(AP)-Dave and Erica Harrig stayed true to their values when they won a lottery jackpot of more than $61 million in 2013. It made all the difference.

The couple from Gretna, Nebraska, a community on the outskirts of Omaha where Dave Harrig now is a volunteer firefighter, allowed themselves to buy a new home, some vintage automobiles and a few ocean cruises after they both quit their jobs.

But nine years later, they still live much as they always did, remaining in their community, keeping up with church, family and friends, and teaching their children to work hard to make a living despite any financial windfall that might come their way.

Many other winners haven’t been as lucky, suffering personal setbacks and lawsuits or becoming the victims of scams. The latest winner of a big jackpot came Friday, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lotteries-iowa-e986a2da15c75b1e2228499ea90a6530">a single ticket sold in Illinois matched the numbers for a $1.337 billion Mega Millions prize.</a>&nbsp;Illinois is among the states where winners of more than $250,000 can choose to not reveal their names.

Dave Harrig, an Air Force veteran who worked in aircraft maintenance, says keeping things simple probably saved him and his family from the kind of hassles and tragedies that have befallen other big winners.

Almost overnight, the Harrig family mailbox was filled with letters full of hard luck stories: sick children, lost jobs, burned out homes.

Dave Harrig said they ignored them all and focused on their own family and charities.

They didn't even touch the principal on their winnings until just a few years ago, when they tapped into it to fund a new museum of firefighting in Gretna that will open soon.

“We have nicer things, a bigger house, and more than we ever had in the past. But we are the same, and my wife and I keep each other in check,” Dave Harrig said, encouraging future lottery winners to invest wisely, choose a national investment adviser rather than a local one, and to avoid advisers who try to sell financial products.

They've ignored false rumors that have swirled about them, suggesting that his wife at one point ran off with a doctor and that he had a lawyer girlfriend. Their four children endured teasing at school.

“We're still learning, but it has helped to stay working together as a team,” he said of himself and his wife.

He acknowledged the struggles of some past winners, saying the experience of winning a jackpot “can really accentuate your character and any addictions.”

The late Andrew Whittaker Jr., of West Virginia, suffered lawsuits and personal setbacks after he claimed a record $315 million Powerball jackpot on Christmas night in 2002.

At the time, it was the largest U.S. lottery jackpot won by a single ticket. People harassed him so much with requests for money he was quoted several times saying he wished he had torn up the ticket.

Before dying of natural causes in 2020 at age 72, he struggled with alcohol and gambling problems and had a series of personal tragedies, including the death of his granddaughter.

Winning the lottery brought other kinds of headaches for Manuel Franco, of West Allis, Wisconsin, who claimed a $768 million lottery jackpot in April 2019.

Then just 24, Franco excitedly held a news conference to discuss his win, but later reportedly went into hiding amid harassment by strangers and the news media.

The Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin began warning people in 2021 about messages from scammers who claimed to be the multimillion-dollar winner.

Using Franco’s name, the scammers sent text messages, social media messages, phone calls and emails phishing for personal information, telling recipients they had been chosen to receive money.

The BBB said scammers got more than $13,000 from people they tricked, including people in Alabama and Colorado.

Despite the problems encountered by the winners, lottery officials favor publicly identifying winners to instill public trust in the games.

That's in large part because some past drawings have been rigged. Former Multi-State Lottery Association information security director Eddie Tipton&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4d6bedd2f2b347d68a3be15c2761b577">pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;in 2017 to manipulating software so he could predict winning numbers on certain days of the year. He and his brother rigged jackpots in numerous states for a combined payout of some $24 million.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659353957353.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS(AP)-Dave and Erica Harrig stayed true to their values when they won a lottery jackpot of more than $61 million in 2013. It made all the difference.The couple from Gretna, Nebraska, a community on the outskirts of Omaha where Dave Harrig now is a volunteer firefighter, allowed themselves to buy a new home, some vintage automobiles and a few ocean cruises after they both quit their jobs.But nine years later, they still live much as they always did, remaining in their community, keeping up with church, family and friends, and teaching their children to work hard to make a living despite any financial windfall that might come their way.Many other winners haven’t been as lucky, suffering personal setbacks and lawsuits or becoming the victims of scams. The latest winner of a big jackpot came Friday, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lotteries-iowa-e986a2da15c75b1e2228499ea90a6530">a single ticket sold in Illinois matched the numbers for a $1.337 billion Mega Millions prize.</a>&nbsp;Illinois is among the states where winners of more than $250,000 can choose to not reveal their names.Dave Harrig, an Air Force veteran who worked in aircraft maintenance, says keeping things simple probably saved him and his family from the kind of hassles and tragedies that have befallen other big winners.Almost overnight, the Harrig family mailbox was filled with letters full of hard luck stories: sick children, lost jobs, burned out homes.Dave Harrig said they ignored them all and focused on their own family and charities.They didn't even touch the principal on their winnings until just a few years ago, when they tapped into it to fund a new museum of firefighting in Gretna that will open soon.“We have nicer things, a bigger house, and more than we ever had in the past. But we are the same, and my wife and I keep each other in check,” Dave Harrig said, encouraging future lottery winners to invest wisely, choose a national investment adviser rather than a local one, and to avoid advisers who try to sell financial products.They've ignored false rumors that have swirled about them, suggesting that his wife at one point ran off with a doctor and that he had a lawyer girlfriend. Their four children endured teasing at school.“We're still learning, but it has helped to stay working together as a team,” he said of himself and his wife.He acknowledged the struggles of some past winners, saying the experience of winning a jackpot “can really accentuate your character and any addictions.”The late Andrew Whittaker Jr., of West Virginia, suffered lawsuits and personal setbacks after he claimed a record $315 million Powerball jackpot on Christmas night in 2002.At the time, it was the largest U.S. lottery jackpot won by a single ticket. People harassed him so much with requests for money he was quoted several times saying he wished he had torn up the ticket.Before dying of natural causes in 2020 at age 72, he struggled with alcohol and gambling problems and had a series of personal tragedies, including the death of his granddaughter.Winning the lottery brought other kinds of headaches for Manuel Franco, of West Allis, Wisconsin, who claimed a $768 million lottery jackpot in April 2019.Then just 24, Franco excitedly held a news conference to discuss his win, but later reportedly went into hiding amid harassment by strangers and the news media.The Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin began warning people in 2021 about messages from scammers who claimed to be the multimillion-dollar winner.Using Franco’s name, the scammers sent text messages, social media messages, phone calls and emails phishing for personal information, telling recipients they had been chosen to receive money.The BBB said scammers got more than $13,000 from people they tricked, including people in Alabama and Colorado.Despite the problems encountered by the winners, lottery officials favor publicly identifying winners to instill public trust in the games.That's in large part because some past drawings have been rigged. Former Multi-State Lottery Association information security director Eddie Tipton&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4d6bedd2f2b347d68a3be15c2761b577">pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;in 2017 to manipulating software so he could predict winning numbers on certain days of the year. He and his brother rigged jackpots in numerous states for a combined payout of some $24 million.

Winning lottery jackpot is lucky for some, tragic for others

SHELTON, CT (AP) —The maker of Banana Boat sunscreen is recalling a scalp spray because it contains trace amounts of benzene, a chemical which can cause cancer with repeated exposure.

<a href="https://edgewell.com/">Edgewell Personal Care Co.</a> <a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/edgewell-personal-care-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-banana-boat-hair-scalp-sunscreen-due">announced the voluntary recall </a>over the weekend.&nbsp;It said benzene was detected in internal reviews of Banana Boat Hair and Scalp Spray SPF 30.

Three batches of the spray are included in the recall, with lot codes 20016AF, 20084BF and 21139AF. Edgewell said no other batches of this spray, and no other Banana Boat products, are included in the recall.

Edgewell didn’t say how many cans it is recalling. The Associated Press left a message with the company seeking comment.

Shelton, Connecticut-based Edgewell said it hasn’t received any reports of adverse events related to the recall. The company has directed retailers to remove the spray from their shelves. It’s also offering to reimburse customers who have already bought the product.

The recall comes a little over a year after Johnson &amp; Johnson recalled five sunscreens because they were found to contain benzene. That recall included Aveeno and Neutrogena products in aerosol cans.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659351249723.png" alt="Three batches of the spray are included in the recall-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Three batches of the spray are included in the recall-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SHELTON, CT (AP) —The maker of Banana Boat sunscreen is recalling a scalp spray because it contains trace amounts of benzene, a chemical which can cause cancer with repeated exposure.<a href="https://edgewell.com/">Edgewell Personal Care Co.</a> <a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/edgewell-personal-care-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-banana-boat-hair-scalp-sunscreen-due">announced the voluntary recall </a>over the weekend.&nbsp;It said benzene was detected in internal reviews of Banana Boat Hair and Scalp Spray SPF 30.Three batches of the spray are included in the recall, with lot codes 20016AF, 20084BF and 21139AF. Edgewell said no other batches of this spray, and no other Banana Boat products, are included in the recall.Edgewell didn’t say how many cans it is recalling. The Associated Press left a message with the company seeking comment.Shelton, Connecticut-based Edgewell said it hasn’t received any reports of adverse events related to the recall. The company has directed retailers to remove the spray from their shelves. It’s also offering to reimburse customers who have already bought the product.The recall comes a little over a year after Johnson &amp; Johnson recalled five sunscreens because they were found to contain benzene. That recall included Aveeno and Neutrogena products in aerosol cans.

Popular sunscreen spray recalled for cancer risk

Scammers Seek Money, Information, and Engagement

The FCC’s Robocall Response Team is alerting consumers to the rising threat of robotexts.  Substantial increases in consumer complaints to the FCC, reports by non-government robocall and robotext blocking services, and anecdotal and news reporting make it clear that text messages are increasingly being used by scammers to target American consumers.

Scam text message senders want you to engage with them.  Like robocallers, a robotexter may use fear and anxiety to get you to interact.  Texts may include false-but-believable claims about unpaid bills, package delivery snafus, bank account problems, or law enforcement actions against you.  They may provide confusing information – as if they were texting someone else –, incomplete information, or utilize other techniques to spur your curiosity and engagement.  

Some scammers may be after your money, but others may simply be trying to collect personal information or confirm that a number is active for use in future scams.  Do not respond or click on any links in the message.  If you think a text might be legitimate, you should independently look up contact information and reach out directly to the company, government agency, or law enforcement.

The FCC tracks consumer complaints – rather than call or text volume – and complaints about unwanted text messages have risen steadily in recent years from approximately 5,700 in 2019, 14,000 in 2020, 15,300 in 2021, to 8,500 through June 30, 2022.  In addition, some independent reports estimate billions of robotexts each month – for example, RoboKiller estimates consumers received over 12 billion robotexts in June.

Scam text message – also known as “smishing” – sometimes utilize: 

· Misspellings to avoid blocking/filtering tools

· Do not respond to suspicious texts, even if the message requests that you "text STOP" to end messages.

· Do not provide any information via text or website.

· Forward unwanted texts to SPAM (7726).

· Update your smart device OS and security apps.

· Consider installing anti-malware software.

· Review companies’ policies regarding opting out of text alerts and selling/sharing your information.

· Review text blocking tools in your mobile phone settings, available third-party apps, and your mobile phone carrier’s offerings.

· Updating Robotext Rules: FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel proposed a new proceeding that would look to require mobile phone companies to block likely illegal robotexts and would consider how caller ID authentication-like technology might be applied to text messaging.  The proposal is supported by the Chairwoman but remains pending before the full Commission.

· FCC Rules: The FCC prohibits autodialed text messages from being sent to your mobile phone unless you previously gave consent to receive the message or the message is sent for emergency purposes.  The FCC has repeatedly made clear that phone companies can block suspicious text messaging as a default policy based on reasonable analytics.

· Enforcement: The FCC reviews consumer complaints and other available information for possible violations of anti-robocalling and spoofing laws.  For purposes of these laws, the FCC considers text messaging to be a type of call.  The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau issued an enforcement advisory on this topic.

· Partnerships: The FCC is partnering with state Attorneys General around the country to pool robocall investigation resources and combat robocalls and robotexts.  The state leaders, like the FCC, have seen an increasing volume or scam robotexts. 

· Avoid the Temptation of Smishing Scams

· How to Identify and Avoid Package Delivery Scams

· Smishing: Package Tracking Text Scams (U.S. Postal Inspection Service) 

· Army, Selective Service Warn of Bogus Texts

· Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Warn of Impersonation Scam Involving Credentials and Badges (Social Security Administration)

· On the Internet: Be Cautious When Connected (FBI)

· Cybercriminals Trick Victims into Transferring Funds to "Reverse" Instant Payments (FBI)

FCC Robocall Response Team - Under Chairwoman Rosenworcel, the Robocall Response Team was created to serve as an FCC staff working group that pulls together expertise from across the agency to leverage the talents of enforcers, attorneys, policy makers, engineers, economists, and outreach experts to combat the unyielding menace of illegal spoofed, scam, robocalls.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584977952684.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Scammers Seek Money, Information, and Engagement</h2> FCCThe FCC’s Robocall Response Team is alerting consumers to the rising threat of robotexts. Substantial increases in consumer complaints to the FCC, reports by non-government robocall and robotext blocking services, and anecdotal and news reporting make it clear that text messages are increasingly being used by scammers to target American consumers.What Are Robotext Scams:Scam text message senders want you to engage with them. Like robocallers, a robotexter may use fear and anxiety to get you to interact. Texts may include false-but-believable claims about unpaid bills, package delivery snafus, bank account problems, or law enforcement actions against you. They may provide confusing information – as if they were texting someone else –, incomplete information, or utilize other techniques to spur your curiosity and engagement. Some scammers may be after your money, but others may simply be trying to collect personal information or confirm that a number is active for use in future scams. Do not respond or click on any links in the message. If you think a text might be legitimate, you should independently look up contact information and reach out directly to the company, government agency, or law enforcement.How Big a Problem Is This: The FCC tracks consumer complaints – rather than call or text volume – and complaints about unwanted text messages have risen steadily in recent years from approximately 5,700 in 2019, 14,000 in 2020, 15,300 in 2021, to 8,500 through June 30, 2022. In addition, some independent reports estimate billions of robotexts each month – for example, RoboKiller estimates consumers received over 12 billion robotexts in June.What to Look Out For: Scam text message – also known as “smishing” – sometimes utilize: · Unknown numbers· Misleading information · Misspellings to avoid blocking/filtering tools· 10-digit or longer phone numbers· Mysterious links· Sales pitches· Incomplete informationHow to Protect Yourself: · Do not respond to suspicious texts, even if the message requests that you "text STOP" to end messages.· Do not click on any links.· Do not provide any information via text or website.· File a complaint.· Forward unwanted texts to SPAM (7726).· Delete all suspicious texts.· Update your smart device OS and security apps.· Consider installing anti-malware software.· Review companies’ policies regarding opting out of text alerts and selling/sharing your information.· Review text blocking tools in your mobile phone settings, available third-party apps, and your mobile phone carrier’s offerings.What the FCC Is Doing: · Updating Robotext Rules: FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel proposed a new proceeding that would look to require mobile phone companies to block likely illegal robotexts and would consider how caller ID authentication-like technology might be applied to text messaging. The proposal is supported by the Chairwoman but remains pending before the full Commission.· FCC Rules: The FCC prohibits autodialed text messages from being sent to your mobile phone unless you previously gave consent to receive the message or the message is sent for emergency purposes. The FCC has repeatedly made clear that phone companies can block suspicious text messaging as a default policy based on reasonable analytics.· Enforcement: The FCC reviews consumer complaints and other available information for possible violations of anti-robocalling and spoofing laws. For purposes of these laws, the FCC considers text messaging to be a type of call. The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau issued an enforcement advisory on this topic.· Partnerships: The FCC is partnering with state Attorneys General around the country to pool robocall investigation resources and combat robocalls and robotexts. The state leaders, like the FCC, have seen an increasing volume or scam robotexts. Consumer Help Guides:· Avoid the Temptation of Smishing Scams· How to Identify and Avoid Package Delivery Scams· Robotexts on the Rise· Smishing: Package Tracking Text Scams (U.S. Postal Inspection Service) · Army, Selective Service Warn of Bogus Texts· Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Warn of Impersonation Scam Involving Credentials and Badges (Social Security Administration)· On the Internet: Be Cautious When Connected (FBI)· Cybercriminals Trick Victims into Transferring Funds to "Reverse" Instant Payments (FBI)FCC Robocall Response Team - Under Chairwoman Rosenworcel, the Robocall Response Team was created to serve as an FCC staff working group that pulls together expertise from across the agency to leverage the talents of enforcers, attorneys, policy makers, engineers, economists, and outreach experts to combat the unyielding menace of illegal spoofed, scam, robocalls.

FCC alert: Scam robotexts are a rising threat

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an aggravated robbery and asking the public for help to locate two suspects identified as&nbsp;Nicole R. A. Fox, 41, and London D. Pike, 20, both of Topeka.

Just after&nbsp;8p.m. July 16, sheriff's deputies were dispatched for an unknown problem in the 11,000 block of SW 29th Street in Shawnee County, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

&nbsp;A 27-year-old female victim was taken at gun point from Topeka to this location.

During this time, the victim was struck in the head with a firearm, threatened and stripped of her outer clothing. The victim’s black 2017 Chevrolet Malibu was stolen and she was left in the roadway. A citizen found her walking and called 911.

The victim received medical attention on scene by American Medical Response&nbsp;and was then transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Christian.

Throughout the investigation, two suspects have been identified as Fox and Pike. Anyone with information on them is asked to contact police or call 911.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659024111950.png" alt="Pike-photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Pike-photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an aggravated robbery and asking the public for help to locate two suspects identified as&nbsp;Nicole R. A. Fox, 41, and London D. Pike, 20, both of Topeka.Just after&nbsp;8p.m. July 16, sheriff's deputies were dispatched for an unknown problem in the 11,000 block of SW 29th Street in Shawnee County, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.&nbsp;A 27-year-old female victim was taken at gun point from Topeka to this location.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659024081286.png" alt="Fox photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Fox photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>During this time, the victim was struck in the head with a firearm, threatened and stripped of her outer clothing. The victim’s black 2017 Chevrolet Malibu was stolen and she was left in the roadway. A citizen found her walking and called 911.The victim received medical attention on scene by American Medical Response&nbsp;and was then transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Christian.Throughout the investigation, two suspects have been identified as Fox and Pike. Anyone with information on them is asked to contact police or call 911.

Search continues for suspects in violent Kan. armed robbery

WASHINGTON (AP) —A deal on Capitol Hill that could cut prescription drug costs for millions of Medicare beneficiaries was cautiously cheered by older Americans and their advocates this week even as many worried it might never come to fruition.

The health care and climate agreement struck by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin includes landmark provisions that could help senior citizens, including a cap on out-of-pocket Medicare drug costs and a requirement that the government negotiate prices on some high-cost drugs.

Some of the issues addressed in the deal have been talked about for decades and proved elusive. But Manchin's backing brought new optimism to many who have lobbied and prayed for relief.

“We worry constantly, ‘Will we be able to afford this?’” said Becky Miller, a 67-year-old retired teacher from Bradenton, Florida, who spends thousands of dollars each year for drugs to treat epilepsy, heart problems and an inflammatory disease that affects her spine.

She is afraid the powerful pharmaceutical lobby might still thwart the plan, but said, “If this goes through, it will help a lot of people.”

Several prongs of the proposal have the potential to bring relief to millions of people:

— It would cap out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000 a year for Medicare beneficiaries. No such limit exists today, and some older people on costly drugs can run up bills of tens of thousands of dollars.

— It would give Medicare, for the first time, the ability to directly negotiate with pharmaceutical companies over the price of drugs, though the number of medications subject to the provision would be limited.

— It would create a new “inflation rebate” requiring drug companies to give refunds to Medicare beneficiaries for increases in prescription drug prices that exceed the rate of inflation.

— It would provide coverage of vaccines for senior citizens. Some Medicare beneficiaries have had to pay out of pocket for recommended immunizations, such as the one against shingles.

Earlier proposals were more generous and, along the way, provisions to pay for senior citizens’ glasses, hearing aids and dental care were trimmed. But news of a possible deal still drew applause.

“This would nonetheless be transformational, just not as transformational," said David Lipschutz, associate director of the nonpartisan Center for Medicare Advocacy. “It might not have been everything that everyone hoped for from the beginning, but this is nonetheless a huge step.”

Tricia Neuman, a Medicare expert with the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation, was likewise optimistic, saying, “Congress is on the cusp of making major changes to the Medicare drug benefit that could provide significant help to people struggling with their drug costs."

If passed, an estimated 4.1 million Medicare beneficiaries would start getting free vaccines as soon as next year, Neuman said. Drug companies would also be required to start giving the rebates next year.

Other proposals would take longer to kick in. The cap on out-of-pocket spending — estimated to help 1.45 million people — would start in 2025. And in 2026, the government would be able to start negotiating prices, beginning with 10 drugs and increasing to 20 by 2029.

The Senate is expected to vote on the wide-ranging measure next week, but with the chamber divided 50-50 and the Republicans staunchly opposed, the Democrats will have no votes to spare. A House vote would follow, perhaps later in August.

One key vote, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., was still reviewing the agreement, a spokeswoman said. Sinema backed Manchin last year in insisting on making the legislation less expensive but objected to proposals to raise tax rates.

Pamela Stevens, a 69-year-old from San Dimas, California, pays around $10,000 annually in out-of-pocket expenses for drugs to treat diabetes and other conditions. She is a retired nurse and her husband a retired accountant, and said that while they aren't poor, drug costs leave them little wiggle room. They never go out to eat or on vacation, and she sometimes goes without cholesterol drugs to cut costs.

Passage of the proposal, Stevens said, would give her some freedom and a chance to do more than just sit home watching TV. But she is not convinced it will happen.

“I am not going to hold my breath,” she said. “My hopes have been dashed too many times.”

In Oakland, California, 67-year-old Gay Cohen will pay $14,000 this year out of pocket for a generic version of the cancer drug Revlimid. Cohen, who worked on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in the Obama administration, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2020.

“It’s scandalous to pay that much money for something that is literally keeping me alive,” Cohen said. The cap on out-of-pocket costs would help him once it kicks in.

He added: “I’m really excited it’s happening. I wish it were coming sooner.”

WASHINGTON (AP) —A deal on Capitol Hill that could cut prescription drug costs for millions of Medicare beneficiaries was cautiously cheered by older Americans and their advocates this week even as many worried it might never come to fruition.The health care and climate agreement struck by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin includes landmark provisions that could help senior citizens, including a cap on out-of-pocket Medicare drug costs and a requirement that the government negotiate prices on some high-cost drugs.Some of the issues addressed in the deal have been talked about for decades and proved elusive. But Manchin's backing brought new optimism to many who have lobbied and prayed for relief.“We worry constantly, ‘Will we be able to afford this?’” said Becky Miller, a 67-year-old retired teacher from Bradenton, Florida, who spends thousands of dollars each year for drugs to treat epilepsy, heart problems and an inflammatory disease that affects her spine.She is afraid the powerful pharmaceutical lobby might still thwart the plan, but said, “If this goes through, it will help a lot of people.”Several prongs of the proposal have the potential to bring relief to millions of people:— It would cap out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000 a year for Medicare beneficiaries. No such limit exists today, and some older people on costly drugs can run up bills of tens of thousands of dollars.— It would give Medicare, for the first time, the ability to directly negotiate with pharmaceutical companies over the price of drugs, though the number of medications subject to the provision would be limited.— It would create a new “inflation rebate” requiring drug companies to give refunds to Medicare beneficiaries for increases in prescription drug prices that exceed the rate of inflation.— It would provide coverage of vaccines for senior citizens. Some Medicare beneficiaries have had to pay out of pocket for recommended immunizations, such as the one against shingles.Earlier proposals were more generous and, along the way, provisions to pay for senior citizens’ glasses, hearing aids and dental care were trimmed. But news of a possible deal still drew applause.“This would nonetheless be transformational, just not as transformational," said David Lipschutz, associate director of the nonpartisan Center for Medicare Advocacy. “It might not have been everything that everyone hoped for from the beginning, but this is nonetheless a huge step.”Tricia Neuman, a Medicare expert with the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation, was likewise optimistic, saying, “Congress is on the cusp of making major changes to the Medicare drug benefit that could provide significant help to people struggling with their drug costs."If passed, an estimated 4.1 million Medicare beneficiaries would start getting free vaccines as soon as next year, Neuman said. Drug companies would also be required to start giving the rebates next year.Other proposals would take longer to kick in. The cap on out-of-pocket spending — estimated to help 1.45 million people — would start in 2025. And in 2026, the government would be able to start negotiating prices, beginning with 10 drugs and increasing to 20 by 2029.The Senate is expected to vote on the wide-ranging measure next week, but with the chamber divided 50-50 and the Republicans staunchly opposed, the Democrats will have no votes to spare. A House vote would follow, perhaps later in August.One key vote, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., was still reviewing the agreement, a spokeswoman said. Sinema backed Manchin last year in insisting on making the legislation less expensive but objected to proposals to raise tax rates.Pamela Stevens, a 69-year-old from San Dimas, California, pays around $10,000 annually in out-of-pocket expenses for drugs to treat diabetes and other conditions. She is a retired nurse and her husband a retired accountant, and said that while they aren't poor, drug costs leave them little wiggle room. They never go out to eat or on vacation, and she sometimes goes without cholesterol drugs to cut costs.Passage of the proposal, Stevens said, would give her some freedom and a chance to do more than just sit home watching TV. But she is not convinced it will happen.“I am not going to hold my breath,” she said. “My hopes have been dashed too many times.”In Oakland, California, 67-year-old Gay Cohen will pay $14,000 this year out of pocket for a generic version of the cancer drug Revlimid. Cohen, who worked on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in the Obama administration, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2020.“It’s scandalous to pay that much money for something that is literally keeping me alive,” Cohen said. The cap on out-of-pocket costs would help him once it kicks in.He added: “I’m really excited it’s happening. I wish it were coming sooner.”

Deal on Capitol Hill could ease seniors' health costs

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a double murder and have a suspect in custody after a high-speed chase that included shots fired at police.

Just after 1a.m. Sunday, police received 911 calls about shots fired in the 1100 block of Tennessee in Lawrence, according to Police spokesperson Laura McCabe.&nbsp; 

Officers arrived at the home and found a 53-year-old man critically injured with gunshot wounds. Emergency Responders helped transfer him to a Kansas City trauma department where he was pronounced dead.&nbsp;

Not long after, another call came in about shots fired in the 300 block of Northwood Lane.&nbsp; Officers found another victim at that location.&nbsp; The 43-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Investigators worked through the night to identify a suspect, located him, and tried to pull him over in the 900 Block of Lawrence Avenue about 6:00 am.&nbsp; 

The suspect later identified as 51-year-old Rodney Ericson Marshall did not comply and a led officers on a pursuit through town, down Haskell and to the Bypass accessing K-10 toward Kansas City.&nbsp; 

Marshall fired several times at officers while on K-10 until eventually hitting the stop sticks near Eudora and was taken into custody.&nbsp; A female passenger was also in the car at the time of the arrest and is being questioned by investigators.

This investigation involves multiple agencies, several locations, two victims, and the attempted murder of several Law Enforcement Officers, according to McCabe.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police have not released names of the victims.

Marshall has previous convictions for aggravated assault, criminal threat, criminal deprivation of property and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659312423011.png" alt="Marshall has previous convictions for aggravated assault, criminal threat, criminal deprivation of property and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections." />
 <figcaption>Marshall has previous convictions for aggravated assault, criminal threat, criminal deprivation of property and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a double murder and have a suspect in custody after a high-speed chase that included shots fired at police.Just after 1a.m. Sunday, police received 911 calls about shots fired in the 1100 block of Tennessee in Lawrence, according to Police spokesperson Laura McCabe.&nbsp; Officers arrived at the home and found a 53-year-old man critically injured with gunshot wounds. Emergency Responders helped transfer him to a Kansas City trauma department where he was pronounced dead.&nbsp;Not long after, another call came in about shots fired in the 300 block of Northwood Lane.&nbsp; Officers found another victim at that location.&nbsp; The 43-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Investigators worked through the night to identify a suspect, located him, and tried to pull him over in the 900 Block of Lawrence Avenue about 6:00 am.&nbsp; The suspect later identified as 51-year-old Rodney Ericson Marshall did not comply and a led officers on a pursuit through town, down Haskell and to the Bypass accessing K-10 toward Kansas City.&nbsp; Marshall fired several times at officers while on K-10 until eventually hitting the stop sticks near Eudora and was taken into custody.&nbsp; A female passenger was also in the car at the time of the arrest and is being questioned by investigators.This investigation involves multiple agencies, several locations, two victims, and the attempted murder of several Law Enforcement Officers, according to McCabe.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police have not released names of the victims.Marshall has previous convictions for aggravated assault, criminal threat, criminal deprivation of property and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Police arrest Kan. double murder suspect after high-speed chase

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Texas man on drug charges after an arrest.

 Sheriff Tim Morse reports that a Texas man was arrested on Wednesday following a traffic stop near 102nd and U.S. 75 Hwy. 

On July 27, a sheriff's deputy stopped a tractor-trailer in reference to a complaint of erratic driving near&nbsp;near 102nd and U.S. 75 Highway. according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Subsequent investigation into the matter resulted in the arrest of the driver, Christopher James Caldwell, 31, of Cypress, Texas. 

 Caldwell was booked into the Jackson County Jail for possession of cocaine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659183453195.png" alt="Caldwell-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Caldwell-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Texas man on drug charges after an arrest. Sheriff Tim Morse reports that a Texas man was arrested on Wednesday following a traffic stop near 102nd and U.S. 75 Hwy. On July 27, a sheriff's deputy stopped a tractor-trailer in reference to a complaint of erratic driving near&nbsp;near 102nd and U.S. 75 Highway. according to Sheriff Tim Morse.Subsequent investigation into the matter resulted in the arrest of the driver, Christopher James Caldwell, 31, of Cypress, Texas. Caldwell was booked into the Jackson County Jail for possession of cocaine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: Semi driver caught with cocaine on Kansas highway

By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-07-27/ku-research-suggests-more-food-assistance-for-families-can-keep-kids-out-of-foster-care">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA — A new study gives fuel to arguments that the 
state could significantly spare children from landing in foster care if 
the state spent more on things like food benefits for struggling 
families.

A University of Kansas study estimated foster care 
caseloads could drop by 14% if taxpayers spent more heavily on family 
food benefits.

Nearly three out of four cases of maltreatment of 
children — something that can land kids in the chaos of foster care — 
stem from neglect that happens when families can’t make rent, struggle 
to buy groceries or pay for utilities.

The KU study found that in 
2016 Kansas sat near the bottom for “income generosity” programs that 
make families eligible for government help. For instance, some states 
don’t count child support against how much assistance a family might 
qualify for.

Donna Ginther, the director of the Institute for 
Policy and Social Research at KU, said food assistance drives down 
reports of children being mistreated or neglected because it gives 
families more financial flexibility.

“People receiving SNAP 
(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps) benefits are
 really low income and any amount of money at the margin will make a 
difference,” she said. “The more generous a state is, the better the 
outcomes for children.”

Ginther’s study looked at food assistance,
 but people advocating for more government assistance to poor families 
contend other social safety programs also can prevent the sort of 
household collapses that can put children in foster care. Another <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740916303139" target="_blank">study in 2017</a> said a $1 increase in the minimum wage decreases child neglect reports by 9.6%.

Ginther
 called on lawmakers to be more generous with such programs, but they 
don’t enjoy much political support among lawmakers who’d have to approve
 increases. In 2015, Kansas passed a series of welfare program reforms 
called the HOPE Act. It barred state agencies from promoting food 
benefits, limited ATM withdrawals of welfare money to $25 a day and 
lowered lifetime eligibility for the Temporary Assistance for Needy 
Families program.

Lawmakers at the time said that bill would break
 people from dependency on government assistance and get more people 
back in the workforce.

“A person has the right to refuse to work, 
but the taxpayer also has a right to not support that person,” said 
then-Department for Children and Families Secretary Phyllis Gilmore in <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2015-04-16/brownback-says-welfare-reform-aims-to-break-cycles-of-dependency" target="_blank">2015</a>. “We have an obligation to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. And these are policies that help everyone win.”

The
 HOPE Act also required 20-hour work weeks or job training programs. 
People who didn't comply were booted off state-funded support. Kansas 
Republicans <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2448/" target="_blank">passed similar legislation</a> this year while echoing comments from 2015.

“We
 got a lot of folks that are trapped in poverty,” said Rep. Pat Proctor,
 a Leavenworth Republican, on the House floor this year. “It is morally 
wrong to perpetuate a system that keeps people poor. If we have the 
opportunity to give these folks … job training so they can be more 
successful … that’s a 100% good thing.”

Despite past legislation, 
Quinn Ried, policy research analyst for Kansas Appleseed, is becoming 
more optimistic about the future. He said more bipartisan support exists
 for some measures, like removing a part of state law that prohibits 
some drug felons from getting food assistance.

Ried said the 
number of foster kids has dropped in recent years, which he attributes 
to more liberal welfare programs that grew during the pandemic.

“Two
 years ago, there wasn’t even a hearing on it,” he said. “There was good
 groundwork laid in that regard last session, and I think we can build 
on it going forward.”

Ried said spending upfront saves taxpayers 
in the long run. Foster families are paid different rates depending on 
the level of care for the child, but the cheapest foster rates for one 
child are around $300 a month, other rates top $700. The maximum SNAP 
benefit for a household of three people is $658.

Even if political
 opposition stalls any changes next spring, the Kansas Department for 
Children and Families is trying to address the issue now.

In 2014,
 half the children in foster care entered because of a FINA removal. 
FINA, or families in need of assessment, could be a caregiver struggling
 with substance abuse or struggling to adequately care for a child. In 
2022, only one in three children enter foster care because of FINA.

DCF
 Secretary Laura Howard said that’s the result of a push by DCF to help 
families and keep kids with their parents. She said foster care is 
traumatic and providing family support matters.

“We don’t really 
want to be a state or a society that says, ‘Because you’re poor or 
because you’re struggling to deal with a child … that we want to take 
your child away from you,’” she said. “We want to support that family.”

Blaise
 Mesa reports on criminal justice and social services for the Kansas 
News Service in Topeka. You can follow him on Twitter @Blaise_Mesa or 
email him at blaise@kcur.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658935821345.png" alt="Food assistance programs cut foster care caseloads by 14%, the KU study says. Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Food assistance programs cut foster care caseloads by 14%, the KU study says. Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-07-27/ku-research-suggests-more-food-assistance-for-families-can-keep-kids-out-of-foster-care">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA — A new study gives fuel to arguments that the 
state could significantly spare children from landing in foster care if 
the state spent more on things like food benefits for struggling 
families.A University of Kansas study estimated foster care 
caseloads could drop by 14% if taxpayers spent more heavily on family 
food benefits.Nearly three out of four cases of maltreatment of 
children — something that can land kids in the chaos of foster care — 
stem from neglect that happens when families can’t make rent, struggle 
to buy groceries or pay for utilities.The KU study found that in 
2016 Kansas sat near the bottom for “income generosity” programs that 
make families eligible for government help. For instance, some states 
don’t count child support against how much assistance a family might 
qualify for.Donna Ginther, the director of the Institute for 
Policy and Social Research at KU, said food assistance drives down 
reports of children being mistreated or neglected because it gives 
families more financial flexibility.“People receiving SNAP 
(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps) benefits are
 really low income and any amount of money at the margin will make a 
difference,” she said. “The more generous a state is, the better the 
outcomes for children.”Ginther’s study looked at food assistance,
 but people advocating for more government assistance to poor families 
contend other social safety programs also can prevent the sort of 
household collapses that can put children in foster care. Another <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740916303139" target="_blank">study in 2017</a> said a $1 increase in the minimum wage decreases child neglect reports by 9.6%.Ginther
 called on lawmakers to be more generous with such programs, but they 
don’t enjoy much political support among lawmakers who’d have to approve
 increases. In 2015, Kansas passed a series of welfare program reforms 
called the HOPE Act. It barred state agencies from promoting food 
benefits, limited ATM withdrawals of welfare money to $25 a day and 
lowered lifetime eligibility for the Temporary Assistance for Needy 
Families program.Lawmakers at the time said that bill would break
 people from dependency on government assistance and get more people 
back in the workforce.“A person has the right to refuse to work, 
but the taxpayer also has a right to not support that person,” said 
then-Department for Children and Families Secretary Phyllis Gilmore in <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2015-04-16/brownback-says-welfare-reform-aims-to-break-cycles-of-dependency" target="_blank">2015</a>. “We have an obligation to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. And these are policies that help everyone win.”The
 HOPE Act also required 20-hour work weeks or job training programs. 
People who didn't comply were booted off state-funded support. Kansas 
Republicans <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2448/" target="_blank">passed similar legislation</a> this year while echoing comments from 2015.“We
 got a lot of folks that are trapped in poverty,” said Rep. Pat Proctor,
 a Leavenworth Republican, on the House floor this year. “It is morally 
wrong to perpetuate a system that keeps people poor. If we have the 
opportunity to give these folks … job training so they can be more 
successful … that’s a 100% good thing.”Despite past legislation, 
Quinn Ried, policy research analyst for Kansas Appleseed, is becoming 
more optimistic about the future. He said more bipartisan support exists
 for some measures, like removing a part of state law that prohibits 
some drug felons from getting food assistance.Ried said the 
number of foster kids has dropped in recent years, which he attributes 
to more liberal welfare programs that grew during the pandemic.“Two
 years ago, there wasn’t even a hearing on it,” he said. “There was good
 groundwork laid in that regard last session, and I think we can build 
on it going forward.”Ried said spending upfront saves taxpayers 
in the long run. Foster families are paid different rates depending on 
the level of care for the child, but the cheapest foster rates for one 
child are around $300 a month, other rates top $700. The maximum SNAP 
benefit for a household of three people is $658.Even if political
 opposition stalls any changes next spring, the Kansas Department for 
Children and Families is trying to address the issue now.In 2014,
 half the children in foster care entered because of a FINA removal. 
FINA, or families in need of assessment, could be a caregiver struggling
 with substance abuse or struggling to adequately care for a child. In 
2022, only one in three children enter foster care because of FINA.DCF
 Secretary Laura Howard said that’s the result of a push by DCF to help 
families and keep kids with their parents. She said foster care is 
traumatic and providing family support matters.“We don’t really 
want to be a state or a society that says, ‘Because you’re poor or 
because you’re struggling to deal with a child … that we want to take 
your child away from you,’” she said. “We want to support that family.”Blaise
 Mesa reports on criminal justice and social services for the Kansas 
News Service in Topeka. You can follow him on Twitter @Blaise_Mesa or 
email him at blaise@kcur.org.

KU research: More food assistance can keep kids out of foster care

WASHINGTON (AP) — Higher mortgage rates have sent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-market-cools-6618d543a9c0ac4ff6562b586cf96c9f">home sales tumbling</a>. Credit card rates have grown more burdensome, and so have auto loans. Savers are finally receiving yields that are actually visible, while crypto assets are reeling.

The Federal Reserve's move Wednesday to further tighten credit raised its benchmark interest rate by a sizable 0.75 percentage point for a second straight time. The Fed's latest hike, its fourth since March, will further magnify borrowing costs for homes, cars and credit cards, though many borrowers may not feel the impact immediately.

The central bank is aggressively raising borrowing costs to try to slow spending, cool the economy and defeat the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">worst outbreak of inflation</a>&nbsp;in two generations.

The Fed's actions have ended, for now, an era of ultra-low rates that arose from the 2008-2009 Great Recession to help rescue the economy — and then re-emerged during the brutal pandemic recession, when the Fed slashed its benchmark rate back to near zero.

Chair Jerome Powell hopes that by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fed-interest-rates-inflation-be1b698e48327d3a33847be25aba3e3d">making borrowing more expensive</a>, the Fed will succeed in slowing demand for homes, cars and other goods and services. Reduced spending could then help bring inflation,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">most recently measured at a four-decade high of 9.1%</a>, back to the Fed's 2% target.

Yet the risks are high. A series of higher rates could tip&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-covid-health-gross-domestic-product-economy-89cbfc145ad34a91679ffa43e617c896">the U.S. economy into recession</a>. That would mean higher unemployment, rising layoffs and further downward pressure on stock prices.

How will it all affect your finances? Here are some of the most common questions being asked about the impact of the rate hike:

I’M CONSIDERING BUYING A HOUSE. WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH MORTGAGE RATES?

Higher interest rates have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-market-cools-6618d543a9c0ac4ff6562b586cf96c9f">torpedoed the housing market</a>. Rates on home loans have nearly doubled from a year ago to 5.5%, though they've leveled off in recent weeks even as the Fed has signaled that more credit tightening is likely.

That's because mortgage rates don’t necessarily move in tandem with the Fed’s increases. Sometimes, they even move in the opposite direction. Long-term mortgages tend to track the yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which, in turn, is influenced by a variety of factors. These factors include investors’ expectations for future inflation and global demand for U.S. Treasurys.

Investors expect a recession to hit the U.S. economy later this year or early next year. This would force the Fed to eventually cut its benchmark rate in response. The expectation that the Fed will have to reverse some of its hikes next year has helped reduce the 10-year yield, from 3.5% in mid-June to roughly 2.8%.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/home-sales-prices-mortgages-05b7ad48a6c13727ed160bae415d3baa">Sales of existing homes</a>&nbsp;have dropped for five straight months, while&nbsp;<a href="https://www.census.gov/construction/nrs/pdf/newressales.pdf">new home sales</a>&nbsp;plunged in June. If you're financially able to go ahead with a home purchase, you're likely to have more choices than you did a few months ago.

In many cities, the options are few. But the number of available houses nationwide has started to rise after falling to rock-bottom levels at the end of last year. There are now 1.26 million homes for sale, according to the National Association of Realtors, up 2.4% from a year ago.

The Fed's rate hikes typically make auto loans more expensive. But other factors also affect these rates, including competition among car makers, which can sometimes lower borrowing costs.

Rates for buyers with lower credit ratings are most likely to rise as a result of the Fed’s hikes. Because used vehicle prices, on average, are rising, monthly payments will rise too.

For users of credit cards, home equity lines of credit and other variable-interest debt, rates would rise by roughly the same amount as the Fed hike, usually within one or two billing cycles. That’s because those rates are based in part on banks’ prime rate, which moves in tandem with the Fed.

Those who don’t qualify for low-rate credit cards might be stuck paying higher interest on their balances. The rates on their cards would rise as the prime rate does.

The Fed's rate increases have already sent credit card borrowing rates above 20% for the first time in at least four years, according to LendingTree, which has tracked the data since 2018.

You can now earn more on bonds, CDs, and other fixed income investments. And it depends on where your savings, if you have any, are parked.

Savings, certificates of deposit and money market accounts don’t typically track the Fed’s changes. Instead, banks tend to capitalize on a higher-rate environment to try to boost their profits. They do so by imposing higher rates on borrowers, without necessarily offering any juicer rates to savers.

But online banks and others with high-yield savings accounts are often an exception. These accounts are known for aggressively competing for depositors. The only catch is that they typically require significant deposits.

HOW HAVE THE RATE HIKES INFLUENCED CRYPTO?

Like many highly valued technology stocks, cryptocurrencies like bitcoin have sunk in value since the Fed began raising rates. Bitcoin has plunged from a peak at about $68,000 to $21,000.

Higher rates mean that safe assets like bonds and Treasuries become more attractive to investors because their yields are now higher. That, in turn, makes risky assets like technology stocks and cryptocurrencies less attractive.

All that said, bitcoin is suffering from its own problems that are separate from economic policy. Two major crypto firms have failed. The shaken confidence of crypto investors is not being helped by the fact that the safest place you can park money now — bonds — seems like a safer move.

Right now, payments on federal student loans are suspended until Aug. 31 as part of an emergency measure that was put in place early in the pandemic. Inflation means that loan-holders have less disposable income to make payments. Still, a slowed economy that reduces inflation could bring some relief by fall.

Depending on the state of the economy, the government may choose at the end of summer to extend the emergency measure that's deferring the loan payments. President Joe Biden is also considering some form of loan forgiveness. Borrowers who take out new private student loans should prepare to pay more. Rates vary by lender but are expected to increase.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Higher mortgage rates have sent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-market-cools-6618d543a9c0ac4ff6562b586cf96c9f">home sales tumbling</a>. Credit card rates have grown more burdensome, and so have auto loans. Savers are finally receiving yields that are actually visible, while crypto assets are reeling.The Federal Reserve's move Wednesday to further tighten credit raised its benchmark interest rate by a sizable 0.75 percentage point for a second straight time. The Fed's latest hike, its fourth since March, will further magnify borrowing costs for homes, cars and credit cards, though many borrowers may not feel the impact immediately.The central bank is aggressively raising borrowing costs to try to slow spending, cool the economy and defeat the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">worst outbreak of inflation</a>&nbsp;in two generations.The Fed's actions have ended, for now, an era of ultra-low rates that arose from the 2008-2009 Great Recession to help rescue the economy — and then re-emerged during the brutal pandemic recession, when the Fed slashed its benchmark rate back to near zero.Chair Jerome Powell hopes that by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fed-interest-rates-inflation-be1b698e48327d3a33847be25aba3e3d">making borrowing more expensive</a>, the Fed will succeed in slowing demand for homes, cars and other goods and services. Reduced spending could then help bring inflation,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">most recently measured at a four-decade high of 9.1%</a>, back to the Fed's 2% target.Yet the risks are high. A series of higher rates could tip&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-covid-health-gross-domestic-product-economy-89cbfc145ad34a91679ffa43e617c896">the U.S. economy into recession</a>. That would mean higher unemployment, rising layoffs and further downward pressure on stock prices.How will it all affect your finances? Here are some of the most common questions being asked about the impact of the rate hike:___I’M CONSIDERING BUYING A HOUSE. WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH MORTGAGE RATES?Higher interest rates have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-market-cools-6618d543a9c0ac4ff6562b586cf96c9f">torpedoed the housing market</a>. Rates on home loans have nearly doubled from a year ago to 5.5%, though they've leveled off in recent weeks even as the Fed has signaled that more credit tightening is likely.That's because mortgage rates don’t necessarily move in tandem with the Fed’s increases. Sometimes, they even move in the opposite direction. Long-term mortgages tend to track the yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which, in turn, is influenced by a variety of factors. These factors include investors’ expectations for future inflation and global demand for U.S. Treasurys.Investors expect a recession to hit the U.S. economy later this year or early next year. This would force the Fed to eventually cut its benchmark rate in response. The expectation that the Fed will have to reverse some of its hikes next year has helped reduce the 10-year yield, from 3.5% in mid-June to roughly 2.8%.WILL IT BE EASIER TO FIND A HOUSE?<a href="https://apnews.com/article/home-sales-prices-mortgages-05b7ad48a6c13727ed160bae415d3baa">Sales of existing homes</a>&nbsp;have dropped for five straight months, while&nbsp;<a href="https://www.census.gov/construction/nrs/pdf/newressales.pdf">new home sales</a>&nbsp;plunged in June. If you're financially able to go ahead with a home purchase, you're likely to have more choices than you did a few months ago.In many cities, the options are few. But the number of available houses nationwide has started to rise after falling to rock-bottom levels at the end of last year. There are now 1.26 million homes for sale, according to the National Association of Realtors, up 2.4% from a year ago.I NEED A NEW CAR. SHOULD I BUY ONE NOW?The Fed's rate hikes typically make auto loans more expensive. But other factors also affect these rates, including competition among car makers, which can sometimes lower borrowing costs.Rates for buyers with lower credit ratings are most likely to rise as a result of the Fed’s hikes. Because used vehicle prices, on average, are rising, monthly payments will rise too.WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY CREDIT CARD?For users of credit cards, home equity lines of credit and other variable-interest debt, rates would rise by roughly the same amount as the Fed hike, usually within one or two billing cycles. That’s because those rates are based in part on banks’ prime rate, which moves in tandem with the Fed.Those who don’t qualify for low-rate credit cards might be stuck paying higher interest on their balances. The rates on their cards would rise as the prime rate does.The Fed's rate increases have already sent credit card borrowing rates above 20% for the first time in at least four years, according to LendingTree, which has tracked the data since 2018.HOW WILL THIS AFFECT MY SAVINGS?You can now earn more on bonds, CDs, and other fixed income investments. And it depends on where your savings, if you have any, are parked.Savings, certificates of deposit and money market accounts don’t typically track the Fed’s changes. Instead, banks tend to capitalize on a higher-rate environment to try to boost their profits. They do so by imposing higher rates on borrowers, without necessarily offering any juicer rates to savers.But online banks and others with high-yield savings accounts are often an exception. These accounts are known for aggressively competing for depositors. The only catch is that they typically require significant deposits.HOW HAVE THE RATE HIKES INFLUENCED CRYPTO?Like many highly valued technology stocks, cryptocurrencies like bitcoin have sunk in value since the Fed began raising rates. Bitcoin has plunged from a peak at about $68,000 to $21,000.Higher rates mean that safe assets like bonds and Treasuries become more attractive to investors because their yields are now higher. That, in turn, makes risky assets like technology stocks and cryptocurrencies less attractive.All that said, bitcoin is suffering from its own problems that are separate from economic policy. Two major crypto firms have failed. The shaken confidence of crypto investors is not being helped by the fact that the safest place you can park money now — bonds — seems like a safer move.WILL MY STUDENT LOAN PAYMENT GO UP?Right now, payments on federal student loans are suspended until Aug. 31 as part of an emergency measure that was put in place early in the pandemic. Inflation means that loan-holders have less disposable income to make payments. Still, a slowed economy that reduces inflation could bring some relief by fall.Depending on the state of the economy, the government may choose at the end of summer to extend the emergency measure that's deferring the loan payments. President Joe Biden is also considering some form of loan forgiveness. Borrowers who take out new private student loans should prepare to pay more. Rates vary by lender but are expected to increase.

How the latest interest rate hike will affect your finances

WASHINGTON (AP) — When a 10-year-old Ohio girl traveled to Indiana last month to end a pregnancy allegedly forced onto her by a rapist, several conservative politicians and TV pundits&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-indiana-newspapers-938874e6b63b13e17f9d6f153915ec08">called the report a hoax</a>.

After horrific details confirmed the case was real, some tried a new tact: claiming, without evidence, that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-indiana-indianapolis-8708e35d637dd9aa83681113250e0875">the child could have still legally obtained an abortion in Ohio</a>&nbsp;under a near-total abortion ban that exempts only mothers whose lives or major bodily functions are at risk once&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-ohio-tennessee-0056dcfb4e5fe1590f07b5993c52078a">fetal cardiac activity</a>&nbsp;is detected.

Catherine Glenn Foster, president of the anti-abortion Americans United for Life, added another defense for young rape victims: She told the House Judiciary Committee that a 10-year-old's pregnancy “would probably impact her life and so, therefore, it would fall under any exception and would not be an abortion.”

In televised statements and interviews, anti-abortion advocates have used misleading rhetoric about abortion access to downplay fallout and complications from restrictive abortion laws as doctors, struggling to interpret laws that have largely been untested in courts,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-politics-health-2f5af9e786ecc1cc9613bafabf8d20ad">turn away pregnant patients</a>&nbsp;for care.

Those efforts have had an immediate impact, casting a narrative about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-state-governments-idaho-afa15cab32e3f46524997e0255fe8c8f">a post-Roe v. Wade world</a>&nbsp;that overlooks how abortion laws enacted in recent weeks have complicated the way doctors treat rape victims, miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies.

More than half a dozen doctors interviewed by The Associated Press said they feel compromised and uncertain operating in an abortion landscape fundamentally changed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">a U.S. Supreme Court ruling</a>&nbsp;that rejected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-timeline-25f379808fff516ff2a28eae9abb973a">nearly 50 years of precedent</a>&nbsp;that abortion was a protected constitutional right.

“It’s a horrible position for health care providers to be in, to be unsure about what’s legal and what's not legal, and to be questioning the care that they know that they should provide,” said Dr. Jennifer Kerns, an associate professor in the department of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of California, San Francisco.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who initially&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-indiana-indianapolis-patient-privacy-62ff581984a33e86ee29302ce8e44120">questioned reporting of the 10-year-old girl's rape case</a>, said in a Fox News Channel interview that she did not have to leave Ohio for abortion treatment, citing the state’s exemptions. Last week, Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis repeated the claim during a public forum: “She could have had that abortion here.” The law’s Republican sponsor said the same in a newspaper column published Thursday.

But it’s not as clear cut as they’ve suggested.

The state’s nonpartisan Legislative Service Commission confirmed in an analysis that the age of a mother, alone, would not allow a girl to legally access the procedure in the state. Doctors in Ohio are required to document a medical condition and rationale if they administer an abortion to provide life-saving treatment.

Yost’s office did not return a request for additional comment. Gonidakis laid out “different scenarios” to the AP under which the girl might have been able to access the abortion in Ohio, such as if a doctor agreed her life was at risk because of her age, while noting that he had not reviewed her medical records.

Across social media, some conservatives have also minimized concerns about access to treatment for ectopic pregnancies, calling it “still legal in every state.” An ectopic pregnancy is defined as one in which a fertilized egg grows outside the uterus, where it has no chance of survival.

Earlier this month, abortion opponent Erin Morrow Hawley told the House Reform and Oversight Committee that ectopic pregnancies had become the subject of “misinformation.”

“There have been social media posts suggesting that women won’t get treated for an ectopic pregnancy because doctors might be afraid of performing the procedure, but that’s absolutely false,” said Hawley, an attorney at the religious nonprofit Alliance Defending Freedom. “Treatment for an ectopic pregnancy is not, in fact, an abortion.”

State abortion laws, however, have fueled confusion.

Doctors generally agree that the procedure to an end an ectopic pregnancy, which typically includes medication or surgery to remove the pregnancy, is not the same as an abortion.

But women reportedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-science-health-medication-lupus-e4042947e4cc0c45e38837d394199033?taid=62d2c2d4f9fbcc0001977758&amp;utm_campaign=TrueAnthem&amp;utm_medium=AP&amp;utm_source=Twitter">have been declined care</a>&nbsp;in states that have severely restricted abortion access, like Ohio, where an abortion is banned once fetal cardiac activity is detected. Fetal heartbeats can still be present in ectopic pregnancies. In one case, a central Texas hospital&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-texas-government-and-politics-da85c82bf3e9ced09ad499e350ae5ee3">told a physician not to treat an ectopic pregnancy</a>&nbsp;until it ruptured, per a letter from the Texas Medical Association.

In an email to the AP, Hawley said that doctors who have turned away ectopic pregnancy patients because of abortion bans are misinterpreting the laws.

Still, before Roe v. Wade was even overturned by the Supreme Court in June, some religious hospitals had policies against treating women for ectopic pregnancies.

And many states have not specified in their newly enacted abortion bans that an ectopic pregnancy can be treated as an exception. That's left doctors in some states leery of ending the pregnancy, said Dr. Kate White, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Boston University School of Medicine. Lawmakers in West Virginia, for example, are considering an abortion ban that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-west-virginia-charleston-government-and-politics-684060ec1f67e97ae57f567317379b1b">would carve out an exception for ectopic pregnancies</a>.

“Clinicians may be afraid to treat it if the abortion law in their state does not explicitly carve out ectopic pregnancy. You can see their worry, ‘Hey, growing pregnancy, can’t interrupt it ever,'” White said. “They are afraid that the law is too broad.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659091495689.png" alt="Photo courtesy WTTY TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WTTY TV</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — When a 10-year-old Ohio girl traveled to Indiana last month to end a pregnancy allegedly forced onto her by a rapist, several conservative politicians and TV pundits&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-indiana-newspapers-938874e6b63b13e17f9d6f153915ec08">called the report a hoax</a>.After horrific details confirmed the case was real, some tried a new tact: claiming, without evidence, that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-indiana-indianapolis-8708e35d637dd9aa83681113250e0875">the child could have still legally obtained an abortion in Ohio</a>&nbsp;under a near-total abortion ban that exempts only mothers whose lives or major bodily functions are at risk once&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-ohio-tennessee-0056dcfb4e5fe1590f07b5993c52078a">fetal cardiac activity</a>&nbsp;is detected.Catherine Glenn Foster, president of the anti-abortion Americans United for Life, added another defense for young rape victims: She told the House Judiciary Committee that a 10-year-old's pregnancy “would probably impact her life and so, therefore, it would fall under any exception and would not be an abortion.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659091701134.png" alt="Photo courtesy WTTY&nbsp; TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WTTY&nbsp; TV</figcaption>
 </figure>In televised statements and interviews, anti-abortion advocates have used misleading rhetoric about abortion access to downplay fallout and complications from restrictive abortion laws as doctors, struggling to interpret laws that have largely been untested in courts,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-politics-health-2f5af9e786ecc1cc9613bafabf8d20ad">turn away pregnant patients</a>&nbsp;for care.Those efforts have had an immediate impact, casting a narrative about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-state-governments-idaho-afa15cab32e3f46524997e0255fe8c8f">a post-Roe v. Wade world</a>&nbsp;that overlooks how abortion laws enacted in recent weeks have complicated the way doctors treat rape victims, miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies.More than half a dozen doctors interviewed by The Associated Press said they feel compromised and uncertain operating in an abortion landscape fundamentally changed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">a U.S. Supreme Court ruling</a>&nbsp;that rejected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-timeline-25f379808fff516ff2a28eae9abb973a">nearly 50 years of precedent</a>&nbsp;that abortion was a protected constitutional right.“It’s a horrible position for health care providers to be in, to be unsure about what’s legal and what's not legal, and to be questioning the care that they know that they should provide,” said Dr. Jennifer Kerns, an associate professor in the department of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of California, San Francisco.Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who initially&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-indiana-indianapolis-patient-privacy-62ff581984a33e86ee29302ce8e44120">questioned reporting of the 10-year-old girl's rape case</a>, said in a Fox News Channel interview that she did not have to leave Ohio for abortion treatment, citing the state’s exemptions. Last week, Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis repeated the claim during a public forum: “She could have had that abortion here.” The law’s Republican sponsor said the same in a newspaper column published Thursday.But it’s not as clear cut as they’ve suggested.The state’s nonpartisan Legislative Service Commission confirmed in an analysis that the age of a mother, alone, would not allow a girl to legally access the procedure in the state. Doctors in Ohio are required to document a medical condition and rationale if they administer an abortion to provide life-saving treatment.Yost’s office did not return a request for additional comment. Gonidakis laid out “different scenarios” to the AP under which the girl might have been able to access the abortion in Ohio, such as if a doctor agreed her life was at risk because of her age, while noting that he had not reviewed her medical records.Across social media, some conservatives have also minimized concerns about access to treatment for ectopic pregnancies, calling it “still legal in every state.” An ectopic pregnancy is defined as one in which a fertilized egg grows outside the uterus, where it has no chance of survival.Earlier this month, abortion opponent Erin Morrow Hawley told the House Reform and Oversight Committee that ectopic pregnancies had become the subject of “misinformation.”“There have been social media posts suggesting that women won’t get treated for an ectopic pregnancy because doctors might be afraid of performing the procedure, but that’s absolutely false,” said Hawley, an attorney at the religious nonprofit Alliance Defending Freedom. “Treatment for an ectopic pregnancy is not, in fact, an abortion.”State abortion laws, however, have fueled confusion.Doctors generally agree that the procedure to an end an ectopic pregnancy, which typically includes medication or surgery to remove the pregnancy, is not the same as an abortion.But women reportedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-science-health-medication-lupus-e4042947e4cc0c45e38837d394199033?taid=62d2c2d4f9fbcc0001977758&amp;utm_campaign=TrueAnthem&amp;utm_medium=AP&amp;utm_source=Twitter">have been declined care</a>&nbsp;in states that have severely restricted abortion access, like Ohio, where an abortion is banned once fetal cardiac activity is detected. Fetal heartbeats can still be present in ectopic pregnancies. In one case, a central Texas hospital&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-texas-government-and-politics-da85c82bf3e9ced09ad499e350ae5ee3">told a physician not to treat an ectopic pregnancy</a>&nbsp;until it ruptured, per a letter from the Texas Medical Association.In an email to the AP, Hawley said that doctors who have turned away ectopic pregnancy patients because of abortion bans are misinterpreting the laws.Still, before Roe v. Wade was even overturned by the Supreme Court in June, some religious hospitals had policies against treating women for ectopic pregnancies.And many states have not specified in their newly enacted abortion bans that an ectopic pregnancy can be treated as an exception. That's left doctors in some states leery of ending the pregnancy, said Dr. Kate White, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Boston University School of Medicine. Lawmakers in West Virginia, for example, are considering an abortion ban that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-west-virginia-charleston-government-and-politics-684060ec1f67e97ae57f567317379b1b">would carve out an exception for ectopic pregnancies</a>.“Clinicians may be afraid to treat it if the abortion law in their state does not explicitly carve out ectopic pregnancy. You can see their worry, ‘Hey, growing pregnancy, can’t interrupt it ever,'” White said. “They are afraid that the law is too broad.”

Abortion foes downplay complex post-Roe v. Wade realities

DOVER, Del. (AP) — A Delaware bankruptcy judge has approved parts of the Boy Scouts of America’s reorganization plan but has rejected other provisions, saying in a ruling Friday that the organization has “decisions to make” regarding the plan.

Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein issued her 281-page ruling, months after concluding a trial in the case. She indicated that she is willing to hold a status conference upon a request by attorneys for the Boy Scouts.

The BSA’s plan proposed the creation of a $2.6 billion fund to compensate tens of thousands of men who say they were sexually abused as children involved in Scouting, while maintaining the organization’s financial ability to continue operating.

The ruling is the just latest example of uncertainty in a case that has seen myriad twists and turns since the Boy Scouts sought bankruptcy protection more than two years ago to stave off a flood of lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse by Scout leaders and volunteers.

In the meantime, the cash-strapped BSA has spent more than $327 million in fees and expenses in the bankruptcy and continues to bleed money, with no end in sight. It also remains unclear when any of the 82,000 sexual abuse claimants in the bankruptcy might receive any compensation for their abuse.

The plan called for the Irving, Texas-based BSA and its local councils, along with settling insurance companies and troop sponsoring organizations, to contribute some $2.6 billion in cash and property to a fund for abuse claimants. In return for those contributions, those entities would be shielded from future lawsuits over Scout-related abuse.

When it filed for bankruptcy, the BSA faced about 275 filed lawsuits and was aware of roughly another 1,400 potential cases, but more than 82,200 abuse claims were filed in the bankruptcy. Attorneys for BSA insurers argued early on that the sheer volume of claims was an indication of fraud and the result of aggressive client solicitation by attorneys and for-profit claims aggregators.

While some of those insurers later negotiated settlements for a fraction of the billions of dollars in liability exposure they potentially faced, other insurers continued to oppose the plan. They argued that the procedures for distributing funds from the compensation trust would violate their contractual rights to contest claims, set a dangerous precedent for mass tort litigation, and result in grossly inflated payments of abuse claims, including tens of thousands that would otherwise be barred by the passage of time.

Under the reorganization plan, the BSA and its 250 local councils, along with settling insurance companies and troop sponsoring organizations, would contribute some $2.6 billion in cash and property to a fund for victims of child sexual abuse. In return for those contributions, those entities would be released from further liability, meaning they could not be sued for Scout-related abuse claims. The plan also would allow abuse claimants to sue insurance companies and local troop sponsoring organizations that do not enter into their own settlements within one year.

In addition to the arguments by opposing insurers, the case presented Silverstein with one of the most contentious issues for bankruptcy judges — whether third parties that are not bankruptcy debtors themselves can escape future liability in the tort system by contributing to a Chapter 11 debtor’s reorganization plan.

Such third-party releases, spawned by asbestos and product-liability cases, have been criticized as an unconstitutional form of “bankruptcy grifting,” where non-debtor entities obtain benefits by joining with a debtor to resolve mass-tort litigation in bankruptcy.

Federal courts in some jurisdictions, including Delaware, have allowed third-party releases in certain circumstances, while courts in other jurisdictions have rejected them.

Under the plan proposed by the Boy Scouts, insurance companies, local BSA councils and troop sponsoring organizations would receive broad liability releases protecting them from future sex abuse lawsuits in exchange for contributing to the victims compensation fund — or even for just not objecting to the plan.

Some abuse survivors argued that releasing their claims against non-debtor third parties without their consent would violate their due process rights. The U.S. bankruptcy trustee, the government’s “watchdog” in Chapter 11 bankruptcies, argued that such releases are not allowed under the bankruptcy code, and that the scope of the proposed releases in the BSA plan, potentially extending to tens of thousands of entities, was unprecedented.

DOVER, Del. (AP) — A Delaware bankruptcy judge has approved parts of the Boy Scouts of America’s reorganization plan but has rejected other provisions, saying in a ruling Friday that the organization has “decisions to make” regarding the plan.Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein issued her 281-page ruling, months after concluding a trial in the case. She indicated that she is willing to hold a status conference upon a request by attorneys for the Boy Scouts.The BSA’s plan proposed the creation of a $2.6 billion fund to compensate tens of thousands of men who say they were sexually abused as children involved in Scouting, while maintaining the organization’s financial ability to continue operating.The ruling is the just latest example of uncertainty in a case that has seen myriad twists and turns since the Boy Scouts sought bankruptcy protection more than two years ago to stave off a flood of lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse by Scout leaders and volunteers.In the meantime, the cash-strapped BSA has spent more than $327 million in fees and expenses in the bankruptcy and continues to bleed money, with no end in sight. It also remains unclear when any of the 82,000 sexual abuse claimants in the bankruptcy might receive any compensation for their abuse.The plan called for the Irving, Texas-based BSA and its local councils, along with settling insurance companies and troop sponsoring organizations, to contribute some $2.6 billion in cash and property to a fund for abuse claimants. In return for those contributions, those entities would be shielded from future lawsuits over Scout-related abuse.When it filed for bankruptcy, the BSA faced about 275 filed lawsuits and was aware of roughly another 1,400 potential cases, but more than 82,200 abuse claims were filed in the bankruptcy. Attorneys for BSA insurers argued early on that the sheer volume of claims was an indication of fraud and the result of aggressive client solicitation by attorneys and for-profit claims aggregators.While some of those insurers later negotiated settlements for a fraction of the billions of dollars in liability exposure they potentially faced, other insurers continued to oppose the plan. They argued that the procedures for distributing funds from the compensation trust would violate their contractual rights to contest claims, set a dangerous precedent for mass tort litigation, and result in grossly inflated payments of abuse claims, including tens of thousands that would otherwise be barred by the passage of time.Under the reorganization plan, the BSA and its 250 local councils, along with settling insurance companies and troop sponsoring organizations, would contribute some $2.6 billion in cash and property to a fund for victims of child sexual abuse. In return for those contributions, those entities would be released from further liability, meaning they could not be sued for Scout-related abuse claims. The plan also would allow abuse claimants to sue insurance companies and local troop sponsoring organizations that do not enter into their own settlements within one year.In addition to the arguments by opposing insurers, the case presented Silverstein with one of the most contentious issues for bankruptcy judges — whether third parties that are not bankruptcy debtors themselves can escape future liability in the tort system by contributing to a Chapter 11 debtor’s reorganization plan.Such third-party releases, spawned by asbestos and product-liability cases, have been criticized as an unconstitutional form of “bankruptcy grifting,” where non-debtor entities obtain benefits by joining with a debtor to resolve mass-tort litigation in bankruptcy.Federal courts in some jurisdictions, including Delaware, have allowed third-party releases in certain circumstances, while courts in other jurisdictions have rejected them.Under the plan proposed by the Boy Scouts, insurance companies, local BSA councils and troop sponsoring organizations would receive broad liability releases protecting them from future sex abuse lawsuits in exchange for contributing to the victims compensation fund — or even for just not objecting to the plan.Some abuse survivors argued that releasing their claims against non-debtor third parties without their consent would violate their due process rights. The U.S. bankruptcy trustee, the government’s “watchdog” in Chapter 11 bankruptcies, argued that such releases are not allowed under the bankruptcy code, and that the scope of the proposed releases in the BSA plan, potentially extending to tens of thousands of entities, was unprecedented.The plan called for the BSA itself to contribute less than 10% of the proposed settlement fund, consisting of property valued at about $80 million, an $80 million promissory note, and roughly $20 million cash.The local BSA councils, which run day-to-day operations for troops, offered to contribute at least $515 million in cash and property, and an interest-bearing note of at least $100 million. That contribution was conditioned on certain protections for local troop sponsoring organizations, known as “chartered organizations.” Those organizations, numbering in the tens of thousands, include religious entities, civic associations and community groups.The bulk of the compensation fund would come from the BSA’s two largest insurers, Century Indemnity and The Hartford, which reached settlements calling for them to contribute $800 million and $787 million, respectively. Other insurers agreed to contribute about $69 million. The BSA’s former largest troop sponsor, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, would contribute $250 million for abuse claims involving the Mormon church, while congregations affiliated with the United Methodist Church would contribute $30 million.