By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/berenice-garcia/">Berenice Garcia</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jessica-shuran-yu/">Jessica Shuran Yu</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/carlos-nogueras-ramos/">Carlos Nogueras Ramos</a>, Graphics by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/chris-essig/">Chris Essig</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/edison-wu/">Edison Wu</a> <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/">Texas Tribune</a>

Search and rescue efforts continued Sunday morning for 10 missing&nbsp;girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic,&nbsp;a Christian camp for young girls at the center of the&nbsp;catastrophic floods that swept&nbsp;the Texas Hill Country, local officials said at a news conference.

At least 68 people were killed by the flooding in Kerr County, Sheriff Larry Leitha said. At least 11 additional deaths were confirmed in surrounding counties, pushing the storm's overall toll to at least 79. That surpassed the estimated 68 deaths directly caused by Hurricane Harvey in southeast Texas in 2017.

More than 400 first responders from over 20 agencies were on the ground combing the&nbsp;area Sunday, Leitha said.

Among the dead in Kerr County were 28 children and 30 adults.

"We have increased our number of personnel who are navigating the really challenging shores along the bank line, but we're continuing to make progress," said Dalton Rice, city manager of Kerrville.

Friends and families posted desperate messages online seeking help locating the missing campers. Many more people could still be unaccounted for, officials warned, noting that visitors to the area for the July 4th weekend make it difficult to assess an exact number of people unaccounted for.

"We will be relentless in going after and assuring that we locate every single person who's been a victim of this flooding event," Gov. Greg Abbott said during a news conference held earlier in the day with state and federal officials.

At a press conference Sunday afternoon, Abbott said he visited Camp Mystic the previous day and saw the aftermath of the flood's devastation.

"It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through," he said. "We know that parents and families, they want information, they want closure, and we want them to know that we are working as swiftly as possible to get them accurate information that will provide that closure."

Colonel Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said officials expect the death toll to rise between Sunday and Monday.

Abbott expanded the disaster declaration he issued Friday night to include Bexar, Burnet, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Travis and Williamson counties given continued rain and ongoing flooding. And on Sunday, President Donald Trump approved Abbott's request for a federal disaster declaration, making Kerr County eligible for federal aid. The move opens up grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals recover from the effects of the disaster.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Saturday said that the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Border Patrol had already been involved in rescue efforts while U.S. Customs and Border Protection were assisting with coordination.

In the span of 36 hours, first responders have rescued more than 850 people, some clinging to trees to stay safe amid the rising water, Abbott said.

In response to criticisms of the warning provided by National Weather Service ahead of the flood, Noem said upgrading their technology was among the reforms Trump sought to make at the department.

However, the agency has been dealing with staffing shortages after cuts by the Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/02/weather/nws-job-cuts-weather-service-hiring.html">led to nearly 600 layoffs and retirements.</a>&nbsp;Whether those cuts had any effect on the National Weather Service's ability to predict or warn people of the oncoming flood remains an open question. Though, the agency itself said it had&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/05/texas-hill-country-floods-warning-forecast-nws/">adequate staffing.</a>

As floodwaters receded in the Kerrville area, the damage was becoming clear. Dozens of tree trunks were snapped in half, some at 90 degree angles. Black and silver power lines were tangled with branches along the side of the road. A few tree trunks appeared to have been stripped bare of their bark from the rushing water.

At Cross Kingdom Church, Pastor Justin Carpenter started collecting clothing, nonperishable food, toiletries and cat and dog food Friday afternoon. They had reached capacity with donations and were turning other potential helpers away. So far, only about half a dozen people had shown up seeking help. Because the areas most affected has lost cell service, it’s been hard to reach people in need.

“The biggest thing would be to get the word out into the community that we’re here and ready to give everything out,” he said.

Billy Lawrence, a 73-year-old San Angelo man, has dealt with this type of tragedy before. During flooding in the summer of 1987, he spent more than 30 days looking for bodies. The first one he found was of a child in a tree, 20 feet up.

But he said this flood is twice as bad as it was in 1987. On Saturday, he was back patrolling the river for bodies. A former volunteer with the Red Cross, he said he's gotten used to the morbid practice.

“I’m used to death. I’ve been around it a lot," Lawrence said.

He noted there are about 20 camps along the river in this area and said the camp counselors should receive training to check the weather every night.

"I'm not blaming them. They just have to do that,” he said.

Nearly 20 camps are clustered along the Guadalupe River near Kerrville

An early morning flash flood swept through Camp Mystic on July 4. It’s one of nearly 20 camps along the Guadalupe River that serve school-aged children.

President Donald Trump expressed his condolences in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.

"Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy," Trump wrote. "Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!"

About 10 inches of rain fell within a few hours, causing flooding along the Guadalupe River which rose 26 feet in 45 minutes.

The death toll in an area historically prone to major flooding has raised questions about whether people near the river, including many vacationers in town for the Fourth of July weekend, received sufficient warning

The private forecasting company AccuWeather and the National Weather Service sent warnings about potential flash flooding hours before the devastation.

“These warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps such as Camp Mystic and get people to safety,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said in a statement that called the Texas Hill Country one of the most flash-flood-prone areas of the U.S. because of its terrain and many water crossings.

Local officials defended their actions Friday while saying they had not expected such an intense downpour that was the equivalent of months' worth of rain for the area.

One National Weather Service forecast earlier in the week had called for up to six inches of rain, said Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management. “It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,” he said.

However, Porter emphasized that people and officials should always take safety precautions when there is a potential for flooding.

"People, businesses, and governments should take action based on Flash Flood Warnings that are issued, regardless of the rainfall amounts that have occurred or are forecast," Porter said. "Flash Flood Warnings indicate an immediate risk to life and property in the warned area."

At the Sunday afternoon news conference, Abbott said local officials in Kerrville faced a tough decision about whether to order residents to evacuate after the flash flood warnings.

"It's a difficult decision about whether or not to begin evacuating people, because if you have a warning telling everybody to evacuate, you could actually lead them to their death," Abbott said. "But we know that some deaths in Kerrville were people ... who got swept away who were trying to evacuate, and so local officials know best about the terrain, the danger spots and things like that."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751840301335.jpeg" alt="A small boat is wrapped around a tree along with other debris in Ingram on Saturday, July 5, 2025. Ingram is a small town about seven miles northwest of Kerrville. Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune" />
 <figcaption>A small boat is wrapped around a tree along with other debris in Ingram on Saturday, July 5, 2025. Ingram is a small town about seven miles northwest of Kerrville. Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/berenice-garcia/">Berenice Garcia</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jessica-shuran-yu/">Jessica Shuran Yu</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/carlos-nogueras-ramos/">Carlos Nogueras Ramos</a>, Graphics by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/chris-essig/">Chris Essig</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/edison-wu/">Edison Wu</a> <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/">Texas Tribune</a>Search and rescue efforts continued Sunday morning for 10 missing&nbsp;girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic,&nbsp;a Christian camp for young girls at the center of the&nbsp;catastrophic floods that swept&nbsp;the Texas Hill Country, local officials said at a news conference.At least 68 people were killed by the flooding in Kerr County, Sheriff Larry Leitha said. At least 11 additional deaths were confirmed in surrounding counties, pushing the storm's overall toll to at least 79. That surpassed the estimated 68 deaths directly caused by Hurricane Harvey in southeast Texas in 2017.More than 400 first responders from over 20 agencies were on the ground combing the&nbsp;area Sunday, Leitha said.Among the dead in Kerr County were 28 children and 30 adults."We have increased our number of personnel who are navigating the really challenging shores along the bank line, but we're continuing to make progress," said Dalton Rice, city manager of Kerrville.Friends and families posted desperate messages online seeking help locating the missing campers. Many more people could still be unaccounted for, officials warned, noting that visitors to the area for the July 4th weekend make it difficult to assess an exact number of people unaccounted for."We will be relentless in going after and assuring that we locate every single person who's been a victim of this flooding event," Gov. Greg Abbott said during a news conference held earlier in the day with state and federal officials.At a press conference Sunday afternoon, Abbott said he visited Camp Mystic the previous day and saw the aftermath of the flood's devastation."It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through," he said. "We know that parents and families, they want information, they want closure, and we want them to know that we are working as swiftly as possible to get them accurate information that will provide that closure."Colonel Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said officials expect the death toll to rise between Sunday and Monday.Abbott expanded the disaster declaration he issued Friday night to include Bexar, Burnet, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Travis and Williamson counties given continued rain and ongoing flooding. And on Sunday, President Donald Trump approved Abbott's request for a federal disaster declaration, making Kerr County eligible for federal aid. The move opens up grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals recover from the effects of the disaster.U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Saturday said that the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Border Patrol had already been involved in rescue efforts while U.S. Customs and Border Protection were assisting with coordination.In the span of 36 hours, first responders have rescued more than 850 people, some clinging to trees to stay safe amid the rising water, Abbott said.In response to criticisms of the warning provided by National Weather Service ahead of the flood, Noem said upgrading their technology was among the reforms Trump sought to make at the department.However, the agency has been dealing with staffing shortages after cuts by the Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/02/weather/nws-job-cuts-weather-service-hiring.html">led to nearly 600 layoffs and retirements.</a>&nbsp;Whether those cuts had any effect on the National Weather Service's ability to predict or warn people of the oncoming flood remains an open question. Though, the agency itself said it had&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/05/texas-hill-country-floods-warning-forecast-nws/">adequate staffing.</a>As floodwaters receded in the Kerrville area, the damage was becoming clear. Dozens of tree trunks were snapped in half, some at 90 degree angles. Black and silver power lines were tangled with branches along the side of the road. A few tree trunks appeared to have been stripped bare of their bark from the rushing water.At Cross Kingdom Church, Pastor Justin Carpenter started collecting clothing, nonperishable food, toiletries and cat and dog food Friday afternoon. They had reached capacity with donations and were turning other potential helpers away. So far, only about half a dozen people had shown up seeking help. Because the areas most affected has lost cell service, it’s been hard to reach people in need.“The biggest thing would be to get the word out into the community that we’re here and ready to give everything out,” he said.Billy Lawrence, a 73-year-old San Angelo man, has dealt with this type of tragedy before. During flooding in the summer of 1987, he spent more than 30 days looking for bodies. The first one he found was of a child in a tree, 20 feet up.But he said this flood is twice as bad as it was in 1987. On Saturday, he was back patrolling the river for bodies. A former volunteer with the Red Cross, he said he's gotten used to the morbid practice.“I’m used to death. I’ve been around it a lot," Lawrence said.He noted there are about 20 camps along the river in this area and said the camp counselors should receive training to check the weather every night."I'm not blaming them. They just have to do that,” he said.<h2>Nearly 20 camps are clustered along the Guadalupe River near Kerrville</h2>An early morning flash flood swept through Camp Mystic on July 4. It’s one of nearly 20 camps along the Guadalupe River that serve school-aged children.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751840204584.png" alt="Source: Google Map and American Camp Association Credit: Edison Wu" />
 <figcaption>Source: Google Map and American Camp Association Credit: Edison Wu</figcaption>
 </figure>President Donald Trump expressed his condolences in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social."Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy," Trump wrote. "Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!"About 10 inches of rain fell within a few hours, causing flooding along the Guadalupe River which rose 26 feet in 45 minutes.The death toll in an area historically prone to major flooding has raised questions about whether people near the river, including many vacationers in town for the Fourth of July weekend, received sufficient warningThe private forecasting company AccuWeather and the National Weather Service sent warnings about potential flash flooding hours before the devastation.“These warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps such as Camp Mystic and get people to safety,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said in a statement that called the Texas Hill Country one of the most flash-flood-prone areas of the U.S. because of its terrain and many water crossings.Local officials defended their actions Friday while saying they had not expected such an intense downpour that was the equivalent of months' worth of rain for the area.One National Weather Service forecast earlier in the week had called for up to six inches of rain, said Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management. “It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,” he said.However, Porter emphasized that people and officials should always take safety precautions when there is a potential for flooding."People, businesses, and governments should take action based on Flash Flood Warnings that are issued, regardless of the rainfall amounts that have occurred or are forecast," Porter said. "Flash Flood Warnings indicate an immediate risk to life and property in the warned area."At the Sunday afternoon news conference, Abbott said local officials in Kerrville faced a tough decision about whether to order residents to evacuate after the flash flood warnings."It's a difficult decision about whether or not to begin evacuating people, because if you have a warning telling everybody to evacuate, you could actually lead them to their death," Abbott said. "But we know that some deaths in Kerrville were people ... who got swept away who were trying to evacuate, and so local officials know best about the terrain, the danger spots and things like that."

Texas flooding death toll rises as search continues for missing girls, other survivors

Without access to funds, leaders worry about future of after-school, English learner and other programs.

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/rsequeira/">Robbie Sequeira</a>

The U.S. Department of Education’s decision this week to hold back $6.8 billion in federal K-12 funds next year has triggered alarm among state education officials, school leaders and advocacy groups nationwide over how the lack of funds will affect their after-school, enrichment and language-learning services.

The Trump administration’s decision to freeze the funding&nbsp;has put states in “triage mode” as they scramble to decide what programs may be cut without that funding, said Mary Kusler, senior director for the Center for Advocacy&nbsp;at the&nbsp;National Education Association. The money was approved by Congress to support education for English language learners, migrants, low-income children and adults learning to read, among others.

As of July 1, school systems are unable to draw down funding, jeopardizing summer programs, hiring and early-year planning for the 2025–26 school year.

The funding freeze affects several core programs: Title II-A (educator training and recruitment), Title III-A (English learner support), Title IV-A (student enrichment and after-school), as well as migrant education and adult education and literacy grants. Trump has proposed eliminating all those programs in his proposed budget for next fiscal year, but that proposal hasn’t gone through Congress.

State superintendents sent out missives to school districts early this week and now are scrambling to make choices.&nbsp;

“This is not about political philosophy, this is about reliability and consistency,” Alabama state Superintendent Eric Mackey said to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/02/trump-school-money-state-authorities-scrambling-00436737" target="_blank">Politico</a>&nbsp;this week. “None of us were worrying about this.”

The administration says it is reviewing the programs.

“The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities and the Department’s statutory responsibilities,” the U.S. Department of Education wrote to states in its announcement Monday.&nbsp;

Historically, the department releases allocations by July 1 to ensure schools can budget and plan effectively for the coming school year. Withholding the money could result in canceled programs, hiring freezes and the loss of essential support for English learners, migrant children and other high-need populations, education and state officials told Stateline.

“America’s public school leaders run district budgets that are dependent on a complex partnership between federal, state, and local funding,” said David R. Schuler, executive director of the School Superintendents Association in a statement. “For decades, school districts have relied on timely confirmation of their federal allocations ahead of the July 1 start of the fiscal year — ensuring stability, allowing for responsible planning, and supporting uninterrupted educational services for students.”&nbsp;

The states facing the largest withheld amounts include California ($810.7 million), Texas ($660.9 million), and New York ($411.7 million), according to data from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nea.org/resource-library/federal-education-funding-selected-programs-state-and-program" target="_blank">NEA&nbsp;</a>and<a href="https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/blog/states-face-uncertainty-k-12-funding-remains-unreleased" target="_blank">&nbsp;the Learning Policy Institute</a>, an education think tank.&nbsp;

For 17 states and territories, the freeze affects over 15% of their total federal K-12 allocations, according to the Learning Policy Institute. For smaller jurisdictions such as the District of Columbia and Vermont, the disruption hits even harder: More than 20% of their federal K-12 budgets remain inaccessible.

Colorado Education Commissioner Susan Córdova&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdecomm/commissionerupdate-20250630" target="_blank">urged</a>&nbsp;school districts to begin contingency&nbsp;planning in case funds are not released before the federal fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond hinted at possible legal action, which has become a trend as states fight the second Trump administration’s funding revocations or delays.

“California will continue to pursue all available legal remedies to the Trump Administration’s unlawful withholding of federal funds appropriated by Congress,” Thurmond said in a statement.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://naacp.org/articles/coalition-moves-injunction-stopping-trump-administrations-actions-dismantle-department#:~:text=FOR%20IMMEDIATE%20RELEASE-,July%201%2C%202025,Those%20actions%20include:" target="_blank">NEA and the NAACP have filed for a preliminary injunction</a>, calling the administration’s delay an illegal “impoundment” — a violation of the federal Impoundment Control Act, which bars the executive branch from withholding appropriated funds without congressional approval.

Education advocates warn the recent decision by the Trump administration to withhold funding reflects a broader pattern of federal disengagement from public education.

Community nonprofits said the withholding could devastate their programming too. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America could have to close more than 900 centers — bringing the loss of 5,900 jobs and affecting more than 220,000 children,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bgca.org/news-stories/2025/July/statement-from-boys-girls-clubs-of-americas-president-ceo-jim-clark/" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;President and CEO Jim Clark in a statement.

The 1974 Impoundment Control Act lets the president&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/095406" target="_blank">propose canceling funds</a>&nbsp;approved by Congress. Lawmakers have 45 days to approve the request; if they don’t, it’s denied. Meanwhile, agencies can be directed not to spend the funds during that time.

A White House statement&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-tells-states-its-freezing-68-billion-k-12-school-programs" target="_blank">shared</a>&nbsp;with States Newsroom this week said&nbsp;“initial findings have shown that many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda.”&nbsp;

“Kids, educators, and working families are the ones losing,” said&nbsp;Kusler, of the NEA. “We need governors and communities to step up — now.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713959557029.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Without access to funds, leaders worry about future of after-school, English learner and other programs.</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/rsequeira/">Robbie Sequeira</a>The U.S. Department of Education’s decision this week to hold back $6.8 billion in federal K-12 funds next year has triggered alarm among state education officials, school leaders and advocacy groups nationwide over how the lack of funds will affect their after-school, enrichment and language-learning services.The Trump administration’s decision to freeze the funding&nbsp;has put states in “triage mode” as they scramble to decide what programs may be cut without that funding, said Mary Kusler, senior director for the Center for Advocacy&nbsp;at the&nbsp;National Education Association. The money was approved by Congress to support education for English language learners, migrants, low-income children and adults learning to read, among others.As of July 1, school systems are unable to draw down funding, jeopardizing summer programs, hiring and early-year planning for the 2025–26 school year.The funding freeze affects several core programs: Title II-A (educator training and recruitment), Title III-A (English learner support), Title IV-A (student enrichment and after-school), as well as migrant education and adult education and literacy grants. Trump has proposed eliminating all those programs in his proposed budget for next fiscal year, but that proposal hasn’t gone through Congress.State superintendents sent out missives to school districts early this week and now are scrambling to make choices.&nbsp;“This is not about political philosophy, this is about reliability and consistency,” Alabama state Superintendent Eric Mackey said to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/02/trump-school-money-state-authorities-scrambling-00436737" target="_blank">Politico</a>&nbsp;this week. “None of us were worrying about this.”The administration says it is reviewing the programs.“The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities and the Department’s statutory responsibilities,” the U.S. Department of Education wrote to states in its announcement Monday.&nbsp;Historically, the department releases allocations by July 1 to ensure schools can budget and plan effectively for the coming school year. Withholding the money could result in canceled programs, hiring freezes and the loss of essential support for English learners, migrant children and other high-need populations, education and state officials told Stateline.“America’s public school leaders run district budgets that are dependent on a complex partnership between federal, state, and local funding,” said David R. Schuler, executive director of the School Superintendents Association in a statement. “For decades, school districts have relied on timely confirmation of their federal allocations ahead of the July 1 start of the fiscal year — ensuring stability, allowing for responsible planning, and supporting uninterrupted educational services for students.”&nbsp;The states facing the largest withheld amounts include California ($810.7 million), Texas ($660.9 million), and New York ($411.7 million), according to data from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nea.org/resource-library/federal-education-funding-selected-programs-state-and-program" target="_blank">NEA&nbsp;</a>and<a href="https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/blog/states-face-uncertainty-k-12-funding-remains-unreleased" target="_blank">&nbsp;the Learning Policy Institute</a>, an education think tank.&nbsp;For 17 states and territories, the freeze affects over 15% of their total federal K-12 allocations, according to the Learning Policy Institute. For smaller jurisdictions such as the District of Columbia and Vermont, the disruption hits even harder: More than 20% of their federal K-12 budgets remain inaccessible.Colorado Education Commissioner Susan Córdova&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdecomm/commissionerupdate-20250630" target="_blank">urged</a>&nbsp;school districts to begin contingency&nbsp;planning in case funds are not released before the federal fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond hinted at possible legal action, which has become a trend as states fight the second Trump administration’s funding revocations or delays.“California will continue to pursue all available legal remedies to the Trump Administration’s unlawful withholding of federal funds appropriated by Congress,” Thurmond said in a statement.The&nbsp;<a href="https://naacp.org/articles/coalition-moves-injunction-stopping-trump-administrations-actions-dismantle-department#:~:text=FOR%20IMMEDIATE%20RELEASE-,July%201%2C%202025,Those%20actions%20include:" target="_blank">NEA and the NAACP have filed for a preliminary injunction</a>, calling the administration’s delay an illegal “impoundment” — a violation of the federal Impoundment Control Act, which bars the executive branch from withholding appropriated funds without congressional approval.Education advocates warn the recent decision by the Trump administration to withhold funding reflects a broader pattern of federal disengagement from public education.Community nonprofits said the withholding could devastate their programming too. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America could have to close more than 900 centers — bringing the loss of 5,900 jobs and affecting more than 220,000 children,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bgca.org/news-stories/2025/July/statement-from-boys-girls-clubs-of-americas-president-ceo-jim-clark/" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;President and CEO Jim Clark in a statement.The 1974 Impoundment Control Act lets the president&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/095406" target="_blank">propose canceling funds</a>&nbsp;approved by Congress. Lawmakers have 45 days to approve the request; if they don’t, it’s denied. Meanwhile, agencies can be directed not to spend the funds during that time.A White House statement&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-tells-states-its-freezing-68-billion-k-12-school-programs" target="_blank">shared</a>&nbsp;with States Newsroom this week said&nbsp;“initial findings have shown that many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda.”&nbsp;“Kids, educators, and working families are the ones losing,” said&nbsp;Kusler, of the NEA. “We need governors and communities to step up — now.”

States in ‘triage mode’ over $6B in withheld K-12 funding

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/zachwendling/">Zach Wendling</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/17/lincoln-senators-clash-over-nebraska-school-retirement-bill-as-school-leaders-weigh-in/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A new state law that took effect this week authorizes emergency medical services crews to provide care or transportation to Nebraska K-9s if one is ever injured in the line of duty.

Lawmakers, by a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php?KeyID=10969" target="_blank">47-0 vote</a>&nbsp;in April 2024, approved a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=54730&amp;docnum=LB910&amp;leg=108" target="_blank">measure</a>&nbsp;from State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston allowing&nbsp;<a href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/EHS-Emergency-Medical-Services.aspx" target="_blank">emergency medical services</a>&nbsp;for K-9s after July 1, 2025. It covers law enforcement canines owned or employed by state or local law enforcement, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, local fire departments or the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

K-9s aiding in the detection of criminal activity, flammable materials or missing persons; enforcement of laws; investigation of fires or apprehending criminal offenders would be covered.

Riepe said K-9s have proven beneficial and he hopes the law works out well.

“I think most people have a real kind spot in their heart for both dogs, cats, and probably some other animals that I’m not even aware of,” Riepe said this week.

Cody Thomas, a spokesperson for the Nebraska State Patrol, which&nbsp;<a href="https://statepatrol.nebraska.gov/divisions/field-services/police-service-dog-division" target="_blank">employs and trains police service dogs</a>, said the canines are “an extension of the officers they work with every day.” Such work can be dangerous for K-9s, with at least 10 killed in the line of duty nationwide already in 2025, he said.

“In the event one of our K-9 partners is injured in the line of duty, we would be grateful for any assistance provided by EMS teams, including transportation to an emergency veterinary hospital,” Thomas said in an email to the Nebraska Examiner.

At least&nbsp;<a href="https://www.odmp.org/k9/1844-k9-nitro-ii" target="_blank">two</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.odmp.org/k9/1592-k9-kobus" target="_blank">Nebraska K-9s</a>&nbsp;have been killed in the past decade:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ketv.com/article/police-bullet-proof-vest-would-not-have-saved-k-9-killed-during-standoff-1/7657717" target="_blank">K-9 Kobus for the Omaha Police Department in 2016</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ketv.com/article/omaha-law-enforcement-procession-york-county-sheriff-k9/39092743" target="_blank">K-9 Nitro II for the York County Sheriff’s Department in 2022</a>.

More than a dozen states have similar laws.

Riepe’s legislation began at the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/02/lawmakers-to-debate-authorizing-ems-care-transportation-for-injured-nebraska-k-9s/">initiative of Nebraska City Police Department Sgt. Christopher Richardson</a>. Richardson sought to get around a state law forbidding any emergency care for an animal, including the bandaging of a minor cut.

“These dogs are alone and untreated, wasting valuable time and preventing lifesaving measures from being performed,” Richardson testified at a February 2024 hearing.

Richardson, who has taken multiple K-9s under his wing, told the Examiner in 2024 that in the case of Nebraska City, it can be a 45-minute delay to the nearest applicable care facility should his K-9 be harmed. He had said K-9 handlers spend more one-on-one time with their dogs, who he said can save an officer’s life without hesitation, than with their families.

“They’re not just another tool that’s on our duty belt,” Richardson previously told the Examiner.

The new law still gives humans priority in the need of medical care or transport. EMS teams, including volunteer departments, would not be required to implement the new law. Any EMS workers operating in “good faith” to care for the dogs would be given civil and criminal immunity.

“We just want to make sure we don’t leave a dog that was injured in duty behind, which seems like a very common-sense thing,” Riepe told the Examiner in 2024.

The law authorized the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to implement additional regulations. Instead, DHHS and the state’s Board of Emergency Medical Services and Board of Veterinary Medicine adopted&nbsp;<a href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/OEHS%20Program%20Documents/CanineTreatandTransportRecommendations.pdf" target="_blank">multiple recommendations</a>.

Among the recommendations for EMS teams that take on the new law:

“We don’t want to have to transport our dogs in an ambulance,” Richardson said last year. “But if it comes to that, having that ability is huge.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751806184300.png" alt=" Nebraska City Police Department Sgt. Christopher Richardson with retired K-9 Mack. Richardson championed legislation to authorize emergency medical services care and transportation in the event a K-9 is injured in the line of duty, a bill that passed the Nebraska Legislature in 2024. (Courtesy of Sgt. Christopher Richardson)" />
 <figcaption> Nebraska City Police Department Sgt. Christopher Richardson with retired K-9 Mack. Richardson championed legislation to authorize emergency medical services care and transportation in the event a K-9 is injured in the line of duty, a bill that passed the Nebraska Legislature in 2024. (Courtesy of Sgt. Christopher Richardson)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/zachwendling/">Zach Wendling</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/17/lincoln-senators-clash-over-nebraska-school-retirement-bill-as-school-leaders-weigh-in/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A new state law that took effect this week authorizes emergency medical services crews to provide care or transportation to Nebraska K-9s if one is ever injured in the line of duty.Lawmakers, by a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php?KeyID=10969" target="_blank">47-0 vote</a>&nbsp;in April 2024, approved a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=54730&amp;docnum=LB910&amp;leg=108" target="_blank">measure</a>&nbsp;from State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston allowing&nbsp;<a href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/EHS-Emergency-Medical-Services.aspx" target="_blank">emergency medical services</a>&nbsp;for K-9s after July 1, 2025. It covers law enforcement canines owned or employed by state or local law enforcement, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, local fire departments or the State Fire Marshal’s Office.K-9s aiding in the detection of criminal activity, flammable materials or missing persons; enforcement of laws; investigation of fires or apprehending criminal offenders would be covered.Riepe said K-9s have proven beneficial and he hopes the law works out well.“I think most people have a real kind spot in their heart for both dogs, cats, and probably some other animals that I’m not even aware of,” Riepe said this week.Cody Thomas, a spokesperson for the Nebraska State Patrol, which&nbsp;<a href="https://statepatrol.nebraska.gov/divisions/field-services/police-service-dog-division" target="_blank">employs and trains police service dogs</a>, said the canines are “an extension of the officers they work with every day.” Such work can be dangerous for K-9s, with at least 10 killed in the line of duty nationwide already in 2025, he said.“In the event one of our K-9 partners is injured in the line of duty, we would be grateful for any assistance provided by EMS teams, including transportation to an emergency veterinary hospital,” Thomas said in an email to the Nebraska Examiner.At least&nbsp;<a href="https://www.odmp.org/k9/1844-k9-nitro-ii" target="_blank">two</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.odmp.org/k9/1592-k9-kobus" target="_blank">Nebraska K-9s</a>&nbsp;have been killed in the past decade:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ketv.com/article/police-bullet-proof-vest-would-not-have-saved-k-9-killed-during-standoff-1/7657717" target="_blank">K-9 Kobus for the Omaha Police Department in 2016</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ketv.com/article/omaha-law-enforcement-procession-york-county-sheriff-k9/39092743" target="_blank">K-9 Nitro II for the York County Sheriff’s Department in 2022</a>.More than a dozen states have similar laws.Riepe’s legislation began at the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/02/lawmakers-to-debate-authorizing-ems-care-transportation-for-injured-nebraska-k-9s/">initiative of Nebraska City Police Department Sgt. Christopher Richardson</a>. Richardson sought to get around a state law forbidding any emergency care for an animal, including the bandaging of a minor cut.“These dogs are alone and untreated, wasting valuable time and preventing lifesaving measures from being performed,” Richardson testified at a February 2024 hearing.Richardson, who has taken multiple K-9s under his wing, told the Examiner in 2024 that in the case of Nebraska City, it can be a 45-minute delay to the nearest applicable care facility should his K-9 be harmed. He had said K-9 handlers spend more one-on-one time with their dogs, who he said can save an officer’s life without hesitation, than with their families.“They’re not just another tool that’s on our duty belt,” Richardson previously told the Examiner.The new law still gives humans priority in the need of medical care or transport. EMS teams, including volunteer departments, would not be required to implement the new law. Any EMS workers operating in “good faith” to care for the dogs would be given civil and criminal immunity.“We just want to make sure we don’t leave a dog that was injured in duty behind, which seems like a very common-sense thing,” Riepe told the Examiner in 2024.The law authorized the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to implement additional regulations. Instead, DHHS and the state’s Board of Emergency Medical Services and Board of Veterinary Medicine adopted&nbsp;<a href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/OEHS%20Program%20Documents/CanineTreatandTransportRecommendations.pdf" target="_blank">multiple recommendations</a>.Among the recommendations for EMS teams that take on the new law:<ul>
 <li>Have a backup ambulance or plan to respond to emergency calls while caring for or transporting a K-9.</li><li>Certification in basic life support through the&nbsp;<a href="https://recoverinitiative.org/how-certification-works/" target="_blank">RECOVER initiative</a>.</li><li>Specific training in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k9medic.com/" target="_blank">K-9 care</a>.</li><li>Close alignment with a local veterinary or pet care facility that would continue K-9 care after transport..</li><li>Medical equipment suitable for animal use, including oxygen masks and/or respiratory barrier masks for “mouth to snout” use.”</li><li>Written policies and procedures crafted with a local veterinarian for appropriate training, including safe handling for injured K-9s, such as muzzles, response coordination with a law enforcement officer trained in handling police dogs and decontamination procedures after K-9 transportation.</li>
 </ul>“We don’t want to have to transport our dogs in an ambulance,” Richardson said last year. “But if it comes to that, having that ability is huge.”

Nebraska K-9s injured in line of duty newly authorized for EMS care, transportation

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/uriel-j-garcia/">Uriel J. García</a>, The Texas Tribune, and Hannah Fingerhut

State officials said Friday night that at least 24 people have died in the catastrophic flood that swept through Kerr County early Friday morning, and 23 girls from Camp Mystic, a private Christian girls’ camp, are still unaccounted for.

In a news conference in Kerrville, Gov. Greg Abbott signed an emergency disaster declaration, which allows numerous counties affected by the floods to get the state resources needed to help with ongoing search-and-rescue efforts.

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said one other person was found dead in nearby Kendall County but it’s unclear if that person was a flood victim.

Nim Kidd, the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, said local officials were caught off guard by the volume of rain, adding that the National Weather Service advisory issued Thursday “did not predict the amount of rain that we saw.”

Gen. Thomas Suelzer, the head of the Texas Military Department, said 237 people have been rescued and evacuated so far. Officials said they couldn’t provide the number of people who are unaccounted for, but they include the 23 girls from Camp Mystic.

In an earlier press conference Friday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the dead include adults and children, and some were found in cars “that were washed out upstream.” He said officials aren't sure whether any of the bodies were children from Camp Mystic, and stressed that the campers are only considered missing at this point.

“We will do anything humanly possible to find your daughter,” Patrick said, adding that search and rescue teams are looking for survivors, along with 14 state helicopters, 12 drones and 400 to 500 people on the ground helping with the search. He added that if parents haven't been personally contacted by the camp, they can assume their daughters have been accounted for.

As much as 10 inches of heavy rain fell in just a few hours overnight in central Kerr County, causing flash flooding of the Guadalupe River. Patrick said the river, which winds through Kerr County in Central Texas, rose 26 feet in 45 minutes during torrential rains overnight.

“It’s going to be a mass casualty event,” said Freeman Martin, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Patrick added that San Antonio and Waco also could see flash flooding in the next 24 to 48 hours.

Judge Rob Kelly, the chief elected official in Kerr County, said authorities are still working to identify those whose lives were lost.

“Most of them, we don’t know who they are,” Kelly said during a news conference. “One of them was completely naked, he didn’t have any ID on him at all. We’re trying to get the identity of these folks, but we don’t have it yet.”

A flood watch issued Thursday afternoon estimated isolated amounts up to 7 inches of rising water. That shifted to a flood warning for at least 30,000 people overnight.

According to the National Weather Service website, the flash flood watch, which included Kerr County, was issued at 1:18 p.m. Thursday. Nearly 12 hours later, a "life threatening" flash flood warning was issued at 1:14 a.m., according to the website.

When asked about the suddenness of the flash flooding overnight, Kelly said “we do not have a warning system” and that “we didn’t know this flood was coming,” even as local reporters pointed to the warnings and pushed him for answers about why more precautions weren’t taken.

“Rest assured, no one knew this kind of flood was coming,” he said. “We have floods all the time. This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States.”

Abbott said the state was providing resources to Hill Country communities dealing with the flooding, including in Kerrville, Ingram and Hunt.

“I urge Texans to heed guidance from state and local officials and monitor local forecasts to avoid driving into flooded areas,” Abbott said in a statement.

The Guadalupe’s river gauge at the unincorporated community of Hunt, where the river forks, recorded a 22 foot rise in just about two hours, according to Bob Fogarty, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Austin/San Antonio office. Fogarty said the gauge failed after recording a level of 29 and a half feet.

“We think the river’s higher than that,” Fogarty said. “The gauge is completely underwater.”

The riverfront communities include several camps, wildlife habitats and campgrounds. Texas Game Wardens, part of the state parks and wildlife agency, said on Facebook that search and rescue teams are conducting rescues throughout the region and sending more boats to help.

“This is the kind of thing that will catch you unaware,” Fogarty said. “The water’s moving so fast, you’re not going to recognize how bad it is until it’s on top of you.”

Erin Burgess’ home sits directly across from the river in the Bumble Bee Hills neighborhood, west of Ingram. When she woke up to thunder at 3:30 a.m. Friday morning, “it was raining pretty heavy, but no big deal,” she said.

Just 20 minutes later, Burgess said water was coming in through the walls and rushing through the front and back doors. She described an agonizing hour clinging to a tree and waiting for the water to recede enough that they were able to walk up the hill to a neighbor's.

“My son and I floated to a tree where we hung onto it, and my boyfriend and my dog floated away. He was lost for a while, but we found them,” she said, becoming emotional.

Of her 19-year-old son, Burgess said: “Thankfully he’s over 6 feet tall. That’s the only thing that saved me, was hanging on to him.”

Dozens of people posted on Facebook asking for any information on their children, nieces and nephews attending one of the many camps in the area, or family members that went camping during the holiday weekend.

Ingram Fire Department posted a photo of a statement from Camp Mystic, saying the private Christian summer camp for girls experienced “catastrophic level floods.” Parents with a daughter not accounted for were directly contacted, the camp said.

Another camp on the river located east of Hunt, Camp Waldemar, said in an Instagram post that “we are all safe and sound.”

Disclosure: Facebook has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/support-us/corporate-sponsors/">list of them here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751724125124.png" alt="Heavy rains in Kerr County and elsewhere in Central Texas have caused severe flooding and loss of life. Credit: City of Kerrville Facebook page" />
 <figcaption>Heavy rains in Kerr County and elsewhere in Central Texas have caused severe flooding and loss of life. Credit: City of Kerrville Facebook page</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/uriel-j-garcia/">Uriel J. García</a>, The Texas Tribune, and Hannah FingerhutState officials said Friday night that at least 24 people have died in the catastrophic flood that swept through Kerr County early Friday morning, and 23 girls from Camp Mystic, a private Christian girls’ camp, are still unaccounted for.In a news conference in Kerrville, Gov. Greg Abbott signed an emergency disaster declaration, which allows numerous counties affected by the floods to get the state resources needed to help with ongoing search-and-rescue efforts.Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said one other person was found dead in nearby Kendall County but it’s unclear if that person was a flood victim.Nim Kidd, the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, said local officials were caught off guard by the volume of rain, adding that the National Weather Service advisory issued Thursday “did not predict the amount of rain that we saw.”Gen. Thomas Suelzer, the head of the Texas Military Department, said 237 people have been rescued and evacuated so far. Officials said they couldn’t provide the number of people who are unaccounted for, but they include the 23 girls from Camp Mystic.In an earlier press conference Friday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the dead include adults and children, and some were found in cars “that were washed out upstream.” He said officials aren't sure whether any of the bodies were children from Camp Mystic, and stressed that the campers are only considered missing at this point.“We will do anything humanly possible to find your daughter,” Patrick said, adding that search and rescue teams are looking for survivors, along with 14 state helicopters, 12 drones and 400 to 500 people on the ground helping with the search. He added that if parents haven't been personally contacted by the camp, they can assume their daughters have been accounted for.As much as 10 inches of heavy rain fell in just a few hours overnight in central Kerr County, causing flash flooding of the Guadalupe River. Patrick said the river, which winds through Kerr County in Central Texas, rose 26 feet in 45 minutes during torrential rains overnight.“It’s going to be a mass casualty event,” said Freeman Martin, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety.Patrick added that San Antonio and Waco also could see flash flooding in the next 24 to 48 hours.Judge Rob Kelly, the chief elected official in Kerr County, said authorities are still working to identify those whose lives were lost.“Most of them, we don’t know who they are,” Kelly said during a news conference. “One of them was completely naked, he didn’t have any ID on him at all. We’re trying to get the identity of these folks, but we don’t have it yet.”<h2>Flood warning came after 1 a.m.</h2>A flood watch issued Thursday afternoon estimated isolated amounts up to 7 inches of rising water. That shifted to a flood warning for at least 30,000 people overnight.According to the National Weather Service website, the flash flood watch, which included Kerr County, was issued at 1:18 p.m. Thursday. Nearly 12 hours later, a "life threatening" flash flood warning was issued at 1:14 a.m., according to the website.When asked about the suddenness of the flash flooding overnight, Kelly said “we do not have a warning system” and that “we didn’t know this flood was coming,” even as local reporters pointed to the warnings and pushed him for answers about why more precautions weren’t taken.“Rest assured, no one knew this kind of flood was coming,” he said. “We have floods all the time. This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States.”Abbott said the state was providing resources to Hill Country communities dealing with the flooding, including in Kerrville, Ingram and Hunt.“I urge Texans to heed guidance from state and local officials and monitor local forecasts to avoid driving into flooded areas,” Abbott said in a statement.The Guadalupe’s river gauge at the unincorporated community of Hunt, where the river forks, recorded a 22 foot rise in just about two hours, according to Bob Fogarty, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Austin/San Antonio office. Fogarty said the gauge failed after recording a level of 29 and a half feet.“We think the river’s higher than that,” Fogarty said. “The gauge is completely underwater.”The riverfront communities include several camps, wildlife habitats and campgrounds. Texas Game Wardens, part of the state parks and wildlife agency, said on Facebook that search and rescue teams are conducting rescues throughout the region and sending more boats to help.“This is the kind of thing that will catch you unaware,” Fogarty said. “The water’s moving so fast, you’re not going to recognize how bad it is until it’s on top of you.”<h2>Survivors describe overnight ordeal</h2>Erin Burgess’ home sits directly across from the river in the Bumble Bee Hills neighborhood, west of Ingram. When she woke up to thunder at 3:30 a.m. Friday morning, “it was raining pretty heavy, but no big deal,” she said.Just 20 minutes later, Burgess said water was coming in through the walls and rushing through the front and back doors. She described an agonizing hour clinging to a tree and waiting for the water to recede enough that they were able to walk up the hill to a neighbor's.“My son and I floated to a tree where we hung onto it, and my boyfriend and my dog floated away. He was lost for a while, but we found them,” she said, becoming emotional.Of her 19-year-old son, Burgess said: “Thankfully he’s over 6 feet tall. That’s the only thing that saved me, was hanging on to him.”Dozens of people posted on Facebook asking for any information on their children, nieces and nephews attending one of the many camps in the area, or family members that went camping during the holiday weekend.Ingram Fire Department posted a photo of a statement from Camp Mystic, saying the private Christian summer camp for girls experienced “catastrophic level floods.” Parents with a daughter not accounted for were directly contacted, the camp said.Another camp on the river located east of Hunt, Camp Waldemar, said in an Instagram post that “we are all safe and sound.”Disclosure: Facebook has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/support-us/corporate-sponsors/">list of them here</a>.

Death toll from Texas flash floods rises to 24 as rescue efforts continue

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo.&nbsp;– Approximately 200 Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 272, Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, are conducting a movement to Florida, to augment U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) interior immigration enforcement mission with critical administrative and logistical capabilities at locations as directed by ICE, according to a statement from the U.S. Northern Command.

Responding to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) request received May 9, 2025, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4218703/statement-by-chief-pentagon-spokesman-sean-parnell-on-dod-administrative-and-lo">Secretary of Defense</a>&nbsp;approved a mobilization of up to 700 Active, National Guard, and Reserve component forces operating under Title 10 authority.

These Marines are the first wave of U.S. Northern Command’s (USNORTHCOM’s) support of this ICE mission. Other support locations will include Louisiana and Texas. Service members participating in this mission will perform&nbsp;strictly non-law enforcement&nbsp;duties within ICE facilities. Their roles will focus on administrative and logistical tasks, and they are&nbsp;specifically prohibited&nbsp;from direct contact with individuals in ICE custody or involvement in any aspect of the custody chain.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733965183962.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo.&nbsp;– Approximately 200 Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 272, Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, are conducting a movement to Florida, to augment U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) interior immigration enforcement mission with critical administrative and logistical capabilities at locations as directed by ICE, according to a statement from the U.S. Northern Command.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740147958319.png" alt="File photo (Courtesy of Miami ICE Enforcement &amp; Removal Operations office)" />
 <figcaption>File photo (Courtesy of Miami ICE Enforcement &amp; Removal Operations office)</figcaption>
 </figure>Responding to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) request received May 9, 2025, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4218703/statement-by-chief-pentagon-spokesman-sean-parnell-on-dod-administrative-and-lo">Secretary of Defense</a>&nbsp;approved a mobilization of up to 700 Active, National Guard, and Reserve component forces operating under Title 10 authority.These Marines are the first wave of U.S. Northern Command’s (USNORTHCOM’s) support of this ICE mission. Other support locations will include Louisiana and Texas. Service members participating in this mission will perform&nbsp;strictly non-law enforcement&nbsp;duties within ICE facilities. Their roles will focus on administrative and logistical tasks, and they are&nbsp;specifically prohibited&nbsp;from direct contact with individuals in ICE custody or involvement in any aspect of the custody chain.

Military sending 200 Marines to help ICE in Florida

Fighter jets and stealth bombers streaked through the sky over the annual White House Fourth of July picnic on Friday.

“America's winning, winning, winning like never before,” Trump said, noting last month's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-sites-bombing-hegseth-trump-4014575fca3923cf29772d1c0b876206">bombing campaign</a>&nbsp;against Iran's nuclear program, which he said the flyover was meant to honor. “Promises made, promises kept, and we've kept them.”

The White House was hung with red, white and blue bunting for the Independence Day festivities. The U.S. Marine Band played patriotic marches.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751672721412.png" alt="The fighter jets and B2 bomber over the Washington monument on Friday-Image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>The fighter jets and B2 bomber over the Washington monument on Friday-Image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>Fighter jets and stealth bombers streaked through the sky over the annual White House Fourth of July picnic on Friday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">White House B-2 bomber flyover. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/4thofJuly?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#4thofJuly</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/July4th?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#July4th</a> <a href="https://t.co/aFcSxASKpM">pic.twitter.com/aFcSxASKpM</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1941279537704096154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“America's winning, winning, winning like never before,” Trump said, noting last month's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-sites-bombing-hegseth-trump-4014575fca3923cf29772d1c0b876206">bombing campaign</a>&nbsp;against Iran's nuclear program, which he said the flyover was meant to honor. “Promises made, promises kept, and we've kept them.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751740938382.jpeg" alt="photo White House" />
 <figcaption>photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>The White House was hung with red, white and blue bunting for the Independence Day festivities. The U.S. Marine Band played patriotic marches.

🎥 Dramatic flyover at White House Fourth of July picnic

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL IS NOW OFFICIALLY THE LAW OF THE LAND! <a href="https://t.co/mOpYN0tiZ0">pic.twitter.com/mOpYN0tiZ0</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1941253557665321187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥 Trump signs Big, Beautiful Bill into law

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/cindygonzalez/">Cindy Gonzalez</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/fortenberry-seeks-two-month-delay-of-re-trial-to-wait-for-trump-justice-department/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;Gov. Jim Pillen on Thursday announced an interim director for the Nebraska Department of Economic Development: Maureen Larsen, who currently serves as the governor’s general counsel.

Larsen, who earned her law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law, also serves as Pillen’s deputy director of policy research. The policy division serves as the governor’s personal lobbying arm.

She is to transition from her current role July 21, replacing K.C. Belitz, whose resignation was announced suddenly last month after serving two years on the job. Belitz’s final day as DED director is July 18.

Larsen earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont.&nbsp;

The DED director has been a rather high-profile position, overseeing grants and funding for economic development ventures and attending related ribbon-cuttings for projects across the state.

Larsen’s general counsel and policy research position has been more behind the scenes. She was quoted in a 2023 Flatwater Free Press story about an apparent unprecedented move by the Pillen administration to shield the governor’s communications.

Larsen, in a response to the news outlet’s request for email, said certain communication of the governor was “protected by executive privilege” or “deliberative process privilege,” the FFP reported.&nbsp;

Several former and current officials and advocates told the FFP they couldn’t recall any other Nebraska governors invoking that privilege to deny access to records.

Pillen’s media statement thanked Belitz for his service. It did not indicate when a permanent DED director might be named.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751668482431.png" alt=" Gov. Jim Pillen tapped Maureen Larsen, his office’s general counsel, as the interim director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development beginning July 21, 2025. (Capitol photo by Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner | Larsen photo courtesy of Office of Gov. Jim Pillen)" />
 <figcaption> Gov. Jim Pillen tapped Maureen Larsen, his office’s general counsel, as the interim director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development beginning July 21, 2025. (Capitol photo by Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner | Larsen photo courtesy of Office of Gov. Jim Pillen)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/cindygonzalez/">Cindy Gonzalez</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/fortenberry-seeks-two-month-delay-of-re-trial-to-wait-for-trump-justice-department/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;Gov. Jim Pillen on Thursday announced an interim director for the Nebraska Department of Economic Development: Maureen Larsen, who currently serves as the governor’s general counsel.Larsen, who earned her law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law, also serves as Pillen’s deputy director of policy research. The policy division serves as the governor’s personal lobbying arm.She is to transition from her current role July 21, replacing K.C. Belitz, whose resignation was announced suddenly last month after serving two years on the job. Belitz’s final day as DED director is July 18.Larsen earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont.&nbsp;The DED director has been a rather high-profile position, overseeing grants and funding for economic development ventures and attending related ribbon-cuttings for projects across the state.Larsen’s general counsel and policy research position has been more behind the scenes. She was quoted in a 2023 Flatwater Free Press story about an apparent unprecedented move by the Pillen administration to shield the governor’s communications.Larsen, in a response to the news outlet’s request for email, said certain communication of the governor was “protected by executive privilege” or “deliberative process privilege,” the FFP reported.&nbsp;Several former and current officials and advocates told the FFP they couldn’t recall any other Nebraska governors invoking that privilege to deny access to records.Pillen’s media statement thanked Belitz for his service. It did not indicate when a permanent DED director might be named.

Pillen announces interim director of Nebraska economic development 

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“We’re going to have a UFC fight, think of this, on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there. We&#39;re gonna build a little - Dana&#39;s gonna do it... Championship fight, full fight, like 20, 25,000 people. And we&#39;re going to do that as part of A250&quot; - Trump in Iowa <a href="https://t.co/5Dkam2IFWU">pic.twitter.com/5Dkam2IFWU</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1941078076903043230?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Trump says he plans to host UFC fight at the White House

Despite political posturing, Rep. Don Bacon ultimately follows along to give Trump his domestic agenda

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/jsalinas/">Juan Salinas II</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Republican leadership on the Hill successfully wrangled enough Senate and House Republicans, including the Nebraska federal delegation, into supporting President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill.”&nbsp;

The bill passed the U.S. House along party lines, 218-214, and will now be sent to the president to be signed into law. There was no political surprise from the all-Republican Nebraska federal delegation, who spent the week defending the GOP mega bill through national interviews on the Hill.

“We’re delivering on President Trump’s growth agenda,” Rep. Mike Flood, who represents eastern Nebraska’s 1st District, told Fox Business. “This is about growth.”&nbsp;

The only two House Republicans to vote against the bill were Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie.

Earlier this week, the GOP mega bill<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-narrowly-passes-gop-megabill-after-overnight-session-sending-it-house" target="_blank">&nbsp;passed the Senate</a>&nbsp;after an overnight session, with a tie-breaking vote by Vice President JD Vance. U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts have been interviewed about what they said is the importance of preserving Trump’s tax cuts.

In a trend, Nebraska’s Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/06/29/nebraska-u-s-rep-don-bacon-again-in-middle-of-fight-for-big-trump-bill/">Don Bacon vocally pushed back</a>, expressing concerns about the Senate version of the bill’s proposed cuts to Medicaid, emphasizing that he had received reassurances the bill would not degrade the quality of healthcare for people covered by Medicaid.&nbsp;

He even said he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.notus.org/congress/the-senates-reconciliation-bill-is-running-into-a-new-problem-house-moderates" target="_blank">won’t support the Senate’s reconciliation bill</a>&nbsp;if it cut the Medicaid provider tax rate.&nbsp;

But in the end, he voted for it. Bacon defended his vote, like the rest of the delegation, by emphasizing the preservation of the Trump tax cuts.&nbsp;

“I wish they had done the house … version,” Bacon told CNN, “But I have an opportunity to protect taxpayers … from a 20% tax increase.”&nbsp;

Rep. Adrian Smith, who represents Nebraska’s largely rural 3rd District, said&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/WaysandMeansGOP/status/1940688121751851097" target="_blank">on the House floor</a>, “We’re stopping a tax increase on the average middle class household.”&nbsp;

Trump and Republican leadership in Congress successfully made their self-imposed deadline of July 4 to get the “big beautiful bill” to the president’s desk. Now the delegation will try to sell the bill to Nebraskans, as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/25/donald-trump-big-beautiful-bill-polls-republicans-senate/84353553007/" target="_blank">multiple polls</a>&nbsp;indicate that Trump’s signature piece of legislation is unpopular among Americans who are aware of it.

The bill would make tax cuts from the first Trump administration permanent, cementing most of its benefits for high earners. It also introduces some new temporary tax breaks for workers earning less, boosts funding for immigration enforcement, starts funding Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense program and accomplishes other goals from Trump’s domestic agenda.

To offset the cost of the mega bill, the plan is to reduce spending on the social safety net by adding work requirements for Medicaid and food stamps. Also, by&nbsp;lowering provider taxes, a tax nearly every state uses to help fund Medicaid programs.&nbsp;

Congressional experts have estimated that the package would add $3.253 trillion to the debt during the next decade. An analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office also estimates that 5.2 million adults would lose Medicaid coverage due to the stricter requirements, which are expected to save the federal government $280 billion over the next six years.

The bill would require able-bodied people and working-aged individuals to show the government proof of employment to remain on the program every six months.&nbsp;For months, state lawmakers, left-leaning political advocacy organizations, medical professionals, activists and some everyday Nebraskans have expressed concerns about the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/06/23/nebraskans-raise-concerns-about-health-care-cuts-in-fed-budget-reconciliation/">“disastrous” consequences</a>&nbsp;of the mega bill’s Medicaid cuts for healthcare access and to rural hospitals.

Trump’s mega bill includes $50 billion for rural hospitals as an attempt to offset Medicaid cuts, but according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/policy-watch/how-might-federal-medicaid-cuts-in-the-senate-passed-reconciliation-bill-affect-rural-areas/" target="_blank">KFF, a health research organization, analysis</a>, those cuts could decrease Medicaid spending in rural areas by $155 billion over the next decade.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In Nebraska, it’s estimated that the state would lose between $3 billion and $5 billion in Medicaid federal funding over the next 10 years,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/allocating-cbos-estimates-of-federal-medicaid-spending-reductions-across-the-states-senate-reconciliation-bill/" target="_blank">according to KKF</a>.&nbsp;The director of the Nebraska Rural Health Association&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_b8494b09-3f88-4d9d-98f2-f23e241b1477.html#tracking-source=home-top-story" target="_blank">stated that six rural Nebraska hospitals</a>&nbsp;would likely close as a result.&nbsp;

<a href="https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/southwest-nebraska-hospital-announces-plans-to-close-blames-uncertainty-over-funding/" target="_blank">A rural hospital</a>&nbsp;in southwest Nebraska, Curtis Medical Center, has already announced plans to close in the coming months because of the anticipated Medicaid cuts.&nbsp;

“Unfortunately, the current financial environment, driven by anticipated federal budget cuts to Medicaid, has made it impossible for us to continue operating all of our services, many of which have faced significant financial challenges for years,” Troy Bruntz, president and CEO of Community Hospital, said in a news release.

Gov. Jim Pillen, shortly following the House vote, said in a statement that he believes Nebraska supports Trump’s vision for “the America First Agenda.”

“Nebraska’s Congressional delegation deserves a lot of credit for working day and night to deliver policy that puts our state and country on a trajectory of great growth,” Pillen said. He said the legislation “extends tax cuts for families, boosts our military, secures our border, and grows agriculture.”

Jeremy Nordquist, president of the Nebraska Hospital Association, said, that Nebraska hospitals have been “clear” throughout this debate: “This package will undermine health care in our state, hurt patients, and drive up insurance premiums.”

A Nebraska Appleseed spokesperson said the bill “will cause irreparable harm to Nebraskans for decades to come.” The advocacy group said, for example, 40,000 Nebraskans are at risk of losing their Medicaid healthcare by imposing the work requirements.

Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue said Trump’s mega bill is “a win for Nebraska’s farm and ranch families, and we look forward to continuing to work with our stellar congressional delegation on legislation to improve the lives of our state’s food, fuel, and fiber producers.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nebraska Republican Party chair Mary Jane Truemper said it’s “a win for everyone who believes in a strong work ethic, limited government, and opportunity for all.”&nbsp;

Nebraska Democratic Party chair Jane Kleeb said the Republican Party has delivered a “devastating” blow to that American’s “promise of opportunity.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751590039305.png" alt="There was no political surprise from the all-Republican Nebraska federal delegation" />
 <figcaption>There was no political surprise from the all-Republican Nebraska federal delegation</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Despite political posturing, Rep. Don Bacon ultimately follows along to give Trump his domestic agenda</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/jsalinas/">Juan Salinas II</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Republican leadership on the Hill successfully wrangled enough Senate and House Republicans, including the Nebraska federal delegation, into supporting President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill.”&nbsp;The bill passed the U.S. House along party lines, 218-214, and will now be sent to the president to be signed into law. There was no political surprise from the all-Republican Nebraska federal delegation, who spent the week defending the GOP mega bill through national interviews on the Hill.“We’re delivering on President Trump’s growth agenda,” Rep. Mike Flood, who represents eastern Nebraska’s 1st District, told Fox Business. “This is about growth.”&nbsp;The only two House Republicans to vote against the bill were Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie.Earlier this week, the GOP mega bill<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-narrowly-passes-gop-megabill-after-overnight-session-sending-it-house" target="_blank">&nbsp;passed the Senate</a>&nbsp;after an overnight session, with a tie-breaking vote by Vice President JD Vance. U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts have been interviewed about what they said is the importance of preserving Trump’s tax cuts.In a trend, Nebraska’s Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/06/29/nebraska-u-s-rep-don-bacon-again-in-middle-of-fight-for-big-trump-bill/">Don Bacon vocally pushed back</a>, expressing concerns about the Senate version of the bill’s proposed cuts to Medicaid, emphasizing that he had received reassurances the bill would not degrade the quality of healthcare for people covered by Medicaid.&nbsp;He even said he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.notus.org/congress/the-senates-reconciliation-bill-is-running-into-a-new-problem-house-moderates" target="_blank">won’t support the Senate’s reconciliation bill</a>&nbsp;if it cut the Medicaid provider tax rate.&nbsp;But in the end, he voted for it. Bacon defended his vote, like the rest of the delegation, by emphasizing the preservation of the Trump tax cuts.&nbsp;“I wish they had done the house … version,” Bacon told CNN, “But I have an opportunity to protect taxpayers … from a 20% tax increase.”&nbsp;Rep. Adrian Smith, who represents Nebraska’s largely rural 3rd District, said&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/WaysandMeansGOP/status/1940688121751851097" target="_blank">on the House floor</a>, “We’re stopping a tax increase on the average middle class household.”&nbsp;Trump and Republican leadership in Congress successfully made their self-imposed deadline of July 4 to get the “big beautiful bill” to the president’s desk. Now the delegation will try to sell the bill to Nebraskans, as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/25/donald-trump-big-beautiful-bill-polls-republicans-senate/84353553007/" target="_blank">multiple polls</a>&nbsp;indicate that Trump’s signature piece of legislation is unpopular among Americans who are aware of it.The bill would make tax cuts from the first Trump administration permanent, cementing most of its benefits for high earners. It also introduces some new temporary tax breaks for workers earning less, boosts funding for immigration enforcement, starts funding Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense program and accomplishes other goals from Trump’s domestic agenda.To offset the cost of the mega bill, the plan is to reduce spending on the social safety net by adding work requirements for Medicaid and food stamps. Also, by&nbsp;lowering provider taxes, a tax nearly every state uses to help fund Medicaid programs.&nbsp;Congressional experts have estimated that the package would add $3.253 trillion to the debt during the next decade. An analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office also estimates that 5.2 million adults would lose Medicaid coverage due to the stricter requirements, which are expected to save the federal government $280 billion over the next six years.The bill would require able-bodied people and working-aged individuals to show the government proof of employment to remain on the program every six months.&nbsp;For months, state lawmakers, left-leaning political advocacy organizations, medical professionals, activists and some everyday Nebraskans have expressed concerns about the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/06/23/nebraskans-raise-concerns-about-health-care-cuts-in-fed-budget-reconciliation/">“disastrous” consequences</a>&nbsp;of the mega bill’s Medicaid cuts for healthcare access and to rural hospitals.Trump’s mega bill includes $50 billion for rural hospitals as an attempt to offset Medicaid cuts, but according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/policy-watch/how-might-federal-medicaid-cuts-in-the-senate-passed-reconciliation-bill-affect-rural-areas/" target="_blank">KFF, a health research organization, analysis</a>, those cuts could decrease Medicaid spending in rural areas by $155 billion over the next decade.&nbsp;&nbsp;In Nebraska, it’s estimated that the state would lose between $3 billion and $5 billion in Medicaid federal funding over the next 10 years,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/allocating-cbos-estimates-of-federal-medicaid-spending-reductions-across-the-states-senate-reconciliation-bill/" target="_blank">according to KKF</a>.&nbsp;The director of the Nebraska Rural Health Association&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_b8494b09-3f88-4d9d-98f2-f23e241b1477.html#tracking-source=home-top-story" target="_blank">stated that six rural Nebraska hospitals</a>&nbsp;would likely close as a result.&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/southwest-nebraska-hospital-announces-plans-to-close-blames-uncertainty-over-funding/" target="_blank">A rural hospital</a>&nbsp;in southwest Nebraska, Curtis Medical Center, has already announced plans to close in the coming months because of the anticipated Medicaid cuts.&nbsp;“Unfortunately, the current financial environment, driven by anticipated federal budget cuts to Medicaid, has made it impossible for us to continue operating all of our services, many of which have faced significant financial challenges for years,” Troy Bruntz, president and CEO of Community Hospital, said in a news release.<h2>Local Nebraska reactions:</h2>Gov. Jim Pillen, shortly following the House vote, said in a statement that he believes Nebraska supports Trump’s vision for “the America First Agenda.”“Nebraska’s Congressional delegation deserves a lot of credit for working day and night to deliver policy that puts our state and country on a trajectory of great growth,” Pillen said. He said the legislation “extends tax cuts for families, boosts our military, secures our border, and grows agriculture.”Jeremy Nordquist, president of the Nebraska Hospital Association, said, that Nebraska hospitals have been “clear” throughout this debate: “This package will undermine health care in our state, hurt patients, and drive up insurance premiums.”A Nebraska Appleseed spokesperson said the bill “will cause irreparable harm to Nebraskans for decades to come.” The advocacy group said, for example, 40,000 Nebraskans are at risk of losing their Medicaid healthcare by imposing the work requirements.Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue said Trump’s mega bill is “a win for Nebraska’s farm and ranch families, and we look forward to continuing to work with our stellar congressional delegation on legislation to improve the lives of our state’s food, fuel, and fiber producers.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Nebraska Republican Party chair Mary Jane Truemper said it’s “a win for everyone who believes in a strong work ethic, limited government, and opportunity for all.”&nbsp;Nebraska Democratic Party chair Jane Kleeb said the Republican Party has delivered a “devastating” blow to that American’s “promise of opportunity.”

Nebraska federal delegation lockstep on big Trump bill

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: “From 1776 all the way through today, American patriots have won triumph after triumph, we’ve had victory after victory, and let nothing stand in the way of the USA.” 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/hfq0JoVIgu">pic.twitter.com/hfq0JoVIgu</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1940947450841518461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: Exactly one year from tomorrow, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of America&#39;s founding... This evening, we are officially launching &quot;AMERICA 250&quot; — an enormous, year-long, nationwide celebration of our heritage, our flag, and our glorious American freedom. 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/ffQuiio1WY">pic.twitter.com/ffQuiio1WY</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1940938639464452197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;As we prepare to celebrate two and a half centuries of freedom, I am inviting America’s great religious communities to pray for our nation and for our people... as we chart our course toward the next 250 years, let us rededicate ourselves to ONE NATION UNDER GOD.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ooso9kLNZf">pic.twitter.com/ooso9kLNZf</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1940945209661043064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> announces the &quot;Patriot Games&quot; as part of the America 250 celebration — in which top high school athletes from all 50 states participate in a nationally televised sporting event. <a href="https://t.co/02rnXtfgzV">pic.twitter.com/02rnXtfgzV</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1940942910167326808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Trump kicks off yearlong celebration of America's 250th anniversary 

A Clackamas County, Oregon jury found former University of Kansas star and Portland Trail Blazer Ben McLemore guilty Thursday of raping and sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman in 2021, according to a media release from Clackamas County.

McLemore, 32, was convicted in Clackamas County Circuit Court of Rape in the First Degree, Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree and Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree. He will be sentenced at 9:30 a.m. on July 9.

"We recognize there are those who fear individuals with celebrity status or a position of prominence can avoid prosecution. Not in Clackamas County. This case demonstrates my office prosecutes criminal acts regardless of the offender's community status," said District Attorney John Wentworth.

The sexual assault occurred on October 3, 2021, after a party at the Lake Oswego home of Robert Covington, another former Trail Blazer. Covington and McLemore were teammates at the time.

The victim had been drinking heavily and was "hammered unconscious drunk" that night, prosecutor Scott Healy told jurors. It's the most alcohol the woman ever had to drink in her life and the most intoxicated she's ever been, Healy said.

The victim vomited earlier in the evening and witnesses said she had difficulty walking, slurred speech and could barely lift her head, Healy said.

The victim passed out on a large living room couch around 2 a.m. Sometime later McLemore later began sleeping on the same couch.

Around 6 a.m., the victim regained partial consciousness when McLemore sexually penetrated her with his fingers then began having sexual intercourse with her.

The victim was "fading in and out" of consciousness, frightened and traumatized, Healy said. Later that day she sought a specialized medical examination for victims of sexual assault.

"(The defendant) needs to be held accountable for what he did. You can't do that to somebody, let alone somebody that you don't know either. You don't do that to people and just be able to get away with it. I don't care who you are," the victim said during her trial testimony.

Defense attorneys for McLemore disputed the victim's account of events. They claimed she initiated sexual contact and consented to it.

McLemore's attorneys asserted that although the victim and McLemore were both intoxicated and at the time of the encounter, the victim was sober enough to consent.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751586386443.png" alt="McLemore- photo Clackamas County " />
 <figcaption>McLemore- photo Clackamas County </figcaption>
 </figure>A Clackamas County, Oregon jury found former University of Kansas star and Portland Trail Blazer Ben McLemore guilty Thursday of raping and sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman in 2021, according to a media release from Clackamas County.McLemore, 32, was convicted in Clackamas County Circuit Court of Rape in the First Degree, Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree and Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree. He will be sentenced at 9:30 a.m. on July 9."We recognize there are those who fear individuals with celebrity status or a position of prominence can avoid prosecution. Not in Clackamas County. This case demonstrates my office prosecutes criminal acts regardless of the offender's community status," said District Attorney John Wentworth.The sexual assault occurred on October 3, 2021, after a party at the Lake Oswego home of Robert Covington, another former Trail Blazer. Covington and McLemore were teammates at the time.The victim had been drinking heavily and was "hammered unconscious drunk" that night, prosecutor Scott Healy told jurors. It's the most alcohol the woman ever had to drink in her life and the most intoxicated she's ever been, Healy said.The victim vomited earlier in the evening and witnesses said she had difficulty walking, slurred speech and could barely lift her head, Healy said.The victim passed out on a large living room couch around 2 a.m. Sometime later McLemore later began sleeping on the same couch.Around 6 a.m., the victim regained partial consciousness when McLemore sexually penetrated her with his fingers then began having sexual intercourse with her.The victim was "fading in and out" of consciousness, frightened and traumatized, Healy said. Later that day she sought a specialized medical examination for victims of sexual assault."(The defendant) needs to be held accountable for what he did. You can't do that to somebody, let alone somebody that you don't know either. You don't do that to people and just be able to get away with it. I don't care who you are," the victim said during her trial testimony.Defense attorneys for McLemore disputed the victim's account of events. They claimed she initiated sexual contact and consented to it.McLemore's attorneys asserted that although the victim and McLemore were both intoxicated and at the time of the encounter, the victim was sober enough to consent.

Former KU player convicted of rape, sexual assault in Oregon

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans cleared the “big, beautiful bill” for President Donald Trump’s signature Thursday, marking an end to the painstaking months-long negotiations that began just after voters gave the GOP unified control of Washington during last year’s elections.

The final 218-214 vote on the expansive tax and spending cuts package marked a significant victory for Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who were able to unify centrist and far-right members of the party against long odds and narrow majorities.

But the legislation’s real-world impacts include millions of Americans expected to lose access to Medicaid through new requirements and slashed spending, and state governments taking on a share of costs for a key nutrition program for low-income families. If voters oppose Republicans at the ballot box in return, it could mean the GOP loses the House during next year’s midterm elections.

In the end just two Republicans in the House and three in the Senate opposed the measure, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-narrowly-passes-gop-megabill-after-overnight-session-sending-it-house" target="_blank">the Senate approved</a>&nbsp;earlier in the week with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.

Trump posted on social media numerous times in the days leading up to the vote, thanking supportive Republicans who were praising the bill during interviews and threatening to back primary challenges against GOP lawmakers who stood in the way of passage.

“Largest Tax Cuts in History and a Booming Economy vs. Biggest Tax Increase in History, and a Failed Economy,” Trump posted just after midnight when it wasn’t yet clear the bill would pass. “What are the Republicans waiting for??? What are you trying to prove??? MAGA IS NOT HAPPY, AND IT’S COSTING YOU VOTES!!!”

Johnson said during a floor speech the legislation is a direct result of the November elections, when voters gave the GOP control of the House, Senate and the White House.

“That election was decisive. It was a bellwether. It was a time for choosing,” Johnson said. “And I tell you what — the American people chose, overwhelmingly, they chose the Republican Party.”

The package, he said, would make the country “stronger, safer and more prosperous than ever before.”

“We’ve had spirited debates, we’ve had months of deliberation and now we are finally ready to fulfill our promise to the American people,” Johnson said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751568967015.png" alt="The U.S. Capitol as lawmakers worked into the night on the “big beautiful bill” on July 2, 2025. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)" />
 <figcaption>The U.S. Capitol as lawmakers worked into the night on the “big beautiful bill” on July 2, 2025. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans cleared the “big, beautiful bill” for President Donald Trump’s signature Thursday, marking an end to the painstaking months-long negotiations that began just after voters gave the GOP unified control of Washington during last year’s elections.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">✅ The House of Representatives just officially PASSED the One Big Beautiful Bill. The largest middle-class tax cut in American history — and so much more — is on its way to President Trump&#39;s desk. MAGA! <a href="https://t.co/V3U8xhenrS">pic.twitter.com/V3U8xhenrS</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1940841386305319258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The final 218-214 vote on the expansive tax and spending cuts package marked a significant victory for Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who were able to unify centrist and far-right members of the party against long odds and narrow majorities.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">VICTORY: The One Big Beautiful Bill Passes U.S. Congress, Heads to President Trump’s Desk 🇺🇸🎉 <a href="https://t.co/d1nbOlL21G">pic.twitter.com/d1nbOlL21G</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1940840879075611037?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>But the legislation’s real-world impacts include millions of Americans expected to lose access to Medicaid through new requirements and slashed spending, and state governments taking on a share of costs for a key nutrition program for low-income families. If voters oppose Republicans at the ballot box in return, it could mean the GOP loses the House during next year’s midterm elections.In the end just two Republicans in the House and three in the Senate opposed the measure, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-narrowly-passes-gop-megabill-after-overnight-session-sending-it-house" target="_blank">the Senate approved</a>&nbsp;earlier in the week with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.Trump posted on social media numerous times in the days leading up to the vote, thanking supportive Republicans who were praising the bill during interviews and threatening to back primary challenges against GOP lawmakers who stood in the way of passage.“Largest Tax Cuts in History and a Booming Economy vs. Biggest Tax Increase in History, and a Failed Economy,” Trump posted just after midnight when it wasn’t yet clear the bill would pass. “What are the Republicans waiting for??? What are you trying to prove??? MAGA IS NOT HAPPY, AND IT’S COSTING YOU VOTES!!!”Johnson said during a floor speech the legislation is a direct result of the November elections, when voters gave the GOP control of the House, Senate and the White House.“That election was decisive. It was a bellwether. It was a time for choosing,” Johnson said. “And I tell you what — the American people chose, overwhelmingly, they chose the Republican Party.”The package, he said, would make the country “stronger, safer and more prosperous than ever before.”“We’ve had spirited debates, we’ve had months of deliberation and now we are finally ready to fulfill our promise to the American people,” Johnson said.Republicans were spurred to write the tax provisions in the legislation to avoid a cliff at the end of the year, created by the party’s 2017 tax law. But the legislation holds dozens of other provisions as well, spanning border security, defense, energy production, health care and higher education aid.The bill raises the country’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-gop-wants-hike-debt-limit-5-trillion-mega-bill" target="_blank">debt limit by $5 trillion</a>, a staggering figure that many fiscal hawks would have once balked at, but is enough to get Republicans past the midterm elections before they’ll have to negotiate another deal to raise the country’s borrowing limit.The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2025-07/61537-hr1-Senate-passed-additional-info7-1-25.pdf" target="_blank">latest analysis</a>&nbsp;of the measure projects it would add $3.4 trillion to deficits during the next decade compared to current law.<h2>Jeffries: “It guts Medicaid’</h2>House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called the health care provisions “reckless” during a speech that lasted nearly nine hours, forcing the vote to take place in the afternoon rather than early morning, and said the “bill represents the largest cut to health care in American history.”“Almost $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid,” Jeffries said. “This runs directly contrary to what President Trump indicated in January, which was that he was going to love and cherish Medicaid. Nothing about this bill loves and cherishes Medicaid. It guts Medicaid.”The speech broke the eight-hour-and-32-minute record that then-Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., set in 2021 when he sought to delay Democrats from passing a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. House leaders are allowed to exceed normal speaking limits through a privilege called the “magic minute.”The nonpartisan health research organization KFF’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/allocating-cbos-estimates-of-federal-medicaid-spending-reductions-across-the-states-senate-reconciliation-bill/" target="_blank">analysis</a>&nbsp;of the package shows it would reduce federal spending on Medicaid by nearly $1 trillion during the next decade and lead to 11.8 million people becoming uninsured.Republicans made numerous changes to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gop-tax-cut-plans-may-depend-savings-medicaid-what-it-and-who-relies-it" target="_blank">the state-federal health program</a>&nbsp;for lower income people and some people with disabilities, including a requirement that some enrollees work, participate in community service, or attend an educational program for at least 80 hours a month.Medicaid patients will no longer be able to have their care covered at Planned Parenthood for routine appointments, like annual physicals and cancer screenings, for one year. Congress has barred federal taxpayer dollars from going to abortions with limited exceptions for decades, but the new provision will block all Medicaid funding from going to Planned Parenthood, likely leading some of its clinics to close.<h2>Overnight drama</h2>House passage followed several frenzied days on Capitol Hill as congressional leaders and Trump sought to sway holdouts to their side ahead of a self-imposed Fourth of July deadline.The Senate, and then later the House, held overnight sessions followed by dramatic votes where several Republicans, who said publicly they didn’t actually like the bill, voted to approve it anyway.&nbsp;GOP leaders didn’t have much room for error amid a narrow 53-seat Senate majority and a 220-212 advantage in the House. That delicate balance hovered in the background during the last several months, as talks over dozens of policy changes and spending cuts in the bill appeared deadlocked.Any modifications meant to bring on board far-right members of the party had to be weighed against the policy goals of centrist lawmakers, who are most at risk of losing their seats during next year’s elections.The House&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-republicans-push-through-massive-tax-and-spending-bill-slashing-medicaid" target="_blank">passed its first version of the bill</a>&nbsp;following a 215-214 vote in May, sending the legislation to the Senate, where Republicans in that chamber spent several weeks deciding which policies they could support and which they wanted to remove or rework.The measure changed substantially to comply with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/five-questions-and-answers-about-reconciliation-us-senate" target="_blank">the complex rules for moving a budget reconciliation bill</a>&nbsp;through the upper chamber. GOP leaders chose to use that process, instead of moving the package through the regular legislative pathway, to avoid having to negotiate with Democrats to get past the Senate’s 60-vote legislative filibuster.In the end nearly every one of the 273 Republicans in Congress approved the behemoth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text?s=6&amp;r=1&amp;q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22H.R.+1%22%7D" target="_blank">870-page bill.</a><h2>GOP holdouts delay passage</h2>Floor debate on the bill in the House, which began around 3:30 a.m. Eastern Thursday and lasted 11 hours, was along party lines, with Democrats voicing strong opposition to changes in the package and GOP lawmakers arguing it puts the country on a better path.GOP leaders didn’t originally plan to begin debate in the middle of the night while most of the country slept, but were forced to after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-gop-struggles-advance-megabill-against-freedom-caucus-resistance" target="_blank">holdouts refused to give their votes</a>&nbsp;to a procedural step.When the House did finally adopt the rule, Pennsylvania’s Brian Fitzpatrick was the sole member of his party to vote against moving onto floor debate and a final passage vote.Fitzpatrick had&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/RepBrianFitz/status/1940451015125246089" target="_blank">posted on social media</a>&nbsp;earlier in the day that he wanted Trump “to address my serious concern regarding reports the United States is withholding critical defense material pledged to Ukraine.”“Ukrainian forces are not only safeguarding their homeland—they are holding the front line of freedom itself,” he wrote. “There can be no half-measures in the defense of liberty. We must, as we always have, stand for peace through strength.”<h2>Tax breaks and so much more</h2>House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., made significant promises to middle-class Americans during floor debate about the tax provisions in the bill that many voters will be watching for in the months ahead.&nbsp;“Households making under $100,000 will see a 12% tax cut compared to what they pay today. The average family of four will see nearly 11,000 more in their pockets each year,” Smith said. “Real wages for workers will rise by as much as $7,200 a year. A waitress working for tips will keep an extra $1,300, a lineman working overtime after a storm will keep an extra $1,400.”Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Richard Neal, ranking member on the tax writing panel, said the legislation’s benefits skew largely toward the very wealthy.“If you made a million dollars last year, you’re going to make a plus of $96,000 in the next tax filing season,” Neal said. “If you made under $50,000 last year, you’re going to get 68 cents a day in terms of your tax relief.”The extension of the 2017 tax law would predominantly benefit high-income earners. The top 1% would receive a tax cut three times the size of those with incomes in the bottom 60% of after-tax income,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-tax/house-republican-tax-bill-is-skewed-to-wealthy-costs-more-than-extending-2017" target="_blank">according to analysis</a>&nbsp;from the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/1000-trump-accounts-babies-skewed-toward-wealthy-critics-say" target="_blank">Some other tax incentives</a>&nbsp;that critics say skew toward wealthier families include a $1,000 deposit from the federal government for babies born between 2024 and 2028, known as a “Trump account.” The program&nbsp;would track a stock index and gain interest accordingly and families with disposable income could contribute additional funding.And while Republicans included an extension of the child tax credit to $2,200 per child, it requires the parents to have a Social Security number to claim the tax credit.The bill will give the president more than $170 billion to carry out his campaign promise of mass deportations of people in the country without permanent legal status. The package would give the Department of Homeland Security $45 billion for the detention of immigrants and give its immigration enforcement arm another $30 billion to hire up to 10,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.<h2>Food aid, higher education</h2>The legislation will overhaul federal loans for higher education and how states pay for food assistance that roughly 42 million low-income people rely on, known as the&nbsp;Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.The bill would cap federal graduate loans to $100,000 per borrower and $200,000 per borrower who is attending law school or medical school. It would also cap the ParentPLUS loans to $65,000.Under the SNAP changes, the package would require states to shoulder more of the burden in food assistance. Currently, the federal government covers 100% of the cost. The legislation tightens eligibility for SNAP, requiring parents with children aged 6 and older to meet the work requirements when they were previously exempt.The SNAP changes would reduce federal spending on the program by $230 billion over 10 years.The GOP megabill cuts clean energy tax credits and claws back some of the funding in former president Joe Biden’s signature climate bill, known as the Inflation Reduction Act.Some of those cuts to clean energy tax credits include terminating at the end of September a nearly $8,000 rebate for the purchase of an electric vehicle, ending a tax credit by December for energy efficient home upgrades such as solar roof panels and heat pumps.The package rescinds funds to help local governments and states adopt zero emission standards, and eliminates environmental justice block grants that communities used to address health impacts due to environmental pollution, among other things.