CAMDENTON, Mo. (AP) — A southwest Missouri real estate agent was charged Friday with conspiring to have her former mother-in-law killed.

Leigh Ann Bauman, 43, was arrested Thursday afternoon and was being held in the Camden County Jail on no bond.

Bauman agreed to pay people in St. Louis $1,500 to make her ex-mother-in-law’s death look like an accident, the Camden County prosecutor’s office said in a news release. Bauman was upset that the woman was interfering with her relationship with her children, the prosecutor said.

A witness recorded a conversation with Baumann about the plot.

“In the recording, Bauman was asked multiple times if she was sure she wanted to hire these people, and she confirmed,” said prosecutor said. “Bauman stated specially that she knew as a Christian it was wrong, but she could ask for forgiveness.” Bauman reportedly also sent a text message to her daughter stating “your grandmother will die.” Online court records do not name an attorney for Bauman.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615041838837.png" alt="Bauman photo Camden Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Bauman photo Camden Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>CAMDENTON, Mo. (AP) — A southwest Missouri real estate agent was charged Friday with conspiring to have her former mother-in-law killed.Leigh Ann Bauman, 43, was arrested Thursday afternoon and was being held in the Camden County Jail on no bond.Bauman agreed to pay people in St. Louis $1,500 to make her ex-mother-in-law’s death look like an accident, the Camden County prosecutor’s office said in a news release. Bauman was upset that the woman was interfering with her relationship with her children, the prosecutor said.A witness recorded a conversation with Baumann about the plot.“In the recording, Bauman was asked multiple times if she was sure she wanted to hire these people, and she confirmed,” said prosecutor said. “Bauman stated specially that she knew as a Christian it was wrong, but she could ask for forgiveness.” Bauman reportedly also sent a text message to her daughter stating “your grandmother will die.” Online court records do not name an attorney for Bauman.

Popular realtor charged in plan to kill ex-mother-in-law

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal car accident early Sunday have identified the victim as 5-year-old Aleah A. Reyes of Wichita&nbsp; according Sedgwick County Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.

Just after 3a.m. Sunday, deputies were dispatched to an injury accident near 47th Street South and 127th Street East, according to Blick.

 When deputies arrived they located a 2014 Ford Escape driven by 26-year-old Nory Lam of Wichita that had been westbound on 47th Street South when it left the road and overturned. 

Lam had minor injuries. The passenger, Lam's 5-year-old daughter Aleah A. Reyes of Wichita was unresponsive.&nbsp; EMS provided life saving measures to Reyes but she was pronounced deceased at 3:39a.m., according to Blick.

During the accident investigation deputies discovered evidence that indicated alcohol may have contributed to the accident, according to Blick. Additional investigative efforts determined probable cause existed to arrest and<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20069853"> book Nory Lam for</a> Involuntary Manslaughter, Driving under the Influence and Transporting an Open Container of an Alcoholic Beverage.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615146154109.png" alt="Lam photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Lam photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal car accident early Sunday have identified the victim as 5-year-old Aleah A. Reyes of Wichita&nbsp; according Sedgwick County Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.Just after 3a.m. Sunday, deputies were dispatched to an injury accident near 47th Street South and 127th Street East, according to Blick. When deputies arrived they located a 2014 Ford Escape driven by 26-year-old Nory Lam of Wichita that had been westbound on 47th Street South when it left the road and overturned. Lam had minor injuries. The passenger, Lam's 5-year-old daughter Aleah A. Reyes of Wichita was unresponsive.&nbsp; EMS provided life saving measures to Reyes but she was pronounced deceased at 3:39a.m., according to Blick.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615146641270.png" alt="Investigators at the scene of the crash -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Investigators at the scene of the crash -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>During the accident investigation deputies discovered evidence that indicated alcohol may have contributed to the accident, according to Blick. Additional investigative efforts determined probable cause existed to arrest and<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20069853"> book Nory Lam for</a> Involuntary Manslaughter, Driving under the Influence and Transporting an Open Container of an Alcoholic Beverage.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kan. woman jailed after crash that killed 5-year-old daughter

KANSAS CITY (AP) — More than 50 people gathered outside the home of a Kansas City-area prosecutor to protest her decision not to charge a police officer in the fatal shooting of a Black man last year.

The protesters called for justice for 47-year-old Donnie Sanders as they marched down Ward Parkway to the home of Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker on Saturday. Peters Baker announced Monday that investigators didn't find enough evidence to support charges against the Kansas City police officer involved in the shooting,

Sanders’ sisters, who participated in the protest, said they want Peters Baker to release a complete copy of the investigation into the shooting for the officer held accountable.

“We’re going to keep going ... until we get some form of justice,” Reshonda Sanders said. She&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article249746238.html">told&nbsp;</a>the Kansas City Star that her brother wasn’t doing anything wrong when he was shot.

Another sister, Youlanda Sanders, said her brother didn’t deserve to die for a traffic stop.

“Man I miss my little brother,” she said. “I’m tired. This ain’t right.”

Donnie Sanders was shot last March after the officer, whose name hasn't been released, began following him for alleged traffic violations. The officer confronted Sanders when he got out of his vehicle in an alley. The officer told investigators that he believed Sanders was pointing a gun at him. Investigators determined Sanders did not have a gun, but two witnesses corroborated the officer's account.

Sanders’ death was one of several fatal shootings of Black people cited during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-kansas-city-health-kansas-racial-injustice-02d510348e588646ec876a492b281809">protests&nbsp;</a>against police in 2020.

During the march Saturday, one protester was arrested after a car hit another protester at a low speed. The protester who was hit by the car did not appear to be injured. Police spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said the protester who was arrested apparently damaged the car.

The prosecutor said on Twitter that she supported the peaceful protest that took place outside her home.

“I fully support the right to peacefully protest. That includes the protest that occurred at my home today,” she said. “I do question those few people who decided to carry and display rifles at a peaceful protest, to block traffic, and to vandalize a car, which also occurred today.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615145766318.png" alt="Protesters blocked traffic on Ward Parkway in Kansas City on Saturday afternoon -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Protesters blocked traffic on Ward Parkway in Kansas City on Saturday afternoon -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — More than 50 people gathered outside the home of a Kansas City-area prosecutor to protest her decision not to charge a police officer in the fatal shooting of a Black man last year.The protesters called for justice for 47-year-old Donnie Sanders as they marched down Ward Parkway to the home of Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker on Saturday. Peters Baker announced Monday that investigators didn't find enough evidence to support charges against the Kansas City police officer involved in the shooting,<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I fully support the right to peacefully protest. That includes the protest that occurred at my home today. I do question those few people who decided to carry and display rifles at a peaceful protest, to block traffic, and to vandalize a car, which also occurred today. 1/2&mdash; Jean Peters Baker (@jeanpetersbaker) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeanpetersbaker/status/1368348519459872771?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Sanders’ sisters, who participated in the protest, said they want Peters Baker to release a complete copy of the investigation into the shooting for the officer held accountable.“We’re going to keep going ... until we get some form of justice,” Reshonda Sanders said. She&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article249746238.html">told&nbsp;</a>the Kansas City Star that her brother wasn’t doing anything wrong when he was shot.Another sister, Youlanda Sanders, said her brother didn’t deserve to die for a traffic stop.“Man I miss my little brother,” she said. “I’m tired. This ain’t right.”Donnie Sanders was shot last March after the officer, whose name hasn't been released, began following him for alleged traffic violations. The officer confronted Sanders when he got out of his vehicle in an alley. The officer told investigators that he believed Sanders was pointing a gun at him. Investigators determined Sanders did not have a gun, but two witnesses corroborated the officer's account.Sanders’ death was one of several fatal shootings of Black people cited during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-kansas-city-health-kansas-racial-injustice-02d510348e588646ec876a492b281809">protests&nbsp;</a>against police in 2020.During the march Saturday, one protester was arrested after a car hit another protester at a low speed. The protester who was hit by the car did not appear to be injured. Police spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said the protester who was arrested apparently damaged the car.The prosecutor said on Twitter that she supported the peaceful protest that took place outside her home.“I fully support the right to peacefully protest. That includes the protest that occurred at my home today,” she said. “I do question those few people who decided to carry and display rifles at a peaceful protest, to block traffic, and to vandalize a car, which also occurred today.”

Protesters object to lack of charges in KC police shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — Emergency loans made to small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic have been added to a list of government programs considered at high risk of waste, fraud or mismanagement.

The most common of those emergency loans, PPP loans, are provided at a low interest rate and are fully forgivable under conditions that include spending a certain percentage on payroll costs. The loans were created by Congress and have proven exceedingly popular as shops, restaurants and other small businesses try to survive the pandemic.

The Government Accountability Office reported that millions of small businesses benefitted from the emergency loans, but the speed with which the relief programs were set up limited safeguards necessary to identify risks, “including susceptibility to improper payments and potential fraud.”

The Small Business Administration made or guaranteed more than 14.7 million loans and grants totaling about $744 billion between March and December. Congress approved an additional $304 billion in emergency loans in December.

The GAO said in the report that, as of January, it continues to experience delays in obtaining key information about the loans, including detailed oversight plans and documentation for estimating improper payments.

“There’s no doubt they’ve had a positive impact. However, the management of these programs needs to be dramatically improved,” U.S. Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro told reporters in previewing the report.

Government auditors release a high-risk list near the beginning of every new Congress. The list is designed to increase attention on the shortfalls cited by the GAO, and to prompt action that can often save taxpayer dollars and improve government operations.

Auditors also added the government’s efforts to prevent drug misuse to the high-risk list. The GAO had warned as the pandemic began that it would be doing so. At the time, it noted that the pandemic could fuel the conditions that contribute to drug misuse, such as unemployment.

In December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the largest ever increase of drug overdose deaths during a 12-month period that ended the previous May. The CDC noted a particular acceleration in drug overdose deaths as widespread mitigation measures kicked in.

“This is heartbreaking,” said Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio.

Portman said that the country and his home state had finally seen a drop in overdose deaths in 2018 for the first time in decades.

“Substantial progress. And yet now, with the pandemic, under this horrible pandemic, we have this horrible addiction crisis that has grown,” Portman said.

Auditors said that maintaining sustained attention to the problem of drug abuse will be challenging in the coming months with agencies focused on addressing the pandemic.

“This makes developing and implementing a coordinated, strategic approach even more important as agencies’ resources are also being diverted, in part, to pandemic priorities,” the report said.

On a positive note, the GAO said the Department of Defense had made concerted progress in how it aligns its support infrastructure with the needs of the country’s military forces, It dropped the support program from it’s high-risk list.

For example, in citing, progress, auditors said the Army reduced its leased footprint in the Washington D.C. region from a peak of 3.9 million square feet in 2011 to roughly 1 million square feet as of September 2019.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588075781384.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Emergency loans made to small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic have been added to a list of government programs considered at high risk of waste, fraud or mismanagement.The most common of those emergency loans, PPP loans, are provided at a low interest rate and are fully forgivable under conditions that include spending a certain percentage on payroll costs. The loans were created by Congress and have proven exceedingly popular as shops, restaurants and other small businesses try to survive the pandemic.The Government Accountability Office reported that millions of small businesses benefitted from the emergency loans, but the speed with which the relief programs were set up limited safeguards necessary to identify risks, “including susceptibility to improper payments and potential fraud.”The Small Business Administration made or guaranteed more than 14.7 million loans and grants totaling about $744 billion between March and December. Congress approved an additional $304 billion in emergency loans in December.The GAO said in the report that, as of January, it continues to experience delays in obtaining key information about the loans, including detailed oversight plans and documentation for estimating improper payments.“There’s no doubt they’ve had a positive impact. However, the management of these programs needs to be dramatically improved,” U.S. Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro told reporters in previewing the report.Government auditors release a high-risk list near the beginning of every new Congress. The list is designed to increase attention on the shortfalls cited by the GAO, and to prompt action that can often save taxpayer dollars and improve government operations.Auditors also added the government’s efforts to prevent drug misuse to the high-risk list. The GAO had warned as the pandemic began that it would be doing so. At the time, it noted that the pandemic could fuel the conditions that contribute to drug misuse, such as unemployment.In December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the largest ever increase of drug overdose deaths during a 12-month period that ended the previous May. The CDC noted a particular acceleration in drug overdose deaths as widespread mitigation measures kicked in.“This is heartbreaking,” said Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio.Portman said that the country and his home state had finally seen a drop in overdose deaths in 2018 for the first time in decades.“Substantial progress. And yet now, with the pandemic, under this horrible pandemic, we have this horrible addiction crisis that has grown,” Portman said.Auditors said that maintaining sustained attention to the problem of drug abuse will be challenging in the coming months with agencies focused on addressing the pandemic.“This makes developing and implementing a coordinated, strategic approach even more important as agencies’ resources are also being diverted, in part, to pandemic priorities,” the report said.On a positive note, the GAO said the Department of Defense had made concerted progress in how it aligns its support infrastructure with the needs of the country’s military forces, It dropped the support program from it’s high-risk list.For example, in citing, progress, auditors said the Army reduced its leased footprint in the Washington D.C. region from a peak of 3.9 million square feet in 2011 to roughly 1 million square feet as of September 2019.

Pandemic loan program at high-risk for fraud, auditor finds

SEDGWICK COUNTY— One of two men involved in the death of a man during a drug deal has been sentenced to prison.

On March 3, Judge David Dahl sentenced Ashantis Bledsoe, 22 of Wichita, to 247 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In February of 2019, police found Lorenzo Wade, 22 of Wichita, with multiple gunshot wounds in the parking lot of the Genesis Health Club in the 3700 block of west 13th Street.&nbsp; Police also found a bag of marijuana&nbsp; next to his body.

Last month, Bledsoe pled guilty to a charge of voluntary manslaughter.

In September 2020, Tanner Mora, 27 of Wichita, was sentenced to life with parole eligibility after 25 years. A jury convicted Mora of felony first-degree murder during the commission of an aggravated robbery which occurred during the sale of marijuana.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614882985144.png" alt="Bledsoe photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Bledsoe photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY— One of two men involved in the death of a man during a drug deal has been sentenced to prison.On March 3, Judge David Dahl sentenced Ashantis Bledsoe, 22 of Wichita, to 247 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In February of 2019, police found Lorenzo Wade, 22 of Wichita, with multiple gunshot wounds in the parking lot of the Genesis Health Club in the 3700 block of west 13th Street.&nbsp; Police also found a bag of marijuana&nbsp; next to his body.Last month, Bledsoe pled guilty to a charge of voluntary manslaughter.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614882835032.png" alt="Mora is currently being held in the Hutchinson Correctional Facility" />
 <figcaption>Mora is currently being held in the Hutchinson Correctional Facility</figcaption>
 </figure>In September 2020, Tanner Mora, 27 of Wichita, was sentenced to life with parole eligibility after 25 years. A jury convicted Mora of felony first-degree murder during the commission of an aggravated robbery which occurred during the sale of marijuana.

Kansas man sentenced for marijuana sale murder

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Today, Governor Kelly proclaimed March 7, 2021, the one-year anniversary of the first recorded case of COVID-19 in Kansas, as COVID Memorial Day to honor those that have died due to COVID-19.

“Today, a year after the first recorded COVID case in Kansas, we honor the memories of those we have lost and recognize the frontline workers who have battled this virus over the last year,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly.

<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/COVIDProc.pdf">Click&nbsp;here&nbsp;to view </a>the&nbsp; proclamation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615129427690.png" alt="Governor Laura Kelly signed the proclamation to honor 4812 in Kansas who have died from the virus-photo courtesy governor's office." />
 <figcaption>Governor Laura Kelly signed the proclamation to honor 4812 in Kansas who have died from the virus-photo courtesy governor's office.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Today, Governor Kelly proclaimed March 7, 2021, the one-year anniversary of the first recorded case of COVID-19 in Kansas, as COVID Memorial Day to honor those that have died due to COVID-19.“Today, a year after the first recorded COVID case in Kansas, we honor the memories of those we have lost and recognize the frontline workers who have battled this virus over the last year,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly.<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/COVIDProc.pdf">Click&nbsp;here&nbsp;to view </a>the&nbsp; proclamation.

Governor Kelly proclaims March 7 COVID Memorial Day

BY CARLA K. JOHNSON,&nbsp;MIKE STOBBE and ZEKE MILLER, Associated Press

More than 27 million Americans fully vaccinated against the coronavirus will have to keep waiting for guidance from federal health officials for what they should and shouldn’t do.

The Biden administration said Friday it’s focused on getting the guidance right and accommodating emerging science, but the delays add to the uncertainty around bringing about an end to the pandemic as the nation’s virus fatigue grows.

“These are complex issues and the science is rapidly evolving,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Friday. “We are making sure and taking time to get this right and we will be releasing this guidance soon.”

Such guidance would address a flood of questions coming in from people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19: Do I still have to wear a mask? Can I go to a bar now? Can I finally see my grandchildren?

The need has slowly grown since January, when the first Americans began to complete the two-dose series of COVID-19 vaccines then available.

In Washington state, Raul Espinoza Gomez has 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren and an appointment Saturday for his second dose of coronavirus vaccine.

By Easter, the 77-year-old's immune system will be ready to protect him from the virus. But how the family celebrates will depend on government advice, said Melissa Espinoza, 47, of Carnation, Washington, who plans to drive Gomez, her father-in-law, to get his second shot.

“We didn’t gather together as a big family at Christmas," she said. "We go by what the state and federal guidelines recommend. We’ve had family members adversely affected by COVID. We know the risks are severe.”

Worried about persistently high case loads and deaths, the Biden administration has condemned efforts to relax states’ virus restrictions and pleaded with the public for several months more patience.

The caution has drawn critics, who point to the administration’s own warnings that “fatigue is winning” as evidence that they need to be more optimistic about the path ahead to secure the cooperation of those who are yet to be vaccinated.

“I think it’s going to be overly proscriptive and conservative and that’s the wrong message,” former FDA Commissioner Stuart Gottlieb told CNBC Wednesday of the forthcoming CDC guidance. “If we continue to be very proscriptive and not give people a realistic vision for what a better future is going to look like, they’re going to start to ignore the public health guidance.”

Dr. Jeremy Faust, an emergency physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in the Division of Health Policy and Public Health, encouraged the CDC to be clearer about when and how it plans to produce guidelines for the vaccinated.

“Making the decision to go by the science is also making the decision that you’re going to have to make a decision, which is really difficult when the science isn’t settled,” he told the AP. “They’re drinking from a firehose of science, and sometimes, it gets messy.”

More than 54 million Americans have received at least one dose of vaccine, and slightly more than half — nearly 28 million — have gotten the recommended two doses. The single-dose Johnson &amp; Johnson shot soon will add a couple million more Americans with questions about what new freedoms they can safely enjoy.

“I do hope I get to see my great-grandchildren more," said Rolando Solar, 92, who received his second dose in Miami Wednesday. “But I know things will not go back to normal and, for an old man like me, this is as good as it will be.”

Tami Katz-Freiman, 65, of Miami, got her second dose three weeks ago, and plans to watch the Miami Film Festival virtually Sunday at the home of unvaccinated friends. All will wear masks.

“We didn’t have to discuss it with each other, because it’s very clear to me that when there is a doubt and you don’t have a CDC straightforward rule you better be on the safe side and take care for yourself,” Katz-Freiman said.

Three weeks ago, the CDC announced that fully vaccinated people do not have to go into quarantine if they have contact with someone with a confirmed infection (for 90 days after the final shot). But the agency said nothing beyond that, noted Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University.

“That (quarantine guidance) seems to imply to me that your chance of contracting COVID-19 and being a carrier to others is pretty low,” said Wen, who previously ran Baltimore’s health department.

“(But) we need to focus on what is most relevant to people's lives, and my patients are not coming in and asking me: 'If I'm vaccinated, do I still need to quarantine if I'm exposed?'" she continued.

“I’d say the most common question I get is ‘Can I visit my grandchildren?’” Wen said.

Experts say it’s understandable that the CDC has been cautious when many scientific questions remain, including how long vaccine-induced immunity lasts, and whether vaccinated people are still able to transmit the virus to others. The answers are important when advising someone what kind of risk they face in different settings, and how much of a risk they are to others.

“The vaccines at their best, in the clinical trials, were 95% effective, I didn't say 100%. And that's why we have to keep wearing masks most of the time," said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious-diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.

But CDC has needed to come out with something more for vaccinated people than sticking with the same old mask wearing, social distancing guidance, he added.

“People are so eager to do something and they want to see some tangible benefit from the vaccines. Americans are impatient. They want to get on with it,” Schaffner said.

Indeed, “there is a real cost to putting off this guidance,” as people turn to their own doctors for advice, or just make their own assumptions and decisions, Wen said.

Waiting too long can diminish the agency’s relevance on this kind of matter, said Wen, who believes CDC should have had some kind of guidance in place for vaccinated people back in January.

Clearly, vaccinated people should have been encouraged to go get cancer screenings, dental care, or other needed medical appointments. CDC officials also could have said that it’s OK for small groups of fully vaccinated people — maybe two or three couples, for example — to gather together for a dinner or other small gathering, she said.

Regarding small gatherings among people who have been fully vaccinated, “the relative risk is so low that you would not have to wear a mask, that you could have a good social gathering within the home,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government's leading infectious diseases doctor, during a recent White House briefing.

Some experts discussed the possibility that movie theaters or cruise ships or certain other businesses might open up to vaccinated people, and ask for proof of vaccination status. Israel's government has begun issuing a “green pass” vaccination certificate to anyone who has received two doses of COVID vaccine through an accredited vaccination service.

“I don’t know if in this country we would tolerate the federal government issue some kind of pass, the way they did in Israel,” Wen said. But businesses might want such passes and they would be an incentive that might help the overall rate of vaccination, Wen said.

The only incentive Espinoza's family needed for vaccination was seeing her and her husband hospitalized with COVID-19 this winter. Still recovering, she uses oxygen at home.

Vaccination of the family elders means one step closer to returning to traditions they love: Church on Palm Sunday and, a week later, an Easter egg hunt for the kids and a meal featuring slow-cooked barbacoa, a Mexican beef dish.

“I hope people will stay home and stay safe as much as possible until we can all get vaccinated and eradicate this disease," Espinoza said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613699035300.png" alt="“These are complex issues and the science is rapidly evolving,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Friday" />
 <figcaption>“These are complex issues and the science is rapidly evolving,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Friday</figcaption>
 </figure>BY CARLA K. JOHNSON,&nbsp;MIKE STOBBE and ZEKE MILLER, Associated PressMore than 27 million Americans fully vaccinated against the coronavirus will have to keep waiting for guidance from federal health officials for what they should and shouldn’t do.The Biden administration said Friday it’s focused on getting the guidance right and accommodating emerging science, but the delays add to the uncertainty around bringing about an end to the pandemic as the nation’s virus fatigue grows.“These are complex issues and the science is rapidly evolving,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Friday. “We are making sure and taking time to get this right and we will be releasing this guidance soon.”Such guidance would address a flood of questions coming in from people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19: Do I still have to wear a mask? Can I go to a bar now? Can I finally see my grandchildren?The need has slowly grown since January, when the first Americans began to complete the two-dose series of COVID-19 vaccines then available.In Washington state, Raul Espinoza Gomez has 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren and an appointment Saturday for his second dose of coronavirus vaccine.By Easter, the 77-year-old's immune system will be ready to protect him from the virus. But how the family celebrates will depend on government advice, said Melissa Espinoza, 47, of Carnation, Washington, who plans to drive Gomez, her father-in-law, to get his second shot.“We didn’t gather together as a big family at Christmas," she said. "We go by what the state and federal guidelines recommend. We’ve had family members adversely affected by COVID. We know the risks are severe.”Worried about persistently high case loads and deaths, the Biden administration has condemned efforts to relax states’ virus restrictions and pleaded with the public for several months more patience.The caution has drawn critics, who point to the administration’s own warnings that “fatigue is winning” as evidence that they need to be more optimistic about the path ahead to secure the cooperation of those who are yet to be vaccinated.“I think it’s going to be overly proscriptive and conservative and that’s the wrong message,” former FDA Commissioner Stuart Gottlieb told CNBC Wednesday of the forthcoming CDC guidance. “If we continue to be very proscriptive and not give people a realistic vision for what a better future is going to look like, they’re going to start to ignore the public health guidance.”Dr. Jeremy Faust, an emergency physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in the Division of Health Policy and Public Health, encouraged the CDC to be clearer about when and how it plans to produce guidelines for the vaccinated.“Making the decision to go by the science is also making the decision that you’re going to have to make a decision, which is really difficult when the science isn’t settled,” he told the AP. “They’re drinking from a firehose of science, and sometimes, it gets messy.”More than 54 million Americans have received at least one dose of vaccine, and slightly more than half — nearly 28 million — have gotten the recommended two doses. The single-dose Johnson &amp; Johnson shot soon will add a couple million more Americans with questions about what new freedoms they can safely enjoy.“I do hope I get to see my great-grandchildren more," said Rolando Solar, 92, who received his second dose in Miami Wednesday. “But I know things will not go back to normal and, for an old man like me, this is as good as it will be.”Tami Katz-Freiman, 65, of Miami, got her second dose three weeks ago, and plans to watch the Miami Film Festival virtually Sunday at the home of unvaccinated friends. All will wear masks.“We didn’t have to discuss it with each other, because it’s very clear to me that when there is a doubt and you don’t have a CDC straightforward rule you better be on the safe side and take care for yourself,” Katz-Freiman said.Three weeks ago, the CDC announced that fully vaccinated people do not have to go into quarantine if they have contact with someone with a confirmed infection (for 90 days after the final shot). But the agency said nothing beyond that, noted Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University.“That (quarantine guidance) seems to imply to me that your chance of contracting COVID-19 and being a carrier to others is pretty low,” said Wen, who previously ran Baltimore’s health department.“(But) we need to focus on what is most relevant to people's lives, and my patients are not coming in and asking me: 'If I'm vaccinated, do I still need to quarantine if I'm exposed?'" she continued.“I’d say the most common question I get is ‘Can I visit my grandchildren?’” Wen said.Experts say it’s understandable that the CDC has been cautious when many scientific questions remain, including how long vaccine-induced immunity lasts, and whether vaccinated people are still able to transmit the virus to others. The answers are important when advising someone what kind of risk they face in different settings, and how much of a risk they are to others.“The vaccines at their best, in the clinical trials, were 95% effective, I didn't say 100%. And that's why we have to keep wearing masks most of the time," said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious-diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.But CDC has needed to come out with something more for vaccinated people than sticking with the same old mask wearing, social distancing guidance, he added.“People are so eager to do something and they want to see some tangible benefit from the vaccines. Americans are impatient. They want to get on with it,” Schaffner said.Indeed, “there is a real cost to putting off this guidance,” as people turn to their own doctors for advice, or just make their own assumptions and decisions, Wen said.Waiting too long can diminish the agency’s relevance on this kind of matter, said Wen, who believes CDC should have had some kind of guidance in place for vaccinated people back in January.Clearly, vaccinated people should have been encouraged to go get cancer screenings, dental care, or other needed medical appointments. CDC officials also could have said that it’s OK for small groups of fully vaccinated people — maybe two or three couples, for example — to gather together for a dinner or other small gathering, she said.Regarding small gatherings among people who have been fully vaccinated, “the relative risk is so low that you would not have to wear a mask, that you could have a good social gathering within the home,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government's leading infectious diseases doctor, during a recent White House briefing.Some experts discussed the possibility that movie theaters or cruise ships or certain other businesses might open up to vaccinated people, and ask for proof of vaccination status. Israel's government has begun issuing a “green pass” vaccination certificate to anyone who has received two doses of COVID vaccine through an accredited vaccination service.“I don’t know if in this country we would tolerate the federal government issue some kind of pass, the way they did in Israel,” Wen said. But businesses might want such passes and they would be an incentive that might help the overall rate of vaccination, Wen said.The only incentive Espinoza's family needed for vaccination was seeing her and her husband hospitalized with COVID-19 this winter. Still recovering, she uses oxygen at home.Vaccination of the family elders means one step closer to returning to traditions they love: Church on Palm Sunday and, a week later, an Easter egg hunt for the kids and a meal featuring slow-cooked barbacoa, a Mexican beef dish.“I hope people will stay home and stay safe as much as possible until we can all get vaccinated and eradicate this disease," Espinoza said.___

Americans vaccinated against COVID unsure what they shouldn't do

TOPEKA—Law enforcement authorities have indicted a Kansas man on federal charges in connection with drug crimes.

Ross E. Hoelscher, 38, of Topeka, is being held for alleged&nbsp;violation of two counts of Use of a Communication Facility, according to the United State's Attorney's office

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties Punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed eight years and a fine not to exceed the greater of that authorized in accordance&nbsp;$250,000.00 or both, and a term of supervised release not to exceed three years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615124451780.png" alt="Hoelscher photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Hoelscher photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA—Law enforcement authorities have indicted a Kansas man on federal charges in connection with drug crimes.Ross E. Hoelscher, 38, of Topeka, is being held for alleged&nbsp;violation of two counts of Use of a Communication Facility, according to the United State's Attorney's officeUpon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties Punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed eight years and a fine not to exceed the greater of that authorized in accordance&nbsp;$250,000.00 or both, and a term of supervised release not to exceed three years.

Kansas man indicted for his role in illegal drug crimes

PAWNEE COUNTY – Bryce Allen Boman, 22 of Kinsley, Kansas, appeared via Zoom with retained counsel Friday in Pawnee County Court, according to County Attorney Doug McNett.

Bowman plead no contest to Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Lewd and Lascivious Behavior with a minor under the age of 16.

District Judge Bruce Gatterman accepted the plea and found Boman Guilty of the charges. As part of the plea agreement, the defendant agreed to waive his right to appeal the convictions and will be subject to Sex Offender Registration.

The State alleged that Boman pointed a handgun at four juveniles as they were leaving the skate park in the Larned Schnack Park the evening of October 12, 2019. In a separate incident, it was alleged that&nbsp; Boman exposed himself in the same park to a girl under the age of 16 on October 20, 2019.

Arrested at the time, Boman later posted bond and was released. As a condition of his bond, he was ordered to surrender all of his firearms to law enforcement and have no contact directly or indirectly with the victims. Sentencing will take place once a presentence investigation report is completed, according to McNett.

PAWNEE COUNTY – Following a two hour preliminary hearing this week, Bryce Allen Boman, 21 of Kinsley, Kansas, was bound over for trial&nbsp; in the Pawnee County District Court on four (4) counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, according to County Attorney Doug McNett.

Pawnee County Magistrate Judge Julie Cowell heard testimony from four juveniles that Boman allegedly pointed a handgun at them as they were leaving the skate park in the Larned Schnack Park the evening of October 12, 2019. Arraignment has been scheduled for February 28, 2020.

If convicted, under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines the defendant faces a prison sentence between 11 months and 34 months in the custody of the Department of Corrections depending on his criminal history. Under Kansas law when a firearm is used to commit any person felony, the offender’s sentence shall be presumed imprisonment.

Boman remains free on bond. As a condition of his bond, he was ordered to surrender all of his firearms to law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614978854512.png" alt="Boman photo Pawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Boman photo Pawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY – Bryce Allen Boman, 22 of Kinsley, Kansas, appeared via Zoom with retained counsel Friday in Pawnee County Court, according to County Attorney Doug McNett.Bowman plead no contest to Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Lewd and Lascivious Behavior with a minor under the age of 16.District Judge Bruce Gatterman accepted the plea and found Boman Guilty of the charges. As part of the plea agreement, the defendant agreed to waive his right to appeal the convictions and will be subject to Sex Offender Registration.The State alleged that Boman pointed a handgun at four juveniles as they were leaving the skate park in the Larned Schnack Park the evening of October 12, 2019. In a separate incident, it was alleged that&nbsp; Boman exposed himself in the same park to a girl under the age of 16 on October 20, 2019.Arrested at the time, Boman later posted bond and was released. As a condition of his bond, he was ordered to surrender all of his firearms to law enforcement and have no contact directly or indirectly with the victims. Sentencing will take place once a presentence investigation report is completed, according to McNett.----------PAWNEE COUNTY – Following a two hour preliminary hearing this week, Bryce Allen Boman, 21 of Kinsley, Kansas, was bound over for trial&nbsp; in the Pawnee County District Court on four (4) counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, according to County Attorney Doug McNett.Pawnee County Magistrate Judge Julie Cowell heard testimony from four juveniles that Boman allegedly pointed a handgun at them as they were leaving the skate park in the Larned Schnack Park the evening of October 12, 2019. Arraignment has been scheduled for February 28, 2020.If convicted, under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines the defendant faces a prison sentence between 11 months and 34 months in the custody of the Department of Corrections depending on his criminal history. Under Kansas law when a firearm is used to commit any person felony, the offender’s sentence shall be presumed imprisonment.Boman remains free on bond. As a condition of his bond, he was ordered to surrender all of his firearms to law enforcement.

Kan. man must register as sex offender as part of plea deal

DETROIT (AP) — Pandemic lockdowns and stay-at-home orders kept many drivers off U.S. roads and highways last year. But those who did venture out found open lanes that only invited reckless driving, leading to a sharp increase in traffic-crash deaths across the country.

The nonprofit National Safety Council estimates in a report issued Thursday that 42,060 people died in vehicle crashes in 2020, an 8% increase over 2019 and the first jump in four years.

Plus, the fatality rate per 100 million miles driven spiked 24%, the largest annual percentage increase since the council began collecting data in 1923.

And even though traffic is now getting close to pre-coronavirus levels, the bad behavior on the roads is continuing, authorities say.

“It’s kind of terrifying what were seeing on our roads,” said Michael Hanson, director of the Minnesota Public Safety Department’s Office of Traffic Safety. “We’re seeing a huge increase in the amount of risk-taking behavior.”

Last year’s deaths were the most since 2007 when 43,945 people were killed in vehicle crashes. In addition, the safety council estimates that 4.8 million people were injured in crashes last year.

Federal data shows that Americans drove 13% fewer miles last year, or roughly 2.8 trillion miles, said Ken Kolosh, the safety council’s manager of statistics. Yet the number of deaths rose at an alarming rate, he said.

“The pandemic appears to be taking our eyes off the ball when it comes to traffic safety,” Kolosh said.

Of the reckless behaviors, early data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show speed to be the top factor, Kolosh said. Also, tests of trauma center patients involved in traffic crashes show increased use of alcohol, marijuana and opiods, he said.

In Minnesota, traffic volumes fell 60% when stay-home orders were issued early in the pandemic last spring. Hanson said state officials expected a corresponding drop in crashes and deaths, but while crashes declined, deaths increased.

“Almost immediately the fatality rate started to go up, and go up significantly,” Hanson said, adding that his counterparts in other states saw similar increases. “It created less congestion and a lot more lane space for divers to use, and quite honestly, to abuse out there.”

In late March and early April, the number of speed-related fatalities more than doubled over the same period in 2019 in the state, Hanson said. Last year, Minnesota recorded 395 traffic deaths, up nearly 9% from 364 in 2019.

Drivers also used the empty roads to drive extreme speeds. In 2019, the Minnesota State Patrol’s 600 troopers handed out tickets to just over 500 drivers for going over 100 mph (160 kph). That number rose to 1,068 in 2020, Hanson said.

Traveling over 100 mph makes crashes far more severe, the safety council said.

The high number of speeding drivers is continuing even as traffic is starting to return to pre-pandemic levels, according to Hanson.

The safety council is calling for equitable enforcement of traffic laws, infrastructure improvements, mandatory ignition switch locks for convicted drunken drivers, reducing speed limits to match roadway designs, and laws banning cellphone use while driving, among other recommendations to stem the deaths.

The council collects fatal crash data from states on public and private roads. The numbers released on Thursday are preliminary, but every year are only slightly different from the final numbers, Kolosh said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615042414480.png" alt="Scene of a Friday night Kansas crash -photo Douglas County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Scene of a Friday night Kansas crash -photo Douglas County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>DETROIT (AP) — Pandemic lockdowns and stay-at-home orders kept many drivers off U.S. roads and highways last year. But those who did venture out found open lanes that only invited reckless driving, leading to a sharp increase in traffic-crash deaths across the country.The nonprofit National Safety Council estimates in a report issued Thursday that 42,060 people died in vehicle crashes in 2020, an 8% increase over 2019 and the first jump in four years.Plus, the fatality rate per 100 million miles driven spiked 24%, the largest annual percentage increase since the council began collecting data in 1923.And even though traffic is now getting close to pre-coronavirus levels, the bad behavior on the roads is continuing, authorities say.“It’s kind of terrifying what were seeing on our roads,” said Michael Hanson, director of the Minnesota Public Safety Department’s Office of Traffic Safety. “We’re seeing a huge increase in the amount of risk-taking behavior.”Last year’s deaths were the most since 2007 when 43,945 people were killed in vehicle crashes. In addition, the safety council estimates that 4.8 million people were injured in crashes last year.Federal data shows that Americans drove 13% fewer miles last year, or roughly 2.8 trillion miles, said Ken Kolosh, the safety council’s manager of statistics. Yet the number of deaths rose at an alarming rate, he said.“The pandemic appears to be taking our eyes off the ball when it comes to traffic safety,” Kolosh said.Of the reckless behaviors, early data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show speed to be the top factor, Kolosh said. Also, tests of trauma center patients involved in traffic crashes show increased use of alcohol, marijuana and opiods, he said.In Minnesota, traffic volumes fell 60% when stay-home orders were issued early in the pandemic last spring. Hanson said state officials expected a corresponding drop in crashes and deaths, but while crashes declined, deaths increased.“Almost immediately the fatality rate started to go up, and go up significantly,” Hanson said, adding that his counterparts in other states saw similar increases. “It created less congestion and a lot more lane space for divers to use, and quite honestly, to abuse out there.”In late March and early April, the number of speed-related fatalities more than doubled over the same period in 2019 in the state, Hanson said. Last year, Minnesota recorded 395 traffic deaths, up nearly 9% from 364 in 2019.Drivers also used the empty roads to drive extreme speeds. In 2019, the Minnesota State Patrol’s 600 troopers handed out tickets to just over 500 drivers for going over 100 mph (160 kph). That number rose to 1,068 in 2020, Hanson said.Traveling over 100 mph makes crashes far more severe, the safety council said.The high number of speeding drivers is continuing even as traffic is starting to return to pre-pandemic levels, according to Hanson.The safety council is calling for equitable enforcement of traffic laws, infrastructure improvements, mandatory ignition switch locks for convicted drunken drivers, reducing speed limits to match roadway designs, and laws banning cellphone use while driving, among other recommendations to stem the deaths.The council collects fatal crash data from states on public and private roads. The numbers released on Thursday are preliminary, but every year are only slightly different from the final numbers, Kolosh said.

US traffic deaths up despite lockdowns, stay-at-home orders

SALINA—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the murder of a woman in Salina continue their search for a suspect identified as as 35-year-old Nelson Gerrod Hull.

He is wanted for the February 23, shooting death of 36-year-old Courtney Ann Hoffman.&nbsp; The Saline County District Court issued an arrest warrant for Hull for murder in the first degree.

Hull is described as a black male, 6-foot-3, 200 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. A tattoo on the right side of his neck is "Mi Familia."

On Monday, police reported the arrest of Clarence Darnyl Brown, 34, of Salina, in connection with the case.&nbsp;Brown is being held on requested charges of Aiding and abetting first degree murder, Criminal solicitation and Interference with law enforcement.

Just after 11:30a.m. on February 23, police responded to the 700 block of North Fourth Street in Salina for a report of the sound of gunfire and someone screaming, according to a media release.

Upon arrival, Salina Police Officers located a woman identified as Hoffman inside a vehicle at 731 N. 4th Street. She had a gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased by Salina Fire Department EMS personnel.

Police say Hull should be considered armed and dangerous. They encourage anyone with information on Hull's current location to contact 911 immediately.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576681996331.jpeg" alt="Hull photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Hull photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINA—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the murder of a woman in Salina continue their search for a suspect identified as as 35-year-old Nelson Gerrod Hull.He is wanted for the February 23, shooting death of 36-year-old Courtney Ann Hoffman.&nbsp; The Saline County District Court issued an arrest warrant for Hull for murder in the first degree.Hull is described as a black male, 6-foot-3, 200 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. A tattoo on the right side of his neck is "Mi Familia."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614348886825.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation Tuesday in Salina. photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation Tuesday in Salina. photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>On Monday, police reported the arrest of Clarence Darnyl Brown, 34, of Salina, in connection with the case.&nbsp;Brown is being held on requested charges of Aiding and abetting first degree murder, Criminal solicitation and Interference with law enforcement.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614629894498.png" alt="Clarence Brown single mugshot.PNG" />
 <figcaption>Clarence Brown single mugshot.PNG</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 11:30a.m. on February 23, police responded to the 700 block of North Fourth Street in Salina for a report of the sound of gunfire and someone screaming, according to a media release.Upon arrival, Salina Police Officers located a woman identified as Hoffman inside a vehicle at 731 N. 4th Street. She had a gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased by Salina Fire Department EMS personnel.Police say Hull should be considered armed and dangerous. They encourage anyone with information on Hull's current location to contact 911 immediately.

Man wanted for Salina woman's murder still at large

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ap-top-news-legislation-coronavirus-pandemic-joe-manchin-298ad8c447e9a121ece9529221e83136">Senate approved</a>&nbsp;a sweeping pandemic relief package over Republican opposition on Saturday, moving President Joe Biden closer to a milestone political victory that would provide $1,400 checks for most American and direct billions of dollars to schools, state and local governments, and businesses.

The bill cleared by a party-line vote of 50-49 after a marathon overnight voting session and now heads back to the House for final passage, which could come early next week.

Democrats said their “American Rescue Plan” would help the country defeat the virus and nurse the economy back to health. Republicans criticized the $1.9 trillion package as more expensive than necessary. The measure follows five earlier virus bills totaling about $4 trillion that Congress has enacted since last spring.

A look at some highlights of the legislation:

Expanded unemployment benefits from the federal government would be extended through Sept. 6 at $300 a week. That’s on top of what beneficiaries are getting through their state unemployment insurance program. The first $10,200 of jobless benefits would be non-taxable for households with incomes under $150,000.

Additionally, the measures provides a 100% subsidy of COBRA health insurance premiums to ensure that the laid-off workers can remain on their employer health plans at no cost through the end of September.

The legislation provides a direct payment of $1,400 for a single taxpayer, or $2,800 for a married couple that files jointly, plus $1,400 per dependent. Individuals earning up to $75,000 would get the full amount, as would married couples with incomes up to $150,000.

The size of the check would shrink for those making slightly more, with a hard cut-off at $80,000 for individuals and $160,000 for married couples.

Most Americans will be getting the full amount. The median household income was $68,703 in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The legislation would send $350 billion to state and local governments and tribal governments for costs incurred up until the end of 2024. The bill also requires that small states get at least the amount they received under virus legislation that Congress passed last March.

Many communities have taken hits to their tax base during the pandemic, but the impact varies from state to state and from town to town. Critics say the funding is not appropriately targeted and is far more than necessary with billions of dollars allocated last spring to states and communities still unspent.

The bill calls for about $130 billion in additional help to schools for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The money would be used to reduce class sizes and modify classrooms to enhance social distancing, install ventilation systems and purchase personal protective equipment. The money could also be used to increase the hiring of nurses and counselors and to provide summer school.

Spending for colleges and universities would be boosted by about $40 billion, with the money used to defray an institution’s pandemic-related expenses and to provide emergency aid to students to cover expenses such as food and housing and computer equipment.

A new program for restaurants and bars hurt by the pandemic would receive $25 billion. The grants provide up to $10 million per company with a limit of $5 million per physical location. The grants can be used to cover payroll, rent, utilities and other operational expenses.

The bill also provides $7.25 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program, a tiny fraction of what was allocated in previous legislation. The bill also allows more non-profits to apply for loans that are designed to help borrowers meet their payroll and operating costs and can potentially be forgiven.

The bill provides $46 billion to expand federal, state and local testing for COVID-19 and to enhance contract tracing capabilities with new investments to expand laboratory capacity and set up mobile testing units. It also contains about $14 billion to speed up the distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines across the country.

Parts of the legislation advance longstanding Democratic priorities like increasing coverage under the Obama-era Affordable Care Act. Financial assistance for ACA premiums would become considerably more generous and a greater number of solid middle-class households would qualify. Though the sweetened subsidies last only through the end of 2022, they will lower the cost of coverage and are expected to boost the number of people enrolled.

The measure also dangles more money in front of a dozen states, mainly in the South, that have not yet taken up the Medicaid expansion that is available under the ACA to cover more low-income adults. Whether such a sweetener would be enough to start wearing down longstanding Republican opposition to Medicaid expansion is uncertain.

BIGGER TAX BREAKS FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH AND WITHOUT KIDS

Under current law, most taxpayers can reduce their federal income tax bill by up to $2,000 per child. In a significant change, the bill would increase the tax break to $3,000 for every child age 6 to 17 and $3,600 for every child under the age of 6.

The legislation also calls for the payments to be delivered monthly instead of in a lump sum. If the secretary of the Treasury determines that isn’t feasible, then the payments are to be made as frequently as possible.

Families would get the full credit regardless of how little they make in a year, leading to criticism that the changes would serve as a disincentive to work. Add in the $1,400 checks and other items in the proposal, and the legislation would reduce the number of children living in poverty by more than half, according to the Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University.

The bill also significantly expands the Earned Income Tax Credit for 2021 by making it available to people without children. The credit for low and moderate-income adults would be worth $543 to $1,502, depending on income and filing status.

The bill provides about $30 billion to help low-income households and the unemployed afford rent and utilities, and to assist the homeless with vouchers and other support. States and tribes would receive an additional $10 billion for homeowners who are struggling with mortgage payments because of the pandemic.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate worked through the night and past sunrise Saturday on Democrats' showpiece $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill after a deal between leaders and moderate Sen. Joe Manchin on emergency jobless benefits broke a logjam that had stalled the package.

The compromise, announced by Manchin, D-W.Va., and a Democratic aide late Friday and backed by President Joe Biden, cleared the way for the Senate to begin a marathon series of votes on amendments before eventual approval of the sweeping legislation. The bill then would return to the House, which was expected to give it final congressional approval and send it to Biden to sign.

Biden’s foremost legislative priority is aimed at battling the killer pandemic and nursing the economy back to health. It would provide direct payments of up to $1,400 to most Americans and money for COVID-19 vaccines and testing, aid to state and local governments, help for schools and the airline industry and subsidies for health insurance.

Shortly before midnight, the Senate began to take up a variety of amendments in rapid-fire fashion. The votes were mostly on Republican proposals virtually certain to fail but designed to force Democrats into politically awkward votes. It was unclear how long into the weekend the “vote-a-rama” would last.

By daybreak Saturday, senators had worked through about a dozen amendments, including one from Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, to swap in Republican centrists’ $650 billion alternative proposal, which Biden panned as inadequate. That and other amendments failed, including one from Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., on the Keystone XL pipeline.

One proposal that did pass, from Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., would require schools, within 30 days of receiving money from the bill, to develop publicly available plans for in-person instruction. It appeared designed to fend of Republican criticisms that Biden’s package does not do enough to swiftly reopen schools.

Friday's lengthy standoff underscored the headaches confronting party leaders over the next two years — and the tensions between progressives and centrists — as they try moving their agenda through the Congress with their slender majorities.

Manchin is probably the chamber’s most conservative Democrat, and a kingmaker in the 50-50 Senate. But Democrats cannot tilt too far center to win Manchin’s vote without endangering progressive support in the House, where they have a mere 10-vote edge.

Aiding unemployed Americans is a Democratic priority. But it’s also an issue that drives a wedge between progressives seeking to help jobless constituents cope with the bleak economy and Manchin and other moderates who have wanted to trim some of the bill’s costs.

Biden noted Friday's jobs report showing that employers added 379,000 workers — an unexpectedly strong showing. That's still small compared with the 10 million fewer jobs since the pandemic struck a year ago.

“Without a rescue plan, these gains are going to slow," Biden said. “We can’t afford one step forward and two steps backwards. We need to beat the virus, provide essential relief, and build an inclusive recovery."

The overall bill faced a solid wall of GOP opposition, and Republicans used the unemployment impasse to accuse Biden of refusing to seek compromise with them. “You could pick up the phone and end this right now,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said of Biden.

But in an encouraging sign for Biden, a poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 70% of Americans support his handling of the pandemic, including a noteworthy 44% of Republicans.

The House approved a relief bill last weekend that included $400 weekly jobless benefits — on top of regular state payments — through August. Manchin was hoping to reduce those costs, asserting that level of payment would discourage people from returning to work, a rationale most Democrats and many economists reject.

As the day began, Democrats asserted they'd reached a compromise between party moderates and progressives extending emergency jobless benefits at $300 weekly into early October.

That plan, sponsored by Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., also included tax reductions on some unemployment benefits. Without that, many Americans abruptly tossed out of jobs would face unexpected tax bills.

But by midday, lawmakers said Manchin was ready to support a less generous Republican version. That led to hours of talks involving White House aides, top Senate Democrats and Manchin.

The compromise would provide $300 weekly, with the final check paid on Sept. 6, and includes the tax break on benefits.

Before the unemployment benefits drama began, senators voted 58-42 to kill a top progressive priority, a gradual increase in the current $7.25 hourly minimum wage to $15 over five years. Eight Democrats voted against that proposal, suggesting that Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and other progressives vowing to continue the effort in coming months will face a difficult fight.

That vote began shortly after 11 a.m. EST and was not formally gaveled to a close until nearly 12 hours later as Senate work ground to a halt amid the unemployment benefit negotiations. It was among the longest votes in modern Senate history.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., chided Democrats, calling their daylong effort to work out the unemployment amendment a “spectacle."

“What this proves is there are benefits to bipartisanship when you're dealing with an issue of this magnitude," McConnell said.

Republicans criticized the overall relief bill as a liberal spend-fest that ignores that growing numbers of vaccinations and signs of a stirring economy suggest that the twin crises are easing.

“Democrats inherited a tide that was already turning.” McConnell said.

Democrats reject that, citing the job losses and numerous people still struggling to buy food and pay rent.

“If you just look at a big number you say, ‘Oh, everything's getting a little better,'" said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “It's not for the lower half of America. It's not."

Friday's gridlock over unemployment benefits gridlock wasn't the first delay on the relief package. On Thursday Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., forced the chamber's clerks to read aloud the entire 628-page relief bill, an exhausting task that took staffers 10 hours and 44 minutes and ended shortly after 2 a.m. EST.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate leaders and moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin struck a deal late Friday over emergency jobless benefits, breaking a nine-hour logjam that had stalled the party’s showpiece $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill.

The compromise, announced by the West Virginia lawmaker and a Democratic aide, seemed to clear the way for the Senate to begin a climactic, marathon series of votes and, eventually, approval of the sweeping legislation.

The overall bill, President Joe Biden’s foremost legislative priority, is aimed at battling the killer pandemic and nursing the staggered economy back to health. It would provide direct payments of up to $1,400 to most Americans and money for COVID-19 vaccines and testing, aid to state and local governments, help for schools and the airline industry and subsidies for health insurance.

The Senate next faced votes on a pile of amendments that were likely to last overnight, mostly on Republican proposals virtually certain to fail but designed to force Democrats to cast politically awkward votes.

More significantly, the jobless benefits agreement suggested it was just a matter of time until the Senate passes the bill. That would ship it back to the House, which was expected to give it final congressional approval and whisk it to Biden for his signature.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden supports the compromise on jobless payments.

The day’s lengthy standoff underscored the headaches confronting party leaders over the next two years — and the tensions between progressives and centrists — as they try moving their agenda through the Congress with their slender majorities.

Manchin is probably the chamber’s most conservative Democrat, and a kingmaker in a 50-50 Senate that leaves his party without a vote to spare. With Democrats also clinging to a mere 10-vote House edge, the party needs his vote but can’t tilt too far center without losing progressive support.

Aiding unemployed Americans is a top Democratic priority. But it’s also an issue that drives a wedge between progressives seeking to help jobless constituents cope with the bleak economy and Manchin and other moderates who have wanted to trim some of the bill’s costs.

Biden noted Friday’s jobs report showing that employers added 379,000 workers — an unexpectedly strong showing. That’s still small compared to the 10 million fewer jobs since the pandemic struck a year ago.

“Without a rescue plan, these gains are going to slow,” Biden said. “We can’t afford one step forward and two steps backwards. We need to beat the virus, provide essential relief, and build an inclusive recovery.”

The overall bill faces a solid wall of GOP opposition, and Republicans used the unemployment impasse to accuse Biden of refusing to seek compromise with them.