JERUSALEM (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday it's time to further disable Iran-backed militias that have struck at U.S. forces and ships in the Middle East and the U.S. is preparing to take significant action in response to the deaths of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jordan-drone-attack-iran-tower-22-israel-hamas-war-0265beed527e3009a966c0531c08838e">three U.S. service members</a>&nbsp;in Jordan.

For days the U.S. has hinted strikes are imminent. While the threat of retaliation for Sunday's deaths has driven some militant groups to say they were stopping hostilities, as late as Thursday Yemen’s Houthi rebels were still attacking vessels and fired a ballistic missile at a Liberian-flagged container ship in the Red Sea.

“At this point, it’s time to take away even more capability than we’ve taken in the past,” Austin said Thursday in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/austin-pentagon-cancer-secret-hospital-313255a7126a0482a67ec18b7474a8c1">first press conference</a>&nbsp;since he was hospitalized on Jan. 1 due to complications from prostate cancer treatment.

Previous U.S. strikes have not deterred the attacks. Since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out in October, Iranian-backed militant groups have struck U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria at least 166 times with rockets, missiles and one-way attack drones, drawing about a half-dozen U.S. counterstrikes on militant facilities in both countries. The U.S. military also has carried out airstrikes targeting the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The U.S. has attributed the attack on Tower 22 in Jordan to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias that includes the militant group Kataib Hezbollah.

While Iran has denied involvement, Austin said Thursday that “how much Iran knew or didn’t know, we don’t know. But it really doesn’t matter because Iran sponsors these groups.”

Austin said “without that facilitation, these kinds of things don’t happen.” He said the Pentagon is still looking at the forensics of the drone that struck Tower 22, a secretive base in northeastern Jordan that’s been crucial to the American presence in neighboring Syria.

“I don’t think the adversaries are of a ‘one and done’ mindset. And so they have a lot of capability. I have a lot more,” Austin said. "We’re going to do what’s necessary to protect our troops."

In the Red Sea, the Houthis have fired on commercial and military ships almost 40 times since November. In the latest attack, they fired a ballistic missile at a Liberian-flagged container ship on Thursday, U.S. defense officials said.

The attack happened west of Hodeida, a port city in Yemen long held by the rebels, said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British military group overseeing Mideast waterways. It said the crew and the vessel were safe and the blast came far off the vessel's starboard side.

The U.S. defense officials identified the targeted container ship as the Koi, a Bermuda-owned vessel. Its management could not be immediately reached for comment. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters. The Houthis did not claim responsibility for the assault.

The Houthis say they are targeting ships over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade between Asia, the Mideast and Europe.

The Houthis hit a commercial vessel with a missile on Jan. 26,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-red-sea-israel-hamas-war-attacks-f36fc8911e069a5b4dbc4d9e67f31e50">sparking a fire that burned for hours</a>.

The Pentagon has the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower in the region, along with at least a half dozen other major U.S. warships, U.S. Air Force fighter jets and radar aircraft. It has already been regularly using those assets to conduct strikes and defend ships.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705112808392.png" alt="View of aircraft launch for the attack Jan. 11 -image U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>View of aircraft launch for the attack Jan. 11 -image U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday it's time to further disable Iran-backed militias that have struck at U.S. forces and ships in the Middle East and the U.S. is preparing to take significant action in response to the deaths of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jordan-drone-attack-iran-tower-22-israel-hamas-war-0265beed527e3009a966c0531c08838e">three U.S. service members</a>&nbsp;in Jordan.For days the U.S. has hinted strikes are imminent. While the threat of retaliation for Sunday's deaths has driven some militant groups to say they were stopping hostilities, as late as Thursday Yemen’s Houthi rebels were still attacking vessels and fired a ballistic missile at a Liberian-flagged container ship in the Red Sea.“At this point, it’s time to take away even more capability than we’ve taken in the past,” Austin said Thursday in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/austin-pentagon-cancer-secret-hospital-313255a7126a0482a67ec18b7474a8c1">first press conference</a>&nbsp;since he was hospitalized on Jan. 1 due to complications from prostate cancer treatment.Previous U.S. strikes have not deterred the attacks. Since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out in October, Iranian-backed militant groups have struck U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria at least 166 times with rockets, missiles and one-way attack drones, drawing about a half-dozen U.S. counterstrikes on militant facilities in both countries. The U.S. military also has carried out airstrikes targeting the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.The U.S. has attributed the attack on Tower 22 in Jordan to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias that includes the militant group Kataib Hezbollah.While Iran has denied involvement, Austin said Thursday that “how much Iran knew or didn’t know, we don’t know. But it really doesn’t matter because Iran sponsors these groups.”Austin said “without that facilitation, these kinds of things don’t happen.” He said the Pentagon is still looking at the forensics of the drone that struck Tower 22, a secretive base in northeastern Jordan that’s been crucial to the American presence in neighboring Syria.“I don’t think the adversaries are of a ‘one and done’ mindset. And so they have a lot of capability. I have a lot more,” Austin said. "We’re going to do what’s necessary to protect our troops."In the Red Sea, the Houthis have fired on commercial and military ships almost 40 times since November. In the latest attack, they fired a ballistic missile at a Liberian-flagged container ship on Thursday, U.S. defense officials said.The attack happened west of Hodeida, a port city in Yemen long held by the rebels, said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British military group overseeing Mideast waterways. It said the crew and the vessel were safe and the blast came far off the vessel's starboard side.The U.S. defense officials identified the targeted container ship as the Koi, a Bermuda-owned vessel. Its management could not be immediately reached for comment. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters. The Houthis did not claim responsibility for the assault.The Houthis say they are targeting ships over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade between Asia, the Mideast and Europe.The Houthis hit a commercial vessel with a missile on Jan. 26,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-red-sea-israel-hamas-war-attacks-f36fc8911e069a5b4dbc4d9e67f31e50">sparking a fire that burned for hours</a>.The Pentagon has the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower in the region, along with at least a half dozen other major U.S. warships, U.S. Air Force fighter jets and radar aircraft. It has already been regularly using those assets to conduct strikes and defend ships.

Pentagon: New plans in place for US strikes against Iran-backed militias

JERUSALEM (AP) — Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired two ballistic missiles Thursday at a Liberian-flagged container ship in the Red Sea, a U.S. defense official said, the latest attack by the rebels as America launches airstrikes targeting them.

The attack happened west of Hodeida, a port city in Yemen long held by the rebels, said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British military group overseeing Mideast waterways. It said the crew and the vessel were safe and the blast came far off the vessel’s starboard side.

The U.S. defense official identified the targeted container ship as the Koi. Its management could not be immediately reached for comment. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.

The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the assault. The private security firm Ambrey reported Wednesday night that a ship was targeted with a missile southwest of Aden, Yemen, near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis claimed that attack also targeted the Koi, though American officials had no immediate information on any attack Wednesday night.

Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade between Asia, the Mideast and Europe.

Late Wednesday, American F/A-18 fighter jets struck and destroyed 10 Houthi drones that were prepared to launch, as well as a ground control station used by the rebels, the U.S. military said. The U.S. also intercepted a ballistic missile and other drones already in the air during the day.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired two ballistic missiles Thursday at a Liberian-flagged container ship in the Red Sea, a U.S. defense official said, the latest attack by the rebels as America launches airstrikes targeting them.The attack happened west of Hodeida, a port city in Yemen long held by the rebels, said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British military group overseeing Mideast waterways. It said the crew and the vessel were safe and the blast came far off the vessel’s starboard side.The U.S. defense official identified the targeted container ship as the Koi. Its management could not be immediately reached for comment. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the assault. The private security firm Ambrey reported Wednesday night that a ship was targeted with a missile southwest of Aden, Yemen, near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis claimed that attack also targeted the Koi, though American officials had no immediate information on any attack Wednesday night.Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade between Asia, the Mideast and Europe.The Houthis hit a commercial vessel with a missile on Jan. 26,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-red-sea-israel-hamas-war-attacks-f36fc8911e069a5b4dbc4d9e67f31e50">sparking a fire that burned for hours</a>.Late Wednesday, American F/A-18 fighter jets struck and destroyed 10 Houthi drones that were prepared to launch, as well as a ground control station used by the rebels, the U.S. military said. The U.S. also intercepted a ballistic missile and other drones already in the air during the day.

Iran-backed rebels continue missile attacks in the Red Sea 

On Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at approximately 1336 hours, Seward County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to an address in Utica, Nebraska. They were responding to a report of a domestic dispute in which an adult female, identified as Nicole Nisly, had struck her mother in the head with a frying pan. Upon the deputies’ arrival, Nisly was located in her bedroom with her minor child. 

After contacting Nisly, deputies entered the bedroom to take Nisly into custody. At that time Nisly struck a deputy in the arm with a knife. Deputies then secured the scene due to the barricaded subject and potential for a hostage situation and requested assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol.

 After several hours of negotiations Nisly released the child, who was unharmed, but refused to leave the bedroom. Shortly afterwards the Nebraska State Patrol SWAT Team made entry into the bedroom and Nisly was taken into custody without further incident. 

Nicole Nisly, 22, of Utica, NE was turned over to Seward County deputies and was lodged in the Seward County Detention Center pending further charges. 

No other law enforcement officers or civilians were harmed in this incident. The Deputy that was injured was treated at the scene where he remained until the situation was resolved and then treated and released at Seward Memorial Hospital for a minor injury.

The Seward County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Nebraska State Patrol and Utica Fire and Rescue. We would also like to thank the community of Utica for offering assistance and staying patient while the situation was being resolved.

By Seward County Sheriff's OfficeOn Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at approximately 1336 hours, Seward County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to an address in Utica, Nebraska. They were responding to a report of a domestic dispute in which an adult female, identified as Nicole Nisly, had struck her mother in the head with a frying pan. Upon the deputies’ arrival, Nisly was located in her bedroom with her minor child. After contacting Nisly, deputies entered the bedroom to take Nisly into custody. At that time Nisly struck a deputy in the arm with a knife. Deputies then secured the scene due to the barricaded subject and potential for a hostage situation and requested assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol. After several hours of negotiations Nisly released the child, who was unharmed, but refused to leave the bedroom. Shortly afterwards the Nebraska State Patrol SWAT Team made entry into the bedroom and Nisly was taken into custody without further incident. Nicole Nisly, 22, of Utica, NE was turned over to Seward County deputies and was lodged in the Seward County Detention Center pending further charges. No other law enforcement officers or civilians were harmed in this incident. The Deputy that was injured was treated at the scene where he remained until the situation was resolved and then treated and released at Seward Memorial Hospital for a minor injury.The Seward County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Nebraska State Patrol and Utica Fire and Rescue. We would also like to thank the community of Utica for offering assistance and staying patient while the situation was being resolved.

NE woman in custody after allegedly hitting mom in head with pan

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday he never told his staff to keep his cancer surgery and hospitalization secret from the White House, but acknowledged he should have handled it differently and he apologized for keeping President Joe Biden and others in the dark for weeks.

“We did not handle this right and I did not handle this right. I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis. I take full responsibility,” Austin told reporters in a lengthy Pentagon briefing. “I have apologized directly to President Biden and I’ve told him that I’m deeply sorry for not letting him know immediately that I received a heavy diagnosis and was getting treatment.”

Known as an intensely private man, Austin provided his most extensive comments to date on the secrecy surrounding his cancer diagnosis and struggles with complications since his surgery on Dec. 22. It was the first time he has answered questions from reporters since his cancer surgery, and his answers were often bluntly personal, offering rare insights into the deeply private matter.

“The news shook me,” Austin, 70, said about getting the initial diagnosis in early December. “It was a gut punch. And, frankly my first instinct was to keep it private.”

While he said he "never directed anyone to keep my January hospitalization from the White House,” Austin dodged questions about any repercussions on his staff or any decisions they made about disclosing it.

He said he doesn't believe he has created “a culture of secrecy” in his office. And he said he did not tell his aides to ask first responders to avoid using lights and sirens when calling for an ambulance on Jan. 1. But, he acknowledged, “there will be security officers, there will be other staff members who may perceive that they’re doing things in my best interest.”

His lack of disclosure prompted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-white-house-lloyd-austin-cabinet-f3e03c04ff7d9a0ab062a57ac181bb8f">changes in federal guidelines</a>&nbsp;and triggered an internal Pentagon review and an inspector general review into his department’s notification procedures. Both reviews are ongoing, and members of Congress have called for hearings on the matter.

Austin was taken by ambulance to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Jan. 1 after experiencing extreme pain due to complications from the surgery. He was admitted to the intensive care unit the next day. He was released from the hospital on Jan. 15.

He transferred decision-making authorities to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, but did not tell her why. Some top staff members were told about his hospitalization on Jan. 2, but no one told the White House or the president until two days later. His hospitalization was publicly announced on Jan. 5, but his cancer diagnosis and surgery were not disclosed until the following week.

A key question is why Austin's chief of staff Kelly Magsamen or his senior military assistant, Lt. Gen. Ron Clark, didn't inform the White House or key leaders more quickly.

Austin's solo appearance in the Pentagon briefing room was also a rare moment. He is known for avoiding the media as much as possible. But he appeared calm and even joked a few times during the 35-minute press conference. His ongoing leg pain was evident as he walked carefully to the podium, but he said he expects to recover, although it will be incremental and take time.

Pressed on why he didn't tell the president and others about his diagnosis and surgery, Austin said, “I’m a pretty private guy. I never like burdening others with my problems. It’s just not my way.” He added that the president has a lot of things on his plate and he didn't want to add his personal issue to that.

“I apologize to my teammates and to the American people,” he said.

He said he has learned from the experience. “Taking this kind of job means losing some of the privacy that most of us expect,” he said. “The American people have a right to know if their leaders are facing health challenges that might affect their ability to perform their duties even temporarily. So a wider circle should have been notified, especially the president.”

Austin also acknowledged that he missed a crucial opportunity to use his prostate check and early discovery of the cancer as a teaching moment, for his many male troops and workers across the department, and, even more importantly, for the African American population.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among American men. It affects 1 in every 8 men — and 1 in every 6 African American men — during their lifetime.

“I’m here with a clear message to other men, especially older men,” Austin said. “Get screened, get your regular checkups. Prostate cancer has a glass jaw. If your doctor can spot it, they can treat it and beat it.”

Asked about the matter earlier in January, Biden said it was a lapse in judgment for Austin not to tell him about his hospitalization, but he said he still has confidence in his Pentagon chief.

Austin, who worked from home for two weeks after his release from the hospital, returned to work in the Pentagon on Monday. He had not been in the building since Dec. 21.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday he never told his staff to keep his cancer surgery and hospitalization secret from the White House, but acknowledged he should have handled it differently and he apologized for keeping President Joe Biden and others in the dark for weeks.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a> Austin on his recent cancer diagnosis and transparency: &quot;We did not handle this right. I did not handle this right. I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis, and I should have also told my team and the American public. I take full responsibility.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/rt3WjjjJdl">pic.twitter.com/rt3WjjjJdl</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1753085290221076661?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“We did not handle this right and I did not handle this right. I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis. I take full responsibility,” Austin told reporters in a lengthy Pentagon briefing. “I have apologized directly to President Biden and I’ve told him that I’m deeply sorry for not letting him know immediately that I received a heavy diagnosis and was getting treatment.”Known as an intensely private man, Austin provided his most extensive comments to date on the secrecy surrounding his cancer diagnosis and struggles with complications since his surgery on Dec. 22. It was the first time he has answered questions from reporters since his cancer surgery, and his answers were often bluntly personal, offering rare insights into the deeply private matter.“The news shook me,” Austin, 70, said about getting the initial diagnosis in early December. “It was a gut punch. And, frankly my first instinct was to keep it private.”While he said he "never directed anyone to keep my January hospitalization from the White House,” Austin dodged questions about any repercussions on his staff or any decisions they made about disclosing it.He said he doesn't believe he has created “a culture of secrecy” in his office. And he said he did not tell his aides to ask first responders to avoid using lights and sirens when calling for an ambulance on Jan. 1. But, he acknowledged, “there will be security officers, there will be other staff members who may perceive that they’re doing things in my best interest.”His lack of disclosure prompted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-white-house-lloyd-austin-cabinet-f3e03c04ff7d9a0ab062a57ac181bb8f">changes in federal guidelines</a>&nbsp;and triggered an internal Pentagon review and an inspector general review into his department’s notification procedures. Both reviews are ongoing, and members of Congress have called for hearings on the matter.Austin was taken by ambulance to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Jan. 1 after experiencing extreme pain due to complications from the surgery. He was admitted to the intensive care unit the next day. He was released from the hospital on Jan. 15.He transferred decision-making authorities to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, but did not tell her why. Some top staff members were told about his hospitalization on Jan. 2, but no one told the White House or the president until two days later. His hospitalization was publicly announced on Jan. 5, but his cancer diagnosis and surgery were not disclosed until the following week.A key question is why Austin's chief of staff Kelly Magsamen or his senior military assistant, Lt. Gen. Ron Clark, didn't inform the White House or key leaders more quickly.Austin's solo appearance in the Pentagon briefing room was also a rare moment. He is known for avoiding the media as much as possible. But he appeared calm and even joked a few times during the 35-minute press conference. His ongoing leg pain was evident as he walked carefully to the podium, but he said he expects to recover, although it will be incremental and take time.Pressed on why he didn't tell the president and others about his diagnosis and surgery, Austin said, “I’m a pretty private guy. I never like burdening others with my problems. It’s just not my way.” He added that the president has a lot of things on his plate and he didn't want to add his personal issue to that.“I apologize to my teammates and to the American people,” he said.He said he has learned from the experience. “Taking this kind of job means losing some of the privacy that most of us expect,” he said. “The American people have a right to know if their leaders are facing health challenges that might affect their ability to perform their duties even temporarily. So a wider circle should have been notified, especially the president.”Austin also acknowledged that he missed a crucial opportunity to use his prostate check and early discovery of the cancer as a teaching moment, for his many male troops and workers across the department, and, even more importantly, for the African American population.Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among American men. It affects 1 in every 8 men — and 1 in every 6 African American men — during their lifetime.“I’m here with a clear message to other men, especially older men,” Austin said. “Get screened, get your regular checkups. Prostate cancer has a glass jaw. If your doctor can spot it, they can treat it and beat it.”Asked about the matter earlier in January, Biden said it was a lapse in judgment for Austin not to tell him about his hospitalization, but he said he still has confidence in his Pentagon chief.Austin, who worked from home for two weeks after his release from the hospital, returned to work in the Pentagon on Monday. He had not been in the building since Dec. 21.

🎥 Defense Secretary explains his secret hospital stay

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House accomplished something unusual Wednesday in passing with broad, bipartisan support a roughly $79 billion tax cut package that would enhance the child tax credit for millions of lower-income families and boost three tax breaks for businesses, a combination that gives lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taxes-poll-high-mistrust-local-government-bad406b062041ea2d0626058cab5491b">coveted policy wins</a>.

Prospects for the measure becoming law are uncertain with the Senate still having to take it up, but for a House that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-santos-ukraine-border-mccarthy-speaker-johnson-dda73a13a198293803e386976cf3414d">has struggled</a>&nbsp;to get bills of consequence over the finish line, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tax-reform">tax legislation</a>&nbsp;could represent a rare breakthrough. The bill passed by a vote of 357-70.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., threw his support behind the bill on Wednesday morning. He spent part of the previous day meeting with GOP lawmakers who were concerned about particular features of the bill, namely the expanded child tax credit. Some were also unhappy that it failed to address the $10,000 cap on the total amount of property taxes or state or local taxes that consumers can deduct on their federal returns. Raising the cap is a top priority of lawmakers from the Republican members of the New York congressional delegation, whose victories in 2022 helped the GOP take the majority.

Johnson committed to moving a bill that addresses the cap, but there is no bill text yet and legislation would have to move through the House Rules Committee, which leaves the timing very much in flux. Athina Lawson, a spokeswoman for Johnson, said the speaker and the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., agreed to work with lawmakers to “find a path forward."

Johnson called the tax cut bill on the House floor important, bipartisan legislation that would revive “conservative pro-growth tax reform.” He also said it would bring an early end to a "wasteful COVID-era program" that has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/irs-covid-business-tax-credit-fraud-congress-226ea420bdb2c3a06e135d47ca140a8d">plagued with fraud</a>. Moving up the deadline for claiming the employee retention tax credit is expected to largely offset the cost of the tax cuts in the legislation.

Johnson also emphasized the importance of the bill moving through the House Ways and Means Committee before coming to the full House for a vote, saying it was a good example of how Congress is supposed to work.

House Republicans were anxious to restore full, immediate deductions that businesses can take for the purchase of new equipment and machinery, and for domestic research and development expenses. They argue such investments grow the economy and incentivize American companies to keep their manufacturing facilities and operations in the United States. The bill also provides businesses more flexibility in determining how much borrowing can be deducted.

“Each of these policies will help American businesses grow, create jobs and sharpen their competitive advantage against China,” Smith said as debate began on the House floor.

Democrats focused on boosting the child tax credit. The tax credit is $2,000 per child, but not all of that is refundable. The bill would incrementally raise the amount of the credit available as a refund, increasing it to $1,800 for 2023 tax returns, $1,900 for the following year and $2,000 for 2025 tax returns. The bill also adjusts the topline credit amount to temporarily grow at the rate of inflation.

Households benefitting as a result of the changes in the child tax credit would see an average tax cut of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxvox/bipartisan-ctc-framework-would-help-lowest-income-quintiles">$680 in the first year</a>, according to estimates from the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center.

Democrats pushed to restore the more&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-child-tax-credits-work-fa15590a2c60fc665ddc59ced78dacfe">generous tax credit</a>&nbsp;they passed in 2021 in President Joe Biden's first year in office with payments occurring on a monthly basis. The credit was $3,600 annually for children under age 6 and $3,000 for children ages 6 to 17. But most lawmakers were willing to take what gains they could get through the compromise bill.

“You know I’ve been told that a half a loaf is better than none,” said Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill. “This isn’t even half a loaf, but I’m going to vote for it because our families and businesses need help.”

“What’s in front of us tonight is pretty simple,” said Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass. “Sixteen million children will benefit from the improvement to the child tax credit. That’s a fact.”

But for some Democrats, it wasn’t enough.

“This bill provides billions of dollars in tax relief for the wealthy, pennies for the poor,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn. “Big corporations are richer than ever. There is no even split.”

And for some Republicans, it was too much. The chief critics of the expanded child tax credit likened it to “welfare.”

“What is a refundable tax credit? It’s welfare by a different name. We’re going to give cash payments, checks, to people who don’t even pay taxes,” said Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky.

Rep. Drew Ferguson, R-Ga., chafed at that characterization, saying “we all believe on this side of the aisle that you should work in order to receive federal benefits. That is something that this bill does.”

While there were complaints about the tax bill from some of the most conservative and liberal members of the House, a significant majority from each party voted for it. Proponents are hoping the strong show of support will stir action in the Senate.

The bill keeps a threshold of a household having $2,500 in income to be eligible for refundable child tax credit payments.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House accomplished something unusual Wednesday in passing with broad, bipartisan support a roughly $79 billion tax cut package that would enhance the child tax credit for millions of lower-income families and boost three tax breaks for businesses, a combination that gives lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taxes-poll-high-mistrust-local-government-bad406b062041ea2d0626058cab5491b">coveted policy wins</a>.Prospects for the measure becoming law are uncertain with the Senate still having to take it up, but for a House that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-santos-ukraine-border-mccarthy-speaker-johnson-dda73a13a198293803e386976cf3414d">has struggled</a>&nbsp;to get bills of consequence over the finish line, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tax-reform">tax legislation</a>&nbsp;could represent a rare breakthrough. The bill passed by a vote of 357-70.Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., threw his support behind the bill on Wednesday morning. He spent part of the previous day meeting with GOP lawmakers who were concerned about particular features of the bill, namely the expanded child tax credit. Some were also unhappy that it failed to address the $10,000 cap on the total amount of property taxes or state or local taxes that consumers can deduct on their federal returns. Raising the cap is a top priority of lawmakers from the Republican members of the New York congressional delegation, whose victories in 2022 helped the GOP take the majority.Johnson committed to moving a bill that addresses the cap, but there is no bill text yet and legislation would have to move through the House Rules Committee, which leaves the timing very much in flux. Athina Lawson, a spokeswoman for Johnson, said the speaker and the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., agreed to work with lawmakers to “find a path forward."Johnson called the tax cut bill on the House floor important, bipartisan legislation that would revive “conservative pro-growth tax reform.” He also said it would bring an early end to a "wasteful COVID-era program" that has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/irs-covid-business-tax-credit-fraud-congress-226ea420bdb2c3a06e135d47ca140a8d">plagued with fraud</a>. Moving up the deadline for claiming the employee retention tax credit is expected to largely offset the cost of the tax cuts in the legislation.Johnson also emphasized the importance of the bill moving through the House Ways and Means Committee before coming to the full House for a vote, saying it was a good example of how Congress is supposed to work.House Republicans were anxious to restore full, immediate deductions that businesses can take for the purchase of new equipment and machinery, and for domestic research and development expenses. They argue such investments grow the economy and incentivize American companies to keep their manufacturing facilities and operations in the United States. The bill also provides businesses more flexibility in determining how much borrowing can be deducted.“Each of these policies will help American businesses grow, create jobs and sharpen their competitive advantage against China,” Smith said as debate began on the House floor.Democrats focused on boosting the child tax credit. The tax credit is $2,000 per child, but not all of that is refundable. The bill would incrementally raise the amount of the credit available as a refund, increasing it to $1,800 for 2023 tax returns, $1,900 for the following year and $2,000 for 2025 tax returns. The bill also adjusts the topline credit amount to temporarily grow at the rate of inflation.Households benefitting as a result of the changes in the child tax credit would see an average tax cut of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxvox/bipartisan-ctc-framework-would-help-lowest-income-quintiles">$680 in the first year</a>, according to estimates from the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center.Democrats pushed to restore the more&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-child-tax-credits-work-fa15590a2c60fc665ddc59ced78dacfe">generous tax credit</a>&nbsp;they passed in 2021 in President Joe Biden's first year in office with payments occurring on a monthly basis. The credit was $3,600 annually for children under age 6 and $3,000 for children ages 6 to 17. But most lawmakers were willing to take what gains they could get through the compromise bill.“You know I’ve been told that a half a loaf is better than none,” said Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill. “This isn’t even half a loaf, but I’m going to vote for it because our families and businesses need help.”“What’s in front of us tonight is pretty simple,” said Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass. “Sixteen million children will benefit from the improvement to the child tax credit. That’s a fact.”But for some Democrats, it wasn’t enough.“This bill provides billions of dollars in tax relief for the wealthy, pennies for the poor,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn. “Big corporations are richer than ever. There is no even split.”And for some Republicans, it was too much. The chief critics of the expanded child tax credit likened it to “welfare.”“What is a refundable tax credit? It’s welfare by a different name. We’re going to give cash payments, checks, to people who don’t even pay taxes,” said Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky.Rep. Drew Ferguson, R-Ga., chafed at that characterization, saying “we all believe on this side of the aisle that you should work in order to receive federal benefits. That is something that this bill does.”While there were complaints about the tax bill from some of the most conservative and liberal members of the House, a significant majority from each party voted for it. Proponents are hoping the strong show of support will stir action in the Senate.The bill keeps a threshold of a household having $2,500 in income to be eligible for refundable child tax credit payments.

What's in the $79 billion tax cut bill that passed the US House

JERUSALEM —Attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels continue and U.S. forces continue to attempt to prevent them.

At 1:30 a.m., (Sanaa time) Thursday, U.S. Central Command forces conducted strikes against an Iranian-backed Houthi UAV ground control station and 10 Houthi one-way UAVs, according to a statement from the CENTCOM.

U.S. forces identified the UAV ground control station and one-way attack UAVs in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the U.S. Navy ships in the region.

U.S. Forces subsequently struck and destroyed the UAV ground control station and 10 one-way attack UAVs in self-defense. This action will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy vessels and merchant vessels.

At 8:30p.m. Wednesday, Iranian backed Houthi rebels fired one anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-0controlled territory in Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden, according to the U.S. Central Command. The U.S. Carney successfully shot down the missile.&nbsp;

At 9:10p.m. Wednesday, the Carney shot down three Iranian UAVs in the vicinity. There were no injuries reported.

Earlier in the day Wednesday,&nbsp;USCENTCOM forces struck and destroyed a Houthi surface-to-air missile prepared to launch. U.S. forces identified the missile in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that it presented an imminent threat to U.S. aircraft.

Meanwhile, the United States on Wednesday attributed the drone attack that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias, as President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-retaliation-iran-militia-drone-attack-1dda7fdb416f843b3a5cc84ea7b5f01c">weighs his options</a>&nbsp;to respond to the strike.

Iran threatened to “decisively respond” to any U.S. attack on the Islamic Republic after the U.S. said it held&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-jordan-dignified-transfer-dover-140000aa392fee8175616d8af813c0eb">Tehran responsible</a>. The U.S. has signaled it is preparing for retaliatory strikes in the Mideast in the wake of the Sunday drone attack that also wounded more than 40 troops at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jordan-drone-attack-iran-tower-22-israel-hamas-war-0265beed527e3009a966c0531c08838e">Tower 22</a>, a secretive base in northeastern Jordan that’s been crucial to the American presence in neighboring Syria.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday the U.S. believes the attack was planned, resourced and facilitated by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group that includes the militant group Kataib Hezbollah. He said Biden “believes that it is important to respond in an appropriate way.”

He said Biden was continuing to weigh his options, but Kirby said “the first thing you see won’t be the last thing," adding it “won't be a one-off.”

Kirby dismissed a statement by Iraqi militia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iraq-airstrike-military-iran-d93d861feeef90cfeac3ba85f1f2f36d">Kataib Hezbollah</a>&nbsp;announcing “the suspension of military and security operations against the occupation forces in order to prevent embarrassment to the Iraqi government.” He said the group can't be taken at face value, and he added, “they’re not the only group that has been attacking us.”

As of Wednesday, Kataib Hezbollah and other Iran-aligned militias had launched 166 attacks on U.S. military installations since Oct. 18, including 67 in Iraq, 98 in Syria and the one in Jordan, according to the U.S. military.

The U.S. has struck back at the militias a few times over the past three months. On Oct. 27,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-airstrikes-iran-revolutionary-guard-af3c7a0f069b8c8b08f6feaa0e165d6a">U.S. fighter jets struck</a>&nbsp;two weapons and ammunition storage sites in eastern Syria near Boukamal that were used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian-backed groups.

Also in Syria,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-iran-airstrikes-attack-bases-5be245a2927334ad0d78b8ec35fa55b7">fighter jets dropped bombs</a>&nbsp;on an IRGC weapons storage facility near Maysulun in Deir el-Zour on Nov. 8. And&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-syria-airstrikes-iran-irgc-a84ed69e5b0ef6c9fa18656b72a9fda1">U.S. airstrikes targeted a training facility</a>&nbsp;and a safe house in the Bulbul district of Mayadin on Nov. 12.

On Dec. 26,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-kataib-hezbollah-drone-strike-us-military-injured-b4b4480e2cae6e7ad26e88eb625ab397">the U.S. launched strikes on three locations</a>&nbsp;in Iraq used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups, and on Jan. 23, the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-us-strikes-target-iran-militia-41a0435545bb620d806c1fbbe9bf1519">struck three sites in Iraq,</a>&nbsp;again targeting Kataib Hezbollah.

Any&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-retaliation-iran-militia-drone-attack-1dda7fdb416f843b3a5cc84ea7b5f01c">additional American strikes</a>&nbsp;could further inflame a region already roiled by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s ongoing war on Hamas</a>&nbsp;in the Gaza Strip. The war began with Hamas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2">attacking Israel on Oct. 7</a>, killing some 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostage. Since then, Israeli strikes have killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-01-15-2024-2092ae0d8a4f57aa969e661c4da5ed8a">more than 26,000 Palestinians</a>&nbsp;and displaced nearly 2 million others from their homes, arousing anger throughout the Muslim world.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697765298614.png" alt="U.S. Carney -photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Carney -photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM —Attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels continue and U.S. forces continue to attempt to prevent them.At 1:30 a.m., (Sanaa time) Thursday, U.S. Central Command forces conducted strikes against an Iranian-backed Houthi UAV ground control station and 10 Houthi one-way UAVs, according to a statement from the CENTCOM.U.S. forces identified the UAV ground control station and one-way attack UAVs in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the U.S. Navy ships in the region.U.S. Forces subsequently struck and destroyed the UAV ground control station and 10 one-way attack UAVs in self-defense. This action will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy vessels and merchant vessels.At 8:30p.m. Wednesday, Iranian backed Houthi rebels fired one anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-0controlled territory in Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden, according to the U.S. Central Command. The U.S. Carney successfully shot down the missile.&nbsp;At 9:10p.m. Wednesday, the Carney shot down three Iranian UAVs in the vicinity. There were no injuries reported.Earlier in the day Wednesday,&nbsp;USCENTCOM forces struck and destroyed a Houthi surface-to-air missile prepared to launch. U.S. forces identified the missile in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that it presented an imminent threat to U.S. aircraft.Meanwhile, the United States on Wednesday attributed the drone attack that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias, as President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-retaliation-iran-militia-drone-attack-1dda7fdb416f843b3a5cc84ea7b5f01c">weighs his options</a>&nbsp;to respond to the strike.Iran threatened to “decisively respond” to any U.S. attack on the Islamic Republic after the U.S. said it held&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-jordan-dignified-transfer-dover-140000aa392fee8175616d8af813c0eb">Tehran responsible</a>. The U.S. has signaled it is preparing for retaliatory strikes in the Mideast in the wake of the Sunday drone attack that also wounded more than 40 troops at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jordan-drone-attack-iran-tower-22-israel-hamas-war-0265beed527e3009a966c0531c08838e">Tower 22</a>, a secretive base in northeastern Jordan that’s been crucial to the American presence in neighboring Syria.National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday the U.S. believes the attack was planned, resourced and facilitated by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group that includes the militant group Kataib Hezbollah. He said Biden “believes that it is important to respond in an appropriate way.”He said Biden was continuing to weigh his options, but Kirby said “the first thing you see won’t be the last thing," adding it “won't be a one-off.”Kirby dismissed a statement by Iraqi militia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iraq-airstrike-military-iran-d93d861feeef90cfeac3ba85f1f2f36d">Kataib Hezbollah</a>&nbsp;announcing “the suspension of military and security operations against the occupation forces in order to prevent embarrassment to the Iraqi government.” He said the group can't be taken at face value, and he added, “they’re not the only group that has been attacking us.”As of Wednesday, Kataib Hezbollah and other Iran-aligned militias had launched 166 attacks on U.S. military installations since Oct. 18, including 67 in Iraq, 98 in Syria and the one in Jordan, according to the U.S. military.The U.S. has struck back at the militias a few times over the past three months. On Oct. 27,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-airstrikes-iran-revolutionary-guard-af3c7a0f069b8c8b08f6feaa0e165d6a">U.S. fighter jets struck</a>&nbsp;two weapons and ammunition storage sites in eastern Syria near Boukamal that were used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian-backed groups.Also in Syria,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-iran-airstrikes-attack-bases-5be245a2927334ad0d78b8ec35fa55b7">fighter jets dropped bombs</a>&nbsp;on an IRGC weapons storage facility near Maysulun in Deir el-Zour on Nov. 8. And&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-syria-airstrikes-iran-irgc-a84ed69e5b0ef6c9fa18656b72a9fda1">U.S. airstrikes targeted a training facility</a>&nbsp;and a safe house in the Bulbul district of Mayadin on Nov. 12.On Dec. 26,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-kataib-hezbollah-drone-strike-us-military-injured-b4b4480e2cae6e7ad26e88eb625ab397">the U.S. launched strikes on three locations</a>&nbsp;in Iraq used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups, and on Jan. 23, the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-us-strikes-target-iran-militia-41a0435545bb620d806c1fbbe9bf1519">struck three sites in Iraq,</a>&nbsp;again targeting Kataib Hezbollah.Any&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-retaliation-iran-militia-drone-attack-1dda7fdb416f843b3a5cc84ea7b5f01c">additional American strikes</a>&nbsp;could further inflame a region already roiled by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s ongoing war on Hamas</a>&nbsp;in the Gaza Strip. The war began with Hamas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2">attacking Israel on Oct. 7</a>, killing some 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostage. Since then, Israeli strikes have killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-01-15-2024-2092ae0d8a4f57aa969e661c4da5ed8a">more than 26,000 Palestinians</a>&nbsp;and displaced nearly 2 million others from their homes, arousing anger throughout the Muslim world.

U.S. strikes rebel UAVs and ground control station

WASHINGTON (AP) —Sexual predators. Addictive features. Suicide and eating disorders. Unrealistic beauty standards. Bullying. These are just some of the issues young people are dealing with on social media — and children's advocates and lawmakers say companies are not doing enough to protect them.

On Wednesday, the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies went before the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify as lawmakers and parents grow increasingly concerned about the effects of social media on young people’s lives.

The hearing began with recorded testimony from kids and parents who said they or their children were exploited on social media. Throughout the hours-long event, parents who lost children to suicide silently held up pictures of their dead kids.

"They’re responsible for many of the dangers our children face online,” U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, who chairs the committee, said in opening remarks. “Their design choices, their failures to adequately invest in trust and safety, their constant pursuit of engagement and profit over basic safety have all put our kids and grandkids at risk.”

In a heated question and answer session with Mark Zuckerberg, Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley asked the Meta CEO if he has personally compensated any of the victims and their families for what they have been through.

“I don't think so,” Zuckerberg replied.

“There's families of victims here,” Hawley said. “Would you like to apologize to them?”

Parents attending the hearing rose and held up pictures of their children. Zuckerberg stood as well, turning away from his microphone and the senators to address them directly.

“I’m sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered,” he said, adding that Meta continues to invest and work on “industry-wide efforts” to protect children.

But time and time again, children’s advocates and parents have stressed that none of the companies are doing enough.

“Meta’s general approach is ‘trust us, we’ll do the right thing’, but how can we trust Meta? The way they talk about these issues feels like they are trying to gaslight the world, said Arturo Béjar, a former engineering director at the social media giant known for his expertise in curbing online harassment who recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-instagram-mark-zuckerberg-child-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-7257a60d768f59ce16a4d925b7ebfa40">testified before Congress</a>&nbsp;about child safety on Meta’s platforms. "Every parent I’ve met with a kid under 13 is afraid of when their kid is old enough to be in social media.”

Hawley continued to press Zuckerberg, asking if he'd take personal responsibility for the harms his company has caused. Zuckerberg stayed on message and repeated that Meta's job is to “build industry-leading tools” and empower parents.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham, the top Republican on the Judiciary panel, echoed Durbin's sentiments and said he's prepared to work with Democrats to solve the issue.

“After years of working on this issue with you and others, I’ve come to conclude the following: social media companies as they’re currently designed and operate are dangerous products," Graham said.

He told the executives their platforms have enriched lives but that it is time to deal with “the dark side.”

Beginning with Discord’s Jason Citron, the executives touted existing safety tools on their platforms and the work they’ve done with nonprofits and law enforcement to protect minors.

Snapchat had broken ranks ahead of the hearing and began backing a federal bill that would create a legal liability for apps and social platforms who recommend harmful content to minors. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel reiterated the company’s support on Wednesday and asked the industry to back the bill.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-ceo-congressional-hearing-bytedance-china-44d948c5b0ba18e2a714e0fa62d52779">TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew</a>&nbsp;said TikTok is vigilant about enforcing its policy barring children under 13 from using the app. CEO Linda Yaccarino said X, formerly Twitter, doesn’t cater to children.

“We do not have a line of business dedicated to children,” Yaccarino said. She said the company will also support Stop CSAM Act, a federal bill that make it easier for victims of child exploitation to sue tech companies.

Yet child health advocates say social media companies have failed repeatedly to protect minors.

“When you’re faced with really important safety and privacy decisions, the revenue in the bottom line should not be the first factor that these companies are considering," said Zamaan Qureshi, co-chair of Design It For Us, a youth-led coalition advocating for safer social media. "These companies have had opportunities to do this before they failed to do that. So independent regulation needs to step in.”

Republican and Democratic senators came together in a rare show of agreement throughout the hearing, though it’s not yet clear if this will be enough to pass legislation such as the Kids Online Safety Act, proposed in 2022 by Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.

Meta is being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/instagram-facebook-children-teens-harms-lawsuit-attorney-general-1805492a38f7cee111cbb865cc786c28">sued by dozens</a>&nbsp;of states that say it deliberately designs features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms and has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-instagram-mark-zuckerberg-child-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-7257a60d768f59ce16a4d925b7ebfa40">failed to protect them from online predators</a>.

New internal emails between Meta executives released by Blumenthal’s office show Nick Clegg, president of global affairs, and others asking Zuckerberg to hire more people to strengthen "wellbeing across the company” as concerns grew about effects on youth mental health.

“From a policy perspective, this work has become increasingly urgent over recent months. Politicians in the U.S., U.K., E.U. and Australia are publicly and privately expressing concerns about the impact of our products on young people’s mental health,” Clegg wrote in an August 2021 email.

The emails released by Blumenthal’s office don’t appear to include a response, if there was any, from Zuckerberg. In September 2021, The Wall Street Journal released the Facebook Files, its report based on internal documents from whistleblower&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-lifestyle-business-only-on-ap-media-e4f03d38243552e46a77d0d3f0d45e3b">Frances Haugen</a>, who later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-haugen-congress-testimony-1daac7a76ca7bf0b0802cc46e732b51b">testified</a>&nbsp;before the Senate.

Meta has beefed up its child safety features in recent weeks, announcing earlier this month that it will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-facebook-instagram-teens-suicide-eating-disorders-83dce63d9beed0a3ad0c53240077099f">start hiding inappropriate content</a>&nbsp;from teenagers’ accounts on Instagram and Facebook, including posts about suicide, self-harm and eating disorders. It also restricted&nbsp;<a href="https://about.fb.com/news/2024/01/introducing-stricter-message-settings-for-teens-on-instagram-and-facebook/">minors' ability to receive messages</a>&nbsp;from anyone they don’t follow or aren’t connected to on Instagram and on Messenger and added new “nudges” to try to discourage teens from browsing Instagram videos or messages late at night. The nudges encourage kids to close the app, though it does not force them to do so.

Google's YouTube is notably missing from the list of companies called to the Senate Wednesday even though more kids use YouTube than any other platform, according to the Pew Research Center. Pew found that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teens-social-media-tiktok-snapchat-17e0ff4dec0f2744674cac4e7ae5b3ca">93% of U.S. teens</a>&nbsp;use YouTube, with TikTok a distant second at 63%.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706728323611.png" alt="The CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies went before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday -Photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>The CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies went before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday -Photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Sexual predators. Addictive features. Suicide and eating disorders. Unrealistic beauty standards. Bullying. These are just some of the issues young people are dealing with on social media — and children's advocates and lawmakers say companies are not doing enough to protect them.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH: Hawley Convinces Facebook CEO Zuckerberg To Apologize To Victims Harmed &amp; Exploited By Platform <a href="https://t.co/tJwrQq3r9d">pic.twitter.com/tJwrQq3r9d</a>&mdash; Senator Hawley Press Office (@SenHawleyPress) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenHawleyPress/status/1752744174552486192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>On Wednesday, the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies went before the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify as lawmakers and parents grow increasingly concerned about the effects of social media on young people’s lives.The hearing began with recorded testimony from kids and parents who said they or their children were exploited on social media. Throughout the hours-long event, parents who lost children to suicide silently held up pictures of their dead kids.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SenOssoff?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenOssoff</a>: &quot;Is your platform safe for kids?&quot; Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg: &quot;I believe it is.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/YPielvWcnY">pic.twitter.com/YPielvWcnY</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1752765263953490027?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"They’re responsible for many of the dangers our children face online,” U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, who chairs the committee, said in opening remarks. “Their design choices, their failures to adequately invest in trust and safety, their constant pursuit of engagement and profit over basic safety have all put our kids and grandkids at risk.”In a heated question and answer session with Mark Zuckerberg, Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley asked the Meta CEO if he has personally compensated any of the victims and their families for what they have been through.“I don't think so,” Zuckerberg replied.“There's families of victims here,” Hawley said. “Would you like to apologize to them?”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706728521014.png" alt="During the hearing Missouri Senator Josh Hawley convinces Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to apologize to victims harmed, exploited by the platform" />
 <figcaption>During the hearing Missouri Senator Josh Hawley convinces Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to apologize to victims harmed, exploited by the platform</figcaption>
 </figure>Parents attending the hearing rose and held up pictures of their children. Zuckerberg stood as well, turning away from his microphone and the senators to address them directly.“I’m sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered,” he said, adding that Meta continues to invest and work on “industry-wide efforts” to protect children.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Exchange between <a href="https://twitter.com/SenJohnKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenJohnKennedy</a> and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg &amp; Sen. Kennedy on algorithms, the truth &amp; harms of social media. At one point, Sen. Kennedy referred to it as cess pool of snark and creepy. <a href="https://t.co/3Rlik1pKPh">pic.twitter.com/3Rlik1pKPh</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1752763024560025616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>But time and time again, children’s advocates and parents have stressed that none of the companies are doing enough.“Meta’s general approach is ‘trust us, we’ll do the right thing’, but how can we trust Meta? The way they talk about these issues feels like they are trying to gaslight the world, said Arturo Béjar, a former engineering director at the social media giant known for his expertise in curbing online harassment who recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-instagram-mark-zuckerberg-child-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-7257a60d768f59ce16a4d925b7ebfa40">testified before Congress</a>&nbsp;about child safety on Meta’s platforms. "Every parent I’ve met with a kid under 13 is afraid of when their kid is old enough to be in social media.”Hawley continued to press Zuckerberg, asking if he'd take personal responsibility for the harms his company has caused. Zuckerberg stayed on message and repeated that Meta's job is to “build industry-leading tools” and empower parents.“To make money,” Hawley cut in.South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham, the top Republican on the Judiciary panel, echoed Durbin's sentiments and said he's prepared to work with Democrats to solve the issue.“After years of working on this issue with you and others, I’ve come to conclude the following: social media companies as they’re currently designed and operate are dangerous products," Graham said.He told the executives their platforms have enriched lives but that it is time to deal with “the dark side.”Beginning with Discord’s Jason Citron, the executives touted existing safety tools on their platforms and the work they’ve done with nonprofits and law enforcement to protect minors.Snapchat had broken ranks ahead of the hearing and began backing a federal bill that would create a legal liability for apps and social platforms who recommend harmful content to minors. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel reiterated the company’s support on Wednesday and asked the industry to back the bill.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-ceo-congressional-hearing-bytedance-china-44d948c5b0ba18e2a714e0fa62d52779">TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew</a>&nbsp;said TikTok is vigilant about enforcing its policy barring children under 13 from using the app. CEO Linda Yaccarino said X, formerly Twitter, doesn’t cater to children.“We do not have a line of business dedicated to children,” Yaccarino said. She said the company will also support Stop CSAM Act, a federal bill that make it easier for victims of child exploitation to sue tech companies.Yet child health advocates say social media companies have failed repeatedly to protect minors.“When you’re faced with really important safety and privacy decisions, the revenue in the bottom line should not be the first factor that these companies are considering," said Zamaan Qureshi, co-chair of Design It For Us, a youth-led coalition advocating for safer social media. "These companies have had opportunities to do this before they failed to do that. So independent regulation needs to step in.”Republican and Democratic senators came together in a rare show of agreement throughout the hearing, though it’s not yet clear if this will be enough to pass legislation such as the Kids Online Safety Act, proposed in 2022 by Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.Meta is being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/instagram-facebook-children-teens-harms-lawsuit-attorney-general-1805492a38f7cee111cbb865cc786c28">sued by dozens</a>&nbsp;of states that say it deliberately designs features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms and has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-instagram-mark-zuckerberg-child-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-7257a60d768f59ce16a4d925b7ebfa40">failed to protect them from online predators</a>.New internal emails between Meta executives released by Blumenthal’s office show Nick Clegg, president of global affairs, and others asking Zuckerberg to hire more people to strengthen "wellbeing across the company” as concerns grew about effects on youth mental health.“From a policy perspective, this work has become increasingly urgent over recent months. Politicians in the U.S., U.K., E.U. and Australia are publicly and privately expressing concerns about the impact of our products on young people’s mental health,” Clegg wrote in an August 2021 email.The emails released by Blumenthal’s office don’t appear to include a response, if there was any, from Zuckerberg. In September 2021, The Wall Street Journal released the Facebook Files, its report based on internal documents from whistleblower&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-lifestyle-business-only-on-ap-media-e4f03d38243552e46a77d0d3f0d45e3b">Frances Haugen</a>, who later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-haugen-congress-testimony-1daac7a76ca7bf0b0802cc46e732b51b">testified</a>&nbsp;before the Senate.Meta has beefed up its child safety features in recent weeks, announcing earlier this month that it will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-facebook-instagram-teens-suicide-eating-disorders-83dce63d9beed0a3ad0c53240077099f">start hiding inappropriate content</a>&nbsp;from teenagers’ accounts on Instagram and Facebook, including posts about suicide, self-harm and eating disorders. It also restricted&nbsp;<a href="https://about.fb.com/news/2024/01/introducing-stricter-message-settings-for-teens-on-instagram-and-facebook/">minors' ability to receive messages</a>&nbsp;from anyone they don’t follow or aren’t connected to on Instagram and on Messenger and added new “nudges” to try to discourage teens from browsing Instagram videos or messages late at night. The nudges encourage kids to close the app, though it does not force them to do so.Google's YouTube is notably missing from the list of companies called to the Senate Wednesday even though more kids use YouTube than any other platform, according to the Pew Research Center. Pew found that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teens-social-media-tiktok-snapchat-17e0ff4dec0f2744674cac4e7ae5b3ca">93% of U.S. teens</a>&nbsp;use YouTube, with TikTok a distant second at 63%.——

🎥 Facebook CEO apologizes to victims harmed, exploited by platform

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve indicated Wednesday that it's nearing a long-awaited shift toward cutting interest rates, a sign that its officials have grown confident that they're close to fully taming inflation. But the Fed also signaled that the first rate cut is likely months away.

The central bank kept its key rate unchanged at about 5.4%, a 22-year high. In a statement, it marked a policy shift by dropping previous wording that had said it was still considering further rate hikes.

Still, the Fed cautioned that it "does not expect it will be appropriate" to cut rates "until it has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably" to its 2% target. That suggests that a rate reduction is unlikely at its next meeting in March.

"I don't think it's likely that the committee will reach a level of confidence by the time of the March meeting" to start cutting rates, Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference.

The overall changes to the Fed's statement Wednesday — compared with its last meeting in December — show that it has moved toward considering rate reductions while still maintaining flexibility. In December, the officials had signaled that they expected to carry out three quarter-point rate cuts in 2024. Yet they have said little about when those cuts might begin. Senior officials have stressed that the Fed will proceed cautiously.

The central bank's message — that it's edging closer to cutting rates but not planning to do so anytime soon — disappointed traders on Wall Street. Stock prices fell broadly after the statement was released and while Powell addressed reporters.

The change in the Fed's stance comes as the economy is showing surprising durability after a series of 11 rate hikes helped drastically slow inflation, which had hit a four-decade high 18 months ago. Over the past six months, prices have risen at an annual rate of just below 2%, consistent with the Fed's target level, according to its preferred inflation gauge. And growth remains healthy. In the final three months of last year, the economy expanded at a 3.3% annual rate, the government said last week.

The Fed is assessing inflation and the economy at a time when the intensifying presidential campaign is pivoting in no small part on voters' perceptions of President Joe Biden's economic stewardship. Republicans in Congress have attacked Biden over the high inflation that gripped the nation beginning in 2021 as the economy emerged from recession. But the latest economic data — ranging from steady consumer spending to solid job growth to the slowdown in inflation — has been bolstering consumer confidence.

At his news conference, Powell said the Fed welcomes signs of economic strength. But he said the policymakers are seeking further evidence of a sustained slowdown in inflation.

"We want to see strong growth and a strong labor market," the Fed chair said. "We're looking for inflation to come down, as it has been coming down for the last six months."

Most economists have said they expect the Fed to start cutting its benchmark rate in May or June. Rate cuts would eventually lead to lower borrowing costs for America's consumers and businesses, including for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards.

A year ago, many analysts were predicting that widespread layoffs and sharply higher unemployment would be needed to cool the economy and curb inflation. Yet job growth has been steady. The unemployment rate, at 3.7%, isn't far above a half-century low.

Labor costs are easing, too. On Wednesday, the government reported that pay and benefits for America's workers, which accelerated in 2022, grew in the final three months of 2023 at the slowest pace in 2 1/2 years.

The Fed appears on the verge of achieving a rare "soft landing," in which it manages to conquer high inflation without causing a recession. Should the pace of economic growth strengthen, though, it could complicate the challenge for the Fed. A much faster expansion, especially one fueled by rate cuts, could potentially re-ignite inflation.

On the other hand, any evidence that the economy is slowing appreciably would likely accelerate the Fed's timetable for rate cuts. And indeed, some cracks in the job market have begun to emerge and, if they worsen, could spur the Fed to cut rates quickly.

"If we saw an unexpected weakening in the labor market, that would certainly weigh on cutting sooner," Powell said at his news conference. "If we saw inflation being stickier or higher, it would argue for moving later."

Asked whether he thought the Fed has already achieved a soft landing, Powell suggested it would be premature to say so.

"We have a ways to go," he said. "Core inflation is still well above target on a 12-month basis. Certainly, I'm encouraged and we're encouraged by the progress, but we're not declaring victory at this point. We think we have a ways to go."

For several months, most of the nation's job growth has occurred in just a few sectors — health care, government and hotels, restaurants and entertainment. Any weakening in those areas of the economy could threaten hiring and the overall expansion.

A report Tuesday showed that the number of workers who quit in December reached its lowest level in three years. That suggested that fewer Americans are being recruited for new, higher-paying jobs or are willing to search for and take new positions. Though quits remain at a level consistent with a solid job market, they have fallen about one-third from their peak in mid-2022.

Still, the U.S. economy is outdoing its counterparts overseas. During the October-December quarter, the 20 countries that share the euro currency barely avoided a recession, posting essentially no growth. Still, as in the United States, unemployment is very low in the euro area, and inflation has slowed to a 2.9% annual rate. Though the European Central Bank could cut rates as soon as April, many economists think that might not happen until June.

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER&nbsp;WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve indicated Wednesday that it's nearing a long-awaited shift toward cutting interest rates, a sign that its officials have grown confident that they're close to fully taming inflation. But the Fed also signaled that the first rate cut is likely months away.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fed Chair Powell: &quot;We believe that our policy rate is likely at its peak for this tightening cycle and that if the economy evolves broadly as expected, it will likely be appropriate to begin dialing back policy restraint at some point this year.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FOMC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FOMC</a> <a href="https://t.co/yAfZAciDHG">pic.twitter.com/yAfZAciDHG</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1752782457072431479?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The central bank kept its key rate unchanged at about 5.4%, a 22-year high. In a statement, it marked a policy shift by dropping previous wording that had said it was still considering further rate hikes.Still, the Fed cautioned that it "does not expect it will be appropriate" to cut rates "until it has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably" to its 2% target. That suggests that a rate reduction is unlikely at its next meeting in March."I don't think it's likely that the committee will reach a level of confidence by the time of the March meeting" to start cutting rates, Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference.The overall changes to the Fed's statement Wednesday — compared with its last meeting in December — show that it has moved toward considering rate reductions while still maintaining flexibility. In December, the officials had signaled that they expected to carry out three quarter-point rate cuts in 2024. Yet they have said little about when those cuts might begin. Senior officials have stressed that the Fed will proceed cautiously.The central bank's message — that it's edging closer to cutting rates but not planning to do so anytime soon — disappointed traders on Wall Street. Stock prices fell broadly after the statement was released and while Powell addressed reporters.The change in the Fed's stance comes as the economy is showing surprising durability after a series of 11 rate hikes helped drastically slow inflation, which had hit a four-decade high 18 months ago. Over the past six months, prices have risen at an annual rate of just below 2%, consistent with the Fed's target level, according to its preferred inflation gauge. And growth remains healthy. In the final three months of last year, the economy expanded at a 3.3% annual rate, the government said last week.The Fed is assessing inflation and the economy at a time when the intensifying presidential campaign is pivoting in no small part on voters' perceptions of President Joe Biden's economic stewardship. Republicans in Congress have attacked Biden over the high inflation that gripped the nation beginning in 2021 as the economy emerged from recession. But the latest economic data — ranging from steady consumer spending to solid job growth to the slowdown in inflation — has been bolstering consumer confidence.At his news conference, Powell said the Fed welcomes signs of economic strength. But he said the policymakers are seeking further evidence of a sustained slowdown in inflation."We want to see strong growth and a strong labor market," the Fed chair said. "We're looking for inflation to come down, as it has been coming down for the last six months."Most economists have said they expect the Fed to start cutting its benchmark rate in May or June. Rate cuts would eventually lead to lower borrowing costs for America's consumers and businesses, including for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards.A year ago, many analysts were predicting that widespread layoffs and sharply higher unemployment would be needed to cool the economy and curb inflation. Yet job growth has been steady. The unemployment rate, at 3.7%, isn't far above a half-century low.Labor costs are easing, too. On Wednesday, the government reported that pay and benefits for America's workers, which accelerated in 2022, grew in the final three months of 2023 at the slowest pace in 2 1/2 years.The Fed appears on the verge of achieving a rare "soft landing," in which it manages to conquer high inflation without causing a recession. Should the pace of economic growth strengthen, though, it could complicate the challenge for the Fed. A much faster expansion, especially one fueled by rate cuts, could potentially re-ignite inflation.On the other hand, any evidence that the economy is slowing appreciably would likely accelerate the Fed's timetable for rate cuts. And indeed, some cracks in the job market have begun to emerge and, if they worsen, could spur the Fed to cut rates quickly."If we saw an unexpected weakening in the labor market, that would certainly weigh on cutting sooner," Powell said at his news conference. "If we saw inflation being stickier or higher, it would argue for moving later."Asked whether he thought the Fed has already achieved a soft landing, Powell suggested it would be premature to say so."We have a ways to go," he said. "Core inflation is still well above target on a 12-month basis. Certainly, I'm encouraged and we're encouraged by the progress, but we're not declaring victory at this point. We think we have a ways to go."For several months, most of the nation's job growth has occurred in just a few sectors — health care, government and hotels, restaurants and entertainment. Any weakening in those areas of the economy could threaten hiring and the overall expansion.A report Tuesday showed that the number of workers who quit in December reached its lowest level in three years. That suggested that fewer Americans are being recruited for new, higher-paying jobs or are willing to search for and take new positions. Though quits remain at a level consistent with a solid job market, they have fallen about one-third from their peak in mid-2022.Still, the U.S. economy is outdoing its counterparts overseas. During the October-December quarter, the 20 countries that share the euro currency barely avoided a recession, posting essentially no growth. Still, as in the United States, unemployment is very low in the euro area, and inflation has slowed to a 2.9% annual rate. Though the European Central Bank could cut rates as soon as April, many economists think that might not happen until June.

Bad news for borrowers: Interest rate cuts still months away

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/01/30/pillen-plan-to-sweep-excess-cash-funds-gets-bumpy-reception-at-capitol-hearing/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Gov. Jim Pillen’s plan to use excess cash reserves to “jump-start” his property tax relief proposal got a rough reception Tuesday during a state legislative hearing.

A long line of representatives of wildlife, hunting, banking, retail, grocers, recycling and affordable housing groups spoke against two bills in the governor’s plan for “transformational” property tax relief. Officials with natural resources and rural water projects, as well as the state’s major chambers of commerce also voiced opposition. And while Secretary of State Bob Evnen testified “neutral,” he also raised concern about parts of the proposal.

Some called the plan to sweep $274 million out of state agency reserve funds for the plan a “bait and switch” because it would use money that was dedicated for programs like litter reduction, workforce training and affordable housing and not tax relief.

A parade of opponents said the sweep could delay much-needed projects, such as building more affordable housing, flood-control structures in Saunders County and a new rural water system in northeast Nebraska.

“If we don’t get this money, we’re really in dire straits,” said Annette Sudbeck of the Lewis &amp; Clark Natural Resources District.

Her district is looking at a possible loss of $15.5 million in funds for the $29 million replacement of an aging rural water system in Knox and Cedar Counties, which she said would balloon the expected monthly water bill for a family of four to $140 a month.

But representatives of the Pillen administration said that agency cash funds had become “overbloated” and that agencies can afford to give up the funds. Some contracts might have to be cancelled or postponed, they said, but contracts include language to allow that if money is short.

“We have more than enough cushion to mitigate a recessionary blow,” Lee Will, the governor’s budget administrator, told the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee.

The agencies will still have $2.49 billion in reserve funds, the Pillen administration has said, even after the $274 million “sweep” of those funds.

The onslaught of opposition was not unexpected, based on past opposition to transferring money out of agency cash funds, said State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, who heads the committee.

This is a little bit of a bait and switch, and I think it's bad policy.

– John Lindsay, a former state senator representing several interest groups

Clements, who has said high property taxes are a crisis that warrant the fund transfers and new taxes, said his committee will carefully review the testimony presented Tuesday.

The senator said he was swayed by at least one group’s&nbsp;argument. Tim McCoy, head of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, said taking $9.5 million out of the agency’s game and habitat funds — funds that coming from hunting licenses and habitat stamps — would cost the agency in excess of $24 million in federal funds.

Some 20 other opponents to Pillen’s plan gave similar stories, as did 45 people who submitted written comments.

Representatives of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and other business groups said those entities helped set up cash funds years ago to provide money for worker training, litter reduction grants and unemployment insurance payouts during economic downturns.

If those funds were raided for a purpose beyond their original intent, they said, their members would ask “why are we paying these fees?” and would likely work to eliminate the programs.

“This is a little bit of a bait and switch, and I think it’s bad policy,” said John Lindsay, a former state senator who spoke on behalf of the beverage industry, as well as the state’s grocers and retailers.

Representatives of the state’s telecommunications industry said a proposed $14.5 million transfer from a Universal Services Fund used to enhance broadband and cell phone service in remote areas was unconstitutional, based on a recent Nebraska Supreme Court ruling.

State Sen. Tony Vargas, as well as a representative of the OpenSky Policy Institute, a state policy watchdog group, questioned the sweep of cash reserves held by state agencies at a time when the state is flush with funds.

Among the fund transfers Gov. Jim Pillen proposed is $85 million that had been set aside for future study and development of a massive sandpit lake near Gretna.

Lee Will, the governor’s budget administrator, said Pillen’s budget focuses on “needs” and not “wants.”

Tom Riley, the director of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, said sufficient funds would be remaining to complete studies on the lake’s projected impact on nearby well fields and financial feasibility.

Ninety percent of the $1 billion project, officials have said, would come from private donations or housing developers.

In the past, they said, raids on agency cash funds — sometimes referred to as the state’s “cookie jar” — has happened only when the state faced a true budget crisis and was scraping every up available penny to avoid spending cuts or tax hikes.

But Will, the governor’s budget director, said those cash reserve funds have been growing steadily at state agencies and had become “overbloated.”

The $274 million in fund transfers, he said, were needed to fund state government during a few months before the second — and also controversial — part of the Pillen plan would go into effect: taxing formerly tax-exempt sales and possibly raising the state sales tax from 5.5 cents to 6.5 cents.

“We must be bold and provide a 40% property tax reduction,” Will said, calling high property taxes a “crisis” that was forcing some people out of their homes.

In recent years, state lawmakers have boosted state tax credits by $1 billion to defray local property tax bills. But in most cases the credits simply blunted increases, rather than lowering those bills, to the frustration of conservatives like Pillen.

His proposal contains another $1 billion in relief — getting the property tax reduction to 40% — along with a “hard cap” on local government and school spending to ensure the extra funds translate into lower taxes.

Will said that if Pillen’s plan passes, the state would rank in the middle of the states in terms of property tax burden. Nebraska now has the 43rd highest property taxes,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://todayshomeowner.com/home-finances/guides/high-property-taxes-ranking-each-state-2022/#:~:text=New%20Jersey%20homeowners%20shoulder%20the,Hawaii%20ranks%20lowest%20at%20%241%2C893.">according to Wallet Hub.</a>

John Albin, the state’s labor commissioner, was among a handful of state agency directors testifying in support of Pillen’s fund transfers.

Albin said the state’s unemployment insurance fund, amassed by employers’ fees, had grown to $515 million by the end of 2023. So the fund, he said, could easily afford to transfer out $60 million, the largest fund transfer proposed by the governor.

But Ron Sedlacek, who testified for the Nebraska, Omaha and Lincoln chambers of commerce, said those “trust” funds were paid by businesses to ensure that Nebraska wouldn’t run out of funds to pay unemployment checks even if a recession or depression hit.

“If it’s going to be used for another purpose, I suppose the best course would be just to repeal (the unemployment insurance fee),” Sedlacek said.

Most opponents said they’d like to see something done about high property taxes but objected to the approach taken by Pillen.

“I haven’t met anyone opposed to tax relief. But it’s a real complicated issue,” said John Heaston of the Nebraska Sportsmen’s Foundation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706731924590.jpeg" alt="Gov. Pillen’s budget administrator, Lee Will, presented the governor’s plan Tuesday to sweep out $274 million in cash reserves from state agencies to help “jump-start” his property tax plan. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Pillen’s budget administrator, Lee Will, presented the governor’s plan Tuesday to sweep out $274 million in cash reserves from state agencies to help “jump-start” his property tax plan. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/01/30/pillen-plan-to-sweep-excess-cash-funds-gets-bumpy-reception-at-capitol-hearing/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Gov. Jim Pillen’s plan to use excess cash reserves to “jump-start” his property tax relief proposal got a rough reception Tuesday during a state legislative hearing.A long line of representatives of wildlife, hunting, banking, retail, grocers, recycling and affordable housing groups spoke against two bills in the governor’s plan for “transformational” property tax relief. Officials with natural resources and rural water projects, as well as the state’s major chambers of commerce also voiced opposition. And while Secretary of State Bob Evnen testified “neutral,” he also raised concern about parts of the proposal.<h2>Parade of opponents</h2>Some called the plan to sweep $274 million out of state agency reserve funds for the plan a “bait and switch” because it would use money that was dedicated for programs like litter reduction, workforce training and affordable housing and not tax relief.A parade of opponents said the sweep could delay much-needed projects, such as building more affordable housing, flood-control structures in Saunders County and a new rural water system in northeast Nebraska.“If we don’t get this money, we’re really in dire straits,” said Annette Sudbeck of the Lewis &amp; Clark Natural Resources District.Her district is looking at a possible loss of $15.5 million in funds for the $29 million replacement of an aging rural water system in Knox and Cedar Counties, which she said would balloon the expected monthly water bill for a family of four to $140 a month.<h2>Cash funds ‘overbloated’</h2>But representatives of the Pillen administration said that agency cash funds had become “overbloated” and that agencies can afford to give up the funds. Some contracts might have to be cancelled or postponed, they said, but contracts include language to allow that if money is short.“We have more than enough cushion to mitigate a recessionary blow,” Lee Will, the governor’s budget administrator, told the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee.The agencies will still have $2.49 billion in reserve funds, the Pillen administration has said, even after the $274 million “sweep” of those funds.The onslaught of opposition was not unexpected, based on past opposition to transferring money out of agency cash funds, said State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, who heads the committee.This is a little bit of a bait and switch, and I think it's bad policy.– John Lindsay, a former state senator representing several interest groupsClements, who has said high property taxes are a crisis that warrant the fund transfers and new taxes, said his committee will carefully review the testimony presented Tuesday.The senator said he was swayed by at least one group’s&nbsp;argument. Tim McCoy, head of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, said taking $9.5 million out of the agency’s game and habitat funds — funds that coming from hunting licenses and habitat stamps — would cost the agency in excess of $24 million in federal funds.<h2>65 opponents to the bills</h2>Some 20 other opponents to Pillen’s plan gave similar stories, as did 45 people who submitted written comments.Representatives of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and other business groups said those entities helped set up cash funds years ago to provide money for worker training, litter reduction grants and unemployment insurance payouts during economic downturns.If those funds were raided for a purpose beyond their original intent, they said, their members would ask “why are we paying these fees?” and would likely work to eliminate the programs.“This is a little bit of a bait and switch, and I think it’s bad policy,” said John Lindsay, a former state senator who spoke on behalf of the beverage industry, as well as the state’s grocers and retailers.Representatives of the state’s telecommunications industry said a proposed $14.5 million transfer from a Universal Services Fund used to enhance broadband and cell phone service in remote areas was unconstitutional, based on a recent Nebraska Supreme Court ruling.State Sen. Tony Vargas, as well as a representative of the OpenSky Policy Institute, a state policy watchdog group, questioned the sweep of cash reserves held by state agencies at a time when the state is flush with funds.<h2>Sandpit lake study funds</h2>Among the fund transfers Gov. Jim Pillen proposed is $85 million that had been set aside for future study and development of a massive sandpit lake near Gretna.Lee Will, the governor’s budget administrator, said Pillen’s budget focuses on “needs” and not “wants.”Tom Riley, the director of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, said sufficient funds would be remaining to complete studies on the lake’s projected impact on nearby well fields and financial feasibility.Ninety percent of the $1 billion project, officials have said, would come from private donations or housing developers.In the past, they said, raids on agency cash funds — sometimes referred to as the state’s “cookie jar” — has happened only when the state faced a true budget crisis and was scraping every up available penny to avoid spending cuts or tax hikes.But Will, the governor’s budget director, said those cash reserve funds have been growing steadily at state agencies and had become “overbloated.”<h2>‘Must be bold’</h2>The $274 million in fund transfers, he said, were needed to fund state government during a few months before the second — and also controversial — part of the Pillen plan would go into effect: taxing formerly tax-exempt sales and possibly raising the state sales tax from 5.5 cents to 6.5 cents.“We must be bold and provide a 40% property tax reduction,” Will said, calling high property taxes a “crisis” that was forcing some people out of their homes.In recent years, state lawmakers have boosted state tax credits by $1 billion to defray local property tax bills. But in most cases the credits simply blunted increases, rather than lowering those bills, to the frustration of conservatives like Pillen.His proposal contains another $1 billion in relief — getting the property tax reduction to 40% — along with a “hard cap” on local government and school spending to ensure the extra funds translate into lower taxes.Will said that if Pillen’s plan passes, the state would rank in the middle of the states in terms of property tax burden. Nebraska now has the 43rd highest property taxes,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://todayshomeowner.com/home-finances/guides/high-property-taxes-ranking-each-state-2022/#:~:text=New%20Jersey%20homeowners%20shoulder%20the,Hawaii%20ranks%20lowest%20at%20%241%2C893.">according to Wallet Hub.</a>John Albin, the state’s labor commissioner, was among a handful of state agency directors testifying in support of Pillen’s fund transfers.Albin said the state’s unemployment insurance fund, amassed by employers’ fees, had grown to $515 million by the end of 2023. So the fund, he said, could easily afford to transfer out $60 million, the largest fund transfer proposed by the governor.But Ron Sedlacek, who testified for the Nebraska, Omaha and Lincoln chambers of commerce, said those “trust” funds were paid by businesses to ensure that Nebraska wouldn’t run out of funds to pay unemployment checks even if a recession or depression hit.“If it’s going to be used for another purpose, I suppose the best course would be just to repeal (the unemployment insurance fee),” Sedlacek said.Most opponents said they’d like to see something done about high property taxes but objected to the approach taken by Pillen.“I haven’t met anyone opposed to tax relief. But it’s a real complicated issue,” said John Heaston of the Nebraska Sportsmen’s Foundation.

Pillen plan to ‘sweep’ excess cash funds gets bumpy reception at Capitol hearing

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Under an overcast sky last fall, engineers with a University of Nebraska road safety facility watched as a electric-powered pickup truck hurtled toward a guardrail installed on the facility's testing ground on the edge of the local municipal airport.

The test crash was to see how the guardrail — the same type found along tens of thousands of miles of roadway in the United States — would hold up against electric vehicles that can weigh thousands of pounds more than the average gas-powered sedan.

It came as little surprise when the nearly 4-ton 2022 Rivian R1T tore through the metal guardrail and hardly slowed until hitting a concrete barrier yards away on the other side.

“We knew it was going to be an extremely demanding test of the roadside safety system," said Cody Stolle with the university's Midwest Roadside Safety Facility. “The system was not made to handle vehicles greater than 5,000 pounds.”

The university released the results of the crash test Wednesday. The concern comes as the rising popularity of electric vehicles has led transportation officials to sound the alarm over the weight disparity of the new battery-powered vehicles and lighter gas-powered ones. Last year, the National Transportation Safety Board&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-road-safety-national-transportation-board-automotive-accidents-dd5c4260f68e9f5dcb430a02cc939f6b">expressed concern</a>&nbsp;about the safety risks heavy electric vehicles pose if they collide with lighter vehicles.

Road safety officials and organizations say the electric vehicles themselves appear to offer superior protection to their occupants, even if they might prove dangerous to occupants of lighter vehicles. The Rivian truck tested in Nebraska showed almost no damage to the cab's interior after slamming into the concrete barrier, Stolle said.

But the entire purpose of guardrails is to help keep passenger vehicles from leaving the roadway, said Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety. Guardrails are intended to keep cars from careening off the road at critical areas, such as over bridges and waterways, near the edges of cliffs and ravines and over rocky terrain, where injury and death in an off-the-road crash is much more likely.

“Guardrails are kind of a safety feature of last resort,” Brooks said. “I think what you're seeing here is the real concern with EVs — their weight. There are a lot of new vehicles in this larger-size range coming out in that 7,000-pound range. And that's a concern.”

The preliminary crash test sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Research and Development Center also crashed a Tesla sedan into a guardrail, in which the sedan lifted the guardrail and passed under it. The tests showed the barrier system is likely to be overmatched by heavier electric vehicles, officials said.

The extra weight of electric vehicles comes from their outsized batteries needed to achieve a travel range of about 300 miles (480 kilometers) per charge. The batteries themselves can weigh almost as much as a small gas-powered car. Electric vehicles typically weigh 20% to 50% more than gas-powered vehicles and have lower centers of gravity.

“So far, we don’t see good vehicle to guardrail compatibility with electric vehicles,” Stolle said.

More testing, involving computer simulations and test crashes of more electric vehicles, is planned, he said, and will be needed to determine how to engineer roadside barriers that minimize the effects of crashes for both lighter gas-powered vehicles and heavier electric vehicles.

“Right now, electric vehicles are at or around 10% of new vehicles sold, so we have some time,” Stolle said. “But as EVs continue to be sold and become more popular, this will become a more prevalent problem. There is some urgency to address this."

The facility has seen this problem before. In the 1990s, as more people began buying light-weight pickups and sport utility vehicles, the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility found that the then-50-year-old guardrail system was proving inadequate to handle their extra weight. So, it went about redesigning guardrails to adapt.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706729829392.jpeg" alt="A 2022 Rivian R1T is used for a crash test research by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Development Center and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Midwest Roadside Safety Facility on Oct. 12, 2023 in Lincoln, Neb. Preliminary tests point to concerns that the nation’s roadside guardrails are no match for new heavy electric vehicles. (Craig Chandler/University of Nebraska via AP)" />
 <figcaption>A 2022 Rivian R1T is used for a crash test research by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Development Center and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Midwest Roadside Safety Facility on Oct. 12, 2023 in Lincoln, Neb. Preliminary tests point to concerns that the nation’s roadside guardrails are no match for new heavy electric vehicles. (Craig Chandler/University of Nebraska via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Under an overcast sky last fall, engineers with a University of Nebraska road safety facility watched as a electric-powered pickup truck hurtled toward a guardrail installed on the facility's testing ground on the edge of the local municipal airport.The test crash was to see how the guardrail — the same type found along tens of thousands of miles of roadway in the United States — would hold up against electric vehicles that can weigh thousands of pounds more than the average gas-powered sedan.It came as little surprise when the nearly 4-ton 2022 Rivian R1T tore through the metal guardrail and hardly slowed until hitting a concrete barrier yards away on the other side.“We knew it was going to be an extremely demanding test of the roadside safety system," said Cody Stolle with the university's Midwest Roadside Safety Facility. “The system was not made to handle vehicles greater than 5,000 pounds.”The university released the results of the crash test Wednesday. The concern comes as the rising popularity of electric vehicles has led transportation officials to sound the alarm over the weight disparity of the new battery-powered vehicles and lighter gas-powered ones. Last year, the National Transportation Safety Board&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-road-safety-national-transportation-board-automotive-accidents-dd5c4260f68e9f5dcb430a02cc939f6b">expressed concern</a>&nbsp;about the safety risks heavy electric vehicles pose if they collide with lighter vehicles.Road safety officials and organizations say the electric vehicles themselves appear to offer superior protection to their occupants, even if they might prove dangerous to occupants of lighter vehicles. The Rivian truck tested in Nebraska showed almost no damage to the cab's interior after slamming into the concrete barrier, Stolle said.But the entire purpose of guardrails is to help keep passenger vehicles from leaving the roadway, said Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety. Guardrails are intended to keep cars from careening off the road at critical areas, such as over bridges and waterways, near the edges of cliffs and ravines and over rocky terrain, where injury and death in an off-the-road crash is much more likely.“Guardrails are kind of a safety feature of last resort,” Brooks said. “I think what you're seeing here is the real concern with EVs — their weight. There are a lot of new vehicles in this larger-size range coming out in that 7,000-pound range. And that's a concern.”The preliminary crash test sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Research and Development Center also crashed a Tesla sedan into a guardrail, in which the sedan lifted the guardrail and passed under it. The tests showed the barrier system is likely to be overmatched by heavier electric vehicles, officials said.The extra weight of electric vehicles comes from their outsized batteries needed to achieve a travel range of about 300 miles (480 kilometers) per charge. The batteries themselves can weigh almost as much as a small gas-powered car. Electric vehicles typically weigh 20% to 50% more than gas-powered vehicles and have lower centers of gravity.“So far, we don’t see good vehicle to guardrail compatibility with electric vehicles,” Stolle said.More testing, involving computer simulations and test crashes of more electric vehicles, is planned, he said, and will be needed to determine how to engineer roadside barriers that minimize the effects of crashes for both lighter gas-powered vehicles and heavier electric vehicles.“Right now, electric vehicles are at or around 10% of new vehicles sold, so we have some time,” Stolle said. “But as EVs continue to be sold and become more popular, this will become a more prevalent problem. There is some urgency to address this."The facility has seen this problem before. In the 1990s, as more people began buying light-weight pickups and sport utility vehicles, the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility found that the then-50-year-old guardrail system was proving inadequate to handle their extra weight. So, it went about redesigning guardrails to adapt.“At the time, lightweight pickups made up 10-to-15% of the vehicle fleet,” Stolle said. “Now, more than 50% of vehicles on the road are pickups and SUVs.”"So, here we are trying to do the same thing again: Adapt to the changing makeup of vehicles on the road."It's impossible to know what that change will look like, Stolle said."It could be concrete barriers. It could be something else,” he said. “The scope of what we have to change and update still remains to be determined.”The concern over the weight of electric vehicles stretches beyond vehicle-to-vehicle crashes and compatibility with guardrails, Brooks said. The extra weight will affect everything from faster wear on residential streets and driveways to vehicle tires and infrastructure like parking garages.“A lot of these parking structures were built to hold vehicles that weighed 2,000 to 4,000 pounds — not 10,000 pounds,” he said.“What really needs to happen is more collaboration between transportation engineers and vehicle manufacturers,” Brooks said. “That's where you might might see some real change.”