BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>, State's Newsroom

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on March 26 in the case that could significantly curtail access to a prescription drug used for both abortions and miscarriage care.

The case centers on when and how patients can access mifepristone, a pharmaceutical the U.S. Food and Drug Administration originally approved in 2000.

Mifepristone is currently approved for use up to 10 weeks gestation and accounts for more than half of abortions in the United States when used in combination with a second pharmaceutical called misoprostol.

Doctors also often use the two-drug regimen to provide treatment following a miscarriage.

The original lawsuit, brought by the anti-abortion legal organization Alliance Defending Freedom, asked the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas to overturn the FDA’s original approval of mifepristone.

If the judge didn’t agree to that, the organization requested the court revert prescribing and dosage of mifepristone to what was in place before the FDA began implementing changes in 2016.

Judge Matthew Joseph Kacsmaryk&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://newsfromthestates.com/article/us-justice-department-ask-supreme-court-reject-limits-access-abortion-pill-1">stayed the FDA’s original approval of mifepristone</a>&nbsp;in an April 2023 ruling that was later put on hold by the U.S. Supreme Court pending appeal.

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals heard<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/three-judge-panel-us-appeals-court-hears-arguments-abortion-pill-case">&nbsp;oral arguments</a>&nbsp;in May 2023 before&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/abortion-pill-stay-market-until-us-supreme-court-ruling-after-appeals-court-order-0">issuing its ruling</a>&nbsp;a few months later, in August.

That three-judge panel said that mifepristone could remain legal in the United States, but that prescribing and dosage guidelines should go back to what was used before changes began taking effect in 2016. That ruling is on hold pending the Supreme Court’s decision in this case.

That ruling, should it ever take effect, would lower the maximum gestational age from 10 weeks to seven weeks and remove the option for mifepristone to be prescribed via telehealth appointments and mailed to patients’ homes.

Patients would once again be required to attend three in-person doctor’s office visits to complete a medication abortion.

Only doctors would be able to prescribe mifepristone, instead of health care providers who are authorized to prescribe medications.

Dosage and timing of mifepristone and the second drug used in medication abortion, misoprostol, would need to be administered under guidelines that went out of use more than seven years ago.

Dozens of medical organizations and pharmaceutical groups have filed briefs with the Supreme Court, urging it to decide one way or another.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America wrote in its&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-235/284838/20231012134701542_PhRMA%20Amicus%20Br.%20ISO%20Petitioners.pdf">28-page brief&nbsp;</a>that if the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling is left in place it “could invite boundless litigation to FDA drug approvals.”

“Congress created an FDA approval process that is both rigorous and thorough, and pharmaceutical companies invest billions of dollars in research and development to meet FDA’s scientific standards,” they wrote.

If the appeals court’s ruling is allowed to take effect, they wrote, it “threatens to stifle pharmaceutical innovation by disrupting industry’s reasonable investment-backed expectations.”

Several medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Medical Association, wrote in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-235/284910/20231012165311306_Amicus%20Brief%20of%20American%20College%20of%20Obstetricians%20and%20Gynecologists%20et%20al..pdf">36-page brief&nbsp;</a>to the Supreme Court that “[n]o patient should be denied treatment for miscarriage or other early pregnancy loss because of Respondents’ hypothetical fears or personal beliefs.”

When it comes to abortion access, they wrote that patients “in states where abortion remains legal and protected should not be denied the ability to safely and privately seek to exercise that right through safe and effective medication abortion.”

“Restricting access to mifepristone — the safety of which is proven by decades of rigorous scientific study and millions of uses — in ways that are not medically necessary or scientifically sound would seriously increase risk for hundreds of thousands of patients, while protecting none,” they wrote.

“For already vulnerable populations (particularly those living in areas with limited access to OB/GYN care) the rollback approved by the Fifth Circuit promises to be especially devastating and to further perpetuate racial and socioeconomic inequalities,” they added.

Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Erin Hawley said in a written statement released last week that she urged “the Supreme Court to hold the FDA accountable and require the agency to reinstate its safety standards.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680967457500.png" alt="Photo AP" />
 <figcaption>Photo AP</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>, State's NewsroomWASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on March 26 in the case that could significantly curtail access to a prescription drug used for both abortions and miscarriage care.The case centers on when and how patients can access mifepristone, a pharmaceutical the U.S. Food and Drug Administration originally approved in 2000.Mifepristone is currently approved for use up to 10 weeks gestation and accounts for more than half of abortions in the United States when used in combination with a second pharmaceutical called misoprostol.Doctors also often use the two-drug regimen to provide treatment following a miscarriage.<h2>Lawsuit history</h2>The original lawsuit, brought by the anti-abortion legal organization Alliance Defending Freedom, asked the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas to overturn the FDA’s original approval of mifepristone.If the judge didn’t agree to that, the organization requested the court revert prescribing and dosage of mifepristone to what was in place before the FDA began implementing changes in 2016.Judge Matthew Joseph Kacsmaryk&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://newsfromthestates.com/article/us-justice-department-ask-supreme-court-reject-limits-access-abortion-pill-1">stayed the FDA’s original approval of mifepristone</a>&nbsp;in an April 2023 ruling that was later put on hold by the U.S. Supreme Court pending appeal.The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals heard<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/three-judge-panel-us-appeals-court-hears-arguments-abortion-pill-case">&nbsp;oral arguments</a>&nbsp;in May 2023 before&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/abortion-pill-stay-market-until-us-supreme-court-ruling-after-appeals-court-order-0">issuing its ruling</a>&nbsp;a few months later, in August.That three-judge panel said that mifepristone could remain legal in the United States, but that prescribing and dosage guidelines should go back to what was used before changes began taking effect in 2016. That ruling is on hold pending the Supreme Court’s decision in this case.That ruling, should it ever take effect, would lower the maximum gestational age from 10 weeks to seven weeks and remove the option for mifepristone to be prescribed via telehealth appointments and mailed to patients’ homes.Patients would once again be required to attend three in-person doctor’s office visits to complete a medication abortion.Only doctors would be able to prescribe mifepristone, instead of health care providers who are authorized to prescribe medications.Dosage and timing of mifepristone and the second drug used in medication abortion, misoprostol, would need to be administered under guidelines that went out of use more than seven years ago.<h2>Briefs filed</h2>Dozens of medical organizations and pharmaceutical groups have filed briefs with the Supreme Court, urging it to decide one way or another.The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America wrote in its&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-235/284838/20231012134701542_PhRMA%20Amicus%20Br.%20ISO%20Petitioners.pdf">28-page brief&nbsp;</a>that if the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling is left in place it “could invite boundless litigation to FDA drug approvals.”“Congress created an FDA approval process that is both rigorous and thorough, and pharmaceutical companies invest billions of dollars in research and development to meet FDA’s scientific standards,” they wrote.If the appeals court’s ruling is allowed to take effect, they wrote, it “threatens to stifle pharmaceutical innovation by disrupting industry’s reasonable investment-backed expectations.”Several medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Medical Association, wrote in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-235/284910/20231012165311306_Amicus%20Brief%20of%20American%20College%20of%20Obstetricians%20and%20Gynecologists%20et%20al..pdf">36-page brief&nbsp;</a>to the Supreme Court that “[n]o patient should be denied treatment for miscarriage or other early pregnancy loss because of Respondents’ hypothetical fears or personal beliefs.”When it comes to abortion access, they wrote that patients “in states where abortion remains legal and protected should not be denied the ability to safely and privately seek to exercise that right through safe and effective medication abortion.”“Restricting access to mifepristone — the safety of which is proven by decades of rigorous scientific study and millions of uses — in ways that are not medically necessary or scientifically sound would seriously increase risk for hundreds of thousands of patients, while protecting none,” they wrote.“For already vulnerable populations (particularly those living in areas with limited access to OB/GYN care) the rollback approved by the Fifth Circuit promises to be especially devastating and to further perpetuate racial and socioeconomic inequalities,” they added.Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Erin Hawley said in a written statement released last week that she urged “the Supreme Court to hold the FDA accountable and require the agency to reinstate its safety standards.”

Supreme Court sets date for high-stakes abortion pill oral arguments

DETROIT (AP) — Toyota and General Motors are telling the owners of about 61,000 older Corolla, Matrix, RAV4 and Pontiac Vibe models to stop driving them because their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-a299627fb48ab780790dfc8d482d89e5">Takata air bag</a>&nbsp;inflators are at risk of exploding and hurling shrapnel.

The urgent warning Monday covers certain Corolla compact cars and Matrix hatchbacks from the 2003 and 2004 model years, as well as the RAV4 small SUV from 2004 and 2005. Also covered are about 11,000 Pontiac Vibes from 2003 and 2004, which are essentially the same as the Matrix and were made at the same California factory. Most of the vehicles are in the U.S.

“If the air bag deploys, a part inside is more likely to explode and shoot sharp metal fragments, which could cause serious injury or death to the driver or passengers,” Toyota said in a statement.

The recalled RAV4s have Takata driver's air bags while the Corolla and Matrix models have them on the passenger side. The Corolla and Matrix also are under a separate recall because their air bags can be deployed without a crash, the company said.

Both companies said owners should contact a local dealer instead of driving the cars in for repairs. Dealers will provide options such as mobile repair, towing the car to a dealer, or vehicle pickup and delivery.

Owners can go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAtt2tBhBDEiwALZuhAJtqmpF8gQ3kBbr0NwD14YZaXQGGGUI3ZYseffhmG2m6Ngwt0nlfUxoCuVMQAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">nhtsa.gov/recalls</a>&nbsp;and enter their 17-digit vehicle identification number to see if their cars are affected.

Takata used volatile ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate air bags in a crash. But the chemical propellant can deteriorate over time when exposed to high temperatures and humidity. It can explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister and spewing shrapnel.

At least 26 people have been killed in the U.S. by Takata inflators since May 2009, and at least 30 have died worldwide including people in Malaysia and Australia. In addition, about 400 people have been injured. The exploding air bags sent Takata of Japan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/62185be67b03495c9a377a3a271af44b">into bankruptcy</a>.

DETROIT (AP) — Toyota and General Motors are telling the owners of about 61,000 older Corolla, Matrix, RAV4 and Pontiac Vibe models to stop driving them because their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-a299627fb48ab780790dfc8d482d89e5">Takata air bag</a>&nbsp;inflators are at risk of exploding and hurling shrapnel.The urgent warning Monday covers certain Corolla compact cars and Matrix hatchbacks from the 2003 and 2004 model years, as well as the RAV4 small SUV from 2004 and 2005. Also covered are about 11,000 Pontiac Vibes from 2003 and 2004, which are essentially the same as the Matrix and were made at the same California factory. Most of the vehicles are in the U.S.“If the air bag deploys, a part inside is more likely to explode and shoot sharp metal fragments, which could cause serious injury or death to the driver or passengers,” Toyota said in a statement.The recalled RAV4s have Takata driver's air bags while the Corolla and Matrix models have them on the passenger side. The Corolla and Matrix also are under a separate recall because their air bags can be deployed without a crash, the company said.Both companies said owners should contact a local dealer instead of driving the cars in for repairs. Dealers will provide options such as mobile repair, towing the car to a dealer, or vehicle pickup and delivery.Owners can go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAtt2tBhBDEiwALZuhAJtqmpF8gQ3kBbr0NwD14YZaXQGGGUI3ZYseffhmG2m6Ngwt0nlfUxoCuVMQAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">nhtsa.gov/recalls</a>&nbsp;and enter their 17-digit vehicle identification number to see if their cars are affected.Takata used volatile ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate air bags in a crash. But the chemical propellant can deteriorate over time when exposed to high temperatures and humidity. It can explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister and spewing shrapnel.At least 26 people have been killed in the U.S. by Takata inflators since May 2009, and at least 30 have died worldwide including people in Malaysia and Australia. In addition, about 400 people have been injured. The exploding air bags sent Takata of Japan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/62185be67b03495c9a377a3a271af44b">into bankruptcy</a>.

Toyota urges owners to stop driving these models until air bags are replaced

JANUARY 29, 2024 (FREMONT, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating an incident during which a Fremont man died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound during an interaction with Dodge County Sheriff’s Deputies.

Sunday afternoon, deputies were conducting an investigation at a residence in the 2500 block of East 34th&nbsp;Blvd, just outside of Fremont. Deputies attempted to contact the resident, but he initially refused to speak with them. A short time later, another resident allowed the deputies into the home and advised that the subject they were seeking to contact had gone upstairs.

Preliminary investigation shows that before deputies were able to contact the subject, they heard a single gunshot in a room upstairs. Deputies then located the subject inside the room with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was transported to Methodist Fremont Health where he was pronounced deceased.

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office has requested the Nebraska State Patrol conduct an in-custody death investigation. No deputies fired their weapons during this incident and no other injuries occurred. The investigation remains ongoing.

Cody ThomasNebraska State PatrolJANUARY 29, 2024 (FREMONT, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating an incident during which a Fremont man died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound during an interaction with Dodge County Sheriff’s Deputies.Sunday afternoon, deputies were conducting an investigation at a residence in the 2500 block of East 34th&nbsp;Blvd, just outside of Fremont. Deputies attempted to contact the resident, but he initially refused to speak with them. A short time later, another resident allowed the deputies into the home and advised that the subject they were seeking to contact had gone upstairs.Preliminary investigation shows that before deputies were able to contact the subject, they heard a single gunshot in a room upstairs. Deputies then located the subject inside the room with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was transported to Methodist Fremont Health where he was pronounced deceased.The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office has requested the Nebraska State Patrol conduct an in-custody death investigation. No deputies fired their weapons during this incident and no other injuries occurred. The investigation remains ongoing.

Nebraska State Patrol Investigating Death in Dodge County

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Described by their parents as bubbly and constantly laughing, Spc. Kennedy Sanders and Spc. Breonna Moffett became close friends soon after enlisting in the Army Reserve five years ago. Sgt. William Jerome Rivers served a tour in Iraq before joining the same company of Army engineers.

The three citizen-soldiers from different corners of Georgia all died in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jordan-drone-attack-attack-confusion-f175962e058b9b6f668303faf248d8e6" target="_blank">weekend drone strike</a>&nbsp;on a U.S. base in Jordan near the Syrian border that also wounded more than 40 others. Families of the slain reservists said they were shocked when uniformed military officers came to their doors to deliver the news Sunday.

While President Joe Biden has promised&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-american-service-members-killed-jordan-iran-5cb774fd835a558d840ae91263037489" target="_blank">the U.S. will respond</a>, Moffett’s parents said they hope there’s no escalation in violence that kills more American troops. Their daughter celebrated her 23rd birthday oversees just nine days before she was killed.

“I just hope and pray no other family has to go through this,” Francine Moffett, the young soldier’s mother, said Monday through tears at the dining table of her Savannah home. “It takes your heart and your soul.

Breonna Moffitt joined the Army Reserve in 2019 after graduating from high school. In addition to her military service, she worked for a home care provider cooking, cleaning and running errands for people with disabilities, her parents said. When Moffett left with fellow soldiers from the 718th Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Battalion based at Fort Moore in August, it was her first overseas deployment.

She was the oldest of four siblings. Every morning, Francine Moffett said, her 8-year-old daughter would call her big sister to say hello while riding to school.

Whenever the Moffett family called, they typically would hear from Sanders too.

“Every time I’d call Breonna, I’d see Sanders just stick her head in and say, `Hey! How you doing?’” Francine Moffett said.

A native of Waycross, 100 miles southwest of Savannah, 24-year-old Sanders had volunteered for the Middle East deployment, eager to see a new part of the world, her parents said.

At home, she helped coach children’s soccer and basketball teams. She also worked at a pharmacy while taking college courses with the aim of becoming an X-ray technician. Lately, however, she had considered becoming a full-time soldier on active duty once her Army Reserve contract was fulfilled.

“She was loved. She didn’t have any enemies. All the time you saw her smiling,” her father, Shawn Sanders, said in an interview Monday. “This is somebody who was just living life, enjoying life at a young age, working toward a career.”

At age 46, Rivers had far more military experience than the two young women. The Defense Department said he joined the Army Reserve in New Jersey in 2011 and served a nine-month tour in Iraq in 2018. He joined the 718th Engineering Company at Fort Moore last year and lived in Carrollton, about 45 miles (70 kilometers) west of Atlanta.

The Associated Press was unsuccessful in attempts to contact Rivers’ family on Monday.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issued a statement mourning the “inexcusable loss of life” of the three soldiers, saying they “gave the last full measure of devotion in service to this country.” Army Brig. Gen. Todd Lazaroski, commander of the Army Reserve’s 412th Theater Engineer Command, said in a statement: “They represent the best of America.”

In Sanders’ hometown of Waycross, flags were lowered to half-staff. Her parents said her unit first deployed to Kuwait, then to Jordan where the U.S. operates a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jordan-drone-attack-iran-tower-22-israel-hamas-war-0265beed527e3009a966c0531c08838e" target="_blank">logistics support base</a>&nbsp;along the Syrian border.

In her spare time while deployed, Sanders would practice jiu-jitsu and run to keep in shape. She relaxed by knitting and called home almost daily, her parents said. While she occasionally mentioned drones being shot down nearby, there was no sense of imminent danger, said Oneida Oliver-Sanders, the reservist’s mother.

When they last spoke the day before she was killed, Sanders said she was thinking about buying a motorcycle — much to her mother’s disapproval. She had also spoken recently of buying a home.

“All of these different things that she had plans for, you know, were just cut short in the blink of an eye,” Oliver-Sanders said. “I just feel like somebody like her, that’s so full of life, it’s just unfair that she’ll never get to realize those dreams that she had.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706575508905.png" alt="Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders-photo courtesy U.S. Army" />
 <figcaption>Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders-photo courtesy U.S. Army</figcaption>
 </figure>SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Described by their parents as bubbly and constantly laughing, Spc. Kennedy Sanders and Spc. Breonna Moffett became close friends soon after enlisting in the Army Reserve five years ago. Sgt. William Jerome Rivers served a tour in Iraq before joining the same company of Army engineers.The three citizen-soldiers from different corners of Georgia all died in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jordan-drone-attack-attack-confusion-f175962e058b9b6f668303faf248d8e6" target="_blank">weekend drone strike</a>&nbsp;on a U.S. base in Jordan near the Syrian border that also wounded more than 40 others. Families of the slain reservists said they were shocked when uniformed military officers came to their doors to deliver the news Sunday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706575435826.png" alt="Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett-photo courtesy U.S. Army" />
 <figcaption>Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett-photo courtesy U.S. Army</figcaption>
 </figure>While President Joe Biden has promised&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-american-service-members-killed-jordan-iran-5cb774fd835a558d840ae91263037489" target="_blank">the U.S. will respond</a>, Moffett’s parents said they hope there’s no escalation in violence that kills more American troops. Their daughter celebrated her 23rd birthday oversees just nine days before she was killed.“I just hope and pray no other family has to go through this,” Francine Moffett, the young soldier’s mother, said Monday through tears at the dining table of her Savannah home. “It takes your heart and your soul.Breonna Moffitt joined the Army Reserve in 2019 after graduating from high school. In addition to her military service, she worked for a home care provider cooking, cleaning and running errands for people with disabilities, her parents said. When Moffett left with fellow soldiers from the 718th Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Battalion based at Fort Moore in August, it was her first overseas deployment.She was the oldest of four siblings. Every morning, Francine Moffett said, her 8-year-old daughter would call her big sister to say hello while riding to school.Whenever the Moffett family called, they typically would hear from Sanders too.“Every time I’d call Breonna, I’d see Sanders just stick her head in and say, `Hey! How you doing?’” Francine Moffett said.A native of Waycross, 100 miles southwest of Savannah, 24-year-old Sanders had volunteered for the Middle East deployment, eager to see a new part of the world, her parents said.At home, she helped coach children’s soccer and basketball teams. She also worked at a pharmacy while taking college courses with the aim of becoming an X-ray technician. Lately, however, she had considered becoming a full-time soldier on active duty once her Army Reserve contract was fulfilled.“She was loved. She didn’t have any enemies. All the time you saw her smiling,” her father, Shawn Sanders, said in an interview Monday. “This is somebody who was just living life, enjoying life at a young age, working toward a career.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706575477315.png" alt="Sgt. William Jerome Rivers-photo courtesy U.S. Army" />
 <figcaption>Sgt. William Jerome Rivers-photo courtesy U.S. Army</figcaption>
 </figure>At age 46, Rivers had far more military experience than the two young women. The Defense Department said he joined the Army Reserve in New Jersey in 2011 and served a nine-month tour in Iraq in 2018. He joined the 718th Engineering Company at Fort Moore last year and lived in Carrollton, about 45 miles (70 kilometers) west of Atlanta.The Associated Press was unsuccessful in attempts to contact Rivers’ family on Monday.Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issued a statement mourning the “inexcusable loss of life” of the three soldiers, saying they “gave the last full measure of devotion in service to this country.” Army Brig. Gen. Todd Lazaroski, commander of the Army Reserve’s 412th Theater Engineer Command, said in a statement: “They represent the best of America.”In Sanders’ hometown of Waycross, flags were lowered to half-staff. Her parents said her unit first deployed to Kuwait, then to Jordan where the U.S. operates a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jordan-drone-attack-iran-tower-22-israel-hamas-war-0265beed527e3009a966c0531c08838e" target="_blank">logistics support base</a>&nbsp;along the Syrian border.In her spare time while deployed, Sanders would practice jiu-jitsu and run to keep in shape. She relaxed by knitting and called home almost daily, her parents said. While she occasionally mentioned drones being shot down nearby, there was no sense of imminent danger, said Oneida Oliver-Sanders, the reservist’s mother.When they last spoke the day before she was killed, Sanders said she was thinking about buying a motorcycle — much to her mother’s disapproval. She had also spoken recently of buying a home.“All of these different things that she had plans for, you know, were just cut short in the blink of an eye,” Oliver-Sanders said. “I just feel like somebody like her, that’s so full of life, it’s just unfair that she’ll never get to realize those dreams that she had.”

Shock, grief and mourning for 3 US soldiers killed in drone strike

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — About 1,000 engineers and conductors who work for Norfolk Southern will soon be able to report safety concerns anonymously through a federal system without any fear of discipline.

Norfolk Southern is the first of the six major freight railroads to follow through on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-ohio-derailment-hazardous-materials-74d7aec638500c52d1eb9fda0acf9f26">promises</a>&nbsp;made in the wake of last year's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-ohio-evacuations-fires-5d399dc745f51ef746e22828083d8591">fiery eastern Ohio derailment</a>&nbsp;to join the Federal Railroad Administration's program. The one-year pilot agreement is limited to members of just two unions who work in Atlanta, Georgia; Elkhart, Indiana; and Roanoke, Virginia.

But federal officials who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rail-accidents-transportation-pete-buttigieg-ohio-pennsylvania-f1cd9d79cdd66b1f45d1dcdf1e53ff58">urged the railroads</a>&nbsp;to do more to improve safety touted the agreement Monday as a breakthrough coming just days before Saturday's one-year anniversary of the disastrous Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that prompted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/air-quality-evacuations-fires-pennsylvania-ohio-50644fb91216cf775e4a356e4f21cb9b">temporary evacuations</a>, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-fourth-quarter-profit-derailment-ohio-9e6d48eac14f7bed075a6ae5c096f2fe">$1 billion and counting</a>&nbsp;cleanup and lingering questions about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-contamination-fears-brockovich-fc68b402096a4f5f8598a657f7e399f8">long-term health consequences</a>&nbsp;for residents in the area near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.

“Norfolk Southern has taken a good first step, and it’s time for the other Class I railroads to back up their talk with action and make good on their promises to join this close call reporting system and keep America’s rail network safe,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.

The major freight railroads have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-derailments-anonymous-hotline-dc509efa21aa51554078998964ba4ea6">resisted joining</a>&nbsp;the anonymous reporting system because they wanted the ability to discipline workers who use the hotline in certain circumstances. The Association of American Railroads trade group has said railroads were worried that the system could be abused by workers who try to avoid discipline by reporting situations a railroad already knows about.

Unions and workplace safety experts countered that the idea of disciplining workers who report safety concerns undermines the entire purpose of such a hotline because workers won’t use it if they fear retribution. Experts say programs like the one overseen by the Federal Railroad Administration are especially important in industries where there is a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/freight-railroad-whistleblowers-safety-derailments-3cd9619350bacc9c7c01c9a1910f3435">long history</a>&nbsp;of workers being fired for reporting safety violations or injuries.

Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw said he hopes his railroad's agreement to join the reporting system will set an example for the rest of the industry. Shaw has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-derailment-east-palestine-73d273f88147b30ea53caf3d2b23f669">focused</a>&nbsp;on improving safety and service at Norfolk Southern ever since the East Palestine derailment.

“NS is proud to partner with our labor leaders and FRA to make another industry-leading advancement in safety,” Shaw said.

Officials with the unions that signed onto the deal — the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers — praised the agreement and urged the other major freight railroads to join.

“For far too long the large railroads and their trade association, The Association of American Railroads, have paid lip service to safety,” BLET First Vice President Mark Wallace said. “The AAR prefers to spend millions of dollars on television commercials bragging about safety while backtracking on safety agreements.”

Amtrak and several dozen small railroads use the government reporting program, but none of the big freight railroads have signed on to it so only about 32,000 rail workers are covered. The big freight railroads, which include Union Pacific, CSX, Canadian National, CPKC and BNSF, collectively employ more than 100,000.

The railroads have said part of why they resisted joining the federal program is because they believe their own internal reporting systems are sufficient. But railroad unions have consistently said workers are reluctant to use the railroads’ own safety hotlines because they fear retribution.

The head of the SMART-TD conductors' union Jeremy Ferguson said this agreement at Norfolk Southern “will allow our members to speak up when they see unsafe conditions without fear of negative repercussions.”

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — About 1,000 engineers and conductors who work for Norfolk Southern will soon be able to report safety concerns anonymously through a federal system without any fear of discipline.Norfolk Southern is the first of the six major freight railroads to follow through on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-ohio-derailment-hazardous-materials-74d7aec638500c52d1eb9fda0acf9f26">promises</a>&nbsp;made in the wake of last year's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-ohio-evacuations-fires-5d399dc745f51ef746e22828083d8591">fiery eastern Ohio derailment</a>&nbsp;to join the Federal Railroad Administration's program. The one-year pilot agreement is limited to members of just two unions who work in Atlanta, Georgia; Elkhart, Indiana; and Roanoke, Virginia.But federal officials who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rail-accidents-transportation-pete-buttigieg-ohio-pennsylvania-f1cd9d79cdd66b1f45d1dcdf1e53ff58">urged the railroads</a>&nbsp;to do more to improve safety touted the agreement Monday as a breakthrough coming just days before Saturday's one-year anniversary of the disastrous Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that prompted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/air-quality-evacuations-fires-pennsylvania-ohio-50644fb91216cf775e4a356e4f21cb9b">temporary evacuations</a>, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-fourth-quarter-profit-derailment-ohio-9e6d48eac14f7bed075a6ae5c096f2fe">$1 billion and counting</a>&nbsp;cleanup and lingering questions about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-contamination-fears-brockovich-fc68b402096a4f5f8598a657f7e399f8">long-term health consequences</a>&nbsp;for residents in the area near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.“Norfolk Southern has taken a good first step, and it’s time for the other Class I railroads to back up their talk with action and make good on their promises to join this close call reporting system and keep America’s rail network safe,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.The major freight railroads have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-derailments-anonymous-hotline-dc509efa21aa51554078998964ba4ea6">resisted joining</a>&nbsp;the anonymous reporting system because they wanted the ability to discipline workers who use the hotline in certain circumstances. The Association of American Railroads trade group has said railroads were worried that the system could be abused by workers who try to avoid discipline by reporting situations a railroad already knows about.Unions and workplace safety experts countered that the idea of disciplining workers who report safety concerns undermines the entire purpose of such a hotline because workers won’t use it if they fear retribution. Experts say programs like the one overseen by the Federal Railroad Administration are especially important in industries where there is a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/freight-railroad-whistleblowers-safety-derailments-3cd9619350bacc9c7c01c9a1910f3435">long history</a>&nbsp;of workers being fired for reporting safety violations or injuries.Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw said he hopes his railroad's agreement to join the reporting system will set an example for the rest of the industry. Shaw has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-derailment-east-palestine-73d273f88147b30ea53caf3d2b23f669">focused</a>&nbsp;on improving safety and service at Norfolk Southern ever since the East Palestine derailment.“NS is proud to partner with our labor leaders and FRA to make another industry-leading advancement in safety,” Shaw said.Officials with the unions that signed onto the deal — the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers — praised the agreement and urged the other major freight railroads to join.“For far too long the large railroads and their trade association, The Association of American Railroads, have paid lip service to safety,” BLET First Vice President Mark Wallace said. “The AAR prefers to spend millions of dollars on television commercials bragging about safety while backtracking on safety agreements.”Amtrak and several dozen small railroads use the government reporting program, but none of the big freight railroads have signed on to it so only about 32,000 rail workers are covered. The big freight railroads, which include Union Pacific, CSX, Canadian National, CPKC and BNSF, collectively employ more than 100,000.The railroads have said part of why they resisted joining the federal program is because they believe their own internal reporting systems are sufficient. But railroad unions have consistently said workers are reluctant to use the railroads’ own safety hotlines because they fear retribution.The head of the SMART-TD conductors' union Jeremy Ferguson said this agreement at Norfolk Southern “will allow our members to speak up when they see unsafe conditions without fear of negative repercussions.”

Norfolk Southern is 1st big freight railway to let workers use anonymous federal safety hotline

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">The Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;should declare that Donald Trump is ineligible to be president again because he spearheaded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol</a>&nbsp;in an effort to overturn his 2020 election loss, lawyers leading the fight to keep him off the ballot told the justices on Friday.

In a filing filled with vivid descriptions of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">the Jan. 6, 2021, violence at the Capitol</a>, the lawyers urged the justices not to flinch from doing their constitutional duty and to uphold a first-of-its-kind Colorado court decision to kick the 2024 Republican presidential front-runner off the state's primary ballot.

“Nobody, not even a former President, is above the law,” the lawyers wrote.

The court will hear arguments in less than two weeks in a historic case that has the potential to disrupt the 2024 presidential election.

The case presents the high court with its first look at a provision of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-14th-amendment-insurrection-2024-election-ballot-9c5f79203109ba221b35a48e708ad725">the 14th Amendment</a>&nbsp;barring some people who “engaged in insurrection” from holding public office. The amendment was adopted in 1868, following the Civil War.

In their plea to the court, the lawyers said, "Trump intentionally organized and incited a violent mob to attack the United States Capitol in a desperate effort to prevent the counting of electoral votes cast against him” after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">he lost the election</a>&nbsp;to Democrat Joe Biden.

They called for a decision that makes clear that what happened on Jan. 6 was an insurrection, for which Trump bears responsibility. The president is covered by the constitutional provision at issue, and Congress doesn’t need to take action before states can apply it, the lawyers wrote.

The written filing includes extensive details of Trump's actions leading up to Jan. 6, including his tweet on Dec. 19, 2020, in which he informed his followers of the planned protest on the day Congress would count the electoral votes and wrote, “Be there, will be wild.”

Then in his speech to supporters on Jan. 6, the lawyers wrote, “Trump lit the fuse.” The brief reproduces photographs of the mayhem from that day, including one of Metropolitan Police Department Officer Daniel Hodges pinned in a doorway during the attack.

Trump's lawyers have argued that efforts to keep him off the ballot “threaten to disenfranchise tens of millions of Americans and ... promise to unleash chaos and bedlam” if other states follow Colorado's lead.

The Colorado Supreme Court's 4-3 ruling should be reversed for any of several reasons, Trump's lawyers wrote, including that Trump did not engage in insurrection and that the presidency is not covered by the amendment. They also contend that Congress would have to enact legislation before states could invoke the provision to keep candidates off the ballot.

The justices are hearing arguments Feb. 8. Trump already has won the first two GOP presidential contests: the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is Trump's sole remaining significant GOP opponent.

Still, both sides have said the court needs to act quickly so that voters know whether Trump is eligible to hold the presidency.

The court is dealing with the dispute under a compressed timeframe that could produce a decision before Super Tuesday on March 5, when the largest number of delegates in a day is up for grabs, including in Colorado.

A two-sentence provision in Section 3 of the 14th Amendment states that anyone who swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and then “engaged in insurrection” against it is no longer eligible for state or federal office. After Congress passed an amnesty for most of the former confederates the measure targeted in 1872, the provision fell into disuse until dozens of suits were filed to keep Trump off the ballot this year. Only the one in Colorado was successful.

Trump is separately appealing to state court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maine-trump-presidential-ballot-election-insurrection-081fd38ce1f20be9b8423cb2f8c66dee">a ruling by Maine’s Democratic secretary of state</a>, Shenna Bellows, that he is ineligible to appear on that state’s ballot over his role in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">the Capitol attack</a>. Both the Colorado Supreme Court and the Maine secretary of state’s rulings are on hold until the appeals play out.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654808700580.png" alt="image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">The Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;should declare that Donald Trump is ineligible to be president again because he spearheaded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol</a>&nbsp;in an effort to overturn his 2020 election loss, lawyers leading the fight to keep him off the ballot told the justices on Friday.In a filing filled with vivid descriptions of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">the Jan. 6, 2021, violence at the Capitol</a>, the lawyers urged the justices not to flinch from doing their constitutional duty and to uphold a first-of-its-kind Colorado court decision to kick the 2024 Republican presidential front-runner off the state's primary ballot.“Nobody, not even a former President, is above the law,” the lawyers wrote.The court will hear arguments in less than two weeks in a historic case that has the potential to disrupt the 2024 presidential election.The case presents the high court with its first look at a provision of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-14th-amendment-insurrection-2024-election-ballot-9c5f79203109ba221b35a48e708ad725">the 14th Amendment</a>&nbsp;barring some people who “engaged in insurrection” from holding public office. The amendment was adopted in 1868, following the Civil War.In their plea to the court, the lawyers said, "Trump intentionally organized and incited a violent mob to attack the United States Capitol in a desperate effort to prevent the counting of electoral votes cast against him” after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">he lost the election</a>&nbsp;to Democrat Joe Biden.They called for a decision that makes clear that what happened on Jan. 6 was an insurrection, for which Trump bears responsibility. The president is covered by the constitutional provision at issue, and Congress doesn’t need to take action before states can apply it, the lawyers wrote.The written filing includes extensive details of Trump's actions leading up to Jan. 6, including his tweet on Dec. 19, 2020, in which he informed his followers of the planned protest on the day Congress would count the electoral votes and wrote, “Be there, will be wild.”Then in his speech to supporters on Jan. 6, the lawyers wrote, “Trump lit the fuse.” The brief reproduces photographs of the mayhem from that day, including one of Metropolitan Police Department Officer Daniel Hodges pinned in a doorway during the attack.Trump's lawyers have argued that efforts to keep him off the ballot “threaten to disenfranchise tens of millions of Americans and ... promise to unleash chaos and bedlam” if other states follow Colorado's lead.The Colorado Supreme Court's 4-3 ruling should be reversed for any of several reasons, Trump's lawyers wrote, including that Trump did not engage in insurrection and that the presidency is not covered by the amendment. They also contend that Congress would have to enact legislation before states could invoke the provision to keep candidates off the ballot.The justices are hearing arguments Feb. 8. Trump already has won the first two GOP presidential contests: the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is Trump's sole remaining significant GOP opponent.Still, both sides have said the court needs to act quickly so that voters know whether Trump is eligible to hold the presidency.The court is dealing with the dispute under a compressed timeframe that could produce a decision before Super Tuesday on March 5, when the largest number of delegates in a day is up for grabs, including in Colorado.A two-sentence provision in Section 3 of the 14th Amendment states that anyone who swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and then “engaged in insurrection” against it is no longer eligible for state or federal office. After Congress passed an amnesty for most of the former confederates the measure targeted in 1872, the provision fell into disuse until dozens of suits were filed to keep Trump off the ballot this year. Only the one in Colorado was successful.Trump is separately appealing to state court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maine-trump-presidential-ballot-election-insurrection-081fd38ce1f20be9b8423cb2f8c66dee">a ruling by Maine’s Democratic secretary of state</a>, Shenna Bellows, that he is ineligible to appear on that state’s ballot over his role in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">the Capitol attack</a>. Both the Colorado Supreme Court and the Maine secretary of state’s rulings are on hold until the appeals play out.

Supreme Court urged to rule Trump ineligible to be president again because of Jan. 6 

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen held press conferences in North Omaha and South Omaha to announce historic state investments into both communities, totaling more than $234 million.

The investments were made through the North and South Omaha Recovery Grant (NSORG) Program, administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED). The NSORG Program was established through the Economic Recovery Act, enacted in 2022 (LB 1024) and amended in 2023 (LB 531). The program’s purpose is to respond to the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic and to build resilient and innovative communities in Omaha.

“From urban neighborhoods to our most rural counties, the state is supporting entrepreneurship and the creation of great career opportunities for our graduates,” said Gov. Pillen. “Leaders in North and South Omaha are building thriving communities where the future is tremendously bright. Today’s grants provide an infusion of capital that will multiply the influence of local organizations as they propel Omaha forward.”

At each award announcement, DED Director K.C. Belitz congratulated grant recipients and thanked state senators and state teammates for their thoroughness in managing the NSORG program. This process included holding meetings to gather public input, offering live technical assistance workshops, reviewing proposals and applications, interviewing small business proprietors, conducting economic impact analyses, and hosting regular office hours at DED’s North and South Omaha field offices to assist constituents with questions about the NSORG Program.

Carmen Tapio, president and CEO of North End Teleservices is among the North Omaha grant recipients. She joined Gov. Pillen, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and other grant awardees for today’s announcement at the Fort Omaha Campus of Metro Community College.&nbsp; She noted that funding would act as a catalyst for economic opportunity in the community.

“Our Forever North” project will anchor North End Teleservices in North Omaha with a new global headquarters, creating new careers and opportunities for North Omaha residents,” said Tapio. “We are excited that this mixed-use development takes a comprehensive community development approach by connecting childcare, retail, and multi-family housing opportunities to the 24th and Lake neighborhood.”

Addressing a crowd at the Livestock Exchange Building in South Omaha, grant recipient Cesar Garcia shared his gratitude for the support he received working with DED and the impact that will take place, because of the funding.&nbsp;

“This crucial allocation of funding will play a pivotal role in realizing several long-standing projects that have been in the pipeline for years,” said Garcia, executive director of Canopy South. “With these resources, we are empowered to address the pressing needs expressed by our community, fostering positive economic change and sustainable development in South Omaha.”

State senators Tony Vargas and Mike McDonnell also joined Gov. Pillen at the announcement in South Omaha – highlighting the transformative potential of the NSORG awards in their districts. Both senators are members of the Legislature’s Economic Recovery Special Committee, which oversaw the initial solicitation of project proposals under the Economic Recovery Act.

“This funding and these projects are going to be transformational for North and South Omaha,” said Senator Vargas. “It’s been so rewarding working with my colleagues in the legislature and in the Ricketts and Pillen administrations to get this across the finish line over the past couple of years, and it shows that we can truly accomplish great things for our communities when we work together towards a common goal.”&nbsp;

“Today marks a groundbreaking moment as we unveil Nebraska's most significant economic partnership, a transformative force for both North and South Omaha. South Omaha was once known as the Magic City and this initiative will help bring that magic back. It embodies a profound commitment to enhance lives and revitalize these vital communities,” noted Senator McDonnell. “Our unprecedented support goes beyond merely celebrating the past glory of the Magic City. It's about building a resilient foundation for future generations, ensuring that the American dream flourishes in every corner of North and South Omaha, enabling all residents to live, thrive, and cherish their share of this dream."

President and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber Heath Mello also shared his appreciation for the determination and dedication that preceded today’s announcements.

"On behalf of the Greater Omaha Chamber, we cannot thank Governor Pillen, state senators Terrell McKinney, Justin Wayne, Mike McDonnell, and Tony Vargas and the Nebraska Legislature enough for their leadership in making historic economic recovery investments in North and South Omaha,” said Mello. “This unprecedented level of support heralds a new era of growth and collaboration, lighting the path towards a more vibrant and prosperous future for North and South Omaha.”

North and South Omaha Recovery Grant Program – Awards and Impact

Grants through the NSORG Program are supporting 53 projects across six funding categories:

Additionally, DED has offered grants of at least $50,000 each to 77 small businesses through a seventh funding category (Small Business Support) within the NSORG Program. These grants, representing over $46 million in immediate impact, are benefiting small businesses in qualified census tracts and economic redevelopment areas in North and South Omaha.

DED anticipates that the NSORG Program awards, through their combined impact, will help create over 9,250 jobs – an estimated 4,662 permanent jobs and 4,607 temporary jobs – in North and South Omaha over the next five years.

For more information about the North and South Omaha Recovery Grant Program, visit DED’s website at:&nbsp;<a href="https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/recovery/nsorg/" target="_blank">https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/recovery/nsorg/</a>.

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen held press conferences in North Omaha and South Omaha to announce historic state investments into both communities, totaling more than $234 million.The investments were made through the North and South Omaha Recovery Grant (NSORG) Program, administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED). The NSORG Program was established through the Economic Recovery Act, enacted in 2022 (LB 1024) and amended in 2023 (LB 531). The program’s purpose is to respond to the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic and to build resilient and innovative communities in Omaha.“From urban neighborhoods to our most rural counties, the state is supporting entrepreneurship and the creation of great career opportunities for our graduates,” said Gov. Pillen. “Leaders in North and South Omaha are building thriving communities where the future is tremendously bright. Today’s grants provide an infusion of capital that will multiply the influence of local organizations as they propel Omaha forward.”At each award announcement, DED Director K.C. Belitz congratulated grant recipients and thanked state senators and state teammates for their thoroughness in managing the NSORG program. This process included holding meetings to gather public input, offering live technical assistance workshops, reviewing proposals and applications, interviewing small business proprietors, conducting economic impact analyses, and hosting regular office hours at DED’s North and South Omaha field offices to assist constituents with questions about the NSORG Program.Carmen Tapio, president and CEO of North End Teleservices is among the North Omaha grant recipients. She joined Gov. Pillen, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and other grant awardees for today’s announcement at the Fort Omaha Campus of Metro Community College.&nbsp; She noted that funding would act as a catalyst for economic opportunity in the community.“Our Forever North” project will anchor North End Teleservices in North Omaha with a new global headquarters, creating new careers and opportunities for North Omaha residents,” said Tapio. “We are excited that this mixed-use development takes a comprehensive community development approach by connecting childcare, retail, and multi-family housing opportunities to the 24th and Lake neighborhood.”Addressing a crowd at the Livestock Exchange Building in South Omaha, grant recipient Cesar Garcia shared his gratitude for the support he received working with DED and the impact that will take place, because of the funding.&nbsp;“This crucial allocation of funding will play a pivotal role in realizing several long-standing projects that have been in the pipeline for years,” said Garcia, executive director of Canopy South. “With these resources, we are empowered to address the pressing needs expressed by our community, fostering positive economic change and sustainable development in South Omaha.”State senators Tony Vargas and Mike McDonnell also joined Gov. Pillen at the announcement in South Omaha – highlighting the transformative potential of the NSORG awards in their districts. Both senators are members of the Legislature’s Economic Recovery Special Committee, which oversaw the initial solicitation of project proposals under the Economic Recovery Act.“This funding and these projects are going to be transformational for North and South Omaha,” said Senator Vargas. “It’s been so rewarding working with my colleagues in the legislature and in the Ricketts and Pillen administrations to get this across the finish line over the past couple of years, and it shows that we can truly accomplish great things for our communities when we work together towards a common goal.”&nbsp;“Today marks a groundbreaking moment as we unveil Nebraska's most significant economic partnership, a transformative force for both North and South Omaha. South Omaha was once known as the Magic City and this initiative will help bring that magic back. It embodies a profound commitment to enhance lives and revitalize these vital communities,” noted Senator McDonnell. “Our unprecedented support goes beyond merely celebrating the past glory of the Magic City. It's about building a resilient foundation for future generations, ensuring that the American dream flourishes in every corner of North and South Omaha, enabling all residents to live, thrive, and cherish their share of this dream."President and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber Heath Mello also shared his appreciation for the determination and dedication that preceded today’s announcements."On behalf of the Greater Omaha Chamber, we cannot thank Governor Pillen, state senators Terrell McKinney, Justin Wayne, Mike McDonnell, and Tony Vargas and the Nebraska Legislature enough for their leadership in making historic economic recovery investments in North and South Omaha,” said Mello. “This unprecedented level of support heralds a new era of growth and collaboration, lighting the path towards a more vibrant and prosperous future for North and South Omaha.”North and South Omaha Recovery Grant Program – Awards and ImpactGrants through the NSORG Program are supporting 53 projects across six funding categories:<ol>
 <li>Placemaking Infrastructure</li><li>Entrepreneurship &amp; Innovation</li><li>Youth, Talent &amp; Workforce Development</li><li>Sports &amp; Tourism</li><li>Arts, Culture, &amp; Social Assistance</li><li>Recovery Assistance Program for Immediate Distribution (RAPID)</li>
 </ol>Additionally, DED has offered grants of at least $50,000 each to 77 small businesses through a seventh funding category (Small Business Support) within the NSORG Program. These grants, representing over $46 million in immediate impact, are benefiting small businesses in qualified census tracts and economic redevelopment areas in North and South Omaha.DED anticipates that the NSORG Program awards, through their combined impact, will help create over 9,250 jobs – an estimated 4,662 permanent jobs and 4,607 temporary jobs – in North and South Omaha over the next five years.For more information about the North and South Omaha Recovery Grant Program, visit DED’s website at:&nbsp;<a href="https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/recovery/nsorg/" target="_blank">https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/recovery/nsorg/</a>.

Gov. Pillen, State Senators, and Local Leaders Celebrate Announcement of $234 Million of Economic Recovery Grants for North and South Omaha

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-american-service-members-killed-jordan-iran-5cb774fd835a558d840ae91263037489">An enemy drone</a>&nbsp;that killed three American troops and wounded dozens of others in Jordan may have been confused with an American drone returning to the U.S. installation, two U.S. officials said Monday.

The officials, who were not authorized to comment and insisted on anonymity, said the preliminary accounts suggest the enemy drone that struck the installation known as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jordan-drone-attack-iran-tower-22-israel-hamas-war-0265beed527e3009a966c0531c08838e">Tower 22</a>&nbsp;may have been mistaken for an American drone that was in the air at the same time.

The officials said that as the enemy drone was flying in at a low altitude, a U.S. drone was returning to the base. As a result, there was no effort to shoot down the enemy drone.

Explanation for how the enemy drone evaded U.S. air defenses on the installation came as the White House said Monday it’s not looking for war with Iran even as President Joe Biden vows retaliatory action. The Democratic administration believes Tehran was behind the strike.

The brazen attack, which the Biden administration blames on Iranian-based proxies, adds another layer of complexity to an already tense Mideast situation as the Biden administration tries to keep the Israel-Hamas war from expanding into a broader regional conflict.

“The president and I will not tolerate attacks on U.S. forces, and we will take all necessary actions to defend the U.S. and our troops,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Monday as he met at the Pentagon with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden</a>&nbsp;faces a difficult balancing act as he looks to strike back against Tehran in a forceful way without allowing the Gaza conflict to further metastasize. The drone attack was one of dozens on U.S. troops in the Middle East since Hamas launched attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, spurring the war in Gaza. But it’s the first in which American service members have been killed.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reiterated a day after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden</a>&nbsp;promised to “hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner (of) our choosing” that the U.S. administration wasn’t seeking to get into another conflict in the Middle East.

But Kirby also made clear that the American patience has worn thin after more than two months of attacks by Iranian proxies on U.S. troops in Iraq, Syria and Jordan and on the U.S. Navy and commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The groups — including Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Iraq based Kataeb Hezbollah — say the attacks are in response to Israel’s ongoing to military operations in Gaza.

“We are not looking for a war with Iran,” Kirby told NBC’s “Today” show. ”We are not looking to escalate the conflict in the region. … Obviously, these attacks keep coming. We’ll keep looking at the options. I can’t speak for the supreme leader or what he wants or he doesn’t want. I can tell you what we want. What we want is a stable, secure, prosperous Middle East, and we want these attacks to stop.”

Iran on Monday denied it was behind the Jordan strike.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-american-service-members-killed-jordan-iran-5cb774fd835a558d840ae91263037489">An enemy drone</a>&nbsp;that killed three American troops and wounded dozens of others in Jordan may have been confused with an American drone returning to the U.S. installation, two U.S. officials said Monday.The officials, who were not authorized to comment and insisted on anonymity, said the preliminary accounts suggest the enemy drone that struck the installation known as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jordan-drone-attack-iran-tower-22-israel-hamas-war-0265beed527e3009a966c0531c08838e">Tower 22</a>&nbsp;may have been mistaken for an American drone that was in the air at the same time.The officials said that as the enemy drone was flying in at a low altitude, a U.S. drone was returning to the base. As a result, there was no effort to shoot down the enemy drone.Explanation for how the enemy drone evaded U.S. air defenses on the installation came as the White House said Monday it’s not looking for war with Iran even as President Joe Biden vows retaliatory action. The Democratic administration believes Tehran was behind the strike.The brazen attack, which the Biden administration blames on Iranian-based proxies, adds another layer of complexity to an already tense Mideast situation as the Biden administration tries to keep the Israel-Hamas war from expanding into a broader regional conflict.“The president and I will not tolerate attacks on U.S. forces, and we will take all necessary actions to defend the U.S. and our troops,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Monday as he met at the Pentagon with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden</a>&nbsp;faces a difficult balancing act as he looks to strike back against Tehran in a forceful way without allowing the Gaza conflict to further metastasize. The drone attack was one of dozens on U.S. troops in the Middle East since Hamas launched attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, spurring the war in Gaza. But it’s the first in which American service members have been killed.National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reiterated a day after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden</a>&nbsp;promised to “hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner (of) our choosing” that the U.S. administration wasn’t seeking to get into another conflict in the Middle East.But Kirby also made clear that the American patience has worn thin after more than two months of attacks by Iranian proxies on U.S. troops in Iraq, Syria and Jordan and on the U.S. Navy and commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The groups — including Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Iraq based Kataeb Hezbollah — say the attacks are in response to Israel’s ongoing to military operations in Gaza.“We are not looking for a war with Iran,” Kirby told NBC’s “Today” show. ”We are not looking to escalate the conflict in the region. … Obviously, these attacks keep coming. We’ll keep looking at the options. I can’t speak for the supreme leader or what he wants or he doesn’t want. I can tell you what we want. What we want is a stable, secure, prosperous Middle East, and we want these attacks to stop.”Iran on Monday denied it was behind the Jordan strike.

How U.S. failed to stop drone attack that killed, injured American troops

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is looking to follow in the footsteps of Kentucky in implementing a program that covers the costs of child care for child care workers. The idea, presented Friday by Omaha Sen. John Fredrickson to the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee, is that the benefit will draw more workers into the child care industry, which is experiencing dire shortages across the county.

Nebraska’s bill would cover 100% of the child care costs for child care professionals with young kids if they work for a licensed child care facility for at least 20 hours a week, regardless of their household income.

The idea is showing success in Kentucky, which passed its subsidy program in 2022, Fredrickson said. By November 2023, Kentucky had seen an additional 3,200 child care providers join the state’s ranks providing care for 5,700 more children than the year before, according to child advocate group Kentucky Youth Advocates.

If Nebraska were to see a proportional impact, its bill would add 2,175 new child care workers caring for an additional 3,535 children, Fredrickson said.

Nebraska is among the latest states that are seeking or have enacted similar legislation. That includes Iowa, which passed a similar bill last year. Colorado and Indiana also have introduced child care subsidy bills for providers.

“That makes it even more urgent that we create this program now,” Fredrickson said. “Nebraska has an opportunity to become a leader in our nation in solving child care gaps, and subsequently, our workforce concerns."

Like other states, Nebraska's child care industry has dwindled in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 91% of Nebraska's 93 counties don't have enough child care spots to meet demand, and at least 10 counties have no child care provider at all, according to a recent survey commissioned by Nebraska Extension and We Care for Kids. An estimated 28% of all Nebraska children live in so-called child care deserts, defined as U.S. Census tracts— about 4,000 people, on average — where there are either no child care providers or three times as many children as child care spots available.

“In that survey, 34% of parents with children age 5 and younger reported refusing a work opportunity because it would increase their child care expenses,” said Anahi Salazar, policy coordinator with Voices for Children.

Salazar, who attended Friday's hearing with her 6-month-old son, said she would have been among those squeezed out of the workforce if her employer didn't allow her to bring her baby to work. That's because the child care she had arranged for him before his birth fell through, and the only other child care providers within driving distance had nearly one-year waiting periods for an open spot.

“If I had still been a teacher, I would have been fired or would have had to resign,” Salazar said.

The Nebraska program, as proposed, is estimated to cost $21 million. Fredrickson said that cost is dwarfed by the estimated $498 million lost to Nebraska families annually from missed work opportunities due to lack of child care access.

“It's not possible to address child care issues in this state without significant investment,” Fredrickson said.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is looking to follow in the footsteps of Kentucky in implementing a program that covers the costs of child care for child care workers. The idea, presented Friday by Omaha Sen. John Fredrickson to the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee, is that the benefit will draw more workers into the child care industry, which is experiencing dire shortages across the county.Nebraska’s bill would cover 100% of the child care costs for child care professionals with young kids if they work for a licensed child care facility for at least 20 hours a week, regardless of their household income.The idea is showing success in Kentucky, which passed its subsidy program in 2022, Fredrickson said. By November 2023, Kentucky had seen an additional 3,200 child care providers join the state’s ranks providing care for 5,700 more children than the year before, according to child advocate group Kentucky Youth Advocates.If Nebraska were to see a proportional impact, its bill would add 2,175 new child care workers caring for an additional 3,535 children, Fredrickson said.Nebraska is among the latest states that are seeking or have enacted similar legislation. That includes Iowa, which passed a similar bill last year. Colorado and Indiana also have introduced child care subsidy bills for providers.“That makes it even more urgent that we create this program now,” Fredrickson said. “Nebraska has an opportunity to become a leader in our nation in solving child care gaps, and subsequently, our workforce concerns."Like other states, Nebraska's child care industry has dwindled in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 91% of Nebraska's 93 counties don't have enough child care spots to meet demand, and at least 10 counties have no child care provider at all, according to a recent survey commissioned by Nebraska Extension and We Care for Kids. An estimated 28% of all Nebraska children live in so-called child care deserts, defined as U.S. Census tracts— about 4,000 people, on average — where there are either no child care providers or three times as many children as child care spots available.“In that survey, 34% of parents with children age 5 and younger reported refusing a work opportunity because it would increase their child care expenses,” said Anahi Salazar, policy coordinator with Voices for Children.Salazar, who attended Friday's hearing with her 6-month-old son, said she would have been among those squeezed out of the workforce if her employer didn't allow her to bring her baby to work. That's because the child care she had arranged for him before his birth fell through, and the only other child care providers within driving distance had nearly one-year waiting periods for an open spot.“If I had still been a teacher, I would have been fired or would have had to resign,” Salazar said.The Nebraska program, as proposed, is estimated to cost $21 million. Fredrickson said that cost is dwarfed by the estimated $498 million lost to Nebraska families annually from missed work opportunities due to lack of child care access.“It's not possible to address child care issues in this state without significant investment,” Fredrickson said.

Covering child care costs for daycare workers could fix Nebraska's provider shortage, senator says

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Employees from a Ukrainian arms firm conspired with defense ministry officials to embezzle almost $40 million earmarked to buy 100,000 mortar shells for the war with Russia, Ukraine's security service reported.

The SBU said late Saturday that five people have been charged, with one person detained while trying to cross the Ukrainian border. If found guilty, they face up to 12 years in prison.

The investigation comes as Kyiv attempts to clamp down on corruption in a bid to speed up its membership in the European Union and NATO. Officials from both blocs have demanded widespread anti-graft reforms before Kyiv can join them.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was elected on an anti-corruption platform in 2019, long before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Both the president and his aides have portrayed the recent firings of top officials, notably that of Ivan Bakanov, former head of the State Security Service, in July 2022, as proof of their efforts to crack down on graft.

Security officials say that the current investigation dates back to August 2022, when officials signed a contract for artillery shells worth 1.5 billion hryvnias ($39.6 million) with arms firm Lviv Arsenal.

After receiving payment, company employees were supposed to transfer the funds to a business registered abroad, which would then deliver the ammunition to Ukraine.

However, the goods were never delivered and the money was instead sent to various accounts in Ukraine and the Balkans, investigators said.

Ukraine’s prosecutor general says that the funds have since been seized and will be returned to the country's defense budget.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695327062140.png" alt="File photo&nbsp;&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an Oct. 2023 visit to Washington- White House photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo&nbsp;&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an Oct. 2023 visit to Washington- White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Employees from a Ukrainian arms firm conspired with defense ministry officials to embezzle almost $40 million earmarked to buy 100,000 mortar shells for the war with Russia, Ukraine's security service reported.The SBU said late Saturday that five people have been charged, with one person detained while trying to cross the Ukrainian border. If found guilty, they face up to 12 years in prison.The investigation comes as Kyiv attempts to clamp down on corruption in a bid to speed up its membership in the European Union and NATO. Officials from both blocs have demanded widespread anti-graft reforms before Kyiv can join them.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was elected on an anti-corruption platform in 2019, long before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Both the president and his aides have portrayed the recent firings of top officials, notably that of Ivan Bakanov, former head of the State Security Service, in July 2022, as proof of their efforts to crack down on graft.Security officials say that the current investigation dates back to August 2022, when officials signed a contract for artillery shells worth 1.5 billion hryvnias ($39.6 million) with arms firm Lviv Arsenal.After receiving payment, company employees were supposed to transfer the funds to a business registered abroad, which would then deliver the ammunition to Ukraine.However, the goods were never delivered and the money was instead sent to various accounts in Ukraine and the Balkans, investigators said.Ukraine’s prosecutor general says that the funds have since been seized and will be returned to the country's defense budget.

Ukraine: Officials stole $40 million meant to buy arms for the war

Party endorses Dan Frei in Bacon race, John Weaver in Ricketts race and John Walz in Smith race

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/aaron-sanderford/">AARON SANDERFORD</a>

LINCOLN — For the first time in their elected runs, none of Nebraska’s five-member, all-GOP congressional delegation received an endorsement from the Nebraska Republican Party.

And none of them sought the state party’s endorsements, which were made Saturday.

Instead, the party’s State Central Committee endorsed Republican challengers to three GOP incumbents: former Air Force Lt. Col. John Glen Weaver, who is running against U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts; Omaha businessman Dan Frei, running against 2nd District Rep. Don Bacon; and Hastings engineer John Walz, running against 3rd District Rep. Adrian Smith.&nbsp;

The central committee did not endorse candidates in the other two top federal races involving Sen. Deb Fischer and Rep. Mike Flood, who haven’t drawn a Republican challenger.&nbsp;

Nebraska GOP chairman Eric Underwood had no immediate comment on the endorsements or the party’s process. In a text message, he said his team needed time to finish its press release.&nbsp;

One Republican who attended Saturday’s meeting, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “You can’t win if you don’t play.”

Others&nbsp;on the committee&nbsp;who opposed the congressional incumbents have said delegation members sometimes act as if they lead the party, not vice versa.

Tension has existed between the state party and its top elected officials since Nebraska GOP leadership changed hands in the summer of 2022, from party workers loyal to Ricketts to populists loyal to former President Donald Trump and some former insiders who wanted to diminish Ricketts’ influence over the party.

One of the chief complaints&nbsp;from people supporting the leadership change&nbsp;was that the party under Ricketts took sides in some high-profile GOP vs. GOP primaries.

Internal vote counts, gathered from multiple sources, showed that Weaver secured the most support in Saturday’s elections, with 103 of 144 possible votes. Frei received 100 votes and Walz 96. Tallies were cobbled together because the meeting was closed to the press.

Weaver said it felt great to have active Republicans from across the state back his bid. He said he was the only Senate candidate who asked for the endorsement. In 2022, he lost the 1st District GOP primary to Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., earning 7% of the vote.

Weaver told the central committee he would support the House Freedom Caucus&nbsp;as a Senate affiliate&nbsp;if elected.&nbsp;

“People here are passionate about saving our country,” Weaver said of the central committee’s meeting in Bellevue. “It’s not like it’s a bunch of crazy people who got together in a room.”

Ricketts, reached at the Nebraska Walk for Life in Lincoln, which took place during the GOP meeting Saturday, declined to discuss why he chose not to seek the party’s endorsement.

“No, I’d rather not talk about that,” he said.

His campaign had no immediate comment Saturday evening about Weaver’s endorsement.

These days, state party endorsements carry little weight beyond signaling to the public about a candidate’s philosophical bent. However, political observers said the absence of the party’s endorsement could have a cost.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Not many political observers expect the endorsed candidates to see a major infusion of cash, because the state GOP’s fundraising has fallen off since the transition to new leadership. The biggest bump could be in energy from some activist Republicans.

Additionally, state parties have access to a steeply discounted postage rate often used by campaigns to send direct mail. Some Republicans told the Examiner that candidates in GOP primaries with an endorsed opponent might not get access to the discount.

Frei, who has said he would join the Freedom Caucus if elected, nearly upset Rep. Lee Terry in the 2014 GOP primary, losing by 6 percentage points. He has embraced Trump and positioned his candidacy as an effort to excite the populist wing of the party.

He said he was pleased with the party’s endorsement. In a tweet Saturday, he thanked the committee and said he was “honored to receive your trust.” He said he looked forward to helping secure the border and boosting fiscal responsibility.

Bacon, who represents the state’s most politically balanced congressional district, expressed disappointment about Frei’s endorsement.

“Most state parties do not go against incumbents,” he said in a statement after the vote. He said if Frei won the primary, he would struggle to compete in a general election against Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha. Bacon said Frei might only earn 42%-43% of the vote in November.

“I know that my record of results will prevail this May and November,” Bacon said. “I am a common-sense conservative who is able to reach across the aisle and find areas of consensus. … I’ve been the conservative on key issues.”

He said he supports a strong national defense and a balanced budget amendment. He said he opposes much of the spending in federal budgets proposed by Democrats, including the most recent pandemic aid that he said made inflation worse.

Vargas’ campaign, in a statement, said Bacon is paying the price for saying one thing in Omaha and another in Washington, D.C.

Walz, who worked in the biofuels industry, said he was grateful for the endorsement. He said it would help present “all options to the electorate.” He has said he is running as a “MAGA” or Trump Republican.

Smith’s campaign had no immediate comment about the endorsement. During a brief interview at the Walk for Life before the vote, Smith acknowledged he had not sought the party’s endorsement.

On Sunday, his campaign issued a press release touting his endorsements from 54 elected Nebraska Republicans.

Party leaders said in internal emails reviewed by the Examiner that the state GOP’s constitution requires all candidates, including incumbents, to ask for the party’s endorsement.&nbsp;

For years, high-level Nebraska GOP incumbents have received a phone call or message from the state party asking if they would like to be endorsed. If the answer was yes, they typically received it, said people familiar with the process.&nbsp;

This year, state GOP leaders created a new endorsement process for incumbents and non-incumbents. It required candidates to fill out questionnaires, which some privately mocked.

Among the questions incumbents were reported asked: Have you reviewed the Nebraska State Constitution Chapter 32 and your elected position’s job description? What tenets of the NEGOP platform relate specifically to your elected office and why?

Among the questions it asked first-time candidates: Are you an introvert or extrovert? What are your hobbies? What does the word integrity mean to you?&nbsp;

One candidate compared the questions to a college seminar. Another said it showed no respect for candidates’ time. A consultant with experience in Nebraska races said they expected a question about someone’s “favorite flavor of ice cream.” All of those interviewed spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.

A few defended the new endorsement process, saying it expanded the number of rank-and-file Republicans involved in decision-making instead of limiting it to a handful of kingmakers.

None of the congressional incumbents filled out the questionnaires, the Examiner confirmed.&nbsp;

Fischer said before the Walk for Life that the state GOP previously endorsed Republican incumbents in good standing. She said Nebraskans know who she is — and that she’s conservative.&nbsp;

Bacon had expected backlash from the party because he has sometimes disagreed with Trump. He said on Tuesday that while he preferred other GOP candidates running this year, he would support the GOP nominee for president this fall, including Trump, against President Joe Biden.&nbsp;

Flood, whose Democratic opponent in the 1st District, State Sen. Carol Blood, kicked off her campaign Saturday, said at the Walk for Life that he has GOP bona fides.

“I’ve been active in the Republican Party since fourth grade,” Flood said. “I was attending fundraisers for (former Gov.) Kay Orr and (former U.S. Sen.) Dave Karnes. I’m a conservative that has a record to prove it and now 14 years of political experience, so I’m going to run on that.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706540234112.png" alt="U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., speaks about the importance of protecting the unborn to a Walk for Life crowd in Lincoln on Jan. 27, 2024. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., speaks about the importance of protecting the unborn to a Walk for Life crowd in Lincoln on Jan. 27, 2024. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Party endorses Dan Frei in Bacon race, John Weaver in Ricketts race and John Walz in Smith race</h2><a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/aaron-sanderford/">AARON SANDERFORD</a>LINCOLN — For the first time in their elected runs, none of Nebraska’s five-member, all-GOP congressional delegation received an endorsement from the Nebraska Republican Party.And none of them sought the state party’s endorsements, which were made Saturday.Instead, the party’s State Central Committee endorsed Republican challengers to three GOP incumbents: former Air Force Lt. Col. John Glen Weaver, who is running against U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts; Omaha businessman Dan Frei, running against 2nd District Rep. Don Bacon; and Hastings engineer John Walz, running against 3rd District Rep. Adrian Smith.&nbsp;The central committee did not endorse candidates in the other two top federal races involving Sen. Deb Fischer and Rep. Mike Flood, who haven’t drawn a Republican challenger.&nbsp;Nebraska GOP chairman Eric Underwood had no immediate comment on the endorsements or the party’s process. In a text message, he said his team needed time to finish its press release.&nbsp;One Republican who attended Saturday’s meeting, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “You can’t win if you don’t play.”Others&nbsp;on the committee&nbsp;who opposed the congressional incumbents have said delegation members sometimes act as if they lead the party, not vice versa.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706540178475.png" alt="All three members of Nebraska’s U.S. House delegation pose before the Walk for Life rally in Lincoln on Jan. 27, 2024. From left are Rep. Adrian Smith, Rep. Don Bacon and Rep. Mike Flood, all Republicans. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>All three members of Nebraska’s U.S. House delegation pose before the Walk for Life rally in Lincoln on Jan. 27, 2024. From left are Rep. Adrian Smith, Rep. Don Bacon and Rep. Mike Flood, all Republicans. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Party tension with delegation</h2>Tension has existed between the state party and its top elected officials since Nebraska GOP leadership changed hands in the summer of 2022, from party workers loyal to Ricketts to populists loyal to former President Donald Trump and some former insiders who wanted to diminish Ricketts’ influence over the party.One of the chief complaints&nbsp;from people supporting the leadership change&nbsp;was that the party under Ricketts took sides in some high-profile GOP vs. GOP primaries.Internal vote counts, gathered from multiple sources, showed that Weaver secured the most support in Saturday’s elections, with 103 of 144 possible votes. Frei received 100 votes and Walz 96. Tallies were cobbled together because the meeting was closed to the press.Weaver said it felt great to have active Republicans from across the state back his bid. He said he was the only Senate candidate who asked for the endorsement. In 2022, he lost the 1st District GOP primary to Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., earning 7% of the vote.Weaver told the central committee he would support the House Freedom Caucus&nbsp;as a Senate affiliate&nbsp;if elected.&nbsp;“People here are passionate about saving our country,” Weaver said of the central committee’s meeting in Bellevue. “It’s not like it’s a bunch of crazy people who got together in a room.”Ricketts, reached at the Nebraska Walk for Life in Lincoln, which took place during the GOP meeting Saturday, declined to discuss why he chose not to seek the party’s endorsement.“No, I’d rather not talk about that,” he said.His campaign had no immediate comment Saturday evening about Weaver’s endorsement.<h2>State party endorsements</h2>These days, state party endorsements carry little weight beyond signaling to the public about a candidate’s philosophical bent. However, political observers said the absence of the party’s endorsement could have a cost.&nbsp;&nbsp;Not many political observers expect the endorsed candidates to see a major infusion of cash, because the state GOP’s fundraising has fallen off since the transition to new leadership. The biggest bump could be in energy from some activist Republicans.Additionally, state parties have access to a steeply discounted postage rate often used by campaigns to send direct mail. Some Republicans told the Examiner that candidates in GOP primaries with an endorsed opponent might not get access to the discount.Frei, who has said he would join the Freedom Caucus if elected, nearly upset Rep. Lee Terry in the 2014 GOP primary, losing by 6 percentage points. He has embraced Trump and positioned his candidacy as an effort to excite the populist wing of the party.He said he was pleased with the party’s endorsement. In a tweet Saturday, he thanked the committee and said he was “honored to receive your trust.” He said he looked forward to helping secure the border and boosting fiscal responsibility.“It was a really good day,” he said.<h2>Bacon responds</h2>Bacon, who represents the state’s most politically balanced congressional district, expressed disappointment about Frei’s endorsement.“Most state parties do not go against incumbents,” he said in a statement after the vote. He said if Frei won the primary, he would struggle to compete in a general election against Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha. Bacon said Frei might only earn 42%-43% of the vote in November.“I know that my record of results will prevail this May and November,” Bacon said. “I am a common-sense conservative who is able to reach across the aisle and find areas of consensus. … I’ve been the conservative on key issues.”He said he supports a strong national defense and a balanced budget amendment. He said he opposes much of the spending in federal budgets proposed by Democrats, including the most recent pandemic aid that he said made inflation worse.Vargas’ campaign, in a statement, said Bacon is paying the price for saying one thing in Omaha and another in Washington, D.C.Walz, who worked in the biofuels industry, said he was grateful for the endorsement. He said it would help present “all options to the electorate.” He has said he is running as a “MAGA” or Trump Republican.Smith’s campaign had no immediate comment about the endorsement. During a brief interview at the Walk for Life before the vote, Smith acknowledged he had not sought the party’s endorsement.On Sunday, his campaign issued a press release touting his endorsements from 54 elected Nebraska Republicans.<h2>Process changed</h2>Party leaders said in internal emails reviewed by the Examiner that the state GOP’s constitution requires all candidates, including incumbents, to ask for the party’s endorsement.&nbsp;For years, high-level Nebraska GOP incumbents have received a phone call or message from the state party asking if they would like to be endorsed. If the answer was yes, they typically received it, said people familiar with the process.&nbsp;This year, state GOP leaders created a new endorsement process for incumbents and non-incumbents. It required candidates to fill out questionnaires, which some privately mocked.Among the questions incumbents were reported asked: Have you reviewed the Nebraska State Constitution Chapter 32 and your elected position’s job description? What tenets of the NEGOP platform relate specifically to your elected office and why?Among the questions it asked first-time candidates: Are you an introvert or extrovert? What are your hobbies? What does the word integrity mean to you?&nbsp;One candidate compared the questions to a college seminar. Another said it showed no respect for candidates’ time. A consultant with experience in Nebraska races said they expected a question about someone’s “favorite flavor of ice cream.” All of those interviewed spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.A few defended the new endorsement process, saying it expanded the number of rank-and-file Republicans involved in decision-making instead of limiting it to a handful of kingmakers.<h2>Delegation members skipped questionnaire</h2>None of the congressional incumbents filled out the questionnaires, the Examiner confirmed.&nbsp;Fischer said before the Walk for Life that the state GOP previously endorsed Republican incumbents in good standing. She said Nebraskans know who she is — and that she’s conservative.&nbsp;“I’ve got a record,” she said.Bacon had expected backlash from the party because he has sometimes disagreed with Trump. He said on Tuesday that while he preferred other GOP candidates running this year, he would support the GOP nominee for president this fall, including Trump, against President Joe Biden.&nbsp;Flood, whose Democratic opponent in the 1st District, State Sen. Carol Blood, kicked off her campaign Saturday, said at the Walk for Life that he has GOP bona fides.“I’ve been active in the Republican Party since fourth grade,” Flood said. “I was attending fundraisers for (former Gov.) Kay Orr and (former U.S. Sen.) Dave Karnes. I’m a conservative that has a record to prove it and now 14 years of political experience, so I’m going to run on that.”

Nebraska GOP fight with delegation spills over into its endorsements

JERUSALEM (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-houthis-red-sea-jake-sullivan-yemen-ff507d06a7a44d6f3644f128e7766b3d">Yemen's Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;said they attacked a U.S. Navy mobile base at sea Monday without offering evidence, something immediately rejected by an American defense official.

Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the group fired a missile at the USS Lewis B. Puller in the Gulf of Aden. The Puller, which serves as a floating landing base, had been earlier stationed in the Arabian Sea as part of American efforts to curtail Houthi attacks on commercial shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Houthi attacks will continue “until the aggression is stopped, and the siege is lifted on the people of Palestine in the Gaza Strip,” Saree said in the statement.

A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said there had been no reported attack on the Puller. However, the Houthis have previously launched missiles that did not reach their intended target, instead crashing onto the land or sea.

The Puller served as a mobile base for the U.S. Navy SEALs who conducted a Jan. 11 operation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">seizing Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missile</a>&nbsp;components believed to be bound for Yemen. Two SEALs went missing in the operation and are presumed to have died.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703418619283.png" alt="Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-houthis-red-sea-jake-sullivan-yemen-ff507d06a7a44d6f3644f128e7766b3d">Yemen's Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;said they attacked a U.S. Navy mobile base at sea Monday without offering evidence, something immediately rejected by an American defense official.Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the group fired a missile at the USS Lewis B. Puller in the Gulf of Aden. The Puller, which serves as a floating landing base, had been earlier stationed in the Arabian Sea as part of American efforts to curtail Houthi attacks on commercial shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.Houthi attacks will continue “until the aggression is stopped, and the siege is lifted on the people of Palestine in the Gaza Strip,” Saree said in the statement.A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said there had been no reported attack on the Puller. However, the Houthis have previously launched missiles that did not reach their intended target, instead crashing onto the land or sea.The Puller served as a mobile base for the U.S. Navy SEALs who conducted a Jan. 11 operation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">seizing Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missile</a>&nbsp;components believed to be bound for Yemen. Two SEALs went missing in the operation and are presumed to have died.Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade between Asia, the Mideast and Europe.The Houthis hit a commercial vessel with a missile on Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-red-sea-israel-hamas-war-attacks-f36fc8911e069a5b4dbc4d9e67f31e50">sparking a fire that burned for hours</a>.