<a href="https://hosted.ap.org/semissourian/article/4732ad26ef9ce4dd580dd96c23c95fd4/missouri-works-boost-vaccinations-covid-19-worsens#">By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH</a>

As COVID-19 hospitalizations climb, St. Louis is offering incentives for some city employees to get immunized, while thousands are registering for a statewide vaccine lottery.

St. Louis said in a news release Tuesday that nearly 6,000 of its workers will be eligible to receive $100 in gift cards and can use paid time off to get vaccinated. The announcement comes one day after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-79959d313428d98ab8aa905bbe287ba0">mask mandate</a>&nbsp;took effect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/23f9b3da8c866cfffc617699b28caacb">in the city and St. Louis County.</a>

Missouri has the nation’s fourth-worst COVID-19 diagnosis rate over the past week, with one in every 360 people diagnosed with COVID-19.

“Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 remains the best way for St. Louisans to protect their families and greatly reduce their chance of ending up in the ICU, and we are using many different tools in our toolbox to encourage vaccination,” said St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones in the release.

Statewide, COVID-19 hospitalization jumped by 168% from a low point of 628 of May 23 to 1,684 on Aug. 24, state data shows. But the jump was much sharper in sparsely vaccinated southwest Missouri, where the number of hospitalizations leapt by 443% and reached pandemic highs.

To help, the state rolled out a vaccine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-michael-brown-c5cf37ca59327da018687038b5ec8870">incentive program&nbsp;</a>last week that includes $10,000 prizes for 900 lottery winners. About 250,000 people have registered so far, said health department spokeswoman Lisa Cox.

Only 47.4% of Missourians have received at least one dose of the vaccine, compared with 56.8% nationally, state and federal data shows. The rate is far lower for younger residents, with just 26.5% of 12- to 14-year-olds and 36.5% of 15- to 24-year-olds getting at least one dose.

Hospital officials in Springfield have been begging on social media for people to get vaccinated.

Erik Frederick, chief administrative officer of Mercy Springfield, retweeted a message Monday night from a COVID-19 nurse who wrote that the situation was “getting worse" and that there was “no end in sight."

Rising cases also are putting a strain on contact tracers in St. Joseph in northwest Missouri, said Connie Werner, health department clinic coordinator. The vaccination rate in surrounding Buchanan County is just 22.3%.

“It’s not that the vaccine isn’t available, and it’s not that there’s not multiple opportunities and multiple times for people to get it, it’s just that they’re not going to get it,” Werner told the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newspressnow.com/news/local_news/coronavirus/health-department-struggling-to-keep-up-with-contact-tracing/article_8e033414-ee54-11eb-9d32-2f1cbda66db7.html">St. Joseph News-Press</a>. “It does take the community to have accountability as well, instead of us walking up to you and begging you to take it.”

<a href="https://hosted.ap.org/semissourian/article/4732ad26ef9ce4dd580dd96c23c95fd4/missouri-works-boost-vaccinations-covid-19-worsens#">By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH</a>As COVID-19 hospitalizations climb, St. Louis is offering incentives for some city employees to get immunized, while thousands are registering for a statewide vaccine lottery.St. Louis said in a news release Tuesday that nearly 6,000 of its workers will be eligible to receive $100 in gift cards and can use paid time off to get vaccinated. The announcement comes one day after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-79959d313428d98ab8aa905bbe287ba0">mask mandate</a>&nbsp;took effect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/23f9b3da8c866cfffc617699b28caacb">in the city and St. Louis County.</a>Missouri has the nation’s fourth-worst COVID-19 diagnosis rate over the past week, with one in every 360 people diagnosed with COVID-19.“Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 remains the best way for St. Louisans to protect their families and greatly reduce their chance of ending up in the ICU, and we are using many different tools in our toolbox to encourage vaccination,” said St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones in the release.Statewide, COVID-19 hospitalization jumped by 168% from a low point of 628 of May 23 to 1,684 on Aug. 24, state data shows. But the jump was much sharper in sparsely vaccinated southwest Missouri, where the number of hospitalizations leapt by 443% and reached pandemic highs.To help, the state rolled out a vaccine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-michael-brown-c5cf37ca59327da018687038b5ec8870">incentive program&nbsp;</a>last week that includes $10,000 prizes for 900 lottery winners. About 250,000 people have registered so far, said health department spokeswoman Lisa Cox.Only 47.4% of Missourians have received at least one dose of the vaccine, compared with 56.8% nationally, state and federal data shows. The rate is far lower for younger residents, with just 26.5% of 12- to 14-year-olds and 36.5% of 15- to 24-year-olds getting at least one dose.Hospital officials in Springfield have been begging on social media for people to get vaccinated.Erik Frederick, chief administrative officer of Mercy Springfield, retweeted a message Monday night from a COVID-19 nurse who wrote that the situation was “getting worse" and that there was “no end in sight."Rising cases also are putting a strain on contact tracers in St. Joseph in northwest Missouri, said Connie Werner, health department clinic coordinator. The vaccination rate in surrounding Buchanan County is just 22.3%.“It’s not that the vaccine isn’t available, and it’s not that there’s not multiple opportunities and multiple times for people to get it, it’s just that they’re not going to get it,” Werner told the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newspressnow.com/news/local_news/coronavirus/health-department-struggling-to-keep-up-with-contact-tracing/article_8e033414-ee54-11eb-9d32-2f1cbda66db7.html">St. Joseph News-Press</a>. “It does take the community to have accountability as well, instead of us walking up to you and begging you to take it.”

Missouri among the nation's worst COVID-19 diagnosis rate

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The fuel needle is moving closer to “empty” at some U.S. airports.

American Airlines says it’s running into fuel shortages at some smaller and mid-size airports, and in some cases the airline will add refueling stops or fly fuel into locations where the supply is tight.

The airline said that the shortages showed up first in the West, where they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-government-and-politics-fires-environment-and-nature-29b3eb2572c64109ecce45258a93f78c">could affect efforts to fight wildfires.</a>&nbsp;They are now being reported in other parts of the country and will last through mid-August, according to a company memo to pilots on Monday. It asked pilots to conserve fuel by, for example, leaving one engine off while taxiing.

American said fuel supplies are being squeezed at “several” airports, which it didn’t name, mostly because of a shortage of tanker trucks or drivers.

Delta Air Lines, meanwhile, said Reno, Nevada, is the most affected location. Delta said pipelines have been devoting more space to gasoline and diesel and less to jet fuel during the pandemic. Nevada politicians worry that the situation could&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-government-and-politics-nevada-coronavirus-pandemic-de990bb6053cab4b938d56bbd1186e10">limit the flow of tourism dollars</a>.

Southwest said the fuel situation hasn’t affected its flights, but it has added more fuel on some planes to limit the amount needed at airports with shortages.

Trade group Airlines for America said it is talking to federal authorities and pipeline operators about the situation, which it said mostly affects smaller airports in the West.

The jet fuel supply is being taxed by a strong recovery in travel, which means more planes in the air. U.S. air travel has reached about 80% of its pre-pandemic levels, with about 2 million people a day are flying in the U.S., double the number in early March.

The American Airlines memo to pilots was reported earlier by CNBC.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The fuel needle is moving closer to “empty” at some U.S. airports.American Airlines says it’s running into fuel shortages at some smaller and mid-size airports, and in some cases the airline will add refueling stops or fly fuel into locations where the supply is tight.The airline said that the shortages showed up first in the West, where they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-government-and-politics-fires-environment-and-nature-29b3eb2572c64109ecce45258a93f78c">could affect efforts to fight wildfires.</a>&nbsp;They are now being reported in other parts of the country and will last through mid-August, according to a company memo to pilots on Monday. It asked pilots to conserve fuel by, for example, leaving one engine off while taxiing.American said fuel supplies are being squeezed at “several” airports, which it didn’t name, mostly because of a shortage of tanker trucks or drivers.Delta Air Lines, meanwhile, said Reno, Nevada, is the most affected location. Delta said pipelines have been devoting more space to gasoline and diesel and less to jet fuel during the pandemic. Nevada politicians worry that the situation could&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-government-and-politics-nevada-coronavirus-pandemic-de990bb6053cab4b938d56bbd1186e10">limit the flow of tourism dollars</a>.Southwest said the fuel situation hasn’t affected its flights, but it has added more fuel on some planes to limit the amount needed at airports with shortages.Trade group Airlines for America said it is talking to federal authorities and pipeline operators about the situation, which it said mostly affects smaller airports in the West.The jet fuel supply is being taxed by a strong recovery in travel, which means more planes in the air. U.S. air travel has reached about 80% of its pre-pandemic levels, with about 2 million people a day are flying in the U.S., double the number in early March.The American Airlines memo to pilots was reported earlier by CNBC.

Airlines cite concerns about fuel shortages at some airports

TOKYO (AP) — Simone Biles arrived in Tokyo as the star of the U.S. Olympic movement and perhaps the Games themselves. She convinced herself she was prepared for the pressure. That she was ready to carry the burden of outsized expectations.

Only, as the women’s gymnastics team final approached on Tuesday night, something felt off. And the athlete widely considered the Greatest of All Time in her sport knew it.

So rather than push through the doubts that crept into her head as she’s done so many times in the past, Biles decided enough was enough. She was done. For now.

The American star withdrew from the competition following one rotation, opening the door for the team of Russian athletes to win gold for the first time in nearly three decades.

Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee and Grace McCallum guided the U.S. to silver while Biles cheered from the sideline in a white sweatsuit, at peace with a decision that revealed a shift not only in Biles but perhaps the sport she’s redefined.

“We also have to focus on ourselves, because at the end of the day we’re human, too,” Biles said. “So, we have to protect our mind and our body, rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do.”

The Americans — fueled by an uneven bars routine by Lee that not even Biles could match — drew within eight-tenths of a point through three rotations. ROC, however, never wavered on floor. And they erupted when 21-year-old Angelina Melnikova’s score assured them of the top spot on the podium for the first time since the Unified Team won in Barcelona in 1992.

The victory came a day after ROC men’s team edged Japan for the top spot in the men’s final. Great Britain edged Italy for bronze.

“The impossible is possible now,” Melnikova said.

In the five years since Biles and the U.S. put on a dazzling display on their way to gold in Rio de Janeiro, gymnastics has undergone a reckoning. The tectonic plates in a sport where obedience, discipline and silence were long considered as important as talent and artistry are moving.

Biles has become an outspoken advocate for athlete’s rights and the importance of proper mental health. There was a time, there were many times actually, where she felt she wasn’t right and just powered through because that’s what people expected of her.

Not anymore. And the stand she took could resonate far beyond the color of any medal she may win in Tokyo.

Biles is the latest in a series of high-profile athletes, including tennis star Naomi Osaka, who have used their platforms to discuss their mental heath struggles. A subject that was once taboo has become far more accepted and embraced.

U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland applauded Biles for prioritizing her “mental wellness over all else” and offered the organization’s full support. USA Gymnastics women’s program vice-president called Biles’ act “incredibly selfless.”

Biles posted on social media Monday that she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders after an uncharacteristically sloppy showing during qualifying left the Americans looking up at the ROC on the scoreboard.

The tension affected her practice. It affected her confidence. And when she stepped onto the vault runway, it finally found its way to her performance, too.

She was scheduled to do an “Amanar” vault that requires a roundoff back handspring onto the table followed by 2 1/2 twists. Biles instead did just 1 1/2 twists with a big leap forward after landing. She sat down and talked to U.S. team doctor Marcia Faustin, then headed to the back while the rest of the Americans moved on to uneven bars without her.

When Biles returned several minutes later, she hugged her teammates and took off her bar grips. And just like that, her night was over.

“To see her kind of go out like that is very sad because this Olympic Games, I feel like, is kind of hers,” Lee said.

Biles is scheduled to defend her Olympic title in the all-around final on Thursday. She also qualified for all four event finals later in the Games. She said she will regroup on Wednesday before deciding whether to continue.

Biles’ abrupt absence forced the Americans to scramble a bit. The finals are a three-up/three-count format, meaning each country enters three of their four athletes on an apparatus, with all three scores counting.

Chiles stepped in to take Biles’ place on uneven bars and balance beam. The 20-year-old who made the team with her steady consistency pulled off a solid bars routine and drilled her balance beam set two days after falling twice on the event.

Thanks in part to a little help from ROC — which counted a pair of falls on beam — the U.S. drew within striking distance heading to floor, the final rotation.

Without Biles and her otherworldly tumbling, the U.S. needed to be near perfect to close the gap. It didn’t happen. Chiles stumbled to the mat at the end of her second pass, and any chance the U.S. had of chasing down ROC went right along with it.

Not that Chiles or the rest of the Americans particularly cared. The gold might be gone, but something more significant may have happened instead. It’s a tradeoff they can live with.

“This medal is definitely for (Biles),” said Chiles. “If it wasn’t if it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t be here where we are right now. We wouldn’t be a silver medalist because of who she is as a person.”

Chiles then turned to her good friend. Biles helped convince her to move to Houston to train alongside her two years ago, a decision that turned Chiles into an Olympian. In an empty arena in the middle of Japan with the world watching, Chiles did for Biles what Biles has done for so many for so long. She had her back.

“Kudos to you girl,” Chiles said. “This is all for you.”

TOKYO (AP) — Simone Biles came to Tokyo as the star of the U.S. Olympic movement and perhaps the Games themselves. It all came to a stunning halt in the women’s gymnastics final on Tuesday night with an uncertain vault.

In a flash, the rest of the American star’s Games came into question. And the United States’ long run at the top of the sport came to an end.

The team representing the Russia Olympic Committee surged past the shorthanded U.S. to the top of the podium, posting a score of 169.258 to win the country’s first Olympic team gold in nearly 30 years.

The Americans, with Biles serving as head cheerleader while clad in a white sweatsuit and dealing with what USA Gymnastics called a “medical issue,” hung on for silver.

Grace McCallum, Sunisa Lee and Jordan Chiles drew the U.S. within eight-tenths of a point through three rotations. ROC, however, never wavered on floor. And they erupted when 21-year-old Angelina Melnikova’s score assured them of the top spot on the podium.

The victory came a day after ROC men’s team edged Japan for the top spot in the men’s final.

The U.S. entered the finals hoping to bounce back from a shaky performance in qualifying, when the Americans came in second to the ROC. It marked the first time in 11 years the U.S. found itself looking up at the scoreboard at someone else.

The team declined to talk to the media afterward, though the 24-year-old did post on social media that she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders and that the Olympics were “no joke.”

Yet, something happened during the first rotation. She attempted an Amanar vault during warmups only to roll out of it upon landing. The code for that vault posted when she saluted the judges, but in midair things went awry.

The vault requires a roundoff back handspring onto the table followed by 2 1/2 twists. Biles instead did just 1 1/2 twists with a big leap forward after landing. She sat down and talked to U.S. team doctor Marcia Faustin, then headed to the back while her teammates moved on to uneven bars without her.

When Biles returned several minutes later, she hugged her teammates and took off her bar grips. And just like that, the greatest of all-time’s night was over.

USA Gymnastics did not specify the nature of Biles’ medical issue, saying in a statement she “will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions.”

Biles is scheduled to defend her Olympic title in the all-around final on Thursday. She also qualified for all four event finals later in the Games.

Whether she will get that opportunity remains to be seen.

Biles’ abrupt absence forced the Americans to scramble a bit. The finals are a three-up/three-count format, meaning each country puts three of their four athletes up on an apparatus, with all three scores counting.

Thanks in part to a little help from ROC — which recorded a pair of falls on beam — the U.S. drew within striking distance heading to floor, the final rotation.

Yet the Americans — without Biles and her otherworldly tumbling — needed to be near perfect to close the gap. It didn’t happen. Chiles stumbled to the mat at the end of her second pass, and any chance the U.S. had of chasing down ROC went right along with it.

TOKYO (AP) — Reigning Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles is out of the team finals after apparently suffering an injury during the vault.

The 24-year-old U.S. star, considered to be the greatest gymnast of all time, huddled with a trainer after landing her vault. She then exited the competition floor with the team doctor.

Biles returned several minutes later with her right leg wrapped. She took off her bar grips, and hugged teammates Grace McCallum, Sunisa Lee and Jordan Chiles before putting on a jacket and sweatpants.&nbsp;Chiles replaced Biles on uneven bars and balance bream.

The Americans will be forced to finish the rest of the competition without her, severely hampering their bid to claim a third straight Olympic title.

Biles arrived in Tokyo as the unquestioned star of the Games but struggled, at least by her high standards, during qualifying.

TOKYO (AP) — Simone Biles arrived in Tokyo as the star of the U.S. Olympic movement and perhaps the Games themselves. She convinced herself she was prepared for the pressure. That she was ready to carry the burden of outsized expectations.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Official statement: &quot;Simone Biles has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue. She will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions.&quot; Thinking of you, Simone! <a href="https://t.co/QA1GYHwWTv">pic.twitter.com/QA1GYHwWTv</a>&mdash; USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAGym/status/1419992728352526339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Only, as the women’s gymnastics team final approached on Tuesday night, something felt off. And the athlete widely considered the Greatest of All Time in her sport knew it.So rather than push through the doubts that crept into her head as she’s done so many times in the past, Biles decided enough was enough. She was done. For now.The American star withdrew from the competition following one rotation, opening the door for the team of Russian athletes to win gold for the first time in nearly three decades.Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee and Grace McCallum guided the U.S. to silver while Biles cheered from the sideline in a white sweatsuit, at peace with a decision that revealed a shift not only in Biles but perhaps the sport she’s redefined.“We also have to focus on ourselves, because at the end of the day we’re human, too,” Biles said. “So, we have to protect our mind and our body, rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do.”The Americans — fueled by an uneven bars routine by Lee that not even Biles could match — drew within eight-tenths of a point through three rotations. ROC, however, never wavered on floor. And they erupted when 21-year-old Angelina Melnikova’s score assured them of the top spot on the podium for the first time since the Unified Team won in Barcelona in 1992.The victory came a day after ROC men’s team edged Japan for the top spot in the men’s final. Great Britain edged Italy for bronze.“The impossible is possible now,” Melnikova said.Perhaps in more ways than one.In the five years since Biles and the U.S. put on a dazzling display on their way to gold in Rio de Janeiro, gymnastics has undergone a reckoning. The tectonic plates in a sport where obedience, discipline and silence were long considered as important as talent and artistry are moving.Biles has become an outspoken advocate for athlete’s rights and the importance of proper mental health. There was a time, there were many times actually, where she felt she wasn’t right and just powered through because that’s what people expected of her.Not anymore. And the stand she took could resonate far beyond the color of any medal she may win in Tokyo.Biles is the latest in a series of high-profile athletes, including tennis star Naomi Osaka, who have used their platforms to discuss their mental heath struggles. A subject that was once taboo has become far more accepted and embraced.U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland applauded Biles for prioritizing her “mental wellness over all else” and offered the organization’s full support. USA Gymnastics women’s program vice-president called Biles’ act “incredibly selfless.”Biles posted on social media Monday that she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders after an uncharacteristically sloppy showing during qualifying left the Americans looking up at the ROC on the scoreboard.The tension affected her practice. It affected her confidence. And when she stepped onto the vault runway, it finally found its way to her performance, too.She was scheduled to do an “Amanar” vault that requires a roundoff back handspring onto the table followed by 2 1/2 twists. Biles instead did just 1 1/2 twists with a big leap forward after landing. She sat down and talked to U.S. team doctor Marcia Faustin, then headed to the back while the rest of the Americans moved on to uneven bars without her.When Biles returned several minutes later, she hugged her teammates and took off her bar grips. And just like that, her night was over.“To see her kind of go out like that is very sad because this Olympic Games, I feel like, is kind of hers,” Lee said.Biles is scheduled to defend her Olympic title in the all-around final on Thursday. She also qualified for all four event finals later in the Games. She said she will regroup on Wednesday before deciding whether to continue.Biles’ abrupt absence forced the Americans to scramble a bit. The finals are a three-up/three-count format, meaning each country enters three of their four athletes on an apparatus, with all three scores counting.Chiles stepped in to take Biles’ place on uneven bars and balance beam. The 20-year-old who made the team with her steady consistency pulled off a solid bars routine and drilled her balance beam set two days after falling twice on the event.Thanks in part to a little help from ROC — which counted a pair of falls on beam — the U.S. drew within striking distance heading to floor, the final rotation.Without Biles and her otherworldly tumbling, the U.S. needed to be near perfect to close the gap. It didn’t happen. Chiles stumbled to the mat at the end of her second pass, and any chance the U.S. had of chasing down ROC went right along with it.Not that Chiles or the rest of the Americans particularly cared. The gold might be gone, but something more significant may have happened instead. It’s a tradeoff they can live with.“This medal is definitely for (Biles),” said Chiles. “If it wasn’t if it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t be here where we are right now. We wouldn’t be a silver medalist because of who she is as a person.”Chiles then turned to her good friend. Biles helped convince her to move to Houston to train alongside her two years ago, a decision that turned Chiles into an Olympian. In an empty arena in the middle of Japan with the world watching, Chiles did for Biles what Biles has done for so many for so long. She had her back.“Kudos to you girl,” Chiles said. “This is all for you.”-------TOKYO (AP) — Simone Biles came to Tokyo as the star of the U.S. Olympic movement and perhaps the Games themselves. It all came to a stunning halt in the women’s gymnastics final on Tuesday night with an uncertain vault.In a flash, the rest of the American star’s Games came into question. And the United States’ long run at the top of the sport came to an end.The team representing the Russia Olympic Committee surged past the shorthanded U.S. to the top of the podium, posting a score of 169.258 to win the country’s first Olympic team gold in nearly 30 years.The Americans, with Biles serving as head cheerleader while clad in a white sweatsuit and dealing with what USA Gymnastics called a “medical issue,” hung on for silver.Grace McCallum, Sunisa Lee and Jordan Chiles drew the U.S. within eight-tenths of a point through three rotations. ROC, however, never wavered on floor. And they erupted when 21-year-old Angelina Melnikova’s score assured them of the top spot on the podium.The victory came a day after ROC men’s team edged Japan for the top spot in the men’s final.Great Britain edged Italy for bronzeThe U.S. entered the finals hoping to bounce back from a shaky performance in qualifying, when the Americans came in second to the ROC. It marked the first time in 11 years the U.S. found itself looking up at the scoreboard at someone else.The team declined to talk to the media afterward, though the 24-year-old did post on social media that she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders and that the Olympics were “no joke.”Yet, something happened during the first rotation. She attempted an Amanar vault during warmups only to roll out of it upon landing. The code for that vault posted when she saluted the judges, but in midair things went awry.The vault requires a roundoff back handspring onto the table followed by 2 1/2 twists. Biles instead did just 1 1/2 twists with a big leap forward after landing. She sat down and talked to U.S. team doctor Marcia Faustin, then headed to the back while her teammates moved on to uneven bars without her.When Biles returned several minutes later, she hugged her teammates and took off her bar grips. And just like that, the greatest of all-time’s night was over.USA Gymnastics did not specify the nature of Biles’ medical issue, saying in a statement she “will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions.”Biles is scheduled to defend her Olympic title in the all-around final on Thursday. She also qualified for all four event finals later in the Games.Whether she will get that opportunity remains to be seen.Biles’ abrupt absence forced the Americans to scramble a bit. The finals are a three-up/three-count format, meaning each country puts three of their four athletes up on an apparatus, with all three scores counting.Chiles stepped in to take Biles’ place on uneven bars and balance beam. The 20-year-old who made the team with her steady consistency pulled off a solid bars routine and drilled her balance beam set two days after falling twice on the event.Thanks in part to a little help from ROC — which recorded a pair of falls on beam — the U.S. drew within striking distance heading to floor, the final rotation.Yet the Americans — without Biles and her otherworldly tumbling — needed to be near perfect to close the gap. It didn’t happen. Chiles stumbled to the mat at the end of her second pass, and any chance the U.S. had of chasing down ROC went right along with it.---------TOKYO (AP) — Reigning Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles is out of the team finals after apparently suffering an injury during the vault.The 24-year-old U.S. star, considered to be the greatest gymnast of all time, huddled with a trainer after landing her vault. She then exited the competition floor with the team doctor.Biles returned several minutes later with her right leg wrapped. She took off her bar grips, and hugged teammates Grace McCallum, Sunisa Lee and Jordan Chiles before putting on a jacket and sweatpants.&nbsp;Chiles replaced Biles on uneven bars and balance bream.The Americans will be forced to finish the rest of the competition without her, severely hampering their bid to claim a third straight Olympic title.Biles arrived in Tokyo as the unquestioned star of the Games but struggled, at least by her high standards, during qualifying.

U.S. star, Biles withdraws from gymnastics final to protect team, self

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reversing course on some masking guidelines. The agency announced new recommendations Tuesday that even vaccinated people should return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging. 

Scientists cited new information about the ability of the delta variant to spread among vaccinated people. The CDC also recommended indoor masks for all teachers, staff, students and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status. 

The new guidance follows recent decisions in Los Angeles and St. Louis to revert to indoor mask mandates amid a spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations that have been especially bad in the South.

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was expected to backpedal Tuesday on its masking guidelines and recommend that even vaccinated people wear masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging, a federal official said.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss details of the new policy. The CDC was expected to make an announcement later in the day.

The new guidance follows recent decisions in Los Angeles and St. Louis to revert to indoor mask mandates amid a spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations that have been especially bad in the South. The country is averaging more than 57,000 cases a day and 24,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations.

For much of the pandemic, the CDC advised Americans to wear masks outdoors if they were within 6 feet of one another.

Then in April, as vaccination rates rose sharply, the agency eased its guidelines on the wearing of masks outdoors, saying that fully vaccinated Americans no longer needed to cover their faces unless they were in a big crowd of strangers. In May, the guidance was eased further for fully vaccinated people, allowing them to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings.

The guidance still called for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings, like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters, but it cleared the way for reopening workplaces and other venues.

Subsequent CDC guidance said fully vaccinated people no longer needed to wear masks at summer camps or at schools, either.

For months COVID cases, deaths and hospitalizations were falling steadily, but those trends began to change at the beginning of the summer as a mutated and more transmissible version of the coronavirus, the delta variant, began to spread widely, especially in areas with lower vaccination rates.

Some public health experts said they thought the earlier CDC decision was based on good science, which indicated that the risk of vaccinated people spreading the virus was relatively low and that the risk of them catching the virus and becoming extremely ill was even lower.

But those experts were also critical, noting that there was no call for Americans to document their vaccination status, which created an honor system. Unvaccinated people who did not want to wear masks in the first place saw it as an opportunity to do what they wanted, they said.

“If all the unvaccinated people were responsible and wore mask indoors, we would not be seeing this surge,” said Dr. Ali Khan, a former CDC disease investigator who now is dean of the University of Nebraska’s College of Public Health.

Lawrence Gostin, a public health law professor at Georgetown University, drew a similar conclusion.

“It was completely foreseeable that when they (the CDC) made their announcement, masking would no longer be the norm, and that’s exactly what’s happened,” Gostin said.

The CDC may be seen as “flip-flopping,” he said, because there’s been no widely recognized change in the science, he said. Furthermore, it’s not likely to change the behavior of the people who most need to wear masks.

“I don’t think you can effectively walk that back,” he said.

Ken Thigpen, a retired respiratory therapist who now works for a medical device manufacturer, is fully vaccinated and stopped wearing his mask in public after the CDC changed its guidance in May. But he started to reconsider in the last week after his job took him to hospitals Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida, where he witnessed medical centers getting inundated with COVID-19 patients.

“That delta variant is intense. It is so transmissible that we have to do something to tamp it down,” he said.

“I loved it when I could call the hospitals and they said, ‘We actually closed our COVID ward today or we are down to two COVID patients,’” he recalled. “And now we are opening the wards back up, and the numbers are going nuts.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reversing course on some masking guidelines. The agency announced new recommendations Tuesday that even vaccinated people should return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging. Scientists cited new information about the ability of the delta variant to spread among vaccinated people. The CDC also recommended indoor masks for all teachers, staff, students and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status. The new guidance follows recent decisions in Los Angeles and St. Louis to revert to indoor mask mandates amid a spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations that have been especially bad in the South.-----------KANSAS CITY (AP) —The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was expected to backpedal Tuesday on its masking guidelines and recommend that even vaccinated people wear masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging, a federal official said.The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss details of the new policy. The CDC was expected to make an announcement later in the day.The new guidance follows recent decisions in Los Angeles and St. Louis to revert to indoor mask mandates amid a spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations that have been especially bad in the South. The country is averaging more than 57,000 cases a day and 24,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations.For much of the pandemic, the CDC advised Americans to wear masks outdoors if they were within 6 feet of one another.Then in April, as vaccination rates rose sharply, the agency eased its guidelines on the wearing of masks outdoors, saying that fully vaccinated Americans no longer needed to cover their faces unless they were in a big crowd of strangers. In May, the guidance was eased further for fully vaccinated people, allowing them to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings.The guidance still called for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings, like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters, but it cleared the way for reopening workplaces and other venues.Subsequent CDC guidance said fully vaccinated people no longer needed to wear masks at summer camps or at schools, either.For months COVID cases, deaths and hospitalizations were falling steadily, but those trends began to change at the beginning of the summer as a mutated and more transmissible version of the coronavirus, the delta variant, began to spread widely, especially in areas with lower vaccination rates.Some public health experts said they thought the earlier CDC decision was based on good science, which indicated that the risk of vaccinated people spreading the virus was relatively low and that the risk of them catching the virus and becoming extremely ill was even lower.But those experts were also critical, noting that there was no call for Americans to document their vaccination status, which created an honor system. Unvaccinated people who did not want to wear masks in the first place saw it as an opportunity to do what they wanted, they said.“If all the unvaccinated people were responsible and wore mask indoors, we would not be seeing this surge,” said Dr. Ali Khan, a former CDC disease investigator who now is dean of the University of Nebraska’s College of Public Health.Lawrence Gostin, a public health law professor at Georgetown University, drew a similar conclusion.“It was completely foreseeable that when they (the CDC) made their announcement, masking would no longer be the norm, and that’s exactly what’s happened,” Gostin said.The CDC may be seen as “flip-flopping,” he said, because there’s been no widely recognized change in the science, he said. Furthermore, it’s not likely to change the behavior of the people who most need to wear masks.“I don’t think you can effectively walk that back,” he said.Ken Thigpen, a retired respiratory therapist who now works for a medical device manufacturer, is fully vaccinated and stopped wearing his mask in public after the CDC changed its guidance in May. But he started to reconsider in the last week after his job took him to hospitals Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida, where he witnessed medical centers getting inundated with COVID-19 patients.“That delta variant is intense. It is so transmissible that we have to do something to tamp it down,” he said.“I loved it when I could call the hospitals and they said, ‘We actually closed our COVID ward today or we are down to two COVID patients,’” he recalled. “And now we are opening the wards back up, and the numbers are going nuts.”

CDC now says vaccinated should wear masks

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are retiring Warpaint the horse, president Mark Donovan said Monday at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-nfl-michael-brown-kansas-city-chiefs-01e201a0ef431bfef01d07cd50656a60">training camp</a>.

Warpaint is a two-time Pinto World Champion who galloped on the field at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium before games and after the Chiefs scored a touchdown.

The pinto horse was originally ridden by a man in full Native American headdress. For years, a cheerleader has ridden Warpaint instead as the Chiefs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-nfl-football-mo-state-wire-kansas-city-chiefs-7914d80f8e9a688ea076eb7e6aa621be">distance themselves from Native American imagery</a>.

Last season the Chiefs prohibited fans from wearing headdresses or war paint amid a push for more cultural sensitivity, and began pushing for a subtle change to the tomahawk chop celebration amid complaints that it’s racist. Cheerleaders used a closed fist instead of an open palm to signal the beating of a drum. The team typically has a celebrity or other guest of honor beat a large drum before the start of the game.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627402967711.png" alt="Warpaint participated in the Feb. 2020 Superbowl parade -photo courtesy KHBS" />
 <figcaption>Warpaint participated in the Feb. 2020 Superbowl parade -photo courtesy KHBS</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are retiring Warpaint the horse, president Mark Donovan said Monday at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-nfl-michael-brown-kansas-city-chiefs-01e201a0ef431bfef01d07cd50656a60">training camp</a>.Warpaint is a two-time Pinto World Champion who galloped on the field at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium before games and after the Chiefs scored a touchdown.The pinto horse was originally ridden by a man in full Native American headdress. For years, a cheerleader has ridden Warpaint instead as the Chiefs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-nfl-football-mo-state-wire-kansas-city-chiefs-7914d80f8e9a688ea076eb7e6aa621be">distance themselves from Native American imagery</a>.Last season the Chiefs prohibited fans from wearing headdresses or war paint amid a push for more cultural sensitivity, and began pushing for a subtle change to the tomahawk chop celebration amid complaints that it’s racist. Cheerleaders used a closed fist instead of an open palm to signal the beating of a drum. The team typically has a celebrity or other guest of honor beat a large drum before the start of the game.

Pinto horse Warpaint retiring from Chiefs football games

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The man arrested in connection with the abduction and shooting in Reno and Sedgwick counties was back in court Tuesday for the formal reading of charges.

Kamden Campos, 22,&nbsp; is facing 12 counts including six counts of attempted first-degree murder, one count of kidnapping, three counts of aggravated battery and two counts of criminal threat.

The six counts of attempted murder and the single kidnapping carry sentences of up to 55 years in prison if Campos is convicted. Campos told the court that he is working on finding an attorney and did not ask for a reduction in his bond, which is set at $2,101,500.

Campos was arrested after allegedly abducting a woman and her family in Wichita. They drove out to Cheney Lake. When the woman tried to escape in a vehicle, Campos allegedly shot at the vehicle, hitting a 2-year-old girl.&nbsp;

The woman drove into Sedgwick County where she called 911. The child was taken to Wesley Medical Center where she underwent surgery and is recovering.

Campos' next court date is set for Aug. 4. If he does not have an attorney at that time, one could be appointed for him.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp;The man arrested in connection with the July 19, abduction and shooting in Reno and Sedgwick counties will be back in court Tuesday for the formal reading of charges.

Kamden Campos, 22, is facing several alternative counts of attempted first-degree murder and several alternative counts of aggravated kidnapping. All are level one person felonies, which could see Campos spend a significant amount of time in prison if he is convicted.

Campos is still being held on a $2,101,500 bond.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A man arrested in connection with the abduction and shooting in Reno and Sedgwick County on Monday made his first appearance in Reno County District Court Tuesday morning. The injured two-year-old had surgery and is recovering, according to the sheriff's department.

In a very short hearing, 22-year-old Kamden Campos answered two questions with one word answers and did not make any request for a reduction of his bond which is $2,101,500.

Campos is facing possible charges of four counts of attempted first degree murder, kidnapping and theft. Campos was arrested after allegedly abducting a woman and her daughter in Wichita. They drove out to Cheney Lake. When the woman tried to escape in a vehicle, Campos allegedly shot at the vehicle, hitting a 2-year-old.&nbsp;

The woman drove into Sedgwick County where she called 911. The child was taken to Wesley Medical Center where she remained in critical condition, according to the Sheriff's office.

District Attorney Tom Stanton said he hopes to have formal charges filed by no later than Monday. Campos is due back in court Tuesday, July 27 unless charges are brought against him before then.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627335322956.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ROD ZOOKHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The man arrested in connection with the abduction and shooting in Reno and Sedgwick counties was back in court Tuesday for the formal reading of charges.Kamden Campos, 22,&nbsp; is facing 12 counts including six counts of attempted first-degree murder, one count of kidnapping, three counts of aggravated battery and two counts of criminal threat.The six counts of attempted murder and the single kidnapping carry sentences of up to 55 years in prison if Campos is convicted. Campos told the court that he is working on finding an attorney and did not ask for a reduction in his bond, which is set at $2,101,500.Campos was arrested after allegedly abducting a woman and her family in Wichita. They drove out to Cheney Lake. When the woman tried to escape in a vehicle, Campos allegedly shot at the vehicle, hitting a 2-year-old girl.&nbsp;The woman drove into Sedgwick County where she called 911. The child was taken to Wesley Medical Center where she underwent surgery and is recovering.Campos' next court date is set for Aug. 4. If he does not have an attorney at that time, one could be appointed for him.--------HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp;The man arrested in connection with the July 19, abduction and shooting in Reno and Sedgwick counties will be back in court Tuesday for the formal reading of charges.Kamden Campos, 22, is facing several alternative counts of attempted first-degree murder and several alternative counts of aggravated kidnapping. All are level one person felonies, which could see Campos spend a significant amount of time in prison if he is convicted.Campos was arrested after allegedly abducting a woman and her family in Wichita. They drove out to Cheney Lake. When the woman tried to escape in a vehicle, Campos allegedly shot at the vehicle, hitting a 2-year-old girl.&nbsp;The woman drove into Sedgwick County where she called 911. The child was taken to Wesley Medical Center where she underwent surgery and is recovering.Campos is still being held on a $2,101,500 bond.--------HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A man arrested in connection with the abduction and shooting in Reno and Sedgwick County on Monday made his first appearance in Reno County District Court Tuesday morning. The injured two-year-old had surgery and is recovering, according to the sheriff's department.In a very short hearing, 22-year-old Kamden Campos answered two questions with one word answers and did not make any request for a reduction of his bond which is $2,101,500.Campos is facing possible charges of four counts of attempted first degree murder, kidnapping and theft. Campos was arrested after allegedly abducting a woman and her daughter in Wichita. They drove out to Cheney Lake. When the woman tried to escape in a vehicle, Campos allegedly shot at the vehicle, hitting a 2-year-old.&nbsp;The woman drove into Sedgwick County where she called 911. The child was taken to Wesley Medical Center where she remained in critical condition, according to the Sheriff's office.District Attorney Tom Stanton said he hopes to have formal charges filed by no later than Monday. Campos is due back in court Tuesday, July 27 unless charges are brought against him before then.

Suspect charged in abduction, shooting of Kan. toddler 

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

SALINE COUNTY- A Kansas man was killed just after 5p.m. Monday in a two vehicle accident on E. Old Highway 40 in Saline County.

Jameson Holloway, 45, of Solomon, was westbound on E. Old Highway 40 just west of Solomon on a 2014 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide when an eastbound 2021 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Morris Rasher, 87, of Solomon, started to make a left turn onto N. Amos Road.

The pickup turned in front of the motorcycle, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.

Holloway, was thrown from the motorcycle upon impact, Soldan said. The motorcycle was stuck in the front of the pickup, he said.

Holloway was transported to Salina Regional Health Center where he was pronounced dead.&nbsp;Rasher suffered minor injuries. He was cited for failure to yield on a left turn. Holloway was not wearing a helmet, according to Soldan.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSALINE COUNTY- A Kansas man was killed just after 5p.m. Monday in a two vehicle accident on E. Old Highway 40 in Saline County.Jameson Holloway, 45, of Solomon, was westbound on E. Old Highway 40 just west of Solomon on a 2014 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide when an eastbound 2021 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Morris Rasher, 87, of Solomon, started to make a left turn onto N. Amos Road.The pickup turned in front of the motorcycle, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.Holloway, was thrown from the motorcycle upon impact, Soldan said. The motorcycle was stuck in the front of the pickup, he said.Holloway was transported to Salina Regional Health Center where he was pronounced dead.&nbsp;Rasher suffered minor injuries. He was cited for failure to yield on a left turn. Holloway was not wearing a helmet, according to Soldan.

Sheriff: Kan. man dies after pickup turns in front of motorcycle

WASHINGTON — Internal Revenue Service <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>
 partners today called on tax professionals to increase efforts to 
inform clients about the Identity Protection PIN Opt-In Program that can
 protect against tax-related identity theft.

The IRS, state tax agencies and the nation's tax industry – working 
together as the Security Summit &nbsp;– need assistance from tax 
professionals to spread the word to clients that the IP PIN is now 
available to anyone who can verify their identity.

Sharing information about the IP PIN Opt-In Program is the second in a
 five-part weekly series sponsored by the Summit partners to highlight 
critical steps tax professionals can take to protect client data. This 
year's theme "<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/boost-security-immunity-fight-against-identity-theft">Boost Security Immunity: Fight&nbsp;Against Identity Theft</a>"
 is an effort to urge tax professionals to intensify efforts to secure 
their systems and protect client data during this pandemic and its 
aftermath.

"An Identity Protection PIN prevents someone else from filing a tax 
return using your Social Security number," said Chuck Rettig, IRS 
commissioner. "We've now made the IP PIN available to anyone who can 
verify their identity. This is a free way for taxpayers to protect 
themselves, but we need the help of tax professionals to make sure more 
people know about it."

The IRS created <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5367es.pdf">Publication 5367 (EN-SP), IP PIN Opt-In Program for Taxpayers,&nbsp;PDF</a>
 in English and Spanish, so that tax professionals could print and share
 the IP PIN information with clients. There are also special posters 
available in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5477.pdf">English&nbsp;PDF</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5477sp.pdf">Spanish&nbsp;PDF</a>.

For security reasons, tax professionals cannot obtain an IP PIN on behalf of clients. Taxpayers must obtain their own IP PIN.

Summit partners urged taxpayers and tax professionals to protect the 
IP PIN from identity thieves. Taxpayers should share their IP PIN only 
with their trusted tax prep provider. Tax professionals should never 
store clients' IP PINs on computer systems. Also, the IRS will never 
call, email or text either taxpayers or tax preparers to request the IP 
PIN.

Tax professionals who experience a data theft can assist clients by 
urging them to quickly obtain an IP PIN. Even if a thief already has 
filed a fraudulent return, an IP PIN would still offer protections for 
later years and prevent taxpayers from being repeat victims of 
tax-related identity theft.

Here are a few things taxpayers should know about the IP PIN:

Currently, taxpayers may obtain an IP PIN for 2021, which should
 be used when filing any federal tax returns during the year. New IP 
PINs will be available starting in January 2022.

To obtain an IP PIN, the best option is the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin">Get an IP PIN</a>,
 the IRS online tool. Taxpayers must validate their identities through 
Secure Access authentication to access the tool and their IP PIN. Before
 attempting this rigorous process, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/secure-access-how-to-register-for-certain-online-self-help-tools">Secure Access: How to Register for Certain Online Self-Help Tools</a>. The tool is offline between November and January.

If you are unable to validate your identity online and if your income is $72,000 or less, you may file&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f15227.pdf">Form 15227, Application for an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number&nbsp;PDF</a>.
 The IRS will call the telephone number provided on Form 15227 to 
validate your identity. However, for security reasons, the IRS will 
assign an IP PIN for&nbsp;the next filing season. The IP PIN cannot be used for the current filing season.

Taxpayers who cannot validate their identities online, or on the 
phone with an IRS employee after submitting a Form 15227, or who are 
ineligible to file a Form 15227 may call the IRS to make an appointment 
at a Taxpayer Assistance Center. They will need to bring one picture 
identification document and another identification document to prove 
their identity. Once verified, the taxpayer will receive an IP PIN via 
U.S. Postal Service within three weeks.

The IP PIN process for confirmed victims of identity theft remains 
unchanged. These victims will automatically receive an IP PIN each year.

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

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — Internal Revenue Service <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit</a>
 partners today called on tax professionals to increase efforts to 
inform clients about the Identity Protection PIN Opt-In Program that can
 protect against tax-related identity theft.The IRS, state tax agencies and the nation's tax industry – working 
together as the Security Summit &nbsp;– need assistance from tax 
professionals to spread the word to clients that the IP PIN is now 
available to anyone who can verify their identity.Sharing information about the IP PIN Opt-In Program is the second in a
 five-part weekly series sponsored by the Summit partners to highlight 
critical steps tax professionals can take to protect client data. This 
year's theme "<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/boost-security-immunity-fight-against-identity-theft">Boost Security Immunity: Fight&nbsp;Against Identity Theft</a>"
 is an effort to urge tax professionals to intensify efforts to secure 
their systems and protect client data during this pandemic and its 
aftermath."An Identity Protection PIN prevents someone else from filing a tax 
return using your Social Security number," said Chuck Rettig, IRS 
commissioner. "We've now made the IP PIN available to anyone who can 
verify their identity. This is a free way for taxpayers to protect 
themselves, but we need the help of tax professionals to make sure more 
people know about it."The IRS created <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5367es.pdf">Publication 5367 (EN-SP), IP PIN Opt-In Program for Taxpayers,&nbsp;PDF</a>
 in English and Spanish, so that tax professionals could print and share
 the IP PIN information with clients. There are also special posters 
available in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5477.pdf">English&nbsp;PDF</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5477sp.pdf">Spanish&nbsp;PDF</a>.For security reasons, tax professionals cannot obtain an IP PIN on behalf of clients. Taxpayers must obtain their own IP PIN.Summit partners urged taxpayers and tax professionals to protect the 
IP PIN from identity thieves. Taxpayers should share their IP PIN only 
with their trusted tax prep provider. Tax professionals should never 
store clients' IP PINs on computer systems. Also, the IRS will never 
call, email or text either taxpayers or tax preparers to request the IP 
PIN.Tax professionals who experience a data theft can assist clients by 
urging them to quickly obtain an IP PIN. Even if a thief already has 
filed a fraudulent return, an IP PIN would still offer protections for 
later years and prevent taxpayers from being repeat victims of 
tax-related identity theft.<h2>Here are a few things taxpayers should know about the IP PIN:</h2><ul>
 <li>It's a six-digit number known only to the taxpayer and the IRS.</li><li>The opt-in program is voluntary.</li><li>The IP PIN should be entered onto the electronic tax return when 
prompted by the software product or onto a paper return next to the 
signature line.</li><li>The IP PIN is valid for one calendar year; taxpayers must obtain a new IP PIN each year.</li><li>Only dependents who can verify their identities may obtain an IP PIN.</li><li>IP PIN users should never share their number with anyone but the 
IRS and their trusted tax preparation provider. The IRS will never call,
 email or text a request for the IP PIN.</li>
 </ul>Currently, taxpayers may obtain an IP PIN for 2021, which should
 be used when filing any federal tax returns during the year. New IP 
PINs will be available starting in January 2022.To obtain an IP PIN, the best option is the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin">Get an IP PIN</a>,
 the IRS online tool. Taxpayers must validate their identities through 
Secure Access authentication to access the tool and their IP PIN. Before
 attempting this rigorous process, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/secure-access-how-to-register-for-certain-online-self-help-tools">Secure Access: How to Register for Certain Online Self-Help Tools</a>. The tool is offline between November and January.If you are unable to validate your identity online and if your income is $72,000 or less, you may file&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f15227.pdf">Form 15227, Application for an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number&nbsp;PDF</a>.
 The IRS will call the telephone number provided on Form 15227 to 
validate your identity. However, for security reasons, the IRS will 
assign an IP PIN for&nbsp;the next filing season. The IP PIN cannot be used for the current filing season.Taxpayers who cannot validate their identities online, or on the 
phone with an IRS employee after submitting a Form 15227, or who are 
ineligible to file a Form 15227 may call the IRS to make an appointment 
at a Taxpayer Assistance Center. They will need to bring one picture 
identification document and another identification document to prove 
their identity. Once verified, the taxpayer will receive an IP PIN via 
U.S. Postal Service within three weeks.The IP PIN process for confirmed victims of identity theft remains 
unchanged. These victims will automatically receive an IP PIN each year.<h2>Additional resources</h2>Tax professionals also can get help with security recommendations by reviewing the recently revised IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4557.pdf">Publication 4557, Safeguarding Taxpayer Data&nbsp;PDF</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ir/2016/NIST.IR.7621r1.pdf">Small Business Information Security: The Fundamentals&nbsp;PDF</a>&nbsp;by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central">Identity Theft Central</a> pages for tax pros, individuals and businesses have important details as well.<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5293.pdf">Publication 5293, Data Security Resource Guide for Tax Professionals&nbsp;PDF</a>,
 provides a compilation of data theft information available on IRS.gov. 
Also, tax professionals should stay connected to the IRS through 
subscriptions to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/join-e-news-for-tax-professionals">e-News for Tax Professionals</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-new-media-1">Social Media</a>.For more information, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/boost-security-immunity-fight-against-identity-theft">Boost Security Immunity: Fight&nbsp;Against Identity Theft</a>.

IRS: IP PINS will protect against tax-related identity theft

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States will keep existing COVID-19 travel restrictions on international travel in place for now due to concerns about the surging infection rate because of the delta variant, according to a White House official.

President Joe Biden earlier this month said that his administration was “in the process” of considering how soon the U.S. could lift the ban on European travel bound for the U.S. after the issue was raised by German Chancellor Angela Merkel during her visit to the White House.

The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said while the administration understands the importance of international travel, cases are rising in the U.S. — particularly among those who are unvaccinated and will likely continue to increase in the weeks ahead.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised Americans against travel to the United Kingdom this past Monday given a surge in cases there.

Most of continental Europe has relaxed restrictions on Americans who are fully vaccinated, although the United Kingdom still requires quarantines for most visitors arriving from the U.S. Airlines say, however, that the lack of two-way travel is limiting the number of flights they can offer and seats they can sell.

But the rise and prevalence of COVID-19 variants in Europe, especially the delta mutation that is also spreading throughout the U.S., has caused the Biden administration to tread slowly about increasing transatlantic travel.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618925544398.png" alt="Most of continental Europe has relaxed restrictions on Americans who are fully vaccinated, although the United Kingdom still requires quarantines for most visitors arriving from the U.S. Photo Kansas City International Airport" />
 <figcaption>Most of continental Europe has relaxed restrictions on Americans who are fully vaccinated, although the United Kingdom still requires quarantines for most visitors arriving from the U.S. Photo Kansas City International Airport</figcaption>
 </figure>By AAMER MADHANI, Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — The United States will keep existing COVID-19 travel restrictions on international travel in place for now due to concerns about the surging infection rate because of the delta variant, according to a White House official.President Joe Biden earlier this month said that his administration was “in the process” of considering how soon the U.S. could lift the ban on European travel bound for the U.S. after the issue was raised by German Chancellor Angela Merkel during her visit to the White House.The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said while the administration understands the importance of international travel, cases are rising in the U.S. — particularly among those who are unvaccinated and will likely continue to increase in the weeks ahead.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised Americans against travel to the United Kingdom this past Monday given a surge in cases there.Most of continental Europe has relaxed restrictions on Americans who are fully vaccinated, although the United Kingdom still requires quarantines for most visitors arriving from the U.S. Airlines say, however, that the lack of two-way travel is limiting the number of flights they can offer and seats they can sell.But the rise and prevalence of COVID-19 variants in Europe, especially the delta mutation that is also spreading throughout the U.S., has caused the Biden administration to tread slowly about increasing transatlantic travel.

With virus surge, US to keep travel restrictions

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — The body of a woman has been found in a submerged vehicle in an Aberdeen lake. 

Authorities say police were called Saturday about a suspicious object in Richmond Lake. 

Divers responded and found the submerged vehicle near the west bridge.

 The vehicle was tied to a missing person’s case from Aberdeen.

 Officials say the body is believed to be a woman reported missing by family members in April.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1565893843849.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — The body of a woman has been found in a submerged vehicle in an Aberdeen lake. Authorities say police were called Saturday about a suspicious object in Richmond Lake. Divers responded and found the submerged vehicle near the west bridge. The vehicle was tied to a missing person’s case from Aberdeen. Officials say the body is believed to be a woman reported missing by family members in April. The investigation is ongoing.

Body recovered from submerged vehicle likely missing South Dakota woman

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Civil rights groups on Monday called for a federal investigation of Kansas City, Missouri, police, saying they have a pattern of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-michael-brown-police-kansas-police-reform-082adcdbc64ec1cb92d284e376930e86">using excessive force, particularly against Black men.</a>

The Urban Council, a consortium of groups including the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, asked the U.S. Department of Justice to step in.

Civil rights leaders also criticized the mostly governor-appointed Board of Police Commissioners, which makes Kansas City one of few major metropolitan hubs in the U.S. without full local police control.

“There exists a lack of accountability on the part of KCPD and no opportunity for redress because we do not have local control," Kansas City Urban League President and CEO Gwen Grant said in a statement. "Therefore, our only recourse of action is to come together to seek a DOJ investigation into the KCPD.”

A Kansas City police spokesman issued a statement saying the agency is already working with the Justice Department to report possible civil rights violations or excessive force under a 2015 memorandum of understanding.

“We have mechanisms in place to ensure that members can report any incident of discrimination or racism anonymously,” spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said in an email. “We take every incident of reported racism very seriously and investigate fully whether it involves department members or the members of the community.”

The county prosecutor also supports a Justice Department investigation.

“Kansas City’s police department suffers from many problems identified in cities now in turmoil about their police force,” Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker wrote to the federal agency. “It has no accountability to our community; it has lost the community’s confidence that excessive force will be rooted out and stopped; and the harm from all of this falls in greatest portion on the city’s minority community.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Civil rights groups on Monday called for a federal investigation of Kansas City, Missouri, police, saying they have a pattern of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-michael-brown-police-kansas-police-reform-082adcdbc64ec1cb92d284e376930e86">using excessive force, particularly against Black men.</a>The Urban Council, a consortium of groups including the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, asked the U.S. Department of Justice to step in.Civil rights leaders also criticized the mostly governor-appointed Board of Police Commissioners, which makes Kansas City one of few major metropolitan hubs in the U.S. without full local police control.“There exists a lack of accountability on the part of KCPD and no opportunity for redress because we do not have local control," Kansas City Urban League President and CEO Gwen Grant said in a statement. "Therefore, our only recourse of action is to come together to seek a DOJ investigation into the KCPD.”A Kansas City police spokesman issued a statement saying the agency is already working with the Justice Department to report possible civil rights violations or excessive force under a 2015 memorandum of understanding.“We have mechanisms in place to ensure that members can report any incident of discrimination or racism anonymously,” spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said in an email. “We take every incident of reported racism very seriously and investigate fully whether it involves department members or the members of the community.”The county prosecutor also supports a Justice Department investigation.“Kansas City’s police department suffers from many problems identified in cities now in turmoil about their police force,” Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker wrote to the federal agency. “It has no accountability to our community; it has lost the community’s confidence that excessive force will be rooted out and stopped; and the harm from all of this falls in greatest portion on the city’s minority community.”

Civil rights groups seek U.S. probe of Kansas City police

By WHITNEE ICE&nbsp; <a href="https://stjosephpost.com">St. Joseph Post&nbsp;</a>

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The use of e-cigarettes is on the rise in teens and young adults according to the St. Joseph Youth Alliance.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Youth
 Alliance Spokeswomen Angela Reynolds says the community is expressing 
concerns about vaping and the long-term effects vaping will have on 
users.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“A lot of people don’t realize that most of the vaping 
products that people are using do contain nicotine, so obviously you 
have all of the&nbsp;risk factors that you would have with basic cigarettes,”
 Reynolds tells St. Joseph Post.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Reynolds says&nbsp;e-cigarettes target a specific audience.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“They
 look like jump drives. They are very pretty. They come in colorful 
designs and they are marketing&nbsp;really towards kids with a lot of their 
flavoring that they’re having&nbsp;like strawberry, bubble gum, things like 
that,” says Reynolds.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Reynolds says using e-cigarettes at a young age makes you more susceptible&nbsp;to long term use.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“There’s
 also some correlation between kids that are vaping and then developing 
in the&nbsp;future&nbsp;to long-term&nbsp;actual cigarette use,” says Reynolds.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Reynolds
 says&nbsp;Nicotine can impact a young person’s brain development. It can 
hurt their learning, mood, impulse control, attention span, and memory. 
She adds, nicotine can actually change the&nbsp;brain chemistry and making 
young people&nbsp;more susceptible to addiction.&nbsp;

By WHITNEE ICE&nbsp; <a href="https://stjosephpost.com">St. Joseph Post&nbsp;</a>ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The use of e-cigarettes is on the rise in teens and young adults according to the St. Joseph Youth Alliance.&nbsp;&nbsp;Youth
 Alliance Spokeswomen Angela Reynolds says the community is expressing 
concerns about vaping and the long-term effects vaping will have on 
users.&nbsp;&nbsp;“A lot of people don’t realize that most of the vaping 
products that people are using do contain nicotine, so obviously you 
have all of the&nbsp;risk factors that you would have with basic cigarettes,”
 Reynolds tells St. Joseph Post.&nbsp;&nbsp;Reynolds says&nbsp;e-cigarettes target a specific audience.&nbsp;&nbsp;“They
 look like jump drives. They are very pretty. They come in colorful 
designs and they are marketing&nbsp;really towards kids with a lot of their 
flavoring that they’re having&nbsp;like strawberry, bubble gum, things like 
that,” says Reynolds.&nbsp;&nbsp;Reynolds says using e-cigarettes at a young age makes you more susceptible&nbsp;to long term use.&nbsp;&nbsp;“There’s
 also some correlation between kids that are vaping and then developing 
in the&nbsp;future&nbsp;to long-term&nbsp;actual cigarette use,” says Reynolds.&nbsp;&nbsp;Reynolds
 says&nbsp;Nicotine can impact a young person’s brain development. It can 
hurt their learning, mood, impulse control, attention span, and memory. 
She adds, nicotine can actually change the&nbsp;brain chemistry and making 
young people&nbsp;more susceptible to addiction.&nbsp;Cover photo courtesy Pixabay

E-cigarettes are on the rise of popularity in teens, young adults

SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — A suburban Kansas City summer camp has been shut down after eight COVID-19 cases were reported, and hospitals were raising alarms about a rise in infected patients.

The camp, which was put on by the Johnson County Park and Recreation District, was held at Clear Creek Elementary School in Shawnee. The county health department said masks were only recommended, not required, and many children didn’t wear them.

The health department is working with the camp to isolate or quarantine those who are affected, director Sanmi Areola said Monday.

Kansas confirmed nearly 4,000 new cases last week and daily inpatient numbers have climbed back to nearly 400. The state hasn’t seen figures like that since February, KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/KCUR%20https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-07-26/kansas-coronavirus-cases-skyrocket-from-hundreds-to-thousands-per-week" target="_blank">reports</a>.

“It is scary,” said deputy state health officer Joan Duwve.

In the Wichita area, Ascension Via Christi’s St. Francis Hospital in Wichita went from 13 patients to 20 to 46 on the past three Mondays.

Dr. Sam Antonios, Via Christi’s chief clinical officer, described the health system’s staff as “disheartened.”

At the University Kansas Hospital, 56 are hospitalized with COVID-19, nine of them on ventilators, said Dr. Nathan Bahr, an infectious disease specialist, during a Monday briefing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627330255031.png" alt="The camp, which was put on by the Johnson County Park and Recreation District, was held at Clear Creek Elementary School in Shawnee.-Google image" />
 <figcaption>The camp, which was put on by the Johnson County Park and Recreation District, was held at Clear Creek Elementary School in Shawnee.-Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — A suburban Kansas City summer camp has been shut down after eight COVID-19 cases were reported, and hospitals were raising alarms about a rise in infected patients.The camp, which was put on by the Johnson County Park and Recreation District, was held at Clear Creek Elementary School in Shawnee. The county health department said masks were only recommended, not required, and many children didn’t wear them.The health department is working with the camp to isolate or quarantine those who are affected, director Sanmi Areola said Monday.Kansas confirmed nearly 4,000 new cases last week and daily inpatient numbers have climbed back to nearly 400. The state hasn’t seen figures like that since February, KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/KCUR%20https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-07-26/kansas-coronavirus-cases-skyrocket-from-hundreds-to-thousands-per-week" target="_blank">reports</a>.“It is scary,” said deputy state health officer Joan Duwve.In the Wichita area, Ascension Via Christi’s St. Francis Hospital in Wichita went from 13 patients to 20 to 46 on the past three Mondays.Dr. Sam Antonios, Via Christi’s chief clinical officer, described the health system’s staff as “disheartened.”At the University Kansas Hospital, 56 are hospitalized with COVID-19, nine of them on ventilators, said Dr. Nathan Bahr, an infectious disease specialist, during a Monday briefing.“Lots of sick people,” he lamented.

COVID outbreak: Kansas summer camp shut down 

MCDONALD COUNTY, Mo —All three escapees are in custody, according to the McDonald County. Authorities found them in&nbsp; in Noel, Missouri and there were no injuries during the arrest.

MCDONALD COUNTY, Mo.— Authorities continue searching for three men who escaped from a jail in southwest Missouri after allegedly attacking an officer, according to the McDonald County Sheriff's Department in Pineville, Missouri.

&nbsp;David Molina, 49; Carmelo Miguel Burgos, 27; and Shun’tavion Ladarrias Thomas, 23; escaped from the jail around 5 p.m. Saturday. Pineville is about 190 miles south of Kansas City.

All three men had been jailed on suspicion of violent crimes, and the sheriff's office said all three of them should be considered armed and dangerous.

“Do not attempt to apprehend,” Capt. Chris Allison wrote in a post on the sheriff’s office’s Facebook page.

Authorities continued to search for the suspects early Monday and officials urged people in the area to lock their homes and vehicles.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627294451828.png" alt="Shun’tavion Ladarrias Thomas 23 year old Black male last seen wearing white pants and white shirt." />
 <figcaption>Shun’tavion Ladarrias Thomas 23 year old Black male last seen wearing white pants and white shirt.</figcaption>
 </figure>MCDONALD COUNTY, Mo —All three escapees are in custody, according to the McDonald County. Authorities found them in&nbsp; in Noel, Missouri and there were no injuries during the arrest.------------MCDONALD COUNTY, Mo.— Authorities continue searching for three men who escaped from a jail in southwest Missouri after allegedly attacking an officer, according to the McDonald County Sheriff's Department in Pineville, Missouri.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627294480232.png" alt="David Molina 49 year old Hispanic male last seen wearing orange &amp; white stripe pants and white shirt." />
 <figcaption>David Molina 49 year old Hispanic male last seen wearing orange &amp; white stripe pants and white shirt.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;David Molina, 49; Carmelo Miguel Burgos, 27; and Shun’tavion Ladarrias Thomas, 23; escaped from the jail around 5 p.m. Saturday. Pineville is about 190 miles south of Kansas City.All three men had been jailed on suspicion of violent crimes, and the sheriff's office said all three of them should be considered armed and dangerous.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627294532289.png" alt="Carmelo Miguel Burgos 27 year old Hispanic male last seen wearing orange &amp; white stripe pants and no shirt." />
 <figcaption>Carmelo Miguel Burgos 27 year old Hispanic male last seen wearing orange &amp; white stripe pants and no shirt.</figcaption>
 </figure>“Do not attempt to apprehend,” Capt. Chris Allison wrote in a post on the sheriff’s office’s Facebook page.Authorities continued to search for the suspects early Monday and officials urged people in the area to lock their homes and vehicles.