LINDSEY, Neb. (AP) — Officials in northeastern Nebraska say a man has been killed at a poultry operation near the village of Lindsay. 

The Madison County Sheriff's Department says it was called Monday to an address for a report of a man being crushed, and deputies arrived to find Bairon Neftali Carreto Perez, 23, of Columbus, gravely injured. 

Carreto Perez was rushed to a Norfolk hospital, where he died. Sheriff's officials say an investigation showed Carreto Perez had been helping with the transport of large crates of live chickens, which were being moved using a forklift when the crates became dislodged. 

Officials say Carreto Perez stepped between the crates and the forklift when the crates slipped further, crushing him against the forklift.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628030055009.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LINDSEY, Neb. (AP) — Officials in northeastern Nebraska say a man has been killed at a poultry operation near the village of Lindsay. The Madison County Sheriff's Department says it was called Monday to an address for a report of a man being crushed, and deputies arrived to find Bairon Neftali Carreto Perez, 23, of Columbus, gravely injured. Carreto Perez was rushed to a Norfolk hospital, where he died. Sheriff's officials say an investigation showed Carreto Perez had been helping with the transport of large crates of live chickens, which were being moved using a forklift when the crates became dislodged. Officials say Carreto Perez stepped between the crates and the forklift when the crates slipped further, crushing him against the forklift.

Worker crushed to death in Nebraska workplace accident

Zoom will pay $85 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that weak privacy controls opened too many peepholes into the personal information of users and that it was too easy for outsiders to disrupt video meetings during the early stages of the pandemic.

The proposed agreement must still be approved by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh. A hearing on the settlement is scheduled for Oct. 21 in San Jose, California.

Millions of people in the U.S. who have used Zoom since March 31, 2020 could be eligible for a slice of the settlement that was reached over the weekend. The payment amounts are expected to average $34 or $35 for those who subscribed to Zoom’s paid version, and $11 or $12 for the overwhelming majority who used the free version, based on estimates in court documents.

Zoom was bedeviled by security issues early last year after stay-at-home orders transformed the company’s videoconferencing service from a niche product into a cultural phenomenon. Almost overnight it became the go-to venue for business meetings, schools, social gatherings and, in a deadly global pandemic, funerals.

The lawsuit alleged that the Silicon Valley company violated the trust of millions of people by sharing the personal information of users with platforms like Facebook, Google and Microsoft-owned LinkedIn. The case, which consolidated 14 different lawsuits filed since March 2020, also targeted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-ca-state-wire-telecommunications-virus-outbreak-94f4446acae487e1eb7cc85e2c176908">the disruptive practice of “Zoombombing”</a>&nbsp;— a term coined to describe hackers who broke into videoconferencing meetings being held by others.

The company in a prepared statement Monday said that it acted quickly to tighten security after reports of Zoombombing began to surface.

“We are proud of the advancements we have made to our platform, and look forward to continuing to innovate with privacy and security at the forefront,” Zoom said Monday. The company didn’t acknowledged any wrongdoing in the settlement.

Security concerns did not prevent Zoom from permeating the daily lives of millions during the pandemic.

The Zoom’s annual revenue quadrupled last year to nearly $2.7 billion and it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-technology-business-8e6c5201e09a9467e1b6750629be81b0">ended April&nbsp;</a>with 497,000 customers that employed at least 10 workers and subscribed to the premium version of its service, up from 81,900 customers before the pandemic hit the U.S. Its stock price has tripled and traded close to $380 Monday.

The lawyers that pursued the case are seeking $21.25 million, or 25% of the $85 million settlement fund.

Zoom will pay $85 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that weak privacy controls opened too many peepholes into the personal information of users and that it was too easy for outsiders to disrupt video meetings during the early stages of the pandemic.The proposed agreement must still be approved by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh. A hearing on the settlement is scheduled for Oct. 21 in San Jose, California.Millions of people in the U.S. who have used Zoom since March 31, 2020 could be eligible for a slice of the settlement that was reached over the weekend. The payment amounts are expected to average $34 or $35 for those who subscribed to Zoom’s paid version, and $11 or $12 for the overwhelming majority who used the free version, based on estimates in court documents.Zoom was bedeviled by security issues early last year after stay-at-home orders transformed the company’s videoconferencing service from a niche product into a cultural phenomenon. Almost overnight it became the go-to venue for business meetings, schools, social gatherings and, in a deadly global pandemic, funerals.The lawsuit alleged that the Silicon Valley company violated the trust of millions of people by sharing the personal information of users with platforms like Facebook, Google and Microsoft-owned LinkedIn. The case, which consolidated 14 different lawsuits filed since March 2020, also targeted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-ca-state-wire-telecommunications-virus-outbreak-94f4446acae487e1eb7cc85e2c176908">the disruptive practice of “Zoombombing”</a>&nbsp;— a term coined to describe hackers who broke into videoconferencing meetings being held by others.The company in a prepared statement Monday said that it acted quickly to tighten security after reports of Zoombombing began to surface.“We are proud of the advancements we have made to our platform, and look forward to continuing to innovate with privacy and security at the forefront,” Zoom said Monday. The company didn’t acknowledged any wrongdoing in the settlement.Security concerns did not prevent Zoom from permeating the daily lives of millions during the pandemic.The Zoom’s annual revenue quadrupled last year to nearly $2.7 billion and it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-technology-business-8e6c5201e09a9467e1b6750629be81b0">ended April&nbsp;</a>with 497,000 customers that employed at least 10 workers and subscribed to the premium version of its service, up from 81,900 customers before the pandemic hit the U.S. Its stock price has tripled and traded close to $380 Monday.The lawyers that pursued the case are seeking $21.25 million, or 25% of the $85 million settlement fund.

Zoom to pay $85M for privacy miscues at start of pandemic

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration will announce a new 60-day eviction moratorium that would protect areas where 90% of the U.S. population lives, according to three people familiar with the plans who insisted on anonymity to discuss the forthcoming announcement.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified a legal authority for a new and different moratorium that would be for areas with high and substantial increases in COVID-19 infections.

The extension helps to heal a rift with liberal Democratic lawmakers who were calling on executive action to keep renters in their homes as the delta variant of the coronavirus spread and a prior moratorium lapsed at the end of July. Administration officials had previously said a Supreme Court ruling stopped them from setting up a new moratorium without congressional backing, saying that states and cities must be more aggressive in releasing nearly $47 billion in relief for renters on the verge of eviction.

The new policy came amid a scramble of actions by the Biden team to reassure Democrats and the country that it could find a way to halt potential evictions.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen briefed House Democrats Tuesday on the administration’s efforts to prevent widespread&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-eviction-moratorium-coronavirus-da0e4cc8014b6c8a658dd1572707364f">housing evictions after a moratorium lapsed</a>, but lawmakers protesting outside the U.S. Capitol said more needs to be done, intensifying pressure on President Joe Biden to act.

Yellen told Democrats on a private call about the work underway to ensure some $47 billion in federal housing aid approved during the COVID-19 crisis makes it to renters and landlords. She provided data so that lawmakers could see how their districts and states are performing with distributing the relief, according to a person on the call.

The White House has said state and local governments have been slow to push out that federal money and is pressing them to do so swiftly after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-us-supreme-court-3065b165b8110c4238c698af8bcb8a42">eviction moratorium expired over the weekend</a>.

The treasury secretary tried to encourage Democrats to work together, even as lawmakers have said Biden should act on his own to extend the eviction moratorium, according to someone on the private call who insisted on anonymity to discuss its contents.

Yellen said on the call, according to this person, that she agrees “we need to bring every resource to bear” and that she appreciated the Democrats’ efforts and wants “to leave no stone unturned.”

But progressive lawmakers, who have been camped for days outside the Capitol with dozens of supporters, are trying to pressure the administration to put the moratorium back in place.

“What we need is for the White House to actually do, to do the thing — and they need to actually extend the moratorium,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said at the Capitol.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627590471007.png" alt="The White House has said state and local governments have been slow to push out that federal money and is pressing them to do so swiftly after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-us-supreme-court-3065b165b8110c4238c698af8bcb8a42">eviction moratorium expired over the weekend</a>." />
 <figcaption>The White House has said state and local governments have been slow to push out that federal money and is pressing them to do so swiftly after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-us-supreme-court-3065b165b8110c4238c698af8bcb8a42">eviction moratorium expired over the weekend</a>.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration will announce a new 60-day eviction moratorium that would protect areas where 90% of the U.S. population lives, according to three people familiar with the plans who insisted on anonymity to discuss the forthcoming announcement.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified a legal authority for a new and different moratorium that would be for areas with high and substantial increases in COVID-19 infections.The extension helps to heal a rift with liberal Democratic lawmakers who were calling on executive action to keep renters in their homes as the delta variant of the coronavirus spread and a prior moratorium lapsed at the end of July. Administration officials had previously said a Supreme Court ruling stopped them from setting up a new moratorium without congressional backing, saying that states and cities must be more aggressive in releasing nearly $47 billion in relief for renters on the verge of eviction.The new policy came amid a scramble of actions by the Biden team to reassure Democrats and the country that it could find a way to halt potential evictions.Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen briefed House Democrats Tuesday on the administration’s efforts to prevent widespread&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-eviction-moratorium-coronavirus-da0e4cc8014b6c8a658dd1572707364f">housing evictions after a moratorium lapsed</a>, but lawmakers protesting outside the U.S. Capitol said more needs to be done, intensifying pressure on President Joe Biden to act.Yellen told Democrats on a private call about the work underway to ensure some $47 billion in federal housing aid approved during the COVID-19 crisis makes it to renters and landlords. She provided data so that lawmakers could see how their districts and states are performing with distributing the relief, according to a person on the call.The White House has said state and local governments have been slow to push out that federal money and is pressing them to do so swiftly after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-us-supreme-court-3065b165b8110c4238c698af8bcb8a42">eviction moratorium expired over the weekend</a>.The treasury secretary tried to encourage Democrats to work together, even as lawmakers have said Biden should act on his own to extend the eviction moratorium, according to someone on the private call who insisted on anonymity to discuss its contents.Yellen said on the call, according to this person, that she agrees “we need to bring every resource to bear” and that she appreciated the Democrats’ efforts and wants “to leave no stone unturned.”But progressive lawmakers, who have been camped for days outside the Capitol with dozens of supporters, are trying to pressure the administration to put the moratorium back in place.“What we need is for the White House to actually do, to do the thing — and they need to actually extend the moratorium,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said at the Capitol.

Biden to set new eviction ban due to COVID spread

SPRINGDALE, ARK.— Tyson Foods is requiring its team members at U.S. office locations to be fully vaccinated by October 1, 2021. All other team members are required to be fully vaccinated by November 1, 2021, subject to ongoing discussions with locations represented by unions, according to a media release from the company.&nbsp;

Exceptions to the vaccination mandate will involve workers who seek medical or religious accommodation.

"Once fully vaccinated, and verified in the Vaccination Verification Program, employees will receive $200 as thank you for doing your part to keep us all safe, subject to ongoing discussions with our unions," <a href="https://thefeed.blog/2021/08/03/our-next-step-in-the-fight-against-the-pandemic/">according to a memo to team members</a> from President and CEO Donnie King.

This action makes Tyson Foods the largest U.S. food company to require COVID-19 vaccinations for its entire workforce. Almost half of Tyson Foods’ U.S. workforce has been vaccinated and coronavirus infection rates among team members remain low.

“Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the single most effective thing we can do to protect our team members, their families and their communities,” said Dr. Claudia Coplein, Chief Medical Officer, Tyson Foods. “With rapidly rising COVID-19 case counts of contagious, dangerous variants leading to increasing rates of severe illness and hospitalization among the U.S. unvaccinated population, this is the right time to take the next step to ensure a fully vaccinated workforce.”

Since February, Tyson Foods has hosted more than 100 vaccination events for team members across the country and more than 56,000 U.S. team members have been vaccinated so far. Additional onsite vaccination events will be scheduled, and the company will continue to collaborate with local health departments and healthcare providers to make the vaccine more accessible. &nbsp;

In addition to the $200, the company will compensate workers for up to four hours of regular pay if they are vaccinated outside of their normal shift or through an external source. &nbsp;

To date, Tyson Foods has spent more than $700 million related to COVID-19, including on efforts to combat its spread, such as buying masks, face shields and temperature scanners, installing protective barriers and providing on-site testing and vaccinations. It also partnered with an independent medical provider to bring medical services on site, hired an additional 200 nurses and its first Chief Medical Officer. In addition, Tyson Foods has invested countless hours educating our team members, in dozens of languages, about the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618924071042.png" alt="Since February, Tyson Foods has hosted more than 100 vaccination events for team members across the country, according to a media release from the company -Photo courtesy Tyson Foods" />
 <figcaption>Since February, Tyson Foods has hosted more than 100 vaccination events for team members across the country, according to a media release from the company -Photo courtesy Tyson Foods</figcaption>
 </figure>SPRINGDALE, ARK.— Tyson Foods is requiring its team members at U.S. office locations to be fully vaccinated by October 1, 2021. All other team members are required to be fully vaccinated by November 1, 2021, subject to ongoing discussions with locations represented by unions, according to a media release from the company.&nbsp;Exceptions to the vaccination mandate will involve workers who seek medical or religious accommodation."Once fully vaccinated, and verified in the Vaccination Verification Program, employees will receive $200 as thank you for doing your part to keep us all safe, subject to ongoing discussions with our unions," <a href="https://thefeed.blog/2021/08/03/our-next-step-in-the-fight-against-the-pandemic/">according to a memo to team members</a> from President and CEO Donnie King.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593167451853.png" alt="Photo courtesy Tyson Foods" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Tyson Foods</figcaption>
 </figure>This action makes Tyson Foods the largest U.S. food company to require COVID-19 vaccinations for its entire workforce. Almost half of Tyson Foods’ U.S. workforce has been vaccinated and coronavirus infection rates among team members remain low.“Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the single most effective thing we can do to protect our team members, their families and their communities,” said Dr. Claudia Coplein, Chief Medical Officer, Tyson Foods. “With rapidly rising COVID-19 case counts of contagious, dangerous variants leading to increasing rates of severe illness and hospitalization among the U.S. unvaccinated population, this is the right time to take the next step to ensure a fully vaccinated workforce.”Since February, Tyson Foods has hosted more than 100 vaccination events for team members across the country and more than 56,000 U.S. team members have been vaccinated so far. Additional onsite vaccination events will be scheduled, and the company will continue to collaborate with local health departments and healthcare providers to make the vaccine more accessible. &nbsp;In addition to the $200, the company will compensate workers for up to four hours of regular pay if they are vaccinated outside of their normal shift or through an external source. &nbsp;To date, Tyson Foods has spent more than $700 million related to COVID-19, including on efforts to combat its spread, such as buying masks, face shields and temperature scanners, installing protective barriers and providing on-site testing and vaccinations. It also partnered with an independent medical provider to bring medical services on site, hired an additional 200 nurses and its first Chief Medical Officer. In addition, Tyson Foods has invested countless hours educating our team members, in dozens of languages, about the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination.

Vaccine Mandate: Tyson workers get $200 to take COVID shot

NEW YORK (AP) — An investigation into New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has found that he sexually harassed multiple current and former state government employees. 

State Attorney General Letitia James announced the findings Tuesday. The investigation, conducted by two outside lawyers, found that the Cuomo administration was a “hostile work environment” and that it was “rife with fear and intimidation.” 

Cuomo faced multiple allegations last winter that he inappropriately touched and sexually harassed women who worked with him or who he met at public events. 

Cuomo has always denied touching anyone inappropriately. 

The attorney general’s report is expected to play an important role in an ongoing inquiry in the state Assembly into whether there are grounds for Cuomo to be impeached.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628009192015.png" alt="Photo: Chris Rank/Rank Studios" />
 <figcaption>Photo: Chris Rank/Rank Studios</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — An investigation into New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has found that he sexually harassed multiple current and former state government employees. State Attorney General Letitia James announced the findings Tuesday. The investigation, conducted by two outside lawyers, found that the Cuomo administration was a “hostile work environment” and that it was “rife with fear and intimidation.” Cuomo faced multiple allegations last winter that he inappropriately touched and sexually harassed women who worked with him or who he met at public events. Cuomo has always denied touching anyone inappropriately. The attorney general’s report is expected to play an important role in an ongoing inquiry in the state Assembly into whether there are grounds for Cuomo to be impeached.

Gov. Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, probe finds

News Release Wyoming Highway Patrol

LARAMIE COUNTY-On July 27, 2021, a simple traffic stop for speed in Laramie County, Wyoming, turned into a significant drug bust.  

A Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper stopped a 2021 Hyundai Kona on Interstate 80 east of Cheyenne for speeding.  Troopers became suspicious of criminal activity due to the inconsistent and implausible travel plans they received from the occupant.  

The WHP Trooper detained the driver and deployed his K-9 partner around the exterior of the vehicle.  The WHP K-9 gave a positive alert to odors she is trained to find.  A vehicle search was conducted, and the trooper located approximately 24 pounds of suspected Fentanyl inside the vehicle.  

The driver, Diego J. Aguilar-Valdovinos, was arrested and charged with Felony transportation, distribution, and possession of narcotic drugs.  

The estimated street value of this amount of Fentanyl is approximately 150 million dollars.   Fentanyl has become more of a prevalent drug in recent years and can be lethal for law enforcement and first responders who come in contact with it.  Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid drug.  Individuals can experience potentially fatal effects from minimal amounts of the drug.   If Fentanyl is taken in conjunction with other opiates, its lethal dose is even smaller.  To put it into perspective, two milligrams of Fentanyl can be deadly to a human. 

The seized Fentanyl has been placed in a controlled environment pending laboratory testing due to health safety concerns.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628005614849.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release Wyoming Highway PatrolLARAMIE COUNTY-On July 27, 2021, a simple traffic stop for speed in Laramie County, Wyoming, turned into a significant drug bust. A Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper stopped a 2021 Hyundai Kona on Interstate 80 east of Cheyenne for speeding. Troopers became suspicious of criminal activity due to the inconsistent and implausible travel plans they received from the occupant. The WHP Trooper detained the driver and deployed his K-9 partner around the exterior of the vehicle. The WHP K-9 gave a positive alert to odors she is trained to find. A vehicle search was conducted, and the trooper located approximately 24 pounds of suspected Fentanyl inside the vehicle. The driver, Diego J. Aguilar-Valdovinos, was arrested and charged with Felony transportation, distribution, and possession of narcotic drugs. The estimated street value of this amount of Fentanyl is approximately 150 million dollars. Fentanyl has become more of a prevalent drug in recent years and can be lethal for law enforcement and first responders who come in contact with it. Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid drug. Individuals can experience potentially fatal effects from minimal amounts of the drug. If Fentanyl is taken in conjunction with other opiates, its lethal dose is even smaller. To put it into perspective, two milligrams of Fentanyl can be deadly to a human. The seized Fentanyl has been placed in a controlled environment pending laboratory testing due to health safety concerns.

Wyoming troopers seize 24 pounds of Fentanyl

WASHINGTON
 — Internal Revenue Service Security Summit partners today outlined for 
tax professionals how they can assist clients who were victims of 
unemployment compensation fraud schemes that targeted state workforce 
agencies in 2020 and 2021.

The IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry – working together as the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>
 – reported that unemployment compensation fraud was one of the more 
common identity theft schemes that emerged in 2020 as criminals 
exploited the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic impact.

Addressing unemployment compensation fraud is the third in a 
five-part series sponsored by the Summit partners to highlight critical 
steps tax professionals can take to protect client data. This year's 
theme "<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/boost-security-immunity-fight-against-identity-theft">Boost Security Immunity: Fight&nbsp;Against Identity Theft</a>,"
 is an effort to urge tax professionals to try harder to secure their 
systems and protect client data during the pandemic and its aftermath.

"Identity thieves always look for opportunities, and the unemployment
 surge presented a new opportunity to exploit the pain and financial 
hardships faced by Americans," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "This
 particular scam is especially egregious because 23 million Americans 
were jobless or underemployed last year and desperately needed these 
benefits."

The U.S. Department of Labor's Inspector General estimated 
approximately $89 billion in unemployment compensation was lost in 2020 
due to fraud.

Unemployment compensation is taxable income on federal taxes, 
although Congress waived the tax for 2020 for many people. States report
 compensation to the individual and to the IRS by using the Form 1099-G.
 Because of fraud and identity theft, many taxpayers received Forms 
1099-G for compensation they did not receive. Some taxpayers received 
forms from multiple states.

This scam could affect 2021 returns next year as well as 2020 returns
 this year. Here are a few steps tax professionals should take to assist
 clients who are victims of the unemployment compensation fraud scheme:

Although unemployment compensation is taxable, the American 
Rescue Plan Act of 2021 allows an exclusion of unemployment compensation
 of up to $10,200 for individuals for taxable year 2020. In the case of 
married individuals filing a joint Form 1040 or 1040-SR, this exclusion 
is up to $10,200 per spouse.

To qualify for this exclusion, adjusted gross income (AGI) must be 
less than $150,000. This threshold applies to all filing statuses.

The exclusion may ease the burden on many fraud victims. However, 
victims who received Forms 1099-G from multiple states may have fraud 
claims that exceed that exclusion amount. Clients should retain any 
records of fraud reports to states.

Tax professionals can also get help with security recommendations by reviewing the recently revised IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4557.pdf">Publication 4557, Safeguarding Taxpayer Data&nbsp;PDF</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ir/2016/NIST.IR.7621r1.pdf">Small Business Information Security: The Fundamentals&nbsp;PDF</a>&nbsp;by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central">Identity Theft Central</a> pages for tax pros, individuals and businesses have important details as well.

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5293.pdf">Publication 5293, Data Security Resource Guide for Tax Professionals&nbsp;PDF</a>,
 provides a compilation of data theft information available on IRS.gov. 
Also, tax professionals should stay connected to the IRS through 
subscriptions to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/join-e-news-for-tax-professionals">e-News for Tax Professionals</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-new-media-1">Social Media</a>.

For more information, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/boost-security-immunity-fight-against-identity-theft">Boost Security Immunity: Fight Against Identity Theft</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON
 — Internal Revenue Service Security Summit partners today outlined for 
tax professionals how they can assist clients who were victims of 
unemployment compensation fraud schemes that targeted state workforce 
agencies in 2020 and 2021.The IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry – working together as the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>
 – reported that unemployment compensation fraud was one of the more 
common identity theft schemes that emerged in 2020 as criminals 
exploited the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic impact.Addressing unemployment compensation fraud is the third in a 
five-part series sponsored by the Summit partners to highlight critical 
steps tax professionals can take to protect client data. This year's 
theme "<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/boost-security-immunity-fight-against-identity-theft">Boost Security Immunity: Fight&nbsp;Against Identity Theft</a>,"
 is an effort to urge tax professionals to try harder to secure their 
systems and protect client data during the pandemic and its aftermath."Identity thieves always look for opportunities, and the unemployment
 surge presented a new opportunity to exploit the pain and financial 
hardships faced by Americans," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "This
 particular scam is especially egregious because 23 million Americans 
were jobless or underemployed last year and desperately needed these 
benefits."The U.S. Department of Labor's Inspector General estimated 
approximately $89 billion in unemployment compensation was lost in 2020 
due to fraud.Unemployment compensation is taxable income on federal taxes, 
although Congress waived the tax for 2020 for many people. States report
 compensation to the individual and to the IRS by using the Form 1099-G.
 Because of fraud and identity theft, many taxpayers received Forms 
1099-G for compensation they did not receive. Some taxpayers received 
forms from multiple states.This scam could affect 2021 returns next year as well as 2020 returns
 this year. Here are a few steps tax professionals should take to assist
 clients who are victims of the unemployment compensation fraud scheme:<ol>
 <li>File a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f14039.pdf">Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit&nbsp;PDF</a>,
 only if an e-filed tax return rejects because the client's Social 
Security number has already been used. Do not file the IRS Form 14039 to
 report unemployment compensation fraud to the IRS.</li><li>Report the fraud to state workforce agencies, and request a 
corrected Form 1099-G. Each state has its own process for reporting 
unemployment compensation fraud. The U.S. Department of Labor has 
created an information page with all state contacts and other 
information at <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/UIIDtheft">DOL.gov/fraud</a>.</li><li>File a tax return reporting only the actual income received. State 
workforce agencies may not be able to timely issue a corrected Form 
1099-G. Even if the client has not received a corrected Form 1099-G, 
report only wages and income received and exclude any fraudulent claims.</li><li>Consider an IRS Identity Protection PIN. Clients receiving Forms 
1099-G are identity theft victims whose personal information could be 
used for additional criminal activities, such as filing fraudulent tax 
returns. All taxpayers who can verify their identities can now obtain an
 Identity Protection PIN to protect their SSNs. Read more about IP PINs 
at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/ippin">IRS.gov/ippin</a>.</li><li>Follow Federal Trade Commission recommendations for identity theft 
victims. Taxpayers should consider steps to protect their credit and 
other actions outlined by the FTC. The DOL also includes this 
information on its <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/UIIDtheft">DOL.gov/fraud</a> page.</li><li>Finally, tax professionals' business clients can also assist in 
fighting unemployment compensation fraud by responding quickly to state 
notices about employees filing jobless claims, especially when it has no
 record of those employees.</li>
 </ol>Although unemployment compensation is taxable, the American 
Rescue Plan Act of 2021 allows an exclusion of unemployment compensation
 of up to $10,200 for individuals for taxable year 2020. In the case of 
married individuals filing a joint Form 1040 or 1040-SR, this exclusion 
is up to $10,200 per spouse.To qualify for this exclusion, adjusted gross income (AGI) must be 
less than $150,000. This threshold applies to all filing statuses.The exclusion may ease the burden on many fraud victims. However, 
victims who received Forms 1099-G from multiple states may have fraud 
claims that exceed that exclusion amount. Clients should retain any 
records of fraud reports to states.<h2>Additional resources</h2>Tax professionals can also get help with security recommendations by reviewing the recently revised IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4557.pdf">Publication 4557, Safeguarding Taxpayer Data&nbsp;PDF</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ir/2016/NIST.IR.7621r1.pdf">Small Business Information Security: The Fundamentals&nbsp;PDF</a>&nbsp;by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central">Identity Theft Central</a> pages for tax pros, individuals and businesses have important details as well.<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5293.pdf">Publication 5293, Data Security Resource Guide for Tax Professionals&nbsp;PDF</a>,
 provides a compilation of data theft information available on IRS.gov. 
Also, tax professionals should stay connected to the IRS through 
subscriptions to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/join-e-news-for-tax-professionals">e-News for Tax Professionals</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-new-media-1">Social Media</a>.For more information, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/boost-security-immunity-fight-against-identity-theft">Boost Security Immunity: Fight Against Identity Theft</a>.

How tax professionals can help battle identity fraud related to unemployment

The
 FTC is sending checks totaling more than $1.5 million to more than 
3,000 consumers who were deceived into buying worthless Internet-based 
marketing products and services by two companies called Position Gurus, 
LLC, and Top Shelf Ecommerce, LLC.

<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/federal.trade.commission#!/vizhome/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase"></a> According to the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/position_gurus_complaint.pdf">FTC’s May 2020 complaint,</a>
 the companies and their owners targeted consumers looking to start 
retail businesses on the Internet. The complaint alleged that the 
defendants falsely represented that their services would drive more 
customers to consumers’ new online stores and drastically increase sales
 and earnings.

The defendants also falsely claimed to be associated with unrelated 
coaching companies that consumers had prior dealings with; collected 
consumers’ personal financial information under false pretenses; and 
illegally restricted consumers’ ability to review or complain about the 
defendants’ products, services, or conduct, the FTC alleged.

JND Legal Administration, the refund administrator for this case, 
will mail checks today. The checks average over $511 each. People who 
receive checks should deposit or cash them within 90 days, as indicated 
on the check. Recipients who have questions about their checks can call 
the refund administrator at 1-888-906-0551. The FTC never requires 
people to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund 
check.

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

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">protect and educate consumers</a>. You can <a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/">learn more about consumer topics</a> and report scams, fraud, and bad business practices online at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Like the FTC on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/federaltradecommission">Facebook(link is external)</a>, follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/FTC">Twitter(link is external)</a>, get <a href="http://ftc.gov/subscribe">consumer alerts</a>, read our <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>, and <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a> for the latest FTC news and resources.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe
 FTC is sending checks totaling more than $1.5 million to more than 
3,000 consumers who were deceived into buying worthless Internet-based 
marketing products and services by two companies called Position Gurus, 
LLC, and Top Shelf Ecommerce, LLC.<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/federal.trade.commission#!/vizhome/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase"></a> According to the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/position_gurus_complaint.pdf">FTC’s May 2020 complaint,</a>
 the companies and their owners targeted consumers looking to start 
retail businesses on the Internet. The complaint alleged that the 
defendants falsely represented that their services would drive more 
customers to consumers’ new online stores and drastically increase sales
 and earnings.The defendants also falsely claimed to be associated with unrelated 
coaching companies that consumers had prior dealings with; collected 
consumers’ personal financial information under false pretenses; and 
illegally restricted consumers’ ability to review or complain about the 
defendants’ products, services, or conduct, the FTC alleged.JND Legal Administration, the refund administrator for this case, 
will mail checks today. The checks average over $511 each. People who 
receive checks should deposit or cash them within 90 days, as indicated 
on the check. Recipients who have questions about their checks can call 
the refund administrator at 1-888-906-0551. The FTC never requires 
people to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund 
check.The FTC’s <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/federal.trade.commission#!/vizhome/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase">interactive dashboards for refund data(link is external)</a>
 provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds. In 2020, FTC actions
 led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers across the 
country, but recently the United States Supreme Court ruled the FTC 
lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief in federal 
court going forward. The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a> to restore the FTC’s ability to get money back for consumers.The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">protect and educate consumers</a>. You can <a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/">learn more about consumer topics</a> and report scams, fraud, and bad business practices online at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Like the FTC on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/federaltradecommission">Facebook(link is external)</a>, follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/FTC">Twitter(link is external)</a>, get <a href="http://ftc.gov/subscribe">consumer alerts</a>, read our <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>, and <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a> for the latest FTC news and resources.

FTC sending $1.5M to those defrauded by worthless online scams

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police in Omaha say a driver was killed when his car pulled out in front of a sport utility vehicle at one of the city's busiest intersections during rush-hour traffic. 

Police say the crash happened around 5:30 p.m. Monday at 72nd and Cass streets when a southbound sedan on 72nd Street turned left in front of a northbound SUV. 

The collision caused the sedan to spin and crash into another SUV. Police say the car's driver was taken to a hospital, where he died. 

Police did not immediately release the name of the man killed. 

Investigators say he was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1627997076408.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police in Omaha say a driver was killed when his car pulled out in front of a sport utility vehicle at one of the city's busiest intersections during rush-hour traffic. Police say the crash happened around 5:30 p.m. Monday at 72nd and Cass streets when a southbound sedan on 72nd Street turned left in front of a northbound SUV. The collision caused the sedan to spin and crash into another SUV. Police say the car's driver was taken to a hospital, where he died. Police did not immediately release the name of the man killed. Investigators say he was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

Driver killed in crash at busy Omaha intersection

(AP)-PepsiCo will sell Tropicana and other juices to a private equity firm in exchange for pretax proceeds of $3.3 billion. 

PepsiCo will have a 39% non-controlling stake in a newly formed joint venture in the deal with PAI Partners. 

Juice sales began to decline significantly in the early 2000s when low-carb diets grew in popularity, and that trend has continued with more families choosing instead to buy waters or other no- or low-calorie drinks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1627993776983.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>(AP)-PepsiCo will sell Tropicana and other juices to a private equity firm in exchange for pretax proceeds of $3.3 billion. PepsiCo will have a 39% non-controlling stake in a newly formed joint venture in the deal with PAI Partners. Juice sales began to decline significantly in the early 2000s when low-carb diets grew in popularity, and that trend has continued with more families choosing instead to buy waters or other no- or low-calorie drinks.

PepsiCo to sell Tropicana, other juices, in $3.3B deal

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The quickly approaching fall semester has America’s colleges under pressure to decide how far they should go to guard their campuses against the coronavirus while navigating legal and political questions and rising infection rates. 

Hundreds of colleges nationwide have told students in recent months they must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before classes begin. 

California State University, the University of Michigan and Michigan State University joined the list last week, citing concerns about the highly contagious delta variant. Yet many more colleges have held off on vaccine mandates. 

In many Republican-led states, governments have banned such requirements, or school leaders face political pressure to limit their anti-virus actions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622643904241.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The quickly approaching fall semester has America’s colleges under pressure to decide how far they should go to guard their campuses against the coronavirus while navigating legal and political questions and rising infection rates. Hundreds of colleges nationwide have told students in recent months they must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before classes begin. California State University, the University of Michigan and Michigan State University joined the list last week, citing concerns about the highly contagious delta variant. Yet many more colleges have held off on vaccine mandates. In many Republican-led states, governments have banned such requirements, or school leaders face political pressure to limit their anti-virus actions.

Pushback challenges vaccination requirements at US colleges

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The eviction system, which saw a dramatic drop in cases before a federal moratorium expired over the weekend, rumbled back into action Monday, with activists girding for the first of what could be millions of tenants to be tossed onto the streets as the delta variant of the coronavirus surges.

Landlords tired of waiting for federal rental assistance were in court hoping to evict their tenants, while families from Ohio to Virginia turned up before judges hoping for a last-minute reprieve. In Detroit, at least 600 tenants with court orders against them were at immediate risk.

“It’s very scary with the moratorium being over,” said Ted Phillips, a lawyer who leads the United Community Housing Coalition in Detroit.

The Biden administration allowed the federal moratorium to expire over the weekend and Congress was unable to extend it. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for an immediate extension, calling it a “moral imperative” to prevent Americans from being put out of their homes during a COVID-19 surge.

The Biden administration had hoped that historic amounts of rental assistance allocated by Congress would help avert a crisis. But the distribution has been painfully slow: Only about $3 billion of the first tranche of $25 billion had been distributed through June by states and localities. A second amount of $21.5 billion will go to the states.

More than 15 million people live in households that owe as much as $20 billion to their landlords, according to the Aspen Institute. As of July 5, roughly 3.6 million people in the U.S. said they faced eviction in the next two months, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey.

In Rhode Island on Monday, Gabe Imondi, a 74-year-old landlord, was in court hoping to get an eviction execution — the final step to push a tenant out of one of four housing units he owns in nearby Pawtucket.

Imondi said he and his tenant both filed forms for the billions in federal aid meant to help keep tenants in their homes but so far, he said, he hasn’t seen a cent of the state’s $200 million share.

A retired general contractor, Imondi estimates he’s out around $20,000 in lost rent since September, when he began seeking to evict his tenant for non-payment. The eviction was approved in January.

“I don’t know what they’re doing with that money,” Imondi said.

Meanwhile, Luis Vertentes was told by a judge he had three weeks to clear out of his one-bedroom apartment in nearby East Providence. The 43-year-old landscaper said he was four months behind on rent after being hospitalized for a time.

“I’m going to be homeless, all because of this pandemic,” Vertentes said. “I feel helpless, like I can’t do anything even though I work and I got a full-time job.”

Outside the courtroom, Katie Barrington, a case manager with Crossroads Rhode Island, a nonprofit housing and homeless agency, signed him up with a housing counsellor to help him secure a new home and enrolled him for federal rental assistance.

In Columbus, Ohio, Chelsea Rivera showed up at Franklin County court Monday after receiving an eviction notice last month. A single mom, she’s behind $2,988 in rent and late fees for the one bed-room apartment she rents for herself and three young sons.

The 27-year-old said she started to struggle after her hours were cut in May at the Walmart warehouse where she worked. She’s applied to numerous agencies for help but they’re either out of money, have a waiting list, or not able to help until clients end up in court with an eviction notice.

Rivera said she’s preparing herself mentally to move into a shelter with her children until her situation improves.

“We just need help,” Rivera said, fighting back tears. “It’s just been really hard with everyday issues on top of worrying about where you’re going to live.”

But there was more optimism in Virginia, where Tiara Burton, 23, learned she would be getting federal help and wouldn't be evicted. She initially feared the worst when the moratorium lifted.

“That was definitely a worry yesterday,” said Burton, 23, who lives in Virginia Beach. “If they’re going to start doing evictions again, then I’m going to be faced with having to figure out where me and my family are going to go. And that’s not something that anyone should have to worry about these days at all.”

She was relieved to be told by an attorney she had been approved for assistance through the Virginia Rent Relief Program. Her court hearing was postponed for 30 days, during which time she and her landlord can presumably work things out.

“I’m grateful for that,” she said. “Just hearing, ‘Okay, we’re going to push it back 30 days, but we’re going to assist you still,’ … that’s another weight lifted off of my shoulders.”

Around the country, courts, legal advocates and law enforcement agencies were gearing up for evictions to return to pre-pandemic levels, a time when 3.7 million people were displaced from their homes every year, or seven every minute, according to the Eviction Lab at Princeton University.

Some of the cities with the most cases, according to the Eviction Lab, are Phoenix with more than 42,000 eviction filings, Houston with more than 37,000, Las Vegas with nearly 27,000 and Tampa more than 15,000. Indiana and Missouri also have more than 80,000 filings.

While the moratorium was enforced in much of the country, there were places like Idaho where judges ignored it, said Ali Rabe, executive director of Jesse Tree, a non-profit that works to prevent evictions in the Boise metropolitan area.

The non-profit represented renters in about 800 evictions in the past year, and only once was the moratorium enforced, Rabe said. Statewide about 1,500 people were evicted in the past year, she said.

“Eviction courts ran as usual,” she said.

That was much the way things played out in parts of North Carolina, where on Monday Sgt. David Ruppe knocked on a weathered mobile home door in Cleveland County, a rural community an hour west of Charlotte.

“We haven’t seen much of a difference at all,” he said. “We would still have evictions issued from the court and we would still serve them as if it happened pre-COVID.”

He waited a few minutes on the porch scattered with folding chairs and toys. Then a woman opened the door.

“How are you?" he asked quietly, then explained her landlord had started the eviction process. The woman told Ruppe she’d paid, and he said she’d need to bring proof to her upcoming Aug. 9 court date.

Ruppe, who has two young sons, said seeing families struggle day-after-day is tough.

“There’s only so much you can do," he said. “So, if you can offer them a glimmer of hope, words of encouragement, especially if there’s kids involved. Being a father, I can relate to that.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The eviction system, which saw a dramatic drop in cases before a federal moratorium expired over the weekend, rumbled back into action Monday, with activists girding for the first of what could be millions of tenants to be tossed onto the streets as the delta variant of the coronavirus surges.Landlords tired of waiting for federal rental assistance were in court hoping to evict their tenants, while families from Ohio to Virginia turned up before judges hoping for a last-minute reprieve. In Detroit, at least 600 tenants with court orders against them were at immediate risk.“It’s very scary with the moratorium being over,” said Ted Phillips, a lawyer who leads the United Community Housing Coalition in Detroit.The Biden administration allowed the federal moratorium to expire over the weekend and Congress was unable to extend it. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for an immediate extension, calling it a “moral imperative” to prevent Americans from being put out of their homes during a COVID-19 surge.The Biden administration had hoped that historic amounts of rental assistance allocated by Congress would help avert a crisis. But the distribution has been painfully slow: Only about $3 billion of the first tranche of $25 billion had been distributed through June by states and localities. A second amount of $21.5 billion will go to the states.More than 15 million people live in households that owe as much as $20 billion to their landlords, according to the Aspen Institute. As of July 5, roughly 3.6 million people in the U.S. said they faced eviction in the next two months, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey.In Rhode Island on Monday, Gabe Imondi, a 74-year-old landlord, was in court hoping to get an eviction execution — the final step to push a tenant out of one of four housing units he owns in nearby Pawtucket.Imondi said he and his tenant both filed forms for the billions in federal aid meant to help keep tenants in their homes but so far, he said, he hasn’t seen a cent of the state’s $200 million share.A retired general contractor, Imondi estimates he’s out around $20,000 in lost rent since September, when he began seeking to evict his tenant for non-payment. The eviction was approved in January.“I don’t know what they’re doing with that money,” Imondi said.Meanwhile, Luis Vertentes was told by a judge he had three weeks to clear out of his one-bedroom apartment in nearby East Providence. The 43-year-old landscaper said he was four months behind on rent after being hospitalized for a time.“I’m going to be homeless, all because of this pandemic,” Vertentes said. “I feel helpless, like I can’t do anything even though I work and I got a full-time job.”Outside the courtroom, Katie Barrington, a case manager with Crossroads Rhode Island, a nonprofit housing and homeless agency, signed him up with a housing counsellor to help him secure a new home and enrolled him for federal rental assistance.In Columbus, Ohio, Chelsea Rivera showed up at Franklin County court Monday after receiving an eviction notice last month. A single mom, she’s behind $2,988 in rent and late fees for the one bed-room apartment she rents for herself and three young sons.The 27-year-old said she started to struggle after her hours were cut in May at the Walmart warehouse where she worked. She’s applied to numerous agencies for help but they’re either out of money, have a waiting list, or not able to help until clients end up in court with an eviction notice.Rivera said she’s preparing herself mentally to move into a shelter with her children until her situation improves.“We just need help,” Rivera said, fighting back tears. “It’s just been really hard with everyday issues on top of worrying about where you’re going to live.”But there was more optimism in Virginia, where Tiara Burton, 23, learned she would be getting federal help and wouldn't be evicted. She initially feared the worst when the moratorium lifted.“That was definitely a worry yesterday,” said Burton, 23, who lives in Virginia Beach. “If they’re going to start doing evictions again, then I’m going to be faced with having to figure out where me and my family are going to go. And that’s not something that anyone should have to worry about these days at all.”She was relieved to be told by an attorney she had been approved for assistance through the Virginia Rent Relief Program. Her court hearing was postponed for 30 days, during which time she and her landlord can presumably work things out.“I’m grateful for that,” she said. “Just hearing, ‘Okay, we’re going to push it back 30 days, but we’re going to assist you still,’ … that’s another weight lifted off of my shoulders.”Around the country, courts, legal advocates and law enforcement agencies were gearing up for evictions to return to pre-pandemic levels, a time when 3.7 million people were displaced from their homes every year, or seven every minute, according to the Eviction Lab at Princeton University.Some of the cities with the most cases, according to the Eviction Lab, are Phoenix with more than 42,000 eviction filings, Houston with more than 37,000, Las Vegas with nearly 27,000 and Tampa more than 15,000. Indiana and Missouri also have more than 80,000 filings.While the moratorium was enforced in much of the country, there were places like Idaho where judges ignored it, said Ali Rabe, executive director of Jesse Tree, a non-profit that works to prevent evictions in the Boise metropolitan area.The non-profit represented renters in about 800 evictions in the past year, and only once was the moratorium enforced, Rabe said. Statewide about 1,500 people were evicted in the past year, she said.“Eviction courts ran as usual,” she said.That was much the way things played out in parts of North Carolina, where on Monday Sgt. David Ruppe knocked on a weathered mobile home door in Cleveland County, a rural community an hour west of Charlotte.“We haven’t seen much of a difference at all,” he said. “We would still have evictions issued from the court and we would still serve them as if it happened pre-COVID.”He waited a few minutes on the porch scattered with folding chairs and toys. Then a woman opened the door.“How are you?" he asked quietly, then explained her landlord had started the eviction process. The woman told Ruppe she’d paid, and he said she’d need to bring proof to her upcoming Aug. 9 court date.Ruppe, who has two young sons, said seeing families struggle day-after-day is tough.“There’s only so much you can do," he said. “So, if you can offer them a glimmer of hope, words of encouragement, especially if there’s kids involved. Being a father, I can relate to that.”__

Tenants scramble for assistance as evictions begin

CASS COUNTY, MO., —Four people including three from Kansas died in an accident just after 11a.m. Monday in Cass County, Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Peterbilt semi driven by Everett E. Ashley, Lowry City, Missouri, was southbound on MO 7 at Route Z.

The driver lost control of the semi. It traveled down an embankment and crossed the median into the northbound lanes of MO 7.&nbsp; 

The semi struck a northbound Nissan SUV driven by Stephen W. Bennett, 61, Junction City, head-on.

Ashley and two passengers in the SUV including Gerald R. Dittman, 68, Hope, Kansas and Jean M. Pariseau, 71 Herington, Kansas were pronounced dead at the scene. 

Harrisonville EMS transported Bennett to Cass Regional Medical Center where he died. Life Flight transported a third passenger in the SUV identified as Dakota M. Engel, 29, Junction City, to Research Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries. Ashley was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1627935855599.png" alt="First responders on the scene of the fatal crash photo courtesy KMBC-TV" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of the fatal crash photo courtesy KMBC-TV</figcaption>
 </figure>CASS COUNTY, MO., —Four people including three from Kansas died in an accident just after 11a.m. Monday in Cass County, Missouri.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Peterbilt semi driven by Everett E. Ashley, Lowry City, Missouri, was southbound on MO 7 at Route Z.The driver lost control of the semi. It traveled down an embankment and crossed the median into the northbound lanes of MO 7.&nbsp; The semi struck a northbound Nissan SUV driven by Stephen W. Bennett, 61, Junction City, head-on.Ashley and two passengers in the SUV including Gerald R. Dittman, 68, Hope, Kansas and Jean M. Pariseau, 71 Herington, Kansas were pronounced dead at the scene. Harrisonville EMS transported Bennett to Cass Regional Medical Center where he died. Life Flight transported a third passenger in the SUV identified as Dakota M. Engel, 29, Junction City, to Research Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries. Ashley was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

3 from Kan. among 4 dead in head-on crash

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sought to speed up consideration of a nearly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-098eb9f30c9e2f658fbe14b2477db644">$1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package</a>, promising that Democrats would work with Republicans to put together amendments for consideration this week. GOP senators cautioned that they need time to digest the massive bill.

Formally called the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the proposal clocked in at some 2,700 pages after a hurry-up-and-wait rare weekend session. The final product, unveiled late Sunday, was intended to follow the broad outline a bipartisan group of senators had negotiated for weeks with the White House. Schumer has said a final vote could be held “in a matter of days.”

“Let’s start voting on amendments,” Schumer said as the Senate opened work on Monday. “The longer it takes to finish the bill, the longer we will be here.”

A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-voting-rights-2f36a335360b9d6151783487a56e162a">key part of President Joe Biden’s agenda</a>, the bipartisan bill is the first phase of the president’s infrastructure plan. It calls for $550 billion in new spending over five years above projected federal levels — one of the most substantial expenditures on the nation’s roads, bridges, waterworks, broadband and the electric grid in years.

The Senate’s Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, has sided with those voting to allow debate to proceed, but he has not signaled how he will ultimately vote. He described the bill Monday as a “good and important jumping off point” for a robust, bipartisan amendment process. He warned Democrats against setting “any artificial timetable.”

“Infrastructure is exactly the kind of subject that Congress should be able to address across the aisle,” McConnell said.

The Senate overwhelmingly approved the first two amendments to the bill late Monday. Each was noncontroversial and received far more than the 60 votes necessary to be added to the legislation. Other amendment votes, particular on the issue of how to pay for the new spending, are expected to be more spirited affairs.

Senators and staff labored behind the scenes for days to write the massive bill. It was supposed to be ready Friday, but by Sunday, more glitches were caught and changes made.

Late Sunday, most of the 10 senators involved in the bipartisan effort rose on the Senate floor to mark the unveiling of the text.

“We know that this has been a long and sometimes difficult process, but we are proud this evening to announce this legislation,” said Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., a lead negotiator. The bill showed “we can put aside our own political differences for the good of the country,” she said.

Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, a Republican negotiator, framed the legislation as something that would help the U.S. better compete with China and would make the “economy more efficient, more productive” after years of struggle getting a public works bill off the ground.

“People have talked about infrastructure in this city forever,” Portman said.

As the amendment process gets underway, senators are weighing how much to try to change the package and how hard to try, knowing it will be difficult to reach the 60-vote threshold to approve any substantial changes.

Time is not limitless. Schumer has repeatedly warned that he was prepared to keep lawmakers in Washington for as long as it took to complete votes on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-government-and-politics-a426246af6bbac8dd3a188eb443c36c7">both the bipartisan infrastructure plan and a budget blueprint</a>&nbsp;that would allow the Senate to begin work later this year on a massive, $3.5 trillion social, health and environmental bill.

Republicans counter that they just had a chance to begin fully reviewing the bill late Sunday.

“We shouldn’t sacrifice adequate time on this bill merely because the Democratic leader would like to spend next week jamming a 100% partisan piece of legislation through the United States Senate,” said Sen. John Thune of South Dakota.

Among the major new investments, the bipartisan package is expected to provide $110 billion for roads and bridges, $39 billion for public transit and $66 billion for rail. There’s also to be $55 billion for water and wastewater infrastructure as well as billions for airports, ports, broadband internet and electric vehicle charging stations.

Paying for the package has been a challenge after senators rejected ideas to raise revenue from a new gas tax or other streams. Instead, it is being financed from funding sources that might not pass muster with deficit hawks, including repurposing some $205 billion in untapped COVID-19 relief aid, as well as unemployment assistance that was turned back by some states and relying on projected future economic growth.

Some Republicans are wary of another large spending bill after a series of COVID-19 relief measures have boosted the national debt.

“I’ve got real concerns with this bill,” said Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.

Bipartisan support from Republican and Democratic senators pushed the process along, and Schumer wanted the voting to be wrapped up before senators left for their August recess.

Last week, 17 GOP senators joined all Democrats in voting to start work on the bill. That support largely held, with McConnell voting yes in another procedural vote to nudge the process along in the 50-50 Senate, where 60 votes are needed to overcome a filibuster and advance legislation.

Whether the number of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-eacec96a1fb9070c64c302a9c012ed4a">Republican senators willing to pass the bill grows or shrinks</a>&nbsp;in the days ahead will determine if the president’s signature issue can make it across the finish line.

The bipartisan bill still faces a rough road in the House, where progressive lawmakers want a more robust package but may have to settle for this one to keep Biden’s infrastructure plans on track.

The outcome with the bipartisan effort will set the stage for the next debate over Biden’s much more ambitious $3.5 trillion package, a strictly partisan pursuit of far-reaching programs and services including child care, tax breaks and health care that touch almost every corner of American life. Republicans strongly oppose that bill, which would require a simple majority for passage. Final votes on that measure are not expected until fall.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626283910947.png" alt="A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-voting-rights-2f36a335360b9d6151783487a56e162a">key part of President Joe Biden’s agenda</a>, the bipartisan bill is the first phase of the president’s infrastructure plan. It calls for $550 billion in new spending over five years above projected federal levels — one of the most substantial expenditures on the nation’s roads, bridges, waterworks, broadband and the electric grid in years.-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-voting-rights-2f36a335360b9d6151783487a56e162a">key part of President Joe Biden’s agenda</a>, the bipartisan bill is the first phase of the president’s infrastructure plan. It calls for $550 billion in new spending over five years above projected federal levels — one of the most substantial expenditures on the nation’s roads, bridges, waterworks, broadband and the electric grid in years.-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sought to speed up consideration of a nearly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-098eb9f30c9e2f658fbe14b2477db644">$1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package</a>, promising that Democrats would work with Republicans to put together amendments for consideration this week. GOP senators cautioned that they need time to digest the massive bill.Formally called the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the proposal clocked in at some 2,700 pages after a hurry-up-and-wait rare weekend session. The final product, unveiled late Sunday, was intended to follow the broad outline a bipartisan group of senators had negotiated for weeks with the White House. Schumer has said a final vote could be held “in a matter of days.”“Let’s start voting on amendments,” Schumer said as the Senate opened work on Monday. “The longer it takes to finish the bill, the longer we will be here.”A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-voting-rights-2f36a335360b9d6151783487a56e162a">key part of President Joe Biden’s agenda</a>, the bipartisan bill is the first phase of the president’s infrastructure plan. It calls for $550 billion in new spending over five years above projected federal levels — one of the most substantial expenditures on the nation’s roads, bridges, waterworks, broadband and the electric grid in years.The Senate’s Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, has sided with those voting to allow debate to proceed, but he has not signaled how he will ultimately vote. He described the bill Monday as a “good and important jumping off point” for a robust, bipartisan amendment process. He warned Democrats against setting “any artificial timetable.”“Infrastructure is exactly the kind of subject that Congress should be able to address across the aisle,” McConnell said.The Senate overwhelmingly approved the first two amendments to the bill late Monday. Each was noncontroversial and received far more than the 60 votes necessary to be added to the legislation. Other amendment votes, particular on the issue of how to pay for the new spending, are expected to be more spirited affairs.Senators and staff labored behind the scenes for days to write the massive bill. It was supposed to be ready Friday, but by Sunday, more glitches were caught and changes made.Late Sunday, most of the 10 senators involved in the bipartisan effort rose on the Senate floor to mark the unveiling of the text.“We know that this has been a long and sometimes difficult process, but we are proud this evening to announce this legislation,” said Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., a lead negotiator. The bill showed “we can put aside our own political differences for the good of the country,” she said.Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, a Republican negotiator, framed the legislation as something that would help the U.S. better compete with China and would make the “economy more efficient, more productive” after years of struggle getting a public works bill off the ground.“People have talked about infrastructure in this city forever,” Portman said.As the amendment process gets underway, senators are weighing how much to try to change the package and how hard to try, knowing it will be difficult to reach the 60-vote threshold to approve any substantial changes.Time is not limitless. Schumer has repeatedly warned that he was prepared to keep lawmakers in Washington for as long as it took to complete votes on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-government-and-politics-a426246af6bbac8dd3a188eb443c36c7">both the bipartisan infrastructure plan and a budget blueprint</a>&nbsp;that would allow the Senate to begin work later this year on a massive, $3.5 trillion social, health and environmental bill.Republicans counter that they just had a chance to begin fully reviewing the bill late Sunday.“We shouldn’t sacrifice adequate time on this bill merely because the Democratic leader would like to spend next week jamming a 100% partisan piece of legislation through the United States Senate,” said Sen. John Thune of South Dakota.Among the major new investments, the bipartisan package is expected to provide $110 billion for roads and bridges, $39 billion for public transit and $66 billion for rail. There’s also to be $55 billion for water and wastewater infrastructure as well as billions for airports, ports, broadband internet and electric vehicle charging stations.Paying for the package has been a challenge after senators rejected ideas to raise revenue from a new gas tax or other streams. Instead, it is being financed from funding sources that might not pass muster with deficit hawks, including repurposing some $205 billion in untapped COVID-19 relief aid, as well as unemployment assistance that was turned back by some states and relying on projected future economic growth.Some Republicans are wary of another large spending bill after a series of COVID-19 relief measures have boosted the national debt.“I’ve got real concerns with this bill,” said Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.Bipartisan support from Republican and Democratic senators pushed the process along, and Schumer wanted the voting to be wrapped up before senators left for their August recess.Last week, 17 GOP senators joined all Democrats in voting to start work on the bill. That support largely held, with McConnell voting yes in another procedural vote to nudge the process along in the 50-50 Senate, where 60 votes are needed to overcome a filibuster and advance legislation.Whether the number of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-eacec96a1fb9070c64c302a9c012ed4a">Republican senators willing to pass the bill grows or shrinks</a>&nbsp;in the days ahead will determine if the president’s signature issue can make it across the finish line.The bipartisan bill still faces a rough road in the House, where progressive lawmakers want a more robust package but may have to settle for this one to keep Biden’s infrastructure plans on track.The outcome with the bipartisan effort will set the stage for the next debate over Biden’s much more ambitious $3.5 trillion package, a strictly partisan pursuit of far-reaching programs and services including child care, tax breaks and health care that touch almost every corner of American life. Republicans strongly oppose that bill, which would require a simple majority for passage. Final votes on that measure are not expected until fall.

Senate OKs amendments to 2700 page, $1T infrastructure bill

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with a violent attack.

Just after 1p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to the 2000 block of Crestway Drive for a disturbance involving a man reportedly breaking windows and chasing people with a baseball bat, according to a media release.

When officers arrived at the scene, they located 36-year-old Deacon Johann of Garden City holding a wooden bat. 

Johann refused to listen to instructions to drop the bat, allegedly walked closer to the officers, and attempted to swing the bat. Police took him into custody.

The investigation revealed Johann was outside hitting a tree with the bat and then began striking an unlocked door to the residence. Johann then used the bat to break a large window and climbed into the residence through the window. After entering the residence, Johann allegedly chased two individuals known to him and threatened them. 

The victims ran outside, and Johann followed them and began striking two vehicles in the area with the bat, causing extensive damage. Johann chased one of the victims a second time with the bat as the victim attempted to calm Johann down before officers arrived.

Johann is being held on requested charges ofAggravated Assault, Aggravated Assault of a Law Enforcement Officer , Criminal Threat and Criminal Damage.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1627954707997.png" alt="Johann-photo Finney Co." />
 <figcaption>Johann-photo Finney Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with a violent attack.Just after 1p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to the 2000 block of Crestway Drive for a disturbance involving a man reportedly breaking windows and chasing people with a baseball bat, according to a media release.When officers arrived at the scene, they located 36-year-old Deacon Johann of Garden City holding a wooden bat. Johann refused to listen to instructions to drop the bat, allegedly walked closer to the officers, and attempted to swing the bat. Police took him into custody.The investigation revealed Johann was outside hitting a tree with the bat and then began striking an unlocked door to the residence. Johann then used the bat to break a large window and climbed into the residence through the window. After entering the residence, Johann allegedly chased two individuals known to him and threatened them. The victims ran outside, and Johann followed them and began striking two vehicles in the area with the bat, causing extensive damage. Johann chased one of the victims a second time with the bat as the victim attempted to calm Johann down before officers arrived.Johann is being held on requested charges ofAggravated Assault, Aggravated Assault of a Law Enforcement Officer , Criminal Threat and Criminal Damage.

Police: Kansas man jailed after baseball bat attack

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

Saline County Sheriff's Office personnel conducted a water rescue early Saturday morning north of Salina.

A 57-year-old woman and 49-year-old man from Salina, decided to go fishing Friday evening and put their 12-foot semi V Jon boat into the Saline River north of Salina at approximately 7 p.m. and headed downstream, according to Saline County Undersheriff Brent Melander.

The battery on the trolling motor died and the boat eventually got caught in the up-current side of a log jam in the river, he said. At that point, the boat was near the intersection of Tressin Road and Watkins Road.

With the battery on their cellphone fading, the couple called for help at approximately 4:12 a.m. Saturday, Melander said. Saline County Sheriff's Office personnel responded, including a member of the sheriff's office water rescue team. They were able to toss a rescue disk and line to the couple and pull them to shore, he said.

Salina Fire Department water rescue personnel also responded, but the couple was already ashore, Melander said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1627954862917.jpeg" alt="The boat caught in a log jam on Saline River.Photo Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>The boat caught in a log jam on Saline River.Photo Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSaline County Sheriff's Office personnel conducted a water rescue early Saturday morning north of Salina.A 57-year-old woman and 49-year-old man from Salina, decided to go fishing Friday evening and put their 12-foot semi V Jon boat into the Saline River north of Salina at approximately 7 p.m. and headed downstream, according to Saline County Undersheriff Brent Melander.The battery on the trolling motor died and the boat eventually got caught in the up-current side of a log jam in the river, he said. At that point, the boat was near the intersection of Tressin Road and Watkins Road.With the battery on their cellphone fading, the couple called for help at approximately 4:12 a.m. Saturday, Melander said. Saline County Sheriff's Office personnel responded, including a member of the sheriff's office water rescue team. They were able to toss a rescue disk and line to the couple and pull them to shore, he said.Salina Fire Department water rescue personnel also responded, but the couple was already ashore, Melander said.

Kan. couple rescued from river after boat caught in log jam

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House moved Monday to pressure state and local governments to swiftly adopt policies to protect renters after an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-us-supreme-court-3065b165b8110c4238c698af8bcb8a42">eviction moratorium expired over the weekend</a>, potentially pushing millions of Americans out of their homes.

In a statement on Monday, the White House emphasized that the federal government has provided $46.5 billion to keep renters in their homes. But it accused states and cities of being “too slow to act,” preventing that aid from making its way to tenants whose livelihoods have been upended by the pandemic.

The focus on states comes as President Joe Biden faces stinging criticism, including from some in his own party, that he was was slow to address the end of the moratorium. Some Democratic lawmakers have camped out at the U.S. Capitol in protest, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the prospect of widespread evictions “unfathomable.” The Congressional Black Caucus intensified pressure on the White House to issue an immediate extension of the moratorium.

Some people were at risk of losing their homes as soon as Monday. But the White House insists there is only so much it can do on its own and that state and local leaders need to step up and get the aid out.

“The president is clear: If some states and localities can get this out efficiently and effectively there’s no reason every state and locality can’t,” Gene Sperling, who oversees the administration’s coronavirus relief plans, told reporters. “There is simply no excuse, no place to hide for any state or locality that is failing to accelerate their emergency” rental assistance.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-eviction-moratorium-coronavirus-da0e4cc8014b6c8a658dd1572707364f">Late last week, Biden announced</a>&nbsp;he was allowing the ban to expire. The White House said he would have supported an extension of the moratorium but pointed to the Supreme Court, which signaled in a 5-4 vote in late June that it wouldn’t back further extensions. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote that Congress would have to act to extend the moratorium. The White House noted that state-level efforts to stop evictions would spare a third of the country from evictions over the next month.

While the administration is still investigating legal options to forestall evictions, officials said their options were limited. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that the CDC, which issued the eviction ban, was “unable to find legal authority for a new, targeted eviction moratorium.”

Mass evictions could potentially worsen the recent spread of the COVID-19 delta variant as roughly 1.4 million households told the Census Bureau they could “very likely” be evicted from their rentals in the next two months. Another 2.2 million say they’re “somewhat likely” to be evicted.

Sperling said the administration will keep looking for additional legal avenues to keep people in their homes. Yet he also stressed the complexity of the problem by also noting that the Trump administration developed guidelines for providing aid to renters and landlords that were unworkable. Those guidelines which required extensive documentation were changed once Biden was in office.

“This is not an easy task,” Sperling said. “We as a country have never had a national infrastructure or national policy for preventing avoidable evictions.”

Pelosi, for her part, said that she welcomed the administration’s urging of states and cities to impose their own moratoriums. And she said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen would hold a virtual briefing Tuesday with lawmakers as they push to more quickly ensure the states distribute the federal aid.

Rep. Maxine Waters, the powerful chair of the Financial Services Committee, has been talking privately for days with Yellen. She said in a statement that she urged Yellen to use her influence to urge states to push the money out the door and the treasury secretary has personally committed to doing so.

The CDC put the eviction ban in place as part of the COVID-19 response when jobs shifted and many workers lost income. The ban was intended to hold back the spread of the virus among people put out on the streets and into shelters.

Democratic lawmakers said they were caught by surprise by Biden’s decision allowing the ban to expire, creating frustration and anger and exposing a rare rift with the administration.

Congress was unable to pass legislation swiftly to extend the ban, which expired at midnight Saturday, and the House Democratic leaders have said it was now up to Biden’s administration to act.

Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., has been leading a protest at the Capitol since the eve of the expiration. The St. Louis-area congresswoman has been joined at times by other top progressive Democrats urging action, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627590438752.png" alt="In a statement on Monday, the White House emphasized that the federal government has provided $46.5 billion to keep renters in their homes. But it accused states and cities of being “too slow to act." photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>In a statement on Monday, the White House emphasized that the federal government has provided $46.5 billion to keep renters in their homes. But it accused states and cities of being “too slow to act." photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House moved Monday to pressure state and local governments to swiftly adopt policies to protect renters after an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-us-supreme-court-3065b165b8110c4238c698af8bcb8a42">eviction moratorium expired over the weekend</a>, potentially pushing millions of Americans out of their homes.In a statement on Monday, the White House emphasized that the federal government has provided $46.5 billion to keep renters in their homes. But it accused states and cities of being “too slow to act,” preventing that aid from making its way to tenants whose livelihoods have been upended by the pandemic.The focus on states comes as President Joe Biden faces stinging criticism, including from some in his own party, that he was was slow to address the end of the moratorium. Some Democratic lawmakers have camped out at the U.S. Capitol in protest, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the prospect of widespread evictions “unfathomable.” The Congressional Black Caucus intensified pressure on the White House to issue an immediate extension of the moratorium.Some people were at risk of losing their homes as soon as Monday. But the White House insists there is only so much it can do on its own and that state and local leaders need to step up and get the aid out.“The president is clear: If some states and localities can get this out efficiently and effectively there’s no reason every state and locality can’t,” Gene Sperling, who oversees the administration’s coronavirus relief plans, told reporters. “There is simply no excuse, no place to hide for any state or locality that is failing to accelerate their emergency” rental assistance.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-eviction-moratorium-coronavirus-da0e4cc8014b6c8a658dd1572707364f">Late last week, Biden announced</a>&nbsp;he was allowing the ban to expire. The White House said he would have supported an extension of the moratorium but pointed to the Supreme Court, which signaled in a 5-4 vote in late June that it wouldn’t back further extensions. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote that Congress would have to act to extend the moratorium. The White House noted that state-level efforts to stop evictions would spare a third of the country from evictions over the next month.While the administration is still investigating legal options to forestall evictions, officials said their options were limited. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that the CDC, which issued the eviction ban, was “unable to find legal authority for a new, targeted eviction moratorium.”Mass evictions could potentially worsen the recent spread of the COVID-19 delta variant as roughly 1.4 million households told the Census Bureau they could “very likely” be evicted from their rentals in the next two months. Another 2.2 million say they’re “somewhat likely” to be evicted.Sperling said the administration will keep looking for additional legal avenues to keep people in their homes. Yet he also stressed the complexity of the problem by also noting that the Trump administration developed guidelines for providing aid to renters and landlords that were unworkable. Those guidelines which required extensive documentation were changed once Biden was in office.“This is not an easy task,” Sperling said. “We as a country have never had a national infrastructure or national policy for preventing avoidable evictions.”Pelosi, for her part, said that she welcomed the administration’s urging of states and cities to impose their own moratoriums. And she said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen would hold a virtual briefing Tuesday with lawmakers as they push to more quickly ensure the states distribute the federal aid.Rep. Maxine Waters, the powerful chair of the Financial Services Committee, has been talking privately for days with Yellen. She said in a statement that she urged Yellen to use her influence to urge states to push the money out the door and the treasury secretary has personally committed to doing so.The CDC put the eviction ban in place as part of the COVID-19 response when jobs shifted and many workers lost income. The ban was intended to hold back the spread of the virus among people put out on the streets and into shelters.Democratic lawmakers said they were caught by surprise by Biden’s decision allowing the ban to expire, creating frustration and anger and exposing a rare rift with the administration.Congress was unable to pass legislation swiftly to extend the ban, which expired at midnight Saturday, and the House Democratic leaders have said it was now up to Biden’s administration to act.Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., has been leading a protest at the Capitol since the eve of the expiration. The St. Louis-area congresswoman has been joined at times by other top progressive Democrats urging action, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.___