Hawkins seeks job of Kansas House speaker

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/democrat-sawyer-steps-away-from-leadership-post-hawkins-seeks-job-of-house-speaker/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas House Democratic 
leader Tom Sawyer, first elected to the Legislature in 1986, said 
Tuesday he didn’t intend to seek the leadership job entering the 2023 
session.

The announcement that Sawyer would step aside but remain in the House
 followed decisions by House Speaker Ron Ryckman and House Speaker Pro 
Tem Blaine Finch, both Republicans, not to seek reelection in 2022. 
House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, who was reelected, is expected to be 
chosen by peers to serve as House speaker for the two-year legislative 
cycle.

Sawyer, of Wichita, was House majority leader from 1991 to 1992, 
House minority leader from 1993 to 1998 and House minority leader since 
2018. His final day in that role would be Jan. 9.

“Upon deep reflection, I believe it is time for me to step back and 
allow the caucus to have a new leader who will lead us and Kansans 
towards achieving these important goals,” Sawyer said. “It has been an 
honor of a lifetime to be entrusted with the responsibility to lead our 
caucus over the many years.”

Voting in the August primary and November general election left House
 Republicans with a two-thirds majority important when considering 
vetoes of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Democrats gained one seat to 
bring the caucus to 40 in the 125-member House. Democrats fell two seats
 short of breaking the GOP supermajority and offer more assistance to 
Kelly during her second term.

Sawyer, who ran for governor in 1998 and served four years as 
chairman of the Kansas Democratic Part, said he expected Democrats to 
expand their numbers in the House.

“This growth, which I hope to see continue in the coming years, will 
strengthen our position to advocate strongly for the issues that matter 
most to Kansans, such as tax relief, expanding Medicaid, fully funding 
public education including special education and legalizing medicinal 
marijuana,” he said.

Hawkins, who has served in the House since 2013, outlined in a letter
 to House Republicans a critique of the governor. He said Kelly botched 
handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowed crime and inflation to rise 
and made anti-abortion policy an “afterthought.”

Individuals elected in November to serve in the 2023 Legislature will
 vote Dec. 5 on nominees for House speaker, House majority leader and 
House speaker pro tem as well as the top Democratic posts in the 
chamber.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669215888620.png" alt="House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, a Democrat from Wichita, said Tuesday he wouldn’t seek reappointment to the job during the 2023 legislative session, saying it was time for a new generation of Democrats to lead. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, a Democrat from Wichita, said Tuesday he wouldn’t seek reappointment to the job during the 2023 legislative session, saying it was time for a new generation of Democrats to lead. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Hawkins seeks job of Kansas House speaker</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/democrat-sawyer-steps-away-from-leadership-post-hawkins-seeks-job-of-house-speaker/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas House Democratic 
leader Tom Sawyer, first elected to the Legislature in 1986, said 
Tuesday he didn’t intend to seek the leadership job entering the 2023 
session.The announcement that Sawyer would step aside but remain in the House
 followed decisions by House Speaker Ron Ryckman and House Speaker Pro 
Tem Blaine Finch, both Republicans, not to seek reelection in 2022. 
House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, who was reelected, is expected to be 
chosen by peers to serve as House speaker for the two-year legislative 
cycle.Sawyer, of Wichita, was House majority leader from 1991 to 1992, 
House minority leader from 1993 to 1998 and House minority leader since 
2018. His final day in that role would be Jan. 9.“Upon deep reflection, I believe it is time for me to step back and 
allow the caucus to have a new leader who will lead us and Kansans 
towards achieving these important goals,” Sawyer said. “It has been an 
honor of a lifetime to be entrusted with the responsibility to lead our 
caucus over the many years.”Voting in the August primary and November general election left House
 Republicans with a two-thirds majority important when considering 
vetoes of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Democrats gained one seat to 
bring the caucus to 40 in the 125-member House. Democrats fell two seats
 short of breaking the GOP supermajority and offer more assistance to 
Kelly during her second term.Sawyer, who ran for governor in 1998 and served four years as 
chairman of the Kansas Democratic Part, said he expected Democrats to 
expand their numbers in the House.“This growth, which I hope to see continue in the coming years, will 
strengthen our position to advocate strongly for the issues that matter 
most to Kansans, such as tax relief, expanding Medicaid, fully funding 
public education including special education and legalizing medicinal 
marijuana,” he said.Hawkins, who has served in the House since 2013, outlined in a letter
 to House Republicans a critique of the governor. He said Kelly botched 
handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowed crime and inflation to rise 
and made anti-abortion policy an “afterthought.”Individuals elected in November to serve in the 2023 Legislature will
 vote Dec. 5 on nominees for House speaker, House majority leader and 
House speaker pro tem as well as the top Democratic posts in the 
chamber.

Democrat Sawyer steps away from Kan. House leadership post 

By NICK GOSNELL Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — 
Thanksgiving travel volume will be almost back to levels before the 
pandemic, if estimates from AAA come true.

"About 90% of people 
traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday will be taking to the highway," 
said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "It's a very driving heavy holiday. A
 lot of people just go in regionally or within state to visit to visit 
their friends and families."

AAA predicts 54.6 million people 
nationwide will travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving. 
That’s a 1.5% increase over 2021 and 98% of pre-pandemic volumes.

"In
 Kansas, about 525,000 of the 581,000 total travelers will be driving to
 their destinations," Steward said. "Pack your patience, slow down and 
just be extra cautious on the roads this week."

It's also 
important to remember that it gets dark earlier this time of year, so 
more of that driving will likely take place outside of daylight hours, 
or during the potentially&nbsp; blinding pre-sunset hour, if driving west in 
the afternoon.

"Slow down, drive for the conditions," Steward 
said. "Don't overdrive your headlights. We've certainly got deer to look
 out for as well on the highways. Be scanning the sides of the road 
constantly as you are driving, especially at night."

Some of the 
busiest driving times of the weekend will be on Wednesday after work and
 especially on Sunday as families travel back home after the long 
weekend.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669213110675.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — 
Thanksgiving travel volume will be almost back to levels before the 
pandemic, if estimates from AAA come true."About 90% of people 
traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday will be taking to the highway," 
said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "It's a very driving heavy holiday. A
 lot of people just go in regionally or within state to visit to visit 
their friends and families."AAA predicts 54.6 million people 
nationwide will travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving. 
That’s a 1.5% increase over 2021 and 98% of pre-pandemic volumes."In
 Kansas, about 525,000 of the 581,000 total travelers will be driving to
 their destinations," Steward said. "Pack your patience, slow down and 
just be extra cautious on the roads this week."It's also 
important to remember that it gets dark earlier this time of year, so 
more of that driving will likely take place outside of daylight hours, 
or during the potentially&nbsp; blinding pre-sunset hour, if driving west in 
the afternoon."Slow down, drive for the conditions," Steward 
said. "Don't overdrive your headlights. We've certainly got deer to look
 out for as well on the highways. Be scanning the sides of the road 
constantly as you are driving, especially at night."Some of the 
busiest driving times of the weekend will be on Wednesday after work and
 especially on Sunday as families travel back home after the long 
weekend.

AAA: Expect roads to be busy for holiday travel

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOHN%20LEICESTER%20and%20SAM%20MEDNICK%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOHN LEICESTER and SAM MEDNICK </a> <a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOHN%20LEICESTER%20and%20SAM%20MEDNICK%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">Associated Press</a>

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Authorities reported power outages in multiple cities of Ukraine, including parts of Kyiv, and in neighboring Moldova after renewed strikes Wednesday struck Ukrainian infrastructure facilities.

Multiple regions reported attacks in quick succession, suggesting a barrage of strikes. In several regions, authorities reported strikes on critical infrastructure.

Russia has been pounding the power grid and other facilities with missile and exploding drones for weeks, seemingly aiming to turn the cold and dark of winter into a weapon.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Multiple explosions were heard in Kyiv Wednesday, with officials reporting strikes on residential areas and critical infrastructure facilities in and around the Ukrainian capital.

The explosions follow an unrelenting series of Russian attacks on power and other facilities across Ukraine in recent weeks.

The thunderous echoes of what sounded like repeated blasts rattled across the capital after air raid sirens sounded in the city and elsewhere across Ukraine. Mayor Vitali Klitschko posted on Telegram that “one of the capital’s infrastructure facilities has been hit.” The city administration said one person was wounded.

Klitschko said there were more explosions in other districts but didn't give further details, and said that “some neighborhoods of Kyiv” lack power. Kyiv regional governor Oleksii Kuleba said strikes were reported in the area around the capital, and residential areas and critical infrastructure facilities were hit.

In the western city of Lviv, the mayor also urged people to take shelter -- seemingly pointing to strikes there, too. In a Telegram message, the mayor said the whole city had lost power.

There was no further information on what and how many targets had been hit.

Russia has been repeatedly pounding Ukraine’s war-time capital and power facilities across the country in recent weeks, causing widespread blackouts.

The latest explosions came hours after Ukrainian authorities said an overnight rocket attack destroyed a hospital maternity ward in southern Ukraine, killing a 2-day-old baby.

Following the overnight strike in Vilniansk, close to the city of Zaporizhzhia, the baby’s mother and a doctor were pulled alive from the rubble.

The region's governor said the rockets were Russian. The strike adds to the gruesome toll suffered by hospitals and other medical facilities — and their patients and staff — in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">the Russian invasion</a>&nbsp;that will enter its tenth month this week.

They have been in the firing line from the outset, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-25204be08db8868e858f624f851d2ae3">March 9 airstrike</a>&nbsp;that destroyed a maternity hospital in the now-occupied port city of Mariupol.

“At night, Russian monsters launched huge rockets at the small maternity ward of the hospital in Vilniansk. Grief overwhelms our hearts — a baby was killed who had just seen the light of day. Rescuers are working at the site,” said the regional governor, Oleksandr Starukh, writing on the Telegram messaging app.

First lady Olena Zelenska wrote on Twitter that a 2-day-old boy died in the strike and expressed her condolences. “Horrible pain. We will never forget and never forgive,” she said.

Photos posted by the governor showed thick smoke rising above mounds of rubble, being combed by emergency workers against the backdrop of a dark night sky.

The State Emergency Service said the two-story building was destroyed.

Vilniansk is in the Ukrainian-held north of the Zaporizhzhia region, and is about 500 kilometers (300 miles) southeast of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.

Medical workers' efforts have been complicated by the succession of Russian attacks in recent weeks on Ukraine's infrastructure that officials say have caused&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-europe-business-dnipropetrovsk-5f59cf82c2f4b11a0e90d2d9ba656ad2">huge damage to the power grid</a>.

The situation is even worse in the southern city of Kherson, from which Russia retreated nearly two weeks ago after months of occupation — cutting power and water lines.

Many doctors in the city are working in the dark, unable to use elevators to transport patients to surgery and operating with headlamps, cell phones and flashlights. In some hospitals, key equipment no longer works.

“Breathing machines don’t work, X-ray machines don’t work ... There is only one portable ultrasound machine and we carry it constantly,” said Volodymyr Malishchuk, the head of surgery at a children’s hospital in the city.

On Tuesday, after strikes on Kherson seriously wounded 13-year-old Artur Voblikov, a team of health staff carefully maneuvered the sedated boy up six flights of a narrow staircase to an operating room to amputate his left arm.

Malischchuk said that three children wounded by Russian strikes have come to the hospital this week, half as many as had previously been admitted in all of the nine months since the invasion began. Picking up a piece of shrapnel that was found in a 14-year-old boy’s stomach, he said children are arriving with severe head injuries and ruptured internal organs.

Artur's mother, Natalia Voblikova, sat in the dark hospital with her daughter, waiting for his surgery to end.

“You can’t even call (Russians) animals, because animals take care of their own,” said Voblikova wiping tears from her eyes. “But the children ... Why kill children?”

In the northeastern city of Kupiansk, two civilians were killed and two more were wounded by Russian shelling on Wednesday morning, a regional official said.

A nine-story residential building and a clinic were damaged, and a 55-year-old woman and a 68-year-old man died, Kharkiv governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram.

Kupiansk was an early prize of Ukraine’s lightning offensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region in September and, like other recaptured settlements, has seen repeated shelling by Russian forces which many Ukrainian officials describe as retaliation.

In Strasbourg, France, the European Parliament overwhelmingly backed a resolution labeling Russia a state sponsor of terrorism for its invasion of and actions in Ukraine. The nonbinding but symbolically significant resolution passed in a 494-58 vote with 48 abstentions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the vote. "Russia must be isolated at all levels and be held accountable in order to end its longstanding policy of terrorism in Ukraine and across the globe,” he wrote on Twitter.

After Wednesday's explosions in Kyiv, senior Zelenskyy aide Andriy Yermak wrote on Telegram: “The terrorists immediately confirm that they are terrorists - they launch rockets. Naive losers."

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOHN%20LEICESTER%20and%20SAM%20MEDNICK%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOHN LEICESTER and SAM MEDNICK </a> <a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOHN%20LEICESTER%20and%20SAM%20MEDNICK%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">Associated Press</a>KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Authorities reported power outages in multiple cities of Ukraine, including parts of Kyiv, and in neighboring Moldova after renewed strikes Wednesday struck Ukrainian infrastructure facilities.Multiple regions reported attacks in quick succession, suggesting a barrage of strikes. In several regions, authorities reported strikes on critical infrastructure.Russia has been pounding the power grid and other facilities with missile and exploding drones for weeks, seemingly aiming to turn the cold and dark of winter into a weapon.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Multiple explosions were heard in Kyiv Wednesday, with officials reporting strikes on residential areas and critical infrastructure facilities in and around the Ukrainian capital.The explosions follow an unrelenting series of Russian attacks on power and other facilities across Ukraine in recent weeks.The thunderous echoes of what sounded like repeated blasts rattled across the capital after air raid sirens sounded in the city and elsewhere across Ukraine. Mayor Vitali Klitschko posted on Telegram that “one of the capital’s infrastructure facilities has been hit.” The city administration said one person was wounded.Klitschko said there were more explosions in other districts but didn't give further details, and said that “some neighborhoods of Kyiv” lack power. Kyiv regional governor Oleksii Kuleba said strikes were reported in the area around the capital, and residential areas and critical infrastructure facilities were hit.In the western city of Lviv, the mayor also urged people to take shelter -- seemingly pointing to strikes there, too. In a Telegram message, the mayor said the whole city had lost power.There was no further information on what and how many targets had been hit.Russia has been repeatedly pounding Ukraine’s war-time capital and power facilities across the country in recent weeks, causing widespread blackouts.The latest explosions came hours after Ukrainian authorities said an overnight rocket attack destroyed a hospital maternity ward in southern Ukraine, killing a 2-day-old baby.Following the overnight strike in Vilniansk, close to the city of Zaporizhzhia, the baby’s mother and a doctor were pulled alive from the rubble.The region's governor said the rockets were Russian. The strike adds to the gruesome toll suffered by hospitals and other medical facilities — and their patients and staff — in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">the Russian invasion</a>&nbsp;that will enter its tenth month this week.They have been in the firing line from the outset, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-25204be08db8868e858f624f851d2ae3">March 9 airstrike</a>&nbsp;that destroyed a maternity hospital in the now-occupied port city of Mariupol.“At night, Russian monsters launched huge rockets at the small maternity ward of the hospital in Vilniansk. Grief overwhelms our hearts — a baby was killed who had just seen the light of day. Rescuers are working at the site,” said the regional governor, Oleksandr Starukh, writing on the Telegram messaging app.First lady Olena Zelenska wrote on Twitter that a 2-day-old boy died in the strike and expressed her condolences. “Horrible pain. We will never forget and never forgive,” she said.Photos posted by the governor showed thick smoke rising above mounds of rubble, being combed by emergency workers against the backdrop of a dark night sky.The State Emergency Service said the two-story building was destroyed.Vilniansk is in the Ukrainian-held north of the Zaporizhzhia region, and is about 500 kilometers (300 miles) southeast of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.Medical workers' efforts have been complicated by the succession of Russian attacks in recent weeks on Ukraine's infrastructure that officials say have caused&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-europe-business-dnipropetrovsk-5f59cf82c2f4b11a0e90d2d9ba656ad2">huge damage to the power grid</a>.The situation is even worse in the southern city of Kherson, from which Russia retreated nearly two weeks ago after months of occupation — cutting power and water lines.Many doctors in the city are working in the dark, unable to use elevators to transport patients to surgery and operating with headlamps, cell phones and flashlights. In some hospitals, key equipment no longer works.“Breathing machines don’t work, X-ray machines don’t work ... There is only one portable ultrasound machine and we carry it constantly,” said Volodymyr Malishchuk, the head of surgery at a children’s hospital in the city.On Tuesday, after strikes on Kherson seriously wounded 13-year-old Artur Voblikov, a team of health staff carefully maneuvered the sedated boy up six flights of a narrow staircase to an operating room to amputate his left arm.Malischchuk said that three children wounded by Russian strikes have come to the hospital this week, half as many as had previously been admitted in all of the nine months since the invasion began. Picking up a piece of shrapnel that was found in a 14-year-old boy’s stomach, he said children are arriving with severe head injuries and ruptured internal organs.Artur's mother, Natalia Voblikova, sat in the dark hospital with her daughter, waiting for his surgery to end.“You can’t even call (Russians) animals, because animals take care of their own,” said Voblikova wiping tears from her eyes. “But the children ... Why kill children?”In the northeastern city of Kupiansk, two civilians were killed and two more were wounded by Russian shelling on Wednesday morning, a regional official said.A nine-story residential building and a clinic were damaged, and a 55-year-old woman and a 68-year-old man died, Kharkiv governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram.Kupiansk was an early prize of Ukraine’s lightning offensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region in September and, like other recaptured settlements, has seen repeated shelling by Russian forces which many Ukrainian officials describe as retaliation.In Strasbourg, France, the European Parliament overwhelmingly backed a resolution labeling Russia a state sponsor of terrorism for its invasion of and actions in Ukraine. The nonbinding but symbolically significant resolution passed in a 494-58 vote with 48 abstentions.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the vote. "Russia must be isolated at all levels and be held accountable in order to end its longstanding policy of terrorism in Ukraine and across the globe,” he wrote on Twitter.After Wednesday's explosions in Kyiv, senior Zelenskyy aide Andriy Yermak wrote on Telegram: “The terrorists immediately confirm that they are terrorists - they launch rockets. Naive losers."

Power outages reported in Ukrainian cities, Moldova

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22CLAIRE%20RUSH%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By CLAIRE RUSH Associated Press/Report for America</a>

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Good news for fans of “The Goonies:” the old Victorian home featured in the film is on sale in Astoria, Oregon, and potential buyers are considering making it more accessible to the public.

“We have a few interested parties right now,” said realtor Jordan Miller, the listing agent for the property. “It seems to be everybody's intention to be able to open up the house a little bit more and have more access.”

The 1896 home with sweeping views of the Columbia River flowing into the Pacific Ocean has been listed with an asking price of $1.7 million on Zillow, where it's described as “fully loaded with history, nostalgia and iconic level of fame.”

Since the movie hit theaters in 1985, fans have flocked to the home in northwestern Oregon's historic port of Astoria. The city celebrates Goonies Day on June 7, the film's release date, and welcomes thousands of people for the event.

Owner Sandi Preston was known to have been largely welcoming to visitors. But she lived in the house full time, and the constant crowds were a strain that prompted her at times to close it to foot traffic.

After the film's 30th anniversary drew about 1,500 daily visitors in 2015, Preston posted “no trespassing” signs prohibiting tourists from walking up to the property. She reopened it to the public this past August.

City officials, who restricted parking in the area, have long sought to mediate the tensions between residents and the fans hoping to see and photograph the location.

“While the owner of this location from The Goonies is a fan of the movie and enjoys chatting with visitors making the trek to Astoria to see the film locations, as you can imagine, it gets hard having hundreds of people crowding into your personal space every single day,” the Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce wrote in August on a Facebook page they administer called Goonies Day in Astoria, Oregon.

In the coming-of-age film, based on a story by Steven Spielberg and featuring a young Sean Astin, a group of friends fight to protect their homes from an expanding country club and threats of foreclosure. In the process, they discover an old treasure map that leads them on an adventure and allows them to save their “Goon Docks” neighborhood.

Astoria and its rugged coastline served as the backdrop for several well-known films from the 1980s and ’90s, including “Kindergarten Cop” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

For now, potential buyers of the iconic Goonies house don't seem to want to make the house their primary residence, said listing agent Miller, suggesting it has drawn interest from people who want to “make it their passion.”

“It’s kind of a fun buy,” Miller said. “Whoever buys the house is going to have a relatively steady stream of extremely happy people walking up outside to fulfill their childhood dreams.”

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22CLAIRE%20RUSH%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By CLAIRE RUSH Associated Press/Report for America</a>PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Good news for fans of “The Goonies:” the old Victorian home featured in the film is on sale in Astoria, Oregon, and potential buyers are considering making it more accessible to the public.“We have a few interested parties right now,” said realtor Jordan Miller, the listing agent for the property. “It seems to be everybody's intention to be able to open up the house a little bit more and have more access.”The 1896 home with sweeping views of the Columbia River flowing into the Pacific Ocean has been listed with an asking price of $1.7 million on Zillow, where it's described as “fully loaded with history, nostalgia and iconic level of fame.”Since the movie hit theaters in 1985, fans have flocked to the home in northwestern Oregon's historic port of Astoria. The city celebrates Goonies Day on June 7, the film's release date, and welcomes thousands of people for the event.Owner Sandi Preston was known to have been largely welcoming to visitors. But she lived in the house full time, and the constant crowds were a strain that prompted her at times to close it to foot traffic.After the film's 30th anniversary drew about 1,500 daily visitors in 2015, Preston posted “no trespassing” signs prohibiting tourists from walking up to the property. She reopened it to the public this past August.City officials, who restricted parking in the area, have long sought to mediate the tensions between residents and the fans hoping to see and photograph the location.“While the owner of this location from The Goonies is a fan of the movie and enjoys chatting with visitors making the trek to Astoria to see the film locations, as you can imagine, it gets hard having hundreds of people crowding into your personal space every single day,” the Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce wrote in August on a Facebook page they administer called Goonies Day in Astoria, Oregon.In the coming-of-age film, based on a story by Steven Spielberg and featuring a young Sean Astin, a group of friends fight to protect their homes from an expanding country club and threats of foreclosure. In the process, they discover an old treasure map that leads them on an adventure and allows them to save their “Goon Docks” neighborhood.Astoria and its rugged coastline served as the backdrop for several well-known films from the 1980s and ’90s, including “Kindergarten Cop” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.For now, potential buyers of the iconic Goonies house don't seem to want to make the house their primary residence, said listing agent Miller, suggesting it has drawn interest from people who want to “make it their passion.”“It’s kind of a fun buy,” Miller said. “Whoever buys the house is going to have a relatively steady stream of extremely happy people walking up outside to fulfill their childhood dreams.”

Famed 'Goonies' house for sale in coastal Astoria, Oregon

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (AP) — A shooter opened fire at a Walmart in Virginia, leaving six people dead, police said, in the country's second high-profile mass killing in a handful of days. The assailant is also dead.

The store in Chesapeake was busy just before the shooting Tuesday night with people stocking up ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, a shopper told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKBOlU_udH8">a local TV station</a>.

Officer Leo Kosinski couldn’t say how the shooter died but said that he didn’t believe police fired shots. It was not clear who the shooter was or what their motive might be.

“I am devastated by the senseless act of violence that took place late last night in our city,” Mayor Rick W. West said in a statement posted on the city's Twitter account Wednesday. “Chesapeake is a tightknit community and we are all shaken by this news.”

Joetta Jeffery&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/22/us/chesapeake-virginia-walmart-shooting/index.html">told CNN</a>&nbsp;that she received text messages from her mother who was inside the store when the shots were fired. Her mother, Betsy Umphlett, was not injured.

“I’m crying, I’m shaking,” Jeffery said. “I had just talked to her about buying turkeys for Thanksgiving, then this text came in.”

A database run by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2022/08/18/mass-killings-database-us-events-since-2006/9705311002/">tracks every mass killing</a>&nbsp;in America going back to 2006 shows this year has been especially bad. The U.S. has now had 40 mass killings so far this year, second to the 45 that occurred for all of 2019. The database defines a mass killing as at least four people killed, not including the killer.

The attack at the Walmart came three days after a person&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-colorado-springs-e098d88261db6bcfc0774434abbb7a8f">opened fire</a>&nbsp;at a gay nightclub in Colorado, killing five people and wounding 17. Earlier in the year, the country was shaken by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">the deaths of 21 when a gunman stormed an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.</a>

Tuesday’s shooting also brought back memories of another at a Walmart in 2019, when a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-arrests-crime-shootings-13545dd216ae4e7aa46c524b7ee4cbec">gunman</a>&nbsp;police say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-el-paso-texas-mass-shooting-us-news-ap-top-news-immigration-456c0154218a4d378e2fb36cd40b709d">was targeting Mexicans</a>&nbsp;opened fire at a store in El Paso, Texas, and killed 22 people.

The shooting had apparently stopped when police arrived at the store in Chesapeake, said Kosinski, the police official. The city is Virginia’s second-largest and lies next to the seaside communities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

Mike Kafka, a spokesman for Sentara Healthcare, said in a text message that five patients from the Walmart were being treated at Norfolk General Hospital. Their conditions weren’t immediately available.

One man was seen wailing at a hospital after learning that his brother was dead, and others shrieked as they left a conference center set up as a family reunification center,&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/Joetta%20Jeffery%20told%20CNN%20she%20received%20text%20messages%20from%20her%20mother%20who%20was%20inside%20the%20store%20during%20the%20shooting.%20Her%20mother,%20Betsy%20Umphlett,%20was%20not%20injured.%20%E2%80%9CI%E2%80%99m%20crying,%20I%E2%80%99m%20shaking,%E2%80%9D%20Jeffery%20said.%20%E2%80%9CI%20had%20just%20talked%20to%20her%20about%20buying%20turkeys%20for%20Thanksgiving,%20then%20this%20text%20came%20in.%E2%80%9D">The Virginian-Pilot reported</a>.

Camille Buggs, a former Walmart employee, told the paper she went to the conference center seeking information about her former coworkers.

“You always say you don’t think it would happen in your town, in your neighborhood, in your store — in your favorite store and that’s the thing that has me shocked,” said Buggs, 58, of Chesapeake.

Walmart tweeted early Wednesday that it was “shocked at this tragic event.”

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner said in a tweet that he was “sickened by reports of yet another mass shooting, this time at a Walmart in Chesapeake.”

State Sen. Louise Lucas echoed Warner's sentiment, tweeting that she was “absolutely heartbroken that America’s latest mass shooting took place in a Walmart in my district."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669209736660.jpeg" alt="A law enforcement investigator wears a protective covering as they work the scene of a mass shooting at a Walmart, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, in Chesapeake, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)" />
 <figcaption>A law enforcement investigator wears a protective covering as they work the scene of a mass shooting at a Walmart, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, in Chesapeake, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)</figcaption>
 </figure>CHESAPEAKE, Va. (AP) — A shooter opened fire at a Walmart in Virginia, leaving six people dead, police said, in the country's second high-profile mass killing in a handful of days. The assailant is also dead.The store in Chesapeake was busy just before the shooting Tuesday night with people stocking up ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, a shopper told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKBOlU_udH8">a local TV station</a>.Officer Leo Kosinski couldn’t say how the shooter died but said that he didn’t believe police fired shots. It was not clear who the shooter was or what their motive might be.“I am devastated by the senseless act of violence that took place late last night in our city,” Mayor Rick W. West said in a statement posted on the city's Twitter account Wednesday. “Chesapeake is a tightknit community and we are all shaken by this news.”Joetta Jeffery&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/22/us/chesapeake-virginia-walmart-shooting/index.html">told CNN</a>&nbsp;that she received text messages from her mother who was inside the store when the shots were fired. Her mother, Betsy Umphlett, was not injured.“I’m crying, I’m shaking,” Jeffery said. “I had just talked to her about buying turkeys for Thanksgiving, then this text came in.”A database run by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2022/08/18/mass-killings-database-us-events-since-2006/9705311002/">tracks every mass killing</a>&nbsp;in America going back to 2006 shows this year has been especially bad. The U.S. has now had 40 mass killings so far this year, second to the 45 that occurred for all of 2019. The database defines a mass killing as at least four people killed, not including the killer.The attack at the Walmart came three days after a person&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-colorado-springs-e098d88261db6bcfc0774434abbb7a8f">opened fire</a>&nbsp;at a gay nightclub in Colorado, killing five people and wounding 17. Earlier in the year, the country was shaken by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">the deaths of 21 when a gunman stormed an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.</a>Tuesday’s shooting also brought back memories of another at a Walmart in 2019, when a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-arrests-crime-shootings-13545dd216ae4e7aa46c524b7ee4cbec">gunman</a>&nbsp;police say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-el-paso-texas-mass-shooting-us-news-ap-top-news-immigration-456c0154218a4d378e2fb36cd40b709d">was targeting Mexicans</a>&nbsp;opened fire at a store in El Paso, Texas, and killed 22 people.The shooting had apparently stopped when police arrived at the store in Chesapeake, said Kosinski, the police official. The city is Virginia’s second-largest and lies next to the seaside communities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach.Mike Kafka, a spokesman for Sentara Healthcare, said in a text message that five patients from the Walmart were being treated at Norfolk General Hospital. Their conditions weren’t immediately available.One man was seen wailing at a hospital after learning that his brother was dead, and others shrieked as they left a conference center set up as a family reunification center,&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/Joetta%20Jeffery%20told%20CNN%20she%20received%20text%20messages%20from%20her%20mother%20who%20was%20inside%20the%20store%20during%20the%20shooting.%20Her%20mother,%20Betsy%20Umphlett,%20was%20not%20injured.%20%E2%80%9CI%E2%80%99m%20crying,%20I%E2%80%99m%20shaking,%E2%80%9D%20Jeffery%20said.%20%E2%80%9CI%20had%20just%20talked%20to%20her%20about%20buying%20turkeys%20for%20Thanksgiving,%20then%20this%20text%20came%20in.%E2%80%9D">The Virginian-Pilot reported</a>.Camille Buggs, a former Walmart employee, told the paper she went to the conference center seeking information about her former coworkers.“You always say you don’t think it would happen in your town, in your neighborhood, in your store — in your favorite store and that’s the thing that has me shocked,” said Buggs, 58, of Chesapeake.Walmart tweeted early Wednesday that it was “shocked at this tragic event.”U.S. Sen. Mark Warner said in a tweet that he was “sickened by reports of yet another mass shooting, this time at a Walmart in Chesapeake.”State Sen. Louise Lucas echoed Warner's sentiment, tweeting that she was “absolutely heartbroken that America’s latest mass shooting took place in a Walmart in my district."

Police: 6 people and assailant dead in Walmart shooting

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis gave the World Cup a shout-out on Wednesday and prayed that the Qatar tournament may be an occasion for harmony and peace in the world.

Francis is a life-long soccer fan and has long promoted sport as a way of promoting solidarity and fraternity.

Speaking at the end of his weekly Wednesday general audience, Francis sent greetings to World Cup players, fans and spectators watching from afar.

“May this important event be an occasion for meeting and harmony for nations, favoring brotherhood and peace among peoples. Let’s pray for peace in the world, and the end of all conflicts,” he said.

The 85-year-old Argentine is a card-holding fan of the Buenos Aires club San Lorenzo.

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis gave the World Cup a shout-out on Wednesday and prayed that the Qatar tournament may be an occasion for harmony and peace in the world.Francis is a life-long soccer fan and has long promoted sport as a way of promoting solidarity and fraternity.Speaking at the end of his weekly Wednesday general audience, Francis sent greetings to World Cup players, fans and spectators watching from afar.“May this important event be an occasion for meeting and harmony for nations, favoring brotherhood and peace among peoples. Let’s pray for peace in the world, and the end of all conflicts,” he said.The 85-year-old Argentine is a card-holding fan of the Buenos Aires club San Lorenzo.

Pope prays for World Cup to be occasion for peace

CIANJUR, Indonesia (AP) — More rescuers and volunteers were deployed Wednesday in devastated areas on Indonesia’s main island of Java to search for the dead and missing from an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-indonesia-jakarta-earthquakes-java-fad6cd6597650037de65350f8bb96633">earthquake that killed at least 271 people</a>.

With many missing, some remote areas still unreachable and more than 2,000 people injured in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-indonesia-jakarta-earthquakes-java-9211ab02fd6fb574cab63b94f31d6512">5.6 magnitude quake Monday</a>, the death toll was likely to rise. Hospitals near the epicenter on the densely populated island were already overwhelmed, and patients hooked up to IV drips lay on stretchers and cots in tents set up outside, awaiting further treatment.

More than 12,000 army personnel were deployed Wednesday to increase the strength of search efforts that being carried out by more than 2,000 joint forces of police, the search and rescue agency and volunteers, said Suharyanto, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency chief.

Suharyanto, who like many Indonesians uses only one name, said aid was reaching thousands of people left homeless who fled to temporary shelters where supplies can be distributed only by foot over the rough terrain.

He said rescuers recovered three bodies Wednesday and rescued a 6-year-old boy who was found alive next to the dead body of his grandmother after spending two days trapped under the rubble of his collapsed house.

Television reports showed police, soldiers and other rescue personnel using jackhammers, circular saws and sometimes their bare hands and farm tools, digging desperately in the worst-hit area of Cijendil village where tons of mud, rocks and trees were left from a landslide.

The government appeared to be focused on finding bodies, and wherever possible, survivors. Authorities struggled to bring tractors and other heavy equipment over washed-out roads after earthquake triggered landslides crashing onto the hilly hamlets.

But still, residents said the government was slow to respond to the earthquake.

Muhammad Tohir, 48, was sitting in his living room with family in Cijendil when the catastrophe struck. Although his family managed to make it out, his sister and her two children was crushed by a landslide, a few kilometers (miles) of his house.

“When I came to my sister’s house, I was devastated by what I saw,” Tohir said. “Dozens of houses had been buried by landslides. … I feel like doomsday.”

He said more than 40 houses in his sister’s neighborhood in Cijendil were buried under tons of mud with at least 45 people were buried alive, including Tohir’s sister and her two children.

Tohir, along with other residents in the area, searched for the missing using farm tools and managed to pull out two bodies buried under as much as 6 meters (10 feet) of mud. Two days later, rescue personnel arrived to help in the search.

“The government too slow to respond to this disaster,” Tohir said. “They should be bringing in heavy equipment to speed this up,” he said.

But he said that he will not give up until they can pull his sister and his nieces out of the mud.

In several hard-hit areas, water, food and medical supplies were being distributed from trucks, and authorities have deployed military personnel carrying food, medicine, blankets, field tents and water tankers.

Volunteers and rescue personnel erected more temporary shelters for those left homeless in several villages of Cianjur district.

About 800 police, soldiers and volunteers dug through the debris with their bare hands, shovels and hoes as heavy rain hindered their efforts.

Arif Yulianto, a search and rescue operation coordinator said the search effort was halted Wednesday afternoon due to heavy rains that made the landslide areas unstable. The operation is to be resumed early Thursday.

Most were barely protected by makeshift shelters that were lashed by heavy monsoon downpours. Only a few were lucky to be protected by tarpaulin-covered tents. They said they were running low on food, blankets and other aid, as emergency supplies were rushed to the region.

Suharyanto said more than 58,000 survivors were moved to shelters and 2,043 people were injured, with nearly 600 of them still receiving treatment for serious injuries.

He said rescuers had recovered bodies from collapsed houses and from landslides that were triggered by the earthquake, and about 40 people were still missing. But not all of the 271 dead have been identified, so it’s possible some the bodies pulled from the rubble are of people on the missing list.

Rescue operations were focused on about a dozen villages in Cianjur, where people are still believed trapped, Suharyanto said.

In a news conference Wednesday, Suharyanto said that more than 56,230 houses in Cianjur were damaged.

Indonesia is frequently hit by earthquakes, many much stronger than Monday’s whose magnitude would typically be expected to cause light damage. But the area is densely populated, and experts said the shallowness of the quake and inadequate infrastructure contributed to the severe damage, including caved-in roofs and large piles of bricks, concrete, and corrugated metal.

The quake was centered on the rural, mountainous Cianjur district, where one woman said her home started “shaking like it was dancing.”

More than 2.5 million people live in Cianjur district, including about 175,000 in the main town of the same name.

Many of the dead were public school students who had finished their classes for the day and were taking extra lessons at Islamic schools when the buildings collapsed, West Java Gov. Ridwan Kamil said.

President Joko Widodo visited Cianjur on Tuesday and pledged to rebuild infrastructure and to provide government assistance up to 50 million rupiah ($3,180) to each resident whose house was damaged.

The country of more than 270 million people is frequently struck by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis because of its location on the arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin known as the “Ring of Fire.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669121986365.jpeg" alt="Rescuers carry the body of a victim recovered from under the rubble at a village affected by an earthquake-triggered landslide in Cianjur, West Java, Indonesia, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022. The earthquake has toppled buildings on Indonesia's densely populated main island, killing a number of people and injuring hundreds. (AP Photo/Rangga Firmansyah)" />
 <figcaption>Rescuers carry the body of a victim recovered from under the rubble at a village affected by an earthquake-triggered landslide in Cianjur, West Java, Indonesia, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022. The earthquake has toppled buildings on Indonesia's densely populated main island, killing a number of people and injuring hundreds. (AP Photo/Rangga Firmansyah)</figcaption>
 </figure>CIANJUR, Indonesia (AP) — More rescuers and volunteers were deployed Wednesday in devastated areas on Indonesia’s main island of Java to search for the dead and missing from an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-indonesia-jakarta-earthquakes-java-fad6cd6597650037de65350f8bb96633">earthquake that killed at least 271 people</a>.With many missing, some remote areas still unreachable and more than 2,000 people injured in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-indonesia-jakarta-earthquakes-java-9211ab02fd6fb574cab63b94f31d6512">5.6 magnitude quake Monday</a>, the death toll was likely to rise. Hospitals near the epicenter on the densely populated island were already overwhelmed, and patients hooked up to IV drips lay on stretchers and cots in tents set up outside, awaiting further treatment.More than 12,000 army personnel were deployed Wednesday to increase the strength of search efforts that being carried out by more than 2,000 joint forces of police, the search and rescue agency and volunteers, said Suharyanto, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency chief.Suharyanto, who like many Indonesians uses only one name, said aid was reaching thousands of people left homeless who fled to temporary shelters where supplies can be distributed only by foot over the rough terrain.He said rescuers recovered three bodies Wednesday and rescued a 6-year-old boy who was found alive next to the dead body of his grandmother after spending two days trapped under the rubble of his collapsed house.Television reports showed police, soldiers and other rescue personnel using jackhammers, circular saws and sometimes their bare hands and farm tools, digging desperately in the worst-hit area of Cijendil village where tons of mud, rocks and trees were left from a landslide.The government appeared to be focused on finding bodies, and wherever possible, survivors. Authorities struggled to bring tractors and other heavy equipment over washed-out roads after earthquake triggered landslides crashing onto the hilly hamlets.But still, residents said the government was slow to respond to the earthquake.Muhammad Tohir, 48, was sitting in his living room with family in Cijendil when the catastrophe struck. Although his family managed to make it out, his sister and her two children was crushed by a landslide, a few kilometers (miles) of his house.“When I came to my sister’s house, I was devastated by what I saw,” Tohir said. “Dozens of houses had been buried by landslides. … I feel like doomsday.”He said more than 40 houses in his sister’s neighborhood in Cijendil were buried under tons of mud with at least 45 people were buried alive, including Tohir’s sister and her two children.Tohir, along with other residents in the area, searched for the missing using farm tools and managed to pull out two bodies buried under as much as 6 meters (10 feet) of mud. Two days later, rescue personnel arrived to help in the search.“The government too slow to respond to this disaster,” Tohir said. “They should be bringing in heavy equipment to speed this up,” he said.But he said that he will not give up until they can pull his sister and his nieces out of the mud.In several hard-hit areas, water, food and medical supplies were being distributed from trucks, and authorities have deployed military personnel carrying food, medicine, blankets, field tents and water tankers.Volunteers and rescue personnel erected more temporary shelters for those left homeless in several villages of Cianjur district.About 800 police, soldiers and volunteers dug through the debris with their bare hands, shovels and hoes as heavy rain hindered their efforts.Arif Yulianto, a search and rescue operation coordinator said the search effort was halted Wednesday afternoon due to heavy rains that made the landslide areas unstable. The operation is to be resumed early Thursday.Most were barely protected by makeshift shelters that were lashed by heavy monsoon downpours. Only a few were lucky to be protected by tarpaulin-covered tents. They said they were running low on food, blankets and other aid, as emergency supplies were rushed to the region.Suharyanto said more than 58,000 survivors were moved to shelters and 2,043 people were injured, with nearly 600 of them still receiving treatment for serious injuries.He said rescuers had recovered bodies from collapsed houses and from landslides that were triggered by the earthquake, and about 40 people were still missing. But not all of the 271 dead have been identified, so it’s possible some the bodies pulled from the rubble are of people on the missing list.Rescue operations were focused on about a dozen villages in Cianjur, where people are still believed trapped, Suharyanto said.In a news conference Wednesday, Suharyanto said that more than 56,230 houses in Cianjur were damaged.Indonesia is frequently hit by earthquakes, many much stronger than Monday’s whose magnitude would typically be expected to cause light damage. But the area is densely populated, and experts said the shallowness of the quake and inadequate infrastructure contributed to the severe damage, including caved-in roofs and large piles of bricks, concrete, and corrugated metal.The quake was centered on the rural, mountainous Cianjur district, where one woman said her home started “shaking like it was dancing.”More than 2.5 million people live in Cianjur district, including about 175,000 in the main town of the same name.Many of the dead were public school students who had finished their classes for the day and were taking extra lessons at Islamic schools when the buildings collapsed, West Java Gov. Ridwan Kamil said.President Joko Widodo visited Cianjur on Tuesday and pledged to rebuild infrastructure and to provide government assistance up to 50 million rupiah ($3,180) to each resident whose house was damaged.The country of more than 270 million people is frequently struck by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis because of its location on the arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin known as the “Ring of Fire.”

Search effort intensifies after Indonesia quake killed 271

Get Ready for what’s new for tax year 2022

WASHINGTON — The&nbsp;Internal Revenue Service today encouraged taxpayers 
to take simple steps before the end of the year to make filing their 
2022 federal tax return easier. With a little advance preparation, a 
preview of tax changes and convenient online tools, taxpayers can 
approach the upcoming tax season with confidence.

Filers can visit the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/steps-to-take-now-to-get-a-jump-on-next-years-taxes">Get Ready</a>
 webpage to find guidance on what’s new and what to consider when filing
 a 2022 tax return. They can also find helpful information on organizing
 tax records and a list of online tools and resources.

When filers have all their tax documentation gathered and organized, 
they’re in the best position to file an accurate return and avoid 
processing or refund delays or receiving IRS letters. Now’s a good time 
for taxpayers to consider financial transactions that occurred in 2022, 
if they’re taxable and how they should be reported.

The IRS encourages taxpayers to develop an electronic or paper 
recordkeeping system to store tax-related information in one place for 
easy access. Taxpayers should keep copies of filed tax returns and their
 supporting documents for at least three years.

Before January, taxpayers should confirm that their employer, bank 
and other payers have their current mailing address and email address to
 ensure they receive their year-end financial statements. Typically, 
year-end forms start arriving by mail or are available online in 
mid-to-late January. Taxpayers should carefully review each income 
statement for accuracy and contact the issuer to correct information 
that needs to be updated.

Get Ready for what’s new for Tax Year 2022

With the end of the year approaching, time is running out to take advantage of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator">Tax Withholding Estimator</a>.
 This online tool is designed to help taxpayers determine the right 
amount of tax to have withheld from their paycheck. Some people may have
 life changes like getting married or divorced, welcoming a child or 
taking on a second job. Other taxpayers may need to consider estimated 
tax payments due to non-wage income from unemployment, self-employment, 
annuity income or even digital assets. The last quarterly payment for 
2022 is due on January 17, 2023. The Tax Withholding Estimator can help 
wage earners determine if there is a need to adjust their withholding, 
consider additional tax payments, or submit a new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-4-p">W-4 form</a> to their employer to avoid an unexpected tax bill when they file.

As taxpayers gather tax records, they should remember that most 
income is taxable. This includes unemployment income, refund interest 
and income from the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/gig-economy-tax-center">gig economy</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/digital-assets">digital assets</a>.&nbsp;

Taxpayers should report the income they earned, including from 
part-time work, side jobs or the sale of goods. The American Rescue Plan
 Act of 2021 lowered the reporting threshold for third-party networks 
that process payments for those doing business. Prior to 2022, Form 
1099-K was issued for third-party payment network transactions only if 
the total number of transactions exceeded 200 for the year and the 
aggregate amount of these transactions exceeded $20,000. Now a single 
transaction exceeding $600 can trigger a 1099-K. The lower information 
reporting threshold and the summary of income on Form 1099-K enables 
taxpayers to more easily track the amounts received. Remember, money 
received through third-party payment applications from friends and 
relatives as personal gifts or reimbursements for personal expenses is 
not taxable. Those who receive a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/understanding-your-form-1099-k">1099-K</a> reflecting income they didn’t earn should call the issuer. The IRS cannot correct it.

Credit amounts also change each year like the&nbsp;Child Tax Credit (CTC),
 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)&nbsp;and Dependent Care Credit. Taxpayers 
can use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant</a>
 on IRS.gov to determine their eligibility for tax credits. Some 
taxpayers may qualify this year for the expanded eligibility for the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-974">Premium Tax Credit</a>, while others may qualify for a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/plug-in-electric-vehicle-credit-irc-30-and-irc-30d">Clean Vehicle Credit</a> through the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/latest-news-on-the-inflation-reduction-act-of-2022">Inflation Reduction Act of 2022</a>.

Refunds may be smaller in 2023. Taxpayers will not receive an 
additional stimulus payment with a 2023 tax refund because there were no
 Economic Impact Payments for 2022. In addition, taxpayers who don’t 
itemize and take the standard deduction, won’t be able to deduct their 
charitable contributions.

The IRS cautions taxpayers not to rely on receiving a 2022 federal 
tax refund by a certain date, especially when making major purchases or 
paying bills. Some returns may require additional review and may take 
longer. For example, the IRS and its partners in the tax industry, 
continue to strengthen security reviews to protect against identity 
theft. Additionally, refunds for people claiming the Earned Income Tax 
Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) can’t be issued 
before mid-February. The law requires the IRS to hold the entire refund –
 not just the portion associated with EITC or ACTC. This law helps 
ensure taxpayers receive the refund they're due by giving the IRS time 
to detect and prevent fraud.

For taxpayers who are still waiting for confirmation that last year’s
 tax return processed, or for a tax year 2021 refund or stimulus payment
 to process, their patience is appreciated. As of November 11, 2022, the
 IRS had 3.7 million unprocessed individual returns received this year. 
These include tax year 2021 returns and late filed prior year returns. 
Of these, 1.7 million returns require error correction or other special 
handling, and 2 million are paper returns waiting to be reviewed and 
processed. They also had 900,000 unprocessed Forms 1040-X for amended 
tax returns. The IRS is processing these amended returns in the order 
received and the current timeframe can be more than 20 weeks. Taxpayers 
should continue to check&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/wheres-my-amended-return">Where's My Amended Return?</a>&nbsp;for the most up-to-date processing status available.

Taxpayers should ensure their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/individual-taxpayer-identification-number">Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN)</a>&nbsp;hasn’t expired before filing a 2022 tax return. Those who need to file a tax return, should submit a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-7">Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number</a>&nbsp;now,
 to renew their ITIN. Taxpayers who fail to renew an ITIN before filing a
 tax return next year could face a delayed refund and may be ineligible 
for certain tax credits. Applying now will help avoid the rush as well 
as refund and processing delays in 2023.

Online tools are easy to use and available to taxpayers 24 hours a 
day. They provide key information about tax accounts and a convenient 
way to pay taxes. IRS.gov provides information in many languages and 
enhanced services for people with disabilities, including the 
Accessibility Helpline. Taxpayers who need accessibility assistance may 
call 833-690-0598. Taxpayers should use IRS.gov as their first and 
primary resource for accurate tax information.

Taxpayers should prepare to file electronically and choose <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">Direct Deposit</a>
 for their tax refund – it’s the fastest and safest way to file and get a
 refund. Even when filing a paper return, choosing a direct deposit 
refund can save time. For those who do not have a bank account, the <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/about/initiatives/getbanked/index.html">FDIC website</a> offers information to help people open an account online.

Taxpayers can download <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5349.pdf">Publication 5349, Tax Preparation is for Everyone</a>PDF, for more information to help them get ready to file.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Get Ready for what’s new for tax year 2022</h2>IRSWASHINGTON — The&nbsp;Internal Revenue Service today encouraged taxpayers 
to take simple steps before the end of the year to make filing their 
2022 federal tax return easier. With a little advance preparation, a 
preview of tax changes and convenient online tools, taxpayers can 
approach the upcoming tax season with confidence.Filers can visit the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/steps-to-take-now-to-get-a-jump-on-next-years-taxes">Get Ready</a>
 webpage to find guidance on what’s new and what to consider when filing
 a 2022 tax return. They can also find helpful information on organizing
 tax records and a list of online tools and resources.<h2>Get Ready by gathering tax records</h2>When filers have all their tax documentation gathered and organized, 
they’re in the best position to file an accurate return and avoid 
processing or refund delays or receiving IRS letters. Now’s a good time 
for taxpayers to consider financial transactions that occurred in 2022, 
if they’re taxable and how they should be reported.The IRS encourages taxpayers to develop an electronic or paper 
recordkeeping system to store tax-related information in one place for 
easy access. Taxpayers should keep copies of filed tax returns and their
 supporting documents for at least three years.Before January, taxpayers should confirm that their employer, bank 
and other payers have their current mailing address and email address to
 ensure they receive their year-end financial statements. Typically, 
year-end forms start arriving by mail or are available online in 
mid-to-late January. Taxpayers should carefully review each income 
statement for accuracy and contact the issuer to correct information 
that needs to be updated.<h2>Get Ready for what’s new for Tax Year 2022</h2>With the end of the year approaching, time is running out to take advantage of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator">Tax Withholding Estimator</a>.
 This online tool is designed to help taxpayers determine the right 
amount of tax to have withheld from their paycheck. Some people may have
 life changes like getting married or divorced, welcoming a child or 
taking on a second job. Other taxpayers may need to consider estimated 
tax payments due to non-wage income from unemployment, self-employment, 
annuity income or even digital assets. The last quarterly payment for 
2022 is due on January 17, 2023. The Tax Withholding Estimator can help 
wage earners determine if there is a need to adjust their withholding, 
consider additional tax payments, or submit a new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-4-p">W-4 form</a> to their employer to avoid an unexpected tax bill when they file.As taxpayers gather tax records, they should remember that most 
income is taxable. This includes unemployment income, refund interest 
and income from the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/gig-economy-tax-center">gig economy</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/digital-assets">digital assets</a>.&nbsp;Taxpayers should report the income they earned, including from 
part-time work, side jobs or the sale of goods. The American Rescue Plan
 Act of 2021 lowered the reporting threshold for third-party networks 
that process payments for those doing business. Prior to 2022, Form 
1099-K was issued for third-party payment network transactions only if 
the total number of transactions exceeded 200 for the year and the 
aggregate amount of these transactions exceeded $20,000. Now a single 
transaction exceeding $600 can trigger a 1099-K. The lower information 
reporting threshold and the summary of income on Form 1099-K enables 
taxpayers to more easily track the amounts received. Remember, money 
received through third-party payment applications from friends and 
relatives as personal gifts or reimbursements for personal expenses is 
not taxable. Those who receive a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/understanding-your-form-1099-k">1099-K</a> reflecting income they didn’t earn should call the issuer. The IRS cannot correct it.Credit amounts also change each year like the&nbsp;Child Tax Credit (CTC),
 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)&nbsp;and Dependent Care Credit. Taxpayers 
can use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant</a>
 on IRS.gov to determine their eligibility for tax credits. Some 
taxpayers may qualify this year for the expanded eligibility for the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-974">Premium Tax Credit</a>, while others may qualify for a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/plug-in-electric-vehicle-credit-irc-30-and-irc-30d">Clean Vehicle Credit</a> through the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/latest-news-on-the-inflation-reduction-act-of-2022">Inflation Reduction Act of 2022</a>.Refunds may be smaller in 2023. Taxpayers will not receive an 
additional stimulus payment with a 2023 tax refund because there were no
 Economic Impact Payments for 2022. In addition, taxpayers who don’t 
itemize and take the standard deduction, won’t be able to deduct their 
charitable contributions.The IRS cautions taxpayers not to rely on receiving a 2022 federal 
tax refund by a certain date, especially when making major purchases or 
paying bills. Some returns may require additional review and may take 
longer. For example, the IRS and its partners in the tax industry, 
continue to strengthen security reviews to protect against identity 
theft. Additionally, refunds for people claiming the Earned Income Tax 
Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) can’t be issued 
before mid-February. The law requires the IRS to hold the entire refund –
 not just the portion associated with EITC or ACTC. This law helps 
ensure taxpayers receive the refund they're due by giving the IRS time 
to detect and prevent fraud.For taxpayers who are still waiting for confirmation that last year’s
 tax return processed, or for a tax year 2021 refund or stimulus payment
 to process, their patience is appreciated. As of November 11, 2022, the
 IRS had 3.7 million unprocessed individual returns received this year. 
These include tax year 2021 returns and late filed prior year returns. 
Of these, 1.7 million returns require error correction or other special 
handling, and 2 million are paper returns waiting to be reviewed and 
processed. They also had 900,000 unprocessed Forms 1040-X for amended 
tax returns. The IRS is processing these amended returns in the order 
received and the current timeframe can be more than 20 weeks. Taxpayers 
should continue to check&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/wheres-my-amended-return">Where's My Amended Return?</a>&nbsp;for the most up-to-date processing status available.<h2>Renew expiring tax ID numbers</h2>Taxpayers should ensure their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/individual-taxpayer-identification-number">Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN)</a>&nbsp;hasn’t expired before filing a 2022 tax return. Those who need to file a tax return, should submit a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-7">Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number</a>&nbsp;now,
 to renew their ITIN. Taxpayers who fail to renew an ITIN before filing a
 tax return next year could face a delayed refund and may be ineligible 
for certain tax credits. Applying now will help avoid the rush as well 
as refund and processing delays in 2023.<h2>Bookmark the following tools on IRS.gov</h2>Online tools are easy to use and available to taxpayers 24 hours a 
day. They provide key information about tax accounts and a convenient 
way to pay taxes. IRS.gov provides information in many languages and 
enhanced services for people with disabilities, including the 
Accessibility Helpline. Taxpayers who need accessibility assistance may 
call 833-690-0598. Taxpayers should use IRS.gov as their first and 
primary resource for accurate tax information.<ul>
 <li>Let Us Help You page. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance">Let Us Help You</a> page on IRS.gov has links to information and resources on a wide range of topics.
	</li><li>Online Account. An <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">IRS online account</a>
 lets taxpayers securely access their personal tax information, 
including tax return transcripts, payment history, certain notices, 
prior year adjusted gross income and power of attorney information. 
Filers can log in to verify if their name and address is correct. They 
should <a href="https://www.irs.gov/faqs/irs-procedures/address-changes">notify IRS if their address has changed</a>. They must notify the <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/">Social Security Administration</a> of a legal name change to avoid a delay in processing their tax return.
	</li><li>IRS Free File. Almost everyone can file electronically for free on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS.gov/freefile</a> or with the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go app</a>.
 The IRS Free File program, available only through IRS.gov, offers 
brand-name tax preparation software packages at no cost. The software 
does all the work of finding deductions, credits and exemptions for 
filers. It‘s free for those who qualify. Some Free File packages offer 
free state tax return preparation. Those who are comfortable preparing 
their own taxes can use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-forms">Free File Fillable Forms</a>, regardless of their income, to file their tax return either online or by mail.
	</li><li>Find a tax professional. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">Choosing a Tax Professional</a> page on IRS.gov has a wealth of information to help filers choose a tax professional. In addition, the <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications</a>
 can help taxpayers find preparers in their area who hold professional 
credentials recognized by the IRS, or who hold an Annual Filing Season 
Program Record of Completion.
	</li><li>Interactive Tax Assistant. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant</a>
 is a tool that provides answers to many tax questions. It can determine
 if a type of income is taxable and eligibility to claim certain credits
 or deductions. It also provides answers for general questions, such as 
determining filing requirement, filing status or eligibility to claim a 
dependent.
	</li><li>Where's My Refund? Taxpayers can use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where’s My Refund?</a>
 tool to check the status of their refund. Current year refund 
information is typically available online within 24 hours after the IRS 
receives an e-filed tax return. A paper return status can take up to 
four weeks to appear after it is mailed. The Where’s My Refund? tool 
updates once every 24 hours, usually overnight, so filers only need to 
check once a day.
	</li><li>Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE)</a> programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals.
	</li>
 </ul><h2>Get refunds fast with Direct Deposit</h2>Taxpayers should prepare to file electronically and choose <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">Direct Deposit</a>
 for their tax refund – it’s the fastest and safest way to file and get a
 refund. Even when filing a paper return, choosing a direct deposit 
refund can save time. For those who do not have a bank account, the <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/about/initiatives/getbanked/index.html">FDIC website</a> offers information to help people open an account online.Taxpayers can download <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5349.pdf">Publication 5349, Tax Preparation is for Everyone</a>PDF, for more information to help them get ready to file.

Get Ready: IRS offers tips, guidelines for filing 2022 returns

MANHATTAN — The holiday season is filled with hearty, delicious food, visiting with friends and family, decreased physical activity, busy schedules and weight gain. According to a Kansas State University veterinarian,&nbsp;&nbsp;it is also a time for our family pets to gain weight as well. According to Susan Nelson, clinical professor at the university's&nbsp;<a href="https://ksvhc.org/" target="_blank">Veterinary Health Center</a>, many pets gain weight during the holidays due to special treats being consumed and/or a few of those delicious table scraps making it into their bowls as well. Owners also may not be able to be as physically active or have as many play sessions with their pets because of busy holiday schedules. "Table scraps are high in calories and fat, lead to weight gain and can also cause gastrointestinal upset or life-threatening pancreatitis," Nelson said. "I advise owners to offer low-calorie fruits and vegetables — not cooked in butter — as a substitute for other types of table scraps, if they are going to be fed." Nelson offers the following tips to limit pet weight gain during the holidays and throughout the year: • Limit the number of treats fed to less than 10% of total caloric intake. Your veterinarian can help calculate a pet's caloric intake if needed. • Break a single treat into several smaller portions that you can distribute throughout the day. Pets do not know the difference and will consume fewer calories from treat consumption. • Use a treat dispenser or food puzzle to prolong the amount of time it takes a pet to eat and offer mental stimulation. • Reserve some of the daily kibble to feed as treats instead. • Keep your pet out of the dining room when eating and kitchen when cooking to be less likely to succumb to those pleading, big brown eyes that are begging for a bite. For pet owners with less time to exercise or play with pets, Nelson suggests hiring a professional pet walker, family friend or neighbor to walk or play with your pets. Pet day care centers also offer opportunities for pet activity and socialization. Pet owners concerned that a pet may be overweight can learn more about K-State's Veterinary Health Center Healthy Weight Clinic, a part of the Hill's Pet Health &amp; Nutrition Center, at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksvhc.org/services/pet-health-center/pet-obesity-clinic.html" target="_blank">ksvhc.org/services/pet-health-center/pet-obesity-clinic.html</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669092519970.jpeg" alt="Many pets gain weight during the holidays due to special treats being consumed and/or a few of those delicious table scraps making it into their bowls as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;Photo by&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/@charlesdeluvio?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">charlesdeluvio</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/dog-at-table?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>" />
 <figcaption>Many pets gain weight during the holidays due to special treats being consumed and/or a few of those delicious table scraps making it into their bowls as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;Photo by&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/@charlesdeluvio?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">charlesdeluvio</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/dog-at-table?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></figcaption>
 </figure>K-State News ServiceMANHATTAN — The holiday season is filled with hearty, delicious food, visiting with friends and family, decreased physical activity, busy schedules and weight gain. According to a Kansas State University veterinarian,&nbsp;&nbsp;it is also a time for our family pets to gain weight as well. According to Susan Nelson, clinical professor at the university's&nbsp;<a href="https://ksvhc.org/" target="_blank">Veterinary Health Center</a>, many pets gain weight during the holidays due to special treats being consumed and/or a few of those delicious table scraps making it into their bowls as well. Owners also may not be able to be as physically active or have as many play sessions with their pets because of busy holiday schedules. "Table scraps are high in calories and fat, lead to weight gain and can also cause gastrointestinal upset or life-threatening pancreatitis," Nelson said. "I advise owners to offer low-calorie fruits and vegetables — not cooked in butter — as a substitute for other types of table scraps, if they are going to be fed." Nelson offers the following tips to limit pet weight gain during the holidays and throughout the year: • Limit the number of treats fed to less than 10% of total caloric intake. Your veterinarian can help calculate a pet's caloric intake if needed. • Break a single treat into several smaller portions that you can distribute throughout the day. Pets do not know the difference and will consume fewer calories from treat consumption. • Use a treat dispenser or food puzzle to prolong the amount of time it takes a pet to eat and offer mental stimulation. • Reserve some of the daily kibble to feed as treats instead. • Keep your pet out of the dining room when eating and kitchen when cooking to be less likely to succumb to those pleading, big brown eyes that are begging for a bite. For pet owners with less time to exercise or play with pets, Nelson suggests hiring a professional pet walker, family friend or neighbor to walk or play with your pets. Pet day care centers also offer opportunities for pet activity and socialization. Pet owners concerned that a pet may be overweight can learn more about K-State's Veterinary Health Center Healthy Weight Clinic, a part of the Hill's Pet Health &amp; Nutrition Center, at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksvhc.org/services/pet-health-center/pet-obesity-clinic.html" target="_blank">ksvhc.org/services/pet-health-center/pet-obesity-clinic.html</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;

K-State veterinarian offers tips to prevent holiday weight gain in pets

OMAHA,
 Neb. (AP) — A Wisconsin company that cleans hundreds of meatpacking 
plants nationwide is defending itself against allegations that it 
employed more than two dozen minors working overnight shifts cleaning 
massive saws, grinding machines and other dangerous processing equipment
 at three slaughterhouses.

Labor Department officials said in 
court documents that they believe Packers Sanitation Services Inc. might
 be employing underage workers at other plants but investigators have 
only just starting reviewing thousands of pages of employee records at 
plants besides the ones in Nebraska and Minnesota where they confirmed 
teenagers were working through the middle of the night sanitizing 
slaughterhouses before heading back to high school in the morning.

A
 federal judge in Lincoln, Nebraska, already issued a temporary order 
prohibiting the company from employing minors and interfering in the 
Labor Department's investigation. The company will argue at a court 
hearing next month that there's no reason for a judge to make that order
 permanent because PSSI officials say they are cooperating with the 
investigation and they already prohibit hiring anyone younger than 18.

On
 Monday, a judge ordered the government to give the company a few more 
details about its investigation ahead of next month's hearing. The 
company says it employs some 17,000 people working at more than 700 
locations nationwide, making it one of the largest firms out there that 
cleans food processing plants.

PSSI Vice President of Marketing 
Gina Swenson said the company “has an absolute company-wide prohibition 
against the employment of anyone under the age of 18 and zero tolerance 
for any violation of that policy — period.”

Swenson also said 
corporate officials have been cooperating with the investigation. But 
according to court documents, the Labor Department says local managers 
“attempted to obstruct employee interviews” at JBS plants in Grand 
Island, Nebraska, and Worthington, Minnesota, as well as at a Turkey 
Valley Farms plant in Marshall, Minnesota. Investigators said they also 
saw managers deleting WhatsApp messages and computer files.

In one
 instance, investigators said they found text messages a manager at the 
Worthington plant sent to prospective employees who were discussing 
using false identification documents to secure a job with PSSI.

Investigators
 say they have been able to confirm that at least 31 children as young 
as 13 have been working for PSSI by talking to them and comparing 
timeclock photos and employment data with pictures and information in 
local school records.

Officials at JBS and Turkey Valley Farms say
 they are monitoring the situation with PSSI and will consider taking 
action against the company based on the outcome of the investigation.

“We
 take seriously the allegations against PSSI, which, if true, represent a
 clear violation of our ethical policies,” Michael Koenig, JBS's chief 
ethics and compliance officer, said in a statement. He said JBS is 
taking steps to verify the status of all the sanitation workers at its 
plants and the company won't tolerate child labor.

In addition to 
the Nebraska and Minnesota plants, investigators also seized records 
from a Tyson Foods plant in Sedalia, Missouri, but they didn't identify 
any workers from there as minors in the court documents. Tyson officials
 didn't immediately respond Tuesday to questions about the 
investigation.

The underage workers that investigators confirmed 
included one 13-year-old who suffered a serious chemical burn from the 
caustic chemicals used to clean the JBS plant in Grand Island every 
night.

Investigators said in court documents that some of the 
teens they found working for PSSI told them that “everyone there knew” 
that they were minors, and in one case, a search of a government 
database showed that one employee's age came up as 129-years-old when 
their Social Security number was checked.

PSSI asked the court to 
order investigators to share more details about that case and identify 
the children it found to help it ensure that “rogue individuals” aren't 
finding ways to circumvent the company's efforts to avoid hiring people 
under age 18.

But the judge only ordered limited information to be
 released after the Labor Department argued that PSSI already has all 
the information it needs to identify any minors in its own company 
documents.

“It is not the Secretary’s responsibility to teach 
defendants how to search their own documents to find the minor children 
they employ. Further, PSSI need only consult their own managers working 
on the ground at these establishments to conduct their own due 
diligence,” the Labor Department said in court documents.

The 
company and investigators are due in court on Dec. 7 to argue about 
whether a federal judge should issue a preliminary injunction in the 
case.

OMAHA,
 Neb. (AP) — A Wisconsin company that cleans hundreds of meatpacking 
plants nationwide is defending itself against allegations that it 
employed more than two dozen minors working overnight shifts cleaning 
massive saws, grinding machines and other dangerous processing equipment
 at three slaughterhouses.Labor Department officials said in 
court documents that they believe Packers Sanitation Services Inc. might
 be employing underage workers at other plants but investigators have 
only just starting reviewing thousands of pages of employee records at 
plants besides the ones in Nebraska and Minnesota where they confirmed 
teenagers were working through the middle of the night sanitizing 
slaughterhouses before heading back to high school in the morning.A
 federal judge in Lincoln, Nebraska, already issued a temporary order 
prohibiting the company from employing minors and interfering in the 
Labor Department's investigation. The company will argue at a court 
hearing next month that there's no reason for a judge to make that order
 permanent because PSSI officials say they are cooperating with the 
investigation and they already prohibit hiring anyone younger than 18.On
 Monday, a judge ordered the government to give the company a few more 
details about its investigation ahead of next month's hearing. The 
company says it employs some 17,000 people working at more than 700 
locations nationwide, making it one of the largest firms out there that 
cleans food processing plants.PSSI Vice President of Marketing 
Gina Swenson said the company “has an absolute company-wide prohibition 
against the employment of anyone under the age of 18 and zero tolerance 
for any violation of that policy — period.”Swenson also said 
corporate officials have been cooperating with the investigation. But 
according to court documents, the Labor Department says local managers 
“attempted to obstruct employee interviews” at JBS plants in Grand 
Island, Nebraska, and Worthington, Minnesota, as well as at a Turkey 
Valley Farms plant in Marshall, Minnesota. Investigators said they also 
saw managers deleting WhatsApp messages and computer files.In one
 instance, investigators said they found text messages a manager at the 
Worthington plant sent to prospective employees who were discussing 
using false identification documents to secure a job with PSSI.Investigators
 say they have been able to confirm that at least 31 children as young 
as 13 have been working for PSSI by talking to them and comparing 
timeclock photos and employment data with pictures and information in 
local school records.Officials at JBS and Turkey Valley Farms say
 they are monitoring the situation with PSSI and will consider taking 
action against the company based on the outcome of the investigation.“We
 take seriously the allegations against PSSI, which, if true, represent a
 clear violation of our ethical policies,” Michael Koenig, JBS's chief 
ethics and compliance officer, said in a statement. He said JBS is 
taking steps to verify the status of all the sanitation workers at its 
plants and the company won't tolerate child labor.In addition to 
the Nebraska and Minnesota plants, investigators also seized records 
from a Tyson Foods plant in Sedalia, Missouri, but they didn't identify 
any workers from there as minors in the court documents. Tyson officials
 didn't immediately respond Tuesday to questions about the 
investigation.The underage workers that investigators confirmed 
included one 13-year-old who suffered a serious chemical burn from the 
caustic chemicals used to clean the JBS plant in Grand Island every 
night.Investigators said in court documents that some of the 
teens they found working for PSSI told them that “everyone there knew” 
that they were minors, and in one case, a search of a government 
database showed that one employee's age came up as 129-years-old when 
their Social Security number was checked.PSSI asked the court to 
order investigators to share more details about that case and identify 
the children it found to help it ensure that “rogue individuals” aren't 
finding ways to circumvent the company's efforts to avoid hiring people 
under age 18.But the judge only ordered limited information to be
 released after the Labor Department argued that PSSI already has all 
the information it needs to identify any minors in its own company 
documents.“It is not the Secretary’s responsibility to teach 
defendants how to search their own documents to find the minor children 
they employ. Further, PSSI need only consult their own managers working 
on the ground at these establishments to conduct their own due 
diligence,” the Labor Department said in court documents.The 
company and investigators are due in court on Dec. 7 to argue about 
whether a federal judge should issue a preliminary injunction in the 
case.

Investigators: Firm that cleans meat plants employed minors

By JOSH FUNK Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. — American consumers and nearly every industry will be affected if freight trains grind to a halt next month.

One of the biggest rail unions <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-congress-government-and-politics-79d2e2c2779598b0a14396464ee4f7e9">rejected its deal Monday</a>, joining three others that have failed to approve contracts over concerns about <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-government-and-politics-207229bcd558b6a6c1d58f3f85e2d804">demanding schedules</a> and the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-business-strikes-940da8fc519f8c526ca614e201d01216">lack of paid sick time</a>. That raises the risk of a strike, which could start as soon as Dec. 5.

It
 wouldn’t take long for the effects of a rail strike to trickle through 
the economy. Many businesses only have a few days’ worth of raw 
materials and space for finished goods. Makers of food, fuel, cars and 
chemicals would all feel the squeeze, as would their customers.

That's
 not to mention the commuters who would be left stranded because many 
passenger railroads use tracks owned by the freight railroads.

The
 stakes are so high for the economy that Congress is expected to 
intervene and impose contract terms on railroad workers. The last time 
US railroads went on strike was in 1992. That strike lasted two days 
before Congress intervened. An extended rail shutdown has not happened 
for a century, partly because a law passed in 1926 that governs rail 
negotiations made it much harder for workers to strike.

Here are some of the expected impacts of a rail strike:

Railroads haul about 40% of the nation's freight each year. The railroads estimated that a rail strike would <a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-congress-government-and-politics-a53abd85fa6f8b3ccd622222ea9a4c46">cost the economy $2 billion</a>
 a day in a report issued earlier this fall. Another recent report put 
together by a chemical industry trade group projected that if a strike 
drags on for a month some 700,000 jobs would be lost as manufacturers 
who rely on railroads shut down, prices of nearly everything would 
increase even more and the economy could be thrust into a recession.

And
 although some businesses would try to shift shipments over to trucks, 
there aren't nearly enough of them available. The Association of 
American Railroads trade group estimated that 467,000 additional trucks a
 day would be needed to handle everything railroads deliver.

Chemical
 manufacturers and refineries will be some of the first businesses 
affected, because railroads will stop shipping hazardous chemicals about
 a week before the strike deadline to ensure that no tank cars filled 
with dangerous liquids wind up stranded.

Jeff Sloan with the 
American Chemistry Council trade group said chemical plants could be 
close to shutting down by the time a rail strike actually begins because
 of that.

That means the chlorine that water treatment plants rely
 on to purify water, which they might only have about a week's supply of
 on hand, would become hard to get. It would be hard for manufacturers 
to make anything out of plastic without the chemicals that are part of 
the formula. Consumers will also pay more for gasoline if refineries 
shut down either because they can't get the ingredients they need to 
make fuel or because railroads aren't available to haul away byproducts 
like sulfur.

Chemical plants also produce carbon dioxide as a 
byproduct, so the supply of carbon dioxide that beverage makers use to 
carbonate soda and beer would also be restricted, even though the gas 
typically moves via pipelines.

Roughly 
half of all commuter rail systems rely at least in part on tracks that 
are owned by freight railroads, and nearly all of Amtrak’s long-distance
 trains run over the freight network.

Back in September, Amtrak 
cancelled all of its long-distance trains days ahead of the strike 
deadline to ensure passengers wouldn’t be left stranded in remote parts 
of the country while still en route to their destination.

And 
major commuter rail services in Chicago, Minneapolis, Maryland and 
Washington state all warned then that some of their operations would be 
suspended in the event of a rail strike.

It would
 take about a week for customers to notice shortages of things like 
cereal, peanut butter and beer at the grocery store, said Tom Madrecki, 
vice president of supply chain for the Consumer Brands Association.

About
 30% of all packaged food in the U.S. is moved by rail, he said. That 
percentage is much higher for denser, heavier items like cans of soup.

Some
 products, like cereal, cooking oils and beer, have entire operations 
built around rail deliveries of raw ingredients like grain, barley and 
peanuts, along with shipments of finished products.

Those 
companies typically keep only two to four days’ worth of raw ingredients
 on hand because it’s expensive to store them, Madrecki said, and 
grocers also keep a limited supply of products on hand.

Madrecki 
said big food companies don't like to discuss the threat of a rail 
strike because of worries about product shortages can lead to panic 
buying.

Any disruption in rail service could 
threaten the health of chickens and pigs, which depend on trains to 
deliver their feed, and contribute to higher meat prices.

“Our 
members rely on about 27 million bushels of corn and 11 million bushels 
of soybean meal every week to feed their chickens. Much of that is moved
 by rail,” said Tom Super, a spokesman for the National Chicken Council,
 a trade group for the industry raising chickens for meat.

The 
National Grain and Feed Association said a rail strike now would hit 
pork and chicken producers in the southern U.S. hardest, because their 
local supply of corn and soybeans from this year’s harvest is likely 
exhausted and they’d have to ship feed by truck, dramatically increasing
 costs.

“They only have so much storage. They can’t go without 
rail service for too long before they’d have to shut down the feed mills
 and they run into problems,” said Max Fisher, the NGFA's chief 
economist.

Jess Dankert, the vice president for
 supply chain at the Retail Industry Leaders Association, said 
retailers’ inventory is largely in place for the holidays. But the 
industry is developing contingency plans.

“We don’t see, you know,
 canceling Christmas and that kind of narrative,” Dankert said. “But I 
think we will see the generalized disruption of really anything that 
moves by rail.”

By JOSH FUNK Associated PressOMAHA, Neb. — American consumers and nearly every industry will be affected if freight trains grind to a halt next month.One of the biggest rail unions <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-congress-government-and-politics-79d2e2c2779598b0a14396464ee4f7e9">rejected its deal Monday</a>, joining three others that have failed to approve contracts over concerns about <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-government-and-politics-207229bcd558b6a6c1d58f3f85e2d804">demanding schedules</a> and the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-business-strikes-940da8fc519f8c526ca614e201d01216">lack of paid sick time</a>. That raises the risk of a strike, which could start as soon as Dec. 5.It
 wouldn’t take long for the effects of a rail strike to trickle through 
the economy. Many businesses only have a few days’ worth of raw 
materials and space for finished goods. Makers of food, fuel, cars and 
chemicals would all feel the squeeze, as would their customers.That's
 not to mention the commuters who would be left stranded because many 
passenger railroads use tracks owned by the freight railroads.The
 stakes are so high for the economy that Congress is expected to 
intervene and impose contract terms on railroad workers. The last time 
US railroads went on strike was in 1992. That strike lasted two days 
before Congress intervened. An extended rail shutdown has not happened 
for a century, partly because a law passed in 1926 that governs rail 
negotiations made it much harder for workers to strike.Here are some of the expected impacts of a rail strike:$2 BILLION A DAYRailroads haul about 40% of the nation's freight each year. The railroads estimated that a rail strike would <a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-congress-government-and-politics-a53abd85fa6f8b3ccd622222ea9a4c46">cost the economy $2 billion</a>
 a day in a report issued earlier this fall. Another recent report put 
together by a chemical industry trade group projected that if a strike 
drags on for a month some 700,000 jobs would be lost as manufacturers 
who rely on railroads shut down, prices of nearly everything would 
increase even more and the economy could be thrust into a recession.And
 although some businesses would try to shift shipments over to trucks, 
there aren't nearly enough of them available. The Association of 
American Railroads trade group estimated that 467,000 additional trucks a
 day would be needed to handle everything railroads deliver.CHEMICALS RUN DRYChemical
 manufacturers and refineries will be some of the first businesses 
affected, because railroads will stop shipping hazardous chemicals about
 a week before the strike deadline to ensure that no tank cars filled 
with dangerous liquids wind up stranded.Jeff Sloan with the 
American Chemistry Council trade group said chemical plants could be 
close to shutting down by the time a rail strike actually begins because
 of that.That means the chlorine that water treatment plants rely
 on to purify water, which they might only have about a week's supply of
 on hand, would become hard to get. It would be hard for manufacturers 
to make anything out of plastic without the chemicals that are part of 
the formula. Consumers will also pay more for gasoline if refineries 
shut down either because they can't get the ingredients they need to 
make fuel or because railroads aren't available to haul away byproducts 
like sulfur.Chemical plants also produce carbon dioxide as a 
byproduct, so the supply of carbon dioxide that beverage makers use to 
carbonate soda and beer would also be restricted, even though the gas 
typically moves via pipelines.PASSENGER PROBLEMSRoughly 
half of all commuter rail systems rely at least in part on tracks that 
are owned by freight railroads, and nearly all of Amtrak’s long-distance
 trains run over the freight network.Back in September, Amtrak 
cancelled all of its long-distance trains days ahead of the strike 
deadline to ensure passengers wouldn’t be left stranded in remote parts 
of the country while still en route to their destination.And 
major commuter rail services in Chicago, Minneapolis, Maryland and 
Washington state all warned then that some of their operations would be 
suspended in the event of a rail strike.FOOD FEARSIt would
 take about a week for customers to notice shortages of things like 
cereal, peanut butter and beer at the grocery store, said Tom Madrecki, 
vice president of supply chain for the Consumer Brands Association.About
 30% of all packaged food in the U.S. is moved by rail, he said. That 
percentage is much higher for denser, heavier items like cans of soup.Some
 products, like cereal, cooking oils and beer, have entire operations 
built around rail deliveries of raw ingredients like grain, barley and 
peanuts, along with shipments of finished products.Those 
companies typically keep only two to four days’ worth of raw ingredients
 on hand because it’s expensive to store them, Madrecki said, and 
grocers also keep a limited supply of products on hand.Madrecki 
said big food companies don't like to discuss the threat of a rail 
strike because of worries about product shortages can lead to panic 
buying.HUNGRY HERDSAny disruption in rail service could 
threaten the health of chickens and pigs, which depend on trains to 
deliver their feed, and contribute to higher meat prices.“Our 
members rely on about 27 million bushels of corn and 11 million bushels 
of soybean meal every week to feed their chickens. Much of that is moved
 by rail,” said Tom Super, a spokesman for the National Chicken Council,
 a trade group for the industry raising chickens for meat.The 
National Grain and Feed Association said a rail strike now would hit 
pork and chicken producers in the southern U.S. hardest, because their 
local supply of corn and soybeans from this year’s harvest is likely 
exhausted and they’d have to ship feed by truck, dramatically increasing
 costs.“They only have so much storage. They can’t go without 
rail service for too long before they’d have to shut down the feed mills
 and they run into problems,” said Max Fisher, the NGFA's chief 
economist.RETAIL RISKSJess Dankert, the vice president for
 supply chain at the Retail Industry Leaders Association, said 
retailers’ inventory is largely in place for the holidays. But the 
industry is developing contingency plans.“We don’t see, you know,
 canceling Christmas and that kind of narrative,” Dankert said. “But I 
think we will see the generalized disruption of really anything that 
moves by rail.”David Garfield, a managing director with the 
consulting firm AlixPartners, said a rail strike could still impact 
holiday items shipped to stores later in December, and would definitely 
hamper stocking of next season’s goods.Retailers are also 
concerned about online orders. Shippers like FedEx and UPS use rail cars
 that hold roughly 2,000 packages in each car.AUTOMOBILE ANGSTDrivers
 are already paying record prices and often waiting months for new 
vehicles because of the production problems in the auto industry related
 to the shortage of computer chips in recent years.That would 
only get worse if there is a rail strike, because roughly 75% of all new
 vehicles begin their journey from factories to dealerships on the 
railroad. Trains deliver some 2,000 carloads a day filled with vehicles.And
 automakers may have a hard time keeping their plants running during a 
strike because some larger parts and raw materials are transported by 
rail.Associated Press Writers David Pitt in Des Moines, Iowa, and Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit contributed to this report.