(LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;—&nbsp; Nebraska State Troopers removed from the road 35 impaired drivers during this year’s NSAA State Basketball tournaments, thanks in part to a special enforcement effort including troopers across the state.

During the two weekends of state basketball in Lincoln, troopers across the state arrested 35 people for driving under the influence. Troopers also stopped 38 drivers for speeding at 100 miles per hour or more.

“As teams claimed state titles in Lincoln, our troopers and dispatchers were working diligently to keep fans safe as they traveled across the state,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “As travelers faced the additional challenge of a winter storm late last week, we’d like to thank everyone for doing their part to keep Nebraska safe.”

In addition to the 35 people arrested for driving under the influence, troopers issued citations for speeding (612), driving under suspension (68), no seat belt (17), improper child restraint (12), and minor in possession (15). Troopers also assisted 341 motorists in need of help on the road during the two weekends.

The two campaigns ran from February 28 through March 2 and March 6 through March 9. This effort was made possible thanks in part to grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office.

Cody ThomasNebraska State Patrol(LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;—&nbsp; Nebraska State Troopers removed from the road 35 impaired drivers during this year’s NSAA State Basketball tournaments, thanks in part to a special enforcement effort including troopers across the state.During the two weekends of state basketball in Lincoln, troopers across the state arrested 35 people for driving under the influence. Troopers also stopped 38 drivers for speeding at 100 miles per hour or more.“As teams claimed state titles in Lincoln, our troopers and dispatchers were working diligently to keep fans safe as they traveled across the state,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “As travelers faced the additional challenge of a winter storm late last week, we’d like to thank everyone for doing their part to keep Nebraska safe.”In addition to the 35 people arrested for driving under the influence, troopers issued citations for speeding (612), driving under suspension (68), no seat belt (17), improper child restraint (12), and minor in possession (15). Troopers also assisted 341 motorists in need of help on the road during the two weekends.The two campaigns ran from February 28 through March 2 and March 6 through March 9. This effort was made possible thanks in part to grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office.

Troopers Arrest 35 Impaired Drivers During State Basketball

ATLANTA (AP) — Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis must step aside from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-investigation-grand-jury-willis-d39562cedfc60d64948708de1b011ed3">the Georgia election interference case</a>&nbsp;against Donald Trump or remove the special prosecutor with whom she had a romantic relationship before the case can proceed, the judge overseeing it ruled Friday.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee did not find that Willis' relationship with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-willis-wade-georgia-election-5d76abb5578308317306e7b2e610ac91">special prosecutor Nathan Wade</a>&nbsp;amounted to a conflict of interest that should disqualify her from one of&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/index.html">four criminal cases</a>&nbsp;against the Republican former president.

However, the judge said, it created “appearance of impropriety” that infected the prosecution team, and he questioned the truthfulness of Willis and Wade's testimony about the timing of their relationship.

“As the case moves forward, reasonable members of the public could easily be left to wonder whether the financial exchanges have continued resulting in some form of benefit to the District Attorney, or even whether the romantic relationship has resumed," the judge wrote.

"Put differently, an outsider could reasonably think that the District Attorney is not exercising her independent professional judgment totally free of any compromising influences. As long as Wade remains on the case, this unnecessary perception will persist.”

A spokesperson for Willis did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment Friday.

An attorney for Trump said they respect the court's decision but believe the judge “did not afford appropriate significance to the prosecutorial misconduct of Willis and Wade."

“We will use all legal options available as we continue to fight to end this case, which should never have been brought in the first place,” defense attorney Steve Sadow said.

Willis hired Wade to lead the team to investigate and ultimately prosecute Trump and 18 others accused of participating in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally try to overturn Trump’s narrow loss to Democrat Joe Biden in Georgia in 2020. Willis and Wade&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fani-willis-hearing-trump-case-potential-conflict-c37fcf993ac33c150f3cb3e4a7a888db">testified at a hearing</a>&nbsp;last month that they had engaged in a romantic relationship, but they rejected the idea that Willis improperly benefited from it, as lawyers for Trump and some of his co-defendants alleged.

McAfee wrote that there was insufficient evidence that Willis had a personal stake in the prosecution. But he condemned what he described as a “tremendous” lapse in judgment and the “unprofessional manner of the District Attorney’s testimony."

The judge said he was unable to “conclusively establish by a preponderance of the evidence” whether Willis and Wade began dating before or after he was hired as special prosecutor.

“However, an odor of mendacity remains," the judge wrote. He said “reasonable questions” about whether Willis and Wade testified truthfully about the timing of their relationship “further underpin the finding of an appearance of impropriety and the need to make proportional efforts to cure it.”

Even so, he said, dismissal of the case was not the appropriate remedy to "adequately dissipate the financial cloud of impropriety and potential untruthfulness found here.”

McAfee found no showing that the due process rights of Trump and the other defendants had been violated or that the issues involved prejudiced them in any way. He also said the disqualification of a constitutional officer, like a district attorney, is not necessary when a less drastic option is sufficient.

The judge said he believes that “Georgia law does not permit the finding of an actual conflict for simply making bad choices -- even repeatedly -- and it is the trial court’s duty to confine itself to the relevant issues and applicable law properly brought before it.”

An attorney for co-defendant Michael Roman asked McAfee to dismiss the indictment and prevent Willis and Wade and their offices from continuing to prosecute the case. The attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, alleged that Willis paid Wade large sums for his work and then improperly benefited from the prosecution of the case when Wade used his earnings to pay for vacations for the two of them.

Willis had insisted that the relationship created no financial or personal conflict of interest that justified removing her office from the case. She and Wade testified that their relationship began in the spring of 2022 and ended in the summer of 2023. They both said that Willis either paid for things herself or used cash to reimburse Wade for travel expenses.

The sprawling indictment charges Trump and more than a dozen other defendants with violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, known as RICO. The case uses a statute normally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-trump-election-investigation-indictment-rico-willis-2b18a1c1ed6a4ce22b1a2ca88ea861e3">associated with mobsters</a>&nbsp;to accuse the former president, lawyers and other aides of a “criminal enterprise” to keep him in power after he lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden.

Trump, Republicans’ presumptive presidential nominee for 2024, has denied doing anything wrong and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-waives-arraignment-georgia-election-investigation-25a0d9cffd038eb88b805525c85ed0c5">pleaded not guilty</a>.

Earlier this week, the judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-election-interference-2020-trump-46e0b68c25719c404130f7e6eab69dcd">dismissed some of the charges</a>&nbsp;against Trump.

The six challenged counts charged the defendants with soliciting public officers to violate their oaths. One count stemmed from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-georgia-elections-a7b4aa4d8ce3bf52301ddbe620c6bff6">phone call Trump made</a>&nbsp;to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a fellow Republican, on Jan. 2, 2021, in which Trump urged Raffensperger to “find 11,780 votes” for him to win the election in the state.

Another of the dismissed counts accused Trump of soliciting then-Georgia House Speaker David Ralston to violate his oath of office by calling a special session of the legislature to unlawfully appoint presidential electors.

McAfee said the counts did not allege sufficient detail regarding the nature of the violations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708029546187.png" alt="Fulton County DA Fani Willis during the hearing in February-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Fulton County DA Fani Willis during the hearing in February-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) — Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis must step aside from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-investigation-grand-jury-willis-d39562cedfc60d64948708de1b011ed3">the Georgia election interference case</a>&nbsp;against Donald Trump or remove the special prosecutor with whom she had a romantic relationship before the case can proceed, the judge overseeing it ruled Friday.Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee did not find that Willis' relationship with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-willis-wade-georgia-election-5d76abb5578308317306e7b2e610ac91">special prosecutor Nathan Wade</a>&nbsp;amounted to a conflict of interest that should disqualify her from one of&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/index.html">four criminal cases</a>&nbsp;against the Republican former president.However, the judge said, it created “appearance of impropriety” that infected the prosecution team, and he questioned the truthfulness of Willis and Wade's testimony about the timing of their relationship.“As the case moves forward, reasonable members of the public could easily be left to wonder whether the financial exchanges have continued resulting in some form of benefit to the District Attorney, or even whether the romantic relationship has resumed," the judge wrote."Put differently, an outsider could reasonably think that the District Attorney is not exercising her independent professional judgment totally free of any compromising influences. As long as Wade remains on the case, this unnecessary perception will persist.”A spokesperson for Willis did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment Friday.An attorney for Trump said they respect the court's decision but believe the judge “did not afford appropriate significance to the prosecutorial misconduct of Willis and Wade."“We will use all legal options available as we continue to fight to end this case, which should never have been brought in the first place,” defense attorney Steve Sadow said.Willis hired Wade to lead the team to investigate and ultimately prosecute Trump and 18 others accused of participating in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally try to overturn Trump’s narrow loss to Democrat Joe Biden in Georgia in 2020. Willis and Wade&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fani-willis-hearing-trump-case-potential-conflict-c37fcf993ac33c150f3cb3e4a7a888db">testified at a hearing</a>&nbsp;last month that they had engaged in a romantic relationship, but they rejected the idea that Willis improperly benefited from it, as lawyers for Trump and some of his co-defendants alleged.McAfee wrote that there was insufficient evidence that Willis had a personal stake in the prosecution. But he condemned what he described as a “tremendous” lapse in judgment and the “unprofessional manner of the District Attorney’s testimony."The judge said he was unable to “conclusively establish by a preponderance of the evidence” whether Willis and Wade began dating before or after he was hired as special prosecutor.“However, an odor of mendacity remains," the judge wrote. He said “reasonable questions” about whether Willis and Wade testified truthfully about the timing of their relationship “further underpin the finding of an appearance of impropriety and the need to make proportional efforts to cure it.”Even so, he said, dismissal of the case was not the appropriate remedy to "adequately dissipate the financial cloud of impropriety and potential untruthfulness found here.”McAfee found no showing that the due process rights of Trump and the other defendants had been violated or that the issues involved prejudiced them in any way. He also said the disqualification of a constitutional officer, like a district attorney, is not necessary when a less drastic option is sufficient.The judge said he believes that “Georgia law does not permit the finding of an actual conflict for simply making bad choices -- even repeatedly -- and it is the trial court’s duty to confine itself to the relevant issues and applicable law properly brought before it.”An attorney for co-defendant Michael Roman asked McAfee to dismiss the indictment and prevent Willis and Wade and their offices from continuing to prosecute the case. The attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, alleged that Willis paid Wade large sums for his work and then improperly benefited from the prosecution of the case when Wade used his earnings to pay for vacations for the two of them.Willis had insisted that the relationship created no financial or personal conflict of interest that justified removing her office from the case. She and Wade testified that their relationship began in the spring of 2022 and ended in the summer of 2023. They both said that Willis either paid for things herself or used cash to reimburse Wade for travel expenses.The sprawling indictment charges Trump and more than a dozen other defendants with violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, known as RICO. The case uses a statute normally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-trump-election-investigation-indictment-rico-willis-2b18a1c1ed6a4ce22b1a2ca88ea861e3">associated with mobsters</a>&nbsp;to accuse the former president, lawyers and other aides of a “criminal enterprise” to keep him in power after he lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden.Trump, Republicans’ presumptive presidential nominee for 2024, has denied doing anything wrong and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-waives-arraignment-georgia-election-investigation-25a0d9cffd038eb88b805525c85ed0c5">pleaded not guilty</a>.Earlier this week, the judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-election-interference-2020-trump-46e0b68c25719c404130f7e6eab69dcd">dismissed some of the charges</a>&nbsp;against Trump.The six challenged counts charged the defendants with soliciting public officers to violate their oaths. One count stemmed from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-georgia-elections-a7b4aa4d8ce3bf52301ddbe620c6bff6">phone call Trump made</a>&nbsp;to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a fellow Republican, on Jan. 2, 2021, in which Trump urged Raffensperger to “find 11,780 votes” for him to win the election in the state.Another of the dismissed counts accused Trump of soliciting then-Georgia House Speaker David Ralston to violate his oath of office by calling a special session of the legislature to unlawfully appoint presidential electors.McAfee said the counts did not allege sufficient detail regarding the nature of the violations.

Judge: DA can stay on Trump case if romantic partner steps down

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claim to have a new, hypersonic missile in their arsenal, Russia's state media reported Thursday, potentially raising the stakes in their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and surrounding waterways against the backdrop of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/isral-hamas-war">Israel's war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip</a>.

The report by the state-run RIA Novosti news agency cited an unidentified official but provided no evidence for the claim. It comes as Moscow maintains an aggressively counter-Western foreign policy amid its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">grinding war on Ukraine</a>.

However, the Houthis have for weeks hinted about “surprises” they plan for the battles at sea to counter the United States and its allies, which have so far been able to down any missile or bomb-carrying drone that comes near their warships in Mideast waters.

A suspected attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels struck a ship in the Red Sea early Friday, causing damage to the vessel, authorities said.

The attack off the port city of Hodeida comes as part of the rebels' campaign against shipping over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/isral-hamas-war">Israel's ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip</a>.

On Thursday, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the Houthis’ secretive supreme leader, said the rebels will start hitting ships heading toward the Cape of Good Hope in Africa's southern tip. Until now, the rebels have largely struck ships heading into the Red Sea toward the Suez Canal, and such an escalation would target the longer, alternative route used by some vessels. It remains unclear how they would carry any possible assault out.

Meanwhile, Iran and the U.S. reportedly held indirect talks in Oman, the first in months amid their long-simmering tensions over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program and attacks by its proxies.

Iran, the Houthis' main benefactor, claims to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-hypersonic-missile-us-tensions-0a8e09f7e053f5fbce2d4e1d9c46a96e">have a hypersonic missile</a>&nbsp;and has widely armed the rebels with the missiles they now use. Adding a hypersonic missile to their arsenal could pose a more formidable challenge to the air defense systems employed by America and its allies, including Israel.

“The group’s missile forces have successfully tested a missile that is capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 8 and runs on solid fuel," a military official close to the Houthis said, according to the RIA report. The Houthis “intend to begin manufacturing it for use during attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, as well as against targets in Israel.”

Mach 8 is eight times the speed of sound.

Hypersonic weapons, which fly at speeds higher than Mach 5, could pose crucial challenges to missile defense systems because of their speed and maneuverability.

Ballistic missiles fly on a trajectory in which anti-missile systems like the U.S.-made Patriot can anticipate their path and intercept them. The more irregular the missile’s flight path, such as a hypersonic missile with the ability to change directions, the more difficult it becomes to intercept.

China is believed to be pursuing the weapons, as is America. Russia claims it has already used them.

In Yemen, Abdul Malik al-Houthi boasted that his fighters “continue to expand the effectiveness and scope of our operations to areas and locations the enemy never expects.” He said they would prevent ships “connected to the Israeli enemy even crossing the Indian Ocean ... heading toward the Cape of Good Hope.”

The Houthis have attacked ships since November, saying they want to force Israel to end its offensive in Gaza, launched in response to Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. The ships targeted by the Houthis, however, have increasingly had little or no connection to Israel, the U.S. or other nations involved in the war. The rebels have also fired missiles toward Israel, though they have largely fallen short or been intercepted.

The Houthis don't have a navy, nor weapons reaching into the far distances of the Indian Ocean, making their Cape of Good Hope threat difficult. However,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-ship-drone-attack-symi-39929cae42a191b2f242896a053123a7">Iran is suspected of targeting Israeli-linked vessels previously</a>&nbsp;in the Indian Ocean. The Houthis have claimed attacks assessed to have been carried out by Iran in the past, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/003f91f9709b48f1847c6206178dd335">the 2019 attack on Saudi Arabia that temporarily halved its oil production</a>.

After seizing Yemen's capital, Sanaa, in 2014, the Houthis ransacked government arsenals, which held Soviet-era Scud missiles and other arms.

As the Saudi-led coalition entered Yemen's conflict on behalf of its exiled government in 2015, the Houthis' arsenal was increasingly targeted. Soon — and despite Yemen having no indigenous missile manufacturing infrastructure — newer missiles made their way into rebel hands.

Iran long has denied arming the Houthis, likely because of a yearslong United Nations arms embargo on the rebels. However, the U.S. and its allies have seized&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">multiple arms shipments bound for the rebels in Mideast waters</a>. Weapons experts as well have tied Houthi arms seized on the battlefield back to Iran.

Iran also now claims to have a hypersonic weapon. In June,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-hypersonic-missile-us-tensions-0a8e09f7e053f5fbce2d4e1d9c46a96e">Iran unveiled its Fattah, or “Conqueror” in Farsi, missile</a>, which it described as being a hypersonic. It described another as being in development.

Iran's mission to the U.N. did not respond to a request for comment Thursday, nor did the U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, which patrols Mideast waterways.

Also Thursday, The Financial Times reported that the U.S. and Iran held indirect talks in Oman in January that America hoped would curtail the Red Sea attacks. The last known round of such talks had come last May.

Iran's state-run IRNA news agency indirectly acknowledged the talks but insisted they were “merely limited to negotiations on lifting anti-Iran sanctions.”

The U.S. State Department did not deny the January talks took place in a statement to The Associated Press, saying: “We have many channels for passing messages to Iran.”

“Since Oct. 7, all of (the communications) have been focused on raising the full range of threats emanating from Iran and the need for Iran to cease its across-the-board escalation,” it added.

The assaults on shipping have raised the profile of the Houthis, whose Zaydi people ruled a 1,000-year kingdom in Yemen up until 1962. Adding a new weapon increases that cachet and puts more pressure on Israel after a cease-fire deal failed to take hold in Gaza before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Earlier in March, a Houthi missile&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-attacks-us-israel-palestinians-gaza-89c5440d9943216a787b39912bd969e0">struck a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden</a>, killing three of its crew members and forcing survivors to abandon the vessel. It marked the first fatal attack by the Houthis on shipping.

Other recent Houthi actions include an attack last month on a cargo ship carrying fertilizer, the Rubymar,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-rubymar-sinks-red-sea-fb64a490ce935756337ee3606e15d093">which later sank after drifting</a>&nbsp;for several days.

A new suspected Houthi attack targeted a ship in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday, but missed the vessel and caused no damage, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said. A later attack similarly missed a vessel in the Red Sea off Yemen's port city of Hodeida, the center said early Friday.

Fabian Hinz, a missile expert and research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said he wouldn’t be surprised if Iran transferred a new, hypersonic weapon to the Houthis. However, the question is how maneuverable such a weapon would be at hypersonic speeds and whether it could hit moving targets, like ships in the Red Sea.

“I wouldn’t exclude the possibility that the Houthis have some system that has some maneuvering capability to some extent,” Hinz said. “It is also possible for the Iranians to transfer new stuff for the Houthis to test it.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699124273212.png" alt="File photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>File photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claim to have a new, hypersonic missile in their arsenal, Russia's state media reported Thursday, potentially raising the stakes in their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and surrounding waterways against the backdrop of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/isral-hamas-war">Israel's war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip</a>.The report by the state-run RIA Novosti news agency cited an unidentified official but provided no evidence for the claim. It comes as Moscow maintains an aggressively counter-Western foreign policy amid its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">grinding war on Ukraine</a>.However, the Houthis have for weeks hinted about “surprises” they plan for the battles at sea to counter the United States and its allies, which have so far been able to down any missile or bomb-carrying drone that comes near their warships in Mideast waters.A suspected attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels struck a ship in the Red Sea early Friday, causing damage to the vessel, authorities said.The attack off the port city of Hodeida comes as part of the rebels' campaign against shipping over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/isral-hamas-war">Israel's ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip</a>.On Thursday, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the Houthis’ secretive supreme leader, said the rebels will start hitting ships heading toward the Cape of Good Hope in Africa's southern tip. Until now, the rebels have largely struck ships heading into the Red Sea toward the Suez Canal, and such an escalation would target the longer, alternative route used by some vessels. It remains unclear how they would carry any possible assault out.Meanwhile, Iran and the U.S. reportedly held indirect talks in Oman, the first in months amid their long-simmering tensions over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program and attacks by its proxies.Iran, the Houthis' main benefactor, claims to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-hypersonic-missile-us-tensions-0a8e09f7e053f5fbce2d4e1d9c46a96e">have a hypersonic missile</a>&nbsp;and has widely armed the rebels with the missiles they now use. Adding a hypersonic missile to their arsenal could pose a more formidable challenge to the air defense systems employed by America and its allies, including Israel.“The group’s missile forces have successfully tested a missile that is capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 8 and runs on solid fuel," a military official close to the Houthis said, according to the RIA report. The Houthis “intend to begin manufacturing it for use during attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, as well as against targets in Israel.”Mach 8 is eight times the speed of sound.Hypersonic weapons, which fly at speeds higher than Mach 5, could pose crucial challenges to missile defense systems because of their speed and maneuverability.Ballistic missiles fly on a trajectory in which anti-missile systems like the U.S.-made Patriot can anticipate their path and intercept them. The more irregular the missile’s flight path, such as a hypersonic missile with the ability to change directions, the more difficult it becomes to intercept.China is believed to be pursuing the weapons, as is America. Russia claims it has already used them.In Yemen, Abdul Malik al-Houthi boasted that his fighters “continue to expand the effectiveness and scope of our operations to areas and locations the enemy never expects.” He said they would prevent ships “connected to the Israeli enemy even crossing the Indian Ocean ... heading toward the Cape of Good Hope.”The Houthis have attacked ships since November, saying they want to force Israel to end its offensive in Gaza, launched in response to Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. The ships targeted by the Houthis, however, have increasingly had little or no connection to Israel, the U.S. or other nations involved in the war. The rebels have also fired missiles toward Israel, though they have largely fallen short or been intercepted.The Houthis don't have a navy, nor weapons reaching into the far distances of the Indian Ocean, making their Cape of Good Hope threat difficult. However,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-ship-drone-attack-symi-39929cae42a191b2f242896a053123a7">Iran is suspected of targeting Israeli-linked vessels previously</a>&nbsp;in the Indian Ocean. The Houthis have claimed attacks assessed to have been carried out by Iran in the past, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/003f91f9709b48f1847c6206178dd335">the 2019 attack on Saudi Arabia that temporarily halved its oil production</a>.After seizing Yemen's capital, Sanaa, in 2014, the Houthis ransacked government arsenals, which held Soviet-era Scud missiles and other arms.As the Saudi-led coalition entered Yemen's conflict on behalf of its exiled government in 2015, the Houthis' arsenal was increasingly targeted. Soon — and despite Yemen having no indigenous missile manufacturing infrastructure — newer missiles made their way into rebel hands.Iran long has denied arming the Houthis, likely because of a yearslong United Nations arms embargo on the rebels. However, the U.S. and its allies have seized&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">multiple arms shipments bound for the rebels in Mideast waters</a>. Weapons experts as well have tied Houthi arms seized on the battlefield back to Iran.Iran also now claims to have a hypersonic weapon. In June,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-hypersonic-missile-us-tensions-0a8e09f7e053f5fbce2d4e1d9c46a96e">Iran unveiled its Fattah, or “Conqueror” in Farsi, missile</a>, which it described as being a hypersonic. It described another as being in development.Iran's mission to the U.N. did not respond to a request for comment Thursday, nor did the U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, which patrols Mideast waterways.Israel's military declined to comment.Also Thursday, The Financial Times reported that the U.S. and Iran held indirect talks in Oman in January that America hoped would curtail the Red Sea attacks. The last known round of such talks had come last May.Iran's state-run IRNA news agency indirectly acknowledged the talks but insisted they were “merely limited to negotiations on lifting anti-Iran sanctions.”The U.S. State Department did not deny the January talks took place in a statement to The Associated Press, saying: “We have many channels for passing messages to Iran.”“Since Oct. 7, all of (the communications) have been focused on raising the full range of threats emanating from Iran and the need for Iran to cease its across-the-board escalation,” it added.The assaults on shipping have raised the profile of the Houthis, whose Zaydi people ruled a 1,000-year kingdom in Yemen up until 1962. Adding a new weapon increases that cachet and puts more pressure on Israel after a cease-fire deal failed to take hold in Gaza before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.Earlier in March, a Houthi missile&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-attacks-us-israel-palestinians-gaza-89c5440d9943216a787b39912bd969e0">struck a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden</a>, killing three of its crew members and forcing survivors to abandon the vessel. It marked the first fatal attack by the Houthis on shipping.Other recent Houthi actions include an attack last month on a cargo ship carrying fertilizer, the Rubymar,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-rubymar-sinks-red-sea-fb64a490ce935756337ee3606e15d093">which later sank after drifting</a>&nbsp;for several days.A new suspected Houthi attack targeted a ship in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday, but missed the vessel and caused no damage, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said. A later attack similarly missed a vessel in the Red Sea off Yemen's port city of Hodeida, the center said early Friday.Fabian Hinz, a missile expert and research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said he wouldn’t be surprised if Iran transferred a new, hypersonic weapon to the Houthis. However, the question is how maneuverable such a weapon would be at hypersonic speeds and whether it could hit moving targets, like ships in the Red Sea.“I wouldn’t exclude the possibility that the Houthis have some system that has some maneuvering capability to some extent,” Hinz said. “It is also possible for the Iranians to transfer new stuff for the Houthis to test it.”

Report: Terrorists have hypersonic weapons for Red Sea attacks

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — The father of a Michigan school shooter was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter Thursday, a second conviction against the teen’s parents who were accused of failing to secure a gun at home and doing nothing to address acute signs of his mental turmoil.

The jury verdict means James Crumbley has joined Jennifer Crumbley as a cause of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/oxford-high-school-shooting">killing of four students</a>&nbsp;at Oxford High School in 2021, even without pulling the trigger.

They had separate trials as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oxford-high-school-shooting-shootings-education-violence-crime-31b054a2e403275f119b5e919f7fbc43">first U.S. parents to be charged</a>&nbsp;in a mass school shooting committed by their child. Jennifer Crumbley was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oxford-high-school-mother-charged-01f336607a496c5f9ff0cb3a7434d073">convicted of involuntary manslaughter in February</a>.

The verdicts — one each for the four victims — were read around 7:15 p.m. at the end of a full day of deliberations in Oakland County court.

James Crumbley, 47, who heard the outcome through headphones because of a hearing problem, shook his head from side to side as the jury foreman said “guilty.”

Family of some of the fallen students wept quietly and gripped each other's hands in the second row of the courtroom.

Later at a news conference, county prosecutor Karen McDonald stood next to them and praised their “unwavering courage” through extraordinary tragedy and grief.

“This verdict does not bring back their children, but it does mark a moment of accountability and will hopefully be another step to address and end gun violence,” McDonald said.

Defense attorney Mariell Lehman said James Crumbley “obviously feels terrible” about what happened at the school. He and his wife each face a possible minimum sentence of as much as 10 years in prison when they return to court April 9.

“While we are disappointed with the verdict, we know that the jury had a very difficult task in front of them,” Lehman told The Associated Press.

Prosecutors focused on two key themes at the trial: the parents’ response to a morbid drawing on Ethan Crumbley’s math assignment a few hours before the shooting, and the teen’s access to a Sig Sauer 9 mm handgun purchased by James Crumbley only four days earlier.

Ethan, 15, made a ghastly drawing of a gun and a wounded man on a math assignment and added disturbing phrases, “The thoughts won’t stop. Help me. My life is useless.”

But James and Jennifer Crumbley declined to take Ethan home following a brief meeting at the school, and staff didn’t demand it. A counselor, concerned about suicidal ideations,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oxford-school-shooting-james-crumbley-4156bb0b1fc0596e03f872a4f9972af0">told them to seek help for the boy within 48 hours.</a>

Ethan had told counselor Shawn Hopkins that he was sad over the death of his dog and grandmother and the loss of a friend who had abruptly moved away. He said the drawing was simply his jottings for a video game and that he wasn’t planning to commit violence.

Neither he, nor his parents, told school officials about the gun they had just bought, according to trial testimony.

Hopkins had hoped Ethan would spend the day with his parents. But when that was ruled out, the counselor felt the teen would probably be safer around others at school.

Ethan later pulled the Sig Sauer from his backpack and began shooting that same day, killing Justin Shilling, 17; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; Hana St. Juliana, 14; and Tate Myre, 16. No one had checked the bag, though a school administrator had joked about its heaviness.

“James Crumbley is not on trial for what his son did,” McDonald told the jury Wednesday. “James Crumbley is on trial for what he did and for what he didn’t do.”

He “doesn’t get a pass because somebody else” actually pulled the trigger, she said.

Hopkins told the jury that James Crumbley showed empathy toward his son during the meeting about the drawing, but took no additional action.

When James Crumbley heard about the shooting, he rushed home from his DoorDash job and looked for the gun.

“I think my son took the gun,” he said in a frantic 911 call.

Investigators found an empty gun case and empty ammunition box on the parents’ bed. A cable that could have locked the gun was still in a package, unopened.

Ethan told a judge when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pontiac-michigan-oxford-high-school-shooting-crime-shootings-ff69e26f96bb07af5dcb76bddc650bb4">he pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;to murder and terrorism that the gun was not locked when he stuffed it in his backpack before school.

Lehman, the defense lawyer, tried to emphasize to jurors that James Crumbley did not consent to any gun access by his son.

“He did not know he had to protect others from his son,” she said. “He did not know that it was reasonably foreseeable that his son would commit these offenses. He had no idea what his son was planning to do.”

There was no testimony from experts about Ethan’s mental health, and no records were introduced. The boy’s lawyers said before trial that he would invoke his right to remain silent if called to testify.

But the judge allowed the jury to see excerpts from the teen’s handwritten journal.

“I have zero help for my mental problems and it’s causing me to shoot up the ... school,” Ethan wrote. “I want help but my parents don’t listen to me so I can’t get any help.”

Now 17, he is serving a life sentence with no chance for parole.

After Judge Cheryl Matthews lifted a gag order that had prevented lawyers from speaking to reporters, Jennifer Crumbley's attorney Shannon Smith declined to comment Thursday night.

“We believe the victims, their families, and the community need and deserve the space and time to begin healing from this tragedy,” Smith said on Facebook.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638621716369.png" alt="James Crumbley as shown in his 2021 booking&nbsp; photo from Oakland County, Michigan" />
 <figcaption>James Crumbley as shown in his 2021 booking&nbsp; photo from Oakland County, Michigan</figcaption>
 </figure>PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — The father of a Michigan school shooter was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter Thursday, a second conviction against the teen’s parents who were accused of failing to secure a gun at home and doing nothing to address acute signs of his mental turmoil.The jury verdict means James Crumbley has joined Jennifer Crumbley as a cause of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/oxford-high-school-shooting">killing of four students</a>&nbsp;at Oxford High School in 2021, even without pulling the trigger.They had separate trials as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oxford-high-school-shooting-shootings-education-violence-crime-31b054a2e403275f119b5e919f7fbc43">first U.S. parents to be charged</a>&nbsp;in a mass school shooting committed by their child. Jennifer Crumbley was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oxford-high-school-mother-charged-01f336607a496c5f9ff0cb3a7434d073">convicted of involuntary manslaughter in February</a>.The verdicts — one each for the four victims — were read around 7:15 p.m. at the end of a full day of deliberations in Oakland County court.James Crumbley, 47, who heard the outcome through headphones because of a hearing problem, shook his head from side to side as the jury foreman said “guilty.”Family of some of the fallen students wept quietly and gripped each other's hands in the second row of the courtroom.Later at a news conference, county prosecutor Karen McDonald stood next to them and praised their “unwavering courage” through extraordinary tragedy and grief.“This verdict does not bring back their children, but it does mark a moment of accountability and will hopefully be another step to address and end gun violence,” McDonald said.Defense attorney Mariell Lehman said James Crumbley “obviously feels terrible” about what happened at the school. He and his wife each face a possible minimum sentence of as much as 10 years in prison when they return to court April 9.“While we are disappointed with the verdict, we know that the jury had a very difficult task in front of them,” Lehman told The Associated Press.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638621694054.png" alt="Jennifer Crumbley as shown in his 2021 booking&nbsp; photo from Oakland County, Michigan" />
 <figcaption>Jennifer Crumbley as shown in his 2021 booking&nbsp; photo from Oakland County, Michigan</figcaption>
 </figure>Prosecutors focused on two key themes at the trial: the parents’ response to a morbid drawing on Ethan Crumbley’s math assignment a few hours before the shooting, and the teen’s access to a Sig Sauer 9 mm handgun purchased by James Crumbley only four days earlier.Ethan, 15, made a ghastly drawing of a gun and a wounded man on a math assignment and added disturbing phrases, “The thoughts won’t stop. Help me. My life is useless.”But James and Jennifer Crumbley declined to take Ethan home following a brief meeting at the school, and staff didn’t demand it. A counselor, concerned about suicidal ideations,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oxford-school-shooting-james-crumbley-4156bb0b1fc0596e03f872a4f9972af0">told them to seek help for the boy within 48 hours.</a>Ethan had told counselor Shawn Hopkins that he was sad over the death of his dog and grandmother and the loss of a friend who had abruptly moved away. He said the drawing was simply his jottings for a video game and that he wasn’t planning to commit violence.Neither he, nor his parents, told school officials about the gun they had just bought, according to trial testimony.Hopkins had hoped Ethan would spend the day with his parents. But when that was ruled out, the counselor felt the teen would probably be safer around others at school.Ethan later pulled the Sig Sauer from his backpack and began shooting that same day, killing Justin Shilling, 17; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; Hana St. Juliana, 14; and Tate Myre, 16. No one had checked the bag, though a school administrator had joked about its heaviness.“James Crumbley is not on trial for what his son did,” McDonald told the jury Wednesday. “James Crumbley is on trial for what he did and for what he didn’t do.”He “doesn’t get a pass because somebody else” actually pulled the trigger, she said.Hopkins told the jury that James Crumbley showed empathy toward his son during the meeting about the drawing, but took no additional action.When James Crumbley heard about the shooting, he rushed home from his DoorDash job and looked for the gun.“I think my son took the gun,” he said in a frantic 911 call.Investigators found an empty gun case and empty ammunition box on the parents’ bed. A cable that could have locked the gun was still in a package, unopened.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638551635768.png" alt="Ethan Crumbley as shown in his 2021 booking&nbsp; photo from Oakland County, Michigan" />
 <figcaption>Ethan Crumbley as shown in his 2021 booking&nbsp; photo from Oakland County, Michigan</figcaption>
 </figure>Ethan told a judge when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pontiac-michigan-oxford-high-school-shooting-crime-shootings-ff69e26f96bb07af5dcb76bddc650bb4">he pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;to murder and terrorism that the gun was not locked when he stuffed it in his backpack before school.Lehman, the defense lawyer, tried to emphasize to jurors that James Crumbley did not consent to any gun access by his son.“He did not know he had to protect others from his son,” she said. “He did not know that it was reasonably foreseeable that his son would commit these offenses. He had no idea what his son was planning to do.”There was no testimony from experts about Ethan’s mental health, and no records were introduced. The boy’s lawyers said before trial that he would invoke his right to remain silent if called to testify.But the judge allowed the jury to see excerpts from the teen’s handwritten journal.“I have zero help for my mental problems and it’s causing me to shoot up the ... school,” Ethan wrote. “I want help but my parents don’t listen to me so I can’t get any help.”Now 17, he is serving a life sentence with no chance for parole.After Judge Cheryl Matthews lifted a gag order that had prevented lawyers from speaking to reporters, Jennifer Crumbley's attorney Shannon Smith declined to comment Thursday night.“We believe the victims, their families, and the community need and deserve the space and time to begin healing from this tragedy,” Smith said on Facebook.___

Father, who bought gun used in school shooting, guilty of manslaughter 

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday rejected a bid by Donald Trump to throw out out his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-indictment-classified-documents-miami-8315a5b23c18f27083ed64eef21efff3">classified documents criminal case</a>, and appeared skeptical during hours of arguments of a separate effort to scuttle the prosecution ahead of trial.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon issued a two-page order saying that though the Trump team had raised “various arguments warranting serious consideration,” a dismissal of charges was not merited.

Cannon, who was nominated to the bench by Trump, had made clear during more than three-and-a-half hours of arguments that she was reluctant to dismiss one of the four criminal cases against the 2024 presumptive Republican presidential nominee. She said at one point that it would be “quite an extraordinary” step to strike down an Espionage Act statute that underpins the bulk of the felony counts against Trump but that his lawyers contend is unconstitutionally vague.

As Trump looked on in the courtroom, his attorneys pressed Cannon to throw out the case, arguing he was legally entitled to keep the sensitive records he is charged with illegally retaining after he left the White House.

His lawyers say the Presidential Records Act gave him the authority to designate as personal property the records he took with him to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Prosecutors countered that those records were clearly presidential, not personal, and included top-secret information and documents related to nuclear programs and the military capabilities of the U.S. and foreign countries.

Cannon's ruling covered only the Espionage Act arguments. A separate motion argued Thursday about whether Trump was entitled under the Presidential Records Act to retain the documents remains pending, but the judge also seemed disinclined to throw out the case on those grounds too.

“It’s difficult to see how this gets you to the dismissal of an indictment," she told a Trump lawyer at one point.

The hearing was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maralago-justice-department-37c55a10c4ae304eb673292145cc9cf1">second this month</a>&nbsp;in the case in Florida, which has unfolded slowly in the courts since prosecutors first brought charges last June. Cannon heard arguments on March 1 on when to schedule a trial date, but has yet to announce one and gave no indication Thursday on when she might do so. Prosecutors have pressed the judge to set a date for this summer. Trump’s lawyers are hoping to put it off until after the election.

After the hearing, Trump on his Truth Social platform took note of the “big crowds” outside the courthouse, which included supporters with flags and signs who honked their car horns in solidarity with the ex-president. He again said the prosecution is a “witch hunt” inspired by President Joe Biden.

Some of Thursday's arguments centered on the 1978 statute known as the Presidential Records Act. The law requires presidential documents to be turned over to the National Archives and Records Administration, though former presidents may retain notes and papers created for purely personal reasons.

Trump's lawyers contend that he was free under that law to to do with the records as he pleased.

“He had original classification authority,” said defense lawyer Todd Blanche. “He had the authority to do whatever he thought was appropriate with his records.”

But prosecutor David Harbach told Cannon that there are “all sorts of reasons” that that argument is wrong. Prosecutors believe the files Trump is charged with possessing are presidential records, not personal ones, and that the statute was never meant to permit presidents to retain&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-criminal-investigations-government-and-politics-4ee554f467252929f96c70d42a93a05d">classified and top-secret documents,</a>&nbsp;like those kept at Mar-a-Lago.

“The documents charged in the indictment are not personal records, period. They are not," Harbach said. “They are nowhere close to it under the definition of the Presidential Records Act.”

Trump's lawyers also challenged as overly vague a statute that makes it a crime to have unauthorized retention of national defense information, a charge that forms the basis of 32 of the 40 felony counts against Trump in the case.

Defense lawyer Emil Bove said ambiguity in the statute permits what he called “selective” enforcement by the Justice Department, leading to Trump being charged but enabling others to avoid prosecution. Bove suggested a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-classified-documents-age-trump-2024-4791639cc06cc0affee55aba80c7e6b3">recent report by special counsel Robert Hur</a>&nbsp;that criticized President Joe Biden's handling of classified information did not recommend charges proved his point about the lack of clarity.

When a law is unclear, Bove told Cannon, “The court’s obligation is to strike the statute and say ‘Congress, get it right.'"

Jay Bratt, another prosecutor with Smith's team, disputed that there was anything unclear about the law, and Cannon pointedly noted that striking down a statute would be “quite an extraordinary step."

Trump is accused of intentionally holding onto some of the nation’s most sensitive documents at Mar-a-Lago — only returning a fraction of them upon demand by the National Archives. Prosecutors say he urged his lawyer to hide records and to lie to the FBI by saying he no longer was in possession of them and enlisted staff to delete surveillance footage that would show boxes of documents being moved around the property.

Cannon has suggested in the past that she sees Trump’s status as a former president as distinguishing him from others who have held onto classified records.

After the Trump team sued the Justice Department in 2022 to get his records back, Cannon&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-government-and-politics-bc980316f80f88620b92e5666f96251c">appointed a special master</a>&nbsp;to conduct an independent review of the documents taken during the FBI’s Mar-a-Lago search. That appointment was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-criminal-investigations-government-and-politics-16748b82a502c0eec977d3ec51390027">later overturned by a federal appeals court</a>.

On Thursday, she wrestled with the unprecedented nature of the case, noted that no former president had ever faced criminal jeopardy for mishandling classified information.

But, Bratt responded, “there was never a situation remotely similar to this one."

Trump is separately charged in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">a federal case</a>&nbsp;in Washington with conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Trump has argued in both federal cases that presidential immunity protects him from prosecution, though Cannon has not agreed to hear arguments on that claim in the documents case.

The U.S Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-immunity-election-interference-trial-ff4b251967b4f1ae85bd01a0db24931f">is scheduled to hear</a>&nbsp;arguments on Trump's immunity claim in the election interference case next month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686358157076.png" alt="This image, contained in the indictment against former President Donald Trump, shows boxes of records stored in a bathroom and shower in the Lake Room at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. Trump is facing 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents according to an indictment unsealed Friday, June 9, 2023. (Justice Department via AP)" />
 <figcaption>This image, contained in the indictment against former President Donald Trump, shows boxes of records stored in a bathroom and shower in the Lake Room at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. Trump is facing 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents according to an indictment unsealed Friday, June 9, 2023. (Justice Department via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday rejected a bid by Donald Trump to throw out out his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-indictment-classified-documents-miami-8315a5b23c18f27083ed64eef21efff3">classified documents criminal case</a>, and appeared skeptical during hours of arguments of a separate effort to scuttle the prosecution ahead of trial.U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon issued a two-page order saying that though the Trump team had raised “various arguments warranting serious consideration,” a dismissal of charges was not merited.Cannon, who was nominated to the bench by Trump, had made clear during more than three-and-a-half hours of arguments that she was reluctant to dismiss one of the four criminal cases against the 2024 presumptive Republican presidential nominee. She said at one point that it would be “quite an extraordinary” step to strike down an Espionage Act statute that underpins the bulk of the felony counts against Trump but that his lawyers contend is unconstitutionally vague.As Trump looked on in the courtroom, his attorneys pressed Cannon to throw out the case, arguing he was legally entitled to keep the sensitive records he is charged with illegally retaining after he left the White House.His lawyers say the Presidential Records Act gave him the authority to designate as personal property the records he took with him to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Prosecutors countered that those records were clearly presidential, not personal, and included top-secret information and documents related to nuclear programs and the military capabilities of the U.S. and foreign countries.Cannon's ruling covered only the Espionage Act arguments. A separate motion argued Thursday about whether Trump was entitled under the Presidential Records Act to retain the documents remains pending, but the judge also seemed disinclined to throw out the case on those grounds too.“It’s difficult to see how this gets you to the dismissal of an indictment," she told a Trump lawyer at one point.The hearing was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maralago-justice-department-37c55a10c4ae304eb673292145cc9cf1">second this month</a>&nbsp;in the case in Florida, which has unfolded slowly in the courts since prosecutors first brought charges last June. Cannon heard arguments on March 1 on when to schedule a trial date, but has yet to announce one and gave no indication Thursday on when she might do so. Prosecutors have pressed the judge to set a date for this summer. Trump’s lawyers are hoping to put it off until after the election.After the hearing, Trump on his Truth Social platform took note of the “big crowds” outside the courthouse, which included supporters with flags and signs who honked their car horns in solidarity with the ex-president. He again said the prosecution is a “witch hunt” inspired by President Joe Biden.Some of Thursday's arguments centered on the 1978 statute known as the Presidential Records Act. The law requires presidential documents to be turned over to the National Archives and Records Administration, though former presidents may retain notes and papers created for purely personal reasons.Trump's lawyers contend that he was free under that law to to do with the records as he pleased.“He had original classification authority,” said defense lawyer Todd Blanche. “He had the authority to do whatever he thought was appropriate with his records.”But prosecutor David Harbach told Cannon that there are “all sorts of reasons” that that argument is wrong. Prosecutors believe the files Trump is charged with possessing are presidential records, not personal ones, and that the statute was never meant to permit presidents to retain&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-criminal-investigations-government-and-politics-4ee554f467252929f96c70d42a93a05d">classified and top-secret documents,</a>&nbsp;like those kept at Mar-a-Lago.“The documents charged in the indictment are not personal records, period. They are not," Harbach said. “They are nowhere close to it under the definition of the Presidential Records Act.”Trump's lawyers also challenged as overly vague a statute that makes it a crime to have unauthorized retention of national defense information, a charge that forms the basis of 32 of the 40 felony counts against Trump in the case.Defense lawyer Emil Bove said ambiguity in the statute permits what he called “selective” enforcement by the Justice Department, leading to Trump being charged but enabling others to avoid prosecution. Bove suggested a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-classified-documents-age-trump-2024-4791639cc06cc0affee55aba80c7e6b3">recent report by special counsel Robert Hur</a>&nbsp;that criticized President Joe Biden's handling of classified information did not recommend charges proved his point about the lack of clarity.When a law is unclear, Bove told Cannon, “The court’s obligation is to strike the statute and say ‘Congress, get it right.'"Jay Bratt, another prosecutor with Smith's team, disputed that there was anything unclear about the law, and Cannon pointedly noted that striking down a statute would be “quite an extraordinary step."Trump is accused of intentionally holding onto some of the nation’s most sensitive documents at Mar-a-Lago — only returning a fraction of them upon demand by the National Archives. Prosecutors say he urged his lawyer to hide records and to lie to the FBI by saying he no longer was in possession of them and enlisted staff to delete surveillance footage that would show boxes of documents being moved around the property.Cannon has suggested in the past that she sees Trump’s status as a former president as distinguishing him from others who have held onto classified records.After the Trump team sued the Justice Department in 2022 to get his records back, Cannon&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-government-and-politics-bc980316f80f88620b92e5666f96251c">appointed a special master</a>&nbsp;to conduct an independent review of the documents taken during the FBI’s Mar-a-Lago search. That appointment was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-criminal-investigations-government-and-politics-16748b82a502c0eec977d3ec51390027">later overturned by a federal appeals court</a>.On Thursday, she wrestled with the unprecedented nature of the case, noted that no former president had ever faced criminal jeopardy for mishandling classified information.But, Bratt responded, “there was never a situation remotely similar to this one."Trump is separately charged in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">a federal case</a>&nbsp;in Washington with conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Trump has argued in both federal cases that presidential immunity protects him from prosecution, though Cannon has not agreed to hear arguments on that claim in the documents case.The U.S Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-immunity-election-interference-trial-ff4b251967b4f1ae85bd01a0db24931f">is scheduled to hear</a>&nbsp;arguments on Trump's immunity claim in the election interference case next month.

Judge rejects bid by Donald Trump to throw out classified documents case 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers failed to garner the 30 votes needed Tuesday to override Gov. Jim Pillen’s veto of a needle exchange bill that had garnered wide bipartisan support, leading to tense debate and a return to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-legislature-filibuster-nonpartisan-814790373744b59cd1822f472f6ab3ec">partisan acrimony</a>&nbsp;seen in last year's session.

The bill received as many as 39 votes from the unique one-chamber Nebraska Legislature's 49 members during three rounds of debate earlier this year. When only 27 voted to override the veto, supporters accused flip-flopping lawmakers of caring less about public policy than partisan politics.

“That speaks for itself on what's really going on here,” Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad said.

Omaha Sen. John Fredrickson was more blunt in his criticism of those lawmakers who he said voted against the bill on Pillen's orders.

Nebraska is among a handful of states that don't offer at least some form of needle-exchange program. Such programs offer sterile hypodermic needles to intravenous drug users, often taking used needles in exchange to safely dispose of them. The idea behind the programs is to prevent the spread of communicable and sometimes deadly diseases like HIV and hepatitis C through the use of dirty needles. The programs are widely supported by health care officials, substance abuse treatment experts and law enforcement.

The Nebraska bill by Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt, an independent, passed last month with 30 votes — including 16 from Republicans in the officially nonpartisan Legislature. But after Pillen's veto, seven Republicans flipped their vote to oppose the bill. Among them was Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward, who had lauded the bill on her Facebook page last week and criticized Pillen for vetoing it without an alternative proposal.

“Governor Pillen cited the fact in his veto statements that Nebraska had the lowest opioid overdose rate in the country,” Hughes said in that post, which remained on her page Tuesday. “While that is good news for Nebraska relative to other states, that is a bit like saying you are the last person to jump out of the plane without a parachute. Ignoring a problem does not make it go away.”

Asked to explain her vote against the bill Tuesday, Hughes refused to comment.

Fredrickson cautioned that the Legislature is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-separation-of-powers-6d1b2187283cf7acc9d582f7a6728488">ceding too much power</a>&nbsp;to the executive branch. At least two of the lawmakers — Sens. Carolyn Bosn and Fred Meyer — who flipped their votes were appointed to their seats by Pillen.

Hunt and several Democratic lawmakers pointed to those flipped votes to accuse some lawmakers of caring less about public policy than partisan politics.

“Not one of those members got on the mic to share with Nebraskans, to share with their constituents, why they changed their minds,” Fredrickson said.

Bosn said after the vote that she changed her mind on the vote after receiving Pillen's veto letter opposing it and denied that she had been pressured by Pillen's office to vote against the override. She pointed to her support earlier this year of accepting $18 million in federal funding to help&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ebt-children-food-assistance-nebraska-63dd35c09547bae0480cee9955b1501b">feed hungry children</a>&nbsp;over the summer that Pillen had initially rejected as proof that she's not beholden to the governor.

In vetoing the bill last week, Pillen panned it as a move that would “encourage minors to abuse dangerous drugs” and that it would bring “the failed policies of drug-infested cities like San Francisco” to Nebraska.

No clinic or program administering a needle-sharing program is going to hand out syringes to young children, Hunt retorted.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers failed to garner the 30 votes needed Tuesday to override Gov. Jim Pillen’s veto of a needle exchange bill that had garnered wide bipartisan support, leading to tense debate and a return to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-legislature-filibuster-nonpartisan-814790373744b59cd1822f472f6ab3ec">partisan acrimony</a>&nbsp;seen in last year's session.The bill received as many as 39 votes from the unique one-chamber Nebraska Legislature's 49 members during three rounds of debate earlier this year. When only 27 voted to override the veto, supporters accused flip-flopping lawmakers of caring less about public policy than partisan politics.“That speaks for itself on what's really going on here,” Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad said.Omaha Sen. John Fredrickson was more blunt in his criticism of those lawmakers who he said voted against the bill on Pillen's orders.“Have a spine,” he admonished.Nebraska is among a handful of states that don't offer at least some form of needle-exchange program. Such programs offer sterile hypodermic needles to intravenous drug users, often taking used needles in exchange to safely dispose of them. The idea behind the programs is to prevent the spread of communicable and sometimes deadly diseases like HIV and hepatitis C through the use of dirty needles. The programs are widely supported by health care officials, substance abuse treatment experts and law enforcement.The Nebraska bill by Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt, an independent, passed last month with 30 votes — including 16 from Republicans in the officially nonpartisan Legislature. But after Pillen's veto, seven Republicans flipped their vote to oppose the bill. Among them was Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward, who had lauded the bill on her Facebook page last week and criticized Pillen for vetoing it without an alternative proposal.“Governor Pillen cited the fact in his veto statements that Nebraska had the lowest opioid overdose rate in the country,” Hughes said in that post, which remained on her page Tuesday. “While that is good news for Nebraska relative to other states, that is a bit like saying you are the last person to jump out of the plane without a parachute. Ignoring a problem does not make it go away.”Asked to explain her vote against the bill Tuesday, Hughes refused to comment.Fredrickson cautioned that the Legislature is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-separation-of-powers-6d1b2187283cf7acc9d582f7a6728488">ceding too much power</a>&nbsp;to the executive branch. At least two of the lawmakers — Sens. Carolyn Bosn and Fred Meyer — who flipped their votes were appointed to their seats by Pillen.Hunt and several Democratic lawmakers pointed to those flipped votes to accuse some lawmakers of caring less about public policy than partisan politics.“Not one of those members got on the mic to share with Nebraskans, to share with their constituents, why they changed their minds,” Fredrickson said.Bosn said after the vote that she changed her mind on the vote after receiving Pillen's veto letter opposing it and denied that she had been pressured by Pillen's office to vote against the override. She pointed to her support earlier this year of accepting $18 million in federal funding to help&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ebt-children-food-assistance-nebraska-63dd35c09547bae0480cee9955b1501b">feed hungry children</a>&nbsp;over the summer that Pillen had initially rejected as proof that she's not beholden to the governor.“I'm my own person,” she said.In vetoing the bill last week, Pillen panned it as a move that would “encourage minors to abuse dangerous drugs” and that it would bring “the failed policies of drug-infested cities like San Francisco” to Nebraska.No clinic or program administering a needle-sharing program is going to hand out syringes to young children, Hunt retorted.

Failure to override Nebraska governor's veto is more about politics than policy, some lawmakers say

LINCOLN, NE - Governor Jim Pillen has issued a statement regarding the departure of Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts, as well as a "call to action" to the NU Board of Regents.

"The University of Nebraska has existed as an institution for more than a century and a half. If it has immeasurably bigger than any one person. But leadership matters, and the long-term success of our university depends immensely on having committed public servants as its leaders.

I am deeply disappointed by Trev Albert's decision to leave so soon after restating his commitment to Nebraska and I don't fully understand or know his reasons why. I do know that the time reflecting on the failures of University leadership, which led to his decision, must come later. Now is the time to act.

this morning, I am issuing a call to action to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. It has been 206 days since Ted Carter announced his departure as president. It is unacceptable that the University's elected leaders have failed during this time to appoint permanent leadership. It is imperative that they act urgently and decisively to end this uncertainty. Without any delay, they should support interim President Chris Kabourek's efforts to immediately appoint a new athletic director."

Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE - Governor Jim Pillen has issued a statement regarding the departure of Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts, as well as a "call to action" to the NU Board of Regents.His full statement below:"The University of Nebraska has existed as an institution for more than a century and a half. If it has immeasurably bigger than any one person. But leadership matters, and the long-term success of our university depends immensely on having committed public servants as its leaders.I am deeply disappointed by Trev Albert's decision to leave so soon after restating his commitment to Nebraska and I don't fully understand or know his reasons why. I do know that the time reflecting on the failures of University leadership, which led to his decision, must come later. Now is the time to act.this morning, I am issuing a call to action to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. It has been 206 days since Ted Carter announced his departure as president. It is unacceptable that the University's elected leaders have failed during this time to appoint permanent leadership. It is imperative that they act urgently and decisively to end this uncertainty. Without any delay, they should support interim President Chris Kabourek's efforts to immediately appoint a new athletic director."

Gov. Pillen Issues "Call to Action" Following AD Alberts Announced Departure

HOUSTON (AP) —SpaceX’s mega rocket blasted off on another test flight Thursday and made it farther than two previous attempts, but the spacecraft was lost as it descended back to Earth.

The company said it lost contact with the spacecraft as it neared its goal, a splashdown in the Indian Ocean, about an hour after liftoff from the southern tip of Texas near the Mexican border.

T<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-test-flight-launch-37c0893ddf605270b16a33ae64d69a85">wo test flights</a>&nbsp;last year both ended in explosions minutes after liftoff.

Starship, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-musk-starship-launch-test-flight-11de145e989e0534b6399640bc437b8e">biggest and most powerful rocket ever built</a>, headed out over the Gulf of Mexico after launch Thursday. Minutes later, the booster separated seamlessly from the spaceship and splashed down into the gulf and the spacecraft continued eastward. No people or satellites were on board.

An hour later, SpaceX commentators said contact had been lost with the spacecraft.

“The ship has been lost. So no splashdown today,” said SpaceX's Dan Huot. "But again, it’s incredible to see how much further we got this time around.”

Earlier during the flight, SpaceX's Elon Musk had congratulated his team.“SpaceX has come a long way,” Musk said via X, former Twitter. The rocket company was founded exactly 22 years ago Thursday.

The rocket and futuristic-looking spacecraft towers 397 feet (121 meters), easily exceeding NASA’s past and present moon rockets.

NASA watched with keen interest: The space agency needs Starship to succeed in order to land&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-landings-artemis-delay-23e425d490c0c9e65ae774ec2e00f090">astronauts on the moon</a>&nbsp;in the next two or so years. This new crop of moonwalkers — the first since last century’s Apollo program — will descend to the lunar surface in a Starship, at least the first couple times.

HOUSTON (AP)—SpaceX’s mega rocket blasted off on another test flight Thursday, this time with the spacecraft reaching enough speed to coast toward its finish line halfway around the world.

It outperformed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-test-flight-launch-37c0893ddf605270b16a33ae64d69a85">previous two test flights,</a>&nbsp;which both ended in explosions minutes after liftoff.

Starship, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-musk-starship-launch-test-flight-11de145e989e0534b6399640bc437b8e">biggest and most powerful rocket ever built</a>, soared from the southern tip of Texas near the Mexican border before it headed out over the Gulf of Mexico. No people or satellites were on board.

Minutes later, the booster separated seamlessly from the spaceship and splashed down into the gulf. The spacecraft continued eastward for a planned hourlong flight and splashdown in the Indian Ocean.

SpaceX's Elon Musk congratulated his team.“SpaceX has come a long way,” Musk said via X, former Twitter. The rocket company was founded exactly 22 years ago Thursday.

HOUSTON (AP) —SpaceX’s mega rocket blasted off on another test flight Thursday and made it farther than two previous attempts, but the spacecraft was lost as it descended back to Earth.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">At ~5000 tons, Starship is the largest flying object ever made <a href="https://t.co/r5kzjpbD9B">https://t.co/r5kzjpbD9B</a>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1768271790596395399?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The company said it lost contact with the spacecraft as it neared its goal, a splashdown in the Indian Ocean, about an hour after liftoff from the southern tip of Texas near the Mexican border.T<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-test-flight-launch-37c0893ddf605270b16a33ae64d69a85">wo test flights</a>&nbsp;last year both ended in explosions minutes after liftoff.Starship, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-musk-starship-launch-test-flight-11de145e989e0534b6399640bc437b8e">biggest and most powerful rocket ever built</a>, headed out over the Gulf of Mexico after launch Thursday. Minutes later, the booster separated seamlessly from the spaceship and splashed down into the gulf and the spacecraft continued eastward. No people or satellites were on board.An hour later, SpaceX commentators said contact had been lost with the spacecraft.“The ship has been lost. So no splashdown today,” said SpaceX's Dan Huot. "But again, it’s incredible to see how much further we got this time around.”Earlier during the flight, SpaceX's Elon Musk had congratulated his team.“SpaceX has come a long way,” Musk said via X, former Twitter. The rocket company was founded exactly 22 years ago Thursday.The rocket and futuristic-looking spacecraft towers 397 feet (121 meters), easily exceeding NASA’s past and present moon rockets.NASA watched with keen interest: The space agency needs Starship to succeed in order to land&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-landings-artemis-delay-23e425d490c0c9e65ae774ec2e00f090">astronauts on the moon</a>&nbsp;in the next two or so years. This new crop of moonwalkers — the first since last century’s Apollo program — will descend to the lunar surface in a Starship, at least the first couple times.---------------HOUSTON (AP)—SpaceX’s mega rocket blasted off on another test flight Thursday, this time with the spacecraft reaching enough speed to coast toward its finish line halfway around the world.It outperformed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-test-flight-launch-37c0893ddf605270b16a33ae64d69a85">previous two test flights,</a>&nbsp;which both ended in explosions minutes after liftoff.Starship, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-musk-starship-launch-test-flight-11de145e989e0534b6399640bc437b8e">biggest and most powerful rocket ever built</a>, soared from the southern tip of Texas near the Mexican border before it headed out over the Gulf of Mexico. No people or satellites were on board.Minutes later, the booster separated seamlessly from the spaceship and splashed down into the gulf. The spacecraft continued eastward for a planned hourlong flight and splashdown in the Indian Ocean.The rocket and futuristic-looking spacecraft towers 397 feet (121 meters), easily exceeding NASA’s past and present moon rockets.SpaceX's Elon Musk congratulated his team.“SpaceX has come a long way,” Musk said via X, former Twitter. The rocket company was founded exactly 22 years ago Thursday.NASA watched with keen interest: The space agency needs Starship to succeed in order to land&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-landings-artemis-delay-23e425d490c0c9e65ae774ec2e00f090">astronauts on the moon</a>&nbsp;in the next two or so years. This new crop of moonwalkers — the first since last century’s Apollo program — will descend to the lunar surface in a Starship, at least the first couple times.___

🎥SpaceX: World's most powerful rocket lost during test flight

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/13/senators-give-first-round-approval-for-state-budget-adjustments-with-few-changes/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — State lawmakers gave first-round approval Wednesday to the mid-biennium budget bill that made few changes from the spending proposals of Gov. Jim Pillen.

The budget calls for a spending increase of 3.1%, which is slightly higher than the 2% increase called for by the governor because of an unexpected, $94 million increase in state aid to K-12 schools.

The “good news,” according to State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, the chair of the budget-writing Appropriations Committee, is that $904 million will be left in the state’s cash reserve fund at the end of the two-year budget in June 2025, and the budget should show excess funds of nearly $575 million.

During two days of floor debate, however, there were several complaints about spending cuts for services for the developmentally disabled and<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/27/behavioral-health-care-providers-call-15-million-sweep-of-their-funds-wrong-headed/">&nbsp; those with mental illnesses</a>&nbsp;— services that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/12/advocates-for-developmentally-disabled-rally-for-more-than-good-enough-for-you-funding/">advocates maintain are already underfunded.</a>

Projections show spending exceeds revenue

Concerns were also raised about whether the state can sustain the deep cuts in state income taxes passed a year ago, but there was also talk of amendments during second-round debate.

State budget figures indicate that the excess $575 million in cash will shrink to $68.5 million at the end of the 2026-27 fiscal year, as the reduction in income tax revenue takes effect.

Last year, state lawmakers passed a law to gradually reduce the state’s top income tax rate from 6.84% in 2023 to 3.99% by tax year 2027.

It would reduce state revenues by a projected $863 million by fiscal year 2027-28.

State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont expressed concern that the budget report issued by the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee shows state spending exceeding revenue in the next three fiscal years.

Clements said while that was true and that the situation could “only last for a short time,” the state has $904 million in its cash reserve fund, and he said the economy and tax revenue are projected to increase after 2027, when the income tax cut is fully implemented.

Concerns about the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.openskypolicy.org/three-things-to-know-about-budget-proposal">sustainability of the income tax cuts</a>&nbsp;have also &nbsp;been raised by the OpenSky Policy Institute, a Lincoln-based think tank that monitors state tax and fiscal policies.

OpenSky Director Rebecca Firestone said Wednesday other states that have enacted tax cuts don’t have “a great track record” of sparking economic growth.

She said concerns about the sustainability of the tax cuts are heightened further by the proposal to “sweep” $244 million from state agency reserves to provide initial funding for the governor’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/14/despite-pushback-pillen-remains-committed-to-property-tax-relief-plan/">proposed 40% property tax reduction</a>. That would leave those funds unavailable to cover a state budget shortfall.

“It really reinforces the concern about the financial sustainability of the tax cuts,” Firestone said.

Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh raised questions about the hundreds of job vacancies at the state’s largest agency, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, and whether the agency was planning to save money by not filling the 1,000-plus unfilled jobs.

During the debate, both Clements and Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad said that discussions were continuing about whether to restore some funding for some programs. Advocates for improved services for the developmentally disabled have said they will press for more funding during second-round debate.

Senators had to invoke cloture to shut off debate on the budget. They then voted 39-4 to advance the budget measure, Legislative Bill 1412, from first-round debate.

Debate on the bill containing the funds sweeps, or cash transfers, began late Wednesday and is scheduled to continue Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710422835154.jpeg" alt=" The Nebraska State Capitol’s west entrance. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> The Nebraska State Capitol’s west entrance. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/13/senators-give-first-round-approval-for-state-budget-adjustments-with-few-changes/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — State lawmakers gave first-round approval Wednesday to the mid-biennium budget bill that made few changes from the spending proposals of Gov. Jim Pillen.The budget calls for a spending increase of 3.1%, which is slightly higher than the 2% increase called for by the governor because of an unexpected, $94 million increase in state aid to K-12 schools.The “good news,” according to State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, the chair of the budget-writing Appropriations Committee, is that $904 million will be left in the state’s cash reserve fund at the end of the two-year budget in June 2025, and the budget should show excess funds of nearly $575 million.During two days of floor debate, however, there were several complaints about spending cuts for services for the developmentally disabled and<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/27/behavioral-health-care-providers-call-15-million-sweep-of-their-funds-wrong-headed/">&nbsp; those with mental illnesses</a>&nbsp;— services that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/12/advocates-for-developmentally-disabled-rally-for-more-than-good-enough-for-you-funding/">advocates maintain are already underfunded.</a><h2>Projections show spending exceeds revenue</h2>Concerns were also raised about whether the state can sustain the deep cuts in state income taxes passed a year ago, but there was also talk of amendments during second-round debate.State budget figures indicate that the excess $575 million in cash will shrink to $68.5 million at the end of the 2026-27 fiscal year, as the reduction in income tax revenue takes effect.<h2>Impact of tax rate cut</h2>Last year, state lawmakers passed a law to gradually reduce the state’s top income tax rate from 6.84% in 2023 to 3.99% by tax year 2027.It would reduce state revenues by a projected $863 million by fiscal year 2027-28.State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont expressed concern that the budget report issued by the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee shows state spending exceeding revenue in the next three fiscal years.Clements said while that was true and that the situation could “only last for a short time,” the state has $904 million in its cash reserve fund, and he said the economy and tax revenue are projected to increase after 2027, when the income tax cut is fully implemented.<h2>‘We expect a turnaround’</h2>Concerns about the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.openskypolicy.org/three-things-to-know-about-budget-proposal">sustainability of the income tax cuts</a>&nbsp;have also &nbsp;been raised by the OpenSky Policy Institute, a Lincoln-based think tank that monitors state tax and fiscal policies.OpenSky Director Rebecca Firestone said Wednesday other states that have enacted tax cuts don’t have “a great track record” of sparking economic growth.She said concerns about the sustainability of the tax cuts are heightened further by the proposal to “sweep” $244 million from state agency reserves to provide initial funding for the governor’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/14/despite-pushback-pillen-remains-committed-to-property-tax-relief-plan/">proposed 40% property tax reduction</a>. That would leave those funds unavailable to cover a state budget shortfall.“It really reinforces the concern about the financial sustainability of the tax cuts,” Firestone said.Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh raised questions about the hundreds of job vacancies at the state’s largest agency, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, and whether the agency was planning to save money by not filling the 1,000-plus unfilled jobs.<h2>Discussions continue</h2>During the debate, both Clements and Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad said that discussions were continuing about whether to restore some funding for some programs. Advocates for improved services for the developmentally disabled have said they will press for more funding during second-round debate.Senators had to invoke cloture to shut off debate on the budget. They then voted 39-4 to advance the budget measure, Legislative Bill 1412, from first-round debate.Debate on the bill containing the funds sweeps, or cash transfers, began late Wednesday and is scheduled to continue Thursday.

Senators give first-round approval for state budget adjustments with few changes

OMAHA, NE — On Wednesday, the Platte Institute
 proudly hosted a press conference to celebrate the recent signing into law of LB 16, groundbreaking legislation that represents a significant leap forward in professional licensing reform in Nebraska. The event, held at the Nebraska State Capitol, brought
 together a distinguished group of speakers and attendees, including Senator Danielle Conrad, the bill's sponsor and other co-sponsors, as well as representatives from RISE Nebraska, the ACLU of Nebraska, the Institute for Justice, and the Nebraska Interior
 Designers.&nbsp;


Dr. Laura Ebke, Senior Fellow at the Platte Institute, represented the Platte
 Institute at the event, articulating the transformative impact LB 16 will have on Nebraska's workforce development and economic growth. "Today, we stand at the threshold of a new era for professional licensing in Nebraska. LB 16 not only streamlines the process
 for recognizing out-of-state professional licenses but also ensures that those with discharged criminal records have a fair chance to pursue their careers. This law is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together to remove unnecessary barriers
 to opportunity," stated Dr. Ebke.&nbsp;


Senator Danielle Conrad highlighted the bipartisan support that was crucial to
 the bill's success, expressing gratitude to her colleagues and the diverse coalition of supporters. "I’m so grateful to this incredible, diverse set of state leaders who stepped forward to help pass LB 16 this year.&nbsp;LB 16 is a comprehensive rewrite of our
 occupational licensure reform law in Nebraska. This helps to address our state's pressing needs when it comes to both workforce development and second chance employment," said Senator Conrad.&nbsp;


Representatives from RISE Nebraska, the ACLU of Nebraska, the Institute for Justice,
 and the Nebraska Interior Designers also spoke, each emphasizing the positive implications of LB 16 for their respective communities. They celebrated the law's potential to enhance professional mobility, promote fairness in licensing, and foster a more inclusive
 economy.&nbsp;


Unable to attend the event but also supportive of LB 16 was the Nebraska State
 Council of Electrical Workers. Their president Jon Nebel, said in a statement provided to Platte Institute, “LB 16 is landmark legislation that was carefully crafted over multiple years. This legislation provides licensure avenues for individuals coming from
 states with limited credentialling programs by recognizing federal standards in apprenticeship programs. Universal recognition may not be nationwide in all occupations but today Nebraska sets a standard that every state can use as a template for skilled trade
 growth. We are proud to have contributed to this effort that will without a doubt allow more skilled individuals to work in Nebraska.”&nbsp;


As LB 16 takes effect, the Platte Institute remains dedicated to its mission of
 advancing policies that remove barriers to growth and opportunity across the state.&nbsp;

For more information about the press conference, to obtain audio from the event,
 or to learn more about the impact of LB 16, please contact Ryan Kopsa at (402) 366-4432 or via email at <a href="mailto:rkopsa@platteinstitute.org" target="_blank">rkopsa@platteinstitute.org</a>.&nbsp;


The Platte Institute advances policies that remove barriers to growth and opportunity
 in Nebraska. By advocating for reforms that promote economic freedom, the Institute aims to ensure prosperity for all Nebraskans. Visit PlatteInstitute.org for more insights and information.&nbsp;

Platte InstituteOMAHA, NE — On Wednesday, the Platte Institute
 proudly hosted a press conference to celebrate the recent signing into law of LB 16, groundbreaking legislation that represents a significant leap forward in professional licensing reform in Nebraska. The event, held at the Nebraska State Capitol, brought
 together a distinguished group of speakers and attendees, including Senator Danielle Conrad, the bill's sponsor and other co-sponsors, as well as representatives from RISE Nebraska, the ACLU of Nebraska, the Institute for Justice, and the Nebraska Interior
 Designers.&nbsp;
Dr. Laura Ebke, Senior Fellow at the Platte Institute, represented the Platte
 Institute at the event, articulating the transformative impact LB 16 will have on Nebraska's workforce development and economic growth. "Today, we stand at the threshold of a new era for professional licensing in Nebraska. LB 16 not only streamlines the process
 for recognizing out-of-state professional licenses but also ensures that those with discharged criminal records have a fair chance to pursue their careers. This law is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together to remove unnecessary barriers
 to opportunity," stated Dr. Ebke.&nbsp;
Senator Danielle Conrad highlighted the bipartisan support that was crucial to
 the bill's success, expressing gratitude to her colleagues and the diverse coalition of supporters. "I’m so grateful to this incredible, diverse set of state leaders who stepped forward to help pass LB 16 this year.&nbsp;LB 16 is a comprehensive rewrite of our
 occupational licensure reform law in Nebraska. This helps to address our state's pressing needs when it comes to both workforce development and second chance employment," said Senator Conrad.&nbsp;
Representatives from RISE Nebraska, the ACLU of Nebraska, the Institute for Justice,
 and the Nebraska Interior Designers also spoke, each emphasizing the positive implications of LB 16 for their respective communities. They celebrated the law's potential to enhance professional mobility, promote fairness in licensing, and foster a more inclusive
 economy.&nbsp;
Unable to attend the event but also supportive of LB 16 was the Nebraska State
 Council of Electrical Workers. Their president Jon Nebel, said in a statement provided to Platte Institute, “LB 16 is landmark legislation that was carefully crafted over multiple years. This legislation provides licensure avenues for individuals coming from
 states with limited credentialling programs by recognizing federal standards in apprenticeship programs. Universal recognition may not be nationwide in all occupations but today Nebraska sets a standard that every state can use as a template for skilled trade
 growth. We are proud to have contributed to this effort that will without a doubt allow more skilled individuals to work in Nebraska.”&nbsp;
As LB 16 takes effect, the Platte Institute remains dedicated to its mission of
 advancing policies that remove barriers to growth and opportunity across the state.&nbsp;
For more information about the press conference, to obtain audio from the event,
 or to learn more about the impact of LB 16, please contact Ryan Kopsa at (402) 366-4432 or via email at <a href="mailto:rkopsa@platteinstitute.org" target="_blank">rkopsa@platteinstitute.org</a>.&nbsp;
The Platte Institute advances policies that remove barriers to growth and opportunity
 in Nebraska. By advocating for reforms that promote economic freedom, the Institute aims to ensure prosperity for all Nebraskans. Visit PlatteInstitute.org for more insights and information.&nbsp;

Platte Institute Hosts Celebratory Press Conference for the Enactment of LB 16 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Wednesday passed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-bytedance-bill-divest-5b5a685e8f1e19d22182d62526bf19b8">a bill</a>&nbsp;that would lead to a nationwide ban of the popular video app TikTok if its China-based owner doesn't sell its stake, as lawmakers acted on concerns that the company's current ownership structure is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-bytedance-china-biden-administration-14ef5f93dc2114e4ade110b2e85433fd">a national security threat</a>.

The bill, passed by a vote of 352-65, now goes to the Senate, where its prospects are unclear.

TikTok, which has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-biden-bytedance-china-2acbaeb71e8bb0c6341f2bc55ba33e80">more than 170 million American users</a>, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chinese technology firm ByteDance Ltd.

The lawmakers contend that ByteDance is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-china-bytedance-user-data-d257d98125f69ac80f983e6067a84911">beholden to the Chinese government</a>, which could demand access to the data of TikTok’s consumers in the U.S. any time it wants. The worry stems from a set of Chinese national security laws that compel organizations to assist with intelligence gathering.

“We have given TikTok a clear choice,” said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash. “Separate from your parent company ByteDance, which is beholden to the CCP (the Chinese Communist Party), and remain operational in the United States, or side with the CCP and face the consequences. The choice is TikTok's.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708714541315.png" alt="Image from President Biden's TikTok account" />
 <figcaption>Image from President Biden's TikTok account</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Wednesday passed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-bytedance-bill-divest-5b5a685e8f1e19d22182d62526bf19b8">a bill</a>&nbsp;that would lead to a nationwide ban of the popular video app TikTok if its China-based owner doesn't sell its stake, as lawmakers acted on concerns that the company's current ownership structure is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-bytedance-china-biden-administration-14ef5f93dc2114e4ade110b2e85433fd">a national security threat</a>.The bill, passed by a vote of 352-65, now goes to the Senate, where its prospects are unclear.TikTok, which has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-biden-bytedance-china-2acbaeb71e8bb0c6341f2bc55ba33e80">more than 170 million American users</a>, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chinese technology firm ByteDance Ltd.The lawmakers contend that ByteDance is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-china-bytedance-user-data-d257d98125f69ac80f983e6067a84911">beholden to the Chinese government</a>, which could demand access to the data of TikTok’s consumers in the U.S. any time it wants. The worry stems from a set of Chinese national security laws that compel organizations to assist with intelligence gathering.“We have given TikTok a clear choice,” said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash. “Separate from your parent company ByteDance, which is beholden to the CCP (the Chinese Communist Party), and remain operational in the United States, or side with the CCP and face the consequences. The choice is TikTok's.”House passage of the bill is only the first step. The Senate would also need to pass the measure for it to become law, and lawmakers in that chamber indicated it would undergo a thorough review. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he'll have to consult with relevant committee chairs to determine the bill's path.President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;has said if Congress passes the measure, he will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-tiktok-ban-house-china-aaa884d8c974f0a35856af5ee6aa4e99">sign it</a>.The House vote is the latest example of increased tensions between China and the U.S. By targeting TikTok, lawmakers are tackling what they see as a grave threat to America's national security — but also singling out a platform popular with millions of people, many of whom skew younger, just months before an election.In a video posted on Wednesday evening, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said that the company has invested to keep user data safe and the TikTok platform free from outside manipulation. If passed, he said the bill would give more power to a handful of other social companies.“We will not stop fighting and advocating for you. We will continue to do all we can, including exercising our legal rights, to protect this amazing platform that we have built with you,” Chew said in his message to the app’s users.In anticipation of the vote, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, accused Washington of resorting to political tools when U.S. businesses fail to compete. He said the effort would disrupt normal business operations and undermine investor confidence "and will eventually backfire on the U.S. itself.”Overall, 197 Republican lawmakers voted for the measure and 15 against. On the Democratic side, 155 voted for the bill and 50 against.Some Republican opponents of the bill said the U.S. should warn consumers if there are data privacy and propaganda concerns, but the final choice should be left with consumers.“The answer to authoritarianism is not more authoritarianism,” said Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif. “The answer to CCP-style propaganda is not CCP-style oppression. Let us slow down before we blunder down this very steep and slippery slope.”Democrats also warned of the impact a ban would have on users in the U.S., including entrepreneurs and business owners. One of the no votes came from Rep. Jim Himes, the ranking Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee.“One of the key differences between us and those adversaries is the fact that they shut down newspapers, broadcast stations, and social media platforms. We do not,” Himes said. “We trust our citizens to be worthy of their democracy. We do not trust our government to decide what information they may or may not see.”The day before the House vote, top national security officials in the Biden administration held a closed-door briefing with lawmakers to discuss TikTok and the national security implications. Lawmakers are balancing those security concerns against a desire not to limit free speech online.“What we've tried to do here is be very thoughtful and deliberate about the need to force a divestiture of TikTok without granting any authority to the executive branch to regulate content or go after any American company,” said Rep. Mike Gallagher, the bill's author, as he emerged from the briefing.TikTok has long denied that it could be used as a tool of the Chinese government. The company has said it has never shared U.S. user data with Chinese authorities and won’t do so if it is asked. To date, the U.S. government also has not provided evidence that shows TikTok shared such information with Chinese authorities.Republican leaders moved quickly to bring up the bill after its introduction last week by Gallagher and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill. A House committee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-bill-support-congress-china-data-f1ec5b720bb68884c6423c62f314dcff">approved the legislation</a>&nbsp;unanimously, on a 50-0 vote, even after their offices were inundated with calls from TikTok users demanding they drop the effort. Some offices even shut off their phones because of the onslaught. Supporters of the bill said the effort backfired.“(It) provided members a preview of how the platform could be weaponized to inject disinformation into our system,” Gallagher said.Lawmakers in both parties are anxious to confront China on a range of issues. The House formed a special committee to focus on China-related issues. And Schumer directed committee chairs to begin working with Republicans on a bipartisan China competition bill.Schumer is likely to feel some pressure from within his own party to move on the TikTok legislation. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner announced after the House vote that he would work to “get this bill passed through the Senate and signed into law.”In a joint statement with Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, the top Republican on the intelligence panel, Warner said that “we are united in our concern about the national security threat posed by TikTok — a platform with enormous power to influence and divide Americans whose parent company ByteDance remains legally required to do the bidding of the Chinese Communist Party.”Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell, who chairs another panel with jurisdiction on the issue, said she would "try to find a path forward that is constitutional and protects civil liberties.”Roughly 30 TikTok influencers and others who traveled with them spoke out against the bill on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. They chanted phrases like “Keep TikTok” ahead of the vote. They also held signs that read “TikTok changed my life for the better” and “TikTok helped me grow my business.”Dan Salinger, a Sacramento, California-based TikTok creator in attendance, said he started creating content on the app during the COVID-19 pandemic purely out of boredom. But since then his account, which features videos about his life and his father, who suffers from dementia, has grown in popularity. Today, he has 2 million followers on the app.“I’m actually appalled for many reasons,” Salinger said. “The speed with which they’re pushing this bill through does not give enough time for Americans to voice their concerns and opinions.”Former President Donald Trump has spoken out against the House effort, but his vice president, Mike Pence, is urging Schumer to bring the House bill to a vote.