By DAVE COLLINS

Lying in an intensive care unit hospital bed, 11-year-old Genevieve Bisek is comforted by the many handmade cards she has received from fellow classmates after Wednesday’s shooting at a Minneapolis church.

Some are decorated with beads, some with sparkling stars. All of them are taped to the walls of her room at the Hennepin County Medical Center, where she has been recovering. Her condition has been upgraded from critical to satisfactory.

“All of these handmade cards are just absolutely adorable and heartfelt,” Genevieve’s aunt, Wanda Stipek, told The Associated Press in a phone interview Saturday. “This is coming from other kids who also have their own trauma and yet are still reaching out and showing their love for her. She has these cards taped up on the walls in her room so that she can see this and be surrounded by that love.”

Genevieve was one of the 20 people who were shot during the attack at the Church of Annunciation, as hundreds of students from the nearby Annunciation Catholic School and others gathered for a Mass. The shooter fired 116 rifle rounds through the church’s stained-glass windows, leaving two students dead and 18 people wounded, nearly all of them children. The shooter, 23-year-old Robin Westman, died by suicide.

At least seven people were still in the hospital on Saturday. A spokesperson for Hennepin County Medical Center said five children were being treated there, including four in satisfactory condition and one in critical condition, as well as one adult who was in serious condition. A spokesperson for Children’s Minnesota – Minneapolis Hospital said doctors there were treating one patient.

Genevieve, a sixth grader at the Catholic school who loves animals and playing outside, was conscious after the shooting, Stipek said. After authorities cleared the church from danger, she was gathered with other children to assess their injuries and was brought to the hospital in an ambulance with another wounded student, she said.

Medical staff sedated Genevieve until Thursday.

“Genevieve is a very sensitive and compassionate little girl,” Stipek said. “When she did wake up from her sedation after the event, the first thing that she wanted to talk about, she asked about the other children.”

Stipek said Genevieve told her mother, “I can’t say that I wish this wouldn’t have happened to me because I don’t want it to have happened to anyone else either.”

Stipek said Genevieve has not been told yet who died. She said one of the students killed, Fletcher Merkel, 8, was a neighbor and friend of the family.

The handmade cards and other outpourings of support from the community, including ribbons tied around trees in the neighborhood and donations made online, have helped the family cope with their trauma, Stipek said.

“I think sometimes that when something terrible like this happens, you think of the world as a scary and dangerous place full of bad people. But we are very moved by the goodness,” she said. “All of those things show the love and support, and all of it helps us know that there’s goodness out there. I think that’s part of the healing process. It’s important for us to remember that the world is still full of good people.”

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A Somali-American leader and Ramsey County sheriff civilian officer was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Friday afternoon and brought to Freeborn Adult Detention Center.

Omar Abdi Jamal, of Minneapolis, has lived in the U.S. for 20 years, according to the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office. He joined the sheriff’s office as a civilian Community Service Officer in 2020.

“Omar Jamal has played an integral role in helping us liaison with the Somali community in Minnesota, which has the largest population of Somalis in the country,” Steve Linders, Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office spokesman, said in a statement. “He’s done a great job in that role.”

Jamal’s attorney said that a judge previously granted Jamal protection against deportation.

“Years ago, a U.S. immigration judge found that Mr. Jamal would face persecution if returned to Somalia and granted him protection from removal under U.S. law,” said attorney Abdiqani A. Jabane. “We are aware that ICE may now be exploring alternate removal options. However, Mr. Jamal is not a citizen of any other country, including Canada.”

Jabane said his office is “reviewing the basis for his detention and will pursue all appropriate legal avenues to protect his rights and ensure he is treated in accordance with the law. We urge ICE to act with transparency and fairness, and we ask the community to remain engaged and supportive during this time.”

Jamal has “spent decades advocating for public safety, interfaith cooperation, and stronger relationships between law enforcement and immigrant communities. He has worked closely with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office and is widely recognized for his leadership and community engagement,” Jabane said.

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DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — The pressure has ramped up for defending Southern 500 winner Chase Briscoe as the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs approach.

Then again, all playoff drivers feel things heating up at Darlington Raceway as the postseason begins.

A season ago, Briscoe was on the outside hoping to squeeze into the field of 16 as NASCAR came to Darlington for its final regular-season event. A late pass of three others pushed Briscoe to the front and gave soon-to-be-shuttered Stewart-Haas Racing a surprise chance at a Cup title.

Briscoe lasted through the second round, which he and his old SHR organization considered success. Now with Joe Gibbs Racing, Briscoe has been locked into the playoff grid for some time and carries increased expectations into Sunday night’s race.

“If you just make the round of 16 (at JGR), it’s not a successful season,” Briscoe said Saturday. “It’s kind of a failure.”

The round concludes at Gateway outside of St. Louis and Bristol the next two weeks before the playoff field is cut to 12.

Regular-season champion William Byron and Briscoe’s JGR teammate Denny Hamlin understand that the line between a long playoff run and early exit is razor thin.

Byron doesn’t see a track ahead where his No. 24 Chevrolet can’t be as fast as any of his competitors, starting at Darlington where he won the spring race in 2024. “So I think at the same time, though, you never know what everyone else is going to bring and how fast they’re going to be. So we’ve just got to keep working,” Byron said.

The race comes just days after a hearing on the legal fight over charters between NASCAR and the teams of 23XI Racing and Front Row Racing.

“What we shared was just talk among ourselves that doesn’t have anything to do with the case,” Byron said.

Hamlin won the pole for Sunday’s race after what he said were struggles in practice Saturday. “What drives me is the competition knowing that I can still go out and win races,” he said.

Hamlin, a four-time winner this season for Joe Gibbs, is also co-owner of 23XI with Michael Jordan and will balance his unofficial status as NASCAR’s best current driver without a title and his ownership duties helping team playoff drivers Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick advance.

“It’s just another chance to roll the dice,” said Hamlin, who is in the playoffs for the 19th time.

He believes his No. 11 JGR Toyota is as strong as ever, but he knows too well how bad luck, a caution at the wrong time or a mistake on pit road can thwart a championship. “Those are the small things that decide whether you move on in the playoffs or not,” he said.

At the start

Next to Hamlin for the Southern 500 is Briscoe, who qualified second. Playoff drivers took the top 10 spots for Sunday’s race, with Josh Berry third, followed by Reddick, Larson, Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, Wallace, Austin Dillon and Austin Cindric.

Playoff Shane

Shane van Gisbergen won four times this year for Trackhouse Racing, tying Hamlin for most on the circuit. His victories have come on road courses in Mexico City, Chicago, Sonoma and Watkins Glen. The Charlotte Roval is the only playoff race not run on an oval.

Gisbergen’s plan to improve? “Just time,” he said. “I don’t know anything different. It’s taken me a long time to learn the ovals, particularly because I haven’t done them before.”

Van Gisbergen finished 20th at Darlington this past April. He was 16th last week at Daytona, an improvement from February when he finished 33rd there.

The New Zealand racer accepts that many will write off his chances of a deep playoff run. He’s fine with that. “Hopefully, it will be nice to prove people wrong,” he said.

Odds and Ends

Kyle Larson, the 2021 NASCAR champion, is the betting favorite for the Southern 500 at 4 1/2-to-1, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Tyler Reddick is next at 5 1/2-to-1 along with Hamlin, who is seeking his first NASCAR title; Ryan Blaney, last week’s winner at Daytona, and regular-season champion William Byron are next at 6-to-1. … Defending series champion Joey Logano looks to end an odd — over even — quirk with a fourth overall title. His three championships have come in even years (2018, 2022, 2024). “Just got to make it happen,” Logano said. “I don’t understand the whole even-odd things. I’d really like to break that cycle this year.” … Hamlin leads all current drivers with five Darlington victories. A sixth would give him the fourth-most in track history behind David Pearson (10), Dale Earnhardt (9) and Jeff Gordon (7).

Bruce Helmer and Peg Webb

President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBBA) is a sweeping package that cements much of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) into law. But it also adds new deductions, targeted incentives and temporary perks for specific groups. For investors, retirees and business owners, the legislation offers both opportunities and challenges. Here are the five most important takeaways.

Lock in low tax rates for the long haul

The OBBBA keeps the marginal rates at 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%, all indexed for inflation. Before this law, those rates were set to expire at the end of 2025, reverting to pre-TCJA levels.

For investors, this stability can be a green light for long-term strategies like Roth IRA conversions, capital gains harvesting and structured charitable giving. While “permanent” in Washington is never truly permanent, the current brackets give taxpayers a clearer runway for planning.

If you anticipate higher rates in the future, act now to lock in today’s historically low brackets through strategic income recognition.

Use the bigger SALT deduction while it lasts

The cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions jumps from $10,000 to $40,000 in 2025, increasing by 1% annually through 2029. After that, the cap snaps back to $10,000 in 2030.

For high-tax states like Minnesota, this temporary expansion is a meaningful break, especially for households with large property tax bills or significant state income tax obligations. But the benefit phases out for joint filers above $500,000 in modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) and singles above $250,000, reducing the deduction by 30% of income above those thresholds.

Consider bunching deductions or using a pass-through entity tax (PTE) election to maximize the value during the five-year window.

Take advantage of permanent relief for pass-throughs

The OBBBA makes the 20% Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction permanent and adds a $400 minimum floor. For many small-business owners, professional practices and independent contractors, this locks in a major tax break that had been set to expire.

The bill also expands Opportunity Zone rules to encourage rural investment, potentially opening new avenues for tax-advantaged capital deployment.

Review your entity structure, compensation method and income timing to fully capture the deduction — and explore whether rural Opportunity Zone projects could enhance your portfolio’s after-tax return.

Tap into targeted breaks for seniors and newborns

Several niche but noteworthy benefits are included in the new law:

— For seniors (age 65-plus), there’s an extra $6,000 federal deduction per person from 2025 through 2028, even if you itemize. The benefit phases out above $75,000 MAGI for singles and $150,000 for joint filers. While it doesn’t eliminate Social Security taxation, it can meaningfully reduce it for many retirees.

— Workers can claim up to a $25,000 deduction for tip and overtime income, and up to $10,000 for interest on auto loans for new U.S.-assembled vehicles, through 2028.

— “Trump Accounts” provide a $1,000 government-funded investment account for each baby born between 2025 and 2028, starting in 2026. Families can add up to $5,000 annually, and employers up to $2,500 (both indexed for inflation from 2027). Earnings grow tax-deferred, but withdrawals before age 59½ may incur taxes and a 10% penalty.

You need to carefully coordinate these deductions with your broader tax strategy, especially required minimum distributions (RMDs), trust distributions and Roth conversions. For parents, compare the Trump Accounts against 529 plans or custodial accounts to determine which offers greater flexibility and control for your situation.

Keep an eye on potential fiscal storm clouds

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the OBBBA will add $2.4 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade — before factoring in potential economic effects. That raises several risks:

— Higher future taxes: Policymakers may eventually turn to capital gains, estate taxes or new wealth taxes to shore up revenue.

— Rising interest rates: Increased Treasury borrowing could lift yields, which can reduce bond prices and raise borrowing costs.

— Inflation pressure: More deficit spending could erode the purchasing power of cash and fixed income.

— Entitlement reform: Large deficits may prompt changes to Medicare or Social Security.

— Market instability: A loss of fiscal confidence could shake investor sentiment and credit ratings.

In all market environments, we recommend building flexibility into retirement and investment plans, diversifying across asset classes, maintaining adequate liquidity and keeping an eye on policy developments.

Change can mean opportunity, but risks persist

The OBBBA offers a mix of certainty and urgency: certainty in the form of locked-in tax brackets and permanent business deductions, and urgency in the form of time-limited SALT relief, senior benefits and newborn accounts. For those willing to act now, the opportunities are real — but so are the risks on the horizon. Smart investors and retirees should work with a qualified adviser to model different scenarios, optimize tax timing, and keep plans adaptable in the face of shifting economic and political winds. In Washington, after all, “permanent” is rarely forever.

Prior to investing in a 529 Plan, investors should consider whether the investor’s or designated beneficiary’s home state offers any state tax or other state benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors that are only available for investments in such state’s qualified tuition program. Withdrawals used for qualified expenses are federally tax free. Tax treatment at the state level may vary. Please consult with your tax adviser before investing. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

Bruce Helmer and Peg Webb are financial advisers at Wealth Enhancement Group and co-hosts of “Your Money” on WCCO 830 AM on Sunday mornings. Email Bruce and Peg at yourmoney@wealthenhancement.com. Advisory services offered through Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC, a registered investment adviser and affiliate of Wealth Enhancement Group.