WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has approved a significant and permanent increase in the levels of food stamp assistance available to needy families—the largest single increase in the program’s history.

Starting in October, average benefits for food stamps (officially known as the SNAP program) will rise more than 25 percent above pre-pandemic levels. The increased assistance will be available indefinitely to all 42 million SNAP beneficiaries.

The aid boost was first reported by The New York Times and the details were confirmed by a spokeswoman for the Department of Agriculture. They will be formally announced Monday by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The aid boost is being packaged as a major revision of the USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan. In concrete terms, the average monthly per-person benefits will rise from $121 to $157.

The increase is part of a multi-pronged Biden administration effort to strengthen the country’s social safety net. Poverty and food security activists maintain that longstanding inadequacies in that safety net were laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic, presenting an opportunity to make generational improvements that reach beyond the current public health crisis.

Activists say the previous levels of pre-pandemic SNAP assistance simply weren’t enough, forcing many households to choose cheaper, less nutritious options or simply go hungry as the funds ran low toward the end of the month.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has approved a significant and permanent increase in the levels of food stamp assistance available to needy families—the largest single increase in the program’s history.Starting in October, average benefits for food stamps (officially known as the SNAP program) will rise more than 25 percent above pre-pandemic levels. The increased assistance will be available indefinitely to all 42 million SNAP beneficiaries.The aid boost was first reported by The New York Times and the details were confirmed by a spokeswoman for the Department of Agriculture. They will be formally announced Monday by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.The aid boost is being packaged as a major revision of the USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan. In concrete terms, the average monthly per-person benefits will rise from $121 to $157.The increase is part of a multi-pronged Biden administration effort to strengthen the country’s social safety net. Poverty and food security activists maintain that longstanding inadequacies in that safety net were laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic, presenting an opportunity to make generational improvements that reach beyond the current public health crisis.Activists say the previous levels of pre-pandemic SNAP assistance simply weren’t enough, forcing many households to choose cheaper, less nutritious options or simply go hungry as the funds ran low toward the end of the month.

Biden boosts food stamp benefits; largest increase in history

PAWNEE COUNTY—A Southwest Kansas woman who fled an arrest during a traffic stop made her first court appearance in the case.

&nbsp;Rebecca Bird-Heiman, 49 of Deerfield, Kansas, was charged with Aggravated Escape from Custody, Felony Interference with Law Enforcement, Driving Under the Influence (3rd Offense), Driving While Suspended, No Liability Insurance and Transporting Open Container, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.

The charges stem from a traffic stop by the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) during the earlier morning hours of August 10, 2021, near the Fort Larned National Historical Site on K156 Highway. It is alleged that after being arrested on the suspicion of driving under the influence, while handcuffed Bird-Heiman fled on foot into the banks of the Pawnee River. She was returned to custody approximately eight and a half hours later near the same location and treated for minor injuries.

KHP was assisted in the search by the Pawnee County Sheriff's Office, Federal Park Rangers, Larned Police Dept, KDOC personnel, Barton County Sheriff's Office, and Larned Fire &amp; EMS.

A Preliminary Hearing has been scheduled for August 27, 2021. The defendant is being held in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff in lieu of $7,500 bond, according to McNett.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628874702501.png" alt="Bird-Heiman-photo Pawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Bird-Heiman-photo Pawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY—A Southwest Kansas woman who fled an arrest during a traffic stop made her first court appearance in the case.&nbsp;Rebecca Bird-Heiman, 49 of Deerfield, Kansas, was charged with Aggravated Escape from Custody, Felony Interference with Law Enforcement, Driving Under the Influence (3rd Offense), Driving While Suspended, No Liability Insurance and Transporting Open Container, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.The charges stem from a traffic stop by the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) during the earlier morning hours of August 10, 2021, near the Fort Larned National Historical Site on K156 Highway. It is alleged that after being arrested on the suspicion of driving under the influence, while handcuffed Bird-Heiman fled on foot into the banks of the Pawnee River. She was returned to custody approximately eight and a half hours later near the same location and treated for minor injuries.KHP was assisted in the search by the Pawnee County Sheriff's Office, Federal Park Rangers, Larned Police Dept, KDOC personnel, Barton County Sheriff's Office, and Larned Fire &amp; EMS.A Preliminary Hearing has been scheduled for August 27, 2021. The defendant is being held in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff in lieu of $7,500 bond, according to McNett.

SW Kansas woman fled DUI arrest into river 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and other top U.S. officials have been stunned by the pace of the Taliban’s nearly complete takeover of Afghanistan, as the planned withdrawal of American forces urgently became a mission to ensure a safe evacuation.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/evacuations-taliban-784681c4400b097cf73b93cec34c5c61">speed of the Afghan government’s collapse and the ensuing chaos</a>&nbsp;posed the most serious test of Biden as commander in chief, and he was the subject of withering criticism from Republicans who said that he had failed.

Biden campaigned as a seasoned expert in international relations and has spent months downplaying the prospect of an ascendant Taliban while arguing that Americans of all political persuasions have tired of a 20-year war, a conflict that demonstrated the limits of money and military might to force a Western-style democracy on a society not ready or willing to embrace it.

By Sunday, though, leading figures in the administration acknowledged they were caught off guard with the utter speed of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-kabul-bagram-e1ed33fe0c665ee67ba132c51b8e32a5https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-kabul-bagram-e1ed33fe0c665ee67ba132c51b8e32a5">the collapse</a>&nbsp;of Afghan security forces. The challenge of that effort became clear after reports of sporadic gunfire at the Kabul airport prompted Americans to shelter as they awaited flights to safety after the U.S. Embassy was completely evacuated.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan said Monday that Afghanistan fell faster than the administration expected, and blamed the government’s fall on the Afghans themselves.

“It is certainly the case that the speed with which cities fell was much greater than anyone anticipated,” Sullivan said Monday on NBC’s “Today.”

But he said the U.S. ultimately could not give Afghan security forces the “will” to fight to defend their fledgling democracy from the Taliban.

“At the end of the day, despite the fact that we spent 20 years and tens of billions of dollars to give the best equipment, the best training and the best capacity to the Afghan security forces, we could not give them the will and they ultimately decided that they would not fight for Kabul and they would not fight for the country,” Sullivan said.

The turmoil in Afghanistan resets the focus in an unwelcome way for a president who has largely focused on a domestic agenda that includes emerging from the pandemic, winning congressional approval for trillions of dollars in infrastructure spending and protecting voting rights.

Biden remained at Camp David on Monday, receiving regular briefings on Afghanistan and holding secure video conference calls with members of his national security team, according to senior White House officials. His administration released a single photo of the president on Sunday alone in a conference room meeting virtually with military, diplomatic and intelligence experts.

Sullivan said Biden would speak about Afghanistan “soon” but gave no timetable. Biden has been at the Camp David presidential retreat, and largely out of public view, since Friday. He was scheduled to stay there through Wednesday.

“At the right point he will absolutely address the American people,” Sullivan told ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

Biden is the fourth U.S. president to confront challenges in Afghanistan and has insisted he wouldn’t hand America’s longest war to his successor. But the president will likely have to explain how security in Afghanistan unraveled so quickly, especially since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-afghanistan-government-and-politics-86f939c746c7bc56bb9f11f095a95366">he and others in the administration have insisted it wouldn’t happen</a>.

“The jury is still out, but the likelihood there’s going to be the Taliban overrunning everything and owning the whole country is highly unlikely,” Biden said on July 8.

As recently as last week, Biden publicly expressed hope that Afghan forces could develop the will to defend their country. But privately, administration officials warned that the military was crumbling, prompting Biden on Thursday to order thousands of American troops into the region to speed up evacuation plans.

One official said Biden was more sanguine on projections for the Afghan fighters to hold off the Taliban in part to prevent a further erosion in morale among their force. It was ultimately for naught.

Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump also yearned to leave Afghanistan, but ultimately stood down in the face of resistance from military leaders and other political concerns. Biden, on the other hand, has been steadfast in his refusal to change the Aug. 31 deadline, in part because of his belief that the American public is on his side.

A late July ABC News/Ipsos poll, for instance, showed 55% of Americans approving of Biden’s handling of the troop withdrawal.

Most Republicans have not pushed Biden to keep troops in Afghanistan over the long term and they also supported Trump’s own push to exit the country. Still, some in the GOP are stepping up their critique of Biden’s withdrawal strategy and said images from Sunday of American helicopters circling the U.S. Embassy in Kabul evoked the humiliating departure of U.S. personnel from Vietnam.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell deemed the scenes of withdrawal as “the embarrassment of a superpower laid low.”

There were no additional steps planned beyond the troop deployment Biden ordered to assist in the evacuations. Senior administration officials believe the U.S. will be able to maintain security at the Kabul airport long enough to extricate Americans and their allies, but the fate of those unable to get to the airport was far from certain.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who has backed the Biden administration’s strategy, said in an interview that “the speed is a surprise” but would not characterize the situation as an intelligence failure. He said it has long been known that Afghanistan would fall to the Taliban if the United States pulled out.

“Given how much we have invested in the Afghan army, it’s not ridiculous for analysts to believe that they’d be able to put up a fight for more than a few days,” Murphy said. “You want to believe that trillions of dollars and 20 years of investment adds up to something, even if it doesn’t add up for the ability to defend the country in the long run.”

In the upper ranks of Biden’s staff, the rapid collapse in Afghanistan only confirmed the decision to leave: If the meltdown of the Afghan forces would come so quickly after nearly two decades of American presence, another six months or a year or two or more would not have changed anything.

Biden has argued for more than a decade that Afghanistan was a kind of purgatory for the United States. He found it to be corrupt, addicted to America’s largesse and an unreliable partner that should be made to fend for itself. His goal was to protect Americans from terrorist attacks, not building a country.

As vice president, he argued privately against Obama’s surge of 30,000 troops into Afghanistan in a bid to stabilize the country so that the United States and its allies could then pull back their forces.

As president, Biden said in July that he made the decision to withdraw with “clear eyes” after receiving daily battlefield updates. His judgment was that Afghanistan would be divided in a peace agreement with the Taliban, rather than falling all at once.

“There’s going to be no circumstance where you see people being lifted off the roof of a embassy in the — of the United States from Afghanistan,” he said in July. “The likelihood there’s going to be one unified government in Afghanistan controlling the whole country is highly unlikely.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629040310655.png" alt="Saturday morning, the President and Vice President held a video conference with the national security team to discuss the efforts to draw down the U.S. civilian footprint in Afghanistan-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Saturday morning, the President and Vice President held a video conference with the national security team to discuss the efforts to draw down the U.S. civilian footprint in Afghanistan-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and other top U.S. officials have been stunned by the pace of the Taliban’s nearly complete takeover of Afghanistan, as the planned withdrawal of American forces urgently became a mission to ensure a safe evacuation.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/evacuations-taliban-784681c4400b097cf73b93cec34c5c61">speed of the Afghan government’s collapse and the ensuing chaos</a>&nbsp;posed the most serious test of Biden as commander in chief, and he was the subject of withering criticism from Republicans who said that he had failed.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden should move quickly to protect all Americans in Afghanistan through any means necessary. Weakness invites attacks. So far we have only seen weakness.&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1427020128747667460?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden campaigned as a seasoned expert in international relations and has spent months downplaying the prospect of an ascendant Taliban while arguing that Americans of all political persuasions have tired of a 20-year war, a conflict that demonstrated the limits of money and military might to force a Western-style democracy on a society not ready or willing to embrace it.By Sunday, though, leading figures in the administration acknowledged they were caught off guard with the utter speed of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-kabul-bagram-e1ed33fe0c665ee67ba132c51b8e32a5https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-kabul-bagram-e1ed33fe0c665ee67ba132c51b8e32a5">the collapse</a>&nbsp;of Afghan security forces. The challenge of that effort became clear after reports of sporadic gunfire at the Kabul airport prompted Americans to shelter as they awaited flights to safety after the U.S. Embassy was completely evacuated.National security adviser Jake Sullivan said Monday that Afghanistan fell faster than the administration expected, and blamed the government’s fall on the Afghans themselves.“It is certainly the case that the speed with which cities fell was much greater than anyone anticipated,” Sullivan said Monday on NBC’s “Today.”But he said the U.S. ultimately could not give Afghan security forces the “will” to fight to defend their fledgling democracy from the Taliban.“At the end of the day, despite the fact that we spent 20 years and tens of billions of dollars to give the best equipment, the best training and the best capacity to the Afghan security forces, we could not give them the will and they ultimately decided that they would not fight for Kabul and they would not fight for the country,” Sullivan said.The turmoil in Afghanistan resets the focus in an unwelcome way for a president who has largely focused on a domestic agenda that includes emerging from the pandemic, winning congressional approval for trillions of dollars in infrastructure spending and protecting voting rights.Biden remained at Camp David on Monday, receiving regular briefings on Afghanistan and holding secure video conference calls with members of his national security team, according to senior White House officials. His administration released a single photo of the president on Sunday alone in a conference room meeting virtually with military, diplomatic and intelligence experts.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629040483076.png" alt="President Biden speaking with Secretary Blinken, Secretary Austin, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan about the ongoing efforts to safely drawdown the civilian footprint in Afghanistan-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden speaking with Secretary Blinken, Secretary Austin, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan about the ongoing efforts to safely drawdown the civilian footprint in Afghanistan-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>Sullivan said Biden would speak about Afghanistan “soon” but gave no timetable. Biden has been at the Camp David presidential retreat, and largely out of public view, since Friday. He was scheduled to stay there through Wednesday.“At the right point he will absolutely address the American people,” Sullivan told ABC’s “Good Morning America.”Biden is the fourth U.S. president to confront challenges in Afghanistan and has insisted he wouldn’t hand America’s longest war to his successor. But the president will likely have to explain how security in Afghanistan unraveled so quickly, especially since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-afghanistan-government-and-politics-86f939c746c7bc56bb9f11f095a95366">he and others in the administration have insisted it wouldn’t happen</a>.“The jury is still out, but the likelihood there’s going to be the Taliban overrunning everything and owning the whole country is highly unlikely,” Biden said on July 8.As recently as last week, Biden publicly expressed hope that Afghan forces could develop the will to defend their country. But privately, administration officials warned that the military was crumbling, prompting Biden on Thursday to order thousands of American troops into the region to speed up evacuation plans.One official said Biden was more sanguine on projections for the Afghan fighters to hold off the Taliban in part to prevent a further erosion in morale among their force. It was ultimately for naught.Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump also yearned to leave Afghanistan, but ultimately stood down in the face of resistance from military leaders and other political concerns. Biden, on the other hand, has been steadfast in his refusal to change the Aug. 31 deadline, in part because of his belief that the American public is on his side.A late July ABC News/Ipsos poll, for instance, showed 55% of Americans approving of Biden’s handling of the troop withdrawal.Most Republicans have not pushed Biden to keep troops in Afghanistan over the long term and they also supported Trump’s own push to exit the country. Still, some in the GOP are stepping up their critique of Biden’s withdrawal strategy and said images from Sunday of American helicopters circling the U.S. Embassy in Kabul evoked the humiliating departure of U.S. personnel from Vietnam.Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell deemed the scenes of withdrawal as “the embarrassment of a superpower laid low.”There were no additional steps planned beyond the troop deployment Biden ordered to assist in the evacuations. Senior administration officials believe the U.S. will be able to maintain security at the Kabul airport long enough to extricate Americans and their allies, but the fate of those unable to get to the airport was far from certain.Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who has backed the Biden administration’s strategy, said in an interview that “the speed is a surprise” but would not characterize the situation as an intelligence failure. He said it has long been known that Afghanistan would fall to the Taliban if the United States pulled out.“Given how much we have invested in the Afghan army, it’s not ridiculous for analysts to believe that they’d be able to put up a fight for more than a few days,” Murphy said. “You want to believe that trillions of dollars and 20 years of investment adds up to something, even if it doesn’t add up for the ability to defend the country in the long run.”In the upper ranks of Biden’s staff, the rapid collapse in Afghanistan only confirmed the decision to leave: If the meltdown of the Afghan forces would come so quickly after nearly two decades of American presence, another six months or a year or two or more would not have changed anything.Biden has argued for more than a decade that Afghanistan was a kind of purgatory for the United States. He found it to be corrupt, addicted to America’s largesse and an unreliable partner that should be made to fend for itself. His goal was to protect Americans from terrorist attacks, not building a country.As vice president, he argued privately against Obama’s surge of 30,000 troops into Afghanistan in a bid to stabilize the country so that the United States and its allies could then pull back their forces.As president, Biden said in July that he made the decision to withdraw with “clear eyes” after receiving daily battlefield updates. His judgment was that Afghanistan would be divided in a peace agreement with the Taliban, rather than falling all at once.“There’s going to be no circumstance where you see people being lifted off the roof of a embassy in the — of the United States from Afghanistan,” he said in July. “The likelihood there’s going to be one unified government in Afghanistan controlling the whole country is highly unlikely.”___

Evacuation of the American Embassy in Kabul complete

The
 Federal Trade Commission and the Georgia Attorney General’s Office 
today sued the co-founders of the Stem Cell Institute of America for 
marketing stem cell therapy to seniors nationwide using bogus claims 
that it is effective in treating arthritis, joint pain, and a range of 
other orthopedic ailments.

The agencies’
 complaint also alleges that the Canton, Georgia-based defendants 
promoted the false or unsubstantiated claim that stem cell therapy is 
comparable or superior to surgery, steroid injections, and painkillers, 
and that they provided chiropractors and other healthcare practitioners 
with the means of deceiving consumers about such treatments.

“These
 defendants advertised expensive stem cell injections with baseless 
pain-relief claims, and provided marketing materials and training to 
chiropractors to do the same,” said Samuel Levine, Acting Director of 
the Bureau of Consumer Protection. “With our partner, the Georgia 
Attorney General, we aim to ensure they can’t keep preying on older 
adults and others who need real medical help.”

“At
 best, the use of unproven products or therapies can cost consumers 
thousands of dollars without affording them any results,” said Georgia 
Attorney General Chris Carr. “At worst, it can be harmful to their 
health. Our office will continue to hold accountable businesses that 
make unsubstantiated claims and violate the law – especially those that 
target our older or at-risk adults.”

The joint agency <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/1._complaint.pdf">complaint</a>,
 names as defendants Steven D. Peyroux and Brent J. Detelich, 
Regenerative Medicine Institute of America, LLC, doing business as Stem 
Cell Institute of America, LLC (SCIA); Physicians Business Solutions, 
LLC (PBS); and Superior Healthcare, LLC (SHC).

Peyroux,
 a chiropractor, owned and managed SHC, a clinic that provided patients 
with a range of healthcare-related services, including, between 2015 and
 mid-2019, stem cell therapy. While running SHC, Peyroux founded PBS, a 
consulting firm that advises and trains chiropractors and other 
healthcare practitioners on how to expand their businesses. Detelich, a 
former chiropractor and longtime business associate of Peyroux’s, 
started working with PBS as a coach and speaker, and has managed some of
 the company’s business operations. 

&nbsp;In
 2015, Peyroux and Detelich co-founded SCIA, a company that trained 
chiropractors and other healthcare practitioners on how to add stem cell
 therapy to their practices. The complaint states SCIA trained its 
client clinics on how to recruit patients through advertising, host free
 educational seminars, and conduct consultations. SCIA also provided its
 clients access to a “vault” of sample advertisements, including 
newspaper ads, fact sheets, and PowerPoint slides and provided client 
clinics with the appearance of being part of a large nationwide network 
under the SCIA name and logo.

The 
agencies contend the defendants also hosted their own free “educational 
seminars” for consumers, where they marketed SHC as an SCIA clinic and 
pitched stem cell therapy as an effective treatment for joint pain and 
other orthopedic conditions. They allegedly targeted seniors and 
retirement communities, and at the end of the seminars would attempt to 
schedule attendees for consultations at SHC’s clinic. SHC charged 
approximately $5,000 per joint injection, with many patients receiving 
more than one injection as part of their treatment.

In
 2018, the complaint alleges, the defendants began offering a stem cell 
therapy program through PBS similar to SCIA’s services. PBS trains its 
clients on setting up and marketing a regenerative medicine program 
through seminars, conferences, one-on-one consultations, and access to 
“PBS University,” an online platform with training videos. PBS has also 
provided demonstrations at the SHC clinic on how to administer stem cell
 injections.

In addition to making false
 and unsubstantiated claims, the complaint alleges that the defendants 
violated Georgia’s Fair Business Practices Act related to the 
distribution of false or misleading information through the use of a 
computer or computer network.

The 
Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint was 5-0. The
 complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern 
District of Georgia. The FTC appreciates the partnership of the Georgia 
Attorney General’s Office in bringing the action announced today.

NOTE: The
 Commission files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the 
named defendants are violating or are about to violate the law and it 
appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. 
The case will be decided by the court.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">protect and educate consumers</a>. You can <a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/">learn more about consumer topics</a> and report scams, fraud, and bad business practices online at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Like the FTC on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/federaltradecommission">Facebook(link is external)</a>, follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/FTC">Twitter(link is external)</a>, get <a href="http://ftc.gov/subscribe">consumer alerts</a>, read our <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>, and <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a> for the latest FTC news and resources.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe
 Federal Trade Commission and the Georgia Attorney General’s Office 
today sued the co-founders of the Stem Cell Institute of America for 
marketing stem cell therapy to seniors nationwide using bogus claims 
that it is effective in treating arthritis, joint pain, and a range of 
other orthopedic ailments.The agencies’
 complaint also alleges that the Canton, Georgia-based defendants 
promoted the false or unsubstantiated claim that stem cell therapy is 
comparable or superior to surgery, steroid injections, and painkillers, 
and that they provided chiropractors and other healthcare practitioners 
with the means of deceiving consumers about such treatments.“These
 defendants advertised expensive stem cell injections with baseless 
pain-relief claims, and provided marketing materials and training to 
chiropractors to do the same,” said Samuel Levine, Acting Director of 
the Bureau of Consumer Protection. “With our partner, the Georgia 
Attorney General, we aim to ensure they can’t keep preying on older 
adults and others who need real medical help.”“At
 best, the use of unproven products or therapies can cost consumers 
thousands of dollars without affording them any results,” said Georgia 
Attorney General Chris Carr. “At worst, it can be harmful to their 
health. Our office will continue to hold accountable businesses that 
make unsubstantiated claims and violate the law – especially those that 
target our older or at-risk adults.”The joint agency <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/1._complaint.pdf">complaint</a>,
 names as defendants Steven D. Peyroux and Brent J. Detelich, 
Regenerative Medicine Institute of America, LLC, doing business as Stem 
Cell Institute of America, LLC (SCIA); Physicians Business Solutions, 
LLC (PBS); and Superior Healthcare, LLC (SHC).Peyroux,
 a chiropractor, owned and managed SHC, a clinic that provided patients 
with a range of healthcare-related services, including, between 2015 and
 mid-2019, stem cell therapy. While running SHC, Peyroux founded PBS, a 
consulting firm that advises and trains chiropractors and other 
healthcare practitioners on how to expand their businesses. Detelich, a 
former chiropractor and longtime business associate of Peyroux’s, 
started working with PBS as a coach and speaker, and has managed some of
 the company’s business operations. &nbsp;In
 2015, Peyroux and Detelich co-founded SCIA, a company that trained 
chiropractors and other healthcare practitioners on how to add stem cell
 therapy to their practices. The complaint states SCIA trained its 
client clinics on how to recruit patients through advertising, host free
 educational seminars, and conduct consultations. SCIA also provided its
 clients access to a “vault” of sample advertisements, including 
newspaper ads, fact sheets, and PowerPoint slides and provided client 
clinics with the appearance of being part of a large nationwide network 
under the SCIA name and logo.The 
agencies contend the defendants also hosted their own free “educational 
seminars” for consumers, where they marketed SHC as an SCIA clinic and 
pitched stem cell therapy as an effective treatment for joint pain and 
other orthopedic conditions. They allegedly targeted seniors and 
retirement communities, and at the end of the seminars would attempt to 
schedule attendees for consultations at SHC’s clinic. SHC charged 
approximately $5,000 per joint injection, with many patients receiving 
more than one injection as part of their treatment.In
 2018, the complaint alleges, the defendants began offering a stem cell 
therapy program through PBS similar to SCIA’s services. PBS trains its 
clients on setting up and marketing a regenerative medicine program 
through seminars, conferences, one-on-one consultations, and access to 
“PBS University,” an online platform with training videos. PBS has also 
provided demonstrations at the SHC clinic on how to administer stem cell
 injections.In addition to making false
 and unsubstantiated claims, the complaint alleges that the defendants 
violated Georgia’s Fair Business Practices Act related to the 
distribution of false or misleading information through the use of a 
computer or computer network.The 
Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint was 5-0. The
 complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern 
District of Georgia. The FTC appreciates the partnership of the Georgia 
Attorney General’s Office in bringing the action announced today.NOTE: The
 Commission files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the 
named defendants are violating or are about to violate the law and it 
appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. 
The case will be decided by the court.The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">protect and educate consumers</a>. You can <a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/">learn more about consumer topics</a> and report scams, fraud, and bad business practices online at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Like the FTC on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/federaltradecommission">Facebook(link is external)</a>, follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/FTC">Twitter(link is external)</a>, get <a href="http://ftc.gov/subscribe">consumer alerts</a>, read our <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>, and <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a> for the latest FTC news and resources.

FTC: Stem cell institute made bogus claims, targeted seniors

KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — There are plenty of places to turn for accurate information about COVID-19. Your physician. Local health departments. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

But not, perhaps, your local government’s public comment session.

During a meeting of the St. Louis County Council earlier this month, opponents of a possible mask mandate made so many misleading comments about masks, vaccines and COVID-19 that YouTube removed the video for violating its policies against false claims about the virus.

“I hope no one is making any medical decisions based on what they hear at our public forums,” said County Councilwoman Lisa Clancy, who supports mask wearing and said she believes most of her constituents do too. The video was restored, but Clancy’s worries about the impact of that misinformation remain.

Videos of local government meetings have emerged as the latest vector of COVID-19 misinformation, broadcasting misleading claims about masks and vaccines to millions and creating new challenges for internet platforms trying to balance the potential harm against the need for government openness.

The latest video to go viral features a local physician who made&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-science-health-indiana-coronavirus-pandemic-bb7744800a96b96ed37d38ab1f5e9803">several misleading claims about COVID-19</a>&nbsp;while addressing the Mount Vernon Community School Corporation in Fortville, Indiana, on Aug. 6. In his 6-minute remarks, Dr. Dan Stock tells the board that masks don’t work, vaccines don’t prevent infection, and state and federal health officials don’t follow the science.

The video has amassed tens of millions of online views, and prompted the Indiana State Department of Health to push back. Stock did not return multiple messages seeking comment.

“Here comes a doctor in suspenders who goes in front of the school board and basically says what some people are thinking: the masks are B.S., vaccines don’t work and the CDC is lying — it can be very compelling to laypeople,” said Dr. Zubin Damania, a California physician who received so many messages about the Indiana clip that he created his own video debunking Stock’s claims.

Damania hosts a popular online medical show under the name ZDoggMD. His video debunking Stock’s comments has been viewed more than 400,000 times so far. He said that while there are legitimate questions about the effectiveness of mask requirements for children, Stock’s broad criticism of masks and vaccines went too far.

YouTube removed several similar videos of local government meetings in North Carolina, Missouri, Kansas and Washington state. In Bellingham, Washington, officials responded by temporarily suspending public comment sessions.

The false claims in those videos were made during the portion of the meeting devoted to public comment. Local officials have no control over what is said at these forums, and say that’s part of the point.

In Kansas, YouTube pulled video of the May school board meeting in the 27,000-student Shawnee Mission district in which parents and a state lawmaker called for the district to remove its mask mandate, citing “medical misinformation.”

The district, where a mask mandate remains in effect, responded by ending livestreaming of the public comment period. District spokesman David Smith acknowledged that it has been challenging to balance making the board meetings accessible and not spreading fallacies.

“It was hard for me to hear things in the board meeting that weren’t true and to know that those were going out without contradiction,” Smith said. “I am all about free speech, but when that free speech endangers people’s lives, it is hard to sit through that.”

After hearing from local officials, YouTube reversed its decision and put the videos back up. Earlier this month the company, which is owned by Google, announced a change to its COVID misinformation policy to allow exceptions for local government meetings — though YouTube may still remove content that uses remarks from public forums in an attempt to mislead.

“While we have clear policies to remove harmful COVID-19 misinformation, we also recognize the importance of organizations like school districts and city councils using YouTube to share recordings of open public forums, even when comments at those forums may violate our policies,” company spokeswoman Elena Hernandez said.

The deluge of false claims about the virus has challenged other platforms too. Twitter and Facebook each have their own policies on COVID-19 misinformation, and say that like YouTube they attach labels to misleading content and remove the worst of it.

Public comment sessions preceding local government meetings have long been known for sometimes colorful remarks from local residents. But before the internet, if someone were to drone on about fluoride in the drinking water, for instance, their comments weren’t likely to become national news.

Now, thanks to the internet and social media, the misleading musings of a local doctor speaking before a school board can compete for attention with the recommendations of the CDC.

It was only a matter of time before misleading comments at these local public forums went viral, according to Jennifer Grygiel, a communications professor at Syracuse University who studies social media platforms.

Grygiel suggested a few possible ways to minimize the impact of misinformation without muzzling local governments. Grygiel said clear labels on government broadcasts would help viewers understand what they’re watching. Keeping the video on the government’s website, instead of making it shareable on YouTube, could allow local residents to watch without enabling the spread of videos more widely.

“Anytime there is a public arena – a city council hearing, a school board meeting, a public park – the public has the opportunity to potentially spread misinformation,” Grygiel said. “What’s changed is it used to stay local.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629038602416.png" alt="From Shawnee Mission Kansas School Board meeting on July 26" />
 <figcaption>From Shawnee Mission Kansas School Board meeting on July 26</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — There are plenty of places to turn for accurate information about COVID-19. Your physician. Local health departments. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control.But not, perhaps, your local government’s public comment session.During a meeting of the St. Louis County Council earlier this month, opponents of a possible mask mandate made so many misleading comments about masks, vaccines and COVID-19 that YouTube removed the video for violating its policies against false claims about the virus.“I hope no one is making any medical decisions based on what they hear at our public forums,” said County Councilwoman Lisa Clancy, who supports mask wearing and said she believes most of her constituents do too. The video was restored, but Clancy’s worries about the impact of that misinformation remain.Videos of local government meetings have emerged as the latest vector of COVID-19 misinformation, broadcasting misleading claims about masks and vaccines to millions and creating new challenges for internet platforms trying to balance the potential harm against the need for government openness.The latest video to go viral features a local physician who made&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-science-health-indiana-coronavirus-pandemic-bb7744800a96b96ed37d38ab1f5e9803">several misleading claims about COVID-19</a>&nbsp;while addressing the Mount Vernon Community School Corporation in Fortville, Indiana, on Aug. 6. In his 6-minute remarks, Dr. Dan Stock tells the board that masks don’t work, vaccines don’t prevent infection, and state and federal health officials don’t follow the science.The video has amassed tens of millions of online views, and prompted the Indiana State Department of Health to push back. Stock did not return multiple messages seeking comment.“Here comes a doctor in suspenders who goes in front of the school board and basically says what some people are thinking: the masks are B.S., vaccines don’t work and the CDC is lying — it can be very compelling to laypeople,” said Dr. Zubin Damania, a California physician who received so many messages about the Indiana clip that he created his own video debunking Stock’s claims.Damania hosts a popular online medical show under the name ZDoggMD. His video debunking Stock’s comments has been viewed more than 400,000 times so far. He said that while there are legitimate questions about the effectiveness of mask requirements for children, Stock’s broad criticism of masks and vaccines went too far.YouTube removed several similar videos of local government meetings in North Carolina, Missouri, Kansas and Washington state. In Bellingham, Washington, officials responded by temporarily suspending public comment sessions.The false claims in those videos were made during the portion of the meeting devoted to public comment. Local officials have no control over what is said at these forums, and say that’s part of the point.In Kansas, YouTube pulled video of the May school board meeting in the 27,000-student Shawnee Mission district in which parents and a state lawmaker called for the district to remove its mask mandate, citing “medical misinformation.”The district, where a mask mandate remains in effect, responded by ending livestreaming of the public comment period. District spokesman David Smith acknowledged that it has been challenging to balance making the board meetings accessible and not spreading fallacies.“It was hard for me to hear things in the board meeting that weren’t true and to know that those were going out without contradiction,” Smith said. “I am all about free speech, but when that free speech endangers people’s lives, it is hard to sit through that.”After hearing from local officials, YouTube reversed its decision and put the videos back up. Earlier this month the company, which is owned by Google, announced a change to its COVID misinformation policy to allow exceptions for local government meetings — though YouTube may still remove content that uses remarks from public forums in an attempt to mislead.“While we have clear policies to remove harmful COVID-19 misinformation, we also recognize the importance of organizations like school districts and city councils using YouTube to share recordings of open public forums, even when comments at those forums may violate our policies,” company spokeswoman Elena Hernandez said.The deluge of false claims about the virus has challenged other platforms too. Twitter and Facebook each have their own policies on COVID-19 misinformation, and say that like YouTube they attach labels to misleading content and remove the worst of it.Public comment sessions preceding local government meetings have long been known for sometimes colorful remarks from local residents. But before the internet, if someone were to drone on about fluoride in the drinking water, for instance, their comments weren’t likely to become national news.Now, thanks to the internet and social media, the misleading musings of a local doctor speaking before a school board can compete for attention with the recommendations of the CDC.It was only a matter of time before misleading comments at these local public forums went viral, according to Jennifer Grygiel, a communications professor at Syracuse University who studies social media platforms.Grygiel suggested a few possible ways to minimize the impact of misinformation without muzzling local governments. Grygiel said clear labels on government broadcasts would help viewers understand what they’re watching. Keeping the video on the government’s website, instead of making it shareable on YouTube, could allow local residents to watch without enabling the spread of videos more widely.“Anytime there is a public arena – a city council hearing, a school board meeting, a public park – the public has the opportunity to potentially spread misinformation,” Grygiel said. “What’s changed is it used to stay local.”

Misinformation at public forums vexes local boards, big tech

WASHINGTON (AP) — The upcoming 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks as well as approaching religious holidays could inspire extremist attacks, the Department of Homeland Security said in a terrorism alert issued Friday.

DHS did not cite any specific threats in the National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin. But it noted that the U.S. is in a “heightened threat environment,” fueled by factors that include violent extremists motivated by racial and ethnic hatred and resentment of restrictions imposed during the pandemic.

DHS issues the warnings to alert the public as well as state and local authorities. They reflect intelligence gathered from other law enforcement agencies.

The bulletin is an extension of a similar one issued in May that expired on the day the new one was issued. DHS says domestic extremists remain a national threat priority for U.S. law enforcement and will for at least the remainder of the year.

The agency noted that al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula recently released the first English-language edition of its Inspire magazine in four years, apparently to mark the upcoming anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The anniversary and the approaching holidays “could serve as a catalyst for acts of targeted violence,” it said.

DHS also noted that domestic extremists motivated by religious and ethnic hatred have in the past attacked houses of worships and other gatherings, but it said there aren’t any “credible or imminent threats identified to these locations.”

As in previous bulletins, DHS expressed concern about both domestic extremists, motivated by “personal grievances and extremist ideological beliefs,” and foreign influences.

The agency said Russian, Chinese and Iranian government-linked media outlets have helped spread conspiracy theories about the origins of COVID-19 and the effectiveness of vaccines and have in some cases amplified calls for violence against people of Asian descent.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629076784407.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The upcoming 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks as well as approaching religious holidays could inspire extremist attacks, the Department of Homeland Security said in a terrorism alert issued Friday.DHS did not cite any specific threats in the National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin. But it noted that the U.S. is in a “heightened threat environment,” fueled by factors that include violent extremists motivated by racial and ethnic hatred and resentment of restrictions imposed during the pandemic.DHS issues the warnings to alert the public as well as state and local authorities. They reflect intelligence gathered from other law enforcement agencies.The bulletin is an extension of a similar one issued in May that expired on the day the new one was issued. DHS says domestic extremists remain a national threat priority for U.S. law enforcement and will for at least the remainder of the year.The agency noted that al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula recently released the first English-language edition of its Inspire magazine in four years, apparently to mark the upcoming anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.The anniversary and the approaching holidays “could serve as a catalyst for acts of targeted violence,” it said.DHS also noted that domestic extremists motivated by religious and ethnic hatred have in the past attacked houses of worships and other gatherings, but it said there aren’t any “credible or imminent threats identified to these locations.”As in previous bulletins, DHS expressed concern about both domestic extremists, motivated by “personal grievances and extremist ideological beliefs,” and foreign influences.The agency said Russian, Chinese and Iranian government-linked media outlets have helped spread conspiracy theories about the origins of COVID-19 and the effectiveness of vaccines and have in some cases amplified calls for violence against people of Asian descent.

US warns 9/11 anniversary could inspire attacks

RICE COUNTY — A severe thunderstorm rolled through Rice County Sunday evening and prompted some damage.

According to reports provided to the National Weather Service office in Wichita on Sunday, at least 22 power poles were snapped, large tree limbs were downed, a barn was destroyed and a half-mile of railroad cars were laid over near Geneseo.

Storm spotters also reported baseball size hail with that storm.

The same storm prompted a gust of 77 mph at the Lyons airport at 6:40 p.m. Sunday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629110774887.png" alt="Half a mile of rail cars knocked over west of Geneseo along Highway 4 due to the strong winds from the Sunday storm-photo Metorologist Ross Janssen courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Half a mile of rail cars knocked over west of Geneseo along Highway 4 due to the strong winds from the Sunday storm-photo Metorologist Ross Janssen courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>RICE COUNTY — A severe thunderstorm rolled through Rice County Sunday evening and prompted some damage.According to reports provided to the National Weather Service office in Wichita on Sunday, at least 22 power poles were snapped, large tree limbs were downed, a barn was destroyed and a half-mile of railroad cars were laid over near Geneseo.Storm spotters also reported baseball size hail with that storm.The same storm prompted a gust of 77 mph at the Lyons airport at 6:40 p.m. Sunday.

Sunday storm brought strong winds, baseball size hail

BUTLER COUNTY— A Kansas man was injured in a small plane crash just after 4:30p.m. Sunday in Butler County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a single engine 2002 Flying K Skyraider piloted by Terry R. Allen, 69, Augusta, took off from an air strip.

The airplane had a mechanical issue. The pilot attempted to land in a field close by and stalled the plane. The plane crashed to the ground near&nbsp;near 7613 Southwest 50th Street one half mile west of SW Ohio Street and and one quarter mile south of SW 50th Street.

EMS transported Allen to Wesley Medical Center. The FAA and NTSB are investigating.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629108905823.png" alt="Location of the plane crash Google map" />
 <figcaption>Location of the plane crash Google map</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY— A Kansas man was injured in a small plane crash just after 4:30p.m. Sunday in Butler County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a single engine 2002 Flying K Skyraider piloted by Terry R. Allen, 69, Augusta, took off from an air strip.The airplane had a mechanical issue. The pilot attempted to land in a field close by and stalled the plane. The plane crashed to the ground near&nbsp;near 7613 Southwest 50th Street one half mile west of SW Ohio Street and and one quarter mile south of SW 50th Street.EMS transported Allen to Wesley Medical Center. The FAA and NTSB are investigating.

Kansas pilot hospitalized after small plane crash

Still time for low-income families to sign up

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department
 announced Friday that millions of American families are now receiving 
their advance Child Tax Credit payment for the month of August as 
direct deposits begin posting in bank accounts and checks arrive in 
mailboxes.

This second batch of advance monthly payments, worth about $15 
billion, are reaching about 36 million families today across the 
country.&nbsp;The majority will be issued by direct deposit.

Under the American Rescue Plan, most eligible families received the 
first payment on July 15, and payments will continue each month for the 
rest of 2021. For these families, each&nbsp;payment is up to $300 per month 
for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child ages 6
 through 17.

Besides the July 15 and Aug. 13 payments, payment dates are September&nbsp;15, October&nbsp;15, November&nbsp;15 and December&nbsp;15.

Here are further details on these payments:

It's not too late for low-income families to sign up for advance CTC 
payments. The IRS urged anyone who normally isn't required to file a tax
 return to explore the tools available on IRS.gov. These tools can help 
determine eligibility for the advance CTC or help people file a 
simplified tax return to sign up for these payments as well as Economic 
Impact Payments and the Recovery Rebate Credit. People can get these 
benefits, even if they don't work and even if they receive no income.

The IRS continues to raise awareness of the expanded Child Tax 
Credit. The IRS encourages partners and community groups to share 
information and use available <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-resources-and-guidance">online tools and toolkits</a>
 to help non-filers, low-income families and other underserved groups 
sign up to receive the advance Child Tax Credits as well as Economic 
Impact Payments. People can check their eligibility for the advance 
payments by using the new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-eligibility-assistant">advance Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant</a>.

Families can stop payments anytime, even after payments begin. They 
do that by using the unenroll feature in the Child Tax Credit Update 
Portal. Eligible families who make this choice will still receive the 
rest of their Child Tax Credit as a lump sum when they file their 2021 
federal income tax return next year. To stop all payments starting in 
September and the rest of 2021, they must unenroll by 11:59 p.m. ET on 
August&nbsp;30, 2021.

For married couples, each spouse must unenroll separately. If they 
each choose to unenroll, they will receive no monthly payments. If only 
one spouse unenrolls, they will still receive monthly payments, but they
 will be half the normal amount.

The unenroll feature can also be helpful to any family that no longer
 qualifies for the CTC or believes they will not qualify when they file 
their 2021 return. This could happen if, for example, someone else, such
 as an ex-spouse or another family member, qualifies to claim their 
child or children as dependents in 2021.

Links to these tools, a step-by-step guide to using the Non-filer 
Sign-up Tool, answers to frequently asked questions and other helpful 
resources are available on the tax agency's special advance CTC 2021 
page. It's at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Still time for low-income families to sign up</h2>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department
 announced Friday that millions of American families are now receiving 
their advance Child Tax Credit payment for the month of August as 
direct deposits begin posting in bank accounts and checks arrive in 
mailboxes.This second batch of advance monthly payments, worth about $15 
billion, are reaching about 36 million families today across the 
country.&nbsp;The majority will be issued by direct deposit.Under the American Rescue Plan, most eligible families received the 
first payment on July 15, and payments will continue each month for the 
rest of 2021. For these families, each&nbsp;payment is up to $300 per month 
for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child ages 6
 through 17.Besides the July 15 and Aug. 13 payments, payment dates are September&nbsp;15, October&nbsp;15, November&nbsp;15 and December&nbsp;15.Here are further details on these payments:<ul>
 <li>Families will see the direct deposit payments in their accounts 
starting today, August&nbsp;13. Like the first payments, the vast majority of
 families will receive these payments by direct deposit.</li><li>The IRS wants to alert some recipients who received direct deposits
 in July that they will receive the August payments by mail. Due to an 
issue expected to be resolved by the September payments, a percentage of
 these recipients – less than 15% – who received payments by direct 
deposit in July will be mailed paper checks for the August payment. For 
those affected, no additional action is needed for the September payment
 to be issued by direct deposit. Families can visit the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-update-portal">Child Tax Credit Update Portal</a> to see if they're receiving a direct deposit or paper check this month.</li><li>For those receiving their payments by paper check, be sure to allow
 extra time for delivery by mail through the end of August. Those 
wishing to receive future payments by direct deposit can make this 
change using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-update-portal">Child Tax Credit Update Portal</a>,&nbsp;available only on IRS.gov. To access the portal or to get a new step-by-step guide for using it, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a>. A change made by 11:59 p.m. ET on Aug. 30 will apply starting with the September payment.</li><li>Payments went to eligible families who filed a 2019 or 2020 income 
tax return. Returns processed by August&nbsp;2 are reflected in these 
payments. This includes people who don't typically file a return but 
during 2020 successfully registered for Economic Impact Payments using 
the IRS Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov or in 2021 successfully used the 
Non-filer Sign-up Tool for advance CTC, also available only on IRS.gov.</li><li>Payments are automatic. Aside from filing a tax return, including a
 simplified return from the Non-filer Sign-up Tool, families don't have 
to do anything if they are eligible to receive monthly payments. The 
Non-Filer Sign-Up tool is available until October 15, 2021.&nbsp;</li><li>Families who did not get a July payment and are getting their first
 monthly payment in August will still receive their total advance 
payment for the year. This means that the total payment will be spread 
over five months, rather than six, making each monthly payment larger. 
For these families, each&nbsp;payment is up to $360 per month for each child 
under age 6 and up to $300 per month for each child ages 6 through 17</li><li>Additionally, the IRS is correcting an issue regarding the advance 
CTC payments for families where the parent(s) have an Individual 
Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) and the qualifying children have a
 Social Security number. Such families who did not receive a July 
payment are receiving a monthly payment in August, which also includes a
 portion of the July payment. They will receive the remainder of the 
July payment in late August.</li>
 </ul><h2>Low-income families can still sign up</h2>It's not too late for low-income families to sign up for advance CTC 
payments. The IRS urged anyone who normally isn't required to file a tax
 return to explore the tools available on IRS.gov. These tools can help 
determine eligibility for the advance CTC or help people file a 
simplified tax return to sign up for these payments as well as Economic 
Impact Payments and the Recovery Rebate Credit. People can get these 
benefits, even if they don't work and even if they receive no income.The IRS continues to raise awareness of the expanded Child Tax 
Credit. The IRS encourages partners and community groups to share 
information and use available <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-resources-and-guidance">online tools and toolkits</a>
 to help non-filers, low-income families and other underserved groups 
sign up to receive the advance Child Tax Credits as well as Economic 
Impact Payments. People can check their eligibility for the advance 
payments by using the new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-eligibility-assistant">advance Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant</a>.<h2>Families can stop payments anytime</h2>Families can stop payments anytime, even after payments begin. They 
do that by using the unenroll feature in the Child Tax Credit Update 
Portal. Eligible families who make this choice will still receive the 
rest of their Child Tax Credit as a lump sum when they file their 2021 
federal income tax return next year. To stop all payments starting in 
September and the rest of 2021, they must unenroll by 11:59 p.m. ET on 
August&nbsp;30, 2021.For married couples, each spouse must unenroll separately. If they 
each choose to unenroll, they will receive no monthly payments. If only 
one spouse unenrolls, they will still receive monthly payments, but they
 will be half the normal amount.The unenroll feature can also be helpful to any family that no longer
 qualifies for the CTC or believes they will not qualify when they file 
their 2021 return. This could happen if, for example, someone else, such
 as an ex-spouse or another family member, qualifies to claim their 
child or children as dependents in 2021.Links to these tools, a step-by-step guide to using the Non-filer 
Sign-up Tool, answers to frequently asked questions and other helpful 
resources are available on the tax agency's special advance CTC 2021 
page. It's at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a>.

IRS: August Child Tax Credit payments hitting bank accounts

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A former Oak Grove High School teacher <a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/1794/EGrumke_Redacted">has been charged</a> with sending pornographic videos to female students and attempting to persuade one student to have sex with him, the Jackson County Prosecutor's office announced Friday.

Ethan C. Grumke, 27, taught math and coached football and track at Oak Grove. He was arrested Friday in Colorado.

Grumke was charged with attempting to make sexual contact with a student, misdemeanor stalking and two counts of furnishing pornographic material.

School and police officials in Oak Grove began investigating Grumke in May after being alerted by the Missouri Children's Division about allegations that he had furnished pornographic videos to female students, prosecutors said.

The stalking charge alleges he sent inappropriate pictures and videos to one student on his social media accounts. Court documents indicate Grumke admitted to Oak Grove officials that he sent the videos.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628954436231.png" alt="Grumke is being held in the La Plata County, Colorado jail" />
 <figcaption>Grumke is being held in the La Plata County, Colorado jail</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A former Oak Grove High School teacher <a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/1794/EGrumke_Redacted">has been charged</a> with sending pornographic videos to female students and attempting to persuade one student to have sex with him, the Jackson County Prosecutor's office announced Friday.Ethan C. Grumke, 27, taught math and coached football and track at Oak Grove. He was arrested Friday in Colorado.Grumke was charged with attempting to make sexual contact with a student, misdemeanor stalking and two counts of furnishing pornographic material.School and police officials in Oak Grove began investigating Grumke in May after being alerted by the Missouri Children's Division about allegations that he had furnished pornographic videos to female students, prosecutors said.The stalking charge alleges he sent inappropriate pictures and videos to one student on his social media accounts. Court documents indicate Grumke admitted to Oak Grove officials that he sent the videos.

Former KC-area high school teacher accused of sex crimes

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Court of Appeals has ordered a new trial for a Eudora woman who was convicted of murder after a baby died at her day care center. 

The appeals court said Carrody Buchhorn received ineffective counsel before she was convicted in 2018 of second-degree murder in the death of 9-month-old boy, Oliver “Ollie” Ortiz. 

He was found unresponsive at the day care in 2016. The court said Buchhorn's attorney did not properly investigate a coroner's ruling that the boy died from a blow to the head. The Douglas County District Attorney's office said it plans to appeal Friday's ruling to the Kansas Supreme Court.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A woman convicted in the killing of a 9-month-old boy at a Kansas day care has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison.

Forty-five-year-old Carrody Melissa Buchhorn was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e243a016b24e4f19858921e5f415431a" target="_blank">found guilty in July</a>&nbsp;of second-degree murder in the September 2016 death of Oliver Ortiz at the Sunshine Kids Group Daycare Home in Eudora.

A coroner ruled Oliver’s death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma. He testified that Oliver had a fractured skull caused by enough force to make him immediately unresponsive and, without intervention, died within minutes.

Oliver’s parents last year filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the day care operators in whose home Oliver died, Gina Brunton and husband Morgan Eric Brunton. The court later approved a settlement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628968195734.png" alt="Buchhorn photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Buchhorn photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Court of Appeals has ordered a new trial for a Eudora woman who was convicted of murder after a baby died at her day care center. The appeals court said Carrody Buchhorn received ineffective counsel before she was convicted in 2018 of second-degree murder in the death of 9-month-old boy, Oliver “Ollie” Ortiz. He was found unresponsive at the day care in 2016. The court said Buchhorn's attorney did not properly investigate a coroner's ruling that the boy died from a blow to the head. The Douglas County District Attorney's office said it plans to appeal Friday's ruling to the Kansas Supreme Court.------------<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574105726828.png" alt="Buchhorn photo Douglas County" />
 <figcaption>Buchhorn photo Douglas County</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A woman convicted in the killing of a 9-month-old boy at a Kansas day care has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison.Forty-five-year-old Carrody Melissa Buchhorn was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e243a016b24e4f19858921e5f415431a" target="_blank">found guilty in July</a>&nbsp;of second-degree murder in the September 2016 death of Oliver Ortiz at the Sunshine Kids Group Daycare Home in Eudora.She was sentenced Monday.A coroner ruled Oliver’s death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma. He testified that Oliver had a fractured skull caused by enough force to make him immediately unresponsive and, without intervention, died within minutes.Oliver’s parents last year filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the day care operators in whose home Oliver died, Gina Brunton and husband Morgan Eric Brunton. The court later approved a settlement.

Kan. woman convicted in baby's death will get new trial

WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man&nbsp;was sentenced to 135 months years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of Possession of Child Pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, detectives with the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted an undercover operation on a peer-to peer file sharing network called BitTorrent.

During the investigation, law enforcement identified&nbsp;Thomas Schindler, 69, of Wichita  as a network user in possession of child pornography. Detectives went to Schindler’s home, where he admitted accessing and using the BitTorrent network to obtain child pornography. A subsequent seizure of his computers revealed pornographic images of prepubescent girls.

The Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) investigated the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628859237505.png" alt="Schindler photo KBI Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>Schindler photo KBI Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man&nbsp;was sentenced to 135 months years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of Possession of Child Pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, detectives with the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted an undercover operation on a peer-to peer file sharing network called BitTorrent.During the investigation, law enforcement identified&nbsp;Thomas Schindler, 69, of Wichita as a network user in possession of child pornography. Detectives went to Schindler’s home, where he admitted accessing and using the BitTorrent network to obtain child pornography. A subsequent seizure of his computers revealed pornographic images of prepubescent girls.The Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) investigated the case.

Undercover operation leads to Kan. man's child porn arrest

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City man has been sentenced to 22 years in prison in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6f579b23051a46a39448c9a2273dadc0">shooting death of a transgender woman</a>&nbsp;in 2019.

Marcus S. Lewis, 43, was sentenced Thursday after he pleaded guilty in June to to voluntary manslaughter in the death of Brooklyn Lindsey, 32. Lewis also was sentenced for armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Lindsey was found dead on the porch of a northeast Kansas City home on June 25, 2019.

According to court documents, Lewis said he and Lindsey got into a physical fight after she approached his car and he tried to walk away. He admitted that he shot her and then fled the scene.

DNA testing from five shell casings found at the scene led police to Lewis, who had been arrested in an unrelated case of aggravated domestic violence and an armed business robbery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1563728267216.png" alt="Marcus Lewis photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Marcus Lewis photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City man has been sentenced to 22 years in prison in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6f579b23051a46a39448c9a2273dadc0">shooting death of a transgender woman</a>&nbsp;in 2019.Marcus S. Lewis, 43, was sentenced Thursday after he pleaded guilty in June to to voluntary manslaughter in the death of Brooklyn Lindsey, 32. Lewis also was sentenced for armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a weapon.Lindsey was found dead on the porch of a northeast Kansas City home on June 25, 2019.According to court documents, Lewis said he and Lindsey got into a physical fight after she approached his car and he tried to walk away. He admitted that he shot her and then fled the scene.DNA testing from five shell casings found at the scene led police to Lewis, who had been arrested in an unrelated case of aggravated domestic violence and an armed business robbery.

Kansas City man sentenced for killing transgender woman

WASHINGTON —Afghanistan’s embattled president has left the country, joining his fellow citizens and foreigners in a stampede fleeing the advancing Taliban. The exodus signals the end of a 20-year Western experiment aimed at remaking Afghanistan. The Taliban announced soon after they would move further into Kabul. They had been on the outskirts for hours. Kabul is gripped by panic, and helicopters raced overhead to evacuate personnel from the U.S. Embassy.

President Biden issued a statement Sunday critical of his predecessors.

"Over the past several days, I have been in close contact with my national security team to give them direction on how to protect our interests and values as we end our military mission in Afghanistan."

<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/08/14/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-afghanistan/">Click here to read</a> President Biden's full statement

"First, based on the recommendations of our diplomatic, military, and intelligence teams, I have authorized the deployment of approximately 5,000 U.S. troops to make sure we can have an orderly and safe drawdown of U.S. personnel and other allied personnel, and an orderly and safe evacuation of Afghans who helped our troops during our mission and those at special risk from the Taliban advance.

Second, I have ordered our Armed Forces and our Intelligence Community to ensure that we will maintain the capability and the vigilance to address future terrorist threats from Afghanistan.

Third, I have directed the Secretary of State to support President Ghani and other Afghan leaders as they seek to prevent further bloodshed and pursue a political settlement. Secretary Blinken will also engage with key regional stakeholders.

Fourth, we have conveyed to the Taliban representatives in Doha, via our Combatant Commander, that any action on their part on the ground in Afghanistan, that puts U.S. personnel or our mission at risk there, will be met with a swift and strong U.S. military response.

Fifth, I have placed Ambassador Tracey Jacobson in charge of a whole-of-government effort to process, transport, and relocate Afghan Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other Afghan allies. Our hearts go out to the brave Afghan men and women who are now at risk. We are working to evacuate thousands of those who helped our cause and their families.

That is what we are going to do. Now let me be clear about how we got here.

America went to Afghanistan 20 years ago to defeat the forces that attacked this country on September 11th. That mission resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden over a decade ago and the degradation of al Qaeda. And yet, 10 years later, when I became President, a small number of U.S. troops still remained on the ground, in harm’s way, with a looming deadline to withdraw them or go back to open combat.

Over our country’s 20 years at war in Afghanistan, America has sent its finest young men and women, invested nearly $1 trillion dollars, trained over 300,000 Afghan soldiers and police, equipped them with state-of-the-art military equipment, and maintained their air force as part of the longest war in U.S. history. One more year, or five more years, of U.S. military presence would not have made a difference if the Afghan military cannot or will not hold its own country. And an endless American presence in the middle of another country’s civil conflict was not acceptable to me.

When I came to office, I inherited a deal cut by my predecessor—which he invited the Taliban to discuss at Camp David on the eve of 9/11 of 2019—that left the Taliban in the strongest position militarily since 2001 and imposed a May 1, 2021 deadline on U.S. Forces. Shortly before he left office, he also drew U.S. Forces down to a bare minimum of 2,500. Therefore, when I became President, I faced a choice—follow through on the deal, with a brief extension to get our Forces and our allies’ Forces out safely, or ramp up our presence and send more American troops to fight once again in another country’s civil conflict. I was the fourth President to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan—two Republicans, two Democrats. I would not, and will not, pass this war onto a fifth."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629040310655.png" alt="Saturday morning, the President and Vice President held a video conference with the national security team to discuss the ongoing efforts to draw down the U.S. civilian footprint in Afghanistan-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Saturday morning, the President and Vice President held a video conference with the national security team to discuss the ongoing efforts to draw down the U.S. civilian footprint in Afghanistan-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —Afghanistan’s embattled president has left the country, joining his fellow citizens and foreigners in a stampede fleeing the advancing Taliban. The exodus signals the end of a 20-year Western experiment aimed at remaking Afghanistan. The Taliban announced soon after they would move further into Kabul. They had been on the outskirts for hours. Kabul is gripped by panic, and helicopters raced overhead to evacuate personnel from the U.S. Embassy.President Biden issued a statement Sunday critical of his predecessors."Over the past several days, I have been in close contact with my national security team to give them direction on how to protect our interests and values as we end our military mission in Afghanistan."<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/08/14/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-afghanistan/">Click here to read</a> President Biden's full statement"First, based on the recommendations of our diplomatic, military, and intelligence teams, I have authorized the deployment of approximately 5,000 U.S. troops to make sure we can have an orderly and safe drawdown of U.S. personnel and other allied personnel, and an orderly and safe evacuation of Afghans who helped our troops during our mission and those at special risk from the Taliban advance.Second, I have ordered our Armed Forces and our Intelligence Community to ensure that we will maintain the capability and the vigilance to address future terrorist threats from Afghanistan.Third, I have directed the Secretary of State to support President Ghani and other Afghan leaders as they seek to prevent further bloodshed and pursue a political settlement. Secretary Blinken will also engage with key regional stakeholders.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629040483076.png" alt="President Biden speaking with Secretary Blinken, Secretary Austin, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan about the ongoing efforts to safely drawdown the civilian footprint in Afghanistan-photo courtesy White House " />
 <figcaption>President Biden speaking with Secretary Blinken, Secretary Austin, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan about the ongoing efforts to safely drawdown the civilian footprint in Afghanistan-photo courtesy White House </figcaption>
 </figure>Fourth, we have conveyed to the Taliban representatives in Doha, via our Combatant Commander, that any action on their part on the ground in Afghanistan, that puts U.S. personnel or our mission at risk there, will be met with a swift and strong U.S. military response.Fifth, I have placed Ambassador Tracey Jacobson in charge of a whole-of-government effort to process, transport, and relocate Afghan Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other Afghan allies. Our hearts go out to the brave Afghan men and women who are now at risk. We are working to evacuate thousands of those who helped our cause and their families.That is what we are going to do. Now let me be clear about how we got here.America went to Afghanistan 20 years ago to defeat the forces that attacked this country on September 11th. That mission resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden over a decade ago and the degradation of al Qaeda. And yet, 10 years later, when I became President, a small number of U.S. troops still remained on the ground, in harm’s way, with a looming deadline to withdraw them or go back to open combat.Over our country’s 20 years at war in Afghanistan, America has sent its finest young men and women, invested nearly $1 trillion dollars, trained over 300,000 Afghan soldiers and police, equipped them with state-of-the-art military equipment, and maintained their air force as part of the longest war in U.S. history. One more year, or five more years, of U.S. military presence would not have made a difference if the Afghan military cannot or will not hold its own country. And an endless American presence in the middle of another country’s civil conflict was not acceptable to me.When I came to office, I inherited a deal cut by my predecessor—which he invited the Taliban to discuss at Camp David on the eve of 9/11 of 2019—that left the Taliban in the strongest position militarily since 2001 and imposed a May 1, 2021 deadline on U.S. Forces. Shortly before he left office, he also drew U.S. Forces down to a bare minimum of 2,500. Therefore, when I became President, I faced a choice—follow through on the deal, with a brief extension to get our Forces and our allies’ Forces out safely, or ramp up our presence and send more American troops to fight once again in another country’s civil conflict. I was the fourth President to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan—two Republicans, two Democrats. I would not, and will not, pass this war onto a fifth."

Pres. Biden critical of predecessor as Afghanistan falls to Taliban

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — The most populous county in&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;is requiring its employees to submit to weekly COVID-19 testing if they aren't vaccinated.

“With the sharp increase of the delta variant, we want employees to be safe,” Johnson County Manager Penny Postoak Ferguson said in a statement. “Vaccination is one of the best tools we have to help prevent serious illness or passing the virus on to our colleagues or the people we serve.”

The fast-spreading delta variant has sent cases soaring, leading to outbreaks in day cares, businesses and elsewhere.

Postoak Ferguson said that only 46% of county employees had reported being fully vaccinated as of Wednesday. Countywide, nearly 58% of eligible residents are fully vaccinated. But health officials also have emphasized that lower vaccinations elsewhere in the metro continue to cause concern, as residents regularly commute to and from Johnson County.

Beginning Aug. 23, government employees who are not fully vaccinated must get tested once a week. Employees who work in departments providing direct care to residents are subject to tests up to twice weekly.

Similar requirements already have taken effect in school districts, businesses and cities elsewhere.

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — The most populous county in&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;is requiring its employees to submit to weekly COVID-19 testing if they aren't vaccinated.“With the sharp increase of the delta variant, we want employees to be safe,” Johnson County Manager Penny Postoak Ferguson said in a statement. “Vaccination is one of the best tools we have to help prevent serious illness or passing the virus on to our colleagues or the people we serve.”The fast-spreading delta variant has sent cases soaring, leading to outbreaks in day cares, businesses and elsewhere.Postoak Ferguson said that only 46% of county employees had reported being fully vaccinated as of Wednesday. Countywide, nearly 58% of eligible residents are fully vaccinated. But health officials also have emphasized that lower vaccinations elsewhere in the metro continue to cause concern, as residents regularly commute to and from Johnson County.Beginning Aug. 23, government employees who are not fully vaccinated must get tested once a week. Employees who work in departments providing direct care to residents are subject to tests up to twice weekly.Similar requirements already have taken effect in school districts, businesses and cities elsewhere.

Kan. most populous county: Get vaccinated or take weekly tests

A federal judge has issued a permanent injunction on behalf of religious health care providers who feared the Biden administration would interpret the Affordable Care Act/Obamacare as requiring them to perform abortions or gender-transition treatment against their conscience.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had argued that it doesn’t require religious providers to offer such procedures and has never brought or threatened any enforcement activity against a religious entity in such a case.

But U.S. District Court Judge Reed O’Connor interpreted HHS regulations as forcing the plaintiffs — a Catholic hospital system in the Midwest and a Christian medical association — to choose between their beliefs and their livelihood, resulting in “irreparable injury.”

The decision underscores a continued dispute between conservative religious health care providers and HHS over an issue that has generated a patchwork of rulings that will likely have to be sorted out by appellate courts.

O’Connor, whose court is in the Northern District of Texas, issued the injunction based on his earlier ruling that found HHS in violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which requires deference to religion barring a “compelling government interest.”

The injunction benefits only the plaintiffs — Franciscan Alliance, a Catholic hospital network in Indiana and Illinois, and the Christian Medical &amp; Dental Associations and their 19,000 members nationwide — though O’Connor voided the disputed portions of the law in the earlier ruling.

Another federal judge issued a similar decision in favor of a Catholic health system in North Dakota in January. The Biden administration is appealing it.

The plaintiffs in the Texas court sued in 2016 over Affordable Care Act-related rules issued by HHS that year under the Obama administration. Those rules — applying to most medical providers by virtue of their participating in federally funded programs — barred discrimination based on factors including sex, interpreted as including gender identity, and pregnancy status, such as “termination of pregnancy.”

An HHS analysis at the time said health care institutions that, for example, perform hysterectomies for medical purposes would need to provide them to transgender men, though the rules said separately that federal protections for religious freedom and conscience would supersede any requirements. The analysis also noted that the ACA and other federal laws protected medical providers from having to provide abortions.

O’Connor in 2019 voided the parts of the rules barring discrimination based on gender identity and termination of pregnancy.

The Trump administration strengthened religious exemptions in 2020 and eliminated protections for gender identity — although other federal courts temporarily blocked that change. It was also soon followed by a Supreme Court ruling that interpreted the federal ban on sex discrimination as also prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity.

This May, HHS said it would interpret its rules according to that Supreme Court ruling but would also abide by previous court rulings such as that of O’Connor. The judge, in ordering the permanent injunction this week, said that was a contradiction.

Attorney Luke Goodrich, who represented the plaintiffs on behalf of Becket, a legal organization focused on religious liberty, applauded the decision.

“Everyone is better off when these doctors and hospitals can continue to provide top-notch medical care” without violating their consciences, he said.

But Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, senior attorney and health care strategist at Lambda Legal, which focuses on LGBTQ rights, said “the court and the plaintiffs were fabricating a controversy” when there “has been no threat of enforcement against the plaintiffs.”

He noted there are conflicting federal court decisions on defining sex discrimination in the ACA rules, and “at some point and time there will be a consensus among the courts or the Supreme Court may have to intervene.”

Lindsey Kaley, staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s Center for Liberty, said the ruling limits federal enforcement but “does not change the fact that transgender people who have been turned away from health care can continue to pursue litigation.” The ACLU’s Texas branch intervened on behalf of HHS.

“Gender-affirming care is life-saving care, and doctors agree that it is medically necessary for many transgender people,” Kaley said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611181661423.jpg" alt="The decision underscores a continued dispute between conservative religious health care providers and HHS over an issue that has generated a patchwork of rulings that will likely have to be sorted out by appellate courts." />
 <figcaption>The decision underscores a continued dispute between conservative religious health care providers and HHS over an issue that has generated a patchwork of rulings that will likely have to be sorted out by appellate courts.</figcaption>
 </figure>By PETER SMITH, Associated Press A federal judge has issued a permanent injunction on behalf of religious health care providers who feared the Biden administration would interpret the Affordable Care Act/Obamacare as requiring them to perform abortions or gender-transition treatment against their conscience.The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had argued that it doesn’t require religious providers to offer such procedures and has never brought or threatened any enforcement activity against a religious entity in such a case.But U.S. District Court Judge Reed O’Connor interpreted HHS regulations as forcing the plaintiffs — a Catholic hospital system in the Midwest and a Christian medical association — to choose between their beliefs and their livelihood, resulting in “irreparable injury.”The decision underscores a continued dispute between conservative religious health care providers and HHS over an issue that has generated a patchwork of rulings that will likely have to be sorted out by appellate courts.O’Connor, whose court is in the Northern District of Texas, issued the injunction based on his earlier ruling that found HHS in violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which requires deference to religion barring a “compelling government interest.”The injunction benefits only the plaintiffs — Franciscan Alliance, a Catholic hospital network in Indiana and Illinois, and the Christian Medical &amp; Dental Associations and their 19,000 members nationwide — though O’Connor voided the disputed portions of the law in the earlier ruling.Another federal judge issued a similar decision in favor of a Catholic health system in North Dakota in January. The Biden administration is appealing it.The plaintiffs in the Texas court sued in 2016 over Affordable Care Act-related rules issued by HHS that year under the Obama administration. Those rules — applying to most medical providers by virtue of their participating in federally funded programs — barred discrimination based on factors including sex, interpreted as including gender identity, and pregnancy status, such as “termination of pregnancy.”An HHS analysis at the time said health care institutions that, for example, perform hysterectomies for medical purposes would need to provide them to transgender men, though the rules said separately that federal protections for religious freedom and conscience would supersede any requirements. The analysis also noted that the ACA and other federal laws protected medical providers from having to provide abortions.O’Connor in 2019 voided the parts of the rules barring discrimination based on gender identity and termination of pregnancy.ADVERTISEMENTThe Trump administration strengthened religious exemptions in 2020 and eliminated protections for gender identity — although other federal courts temporarily blocked that change. It was also soon followed by a Supreme Court ruling that interpreted the federal ban on sex discrimination as also prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity.This May, HHS said it would interpret its rules according to that Supreme Court ruling but would also abide by previous court rulings such as that of O’Connor. The judge, in ordering the permanent injunction this week, said that was a contradiction.Attorney Luke Goodrich, who represented the plaintiffs on behalf of Becket, a legal organization focused on religious liberty, applauded the decision.“Everyone is better off when these doctors and hospitals can continue to provide top-notch medical care” without violating their consciences, he said.But Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, senior attorney and health care strategist at Lambda Legal, which focuses on LGBTQ rights, said “the court and the plaintiffs were fabricating a controversy” when there “has been no threat of enforcement against the plaintiffs.”He noted there are conflicting federal court decisions on defining sex discrimination in the ACA rules, and “at some point and time there will be a consensus among the courts or the Supreme Court may have to intervene.”Lindsey Kaley, staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s Center for Liberty, said the ruling limits federal enforcement but “does not change the fact that transgender people who have been turned away from health care can continue to pursue litigation.” The ACLU’s Texas branch intervened on behalf of HHS.“Gender-affirming care is life-saving care, and doctors agree that it is medically necessary for many transgender people,” Kaley said.___

Religious health providers win injunction on Obamacare rules

DONIPHAN COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 3p.m. Saturday in Doniphan County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 750 Brute Force ATV driven by Eli Whitaker, 26, Atchison, and a 2020 Honda Talon UTV driven by Jarret Scholz, 21, Atchison, were traveling southeast on Kansas 7 Highway crossing the Wolf River Bridge three miles east of Highland.

&nbsp;The Honda UTV slowed for traffic. The Brute Force ATV did not slow. The driver swerved to avoid a collision. The Brute Force ATV clipped the rear of the Honda UTV and overturned into the path of a northwest bound 2005 Mercury Sable driven by Donna Caples, 72, St. Joseph. The car struck the ATV.&nbsp;

Whitaker was pronounce dead at the scene and was transported to Harmon-Rohde Funeral Home.

Scholz, a passenger on the Honda, Caples and two passengers in the Mercury were not injured. Whitaker, Scholz&nbsp; and the passenger on the Honda were not wearing helmets, according to the KHP.&nbsp; The driver and occupants of the Mercury were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

DONIPHAN COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 3p.m. Saturday in Doniphan County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 750 Brute Force ATV driven by Eli Whitaker, 26, Atchison, and a 2020 Honda Talon UTV driven by Jarret Scholz, 21, Atchison, were traveling southeast on Kansas 7 Highway crossing the Wolf River Bridge three miles east of Highland.&nbsp;The Honda UTV slowed for traffic. The Brute Force ATV did not slow. The driver swerved to avoid a collision. The Brute Force ATV clipped the rear of the Honda UTV and overturned into the path of a northwest bound 2005 Mercury Sable driven by Donna Caples, 72, St. Joseph. The car struck the ATV.&nbsp;Whitaker was pronounce dead at the scene and was transported to Harmon-Rohde Funeral Home.Scholz, a passenger on the Honda, Caples and two passengers in the Mercury were not injured. Whitaker, Scholz&nbsp; and the passenger on the Honda were not wearing helmets, according to the KHP.&nbsp; The driver and occupants of the Mercury were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after car strikes ATV

JACKSON COUNTY—A small plane made an emergency landing&nbsp; Saturday on a highway in Jackson County.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628996436142.png" alt="The aircraft was able to land without incident, nearly striking an overhead power line-photos courtesy Sheriff Tim Morse" />
 <figcaption>The aircraft was able to land without incident, nearly striking an overhead power line-photos courtesy Sheriff Tim Morse</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—A small plane made an emergency landing&nbsp; Saturday on a highway in Jackson County.Just after 8p.m., the sheriff's office received a report of a 1991 Bonanza V35 landing&nbsp;near 142nd Road and U.S Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The plane was traveling from Topeka to Omaha, lost its engine and was forced to make an emergency landing. The aircraft was able to land without incident, nearly striking an overhead power line, according to Morse.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628996412850.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> All four occupants were uninjured, according to Morse. Traffic was reduced to one northbound lane during the incident except for a short time when both lanes were closed so the plane could be removed from the highway.&nbsp; By 9:35p.m., all northbound lanes were back open, according to Morse.&nbsp;&nbsp;