TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Health reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;3,114 new coronavirus cases in Kansas from Wednesday May 18, to Wednesday May 25, for a total of 785,916 cases.

<a href="https://eaglepost.netlify.app/dashboard/littleapple/posts/e934d6dc-37db-451e-8c65-7278e0aa6cf0">The state reported</a> 137 additional COVID-19 deaths in the past week for a total of 8,939.

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.

Kansas is providing fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly formally declared that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn't considered a pandemic.&nbsp;The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

The state continue to support access to free COVID-19 testing, work to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.”

The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Health reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;3,114 new coronavirus cases in Kansas from Wednesday May 18, to Wednesday May 25, for a total of 785,916 cases.<a href="https://eaglepost.netlify.app/dashboard/littleapple/posts/e934d6dc-37db-451e-8c65-7278e0aa6cf0">The state reported</a> 137 additional COVID-19 deaths in the past week for a total of 8,939.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653497884452.png" alt="Wednesday May 25, 2022 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday May 25, 2022 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.Kansas is providing fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly formally declared that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn't considered a pandemic.&nbsp;The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.The state continue to support access to free COVID-19 testing, work to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.”The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

KDHE reports 137 additional COVID-19 deaths

WASHINGTON (AP) — The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Esther George, said Wednesday that she will retire in January, as required by the Fed's mandatory retirement rules.

George, who has typically supported higher interest rates to ward off inflation — a “hawk,” in Fed parlance — spent 40 years at the Kansas City Fed and became president nearly 11 years ago. Historically, Kansas City Fed presidents have had hawkish views, so her retirement may not have a significant impact on interest rate policy.

George's departure will extend a period of significant turnover among top Fed officials, just as the central bank is confronting the worst inflation in 40 years. The president of the Chicago Fed, Charles Evans, also faces a mandatory retirement in the coming months.

The Senate this month confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-california-kamala-harris-inflation-73518d966d7ac7fb6b21b79bfccf27c9">two new members</a>&nbsp;to the Fed's board of governors in Washington, and also approved Chair Jerome Powell to a second four-year term. Governor Lael Brainard was confirmed as Vice Chair, replacing Richard Clarida, who resigned in January.

The turnover has increased the Fed's diversity. Biden's two new governors, Lisa Cook and Philip Jefferson, are the fourth and fifth Black governors in the Fed's 108-year history.

And on July 1, Susan Collins, an economist and provost at the University of Michigan, will become president of the Boston Federal Reserve, the first Black woman to run a regional Fed bank.

In August, Lorie Logan, an executive vice president at the New York Federal Reserve, will become president of the Dallas Fed. Logan currently oversees the Fed's trillions of dollars of Treasury and mortgage-backed bond holdings.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653495657941.png" alt="Esther George photo courtesy Federal Reserve Kansas City" />
 <figcaption>Esther George photo courtesy Federal Reserve Kansas City</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Esther George, said Wednesday that she will retire in January, as required by the Fed's mandatory retirement rules.George, who has typically supported higher interest rates to ward off inflation — a “hawk,” in Fed parlance — spent 40 years at the Kansas City Fed and became president nearly 11 years ago. Historically, Kansas City Fed presidents have had hawkish views, so her retirement may not have a significant impact on interest rate policy.George's departure will extend a period of significant turnover among top Fed officials, just as the central bank is confronting the worst inflation in 40 years. The president of the Chicago Fed, Charles Evans, also faces a mandatory retirement in the coming months.The Senate this month confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-california-kamala-harris-inflation-73518d966d7ac7fb6b21b79bfccf27c9">two new members</a>&nbsp;to the Fed's board of governors in Washington, and also approved Chair Jerome Powell to a second four-year term. Governor Lael Brainard was confirmed as Vice Chair, replacing Richard Clarida, who resigned in January.The turnover has increased the Fed's diversity. Biden's two new governors, Lisa Cook and Philip Jefferson, are the fourth and fifth Black governors in the Fed's 108-year history.And on July 1, Susan Collins, an economist and provost at the University of Michigan, will become president of the Boston Federal Reserve, the first Black woman to run a regional Fed bank.In August, Lorie Logan, an executive vice president at the New York Federal Reserve, will become president of the Dallas Fed. Logan currently oversees the Fed's trillions of dollars of Treasury and mortgage-backed bond holdings.

Kansas City Fed President announces retirement

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. births bumped up last year for the first time since 2014. The number of babies born was still lower than before the coronavirus pandemic.

The 1% increase was a bit of a rebound from 2020, the first year of the pandemic, which witnessed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/birth-rates-science-coronavirus-pandemic-health-d51571bda4aa02eafdd42265912f1202">largest one-year drop in the U.S. births</a>&nbsp;in nearly 50 years.

But there were still about 86,000 fewer births last year than in 2019, according to a government report released Tuesday.

“We’re still not returning to pre-pandemic levels,” said Dr. Denise Jamieson, chair of gynecology and obstetrics at Emory University School of Medicine.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-health-us-news-ap-top-news-pandemics-8f871bc2cbe89b72e9eb01a21ebddb5b">U.S. births had been declining</a>&nbsp;for more than a decade before COVID-19 hit, and “I would expect that we would continue to see small, modest decreases,” she said.

Officials think last year’s uptick reflects births from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-science-health-3dc7033a62728f1a99a176c5577af58c">pregnancies that had been put off</a>&nbsp;during the uncertain early days of the pandemic. Deliveries were way down in January 2021, but improved as the year went on, said Brady Hamilton of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Much of the increase was seen in older moms.

“These are births that were postponed,” said Hamilton, lead author of the new report.

The report is based on a review of nearly all birth certificates issued last year.

— Nearly 3.7 million births were reported last year, up from the roughly 3.6 million recorded in 2020.

— Birth rates dropped again for teens and for women younger than 25, but rose 3% for women in their early 30s, 5% for women in their late 30s, and 3% for women in their early 40s.

— Birth rates rose 1% for Hispanic women and 3% for white women. But they fell 1% for Asian women, 3% for Black women, and 4% Native American and Alaska Native women. That may reflect the pandemic’s harsher impact on the health and lives of some racial groups, experts said.

—The U.S. was once among only a few developed countries with a fertility rate that ensured each generation had enough children to replace itself — about 2.1 kids per woman. But it’s been sliding, and in 2020 dropped to about 1.6, the lowest rate on record. It rose slightly last year, to nearly 1.7.

—The percentage of infants born small and premature — at less than 37 weeks — rose 4%, to about 10.5%. It was the highest it’s been since 2007.

The premature birth rate had declined slightly in 2020, and health officials aren’t sure why the increase occurred. But older moms are more likely to have preterm births, as are women infected with COVID-19, said the CDC’s Joyce Martin, a study co-author.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. births bumped up last year for the first time since 2014. The number of babies born was still lower than before the coronavirus pandemic.The 1% increase was a bit of a rebound from 2020, the first year of the pandemic, which witnessed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/birth-rates-science-coronavirus-pandemic-health-d51571bda4aa02eafdd42265912f1202">largest one-year drop in the U.S. births</a>&nbsp;in nearly 50 years.But there were still about 86,000 fewer births last year than in 2019, according to a government report released Tuesday.“We’re still not returning to pre-pandemic levels,” said Dr. Denise Jamieson, chair of gynecology and obstetrics at Emory University School of Medicine.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-health-us-news-ap-top-news-pandemics-8f871bc2cbe89b72e9eb01a21ebddb5b">U.S. births had been declining</a>&nbsp;for more than a decade before COVID-19 hit, and “I would expect that we would continue to see small, modest decreases,” she said.Officials think last year’s uptick reflects births from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-science-health-3dc7033a62728f1a99a176c5577af58c">pregnancies that had been put off</a>&nbsp;during the uncertain early days of the pandemic. Deliveries were way down in January 2021, but improved as the year went on, said Brady Hamilton of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Much of the increase was seen in older moms.“These are births that were postponed,” said Hamilton, lead author of the new report.The report is based on a review of nearly all birth certificates issued last year.Some of the key findings:— Nearly 3.7 million births were reported last year, up from the roughly 3.6 million recorded in 2020.— Birth rates dropped again for teens and for women younger than 25, but rose 3% for women in their early 30s, 5% for women in their late 30s, and 3% for women in their early 40s.— Birth rates rose 1% for Hispanic women and 3% for white women. But they fell 1% for Asian women, 3% for Black women, and 4% Native American and Alaska Native women. That may reflect the pandemic’s harsher impact on the health and lives of some racial groups, experts said.—The U.S. was once among only a few developed countries with a fertility rate that ensured each generation had enough children to replace itself — about 2.1 kids per woman. But it’s been sliding, and in 2020 dropped to about 1.6, the lowest rate on record. It rose slightly last year, to nearly 1.7.—The percentage of infants born small and premature — at less than 37 weeks — rose 4%, to about 10.5%. It was the highest it’s been since 2007.The premature birth rate had declined slightly in 2020, and health officials aren’t sure why the increase occurred. But older moms are more likely to have preterm births, as are women infected with COVID-19, said the CDC’s Joyce Martin, a study co-author.___

US births rose last year for the first time since 2014

United States President Joe Biden has ordered flags at half-staff through sunset on Saturday to honor the victims of the shooting at&nbsp;Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Tuesday.&nbsp;

Following is the the proclamation from the White House.

A Proclamation Honoring The Victims Of The Tragedy In Uvalde, Texas

As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on May 24, 2022, by a gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, May 28, 2022. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-sixth.

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

By SALINA POSTUnited States President Joe Biden has ordered flags at half-staff through sunset on Saturday to honor the victims of the shooting at&nbsp;Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Tuesday.&nbsp;Following is the the proclamation from the White House.A Proclamation Honoring The Victims Of The Tragedy In Uvalde, TexasAs a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on May 24, 2022, by a gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, May 28, 2022. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-sixth. JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

President orders flags at half staff to honor Texas school shooting victims

Smoky River Meats is seeking a full-time Customer Service Employee.

This position should be comfortable working on their feet, in a fast-paced environment, directly with customers, and preparing meat products for purchase.

The employee will work approximately 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday 8am to 5:30pm and every other Saturday from 7:45am to 1:00pm.

We are seeking a self-starter, excellent communicator, and someone who is responsible for handling a detailed workload. Customer service skills, basic math, and a willingness to learn are required. We offer vacation, sick, and personal time off for full-time employees.

Please apply in person and speak with our Manager, Dave at 215 West Kirwin Avenue, or call Dave at 785-827-1311.

Smoky River Meats is seeking a full-time Customer Service Employee.This position should be comfortable working on their feet, in a fast-paced environment, directly with customers, and preparing meat products for purchase.The employee will work approximately 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday 8am to 5:30pm and every other Saturday from 7:45am to 1:00pm.We are seeking a self-starter, excellent communicator, and someone who is responsible for handling a detailed workload. Customer service skills, basic math, and a willingness to learn are required. We offer vacation, sick, and personal time off for full-time employees.Please apply in person and speak with our Manager, Dave at 215 West Kirwin Avenue, or call Dave at 785-827-1311.

Sheriff: 2 victims in Kansas lost over $35,000 to scammers

UVALDE, Texas (AP) — An 18-year-old gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school barricaded himself inside a classroom, “shooting anyone that was in his way,” an official said Wednesday, describing the latest in a gruesome, yearslong&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings">series of mass killings</a>&nbsp;at churches, schools and stores.

Police and others responding to Tuesday’s attack broke windows at the school in an effort to allow students and teachers inside to escape, Lt. Christopher Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety said Wednesday on NBC’s “Today.”

Olivarez told CNN that all victims were in the same fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary School. Eventually, the shooter was killed by law enforcement.

Tuesday’s assault in the heavily Latino town of Uvalde was the deadliest shooting at a U.S. school since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senator-chris-murphy-pleads-for-action-on-gun-violence-641fb7c7244ff497c7f9c4c1bc96366c">Sandy Hook Elementary</a>&nbsp;in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012.

Families waited hours for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-school-shootings-victims-a197fa6758a87d4b496dfca4d707ba47">word on their children</a>. At the town civic center where some gathered, the silence was broken repeatedly by screams and wailing. “No! Please, no!” one man yelled as he embraced another man.

“My heart is broken today,” said Hal Harrell, the school district superintendent. “We’re a small community, and we’re going to need your prayers to get through this.”

Gov. Greg Abbott said one of the two adults killed was a teacher.

Adolfo Cruz, a 69-year-old air conditioning repairman, was still outside the school as the sun set, seeking word on his 10-year-old great-granddaughter, Eliajha Cruz Torres.

He drove to the scene after receiving a terrifying call from his daughter shortly following the first reports of the shooting. He said other relatives were at the hospital and the civic center.

Waiting, he said, was the heaviest moment of his life.

The attack was the latest grim moment for a country&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/list-of-deadliest-us-school-shootings-f25dad31e68c8acbdbcb952352df9249">scarred by a string of massacres</a>, coming just 10 days after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-supermarket-shooting-victims-982351652caf7ecf3da304c6c64f62fb">deadly, racist rampage at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket</a>. And the prospects for any reform of the nation’s gun regulations seemed as dim, if not dimmer, than in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook deaths.

But President Joe Biden appeared ready for a fight, calling for new gun restrictions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-to-address-nation-over-uvalde-school-shooting-c2c414829a7397cb6e3de82636de2ba9">in an address to the nation</a>&nbsp;hours after the attack.

“As a nation we have to ask, when in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby? When in God’s name are we going to do what has to be done?” Biden asked. “Why are we willing to live with this carnage?”

It was not immediately clear how many people in all were wounded, but the school district’s police chief, Pete Arredondo, said there were “several injuries.”

The attack on the school began about 11:30 a.m. The gunman had already shot his grandmother, according to Olivarez of the Department of Public Safety. After fleeing that scene, he crashed his car at the school and made his way inside.

Olivarez said that when local and state officers responded they heard gunshots — and were shot at themselves.

“The shooter was able to make entry into a classroom, barricaded himself inside that classroom and again just began shooting numerous children and teachers that were in that classroom having no regard for human life. … Just began shooting anyone that was in his way,” he said. “At that point we had a tactical law enforcement arrive … that were able to able to make forcible entry into that classroom. They were met with gunfire as well but they were able to shoot and kill that suspect.”

Earlier, a law enforcement official had said one Border Patrol agent who was working nearby when the shooting began rushed into the school without waiting for backup and shot and killed the gunman. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk about it.

The agent was wounded but able to walk out of the school, the law enforcement official said.

Jason Owens, a top regional official with the Border Patrol, said some area agents have children at Robb Elementary.

“It hit home for everybody,” he said.

Staff members in scrubs and devastated victims’ relatives could be seen weeping as they walked out of Uvalde Memorial Hospital, which said 13 children were taken there. Another hospital reported a 66-year-old woman was in critical condition.

Officials did not immediately reveal a motive, but they identified the assailant as Salvador Ramos, a resident of the community about 85 miles&nbsp; west of San Antonio. Law enforcement officials said he acted alone.

Uvalde, home to about 16,000 people, is about 75 miles (120 kilometers) from the border with Mexico. Robb Elementary, which has nearly 600 students in second, third and fourth grades, is in a mostly residential neighborhood of modest homes.

The attack came as the school was counting down to the last days of the school year with a series of themed days. Tuesday was to be “Footloose and Fancy,” with students wearing nice outfits.

Ramos had hinted on social media that an attack could be coming, according to state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who said he had been briefed by state police. He noted that the gunman “suggested the kids should watch out,” and that he had bought two “assault weapons” after turning 18.

Before heading to the school, Ramos shot his grandmother, Gutierrez said.

Other officials said that the grandmother survived and was being treated, though her condition was not known.

Investigators believe Ramos posted photos on Instagram of two guns he used in the shooting, and they were examining whether he made statements online in the hours before the assault, a law enforcement official said.

Law enforcement officers were serving multiple search warrants Tuesday night and gathering telephone and other records, the official said. Investigators were also attempting to contact Ramos’ relatives and were tracing the firearms.

The official could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Condolences poured in from leaders around the world. Pope Francis pleaded that it was time say ”‘enough’ to the indiscriminate trade of weapons!” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba of Ukraine, which is at war with Russia after Moscow invaded, said that his nation also knows “the pain of losing innocent young lives.”

The tragedy in Uvalde was the deadliest school shooting in Texas history, and it added to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-texas-shootings-gun-violence-0fc46ce400c3fed9081ee5c033d2aba5">a grim tally in the state</a>, which has been the site of some of the deadliest shootings in the U.S. over the past five years.

In 2018, a gunman fatally shot 10 people at Santa Fe High School in the Houston area. A year before that, a gunman at a Texas church killed more than two dozen people during a Sunday service in the small town of Sutherland Springs. In 2019, another gunman at a Walmart in El Paso killed 23 people in a racist attack targeting Hispanics.

The shooting came days before the National Rifle Association annual convention was set to begin in Houston. Abbott and both of Texas’ U.S. senators were among elected Republican officials who were the scheduled speakers at a Friday leadership forum sponsored by the NRA’s lobbying arm.

In the years since Sandy Hook, the gun control debate in Congress has waxed and waned. Efforts by lawmakers to change U.S. gun policies in any significant way have consistently faced roadblocks from Republicans and the influence of outside groups such as the NRA.

A year after Sandy Hook, Sens. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, and Patrick J. Toomey, a Pennsylvania Republican, negotiated a bipartisan proposal to expand the nation’s background check system. But the measure failed in a Senate vote, without enough support to clear a 60-vote filibuster hurdle.

Last year, the House passed two bills to expand background checks on firearms purchases. One bill would have closed a loophole for private and online sales. The other would have extended the background check review period. Both languished in the 50-50 Senate, where Democrats need at least 10 Republican votes to overcome objections from a filibuster.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653483385339.png" alt="Tuesday’s assault in the heavily Latino town of Uvalde was the deadliest shooting at a U.S. school since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senator-chris-murphy-pleads-for-action-on-gun-violence-641fb7c7244ff497c7f9c4c1bc96366c">Sandy Hook Elementary</a>&nbsp;in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012.-photo courtesy KSAT-TV" />
 <figcaption>Tuesday’s assault in the heavily Latino town of Uvalde was the deadliest shooting at a U.S. school since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senator-chris-murphy-pleads-for-action-on-gun-violence-641fb7c7244ff497c7f9c4c1bc96366c">Sandy Hook Elementary</a>&nbsp;in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012.-photo courtesy KSAT-TV</figcaption>
 </figure>UVALDE, Texas (AP) — An 18-year-old gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school barricaded himself inside a classroom, “shooting anyone that was in his way,” an official said Wednesday, describing the latest in a gruesome, yearslong&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings">series of mass killings</a>&nbsp;at churches, schools and stores.Police and others responding to Tuesday’s attack broke windows at the school in an effort to allow students and teachers inside to escape, Lt. Christopher Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety said Wednesday on NBC’s “Today.”Olivarez told CNN that all victims were in the same fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary School. Eventually, the shooter was killed by law enforcement.Tuesday’s assault in the heavily Latino town of Uvalde was the deadliest shooting at a U.S. school since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senator-chris-murphy-pleads-for-action-on-gun-violence-641fb7c7244ff497c7f9c4c1bc96366c">Sandy Hook Elementary</a>&nbsp;in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012.Families waited hours for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-school-shootings-victims-a197fa6758a87d4b496dfca4d707ba47">word on their children</a>. At the town civic center where some gathered, the silence was broken repeatedly by screams and wailing. “No! Please, no!” one man yelled as he embraced another man.“My heart is broken today,” said Hal Harrell, the school district superintendent. “We’re a small community, and we’re going to need your prayers to get through this.”Gov. Greg Abbott said one of the two adults killed was a teacher.Adolfo Cruz, a 69-year-old air conditioning repairman, was still outside the school as the sun set, seeking word on his 10-year-old great-granddaughter, Eliajha Cruz Torres.He drove to the scene after receiving a terrifying call from his daughter shortly following the first reports of the shooting. He said other relatives were at the hospital and the civic center.Waiting, he said, was the heaviest moment of his life.“I hope she is alive,” Cruz said.The attack was the latest grim moment for a country&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/list-of-deadliest-us-school-shootings-f25dad31e68c8acbdbcb952352df9249">scarred by a string of massacres</a>, coming just 10 days after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-supermarket-shooting-victims-982351652caf7ecf3da304c6c64f62fb">deadly, racist rampage at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket</a>. And the prospects for any reform of the nation’s gun regulations seemed as dim, if not dimmer, than in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook deaths.But President Joe Biden appeared ready for a fight, calling for new gun restrictions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-to-address-nation-over-uvalde-school-shooting-c2c414829a7397cb6e3de82636de2ba9">in an address to the nation</a>&nbsp;hours after the attack.“As a nation we have to ask, when in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby? When in God’s name are we going to do what has to be done?” Biden asked. “Why are we willing to live with this carnage?”It was not immediately clear how many people in all were wounded, but the school district’s police chief, Pete Arredondo, said there were “several injuries.”The attack on the school began about 11:30 a.m. The gunman had already shot his grandmother, according to Olivarez of the Department of Public Safety. After fleeing that scene, he crashed his car at the school and made his way inside.Olivarez said that when local and state officers responded they heard gunshots — and were shot at themselves.“The shooter was able to make entry into a classroom, barricaded himself inside that classroom and again just began shooting numerous children and teachers that were in that classroom having no regard for human life. … Just began shooting anyone that was in his way,” he said. “At that point we had a tactical law enforcement arrive … that were able to able to make forcible entry into that classroom. They were met with gunfire as well but they were able to shoot and kill that suspect.”Earlier, a law enforcement official had said one Border Patrol agent who was working nearby when the shooting began rushed into the school without waiting for backup and shot and killed the gunman. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk about it.The agent was wounded but able to walk out of the school, the law enforcement official said.Jason Owens, a top regional official with the Border Patrol, said some area agents have children at Robb Elementary.“It hit home for everybody,” he said.Staff members in scrubs and devastated victims’ relatives could be seen weeping as they walked out of Uvalde Memorial Hospital, which said 13 children were taken there. Another hospital reported a 66-year-old woman was in critical condition.Officials did not immediately reveal a motive, but they identified the assailant as Salvador Ramos, a resident of the community about 85 miles&nbsp; west of San Antonio. Law enforcement officials said he acted alone.Uvalde, home to about 16,000 people, is about 75 miles (120 kilometers) from the border with Mexico. Robb Elementary, which has nearly 600 students in second, third and fourth grades, is in a mostly residential neighborhood of modest homes.The attack came as the school was counting down to the last days of the school year with a series of themed days. Tuesday was to be “Footloose and Fancy,” with students wearing nice outfits.Ramos had hinted on social media that an attack could be coming, according to state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who said he had been briefed by state police. He noted that the gunman “suggested the kids should watch out,” and that he had bought two “assault weapons” after turning 18.Before heading to the school, Ramos shot his grandmother, Gutierrez said.Other officials said that the grandmother survived and was being treated, though her condition was not known.Investigators believe Ramos posted photos on Instagram of two guns he used in the shooting, and they were examining whether he made statements online in the hours before the assault, a law enforcement official said.Law enforcement officers were serving multiple search warrants Tuesday night and gathering telephone and other records, the official said. Investigators were also attempting to contact Ramos’ relatives and were tracing the firearms.The official could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.Condolences poured in from leaders around the world. Pope Francis pleaded that it was time say ”‘enough’ to the indiscriminate trade of weapons!” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba of Ukraine, which is at war with Russia after Moscow invaded, said that his nation also knows “the pain of losing innocent young lives.”The tragedy in Uvalde was the deadliest school shooting in Texas history, and it added to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-texas-shootings-gun-violence-0fc46ce400c3fed9081ee5c033d2aba5">a grim tally in the state</a>, which has been the site of some of the deadliest shootings in the U.S. over the past five years.In 2018, a gunman fatally shot 10 people at Santa Fe High School in the Houston area. A year before that, a gunman at a Texas church killed more than two dozen people during a Sunday service in the small town of Sutherland Springs. In 2019, another gunman at a Walmart in El Paso killed 23 people in a racist attack targeting Hispanics.The shooting came days before the National Rifle Association annual convention was set to begin in Houston. Abbott and both of Texas’ U.S. senators were among elected Republican officials who were the scheduled speakers at a Friday leadership forum sponsored by the NRA’s lobbying arm.In the years since Sandy Hook, the gun control debate in Congress has waxed and waned. Efforts by lawmakers to change U.S. gun policies in any significant way have consistently faced roadblocks from Republicans and the influence of outside groups such as the NRA.A year after Sandy Hook, Sens. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, and Patrick J. Toomey, a Pennsylvania Republican, negotiated a bipartisan proposal to expand the nation’s background check system. But the measure failed in a Senate vote, without enough support to clear a 60-vote filibuster hurdle.Last year, the House passed two bills to expand background checks on firearms purchases. One bill would have closed a loophole for private and online sales. The other would have extended the background check review period. Both languished in the 50-50 Senate, where Democrats need at least 10 Republican votes to overcome objections from a filibuster.___

Officials: All those killed at Texas school were in one room

WASHINGTON (AP) — A massive recall is getting most of the blame for the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/baby-formula-shortage-what-to-know-735cef06e68ed9c5a46233bdfcf0573d">baby formula shortage</a>, but experts say the products have long been vulnerable to this type of crisis due to decades-old policies that have allowed a handful of companies to corner the market.

Those government rules — aimed at assuring safe, affordable formula — are getting renewed scrutiny as President Joe Biden’s administration rushes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-government-and-politics-53857b4ba1006a8bf85caad251517f4c">import formula</a>&nbsp;from Europe.

“There’s perfectly good and safe baby formula available around the world. We just don’t have access to it,” said Bindiya Vakil, CEO of Resilinc, a supply chain analytics firm. ”We’ve created this problem by not setting up an infrastructure for imports.”

Federal regulators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-politics-science-e4aef87dfb74039f1612ca5279e85227">are expected</a>&nbsp;to soon allow Abbott Nutrition to reopen the Michigan plant that’s been closed since February due to contamination problems.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-government-and-politics-1e54ff345ab2a4be93f2e24d991e4450">The factory</a>&nbsp;is the largest of its kind in the U.S. and its shutdown — combined with pandemic-related supply chain problems — hobbled supplies of popular formulas and specialty formulas for children with rare medical conditions.

Lawmakers will hold three hearings on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-business-health-d3e32ba9e2381f77c299391e762abe21">the issue</a>&nbsp;this week, calling on company executives, government regulators and outside experts to testify. The attention could spur changes to government safety and contracting rules that have been in place since the 1980s and favor big U.S. manufacturers that are capable of navigating the complex requirements.

Baby formula is one of the few American products essentially unaffected by globalization, with 98% of the supply manufactured domestically. Four companies account for roughly 90% of the market: Abbott, Reckitt, Nestle and Perrigo, according to industry figures. That consolidation mirrors similar trends across the food industry.

But infant formula wasn’t part of a Biden administration initiative last year spotlighting dangerously concentrated industries, including prescription drugs, airlines, hearing aids and internet services.

Food experts say strict formula regulations set by the Food and Drug Administration have long limited competition.

Beginning in 1980, Congress gave the FDA authority to rigorously enforce the nutritional content of all formula sold in the U.S., imposing extra research and manufacturing standards that have few equivalents worldwide. The changes came after some babies were sickened by deficient formulas in the 1970s.

“They are pretty much the strictest food safety guidelines in the U.S. and America has some of the strictest guidelines in the world,” said Wendy White, a food safety expert at Georgia Tech.

Companies must consult with the FDA before selling a new formula, altering ingredients in an existing one or making major manufacturing changes. The result is only the biggest manufacturers have plants and procedures that comply with federal rules. And would-be competitors have little incentive to enter the field, given the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-pandemics-a19eb76d3c0b6077a7c2d1ae92a4a67f">declining</a>&nbsp;U.S. birth rate.

“You have to have a lot of expertise, a lot of resources and a lot of research dollars,” White said.

There are other hurdles for foreign manufacturers looking to compete. The U.S. has long imposed tariffs and quotas on dairy imports from abroad, including Canada, in order to shield American milk producers from competition.

Responding to political pressure, the Biden administration has begun&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-indianapolis-00f39fd46778ecdd543c22f3630d79ba">airlifting shipments</a>&nbsp;of formula from Europe. The FDA is also waiving some requirements to encourage more imports from overseas manufacturers that are expected to boost supplies in coming weeks.

The biggest driver of the U.S. market, by far, is a massive federal nutrition program that provides formula and other foods to lower-income women and children. The WIC program accounts for more than 50% of the U.S. market, providing formula for more than 1.2 million babies, according to the National WIC Association, which represents state and local administrators who run the benefit.

Beginning in 1989, federal law has required states to award contracts to a single formula company, based on whichever one can offer the biggest discounts.

The effect is that contract winners quickly squeeze out much of the competition on store shelves. Today, all 50 WIC contracts are held by three companies: Abbott, Reckitt and Nestle, according to the association. Abbott is the leader, with 34 state contracts.

The competitive effects of these sole-source contracts have been researched for years. A 2011 study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that whichever company wins a state’s WIC contract typically sees their market share grow by 74%, on average, as WIC recipients switch to their brand.

But not everyone supports overhauling the system. Brian Dittmeier of the National WIC Association says doing away with sole-source contracts would jeopardize the savings that allow the plan to serve so many Americans. Instead he says manufacturers should be held accountable for not investing in their own capacity.

“This is a manufacturing failure,” Dittmeier said. “The fact is there just is not enough product to fulfill the demand that manufacturers have drummed up over the years.” His group supports calls by some lawmakers for a federal antitrust investigation into the industry.

WIC contracts are generally rebid every four years and market share swings back and forth between the handful of players who compete.

Dr. Steven Abrams, a pediatrician at the University of Texas at Austin, says Congress should revisit the WIC program.

“We need to take a comprehensive look at where the failures happened and where we can fix them” said Abrams. “We need to consider whether we really want to have a situation where there’s that much dominance in the program.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648164055231.png" alt="In February Abbott, one of the country’s largest infant formula makers announced a recall of Similac-FDA image" />
 <figcaption>In February Abbott, one of the country’s largest infant formula makers announced a recall of Similac-FDA image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A massive recall is getting most of the blame for the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/baby-formula-shortage-what-to-know-735cef06e68ed9c5a46233bdfcf0573d">baby formula shortage</a>, but experts say the products have long been vulnerable to this type of crisis due to decades-old policies that have allowed a handful of companies to corner the market.Those government rules — aimed at assuring safe, affordable formula — are getting renewed scrutiny as President Joe Biden’s administration rushes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-government-and-politics-53857b4ba1006a8bf85caad251517f4c">import formula</a>&nbsp;from Europe.“There’s perfectly good and safe baby formula available around the world. We just don’t have access to it,” said Bindiya Vakil, CEO of Resilinc, a supply chain analytics firm. ”We’ve created this problem by not setting up an infrastructure for imports.”Federal regulators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-politics-science-e4aef87dfb74039f1612ca5279e85227">are expected</a>&nbsp;to soon allow Abbott Nutrition to reopen the Michigan plant that’s been closed since February due to contamination problems.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-government-and-politics-1e54ff345ab2a4be93f2e24d991e4450">The factory</a>&nbsp;is the largest of its kind in the U.S. and its shutdown — combined with pandemic-related supply chain problems — hobbled supplies of popular formulas and specialty formulas for children with rare medical conditions.Lawmakers will hold three hearings on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-business-health-d3e32ba9e2381f77c299391e762abe21">the issue</a>&nbsp;this week, calling on company executives, government regulators and outside experts to testify. The attention could spur changes to government safety and contracting rules that have been in place since the 1980s and favor big U.S. manufacturers that are capable of navigating the complex requirements.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653255522967.png" alt="Formula that arrived in the U.S. from Europe Sunday- White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Formula that arrived in the U.S. from Europe Sunday- White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Baby formula is one of the few American products essentially unaffected by globalization, with 98% of the supply manufactured domestically. Four companies account for roughly 90% of the market: Abbott, Reckitt, Nestle and Perrigo, according to industry figures. That consolidation mirrors similar trends across the food industry.But infant formula wasn’t part of a Biden administration initiative last year spotlighting dangerously concentrated industries, including prescription drugs, airlines, hearing aids and internet services.Food experts say strict formula regulations set by the Food and Drug Administration have long limited competition.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653176350929.png" alt="The first pallets from Operation Fly Formula were loaded onto a military plane in Germany Saturday and arrived in the U.S. Sunday. -White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The first pallets from Operation Fly Formula were loaded onto a military plane in Germany Saturday and arrived in the U.S. Sunday. -White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Beginning in 1980, Congress gave the FDA authority to rigorously enforce the nutritional content of all formula sold in the U.S., imposing extra research and manufacturing standards that have few equivalents worldwide. The changes came after some babies were sickened by deficient formulas in the 1970s.“They are pretty much the strictest food safety guidelines in the U.S. and America has some of the strictest guidelines in the world,” said Wendy White, a food safety expert at Georgia Tech.Companies must consult with the FDA before selling a new formula, altering ingredients in an existing one or making major manufacturing changes. The result is only the biggest manufacturers have plants and procedures that comply with federal rules. And would-be competitors have little incentive to enter the field, given the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-pandemics-a19eb76d3c0b6077a7c2d1ae92a4a67f">declining</a>&nbsp;U.S. birth rate.“You have to have a lot of expertise, a lot of resources and a lot of research dollars,” White said.There are other hurdles for foreign manufacturers looking to compete. The U.S. has long imposed tariffs and quotas on dairy imports from abroad, including Canada, in order to shield American milk producers from competition.Responding to political pressure, the Biden administration has begun&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-indianapolis-00f39fd46778ecdd543c22f3630d79ba">airlifting shipments</a>&nbsp;of formula from Europe. The FDA is also waiving some requirements to encourage more imports from overseas manufacturers that are expected to boost supplies in coming weeks.The biggest driver of the U.S. market, by far, is a massive federal nutrition program that provides formula and other foods to lower-income women and children. The WIC program accounts for more than 50% of the U.S. market, providing formula for more than 1.2 million babies, according to the National WIC Association, which represents state and local administrators who run the benefit.Beginning in 1989, federal law has required states to award contracts to a single formula company, based on whichever one can offer the biggest discounts.The effect is that contract winners quickly squeeze out much of the competition on store shelves. Today, all 50 WIC contracts are held by three companies: Abbott, Reckitt and Nestle, according to the association. Abbott is the leader, with 34 state contracts.The competitive effects of these sole-source contracts have been researched for years. A 2011 study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that whichever company wins a state’s WIC contract typically sees their market share grow by 74%, on average, as WIC recipients switch to their brand.But not everyone supports overhauling the system. Brian Dittmeier of the National WIC Association says doing away with sole-source contracts would jeopardize the savings that allow the plan to serve so many Americans. Instead he says manufacturers should be held accountable for not investing in their own capacity.“This is a manufacturing failure,” Dittmeier said. “The fact is there just is not enough product to fulfill the demand that manufacturers have drummed up over the years.” His group supports calls by some lawmakers for a federal antitrust investigation into the industry.WIC contracts are generally rebid every four years and market share swings back and forth between the handful of players who compete.Dr. Steven Abrams, a pediatrician at the University of Texas at Austin, says Congress should revisit the WIC program.“We need to take a comprehensive look at where the failures happened and where we can fix them” said Abrams. “We need to consider whether we really want to have a situation where there’s that much dominance in the program.”

US safety, savings rules set stage for baby formula shortage

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lamenting a uniquely American tragedy, an anguished and angry President Joe Biden delivered an urgent call for new restrictions on firearms after a gunman shot and killed at least 19 children at a Texas elementary school.

(Cick below to watch the President's comments.)

Biden spoke Tuesday night from the White House barely an hour after returning from a five-day trip to Asia that was bracketed by mass shootings in the U.S. He pleaded for action to address gun violence after years of failure — and bitterly blamed firearm manufacturers and their supporters for blocking legislation in Washington.

’“When in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?” Biden said with emotion. “Why are we willing to live with this carnage? Why do we keep letting this happen?”

With first lady Jill Biden standing by his side in the Roosevelt Room, the president, who has suffered the loss of two of his own children — though not to gun violence — spoke in visceral terms about the grief of the loved ones of the victims and the pain that will endure for the students who survived.

“To lose a child is like having a piece of your soul ripped away,” Biden said. “There’s a hollowness in your chest. You feel like you’re being sucked into it and never going to be able to get out.”

He called on the nation to hold the victims and families in prayer — but also to work harder to prevent the next tragedy, “It’s time we turned this pain into action,” he said.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-texas-school-shooting-b4e4648ed0ae454897d540e787d092b2">At least 19 students</a>&nbsp;were killed at Robb Elementary School in the heavily Latino town of Uvalde, Texas, according to local officials. The death toll also included two adults. The gunman died after being shot by responding officers, local police said.

It was just a week earlier that Biden, on the eve of his overseas trip, traveled to Buffalo to meet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-supermarket-shooting-biden-visit-9c72bd91df5760e375bb75f10dbd6f06">with victims’ families</a>&nbsp;after a racist, hate-filled shooter killed 10 Black people at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York.

The back-to-back tragedies served as sobering reminders of the frequency and brutality of an American epidemic of mass gun violence.

“These kinds of mass shootings rarely happen anywhere else in the world,” Biden said, reflecting that other nations have people filled with hate or with mental health issues but no other industrialized nation experiences gun violence at the level of the U.S.

It was much too early to tell if the latest violent outbreak could break the political logjam around tightening the nation’s gun laws, after so many others — including the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut that killed 26, including 20 children — have failed.

“The idea that an 18-year-old kid can walk into a gun store and buy two assault weapons is just wrong,” Biden said. He has previously called for a ban on assault-style weapons, as well as tougher federal background check requirements and “red flag” laws that are meant to keep guns out of the hands of those with mental health problems.

Late Tuesday, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer set in motion possible action on two House-passed bills to expand federally required background checks for gun purchases, but no votes have been scheduled.

Biden was somber when he returned to the White House, having been briefed on the shooting on Air Force One. Shortly before landing in Washington, he spoke with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and offered “any and all assistance” needed, the White House said. He directed that American flags be flown at half-staff through sunset Saturday in honor of the victims in Texas.

His aides, some of whom had just returned from Asia with the president, gathered to watch Biden’s speech on televisions in the West Wing.

“I’d hoped when I became president I would not have to do this, again,” he said. “Another massacre.”

In a stark reminder of the issue’s divisiveness, Biden’s call for gun measures was booed at a campaign event in Georgia hosted by Herschel Walker, who won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.

Speaking at an Asian Pacific American event that was intended to celebrate Biden’s Asia trip, Vice President Kamala Harris said earlier that people normally declare in moments like this, “our hearts break — but our hearts keep getting broken ... and our broken hearts are nothing compared to the broken hearts of those families.”

“We have to have the courage to take action ... to ensure something like this never happens again,” she said.

Echoing Biden’s call, former President Barack Obama, who has called the day of the Sandy Hook shooting the darkest of his administration, said, “It’s long past time for action, any kind of action.”

“Michelle and I grieve with the families in Uvalde, who are experiencing pain no one should have to bear,” he said in a statement. “We’re also angry for them. Nearly ten years after Sandy Hook—and ten days after Buffalo—our country is paralyzed, not by fear, but by a gun lobby and a political party that have shown no willingness to act in any way that might help prevent these tragedies.”

Congress has been unable to pass substantial gun violence legislation ever since the bipartisan effort to strengthen background checks on firearm purchases collapsed in the aftermath of the 2012 shooting.

Despite months of work, a bill that was backed by a majority of senators, fell to a filibuster — unable to to overcome the 60-vote threshold needed to advance.

In impassioned remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senator-chris-murphy-pleads-for-action-on-gun-violence-641fb7c7244ff497c7f9c4c1bc96366c">Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.,</a>&nbsp;who represented Newton, Connecticut, in the House at the time of the Sandy Hook massacre, asked his colleagues why they even bother running for office if they’re going to stand by and do nothing.

“I’m here on this floor to beg — to literally get down on my hands and knees — to beg my colleagues,” he said.

Murphy said he was planning to reach out to Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn after the two had teamed on an earlier background check bill that never became law. He said he would also reach out to Texas’ other Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.

“I just don’t understand why people here think we’re powerless,” Murphy said. “We aren’t.”

Cornyn told reporters he was on his way to Texas and would talk with them later. Cruz issued a statement calling it “a dark day. We’re all completely sickened and heartbroken.”

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who sponsored gun legislation that failed to overcome a filibuster in the Senate after Sandy Hook, said, “We’re just pushing on people who just won’t budge on anything.”

“It makes no sense at all why we can’t do commonsense things and try to prevent some of this from happening,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653439722744.png" alt="With first lady Jill Biden standing by his side in the Roosevelt Room, Biden added, “I am sick and tired. We have to act.”" />
 <figcaption>With first lady Jill Biden standing by his side in the Roosevelt Room, Biden added, “I am sick and tired. We have to act.”</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Lamenting a uniquely American tragedy, an anguished and angry President Joe Biden delivered an urgent call for new restrictions on firearms after a gunman shot and killed at least 19 children at a Texas elementary school.(Cick below to watch the President's comments.)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F544748734033365%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=37" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Biden spoke Tuesday night from the White House barely an hour after returning from a five-day trip to Asia that was bracketed by mass shootings in the U.S. He pleaded for action to address gun violence after years of failure — and bitterly blamed firearm manufacturers and their supporters for blocking legislation in Washington.’“When in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?” Biden said with emotion. “Why are we willing to live with this carnage? Why do we keep letting this happen?”With first lady Jill Biden standing by his side in the Roosevelt Room, the president, who has suffered the loss of two of his own children — though not to gun violence — spoke in visceral terms about the grief of the loved ones of the victims and the pain that will endure for the students who survived.“To lose a child is like having a piece of your soul ripped away,” Biden said. “There’s a hollowness in your chest. You feel like you’re being sucked into it and never going to be able to get out.”He called on the nation to hold the victims and families in prayer — but also to work harder to prevent the next tragedy, “It’s time we turned this pain into action,” he said.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-texas-school-shooting-b4e4648ed0ae454897d540e787d092b2">At least 19 students</a>&nbsp;were killed at Robb Elementary School in the heavily Latino town of Uvalde, Texas, according to local officials. The death toll also included two adults. The gunman died after being shot by responding officers, local police said.It was just a week earlier that Biden, on the eve of his overseas trip, traveled to Buffalo to meet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-supermarket-shooting-biden-visit-9c72bd91df5760e375bb75f10dbd6f06">with victims’ families</a>&nbsp;after a racist, hate-filled shooter killed 10 Black people at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York.The back-to-back tragedies served as sobering reminders of the frequency and brutality of an American epidemic of mass gun violence.“These kinds of mass shootings rarely happen anywhere else in the world,” Biden said, reflecting that other nations have people filled with hate or with mental health issues but no other industrialized nation experiences gun violence at the level of the U.S.“Why?” he asked.It was much too early to tell if the latest violent outbreak could break the political logjam around tightening the nation’s gun laws, after so many others — including the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut that killed 26, including 20 children — have failed.“The idea that an 18-year-old kid can walk into a gun store and buy two assault weapons is just wrong,” Biden said. He has previously called for a ban on assault-style weapons, as well as tougher federal background check requirements and “red flag” laws that are meant to keep guns out of the hands of those with mental health problems.Late Tuesday, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer set in motion possible action on two House-passed bills to expand federally required background checks for gun purchases, but no votes have been scheduled.Biden was somber when he returned to the White House, having been briefed on the shooting on Air Force One. Shortly before landing in Washington, he spoke with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and offered “any and all assistance” needed, the White House said. He directed that American flags be flown at half-staff through sunset Saturday in honor of the victims in Texas.His aides, some of whom had just returned from Asia with the president, gathered to watch Biden’s speech on televisions in the West Wing.“I’d hoped when I became president I would not have to do this, again,” he said. “Another massacre.”In a stark reminder of the issue’s divisiveness, Biden’s call for gun measures was booed at a campaign event in Georgia hosted by Herschel Walker, who won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.Speaking at an Asian Pacific American event that was intended to celebrate Biden’s Asia trip, Vice President Kamala Harris said earlier that people normally declare in moments like this, “our hearts break — but our hearts keep getting broken ... and our broken hearts are nothing compared to the broken hearts of those families.”“We have to have the courage to take action ... to ensure something like this never happens again,” she said.Echoing Biden’s call, former President Barack Obama, who has called the day of the Sandy Hook shooting the darkest of his administration, said, “It’s long past time for action, any kind of action.”“Michelle and I grieve with the families in Uvalde, who are experiencing pain no one should have to bear,” he said in a statement. “We’re also angry for them. Nearly ten years after Sandy Hook—and ten days after Buffalo—our country is paralyzed, not by fear, but by a gun lobby and a political party that have shown no willingness to act in any way that might help prevent these tragedies.”Congress has been unable to pass substantial gun violence legislation ever since the bipartisan effort to strengthen background checks on firearm purchases collapsed in the aftermath of the 2012 shooting.Despite months of work, a bill that was backed by a majority of senators, fell to a filibuster — unable to to overcome the 60-vote threshold needed to advance.In impassioned remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senator-chris-murphy-pleads-for-action-on-gun-violence-641fb7c7244ff497c7f9c4c1bc96366c">Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.,</a>&nbsp;who represented Newton, Connecticut, in the House at the time of the Sandy Hook massacre, asked his colleagues why they even bother running for office if they’re going to stand by and do nothing.“I’m here on this floor to beg — to literally get down on my hands and knees — to beg my colleagues,” he said.Murphy said he was planning to reach out to Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn after the two had teamed on an earlier background check bill that never became law. He said he would also reach out to Texas’ other Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.“I just don’t understand why people here think we’re powerless,” Murphy said. “We aren’t.”Cornyn told reporters he was on his way to Texas and would talk with them later. Cruz issued a statement calling it “a dark day. We’re all completely sickened and heartbroken.”Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who sponsored gun legislation that failed to overcome a filibuster in the Senate after Sandy Hook, said, “We’re just pushing on people who just won’t budge on anything.”“It makes no sense at all why we can’t do commonsense things and try to prevent some of this from happening,” he said.——

🎥 Biden says 'we have to act' after Texas school shooting

MEADE COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just after midnight Tuesday in Meade County.

&nbsp;The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy SUV driven by 21-year-old Peter Krahn, of Cimmaron was southbound on 4 Road at U.S. 160.

The driver failed to yield the right of way to a westbound 2022 Peterbilt semi driven by Bevan L. Becker, 28, Montezuma.&nbsp;

The Chevy struck the semi on the number 4 axel of the trailer.

Krahn was pronounced dead at the scene. Becker was not injured. Krahn was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

MEADE COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just after midnight Tuesday in Meade County.&nbsp;The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy SUV driven by 21-year-old Peter Krahn, of Cimmaron was southbound on 4 Road at U.S. 160.The driver failed to yield the right of way to a westbound 2022 Peterbilt semi driven by Bevan L. Becker, 28, Montezuma.&nbsp;The Chevy struck the semi on the number 4 axel of the trailer.Krahn was pronounced dead at the scene. Becker was not injured. Krahn was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after crash with a semi

Taxpayers can now track refunds for past two years

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service made an important 
enhancement to the Where's My Refund? online tool this week, introducing
 a new feature that allows taxpayers to check the status of their 
current tax year and two previous years' refunds.

Taxpayers can select any of the three most recent tax years to check 
their refund status. They'll need their Social Security number or ITIN, 
filing status and expected refund amount from the original filed tax 
return for the tax year they're checking.

Previously, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where's My Refund?</a>&nbsp;only
 displayed the status of the most recently filed tax return within the 
past two tax years.&nbsp;Information available to those calling the refund 
hotline will be limited to the 2021 tax return.

Using <a href="https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofgetstatus.jsp">Where's My Refund?</a>, taxpayers can start checking the status of their refund within:

The IRS reminds taxpayers that <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>
 continues to be the best option for finding their prior year adjusted 
gross income, balance due or other type of account information.

"We encourage those who expect a refund, but requested an extension, 
to file as soon as they're ready. We process returns on a first-in 
basis, so the sooner the better," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. 
"There's really no reason to wait until October 17 if filers have the 
relevant information to file now. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> is still available for extension recipients to use to prepare and file their federal tax return for free."

Electronic filing is open 24/7 and the IRS continues to receive 
returns and issue refunds. Once taxpayers have filed, they can track 
their refund with Where's My Refund?

This helpful tool, accessible on IRS.gov or the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go</a> mobile app, allows taxpayers to track their refund through three stages:

The tool is updated once a day, usually overnight, and gives 
taxpayers a projected refund issuance date as soon as it's approved.

It's also one of the most popular online features available from IRS.
 The Where's My Refund? tool was developed in 2002 and was used by 
taxpayers more than 776 million times in 2021.

Enhancing taxpayer experience &amp; IT modernization

The IRS continues to enhance the customer experience by enhancing and
 expanding digital tools that deliver improved services to taxpayers.

"The IRS is committed to identifying opportunities to make 
improvements in real time for taxpayers and the tax professional 
community," said Rettig. "This enhancement to Where's My Refund? is just
 one of many."

There's no need to call the IRS to check on refund status unless it 
has been more than 21 days since the return was filed or the tool says 
the IRS can provide more information.

If the IRS needs more information to process the return, the taxpayer will be contacted by mail.

For more information about checking the status of a tax refund, please visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where's My Refund?</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Taxpayers can now track refunds for past two years</h2>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service made an important 
enhancement to the Where's My Refund? online tool this week, introducing
 a new feature that allows taxpayers to check the status of their 
current tax year and two previous years' refunds.Taxpayers can select any of the three most recent tax years to check 
their refund status. They'll need their Social Security number or ITIN, 
filing status and expected refund amount from the original filed tax 
return for the tax year they're checking.Previously, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where's My Refund?</a>&nbsp;only
 displayed the status of the most recently filed tax return within the 
past two tax years.&nbsp;Information available to those calling the refund 
hotline will be limited to the 2021 tax return.Using <a href="https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofgetstatus.jsp">Where's My Refund?</a>, taxpayers can start checking the status of their refund within:<ul>
 <li>24 hours after e-filing a tax year 2021 return.</li><li>Three or four days after e-filing a tax year 2019 or 2020 return.</li><li>Four weeks after mailing a return.</li>
 </ul>The IRS reminds taxpayers that <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>
 continues to be the best option for finding their prior year adjusted 
gross income, balance due or other type of account information."We encourage those who expect a refund, but requested an extension, 
to file as soon as they're ready. We process returns on a first-in 
basis, so the sooner the better," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. 
"There's really no reason to wait until October 17 if filers have the 
relevant information to file now. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> is still available for extension recipients to use to prepare and file their federal tax return for free."Electronic filing is open 24/7 and the IRS continues to receive 
returns and issue refunds. Once taxpayers have filed, they can track 
their refund with Where's My Refund?<h2>About the Where's My Refund? tool</h2>This helpful tool, accessible on IRS.gov or the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go</a> mobile app, allows taxpayers to track their refund through three stages:<ol>
 <li>Return received.</li><li>Refund approved.</li><li>Refund sent.</li>
 </ol>The tool is updated once a day, usually overnight, and gives 
taxpayers a projected refund issuance date as soon as it's approved.It's also one of the most popular online features available from IRS.
 The Where's My Refund? tool was developed in 2002 and was used by 
taxpayers more than 776 million times in 2021.<h2>Enhancing taxpayer experience &amp; IT modernization</h2>The IRS continues to enhance the customer experience by enhancing and
 expanding digital tools that deliver improved services to taxpayers."The IRS is committed to identifying opportunities to make 
improvements in real time for taxpayers and the tax professional 
community," said Rettig. "This enhancement to Where's My Refund? is just
 one of many."<h2>Additional refund status information</h2>There's no need to call the IRS to check on refund status unless it 
has been more than 21 days since the return was filed or the tool says 
the IRS can provide more information.If the IRS needs more information to process the return, the taxpayer will be contacted by mail.For more information about checking the status of a tax refund, please visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where's My Refund?</a>

IRS updates feature on Where’s My Refund?

UVALDE, Texas (AP) — An 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children and two adults as he went from classroom to classroom at a Texas elementary school, officials said, adding to a gruesome, yearslong&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings">series of mass killings</a>&nbsp;at churches, schools and stores.

The attacker was killed by a Border Patrol agent who rushed into the school without waiting for backup, according to a law enforcement official.

Tuesday’s assault at Robb Elementary School in the heavily Latino town of Uvalde was the deadliest shooting at a U.S. school since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senator-chris-murphy-pleads-for-action-on-gun-violence-641fb7c7244ff497c7f9c4c1bc96366c">Sandy Hook Elementary</a>&nbsp;in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012.

Hours after the attack, families were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-school-shootings-victims-a197fa6758a87d4b496dfca4d707ba47">still awaiting word on their children</a>. At the town civic center where some gathered, the silence was broken repeatedly by screams and wailing. “No! Please, no!” one man yelled as he embraced another man.

The attack was the latest grim moment for a country scarred by a string of massacres, coming just 10 days after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-supermarket-shooting-victims-982351652caf7ecf3da304c6c64f62fb">deadly, racist rampage at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket</a>. And the prospects for any reform of the nation’s gun regulations seemed as dim, if not dimmer, than in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook deaths.

It was not immediately clear how many people in all were wounded, but Uvalde Police Chief Pete Arredondo said there were “several injuries.”

The attack began about 11:30 a.m., when the gunman crashed his car outside the school and ran into the building, according to Travis Considine, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety. A resident who heard the crash called 911, and two local police officers exchanged gunfire with the shooter.

Both officers were shot. It was not immediately clear where on the campus that confrontation occurred or how much time elapsed before more authorities arrived on the scene.

One Border Patrol agent who was working nearby when the shooting began rushed into the school without waiting for backup and shot and killed the gunman, who was behind a barricade, according to a law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk about it.

Meanwhile, teams of Border Patrol agents raced to the school, including 10 to 15 members of a SWAT-like tactical and counterterrorism unit, said Jason Owens, a top regional official with the Border Patrol.

He said some area agents have children at Robb Elementary.

The tragedy in Uvalde was the deadliest school shooting in Texas history, and it added to a grim tally in the state, which has been the site of some of the deadliest shootings in the U.S. over the past five years.

UVALDE, Texas (AP) — An 18-year-old gunman opened fire Tuesday at a Texas elementary school, killing at least 18 children as he went from classroom to classroom, officials said, in the latest gruesome moment for a country scarred by a string of massacres. The attacker was killed by law enforcement.

The death toll also included three adults, according to state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who said he had been briefed by state police. But it was not immediately clear whether that number included the attacker, or how many people were wounded.

The massacre at Robb Elementary School in the heavily Latino town of Uvalde was the deadliest shooting at a U.S. grade school since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sandy-hook-elementary-school-shooting">at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut</a>, almost a decade ago.

“My heart is broken today,” said Hal Harrell, the school district superintendent, announcing that all school activities were canceled until further notice. “We’re a small community, and we’re going to need your prayers to get through this.”

The attack also came just 10 days after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-supermarket-shooting-victims-982351652caf7ecf3da304c6c64f62fb">deadly, racist rampage at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket</a>&nbsp;that added to a yearslong series of mass killings at churches, schools and stores. And the prospects for any reform of the nation’s gun regulations seemed as dim as in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook deaths.

President Joe Biden appeared ready for a fight, calling for new gun restrictions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-to-address-nation-over-uvalde-school-shooting-c2c414829a7397cb6e3de82636de2ba9">in an address to the nation</a>&nbsp;hours after the attack.

“As a nation we have to ask, when in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby? When in God’s name are we going to do what has to be done?” Biden asked. “Why are are willing to live with this carnage?”

Many of the injured were rushed to Uvalde Memorial Hospital, where staff members in scrubs and devastated victims’ relatives could be seen weeping as they walked out of the complex.

The gunman, who was wearing body armor, crashed his car outside the school before going inside, Sgt. Erick Estrada of the Texas Department of Public Safety told CNN.

He killed his grandmother before heading to the school with two military-style rifles he had purchased on his birthday, Gutierrez said.