LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Conservative lawmakers who want to intertwine religion with school curriculum in Republican-dominated Nebraska presented a slew of bills Monday to the state Legislature’s education committee.

The list includes a bill that would give parents more control over their local school’s library books and curriculum and another that would allow public school students to receive school credit for attending religious classes outside school. Another measure would change school funding to loop in private school tuition while forbidding the state from interfering in private schools’ curriculum or beliefs.

Sen. Dave Murman, the conservative chairman of the Nebraska Legislature’s Education Committee, has revived his so-called parents rights bill that would make it easier for parents to object to curriculum and remove books from school libraries. The bill introduced last year was among those that stalled as conservatives focused on passing a bill to allow taxpayer money to be used to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/private-school-scholarships-nebraska-taxpayers-c7be118aa5a43b3ebc2da82aacaa4e29">fund private school scholarships</a>. That measure, signed into law last June, is the subject of a ballot referendum that will ask voters in November to repeal it.

Murman, a farmer from Glenvil,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-united-states-government-nebraska-7bb277db7ac120358c90de7528ed864c">took over as chairman</a>&nbsp;of the committee last year, when Republicans in the officially nonpartisan, one-chamber Legislature ousted a Democratic former schoolteacher from the post in what was widely seen as an effort by conservatives to “crack and pack” key committees to get more of their bills to the floor for debate.

Those bills are part of a broader Republican push nationwide to target a variety of culture issues in education, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diversity-equity-inclusion-legislation-7bd8d4d52aaaa9902dde59a257874686">diversity, equity and inclusion</a>&nbsp;programs and the type of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/conservatives-educators-coronavirus-masks-book-banning-cfe02e318d95070d468c88e7294d8aa9">books allowed</a>&nbsp;in school libraries. Conservative officials across the country have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/conservatives-educators-coronavirus-masks-book-banning-cfe02e318d95070d468c88e7294d8aa9">increasingly tried to limit the type of books that children are exposed to</a>, including books that address structural racism and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-education-gender-identity-virginia-a3d4b656bb58d0472af2a1a69ab62708">LGBTQ+ issues</a>.

Sen. Steve Erdman’s school funding bill would set up a $5 billion education funding bill that would shift costs from local property taxes to the state’s general fund by setting up an education savings account for each student in the state. That money would be distributed by the state treasurer to fund a student’s education at their local public school — or could go to help cover the cost of private school tuition or even costs associated with home schooling. The bill is modeled on an Arizona law, Erdman said.

Critics contend Arizona has seen no academic gains since its school choice law went into effect and that it has seen fly-by-night charter schools open in strip malls that collect state money, only to later close. Others argued Erdman’s bill would hurt funding for rural school districts like his own, which has fewer than 350 students.

But it is a section within that bill that the state “is strictly forbidden from altering the curriculum or beliefs of a private school” that others questioned.

“If a private school introduced critical race theory in their curriculum or required singing ‘Lift Every Voice (and Sing)’ every morning, I can guarantee you there would be an uproar from this Legislature over that,” Ron Cunningham of Lincoln testified. “But under this bill, the way it’s written, you couldn’t do anything about it.”

State Sen. Loren Lippincott’s bill would give school credit to public school students who attend religious classes outside of school during school hours. Allowing the religious education, he said, would help students “develop a stronger sense of morality” and would help lead to “fewer behavioral issues in schools.”

Middle and high school students could partake, and the religious credit program would be open to all religions, as long as it “does not undeniably promote licentiousness or practices that are inconsistent with school policy.”

Not all bills before the committee Monday sought to enmesh religion with education. One offered by Omaha Sen. Kathleen Kauth — best know for her bill last year that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-transgender-ban-nebraska-filibuster-b0b88845d29f1aaadf7936b7304a0507">restricted gender-confirming care</a>&nbsp;for people under 19 — would ease the process for teachers certified in other states to teach in Nebraska classrooms as the state struggles with a teacher shortage.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Conservative lawmakers who want to intertwine religion with school curriculum in Republican-dominated Nebraska presented a slew of bills Monday to the state Legislature’s education committee.The list includes a bill that would give parents more control over their local school’s library books and curriculum and another that would allow public school students to receive school credit for attending religious classes outside school. Another measure would change school funding to loop in private school tuition while forbidding the state from interfering in private schools’ curriculum or beliefs.Sen. Dave Murman, the conservative chairman of the Nebraska Legislature’s Education Committee, has revived his so-called parents rights bill that would make it easier for parents to object to curriculum and remove books from school libraries. The bill introduced last year was among those that stalled as conservatives focused on passing a bill to allow taxpayer money to be used to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/private-school-scholarships-nebraska-taxpayers-c7be118aa5a43b3ebc2da82aacaa4e29">fund private school scholarships</a>. That measure, signed into law last June, is the subject of a ballot referendum that will ask voters in November to repeal it.Murman, a farmer from Glenvil,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-united-states-government-nebraska-7bb277db7ac120358c90de7528ed864c">took over as chairman</a>&nbsp;of the committee last year, when Republicans in the officially nonpartisan, one-chamber Legislature ousted a Democratic former schoolteacher from the post in what was widely seen as an effort by conservatives to “crack and pack” key committees to get more of their bills to the floor for debate.Those bills are part of a broader Republican push nationwide to target a variety of culture issues in education, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diversity-equity-inclusion-legislation-7bd8d4d52aaaa9902dde59a257874686">diversity, equity and inclusion</a>&nbsp;programs and the type of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/conservatives-educators-coronavirus-masks-book-banning-cfe02e318d95070d468c88e7294d8aa9">books allowed</a>&nbsp;in school libraries. Conservative officials across the country have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/conservatives-educators-coronavirus-masks-book-banning-cfe02e318d95070d468c88e7294d8aa9">increasingly tried to limit the type of books that children are exposed to</a>, including books that address structural racism and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-education-gender-identity-virginia-a3d4b656bb58d0472af2a1a69ab62708">LGBTQ+ issues</a>.Sen. Steve Erdman’s school funding bill would set up a $5 billion education funding bill that would shift costs from local property taxes to the state’s general fund by setting up an education savings account for each student in the state. That money would be distributed by the state treasurer to fund a student’s education at their local public school — or could go to help cover the cost of private school tuition or even costs associated with home schooling. The bill is modeled on an Arizona law, Erdman said.Critics contend Arizona has seen no academic gains since its school choice law went into effect and that it has seen fly-by-night charter schools open in strip malls that collect state money, only to later close. Others argued Erdman’s bill would hurt funding for rural school districts like his own, which has fewer than 350 students.But it is a section within that bill that the state “is strictly forbidden from altering the curriculum or beliefs of a private school” that others questioned.“If a private school introduced critical race theory in their curriculum or required singing ‘Lift Every Voice (and Sing)’ every morning, I can guarantee you there would be an uproar from this Legislature over that,” Ron Cunningham of Lincoln testified. “But under this bill, the way it’s written, you couldn’t do anything about it.”State Sen. Loren Lippincott’s bill would give school credit to public school students who attend religious classes outside of school during school hours. Allowing the religious education, he said, would help students “develop a stronger sense of morality” and would help lead to “fewer behavioral issues in schools.”Middle and high school students could partake, and the religious credit program would be open to all religions, as long as it “does not undeniably promote licentiousness or practices that are inconsistent with school policy.”Not all bills before the committee Monday sought to enmesh religion with education. One offered by Omaha Sen. Kathleen Kauth — best know for her bill last year that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-transgender-ban-nebraska-filibuster-b0b88845d29f1aaadf7936b7304a0507">restricted gender-confirming care</a>&nbsp;for people under 19 — would ease the process for teachers certified in other states to teach in Nebraska classrooms as the state struggles with a teacher shortage.

Conservative Nebraska lawmakers push bills that would intertwine religion with public education

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals panel ruled Tuesday that Donald Trump can face trial on charges that he plotted to overturn the results of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">the 2020 election</a>, rejecting the former president’s claims that he is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jan-6-justice-department-special-counsel-f82dbd294cd7b963dd69f1ecdf90aded">immune from prosecution</a>&nbsp;and breathing life back into a landmark prosecution that had been effectively frozen while the court considered the arguments.

The decision marks the second time in as many months that judges have spurned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jan-6-special-counsel-immunity-appeal-64eec975e6a602949eb4b90315239318">Trump’s immunity arguments</a>&nbsp;and held that he can be prosecuted for actions undertaken while in the White House and in the run-up to Jan. 6, 2021, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">a mob of his supporters</a>&nbsp;stormed the U.S. Capitol. But it also sets the stage for additional appeals from the Republican ex-president that could reach the U.S. Supreme Court and result in further delays.

The one-month gap between when the appeals court heard arguments and when it issued its ruling has already created uncertainty about the timing of any trial in a calendar-jammed election year, with the judge overseeing the case&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-us-capitol-9ab9da935bc620d57c4192134f81acde">last week canceling the March 4 date that was initially set</a>&nbsp;and not immediately scheduling a replacement one. The judges gave Trump until February 12 to ask the Supreme Court to pause the ruling.

The trial date carries obvious and enormous political ramifications, with special counsel Jack Smith's team hoping to prosecute Trump this year and the Republican primary front-runner seeking to delay it until after the November election. If Trump were to defeat President Joe Biden, he could presumably try to use his position as head of the executive branch to order a new attorney general to dismiss the federal cases or he potentially could seek a pardon for himself.

The unanimous ruling, which had been expected given the skepticism with which the three judges on the panel greeted the Trump team's arguments, was unsparing in its repudiation of the claim that a former president could be shielded from prosecution for actions taken while in office.

“Presidential immunity against federal indictment would mean that, as to the President, the Congress could not legislate, the Executive could not prosecute and the Judiciary could not review. We cannot accept that the office of the Presidency places its former occupants above the law for all time thereafter,” the judges wrote.

They also sharply rejected Trump’s claim that “a President has unbounded authority to commit crimes that would neutralize the most fundamental check on executive power — the recognition and implementation of election results.”

“Nor can we sanction his apparent contention that the Executive has carte blanche to violate the rights of individual citizens to vote and to have their votes count,” they wrote.

The appeals court took center stage in the immunity dispute after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-14th-amendment-immunity-supreme-court-d3f001f66c5c3e85302b8772753ed769">the Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;in December said it was at least temporarily staying out of it, rejecting a request from Smith's team to take up the matter quickly and issue a speedy ruling. But the court could yet still decide to act on a Trump team appeal, adding to the uncertainty of a trial date.

The Supreme Court has held that presidents are immune from civil liability for official acts, and Trump’s lawyers have for months argued that that protection should be extended to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jan-6-special-counsel-immunity-appeal-64eec975e6a602949eb4b90315239318">criminal prosecution</a>&nbsp;as well.

They said the actions Trump was accused of in his failed bid to cling to power after he lost the 2020 election to Biden, including badgering his vice president to refuse to certify the results of the election, all fell within the “outer perimeters” of a president’s official acts.

But Smith’s team has said that no such immunity exists in the U.S. Constitution or in prior cases and that, in any event, Trump’s actions weren’t part of his official duties.

U.S. District Judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-judge-tanya-chutkan-capitol-riot-9ba5c18d315697d759521425ea203012">Tanya Chutkan</a>, who is presiding over the case, rejected Trump’s arguments in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-immunity-donald-trump-a98872759762c95fa925ff831df27388">a Dec. 1 opinion</a>&nbsp;that said the office of the president “does not confer a lifelong ‘get-out-of-jail-free’ pass.”

Trump’s lawyers then appealed to the D.C. appeals court, but Smith asked the Supreme Court to weigh in first, in hopes of securing a fast and definitive ruling and preserving the March 4 trial date. The high court declined the request, leaving the matter with the appeals court.

The case was argued before Judges Florence Pan and J. Michelle Childs, appointees of Biden, a Democrat, and Karen LeCraft Henderson, who was named to the bench by President George H.W. Bush, a Republican. The judges made clear their skepticism of Trump’s claims during arguments last month, when they peppered his lawyer with tough questions and posed a series of extreme hypotheticals as a way to test his legal theory of immunity — including whether a president who directed Navy commandos to assassinate a political rival could be prosecuted.

Trump’s lawyer, D. John Sauer, answered yes — but only if a president had first been impeached and convicted by Congress. That view was in keeping with the team’s position that the Constitution did not permit the prosecution of ex-presidents who had been impeached but then acquitted, like Trump.

The case in Washington is one of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-investigations-other-charges-b8b064a00caad4306fb54d2f6a320468">four criminal prosecutions</a>&nbsp;Trump faces as he seeks to reclaim the White House this year. He faces federal charges in Florida that he illegally retained classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate, a case that was also brought by Smith and is set for trial in May. He’s also charged in state court in Georgia with scheming to subvert that state’s 2020 election and in New York in connection with hush money payments made to porn actor Stormy Daniels. He has denied any wrongdoing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680634182015.png" alt="File Former President Donald Trump in a New York courtroom in April 2023 (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)" />
 <figcaption>File Former President Donald Trump in a New York courtroom in April 2023 (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals panel ruled Tuesday that Donald Trump can face trial on charges that he plotted to overturn the results of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">the 2020 election</a>, rejecting the former president’s claims that he is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jan-6-justice-department-special-counsel-f82dbd294cd7b963dd69f1ecdf90aded">immune from prosecution</a>&nbsp;and breathing life back into a landmark prosecution that had been effectively frozen while the court considered the arguments.The decision marks the second time in as many months that judges have spurned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jan-6-special-counsel-immunity-appeal-64eec975e6a602949eb4b90315239318">Trump’s immunity arguments</a>&nbsp;and held that he can be prosecuted for actions undertaken while in the White House and in the run-up to Jan. 6, 2021, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">a mob of his supporters</a>&nbsp;stormed the U.S. Capitol. But it also sets the stage for additional appeals from the Republican ex-president that could reach the U.S. Supreme Court and result in further delays.The one-month gap between when the appeals court heard arguments and when it issued its ruling has already created uncertainty about the timing of any trial in a calendar-jammed election year, with the judge overseeing the case&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-us-capitol-9ab9da935bc620d57c4192134f81acde">last week canceling the March 4 date that was initially set</a>&nbsp;and not immediately scheduling a replacement one. The judges gave Trump until February 12 to ask the Supreme Court to pause the ruling.The trial date carries obvious and enormous political ramifications, with special counsel Jack Smith's team hoping to prosecute Trump this year and the Republican primary front-runner seeking to delay it until after the November election. If Trump were to defeat President Joe Biden, he could presumably try to use his position as head of the executive branch to order a new attorney general to dismiss the federal cases or he potentially could seek a pardon for himself.The unanimous ruling, which had been expected given the skepticism with which the three judges on the panel greeted the Trump team's arguments, was unsparing in its repudiation of the claim that a former president could be shielded from prosecution for actions taken while in office.“Presidential immunity against federal indictment would mean that, as to the President, the Congress could not legislate, the Executive could not prosecute and the Judiciary could not review. We cannot accept that the office of the Presidency places its former occupants above the law for all time thereafter,” the judges wrote.They also sharply rejected Trump’s claim that “a President has unbounded authority to commit crimes that would neutralize the most fundamental check on executive power — the recognition and implementation of election results.”“Nor can we sanction his apparent contention that the Executive has carte blanche to violate the rights of individual citizens to vote and to have their votes count,” they wrote.The appeals court took center stage in the immunity dispute after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-14th-amendment-immunity-supreme-court-d3f001f66c5c3e85302b8772753ed769">the Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;in December said it was at least temporarily staying out of it, rejecting a request from Smith's team to take up the matter quickly and issue a speedy ruling. But the court could yet still decide to act on a Trump team appeal, adding to the uncertainty of a trial date.The Supreme Court has held that presidents are immune from civil liability for official acts, and Trump’s lawyers have for months argued that that protection should be extended to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jan-6-special-counsel-immunity-appeal-64eec975e6a602949eb4b90315239318">criminal prosecution</a>&nbsp;as well.They said the actions Trump was accused of in his failed bid to cling to power after he lost the 2020 election to Biden, including badgering his vice president to refuse to certify the results of the election, all fell within the “outer perimeters” of a president’s official acts.But Smith’s team has said that no such immunity exists in the U.S. Constitution or in prior cases and that, in any event, Trump’s actions weren’t part of his official duties.U.S. District Judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-judge-tanya-chutkan-capitol-riot-9ba5c18d315697d759521425ea203012">Tanya Chutkan</a>, who is presiding over the case, rejected Trump’s arguments in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-immunity-donald-trump-a98872759762c95fa925ff831df27388">a Dec. 1 opinion</a>&nbsp;that said the office of the president “does not confer a lifelong ‘get-out-of-jail-free’ pass.”Trump’s lawyers then appealed to the D.C. appeals court, but Smith asked the Supreme Court to weigh in first, in hopes of securing a fast and definitive ruling and preserving the March 4 trial date. The high court declined the request, leaving the matter with the appeals court.The case was argued before Judges Florence Pan and J. Michelle Childs, appointees of Biden, a Democrat, and Karen LeCraft Henderson, who was named to the bench by President George H.W. Bush, a Republican. The judges made clear their skepticism of Trump’s claims during arguments last month, when they peppered his lawyer with tough questions and posed a series of extreme hypotheticals as a way to test his legal theory of immunity — including whether a president who directed Navy commandos to assassinate a political rival could be prosecuted.Trump’s lawyer, D. John Sauer, answered yes — but only if a president had first been impeached and convicted by Congress. That view was in keeping with the team’s position that the Constitution did not permit the prosecution of ex-presidents who had been impeached but then acquitted, like Trump.The case in Washington is one of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-investigations-other-charges-b8b064a00caad4306fb54d2f6a320468">four criminal prosecutions</a>&nbsp;Trump faces as he seeks to reclaim the White House this year. He faces federal charges in Florida that he illegally retained classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate, a case that was also brought by Smith and is set for trial in May. He’s also charged in state court in Georgia with scheming to subvert that state’s 2020 election and in New York in connection with hush money payments made to porn actor Stormy Daniels. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Appeals court rejects Trump’s claim he is  immune from prosecution

KANSAS CITY —A Nebraska man’s brief crime spree came to an end over the weekend thanks to a Sheriff’s Office canine and teamwork by numerous law enforcement agencies.

Just after 2p.m. February 4, an elderly woman home alone called the Clay County Sheriff’s office to report an unknown vehicle that had parked in her driveway near H Highway and Crockett road, southwest of Excelsior Springs., according to a media release. She said a man then got out of the vehicle and ran behind her house.

The vehicle left in the woman’s driveway turned out to be stolen from Nebraska. Deputies and Excelsior Springs Police moved into the area to locate the driver. Soon, dispatchers reported a caller had seen a man acting oddly walking on Cameron Road nearby. As deputies were moving to that area, they got another report of a truck was just stolen from farmers at Cameron Road and NE 136th Street. The victims were in their barn and saw their truck being driven away.

The KCPD helicopter joined in to try to locate the suspect vehicle. They saw it exit from 92 Highway to southbound Interstate 35 in Kearney. Kearney Police pursued the vehicle, and Sheriff’s deputies took over at the city limit. A Sheriff’s deputy and Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper were able to successfully deploy Stop Sticks, deflating the suspect’s tires, and bring the truck safely to a stop by the exit to 152 Highway.

At that point, the suspect got out of the truck and ran. Deputies, including K9 Duke, ran after him. Duke apprehended the suspect in the median of the highway. After being treated for his dog bite at the hospital, the suspect was booked at the Clay County Detention Center, where he remains in custody on a $40,000 bond.

Timothy M. Miller, 38, of Omaha, Neb., has now been charged with tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest by fleeing, according to the sheriff's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707160985667.png" alt="The Clay County Sheriff's office asked, "Who runs faster?"" />
 <figcaption>The Clay County Sheriff's office asked, "Who runs faster?"</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Nebraska man’s brief crime spree came to an end over the weekend thanks to a Sheriff’s Office canine and teamwork by numerous law enforcement agencies.Just after 2p.m. February 4, an elderly woman home alone called the Clay County Sheriff’s office to report an unknown vehicle that had parked in her driveway near H Highway and Crockett road, southwest of Excelsior Springs., according to a media release. She said a man then got out of the vehicle and ran behind her house.The vehicle left in the woman’s driveway turned out to be stolen from Nebraska. Deputies and Excelsior Springs Police moved into the area to locate the driver. Soon, dispatchers reported a caller had seen a man acting oddly walking on Cameron Road nearby. As deputies were moving to that area, they got another report of a truck was just stolen from farmers at Cameron Road and NE 136th Street. The victims were in their barn and saw their truck being driven away.The KCPD helicopter joined in to try to locate the suspect vehicle. They saw it exit from 92 Highway to southbound Interstate 35 in Kearney. Kearney Police pursued the vehicle, and Sheriff’s deputies took over at the city limit. A Sheriff’s deputy and Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper were able to successfully deploy Stop Sticks, deflating the suspect’s tires, and bring the truck safely to a stop by the exit to 152 Highway.At that point, the suspect got out of the truck and ran. Deputies, including K9 Duke, ran after him. Duke apprehended the suspect in the median of the highway. After being treated for his dog bite at the hospital, the suspect was booked at the Clay County Detention Center, where he remains in custody on a $40,000 bond.Timothy M. Miller, 38, of Omaha, Neb., has now been charged with tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest by fleeing, according to the sheriff's office.

Nebraska man's crime spree ends after caught by sheriff's K9

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Toby Keith, a sometimes polarizing figure in country music who crafted an identity around his macho, pro-American swagger, has died. He was 62.

The “Beer For My Horses” singer-songwriter, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/toby-keith-cancer-return-to-stage-2288efe6edabee0f57208b6dc6700363">was battling stomach cancer</a>, died peacefully Monday surrounded by his family, according to a statement posted on the country singer's website. “He fought his fight with grace and courage,” the statement said. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-health-country-music-7f96982e300407c47899a904423d070f">was diagnosed in 2022</a>.

The 6-foot-4 singer broke out in the country boom years of the 1990s, writing songs that fans loved to hear. Over his career he publicly clashed with other celebrities and journalists and often pushed back against record executives who wanted to smooth his rough edges.

He was known for his overt patriotism on post 9/11 songs like “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,” and boisterous barroom tunes like “I Love This Bar” and “Red Solo Cup.” He had a powerful booming voice, a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor and range that carried love songs as well as drinking songs.

Among his 20 No. 1 Billboard hits were “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “As Good As I Once Was,” “My List” and “Beer for My Horses,” a duet with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/willie-nelson-book-songwriting-7e20e3adf314637c2f36dd5d88265392">Willie Nelson</a>.

Keith worked as a roughneck in the oil fields of Oklahoma as a young man, then played semi-pro football before launching his career as a singer.

“I write about life, and I sing about life, and I don’t overanalyze things,” Keith told The Associated Press in 2001, following the success of his song “I’m Just Talking About Tonight.”

Keith learned good lessons in the booming oil fields, which toughened him up, but also showed him the value of money.

“The money to be made was unbelievable,” Keith told the AP in 1996. “I came out of high school in 1980 and they gave me this job December of 1979, $50,000 a year. I was 18-years-old.”

But the domestic oil field industry collapsed and Keith had not saved. “It about broke us,” he said. “So I just learned. I’ve taken care of my money this time.”

He spent a couple seasons as a defensive end for the Oklahoma City Drillers, a farm team for the now-defunct United States Football League. But he found consistent money playing music with his band throughout the red dirt roadhouse circuit in Oklahoma and Texas.

“All through this whole thing the only constant thing we had was music,” he said. “But it’s hard to sit back and say, ‘I’m going to go make my fortune singing music, or writing music. I had no contacts.”‘

Eventually his path took him to Nashville, where he attracted the interest of Mercury Records head Harold Shedd, who was best known as a producer for the hit group Alabama. Shedd brought him to Mercury, where he released his platinum debut record “Toby Keith,” in 1993.

“Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” his breakout hit, was played 3 million times on radio stations, making it the most played country song of the 1990s.

But label’s focus on global star Shania Twain overshadowed the rest of the roster and Keith felt that the executives were trying to push him in a pop direction.

“They were trying to get me to compromise, and I was living a miserable existence,” Keith told the AP. “Everybody was trying to mold me into something I was not.”

After a series of albums that produced hits like “Who’s That Man,” and cover of Sting’s “I’m So Happy I Can’t Stop Crying,” Keith moved to DreamWorks Records in 1999.

That’s when his multi-week “How Do You Like Me Now?!” took off and became his first song to crossover to Top 40 charts. In 2001, he won the male vocalist of the year and album of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards, exclaiming from the stage: “I’ve waited a long time for this. Nine years!”

Songs like “I Wanna Talk About Me,” a spoken-word song written by Bobby Braddock about a man frustrated by a talkative partner, got him attention for its similarity to the cadence of rap, which Keith dismissed. “They’re going to call it a rap song, (although) there ain’t nobody doing rap who would call it rap,” he told “Billboard” magazine in 2001.

Keith often wore his politics on his sleeve, especially after the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil in 2001, and early on he said was a conservative Democrat, but later claimed he was an independent. He’s played at events for Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, the latter giving him a National Medal of the Arts in 2021. His songs and his blunt opinions sometimes caused him controversy, which he seemed to court.

His 2002 song, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” included a threat— “We’ll put a boot in your ass — It’s the American way” — to anyone who dared to mess with America.

That song got pulled from a patriotic ABC Fourth of July special after producers deemed it too angry for the show. Singer-songwriter Steve Earle called Keith’s song “pandering to people’s worst instincts at a time they are hurt and scared.”

Then there was the feud between Keith and The Chicks (formerly called the Dixie Chicks), who became a target of Keith’s ire when singer Natalie Maines told a crowd that they were ashamed of then President George W. Bush. Maines had also previously called Keith’s song “ignorant.”

Keith, who had previously claimed that he supported any artist’s freedom to voice their opinion about politics, used a doctored photo of Maines with an image of Saddam Hussein at his concerts, further ramping up angry fans.

Maines responded by wearing a shirt with the letters “FUTK” onstage at the 2003 ACM Awards, which many people believed was a vulgar message to Keith.

He also publicly called out actor Ethan Hawke, who had written a story in “Rolling Stone” that described an argument between Kris Kristofferson and an unnamed country star that sounded a lot like Keith. During a backstage press conference during an awards show, Keith was furious at Hawke (and reporters for repeating the story) for what he called a “fictitious (expletive) lie.”

Keith, who has acknowledged that he holds onto grudges, walked out of the ACM Awards in 2003 early because he had gotten snubbed in earlier categories, causing him to miss out when he was announced as entertainer of the year. Vince Gill accepted on his behalf. He came back the next year and won the top prize for a second year in a row, along with top male vocalist and album of the year for “Shock ’n Y’all.”

His pro-military stance wasn’t just fodder for songs, however. He went on 11 USO tours to visit and play for troops serving overseas. He also helped to raised millions for charity over his career, including building a home in Oklahoma City for kids and their families who are battling cancer.

After Universal Music Group acquired DreamWorks, Keith started anew again, starting his own record label, Show Dog, in 2005 with record executive Scott Borchetta, who launched his own label Big Machine at the same time.

“Probably 75% of the people in this town think I’ll fail, and the other 25% hope I fail,” he said that year.

Later the label became Show Dog-Universal Music and had Keith, Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols, Josh Thompson, Clay Walker and Phil Vassar on its roster.

His later hits included “Love Me If You Can,” “She Never Cried In Front of Me,” and “Red Solo Cup.” He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015.

He was honored by the performance rights organization BMI in November 2022 with the BMI Icon award, a few months after announcing his stomach cancer diagnosis.

“I always felt like that the songwriting was the most important part of this whole industry,” Keith told the crowd of fellow singers and writers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707216570029.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Toby Keith, a sometimes polarizing figure in country music who crafted an identity around his macho, pro-American swagger, has died. He was 62.The “Beer For My Horses” singer-songwriter, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/toby-keith-cancer-return-to-stage-2288efe6edabee0f57208b6dc6700363">was battling stomach cancer</a>, died peacefully Monday surrounded by his family, according to a statement posted on the country singer's website. “He fought his fight with grace and courage,” the statement said. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-health-country-music-7f96982e300407c47899a904423d070f">was diagnosed in 2022</a>.The 6-foot-4 singer broke out in the country boom years of the 1990s, writing songs that fans loved to hear. Over his career he publicly clashed with other celebrities and journalists and often pushed back against record executives who wanted to smooth his rough edges.He was known for his overt patriotism on post 9/11 songs like “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,” and boisterous barroom tunes like “I Love This Bar” and “Red Solo Cup.” He had a powerful booming voice, a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor and range that carried love songs as well as drinking songs.Among his 20 No. 1 Billboard hits were “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “As Good As I Once Was,” “My List” and “Beer for My Horses,” a duet with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/willie-nelson-book-songwriting-7e20e3adf314637c2f36dd5d88265392">Willie Nelson</a>.Keith worked as a roughneck in the oil fields of Oklahoma as a young man, then played semi-pro football before launching his career as a singer.“I write about life, and I sing about life, and I don’t overanalyze things,” Keith told The Associated Press in 2001, following the success of his song “I’m Just Talking About Tonight.”Keith learned good lessons in the booming oil fields, which toughened him up, but also showed him the value of money.“The money to be made was unbelievable,” Keith told the AP in 1996. “I came out of high school in 1980 and they gave me this job December of 1979, $50,000 a year. I was 18-years-old.”But the domestic oil field industry collapsed and Keith had not saved. “It about broke us,” he said. “So I just learned. I’ve taken care of my money this time.”He spent a couple seasons as a defensive end for the Oklahoma City Drillers, a farm team for the now-defunct United States Football League. But he found consistent money playing music with his band throughout the red dirt roadhouse circuit in Oklahoma and Texas.“All through this whole thing the only constant thing we had was music,” he said. “But it’s hard to sit back and say, ‘I’m going to go make my fortune singing music, or writing music. I had no contacts.”‘Eventually his path took him to Nashville, where he attracted the interest of Mercury Records head Harold Shedd, who was best known as a producer for the hit group Alabama. Shedd brought him to Mercury, where he released his platinum debut record “Toby Keith,” in 1993.“Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” his breakout hit, was played 3 million times on radio stations, making it the most played country song of the 1990s.But label’s focus on global star Shania Twain overshadowed the rest of the roster and Keith felt that the executives were trying to push him in a pop direction.“They were trying to get me to compromise, and I was living a miserable existence,” Keith told the AP. “Everybody was trying to mold me into something I was not.”After a series of albums that produced hits like “Who’s That Man,” and cover of Sting’s “I’m So Happy I Can’t Stop Crying,” Keith moved to DreamWorks Records in 1999.That’s when his multi-week “How Do You Like Me Now?!” took off and became his first song to crossover to Top 40 charts. In 2001, he won the male vocalist of the year and album of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards, exclaiming from the stage: “I’ve waited a long time for this. Nine years!”Songs like “I Wanna Talk About Me,” a spoken-word song written by Bobby Braddock about a man frustrated by a talkative partner, got him attention for its similarity to the cadence of rap, which Keith dismissed. “They’re going to call it a rap song, (although) there ain’t nobody doing rap who would call it rap,” he told “Billboard” magazine in 2001.Keith often wore his politics on his sleeve, especially after the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil in 2001, and early on he said was a conservative Democrat, but later claimed he was an independent. He’s played at events for Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, the latter giving him a National Medal of the Arts in 2021. His songs and his blunt opinions sometimes caused him controversy, which he seemed to court.His 2002 song, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” included a threat— “We’ll put a boot in your ass — It’s the American way” — to anyone who dared to mess with America.That song got pulled from a patriotic ABC Fourth of July special after producers deemed it too angry for the show. Singer-songwriter Steve Earle called Keith’s song “pandering to people’s worst instincts at a time they are hurt and scared.”Then there was the feud between Keith and The Chicks (formerly called the Dixie Chicks), who became a target of Keith’s ire when singer Natalie Maines told a crowd that they were ashamed of then President George W. Bush. Maines had also previously called Keith’s song “ignorant.”Keith, who had previously claimed that he supported any artist’s freedom to voice their opinion about politics, used a doctored photo of Maines with an image of Saddam Hussein at his concerts, further ramping up angry fans.Maines responded by wearing a shirt with the letters “FUTK” onstage at the 2003 ACM Awards, which many people believed was a vulgar message to Keith.He also publicly called out actor Ethan Hawke, who had written a story in “Rolling Stone” that described an argument between Kris Kristofferson and an unnamed country star that sounded a lot like Keith. During a backstage press conference during an awards show, Keith was furious at Hawke (and reporters for repeating the story) for what he called a “fictitious (expletive) lie.”Keith, who has acknowledged that he holds onto grudges, walked out of the ACM Awards in 2003 early because he had gotten snubbed in earlier categories, causing him to miss out when he was announced as entertainer of the year. Vince Gill accepted on his behalf. He came back the next year and won the top prize for a second year in a row, along with top male vocalist and album of the year for “Shock ’n Y’all.”His pro-military stance wasn’t just fodder for songs, however. He went on 11 USO tours to visit and play for troops serving overseas. He also helped to raised millions for charity over his career, including building a home in Oklahoma City for kids and their families who are battling cancer.After Universal Music Group acquired DreamWorks, Keith started anew again, starting his own record label, Show Dog, in 2005 with record executive Scott Borchetta, who launched his own label Big Machine at the same time.“Probably 75% of the people in this town think I’ll fail, and the other 25% hope I fail,” he said that year.Later the label became Show Dog-Universal Music and had Keith, Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols, Josh Thompson, Clay Walker and Phil Vassar on its roster.His later hits included “Love Me If You Can,” “She Never Cried In Front of Me,” and “Red Solo Cup.” He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015.He was honored by the performance rights organization BMI in November 2022 with the BMI Icon award, a few months after announcing his stomach cancer diagnosis.“I always felt like that the songwriting was the most important part of this whole industry,” Keith told the crowd of fellow singers and writers.

Country music superstar Toby Keith has died at 62

DETROIT (AP) — Honda is recalling more than three quarters of a million vehicles in the U.S. because a faulty sensor may cause the front passenger air bags to inflate when they're not supposed to.

The recall covers certain Honda Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V and Odyssey models from the 2020 through 2022 model years, as well as the 2020 Fit and Civic Coupe. Also included are the 2021 and 2022 Civic hatchback, the 2021 Civic Type R and Insight, and the 2020 and 2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline and Accord Hybrid.

Affected models from the Acura luxury brand include the 2020 and 2022 MDX, the 2020 through 2022 RDX and the 2020 and 2021 TLX.

<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCAK-24V064-1235.pdf">Documents posted Tuesday</a>&nbsp;by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say that the front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, and fail to turn off the air bag as intended. The sensors are required to disable the air bags if children or small adults are in the seats. If that doesn't happen, it increases the risk of injury.

Dealers will replace the seat sensors at no cost to owners. Owners will be notified starting March 18.

DETROIT (AP) — Honda is recalling more than three quarters of a million vehicles in the U.S. because a faulty sensor may cause the front passenger air bags to inflate when they're not supposed to.The recall covers certain Honda Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V and Odyssey models from the 2020 through 2022 model years, as well as the 2020 Fit and Civic Coupe. Also included are the 2021 and 2022 Civic hatchback, the 2021 Civic Type R and Insight, and the 2020 and 2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline and Accord Hybrid.Affected models from the Acura luxury brand include the 2020 and 2022 MDX, the 2020 through 2022 RDX and the 2020 and 2021 TLX.<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCAK-24V064-1235.pdf">Documents posted Tuesday</a>&nbsp;by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say that the front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, and fail to turn off the air bag as intended. The sensors are required to disable the air bags if children or small adults are in the seats. If that doesn't happen, it increases the risk of injury.Dealers will replace the seat sensors at no cost to owners. Owners will be notified starting March 18.

Honda recalling vehicles to fix faulty passenger seat air bag sensor

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A ship traveling through the southern Red Sea was attacked by a suspected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-houthis-red-sea-jake-sullivan-yemen-ff507d06a7a44d6f3644f128e7766b3d">Yemen Houthi rebel</a>&nbsp;drone early on Tuesday, authorities said, the latest assault in their campaign targeting vessels over Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The attack happened west of the Yemeni port of Hodeida, and the projectile caused “slight damage” to the vessel's windows on the bridge, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said. A small vessel had been nearby the ship before the attack, it added.

The private security firm Ambrey identified the vessel as a Barbados-flagged, United Kingdom-owned cargo ship. No one was hurt onboard the vessel, which suffered “minor damage,” the firm said.

Later, a military spokesman of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, claimed in a statement that the rebel forces attacked two separate vessels, one American and one British, in the Red Sea. He provided no evidence to support the claim.

One of the ships the Houthis claimed attacking, the Morning Tide, matched details provided by Ambrey. Tracking data showed it to be in the Red Sea near the reported attack.

The Morning Tide’s owner, British firm Furadino Shipping, told The Associated Press no one was hurt in the attack and the ship was continuing onward to Singapore.

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

In recent weeks, the United States and the United Kingdom, backed by other allies, have launched airstrikes targeting Houthi missile arsenals and launch sites for its attacks.

The U.S. and Britain struck 36 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday. An air assault Friday in Iraq and Syria targeted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-hezbollah-houthis-iran-militant-groups-745bfc36e23997ee3f0bc499a9f5c16d">other Iranian-backed militias</a>&nbsp;and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in retaliation for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-american-service-members-killed-jordan-iran-5cb774fd835a558d840ae91263037489">drone strike that killed three U.S. troops</a>&nbsp;in Jordan.

The U.S. military's Central Command separately acknowledged an attack Monday on the Houthis, in which they attacked what they described as two Houthi drone boats loaded with explosives.

American forces “determined they presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region,” the military said. “These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy vessels and merchant vessels.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707179984034.png" alt="Image from video of launches from US. Warships supporting strikes on Iranian-backed Houthi targets over the weekend-U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Image from video of launches from US. Warships supporting strikes on Iranian-backed Houthi targets over the weekend-U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A ship traveling through the southern Red Sea was attacked by a suspected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-houthis-red-sea-jake-sullivan-yemen-ff507d06a7a44d6f3644f128e7766b3d">Yemen Houthi rebel</a>&nbsp;drone early on Tuesday, authorities said, the latest assault in their campaign targeting vessels over Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.The attack happened west of the Yemeni port of Hodeida, and the projectile caused “slight damage” to the vessel's windows on the bridge, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said. A small vessel had been nearby the ship before the attack, it added.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/PentagonPresSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PentagonPresSec</a> confirms there have been drone attacks since the U.S. began airstrikes against Iran-backed groups in the region for the deaths of three U.S. service members killed in another attack at a U.S. base in Jordan. <a href="https://t.co/AeIWxmKI7Q">pic.twitter.com/AeIWxmKI7Q</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1754599370610139192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The private security firm Ambrey identified the vessel as a Barbados-flagged, United Kingdom-owned cargo ship. No one was hurt onboard the vessel, which suffered “minor damage,” the firm said.Later, a military spokesman of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, claimed in a statement that the rebel forces attacked two separate vessels, one American and one British, in the Red Sea. He provided no evidence to support the claim.One of the ships the Houthis claimed attacking, the Morning Tide, matched details provided by Ambrey. Tracking data showed it to be in the Red Sea near the reported attack.The Morning Tide’s owner, British firm Furadino Shipping, told The Associated Press no one was hurt in the attack and the ship was continuing onward to Singapore.Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for trade among Asia, the Mideast and Europe.In recent weeks, the United States and the United Kingdom, backed by other allies, have launched airstrikes targeting Houthi missile arsenals and launch sites for its attacks.The U.S. and Britain struck 36 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday. An air assault Friday in Iraq and Syria targeted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-hezbollah-houthis-iran-militant-groups-745bfc36e23997ee3f0bc499a9f5c16d">other Iranian-backed militias</a>&nbsp;and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in retaliation for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-american-service-members-killed-jordan-iran-5cb774fd835a558d840ae91263037489">drone strike that killed three U.S. troops</a>&nbsp;in Jordan.The U.S. military's Central Command separately acknowledged an attack Monday on the Houthis, in which they attacked what they described as two Houthi drone boats loaded with explosives.American forces “determined they presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region,” the military said. “These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy vessels and merchant vessels.”------------

🎥Tensions high: Rebels target more ships in the Red Sea 

Weeks after Republican Gov. Jim Pillen announced Nebraska would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-summer-ebt-food-program-children-789f2d04bd195086d2e41d0d43b8111c">not accept federal funds</a>&nbsp;to feed children in need over the summer, an Omaha lawmaker is pushing her bill to require the state to accept the $18 million for children who might otherwise go hungry at times when schools are closed.

Pillen’s rejection of the funding in December drew a firestorm of vocal condemnation when he defended his position by stating, “I don’t believe in welfare.”

Omaha Sen. Jen Day presented her bill Thursday to the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee, seeking to reverse Pillen's rejection. Even if the bill were to pass, the deadline for a state to declare participation this summer was Jan. 1, although the federal government has sometimes allowed exceptions in other programs, officials have said.

The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children — or Summer EBT — program was widely employed as part of federal assistance made available during the COVID-19 pandemic, and then made permanent in 2022. It provides pre-loaded EBT cards to families whose children are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches at school; some 150,000 children in Nebraska were eligible in the 2022-2023 school year. Those families would receive $40 per eligible child per month over the summer. The cards can be used to buy groceries, similar to how SNAP benefits are used.

Nebraska is among more than a dozen states — all with Republican governors — that have opted out of receiving the funding. Those states include neighboring&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-summer-ebt-food-assistance-0e878c5c0fc9dd0dd55622cb22a82561">Iowa</a>, where Gov. Kim Reynolds criticized the federal food program as doing “nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic.

Day, a Democrat in the officially nonpartisan Nebraska Legislature, has found a Republican ally in her effort: state Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island. Aguilar has prioritized Day's bill, giving it a good chance of being debated by the full Legislature this session.

Aguilar said the issue has brought a flood of calls from constituents in his largely rural district asking that he support the program. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showing a steady increase in food insecurity among Nebraska families could help explain that flood of calls, Day said.

According to the statistics, 10.7% of Nebraska households were food insecure in 2017. That percentage rose to 12.1% five years later in 2022. It was 13.5% in 2023, Day said.

“This places Nebraska above the national average and gives us the 11th highest food insecurity in the nation,” she said. “As many of you know, food is more expensive than ever, and it’s squeezing low-income Nebraska residents hardest."

Following the backlash to his rejection of the Summer EBT funding, Pillen released a statement that Nebraska would continue to help food-insecure children through the Summer Food Service Program, which provides meals and snacks at various sites when school is not in session. Providing on-site services also allows providers to spot and report issues such as malnutrition, neglect and abuse in children, he said.

But Day and other critics countered that not all families have access to the on-site programs — particularly in Nebraska’s vast rural stretches, where sites can be many miles away from a struggling family.

Seventeen people — many of them representing food pantries and services — testified Thursday in favor of Day's bill, and another 153 people sent in letters of support. No one testified in opposition, but four people sent in letters opposed to the bill.

Weeks after Republican Gov. Jim Pillen announced Nebraska would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-summer-ebt-food-program-children-789f2d04bd195086d2e41d0d43b8111c">not accept federal funds</a>&nbsp;to feed children in need over the summer, an Omaha lawmaker is pushing her bill to require the state to accept the $18 million for children who might otherwise go hungry at times when schools are closed.Pillen’s rejection of the funding in December drew a firestorm of vocal condemnation when he defended his position by stating, “I don’t believe in welfare.”Omaha Sen. Jen Day presented her bill Thursday to the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee, seeking to reverse Pillen's rejection. Even if the bill were to pass, the deadline for a state to declare participation this summer was Jan. 1, although the federal government has sometimes allowed exceptions in other programs, officials have said.The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children — or Summer EBT — program was widely employed as part of federal assistance made available during the COVID-19 pandemic, and then made permanent in 2022. It provides pre-loaded EBT cards to families whose children are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches at school; some 150,000 children in Nebraska were eligible in the 2022-2023 school year. Those families would receive $40 per eligible child per month over the summer. The cards can be used to buy groceries, similar to how SNAP benefits are used.Nebraska is among more than a dozen states — all with Republican governors — that have opted out of receiving the funding. Those states include neighboring&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-summer-ebt-food-assistance-0e878c5c0fc9dd0dd55622cb22a82561">Iowa</a>, where Gov. Kim Reynolds criticized the federal food program as doing “nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic.Day, a Democrat in the officially nonpartisan Nebraska Legislature, has found a Republican ally in her effort: state Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island. Aguilar has prioritized Day's bill, giving it a good chance of being debated by the full Legislature this session.Aguilar said the issue has brought a flood of calls from constituents in his largely rural district asking that he support the program. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showing a steady increase in food insecurity among Nebraska families could help explain that flood of calls, Day said.According to the statistics, 10.7% of Nebraska households were food insecure in 2017. That percentage rose to 12.1% five years later in 2022. It was 13.5% in 2023, Day said.“This places Nebraska above the national average and gives us the 11th highest food insecurity in the nation,” she said. “As many of you know, food is more expensive than ever, and it’s squeezing low-income Nebraska residents hardest."Following the backlash to his rejection of the Summer EBT funding, Pillen released a statement that Nebraska would continue to help food-insecure children through the Summer Food Service Program, which provides meals and snacks at various sites when school is not in session. Providing on-site services also allows providers to spot and report issues such as malnutrition, neglect and abuse in children, he said.But Day and other critics countered that not all families have access to the on-site programs — particularly in Nebraska’s vast rural stretches, where sites can be many miles away from a struggling family.Seventeen people — many of them representing food pantries and services — testified Thursday in favor of Day's bill, and another 153 people sent in letters of support. No one testified in opposition, but four people sent in letters opposed to the bill.

Lawmaker seeks to reverse Nebraska governor's rejection of federal child food funding

CHICAGO—The Quaker Oats Company&nbsp; announced an&nbsp;expansion of the December 15, 2023,&nbsp;recall to include an additional granola bar to the list of recalled items due to possible salmonella contamination, according to the FDA.

<a href="https://www.quakerrecallusa.com/_files/ugd/b51df1_66f22cbdfc5140b0a3287b82a2bf30c7.pdf">Click here to see the full list</a> of 100 recalled items

Quaker Chewy Dipps Llama Rama bars were added to the recalled product list in the United States, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/update-quaker-issues-revised-recall-notice-additional-product-due-possible-health-risk" target="_blank">the FDA.</a>&nbsp;This granola bar product was discontinued in September 2023 with the “Best Before” dates listed as Feb. 10 or 11, 2024.

The United States Food and Drug Administration and the Quaker Oats Company earlier this week announced that this granola bar was added to the list of recalled items due to possible salmonella contamination.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has received at least 24 reports of adverse events related to the products initially recalled, but no illnesses have been confirmed to be linked to the foods, an agency spokesperson said. Adverse events can include medical problems, but also complaints about off taste or color of a product, defective packaging or other non-medical issues, the official said. FDA will continue to investigate the reports.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707136988885.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>CHICAGO—The Quaker Oats Company&nbsp; announced an&nbsp;expansion of the December 15, 2023,&nbsp;recall to include an additional granola bar to the list of recalled items due to possible salmonella contamination, according to the FDA.<a href="https://www.quakerrecallusa.com/_files/ugd/b51df1_66f22cbdfc5140b0a3287b82a2bf30c7.pdf">Click here to see the full list</a> of 100 recalled itemsQuaker Chewy Dipps Llama Rama bars were added to the recalled product list in the United States, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/update-quaker-issues-revised-recall-notice-additional-product-due-possible-health-risk" target="_blank">the FDA.</a>&nbsp;This granola bar product was discontinued in September 2023 with the “Best Before” dates listed as Feb. 10 or 11, 2024.The United States Food and Drug Administration and the Quaker Oats Company earlier this week announced that this granola bar was added to the list of recalled items due to possible salmonella contamination.Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has received at least 24 reports of adverse events related to the products initially recalled, but no illnesses have been confirmed to be linked to the foods, an agency spokesperson said. Adverse events can include medical problems, but also complaints about off taste or color of a product, defective packaging or other non-medical issues, the official said. FDA will continue to investigate the reports.

Quaker Oats salmonella: 3rd recall in two months 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two off-duty police officers in Nebraska's largest city shot and killed two men in an SUV, though authorities have provided few details about the confrontation.

The two Omaha officers were working at a local business at around 2 a.m. Saturday when they opened fire on the men in the SUV, police said.

The men, 26-year-old Fernando Rodriguez-Juarez and 28-year-old Jonathan Hernandez-Rosales, were taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died.

Police said they found a handgun in the vehicle, but they didn't say whether there was anything illegal about that or what led the two off-duty officers to shoot the men. Police also haven't said whether the two officers, whom they haven't publicly identified, identified themselves as police to the men or whether they were wearing their police uniforms.

One of the officers was wearing a body camera when the shooting happened, and detectives are reviewing local businesses' security footage as part of the investigation, authorities said.

The two officers were placed on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

The police department's officer-involved investigations team, the Nebraska State Patrol and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office are investigating

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two off-duty police officers in Nebraska's largest city shot and killed two men in an SUV, though authorities have provided few details about the confrontation.The two Omaha officers were working at a local business at around 2 a.m. Saturday when they opened fire on the men in the SUV, police said.The men, 26-year-old Fernando Rodriguez-Juarez and 28-year-old Jonathan Hernandez-Rosales, were taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died.Police said they found a handgun in the vehicle, but they didn't say whether there was anything illegal about that or what led the two off-duty officers to shoot the men. Police also haven't said whether the two officers, whom they haven't publicly identified, identified themselves as police to the men or whether they were wearing their police uniforms.One of the officers was wearing a body camera when the shooting happened, and detectives are reviewing local businesses' security footage as part of the investigation, authorities said.The two officers were placed on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation.The police department's officer-involved investigations team, the Nebraska State Patrol and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office are investigating

Off-duty Omaha police officers shoot and kill two men

LONDON (AP) — King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer and has begun treatment, Buckingham Palace said Monday. Less than 18 months into his reign, the 75-year-old monarch will suspend public duties but will continue with state business, and won't be handing over his constitutional roles as head of state.

The palace didn't say what form of cancer the king has, but said it's not related to the king’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-princess-kate-abdominal-surgery-5fc9e0e3b59954a2cceb6b1a7edf31a7">recent treatment</a>&nbsp;for a benign prostate condition.

The palace said “a separate issue of concern was noted” during Charles' treatment for an enlarged prostate last month, when he spent three nights in a London hospital.

“Diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer,” it said in a statement.

“His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties,” the palace said. "Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual."

The king is being treated as an outpatient, the palace said.

It said Charles “remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.”

The palace added that the king "has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.”

Charles became king in September 2022 when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died at the age of 96.

News of the king's diagnosis comes as his daughter-in-law Kate, Princess of Wales, recovers from abdominal surgery that saw her hospitalized for about two weeks.

Kate is still taking a break from royal duties as she recovers. Her husband, Prince William, who is heir to the throne, also took time off to help look after the couple's three children, but is due to preside over an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

The king personally called both the Prince of Wales and his second son, Prince Harry, — as well as his siblings Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — to share news of his health.

Harry, who quit royal duties in 2020 and moved to California, has spoken to his father about the diagnosis and “will be traveling to UK to see His Majesty in the coming days,” said the office of Harry and his wife, Meghan.

U.K. political leaders sent messages of support. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: “Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. I have no doubt he’ll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well.”

U.S. President Joe Biden, traveling in Las Vegas on Monday, said he had just learned about Charles’s diagnosis and said he hopes to speak with him, “God willing.”

“I’m concerned about him,” Biden told reporters.

Charles departed from royal tradition with his openness about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kate-hospitalized-prince-william-royal-health-wales-b2ea543cfaf7a52b71ac3fbdf4a19cfa">his prostate condition.</a>&nbsp;For centuries Britain's royal family remained tight-lipped about health matters.

When U.K. monarchs had real power, news of illness was withheld for fear it might weaken their authority. The habit of secrecy lingered after royals became constitutional figureheads.

The British public wasn’t told that Charles’ grandfather, King George VI, had lung cancer before his death in February 1952 at the age of 56.

Pat Price, founder of the Catch Up With Cancer campaign, said millions shared the “collective concern” for the king's health.

“The King’s openness about his battle with cancer is a powerful reminder that one in two of us may face cancer at some point in our lives," Price said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683335060930.png" alt="File photo King Charles III&nbsp; photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo King Charles III&nbsp; photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer and has begun treatment, Buckingham Palace said Monday. Less than 18 months into his reign, the 75-year-old monarch will suspend public duties but will continue with state business, and won't be handing over his constitutional roles as head of state.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A statement from Buckingham Palace: <a href="https://t.co/zmYuaWBKw6">https://t.co/zmYuaWBKw6</a> 📷 Samir Hussein <a href="https://t.co/xypBLHHQJb">pic.twitter.com/xypBLHHQJb</a>&mdash; The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1754565735655887066?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The palace didn't say what form of cancer the king has, but said it's not related to the king’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-princess-kate-abdominal-surgery-5fc9e0e3b59954a2cceb6b1a7edf31a7">recent treatment</a>&nbsp;for a benign prostate condition.The palace said “a separate issue of concern was noted” during Charles' treatment for an enlarged prostate last month, when he spent three nights in a London hospital.“Diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer,” it said in a statement.“His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties,” the palace said. "Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual."The king is being treated as an outpatient, the palace said.It said Charles “remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.”The palace added that the king "has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.”Charles became king in September 2022 when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died at the age of 96.News of the king's diagnosis comes as his daughter-in-law Kate, Princess of Wales, recovers from abdominal surgery that saw her hospitalized for about two weeks.Kate is still taking a break from royal duties as she recovers. Her husband, Prince William, who is heir to the throne, also took time off to help look after the couple's three children, but is due to preside over an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.The king personally called both the Prince of Wales and his second son, Prince Harry, — as well as his siblings Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — to share news of his health.Harry, who quit royal duties in 2020 and moved to California, has spoken to his father about the diagnosis and “will be traveling to UK to see His Majesty in the coming days,” said the office of Harry and his wife, Meghan.U.K. political leaders sent messages of support. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: “Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. I have no doubt he’ll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well.”U.S. President Joe Biden, traveling in Las Vegas on Monday, said he had just learned about Charles’s diagnosis and said he hopes to speak with him, “God willing.”“I’m concerned about him,” Biden told reporters.Charles departed from royal tradition with his openness about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kate-hospitalized-prince-william-royal-health-wales-b2ea543cfaf7a52b71ac3fbdf4a19cfa">his prostate condition.</a>&nbsp;For centuries Britain's royal family remained tight-lipped about health matters.When U.K. monarchs had real power, news of illness was withheld for fear it might weaken their authority. The habit of secrecy lingered after royals became constitutional figureheads.The British public wasn’t told that Charles’ grandfather, King George VI, had lung cancer before his death in February 1952 at the age of 56.Pat Price, founder of the Catch Up With Cancer campaign, said millions shared the “collective concern” for the king's health.“The King’s openness about his battle with cancer is a powerful reminder that one in two of us may face cancer at some point in our lives," Price said.___

Palace: King Charles III diagnosed with cancer 

TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) — A Gage County man was sentenced to life plus 60 to 80 years in prison Friday for the killing of a fellow inmate who was stabbed more than 100 times during a riot at a Nebraska state prison.

The sentencing of Eric Ramos came over a month after he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-prison-riot-murder-trial-09197a3394e00946435b435e84bfbd15">found guilty</a>&nbsp;in December of first-degree murder, use of a weapon to commit murder and tampering with evidence in the case of the 2017 slaying of Michael Galindo.

District Judge Rick Schreiner said the jury had plenty of facts to determine that Ramos was guilty,&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/state-regional/crime-courts/ramos-sentenced-2017-nebraska-prison-riot-death/article_82f6574c-c14a-11ee-b5e6-efbfc960b38a.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">the Lincoln Journal Star reported</a>. He added that when Ramos testified at trial, he gave jurors an opportunity to see his profile, which they could then compare to prison security video of the attack.

Ramos, 33, has denied being an assailant seen in the video and said he would not have jeopardized his upcoming parole by participating in the attack. He declined a chance to speak at the sentencing on the advice of counsel, due to a coming appeal.

Defense lawyer Tim Noerrlinger has argued that the video was of poor quality and that investigators did not test blood found on the hands and clothing of other inmates.

Noerrlinger filed a motion for a new trial following the December verdict. In it he argued that Ramos was prevented from getting a fair trial due to various issues, including a failure by prosecutors to disclose reports about one witness until after he testified and about a second potential witness the state hadn’t previously mentioned until two weeks into the proceedings.

The motion was rejected by Shreiner this week, but those issues are expected to be revisited on appeal.

Galindo, 31, was found dead in his cell on March 2, 2017, one of two inmates slain during the riot at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution.

Investigators said he had been severely beaten and stabbed 130 times, and an autopsy determined he died of smoke inhalation after other inmates set towels ablaze and pushed them into the cell through a broken window.

Ramos’ first trial in 2018 ended in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9ff55f26182647abb441ce1c2eff63b4">a mistrial</a>&nbsp;after the judge learned that several investigators who were witnesses in the case met up despite a court order forbidding it. The Nebraska Court of Appeals later ruled that Ramos should&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4b4505516e554615461d9d8a5f16f8eb">be retried</a>.

In his second trial, prosecutors relied heavily on the surveillance video, from which a prison guard identified Ramos as one of the attackers.

Investigators said Ramos was one of several who attacked Galindo, but he is the only one to face charges so far.

TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) — A Gage County man was sentenced to life plus 60 to 80 years in prison Friday for the killing of a fellow inmate who was stabbed more than 100 times during a riot at a Nebraska state prison.The sentencing of Eric Ramos came over a month after he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-prison-riot-murder-trial-09197a3394e00946435b435e84bfbd15">found guilty</a>&nbsp;in December of first-degree murder, use of a weapon to commit murder and tampering with evidence in the case of the 2017 slaying of Michael Galindo.District Judge Rick Schreiner said the jury had plenty of facts to determine that Ramos was guilty,&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/state-regional/crime-courts/ramos-sentenced-2017-nebraska-prison-riot-death/article_82f6574c-c14a-11ee-b5e6-efbfc960b38a.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">the Lincoln Journal Star reported</a>. He added that when Ramos testified at trial, he gave jurors an opportunity to see his profile, which they could then compare to prison security video of the attack.Ramos, 33, has denied being an assailant seen in the video and said he would not have jeopardized his upcoming parole by participating in the attack. He declined a chance to speak at the sentencing on the advice of counsel, due to a coming appeal.Defense lawyer Tim Noerrlinger has argued that the video was of poor quality and that investigators did not test blood found on the hands and clothing of other inmates.Noerrlinger filed a motion for a new trial following the December verdict. In it he argued that Ramos was prevented from getting a fair trial due to various issues, including a failure by prosecutors to disclose reports about one witness until after he testified and about a second potential witness the state hadn’t previously mentioned until two weeks into the proceedings.The motion was rejected by Shreiner this week, but those issues are expected to be revisited on appeal.Galindo, 31, was found dead in his cell on March 2, 2017, one of two inmates slain during the riot at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution.Investigators said he had been severely beaten and stabbed 130 times, and an autopsy determined he died of smoke inhalation after other inmates set towels ablaze and pushed them into the cell through a broken window.Ramos’ first trial in 2018 ended in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9ff55f26182647abb441ce1c2eff63b4">a mistrial</a>&nbsp;after the judge learned that several investigators who were witnesses in the case met up despite a court order forbidding it. The Nebraska Court of Appeals later ruled that Ramos should&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4b4505516e554615461d9d8a5f16f8eb">be retried</a>.In his second trial, prosecutors relied heavily on the surveillance video, from which a prison guard identified Ramos as one of the attackers.Investigators said Ramos was one of several who attacked Galindo, but he is the only one to face charges so far.

Man gets life plus up to 80 years for killing of fellow inmate during Nebraska prison riot

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– On Thursday evening, Governor Jim Pillen awarded prizes to three teams of college entrepreneurs through the first-ever Nebraska Governor’s New Venture Competition. The contest, created to showcase and encourage student-led entrepreneurship, was overseen by the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce &amp; Industry, Invest Nebraska, Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD), and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. The winning teams were: 1st&nbsp;Place: Privy AI; 2nd&nbsp;Place: Cattle Kettle; 3rd&nbsp;Place: Dyslexico.

“Entrepreneurs are the bread and butter of our economy,” said Gov. Pillen. “They’re the innovators and job creators who help Nebraska grow. Entrepreneurs display remarkable courage in taking the risk of launching a new venture. I’m blown away by the ingenuity and grit of the young entrepreneurs who took part in the New Venture Competition. The contest was a great way to give visibility and support to homegrown Nebraska ideas with industry-transforming potential.”

“It’s incredibly energizing to see the next generation of entrepreneurs in action,” said DED Director K.C. Belitz.&nbsp;“Across Nebraska, economic opportunities are increasingly being created by local entrepreneurs. The State is intensifying our support of these homegrown entrepreneurs, through initiatives like the Governor’s New Venture Competition, as the most viable economic development strategy for sustained growth.”

Nineteen teams of students -- including both undergraduate and graduate students -- submitted proposals through the Governor’s New Venture Competition. Competitors participated from Doane University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska Omaha, and Peru State College. All 19 teams pitched their idea virtually to a panel of judges representing the Nebraska Angels, Black Dog Ventures, Tech Nebraska, and NPPD. The judges provided valuable feedback to the student entrepreneurs and selected 11 teams as finalists.

Each finalist team was then assigned a mentor to help refine their presentation. The mentors were chosen from Nebraska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem based on their familiarity with tech startups and the art of pitching a business concept. After working with their mentor, the finalists pitched their business idea in person to a panel of judges during the Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting on Feb. 1. These judges -- representing Hudl, NPPD, Fast Forward, Grit Road Partners, and Move Capital Fund – selected the awardees. Later in the evening, Gov. Pillen officially announced the winners.

“Nebraska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem of founders, funders, private partners and public agencies continually seeks new collaborations to build the pipeline of young entrepreneurs in the state,” said Dan Hoffman, CEO of Invest Nebraska. “Governor Pillen’s vision of seeding and growing new ventures in Nebraska will have a long-term impact on the state’s economy.”

“We want to congratulate all of the students who competed in the Governor's inaugural New Venture Competition,” said Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “We're thrilled we were able to be a part of the event and get a glimpse into the future of Nebraska's business leaders and all they'll bring to our great state.”

The Governor’s Office would like to thank the participants, judges, and sponsors of the Governor’s New Venture Competition. Prize sponsors include Nebraska Public Power District, Omaha Public Power District, the Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce &amp; Industry, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Nebraska Economic Developers’ Association, Nebraska Diplomats, NexTera Energy, and Invest Nebraska.

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– On Thursday evening, Governor Jim Pillen awarded prizes to three teams of college entrepreneurs through the first-ever Nebraska Governor’s New Venture Competition. The contest, created to showcase and encourage student-led entrepreneurship, was overseen by the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce &amp; Industry, Invest Nebraska, Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD), and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. The winning teams were: 1st&nbsp;Place: Privy AI; 2nd&nbsp;Place: Cattle Kettle; 3rd&nbsp;Place: Dyslexico.“Entrepreneurs are the bread and butter of our economy,” said Gov. Pillen. “They’re the innovators and job creators who help Nebraska grow. Entrepreneurs display remarkable courage in taking the risk of launching a new venture. I’m blown away by the ingenuity and grit of the young entrepreneurs who took part in the New Venture Competition. The contest was a great way to give visibility and support to homegrown Nebraska ideas with industry-transforming potential.”“It’s incredibly energizing to see the next generation of entrepreneurs in action,” said DED Director K.C. Belitz.&nbsp;“Across Nebraska, economic opportunities are increasingly being created by local entrepreneurs. The State is intensifying our support of these homegrown entrepreneurs, through initiatives like the Governor’s New Venture Competition, as the most viable economic development strategy for sustained growth.”Nineteen teams of students -- including both undergraduate and graduate students -- submitted proposals through the Governor’s New Venture Competition. Competitors participated from Doane University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska Omaha, and Peru State College. All 19 teams pitched their idea virtually to a panel of judges representing the Nebraska Angels, Black Dog Ventures, Tech Nebraska, and NPPD. The judges provided valuable feedback to the student entrepreneurs and selected 11 teams as finalists.Each finalist team was then assigned a mentor to help refine their presentation. The mentors were chosen from Nebraska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem based on their familiarity with tech startups and the art of pitching a business concept. After working with their mentor, the finalists pitched their business idea in person to a panel of judges during the Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting on Feb. 1. These judges -- representing Hudl, NPPD, Fast Forward, Grit Road Partners, and Move Capital Fund – selected the awardees. Later in the evening, Gov. Pillen officially announced the winners.“Nebraska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem of founders, funders, private partners and public agencies continually seeks new collaborations to build the pipeline of young entrepreneurs in the state,” said Dan Hoffman, CEO of Invest Nebraska. “Governor Pillen’s vision of seeding and growing new ventures in Nebraska will have a long-term impact on the state’s economy.”“We want to congratulate all of the students who competed in the Governor's inaugural New Venture Competition,” said Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “We're thrilled we were able to be a part of the event and get a glimpse into the future of Nebraska's business leaders and all they'll bring to our great state.”The Governor’s Office would like to thank the participants, judges, and sponsors of the Governor’s New Venture Competition. Prize sponsors include Nebraska Public Power District, Omaha Public Power District, the Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce &amp; Industry, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Nebraska Economic Developers’ Association, Nebraska Diplomats, NexTera Energy, and Invest Nebraska.

Gov. Pillen Awards Prizes to Student Entrepreneurs through Inaugural New Venture Competition

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators on Sunday released a highly anticipated $118 billion package that pairs border enforcement policy with wartime aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies, setting off a long-shot effort to push the bill through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-ukraine-trump-a8601ec6629ddc5b769028ca99ad9879">heavy skepticism from Republicans</a>, including House Speaker Mike Johnson.

<a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/emergency_national_security_supplemental_bill_text.pdf">Click here to read </a>the full text of the bill

The proposal could be the best chance for President Joe Biden to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb">resupply Ukraine with wartime aid</a>&nbsp;— a major foreign policy goal that is shared with both the Senate’s top Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer, and top Republican, Sen. Mitch McConnell. The Senate was expected this week to hold a key test vote on the legislation, but it faces a wall of opposition from conservatives.

With Congress stalled on approving $60 billion in Ukraine aid, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-money-congress-weapons-dd5076b30bf8fab5c914a1222186e7f0">U.S. has halted shipments</a>&nbsp;of ammunition and missiles to Kyiv, leaving Ukrainian soldiers outgunned as they try to beat back Russia’s invasion.

Senators have been working for months on the carefully negotiated compromise intended to overcome opposition from conservatives who have tired of funding Ukraine’s fight. But the coming days will be a crucial test of whether congressional leaders can once again muscle their members to support the package designed to assert American strength — and commitment — around the world. They will also be balancing one of the most fraught issues in American politics — border and immigration legislation.

Biden said in a statement that the Senate proposal “allows the United States to continue our vital work, together with partners all around the world, to stand up for Ukraine’s freedom and support its ability to defend itself against Russia’s aggression.”

And on the border, Biden said that the immigration system has been broken for too long, and it’s time to fix it. “It will make our country safer, make our border more secure, treat people fairly and humanely while preserving legal immigration, consistent with our values as a nation,” Biden said.

The proposal would overhaul the asylum system at the border with faster and tougher enforcement, as well as give presidents new powers to immediately expel migrants if authorities become overwhelmed with the number of people applying for asylum. The new bill would also invest in U.S. defense manufacturing, send $14 billion in military aid to Israel, steer nearly $5 billion to allies in the Asia-Pacific, and provide humanitarian assistance to civilians caught in conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

In a call with reporters after releasing the legislation, Schumer said he has never worked so closely with McConnell. He called the bill a “monumental step” toward strengthening national security at home and abroad.

Without the Ukraine aid, Schumer said, he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin “could be rolling over Ukraine and even into Eastern Europe.”

McConnell said in a statement that the Senate must be “prepared to act.”

“America’s sovereignty is being tested here at home, and our credibility is being tested by emboldened adversaries around the world,” McConnell said. “The challenges we face will not resolve themselves, nor will our adversaries wait for America to muster the resolve to meet them.”

In a bid to overcome opposition from House Republicans,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-border-security-congress-0c35bad8790ccbbeed1bc14057457648">McConnell had insisted last year</a>&nbsp;that border policy changes be included in the national security funding package. However, in an election-year shift on immigration, Biden and many Democrats have embraced the idea of strict border enforcement, while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-trump-biden-2d2f804057a77bfaa41e64ab601f9b0e">Donald Trump and his allies</a>&nbsp;have criticized the proposed measures as insufficient.

Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, the third-ranked House Republican and a close ally of Trump, quickly decried the bill as “an absolute non-starter” that would incentivize illegal immigration.

Republicans have also been reluctant to give Biden a political win on an issue they see as one of his biggest vulnerabilities. They have argued that presidents already have enough authority to curb illegal border crossings — a stance that would ensure immigration remains a major issue in the presidential election. But at the same time, House Republicans have also pushed for their own, stricter version of border security legislation.

Johnson, a Republican of Louisiana, told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday morning that he was unaware of the bill’s details, but thought the solution to border problems should be a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-immigration-bill-255921c69678468580d0d106282623f0">House proposal of hardline immigration measures</a>.

That bill, which passed the House last year without a single Democratic vote, currently has no chance of gaining the Democratic support it would need in the Senate. GOP senators also attempted to add it on to other legislation last year, but that effort only gained 46 votes.

“What we’re saying is you have to stem the flow,” Johnson said. He also made it clear that he — not Trump — would decide whether to bring the bill to the floor if it passes the Senate.

But in a further sign that Johnson is resistant to the Senate package, he indicated Saturday that the House will vote on a separate package of $17.6 billion of military aid for Israel — a move that allows House Republicans to show support for Israel apart from the Senate deal.

It is still unclear if the bill will pass in the Senate. Senate Republicans have been divided on the bill, with several in McConnell’s ranks arguing that it isn’t strong enough. Some quickly said they would vote against it.

“I will not support this deal,” said Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn, after the legislation was released.

The proposal is aimed at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-ukraine-biden-cf4aa608de350a480fabd8e6a3e062ff">gaining control of an asylum system</a>&nbsp;that has been overwhelmed by historic numbers of migrants coming to the border.

Migrants who seek asylum, which provides protection for people facing persecution in their home countries, would face a tougher and faster process to having their claim evaluated. The standard in initial interviews would be raised, and many would receive those interviews within days of arriving at the border. Final decisions on their asylum claims would happen within months, rather than the often years-long wait that happens now. They would also be given work permits if they pass the initial screenings.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona independent who negotiated the border proposal, told reporters that the legislation would “immediately reassert control of our border, end catch and release policies and, strengthen our broken asylum system, and solve the border crisis.”

“America is and continues to be a bastion of hope for true asylum seekers,” she said in a statement later. “But it is not an open door for economic migrants. It has been, as we know, exploited dramatically by cartels in the last four to five years.”

If the number of illegal border crossings reaches above 5,000 daily for a five-day average,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-immigration-election-2182fec11fa008ec96c4202e5656d19e">an expulsion authority</a>&nbsp;would automatically kick in so that migrants who cross illegally are expelled without an opportunity to make an asylum claim. If the number reaches 4,000, presidential administrations would have the option of using the new authority. Under the proposal, migrants could still apply at ports of entry.

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 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators on Sunday released a highly anticipated $118 billion package that pairs border enforcement policy with wartime aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies, setting off a long-shot effort to push the bill through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-ukraine-trump-a8601ec6629ddc5b769028ca99ad9879">heavy skepticism from Republicans</a>, including House Speaker Mike Johnson.<a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/emergency_national_security_supplemental_bill_text.pdf">Click here to read </a>the full text of the billThe proposal could be the best chance for President Joe Biden to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb">resupply Ukraine with wartime aid</a>&nbsp;— a major foreign policy goal that is shared with both the Senate’s top Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer, and top Republican, Sen. Mitch McConnell. The Senate was expected this week to hold a key test vote on the legislation, but it faces a wall of opposition from conservatives.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Agree. Having sufficient time to thoroughly review any legislation, much less text on a bill that&#39;s supposed to address our number one most immediate national security threat, should not be controversial. <a href="https://t.co/KOQWfY1U1Q">https://t.co/KOQWfY1U1Q</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1753509169112514776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>With Congress stalled on approving $60 billion in Ukraine aid, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-money-congress-weapons-dd5076b30bf8fab5c914a1222186e7f0">U.S. has halted shipments</a>&nbsp;of ammunition and missiles to Kyiv, leaving Ukrainian soldiers outgunned as they try to beat back Russia’s invasion.Senators have been working for months on the carefully negotiated compromise intended to overcome opposition from conservatives who have tired of funding Ukraine’s fight. But the coming days will be a crucial test of whether congressional leaders can once again muscle their members to support the package designed to assert American strength — and commitment — around the world. They will also be balancing one of the most fraught issues in American politics — border and immigration legislation.Biden said in a statement that the Senate proposal “allows the United States to continue our vital work, together with partners all around the world, to stand up for Ukraine’s freedom and support its ability to defend itself against Russia’s aggression.”And on the border, Biden said that the immigration system has been broken for too long, and it’s time to fix it. “It will make our country safer, make our border more secure, treat people fairly and humanely while preserving legal immigration, consistent with our values as a nation,” Biden said.The proposal would overhaul the asylum system at the border with faster and tougher enforcement, as well as give presidents new powers to immediately expel migrants if authorities become overwhelmed with the number of people applying for asylum. The new bill would also invest in U.S. defense manufacturing, send $14 billion in military aid to Israel, steer nearly $5 billion to allies in the Asia-Pacific, and provide humanitarian assistance to civilians caught in conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.In a call with reporters after releasing the legislation, Schumer said he has never worked so closely with McConnell. He called the bill a “monumental step” toward strengthening national security at home and abroad.Without the Ukraine aid, Schumer said, he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin “could be rolling over Ukraine and even into Eastern Europe.”<figure>
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 </figure>McConnell said in a statement that the Senate must be “prepared to act.”“America’s sovereignty is being tested here at home, and our credibility is being tested by emboldened adversaries around the world,” McConnell said. “The challenges we face will not resolve themselves, nor will our adversaries wait for America to muster the resolve to meet them.”In a bid to overcome opposition from House Republicans,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-border-security-congress-0c35bad8790ccbbeed1bc14057457648">McConnell had insisted last year</a>&nbsp;that border policy changes be included in the national security funding package. However, in an election-year shift on immigration, Biden and many Democrats have embraced the idea of strict border enforcement, while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-trump-biden-2d2f804057a77bfaa41e64ab601f9b0e">Donald Trump and his allies</a>&nbsp;have criticized the proposed measures as insufficient.Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, the third-ranked House Republican and a close ally of Trump, quickly decried the bill as “an absolute non-starter” that would incentivize illegal immigration.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I’ve seen enough. This bill is even worse than we expected, and won’t come close to ending the border catastrophe the President has created. As the lead Democrat negotiator proclaimed: Under this legislation, “the border never closes.” If this bill reaches the House, it will be…&mdash; Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1754333708193091928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Republicans have also been reluctant to give Biden a political win on an issue they see as one of his biggest vulnerabilities. They have argued that presidents already have enough authority to curb illegal border crossings — a stance that would ensure immigration remains a major issue in the presidential election. But at the same time, House Republicans have also pushed for their own, stricter version of border security legislation.Johnson, a Republican of Louisiana, told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday morning that he was unaware of the bill’s details, but thought the solution to border problems should be a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-immigration-bill-255921c69678468580d0d106282623f0">House proposal of hardline immigration measures</a>.That bill, which passed the House last year without a single Democratic vote, currently has no chance of gaining the Democratic support it would need in the Senate. GOP senators also attempted to add it on to other legislation last year, but that effort only gained 46 votes.“What we’re saying is you have to stem the flow,” Johnson said. He also made it clear that he — not Trump — would decide whether to bring the bill to the floor if it passes the Senate.But in a further sign that Johnson is resistant to the Senate package, he indicated Saturday that the House will vote on a separate package of $17.6 billion of military aid for Israel — a move that allows House Republicans to show support for Israel apart from the Senate deal.It is still unclear if the bill will pass in the Senate. Senate Republicans have been divided on the bill, with several in McConnell’s ranks arguing that it isn’t strong enough. Some quickly said they would vote against it.“I will not support this deal,” said Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn, after the legislation was released.The proposal is aimed at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-ukraine-biden-cf4aa608de350a480fabd8e6a3e062ff">gaining control of an asylum system</a>&nbsp;that has been overwhelmed by historic numbers of migrants coming to the border.Migrants who seek asylum, which provides protection for people facing persecution in their home countries, would face a tougher and faster process to having their claim evaluated. The standard in initial interviews would be raised, and many would receive those interviews within days of arriving at the border. Final decisions on their asylum claims would happen within months, rather than the often years-long wait that happens now. They would also be given work permits if they pass the initial screenings.Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona independent who negotiated the border proposal, told reporters that the legislation would “immediately reassert control of our border, end catch and release policies and, strengthen our broken asylum system, and solve the border crisis.”“America is and continues to be a bastion of hope for true asylum seekers,” she said in a statement later. “But it is not an open door for economic migrants. It has been, as we know, exploited dramatically by cartels in the last four to five years.”If the number of illegal border crossings reaches above 5,000 daily for a five-day average,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-immigration-election-2182fec11fa008ec96c4202e5656d19e">an expulsion authority</a>&nbsp;would automatically kick in so that migrants who cross illegally are expelled without an opportunity to make an asylum claim. If the number reaches 4,000, presidential administrations would have the option of using the new authority. Under the proposal, migrants could still apply at ports of entry.Biden, referencing the authority, has said he would use it to “shut down the border” as soon as the bill is signed into law.The bill would allot $20 billion to immigration enforcement, including the hiring of thousands of new officers to evaluate asylum claims and hundreds of Border Patrol agents, as well as funding local governments that have seen influxes of migrants.Among Democrats, the tougher asylum standards have raised concern, especially from progressive and Hispanic lawmakers. Sen. Alex Padilla, a Democrat of California, said in a statement that the proposal would still cause “more chaos at the border, not less.”The $14 billion in the package intended for military support for Israel could also splinter Democratic votes. Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent of Vermont, is pushing to strip $10 billion for offensive weaponry for Israel from the package while maintaining money for defensive systems.