COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the shooting death of a woman he planned to marry, despite already having a wife and child.

James Addie, of Sante Fe, Missouri, was sentenced Monday in Cole County Circuit Court for the 2018 death of his fiancé, 35-year-old Molly Watson, station KOMU&nbsp;<a href="https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/monroe-county-man-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-fianc-es-death/article_41f72164-e32a-11eb-9819-d7dc4d7ba9a7.html">reported</a>. Addie had faced a possible death sentence.

Addie was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-brown-shootings-5fe10dbb904be7937289be5c0cfb0179">convicted earlier this year</a>&nbsp;of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the case.

Watson’s body was found in April 2018 along a gravel road in southern Monroe County. Prosecutors said Addie and Watson had a seven-year affair and planned to marry the month she was killed. But Addie was still married to his wife of 23 years, Melanie Addie, at the time.

At Monday's sentencing hearing, Addie asked the judge for a new trial, arguing that his attorney did not present all the evidence available in the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619777775352.png" alt="Addie photo Cole Co." />
 <figcaption>Addie photo Cole Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the shooting death of a woman he planned to marry, despite already having a wife and child.James Addie, of Sante Fe, Missouri, was sentenced Monday in Cole County Circuit Court for the 2018 death of his fiancé, 35-year-old Molly Watson, station KOMU&nbsp;<a href="https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/monroe-county-man-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-fianc-es-death/article_41f72164-e32a-11eb-9819-d7dc4d7ba9a7.html">reported</a>. Addie had faced a possible death sentence.Addie was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-brown-shootings-5fe10dbb904be7937289be5c0cfb0179">convicted earlier this year</a>&nbsp;of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the case.Watson’s body was found in April 2018 along a gravel road in southern Monroe County. Prosecutors said Addie and Watson had a seven-year affair and planned to marry the month she was killed. But Addie was still married to his wife of 23 years, Melanie Addie, at the time.At Monday's sentencing hearing, Addie asked the judge for a new trial, arguing that his attorney did not present all the evidence available in the case.

Man married to another woman sentenced for killing fiancee

WASHINGTON (AP) — Prices for U.S. consumers jumped in June by the most in 13 years, evidence that a swift rebound in spending has run up against widespread supply shortages that have escalated the costs of many goods and services.

Tuesday’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf" target="_blank">report from the Labor Department</a>&nbsp;showed that consumer prices in June rose 0.9% from May and 5.4% over the past year — the sharpest 12-month inflation spike since August 2008. Excluding volatile oil and gas prices, so-called core inflation rose 4.5% in the past year, the largest increase since November 1991.

The pickup in inflation, which has coincided with the economy’s rapid recovery from the pandemic recession, will likely intensify a debate at the Federal Reserve and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-business-government-and-politics-2c2d811df7e2b07dd927778fb7944c3a">between the Biden administration and congressional Republicans&nbsp;</a>about how persistent the accelerating price increases will prove to be.

The Fed and the White House have made clear their belief that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-6e7c813472a3eb706e0cdafe305c1477">current bout of inflation will prove temporary</a>. As supply chain bottlenecks are resolved and the economy returns to normal, they suggest, the price spikes for such items as used cars, hotel rooms and clothing will fade. Some economists, along with Wall Street investors, have indicated that they agree.

“The headline inflation numbers have been eye-popping in recent months, but underlying inflation remains under control,” said Gus Faucher, an economist at PNC Financial Services. “Once again a few categories — used vehicles, airfares, rental cars, hotels — are experiencing huge price gains because of the recovery from the pandemic.”

Still, continued higher inflation does raise the prospect that the Fed could decide to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-380a7fc237023194d94af689f13a5ef7">act earlier than expected&nbsp;</a>to pull back on its ultra-low interest rate policies, which have been intended to support more borrowing and spending. If so, that would risk weakening the economy and potentially derailing the recovery.

For now, price increases are running ahead of the wage gains that have kicked in this year, which means the financial burdens on millions of households have grown more difficult. Average hourly earnings increased 3.6% in June compared with a year earlier, normally a solid gain, but far less than current inflation.

Lower-income workers are also hardest hit by rising food prices, which rose 0.8% in June, and gas costs, which rose 2.5% last month and 45% from a year ago.

One reason why year-over-year inflation readings are now so high is that the most recent prices are being measured against the sharp price declines that followed the eruption of the pandemic in March of last year. That statistical distortion began to fade in June and will no longer be a factor when July’s year-over-year inflation figures are released next month.

Looking past those distortions, prices are rising faster than they did before the pandemic but not as much as the recent monthly numbers suggest. Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate, noted that compared with June 2019, inflation has risen at about a 3% annual pace over the past two years. That is up from a 2.6% annual inflation pace from May 2019 to May 2021.

In addition, some ongoing price spikes could fade soon. Hotel room prices surged 7% in June alone and 15.1% in the past year, the most on records dating to the 1950s. But that surge has merely returned hotel prices to pre-pandemic levels and so may not persist.

Airline fares, which jumped 2.7% last month, have skyrocketed nearly 25% compared with a year ago. Yet airline ticket prices are still below pre-COVID levels.

Prices for used cars are far above where they were before the pandemic and soared 10.5% last month alone — the largest such monthly increase on record. That spike accounted for about one-third of the monthly increase in consumer prices for a third straight month.

Used cars have become vastly more expensive largely because semiconductor shortages have cut production of new cars, thereby leading more buyers to the used car lots. And many rental car companies sold portions of their fleets during the pandemic to raise cash and are now desperately buying up used cars to replenish their supply.

The shortage of rental cars combined with greater demand has elevated vehicle rental prices by an astounding 90% in the past year.

The surge in used car prices, though, isn’t likely to last. Prices are starting to drop at wholesale auctions where dealers buy vehicles, and used vehicle demand may be slowing.

David Kelleher, who runs a Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler) dealership in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia, has observed that fewer of his customers are seeking used vehicles.

“I think the word got out that it was a tough time to buy a used car,” Kelleher said.

Kelleher, who has now cut prices on the roughly 150 used vehicles he has in stock, says other dealers are reporting the same conditions, and he expects customers to return once the price declines take full effect. Still, supplies of new vehicles remain tight and prices high, a trend that could sustain customer demand for used vehicles.

More broadly, other trends are keeping consumer prices high: Restaurant prices rose 0.7% last month and 4.2% over the past year, a sign that many companies are raising prices to offset higher labor costs.

The cost of household furniture increased 0.7% from May to June and 8.6% compared with a year ago, as more Americans have upgraded their homes after spending more time there during the pandemic. Mohawk Industries, which makes carpets and tiles,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.floordaily.net/floorfocus/engineered-floors-mohawk-announce-price-increase" target="_blank">has said it will raise prices</a>&nbsp;6% to 10% — its third price hike of the year — to cover higher costs for raw material, labor and shipping.

The spice maker McCormick &amp; Co. said it plans to raise prices to offset higher raw materials costs. Likewise, Conagra has said inflationary pressures have reduced its profits. The company, which makes everything from Duncan Hines to Pam cooking spray, has said it will raise prices to offset some of those costs. PepsiCo, too, said it will likely raise prices for its drinks and Frito-Lay snacks after Labor Day.

So far, investors have largely accepted the Fed’s belief that higher inflation will be short-lived, with bond yields signaling that inflation concerns on Wall Street are fading. Bond investors now expect inflation to average 2.4% over the next five years, down from 2.7% in mid-May.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626210690024.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Prices for U.S. consumers jumped in June by the most in 13 years, evidence that a swift rebound in spending has run up against widespread supply shortages that have escalated the costs of many goods and services.Tuesday’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf" target="_blank">report from the Labor Department</a>&nbsp;showed that consumer prices in June rose 0.9% from May and 5.4% over the past year — the sharpest 12-month inflation spike since August 2008. Excluding volatile oil and gas prices, so-called core inflation rose 4.5% in the past year, the largest increase since November 1991.The pickup in inflation, which has coincided with the economy’s rapid recovery from the pandemic recession, will likely intensify a debate at the Federal Reserve and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-business-government-and-politics-2c2d811df7e2b07dd927778fb7944c3a">between the Biden administration and congressional Republicans&nbsp;</a>about how persistent the accelerating price increases will prove to be.The Fed and the White House have made clear their belief that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-6e7c813472a3eb706e0cdafe305c1477">current bout of inflation will prove temporary</a>. As supply chain bottlenecks are resolved and the economy returns to normal, they suggest, the price spikes for such items as used cars, hotel rooms and clothing will fade. Some economists, along with Wall Street investors, have indicated that they agree.“The headline inflation numbers have been eye-popping in recent months, but underlying inflation remains under control,” said Gus Faucher, an economist at PNC Financial Services. “Once again a few categories — used vehicles, airfares, rental cars, hotels — are experiencing huge price gains because of the recovery from the pandemic.”Still, continued higher inflation does raise the prospect that the Fed could decide to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-380a7fc237023194d94af689f13a5ef7">act earlier than expected&nbsp;</a>to pull back on its ultra-low interest rate policies, which have been intended to support more borrowing and spending. If so, that would risk weakening the economy and potentially derailing the recovery.For now, price increases are running ahead of the wage gains that have kicked in this year, which means the financial burdens on millions of households have grown more difficult. Average hourly earnings increased 3.6% in June compared with a year earlier, normally a solid gain, but far less than current inflation.Lower-income workers are also hardest hit by rising food prices, which rose 0.8% in June, and gas costs, which rose 2.5% last month and 45% from a year ago.One reason why year-over-year inflation readings are now so high is that the most recent prices are being measured against the sharp price declines that followed the eruption of the pandemic in March of last year. That statistical distortion began to fade in June and will no longer be a factor when July’s year-over-year inflation figures are released next month.Looking past those distortions, prices are rising faster than they did before the pandemic but not as much as the recent monthly numbers suggest. Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate, noted that compared with June 2019, inflation has risen at about a 3% annual pace over the past two years. That is up from a 2.6% annual inflation pace from May 2019 to May 2021.In addition, some ongoing price spikes could fade soon. Hotel room prices surged 7% in June alone and 15.1% in the past year, the most on records dating to the 1950s. But that surge has merely returned hotel prices to pre-pandemic levels and so may not persist.Airline fares, which jumped 2.7% last month, have skyrocketed nearly 25% compared with a year ago. Yet airline ticket prices are still below pre-COVID levels.Prices for used cars are far above where they were before the pandemic and soared 10.5% last month alone — the largest such monthly increase on record. That spike accounted for about one-third of the monthly increase in consumer prices for a third straight month.Used cars have become vastly more expensive largely because semiconductor shortages have cut production of new cars, thereby leading more buyers to the used car lots. And many rental car companies sold portions of their fleets during the pandemic to raise cash and are now desperately buying up used cars to replenish their supply.The shortage of rental cars combined with greater demand has elevated vehicle rental prices by an astounding 90% in the past year.The surge in used car prices, though, isn’t likely to last. Prices are starting to drop at wholesale auctions where dealers buy vehicles, and used vehicle demand may be slowing.David Kelleher, who runs a Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler) dealership in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia, has observed that fewer of his customers are seeking used vehicles.“I think the word got out that it was a tough time to buy a used car,” Kelleher said.Kelleher, who has now cut prices on the roughly 150 used vehicles he has in stock, says other dealers are reporting the same conditions, and he expects customers to return once the price declines take full effect. Still, supplies of new vehicles remain tight and prices high, a trend that could sustain customer demand for used vehicles.More broadly, other trends are keeping consumer prices high: Restaurant prices rose 0.7% last month and 4.2% over the past year, a sign that many companies are raising prices to offset higher labor costs.The cost of household furniture increased 0.7% from May to June and 8.6% compared with a year ago, as more Americans have upgraded their homes after spending more time there during the pandemic. Mohawk Industries, which makes carpets and tiles,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.floordaily.net/floorfocus/engineered-floors-mohawk-announce-price-increase" target="_blank">has said it will raise prices</a>&nbsp;6% to 10% — its third price hike of the year — to cover higher costs for raw material, labor and shipping.The spice maker McCormick &amp; Co. said it plans to raise prices to offset higher raw materials costs. Likewise, Conagra has said inflationary pressures have reduced its profits. The company, which makes everything from Duncan Hines to Pam cooking spray, has said it will raise prices to offset some of those costs. PepsiCo, too, said it will likely raise prices for its drinks and Frito-Lay snacks after Labor Day.So far, investors have largely accepted the Fed’s belief that higher inflation will be short-lived, with bond yields signaling that inflation concerns on Wall Street are fading. Bond investors now expect inflation to average 2.4% over the next five years, down from 2.7% in mid-May.

US consumer prices surge in June, the most  in 13-years

HARVEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating the fatal&nbsp; shooting of a 14-year-old Hesston girl&nbsp;filed formal charges in the case, according to the Harvey County Attorney’s Office.

Just before 10p.m. Sunday, the Newton Police Department responded to an incident at a home in the 900 block of S. Walnut Street in Newton where a group of teens were hanging out, according to a media release from police.

Police found a 14-year-old girl injured with a gunshot wound. First responders provided medical treatment, but the girl was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Monday morning, police took a 16-year-old boy into custody at his home.&nbsp; Prosecutors charged him with one count each of alleged first-degree murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and criminal threat.

The names of the individuals involved are not being released by the Attorney’s Office due to the ages of the suspect and victim.

HARVEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old Hesston girl and have a juvenile suspect in custody.

Just before 10 p.m. Sunday, the suspect identified as a 16-year-old boy arrived at a house in the 900 block of South Walnut in Newton where a group of teens were hanging out, according to a media release from police.

Witnesses said the boy was visibly intoxicated and was waving around a gun. He pointed the gun at others in the room before fatally shooting the girl.

Witnesses and neighbors attempted to perform CPR and called 911, and the suspect ran from the house.&nbsp; Newton Police arrested the suspect just after 10 a.m. Monday at his house in Newton.&nbsp; Police have not released the name of the suspect or the victim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626213055741.png" alt="According to police, witnesses said the boy was visibly intoxicated and was waving around a gun. He pointed the gun at others in the room before fatally shooting the girl.-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>According to police, witnesses said the boy was visibly intoxicated and was waving around a gun. He pointed the gun at others in the room before fatally shooting the girl.-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating the fatal&nbsp; shooting of a 14-year-old Hesston girl&nbsp;filed formal charges in the case, according to the Harvey County Attorney’s Office.Just before 10p.m. Sunday, the Newton Police Department responded to an incident at a home in the 900 block of S. Walnut Street in Newton where a group of teens were hanging out, according to a media release from police.Police found a 14-year-old girl injured with a gunshot wound. First responders provided medical treatment, but the girl was pronounced dead at the scene.On Monday morning, police took a 16-year-old boy into custody at his home.&nbsp; Prosecutors charged him with one count each of alleged first-degree murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and criminal threat.The names of the individuals involved are not being released by the Attorney’s Office due to the ages of the suspect and victim.------------HARVEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old Hesston girl and have a juvenile suspect in custody.Just before 10 p.m. Sunday, the suspect identified as a 16-year-old boy arrived at a house in the 900 block of South Walnut in Newton where a group of teens were hanging out, according to a media release from police.Witnesses said the boy was visibly intoxicated and was waving around a gun. He pointed the gun at others in the room before fatally shooting the girl.Witnesses and neighbors attempted to perform CPR and called 911, and the suspect ran from the house.&nbsp; Newton Police arrested the suspect just after 10 a.m. Monday at his house in Newton.&nbsp; Police have not released the name of the suspect or the victim.

Boy charged in shooting death of 14-year-old girl in Newton

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — An appeals court has ruled that a federal law banning licensed firearms dealers from selling handguns to young adults between ages 18 and 21 is unconstitutional. 

In a 2-1 opinion Tuesday, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond overturned a lower court ruling upholding the law, which has been in place since 1968. 

Judge Julius Richardson, a Donald Trump Appointee, wrote that the law relegates both the right to bear arms and young adults under age 21 to second-class status. 

The Biden administration has the option to appeal the ruling.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615577475502.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — An appeals court has ruled that a federal law banning licensed firearms dealers from selling handguns to young adults between ages 18 and 21 is unconstitutional. In a 2-1 opinion Tuesday, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond overturned a lower court ruling upholding the law, which has been in place since 1968. Judge Julius Richardson, a Donald Trump Appointee, wrote that the law relegates both the right to bear arms and young adults under age 21 to second-class status. The Biden administration has the option to appeal the ruling.

Appeals court: Dealers can sell handguns to 18-year-olds

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Former state lawmaker Ernie Chambers is known for seeking the censure of Nebraska judges he believes have acted outside the bounds of fairness. 

Now, Chambers is targeting a judge in the state's northeastern corner who saw the Nebraska Supreme Court overturn his denial of an adoption petition to a same-sex couple. 

In a complaint filed last week with the Nebraska Judicial Qualifications Commission, Chambers accuses Dixon County Judge Douglas Luebe violated a state law requiring judges to perform their duties “fairly and impartially” and “without bias or prejudice.” 

Luebe described himself as “old-fashioned” in denying an adoption petition for a same-sex married couple last year. 

The state's Supreme Court overturned that denial in March.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626209680702.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Former state lawmaker Ernie Chambers is known for seeking the censure of Nebraska judges he believes have acted outside the bounds of fairness. Now, Chambers is targeting a judge in the state's northeastern corner who saw the Nebraska Supreme Court overturn his denial of an adoption petition to a same-sex couple. In a complaint filed last week with the Nebraska Judicial Qualifications Commission, Chambers accuses Dixon County Judge Douglas Luebe violated a state law requiring judges to perform their duties “fairly and impartially” and “without bias or prejudice.” Luebe described himself as “old-fashioned” in denying an adoption petition for a same-sex married couple last year. The state's Supreme Court overturned that denial in March.

Nebraska judge who nixed same-sex adoption target of filing

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A state lawmaker from Omaha has announced he will run in the Democratic primary for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. 

Sen. Tony Vargas said in an announcement Tuesday that he will seek the party’s nomination to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a three-term Republican in the district that includes Omaha and parts of its suburbs. 

Vargas said Tuesday his focus will be on meeting the needs of working families, including access to affordable, quality health care, living wages and better education.

Vargas is a former public school teacher and one-time member of the Omaha Public Schools Board who was re-elected to a second term in the Legislature in 2020. 

Bacon has already said he we’ll seek re-election to a fourth term in 2022.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626201231979.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A state lawmaker from Omaha has announced he will run in the Democratic primary for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. Sen. Tony Vargas said in an announcement Tuesday that he will seek the party’s nomination to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a three-term Republican in the district that includes Omaha and parts of its suburbs. Vargas said Tuesday his focus will be on meeting the needs of working families, including access to affordable, quality health care, living wages and better education.Vargas is a former public school teacher and one-time member of the Omaha Public Schools Board who was re-elected to a second term in the Legislature in 2020. Bacon has already said he we’ll seek re-election to a fourth term in 2022.

Omaha state lawmaker to run for Nebraska House seat in 2022

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The U.S. has seen a string of COVID-19 outbreaks tied to summer camps in recent weeks in places such as Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Illinois and Florida in what some fear could be a preview of the upcoming school year.

In some cases the outbreaks have spread from the camp to the broader community.

The clusters have come as the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the U.S. has reversed course, surging more than 60% over the past two weeks from an average of about 12,000 a day to about 19,500, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The rise in many places has been blamed on too many unvaccinated people and the highly contagious delta variant.

Gwen Ford, a 43-year-old science teacher from Adrian, Missouri, was cautiously optimistic when she eyed the dropping case numbers in the spring and signed up her 12-year-old daughter for the West Central Christian Service Camp in Missouri.

But one day after her daughter got home from a week of playing in the camp pool, worshipping with friends and bunking in a dormitory, Ford got an email about an outbreak and then learned that her daughter’s camp buddy was infected.

“And we were like, ’Oh, my gosh. This was someone you were around quite a bit,’” she recalled, adding that her daughter ultimately tested negative. Ford said she definitely plans to get her daughter vaccinated. “It was very nerve-wracking. It kind of seems like we finally felt comfortable and it happened.”

A note posted on the camp’s Facebook page showed that the camp nurse and several faculty and volunteers were among those infected. Staff members at the camp did not return a call for comment.

JoAnn Martin, administrator of the public health agency in surrounding Pettis County, lamented the difficulty in getting people to take the virus seriously and get vaccinated.

“It has been a challenge since the first case,” she said. “You have people who still say it is not real. You have people who say it is a cold. You have people who say what is the big deal. You have people who say it is all a government plot.”

Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious disease specialist, said he isn’t surprised by the outbreaks as camps reopen this year after being closed last summer. He said he had his doubts that some camps “thought through all the implications of camping during COVID.”

Ideally, he said, camps would require vaccinations for adults and for campers who are old enough, and would take other measures such as serving meals in shifts, putting fewer youngsters in the cabins and requiring anyone unvaccinated to wear masks indoors.

In the Houston area, health officials said more than 130 youth and adults tested positive for the virus in cases connected to a church camp attended by several hundred young people.

The pastor of Clear Creek Community Church in League City, Texas, said the outbreak happened in two waves, first at the camp and then when people returned home in late June and spread the virus to their families.

“In some cases, entire families are sick,” pastor Bruce Wesley said on the church’s Facebook page.

In Illinois, health officials said 85 teens and adults at a Christian youth camp in mid-June tested positive, including an unvaccinated young adult who was hospitalized, and some people from the camp attended a nearby conference, leading to 11 additional cases.

The Illinois Department of Public Health said all the campers were eligible for the vaccine, but only “a handful” of campers and staff had received it. The camp didn’t check vaccination status or require people to wear masks indoors, according to the department.

The health department in Leon County, Florida, which includes Tallahassee, tweeted this month that an increase in cases there also was tied in part to summer camp outbreaks.

And in Kansas, about 50 people have been infected in an outbreak linked to a church summer camp held last month not far from Wichita.

Elsewhere the situation is better. The roughly 225 overnight camps and thousands of day camps run by local YMCAs are mostly open this summer, though with slightly reduced capacity, said Paul McEntire, chief operating officer for YMCA of the USA.

McEntire said he is aware of a few cases of Y camps where people tested positive for the virus, but no instances of significant spread. He said many camps are taking precautions such as serving meals in shifts or outside and trying to keep youngsters in separate groups. Most are requiring masks indoors, but he acknowledged it can be a challenge.

“To be frank, there are some parents that didn’t want to send their kids unless they were assured that masking was being used indoors,” he said. “There were others that took the exact opposite viewpoint.”

Ahead of the school year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance last week to say vaccinated teachers and students don’t need to wear masks inside and 3-foot distancing of desks is not necessary for the fully vaccinated.

Summer camp outbreaks “certainly could be a precursor” to what happens when youngsters return to classrooms in the fall, said Dr. Michelle Prickett, a pulmonary and critical care specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. The outcome will depend on vaccination rates and which virus variants are prevalent, she said.

“We just need to be vigilant,” Prickett said.

Schaffner said he thinks schools won’t face similar outbreaks because they tend to be more structured and disciplined than camps and most got used to making adjustments over the past year and a half. But he said the best way to reduce the risk is to get most people vaccinated.

“There are many parts of the country that simply have not grasped this,” he said.

The COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. is authorized for people as young as 12. It could be several months before regulators make a decision on authorizing shots for children younger than that. Studies on youngsters under 12 are still going on.

Ford, the teacher whose daughter narrowly escaped getting COVID-19 at a Missouri summer camp, is worried.

“With the uptick in cases, I am concerned that we won’t be able to go back to normal, and we will have to ask people to mask and stuff,” she said, “and I have a feeling that there is going to be a huge argument.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626184305895.png" alt="Photo courtesy West Central Christian Service Camp" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy West Central Christian Service Camp</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —The U.S. has seen a string of COVID-19 outbreaks tied to summer camps in recent weeks in places such as Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Illinois and Florida in what some fear could be a preview of the upcoming school year.In some cases the outbreaks have spread from the camp to the broader community.The clusters have come as the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the U.S. has reversed course, surging more than 60% over the past two weeks from an average of about 12,000 a day to about 19,500, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.The rise in many places has been blamed on too many unvaccinated people and the highly contagious delta variant.Gwen Ford, a 43-year-old science teacher from Adrian, Missouri, was cautiously optimistic when she eyed the dropping case numbers in the spring and signed up her 12-year-old daughter for the West Central Christian Service Camp in Missouri.But one day after her daughter got home from a week of playing in the camp pool, worshipping with friends and bunking in a dormitory, Ford got an email about an outbreak and then learned that her daughter’s camp buddy was infected.“And we were like, ’Oh, my gosh. This was someone you were around quite a bit,’” she recalled, adding that her daughter ultimately tested negative. Ford said she definitely plans to get her daughter vaccinated. “It was very nerve-wracking. It kind of seems like we finally felt comfortable and it happened.”A note posted on the camp’s Facebook page showed that the camp nurse and several faculty and volunteers were among those infected. Staff members at the camp did not return a call for comment.JoAnn Martin, administrator of the public health agency in surrounding Pettis County, lamented the difficulty in getting people to take the virus seriously and get vaccinated.“It has been a challenge since the first case,” she said. “You have people who still say it is not real. You have people who say it is a cold. You have people who say what is the big deal. You have people who say it is all a government plot.”Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious disease specialist, said he isn’t surprised by the outbreaks as camps reopen this year after being closed last summer. He said he had his doubts that some camps “thought through all the implications of camping during COVID.”Ideally, he said, camps would require vaccinations for adults and for campers who are old enough, and would take other measures such as serving meals in shifts, putting fewer youngsters in the cabins and requiring anyone unvaccinated to wear masks indoors.In the Houston area, health officials said more than 130 youth and adults tested positive for the virus in cases connected to a church camp attended by several hundred young people.The pastor of Clear Creek Community Church in League City, Texas, said the outbreak happened in two waves, first at the camp and then when people returned home in late June and spread the virus to their families.“In some cases, entire families are sick,” pastor Bruce Wesley said on the church’s Facebook page.In Illinois, health officials said 85 teens and adults at a Christian youth camp in mid-June tested positive, including an unvaccinated young adult who was hospitalized, and some people from the camp attended a nearby conference, leading to 11 additional cases.The Illinois Department of Public Health said all the campers were eligible for the vaccine, but only “a handful” of campers and staff had received it. The camp didn’t check vaccination status or require people to wear masks indoors, according to the department.The health department in Leon County, Florida, which includes Tallahassee, tweeted this month that an increase in cases there also was tied in part to summer camp outbreaks.And in Kansas, about 50 people have been infected in an outbreak linked to a church summer camp held last month not far from Wichita.Elsewhere the situation is better. The roughly 225 overnight camps and thousands of day camps run by local YMCAs are mostly open this summer, though with slightly reduced capacity, said Paul McEntire, chief operating officer for YMCA of the USA.McEntire said he is aware of a few cases of Y camps where people tested positive for the virus, but no instances of significant spread. He said many camps are taking precautions such as serving meals in shifts or outside and trying to keep youngsters in separate groups. Most are requiring masks indoors, but he acknowledged it can be a challenge.“To be frank, there are some parents that didn’t want to send their kids unless they were assured that masking was being used indoors,” he said. “There were others that took the exact opposite viewpoint.”Ahead of the school year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance last week to say vaccinated teachers and students don’t need to wear masks inside and 3-foot distancing of desks is not necessary for the fully vaccinated.Summer camp outbreaks “certainly could be a precursor” to what happens when youngsters return to classrooms in the fall, said Dr. Michelle Prickett, a pulmonary and critical care specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. The outcome will depend on vaccination rates and which virus variants are prevalent, she said.“We just need to be vigilant,” Prickett said.Schaffner said he thinks schools won’t face similar outbreaks because they tend to be more structured and disciplined than camps and most got used to making adjustments over the past year and a half. But he said the best way to reduce the risk is to get most people vaccinated.“There are many parts of the country that simply have not grasped this,” he said.The COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. is authorized for people as young as 12. It could be several months before regulators make a decision on authorizing shots for children younger than that. Studies on youngsters under 12 are still going on.Ford, the teacher whose daughter narrowly escaped getting COVID-19 at a Missouri summer camp, is worried.“With the uptick in cases, I am concerned that we won’t be able to go back to normal, and we will have to ask people to mask and stuff,” she said, “and I have a feeling that there is going to be a huge argument.”

Summer camps hit with COVID outbreaks -- are schools next?

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Utility crews in and around Omaha are still working to restore power to thousands of customers on Tuesday, four days after severe storms ravaged the state and left a record number of people in Omaha without electricity. 

Omaha Public Power District says it expected to have some 27,000 customers without power up and running by midnight Tuesday, even as meteorologists warn of possible severe weather moving back into the region late Tuesday night into Wednesday. 

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for all of Nebraska, warning that storms could bring more strong winds and large hail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626048437572.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Utility crews in and around Omaha are still working to restore power to thousands of customers on Tuesday, four days after severe storms ravaged the state and left a record number of people in Omaha without electricity. Omaha Public Power District says it expected to have some 27,000 customers without power up and running by midnight Tuesday, even as meteorologists warn of possible severe weather moving back into the region late Tuesday night into Wednesday. The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for all of Nebraska, warning that storms could bring more strong winds and large hail.

Power still being restored in Omaha as new storms threaten

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wildfires that have torched homes and forced thousands to evacuate are burning across 10 parched Western states, and the largest, in Oregon, is threatening California’s power supply. 

Nearly 60 large, active wildfires are burning from Alaska to Wyoming. California's largest has prompted evacuations on both sides of the Nevada state line.

The largest fire in the U.S. is the Bootleg Fire in Oregon. It remains out of control after burning an area more than twice the size of Portland and disrupting power transmission lines to California. 

The good news is that forecasters say a heatwave over the West seems to be easing in many areas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626186907511.png" alt="Beckwourth Fire Complex (Photo: Mark Hooper)" />
 <figcaption>Beckwourth Fire Complex (Photo: Mark Hooper)</figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wildfires that have torched homes and forced thousands to evacuate are burning across 10 parched Western states, and the largest, in Oregon, is threatening California’s power supply. Nearly 60 large, active wildfires are burning from Alaska to Wyoming. California's largest has prompted evacuations on both sides of the Nevada state line.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626186925911.png" alt="Beckwourth Fire Complex (Photo: Mark Hooper)" />
 <figcaption>Beckwourth Fire Complex (Photo: Mark Hooper)</figcaption>
 </figure>The largest fire in the U.S. is the Bootleg Fire in Oregon. It remains out of control after burning an area more than twice the size of Portland and disrupting power transmission lines to California. The good news is that forecasters say a heatwave over the West seems to be easing in many areas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626186944033.jpeg" alt="Beckwourth Fire Complex (Photo: Mark Hooper)" />
 <figcaption>Beckwourth Fire Complex (Photo: Mark Hooper)</figcaption>
 </figure>

Wildfires threaten homes, land across 10 Western states

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Warren Buffett’s company is abandoning its purchase of a natural gas pipeline from Dominion Energy because of uncertainty about whether the deal could get regulatory approval. 

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. will receive a $1.3 billion refund on the proposed purchase of Questar Pipelines that was also supposed to include $430 million of Dominion’s debt when it was announced a year ago. 

The Richmond, Virginia-based energy company said it still plans to sell Questar and will work to find another buyer by the end of the year. 

Dominion also said the decision won’t affect its financial outlook.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1562016004593.png" alt="Buffett" />
 <figcaption>Buffett</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Warren Buffett’s company is abandoning its purchase of a natural gas pipeline from Dominion Energy because of uncertainty about whether the deal could get regulatory approval. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. will receive a $1.3 billion refund on the proposed purchase of Questar Pipelines that was also supposed to include $430 million of Dominion’s debt when it was announced a year ago. The Richmond, Virginia-based energy company said it still plans to sell Questar and will work to find another buyer by the end of the year. Dominion also said the decision won’t affect its financial outlook.

Buffett's company abandons $1.3B natural gas pipeline deal

By MATTHEW PERRONE and MIKE STOBBE, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Johnson &amp; Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine may pose a “small possible risk” of a rare but potentially dangerous neurological reaction, U.S. health officials said Monday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement it has received reports of 100 people who got the shot developing Guillain-Barré syndrome, an immune system disorder that can cause muscle weakness and occasionally paralysis.

That number represents a tiny fraction of the nearly 13 million Americans who have received the one-dose vaccine. Most cases of the side effect were reported in men — many 50 years old and up — and usually about two weeks after vaccination.

The CDC said it would ask its panel of outside vaccine experts to review the issue at an upcoming meeting. J&amp;J didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

he government said the vaccines most used in the U.S., made by Pfizer and Moderna, show no risk of the disorder after more than 320 million doses have been administered.

Guillain-Barre syndrome occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks some of its nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis that typically is temporary. An estimated 3,000 to 6,000 people develop the syndrome each year, according to the CDC.

Vaccines historically provide broad protection with little risk but come with occasional side effects just like other drugs and medical therapies. The three COVID-19 vaccines used in the U.S. were each tested in tens of thousands of people, but even such huge studies can’t rule out extremely rare side effects.

The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration have been monitoring side effect reports submitted by physicians, drugmakers and patients to a federal vaccine safety database.

Guillain-Barre can be triggered by a number of infections, including flu, cytomegalovirus and Zika virus. But there have been rare cases in which people develop the disorder days or weeks after receiving certain vaccines.

J&amp;J’s vaccine was highly anticipated because of its one-and-done formulation and easy-to-ship refrigeration. But early on, it was linked to another rare risk, of blood clots, and the company hasn’t been able to produce as much as expected because of problems at a Baltimore factory that helps make the shots.

By MATTHEW PERRONE and MIKE STOBBE, Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — Johnson &amp; Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine may pose a “small possible risk” of a rare but potentially dangerous neurological reaction, U.S. health officials said Monday.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement it has received reports of 100 people who got the shot developing Guillain-Barré syndrome, an immune system disorder that can cause muscle weakness and occasionally paralysis.That number represents a tiny fraction of the nearly 13 million Americans who have received the one-dose vaccine. Most cases of the side effect were reported in men — many 50 years old and up — and usually about two weeks after vaccination.The CDC said it would ask its panel of outside vaccine experts to review the issue at an upcoming meeting. J&amp;J didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.he government said the vaccines most used in the U.S., made by Pfizer and Moderna, show no risk of the disorder after more than 320 million doses have been administered.Guillain-Barre syndrome occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks some of its nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis that typically is temporary. An estimated 3,000 to 6,000 people develop the syndrome each year, according to the CDC.Vaccines historically provide broad protection with little risk but come with occasional side effects just like other drugs and medical therapies. The three COVID-19 vaccines used in the U.S. were each tested in tens of thousands of people, but even such huge studies can’t rule out extremely rare side effects.The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration have been monitoring side effect reports submitted by physicians, drugmakers and patients to a federal vaccine safety database.Guillain-Barre can be triggered by a number of infections, including flu, cytomegalovirus and Zika virus. But there have been rare cases in which people develop the disorder days or weeks after receiving certain vaccines.J&amp;J’s vaccine was highly anticipated because of its one-and-done formulation and easy-to-ship refrigeration. But early on, it was linked to another rare risk, of blood clots, and the company hasn’t been able to produce as much as expected because of problems at a Baltimore factory that helps make the shots.___

US officials flag "small" risk with J&J vaccine

News Release Federal Bureau of Investigation

Aaron Leon Happy, 40, of Shiprock, New Mexico, was arraigned in federal court on July 8 on an indictment charging him with possession of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, and transfer of obscene materials to minors.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 

According to the indictment and other court records, Happy allegedly committed these offenses while employed as a Health Aide with the Central Consolidated School District in Newcomb, New Mexico.&nbsp; On Dec. 15, 2020, the FBI executed a search warrant on Happy’s person, office, and residence. 

Investigators allegedly found child pornography on one of Happy’s cellular telephones. The investigation revealed that Happy allegedly distributed adult pornography to a student at the middle school and child pornography to another individual using the Facebook messenger application.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 

An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Happy faces up to 20 years in prison.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 

The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the FBI Albuquerque’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the FBI Gallup Resident Agency, the FBI Denver - Durango Resident Agency, the San Juan County (New Mexico) Sheriff’s Office, the Cortez (Colorado) Police Department and the Montezuma County (Colorado) Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Aliberti is prosecuting the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611161236522.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release Federal Bureau of InvestigationAaron Leon Happy, 40, of Shiprock, New Mexico, was arraigned in federal court on July 8 on an indictment charging him with possession of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, and transfer of obscene materials to minors.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; According to the indictment and other court records, Happy allegedly committed these offenses while employed as a Health Aide with the Central Consolidated School District in Newcomb, New Mexico.&nbsp; On Dec. 15, 2020, the FBI executed a search warrant on Happy’s person, office, and residence. Investigators allegedly found child pornography on one of Happy’s cellular telephones. The investigation revealed that Happy allegedly distributed adult pornography to a student at the middle school and child pornography to another individual using the Facebook messenger application.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Happy faces up to 20 years in prison.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the FBI Albuquerque’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the FBI Gallup Resident Agency, the FBI Denver - Durango Resident Agency, the San Juan County (New Mexico) Sheriff’s Office, the Cortez (Colorado) Police Department and the Montezuma County (Colorado) Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Aliberti is prosecuting the case.

New Mexico middle school employee charged with child pornography

KANSAS CITY (AP) — For putting their health on the line during the coronavirus pandemic, prison guards in Missouri got an extra $250 per paycheck. Teachers in Georgia received $1,000 bonuses. And in Vermont, nurses, janitors, retail workers and many others got as much as $2,000.

Over the past year, about one-third of U.S. states have used federal COVID-19 relief aid to reward workers considered essential who dutifully reported to jobs during the pandemic. But who qualified for those bonuses -- and how much they received — varied widely, according to an Associated Press review. While some were paid thousands of dollars, others with similar jobs elsewhere received nothing.

As society reopens, momentum to provide pandemic hazard pay appears to be fading — even though the federal government has broadened the ability of state and local governments to provide retroactive pay under a $350 billion aid package enacted by President Joe Biden in March.

So far, only a few states have committed to paying workers extra with money from the American Rescue Plan.

Florida is giving $1,000 bonuses to teachers and first-responders. Minnesota plans to distribute $250 million in bonuses to essential workers, though a special panel won't determine who qualifies until later this year.

This past week, Hawaii Gov. David Ige vetoed a budget provision to pay teachers $2,200 bonuses. The Democratic governor said lawmakers didn't have the authority to tell the state Department of Education how to use the federal money.

Some states remain reluctant to enact bonus programs.

An Oregon proposal to use federal pandemic aid to provide bonuses of up to $2,000 for essential workers failed to make it into the budget that took effect July 1, despite a union lobbying campaign that included thousands of emails and hundreds of phone calls to lawmakers. The proposal would have covered workers in numerous fields, including education, health care, public safety and transportation.

“I don’t think anyone was opposed to it,” said Melissa Unger, executive director of Service Employees International Union Local 503. But “no one prioritized it.”

Although states have until the end of 2024 to decide how to spend the latest federal aid, some advocates worry the realistic window for providing worker bonuses may be closing as more parts of society re-open.

“Unfortunately, the longer you delay doing it, the less it’s going to be on the top of minds of voters and those policymakers,” said Molly Kinder, a fellow at the nonprofit Brookings Institution who tracks pandemic hazard pay policies.

Premium pay is one of just several options provided to states under Biden’s aid package. States also can use the money to backfill budget holes, help businesses and households affected by the economic downturn, fund certain infrastructure projects and pay for public health programs such as COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.

Illinois lawmakers used the federal money for dozens of initiatives in the budget that took effect July 1 — from $75,000 for a high school mentoring and violence prevention program to $200 million for hospitals. Nothing was earmarked for extra pandemic pay, even though Illinois had paid it in the past.

Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker's administration provided a temporary 12% pay boost last year to nearly 24,000 state workers whose jobs put them at risk of contracting COVID-19. Most of the $62 million cost was covered with federal funds.

“Morale-wise, that was a critical thing for my co-workers and I," said Crosby Smith, a care provider at a state home for the developmentally disabled near Chicago. “Because at that time, when COVID hit our facility ... we felt kind of abandoned.”

Smith and his fiancee were among numerous staff and residents at the Ludeman Developmental Center who contracted the virus last year. He said the hazard money helped pay down credit cards and avoid further debt when buying clothing and shoes.

Most states that have provided COVID-19 hazard pay used money from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act signed by then-President Donald Trump in March 2020. While some states limited payments to particular public employees, others passed out money to a wide range of private-sector workers deemed to be doing important jobs.

Louisiana spent more than $38 million last year providing $250 payments to more than 152,000 “frontline workers” earning less than $50,000 annually, according to state data provided to the AP. Health care workers received the largest share of the money, followed by grocery store workers and law enforcement personnel. But payments also went to gas station workers, child-care providers, janitors, bus drivers and others.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, used $50 million in federal aid for grants to over 600 businesses to provide a temporary $3 hourly boost to employees earning less than $20 an hour. Health care providers got most of the money, followed by the food industry, according to state data provided to the AP. But millions of dollars also went to cleaning companies and private security firms.

By contrast, South Dakota limited hazard pay to state workers and only for the time they were potentially exposed to COVID-19. One therapy assistant got an extra 40 cents, a pharmacist received $1.80 and a maintenance supervisor got $4, according to state data provided to the AP.

In some states, the cost of hazard pay programs far exceeded initial expectations.

Missouri originally budgeted about $24 million in federal aid to provide an extra $250 per two-week paycheck for state employees working in close-contact institutions such as prisons, mental health facilities and veterans nursing homes. The stipend applied to anyone without unscheduled absences at any facility with at least one COVID-19 case — ultimately covering a lot more people for a much longer period than policymakers had anticipated at the onset of the pandemic.

Missouri ended up paying more than $73 million in hazard stipends to more than 18,000 employees, trigging an additional $24 million in fringe costs such as pension payments and federal taxes, according to state data provided to the AP. The payments ended June 30, and the state has no immediate plans to resume them.

“Without a doubt, it was worth it,” said Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican. “Some people did some incredible jobs in this state to stay the course and to stay in the line of duty.”

Vermont's hazard pay program also swelled in cost. Last August, the state allotted $28 million of federal funds to pay up to $2,000 to health care employees who worked during the early stages of the pandemic. It later added $22 million to expand the program to retail and grocery workers, child care providers, janitors, trash collectors and others. When those funds were depleted, the state added $10 million more to cover all eligible applicants.

Employees in Vermont’s retail and grocery industries received nearly a third of the total money, almost matching the amount that went to health care fields, according to data provided to the AP.

Demand was high, in part, because Republican Gov. Phil Scott encouraged hesitant big businesses, such as Walmart, to apply on behalf of their employees, said Mike Pieciak, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. He said consumer spending spiked around the time the payments were distributed.

“The primary goal was to say thank you to those frontline workers, but it had that nice benefit as well of getting the money into the economy,” Pieciak said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625518417256.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — For putting their health on the line during the coronavirus pandemic, prison guards in Missouri got an extra $250 per paycheck. Teachers in Georgia received $1,000 bonuses. And in Vermont, nurses, janitors, retail workers and many others got as much as $2,000.Over the past year, about one-third of U.S. states have used federal COVID-19 relief aid to reward workers considered essential who dutifully reported to jobs during the pandemic. But who qualified for those bonuses -- and how much they received — varied widely, according to an Associated Press review. While some were paid thousands of dollars, others with similar jobs elsewhere received nothing.As society reopens, momentum to provide pandemic hazard pay appears to be fading — even though the federal government has broadened the ability of state and local governments to provide retroactive pay under a $350 billion aid package enacted by President Joe Biden in March.So far, only a few states have committed to paying workers extra with money from the American Rescue Plan.Florida is giving $1,000 bonuses to teachers and first-responders. Minnesota plans to distribute $250 million in bonuses to essential workers, though a special panel won't determine who qualifies until later this year.This past week, Hawaii Gov. David Ige vetoed a budget provision to pay teachers $2,200 bonuses. The Democratic governor said lawmakers didn't have the authority to tell the state Department of Education how to use the federal money.Some states remain reluctant to enact bonus programs.An Oregon proposal to use federal pandemic aid to provide bonuses of up to $2,000 for essential workers failed to make it into the budget that took effect July 1, despite a union lobbying campaign that included thousands of emails and hundreds of phone calls to lawmakers. The proposal would have covered workers in numerous fields, including education, health care, public safety and transportation.“I don’t think anyone was opposed to it,” said Melissa Unger, executive director of Service Employees International Union Local 503. But “no one prioritized it.”Although states have until the end of 2024 to decide how to spend the latest federal aid, some advocates worry the realistic window for providing worker bonuses may be closing as more parts of society re-open.“Unfortunately, the longer you delay doing it, the less it’s going to be on the top of minds of voters and those policymakers,” said Molly Kinder, a fellow at the nonprofit Brookings Institution who tracks pandemic hazard pay policies.Premium pay is one of just several options provided to states under Biden’s aid package. States also can use the money to backfill budget holes, help businesses and households affected by the economic downturn, fund certain infrastructure projects and pay for public health programs such as COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.Illinois lawmakers used the federal money for dozens of initiatives in the budget that took effect July 1 — from $75,000 for a high school mentoring and violence prevention program to $200 million for hospitals. Nothing was earmarked for extra pandemic pay, even though Illinois had paid it in the past.Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker's administration provided a temporary 12% pay boost last year to nearly 24,000 state workers whose jobs put them at risk of contracting COVID-19. Most of the $62 million cost was covered with federal funds.“Morale-wise, that was a critical thing for my co-workers and I," said Crosby Smith, a care provider at a state home for the developmentally disabled near Chicago. “Because at that time, when COVID hit our facility ... we felt kind of abandoned.”Smith and his fiancee were among numerous staff and residents at the Ludeman Developmental Center who contracted the virus last year. He said the hazard money helped pay down credit cards and avoid further debt when buying clothing and shoes.Most states that have provided COVID-19 hazard pay used money from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act signed by then-President Donald Trump in March 2020. While some states limited payments to particular public employees, others passed out money to a wide range of private-sector workers deemed to be doing important jobs.Louisiana spent more than $38 million last year providing $250 payments to more than 152,000 “frontline workers” earning less than $50,000 annually, according to state data provided to the AP. Health care workers received the largest share of the money, followed by grocery store workers and law enforcement personnel. But payments also went to gas station workers, child-care providers, janitors, bus drivers and others.Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, used $50 million in federal aid for grants to over 600 businesses to provide a temporary $3 hourly boost to employees earning less than $20 an hour. Health care providers got most of the money, followed by the food industry, according to state data provided to the AP. But millions of dollars also went to cleaning companies and private security firms.By contrast, South Dakota limited hazard pay to state workers and only for the time they were potentially exposed to COVID-19. One therapy assistant got an extra 40 cents, a pharmacist received $1.80 and a maintenance supervisor got $4, according to state data provided to the AP.In some states, the cost of hazard pay programs far exceeded initial expectations.Missouri originally budgeted about $24 million in federal aid to provide an extra $250 per two-week paycheck for state employees working in close-contact institutions such as prisons, mental health facilities and veterans nursing homes. The stipend applied to anyone without unscheduled absences at any facility with at least one COVID-19 case — ultimately covering a lot more people for a much longer period than policymakers had anticipated at the onset of the pandemic.Missouri ended up paying more than $73 million in hazard stipends to more than 18,000 employees, trigging an additional $24 million in fringe costs such as pension payments and federal taxes, according to state data provided to the AP. The payments ended June 30, and the state has no immediate plans to resume them.“Without a doubt, it was worth it,” said Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican. “Some people did some incredible jobs in this state to stay the course and to stay in the line of duty.”Vermont's hazard pay program also swelled in cost. Last August, the state allotted $28 million of federal funds to pay up to $2,000 to health care employees who worked during the early stages of the pandemic. It later added $22 million to expand the program to retail and grocery workers, child care providers, janitors, trash collectors and others. When those funds were depleted, the state added $10 million more to cover all eligible applicants.Employees in Vermont’s retail and grocery industries received nearly a third of the total money, almost matching the amount that went to health care fields, according to data provided to the AP.Demand was high, in part, because Republican Gov. Phil Scott encouraged hesitant big businesses, such as Walmart, to apply on behalf of their employees, said Mike Pieciak, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. He said consumer spending spiked around the time the payments were distributed.“The primary goal was to say thank you to those frontline workers, but it had that nice benefit as well of getting the money into the economy,” Pieciak said.

Bonus pay for essential workers varied widely across states

By Scott Carlson-North Platte Post

GRAND ISLAND, Neb.-A Grand Island man has been arrested on multiple felony charges following a shooting on Saturday night.

According to police, at around 7:37 p.m., officers responded to the report of shots fired near West 15th and North Broadwell Streets.

Upon arrival, officers found a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Police said the shots also struck a nearby vehicle that was occupied by two men.

Witnesses told police the shots had been fired by Tyler Manka, 26.

Police located Manka who fled on foot and entered a garage, refusing officers' orders to come out.

Police said as officers approached him, Manka brandished a knife, however, he was eventually taken into custody.

Police said Manka was arrested on suspicion of attempted 2nd-degree murder, 1st-degree assault, two counts of use of a weapon to commit a felony, two counts of possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person (felony convictions), unlawful discharge of a firearm, 1st-degree criminal trespassing, attempted 2nd-degree assault, terroristic threats, obstructing the police, resisting arrest, tampering with physical evident and criminal mischief.

Manka was jailed at the Hall County Jail.

The victim was transported to a Grand Island hospital with serious injuries. His condition is unknown.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626106134592.png" alt="Manka" />
 <figcaption>Manka</figcaption>
 </figure>By Scott Carlson-North Platte PostGRAND ISLAND, Neb.-A Grand Island man has been arrested on multiple felony charges following a shooting on Saturday night.According to police, at around 7:37 p.m., officers responded to the report of shots fired near West 15th and North Broadwell Streets.Upon arrival, officers found a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen.Police said the shots also struck a nearby vehicle that was occupied by two men.Witnesses told police the shots had been fired by Tyler Manka, 26.Police located Manka who fled on foot and entered a garage, refusing officers' orders to come out.Police said as officers approached him, Manka brandished a knife, however, he was eventually taken into custody.Police said Manka was arrested on suspicion of attempted 2nd-degree murder, 1st-degree assault, two counts of use of a weapon to commit a felony, two counts of possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person (felony convictions), unlawful discharge of a firearm, 1st-degree criminal trespassing, attempted 2nd-degree assault, terroristic threats, obstructing the police, resisting arrest, tampering with physical evident and criminal mischief.Manka was jailed at the Hall County Jail.The victim was transported to a Grand Island hospital with serious injuries. His condition is unknown.

Grand Island man arrested for attempted murder following weekend shooting

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A South Carolina woman who admitted to helping swindle an elderly Wichita-area widow out of more than half a million dollars in a romance scam is due to be sentenced Monday in Sedgwick County District Court.

<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20069884">Kathy Heistand, 68, pleaded guilty </a>in May to the mistreatment of an elder person and theft.

An arrest affidavit said a 74-year-old recently widowed Kansas woman was contacted on Facebook in 2020 by someone who said his name was Victor Patrick and claimed to be a man working on an oil rig in the Gulf of Texas. The two developed an online romance.

Patrick said he’d be with the widow as soon as he retired, but meanwhile he needed money, and he asked the widow to send money to Heistand, who would give the money to Patrick.

The widow sent six cashier’s checks payable to Heistand for a total of $532,000. The widow’s financial institutions warned her it was a scam but she didn’t believe it. During the investigation Heistand said she didn’t know Patrick and that the widow sent her money as part of a business arrangement.

The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office is recommending five years of probation with 61 months in prison if Heistand violates probation, records show.

The DA’s office said it is recommending probation because Heistand had a “lesser role in the fraud against the victim,” she helped in the investigation. Paying restitution to the victim while on probation outweighs the benefit of sending the 68-year-old to prison.

The district attorney’s office plans a Monday news conference to discuss the prominence of romance scams in the Wichita area, according to a news release

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626086481360.png" alt="The widow sent six cashier’s checks payable to Heistand for a total of $532,000.&nbsp; Heistand remains jailed in Sedgwick County." />
 <figcaption>The widow sent six cashier’s checks payable to Heistand for a total of $532,000.&nbsp; Heistand remains jailed in Sedgwick County.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A South Carolina woman who admitted to helping swindle an elderly Wichita-area widow out of more than half a million dollars in a romance scam is due to be sentenced Monday in Sedgwick County District Court.<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20069884">Kathy Heistand, 68, pleaded guilty </a>in May to the mistreatment of an elder person and theft.An arrest affidavit said a 74-year-old recently widowed Kansas woman was contacted on Facebook in 2020 by someone who said his name was Victor Patrick and claimed to be a man working on an oil rig in the Gulf of Texas. The two developed an online romance.Patrick said he’d be with the widow as soon as he retired, but meanwhile he needed money, and he asked the widow to send money to Heistand, who would give the money to Patrick.The widow sent six cashier’s checks payable to Heistand for a total of $532,000. The widow’s financial institutions warned her it was a scam but she didn’t believe it. During the investigation Heistand said she didn’t know Patrick and that the widow sent her money as part of a business arrangement.The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office is recommending five years of probation with 61 months in prison if Heistand violates probation, records show.The DA’s office said it is recommending probation because Heistand had a “lesser role in the fraud against the victim,” she helped in the investigation. Paying restitution to the victim while on probation outweighs the benefit of sending the 68-year-old to prison.The district attorney’s office plans a Monday news conference to discuss the prominence of romance scams in the Wichita area, according to a news release

Romance scam: Woman swindled Kan. widow of $532,000

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say the driver of a pickup truck was killed and his wife who was a passenger was injured in a rollover crash on an interstate in eastern Omaha. 

Police said in a news release that the crash happened late Sunday night, when the northbound pickup on Interstate 480 left the roadway, hit a tree and rolled.

The driver, 73-year-old Michael Childers of Fort Calhoun, was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife, 69-year-old Linda Childers of Fort Calhoun, was rushed to an Omaha hospital with serious injuries, including a fractured leg and lacerations to her head.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say the driver of a pickup truck was killed and his wife who was a passenger was injured in a rollover crash on an interstate in eastern Omaha. Police said in a news release that the crash happened late Sunday night, when the northbound pickup on Interstate 480 left the roadway, hit a tree and rolled.The driver, 73-year-old Michael Childers of Fort Calhoun, was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife, 69-year-old Linda Childers of Fort Calhoun, was rushed to an Omaha hospital with serious injuries, including a fractured leg and lacerations to her head.

Police say driver killed, woman injured in east Omaha crash

DENVER (AP) — Four people have been arrested and more than a dozen weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition have been seized at a downtown Denver hotel that is close to several events planned in conjunction with this week's Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

Officers responding to a tip searched two rooms at the Maven Hotel, a block from Coors Field, on Friday night. Three men and a woman in their 40s were arrested, and two vehicles were impounded to be searched for evidence.

The recovered weapons included several rifles, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.

So far, investigators have not found any evidence to suggest the group was plotting a mass shooting or other similar attack, the official said, while cautioning that the investigation is still in its early stages. The official could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Authorities were called after an employee found the guns in a hotel room, the official said.

The men who were arrested are being investigated for possession of a weapon by a previous offender, and the woman, who has a separate warrant, is being investigated on a drug charge.

“We have no reason to believe this incident was connected to terrorism or a threat directed at the All-Star Game,” the FBI said in a statement released Sunday. “We are not aware of any threat to the All-Star Game events, venues, players or the community at this time.”

Meanwhile, Mayor Michael Hancock and police Chief Paul Pazen praised the hotel’s staff for alerting authorities and sought to ease any concerns that the area around the ballpark is unsafe. They declined to say what, if anything, the suspects were planning to do with the firearms.

“We don’t know what we don’t know. That’s what the investigation is all about,” Pazen said during a news conference. “We need to identify exactly, to the extent possible, why (the) individuals were here in the first place, why (the) proximity to downtown. We don’t have those answers.”

Coors Field will host the All-Star Game on Tuesday, but festivities have been underway in and around the ballpark and downtown for the past several days.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626087575274.png" alt="The Maven Hotel is a block from Coors Field -Google image" />
 <figcaption>The Maven Hotel is a block from Coors Field -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — Four people have been arrested and more than a dozen weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition have been seized at a downtown Denver hotel that is close to several events planned in conjunction with this week's Major League Baseball All-Star Game.Officers responding to a tip searched two rooms at the Maven Hotel, a block from Coors Field, on Friday night. Three men and a woman in their 40s were arrested, and two vehicles were impounded to be searched for evidence.The recovered weapons included several rifles, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.So far, investigators have not found any evidence to suggest the group was plotting a mass shooting or other similar attack, the official said, while cautioning that the investigation is still in its early stages. The official could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.Authorities were called after an employee found the guns in a hotel room, the official said.The men who were arrested are being investigated for possession of a weapon by a previous offender, and the woman, who has a separate warrant, is being investigated on a drug charge.“We have no reason to believe this incident was connected to terrorism or a threat directed at the All-Star Game,” the FBI said in a statement released Sunday. “We are not aware of any threat to the All-Star Game events, venues, players or the community at this time.”Meanwhile, Mayor Michael Hancock and police Chief Paul Pazen praised the hotel’s staff for alerting authorities and sought to ease any concerns that the area around the ballpark is unsafe. They declined to say what, if anything, the suspects were planning to do with the firearms.“We don’t know what we don’t know. That’s what the investigation is all about,” Pazen said during a news conference. “We need to identify exactly, to the extent possible, why (the) individuals were here in the first place, why (the) proximity to downtown. We don’t have those answers.”Coors Field will host the All-Star Game on Tuesday, but festivities have been underway in and around the ballpark and downtown for the past several days.Police said in a statement that visitors should always be aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious or illegal behavior.___