NEW YORK (AP) — A year after winning a major court battle against the opening of so-called safe injection sites -- safe havens for people to use heroin and other narcotics with protections against fatal overdoses — the Justice Department is signaling it might be open to allowing them.

In response to questions from The Associated Press, the Justice Department said it is “evaluating” such facilities and talking to regulators about “appropriate guardrails.”

The position is a drastic change from its stance in the Trump administration, when prosecutors&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/appellate-court-agrees-government-supervised-injection-sites-are-illegal-under-federal-law" target="_blank">fought vigorously against a plan to open a safe consumption site in Philadelphia</a>. The Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-public-health-philadelphia-coronavirus-pandemic-247fdc735c337cbb4b7ae0305da834f8">won a lawsuit last year,&nbsp;</a>when a federal appeals court in Pennsylvania ruled that opening such a facility would violate a 1980s-era drug law, aimed at “crackhouses,” which bans operating a place for taking illegal drugs. The Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-pennsylvania-philadelphia-health-50da593c6e553da73a960fbc1a99c9b0">declined in October to take the case</a>.

About six weeks later, the first officially authorized safe injection sites&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-new-york-new-york-city-1f61d20529965ded7fef3fcee5f39d1e">opened in New York City in November</a>. The two facilities — which the city calls “overdose prevention centers” — provide a monitored place for drug users to partake, with staffers and supplies on hand to reverse overdoses. New York City is in a different appeals court jurisdiction that has not ruled on the centers.

Such sites exist in Canada, Australia and Europe and have been discussed for years in New York and some other U.S. cities and states. A few unofficial facilities have operated for some time.

Advocates have hailed them as a way to curb the scourge of overdose deaths. Drawing from the latest available death certificate data, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/overdodse-deaths-fentanayl-health-f34b022d75a1eb9776e27903ab40670f">estimated that more than 100,000 Americans</a>&nbsp;died of drug overdoses from May 2020 to April 2021.

Critics, however, argue that safe injection sites encourage illegal drug use and burden neighborhoods.

For months after President Joe Biden took office last year, the Justice Department — under Attorney General Merrick Garland — had refused to take a public stance on safe consumption sites. Officials now say they are weighing their use.

“Although we cannot comment on pending litigation, the Department is evaluating supervised consumption sites, including discussions with state and local regulators about appropriate guardrails for such sites, as part of an overall approach to harm reduction and public safety,” the agency said in a statement Friday to the AP.

The New York City sites so far have intervened in more than 125 overdoses among more than 640 users, many of whom have made multiple visits, according to OnPoint NYC, the organization running them.

Executive Director Sam Rivera said he was excited and relieved by the Justice Department’s statement. The group is eager to tell the agency about its work, he said.

“I believe they’re going to land in the right place here and we’ll be able to, together, really expand on this health initiative that’s saving lives every day,” he said.

Former Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat whose administration allowed the centers to open, said the city’s attorneys believed that the federal statute is “aimed at drug trafficking, not at medical facilities,” as he characterized the consumption sites.

But U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a New York City Republican, has urged Garland to work to shut them down, citing the appeals court ruling against the Philadelphia proposal last year. She told Garland in November that it is “imperative that you enforce this legal precedent,” and she wasn’t pleased to hear about the new Justice Department statement.

“Instead of stopping the deadly drugs streaming over our border, putting drug dealers behind bars and helping people receive the long-term treatment they need to overcome addiction, Democrat leadership is enabling illegal drug use,” Malliotakis said in a statement.

The Philadelphia project, called Safehouse, is still fighting for court approval to open. Safehouse lawyers Ronda Goldfein and Ilana Eisenstein said they hoped the Justice Department’s new statement “signals the prospect of a positive resolution, not just for Philadelphia but for any place in America that seeks to provide overdose prevention services.”

Some other arms of the federal government also have signaled some willingness at least to explore safe injection facilities, if not yet embrace them. Asked about the New York sites, White House drug czar Dr. Rahul Gupta told CNN in December he was “interested in looking at the science and data behind all of the emerging harm reduction practices.”

Later that month, the National Institutes of Health issued a call for harm reduction research that mentioned safe consumption sites, among other approaches.

NEW YORK (AP) — A year after winning a major court battle against the opening of so-called safe injection sites -- safe havens for people to use heroin and other narcotics with protections against fatal overdoses — the Justice Department is signaling it might be open to allowing them.In response to questions from The Associated Press, the Justice Department said it is “evaluating” such facilities and talking to regulators about “appropriate guardrails.”The position is a drastic change from its stance in the Trump administration, when prosecutors&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/appellate-court-agrees-government-supervised-injection-sites-are-illegal-under-federal-law" target="_blank">fought vigorously against a plan to open a safe consumption site in Philadelphia</a>. The Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-public-health-philadelphia-coronavirus-pandemic-247fdc735c337cbb4b7ae0305da834f8">won a lawsuit last year,&nbsp;</a>when a federal appeals court in Pennsylvania ruled that opening such a facility would violate a 1980s-era drug law, aimed at “crackhouses,” which bans operating a place for taking illegal drugs. The Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-pennsylvania-philadelphia-health-50da593c6e553da73a960fbc1a99c9b0">declined in October to take the case</a>.About six weeks later, the first officially authorized safe injection sites&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-new-york-new-york-city-1f61d20529965ded7fef3fcee5f39d1e">opened in New York City in November</a>. The two facilities — which the city calls “overdose prevention centers” — provide a monitored place for drug users to partake, with staffers and supplies on hand to reverse overdoses. New York City is in a different appeals court jurisdiction that has not ruled on the centers.Such sites exist in Canada, Australia and Europe and have been discussed for years in New York and some other U.S. cities and states. A few unofficial facilities have operated for some time.Advocates have hailed them as a way to curb the scourge of overdose deaths. Drawing from the latest available death certificate data, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/overdodse-deaths-fentanayl-health-f34b022d75a1eb9776e27903ab40670f">estimated that more than 100,000 Americans</a>&nbsp;died of drug overdoses from May 2020 to April 2021.Critics, however, argue that safe injection sites encourage illegal drug use and burden neighborhoods.For months after President Joe Biden took office last year, the Justice Department — under Attorney General Merrick Garland — had refused to take a public stance on safe consumption sites. Officials now say they are weighing their use.“Although we cannot comment on pending litigation, the Department is evaluating supervised consumption sites, including discussions with state and local regulators about appropriate guardrails for such sites, as part of an overall approach to harm reduction and public safety,” the agency said in a statement Friday to the AP.The New York City sites so far have intervened in more than 125 overdoses among more than 640 users, many of whom have made multiple visits, according to OnPoint NYC, the organization running them.Executive Director Sam Rivera said he was excited and relieved by the Justice Department’s statement. The group is eager to tell the agency about its work, he said.“I believe they’re going to land in the right place here and we’ll be able to, together, really expand on this health initiative that’s saving lives every day,” he said.Former Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat whose administration allowed the centers to open, said the city’s attorneys believed that the federal statute is “aimed at drug trafficking, not at medical facilities,” as he characterized the consumption sites.But U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a New York City Republican, has urged Garland to work to shut them down, citing the appeals court ruling against the Philadelphia proposal last year. She told Garland in November that it is “imperative that you enforce this legal precedent,” and she wasn’t pleased to hear about the new Justice Department statement.“Instead of stopping the deadly drugs streaming over our border, putting drug dealers behind bars and helping people receive the long-term treatment they need to overcome addiction, Democrat leadership is enabling illegal drug use,” Malliotakis said in a statement.The Philadelphia project, called Safehouse, is still fighting for court approval to open. Safehouse lawyers Ronda Goldfein and Ilana Eisenstein said they hoped the Justice Department’s new statement “signals the prospect of a positive resolution, not just for Philadelphia but for any place in America that seeks to provide overdose prevention services.”Some other arms of the federal government also have signaled some willingness at least to explore safe injection facilities, if not yet embrace them. Asked about the New York sites, White House drug czar Dr. Rahul Gupta told CNN in December he was “interested in looking at the science and data behind all of the emerging harm reduction practices.”Later that month, the National Institutes of Health issued a call for harm reduction research that mentioned safe consumption sites, among other approaches.

Biden's Justice Dept. may allow safe havens for taking drugs

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after an alleged altercation with police.

Just after 10p.m Sunday, police&nbsp;responded to the area of River Road and Commercial Street in Atchison to check on a suspicious person, according to police chief Mike Wilson.

At the scene, officers located 44-year-old Jason Seager who was wanted on District Court warrants for failure to appear in court. He threatened officers with a big stick and then fled on foot, according to Wilson.

Officers later apprehended him near 4th and Commercial and subsequently found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Seager is being held on requested charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, and interference with law enforcement.

In July, police arrested Seager after he threatened a man with a baseball bat&nbsp;outside an apartment complex in the 300 block Santa Fe in Atchison.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644247927502.png" alt="Seager-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Seager-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after an alleged altercation with police.Just after 10p.m Sunday, police&nbsp;responded to the area of River Road and Commercial Street in Atchison to check on a suspicious person, according to police chief Mike Wilson.At the scene, officers located 44-year-old Jason Seager who was wanted on District Court warrants for failure to appear in court. He threatened officers with a big stick and then fled on foot, according to Wilson.Officers later apprehended him near 4th and Commercial and subsequently found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.Seager is being held on requested charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, and interference with law enforcement.In July, police arrested Seager after he threatened a man with a baseball bat&nbsp;outside an apartment complex in the 300 block Santa Fe in Atchison.

Police Chief: Kan. man threatened officers with large stick

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a suspicious death have identified the victim as&nbsp;47-year-old Angela Degraffenreid of Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

Shortly after 1:00 p.m. on the February 2, police responded to a check welfare call in the 600 block of N West Street. On arrival, they located an unknown later identified as Degraffenreid.

The investigation into her exact cause of death is ongoing. Foul play is not suspected, according to Macy.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a suspicious death have identified the victim as&nbsp;47-year-old Angela Degraffenreid of Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.Shortly after 1:00 p.m. on the February 2, police responded to a check welfare call in the 600 block of N West Street. On arrival, they located an unknown later identified as Degraffenreid.The investigation into her exact cause of death is ongoing. Foul play is not suspected, according to Macy.

Police ID Kansas woman found dead behind a business

By
NICK GOSNELL<a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch
Post</a>


HUTCHINSON — 
A limited-government advocate says the Truth in Taxation law in Kansas is working.

"For
 years, people had complained loudly about being told by local officials
 that they were holding the line on property tax, only to get larger and
 larger tax bills," said Dave Trabert with the Kansas Policy Institute. 
"What this legislation does is reduce mill rates. Each year, when new 
valuations come in, the mill levy is automatically reduced, so that 
those valuations deliver the same dollar amount of property tax to the 
city or county. Then, if they want to take in more money, they have to 
tell taxpayers what they want to do and hold a public hearing and then 
vote on it."

Trabert pushes back against the idea that Truth in 
Taxation may lose some of its rhetorical force because governments can 
blame inflation for tax increases, since the law is about actual 
dollars.

"We will go in and work with any city or county or school
 district that says they have no choice," Trabert said. "We'll help them
 find the choice. Sure, there will be people who will hide behind 
inflation and say, we had no choice, but what they are saying is, look, 
citizens, you have inflation and we want to make it worse with a tax 
increase, because government always likes to have citizens adjust their 
budgets so the government officials don't have to do that."

The 
school finance law mandates 20 mills per district in their general fund,
 no matter, so a lot of districts believe they have to raise the overall
 budget to comply with that statute.

"That's only part of what 
schools take in," Trabert said. "They could still offset that increase 
in the 20 mills by reducing what they collect in local option budget, by
 reducing what they collect in capital outlay. Again, they have the 
options. In fact, most school districts have a lot of money sitting in 
the bank from aid they got the prior years and didn't spend."

The 
issue there is that general fund dollars are allowed to be spent on 
certain items and LOB can be spent on a different set of certain items 
and capital outlay can be spent on a third set of items, so even if you 
can make cuts in those other areas, it's tough for that to be 
sustainable. Nevertheless, more than half (52%) of governmental entities
 in Kansas were able to hold the line on actual dollars in the first 
year of the program.&nbsp;

A limited-government advocate says the Truth in Taxation law in Kansas is working.

The 
issue there is that general fund dollars are allowed to be spent on 
certain items and LOB can be spent on a different set of certain items 
and capital outlay can be spent on a third set of items, so even if you 
can make cuts in those other areas, it's tough for that to be 
sustainable. Nevertheless, more than half (52%) of governmental entities
 in Kansas were able to hold the line on actual dollars in the first 
year of the program.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.kansasopengov.org/kog/databank#report_id=94">The results are available at KansasOpenGov.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605883070462.jpeg" alt="Dave Trabert " />
 <figcaption>Dave Trabert </figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL<a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch
Post</a> 
HUTCHINSON — 
A limited-government advocate says the Truth in Taxation law in Kansas is working."For
 years, people had complained loudly about being told by local officials
 that they were holding the line on property tax, only to get larger and
 larger tax bills," said Dave Trabert with the Kansas Policy Institute. 
"What this legislation does is reduce mill rates. Each year, when new 
valuations come in, the mill levy is automatically reduced, so that 
those valuations deliver the same dollar amount of property tax to the 
city or county. Then, if they want to take in more money, they have to 
tell taxpayers what they want to do and hold a public hearing and then 
vote on it."Trabert pushes back against the idea that Truth in 
Taxation may lose some of its rhetorical force because governments can 
blame inflation for tax increases, since the law is about actual 
dollars."We will go in and work with any city or county or school
 district that says they have no choice," Trabert said. "We'll help them
 find the choice. Sure, there will be people who will hide behind 
inflation and say, we had no choice, but what they are saying is, look, 
citizens, you have inflation and we want to make it worse with a tax 
increase, because government always likes to have citizens adjust their 
budgets so the government officials don't have to do that."The 
school finance law mandates 20 mills per district in their general fund,
 no matter, so a lot of districts believe they have to raise the overall
 budget to comply with that statute."That's only part of what 
schools take in," Trabert said. "They could still offset that increase 
in the 20 mills by reducing what they collect in local option budget, by
 reducing what they collect in capital outlay. Again, they have the 
options. In fact, most school districts have a lot of money sitting in 
the bank from aid they got the prior years and didn't spend."The 
issue there is that general fund dollars are allowed to be spent on 
certain items and LOB can be spent on a different set of certain items 
and capital outlay can be spent on a third set of items, so even if you 
can make cuts in those other areas, it's tough for that to be 
sustainable. Nevertheless, more than half (52%) of governmental entities
 in Kansas were able to hold the line on actual dollars in the first 
year of the program.&nbsp;A limited-government advocate says the Truth in Taxation law in Kansas is working."For
 years, people had complained loudly about being told by local officials
 that they were holding the line on property tax, only to get larger and
 larger tax bills," said Dave Trabert with the Kansas Policy Institute. 
"What this legislation does is reduce mill rates. Each year, when new 
valuations come in, the mill levy is automatically reduced, so that 
those valuations deliver the same dollar amount of property tax to the 
city or county. Then, if they want to take in more money, they have to 
tell taxpayers what they want to do and hold a public hearing and then 
vote on it."Trabert pushes back against the idea that Truth in 
Taxation may lose some of its rhetorical force because governments can 
blame inflation for tax increases, since the law is about actual 
dollars."We will go in and work with any city or county or school
 district that says they have no choice," Trabert said. "We'll help them
 find the choice. Sure, there will be people who will hide behind 
inflation and say, we had no choice, but what they are saying is, look, 
citizens, you have inflation and we want to make it worse with a tax 
increase, because government always likes to have citizens adjust their 
budgets so the government officials don't have to do that."The 
school finance law mandates 20 mills per district in their general fund,
 no matter, so a lot of districts believe they have to raise the overall
 budget to comply with that statute."That's only part of what 
schools take in," Trabert said. "They could still offset that increase 
in the 20 mills by reducing what they collect in local option budget, by
 reducing what they collect in capital outlay. Again, they have the 
options. In fact, most school districts have a lot of money sitting in 
the bank from aid they got the prior years and didn't spend."The 
issue there is that general fund dollars are allowed to be spent on 
certain items and LOB can be spent on a different set of certain items 
and capital outlay can be spent on a third set of items, so even if you 
can make cuts in those other areas, it's tough for that to be 
sustainable. Nevertheless, more than half (52%) of governmental entities
 in Kansas were able to hold the line on actual dollars in the first 
year of the program.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.kansasopengov.org/kog/databank#report_id=94">The results are available at KansasOpenGov.org</a>.

Trabert: Truth in Taxation working as intended in Kansas

By JARED STRONG <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/07/usda-pledges-1b-for-climate-smart-ag-products/">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>

The U.S.
 Department of Agriculture plans to spend up to $1 billion to foster the
 creation of climate-friendly agricultural and forestry products by 
offering grants to facilitate their production and the markets to sell 
them.

The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or sequester carbon in those industries.

“Agriculture is such an exciting but 
challenging, critical but dynamic space. It’s easy to make the case to 
young people to get engaged in this,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom 
Vilsack said Monday in announcing the program at Missouri’s Lincoln 
University, a historically Black university with a robust agricultural 
program. “It’s at the heart of our fight against climate change.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
estimates that about 10% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions — 
which are key drivers of a warming climate — come from agriculture, 
especially livestock production. Cattle are agriculture’s primary 
emitters of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

The USDA’s new Partnerships for 
Climate-Smart Commodities program will provide up to $100 million for 
individual pilot projects to plan and implement emission-reducing 
practices, create new markets to sell the products that result from 
those practices and quantify the effectiveness of the practices.

Measuring livestock emissions has long been a
 tricky proposition for federal regulators. An example: The U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency suspended its enforcement of the Clean 
Air Act as it might pertain to animal confinements about 16 years ago as
 it seeks to develop a reliable way to measure the buildings’ emissions.

Beef production is potentially a bigger 
quandary because the animals are often raised in open-air lots. However,
 researchers have been able to estimate the average annual methane 
production from cows and how much it can be reduced with <a href="https://www.unh.edu/unhtoday/2020/01/unh-scientists-expand-seaweed-research-benefit-regions-dairy-farmers" target="_blank">specialized diets</a>.

The <a href="https://www.usda.gov/climate-solutions/climate-smart-commodities" target="_blank">new USDA grant program</a>
 is open to a wide variety of entities: businesses, nonprofit 
organizations, governments, Native American tribal governments and 
organizations, and colleges and universities.

The department has set an April 8 deadline 
for proposals that range from $5 million to $100 million and a May 27 
deadline for those that would cost less than $5 million, according to 
the department’s <a href="https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/climate-smart-nfo-usda-nrcs-comm-22-nofo0001139-02062022-web-final.pdf" target="_blank">public Notice</a><a href="https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/climate-smart-nfo-usda-nrcs-comm-22-nofo0001139-02062022-web-final.pdf" target="_blank"> of Funding Opportunity.</a>
 Small and “historically underserved” agricultural producers and 
“minority-serving institutions” will get priority, the notice says.

“This might look, for example, like a group 
of small farmers working with a nonprofit to implement and quantify 
climate-smart practices in partnership with a retailer,” Vilsack said. 
“Or it could be a network of commodity organizations recruiting 
specialty crop farmers to quantify reduced emissions and market the 
resulting products. It may be a farmer-partner organization working with
 universities to test innovative approaches to monitor and verify 
climate benefits to aid in marketing. It could be all of that or any of 
it, along with a lot of other ideas and concepts.”

Vilsack did not say whether the products 
would bear a “climate smart” label that is subject to USDA 
certification, similar to organic foods.

This article first appeared in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>, a sister site of the Nebraska Examiner in the States Newsroom&nbsp;network.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644333577889.png" alt="U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced a $1 billion grant program to boost agricultural and forestry products that are made with reduced greenhouse gas emissions. (Screenshot from USDA video)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced a $1 billion grant program to boost agricultural and forestry products that are made with reduced greenhouse gas emissions. (Screenshot from USDA video)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JARED STRONG <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/07/usda-pledges-1b-for-climate-smart-ag-products/">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>The U.S.
 Department of Agriculture plans to spend up to $1 billion to foster the
 creation of climate-friendly agricultural and forestry products by 
offering grants to facilitate their production and the markets to sell 
them.The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or sequester carbon in those industries.“Agriculture is such an exciting but 
challenging, critical but dynamic space. It’s easy to make the case to 
young people to get engaged in this,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom 
Vilsack said Monday in announcing the program at Missouri’s Lincoln 
University, a historically Black university with a robust agricultural 
program. “It’s at the heart of our fight against climate change.”The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
estimates that about 10% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions — 
which are key drivers of a warming climate — come from agriculture, 
especially livestock production. Cattle are agriculture’s primary 
emitters of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.The USDA’s new Partnerships for 
Climate-Smart Commodities program will provide up to $100 million for 
individual pilot projects to plan and implement emission-reducing 
practices, create new markets to sell the products that result from 
those practices and quantify the effectiveness of the practices.Measuring livestock emissions has long been a
 tricky proposition for federal regulators. An example: The U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency suspended its enforcement of the Clean 
Air Act as it might pertain to animal confinements about 16 years ago as
 it seeks to develop a reliable way to measure the buildings’ emissions.Beef production is potentially a bigger 
quandary because the animals are often raised in open-air lots. However,
 researchers have been able to estimate the average annual methane 
production from cows and how much it can be reduced with <a href="https://www.unh.edu/unhtoday/2020/01/unh-scientists-expand-seaweed-research-benefit-regions-dairy-farmers" target="_blank">specialized diets</a>.The <a href="https://www.usda.gov/climate-solutions/climate-smart-commodities" target="_blank">new USDA grant program</a>
 is open to a wide variety of entities: businesses, nonprofit 
organizations, governments, Native American tribal governments and 
organizations, and colleges and universities.The department has set an April 8 deadline 
for proposals that range from $5 million to $100 million and a May 27 
deadline for those that would cost less than $5 million, according to 
the department’s <a href="https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/climate-smart-nfo-usda-nrcs-comm-22-nofo0001139-02062022-web-final.pdf" target="_blank">public Notice</a><a href="https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/climate-smart-nfo-usda-nrcs-comm-22-nofo0001139-02062022-web-final.pdf" target="_blank"> of Funding Opportunity.</a>
 Small and “historically underserved” agricultural producers and 
“minority-serving institutions” will get priority, the notice says.“This might look, for example, like a group 
of small farmers working with a nonprofit to implement and quantify 
climate-smart practices in partnership with a retailer,” Vilsack said. 
“Or it could be a network of commodity organizations recruiting 
specialty crop farmers to quantify reduced emissions and market the 
resulting products. It may be a farmer-partner organization working with
 universities to test innovative approaches to monitor and verify 
climate benefits to aid in marketing. It could be all of that or any of 
it, along with a lot of other ideas and concepts.”Vilsack did not say whether the products 
would bear a “climate smart” label that is subject to USDA 
certification, similar to organic foods.This article first appeared in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>, a sister site of the Nebraska Examiner in the States Newsroom&nbsp;network.

USDA pledges $1B for ‘climate smart’ ag products

We have $15,000 in credit card debt. My husband works very hard, but only makes about $25,000 a year. We’re also living in a very old trailer right now, and I stay at home with our newborn. My dad told us he is willing to pay off our debt if we agree to get financial counseling together, and show that we are serious about doing better with our finances. What should we do?

I wouldn’t accept the money from your dad if it’s going to be a loan. If you really want to ruin family events, have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/debt-calculator">debt</a>&nbsp;to your parents. It twists you up inside. And it’ll be especially hard on your husband. No matter what anyone else says, the borrower is&nbsp;always&nbsp;slave to the lender.

If it’s going to be a gift, meaning there’s no expectation of repayment, that’s a different story. Still, I think your dad has a great idea in making the debt payoff contingent on you two going to some kind of financial counseling, and making a proactive effort to change things, get out of debt and save money—for your child’s future&nbsp;and&nbsp;for yours. I’d probably do the same thing.&nbsp;

It doesn’t sound like you’re being crazy with your money, but it’s tough to provide for a family on that kind of income. You and your husband need to sit down together, develop a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/guide-to-budgeting/Introduction">monthly budget</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;a&nbsp;realistic five-year plan to improve his earning potential. Make it a date night. Hold hands, do something inexpensive you both enjoy, and let him know he can be anything he wants to be. Then, help him decide exactly what and where he wants to be in five years. What does he want to be making, and what feasible steps can he take educationally or in terms of job training to get there?

If you want to go to work at some point when your baby is a little older, that’s fine. I completely understand the desire to be at home with a brand new baby. But hard work alone just isn’t enough these days. You’ve got to boost your brain power and value in the marketplace, too. God bless you guys!

<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/">Dave Ramsey&nbsp;</a>is a seven-time #1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host of&nbsp;The Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635524005597.png" alt="Dave Ramsey" />
 <figcaption>Dave Ramsey</figcaption>
 </figure>Dear Dave,We have $15,000 in credit card debt. My husband works very hard, but only makes about $25,000 a year. We’re also living in a very old trailer right now, and I stay at home with our newborn. My dad told us he is willing to pay off our debt if we agree to get financial counseling together, and show that we are serious about doing better with our finances. What should we do?HarperDear Harper,I wouldn’t accept the money from your dad if it’s going to be a loan. If you really want to ruin family events, have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/debt-calculator">debt</a>&nbsp;to your parents. It twists you up inside. And it’ll be especially hard on your husband. No matter what anyone else says, the borrower is&nbsp;always&nbsp;slave to the lender.If it’s going to be a gift, meaning there’s no expectation of repayment, that’s a different story. Still, I think your dad has a great idea in making the debt payoff contingent on you two going to some kind of financial counseling, and making a proactive effort to change things, get out of debt and save money—for your child’s future&nbsp;and&nbsp;for yours. I’d probably do the same thing.&nbsp;It doesn’t sound like you’re being crazy with your money, but it’s tough to provide for a family on that kind of income. You and your husband need to sit down together, develop a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/guide-to-budgeting/Introduction">monthly budget</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;a&nbsp;realistic five-year plan to improve his earning potential. Make it a date night. Hold hands, do something inexpensive you both enjoy, and let him know he can be anything he wants to be. Then, help him decide exactly what and where he wants to be in five years. What does he want to be making, and what feasible steps can he take educationally or in terms of job training to get there?If you want to go to work at some point when your baby is a little older, that’s fine. I completely understand the desire to be at home with a brand new baby. But hard work alone just isn’t enough these days. You’ve got to boost your brain power and value in the marketplace, too. God bless you guys!— Dave<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/">Dave Ramsey&nbsp;</a>is a seven-time #1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host of&nbsp;The Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

DAVE SAYS: Is it a loan, or is it a gift?

ROME (AP) — Retired Pope Benedict XVI asked forgiveness Tuesday for any “grievous faults” in his handling of clergy sex abuse cases, but denied any personal or specific wrongdoing after an independent report criticized his actions in four cases while he was archbishop of Munich, Germany.

“I have had great responsibilities in the Catholic Church. All the greater is my pain for the abuses and the errors that occurred in those different places during the time of my mandate,” the retired pope said.

But Benedict’s lack of a personal apology or any admission of guilt was likely to rile survivors and further complicate efforts by German bishops re-establish credibility with the faithful. Demands for accountability have only increased as the church has come to terms with decades of sexual abuse by priests and cover-up by their bishops.

Benedict, 94, was responding to a Jan. 20 report from a German law firm that had been commissioned by the German Catholic Church to look into how cases of sexual abuse were handled in the Munich archdiocese between 1945 and 2019. Benedict, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, headed the archdiocese from 1977 to 1982.

The report&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-pope-benedict-xvi-reinhard-marx-germany-europe-c75f721f469f969d05348703c093e53d">faulted Benedict’s handling of four cases</a>&nbsp;during his time as archbishop, accusing him of misconduct for having failed to restrict the ministry of the priests in the cases even after they had been convicted criminally. The report also faulted his predecessors and successors, estimating there had been at least 497 abuse victims over the decades and at least 235 suspected perpetrators.

The Vatican on Tuesday released a letter that Benedict wrote to respond to the allegations, alongside a more technical reply from his lawyers who had provided an initial 82-page response to the law firm about his nearly five-year tenure in Munich.

The conclusion of Benedict’s lawyers was resolute: “As an archbishop, Cardinal Ratzinger was not involved in any cover-up of acts of abuse,” they wrote. They criticized the report’s authors for misinterpreting their submission, and asserted that they provided no evidence that Benedict was aware of the criminal history of any of the four priests in question.

Benedict’s response was far more nuanced and spiritual, though he went on at length to thank his legal team before even addressing the allegations or the victims of abuse.

In the letter, Benedict issued what he called a “confession,” recalling that daily Mass begins with believers confessing their sins and asking forgiveness for their faults and even their “grievous faults.” Benedict noted that in his meetings with abuse victims while he was pope, “I have seen at first hand the effects of a most grievous fault.

“And I have come to understand that we ourselves are drawn into this grievous fault whenever we neglect it or fail to confront it with the necessary decisiveness and responsibility, as too often happened and continues to happen,” he wrote. “As in those meetings, once again I can only express to all the victims of sexual abuse my profound shame, my deep sorrow and my heartfelt request for forgiveness.”

The law firm report identified four cases in which Ratzinger was accused of misconduct in failing to act against abusers.

Two cases involved priests who offended while Ratzinger was archbishop and were punished by the German legal system but were kept in pastoral ministry without any limits on their ministry. A third case involved a cleric who was convicted by a court outside Germany but was put into service in Munich. The fourth case involved a convicted pedophile priest who was allowed to transfer to Munich in 1980, and was later put into ministry. In 1986, that priest received a suspended sentence for molesting a boy.

Benedict’s team had earlier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-religion-germany-munich-pope-benedict-xvi-fb76c2f33bdb2ea08a0dcfb75f785dbf">clarified an initial “error”&nbsp;</a>in their submission to the law firm that had insisted Ratzinger was not present at the 1980 meeting in which the priest’s transfer to Munich was discussed. Ratzinger was there, but his return to ministry was not discussed, they said.

Benedict said he was deeply hurt that the “oversight” about his presence at the meeting had been used to “cast doubt on my truthfulness, and even to label me a liar.” But he said he had been heartened by the letters and gestures of support he had received, including from his successor.

“I am particularly grateful for the confidence, support and prayer that Pope Francis personally expressed to me,” he said.

The Vatican had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-religion-crime-germany-sexual-abuse-by-clergy-a7926c80e9af1a6c7688e3529231de82">already strongly defended Benedict’s record</a>&nbsp;in the aftermath of the law firm report, recalling that Benedict was the first pope to meet with victims of abuse, that he had issued strong norms to punish priests who raped children and had directed the church to pursue a path of humility in seeking forgiveness for the crimes of its clerics.

The Vatican’s defense, however, focused primarily on Benedict’s tenure as head of the Holy See’s doctrine office, from 1982 until he was elected pope in 2005.

Benedict reflected on his legacy at the end of his letter, noting that he is at the end of his life and will soon be judged by God.

“Quite soon, I shall find myself before the final judge of my life,” he wrote. “Even though, as I look back on my long life, I can have great reason for fear and trembling, I am nonetheless of good cheer. For I trust firmly that the Lord is not only the just judge, but also the friend and brother who himself has already suffered for my shortcomings.”

The head of the German bishops conference, Limburg Bishop Georg Baetzing, had previously said that Benedict needed to respond to the report by distancing himself from his lawyers and advisers.

“He must talk, and he must override his advisers and essentially say the simple sentence: ’I incurred guilt, I made mistakes and I apologize to those affected,” Baetzing said. ”It won’t work any other way.”

Baetzing didn’t immediately comment Tuesday on Benedict’s response.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644330098529.png" alt="Pope Benedict on a 2008 trip to the United State-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Pope Benedict on a 2008 trip to the United State-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>ROME (AP) — Retired Pope Benedict XVI asked forgiveness Tuesday for any “grievous faults” in his handling of clergy sex abuse cases, but denied any personal or specific wrongdoing after an independent report criticized his actions in four cases while he was archbishop of Munich, Germany.“I have had great responsibilities in the Catholic Church. All the greater is my pain for the abuses and the errors that occurred in those different places during the time of my mandate,” the retired pope said.But Benedict’s lack of a personal apology or any admission of guilt was likely to rile survivors and further complicate efforts by German bishops re-establish credibility with the faithful. Demands for accountability have only increased as the church has come to terms with decades of sexual abuse by priests and cover-up by their bishops.Benedict, 94, was responding to a Jan. 20 report from a German law firm that had been commissioned by the German Catholic Church to look into how cases of sexual abuse were handled in the Munich archdiocese between 1945 and 2019. Benedict, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, headed the archdiocese from 1977 to 1982.The report&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-pope-benedict-xvi-reinhard-marx-germany-europe-c75f721f469f969d05348703c093e53d">faulted Benedict’s handling of four cases</a>&nbsp;during his time as archbishop, accusing him of misconduct for having failed to restrict the ministry of the priests in the cases even after they had been convicted criminally. The report also faulted his predecessors and successors, estimating there had been at least 497 abuse victims over the decades and at least 235 suspected perpetrators.The Vatican on Tuesday released a letter that Benedict wrote to respond to the allegations, alongside a more technical reply from his lawyers who had provided an initial 82-page response to the law firm about his nearly five-year tenure in Munich.The conclusion of Benedict’s lawyers was resolute: “As an archbishop, Cardinal Ratzinger was not involved in any cover-up of acts of abuse,” they wrote. They criticized the report’s authors for misinterpreting their submission, and asserted that they provided no evidence that Benedict was aware of the criminal history of any of the four priests in question.Benedict’s response was far more nuanced and spiritual, though he went on at length to thank his legal team before even addressing the allegations or the victims of abuse.In the letter, Benedict issued what he called a “confession,” recalling that daily Mass begins with believers confessing their sins and asking forgiveness for their faults and even their “grievous faults.” Benedict noted that in his meetings with abuse victims while he was pope, “I have seen at first hand the effects of a most grievous fault.“And I have come to understand that we ourselves are drawn into this grievous fault whenever we neglect it or fail to confront it with the necessary decisiveness and responsibility, as too often happened and continues to happen,” he wrote. “As in those meetings, once again I can only express to all the victims of sexual abuse my profound shame, my deep sorrow and my heartfelt request for forgiveness.”The law firm report identified four cases in which Ratzinger was accused of misconduct in failing to act against abusers.Two cases involved priests who offended while Ratzinger was archbishop and were punished by the German legal system but were kept in pastoral ministry without any limits on their ministry. A third case involved a cleric who was convicted by a court outside Germany but was put into service in Munich. The fourth case involved a convicted pedophile priest who was allowed to transfer to Munich in 1980, and was later put into ministry. In 1986, that priest received a suspended sentence for molesting a boy.Benedict’s team had earlier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-religion-germany-munich-pope-benedict-xvi-fb76c2f33bdb2ea08a0dcfb75f785dbf">clarified an initial “error”&nbsp;</a>in their submission to the law firm that had insisted Ratzinger was not present at the 1980 meeting in which the priest’s transfer to Munich was discussed. Ratzinger was there, but his return to ministry was not discussed, they said.Benedict said he was deeply hurt that the “oversight” about his presence at the meeting had been used to “cast doubt on my truthfulness, and even to label me a liar.” But he said he had been heartened by the letters and gestures of support he had received, including from his successor.“I am particularly grateful for the confidence, support and prayer that Pope Francis personally expressed to me,” he said.The Vatican had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-religion-crime-germany-sexual-abuse-by-clergy-a7926c80e9af1a6c7688e3529231de82">already strongly defended Benedict’s record</a>&nbsp;in the aftermath of the law firm report, recalling that Benedict was the first pope to meet with victims of abuse, that he had issued strong norms to punish priests who raped children and had directed the church to pursue a path of humility in seeking forgiveness for the crimes of its clerics.The Vatican’s defense, however, focused primarily on Benedict’s tenure as head of the Holy See’s doctrine office, from 1982 until he was elected pope in 2005.Benedict reflected on his legacy at the end of his letter, noting that he is at the end of his life and will soon be judged by God.“Quite soon, I shall find myself before the final judge of my life,” he wrote. “Even though, as I look back on my long life, I can have great reason for fear and trembling, I am nonetheless of good cheer. For I trust firmly that the Lord is not only the just judge, but also the friend and brother who himself has already suffered for my shortcomings.”The head of the German bishops conference, Limburg Bishop Georg Baetzing, had previously said that Benedict needed to respond to the report by distancing himself from his lawyers and advisers.“He must talk, and he must override his advisers and essentially say the simple sentence: ’I incurred guilt, I made mistakes and I apologize to those affected,” Baetzing said. ”It won’t work any other way.”Baetzing didn’t immediately comment Tuesday on Benedict’s response.

Retired Pope apologizes for sex abuse scandal, denies responsibility

KANSAS CITY— Vice President Kamala Harris will make a virtual stop in Kansas City Tuesday.

According to a social media statement from Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, he will discuss how Kansas City government is helping thousands of Kansas City families access federal support through the Child Tax Credit in a virtual meeting with the Vice President.

The event is part of the Biden administration's outreach campaign to get millions of families to file their taxes so they can receive the second half of payments from the expanded child tax credit. 

Vice President Kamala Harris, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and White House senior adviser Gene Sperling are hosting the virtual event to encourage people to send their tax forms to the IRS. Administration officials estimate $193 billion would go to 58 million eligible households that file taxes. 

This means families would receive credits on their taxes or refunds averaging $3,330 from this provision.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644333822620.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY— Vice President Kamala Harris will make a virtual stop in Kansas City Tuesday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Millions have used their monthly Child Tax Credit check to pay down debt, to cover expenses and put food on the table. For today&#39;s Day of Action, I want to encourage Americans to sign up for the Expanded Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. <a href="https://t.co/h3toRe8Ccq">https://t.co/h3toRe8Ccq</a>&mdash; Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) <a href="https://twitter.com/VP/status/1491061112795770883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>According to a social media statement from Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, he will discuss how Kansas City government is helping thousands of Kansas City families access federal support through the Child Tax Credit in a virtual meeting with the Vice President.The event is part of the Biden administration's outreach campaign to get millions of families to file their taxes so they can receive the second half of payments from the expanded child tax credit. Vice President Kamala Harris, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and White House senior adviser Gene Sperling are hosting the virtual event to encourage people to send their tax forms to the IRS. Administration officials estimate $193 billion would go to 58 million eligible households that file taxes. This means families would receive credits on their taxes or refunds averaging $3,330 from this provision.

🎥KC Mayor joins VP Harris for virtual event on Child Tax Credits

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting have identified the suspect who died as 38-year-old&nbsp;Jason D. Ickler, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

Just before 7:30 a.m. Sunday, uniformed deputies of the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office went to a hotel in the 1200 block of SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka in an attempt to locate and arrest a Ickler on charges of felony fleeing or attempting to elude police, interference with law enforcement and reckless driving in connection with an incident that occurred in Topeka on&nbsp; February 4.

When deputies located Ickler's hotel room, he jumped from a window and entered a vehicle in the hotel parking lot. A deputy then located Ickler in the driver’s seat of a running vehicle. When the deputy approached the vehicle, the suspect engaged the vehicle and accelerated towards the deputy. The deputy then discharged his duty weapon while trying to avoid being struck by the vehicle. Ickler was pronounced deceased at the scene by emergency medical personnel. 

Officers seized suspected methamphetamine and unlawful drug paraphernalia from the scene.&nbsp;Investigators have confirmed that Ickler was also being sought on multiple outstanding warrants including Barton County, Kansas&nbsp; warrants for crimes of possession of stolen property, burglary, possession of narcotic drug, interference with law enforcement and fleeing or attempting to elude police, Johnson County, Kansas warrants for crimes of identity theft, forgery, tampering with electronic monitoring equipment and fleeing or attempting to elude police and Sedgwick County, Kansas warrants for crimes of possession of narcotic drug, fleeing or attempting to elude police and driving while being a habitual violator.

Ickler had previous convictions for theft, obstruction, flee or attempt to elude law enforcement and drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections

The Northeast Kansas Sheriff’s Officer-Involved Critical Incident Investigation Team is investigating the officer shooting. Once the investigation is completed, the findings will then be forwarded to the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office for review

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting.

The incident occurred just before 8 a.m. Sunday, as deputies were in the 1200 block of SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka attempting to make a felony arrest of a suspect involved in a vehicle pursuit that occurred in Shawnee County on Friday, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.&nbsp; 

One male subject was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The Northeast Kansas Sheriffs’ Officer-Involved Critical Incident Response Team is in charge of the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644273967421.png" alt="Ickler had previous convictions for theft, obstruction, flee or attempt to elude law enforcement and drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections- photo Johnson Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Ickler had previous convictions for theft, obstruction, flee or attempt to elude law enforcement and drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections- photo Johnson Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting have identified the suspect who died as 38-year-old&nbsp;Jason D. Ickler, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644160820448.png" alt="Law enforcement on the scene of Sunday's fatal officer-involved shooting-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Law enforcement on the scene of Sunday's fatal officer-involved shooting-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 7:30 a.m. Sunday, uniformed deputies of the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office went to a hotel in the 1200 block of SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka in an attempt to locate and arrest a Ickler on charges of felony fleeing or attempting to elude police, interference with law enforcement and reckless driving in connection with an incident that occurred in Topeka on&nbsp; February 4.When deputies located Ickler's hotel room, he jumped from a window and entered a vehicle in the hotel parking lot. A deputy then located Ickler in the driver’s seat of a running vehicle. When the deputy approached the vehicle, the suspect engaged the vehicle and accelerated towards the deputy. The deputy then discharged his duty weapon while trying to avoid being struck by the vehicle. Ickler was pronounced deceased at the scene by emergency medical personnel. Officers seized suspected methamphetamine and unlawful drug paraphernalia from the scene.&nbsp;Investigators have confirmed that Ickler was also being sought on multiple outstanding warrants including Barton County, Kansas&nbsp; warrants for crimes of possession of stolen property, burglary, possession of narcotic drug, interference with law enforcement and fleeing or attempting to elude police, Johnson County, Kansas warrants for crimes of identity theft, forgery, tampering with electronic monitoring equipment and fleeing or attempting to elude police and Sedgwick County, Kansas warrants for crimes of possession of narcotic drug, fleeing or attempting to elude police and driving while being a habitual violator.Ickler had previous convictions for theft, obstruction, flee or attempt to elude law enforcement and drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of CorrectionsThe Northeast Kansas Sheriff’s Officer-Involved Critical Incident Investigation Team is investigating the officer shooting. Once the investigation is completed, the findings will then be forwarded to the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office for review-----SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting.The incident occurred just before 8 a.m. Sunday, as deputies were in the 1200 block of SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka attempting to make a felony arrest of a suspect involved in a vehicle pursuit that occurred in Shawnee County on Friday, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.&nbsp; One male subject was pronounced deceased at the scene.The Northeast Kansas Sheriffs’ Officer-Involved Critical Incident Response Team is in charge of the investigation.

Kan. felon jumped from hotel window before fatal officer shooting

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A mask mandate will continue in the state's largest school district.&nbsp;

By a vote of 4-3, the USD 259-Wichita Public School district board voted Monday night against a proposal to immediately remove the district's mask mandate and make masks optional.

During the January 11 meeting, board president Stan Reeser suspended the meeting after several new board members and others in attendance refused to follow the district’s mask requirement.

In August, the board unanimously approved a mask mandate for all district buildings. It went into effect August 30.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644320037112.png" alt="A large crowd at Monday's USD 259 board meeting -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>A large crowd at Monday's USD 259 board meeting -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A mask mandate will continue in the state's largest school district.&nbsp;By a vote of 4-3, the USD 259-Wichita Public School district board voted Monday night against a proposal to immediately remove the district's mask mandate and make masks optional.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644319483078.png" alt="USD 259 Superintendent Alicia Thompson during Monday's board meeting" />
 <figcaption>USD 259 Superintendent Alicia Thompson during Monday's board meeting</figcaption>
 </figure>During the January 11 meeting, board president Stan Reeser suspended the meeting after several new board members and others in attendance refused to follow the district’s mask requirement.In August, the board unanimously approved a mask mandate for all district buildings. It went into effect August 30.

Mask mandate will continue in state's largest school district 

WASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp;The Internal Revenue Service today urged Americans to 
file a 2021 federal income tax return so they can take advantage of key 
tax benefits included in the American Rescue Plan and other recent 
legislation.

Often, individuals and families <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents">can get these expanded tax benefits</a>,
 even if they have little or no income from a job, business or other 
source. This means that many people who don't normally need to file a 
return should consider doing so this year. Because claiming these 
benefits could result in tax refunds for many people, individuals should
 <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">file an accurate return electronically</a> 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> to avoid processing delays and speed delivery of their refund.

A new fact sheet, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-expanded-credits-for-families-highlight-tax-changes-for-2021-many-people-who-dont-normally-file-should-file-this-year">FS-2022-10</a>,
 available now on IRS.gov, describes many of these expanded tax 
benefits. But the IRS emphasized that these benefits are only available 
to people who file a 2021 federal income tax return. Benefits include:

The IRS reminds early filers that by law, the agency cannot issue 
EITC refunds before mid-February. The same rule applies to refunds that 
include the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). This year, the ACTC is 
typically claimed by Americans abroad who did not have a main home in 
the United States for more than half of 2021. Normally, the mid-February
 restriction does not apply to the Refundable Child Tax Credit (RCTC) 
claimed by people who had a main home in the U.S., unless they also 
claim the EITC.

The IRS urges everyone to make sure they have all their year-end 
statements in hand before filing their 2021 return. Besides all W-2s and
 1099s, this includes two statements issued by the IRS -- <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6419">Letter 6419</a>, showing their total advance Child Tax Credit payments, and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6475">Letter 6475</a>, showing their total EIP3 payments. Individuals can also use IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>
 to see the total amounts of their third round of Economic Impact 
Payments or advance Child Tax Credit payments. Married spouses who 
received joint payments will each need to sign into their own account to
 retrieve their separate amounts.

For most Americans, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/what-is-the-due-date-of-my-federal-tax-return-or-am-i-eligible-to-request-an-extension">tax-filing deadline</a>
 is April 18, 2022. For residents of Maine and Massachusetts, the 
deadline is April 19, 2022. For Americans who live and work abroad, it's
 June 15, 2022. Anyone who needs more time to file can get an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return">automatic extension</a> until Oct. 17, 2022.

Taxpayers can find answers to questions, forms and instructions and 
easy-to-use tools online at IRS.gov. They can use these resources to get
 help when it's needed at home, at work or on the go.

This news release is part of a series called the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-time-guide">Tax Time Guide</a>, a resource to help taxpayers file an accurate tax return. Additional help is available in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p17">Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp;The Internal Revenue Service today urged Americans to 
file a 2021 federal income tax return so they can take advantage of key 
tax benefits included in the American Rescue Plan and other recent 
legislation.Often, individuals and families <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents">can get these expanded tax benefits</a>,
 even if they have little or no income from a job, business or other 
source. This means that many people who don't normally need to file a 
return should consider doing so this year. Because claiming these 
benefits could result in tax refunds for many people, individuals should
 <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">file an accurate return electronically</a> 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> to avoid processing delays and speed delivery of their refund.<h2>Expanded tax benefits</h2>A new fact sheet, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-expanded-credits-for-families-highlight-tax-changes-for-2021-many-people-who-dont-normally-file-should-file-this-year">FS-2022-10</a>,
 available now on IRS.gov, describes many of these expanded tax 
benefits. But the IRS emphasized that these benefits are only available 
to people who file a 2021 federal income tax return. Benefits include:<ul>
 <li>An expanded <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-frequently-asked-questions">Child Tax Credit</a>: Families can claim this credit, even if they received monthly advance payments during the last half of 2021.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>An increased <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/child-and-dependent-care-credit-information">Child and Dependent Care Credit</a>:
 Families who pay for daycare so they can work or look for work can get a
 tax credit worth up to $4,000 for one qualifying person and $8,000 for 
two or more qualifying persons.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>A more generous <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc">Earned Income Tax Credit</a>:
 The American Rescue Plan boosted the EITC for childless workers. There 
are also changes that can help low- and moderate-income families with 
children.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit</a>:
 Those who missed out on last year's third-round of Economic Impact 
Payments (EIP3), also known as stimulus payments, may be eligible to 
claim the RRC. This credit can also help eligible people whose EIP3 was 
less than the full amount, including those who welcomed a child in 2021.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/expanded-tax-benefits-help-individuals-and-businesses-give-to-charity-during-2021-deductions-up-to-600-available-for-cash-donations-by-non-itemizers">A deduction for gifts to charity</a>:
 The majority of taxpayers who take the standard deduction can deduct 
eligible cash contributions they made during 2021. Married couples 
filing jointly can deduct up to $600 in cash donations and individual 
taxpayers can deduct up to $300 in donations. In addition, itemizers who
 make large cash donations often qualify to deduct the full amount in 
2021.</li>
 </ul>See the fact sheet for more information.The IRS reminds early filers that by law, the agency cannot issue 
EITC refunds before mid-February. The same rule applies to refunds that 
include the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). This year, the ACTC is 
typically claimed by Americans abroad who did not have a main home in 
the United States for more than half of 2021. Normally, the mid-February
 restriction does not apply to the Refundable Child Tax Credit (RCTC) 
claimed by people who had a main home in the U.S., unless they also 
claim the EITC.<h2>Helpful reminders</h2>The IRS urges everyone to make sure they have all their year-end 
statements in hand before filing their 2021 return. Besides all W-2s and
 1099s, this includes two statements issued by the IRS -- <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6419">Letter 6419</a>, showing their total advance Child Tax Credit payments, and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6475">Letter 6475</a>, showing their total EIP3 payments. Individuals can also use IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>
 to see the total amounts of their third round of Economic Impact 
Payments or advance Child Tax Credit payments. Married spouses who 
received joint payments will each need to sign into their own account to
 retrieve their separate amounts.For most Americans, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/what-is-the-due-date-of-my-federal-tax-return-or-am-i-eligible-to-request-an-extension">tax-filing deadline</a>
 is April 18, 2022. For residents of Maine and Massachusetts, the 
deadline is April 19, 2022. For Americans who live and work abroad, it's
 June 15, 2022. Anyone who needs more time to file can get an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return">automatic extension</a> until Oct. 17, 2022.Taxpayers can find answers to questions, forms and instructions and 
easy-to-use tools online at IRS.gov. They can use these resources to get
 help when it's needed at home, at work or on the go.This news release is part of a series called the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-time-guide">Tax Time Guide</a>, a resource to help taxpayers file an accurate tax return. Additional help is available in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p17">Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax</a>.

American Rescue Plan changes can boost refunds for many families

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a flurry of diplomacy across two continents, President Joe Biden met with Germany’s new leader Monday and vowed the crucial Nord Stream 2 Russia-to-Germany&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-europe-russia-germany-82a7ebf6617dfc86b09f4d1b69209d5b">gas pipeline will be blocked</a>&nbsp;if Russia further invades Ukraine. Russia’s Vladimir Putin retorted that the U.S. and its allies are the only ones talking invasion.

Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron met for more than five hours in Moscow at the same time Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at the White House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-business-emmanuel-macron-moscow-9c7b3133b0db8c537ebd667f62a2adef">in efforts to defuse the crisis</a>&nbsp;before armed conflict breaks out. Russia has massed thousands of troops at the Ukraine border, adding military might almost daily.

The White House has expressed increasing alarm about the prospects of war, and Biden has been looking to solidify support among European allies for economy-jarring sanctions against Russia if it attacks.

“If Russia invades, that means tanks and troops crossing the border of Ukraine again, then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2,” Biden said. “We will bring an end to it.”

That would hurt Russia economically but also cause supply problems for Germany. Construction of the pipeline has been completed, but it is not yet operating.

“We are jointly ready, and all of NATO is ready,” Biden said, referring to the powerful Western alliance, though Ukraine is not a member.

While Biden reiterated with certitude that the pipeline would not move forward, Scholz stressed the need to keep some ambiguity about sanctions in order to press Russia to de-escalate the crisis.

“It’s necessary for Russia to understand that a lot more could happen than they’ve perhaps calculated with themselves,.” Scholz said.

The buildup of over 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine has fueled Western worries of a possible offensive. White House national security adviser&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4f766b3b07014bddb9006d44a9f240b8">Jake Sullivan warned Sunday</a>&nbsp;that Russia could invade Ukraine “any day,” triggering a conflict that would come at an “enormous human cost.”

At the same time, Biden and NATO allies have made clear there are no plans for sending in troops to fight Russia on Ukraine’s behalf.

Macron and Putin, during their lengthy meeting — with a dinner that featured the choice of sturgeon or reindeer — registered their disagreements but also emphasized a need for more talks.

Putin noted that the U.S. and NATO have ignored Moscow’s demands that the alliance guarantee it will keep Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations out, refrain from placing weapons in Ukraine and roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe.

“We are categorically against any further NATO’s expansion eastward because it poses a threat to us,” Putin said. “It’s not us who’s advancing to NATO, it’s NATO coming to us and so it’s illogical to talk about Russia’s aggressive behavior.”

He scoffed at Western descriptions of NATO as a defensive alliance, saying sarcastically that “people of Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan have learned it from their own experience.” And he threatened a wider war if Ukraine should join the alliance and perhaps try to win back Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.

“European countries will automatically be drawn into a military conflict with Russia,” Putin said. “You will be drawn into that conflict beyond your will. There will be no winners.”

Macron described the talks as “substantial, deep” with a focus on conditions that could help de-escalation.

“We tried to build converging elements,” he said. “The upcoming days will be crucial and deep discussions together will be needed.”

Putin signaled his readiness to continue negotiations and denied anew that Russia has any intention of invading Ukraine.

In the meantime, Biden warned “it would be wise” for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine.

On a positive note, Putin said without elaboration that some of Macron’s proposals could serve as a basis for a settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, adding that they agreed to have a call after Macron’s visit to Kyiv Tuesday.

Likewise, Biden said when asked if there remained an “offramp” for Russia in the standoff, “The answer is yes.”

Before meeting Biden, Scholz told German media that “there will be a very high price if Ukraine is attacked militarily. And we are preparing for this very precisely and have been talking about the details for a long time.” Scholz will travel to Kyiv and Moscow Feb. 14-15.

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said her country would add up to 350 troops within a few days to about 500 already a part of a NATO battlegroup in Lithuania. “With this, we are strengthening our contribution to forces on NATO’s eastern flank and sending a very clear signal of unity to our allies,” she said.

Biden already has deployed additional U.S. troops to Poland, Romania and Germany, and a few dozen elite U.S. troops and equipment landed Sunday in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine, with hundreds more infantry troops of the 82nd Airborne Division set to arrive.

Britain said the U.K. was sending 350 troops to Poland to bolster NATO forces, joining 100 Royal Engineers already there.

At a news conference in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell defended the increasingly dire Western warnings that a Russian invasion may be imminent.

“This is not alarmism. This is simply the facts,” Blinken said. “And the facts are that we’ve seen over the last few months a massive amassing of Russian forces on Ukraine’s borders.”

Borrell noted that “140,000 troops massed on the border is not to go to have tea.”

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is weighing a more permanent military presence in southeast Europe in response to Russia’s “massive military deployment” near Ukraine.

“We are considering more longer-term adjustments to our posture, our presence in the eastern part of the alliance,” Stoltenberg said after talks in Brussels with Polish President Andrzej Duda. “If Russia really wants less NATO close to the borders, they get the opposite.”

Stoltenberg gave no details and said no final decision has been made, but the move could mirror NATO’s long-term military presence in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, where about 5,000 troops are stationed. It would see a similar force based in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.

The aim would be only to bolster the defenses of NATO allies in the region. The troops would not cross into Ukraine should Russia invade.

Biden and Scholz also discussed contingency plans for providing gas supplies to Europe should Russia cut off supply. Europe is already dealing with liquefied natural gas supplies being sapped by a cold winter last year, a summer with little renewable energy generation and Russia delivering less than usual.

Biden asserted the U.S. and other countries could make up a “significant portion” of supplies lost should Russia move to cut off Europe.

But energy experts say replacing Russian gas would be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-europe-russia-germany-82a7ebf6617dfc86b09f4d1b69209d5b">complicated and can’t be done overnight.</a>&nbsp;Export terminals cost billions of dollars to build and are working at capacity in the U.S.

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a flurry of diplomacy across two continents, President Joe Biden met with Germany’s new leader Monday and vowed the crucial Nord Stream 2 Russia-to-Germany&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-europe-russia-germany-82a7ebf6617dfc86b09f4d1b69209d5b">gas pipeline will be blocked</a>&nbsp;if Russia further invades Ukraine. Russia’s Vladimir Putin retorted that the U.S. and its allies are the only ones talking invasion.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1058370344802252%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=742" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron met for more than five hours in Moscow at the same time Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at the White House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-business-emmanuel-macron-moscow-9c7b3133b0db8c537ebd667f62a2adef">in efforts to defuse the crisis</a>&nbsp;before armed conflict breaks out. Russia has massed thousands of troops at the Ukraine border, adding military might almost daily.The White House has expressed increasing alarm about the prospects of war, and Biden has been looking to solidify support among European allies for economy-jarring sanctions against Russia if it attacks.“If Russia invades, that means tanks and troops crossing the border of Ukraine again, then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2,” Biden said. “We will bring an end to it.”That would hurt Russia economically but also cause supply problems for Germany. Construction of the pipeline has been completed, but it is not yet operating.“We are jointly ready, and all of NATO is ready,” Biden said, referring to the powerful Western alliance, though Ukraine is not a member.While Biden reiterated with certitude that the pipeline would not move forward, Scholz stressed the need to keep some ambiguity about sanctions in order to press Russia to de-escalate the crisis.“It’s necessary for Russia to understand that a lot more could happen than they’ve perhaps calculated with themselves,.” Scholz said.The buildup of over 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine has fueled Western worries of a possible offensive. White House national security adviser&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4f766b3b07014bddb9006d44a9f240b8">Jake Sullivan warned Sunday</a>&nbsp;that Russia could invade Ukraine “any day,” triggering a conflict that would come at an “enormous human cost.”At the same time, Biden and NATO allies have made clear there are no plans for sending in troops to fight Russia on Ukraine’s behalf.Macron and Putin, during their lengthy meeting — with a dinner that featured the choice of sturgeon or reindeer — registered their disagreements but also emphasized a need for more talks.Putin noted that the U.S. and NATO have ignored Moscow’s demands that the alliance guarantee it will keep Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations out, refrain from placing weapons in Ukraine and roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe.“We are categorically against any further NATO’s expansion eastward because it poses a threat to us,” Putin said. “It’s not us who’s advancing to NATO, it’s NATO coming to us and so it’s illogical to talk about Russia’s aggressive behavior.”He scoffed at Western descriptions of NATO as a defensive alliance, saying sarcastically that “people of Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan have learned it from their own experience.” And he threatened a wider war if Ukraine should join the alliance and perhaps try to win back Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.“European countries will automatically be drawn into a military conflict with Russia,” Putin said. “You will be drawn into that conflict beyond your will. There will be no winners.”Macron described the talks as “substantial, deep” with a focus on conditions that could help de-escalation.“We tried to build converging elements,” he said. “The upcoming days will be crucial and deep discussions together will be needed.”Putin signaled his readiness to continue negotiations and denied anew that Russia has any intention of invading Ukraine.In the meantime, Biden warned “it would be wise” for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine.On a positive note, Putin said without elaboration that some of Macron’s proposals could serve as a basis for a settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, adding that they agreed to have a call after Macron’s visit to Kyiv Tuesday.Likewise, Biden said when asked if there remained an “offramp” for Russia in the standoff, “The answer is yes.”Before meeting Biden, Scholz told German media that “there will be a very high price if Ukraine is attacked militarily. And we are preparing for this very precisely and have been talking about the details for a long time.” Scholz will travel to Kyiv and Moscow Feb. 14-15.German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said her country would add up to 350 troops within a few days to about 500 already a part of a NATO battlegroup in Lithuania. “With this, we are strengthening our contribution to forces on NATO’s eastern flank and sending a very clear signal of unity to our allies,” she said.Biden already has deployed additional U.S. troops to Poland, Romania and Germany, and a few dozen elite U.S. troops and equipment landed Sunday in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine, with hundreds more infantry troops of the 82nd Airborne Division set to arrive.Britain said the U.K. was sending 350 troops to Poland to bolster NATO forces, joining 100 Royal Engineers already there.At a news conference in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell defended the increasingly dire Western warnings that a Russian invasion may be imminent.“This is not alarmism. This is simply the facts,” Blinken said. “And the facts are that we’ve seen over the last few months a massive amassing of Russian forces on Ukraine’s borders.”Borrell noted that “140,000 troops massed on the border is not to go to have tea.”NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is weighing a more permanent military presence in southeast Europe in response to Russia’s “massive military deployment” near Ukraine.“We are considering more longer-term adjustments to our posture, our presence in the eastern part of the alliance,” Stoltenberg said after talks in Brussels with Polish President Andrzej Duda. “If Russia really wants less NATO close to the borders, they get the opposite.”Stoltenberg gave no details and said no final decision has been made, but the move could mirror NATO’s long-term military presence in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, where about 5,000 troops are stationed. It would see a similar force based in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.The aim would be only to bolster the defenses of NATO allies in the region. The troops would not cross into Ukraine should Russia invade.Biden and Scholz also discussed contingency plans for providing gas supplies to Europe should Russia cut off supply. Europe is already dealing with liquefied natural gas supplies being sapped by a cold winter last year, a summer with little renewable energy generation and Russia delivering less than usual.Biden asserted the U.S. and other countries could make up a “significant portion” of supplies lost should Russia move to cut off Europe.But energy experts say replacing Russian gas would be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-europe-russia-germany-82a7ebf6617dfc86b09f4d1b69209d5b">complicated and can’t be done overnight.</a>&nbsp;Export terminals cost billions of dollars to build and are working at capacity in the U.S.

🎥Biden threatens Russia on pipeline if they invade Ukraine

WASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp;The Internal Revenue Service today updated frequently asked questions (FAQs) for the&nbsp;2021 Recovery Rebate Credit.

These FAQs (<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/fs-2022-09.pdf">FS-2022-09</a>&nbsp;PDF) were updated:

Individuals who did not qualify for, or did not receive, the 
full amount of the third Economic Impact Payment may be eligible to 
claim the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit based on their 2021 tax year 
information. Individuals may have received their third Economic Impact 
Payment through initial and "plus-up" payments in 2021.

Note: Third Economic Impact Payments are different 
than the monthly advance Child Tax Credit payments that the IRS 
disbursed from July through December 2021.

Most eligible people already received their Economic Impact Payments 
and won't include any information about their payment when they file. 
However, people who are missing stimulus payments should review the 
information on the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit</a> page to determine their eligibility and whether they need to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit for tax year 2021.

To claim any remaining credit for 2021, eligible people must file a 
2021 tax return, even if they usually do not file taxes. Also, people 
who did not receive all of their first and second Economic Impact 
Payments in 2020 can receive those amounts only by filing a 2020 tax 
return (or amending a previously filed return) and claiming the 2020 
Recovery Rebate Credit. They should review the Recovery Rebate Credit 
page to determine their eligibility.

The 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit can reduce any taxes owed or be 
included in the tax refund for the 2021 tax year. Filers must ensure to 
not mix information from their 2020 and 2021 tax years. In particular, 
filers should take care to NOT include any information regarding the 
first and second Economic Impact Payments received in 2020, or the 2020 
Recovery Rebate Credit, on their 2021 return. They will need the total 
of the third payment received to accurately calculate the 2021 Recovery 
Rebate Credit when they file their 2021 federal tax return in 2022.

Individuals can now view this information in their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">online account</a>.

People can also locate this information on Letter 1444-C, which they 
received from the IRS during 2021 after each payment, as well as Letter 
6475, which the IRS will mail to them through March 2022.

The FAQ's cover most questions relating to claiming the credit and 
are for use by taxpayers and tax professionals and are being issued as 
expeditiously as possible.

Taxpayers with income of $73,000 or less can file their federal tax returns electronically for free through the IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File Program</a>.
 The fastest way to receive a tax refund is to file electronically and 
have it direct deposited into a financial account. Refunds can be 
directly deposited into bank accounts, prepaid debit cards or mobile 
apps as long as a routing and account number is provided.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp;The Internal Revenue Service today updated frequently asked questions (FAQs) for the&nbsp;2021 Recovery Rebate Credit.These FAQs (<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/fs-2022-09.pdf">FS-2022-09</a>&nbsp;PDF) were updated:<ul>
 <li>2021 Recovery Rebate Credit — Topic A: General Information – <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-a-general-information#qa3">Q3</a></li><li>2021 Recovery Rebate Credit — Topic D: Claiming the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit&nbsp;– <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-d-claiming-the-2021-recovery-rebate-credit#q1">Q1</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-d-claiming-the-2021-recovery-rebate-credit#q2">Q2</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-d-claiming-the-2021-recovery-rebate-credit#q6">Q6</a></li><li>2021 Recovery Rebate Credit — Topic F: Receiving the Credit on a 2021 Tax Return&nbsp;– <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-f-receiving-the-credit-on-a-2021-tax-return#q8">Q8</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-f-receiving-the-credit-on-a-2021-tax-return#q9">Q9</a></li><li>2021 Recovery Rebate Credit — Topic G: Finding the Third Economic 
Impact Payment Amount to Calculate the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit – <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-recovery-rebate-credit-topic-g-finding-the-third-economic-impact-payment-amount-to-calculate-the-2021-recovery-rebate-credit#q2">Q2</a></li>
 </ul>Individuals who did not qualify for, or did not receive, the 
full amount of the third Economic Impact Payment may be eligible to 
claim the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit based on their 2021 tax year 
information. Individuals may have received their third Economic Impact 
Payment through initial and "plus-up" payments in 2021.Note: Third Economic Impact Payments are different 
than the monthly advance Child Tax Credit payments that the IRS 
disbursed from July through December 2021.Most eligible people already received their Economic Impact Payments 
and won't include any information about their payment when they file. 
However, people who are missing stimulus payments should review the 
information on the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit</a> page to determine their eligibility and whether they need to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit for tax year 2021.To claim any remaining credit for 2021, eligible people must file a 
2021 tax return, even if they usually do not file taxes. Also, people 
who did not receive all of their first and second Economic Impact 
Payments in 2020 can receive those amounts only by filing a 2020 tax 
return (or amending a previously filed return) and claiming the 2020 
Recovery Rebate Credit. They should review the Recovery Rebate Credit 
page to determine their eligibility.The 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit can reduce any taxes owed or be 
included in the tax refund for the 2021 tax year. Filers must ensure to 
not mix information from their 2020 and 2021 tax years. In particular, 
filers should take care to NOT include any information regarding the 
first and second Economic Impact Payments received in 2020, or the 2020 
Recovery Rebate Credit, on their 2021 return. They will need the total 
of the third payment received to accurately calculate the 2021 Recovery 
Rebate Credit when they file their 2021 federal tax return in 2022.Individuals can now view this information in their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">online account</a>.People can also locate this information on Letter 1444-C, which they 
received from the IRS during 2021 after each payment, as well as Letter 
6475, which the IRS will mail to them through March 2022.The FAQ's cover most questions relating to claiming the credit and 
are for use by taxpayers and tax professionals and are being issued as 
expeditiously as possible.<h2>File for free and use direct deposit</h2>Taxpayers with income of $73,000 or less can file their federal tax returns electronically for free through the IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File Program</a>.
 The fastest way to receive a tax refund is to file electronically and 
have it direct deposited into a financial account. Refunds can be 
directly deposited into bank accounts, prepaid debit cards or mobile 
apps as long as a routing and account number is provided.

IRS updates guidance for 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Top Republican lawmakers in&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;learned Monday that they didn't have the votes yet to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of a GOP redistricting plan that would make it harder for the state's only Democrat in Congress to win reelection.

The GOP-controlled state Senate voted 24-15 to overturn Kelly's action, but Republican leaders needed three more, or 27 in the 40-member chamber, for the necessary two-thirds majority. Four of the chamber's 29 Republicans broke ranks with GOP leaders and joined 10 of the chamber's 11 Democrats in voting no. The absent Democrat also would have voted no.

Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican and one of the architects of the plan, also voted no, so that under the Legislature's rules he can ask senators to reconsider Tuesday. If GOP leaders fail to muster a two-thirds majority then, or the Senate does not vote Tuesday, the GOP plan will die.

“I can already hear the sounds of bones breaking,” said Democratic state Sen. David Haley, of Kansas City, suggesting the GOP dissenters will face heavy pressure to change their minds.

The Republican plan would split the state’s portion of the Kansas City area into two congressional districts, costing Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids some of the territory in her 3rd District where she performs best. The map also would move the liberal northeast Kansas community of Lawrence, home to the main University of Kansas campus, from the 2nd District of eastern Kansas into the 1st District of central and western Kansas with conservative communities six or more hours away by car.

The vote Monday was an unexpected setback for Kansas Republicans as the national GOP tries to recapture a U.S. House majority in this year's elections.

States must redraw congressional districts at least once every 10 years to make them as equal as possible in population following shifts in population. If the state doesn't enact new boundaries, federal judges are likely to draw the lines.

After a decade of growth, the state's side of the Kansas City metropolitan area has too many people for an ideal Kansas congressional district with 734,470 residents. Republicans argued that lawmakers shouldn’t divide the faster-growing suburbs south of Kansas City, Kansas, and made I-70 roughly the boundary between the 2nd and 3rd Districts.

Democrats argued that the plan would be unacceptable to the courts because the percentage of Black and Hispanic voters in the 3rd District would drop, lessening their political clout. Masterson countered by noting that the percentage of minority voters in the 2nd District would increase.

“The truth is, it preserves fairness,” Masterson said. He also has argued that that Davids still would be reelected based on 2020 election results.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643147273216.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA, AP Political WriterTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Top Republican lawmakers in&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;learned Monday that they didn't have the votes yet to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of a GOP redistricting plan that would make it harder for the state's only Democrat in Congress to win reelection.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aZe34yPrB40?start=12278" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The GOP-controlled state Senate voted 24-15 to overturn Kelly's action, but Republican leaders needed three more, or 27 in the 40-member chamber, for the necessary two-thirds majority. Four of the chamber's 29 Republicans broke ranks with GOP leaders and joined 10 of the chamber's 11 Democrats in voting no. The absent Democrat also would have voted no.Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican and one of the architects of the plan, also voted no, so that under the Legislature's rules he can ask senators to reconsider Tuesday. If GOP leaders fail to muster a two-thirds majority then, or the Senate does not vote Tuesday, the GOP plan will die.“I can already hear the sounds of bones breaking,” said Democratic state Sen. David Haley, of Kansas City, suggesting the GOP dissenters will face heavy pressure to change their minds.The Republican plan would split the state’s portion of the Kansas City area into two congressional districts, costing Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids some of the territory in her 3rd District where she performs best. The map also would move the liberal northeast Kansas community of Lawrence, home to the main University of Kansas campus, from the 2nd District of eastern Kansas into the 1st District of central and western Kansas with conservative communities six or more hours away by car.The vote Monday was an unexpected setback for Kansas Republicans as the national GOP tries to recapture a U.S. House majority in this year's elections.States must redraw congressional districts at least once every 10 years to make them as equal as possible in population following shifts in population. If the state doesn't enact new boundaries, federal judges are likely to draw the lines.After a decade of growth, the state's side of the Kansas City metropolitan area has too many people for an ideal Kansas congressional district with 734,470 residents. Republicans argued that lawmakers shouldn’t divide the faster-growing suburbs south of Kansas City, Kansas, and made I-70 roughly the boundary between the 2nd and 3rd Districts.Democrats argued that the plan would be unacceptable to the courts because the percentage of Black and Hispanic voters in the 3rd District would drop, lessening their political clout. Masterson countered by noting that the percentage of minority voters in the 2nd District would increase.“The truth is, it preserves fairness,” Masterson said. He also has argued that that Davids still would be reelected based on 2020 election results.

🎥 Kansas GOP fails to undo veto of remap plan hurting Democrat

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 34-year-old Topeka man has been charged with killing a man who had testified against him in a robbery. John Clayton Riley II was charged Friday with eight crimes, including first-degree murder and theft of 29-year-old Palmer Thompson's identity. 

Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said in December 2019, Thompson reported he had been robbed while working maintenance at Topeka apartment complex. 

Riley was charged with robbery in that case and Thompson testified against him at a preliminary hearing. In September 2021, Thompson was found dead of a gunshot wound inside his burning house. Investigators say Riley stole Thompson’s identity and used it to access his financial accounts after his death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644086863045.png" alt="Riley-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Riley-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 34-year-old Topeka man has been charged with killing a man who had testified against him in a robbery. John Clayton Riley II was charged Friday with eight crimes, including first-degree murder and theft of 29-year-old Palmer Thompson's identity. Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said in December 2019, Thompson reported he had been robbed while working maintenance at Topeka apartment complex. Riley was charged with robbery in that case and Thompson testified against him at a preliminary hearing. In September 2021, Thompson was found dead of a gunshot wound inside his burning house. Investigators say Riley stole Thompson’s identity and used it to access his financial accounts after his death.

Man charged in death of Kan. man who testified against him

GEARY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged child sex crimes.

Just after 11:30p.m. Sunday, Geary County sheriff’s deputies booked a suspect identified as Jeremiah Tyrell Ballance, 24, of Jacksonville, North Carolina. into the Geary County Detention Center, according to online jail records.

Ballance is being held on requested charges of aggravated indecent liberties with a child; aggravated indecent solicitation of a child; and aggravated intimidation of a witness or victim.

He is being held on a $50,000 bond, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644254905584.png" alt="Ballance-photo Geary Co." />
 <figcaption>Ballance-photo Geary Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>GEARY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged child sex crimes.Just after 11:30p.m. Sunday, Geary County sheriff’s deputies booked a suspect identified as Jeremiah Tyrell Ballance, 24, of Jacksonville, North Carolina. into the Geary County Detention Center, according to online jail records.Ballance is being held on requested charges of aggravated indecent liberties with a child; aggravated indecent solicitation of a child; and aggravated intimidation of a witness or victim.He is being held on a $50,000 bond, according to online jail records.

North Carolina man held for alleged child sex crimes in Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a flurry of diplomacy across two continents, President Joe Biden emerged from a meeting with Germany’s new leader Monday vowing the crucial Nord Stream 2 Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline would be blocked if Russia further invades Ukraine. Russia's Vladimir Putin said the U.S. and its allies were the only ones talking about invasion.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644271333333.png" alt="“We are jointly ready, and all of NATO is ready,” Biden said, referring to the powerful Western alliance, though Ukraine is not a member.-photo White House" />
 <figcaption>“We are jointly ready, and all of NATO is ready,” Biden said, referring to the powerful Western alliance, though Ukraine is not a member.-photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — In a flurry of diplomacy across two continents, President Joe Biden emerged from a meeting with Germany’s new leader Monday vowing the crucial Nord Stream 2 Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline would be blocked if Russia further invades Ukraine. Russia's Vladimir Putin said the U.S. and its allies were the only ones talking about invasion.Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron met for hours in Moscow at the same time Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at the White House in efforts to defuse the crisis before armed conflict breaks out. Russia has massed thousands of troops at the Ukraine border, adding military might almost daily.The White House has expressed increasing alarm about the prospects of a war, and Biden has been looking to solidify support among European allies for economy-jarring sanctions against Russia if it moves further with an invasion.“We are jointly ready, and all of NATO is ready,” Biden said, referring to the powerful Western alliance, though Ukraine is not a member.While Biden reiterated with certitude that the pipeline would not move forward, Scholz stressed the need to keep some ambiguity about sanctions in order to press Russia to de-escalate the crisis.“It’s necessary for Russia to understand that a lot more could happen than they’ve perhaps calculated with themselves,.” Scholz said.The buildup of over 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine has fueled Western worries of a possible offensive. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned Sunday that Russia could invade Ukraine “any day,” triggering a conflict that would come at an “enormous human cost.”Putin described his lengthy talks with Macron at the Kremlin as businesslike. He noted that the U.S. and its NATO allies have ignored Moscow’s demands for security guarantees.He said that NATO’s expansion eastward to Russia's border has violated the security principles of international agreements and scoffed at Western assurances that it is a defensive alliance that doesn’t threaten Russia.“People of Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan have had learned it from their own experience,” the Russian leader said in a sarcastic reference to the U.S. allies' involvement in military campaigns in those countries. He also referenced NATO’s 1999 bombing campaign in the former Yugoslavia.He derided the Western criticism of the Russian military buildup near Ukraine, saying that “NATO members consider it possible to lecture us about our troops movements on our own territory and cast them as a threat of Russian invasion in Ukraine.”Russia has denied any plans to attack its neighbor but demands that the U.S. and its allies bar Ukraine and other former Soviet nations from joining NATO, halt weapons deployments there and roll back NATO forces from Eastern Europe. Washington and NATO reject those demands.Unswayed, Biden on Monday said “it would be wise” for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine amid the Russian military threat.On a positive note, Putin said without elaboration that some of Macron’s proposals could serve as a basis for a settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, adding that they agreed to have a call after Macron’s visit to Kyiv Tuesday.Likewise, Biden said when asked if there remained an “offramp” for Russia in the standoff: “The answer is yes.”Macron said after his “substantial, deep” meeting with Putin: “The upcoming days will be crucial and deep discussions together will be needed ... to build new guarantees for peace and security” for the European continent.Macron and Putin spent several hours in a meeting with a meal that included fish soup, the choice of sturgeon or reindeer with sweet potatoes and pear pie with vanilla ice cream.Macron, who heads Tuesday to Ukraine, spoke by phone Sunday with Biden. Before the Putin meeting, Macron said: “I don’t believe in spontaneous miracles.”“The security and sovereignty of Ukraine or any other European state cannot be a subject for compromise, while it is also legitimate for Russia to pose the question of its own security,” Macron told the French newspaper Journal du Dimanche.The State Department has been warning American citizens to reconsider any plans to travel to Ukraine since last year due to the buildup of Russian forces near the border. In January, it upgraded that advice, urging U.S. citizens not to travel to Ukraine or to leave the country if they are already there. That stepped-up warning came as the department ordered the families of all American staffers at the U.S. embassy in Kyiv to depart and allowed non-essential diplomats there leaveBefore meeting Biden, Scholz told German media that "there will be a very high price if Ukraine is attacked militarily. And we are preparing for this very precisely and have been talking about the details for a long time.” Scholz will travel to Kyiv and Moscow Feb. 14-15..Separately German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said her country would add up to 350 troops within a few days to about 500 already a part of a NATO battlegroup in Lithuania. “With this, we are strengthening our contribution to forces on NATO’s eastern flank and sending a very clear signal of unity to our allies,” she said.Biden already has deployed additional U.S. troops to Poland, Romania and Germany, and a few dozen elite U.S troops and equipment landed Sunday in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine, with hundreds more infantry troops of the 82nd Airborne Division set to arrive.Britain said it was sending 350 troops to Poland to bolster NATO forces, joining 100 Royal Engineers already there.At a news conference in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the U.S. and Europe defended the increasingly dire Western warnings that a Russian invasion may be imminent.“This is not alarmism. This is simply the facts,” Blinken said. “And the facts are that we’ve seen over the last few months a massive amassing of Russian forces on Ukraine’s borders."Borrell noted that “140,000 troops massed on the border is not to go to have tea.”NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is weighing a more permanent military presence in southeast Europe in response to Russia’s “massive military deployment” near Ukraine.“We are considering more longer-term adjustments to our posture, our presence in the eastern part of the alliance,” Stoltenberg said after talks in Brussels with Polish President Andrzej Duda. “If Russia really wants less NATO close to the borders, they get the opposite.”Stoltenberg gave no details and said no final decision has been made, but the move could mirror NATO’s long-term military presence in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, where about 5,000 troops are stationed. It would see a similar force based in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.That would mean NATO troops stationed long-term near Ukraine’s western border and in the Black Sea area. The aim would be only to bolster the defenses of NATO allies in the region and the troops would not cross into Ukraine should Russia invade.In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal for eastern Ukraine in a bid to end the conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists that erupted the previous year following the Russian annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.