KEARNEY – In a significant restructuring effort, the University of Nebraska at Kearney announced Monday that it will discontinue several academic degrees and faculty positions due to changing enrollment trends and fiscal challenges.

The realignment is in direct response to a $58 million budget shortfall projected for the University of Nebraska System by 2025.

It includes the reduction of 24.5 faculty positions and the discontinuation of nine academic degrees. These decisions, resulting in $2.3 million in savings, are part of a comprehensive plan to mitigate an expected $4.3 million budget deficit at UNK.

“The university recognizes the need for ongoing fiscal responsibility, and these decisions are a result of careful analysis,” said Chancellor Doug Kristensen. “While these reductions are a significant step, we are actively exploring additional cost-saving measures to ensure the long-term sustainability of our institution.”

UNK will be phasing out its theater and recreation management programs, as well as the geography department. All of the programs being discontinued fail to meet the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education minimum performance standard of seven-plus degrees awarded per year.

Students enrolled in programs that are being eliminated will still have the opportunity to fulfill their graduation requirements.

The following nine degrees are set for elimination, pending University of Nebraska Board of Regents approval:

The breakdown of faculty positions to be eliminated is as follows:

Employees in roles slated for elimination will be notified by May 2024 and supported through the transition until May 2025. Several positions being eliminated are presently vacant, being vacated by retirees or held by employees opting for voluntary departure agreements.

“These are undoubtedly challenging times, but we are taking decisive action to position UNK for the future,” Kristensen said. “We have conducted a comprehensive review of our degree programs. Consequently, some programs will be phased out or restructured to better serve the evolving needs of our students and community.”

UNK has already implemented a hiring freeze that includes 77 full-time positions, saving approximately $4.1 million this academic year. The university is also undertaking zero-based budget reviews and considering recommendations to reduce $2 million across various areas that include:

UNK leadership will present its budget findings to University of Nebraska System President Ted Carter on Dec. 1.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700575651032.jpeg" alt="UNK East Entrance" />
 <figcaption>UNK East Entrance</figcaption>
 </figure>UNK CommunicationsKEARNEY – In a significant restructuring effort, the University of Nebraska at Kearney announced Monday that it will discontinue several academic degrees and faculty positions due to changing enrollment trends and fiscal challenges.The realignment is in direct response to a $58 million budget shortfall projected for the University of Nebraska System by 2025.It includes the reduction of 24.5 faculty positions and the discontinuation of nine academic degrees. These decisions, resulting in $2.3 million in savings, are part of a comprehensive plan to mitigate an expected $4.3 million budget deficit at UNK.“The university recognizes the need for ongoing fiscal responsibility, and these decisions are a result of careful analysis,” said Chancellor Doug Kristensen. “While these reductions are a significant step, we are actively exploring additional cost-saving measures to ensure the long-term sustainability of our institution.”UNK will be phasing out its theater and recreation management programs, as well as the geography department. All of the programs being discontinued fail to meet the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education minimum performance standard of seven-plus degrees awarded per year.Students enrolled in programs that are being eliminated will still have the opportunity to fulfill their graduation requirements.The following nine degrees are set for elimination, pending University of Nebraska Board of Regents approval:<ul>
 <li>Business Intelligence Emphasis BS</li><li>Geography BS/BA</li><li>Geography and GIScience BS</li><li>Geography 7-12 Teaching Subject Endorsement BA</li><li>Musical Theatre BM</li><li>Recreation Management BS</li><li>Recreation, Outdoor and Event Management BS</li><li>Theatre BA</li>
 </ul>The breakdown of faculty positions to be eliminated is as follows:<ul>
 <li>Theater – 4</li><li>English – 3.5</li><li>Music – 3</li><li>Communication, Cyber Systems, Math &amp; Statistics, Modern Languages – 2 each</li><li>Art &amp; Design, History, Kinesiology &amp; Sport Sciences, Montessori Early Childhood, Philosophy, Physics &amp; Astronomy – 1 each</li>
 </ul>Employees in roles slated for elimination will be notified by May 2024 and supported through the transition until May 2025. Several positions being eliminated are presently vacant, being vacated by retirees or held by employees opting for voluntary departure agreements.“These are undoubtedly challenging times, but we are taking decisive action to position UNK for the future,” Kristensen said. “We have conducted a comprehensive review of our degree programs. Consequently, some programs will be phased out or restructured to better serve the evolving needs of our students and community.”UNK has already implemented a hiring freeze that includes 77 full-time positions, saving approximately $4.1 million this academic year. The university is also undertaking zero-based budget reviews and considering recommendations to reduce $2 million across various areas that include:<ul>
 <li>Administrative Reduction – $400,000</li><li>UNK Global – $400,000</li><li>Enrollment Management, Marketing &amp; Student Affairs – $300,000</li><li>Office Associate Redeployment – $300,000</li><li>Division of Business &amp; Finance – $200,000</li><li>Intercollegiate Athletics – $200,000</li><li>Departmental Operating Funds – $120,000</li><li>Calvin T. Ryan Library – $80,000</li>
 </ul>UNK leadership will present its budget findings to University of Nebraska System President Ted Carter on Dec. 1.

University of Nebraska at Kearney announces strategic budget cuts to address financial challenges

Lincoln, Neb., November 21, 2023&nbsp;—&nbsp;The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Livestock Judging team finished its 2023 season earning numerous accolades, including 12 top-eight overall finishes, 31 top-eight division finishes and 53 individual top-10 finishes. The team also celebrated its first academic all-American honoree in program history. In addition, the high-achieving team was led by the Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Team Coach of the Year Blaine French.

French, the team’s coach since the fall of 2019, was voted as the coach of the year by the Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Coaches Association. The award is believed to be the first earned by a livestock judging coach at the university.

"I’m very excited and humbled to be awarded this honor," said French. "I view it as a staff and team award because it shows that we are a well-respected program and compete well at all contests." Senior team member Ainsley Fischer, an animal science major from Franktown, Colo., gained valuable coaching and experience from French that will help her post-graduation.

"I’m pursuing jobs in the livestock nutrition industry where interacting with producers will be very important," said Fischer. "The understanding of all livestock species that I’ve gained will be invaluable to me in all agricultural job settings."

The livestock judging team is one of five judging teams in the Department of Animal Science, along with meat judging, horse judging, animal welfare judging, and the meat animal evaluation (MAE) team, a capstone judging activity for those interested in the meat animal production industries.

Elizabeth Hodges, a senior agricultural and environmental science communication and animal science double major, from Julian, Neb., was a member of the meat judging team in 2022 and also competed on the MAE team this year along with the livestock judging team. Hodges earned academic All-America honors this season.

"My father, Michael Hodges, competed on the MAE and livestock judging teams when he attended Nebraska and has always spoken highly of his time judging here," said Hodges. "I always knew that I wanted to be involved with judging teams, and Coach French’s passion for judging and the livestock industry is so contagious. I’m thankful that I attend a university where I have the opportunity to be so involved in organizations on campus."&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700575792179.jpeg" alt="Blaine French" />
 <figcaption>Blaine French</figcaption>
 </figure>Lincoln, Neb., November 21, 2023&nbsp;—&nbsp;The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Livestock Judging team finished its 2023 season earning numerous accolades, including 12 top-eight overall finishes, 31 top-eight division finishes and 53 individual top-10 finishes. The team also celebrated its first academic all-American honoree in program history. In addition, the high-achieving team was led by the Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Team Coach of the Year Blaine French.French, the team’s coach since the fall of 2019, was voted as the coach of the year by the Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Coaches Association. The award is believed to be the first earned by a livestock judging coach at the university."I’m very excited and humbled to be awarded this honor," said French. "I view it as a staff and team award because it shows that we are a well-respected program and compete well at all contests." Senior team member Ainsley Fischer, an animal science major from Franktown, Colo., gained valuable coaching and experience from French that will help her post-graduation."I’m pursuing jobs in the livestock nutrition industry where interacting with producers will be very important," said Fischer. "The understanding of all livestock species that I’ve gained will be invaluable to me in all agricultural job settings."The livestock judging team is one of five judging teams in the Department of Animal Science, along with meat judging, horse judging, animal welfare judging, and the meat animal evaluation (MAE) team, a capstone judging activity for those interested in the meat animal production industries.Elizabeth Hodges, a senior agricultural and environmental science communication and animal science double major, from Julian, Neb., was a member of the meat judging team in 2022 and also competed on the MAE team this year along with the livestock judging team. Hodges earned academic All-America honors this season."My father, Michael Hodges, competed on the MAE and livestock judging teams when he attended Nebraska and has always spoken highly of his time judging here," said Hodges. "I always knew that I wanted to be involved with judging teams, and Coach French’s passion for judging and the livestock industry is so contagious. I’m thankful that I attend a university where I have the opportunity to be so involved in organizations on campus."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Coach of the Year Blaine French Helping Others Grow Passion for the Livestock Industry

BAGHDAD (AP)— A strike hit a base housing U.S. troops in Iraq early Tuesday, causing “minor injuries to U.S. personnel and damage to infrastructure,” a U.S. military official in the country said.

The official said U.S. forces “responded in self-defense against those who carried out the strike” on al-Asad military base in western Iraq. A second defense official confirmed that a U.S. gunship was used in a retaliatory strike Tuesday after militants hit the base. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

Also early Tuesday, a drone strike on a highway west of Baghdad targeted two pickup trucks linked to the Kataeb Hezbollah militia, killing one militia member and injuring at least three others, two militia officials said.

The militia officials, who also spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, said the strike hit a convoy traveling from Anbar to Baghdad. Later on Tuesday, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed militias, issued a statement announcing the death of one of its members in Iraq in what it said was a U.S. airstrike.

It was not immediately clear if the strike that killed the Kataeb Hezbollah member was the same one launched in retaliation to the attack on the al-Assad base.

The two incidents come as Iranian-backed militants have launched dozens of attacks on bases and facilities housing U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria since Oct. 17. While most of the more than five dozen attacks have been ineffective, at least 60 U.S. personnel have reported minor injuries. The militant groups have said that the strikes are in retaliation for U.S. support of Israel in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

BAGHDAD (AP)— A strike hit a base housing U.S. troops in Iraq early Tuesday, causing “minor injuries to U.S. personnel and damage to infrastructure,” a U.S. military official in the country said.The official said U.S. forces “responded in self-defense against those who carried out the strike” on al-Asad military base in western Iraq. A second defense official confirmed that a U.S. gunship was used in a retaliatory strike Tuesday after militants hit the base. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.Also early Tuesday, a drone strike on a highway west of Baghdad targeted two pickup trucks linked to the Kataeb Hezbollah militia, killing one militia member and injuring at least three others, two militia officials said.The militia officials, who also spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, said the strike hit a convoy traveling from Anbar to Baghdad. Later on Tuesday, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed militias, issued a statement announcing the death of one of its members in Iraq in what it said was a U.S. airstrike.It was not immediately clear if the strike that killed the Kataeb Hezbollah member was the same one launched in retaliation to the attack on the al-Assad base.The two incidents come as Iranian-backed militants have launched dozens of attacks on bases and facilities housing U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria since Oct. 17. While most of the more than five dozen attacks have been ineffective, at least 60 U.S. personnel have reported minor injuries. The militant groups have said that the strikes are in retaliation for U.S. support of Israel in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Injuries reported after strike hits base with U.S. troops 

WASHINGTON —The Department of Defense&nbsp; announced on Monday an additional security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs, according to a statement from the agency.

This announcement is the Biden Administration's fifty-first tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. This package includes additional air defense capabilities, artillery ammunition, anti-tank weapons, and other equipment to help Ukraine defend its sovereign territory and fight for its freedom from Russia's ongoing war of aggression.&nbsp;

This package utilizes assistance previously authorized for Ukraine during prior fiscal years under Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) that remained after the PDA revaluation process.&nbsp;The capabilities in this package, valued at up to $100 million, include:

The United States remains committed to working with the coalition the United States has built of some 50 Allies and partners who are providing Ukraine with the capabilities it needs to defend itself now and deter Russian aggression well into the future. Our allies and partners have stepped up to provide approximately $36 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. Under the leadership of the United States, this global coalition has enabled Ukraine's courageous forces to successfully defend Ukraine's sovereignty and independence, win critical battles that repelled Russian forces, and take back more than half of the territory seized by Russian invaders.

Security assistance for Ukraine is a smart investment in our national security. It helps to prevent a larger conflict in the region and deter potential aggression elsewhere, while strengthening our defense industrial base and creating highly skilled jobs for the American people in dozens of states across the country. It is critical that Congress take action to support Ukraine by passing the President's supplemental funding request.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698356993512.png" alt="Pallets of ammunition are loaded onto an 86th Airlift Wing C-130J Super Hercules at Ramstein Air Base, Germany&nbsp;Photo By:Air Force Capt. Emma Quirk" />
 <figcaption>Pallets of ammunition are loaded onto an 86th Airlift Wing C-130J Super Hercules at Ramstein Air Base, Germany&nbsp;Photo By:Air Force Capt. Emma Quirk</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —The Department of Defense&nbsp; announced on Monday an additional security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs, according to a statement from the agency.This announcement is the Biden Administration's fifty-first tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. This package includes additional air defense capabilities, artillery ammunition, anti-tank weapons, and other equipment to help Ukraine defend its sovereign territory and fight for its freedom from Russia's ongoing war of aggression.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I was honored to meet with President <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZelenskyyUa</a> in Kyiv today to reaffirm the United States’ steadfast support for Ukraine. We, along with our allies and partners, will continue to support Ukraine’s urgent battlefield needs and long-term defense requirements. <a href="https://t.co/Odv6ClgcrP">pic.twitter.com/Odv6ClgcrP</a>&mdash; Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1726587659815182765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>This package utilizes assistance previously authorized for Ukraine during prior fiscal years under Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) that remained after the PDA revaluation process.&nbsp;The capabilities in this package, valued at up to $100 million, include:<ul>
 <li>Stinger anti-aircraft missiles;</li><li>One High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and additional ammunition;</li><li>155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;</li><li>Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;</li><li>Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;</li><li>More than 3 million rounds of small arms ammunition;</li><li>Demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing;</li><li>Cold weather gear; and</li><li>Spare parts, maintenance, and other ancillary equipment.</li>
 </ul>The United States remains committed to working with the coalition the United States has built of some 50 Allies and partners who are providing Ukraine with the capabilities it needs to defend itself now and deter Russian aggression well into the future. Our allies and partners have stepped up to provide approximately $36 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. Under the leadership of the United States, this global coalition has enabled Ukraine's courageous forces to successfully defend Ukraine's sovereignty and independence, win critical battles that repelled Russian forces, and take back more than half of the territory seized by Russian invaders.Security assistance for Ukraine is a smart investment in our national security. It helps to prevent a larger conflict in the region and deter potential aggression elsewhere, while strengthening our defense industrial base and creating highly skilled jobs for the American people in dozens of states across the country. It is critical that Congress take action to support Ukraine by passing the President's supplemental funding request.

Biden sending $100 million in new military assistance to Ukraine

Dena Harshbarger, a professor of teacher education at UNK, was recently recognized by the Nebraska Forest Service with an Excellence in Conservation and Environmental Education award. She received the 2023 Outstanding Veteran Facilitator Award for her involvement with the Project Learning Tree (PLT) and Project WET environmental education programs.

“Dena is a joy to work with. Her enthusiasm for environmental education and the PLT curriculum shines through in her work,” said Matt Jones, an educator with the Hastings Museum and Project Learning Tree and Project WET facilitator. “She is great at providing future classroom teachers with the confidence and support they need to get out of their comfort zones and grow as professionals. We are fortunate to have someone like Dr. Harshbarger in central Nebraska to guide and influence the next generation of educators.”

Project Learning Tree uses trees as “windows to the world” to increase understanding of our complex environment. Project WET advances water education to understand global challenges and inspire local solutions. In Nebraska, both programs are coordinated by the Nebraska Forest Service but are supported by a wide network of over 50 partner organizations that curate professional development experiences, youth festivals and other resources to increase and elevate environmental literacy across the tree-planters state.

The Outstanding Veteran Facilitator Award recognizes an active facilitator who has demonstrated fidelity to leading PLT/WET professional development events for over three years and supporting their implementation in Nebraska. This individual’s commitment to the program goes above the minimum requirements and encourages others to “get involved,” benefiting local educators, their community and the Nebraska network from their years of contributions.

“Dena was a pivotal catalyst helping us to re-engage Nebraska’s colleges and universities in providing environmental education training to the next generation of classroom teachers,” said Jack Hilgert, conservation education coordinator with the Nebraska Forest Service and state coordinator for Project Learning Tree and Project WET. “Dr. Harshbarger was the first professor to dive in and say ‘yes’ enthusiastically to partnering with our program. As a result of her enthusiasm for environmental education, we have been able to train her science methods class each semester, reaching over 150 future teachers over the past several years. Numerous studies show that incorporating environmental education training into the coursework of future classroom teachers increases their comfort and skill at incorporating outdoor learning into their future work with youth.”

Thanks to this initial partnership with Harshbarger, the Nebraska Forest Service has expanded this model to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Hastings College, Creighton University and Concordia University.

“The Nebraska Forest Service could not reach its conservation education goals without the vast network of partners who work together to meet the diverse needs of Nebraska’s schools, educators and youth while connecting them to the natural world,” said John Erixson, state forester for the Nebraska Forest Service.

Learn more about Project Learning Tree and Project WET&nbsp;<a href="http://nfs.unl.edu/education">here</a>.

Tyler EllysonUNK CommunicationsDena Harshbarger, a professor of teacher education at UNK, was recently recognized by the Nebraska Forest Service with an Excellence in Conservation and Environmental Education award. She received the 2023 Outstanding Veteran Facilitator Award for her involvement with the Project Learning Tree (PLT) and Project WET environmental education programs.“Dena is a joy to work with. Her enthusiasm for environmental education and the PLT curriculum shines through in her work,” said Matt Jones, an educator with the Hastings Museum and Project Learning Tree and Project WET facilitator. “She is great at providing future classroom teachers with the confidence and support they need to get out of their comfort zones and grow as professionals. We are fortunate to have someone like Dr. Harshbarger in central Nebraska to guide and influence the next generation of educators.”Project Learning Tree uses trees as “windows to the world” to increase understanding of our complex environment. Project WET advances water education to understand global challenges and inspire local solutions. In Nebraska, both programs are coordinated by the Nebraska Forest Service but are supported by a wide network of over 50 partner organizations that curate professional development experiences, youth festivals and other resources to increase and elevate environmental literacy across the tree-planters state.The Outstanding Veteran Facilitator Award recognizes an active facilitator who has demonstrated fidelity to leading PLT/WET professional development events for over three years and supporting their implementation in Nebraska. This individual’s commitment to the program goes above the minimum requirements and encourages others to “get involved,” benefiting local educators, their community and the Nebraska network from their years of contributions.“Dena was a pivotal catalyst helping us to re-engage Nebraska’s colleges and universities in providing environmental education training to the next generation of classroom teachers,” said Jack Hilgert, conservation education coordinator with the Nebraska Forest Service and state coordinator for Project Learning Tree and Project WET. “Dr. Harshbarger was the first professor to dive in and say ‘yes’ enthusiastically to partnering with our program. As a result of her enthusiasm for environmental education, we have been able to train her science methods class each semester, reaching over 150 future teachers over the past several years. Numerous studies show that incorporating environmental education training into the coursework of future classroom teachers increases their comfort and skill at incorporating outdoor learning into their future work with youth.”Thanks to this initial partnership with Harshbarger, the Nebraska Forest Service has expanded this model to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Hastings College, Creighton University and Concordia University.“The Nebraska Forest Service could not reach its conservation education goals without the vast network of partners who work together to meet the diverse needs of Nebraska’s schools, educators and youth while connecting them to the natural world,” said John Erixson, state forester for the Nebraska Forest Service.Learn more about Project Learning Tree and Project WET&nbsp;<a href="http://nfs.unl.edu/education">here</a>.

Dena Harshbarger recognized for her commitment to Nebraska environmental education programs

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/20/developers-of-southeast-nebraska-mine-brush-off-investigation-by-ny-law-firm/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Developers of a proposed niobium mine in southeast Nebraska are brushing off an announced “investigation” by a New York law firm over its delayed annual financial report for 2022-23.

The firm, Pomerantz LLP, bills itself as a “premier firm” in the areas of corporate litigation, and stated in a press release earlier this month that it was probing whether NioCorp and its officers or directors “engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.”

Pomerantz officials declined to comment further when contacted by the Nebraska Examiner.

But a spokesman for NioCorp and a former board member of the project dismissed the probe as “trolling for clients” to file a lawsuit.

“They are soliciting investors to call them and join a lawsuit,” said Jim Sims, the Colorado-based spokesman for NioCorp. “I’ve seen 100s of these kinds of law firms. So we ignore them.”

Former State Sen. Tony Fulton, who once served on the NioCorp Board of Directors, had a similar response, likening the effort by the law firm to “ambulance chasers.”

“When share prices go down, that’s when these releases go out,” said Fulton, a former State Tax Commissioner, to capitalize on angry stockholders.

NioCorp, which has obtained options on land near Elk Creek, has seen its stock price on NASDAQ drop from over $10 per share in March to $4.09 on Tuesday.

Sims said he could not comment on the stock price drop, but Fulton said that some investors became upset after a move by NioCorp to join with GX Accounting Corp. didn’t reap as much of an investment in the project as expected.

A lawsuit has not been filed by Pomerantz, a law firm official confirmed. The firm recently grabbed a headline in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.law360.com/articles/1721549/mvp-pomerantz-s-emma-gilmore">Law360.com</a>&nbsp;for negotiating a $26.3 million settlement with Deutsche Bank, resolving allegations that it had mishandled the bank’s “bad actors,” such as Jeffrey Epstein, the now disgraced and deceased financier.

A critical minerals mine in southeast Nebraska has been discussed for at least five decades, and NioCorp is led by an executive, Mark A. Smith, who was involved in Molycorp, a firm that had explored the Elk Creek project 30 years ago.

But attracting the estimated $1.2 billion in investments to get the deep-rock mine off and running has proven to be challenging. At one time, Smith had said that fund raising for the Elk Creek Superalloy Materials Project would be completed by 2018.

Dozens of Nebraskanas have invested in the project, placing a high-risk bet that the project will become reality. It has been promoted as creating 450 jobs with an annual payroll exceeding $1 billion.

The mine would extract and process niobium, scandium and titanium, minerals used to harden steel, make aluminum stronger and employed as a pigment in paint.

Fulton said he remains optimistic about the project, while acknowledging that it is not a sure thing.

Consultant says mine is ‘a real long shot’

One consultant on rare earth and critical minerals, David Hammond of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, told the Nebraska Examiner he still considers the Nebraska mine “a real long shot.”

“If I had to bet money, I’d bet a year’s worth of my retirement that this thing will never produce a single ounce, kilogram or ton of any product,” Hammond said.

Mining, in general, is a “high-risk game,” he said, and extracting rare earth minerals is difficult and expensive. Hammond said he questions whether the mine can be financially viable.

NioCorp, on Sept. 26, announced that it would be unable to meet a Sept. 28 deadline to file its annual financial report with the Ontario Securities Commission as well as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The announcement sent NioCorp’s stock value down by 40 cents a share.

&nbsp;The company blamed the missed deadline on the complexity of integrating its accounting systems with GX Acquisitions Corp., a firm NioCorp combined with to gain access to the&nbsp;NASDAQ stock exchange and to attract additional investment.

On Oct. 6,&nbsp;NioCorp announced that it had filed its annual financial statement.&nbsp;

Sims said the company is now focused on seeking $800 million in financing via the U.S. Export Bank and its “Make More in America” program.

That program is part of a larger effort by President Joe Biden to increase U.S. production of critical minerals, and make American less dependent on foreign sources, including China.

In September, the Biden Administration announced that it will invest&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-announces-150-million-strengthen-domestic-critical-material">up to $150 million</a>&nbsp;to advance production and refining of critical minerals and materials here in the United States.

In January, the Administration also provided a $700 million loan for a mine in Nevada to produce lithium, a critical element in the production of batteries for electric cars.

Sims said that those announcements, and growing concerns about American produced resources, has produced a “bullish signal” about the need for projects like Elk Creek.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700513745949.png" alt="This is an artist’s rendering of the proposed critical elements mine near Elk Creek, Nebraska. The project continues to seek capital investments in the $1.2 billion project, which some see as a long shot. (Courtesy of NioCorp)" />
 <figcaption>This is an artist’s rendering of the proposed critical elements mine near Elk Creek, Nebraska. The project continues to seek capital investments in the $1.2 billion project, which some see as a long shot. (Courtesy of NioCorp)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/20/developers-of-southeast-nebraska-mine-brush-off-investigation-by-ny-law-firm/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Developers of a proposed niobium mine in southeast Nebraska are brushing off an announced “investigation” by a New York law firm over its delayed annual financial report for 2022-23.The firm, Pomerantz LLP, bills itself as a “premier firm” in the areas of corporate litigation, and stated in a press release earlier this month that it was probing whether NioCorp and its officers or directors “engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.”Pomerantz officials declined to comment further when contacted by the Nebraska Examiner.But a spokesman for NioCorp and a former board member of the project dismissed the probe as “trolling for clients” to file a lawsuit.<h2>‘We ignore them’</h2>“They are soliciting investors to call them and join a lawsuit,” said Jim Sims, the Colorado-based spokesman for NioCorp. “I’ve seen 100s of these kinds of law firms. So we ignore them.”Former State Sen. Tony Fulton, who once served on the NioCorp Board of Directors, had a similar response, likening the effort by the law firm to “ambulance chasers.”“When share prices go down, that’s when these releases go out,” said Fulton, a former State Tax Commissioner, to capitalize on angry stockholders.NioCorp, which has obtained options on land near Elk Creek, has seen its stock price on NASDAQ drop from over $10 per share in March to $4.09 on Tuesday.Sims said he could not comment on the stock price drop, but Fulton said that some investors became upset after a move by NioCorp to join with GX Accounting Corp. didn’t reap as much of an investment in the project as expected.A lawsuit has not been filed by Pomerantz, a law firm official confirmed. The firm recently grabbed a headline in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.law360.com/articles/1721549/mvp-pomerantz-s-emma-gilmore">Law360.com</a>&nbsp;for negotiating a $26.3 million settlement with Deutsche Bank, resolving allegations that it had mishandled the bank’s “bad actors,” such as Jeffrey Epstein, the now disgraced and deceased financier.<h2>Mine discussed for decades</h2>A critical minerals mine in southeast Nebraska has been discussed for at least five decades, and NioCorp is led by an executive, Mark A. Smith, who was involved in Molycorp, a firm that had explored the Elk Creek project 30 years ago.But attracting the estimated $1.2 billion in investments to get the deep-rock mine off and running has proven to be challenging. At one time, Smith had said that fund raising for the Elk Creek Superalloy Materials Project would be completed by 2018.Dozens of Nebraskanas have invested in the project, placing a high-risk bet that the project will become reality. It has been promoted as creating 450 jobs with an annual payroll exceeding $1 billion.The mine would extract and process niobium, scandium and titanium, minerals used to harden steel, make aluminum stronger and employed as a pigment in paint.Fulton said he remains optimistic about the project, while acknowledging that it is not a sure thing.<h2>Consultant says mine is ‘a real long shot’</h2>One consultant on rare earth and critical minerals, David Hammond of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, told the Nebraska Examiner he still considers the Nebraska mine “a real long shot.”“If I had to bet money, I’d bet a year’s worth of my retirement that this thing will never produce a single ounce, kilogram or ton of any product,” Hammond said.Mining, in general, is a “high-risk game,” he said, and extracting rare earth minerals is difficult and expensive. Hammond said he questions whether the mine can be financially viable.NioCorp, on Sept. 26, announced that it would be unable to meet a Sept. 28 deadline to file its annual financial report with the Ontario Securities Commission as well as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The announcement sent NioCorp’s stock value down by 40 cents a share.&nbsp;The company blamed the missed deadline on the complexity of integrating its accounting systems with GX Acquisitions Corp., a firm NioCorp combined with to gain access to the&nbsp;NASDAQ stock exchange and to attract additional investment.On Oct. 6,&nbsp;NioCorp announced that it had filed its annual financial statement.&nbsp;Sims said the company is now focused on seeking $800 million in financing via the U.S. Export Bank and its “Make More in America” program.That program is part of a larger effort by President Joe Biden to increase U.S. production of critical minerals, and make American less dependent on foreign sources, including China.In September, the Biden Administration announced that it will invest&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-announces-150-million-strengthen-domestic-critical-material">up to $150 million</a>&nbsp;to advance production and refining of critical minerals and materials here in the United States.In January, the Administration also provided a $700 million loan for a mine in Nevada to produce lithium, a critical element in the production of batteries for electric cars.Sims said that those announcements, and growing concerns about American produced resources, has produced a “bullish signal” about the need for projects like Elk Creek.&nbsp;

Developers of southeast Nebraska mine brush off ‘investigation’ by NY law firm

The University of Nebraska Medical Center and Columbus Community Hospital have signed a master affiliation agreement that will provide&nbsp;enhanced education and training opportunities for&nbsp;UNMC health professions students. It will allow the institutions to work collaboratively when building the health care workforce in the Columbus area and the surrounding region.

This latest agreement further enhances UNMC’s statewide impact as it works to build the future workforce and deliver health care and health care education throughout Nebraska. It is continuing in its commitment to expand the state’s rural health workforce in critical areas, said Nicole Carritt, UNMC director of rural initiatives and assistant vice chancellor for health workforce education relations.

“Columbus Community Hospital has been a great partner,” Carritt said. “It has gone above and beyond to ensure students have a great learning experience while on their rotations. We are interested in using this agreement as a springboard to even more collaborations. We hope to expand educational programs on the UNMC-Kearney campus and increase the number of health professions&nbsp;students interested in living and providing health care in the state’s rural areas.”

Under the new and enhanced agreement, students from programs including allied health, medicine, nursing, pharmacy and public health will have the opportunity to participate in clinical training opportunities at Columbus Community Hospital.

“Over the years, we have had a great collaborative relationship with UNMC,” said Michael T. Hansen, FACHE, president/CEO of Columbus Community Hospital. “We thoroughly enjoy the many students we host every year during their rural rotations here at CCH.&nbsp; By signing the Master Affiliation agreements for both clinical and non-clinical students, we streamline the process and ensure that our mutual interests are perfectly aligned.”

“We continue to see severe health care workforce shortages across many disciplines — from physicians and nurses to medical lab technicians, pharmacists and many others” said Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, chancellor of UNMC. “Strong educational experiences in our communities, such as the ones provided at Columbus Community Hospital, are integral in growing the state’s rural health workforce. We are excited at the possibilities this new agreement opens up.”

“As UNMC works to improve the health of people across Nebraska, partnership and innovation is in the best interest of the student, community and state,” Carritt said. “With the agreement, we are building on an already impactful partnership, and we thank the leaders and clinicians of Columbus Community Hospital for this continued collaboration.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700496898402.jpeg" alt="Michael T. Hansen, FACHE, president/CEO of Columbus Community Hospital" />
 <figcaption>Michael T. Hansen, FACHE, president/CEO of Columbus Community Hospital</figcaption>
 </figure>UNMCThe University of Nebraska Medical Center and Columbus Community Hospital have signed a master affiliation agreement that will provide&nbsp;enhanced education and training opportunities for&nbsp;UNMC health professions students. It will allow the institutions to work collaboratively when building the health care workforce in the Columbus area and the surrounding region.This latest agreement further enhances UNMC’s statewide impact as it works to build the future workforce and deliver health care and health care education throughout Nebraska. It is continuing in its commitment to expand the state’s rural health workforce in critical areas, said Nicole Carritt, UNMC director of rural initiatives and assistant vice chancellor for health workforce education relations.“Columbus Community Hospital has been a great partner,” Carritt said. “It has gone above and beyond to ensure students have a great learning experience while on their rotations. We are interested in using this agreement as a springboard to even more collaborations. We hope to expand educational programs on the UNMC-Kearney campus and increase the number of health professions&nbsp;students interested in living and providing health care in the state’s rural areas.”Under the new and enhanced agreement, students from programs including allied health, medicine, nursing, pharmacy and public health will have the opportunity to participate in clinical training opportunities at Columbus Community Hospital.“Over the years, we have had a great collaborative relationship with UNMC,” said Michael T. Hansen, FACHE, president/CEO of Columbus Community Hospital. “We thoroughly enjoy the many students we host every year during their rural rotations here at CCH.&nbsp; By signing the Master Affiliation agreements for both clinical and non-clinical students, we streamline the process and ensure that our mutual interests are perfectly aligned.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700496943099.jpeg" alt=" Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, chancellor, University of Nebraska Medical Center" />
 <figcaption> Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, chancellor, University of Nebraska Medical Center</figcaption>
 </figure>“We continue to see severe health care workforce shortages across many disciplines — from physicians and nurses to medical lab technicians, pharmacists and many others” said Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, chancellor of UNMC. “Strong educational experiences in our communities, such as the ones provided at Columbus Community Hospital, are integral in growing the state’s rural health workforce. We are excited at the possibilities this new agreement opens up.”“As UNMC works to improve the health of people across Nebraska, partnership and innovation is in the best interest of the student, community and state,” Carritt said. “With the agreement, we are building on an already impactful partnership, and we thank the leaders and clinicians of Columbus Community Hospital for this continued collaboration.”

UNMC, Columbus Community Hospital sign master affiliation agreement

WASHINGTON —The U.S. Department of Transportation is gearing up for another busy holiday travel season. On Monday, Secretary&nbsp;Pete Buttigieg shared updates from the department on progress made to empower airline passengers.

<a href="https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/airline-customer-service-dashboard">Click here to view</a> the airline customer service dashboard

The skies will be extremely busy this Thanksgiving period – eclipsing last year. The Federal Aviation Administration is expecting 49,600 flights on Wednesday, according to Administrator Mike Whitaker.

The FAA will be working around the clock to make sure passengers get to their destinations safely.

WASHINGTON —The U.S. Department of Transportation is gearing up for another busy holiday travel season. On Monday, Secretary&nbsp;Pete Buttigieg shared updates from the department on progress made to empower airline passengers.<a href="https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/airline-customer-service-dashboard">Click here to view</a> the airline customer service dashboard<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We&#39;re gearing up for another busy holiday travel season. Tune in as I share updates from our department on progress we&#39;ve made to empower airline passengers. <a href="https://t.co/ZJrIB6PQJw">https://t.co/ZJrIB6PQJw</a>&mdash; Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecretaryPete/status/1726607009259167786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The skies will be extremely busy this Thanksgiving period – eclipsing last year. The Federal Aviation Administration is expecting 49,600 flights on Wednesday, according to Administrator Mike Whitaker.The FAA will be working around the clock to make sure passengers get to their destinations safely.

🎥U.S. DOT:  Know your rights before you fly this holiday

WASHINGTON (AP) — Liberty and Bell can spread their wings without fear.

The two Thanksgiving turkeys played their part Monday in an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehousehistory.org/pardoning-the-thanksgiving-turkey">annual holiday tradition</a>&nbsp;at the White House: a president sparing them from becoming someone's dinner.

“I hereby pardon Liberty and Bell. Congratulations, birds,” Biden said after one of the National Thanksgiving Turkeys was placed on a table near him.

The event, held on the South Lawn this year instead of the smaller Rose Garden, marks the unofficial start of the holiday season in Washington, and Monday was an especially busy opening day.

President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>, the oldest president in U.S. history, also celebrated turning 81 on Monday. In the afternoon, his wife, first lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jill-biden">Jill Biden</a>, was accepting the delivery of an 18.5-foot (5.6-meter) Fraser fir from Fleetwood, North Carolina, as the official White House Christmas tree.

Biden joked about his age, saying, “this is the 76th anniversary of this event. I want you to know I wasn't there for the first one.” The Democrat's age has become an issue as he seeks reelection next year.

Steve Lykken, chairman of the National Turkey Federation and president of the Jennie-O Turkey Store, told The Associated Press in an interview last week that the pardons are a “great way to kick off the holiday season and really, really a fun honor.”

Lykken introduced Liberty and Bell on Sunday at the Willard Intercontinental, a luxury hotel near the White House. The gobblers checked into a suite there on Saturday following their red-carpet arrival in the U.S. capital after a dayslong road trip from Minnesota in a black Cadillac Escalade.

“They were raised like all of our turkeys, protected, of course, from weather extremes and predators, free to walk about with constant access to water and feed,” Lykken said at Sunday's event as Liberty and Bell strutted around the Willard's newly renovated Crystal Room on plastic sheeting laid over the carpet. Young children in the crowd of onlookers — many of them employees and guests of the Jennie-O company — yelled “gobble, gobble” at them.

The male turkeys, both about 20 weeks old and about 42 pounds (19 kilograms), were hatched in July in Willmar, Minnesota — Jennie-O is headquartered there — as part of the “presidential flock,” Lykken said. They listened to music and other sounds to prepare them for Monday's hoopla at the White House.

“They listened to all kinds of music to get ready for the crowds and people along the way. I can confirm they are, in fact, Swifties, and they do enjoy some Prince,” Lykken said, meaning that Liberty and Bell are fans of Taylor Swift. “I think they’re absolutely ready for prime time.”

The tradition dates to 1947 when the National Turkey Federation, which represents turkey farmers and producers, first presented a National Thanksgiving Turkey to President Harry Truman.

Back then, and even earlier, the gobbler was given for the first family's holiday consumption. But by the late 1980s, the tradition had evolved into an often humorous ceremony in which the birds are pardoned, given a second chance at life after they are spared from ending up on a family's Thanksgiving table.

In 1989, as animal rights activists picketed nearby, President George H.W. Bush said, "But let me assure you, and this fine tom turkey, that he will not end up on anyone’s dinner table, not this guy -- he’s granted a presidential pardon as of right now -- and allow him to live out his days on a children’s farm not far from here.”

After Biden pardons&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-holidays-obituaries-christmas-c98e1ce25e97dbe097f2ed37d9c7a4c2">his third pair of turkeys</a>&nbsp;on Monday, Liberty and Bell will be returned to their home state to be cared for by the University of Minnesota's College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences.

“You can imagine the wonderful care they're going to get from students and veterinarians and professors, etc., and so they will hopefully have a chance, maybe, to go see a hockey game or spend time with Goldy the gopher,” Lykken said, referring to the university's mascot.

A little over 200 million turkeys will be eaten on Thanksgiving, Lykken said.

Biden will eat his Thanksgiving turkey with family on Nantucket, a Massachusetts island, continuing a long family tradition. On Sunday, he and the first lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-thanksgiving-troops-military-norfolk-naval-station-4453eee2e8194cf767d47b1b7e12c563">served an early Thanksgiving meal</a>&nbsp;to hundreds of service members at Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Liberty and Bell are ready for their presidential pardons.

The two Thanksgiving turkeys were due at the White House on Monday to play their part in what has become an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehousehistory.org/pardoning-the-thanksgiving-turkey" target="_blank">annual holiday tradition</a>: a president sparing them from becoming someone’s dinner.

“We think that’s a great way to kick off the holiday season and really, really a fun honor,” Steve Lykken, chairman of the National Turkey Federation and president of the Jennie-O Turkey Store, said in an interview with The Associated Press.

The event, set for the South Lawn this year instead of the Rose Garden, marks the unofficial start of the holiday season in Washington, and Monday was shaping up to be an especially busy opening day.

President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden" target="_blank">Joe Biden</a>, the oldest president in U.S. history, also was celebrating his 81st birthday on Monday. In the afternoon, his wife, first lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jill-biden" target="_blank">Jill Biden</a>, was accepting the delivery of an 18-and-a-half foot Fraser fir from Fleetwood, North Carolina, as the official White House Christmas tree.

Lykken introduced Liberty and Bell on Sunday at the Willard Intercontinental, a luxury hotel close to the White House. The gobblers checked into a suite there on Saturday following their red-carpet arrival in the U.S. capital after a dayslong road trip from Minnesota in a black Cadillac Escalade.

“They were raised like all of our turkeys, protected, of course, from weather extremes and predators, free to walk about with constant access to water and feed,” Lykken said Sunday, as Liberty and Bell strutted around the Willard’s newly renovated Crystal Room on plastic sheeting laid over the carpet. Young children in the crowd of onlookers — many of them employees and guests of the Jennie-O company — yelled “gobble, gobble” at them.

The male turkeys, both about 20 weeks old and about 42 pounds, were hatched in July in Willmar, Minnesota — Jennie-O is headquartered there — as part of the “presidential flock,” Lykken said. They listened to music and other sounds to prepare them for Monday’s hoopla at the White House.

Back then, and even earlier, the gobbler was given for the first family’s holiday consumption. But by the late 1980s, the tradition had evolved into an often humorous ceremony in which the birds are pardoned, given a second chance at life after they are spared from ending up on a family’s Thanksgiving table.

In 1989, as animal rights activists picketed nearby, President George H.W. Bush said, “But let me assure you, and this fine tom turkey, that he will not end up on anyone’s dinner table, not this guy -- he’s granted a presidential pardon as of right now -- and allow him to live out his days on a children’s farm not far from here.”

After Biden pardons&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-holidays-obituaries-christmas-c98e1ce25e97dbe097f2ed37d9c7a4c2" target="_blank">his third pair of turkeys</a>&nbsp;on Monday, Liberty and Bell will be returned to their home state to be cared for by the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences.

“You can imagine the wonderful care they’re going to get from students and veterinarians and professors, etc., and so they will hopefully have a chance, maybe, to go see a hockey game or spend time with Goldy the gopher,” Lykken said, referring to the university’s mascot.

Biden will eat his Thanksgiving turkey with family on Nantucket, a Massachusetts island, continuing a long family tradition. On Sunday, he and the first lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-thanksgiving-troops-military-norfolk-naval-station-4453eee2e8194cf767d47b1b7e12c563" target="_blank">served an early Thanksgiving meal</a>&nbsp;to hundreds of service members from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/cvn69/" target="_blank">USS Dwight D. Eisenhower</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/cvn78/" target="_blank">USS Gerald R. Ford</a>&nbsp;at Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia, the largest installation of its kind in the world, along with their families.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/thanksgiving-side-dish-recipes-d188ab4d289ac8d8f66804623d194838">Nontraditional flavors boost one-note Thanksgiving squash, kale and mashed potatoes</a>

Markus Platzer, the Willard’s general manager, said the hotel’s role in introducing the turkeys is the “highlight of the year.” The Willard has been involved for more than 15 years, he said, calling the turkeys “very special guests of ours.”

“There are so many bad things going on globally that this is something where everybody, you know, brings a smile into the face of the people, at least for a few minutes,” Platzer said Sunday.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Liberty and Bell can spread their wings without fear.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Join me on the South Lawn as I pardon the National Thanksgiving Turkey and wish American families a safe and healthy holiday. <a href="https://t.co/fntz6rUMCM">https://t.co/fntz6rUMCM</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1726641864579662297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The two Thanksgiving turkeys played their part Monday in an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehousehistory.org/pardoning-the-thanksgiving-turkey">annual holiday tradition</a>&nbsp;at the White House: a president sparing them from becoming someone's dinner.“I hereby pardon Liberty and Bell. Congratulations, birds,” Biden said after one of the National Thanksgiving Turkeys was placed on a table near him.The event, held on the South Lawn this year instead of the smaller Rose Garden, marks the unofficial start of the holiday season in Washington, and Monday was an especially busy opening day.President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>, the oldest president in U.S. history, also celebrated turning 81 on Monday. In the afternoon, his wife, first lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jill-biden">Jill Biden</a>, was accepting the delivery of an 18.5-foot (5.6-meter) Fraser fir from Fleetwood, North Carolina, as the official White House Christmas tree.Biden joked about his age, saying, “this is the 76th anniversary of this event. I want you to know I wasn't there for the first one.” The Democrat's age has become an issue as he seeks reelection next year.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Introducing Liberty and Bell, the 2023 National Thanksgiving Turkeys! <a href="https://t.co/Pwwn7GHZla">pic.twitter.com/Pwwn7GHZla</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1726655944229110118?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Steve Lykken, chairman of the National Turkey Federation and president of the Jennie-O Turkey Store, told The Associated Press in an interview last week that the pardons are a “great way to kick off the holiday season and really, really a fun honor.”Lykken introduced Liberty and Bell on Sunday at the Willard Intercontinental, a luxury hotel near the White House. The gobblers checked into a suite there on Saturday following their red-carpet arrival in the U.S. capital after a dayslong road trip from Minnesota in a black Cadillac Escalade.“They were raised like all of our turkeys, protected, of course, from weather extremes and predators, free to walk about with constant access to water and feed,” Lykken said at Sunday's event as Liberty and Bell strutted around the Willard's newly renovated Crystal Room on plastic sheeting laid over the carpet. Young children in the crowd of onlookers — many of them employees and guests of the Jennie-O company — yelled “gobble, gobble” at them.The male turkeys, both about 20 weeks old and about 42 pounds (19 kilograms), were hatched in July in Willmar, Minnesota — Jennie-O is headquartered there — as part of the “presidential flock,” Lykken said. They listened to music and other sounds to prepare them for Monday's hoopla at the White House.“They listened to all kinds of music to get ready for the crowds and people along the way. I can confirm they are, in fact, Swifties, and they do enjoy some Prince,” Lykken said, meaning that Liberty and Bell are fans of Taylor Swift. “I think they’re absolutely ready for prime time.”The tradition dates to 1947 when the National Turkey Federation, which represents turkey farmers and producers, first presented a National Thanksgiving Turkey to President Harry Truman.Back then, and even earlier, the gobbler was given for the first family's holiday consumption. But by the late 1980s, the tradition had evolved into an often humorous ceremony in which the birds are pardoned, given a second chance at life after they are spared from ending up on a family's Thanksgiving table.In 1989, as animal rights activists picketed nearby, President George H.W. Bush said, "But let me assure you, and this fine tom turkey, that he will not end up on anyone’s dinner table, not this guy -- he’s granted a presidential pardon as of right now -- and allow him to live out his days on a children’s farm not far from here.”After Biden pardons&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-holidays-obituaries-christmas-c98e1ce25e97dbe097f2ed37d9c7a4c2">his third pair of turkeys</a>&nbsp;on Monday, Liberty and Bell will be returned to their home state to be cared for by the University of Minnesota's College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences.“You can imagine the wonderful care they're going to get from students and veterinarians and professors, etc., and so they will hopefully have a chance, maybe, to go see a hockey game or spend time with Goldy the gopher,” Lykken said, referring to the university's mascot.A little over 200 million turkeys will be eaten on Thanksgiving, Lykken said.Biden will eat his Thanksgiving turkey with family on Nantucket, a Massachusetts island, continuing a long family tradition. On Sunday, he and the first lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-thanksgiving-troops-military-norfolk-naval-station-4453eee2e8194cf767d47b1b7e12c563">served an early Thanksgiving meal</a>&nbsp;to hundreds of service members at Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia.----------WASHINGTON (AP) — Liberty and Bell are ready for their presidential pardons.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700479774610.png" alt="On Sunday President Biden and first lady Jill Biden serve food at a Friendsgiving dinner with service members and military families at Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia.-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>On Sunday President Biden and first lady Jill Biden serve food at a Friendsgiving dinner with service members and military families at Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia.-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>The two Thanksgiving turkeys were due at the White House on Monday to play their part in what has become an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehousehistory.org/pardoning-the-thanksgiving-turkey" target="_blank">annual holiday tradition</a>: a president sparing them from becoming someone’s dinner.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden and first lady Jill Biden serve food at a Friendsgiving dinner with service members and military families at Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia. <a href="https://t.co/DvdFbofjaY">pic.twitter.com/DvdFbofjaY</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1726369806293643667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“We think that’s a great way to kick off the holiday season and really, really a fun honor,” Steve Lykken, chairman of the National Turkey Federation and president of the Jennie-O Turkey Store, said in an interview with The Associated Press.The event, set for the South Lawn this year instead of the Rose Garden, marks the unofficial start of the holiday season in Washington, and Monday was shaping up to be an especially busy opening day.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Jill and I were honored to join American service members and their families this weekend in Norfolk. These incredible men and women are the backbone, the sinew, the spine of America. And as their president, I&#39;ll never stop working to equip and care for them as they deserve. <a href="https://t.co/x61z8EmbzE">pic.twitter.com/x61z8EmbzE</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1726610119209701492?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden" target="_blank">Joe Biden</a>, the oldest president in U.S. history, also was celebrating his 81st birthday on Monday. In the afternoon, his wife, first lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jill-biden" target="_blank">Jill Biden</a>, was accepting the delivery of an 18-and-a-half foot Fraser fir from Fleetwood, North Carolina, as the official White House Christmas tree.Lykken introduced Liberty and Bell on Sunday at the Willard Intercontinental, a luxury hotel close to the White House. The gobblers checked into a suite there on Saturday following their red-carpet arrival in the U.S. capital after a dayslong road trip from Minnesota in a black Cadillac Escalade.“They were raised like all of our turkeys, protected, of course, from weather extremes and predators, free to walk about with constant access to water and feed,” Lykken said Sunday, as Liberty and Bell strutted around the Willard’s newly renovated Crystal Room on plastic sheeting laid over the carpet. Young children in the crowd of onlookers — many of them employees and guests of the Jennie-O company — yelled “gobble, gobble” at them.The male turkeys, both about 20 weeks old and about 42 pounds, were hatched in July in Willmar, Minnesota — Jennie-O is headquartered there — as part of the “presidential flock,” Lykken said. They listened to music and other sounds to prepare them for Monday’s hoopla at the White House.“They listened to all kinds of music to get ready for the crowds and people along the way. I can confirm they are, in fact, Swifties, and they do enjoy some Prince,” Lykken said, meaning that Liberty and Bell are fans of Taylor Swift. “I think they’re absolutely ready for prime time.”The tradition dates to 1947 when the National Turkey Federation, which represents turkey farmers and producers, first presented a National Thanksgiving Turkey to President Harry Truman.Back then, and even earlier, the gobbler was given for the first family’s holiday consumption. But by the late 1980s, the tradition had evolved into an often humorous ceremony in which the birds are pardoned, given a second chance at life after they are spared from ending up on a family’s Thanksgiving table.In 1989, as animal rights activists picketed nearby, President George H.W. Bush said, “But let me assure you, and this fine tom turkey, that he will not end up on anyone’s dinner table, not this guy -- he’s granted a presidential pardon as of right now -- and allow him to live out his days on a children’s farm not far from here.”After Biden pardons&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-holidays-obituaries-christmas-c98e1ce25e97dbe097f2ed37d9c7a4c2" target="_blank">his third pair of turkeys</a>&nbsp;on Monday, Liberty and Bell will be returned to their home state to be cared for by the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences.“You can imagine the wonderful care they’re going to get from students and veterinarians and professors, etc., and so they will hopefully have a chance, maybe, to go see a hockey game or spend time with Goldy the gopher,” Lykken said, referring to the university’s mascot.A little over 200 million turkeys will be eaten on Thanksgiving, Lykken said.Biden will eat his Thanksgiving turkey with family on Nantucket, a Massachusetts island, continuing a long family tradition. On Sunday, he and the first lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-thanksgiving-troops-military-norfolk-naval-station-4453eee2e8194cf767d47b1b7e12c563" target="_blank">served an early Thanksgiving meal</a>&nbsp;to hundreds of service members from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/cvn69/" target="_blank">USS Dwight D. Eisenhower</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/cvn78/" target="_blank">USS Gerald R. Ford</a>&nbsp;at Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia, the largest installation of its kind in the world, along with their families.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/thanksgiving-side-dish-recipes-d188ab4d289ac8d8f66804623d194838">Nontraditional flavors boost one-note Thanksgiving squash, kale and mashed potatoes</a>Markus Platzer, the Willard’s general manager, said the hotel’s role in introducing the turkeys is the “highlight of the year.” The Willard has been involved for more than 15 years, he said, calling the turkeys “very special guests of ours.”“There are so many bad things going on globally that this is something where everybody, you know, brings a smile into the face of the people, at least for a few minutes,” Platzer said Sunday.

🎥Biden pardons Thanksgiving turkeys, jokes about his 81st birthday

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/controversy-over-barring-nebraska-inspectors-general-from-accessing-agency-data-to-be-debated/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — The controversy over barring legislatively created inspectors general from accessing information from executive branch agencies will be debated in a special panel discussion Monday.

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers will be joined by State Sen. Danielle Conrad, University of Nebraska College of Law professor Anthony Schutz and Jennifer Carter, the Inspector General for Child Welfare, in a discussion at noon Monday at the NU law school.

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/16/attorney-generals-opinion-casts-doubt-on-powers-of-legislatures-inspectors-general/">In August, Hilgers sparked the controversy</a>&nbsp;when his office issued a legal opinion casting doubt whether inspectors general appointed by the Legislature had authority to probe problems in state prisons and child welfare cases.

Th<a target="_blank" href="https://ago.nebraska.gov/Opinions">e 38-page opinion</a>, requested by the Nebraska Department of Corrections, stated that the inspectors general violated the separation of powers clause of the State Constitution and impaired the powers of the Executive Branch and state judiciary to govern their operations.

The State Legislature had created the two inspectors general offices to probe problems within the state prison system and cases of abuse and neglect involving state wards, and report their findings to state lawmakers.

There have been two deadly riots within state prisons in recent years, and Nebraska’s prisons have been the most overcrowded in the nation. The child welfare system has seen trouble associated with attempts to privatize it.

Conrad, a former head of the ACLU of Nebraska — which had sued the state over the overcrowding issue — questioned Hilger’s legal conclusions when the opinion was issued in August.

Since the opinion was issued, the two inspectors general offices have been blocked from accessing information that they had previously had easy access to, including information about the recent death of a prison inmate at the Tecumseh State Prison.

The panel discussion,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://events.unl.edu/law/2023/11/20/176682/">which is open to the public,</a>&nbsp;will be moderated by Eric Berger, a professor at the NU College of Law.

The event is sponsored by the NU law school’s chapters of the American Constitution Society and Federalist Society.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700490542721.jpeg" alt="The University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>The University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/controversy-over-barring-nebraska-inspectors-general-from-accessing-agency-data-to-be-debated/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — The controversy over barring legislatively created inspectors general from accessing information from executive branch agencies will be debated in a special panel discussion Monday.Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers will be joined by State Sen. Danielle Conrad, University of Nebraska College of Law professor Anthony Schutz and Jennifer Carter, the Inspector General for Child Welfare, in a discussion at noon Monday at the NU law school.<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/16/attorney-generals-opinion-casts-doubt-on-powers-of-legislatures-inspectors-general/">In August, Hilgers sparked the controversy</a>&nbsp;when his office issued a legal opinion casting doubt whether inspectors general appointed by the Legislature had authority to probe problems in state prisons and child welfare cases.Th<a target="_blank" href="https://ago.nebraska.gov/Opinions">e 38-page opinion</a>, requested by the Nebraska Department of Corrections, stated that the inspectors general violated the separation of powers clause of the State Constitution and impaired the powers of the Executive Branch and state judiciary to govern their operations.The State Legislature had created the two inspectors general offices to probe problems within the state prison system and cases of abuse and neglect involving state wards, and report their findings to state lawmakers.There have been two deadly riots within state prisons in recent years, and Nebraska’s prisons have been the most overcrowded in the nation. The child welfare system has seen trouble associated with attempts to privatize it.Conrad, a former head of the ACLU of Nebraska — which had sued the state over the overcrowding issue — questioned Hilger’s legal conclusions when the opinion was issued in August.Since the opinion was issued, the two inspectors general offices have been blocked from accessing information that they had previously had easy access to, including information about the recent death of a prison inmate at the Tecumseh State Prison.The panel discussion,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://events.unl.edu/law/2023/11/20/176682/">which is open to the public,</a>&nbsp;will be moderated by Eric Berger, a professor at the NU College of Law.The event is sponsored by the NU law school’s chapters of the American Constitution Society and Federalist Society.&nbsp;

Controversy over barring Nebraska ‘inspectors general’ from accessing agency data to be debated

DETROIT (AP) — Honda is recalling nearly 250,000 vehicles in the U.S. because bearings can fail, causing the engines to stall and increasing the risk of a crash.

The recall covers certain 2018 and 2019 Honda Pilot SUVs and Odyssey minivans and some 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline pickup trucks. Also affected are certain 2015 to 2020 Acura TLX cars and some 2016 to 2020 Acura MDX SUVs.

Honda says in&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCAK-23V751-1498.pdf">documents posted Friday</a>&nbsp;by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that connecting rod bearings in the engine can wear and seize due to a manufacturing error, damaging the engines. The engines could run improperly or stall while being driven, increasing the risk of a fire, crash or injury.

The automaker says in documents that it has 1,450 warranty claims due to the problem but no reports of injuries.

DETROIT (AP) — Honda is recalling nearly 250,000 vehicles in the U.S. because bearings can fail, causing the engines to stall and increasing the risk of a crash.The recall covers certain 2018 and 2019 Honda Pilot SUVs and Odyssey minivans and some 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline pickup trucks. Also affected are certain 2015 to 2020 Acura TLX cars and some 2016 to 2020 Acura MDX SUVs.Honda says in&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCAK-23V751-1498.pdf">documents posted Friday</a>&nbsp;by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that connecting rod bearings in the engine can wear and seize due to a manufacturing error, damaging the engines. The engines could run improperly or stall while being driven, increasing the risk of a fire, crash or injury.The automaker says in documents that it has 1,450 warranty claims due to the problem but no reports of injuries.

Honda recalls nearly 250,000 cars, SUVs and pickup truck

JERUSALEM (AP) — Yemen's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship in a crucial Red Sea shipping route Sunday and took its 25 crew members hostage, officials said, raising fears that regional tensions heightened over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">the Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;were playing out on a new maritime front.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-israeli-houthi-gaza-war-3e48ff43f1225ccd98c9a56929fb8f57">Iran-backed Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;said they hijacked the ship over its connection to Israel and would continue to target ships in international waters that were linked to or owned by Israelis until the end of Israel's campaign against Gaza's Hamas rulers.

“All ships belonging to the Israeli enemy or that deal with it will become legitimate targets,” the Houthis said.

Mohammed Abdul-Salam, the Houthis’ chief negotiator and spokesman, later added in an online statement that the Israelis only understand “the language of force.”

“The detention of the Israeli ship is a practical step that proves the seriousness of the Yemeni armed forces in waging the sea battle, regardless of its costs and costs,” he added. “This is the beginning.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office had blamed the Houthis for the attack on the Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader, a vehicle carrier affiliated with an Israeli billionaire. It said no Israelis were on board.

The ship's Japanese operator, NYK Line, said the vessel had no cargo at the time of the hijacking. Its crewmembers are from the Philippines, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and Mexico, NYK said.

Japan on Monday condemned the hijacking. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said the Japanese government was doing its utmost for an early release of the crew through negotiations with Houthi rebels, while also communicating with Israel and cooperating with the governments of Saudi Arabia, Oman and Iran.

The Houthis said they were treating the crew members “in accordance with their Islamic values,” but did not elaborate on what that meant.

Netanyahu's office condemned the seizure as an “Iranian act of terror." The Israeli military called the hijacking a “very grave incident of global consequence."

Israeli officials insisted the ship was British-owned and Japanese-operated. However, ownership details in public shipping databases associated the ship’s owners with Ray Car Carriers, founded by Abraham “Rami” Ungar, who is known as one of the richest men in Israel.

Ungar told The Associated Press he was aware of the incident but couldn’t comment as he awaited details. A ship linked to him experienced an explosion in 2021 in the Gulf of Oman. Israeli media blamed it on Iran at the time.

Authorities confirmed Monday that the captain and the first mate on the Galaxy Leader were Bulgarians.

Bulgaria's top police officer, Zhivko Kotsev, told reporters that they were in touch with their families. “Nobody has sought contact with us up to this moment,” he said.

International shipping often involves a series of management companies, flags and owners stretching across the globe in a single vessel.

Two U.S. defense officials confirmed that Houthi rebels seized the Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea on Sunday afternoon local time. The rebels descended on the cargo ship by rappelling from a helicopter, the officials said, confirming details first reported by NBC News. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.

The ship's seizure resembles others previously conducted by Iran, which has long armed the Houthis.

Twice in the last month, U.S. warships have intercepted missiles or drones from Yemen that were believed to be headed toward Israel or posing a threat to American vessels. The USS Carney, a Navy destroyer,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-navy-warship-missiles-intercepted-2f5fc9c8a3737f762b29d5c53ec08a5b">intercepted three land attack cruise missiles</a>&nbsp;and several drones that were launched by Houthi forces toward the northern Red Sea last month.

On Nov. 15 the USS Thomas Hudner, another destroyer, was sailing toward the Bab-el-Mandeb strait when the crew saw a drone, reported to have originated in Yemen. The ship shot down the drone over the water. The officials said the crew took action to ensure the safety of U.S. personnel, and there were no casualties or damage to the ship.

Satellite tracking data from&nbsp;<a href="http://marinetraffic.com/">MarineTraffic.com</a>&nbsp;analyzed by the AP showed the Galaxy Leader traveling in the Red Sea southwest of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, more than a day ago. The vessel had been in Korfez, Turkey, and was on its way to Pipavav, India, at the time of the seizure reported by Israel.

It had its Automatic Identification System tracker, or AIS, switched off, the data showed. Ships are supposed to keep their AIS active for safety reasons, but crews will turn them off if it appears they might be targeted or to smuggle contraband, which there was no immediate evidence to suggest was the case with the Galaxy Leader.

The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which provides warnings to sailors in the Persian Gulf and the wider region, put the hijacking as having occurred some 150 kilometers (90 miles) off the coast of Yemen’s port city of Hodeida, near the coast of Eritrea. It later cited a security officer with the ship's company saying the vessel had been taken to Hodeida.

The Red Sea, stretching from Egypt’s Suez Canal to the narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait separating the Arabian Peninsula from Africa, remains a key trade route for global shipping and energy supplies. That’s why the U.S. Navy has stationed multiple ships in the sea since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7.

Since 2019, a series of ships have come under attack at sea as Iran began breaking all the limits of its tattered nuclear deal with world powers. As Israel expands its devastating campaign against Hamas in the besieged Gaza Strip following the militant group's unprecedented attack on southern Israel, fears have grown that the military operations could escalate into a wider regional conflict.

The Houthis have repeatedly threatened to target Israeli ships in the waters off Yemen. Such attacks both back its Iranian benefactors, as well as bolster the Houthis' position in Yemen as anger has grown against their rule in recent months as that country's civil war grinds on without resolution, said Gregory D. Johnsen, a Yemen expert with the Arabian Gulf States Institute in Washington.

“The Houthis view the war between Israel and Hamas as an opportunity to mute some of this domestic criticism,” Johnsen wrote in an analysis earlier this month. “If they are attacking Israel, their local rivals will be less inclined to attack them.”

JERUSALEM (AP) — Yemen's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship in a crucial Red Sea shipping route Sunday and took its 25 crew members hostage, officials said, raising fears that regional tensions heightened over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">the Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;were playing out on a new maritime front.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-israeli-houthi-gaza-war-3e48ff43f1225ccd98c9a56929fb8f57">Iran-backed Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;said they hijacked the ship over its connection to Israel and would continue to target ships in international waters that were linked to or owned by Israelis until the end of Israel's campaign against Gaza's Hamas rulers.“All ships belonging to the Israeli enemy or that deal with it will become legitimate targets,” the Houthis said.Mohammed Abdul-Salam, the Houthis’ chief negotiator and spokesman, later added in an online statement that the Israelis only understand “the language of force.”“The detention of the Israeli ship is a practical step that proves the seriousness of the Yemeni armed forces in waging the sea battle, regardless of its costs and costs,” he added. “This is the beginning.”Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office had blamed the Houthis for the attack on the Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader, a vehicle carrier affiliated with an Israeli billionaire. It said no Israelis were on board.The ship's Japanese operator, NYK Line, said the vessel had no cargo at the time of the hijacking. Its crewmembers are from the Philippines, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and Mexico, NYK said.Japan on Monday condemned the hijacking. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said the Japanese government was doing its utmost for an early release of the crew through negotiations with Houthi rebels, while also communicating with Israel and cooperating with the governments of Saudi Arabia, Oman and Iran.The Houthis said they were treating the crew members “in accordance with their Islamic values,” but did not elaborate on what that meant.Netanyahu's office condemned the seizure as an “Iranian act of terror." The Israeli military called the hijacking a “very grave incident of global consequence."Israeli officials insisted the ship was British-owned and Japanese-operated. However, ownership details in public shipping databases associated the ship’s owners with Ray Car Carriers, founded by Abraham “Rami” Ungar, who is known as one of the richest men in Israel.Ungar told The Associated Press he was aware of the incident but couldn’t comment as he awaited details. A ship linked to him experienced an explosion in 2021 in the Gulf of Oman. Israeli media blamed it on Iran at the time.Authorities confirmed Monday that the captain and the first mate on the Galaxy Leader were Bulgarians.Bulgaria's top police officer, Zhivko Kotsev, told reporters that they were in touch with their families. “Nobody has sought contact with us up to this moment,” he said.International shipping often involves a series of management companies, flags and owners stretching across the globe in a single vessel.Two U.S. defense officials confirmed that Houthi rebels seized the Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea on Sunday afternoon local time. The rebels descended on the cargo ship by rappelling from a helicopter, the officials said, confirming details first reported by NBC News. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.The ship's seizure resembles others previously conducted by Iran, which has long armed the Houthis.Twice in the last month, U.S. warships have intercepted missiles or drones from Yemen that were believed to be headed toward Israel or posing a threat to American vessels. The USS Carney, a Navy destroyer,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-navy-warship-missiles-intercepted-2f5fc9c8a3737f762b29d5c53ec08a5b">intercepted three land attack cruise missiles</a>&nbsp;and several drones that were launched by Houthi forces toward the northern Red Sea last month.On Nov. 15 the USS Thomas Hudner, another destroyer, was sailing toward the Bab-el-Mandeb strait when the crew saw a drone, reported to have originated in Yemen. The ship shot down the drone over the water. The officials said the crew took action to ensure the safety of U.S. personnel, and there were no casualties or damage to the ship.Satellite tracking data from&nbsp;<a href="http://marinetraffic.com/">MarineTraffic.com</a>&nbsp;analyzed by the AP showed the Galaxy Leader traveling in the Red Sea southwest of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, more than a day ago. The vessel had been in Korfez, Turkey, and was on its way to Pipavav, India, at the time of the seizure reported by Israel.It had its Automatic Identification System tracker, or AIS, switched off, the data showed. Ships are supposed to keep their AIS active for safety reasons, but crews will turn them off if it appears they might be targeted or to smuggle contraband, which there was no immediate evidence to suggest was the case with the Galaxy Leader.The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which provides warnings to sailors in the Persian Gulf and the wider region, put the hijacking as having occurred some 150 kilometers (90 miles) off the coast of Yemen’s port city of Hodeida, near the coast of Eritrea. It later cited a security officer with the ship's company saying the vessel had been taken to Hodeida.The Red Sea, stretching from Egypt’s Suez Canal to the narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait separating the Arabian Peninsula from Africa, remains a key trade route for global shipping and energy supplies. That’s why the U.S. Navy has stationed multiple ships in the sea since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7.Since 2019, a series of ships have come under attack at sea as Iran began breaking all the limits of its tattered nuclear deal with world powers. As Israel expands its devastating campaign against Hamas in the besieged Gaza Strip following the militant group's unprecedented attack on southern Israel, fears have grown that the military operations could escalate into a wider regional conflict.The Houthis have repeatedly threatened to target Israeli ships in the waters off Yemen. Such attacks both back its Iranian benefactors, as well as bolster the Houthis' position in Yemen as anger has grown against their rule in recent months as that country's civil war grinds on without resolution, said Gregory D. Johnsen, a Yemen expert with the Arabian Gulf States Institute in Washington.“The Houthis view the war between Israel and Hamas as an opportunity to mute some of this domestic criticism,” Johnsen wrote in an analysis earlier this month. “If they are attacking Israel, their local rivals will be less inclined to attack them.”___

U.S. officials: Terrorists hijack Israeli-linked ship in the Red Sea

Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Andre Lott, 46, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 15, 20223, in federal court in Omaha for distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.&nbsp; United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Lott to 300 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Lott is released from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.

On April 20, 2020, Lott sold cocaine to one of the victims, who in turn shared it with two other individuals.&nbsp; The cocaine contained fentanyl, and all three individuals were found deceased at a residence in Ponca Hills, Nebraska.&nbsp;

Law enforcement extracted data from the iPhone located next to one of the victim’s bodies. A review of the data found text messages indicative of Lott selling narcotics. Additionally, two contacts’ phone numbers were located on the phone. A check with the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force identified these phone numbers as belonging to Andre Lott.

Investigators found a bag containing drug residue inside of a backpack belonging to one of the victims.&nbsp; Law enforcement swabbed the bag, and the swab was submitted to the forensic lab for DNA testing.&nbsp; Lott was determined to be a major contributor of the DNA found on the bag.&nbsp; The forensic pathology report indicated all three victims died of fentanyl.&nbsp;

Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr stated “this case is a horrific reminder of the consequences of using illicit drugs.&nbsp; What started out as a party among friends resulted in three funerals and 25 years in prison for the victims’ supplier.”

Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Andre Lott, 46, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 15, 20223, in federal court in Omaha for distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.&nbsp; United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Lott to 300 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Lott is released from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.On April 20, 2020, Lott sold cocaine to one of the victims, who in turn shared it with two other individuals.&nbsp; The cocaine contained fentanyl, and all three individuals were found deceased at a residence in Ponca Hills, Nebraska.&nbsp;Law enforcement extracted data from the iPhone located next to one of the victim’s bodies. A review of the data found text messages indicative of Lott selling narcotics. Additionally, two contacts’ phone numbers were located on the phone. A check with the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force identified these phone numbers as belonging to Andre Lott.Investigators found a bag containing drug residue inside of a backpack belonging to one of the victims.&nbsp; Law enforcement swabbed the bag, and the swab was submitted to the forensic lab for DNA testing.&nbsp; Lott was determined to be a major contributor of the DNA found on the bag.&nbsp; The forensic pathology report indicated all three victims died of fentanyl.&nbsp;Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr stated “this case is a horrific reminder of the consequences of using illicit drugs.&nbsp; What started out as a party among friends resulted in three funerals and 25 years in prison for the victims’ supplier.”

Omaha Man Sentenced for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nu-president-leadership-profile-released-applications-due-jan-1/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — The University of Nebraska Board of Regents is officially seeking applications and nominations for the university system’s ninth president.

Regent Tim Clare, board chair, announced the next phase of the search Thursday in an email to NU faculty and staff. Applications or nominations are due to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="mailto:NUPresident@academicsearch.org">NUPresident@academicsearch.org</a>&nbsp;by Jan. 1.&nbsp;

Clare said that after hearing from the community, the board’s goal is to find a leader deeply committed to Nebraska and willing to remain as president for a decade or more.

Both outgoing NU President Ted Carter, who is&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/22/nebraskas-ted-carter-expected-to-be-next-president-at-ohio-state/">leaving at year’s end</a>, and his predecessor, Hank Bounds, led NU for just over four years. The national average for college or university presidents is about five years, according to Academic Search, the search firm assisting NU.

“We have the crucial task of finding exactly the right person who will lead our university to its next phase of growth and excellence,” Clare said.

A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://academicsearch.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/8/NU-President-Leadership-Profile-v2-FINAL.pdf">leadership profile</a>&nbsp;released Thursday serves as an advertisement to prospective candidates and expands upon nine core leadership pillars initially developed during the 2019 search that brought Carter to Nebraska.&nbsp;

Gov. Jim Pillen, at the time a regent, led development of those pillars, which the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/27/nu-presidential-search-inches-closer-to-recruitment-phase-after-listening-sessions/">Presidential Search Advisory Committee</a>&nbsp;and Board of Regents have each since expanded on.

For NU’s next president, the regents are seeking “an authentic, humble proven leader and strategic thinker” who brings a “proven record” in financial leadership during challenging times.

A major goal of the next president will be addressing a projected $58 million shortfall over the next two fiscal years.

The next president, according to the profile, should also prioritize students in decisions and commit to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

The 22-member advisory committee, chaired by Clare, will select final candidates for the Board of Regents to consider. All eight regents also serve on that committee.

Following state law, only a priority candidate will be announced and all other candidates will remain anonymous. The priority candidate will be subjected to a 30-day public vetting period before a final vote among the regents.

The board is slated to consider at its Dec. 1 meeting appointing&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/09/nu-on-verge-of-naming-chris-kabourek-interim-president-after-carter-leaves/">Chris Kabourek</a>, the system’s chief financial officer, to fill in as interim president after Carter leaves Dec. 31.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700396211452.jpeg" alt=" Regent Tim Clare, at right, joins Jay Lemons, leader of the consulting firm Academic Search, during an advisory committee meeting to find NU’s next president. Clare leads the advisory committee Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Lincoln. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> Regent Tim Clare, at right, joins Jay Lemons, leader of the consulting firm Academic Search, during an advisory committee meeting to find NU’s next president. Clare leads the advisory committee Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Lincoln. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nu-president-leadership-profile-released-applications-due-jan-1/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — The University of Nebraska Board of Regents is officially seeking applications and nominations for the university system’s ninth president.Regent Tim Clare, board chair, announced the next phase of the search Thursday in an email to NU faculty and staff. Applications or nominations are due to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="mailto:NUPresident@academicsearch.org">NUPresident@academicsearch.org</a>&nbsp;by Jan. 1.&nbsp;Clare said that after hearing from the community, the board’s goal is to find a leader deeply committed to Nebraska and willing to remain as president for a decade or more.Both outgoing NU President Ted Carter, who is&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/22/nebraskas-ted-carter-expected-to-be-next-president-at-ohio-state/">leaving at year’s end</a>, and his predecessor, Hank Bounds, led NU for just over four years. The national average for college or university presidents is about five years, according to Academic Search, the search firm assisting NU.“We have the crucial task of finding exactly the right person who will lead our university to its next phase of growth and excellence,” Clare said.<h2>Desired attributes and qualities</h2>A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://academicsearch.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/8/NU-President-Leadership-Profile-v2-FINAL.pdf">leadership profile</a>&nbsp;released Thursday serves as an advertisement to prospective candidates and expands upon nine core leadership pillars initially developed during the 2019 search that brought Carter to Nebraska.&nbsp;Gov. Jim Pillen, at the time a regent, led development of those pillars, which the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/27/nu-presidential-search-inches-closer-to-recruitment-phase-after-listening-sessions/">Presidential Search Advisory Committee</a>&nbsp;and Board of Regents have each since expanded on.For NU’s next president, the regents are seeking “an authentic, humble proven leader and strategic thinker” who brings a “proven record” in financial leadership during challenging times.A major goal of the next president will be addressing a projected $58 million shortfall over the next two fiscal years.The next president, according to the profile, should also prioritize students in decisions and commit to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.<h2>Next steps in the process</h2>The 22-member advisory committee, chaired by Clare, will select final candidates for the Board of Regents to consider. All eight regents also serve on that committee.Following state law, only a priority candidate will be announced and all other candidates will remain anonymous. The priority candidate will be subjected to a 30-day public vetting period before a final vote among the regents.The board is slated to consider at its Dec. 1 meeting appointing&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/09/nu-on-verge-of-naming-chris-kabourek-interim-president-after-carter-leaves/">Chris Kabourek</a>, the system’s chief financial officer, to fill in as interim president after Carter leaves Dec. 31.

NU president leadership profile released, applications due Jan. 1

ATLANTA (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rosalynn-carter">Former first lady Rosalynn Carter</a>, the closest adviser to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jimmy-carter">Jimmy Carter</a>&nbsp;during his one term as U.S. president and their four decades thereafter as global humanitarians, has died at the age of 96.

<a href="http://www.cartercenter.org/index.html">The Carter Center</a>&nbsp;said she died Sunday after living with dementia and suffering many months of declining health. The statement announcing her death said she “died peacefully, with family by her side" at 2:10 p.m. at her rural Georgia home of Plains.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700318605509.png" alt="FILE - The former first lady Rosalynn Carter speaks to the press at conference at The Carter Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Atlanta. Rosalynn Carter, the 96-year-old former first lady, is in hospice care at home, the Carter Center says. (AP Photo/Ron Harris, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - The former first lady Rosalynn Carter speaks to the press at conference at The Carter Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Atlanta. Rosalynn Carter, the 96-year-old former first lady, is in hospice care at home, the Carter Center says. (AP Photo/Ron Harris, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rosalynn-carter">Former first lady Rosalynn Carter</a>, the closest adviser to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jimmy-carter">Jimmy Carter</a>&nbsp;during his one term as U.S. president and their four decades thereafter as global humanitarians, has died at the age of 96.<a href="http://www.cartercenter.org/index.html">The Carter Center</a>&nbsp;said she died Sunday after living with dementia and suffering many months of declining health. The statement announcing her death said she “died peacefully, with family by her side" at 2:10 p.m. at her rural Georgia home of Plains.“Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” Carter said in the statement. “She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.”The Carters were married for more than 77 years, forging what they both described as a “full partnership.” Unlike many&nbsp;<a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies/">previous first ladies</a>, Rosalynn sat in on Cabinet meetings, spoke out on controversial issues and represented her husband on foreign trips. Aides to President Carter sometimes referred to her — privately — as “co-president.”“Rosalynn is my best friend ... the perfect extension of me, probably the most influential person in my life,” Jimmy Carter told aides during their White House years, which spanned from 1977-1981.Fiercely loyal and compassionate as well as politically astute, Rosalynn Carter prided herself on being an activist first lady, and no one doubted her behind-the-scenes influence. When her role in a highly publicized Cabinet shakeup became known, she was forced to declare publicly, “I am not running the government.”Many presidential aides insisted that her political instincts were better than her husband’s — they often enlisted her support for a project before they discussed it with the president. Her iron will, contrasted with her outwardly shy demeanor and a soft Southern accent, inspired Washington reporters to call her “the Steel Magnolia.”Both Carters said in their later years that Rosalynn had always been the more political of the two. After Jimmy Carter’s landslide defeat in 1980, it was she, not the former president, who contemplated an implausible comeback, and years later she confessed to missing their life in Washington.Jimmy Carter trusted her so much that in 1977, only months into his term, he sent her on a mission to Latin America to tell dictators he meant what he said about denying military aid and other support to violators of human rights.She also had strong feelings about the style of the Carter White House. The Carters did not serve hard liquor at public functions, though Rosalynn did permit U.S. wine. There were fewer evenings of ballroom dancing and more square dancing and picnics.Throughout her husband's political career, she chose mental health and problems of the elderly as her signature policy emphasis. When the news media didn't cover those efforts as much as she believed was warranted, she criticized reporters for writing only about "sexy subjects."As honorary chairwoman of the President's Commission on Mental Health, she once testified before a Senate subcommittee, becoming the first first lady since Eleanor Roosevelt to address a congressional panel. She was back in Washington in 2007 to push Congress for improved mental health coverage, saying, "We've been working on this for so long, it finally seems to be in reach."She said she developed her interest in mental health during her husband's campaigns for Georgia governor.“I used to come home and say to Jimmy, 'Why are people telling me their problems?' And he said, 'Because you may be the only person they'll ever see who may be close to someone who can help them,'” she explained.After Ronald Reagan won the 1980 election, Rosalynn Carter seemed more visibly devastated than her husband. She initially had little interest in returning to the small town of Plains, Georgia, where they both were born, married and spent most of their lives."I was hesitant, not at all sure that I could be happy here after the dazzle of the White House and the years of stimulating political battles," she wrote in her 1984 autobiography, "First Lady from Plains." But "we slowly rediscovered the satisfaction of a life we had left long before."After leaving Washington, Jimmy and Rosalynn co-founded The Carter Center in Atlanta to continue their work. She chaired the center's annual symposium on mental health issues and raised funds for efforts to aid the mentally ill and homeless. She also wrote "Helping Yourself Help Others," about the challenges of caring for elderly or ailing relatives, and a sequel, "Helping Someone With Mental Illness."Frequently, the Carters left home on humanitarian missions, building houses with Habitat for Humanity and promoting public health and democracy across the developing world."I get tired," she said of her travels. "But something so wonderful always happens. To go to a village where they have Guinea worm and go back a year or two later and there's no Guinea worm, I mean the people dance and sing — it's so wonderful."In 2015, Jimmy Carter’s doctors discovered four small tumors on his brain. The Carters feared he had weeks to live. He was treated with a drug to boost his immune system, and later announced that doctors found no remaining signs of cancer. But when they first received the news, she said she didn't know what she was going to do.“I depend on him when I have questions, when I'm writing speeches, anything, I consult with him,” she said.She helped Carter recover several years later when he had hip replacement surgery at age 94 and had to learn to walk again. And she was with him earlier this year when he decided after a series of hospital stays that he would forgo further medical interventions and begin end-of-life care.Jimmy Carter is the longest-lived U.S. president. Rosalynn Carter was the second longest-lived of the nation's first ladies, trailing only Bess Truman, who died at age 97.Eleanor Rosalynn Smith was born in Plains on Aug. 18, 1927, the eldest of four children. Her father died when she was young, so she took on much of the responsibility of caring for her siblings when her mother went to work part time.She also contributed to the family income by working after school in a beauty parlor. "We were very poor and worked hard," she once said, but she kept up her studies, graduating from high school as class valedictorian.She soon fell in love with the brother of one of her best friends. Jimmy and Rosalynn had known each other all their lives — it was Jimmy's mother, nurse Lillian Carter, who delivered baby Rosalynn — but he left for the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, when she was still in high school.After a blind date, Jimmy told his mother: "That's the girl I want to marry." They wed in 1946, shortly after his graduation from Annapolis and Rosalynn's graduation from Georgia Southwestern College.Their sons were born where Jimmy Carter was stationed: John William (Jack) in Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1947; James Earl III (Chip) in Honolulu in 1950; and Donnel Jeffery (Jeff) in New London, Connecticut, in 1952. Amy was born in Plains in 1967. By then, Carter was a state senator.Navy life had provided Rosalynn her first chance to see the world. When Carter's father, James Earl Sr., died in 1953, Jimmy Carter decided, without consulting his wife, to move the family back to Plains, where he took over the family farm. She joined him there in the day-to-day operations, keeping the books and weighing fertilizer trucks.“We developed a partnership when we were working in the farm supply business,” Rosalynn Carter recalled with pride in a 2021 interview with The Associated Press. “I knew more on paper about the business than he did. He would take my advice about things.”