,” he said.

But even those who favor Biden’s decision as a way to stop the coronavirus from spreading further are afraid that vaccination-averse workers will quit, or job seekers won’t apply for their openings. Some workers may also switch to smaller companies where shots in the arm aren’t required.

“In a tight marketplace, it’s very difficult to find employees, much less to keep our current employees,” said Jonathan Chariff, CEO of South Motors, a group of 12 auto dealerships in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area with more than 1,100 workers. “It’s easy for them to go and find another job elsewhere.”

To be sure, the mandate could make some employees more comfortable working with others in tight spaces. Indeed, Chariff said his company supports Biden’s move and wants to make sure all workers are vaccinated to keep them safe, especially after two employees died from the virus. However, the company decided against requiring them because of the labor shortage. Right now, Chariff has 80 to 100 openings.

Karl Wadensten, CEO of Richmond, Rhode Island-based VIBCO Vibrators, was an early adopter of masks, weekly virus testing and temperature checks at his manufacturing business and has encouraged vaccinations, but fears he’d lose employees if he forced them to get the jab.

Wadensten, whose company makes industrial vibrators used in dump trucks and other applications, said Friday he is waiting for more clarity about what the Biden orders will mean for his business, which has a small number of government contracts. His workforce has been hovering just above and below 100 employees, of whom about 85% are vaccinated.

“For that other 15%, it would be detrimental to their beliefs and values that they have,” he said.

Conversely, smaller companies see being exempt as an advantage. Like other businesses, Alan Dietrich, CEO of Crater Lake Spirits in Bend, Oregon, is facing staff shortages. He has a 36 workers, with an immediate need for two or three more.

“Being left out of the mandate is helpful for hiring,” he said. “We are still finding that a small but meaningful number of people in our area are vaccine hesitant, and staffing is so tough that even one person is significant to us.”

On the other hand, he said, the business is more susceptible to slowdowns or shutdowns due to positive tests. But a statewide mask mandate in Oregon “definitely helps keep our staff safer,” he said.

The Associated Press reached out to a wide range of companies since Thursday’s announcement. Many, like General Motors and Ford, said they favor vaccines but were analyzing the executive order. Others noted that they already require vaccinations.

Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, was one of the first major companies to mandate vaccines for workers at its headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, and its managers who travel within the U.S. must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 4. But it excluded front-line workers such as cashiers, who according to the company have a lower vaccination rate than management.

The tech industry has largely been at the forefront of vaccine requirements, making the sector in general a likely supporter of Biden’s policy on the issue. In late July, Google became one of the first major U.S. employers to decide all its workers needed to be vaccinated before returning to the office. Facebook quickly adopted a similar policy a few hours after Google took its hard stand on vaccines.

Angela B. Cornell, a clinical professor at Cornell Law School who focuses on labor law, said the mandates are a positive step for businesses.

“This shift will make it a lot easier for employers to push those individuals who have been on the fence or who have been opposed,” she said.

Companies won’t have to worry about being sued, since it’s a government mandate and not one from the employer, she said.

Per Biden’s order, the millions who work as employees of the executive branch and contractors who do business with the federal government won’t have the option to get tested instead of taking the vaccine. The order also requires large companies to provide paid time off for vaccination.

Those who don’t work for federal contractors and are afraid of the vaccine can choose weekly testing instead, but many people who are simply hesitant are more likely to get immunized, said Dorit Reiss, a professor at the University of California Hastings College of the Law who has studied vaccine mandates for nearly a decade.

“The testing is sufficiently burdensome that most of them would prefer just to be vaccinated,” she said.

Half of American workers favor of vaccine requirements at their workplaces, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-business-health-travel-coronavirus-pandemic-1afb2682d6e08cdb54c5131f967f278a">poll from The Associated Press-NORC</a>&nbsp;Center for Public Affairs Research. Such mandates have already been gaining traction following the Food and Drug Administration’s full approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines from Moderna and Johnson &amp; Johnson are available under emergency authorization, but haven’t been formally approved.

Cole Stevenson, an assembly line worker at Ford’s pickup truck plant in Dearborn, Michigan, said the requirement is a “huge overreach” by the government. He hasn’t been vaccinated and is concerned that the vaccines were released before being properly tested.

“They just haven’t done as much as they should have to be putting it into people now,” said Stevenson, who plans to get tested weekly rather than get vaccinated. “I just don’t trust it.”

The COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the U.S. have in fact been proven safe and remarkably effective against the worst outcomes of the disease in studies of tens of thousands of people and in following their real-world performance.

More than 177 million Americans are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, but confirmed cases of the virus have shot up in recent weeks. They’ve now reached an average of about 140,000 cases per day.

On average, about 1,000 Americans die from the virus daily, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 650,000 Americans have died from the virus since January of 2020, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Britton Durbin, a utility worker in Dunnellon, Florida, who is vaccinated, said mandates are needed to make sure workers are safe and the power company he works for can operate without being interrupted by people getting sick. His company hasn’t mandated vaccines yet, but has encouraged them. In the last couple of months, three colleagues have died of COVID-19.

“When I know my co-workers are vaccinated, it’s reassuring,” said Durbin, 32. “There’s less of a chance of them getting sick or passing on.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631221419994.png" alt="President Biden's new rules could affect as many as 100 million Americans, although it’s not clear how many of those people are currently unvaccinated-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden's new rules could affect as many as 100 million Americans, although it’s not clear how many of those people are currently unvaccinated-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —The new federal vaccine requirement announced by President Joe Biden has created another worry for large businesses: With help wanted signs up almost everywhere, some could lose valuable employees or won’t be able to find new ones.Biden announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-executive-branch-18fb12993f05be13bf760946a6fb89be">sweeping new orders</a>&nbsp;last week that will require employers with more than 100 workers to mandate vaccinations against COVID-19 or offer weekly testing. The new rules could affect as many as 100 million Americans, although it’s not clear how many of those people are currently unvaccinated.Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, says the vaccine mandate could go a long way to boost the economy.“The evidence across countries is that more vaccinations means fewer infections, hospitalizations and deaths, which in turn means a stronger economy,” he said.But even those who favor Biden’s decision as a way to stop the coronavirus from spreading further are afraid that vaccination-averse workers will quit, or job seekers won’t apply for their openings. Some workers may also switch to smaller companies where shots in the arm aren’t required.“In a tight marketplace, it’s very difficult to find employees, much less to keep our current employees,” said Jonathan Chariff, CEO of South Motors, a group of 12 auto dealerships in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area with more than 1,100 workers. “It’s easy for them to go and find another job elsewhere.”To be sure, the mandate could make some employees more comfortable working with others in tight spaces. Indeed, Chariff said his company supports Biden’s move and wants to make sure all workers are vaccinated to keep them safe, especially after two employees died from the virus. However, the company decided against requiring them because of the labor shortage. Right now, Chariff has 80 to 100 openings.Karl Wadensten, CEO of Richmond, Rhode Island-based VIBCO Vibrators, was an early adopter of masks, weekly virus testing and temperature checks at his manufacturing business and has encouraged vaccinations, but fears he’d lose employees if he forced them to get the jab.Wadensten, whose company makes industrial vibrators used in dump trucks and other applications, said Friday he is waiting for more clarity about what the Biden orders will mean for his business, which has a small number of government contracts. His workforce has been hovering just above and below 100 employees, of whom about 85% are vaccinated.“For that other 15%, it would be detrimental to their beliefs and values that they have,” he said.Conversely, smaller companies see being exempt as an advantage. Like other businesses, Alan Dietrich, CEO of Crater Lake Spirits in Bend, Oregon, is facing staff shortages. He has a 36 workers, with an immediate need for two or three more.“Being left out of the mandate is helpful for hiring,” he said. “We are still finding that a small but meaningful number of people in our area are vaccine hesitant, and staffing is so tough that even one person is significant to us.”On the other hand, he said, the business is more susceptible to slowdowns or shutdowns due to positive tests. But a statewide mask mandate in Oregon “definitely helps keep our staff safer,” he said.The Associated Press reached out to a wide range of companies since Thursday’s announcement. Many, like General Motors and Ford, said they favor vaccines but were analyzing the executive order. Others noted that they already require vaccinations.Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, was one of the first major companies to mandate vaccines for workers at its headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, and its managers who travel within the U.S. must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 4. But it excluded front-line workers such as cashiers, who according to the company have a lower vaccination rate than management.The tech industry has largely been at the forefront of vaccine requirements, making the sector in general a likely supporter of Biden’s policy on the issue. In late July, Google became one of the first major U.S. employers to decide all its workers needed to be vaccinated before returning to the office. Facebook quickly adopted a similar policy a few hours after Google took its hard stand on vaccines.Angela B. Cornell, a clinical professor at Cornell Law School who focuses on labor law, said the mandates are a positive step for businesses.“This shift will make it a lot easier for employers to push those individuals who have been on the fence or who have been opposed,” she said.Companies won’t have to worry about being sued, since it’s a government mandate and not one from the employer, she said.Per Biden’s order, the millions who work as employees of the executive branch and contractors who do business with the federal government won’t have the option to get tested instead of taking the vaccine. The order also requires large companies to provide paid time off for vaccination.Those who don’t work for federal contractors and are afraid of the vaccine can choose weekly testing instead, but many people who are simply hesitant are more likely to get immunized, said Dorit Reiss, a professor at the University of California Hastings College of the Law who has studied vaccine mandates for nearly a decade.“The testing is sufficiently burdensome that most of them would prefer just to be vaccinated,” she said.Half of American workers favor of vaccine requirements at their workplaces, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-business-health-travel-coronavirus-pandemic-1afb2682d6e08cdb54c5131f967f278a">poll from The Associated Press-NORC</a>&nbsp;Center for Public Affairs Research. Such mandates have already been gaining traction following the Food and Drug Administration’s full approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines from Moderna and Johnson &amp; Johnson are available under emergency authorization, but haven’t been formally approved.Cole Stevenson, an assembly line worker at Ford’s pickup truck plant in Dearborn, Michigan, said the requirement is a “huge overreach” by the government. He hasn’t been vaccinated and is concerned that the vaccines were released before being properly tested.“They just haven’t done as much as they should have to be putting it into people now,” said Stevenson, who plans to get tested weekly rather than get vaccinated. “I just don’t trust it.”The COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the U.S. have in fact been proven safe and remarkably effective against the worst outcomes of the disease in studies of tens of thousands of people and in following their real-world performance.More than 177 million Americans are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, but confirmed cases of the virus have shot up in recent weeks. They’ve now reached an average of about 140,000 cases per day.On average, about 1,000 Americans die from the virus daily, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 650,000 Americans have died from the virus since January of 2020, according to Johns Hopkins University.Britton Durbin, a utility worker in Dunnellon, Florida, who is vaccinated, said mandates are needed to make sure workers are safe and the power company he works for can operate without being interrupted by people getting sick. His company hasn’t mandated vaccines yet, but has encouraged them. In the last couple of months, three colleagues have died of COVID-19.“When I know my co-workers are vaccinated, it’s reassuring,” said Durbin, 32. “There’s less of a chance of them getting sick or passing on.”____

Vaccine mandate spawns new fear: Finding, keeping workers

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?514546-1/gymnasts-fbi-director-testify-larry-nassar-sexual-assault-investigation&amp;live=">CLICK here to watch </a>a replay of the statements from Simone Biles and the other gymnasts.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles told Congress on Wednesday that “enough is enough” in emotional testimony along with other young gymnasts about her sexual abuse at the hands of USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar.

Biles blamed not only the gymnastics organization but also federal law enforcement that “turned a blind eye” to the crimes as hundreds of young athletes were abused.

“I blame Larry Nassar and I also blame an entire system that enabled and perpetrated his abuse,” Biles said through tears in her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. She said USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee “knew that I was abused by their official team doctor long before I was ever made aware of their knowledge.”

McKayla Maroney, another gold medal winning gymnast, told senators that one night when she was 15 years old, she found the doctor on top of her while she was naked — one of many times she was abused. She said she thought she was going to die that evening.

Maroney said the FBI “minimized and disregarded” her after she reported Nassar and said the agency delayed the investigation as others were abused. “If they’re not going to protect me, I want to know who are they trying to protect,” she said.

She added: “I think for so long all of us questioned, just because someone else wasn’t fully validating us, that we doubted what happened to us. And I think that makes the healing process take longer.”

The hearing is part of a congressional effort to hold the FBI accountable after multiple missteps in investigating the case, including the delays that allowed Nassar to abuse additional young gymnasts. An internal investigation by the Justice Department released in July said that the FBI made fundamental errors in the probe and did not treat the case with the “utmost seriousness” after USA Gymnastics first reported the allegations to the FBI’s field office in Indianapolis in 2015. The FBI has acknowledged its own conduct was inexcusable as at least 40 girls and women said they were molested while the FBI was aware of the problem.

Biles and Maroney were joined by Aly Raisman, another Olympic gold medalist, and gymnast Maggie Nicols. Raisman said it “disgusts me” that they are still looking for answers six years after the original allegations against Nassar were reported.

“We just can’t fix a problem we don’t understand, and we can’t understand the problem unless and until we have all of the facts,” Raisman said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631722987090.png" alt="“I blame Larry Nassar and I also blame an entire system that enabled and perpetrated his abuse,” Biles said through tears.-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>“I blame Larry Nassar and I also blame an entire system that enabled and perpetrated his abuse,” Biles said through tears.-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?514546-1/gymnasts-fbi-director-testify-larry-nassar-sexual-assault-investigation&amp;live=">CLICK here to watch </a>a replay of the statements from Simone Biles and the other gymnasts.WASHINGTON (AP) — Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles told Congress on Wednesday that “enough is enough” in emotional testimony along with other young gymnasts about her sexual abuse at the hands of USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar.Biles blamed not only the gymnastics organization but also federal law enforcement that “turned a blind eye” to the crimes as hundreds of young athletes were abused.“I blame Larry Nassar and I also blame an entire system that enabled and perpetrated his abuse,” Biles said through tears in her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. She said USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee “knew that I was abused by their official team doctor long before I was ever made aware of their knowledge.”McKayla Maroney, another gold medal winning gymnast, told senators that one night when she was 15 years old, she found the doctor on top of her while she was naked — one of many times she was abused. She said she thought she was going to die that evening.Maroney said the FBI “minimized and disregarded” her after she reported Nassar and said the agency delayed the investigation as others were abused. “If they’re not going to protect me, I want to know who are they trying to protect,” she said.She added: “I think for so long all of us questioned, just because someone else wasn’t fully validating us, that we doubted what happened to us. And I think that makes the healing process take longer.”The hearing is part of a congressional effort to hold the FBI accountable after multiple missteps in investigating the case, including the delays that allowed Nassar to abuse additional young gymnasts. An internal investigation by the Justice Department released in July said that the FBI made fundamental errors in the probe and did not treat the case with the “utmost seriousness” after USA Gymnastics first reported the allegations to the FBI’s field office in Indianapolis in 2015. The FBI has acknowledged its own conduct was inexcusable as at least 40 girls and women said they were molested while the FBI was aware of the problem.Biles and Maroney were joined by Aly Raisman, another Olympic gold medalist, and gymnast Maggie Nicols. Raisman said it “disgusts me” that they are still looking for answers six years after the original allegations against Nassar were reported.“We just can’t fix a problem we don’t understand, and we can’t understand the problem unless and until we have all of the facts,” Raisman said.

🎥 Biles tells Congress FBI ignored gymnasts' report of abuse

WASHINGTON (AP) — To pay for the massive social plans that President Joe Biden envisions, House Democrats began serious work Tuesday on a maneuver worthy of the most agile circus acrobats. They’re looking to squeeze revenue from the elite 2% of Americans who earn more than $400,000 a year while leaving untouched everyone else — who Biden has pledged won’t see any tax increases.

Republicans, as opposed to those tax increases as expected, also turned their anger on Tuesday against proposed tax breaks they portrayed as subsidies for wealthy elites rather than help for the poor and middle class. Electric vehicles became a rallying symbol as class-warfare overtones echoed through a committee session.

The Democrats are proposing that the top tax rate rise back to 39.6% on individuals earning more than $400,000 — or $450,000 for couples — in addition to a 3% surtax on wealthier Americans with adjusted income beyond $5 million a year. For big business, the proposal would lift the corporate tax rate from 21% to 26.5% on companies’ annual income over $5 million.

“Look, I don’t want to punish anyone’s success, but the wealthy have been getting a free ride at the expense of the middle class for too long,” Biden tweeted Tuesday. “I intend to pass one of the biggest middle class tax cuts ever — paid for by making those at the top pay their fair share.”

For middle- and low-income people, tax help, not increase, is on offer as the House Ways and Means Committee digs into debate and drafting of tax proposals to both fund and buttress Biden’s ambitious $3.5 trillion rebuilding plan that includes spending for child care, health care, education and tackling climate change.

It’s an opening bid at a daunting moment for Biden and his allies in Congress as they assemble the “Build Back Better” package considered by some on par with the Great Society of the 1960s or even the New Deal of the 1930s Depression.

The proposals call for $273 billion in tax breaks for renewable energy and “clean” electricity, including $42 billion for electric vehicles and $15 billion for a “green workforce” and environmental items. Increases in the child tax credit to $300 a month per child under 6 and $250 monthly per child 6-17, which came in coronavirus relief legislation earlier this year, would be extended through 2025.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee, meanwhile, advanced proposals promoting clean electricity, investments in electric vehicles and other climate provisions. The 30-27 vote along party lines sends the energy measure forward as part of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s goal to approve the huge overall package.

The energy panel’s $456 billion slice is the most consequential for climate and greenhouse gas emissions, along with the tax breaks debated by the Ways and Means Committee.

The Democratic proposals would invest $150 billion in grants to encourage power companies to provide “clean electricity” from renewable sources such as wind and solar. Electricity suppliers would receive grants based on how much clean electricity they provide, as part of Biden’s plan to stop climate-damaging fossil fuel emissions from U.S. power plants by 2035.

All GOP lawmakers are expected to vote against the overall legislation. But Republicans are largely sidelined as Democrats rely on a budget process that will allow them to approve the proposals on their own — if they can muster their slight majority in Congress.

Democrats have no votes to spare to enact Biden’s agenda, with their slim hold on the House and the Senate split 50-50 and Vice President Kamala Harris the tiebreaker if there is no Republican support.

But one Democratic senator vital to the bill’s fate, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, says the cost will need to be slashed to $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion to win his support. And Manchin appeared Tuesday to dig in his heels on insisting that parents meet work requirements to receive the child tax credit.

Manchin also has said he will not support a number of clean energy and climate provisions pushed by Democrats.

A day earlier, Biden appeared to respond to concerns about the plan’s size, saying the cost “may be” as much as $3.5 trillion and would be spread out over 10 years as the economy grew.

Republican lawmakers, who have denounced the Democratic spending plan as socialist and job-killing, also went after proposed tax breaks on Tuesday.

The Democrats propose to extend to five years the current $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit for five years, with another $4,500 if a car is made by union workers, and $500 more for a U.S.-made battery. But Republicans painted electric vehicles as a bourgeois-bohemian accessory to be subsidized by taxpayers, the latest symbol of excess.

“Speaking of outrageous green welfare, this bill allows a near-millionaire family to buy a $75,000 Beamer, Jaguar or Benz luxury electric vehicle — and their maid is forced to send them a $12,500 subsidy from her taxes,” said Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, the panel’s senior Republican. “Why are blue-collar workers, nurses, teachers and firefighters subsidizing the wealthy and big business with a quarter of a trillion dollars in green welfare checks?”

Hold on, said Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich. “We’re not going to subsidize the wealthiest buying luxury vehicles.” The legislation does impose caps on the sale price of the vehicle ($55,000 for a sedan) and the income of the buyer ($600,000 adjusted gross income for a head of household.)

The proposal hits another nerve for Republicans, Democrats’ support of labor unions, by adding the incentives for vehicles and batteries manufacture by union workers.

As they slogged through the legislation, members of the majority Democratic committee voted down a series of Republican amendments seeking to tighten the limitations on electric vehicle credits and to eliminate other tax breaks denounced as smacking of progressive Democrats’ proposed “Green New Deal.”

The House tax proposal is pitched as potentially raising some $2.9 trillion — a preliminary estimate — which would go a long way toward paying for the $3.5 trillion legislation. The White House is counting on long-term economic growth from the spending plan to generate an additional $600 billion to make up the difference.

To reach the Democrats’ goal, much of the revenue raised would come from the higher taxes on corporations and the highest earners, increasing the individual tax rate to 39.6% from the current 37%.

Targeting wealthy individuals, the Democrats propose an increase in the top tax rate on capital gains for those earning $400,000 a year or more, to 25% from the current 20%. Exemptions for estate taxes, which were doubled under a 2017 Republican tax law to $11.7 million for individuals, would revert to $5 million.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631701593369.png" alt="Kansas Rep. Ron Estes during Tuesday's mark up session -photo House Ways and Means Committee" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Rep. Ron Estes during Tuesday's mark up session -photo House Ways and Means Committee</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — To pay for the massive social plans that President Joe Biden envisions, House Democrats began serious work Tuesday on a maneuver worthy of the most agile circus acrobats. They’re looking to squeeze revenue from the elite 2% of Americans who earn more than $400,000 a year while leaving untouched everyone else — who Biden has pledged won’t see any tax increases.Republicans, as opposed to those tax increases as expected, also turned their anger on Tuesday against proposed tax breaks they portrayed as subsidies for wealthy elites rather than help for the poor and middle class. Electric vehicles became a rallying symbol as class-warfare overtones echoed through a committee session.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Biden&#39;s call to raise excise taxes is breaking his promise not to raise taxes on those making under $400,000 a year. These tax hikes are in addition to the jump we&#39;ve seen in prices caused by Democrats&#39; torrent of federal spending.&mdash; Rep. Ron Estes (@RepRonEstes) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepRonEstes/status/1437799984833892352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Democrats are proposing that the top tax rate rise back to 39.6% on individuals earning more than $400,000 — or $450,000 for couples — in addition to a 3% surtax on wealthier Americans with adjusted income beyond $5 million a year. For big business, the proposal would lift the corporate tax rate from 21% to 26.5% on companies’ annual income over $5 million.“Look, I don’t want to punish anyone’s success, but the wealthy have been getting a free ride at the expense of the middle class for too long,” Biden tweeted Tuesday. “I intend to pass one of the biggest middle class tax cuts ever — paid for by making those at the top pay their fair share.”For middle- and low-income people, tax help, not increase, is on offer as the House Ways and Means Committee digs into debate and drafting of tax proposals to both fund and buttress Biden’s ambitious $3.5 trillion rebuilding plan that includes spending for child care, health care, education and tackling climate change.It’s an opening bid at a daunting moment for Biden and his allies in Congress as they assemble the “Build Back Better” package considered by some on par with the Great Society of the 1960s or even the New Deal of the 1930s Depression.The proposals call for $273 billion in tax breaks for renewable energy and “clean” electricity, including $42 billion for electric vehicles and $15 billion for a “green workforce” and environmental items. Increases in the child tax credit to $300 a month per child under 6 and $250 monthly per child 6-17, which came in coronavirus relief legislation earlier this year, would be extended through 2025.The House Energy and Commerce Committee, meanwhile, advanced proposals promoting clean electricity, investments in electric vehicles and other climate provisions. The 30-27 vote along party lines sends the energy measure forward as part of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s goal to approve the huge overall package.The energy panel’s $456 billion slice is the most consequential for climate and greenhouse gas emissions, along with the tax breaks debated by the Ways and Means Committee.The Democratic proposals would invest $150 billion in grants to encourage power companies to provide “clean electricity” from renewable sources such as wind and solar. Electricity suppliers would receive grants based on how much clean electricity they provide, as part of Biden’s plan to stop climate-damaging fossil fuel emissions from U.S. power plants by 2035.All GOP lawmakers are expected to vote against the overall legislation. But Republicans are largely sidelined as Democrats rely on a budget process that will allow them to approve the proposals on their own — if they can muster their slight majority in Congress.Democrats have no votes to spare to enact Biden’s agenda, with their slim hold on the House and the Senate split 50-50 and Vice President Kamala Harris the tiebreaker if there is no Republican support.But one Democratic senator vital to the bill’s fate, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, says the cost will need to be slashed to $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion to win his support. And Manchin appeared Tuesday to dig in his heels on insisting that parents meet work requirements to receive the child tax credit.Manchin also has said he will not support a number of clean energy and climate provisions pushed by Democrats.A day earlier, Biden appeared to respond to concerns about the plan’s size, saying the cost “may be” as much as $3.5 trillion and would be spread out over 10 years as the economy grew.Republican lawmakers, who have denounced the Democratic spending plan as socialist and job-killing, also went after proposed tax breaks on Tuesday.The Democrats propose to extend to five years the current $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit for five years, with another $4,500 if a car is made by union workers, and $500 more for a U.S.-made battery. But Republicans painted electric vehicles as a bourgeois-bohemian accessory to be subsidized by taxpayers, the latest symbol of excess.“Speaking of outrageous green welfare, this bill allows a near-millionaire family to buy a $75,000 Beamer, Jaguar or Benz luxury electric vehicle — and their maid is forced to send them a $12,500 subsidy from her taxes,” said Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, the panel’s senior Republican. “Why are blue-collar workers, nurses, teachers and firefighters subsidizing the wealthy and big business with a quarter of a trillion dollars in green welfare checks?”Hold on, said Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich. “We’re not going to subsidize the wealthiest buying luxury vehicles.” The legislation does impose caps on the sale price of the vehicle ($55,000 for a sedan) and the income of the buyer ($600,000 adjusted gross income for a head of household.)The proposal hits another nerve for Republicans, Democrats’ support of labor unions, by adding the incentives for vehicles and batteries manufacture by union workers.As they slogged through the legislation, members of the majority Democratic committee voted down a series of Republican amendments seeking to tighten the limitations on electric vehicle credits and to eliminate other tax breaks denounced as smacking of progressive Democrats’ proposed “Green New Deal.”The House tax proposal is pitched as potentially raising some $2.9 trillion — a preliminary estimate — which would go a long way toward paying for the $3.5 trillion legislation. The White House is counting on long-term economic growth from the spending plan to generate an additional $600 billion to make up the difference.To reach the Democrats’ goal, much of the revenue raised would come from the higher taxes on corporations and the highest earners, increasing the individual tax rate to 39.6% from the current 37%.Targeting wealthy individuals, the Democrats propose an increase in the top tax rate on capital gains for those earning $400,000 a year or more, to 25% from the current 20%. Exemptions for estate taxes, which were doubled under a 2017 Republican tax law to $11.7 million for individuals, would revert to $5 million.

Battle over tax increase to pay for Biden's $3.5T plan

At
 an open Commission meeting today, the Federal Trade Commission staff 
presented findings from its inquiry into past acquisitions by the 
largest technology platforms’ that did not require reporting to 
antitrust authorities at the FTC and the Department of Justice. &nbsp;

<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2020/02/ftc-examine-past-acquisitions-large-technology-companies">Launched in February 2020</a>,
 the inquiry analyzed the terms, scope, structure, and purpose of these 
exempted transactions under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act and the 
Commission’s reporting requirements by Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com, Inc., 
Apple Inc., Facebook, Inc., and Microsoft Corp. between Jan. 1, 2010 and
 Dec. 31, 2019. These companies comprise the top five U.S. companies by 
market capitalization.

Under the HSR Act, the 
FTC and the Department of Justice review most proposed transactions that
 affect commerce in the United States and are valued over a prescribed 
size threshold. Either agency can take legal action to block deals “in 
any line of commerce” that it believes may “lessen competition, or to 
tend to create a monopoly.”

“While the 
Commission’s enforcement actions have already focused on how digital 
platforms can buy their way out of competing, this study highlights the 
systemic nature of their acquisition strategies,” said Chair Lina M. 
Khan. “It captures the extent to which these firms have devoted 
tremendous resources to acquiring start-ups, patent portfolios, and 
entire teams of technologists—and how they were able to do so largely 
outside of our purview.”

The technology platform
 inquiry focused on 616 transactions (that exclude hiring events and 
patent acquisitions) valued at or above $1 million. Among the key 
findings:

To
 conduct this inquiry, the Commission issued Special Orders to these 
companies, requiring them to provide information about prior 
acquisitions not reported to the antitrust agencies under the 
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. These orders were issued under Section 6(b) of 
the FTC Act, which authorizes the Commission to conduct wide-ranging 
studies that do not have a specific law enforcement purpose.

The Commission voted 5-0 to make the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/reports/non-hsr-reported-acquisitions-select-technology-platforms-2010-2019-ftc-study">report</a> public. <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/2021/09/remarks-chair-lina-m-khan-regarding-non-hsr-reported-acquisitions-select">Chair Khan</a>&nbsp;and Commissioners <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/2021/09/prepared-remarks-commissioner-rohit-chopra-regarding-non-hsr-reported">Rohit Chopra</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/2021/09/prepared-remarks-commissioner-rebecca-kelly-slaughter-regarding-non-hsr">Rebecca Kelly Slaughter</a>&nbsp;each issued separate statements.

The Federal Trade Commission works to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-competition">promote competition</a>, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/attachments/competition-counts/pdf-0116_competition-counts.pdf">how competition benefits consumers</a> or <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/faq/competition/report-antitrust-violation">file an antitrust complaint</a>.&nbsp;&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 <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/competition-matters">read our blog</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCAt
 an open Commission meeting today, the Federal Trade Commission staff 
presented findings from its inquiry into past acquisitions by the 
largest technology platforms’ that did not require reporting to 
antitrust authorities at the FTC and the Department of Justice. &nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2020/02/ftc-examine-past-acquisitions-large-technology-companies">Launched in February 2020</a>,
 the inquiry analyzed the terms, scope, structure, and purpose of these 
exempted transactions under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act and the 
Commission’s reporting requirements by Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com, Inc., 
Apple Inc., Facebook, Inc., and Microsoft Corp. between Jan. 1, 2010 and
 Dec. 31, 2019. These companies comprise the top five U.S. companies by 
market capitalization.Under the HSR Act, the 
FTC and the Department of Justice review most proposed transactions that
 affect commerce in the United States and are valued over a prescribed 
size threshold. Either agency can take legal action to block deals “in 
any line of commerce” that it believes may “lessen competition, or to 
tend to create a monopoly.”“While the 
Commission’s enforcement actions have already focused on how digital 
platforms can buy their way out of competing, this study highlights the 
systemic nature of their acquisition strategies,” said Chair Lina M. 
Khan. “It captures the extent to which these firms have devoted 
tremendous resources to acquiring start-ups, patent portfolios, and 
entire teams of technologists—and how they were able to do so largely 
outside of our purview.”The technology platform
 inquiry focused on 616 transactions (that exclude hiring events and 
patent acquisitions) valued at or above $1 million. Among the key 
findings:<ul>
 <li>Of the 616 transactions, 94 exceeded the HSR Size 
of Transaction threshold.&nbsp;(Although most transactions that exceed the 
size threshold must be reported, in some instances parties may not need 
to file if certain other criteria are met or statutory or regulatory 
exemptions apply.)</li><li>In 36 percent of the transactions, the 
acquirer assumed some amount of debt or liabilities. When added to the 
purchase price of the target, such debts and liabilities would have 
tipped the purchase amount of three transactions above the HSR Size of 
Transaction threshold. That is, three more transactions would have been 
added to the 94 transactions already above the HSR Size of Transaction 
threshold.</li><li>More than 79 percent of transactions used deferred or
 contingent compensation to founders and key employees, with relatively 
small variation across the five respondents. Higher value transactions 
were more likely to use deferred or contingent compensation. Of the 
transactions reported, nine additional transactions would have exceeded 
the HSR Size of Transaction threshold (i.e., in addition to the 94 
transactions already above the HSR Size of Transaction threshold) at the
 time of their consummation when adding the deferred or contingent 
compensation to their purchase price.</li><li>More than 75 percent of 
transactions included non-compete clauses for founders and key employees
 of the acquired entities, with little variation in the percentage of 
transactions that had non-compete clauses across the five respondents. 
Higher value transactions were more likely to use non-compete clauses.</li><li>The
 number of transactions in each of five transaction size ranges – 
starting at between $1 million and $5 million and ending at between $50 
million and the Hart-Scott-Rodino Size-of-Transaction threshold – 
fluctuated but generally trended up over the 2010 to 2019 time period. 
Of the 616 transactions, 65 percent were between $1 million and $25 
million.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Asset and control transactions, including 
voting security control and non-corporate interest control transactions,
 were the most common in each transaction range. For transactions 
exceeding $5 million, the majority were control transactions. Moreover, 
higher-value transactions were more likely to be control acquisitions.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>The
 majority of transactions in each transaction range were for domestic 
firms, with roughly two thirds of the entities acquired in each 
transaction range being domestic.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>At least 39.3 percent
 of the transactions in which the target company’s age was available 
involved firms that, as of the time of the consummation of the 
transaction, were less than five years old.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>In more 
than half the transactions for which the respondents provided the number
 of the target company’s full-time non-sales employees, the number was 
between one and 10. Employee counts correlate positively with the size 
of the transaction.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>The total number of transactions 
per calendar year across the five respondents ranged from 43 at its 
lowest per calendar year (in 2012) to 79 at its highest (in 2014), and 
remained relatively higher in 2015-2019 (ranging from 63 to 74 
transactions) than in 2010-2013 (ranging from 43 to 63 transactions).</li>
 </ul>To
 conduct this inquiry, the Commission issued Special Orders to these 
companies, requiring them to provide information about prior 
acquisitions not reported to the antitrust agencies under the 
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. These orders were issued under Section 6(b) of 
the FTC Act, which authorizes the Commission to conduct wide-ranging 
studies that do not have a specific law enforcement purpose.The Commission voted 5-0 to make the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/reports/non-hsr-reported-acquisitions-select-technology-platforms-2010-2019-ftc-study">report</a> public. <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/2021/09/remarks-chair-lina-m-khan-regarding-non-hsr-reported-acquisitions-select">Chair Khan</a>&nbsp;and Commissioners <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/2021/09/prepared-remarks-commissioner-rohit-chopra-regarding-non-hsr-reported">Rohit Chopra</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/2021/09/prepared-remarks-commissioner-rebecca-kelly-slaughter-regarding-non-hsr">Rebecca Kelly Slaughter</a>&nbsp;each issued separate statements.The Federal Trade Commission works to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-competition">promote competition</a>, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/attachments/competition-counts/pdf-0116_competition-counts.pdf">how competition benefits consumers</a> or <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/faq/competition/report-antitrust-violation">file an antitrust complaint</a>.&nbsp;&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 <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/competition-matters">read our blog</a>.

FTC: Report issued on decade of unreported acquisitions by Big Tech

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Authorities have arrested a woman who is charged with fatally shooting her boyfriend one week after she was accused of disabling her electronic monitoring device and fleeing.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday that Katie Black, of Independence, had been apprehended in a rural part of the county.

Court records show that she is now being held in the Jackson County Jail without bond. She is charged with second-degree felony murder, armed criminal action, domestic assault and illegal weapon use in the July 7 killing of 29-year-old Ryan Wheeler in the eastern Jackson County town of Sibley.

Court records say one of Wheeler’s relatives told a detective that Black was angry after she discovered Wheeler was sending romantic text messages to other women.

The records say Black initially said her boyfriend was shot during a struggle with an unknown man but later admitted to the shooting. However, she told authorities it was an accident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631641337336.png" alt="Black is being held without bond -photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Black is being held without bond -photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Authorities have arrested a woman who is charged with fatally shooting her boyfriend one week after she was accused of disabling her electronic monitoring device and fleeing.The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday that Katie Black, of Independence, had been apprehended in a rural part of the county.Court records show that she is now being held in the Jackson County Jail without bond. She is charged with second-degree felony murder, armed criminal action, domestic assault and illegal weapon use in the July 7 killing of 29-year-old Ryan Wheeler in the eastern Jackson County town of Sibley.Court records say one of Wheeler’s relatives told a detective that Black was angry after she discovered Wheeler was sending romantic text messages to other women.The records say Black initially said her boyfriend was shot during a struggle with an unknown man but later admitted to the shooting. However, she told authorities it was an accident.

Fugitive charged with killing boyfriend arrested in KC

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon for an alleged parole violation.

The Kansas Department of Corrections reported 47-year-old Richard J. Renne of Atchison as an absconder. Renne had been out of prison since July after previous convictions that involve heroin possession/distribution and two convictions for child abuse and torture, according to the KDOC.

On Monday, Atchison Police located and arrested Renne on a Kansas Department of Corrections detain order for the parole violation.&nbsp; He remains in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631628120374.png" alt="Renne photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Renne photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon for an alleged parole violation.The Kansas Department of Corrections reported 47-year-old Richard J. Renne of Atchison as an absconder. Renne had been out of prison since July after previous convictions that involve heroin possession/distribution and two convictions for child abuse and torture, according to the KDOC.On Monday, Atchison Police located and arrested Renne on a Kansas Department of Corrections detain order for the parole violation.&nbsp; He remains in custody, according to online jail records.

Police: Kan. man convicted of child abuse jailed again

The Historic Grand Theater presents The Grand Comic Con, Part III, a celebration of all things geek! We are bringing together some of the greatest Vendors, Creators and Podcasters from Nebraska and Beyond! Join us for this FREE admission event and enjoy our Family-Friendly environment where we have something for everyone!

Our event starts Friday, October 1 at 7pm at the Grand Theater in Downtown Grand Island, where we will host our Opening Ceremonies and a FREE movie showing of The Last Starfighter. On Saturday, October 2 from 9am-6pm and Sunday, October 3 from 10am-4pm, the Grand Comic Con takes place at the Fonner Park Concourse located at Fonner Park.

We will have Creators and Artists showcasing their talents, Vendors displaying and selling a wide variety of collectibles and other items, and several Podcaster programs for your entertainment.

There will be cosplayers throughout the weekend and informational panels for everyone to enjoy. Please join us for a fantastic weekend! Find and follow us on Facebook for guest announcements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631657364263.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release Fonner ParkThe Historic Grand Theater presents The Grand Comic Con, Part III, a celebration of all things geek! We are bringing together some of the greatest Vendors, Creators and Podcasters from Nebraska and Beyond! Join us for this FREE admission event and enjoy our Family-Friendly environment where we have something for everyone!Our event starts Friday, October 1 at 7pm at the Grand Theater in Downtown Grand Island, where we will host our Opening Ceremonies and a FREE movie showing of The Last Starfighter. On Saturday, October 2 from 9am-6pm and Sunday, October 3 from 10am-4pm, the Grand Comic Con takes place at the Fonner Park Concourse located at Fonner Park.We will have Creators and Artists showcasing their talents, Vendors displaying and selling a wide variety of collectibles and other items, and several Podcaster programs for your entertainment.There will be cosplayers throughout the weekend and informational panels for everyone to enjoy. Please join us for a fantastic weekend! Find and follow us on Facebook for guest announcements.

Grand Comicon III coming to Grand Island

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Creighton University plans to invest $37 million in a new residence hall for freshmen that will be the Catholic institution’s first new dormitory since 2006. 

Most of the 400-student dormitory will be divided into four-person suites that will each have two bedrooms, two living spaces and a shared bathroom. 

The new dorm will be built a few blocks east of the new $75 million CL Werner Center for Health Sciences Education that will house Creighton’s School of Medicine. 

Both new buildings are slated to open in the fall of 2023. Currently, Creighton has eight dorms.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Creighton University plans to invest $37 million in a new residence hall for freshmen that will be the Catholic institution’s first new dormitory since 2006. Most of the 400-student dormitory will be divided into four-person suites that will each have two bedrooms, two living spaces and a shared bathroom. The new dorm will be built a few blocks east of the new $75 million CL Werner Center for Health Sciences Education that will house Creighton’s School of Medicine. Both new buildings are slated to open in the fall of 2023. Currently, Creighton has eight dorms.

Creighton University invests $37M in new 400-student dorm

BOSTON (AP) — Apple released a critical software patch to fix a security vulnerability that researchers said could allow hackers to directly infect iPhones and other Apple devices without any user action.

Researchers at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab said the security issue was exploited to plant spyware on a Saudi activist’s iPhone. They said they had high confidence that the world’s most infamous hacker-for-hire firm, Israel’s NSO Group, was behind that attack.

The previously unknown vulnerability affected all major Apple devices — iPhones, Macs and Apple Watches, the researchers said. NSO Group responded with a one-sentence statement saying it will continue providing tools for fighting “terror and crime.”

It was the first time a so-called “zero-click” exploit — one that doesn’t require users to click on suspect links or open infected files — has been caught and analyzed, the researchers said. They found the malicious code on Sept. 7 and immediately alerted Apple. The targeted activist asked to remain anonymous, they said.

“We’re not necessarily attributing this attack to the Saudi government,” said researcher Bill Marczak.

BOSTON (AP) — Apple released a critical software patch to fix a security vulnerability that researchers said could allow hackers to directly infect iPhones and other Apple devices without any user action.Researchers at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab said the security issue was exploited to plant spyware on a Saudi activist’s iPhone. They said they had high confidence that the world’s most infamous hacker-for-hire firm, Israel’s NSO Group, was behind that attack.The previously unknown vulnerability affected all major Apple devices — iPhones, Macs and Apple Watches, the researchers said. NSO Group responded with a one-sentence statement saying it will continue providing tools for fighting “terror and crime.”It was the first time a so-called “zero-click” exploit — one that doesn’t require users to click on suspect links or open infected files — has been caught and analyzed, the researchers said. They found the malicious code on Sept. 7 and immediately alerted Apple. The targeted activist asked to remain anonymous, they said.“We’re not necessarily attributing this attack to the Saudi government,” said researcher Bill Marczak.Citizen Lab previously found evidence of zero-click exploits being used to hack into the phones of al-Jazeera journalists and other targets, but hasn’t previously seen the malicious code itself.Although security experts say that average iPhone, iPad and Mac user generally need not worry — such attacks tend to be limited to specific targets — the discovery still alarmed security professionals.Malicious image files were transmitted to the activist’s phone via the iMessage instant-messaging app before it was hacked with NSO’s Pegasus spyware, which opens a phone to eavesdropping and remote data theft, Marczak said. It was discovered during a second examination of the phone, which forensics showed had been infected in March. He said the malicious file causes devices to crash.Citizen Lab says the case reveals, once again, that NSO Group is allowing its spyware to be used against ordinary civilians.<a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212807" target="_blank">In a blog post</a>, Apple said it was issuing a security update for iPhones and iPads because a “maliciously crafted” PDF file could lead to them being hacked. It said it was aware that the issue may have been exploited and cited Citizen Lab.In a subsequent statement, Apple security chief Ivan Krstić commended Citizen Lab and said such exploits “are not a threat to the overwhelming majority of our users.” He noted, as he has in the past, that such exploits typically cost millions of dollars to develop and often have a short shelf life. Apple didn’t respond to questions regarding whether this was the first time it had patched a zero-click vulnerability.Users should get alerts on their iPhones prompting them to update the phone’s iOS software. Those who want to jump the gun can go into the phone settings, click “General” then “Software Update,” and trigger the patch update directly.Citizen Lab called the iMessage exploit FORCEDENTRY and said it was effective against Apple iOS, MacOS and WatchOS devices. It urged people to immediately install security updates.Researcher John Scott-Railton said the news highlights the importance of securing popular messaging apps against such attacks. “Chat apps are increasingly becoming a major way that nation-states and mercenary hackers are gaining access to phones,” he said. “And it’s why it’s so important that companies focus on making sure that they are as locked down as possible.”The researchers said it also undermines NSO Group’s claims that it only sells its spyware to law enforcement officials for use against criminals and terrorists and audits its customers to ensure it’s not abused.“If Pegasus was only being used against criminals and terrorists, we never would have found this stuff,” said Marczak.Facebook’s WhatsApp was also allegedly targeted by an NSO zero-click exploit. In October 2019,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-us-news-israel-spyware-a7ad0788b9e4498a878009d1a8c5a206">Facebook sued NSO in U.S. federal court</a>&nbsp;for allegedly targeting some 1,400 users of the encrypted messaging service with spyware.In July, a global media consortium published a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-middle-east-israel-jamal-khashoggi-2b72451d84cd60fdcdfa37d8ee908784">damning report</a>&nbsp;on how clients of NSO Group have been spying for years on journalists, human rights activists, political dissidents, and people close to them, with the hacker-for-hire group directly involved in the targeting. Amnesty International said it confirmed 37 successful Pegasus infections based on a leaked targeting list whose origin was not disclosed.One case involved the fiancee of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi just four days after he was killed in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018. The CIA attributed the murder to the Saudi government.The recent revelations also prompted calls for an investigation into whether Hungary’s right-wing government used Pegasus to secretly monitor critical journalists, lawyers and business figures. India’s parliament also erupted in protests as opposition lawmakers accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of using NSO Groups’ product to spy on political opponents and others.France is also trying to get to the bottom of allegations that President Emmanuel Macron and members of his government may have been targeted in 2019 by an unidentified Moroccan security service using Pegasus. Morocco, a key French ally, denied those reports and is taking legal action to counter allegations implicating the North African kingdom in the spyware scandal.