TOPEKA&nbsp;– On Monday, Governor Laura Kelly announced Kansas saw a $91.3 million, or 10.2%, growth over the estimated tax receipt with $982.4 million in total tax collections during the month of April. That is $404.3 million, or 69.9%, better than last year. This increase is due, in part, to businesses having opened back up compared to the same month last year.

“Our April tax collection numbers are encouraging, but we must maintain fiscally-responsible policies as we continue to recover from COVID-19 to ensure our continued growth,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly.

With federal stimulus money, federal tax refunds, and state tax refunds getting into the pockets of Kansans, retail sales and compensating use tax collections were more than the estimate. Retail sales tax collections were $236.5 million; a 9.5%, or $20.5 million, growth from the estimate. Compensating use tax collections were $59.2 million; up $13.3 million, or 29.0%, for the month.

In addition to changing consumer purchasing patterns, another contributing factor to the increase in compensating use tax collections is the fact that more out-of-state businesses are registering with the state to collect and remit taxes that are due and owing.

Individual income tax collections are $26.5 million, or 5.8%, more than the estimate with $487.3 million collected. Corporate income tax collections were $152.8 million; a 23.9%, or $29.4 million growth from the estimate.

To view a complete breakdown of April tax receipts, click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.meA-DqAxMmZQ5uxX6kg3juhZ-WR7ElgidGFzuSu0pds/s/1303160919/br/105780566655-l" target="_blank">here</a>.

TOPEKA&nbsp;– On Monday, Governor Laura Kelly announced Kansas saw a $91.3 million, or 10.2%, growth over the estimated tax receipt with $982.4 million in total tax collections during the month of April. That is $404.3 million, or 69.9%, better than last year. This increase is due, in part, to businesses having opened back up compared to the same month last year.“Our April tax collection numbers are encouraging, but we must maintain fiscally-responsible policies as we continue to recover from COVID-19 to ensure our continued growth,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly.With federal stimulus money, federal tax refunds, and state tax refunds getting into the pockets of Kansans, retail sales and compensating use tax collections were more than the estimate. Retail sales tax collections were $236.5 million; a 9.5%, or $20.5 million, growth from the estimate. Compensating use tax collections were $59.2 million; up $13.3 million, or 29.0%, for the month.In addition to changing consumer purchasing patterns, another contributing factor to the increase in compensating use tax collections is the fact that more out-of-state businesses are registering with the state to collect and remit taxes that are due and owing.Individual income tax collections are $26.5 million, or 5.8%, more than the estimate with $487.3 million collected. Corporate income tax collections were $152.8 million; a 23.9%, or $29.4 million growth from the estimate.To view a complete breakdown of April tax receipts, click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA1MDMuMzk4NjQyMzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2djYzAyLnNhZmVsaW5rcy5wcm90ZWN0aW9uLm91dGxvb2suY29tLz91cmw9aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZnb3Zlcm5vci5rYW5zYXMuZ292JTJGd3AtY29udGVudCUyRnVwbG9hZHMlMkYyMDIxJTJGMDUlMkYxMF9BcHJpbF9SZXZlbnVlX0ZZMjAyMV8wNS0wMy0yMDIxX0ZpbmFsLnBkZiZkYXRhPTA0JTdDMDElN0NSZWV2ZXMuT3lzdGVyJTQwa3MuZ292JTdDZjBjZTI3MzA2OTQ5NGE2ZmU0MjQwOGQ5MGU3NDY4ZmIlN0NkY2FlODEwMWM5MmQ0ODBjYmM0M2M2NzYxY2NjY2M1YSU3QzAlN0MwJTdDNjM3NTU2NzE1Mzk0MTQ3ODA5JTdDVW5rbm93biU3Q1RXRnBiR1pzYjNkOGV5SldJam9pTUM0d0xqQXdNREFpTENKUUlqb2lWMmx1TXpJaUxDSkJUaUk2SWsxaGFXd2lMQ0pYVkNJNk1uMCUzRCU3QzEwMDAmc2RhdGE9Uk53R2Uwazc3ZEYzekZPNVZtYkVLNG4zdkM4TyUyQjRpJTJGVEJ2NHU3WTQ3SHMlM0QmcmVzZXJ2ZWQ9MCJ9.meA-DqAxMmZQ5uxX6kg3juhZ-WR7ElgidGFzuSu0pds/s/1303160919/br/105780566655-l" target="_blank">here</a>.

Kansas sees 10% growth over estimated tax receipts in April

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas teen arrested in connection with the death of another teen at a Wichita apartment last month made his first court appearance Friday.

Easton Palmer, 18 of Wichita, was charged with 1st&nbsp;degree murder and attempted aggravated robbery in the shooting death of 17-year-old Eric Stokes, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney&nbsp;

On April 29, police&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20070532">booked 18-year-old Breckyn I. Elliot</a>t&nbsp;of Wichita on requested charges of first degree murder stemming from the shooting, according to Officer Paul Cruz.

Police&nbsp; continue their search for a third suspect and are asking the public for help to locate 25-year-old Jaron C. Palmer

Just before 7 p.m. April 25, police were dispatched to report of a shooting at the&nbsp;Morgan's Landing Apartments complex in the 3800 Block of West 13th Street in Wichita, according to Police Captain Jason Stephens.

When officers arrived, they learned there were five individuals inside the apartment at the time of the incident. One who was fatally shot has been identified as 17-year-old Eric Stokes of Wichita.

EMS transported a second shooting victim identified as a 17-year-old boy to a local hospital. He was treated for minor injuries and released, according to Stephens.

Investigators learned that three unknown, armed suspects arrived at the apartment, forced their way in and fired several shots that killed Stokes.&nbsp; The suspects fled on foot from the apartment complex.&nbsp; It was not a random incident and drugs are believed to have played a part, according to Stephens.

Palmer's next court appearance is set for May 13, according to the district attorney. His bond is $250,000.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619618101953.png" alt="Easton Palmer photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Easton Palmer photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas teen arrested in connection with the death of another teen at a Wichita apartment last month made his first court appearance Friday.Easton Palmer, 18 of Wichita, was charged with 1st&nbsp;degree murder and attempted aggravated robbery in the shooting death of 17-year-old Eric Stokes, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney&nbsp;On April 29, police&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20070532">booked 18-year-old Breckyn I. Elliot</a>t&nbsp;of Wichita on requested charges of first degree murder stemming from the shooting, according to Officer Paul Cruz.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619801280517.png" alt="Jaron Palmer" />
 <figcaption>Jaron Palmer</figcaption>
 </figure>Police&nbsp; continue their search for a third suspect and are asking the public for help to locate 25-year-old Jaron C. PalmerJust before 7 p.m. April 25, police were dispatched to report of a shooting at the&nbsp;Morgan's Landing Apartments complex in the 3800 Block of West 13th Street in Wichita, according to Police Captain Jason Stephens.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619547988764.png" alt="Security camera images of the suspects -Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Security camera images of the suspects -Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>When officers arrived, they learned there were five individuals inside the apartment at the time of the incident. One who was fatally shot has been identified as 17-year-old Eric Stokes of Wichita.EMS transported a second shooting victim identified as a 17-year-old boy to a local hospital. He was treated for minor injuries and released, according to Stephens.Investigators learned that three unknown, armed suspects arrived at the apartment, forced their way in and fired several shots that killed Stokes.&nbsp; The suspects fled on foot from the apartment complex.&nbsp; It was not a random incident and drugs are believed to have played a part, according to Stephens.Palmer's next court appearance is set for May 13, according to the district attorney. His bond is $250,000.&nbsp;

Suspect in robbery of 17-year-old Kan. boy charged with murder

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Conservative Republican legislators in Kansas failed Monday to override&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-government-and-politics-321b19c681fe78be837bde945c0f6aa4">Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto</a>&nbsp;of a proposed ban on transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s school sports.

(Click below to listen to the debate on the bill that begins at 1:54:40)

The Senate’s vote to override Kelly was 26-14, leaving backers of the measure one short of the necessary two-thirds majority and blocking an attempt in the House. The outcome was in doubt until the only Democrat to waver on voting against the override, Sen. David Haley, of Kansas City, cast his no vote.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-health-laws-legislature-bills-5726fdeb8a5e7cf2c89a4a2d176e8a7f">More than 20 states</a>&nbsp;have considered such proposals this year, as Republican lawmakers have pressed the issue. Idaho enacted such a law last year, and bans were enacted this year in Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and West Virginia.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-legislature-legislation-florida-ron-desantis-a238134582f99245223a3e9764412424">Florida</a>&nbsp;lawmakers passed a bill, and South Dakota’s governor issued an executive order.

Kelly called the Kansas measure “regressive,” said it would send a message that Kansas was not a welcoming place and predicted it would hurt the state’s attempts to recruit businesses. LGBTQ-rights advocates said it would increase bullying of already vulnerable children.

The bill’s supporters said they were trying to protect fair competition in women’s sports and preserve hard-won opportunities for female athletes, such as college scholarships.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Conservative Republican legislators in Kansas failed Monday to override&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-government-and-politics-321b19c681fe78be837bde945c0f6aa4">Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto</a>&nbsp;of a proposed ban on transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s school sports.(Click below to listen to the debate on the bill that begins at 1:54:40)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w5_rqcT9fbw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The Senate’s vote to override Kelly was 26-14, leaving backers of the measure one short of the necessary two-thirds majority and blocking an attempt in the House. The outcome was in doubt until the only Democrat to waver on voting against the override, Sen. David Haley, of Kansas City, cast his no vote.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-health-laws-legislature-bills-5726fdeb8a5e7cf2c89a4a2d176e8a7f">More than 20 states</a>&nbsp;have considered such proposals this year, as Republican lawmakers have pressed the issue. Idaho enacted such a law last year, and bans were enacted this year in Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and West Virginia.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-legislature-legislation-florida-ron-desantis-a238134582f99245223a3e9764412424">Florida</a>&nbsp;lawmakers passed a bill, and South Dakota’s governor issued an executive order.Kelly called the Kansas measure “regressive,” said it would send a message that Kansas was not a welcoming place and predicted it would hurt the state’s attempts to recruit businesses. LGBTQ-rights advocates said it would increase bullying of already vulnerable children.The bill’s supporters said they were trying to protect fair competition in women’s sports and preserve hard-won opportunities for female athletes, such as college scholarships.

🎥Kan. Senate fails to override veto of bill to ban transgender school athletes

DURANGO, Colo. (AP) — Human remains were found in two of the three bears euthanized after they were suspected of killing a&nbsp;Colorado&nbsp;woman in an apparent attack, state wildlife <a href="https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/News-Release-Details.aspx?NewsID=7779&amp;fbclid=IwAR3_PbacyXbOSpTtRQ85WH1fyf_RFqxxdKNkLkLg0UhYjCs84IKCwaBEazM">officials said Sunday.</a>

The 39-year-old woman was found dead in southwestern Colorado Friday and authorities suspected a rare bear attack because of the mauling of her body along with bear scat and hair found at the scene. 

A dog team found a 10-year-old female black bear and two yearling cubs nearby and they were killed since they were suspected of attacking her and belief they would likely attack someone else.

The human remains were found inside the sow and one of the cubs during a necropsy Saturday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said in a statement. 

The bears all appeared to be healthy, showed no sign of disease and had adequate fat stores following the winter hibernation season, the agency said. A microscopic examination of their body tissue and rabies testing to find other possible reasons that could have led them to attack will take up to two weeks, it said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620056473100.png" alt="The La Plata County coroner's office is expected to conduct an autopsy on the deceased woman Tuesday. The coroner will determine the official cause of death and identify the remains. photo courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife" />
 <figcaption>The La Plata County coroner's office is expected to conduct an autopsy on the deceased woman Tuesday. The coroner will determine the official cause of death and identify the remains. photo courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife</figcaption>
 </figure>DURANGO, Colo. (AP) — Human remains were found in two of the three bears euthanized after they were suspected of killing a&nbsp;Colorado&nbsp;woman in an apparent attack, state wildlife <a href="https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/News-Release-Details.aspx?NewsID=7779&amp;fbclid=IwAR3_PbacyXbOSpTtRQ85WH1fyf_RFqxxdKNkLkLg0UhYjCs84IKCwaBEazM">officials said Sunday.</a>The 39-year-old woman was found dead in southwestern Colorado Friday and authorities suspected a rare bear attack because of the mauling of her body along with bear scat and hair found at the scene. A dog team found a 10-year-old female black bear and two yearling cubs nearby and they were killed since they were suspected of attacking her and belief they would likely attack someone else.The human remains were found inside the sow and one of the cubs during a necropsy Saturday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said in a statement. The bears all appeared to be healthy, showed no sign of disease and had adequate fat stores following the winter hibernation season, the agency said. A microscopic examination of their body tissue and rabies testing to find other possible reasons that could have led them to attack will take up to two weeks, it said.

Human remains found in 2 bears suspected in Colorado attack

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 515&nbsp; to a total of 309,645, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

Total coronavirus deaths were reported at 4985, an increase of 3.

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> 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.

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 515&nbsp; to a total of 309,645, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;Total coronavirus deaths were reported at 4985, an increase of 3.<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> 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.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620061406952.png" alt="Monday May 3, 2021 KDHE" />
 <figcaption>Monday May 3, 2021 KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

GRANDVIEW, Mo. (AP) — A man who was found dead in a crashed car in the Kansas City suburb of Grandview had been shot, police said.

Officers were called to the scene around 1:40 p.m. Sunday and found a vehicle that had crashed into a tree, police said. Officers found the body of a man who had been driving inside the vehicle and say he had been shot several times. Police did not immediately release the victim’s name, but said he was in his early 20s.

A person of interest in the death was arrested a short distance from the crash scene, police said. Detectives are investigating to determine what led up to the shooting.

GRANDVIEW, Mo. (AP) — A man who was found dead in a crashed car in the Kansas City suburb of Grandview had been shot, police said.Officers were called to the scene around 1:40 p.m. Sunday and found a vehicle that had crashed into a tree, police said. Officers found the body of a man who had been driving inside the vehicle and say he had been shot several times. Police did not immediately release the victim’s name, but said he was in his early 20s.A person of interest in the death was arrested a short distance from the crash scene, police said. Detectives are investigating to determine what led up to the shooting.

Police: Man found dead in KC-area crash had been shot

Letters remind landlords of their obligations as part of the CDC’s moratorium

The acting heads of the Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) have sent&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUcs9-2BYv-2FBvF5AG8cihP-2F7iQWnd8XJYDJsRlzUaZkZLpoW4kXPe-2FBaRjE4YLy3pgmbYfwlzF6j-2BStOHbbq4b445A3-2FwNEVexyWzQ24S61QKgGNSq7rTmPj-2FfXWIoFYFQB1ZIPbe6F03LewL2CH-2B2Hii08nK5zJPPAo1teh4ax9VOcmM7Vz7gY6KbNCHaEl9Uj9qyxNMfuh2c1GW-2BSO6b0NiEXovy7a2JzHBm5j2xfaGiEgQx8_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKfZsfGo9-2FywbN1S2NP025QtNAQIU6gtkdVWGppW-2FvqENbyCPc4gv47I2kJcSnCJCf7kJfxQt025FZ-2FjNuzYVpxwrccZm83KfPtm4dQJf8jAm5gNyb-2Fyn7mbEP6gp52h1-2BNGB-2FQOZXIseKd74zb1J9Hs4-3D">joint notification letters</a>&nbsp;to the nation’s largest apartment landlords, which collectively own more than 2 million units, reminding them of their obligations under the ongoing national eviction moratorium put in place as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The moratorium, which was recently extended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) until June 30, 2021, prohibits evictions in certain circumstances in order to keep people in their homes and prevent the spread of the disease.

“With millions of families nationwide at risk of eviction, it's vital that landlords and the debt collectors who work on their behalf understand and abide by their obligations,” said Acting FTC Chairwoman Rebecca Kelly Slaughter. “We are continuing to monitor this area and will act as needed to protect renters.”

“Landlords should ensure that [Federal Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)]-covered debt collectors working on their behalf, which may include attorneys, notify tenants of their rights under federal law. Nearly nine million households are at risk of eviction due to the economic effects of COVID-19, but no one should lose their home without understanding their rights,” said CFPB Acting Director Dave Uejio. “We will hold accountable debt collectors who move forward with illegal evictions.”

In the letter, FTC Acting Chairwoman Rebeca Kelly Slaughter and CFPB Acting Director Dave Uejio urge landlords to make sure that they and their debt collectors are complying with the FTC Act and the FDCPA. The CFPB recently enacted an interim final rule requiring debt collectors to give tenants written notice of their rights under the CDC’s moratorium and prohibiting debt collectors from misrepresenting tenants’ eligibility for eviction protection. The letter outlines these requirements and provides sample language for notice to tenants facing eviction.

Acting Chairwoman Slaughter and Acting Director Uejio recently&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUdbOg1oyC3s1BFESJfv1yTTLTfeDJ-2BarGF0Qh0X8jdkfUZ2uPJOozCnhGOpQUnY6tK9eEk2iwBfvEDnZv1T49HSKm595zTiaMHkLWmiOxwCCvjAz21w-2F2R-2FpEzOVoeR2psrkHvkFQclPiPan28aG7xw-3DpCYC_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKfZ9UnqG-2FeJXK8A-2F2d9fnYAdexiZ1UKQTcKZGjY6E5TpFDLPmaFGrII9xrWo1Efm-2BcplswnxTdO86g0Ucwzxyfp6c1FFZn-2FeRb1MCfegyQOEw13XDvuGU-2Bf69bYwC5vkgQ4IAu0oGdnuhTEc6KiwemT4-3D">issued a joint statement</a>&nbsp;making clear that the agencies are monitoring eviction practices for compliance with the law. The FTC also&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUdbOg1oyC3s1BFESJfv1yTTLTfeDJ-2BarGF0Qh0X8jdkf-2BmSFR2FNqz-2BgstYxhUQ9oXwTHA-2BnYztwH2g4wY-2F6acycq23UxmZa12eEFDeomHlSNZHEHAGL6J1CoPJT7kZncMsm7mLnu34-2F3kBeTCmsWW0-3Do5pg_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKfYxfOtmqL-2B7br1aEtyMKoHizzKOvoIApmE8k6137kyO6BbaH1CtFIsGQChmjASJmupASQbwtsj8MDfHpgs38mACAtDAA8Ug7lC2XW2ycOcCMIgRC2B-2Fqhm7xxx5Md4Ej-2FbSoWA93LTHjj1OiG86SK4k-3D">issued guidance about the moratorium</a>&nbsp;for both landlords and tenants.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and to&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUfYotPP72MaC0HTuHPy7LHmaFRvq-2FV0-2Fyav7uDNsu0VJjdtrkGwu-2B8xkOOC6eFBfjLGVS6gwVzDH-2FsPQvdTYLu0-3DqgRt_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKfen7hzEIX3K2z-2BB-2BfHMjwsx-2B58s5Y6khXoAjTyXXZo-2BysM43GfGJFwGEYcJzCBRdMR-2FvbzqpyGAtX9SM1VAJiNwrpdiWWQCJ-2FG-2FUCY2ivFZls9pwGKO0lhPzvTIyIvuIEgltpWKFdzQuA3O-2BmntDe3I-3D">protect and educate consumers</a>. You can&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUWPsgRUXOCkrjRa6-2Fnr6GSD1-2BQDTuJQRQSwPaIOWuXBOOoDz_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKfQEaadqOhi2KyWCcdEiD-2Br7SrlrkCiBaVyoBkANih9w-2B6xgGyo2KBX5PQCTNoiAErboGrayidHMdeH0Rflsou0gXrWPVwqnFFC9TdYOir9Y-2F621Iq7OOIRVyb28Gnoj8hRQVlxcakQkrQUut8gwyLlo-3D">learn more about consumer topics</a>&nbsp;and report scams, fraud, and bad business practices online at&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUZnJP9TuyU-2B6kDVP73c3ho-2Bz70-2FtE2nNbZyqBiOYIrR7RPhv_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKfRUbiu6YCTRWNzQoP4oPiPFGQdKlaD-2FnvY9hytSot-2BLCIzfyXZpYPnoHCaXpXiuVyidM4pJiSCMv51KC0-2BkMOxO36CCLFv9is1JXRdLftJ1a1-2BZ36mj3LZghvD6YvCnNS4d10jrbYKhCk0iUQpSS-2Fcw-3D">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Like the FTC on&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUb8Hzhz9hTfMErRs-2Fni8h9hiOJrviSzKQNqI9GVS7mOnKw8dvzyuiJDiF0DAyVqVrw-3D-3DxeFo_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKfR8B9-2FU61juvUtTaZb3LVjaIrAIqYJ65StTCwyokJP0M1UmGwl-2Fw1NOFI5CuicIl1K2-2Fe3AaOBeuvLugYGM3OWXB8BcT19xq3wywgpQmZ8E8UnN8I61JEUGvqrBU0jzQJKK-2BQXLDXFDlJSN5PU1xL74-3D">Facebook(link is external)</a>, follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUYAQIXOK1tXZ-2BYsSRwaswHA-3DMaEe_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKffmqcEmG5X8ErG0J25tLwtg7sbVWhg4KxWemh8t0uQWZYsmJUNGZnSsldvsxg8F4DGu-2B2CEGxEPwMdbC8VLMagI32MINZxMRZfO8Z-2FUsBHlC6JLHewgTFakPxdr4ij4eVxVJ0jg612vFrN9mIZCz2wY-3D">Twitter(link is external)</a>, get&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=IXpWEgevNLSukxaiYCwbUOFsi-2BoXXcQAy-2BHrI9F8mTo-3D1y-H_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKfdfFEfiEEq3aouckWy6XY8S6uk3rqloNxxfBYliNlNw9YJ2EfG0QlDV5CbzOx4dob1dzpmuxzjinyrYeU4YBDezvTOYipiJ5yXsKFb5TC2s6lbWq5vqZbm4mK-2BqgjMD-2F8kcI45Zi6DQ8D0q1F41NY3I-3D">consumer alerts</a>, read our&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUdbOg1oyC3s1BFESJfv1yTSo-2Fko9J1OO5Ct-2FyggFvonypFL5_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKfSHMLo2fL4JSeJ-2FIG-2FvG8xER2tqWeMf3O-2BFAMikbxmr9dv0LcPWd38v3ERV-2B9u3nKYy-2FdAPuaIEndA-2FhRmjNpGYXFh-2F5QvKxpZode-2F1Lk0u9M6-2BcXc4cFUQ7anXjWS1GhS-2BnKhImMAKZq8JBf8P2mhs-3D">blogs</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUSV6prqcooIaql9rBEYv0EwFugi7vo4ZpjKyiy5rMQ-2FGCzHB_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKfeke1vyJYzSqmHoM8VqiRJKdNWnwXb4oSGjdRrsiyYbGMtHa5OF3lEDp8w6iCorGEownMNTU5-2FKLrHbAIzUoMbJdaCdCyoL1X3MJNwtnuIE72l13hfubIcqPJKnmRGbaXl0wYgPYdWvt2apLPshee4k-3D">subscribe to press releases</a>&nbsp;for the latest FTC news and resources.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
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 </figure><h2>Letters remind landlords of their obligations as part of the CDC’s moratorium</h2>FTCThe acting heads of the Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) have sent&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUcs9-2BYv-2FBvF5AG8cihP-2F7iQWnd8XJYDJsRlzUaZkZLpoW4kXPe-2FBaRjE4YLy3pgmbYfwlzF6j-2BStOHbbq4b445A3-2FwNEVexyWzQ24S61QKgGNSq7rTmPj-2FfXWIoFYFQB1ZIPbe6F03LewL2CH-2B2Hii08nK5zJPPAo1teh4ax9VOcmM7Vz7gY6KbNCHaEl9Uj9qyxNMfuh2c1GW-2BSO6b0NiEXovy7a2JzHBm5j2xfaGiEgQx8_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKfZsfGo9-2FywbN1S2NP025QtNAQIU6gtkdVWGppW-2FvqENbyCPc4gv47I2kJcSnCJCf7kJfxQt025FZ-2FjNuzYVpxwrccZm83KfPtm4dQJf8jAm5gNyb-2Fyn7mbEP6gp52h1-2BNGB-2FQOZXIseKd74zb1J9Hs4-3D">joint notification letters</a>&nbsp;to the nation’s largest apartment landlords, which collectively own more than 2 million units, reminding them of their obligations under the ongoing national eviction moratorium put in place as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.The moratorium, which was recently extended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) until June 30, 2021, prohibits evictions in certain circumstances in order to keep people in their homes and prevent the spread of the disease.“With millions of families nationwide at risk of eviction, it's vital that landlords and the debt collectors who work on their behalf understand and abide by their obligations,” said Acting FTC Chairwoman Rebecca Kelly Slaughter. “We are continuing to monitor this area and will act as needed to protect renters.”“Landlords should ensure that [Federal Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)]-covered debt collectors working on their behalf, which may include attorneys, notify tenants of their rights under federal law. Nearly nine million households are at risk of eviction due to the economic effects of COVID-19, but no one should lose their home without understanding their rights,” said CFPB Acting Director Dave Uejio. “We will hold accountable debt collectors who move forward with illegal evictions.”In the letter, FTC Acting Chairwoman Rebeca Kelly Slaughter and CFPB Acting Director Dave Uejio urge landlords to make sure that they and their debt collectors are complying with the FTC Act and the FDCPA. The CFPB recently enacted an interim final rule requiring debt collectors to give tenants written notice of their rights under the CDC’s moratorium and prohibiting debt collectors from misrepresenting tenants’ eligibility for eviction protection. The letter outlines these requirements and provides sample language for notice to tenants facing eviction.Acting Chairwoman Slaughter and Acting Director Uejio recently&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUdbOg1oyC3s1BFESJfv1yTTLTfeDJ-2BarGF0Qh0X8jdkfUZ2uPJOozCnhGOpQUnY6tK9eEk2iwBfvEDnZv1T49HSKm595zTiaMHkLWmiOxwCCvjAz21w-2F2R-2FpEzOVoeR2psrkHvkFQclPiPan28aG7xw-3DpCYC_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKfZ9UnqG-2FeJXK8A-2F2d9fnYAdexiZ1UKQTcKZGjY6E5TpFDLPmaFGrII9xrWo1Efm-2BcplswnxTdO86g0Ucwzxyfp6c1FFZn-2FeRb1MCfegyQOEw13XDvuGU-2Bf69bYwC5vkgQ4IAu0oGdnuhTEc6KiwemT4-3D">issued a joint statement</a>&nbsp;making clear that the agencies are monitoring eviction practices for compliance with the law. The FTC also&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUdbOg1oyC3s1BFESJfv1yTTLTfeDJ-2BarGF0Qh0X8jdkf-2BmSFR2FNqz-2BgstYxhUQ9oXwTHA-2BnYztwH2g4wY-2F6acycq23UxmZa12eEFDeomHlSNZHEHAGL6J1CoPJT7kZncMsm7mLnu34-2F3kBeTCmsWW0-3Do5pg_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKfYxfOtmqL-2B7br1aEtyMKoHizzKOvoIApmE8k6137kyO6BbaH1CtFIsGQChmjASJmupASQbwtsj8MDfHpgs38mACAtDAA8Ug7lC2XW2ycOcCMIgRC2B-2Fqhm7xxx5Md4Ej-2FbSoWA93LTHjj1OiG86SK4k-3D">issued guidance about the moratorium</a>&nbsp;for both landlords and tenants.The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and to&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUfYotPP72MaC0HTuHPy7LHmaFRvq-2FV0-2Fyav7uDNsu0VJjdtrkGwu-2B8xkOOC6eFBfjLGVS6gwVzDH-2FsPQvdTYLu0-3DqgRt_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKfen7hzEIX3K2z-2BB-2BfHMjwsx-2B58s5Y6khXoAjTyXXZo-2BysM43GfGJFwGEYcJzCBRdMR-2FvbzqpyGAtX9SM1VAJiNwrpdiWWQCJ-2FG-2FUCY2ivFZls9pwGKO0lhPzvTIyIvuIEgltpWKFdzQuA3O-2BmntDe3I-3D">protect and educate consumers</a>. You can&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUWPsgRUXOCkrjRa6-2Fnr6GSD1-2BQDTuJQRQSwPaIOWuXBOOoDz_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKfQEaadqOhi2KyWCcdEiD-2Br7SrlrkCiBaVyoBkANih9w-2B6xgGyo2KBX5PQCTNoiAErboGrayidHMdeH0Rflsou0gXrWPVwqnFFC9TdYOir9Y-2F621Iq7OOIRVyb28Gnoj8hRQVlxcakQkrQUut8gwyLlo-3D">learn more about consumer topics</a>&nbsp;and report scams, fraud, and bad business practices online at&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUZnJP9TuyU-2B6kDVP73c3ho-2Bz70-2FtE2nNbZyqBiOYIrR7RPhv_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKfRUbiu6YCTRWNzQoP4oPiPFGQdKlaD-2FnvY9hytSot-2BLCIzfyXZpYPnoHCaXpXiuVyidM4pJiSCMv51KC0-2BkMOxO36CCLFv9is1JXRdLftJ1a1-2BZ36mj3LZghvD6YvCnNS4d10jrbYKhCk0iUQpSS-2Fcw-3D">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Like the FTC on&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUb8Hzhz9hTfMErRs-2Fni8h9hiOJrviSzKQNqI9GVS7mOnKw8dvzyuiJDiF0DAyVqVrw-3D-3DxeFo_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKfR8B9-2FU61juvUtTaZb3LVjaIrAIqYJ65StTCwyokJP0M1UmGwl-2Fw1NOFI5CuicIl1K2-2Fe3AaOBeuvLugYGM3OWXB8BcT19xq3wywgpQmZ8E8UnN8I61JEUGvqrBU0jzQJKK-2BQXLDXFDlJSN5PU1xL74-3D">Facebook(link is external)</a>, follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUYAQIXOK1tXZ-2BYsSRwaswHA-3DMaEe_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKffmqcEmG5X8ErG0J25tLwtg7sbVWhg4KxWemh8t0uQWZYsmJUNGZnSsldvsxg8F4DGu-2B2CEGxEPwMdbC8VLMagI32MINZxMRZfO8Z-2FUsBHlC6JLHewgTFakPxdr4ij4eVxVJ0jg612vFrN9mIZCz2wY-3D">Twitter(link is external)</a>, get&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=IXpWEgevNLSukxaiYCwbUOFsi-2BoXXcQAy-2BHrI9F8mTo-3D1y-H_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKfdfFEfiEEq3aouckWy6XY8S6uk3rqloNxxfBYliNlNw9YJ2EfG0QlDV5CbzOx4dob1dzpmuxzjinyrYeU4YBDezvTOYipiJ5yXsKFb5TC2s6lbWq5vqZbm4mK-2BqgjMD-2F8kcI45Zi6DQ8D0q1F41NY3I-3D">consumer alerts</a>, read our&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUdbOg1oyC3s1BFESJfv1yTSo-2Fko9J1OO5Ct-2FyggFvonypFL5_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKfSHMLo2fL4JSeJ-2FIG-2FvG8xER2tqWeMf3O-2BFAMikbxmr9dv0LcPWd38v3ERV-2B9u3nKYy-2FdAPuaIEndA-2FhRmjNpGYXFh-2F5QvKxpZode-2F1Lk0u9M6-2BcXc4cFUQ7anXjWS1GhS-2BnKhImMAKZq8JBf8P2mhs-3D">blogs</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUSV6prqcooIaql9rBEYv0EwFugi7vo4ZpjKyiy5rMQ-2FGCzHB_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lGsZ6LVtPCJH4PgnOZrrTlucqQDHtcRpLi0WBwQJnF17kyiNbMbkJLUImClLNWXo7AcpHU4F5IA6ltZV1TSK0hiTkoZAfwzpjraLR-2B2W-2BD-2FmXXHGSd4pORMWFZsKpohCh6C3eodcceI177N2cmkotLM73tobzZ9xbW-2BdQ2VXpKKfeke1vyJYzSqmHoM8VqiRJKdNWnwXb4oSGjdRrsiyYbGMtHa5OF3lEDp8w6iCorGEownMNTU5-2FKLrHbAIzUoMbJdaCdCyoL1X3MJNwtnuIE72l13hfubIcqPJKnmRGbaXl0wYgPYdWvt2apLPshee4k-3D">subscribe to press releases</a>&nbsp;for the latest FTC news and resources.

FTC to landlords: 'No one should lose their home without understanding their rights'

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that the 
application period for Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) matching grants
 for calendar year 2022 will run from May 3, 2021, to June 18, 2021.

The LITC Program is a federal grant program administered by the 
Office of the Taxpayer Advocate at the IRS, which is led by National 
Taxpayer Advocate (NTA) Erin M. Collins. LITCs can make a tremendous 
impact on the lives of taxpayers, as detailed in this recent blog from 
the NTA: <a href="https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/news/nta-blog-not-all-superheroes-wear-capes-join-the-low-income-taxpayer-clinic-community-and-be-a-hero-to-taxpayers-most-in-need/">Not all Superheroes Wear Capes: Join the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic Community and Be a Hero to Taxpayers Most in Need</a>.

Under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 7526, the IRS awards 
matching grants of up to $100,000 per year to qualifying organizations 
to develop, expand or maintain an LITC.&nbsp;An LITC must provide services 
for free or for no more than a nominal fee.

Qualified organizations that are awarded grants ensure the fairness 
and integrity of the tax system&nbsp;for taxpayers who are low-income or 
speak English as a second language (ESL) by&nbsp;providing pro bono 
representation on their behalf in tax disputes with the IRS, educating 
them about their rights and responsibilities as taxpayers, 
and&nbsp;identifying and advocating on issues that impact these taxpayers.

The IRS is committed to achieving maximum access to representation 
for taxpayers under the terms of the LITC Program. In awarding LITC 
grants for calendar year 2022, the IRS will continue to work toward 
providing coverage for all states and territories. Although the IRS 
welcomes all applicants and will give each application due 
consideration, the IRS is particularly interested in applicants from the
 following underserved areas in need of LITC services:

LITC grants are funded by federal appropriations.&nbsp;The clinics, 
their employees and their volunteers operate independently of the IRS. 
Examples of qualifying organizations include:

The IRS is authorized to award multi-year grants not to exceed 
three years. For an organization not currently receiving a grant for 
2021, an organization that received a single-year grant for 2021, or an 
organization whose multi-year grant ends in 2021, the organization must 
submit a <a href="https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1">full grant application electronically.</a>
 For an organization currently receiving a grant for 2021 that is 
requesting funding for the second or third year of a multi-year grant, 
the organization must submit a <a href="https://home.grantsolutions.gov/home/">request for continued funding electronically</a>.
 All organizations must use the funding number of 
TREAS-GRANTS-052022-001. Both Full Applications and Non-Competing 
Continuation Requests must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on 
June 18, 2021.

Questions about the LITC Program or grant application process can be addressed to the LITC Program Office at <a href="tel:202-317-4700">202-317-4700</a> or by email at <a href="mailto:LITCProgramOffice@irs.gov">litcprogramoffice@irs.gov</a>. In addition, individuals may contact Bill Beard at <a href="tel:949-575-6200">949-575-6200</a> or by email at <a href="mailto:beard.william@irs.gov">beard.william@irs.gov</a>.

More information about LITCs and the work they do to represent, 
educate and advocate on behalf of low-income and ESL taxpayers is 
available in IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5066.pdf">Publication 5066, LITC 2020 Program Report&nbsp;PDF</a>. A short <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&amp;v=BAHNRTCi7MI">video</a> about the LITC program is also available.

Interested individuals may join LITC Program Office staff for a Zoom 
webinar, where staff will provide information about the LITC Program and
 the application process. For details on the date and time of the 
webinar, please check the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/advocate/low-income-taxpayer-clinics">LITC page</a> on IRS.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that the 
application period for Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) matching grants
 for calendar year 2022 will run from May 3, 2021, to June 18, 2021.The LITC Program is a federal grant program administered by the 
Office of the Taxpayer Advocate at the IRS, which is led by National 
Taxpayer Advocate (NTA) Erin M. Collins. LITCs can make a tremendous 
impact on the lives of taxpayers, as detailed in this recent blog from 
the NTA: <a href="https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/news/nta-blog-not-all-superheroes-wear-capes-join-the-low-income-taxpayer-clinic-community-and-be-a-hero-to-taxpayers-most-in-need/">Not all Superheroes Wear Capes: Join the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic Community and Be a Hero to Taxpayers Most in Need</a>.Under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 7526, the IRS awards 
matching grants of up to $100,000 per year to qualifying organizations 
to develop, expand or maintain an LITC.&nbsp;An LITC must provide services 
for free or for no more than a nominal fee.Qualified organizations that are awarded grants ensure the fairness 
and integrity of the tax system&nbsp;for taxpayers who are low-income or 
speak English as a second language (ESL) by&nbsp;providing pro bono 
representation on their behalf in tax disputes with the IRS, educating 
them about their rights and responsibilities as taxpayers, 
and&nbsp;identifying and advocating on issues that impact these taxpayers.The IRS is committed to achieving maximum access to representation 
for taxpayers under the terms of the LITC Program. In awarding LITC 
grants for calendar year 2022, the IRS will continue to work toward 
providing coverage for all states and territories. Although the IRS 
welcomes all applicants and will give each application due 
consideration, the IRS is particularly interested in applicants from the
 following underserved areas in need of LITC services:<ul>
 <li>Arizona - Gila County</li><li>Florida - Brevard, Citrus, Flagler, Hernando, Lake, Orange, Putnam, Seminole, and Sumter Counties</li><li>Idaho - Ada, Adams, Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Boise, Bonneville,
 Butte, Canyon, Caribou, Clark, Clearwater, Custer, Franklin, Freemont, 
Gem, Idaho, Jefferson, Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, Madison, Nez Perce, Oneida, 
Owyhee, Payette, Power, Teton, Washington, and Valley Counties</li><li>Nevada - Entire state</li><li>North Dakota - Entire state</li><li>Pennsylvania - Bradford, Clinton, Lycoming, Monroe, Northumberland,
 Pike, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, and Wyoming Counties</li><li>Puerto Rico - Entire territory</li><li>West Virginia - Entire state</li><li>Wyoming - Entire state</li>
 </ul>LITC grants are funded by federal appropriations.&nbsp;The clinics, 
their employees and their volunteers operate independently of the IRS. 
Examples of qualifying organizations include:<ul>
 <li>Clinical programs at accredited law, business, or accounting 
schools whose students represent low-income taxpayers in tax disputes 
with the IRS; and&nbsp;</li><li>Organizations exempt from tax under IRC Section 501(a) whose 
employees and volunteers represent or refer for representation 
low-income taxpayers in tax disputes with the IRS.</li>
 </ul>The IRS is authorized to award multi-year grants not to exceed 
three years. For an organization not currently receiving a grant for 
2021, an organization that received a single-year grant for 2021, or an 
organization whose multi-year grant ends in 2021, the organization must 
submit a <a href="https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1">full grant application electronically.</a>
 For an organization currently receiving a grant for 2021 that is 
requesting funding for the second or third year of a multi-year grant, 
the organization must submit a <a href="https://home.grantsolutions.gov/home/">request for continued funding electronically</a>.
 All organizations must use the funding number of 
TREAS-GRANTS-052022-001. Both Full Applications and Non-Competing 
Continuation Requests must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on 
June 18, 2021.Questions about the LITC Program or grant application process can be addressed to the LITC Program Office at <a href="tel:202-317-4700">202-317-4700</a> or by email at <a href="mailto:LITCProgramOffice@irs.gov">litcprogramoffice@irs.gov</a>. In addition, individuals may contact Bill Beard at <a href="tel:949-575-6200">949-575-6200</a> or by email at <a href="mailto:beard.william@irs.gov">beard.william@irs.gov</a>.More information about LITCs and the work they do to represent, 
educate and advocate on behalf of low-income and ESL taxpayers is 
available in IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5066.pdf">Publication 5066, LITC 2020 Program Report&nbsp;PDF</a>. A short <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&amp;v=BAHNRTCi7MI">video</a> about the LITC program is also available.Interested individuals may join LITC Program Office staff for a Zoom 
webinar, where staff will provide information about the LITC Program and
 the application process. For details on the date and time of the 
webinar, please check the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/advocate/low-income-taxpayer-clinics">LITC page</a> on IRS.gov.

IRS: Low Income Taxpayer Clinic 2022 grant application period now open

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A woman suspected of running over another mother in a Kansas middle school parking lot during a fight involving students and parents was charged Friday with six counts arising from the incident.

Tyla Jack, 39, was charged with two counts of aggravated battery, assault on a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer, criminal threat and leaving the scene of an accident, Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree said in a news release.

Jack turned herself in Thursday afternoon. She was accused of running over and critically injuring another woman Tuesday afternoon in the parking lot of Carl Bruce Middle School.

Police said the confrontation started with a fight between two girls at the school. After school officials broke up the fight, they called the girls’ parents, who showed up on the scene and made matters worse, police said.

As the mother of one of the girls walked away to leave, police allege that Jack ran over her and dragged her. Jack then fled the scene.

No students were hurt in the altercation.

The woman who was hit was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619779771622.png" alt="Jack photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Jack photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A woman suspected of running over another mother in a Kansas middle school parking lot during a fight involving students and parents was charged Friday with six counts arising from the incident.Tyla Jack, 39, was charged with two counts of aggravated battery, assault on a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer, criminal threat and leaving the scene of an accident, Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree said in a news release.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619622867048.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation in the school parking lot -photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation in the school parking lot -photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>Jack turned herself in Thursday afternoon. She was accused of running over and critically injuring another woman Tuesday afternoon in the parking lot of Carl Bruce Middle School.Police said the confrontation started with a fight between two girls at the school. After school officials broke up the fight, they called the girls’ parents, who showed up on the scene and made matters worse, police said.As the mother of one of the girls walked away to leave, police allege that Jack ran over her and dragged her. Jack then fled the scene.No students were hurt in the altercation.The woman who was hit was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries

Woman charged for parking lot fight at Kan. middle school

GRANT COUNTY —A Southwest Kansas teen critically injured last week after he was shot in the neck and face has died, according to Melissa Underwood, spokesperson for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

Relatives of 14-year-old Christopher Garcia's family <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/hb6cc-christophers-medical-expenses?utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&amp;utm_medium=copy_link&amp;utm_source=customer">established a fundraiser</a> to help with medical expenses.

Just after 6:30 p.m., April 28, a resident who lived near the Russ Binney Park in Ulysses, Kansas called 911 after hearing gun shots fired in the park, according to a media release from the KBI.

Officers responded to the park at the northeast corner of the intersection of W. Santa Fe Ave. and S. College Street., where they found the teen suffering from a gunshot wound to his face.

Preliminary information indicates that six teenagers, four boys and two girls, were spending time in the park when Garcia was struck by a round from a handgun that one of the teens possessed.

EMS responded to the scene and transported Garcia to the Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital. He was later flown to Ascension Via Christi hospital in Wichita and died over the weekend.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620053851062.png" alt="The incident occurred at Russ Binney Park in Ulysses -Google image" />
 <figcaption>The incident occurred at Russ Binney Park in Ulysses -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>GRANT COUNTY —A Southwest Kansas teen critically injured last week after he was shot in the neck and face has died, according to Melissa Underwood, spokesperson for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.Relatives of 14-year-old Christopher Garcia's family <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/hb6cc-christophers-medical-expenses?utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&amp;utm_medium=copy_link&amp;utm_source=customer">established a fundraiser</a> to help with medical expenses.Just after 6:30 p.m., April 28, a resident who lived near the Russ Binney Park in Ulysses, Kansas called 911 after hearing gun shots fired in the park, according to a media release from the KBI.Officers responded to the park at the northeast corner of the intersection of W. Santa Fe Ave. and S. College Street., where they found the teen suffering from a gunshot wound to his face.Preliminary information indicates that six teenagers, four boys and two girls, were spending time in the park when Garcia was struck by a round from a handgun that one of the teens possessed.EMS responded to the scene and transported Garcia to the Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital. He was later flown to Ascension Via Christi hospital in Wichita and died over the weekend.Authorities have not reported an arrest.

 SW Kansas teen shot in the neck and face has died

PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan. (AP) — Police have identified a man who was found shot to death Saturday in a Prairie Village apartment unit and announced an arrest in the case.

Prairie Village police said John Hoffman, 70, died in the apartment after being shot several times. Officers were called to the apartment complex around 6 p.m. Saturday and found Hoffman’s bullet-riddled body.

A suspect was quickly identified and taken into custody, police said. Officials have not released the name of the person arrested or given a motive for the shooting.

PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan. (AP) — Police have identified a man who was found shot to death Saturday in a Prairie Village apartment unit and announced an arrest in the case.Prairie Village police said John Hoffman, 70, died in the apartment after being shot several times. Officers were called to the apartment complex around 6 p.m. Saturday and found Hoffman’s bullet-riddled body.A suspect was quickly identified and taken into custody, police said. Officials have not released the name of the person arrested or given a motive for the shooting.

Police arrest suspect in shooting death of 70-year-old Kan. man

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Vaccination rates vary widely across Kansas and Missouri as officials work to persuade more people to get the coronavirus shots.

Statistics on the vaccination campaign show some communities making good progress distributing the shots while other, often rural areas, lag behind. In Kansas, a 26-percentage point gap exists between the county with the highest vaccination rate and the lowest. In Missouri, that gap is 33 percentage points.

The disparity could lead to islands of places where new infections are limited because of vaccinations next to places that continue to see hospitalizations linked to the virus, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/health-care/article251065124.html">reports</a>.

“The higher vaccinated counties will have less disease and less impact,” said Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association, said there could be lingering problems if rural and urban areas aren’t vaccinated at the same rates.

“We’re a mobile society, and if you have adjacent rural towns and rural communities not vaccinated, you’re still allowing this pandemic to continue into the future,” Morgan said.

Overall, 38% of all Kansans have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine and 37% of Missourians have received at least one dose.

In both states, health officials are turning their attention to smaller clinics and more personal approaches to help reach people who are hesitant to get the vaccine.

“We want to make sure we reach all people in all counties and there’s still a lot of work to be done,” Norman said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607648905461.png" alt="KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman said, "“We want to make sure we reach all people in all counties and there’s still a lot of work to be done."" />
 <figcaption>KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman said, "“We want to make sure we reach all people in all counties and there’s still a lot of work to be done."</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Vaccination rates vary widely across Kansas and Missouri as officials work to persuade more people to get the coronavirus shots.Statistics on the vaccination campaign show some communities making good progress distributing the shots while other, often rural areas, lag behind. In Kansas, a 26-percentage point gap exists between the county with the highest vaccination rate and the lowest. In Missouri, that gap is 33 percentage points.The disparity could lead to islands of places where new infections are limited because of vaccinations next to places that continue to see hospitalizations linked to the virus, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/health-care/article251065124.html">reports</a>.“The higher vaccinated counties will have less disease and less impact,” said Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association, said there could be lingering problems if rural and urban areas aren’t vaccinated at the same rates.“We’re a mobile society, and if you have adjacent rural towns and rural communities not vaccinated, you’re still allowing this pandemic to continue into the future,” Morgan said.Overall, 38% of all Kansans have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine and 37% of Missourians have received at least one dose.In both states, health officials are turning their attention to smaller clinics and more personal approaches to help reach people who are hesitant to get the vaccine.“We want to make sure we reach all people in all counties and there’s still a lot of work to be done,” Norman said.

Vaccination rates vary widely across Kansas and Missouri

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden laid out a long list of policy priorities in his speech to Congress — and some are more politically plausible than others.

The two parties are working together in some areas, including on changes to policing and confronting the rise of hate crimes against Asian Americans. But Republicans are likely to block other Democratic initiatives on immigration and voting rights.

On some of Biden’s top priorities, Democrats may choose to find ways to cut out Republicans entirely. The president told lawmakers that “doing nothing is not an option” when it comes to his two massive infrastructure proposals, which would cost $4.1 trillion.

A look at what’s possible, and what’s unlikely, when it comes to action in Congress:

Biden won an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ap-top-news-legislation-coronavirus-pandemic-joe-manchin-298ad8c447e9a121ece9529221e83136">early victory</a>&nbsp;in March when he signed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package into law. Democrats passed that bill over unanimous Republican opposition, using special budget rules that bypass the Senate filibuster.

While they can’t use that tactic on every piece of legislation, Democrats might return to the same procedure for Biden’s two signature proposals — his $2.3 trillion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-politics-corporate-taxes-00c9edd7b759a8787ea1bb31f48f4016">infrastructure jobs plan,</a>&nbsp;which would rebuild roads and bridges, boost broadband access and make other improvements; and his $1.8 trillion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-preschool-community-college-tax-rate-9e352e3dea44997725edb279751abab3">families plan</a>, which would expand preschool and college opportunities, create a national family and medical leave program, distribute child care subsidies and make other similar investments.

Republicans have proposed a much smaller&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-technology-business-government-and-politics-a50c67d13802026231ee29467efc8abe">$568 billion infrastructure package</a>, and both sides have shown a willingness to negotiate. But their differences are broad — including on how they would pay for the plans and whether to raise taxes — and Democrats are intent on passing a major infrastructure boost this year, with or without GOP support.

“We’ve talked about it long enough — Democrats and Republicans,” Biden said in his speech. “Let’s get it done this year.”

Democrats and Republicans have fallen out of the habit of working together, as President Donald Trump’s tenure was mostly dominated by partisan division. But they have edged a bit closer to bipartisanship on some topics since Biden took office, including on police reform, gun control and efforts to reduce violence against women.

All of those bills are still heavy lifts in the evenly divided, 50-50 Senate. But negotiations are underway, and members of both parties have signaled that they want legislation passed.

Both parties say they were encouraged last week by the Senate approval of a bill to combat the rise of hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The legislation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-health-race-and-ethnicity-government-and-politics-hate-crimes-7728ae812aa0183d7682f3b26f9ffd82">passed 94-1</a>&nbsp;after Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii worked with Republicans to reach a compromise. In his speech, Biden thanked the Senate and urged the House “to do the same and send that legislation to my desk as soon as possible.”

Compromise on the other bills, such as the policing overhaul, will not come as easily. Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-violence-legislation-death-of-george-floyd-racial-injustice-8ebf3f4d1552879034af641ada64a62f">negotiating with Democrats</a>&nbsp;to change some of the nation’s policing laws following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last year and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derek-chauvin-trial-live-updates-04-20-2021-955a78df9a7a51835ad63afb8ce9b5c1">conviction this month&nbsp;</a>of the officer who killed him. A Democratic bill passed by the House would allow police officers to be sued, would ban chokeholds and would create national databases of police misconduct. Scott’s GOP proposal doesn’t go as far but does have some similar provisions.

Democrats have pushed to finish the negotiations by the anniversary of Floyd’s death at the end of May, and Biden endorsed that timeline in Wednesday night’s speech. But Scott has not made a similar commitment.

Changes to gun laws — long one of the most divisive issues in Congress — could be even more difficult, even though there’s widespread public support for some measures. Democrats hope to expand background checks, especially in the wake of several mass shootings in recent weeks. Many Republicans would back an expansion of background checks, as well, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/private-sales-obstacle-senate-gun-control-law-c15fee9f10a752480353fa435ea2d3d6">would not go as far</a>&nbsp;as Democratic legislation passed in the House in March. Bipartisan Senate talks have so far failed to yield a compromise.

Senators in both parties have also expressed interest in finding agreement on a House-passed bill that aims to reduce domestic and sexual violence against women, but they have disagreed on provisions in the legislation that could keep guns out of the hands of abusers, among other matters.

Biden introduced the original Violence Against Women Act in June 1990 when serving as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the legislation has since been passed four times. “It’s estimated that more than 50 women are shot and killed by an intimate partner every month in America,” Biden said Wednesday. “Pass it and save lives.”

The list of long-shot bills on Biden’s agenda is much longer.

At the top of that list is Democrats’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-voting-voting-rights-legislation-elections-5fde82aee5edbdabde43f48d7fc60e09">wide-ranging effort</a>&nbsp;to overhaul U.S. elections, legislation that would create automatic voter registration nationwide, promote early voting, require more disclosure from political donors and restrict partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts, among other changes. Senate Republicans are unanimously opposed to the measure, which has already passed the House, arguing it is designed to help Democrats win elections.

Democrats’ eagerness to pass the legislation — which Biden said in his speech would “restore the soul of America” by protecting the sacred right to vote — could eventually prompt them to change filibuster rules in the Senate. But the party is not yet united on such a move, and a decision isn’t expected soon.

Immigration is another intractable matter.

The Democratic-led House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-politics-bills-legislation-immigration-6473456708357fc5e151218fa2820f25">approved a pair of bills</a>&nbsp;creating a pathway to citizenship for young “Dreamers” in the U.S. since childhood, immigrants who fled wars or natural disasters, and migrant farm workers. Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., have introduced legislation giving “Dreamers” a chance for citizenship, and there have been some bipartisan talks among senators.

But Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-ap-top-news-immigration-coronavirus-pandemic-4dcf287375d1a1563deb737988b84dd4">have latched onto</a>&nbsp;the huge numbers of migrants seeking to cross the southwest border as a fertile campaign issue. And many in the GOP are demanding tough border security restrictions as their price for cooperation.

Several other policy priorities appear stalled, for now, including legislation to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-vote-lgbtq-protections-9347578b80d3ad3ac4b92365da81096e">enshrine LGBTQ protections</a>&nbsp;in the nation’s labor and civil rights laws and bills to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bills-legislation-laws-77d8751ba2f364016374cc171c73bb89">protect unions</a>&nbsp;and raise the minimum wage.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619658477245.png" alt="President Biden during Wednesday's address before a joint session of Congress -photo CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Biden during Wednesday's address before a joint session of Congress -photo CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden laid out a long list of policy priorities in his speech to Congress — and some are more politically plausible than others.The two parties are working together in some areas, including on changes to policing and confronting the rise of hate crimes against Asian Americans. But Republicans are likely to block other Democratic initiatives on immigration and voting rights.On some of Biden’s top priorities, Democrats may choose to find ways to cut out Republicans entirely. The president told lawmakers that “doing nothing is not an option” when it comes to his two massive infrastructure proposals, which would cost $4.1 trillion.A look at what’s possible, and what’s unlikely, when it comes to action in Congress:GO IT ALONE?Biden won an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ap-top-news-legislation-coronavirus-pandemic-joe-manchin-298ad8c447e9a121ece9529221e83136">early victory</a>&nbsp;in March when he signed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package into law. Democrats passed that bill over unanimous Republican opposition, using special budget rules that bypass the Senate filibuster.While they can’t use that tactic on every piece of legislation, Democrats might return to the same procedure for Biden’s two signature proposals — his $2.3 trillion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-politics-corporate-taxes-00c9edd7b759a8787ea1bb31f48f4016">infrastructure jobs plan,</a>&nbsp;which would rebuild roads and bridges, boost broadband access and make other improvements; and his $1.8 trillion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-preschool-community-college-tax-rate-9e352e3dea44997725edb279751abab3">families plan</a>, which would expand preschool and college opportunities, create a national family and medical leave program, distribute child care subsidies and make other similar investments.Republicans have proposed a much smaller&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-technology-business-government-and-politics-a50c67d13802026231ee29467efc8abe">$568 billion infrastructure package</a>, and both sides have shown a willingness to negotiate. But their differences are broad — including on how they would pay for the plans and whether to raise taxes — and Democrats are intent on passing a major infrastructure boost this year, with or without GOP support.“We’ve talked about it long enough — Democrats and Republicans,” Biden said in his speech. “Let’s get it done this year.”GO IT TOGETHER?Democrats and Republicans have fallen out of the habit of working together, as President Donald Trump’s tenure was mostly dominated by partisan division. But they have edged a bit closer to bipartisanship on some topics since Biden took office, including on police reform, gun control and efforts to reduce violence against women.All of those bills are still heavy lifts in the evenly divided, 50-50 Senate. But negotiations are underway, and members of both parties have signaled that they want legislation passed.Both parties say they were encouraged last week by the Senate approval of a bill to combat the rise of hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The legislation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-health-race-and-ethnicity-government-and-politics-hate-crimes-7728ae812aa0183d7682f3b26f9ffd82">passed 94-1</a>&nbsp;after Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii worked with Republicans to reach a compromise. In his speech, Biden thanked the Senate and urged the House “to do the same and send that legislation to my desk as soon as possible.”Compromise on the other bills, such as the policing overhaul, will not come as easily. Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-violence-legislation-death-of-george-floyd-racial-injustice-8ebf3f4d1552879034af641ada64a62f">negotiating with Democrats</a>&nbsp;to change some of the nation’s policing laws following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last year and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derek-chauvin-trial-live-updates-04-20-2021-955a78df9a7a51835ad63afb8ce9b5c1">conviction this month&nbsp;</a>of the officer who killed him. A Democratic bill passed by the House would allow police officers to be sued, would ban chokeholds and would create national databases of police misconduct. Scott’s GOP proposal doesn’t go as far but does have some similar provisions.Democrats have pushed to finish the negotiations by the anniversary of Floyd’s death at the end of May, and Biden endorsed that timeline in Wednesday night’s speech. But Scott has not made a similar commitment.Changes to gun laws — long one of the most divisive issues in Congress — could be even more difficult, even though there’s widespread public support for some measures. Democrats hope to expand background checks, especially in the wake of several mass shootings in recent weeks. Many Republicans would back an expansion of background checks, as well, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/private-sales-obstacle-senate-gun-control-law-c15fee9f10a752480353fa435ea2d3d6">would not go as far</a>&nbsp;as Democratic legislation passed in the House in March. Bipartisan Senate talks have so far failed to yield a compromise.Senators in both parties have also expressed interest in finding agreement on a House-passed bill that aims to reduce domestic and sexual violence against women, but they have disagreed on provisions in the legislation that could keep guns out of the hands of abusers, among other matters.Biden introduced the original Violence Against Women Act in June 1990 when serving as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the legislation has since been passed four times. “It’s estimated that more than 50 women are shot and killed by an intimate partner every month in America,” Biden said Wednesday. “Pass it and save lives.”GOING NOWHERE?The list of long-shot bills on Biden’s agenda is much longer.At the top of that list is Democrats’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-voting-voting-rights-legislation-elections-5fde82aee5edbdabde43f48d7fc60e09">wide-ranging effort</a>&nbsp;to overhaul U.S. elections, legislation that would create automatic voter registration nationwide, promote early voting, require more disclosure from political donors and restrict partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts, among other changes. Senate Republicans are unanimously opposed to the measure, which has already passed the House, arguing it is designed to help Democrats win elections.Democrats’ eagerness to pass the legislation — which Biden said in his speech would “restore the soul of America” by protecting the sacred right to vote — could eventually prompt them to change filibuster rules in the Senate. But the party is not yet united on such a move, and a decision isn’t expected soon.Immigration is another intractable matter.The Democratic-led House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-politics-bills-legislation-immigration-6473456708357fc5e151218fa2820f25">approved a pair of bills</a>&nbsp;creating a pathway to citizenship for young “Dreamers” in the U.S. since childhood, immigrants who fled wars or natural disasters, and migrant farm workers. Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., have introduced legislation giving “Dreamers” a chance for citizenship, and there have been some bipartisan talks among senators.But Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-ap-top-news-immigration-coronavirus-pandemic-4dcf287375d1a1563deb737988b84dd4">have latched onto</a>&nbsp;the huge numbers of migrants seeking to cross the southwest border as a fertile campaign issue. And many in the GOP are demanding tough border security restrictions as their price for cooperation.Several other policy priorities appear stalled, for now, including legislation to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-vote-lgbtq-protections-9347578b80d3ad3ac4b92365da81096e">enshrine LGBTQ protections</a>&nbsp;in the nation’s labor and civil rights laws and bills to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bills-legislation-laws-77d8751ba2f364016374cc171c73bb89">protect unions</a>&nbsp;and raise the minimum wage.___

Biden's agenda: What can pass and what faces steep odds

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Three people were injured in a shooting in connection with a birthday party.

Just after 2 a.m. Sunday morning, police were dispatched to a report of a shooting at a hotel in the 7300 block of East Kellogg, according to officer Trevor Macey.

911 callers reported that multiple individuals had possibly been shot. After arriving on scene, Officers located evidence of a shooting, but the victims had already left the area in private vehicles.

Shortly after, an area hospital received a walk-in shooting victim – a 21-year-old woman – with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Another hospital received two additional patients from the shooting – a 22-year-old woman and a 23-year-old woman&nbsp; – both with non-life-threatening injuries. 

The investigation revealed that these individuals were attending a birthday party when a disturbance broke out, and a suspect fired multiple rounds before leaving the area.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Three people were injured in a shooting in connection with a birthday party.Just after 2 a.m. Sunday morning, police were dispatched to a report of a shooting at a hotel in the 7300 block of East Kellogg, according to officer Trevor Macey.911 callers reported that multiple individuals had possibly been shot. After arriving on scene, Officers located evidence of a shooting, but the victims had already left the area in private vehicles.Shortly after, an area hospital received a walk-in shooting victim – a 21-year-old woman – with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Another hospital received two additional patients from the shooting – a 22-year-old woman and a 23-year-old woman&nbsp; – both with non-life-threatening injuries. The investigation revealed that these individuals were attending a birthday party when a disturbance broke out, and a suspect fired multiple rounds before leaving the area.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest.

Police: 3 Kan. women injured in shooting at birthday party 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A nursing assistant has been charged with sexually abusing a 75-year-old bed-bound patient.

CoxHealth said Friday it had fired Calieb Craft. The announcement came one day after the 24-year-old was arrested and charged with sodomy, sexual abuse and elder abuse.

According to court documents, a 75-year-old patient at Cox South Hospital, who cannot move without assistance, told police last week that he was assaulted in his room.

Court documents say the patient was examined after the incident and found to have injuries consistent with being sexually assaulted.

When Craft was interviewed by Springfield police, he denied the allegations, according to court documents. No attorney is listed for him in online court records. Steve Edwards, president and CEO of CoxHealth, said the hospital is fully cooperating with the police investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1619970352880.png" alt="Craft -photo Greene County" />
 <figcaption>Craft -photo Greene County</figcaption>
 </figure>SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A nursing assistant has been charged with sexually abusing a 75-year-old bed-bound patient.CoxHealth said Friday it had fired Calieb Craft. The announcement came one day after the 24-year-old was arrested and charged with sodomy, sexual abuse and elder abuse.According to court documents, a 75-year-old patient at Cox South Hospital, who cannot move without assistance, told police last week that he was assaulted in his room.Court documents say the patient was examined after the incident and found to have injuries consistent with being sexually assaulted.When Craft was interviewed by Springfield police, he denied the allegations, according to court documents. No attorney is listed for him in online court records. Steve Edwards, president and CEO of CoxHealth, said the hospital is fully cooperating with the police investigation.

Nursing assistant charged with sexually assaulting bed-bound patient

KANSAS CITY– A Kansas man pleaded guilty in federal court to the robberies (and attempted robberies) of five businesses.

Joshua A. West, 28, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to five counts of robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, according to the United State's Attorney.

By pleading guilty last week, West admitted that he robbed the CVS Pharmacy at 6300 Prospect Ave., Kansas City, Mo., on July 17, 2018. When West came around the counter, the cashier, who believed he was armed, opened the cash drawer. West took all of the cash and left the store. Investigators posted a bulletin using a photo from surveillance footage, and received a tip that identified West, who was on probation at the time.

West also admitted that he used a firearm to rob the Sprint Store at 4902 N. Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, Mo., on Aug. 10, 2018. West forced an employee to open the locked cabinets behind the counter so he could take all the iPhones, Apple Watches, and Samsung S-9 phones.

The next day, on Aug. 11, 2018, West robbed the Phone Shack at 6392 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, Mo., at gunpoint. West forced two employees to get on the ground, then stole phones and cash from the register.

On Aug. 15, 2018, a manager of a T-Mobile store sent a photo of West to all the managers of stores in the metropolitan area. On the same day, the manager of a T-Mobile store at 12400 S. US Hwy. 71, Grandview, Mo., spotted West in the parking lot outside the store. Because he had been alerted, the manager locked the door. West tried to open the door, then pointed a firearm at the manager from outside for a few seconds before walking away.

Immediately afterward, West entered the nearby AT&amp;T store at 12346 U.S. Hwy. 71, Grandview, Mo. West pulled out a firearm and ordered the employees to give him all the iPhones. West ordered the two employees and a customer into a back room. Another customer stayed in the main showroom and ran out of the store after West went to the back room. That customer called 911. Once in the back room, an employee opened a closet that had all the iPhones. West ordered them to the ground and put the phones in a plastic bag.

West left the back room, going back through the main showroom. Before he reached the front door, however, two Grandview police officers confronted him in the main showroom. West attempted to run through the back room, but the door had locked behind him. The officers ordered West to get on the ground, but he refused, and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, a Taurus 9mm pistol fell from West’s waistband. More officers arrived and took West into custody.

Under federal statutes, West is subject to sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole on each of the robbery charges, plus a consecutive sentence of at least 14 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole, for the firearm charges. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619644605432.png" alt="Joshua West photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Joshua West photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY– A Kansas man pleaded guilty in federal court to the robberies (and attempted robberies) of five businesses.Joshua A. West, 28, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to five counts of robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, according to the United State's Attorney.By pleading guilty last week, West admitted that he robbed the CVS Pharmacy at 6300 Prospect Ave., Kansas City, Mo., on July 17, 2018. When West came around the counter, the cashier, who believed he was armed, opened the cash drawer. West took all of the cash and left the store. Investigators posted a bulletin using a photo from surveillance footage, and received a tip that identified West, who was on probation at the time.West also admitted that he used a firearm to rob the Sprint Store at 4902 N. Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, Mo., on Aug. 10, 2018. West forced an employee to open the locked cabinets behind the counter so he could take all the iPhones, Apple Watches, and Samsung S-9 phones.The next day, on Aug. 11, 2018, West robbed the Phone Shack at 6392 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, Mo., at gunpoint. West forced two employees to get on the ground, then stole phones and cash from the register.On Aug. 15, 2018, a manager of a T-Mobile store sent a photo of West to all the managers of stores in the metropolitan area. On the same day, the manager of a T-Mobile store at 12400 S. US Hwy. 71, Grandview, Mo., spotted West in the parking lot outside the store. Because he had been alerted, the manager locked the door. West tried to open the door, then pointed a firearm at the manager from outside for a few seconds before walking away.Immediately afterward, West entered the nearby AT&amp;T store at 12346 U.S. Hwy. 71, Grandview, Mo. West pulled out a firearm and ordered the employees to give him all the iPhones. West ordered the two employees and a customer into a back room. Another customer stayed in the main showroom and ran out of the store after West went to the back room. That customer called 911. Once in the back room, an employee opened a closet that had all the iPhones. West ordered them to the ground and put the phones in a plastic bag.West left the back room, going back through the main showroom. Before he reached the front door, however, two Grandview police officers confronted him in the main showroom. West attempted to run through the back room, but the door had locked behind him. The officers ordered West to get on the ground, but he refused, and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, a Taurus 9mm pistol fell from West’s waistband. More officers arrived and took West into custody.Under federal statutes, West is subject to sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole on each of the robbery charges, plus a consecutive sentence of at least 14 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole, for the firearm charges. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

Kan. man admits to 5 robberies, attempted robberies

The Internal Revenue Services offers an online tool to track your federal tax refund status.

• Social Security number or TIN • Filing status • Exact refund amount

Click <a href="https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofgetstatus.jsp">HERE</a> to track your refund.

<a href="https://jcpost.com/posts/5111ac96-78e8-40b9-bae8-47365bed8d87">RELATED: IRS will delay tax filing deadline.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSThe Internal Revenue Services offers an online tool to track your federal tax refund status.To track a refund, taxpayers will need:• Social Security number or TIN • Filing status • Exact refund amountClick <a href="https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofgetstatus.jsp">HERE</a> to track your refund.<a href="https://jcpost.com/posts/5111ac96-78e8-40b9-bae8-47365bed8d87">RELATED: IRS will delay tax filing deadline.</a>

IRS: Where's my tax refund? Here's how to find out

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple charges, including felony fleeing or attempting to elude, following a vehicle pursuit Friday.

Just after 3:00 a.m. an officer with the Topeka Police Department attempted to stop a white 1990 Cadillac Fleetwood for no tag at SW 37th Street and SW Topeka Boulevard, according to Deputy Shayna Anderson.

The driver later identified as Rico E.D.M. Taylor, 28, Topeka, failed to stop. A short time later, a deputy with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office observed the vehicle at SW 21st Street and SW Washburn Avenue. A short pursuit was initiated and quickly ended in the 1700 block of SW Quincy Street when the vehicle struck a residential fence. 

After Taylor exited the vehicle he resisted arrest and a deputy was forced to administer oleoresin capsicum, a pepper spray. Deputies recovered a loaded firearm from the scene, according to Anderson.

Deputies transported Taylor to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections after being medically cleared at the scene. He was booked on requested charges of&nbsp; felony flee or attempt to elude, criminal damage to property, transporting an open container and several traffic related charges as well as separate charges through the Topeka Police Department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1619881547507.png" alt="Taylor photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Taylor photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple charges, including felony fleeing or attempting to elude, following a vehicle pursuit Friday.Just after 3:00 a.m. an officer with the Topeka Police Department attempted to stop a white 1990 Cadillac Fleetwood for no tag at SW 37th Street and SW Topeka Boulevard, according to Deputy Shayna Anderson.The driver later identified as Rico E.D.M. Taylor, 28, Topeka, failed to stop. A short time later, a deputy with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office observed the vehicle at SW 21st Street and SW Washburn Avenue. A short pursuit was initiated and quickly ended in the 1700 block of SW Quincy Street when the vehicle struck a residential fence. After Taylor exited the vehicle he resisted arrest and a deputy was forced to administer oleoresin capsicum, a pepper spray. Deputies recovered a loaded firearm from the scene, according to Anderson.Deputies transported Taylor to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections after being medically cleared at the scene. He was booked on requested charges of&nbsp; felony flee or attempt to elude, criminal damage to property, transporting an open container and several traffic related charges as well as separate charges through the Topeka Police Department.

Kan. deputy uses pepper spray to arrest suspect following chase

WASHINGTON (AP) — A wary Supreme Court on has weighed whether public schools can discipline students for things they say off campus, worrying about overly restricting speech on the one hand and leaving educators powerless to deal with bullying on the other.

The justices, hearing arguments in the case of a 14-year-old high school freshman’s Snapchat F-bombs, struggled to fit the need to protect students’ political and religious expression with the ability of schools to get at disruptive, even potentially dangerous, speech that occurs outside the school setting.

In one of many examples members of the court offered, Justice Elena Kagan described boys who keep a sexually charged online ranking of girls based on their looks. “You can’t put people in jail for commenting on people’s appearance, but shouldn’t a school be able to deal with it?” Kagan asked.

The court tested out possible outcomes in the case of the student’s profanity-laced social media rant , which Justice Brett Kavanaugh described as her blowing off steam just like “millions of kids” do.

Kavanaugh is one of several justices who have children in high school, or recently did. The court heard just under two hours of arguments by telephone because of the coronavirus pandemic, well beyond the allotted 60 minutes.

The current dispute stems from Tinker v. Des Moines, the Vietnam-era case of a high school in Des Moines, Iowa, that suspended students who wore armbands to protest the war. In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court sided with the students, declaring students don’t “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.”

The court also held then that schools retained the authority to restrict speech that would disrupt the school environment.

At the center of this case is Brandi Levy of Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania.

Levy and a friend were at a convenience store when she used Snapchat to express her frustration at being kept on her high school’s junior varsity cheerleading squad for another year.

“F——— school f——— softball f——— cheer f——— everything,” Levy wrote, in a post that also contained a photo in which she and a classmate raised their middle fingers. A second post questioned how an incoming freshman could have made the varsity.

The posts were brought to the attention of the team’s coaches, who suspended Levy from the cheerleading team for a year. Levy’s parents responded with a federal lawsuit, claiming the suspension violated their daughter’s constitutional rights to free speech.

The case’s potential importance grew when the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia also sided with Levy and held that schools can’t impose discipline for what students say when they’re off campus.

American Civil Liberties Union lawyer David Cole, representing Levy, urged the justices to affirm the clean line the appeals court drew, making clear educators have no authority over children when they are not under a school’s supervision, .

“Expanding Tinker would transform a limited exception into a 24/7 rule,” Cole said.

But several justices said the campus border is not so clear in the age of the internet and the remote learning that has come with the pandemic.

“How does that fit with modern technology?” Chief Justice John Roberts asked.

The school district and the Biden administration both argued that the justices should reject the appellate ruling because it draws an artificial line.

Suspending Levy from cheerleading was a reasonable response because she targeted her coaches and a teammate’s ability to compete, said Lisa Blatt, representing the district.

Levy is “not somebody you’d want at the bottom of the pyramid,” Blatt said, referring to a cheerleading formation.

But if the court didn’t appear ready to embrace Levy’s argument, some justices also were concerned that a ruling for the district could give schools too much power to shut down speech they just don’t like.

“Kids basically talk to their classmates. Most of their conversation is about school. Most of their exchanges have to do with their perceptions of the authoritarian nature of their teachers and others. And why isn’t this any different than just that the coach of this team took personal offense?” Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked, noting that her law clerks told her that among teenagers “how much you curse is a badge of honor.”

Kavanaugh also said the coach maybe went too far by suspending Levy.

“But, as a judge and maybe as a coach and a parent, too, it seems like maybe a bit of overreaction by the coach,” Kavanaugh said.

By the end of the arguments, there was perhaps a sense among the justices that Levy’s case — a teenager venting her unhappiness about an extracurricular program — may not be the best one to use to write a sweeping rule about student speech in the digital age.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fourteen-year-old Brandi Levy was having that kind of day where she just wanted to scream. So she did, in a profanity-laced posting on Snapchat that has, improbably, ended up before the Supreme Court in the most significant case on student speech in more than 50 years.

At issue is whether public schools can discipline students over something they say off-campus. The topic is especially meaningful in a time of remote learning because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>&nbsp;and a rising awareness of the pernicious effects of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f52ab056e47a4025ac8b10d67cca2949">online bullying</a>.

Arguments are on Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-wire-virus-outbreak-ap-top-news-courts-supreme-courts-19b82f029dcb760dc7f0c644472192fb">via telephone</a>&nbsp;because of the pandemic, before a court on which several justices have school-age children or recently did.

The case has its roots in the Vietnam-era case of a high school in Des Moines, Iowa, that suspended students who wore armbands to protest the war. In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court sided with the students, declaring students don’t “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.”

Ever since, courts have wrestled with the contours of the decision in Tinker v. Des Moines in 1969.

Levy’s case has none of the lofty motives of Tinker and more than its share of teenage angst.

Levy and a friend were at a convenience store in her hometown of Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, when she took to social media to express her frustration at being kept on her high school’s junior varsity cheerleading squad for another year.

“F——— school f——— softball f——— cheer f——— everything,” Levy wrote, in a post that also contained a photo in which she and a classmate raised their middle fingers.

The post was brought to the attention of the team’s coaches, who suspended Levy from the cheerleading team for a year.

Levy, now 18, is finishing her freshman year in college. “I was a 14-year-old kid. I was upset, I was angry. Everyone, every 14-year-old kid speaks like that at one point,” she said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Her parents knew nothing about the Snapchat post until she was suspended, she said. “My parents were more concerned on how I was feeling,” Levy said, adding she wasn’t grounded or otherwise punished for what she did.

Instead, her parents filed a federal lawsuit, claiming the suspension violated their daughter’s constitutional speech rights.

Lower courts agreed and restored her to the cheerleading team. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia held that “Tinker does not apply to off-campus speech.” The court said it was leaving for another day “the First Amendment implications of off-campus student speech that threatens violence or harasses others.”

But the school district, education groups, the Biden administration and anti-bullying organizations said in court filings that the appeals court went too far.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578090484280.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A wary Supreme Court on has weighed whether public schools can discipline students for things they say off campus, worrying about overly restricting speech on the one hand and leaving educators powerless to deal with bullying on the other.The justices, hearing arguments in the case of a 14-year-old high school freshman’s Snapchat F-bombs, struggled to fit the need to protect students’ political and religious expression with the ability of schools to get at disruptive, even potentially dangerous, speech that occurs outside the school setting.In one of many examples members of the court offered, Justice Elena Kagan described boys who keep a sexually charged online ranking of girls based on their looks. “You can’t put people in jail for commenting on people’s appearance, but shouldn’t a school be able to deal with it?” Kagan asked.The court tested out possible outcomes in the case of the student’s profanity-laced social media rant , which Justice Brett Kavanaugh described as her blowing off steam just like “millions of kids” do.Kavanaugh is one of several justices who have children in high school, or recently did. The court heard just under two hours of arguments by telephone because of the coronavirus pandemic, well beyond the allotted 60 minutes.The current dispute stems from Tinker v. Des Moines, the Vietnam-era case of a high school in Des Moines, Iowa, that suspended students who wore armbands to protest the war. In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court sided with the students, declaring students don’t “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.”The court also held then that schools retained the authority to restrict speech that would disrupt the school environment.At the center of this case is Brandi Levy of Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania.Levy and a friend were at a convenience store when she used Snapchat to express her frustration at being kept on her high school’s junior varsity cheerleading squad for another year.“F——— school f——— softball f——— cheer f——— everything,” Levy wrote, in a post that also contained a photo in which she and a classmate raised their middle fingers. A second post questioned how an incoming freshman could have made the varsity.The posts were brought to the attention of the team’s coaches, who suspended Levy from the cheerleading team for a year. Levy’s parents responded with a federal lawsuit, claiming the suspension violated their daughter’s constitutional rights to free speech.The case’s potential importance grew when the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia also sided with Levy and held that schools can’t impose discipline for what students say when they’re off campus.American Civil Liberties Union lawyer David Cole, representing Levy, urged the justices to affirm the clean line the appeals court drew, making clear educators have no authority over children when they are not under a school’s supervision, .“Expanding Tinker would transform a limited exception into a 24/7 rule,” Cole said.But several justices said the campus border is not so clear in the age of the internet and the remote learning that has come with the pandemic.“How does that fit with modern technology?” Chief Justice John Roberts asked.The school district and the Biden administration both argued that the justices should reject the appellate ruling because it draws an artificial line.Suspending Levy from cheerleading was a reasonable response because she targeted her coaches and a teammate’s ability to compete, said Lisa Blatt, representing the district.Levy is “not somebody you’d want at the bottom of the pyramid,” Blatt said, referring to a cheerleading formation.But if the court didn’t appear ready to embrace Levy’s argument, some justices also were concerned that a ruling for the district could give schools too much power to shut down speech they just don’t like.“Kids basically talk to their classmates. Most of their conversation is about school. Most of their exchanges have to do with their perceptions of the authoritarian nature of their teachers and others. And why isn’t this any different than just that the coach of this team took personal offense?” Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked, noting that her law clerks told her that among teenagers “how much you curse is a badge of honor.”Kavanaugh also said the coach maybe went too far by suspending Levy.“But, as a judge and maybe as a coach and a parent, too, it seems like maybe a bit of overreaction by the coach,” Kavanaugh said.By the end of the arguments, there was perhaps a sense among the justices that Levy’s case — a teenager venting her unhappiness about an extracurricular program — may not be the best one to use to write a sweeping rule about student speech in the digital age.A decision is expected by late June.-----------WASHINGTON (AP) — Fourteen-year-old Brandi Levy was having that kind of day where she just wanted to scream. So she did, in a profanity-laced posting on Snapchat that has, improbably, ended up before the Supreme Court in the most significant case on student speech in more than 50 years.At issue is whether public schools can discipline students over something they say off-campus. The topic is especially meaningful in a time of remote learning because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>&nbsp;and a rising awareness of the pernicious effects of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f52ab056e47a4025ac8b10d67cca2949">online bullying</a>.Arguments are on Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-wire-virus-outbreak-ap-top-news-courts-supreme-courts-19b82f029dcb760dc7f0c644472192fb">via telephone</a>&nbsp;because of the pandemic, before a court on which several justices have school-age children or recently did.The case has its roots in the Vietnam-era case of a high school in Des Moines, Iowa, that suspended students who wore armbands to protest the war. In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court sided with the students, declaring students don’t “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.”Ever since, courts have wrestled with the contours of the decision in Tinker v. Des Moines in 1969.Levy’s case has none of the lofty motives of Tinker and more than its share of teenage angst.Levy and a friend were at a convenience store in her hometown of Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, when she took to social media to express her frustration at being kept on her high school’s junior varsity cheerleading squad for another year.“F——— school f——— softball f——— cheer f——— everything,” Levy wrote, in a post that also contained a photo in which she and a classmate raised their middle fingers.The post was brought to the attention of the team’s coaches, who suspended Levy from the cheerleading team for a year.Levy, now 18, is finishing her freshman year in college. “I was a 14-year-old kid. I was upset, I was angry. Everyone, every 14-year-old kid speaks like that at one point,” she said in an interview with The Associated Press.Her parents knew nothing about the Snapchat post until she was suspended, she said. “My parents were more concerned on how I was feeling,” Levy said, adding she wasn’t grounded or otherwise punished for what she did.Instead, her parents filed a federal lawsuit, claiming the suspension violated their daughter’s constitutional speech rights.Lower courts agreed and restored her to the cheerleading team. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia held that “Tinker does not apply to off-campus speech.” The court said it was leaving for another day “the First Amendment implications of off-campus student speech that threatens violence or harasses others.”But the school district, education groups, the Biden administration and anti-bullying organizations said in court filings that the appeals court went too far.“The First Amendment does not categorically prohibit public schools from disciplining students for speech that occurs off campus,” acting Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar wrote on behalf of the administration.Philip Lee, a University of District of Columbia law professor who has written about regulation of cyberbullying, said it makes no sense to draw the line on policing students’ speech at the edge of campus.“Most cyberbullying content is created off campus on computers, iPads, all kinds of electronic devices,” said Lee, who joined a legal brief with other education scholars that calls for a nuanced approach to regulating student speech in the Internet age.“But at same time, you don’t want situation where schools are monitoring everyone’s speech at home,” he said.The Mahanoy Area School District declined to comment on the case, its lawyer, Lisa Blatt, said.But in her brief for the district, Blatt wrote, “This case is about how schools address the bad days.”Schools should not be forced “to ignore speech that disrupts the school environment or invades other students’ rights just because students launched that speech from five feet outside the schoolhouse gate,” Blatt wrote.The school’s approach would allow educators to police what students say round the clock, said Witold “Vic” Walczak of the American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing Levy.“And that is super dangerous. Not only would students like Brandi not be able to express non-threatening, non-harassing bursts of frustration, but it would give schools the possibility of regulating important political and religious speech,” Walczak said.An unusual alliance of conservative and liberal interest groups has formed behind Levy, all pointing to the dangers of expanding school regulation of students speech.The Alliance Defending Freedom and Christian Legal Society urged the court to affirm the appellate ruling because of “the perils of schools regulating off-campus speech. Religious speech, in particular, provokes debate and inflames passions.”Mary Beth and John Tinker, the siblings at the center of the 1969 case, also are on Levy’s side. Their protest, updated for the digital age, would have included a social media component, perhaps a black armband digitally imposed on their school’s logo, they wrote in a high-court brief.The outcome proposed by the school district would have left them subject to discipline, the Tinkers wrote.Walczak, the ACLU lawyer, acknowledged that the “speech here is not the most important in the world. This isn’t political or religious speech.”But Levy’s outburst has made her a potential successor to the Tinkers and their antiwar protest from the 1960s.“I’m just trying to prove a point that young students and adults like me shouldn’t be punished for them expressing their own feelings and letting others know how they feel,” Levy said.