LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Malcolm X has garnered the recognition many have sought for his contributions to the civil rights movement in the conservative Midwest state where he was born, after years of being rejected as too controversial to be honored.

The Nebraska Legislature on Thursday passed a bill to recognize the civil rights icon every May 19, the day Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1925. The legislation falls short of declaring the day a state holiday, which was introduced in a bill by Omaha Sen. Terrell McKinney — one of two Black members of the Nebraska Legislature. McKinney's bill failed to gain traction mainly because of objections to the projected cost of more than $500,000 a year to declare a state holiday. That cost comes from holiday pay for state workers.

Instead, McKinney added an amendment to a bill that declares Oct. 17 as Missing Persons Day. The amendment recognizes May 19 as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, Malcolm X Day, to allow Nebraska schools to hold exercises to recognize the civil rights icon.

The day of recognition comes in the same year that a ceremony will be held in May to observe Malcolm X’s induction into the Nebraska Hall of Fame. During that ceremony, a bronze bust created by Lincoln artist Nathan Murray will be unveiled and displayed among the busts of other inductees in the halls of the Nebraska State Capitol.

“Malcolm X is one of the most fundamentally misunderstood people in American history,” McKinney said last year during a committee hearing on his bill. “And perhaps the stigma around him would be extinguished if his achievements and contributions were recognized.”

Malcolm X was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-new-york-nebraska-omaha-aa4ac236d1cdfbf6b2c03e44d2e7aa64">selected last year</a>&nbsp;as the newest inductee into the Nebraska Hall of Fame, making him the state's first Black honoree. His selection came 15 years after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/43b26a00075e40d7a3cc24a4b229fd1c">being rejected as too controversial</a>.

Born the son of a Baptist preacher, Malcolm Little was still a baby when he and his family left for Milwaukee after threats from the Ku Klux Klan.

At 20, he was convicted of burglary in Boston and sentenced to nearly seven years in prison, where he converted to Islam and later changed his name. He emerged as a fiery Nation of Islam minister with a message that Black people should cast off white oppression “by any means necessary,” before later splitting from the Nation of Islam and renouncing racial separatism.

He was assassinated in Manhattan’s Audubon Ballroom by gunmen who opened fire during a speaking engagement.

The firebrand was first nominated for Nebraska’s Hall of Fame in 2004, but passed over by a commission made up solely of white men who instead selected a mid-1900s U.S. senator who made a name for himself with his campaign to remove gay men from government posts in the 1940s and 1950s. The pick of Sen. Kenneth Wherry was later nixed because of an open-meetings violation.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Malcolm X has garnered the recognition many have sought for his contributions to the civil rights movement in the conservative Midwest state where he was born, after years of being rejected as too controversial to be honored.The Nebraska Legislature on Thursday passed a bill to recognize the civil rights icon every May 19, the day Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1925. The legislation falls short of declaring the day a state holiday, which was introduced in a bill by Omaha Sen. Terrell McKinney — one of two Black members of the Nebraska Legislature. McKinney's bill failed to gain traction mainly because of objections to the projected cost of more than $500,000 a year to declare a state holiday. That cost comes from holiday pay for state workers.Instead, McKinney added an amendment to a bill that declares Oct. 17 as Missing Persons Day. The amendment recognizes May 19 as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, Malcolm X Day, to allow Nebraska schools to hold exercises to recognize the civil rights icon.The day of recognition comes in the same year that a ceremony will be held in May to observe Malcolm X’s induction into the Nebraska Hall of Fame. During that ceremony, a bronze bust created by Lincoln artist Nathan Murray will be unveiled and displayed among the busts of other inductees in the halls of the Nebraska State Capitol.“Malcolm X is one of the most fundamentally misunderstood people in American history,” McKinney said last year during a committee hearing on his bill. “And perhaps the stigma around him would be extinguished if his achievements and contributions were recognized.”Malcolm X was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-new-york-nebraska-omaha-aa4ac236d1cdfbf6b2c03e44d2e7aa64">selected last year</a>&nbsp;as the newest inductee into the Nebraska Hall of Fame, making him the state's first Black honoree. His selection came 15 years after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/43b26a00075e40d7a3cc24a4b229fd1c">being rejected as too controversial</a>.Born the son of a Baptist preacher, Malcolm Little was still a baby when he and his family left for Milwaukee after threats from the Ku Klux Klan.At 20, he was convicted of burglary in Boston and sentenced to nearly seven years in prison, where he converted to Islam and later changed his name. He emerged as a fiery Nation of Islam minister with a message that Black people should cast off white oppression “by any means necessary,” before later splitting from the Nation of Islam and renouncing racial separatism.He was assassinated in Manhattan’s Audubon Ballroom by gunmen who opened fire during a speaking engagement.The firebrand was first nominated for Nebraska’s Hall of Fame in 2004, but passed over by a commission made up solely of white men who instead selected a mid-1900s U.S. senator who made a name for himself with his campaign to remove gay men from government posts in the 1940s and 1950s. The pick of Sen. Kenneth Wherry was later nixed because of an open-meetings violation.

Civil rights icon Malcolm X gets a day of recognition in Nebraska, where he was born in 1925

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A group of Republican-led states is suing the Biden administration to block a new student loan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-miguel-cardona-business-73dcbf54ddb3b53c9c3c5468cfdec3b9">repayment plan</a>&nbsp;that provides a faster path to cancellation and lower monthly payments for millions of borrowers.

In a federal lawsuit filed Thursday, 11 states led by Kansas argue that Biden overstepped his authority in creating the SAVE Plan, which was made available to borrowers last year and has already canceled loans for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-student-loan-forgiveness-2024-california-cc23ba93a733b583f3ee8963cdd02566">more than 150,000</a>.

It argues that the new plan is no different from Biden's first attempt at student loan cancellation, which the Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-supreme-court-653c2e9c085863bdbf81f125f87669fa'">rejected last year</a>. “Last time Defendants tried this the Supreme Court said that this action was illegal. Nothing since then has changed,” according to the lawsuit.

Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-biden-plan-d9c8e18774a744187c9af634bf4eb728">announced the SAVE repayment plan</a>&nbsp;in 2022, alongside a separate plan to cancel up to $20,000 in debt for more than 40 million Americans. The Supreme Court blocked the cancellation plan after Republican states sued, but the court didn’t examine SAVE, which was still being hashed out.

The new lawsuit was filed a day after the White House hosted a “day of action” to promote the SAVE Plan. The Biden administration says more than 7.7 million borrowers have enrolled in the plan, including more than 5 million who have had their monthly payments reduced to $100 or less because they have lower yearly incomes.

The challenge was filed in federal court in Topeka, Kansas, by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach. It asks a judge to halt the plan immediately. Along with Kansas, the suit is backed by Nebraska, Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.

“In a completely brazen fashion, the president pressed ahead anyway,” Kobach said during a news conference at the Kansas Statehouse. “The law simply does not allow President Biden to do what he wants to do.”

Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-forgiveness-save-plan-debt-borrowers-313afd73cadc3cfc8ab3a6ee684fc3e4">new repayment plan</a>&nbsp;is a modified version of other income-based repayment plans that the Education Department has offered since the ’90s. The earliest versions were created by Congress to help struggling borrowers, capping payments at a portion of their income and canceling any remaining debt after 20 or 25 years.

The new plan offers more generous terms than ever, offering to reduce monthly payments for more borrowers and canceling loans in as little as 10 years. Unlike other plans, it prevents interest from snowballing as long as borrowers make their monthly payments.

The plan’s provisions are being phased in this year, and the quicker path to cancellation was originally scheduled to take effect later this summer. But the Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-cancellation-debt-forgiveness-biden-2630ec3d7cb06510c9d7248a86afb8ce">accelerated that benefit</a>&nbsp;and started canceling loans for some borrowers in February.

Biden said it was meant “to give more borrowers breathing room so they can get out from under the burden of student loan debt.”

Instead of creating a new plan from scratch, the Education Department amended existing plans through federal regulation. Supporters saw it as a legal maneuver that put the plan on firmer grounding, anticipating a challenge from Republicans.

But in the new lawsuit, Kobach argues that Biden needed to go through Congress to make such significant changes.

The states argue that Biden's plan will harm them in many ways.

With such a generous repayment plan, fewer borrowers will have an incentive to go into public service and pursue the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, the states argue. They predict more state employees will leave their jobs, and it will worsen public schools' struggles to recruit and retain teachers.

They argue the plan will inject hundreds of billions of dollars in loan relief into the U.S. economy, which would require states to increase fraud protection efforts. The plan “will create enormous opportunities for fraudsters to exploit student debt borrowers that would not otherwise exist,” according to the suit.

If successful, it would effectively kill the last remnant of Biden’s first attempt at widespread student loan relief. After the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-debt-forgiveness-supreme-court-2d6eec61822b9e7a89ff59453d2486a5">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;blocked his wider plan last year, Biden ordered the Education Department to craft a new plan using a different legal justification. The agency is now pursuing a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-cancellation-debt-forgiveness-college-069753ae42ab90974eb03173b8b5910a">more limited plan</a>&nbsp;for mass cancellation.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A group of Republican-led states is suing the Biden administration to block a new student loan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-miguel-cardona-business-73dcbf54ddb3b53c9c3c5468cfdec3b9">repayment plan</a>&nbsp;that provides a faster path to cancellation and lower monthly payments for millions of borrowers.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The fact of the matter is this: it is not amongst the President&#39;s abilities to bypass Congress and earmark 100s of billions of dollars for what they see fit. This is called the &quot;Major Questions Doctrine,&quot; and it is crucial to maintaining the separation of powers in our system. <a href="https://t.co/YAcTuUstTr">pic.twitter.com/YAcTuUstTr</a>&mdash; Kansas AG&#39;s Office (@KSAGOffice) <a href="https://twitter.com/KSAGOffice/status/1773421094386487296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In a federal lawsuit filed Thursday, 11 states led by Kansas argue that Biden overstepped his authority in creating the SAVE Plan, which was made available to borrowers last year and has already canceled loans for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-student-loan-forgiveness-2024-california-cc23ba93a733b583f3ee8963cdd02566">more than 150,000</a>.It argues that the new plan is no different from Biden's first attempt at student loan cancellation, which the Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-supreme-court-653c2e9c085863bdbf81f125f87669fa'">rejected last year</a>. “Last time Defendants tried this the Supreme Court said that this action was illegal. Nothing since then has changed,” according to the lawsuit.Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-biden-plan-d9c8e18774a744187c9af634bf4eb728">announced the SAVE repayment plan</a>&nbsp;in 2022, alongside a separate plan to cancel up to $20,000 in debt for more than 40 million Americans. The Supreme Court blocked the cancellation plan after Republican states sued, but the court didn’t examine SAVE, which was still being hashed out.The new lawsuit was filed a day after the White House hosted a “day of action” to promote the SAVE Plan. The Biden administration says more than 7.7 million borrowers have enrolled in the plan, including more than 5 million who have had their monthly payments reduced to $100 or less because they have lower yearly incomes.The challenge was filed in federal court in Topeka, Kansas, by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach. It asks a judge to halt the plan immediately. Along with Kansas, the suit is backed by Nebraska, Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.“In a completely brazen fashion, the president pressed ahead anyway,” Kobach said during a news conference at the Kansas Statehouse. “The law simply does not allow President Biden to do what he wants to do.”Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-forgiveness-save-plan-debt-borrowers-313afd73cadc3cfc8ab3a6ee684fc3e4">new repayment plan</a>&nbsp;is a modified version of other income-based repayment plans that the Education Department has offered since the ’90s. The earliest versions were created by Congress to help struggling borrowers, capping payments at a portion of their income and canceling any remaining debt after 20 or 25 years.The new plan offers more generous terms than ever, offering to reduce monthly payments for more borrowers and canceling loans in as little as 10 years. Unlike other plans, it prevents interest from snowballing as long as borrowers make their monthly payments.The plan’s provisions are being phased in this year, and the quicker path to cancellation was originally scheduled to take effect later this summer. But the Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-cancellation-debt-forgiveness-biden-2630ec3d7cb06510c9d7248a86afb8ce">accelerated that benefit</a>&nbsp;and started canceling loans for some borrowers in February.Biden said it was meant “to give more borrowers breathing room so they can get out from under the burden of student loan debt.”Instead of creating a new plan from scratch, the Education Department amended existing plans through federal regulation. Supporters saw it as a legal maneuver that put the plan on firmer grounding, anticipating a challenge from Republicans.But in the new lawsuit, Kobach argues that Biden needed to go through Congress to make such significant changes.The states argue that Biden's plan will harm them in many ways.With such a generous repayment plan, fewer borrowers will have an incentive to go into public service and pursue the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, the states argue. They predict more state employees will leave their jobs, and it will worsen public schools' struggles to recruit and retain teachers.They argue the plan will inject hundreds of billions of dollars in loan relief into the U.S. economy, which would require states to increase fraud protection efforts. The plan “will create enormous opportunities for fraudsters to exploit student debt borrowers that would not otherwise exist,” according to the suit.If successful, it would effectively kill the last remnant of Biden’s first attempt at widespread student loan relief. After the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-debt-forgiveness-supreme-court-2d6eec61822b9e7a89ff59453d2486a5">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;blocked his wider plan last year, Biden ordered the Education Department to craft a new plan using a different legal justification. The agency is now pursuing a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-cancellation-debt-forgiveness-college-069753ae42ab90974eb03173b8b5910a">more limited plan</a>&nbsp;for mass cancellation.

🎥Nebraska sues Biden administration over student loan forgiveness

KEARNEY – Following a national search, the University of Nebraska at Kearney has selected Julie Shaffer as its next senior vice chancellor for academic affairs.

Shaffer has served as interim senior vice chancellor for academic affairs since August 2023. Her appointment to the permanent position is pending approval from the NU System president and Board of Regents.

“Julie has shown her commitment to UNK through a variety of activities, from mentoring student researchers to serving as interim senior vice chancellor during an important time. I’m very pleased that she has accepted this position, and I know UNK is in good hands,” Chancellor Doug Kristensen said.

Shaffer joined the UNK Department of Biology in 1999 and was promoted to associate professor in 2004 and professor in 2010. She served as the department’s graduate program chair for seven years and online director for one year before becoming the department chair in 2017.

Shaffer has taught undergraduate and graduate courses – online and in person – while mentoring countless student researchers. With interests in microbial ecology and tickborne pathogens, she’s presented at numerous conferences and had her work published in a variety of academic journals. Her research projects have received more than $6 million in grant funding.

She’s also served on several campus committees and academic program review teams and is a current fellow for the National Strategic Research Institute at the University of Nebraska.

“I’m honored to be the next SVCAA of UNK,” Shaffer said. “I look forward to working with the deans, directors and faculty to strengthen the academic programs and support the UNK mission.”

Among her many awards and honors, Shaffer received the Pratt-Heins Award for Teaching in 2010 and Leland Holdt/Security Mutual Life Distinguished Faculty Award – the university’s most prestigious faculty honor – in 2014. She was instrumental in revising the curriculum for her department’s undergraduate and graduate programs while creating several courses in her area of expertise.

Shaffer earned bachelor’s degrees in biology and English from the University of Sioux Falls and a doctorate in biology with an emphasis in microbial physiology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She’s a past president of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Missouri Valley Branch of the American Society of Microbiology and also has membership in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Science Teaching Association, Association of College and University Biology Educators, Entomological Society of America and National Association of Biology Teachers.

The senior vice chancellor for academic affairs is the chief academic officer at UNK, overseeing three academic colleges, general studies and Graduate Studies and Academic Outreach. The position also oversees the library, Academic Resources and Institutional Research, assessment, Sponsored Programs and Research, UNK Global, registrar and academic programs such as undergraduate research, the Honors Program and Thompson Scholars Learning Community. Additionally, they serve as a liaison to the Higher Learning Commission and OneIT.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711651982928.jpeg" alt="Senior Vice Chancellor For Academic Affairs Julie Shaffer (Courtesy of UNK)" />
 <figcaption>Senior Vice Chancellor For Academic Affairs Julie Shaffer (Courtesy of UNK)</figcaption>
 </figure>Tyler EllysonUNK CommunicationsKEARNEY – Following a national search, the University of Nebraska at Kearney has selected Julie Shaffer as its next senior vice chancellor for academic affairs.Shaffer has served as interim senior vice chancellor for academic affairs since August 2023. Her appointment to the permanent position is pending approval from the NU System president and Board of Regents.“Julie has shown her commitment to UNK through a variety of activities, from mentoring student researchers to serving as interim senior vice chancellor during an important time. I’m very pleased that she has accepted this position, and I know UNK is in good hands,” Chancellor Doug Kristensen said.Shaffer joined the UNK Department of Biology in 1999 and was promoted to associate professor in 2004 and professor in 2010. She served as the department’s graduate program chair for seven years and online director for one year before becoming the department chair in 2017.Shaffer has taught undergraduate and graduate courses – online and in person – while mentoring countless student researchers. With interests in microbial ecology and tickborne pathogens, she’s presented at numerous conferences and had her work published in a variety of academic journals. Her research projects have received more than $6 million in grant funding.She’s also served on several campus committees and academic program review teams and is a current fellow for the National Strategic Research Institute at the University of Nebraska.“I’m honored to be the next SVCAA of UNK,” Shaffer said. “I look forward to working with the deans, directors and faculty to strengthen the academic programs and support the UNK mission.”Among her many awards and honors, Shaffer received the Pratt-Heins Award for Teaching in 2010 and Leland Holdt/Security Mutual Life Distinguished Faculty Award – the university’s most prestigious faculty honor – in 2014. She was instrumental in revising the curriculum for her department’s undergraduate and graduate programs while creating several courses in her area of expertise.Shaffer earned bachelor’s degrees in biology and English from the University of Sioux Falls and a doctorate in biology with an emphasis in microbial physiology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She’s a past president of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Missouri Valley Branch of the American Society of Microbiology and also has membership in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Science Teaching Association, Association of College and University Biology Educators, Entomological Society of America and National Association of Biology Teachers.The senior vice chancellor for academic affairs is the chief academic officer at UNK, overseeing three academic colleges, general studies and Graduate Studies and Academic Outreach. The position also oversees the library, Academic Resources and Institutional Research, assessment, Sponsored Programs and Research, UNK Global, registrar and academic programs such as undergraduate research, the Honors Program and Thompson Scholars Learning Community. Additionally, they serve as a liaison to the Higher Learning Commission and OneIT.

Julie Shaffer promoted to permanent senior vice chancellor for academic affairs position

NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Trade Commission is investigating TikTok over its data and security practices, a probe that could lead to a settlement or a lawsuit against the company, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The investigation is the latest battle in Washington for the social media company, which is already fighting against a federal bill that could ban the platform in the U.S. if it doesn’t break ties with its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance.

In its investigation, the FTC has been looking into whether TikTok violated a portion of federal law that prohibits “unfair and deceptive” business practices by denying that individuals in China had access to U.S. user data, said the person, who is not authorized to discuss the investigation.

The agency also is scrutinizing the company over potential violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, which requires kid-oriented apps and websites to get parents’ consent before collecting personal information of children under 13.

FTC spokesperson Nicole Drayton and TikTok declined to comment on the investigation, which was first reported by Politico.

The agency is nearing the conclusion of its investigation and could settle with TikTok in the coming weeks. But there’s not a deadline for an agreement, the person said.

If the FTC moves forward with a lawsuit instead, it would have to refer the case to the Justice Department, which would have 45 days to decide whether it wants to file a case on the FTC’s behalf, make changes or send it back to the agency to pursue on its own.

The news comes nearly two years after Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner and Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the committee, urged FTC chair Lina Khan to investigate TikTok, citing a report from Buzzfeed News that said ByteDance employees in China have repeatedly accessed data on U.S. TikTok users.

In late 2022, ByteDance said it fired four employees who accessed data on journalists from Buzzfeed News and The Financial Times while attempting to track down leaks of confidential materials about the company.

Legislation that could determine TikTok’s fate in the U.S. was approved in the House this month. But the bill has already run into roadblocks in the Senate, where there is little unanimity on how to best approach concerns over the social platform.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Trade Commission is investigating TikTok over its data and security practices, a probe that could lead to a settlement or a lawsuit against the company, according to a person familiar with the matter.The investigation is the latest battle in Washington for the social media company, which is already fighting against a federal bill that could ban the platform in the U.S. if it doesn’t break ties with its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance.In its investigation, the FTC has been looking into whether TikTok violated a portion of federal law that prohibits “unfair and deceptive” business practices by denying that individuals in China had access to U.S. user data, said the person, who is not authorized to discuss the investigation.The agency also is scrutinizing the company over potential violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, which requires kid-oriented apps and websites to get parents’ consent before collecting personal information of children under 13.FTC spokesperson Nicole Drayton and TikTok declined to comment on the investigation, which was first reported by Politico.The agency is nearing the conclusion of its investigation and could settle with TikTok in the coming weeks. But there’s not a deadline for an agreement, the person said.If the FTC moves forward with a lawsuit instead, it would have to refer the case to the Justice Department, which would have 45 days to decide whether it wants to file a case on the FTC’s behalf, make changes or send it back to the agency to pursue on its own.The news comes nearly two years after Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner and Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the committee, urged FTC chair Lina Khan to investigate TikTok, citing a report from Buzzfeed News that said ByteDance employees in China have repeatedly accessed data on U.S. TikTok users.In late 2022, ByteDance said it fired four employees who accessed data on journalists from Buzzfeed News and The Financial Times while attempting to track down leaks of confidential materials about the company.Legislation that could determine TikTok’s fate in the U.S. was approved in the House this month. But the bill has already run into roadblocks in the Senate, where there is little unanimity on how to best approach concerns over the social platform.

US Federal Trade Commission investigating TikTok

NEW YORK (AP) — Crypto entrepreneur&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sam-bankman-fried">Sam Bankman-Fried</a>&nbsp;was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for a massive fraud on hundreds of thousands of customers that unraveled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world’s most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency.

U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan delivered a blistering analysis of Bankman-Fried and his crimes before announcing a sentence that was half of what prosecutors sought and less than a quarter of the 105 years recommended by the court's Probation officers.

“There is absolutely no doubt that Mr. Bankman-Fried’s name right now is pretty much mud around the world,” Kaplan said of the 32-year-old man who once seemed atop the cryptocurrency world before his businesses collapsed in November 2022, leaving customers, investors and lenders short over $11 billion, which the judge ordered him to forfeit.

He was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankman-fried-ftx-crypto-bitcoin-baa4c94f2c4237c860475ff92e6bcf42">convicted in November</a>&nbsp;of fraud and conspiracy — a dramatic fall from a crest of success that included a Super Bowl advertisement and celebrity endorsements from stars like quarterback Tom Brady, basketball star Stephen Curry and comedian Larry David.

Kaplan imposed the sentence in the same Manhattan courtroom where, four months ago, Bankman-Fried testified that his intention had been to revolutionize the emerging cryptocurrency market with his innovative and altruistic ideas, not to steal. The judge said Bankman-Fried repeatedly committed perjury when he told lies from the witness stand.

Kaplan said the sentence reflected “that there is a risk that this man will be in position to do something very bad in the future. And it’s not a trivial risk at all.” He added that it was “for the purpose of disabling him to the extent that can appropriately be done for a significant period of time.”

Kaplan said he also would advise the Federal Bureau of Prisons to send Bankman-Fried to a medium-security prison near San Francisco because his notoriety, his association with vast wealth, his autism and social awkwardness are likely to make him especially vulnerable at a high-security facility.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicolas Roos had recommended&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankman-fried-court-ftx-21b1fd99ac841d7fe90b90c96c3a9a5d">a prison sentence</a>&nbsp;of 40 to 50 years, saying it was the only way to ensure “the defendant doesn't do it again.”

“The defendant victimized tens of thousands of people and companies, across several continents, over a period of multiple years. He stole money from customers who entrusted it to him; he lied to investors; he sent fabricated documents to lenders; he pumped millions of dollars in illegal donations into our political system; and he bribed foreign officials. Each of these crimes is worthy of a lengthy sentence,” prosecutors had said in a court filing.

Prosecutors said Bankman-Fried misappropriated billions of dollars to fuel his quest for influence and dominance in the new industry, and had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankmanfried-court-ftx-27f8a623fdc0c9e56e56f2b23e298a1e">illegally used money</a>&nbsp;from FTX depositors to cover his expenses, which included purchasing luxury properties in the Caribbean, bribes to Chinese officials and private planes.

Kaplan agreed with prosecutors Thursday that Bankman-Fried should not get leniency just because some investors and customers might get some of their losses back. He called the argument “logically flawed” and “speculative.” He said customers lost about $8 billion, investors lost $1.7 billion and lenders were shorted by $1.3 billion.

Given a chance to speak, Bankman-Fried stood and apologized in a rambling statement, saying: “A lot of people feel really let down. And they were very let down. And I’m sorry about that. I’m sorry about what happened at every stage.”

He added, “My useful life is probably over. It’s been over for a while now, from before my arrest.”

Bankman-Fried, wearing his khaki-colored prison uniform and chained at the ankles, seemed to briefly get emotional as he spoke for about 20 minutes, expressing regret about “a lot of mistakes” but casting some of the blame onto others. His trademark messy and bushy hair had returned from the trimmer look he displayed at trial.

The judge later criticized those remarks, saying he expressed “never a word of remorse for the commission of terrible crimes.”

Defense lawyer Marc Mukasey said his client was misunderstood.

“Sam was not a ruthless financial serial killer who set out every morning to hurt people,” Mukasey said. “Sam Bankman-Fried doesn’t make decisions with malice in his heart. He makes decisions with math in his head.”

Bankman-Fried’s attorneys, friends and family&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankman-fried-court-ftx-f6132dae6689b20f020ee3256dd4dc08">had urged leniency</a>, saying he was unlikely to re-offend again. They also said FTX's investors have largely recovered their funds — a claim disputed by bankruptcy lawyers, FTX and its creditors.

“Mr. Bankman-Fried continues to live a life of delusion,” wrote John Ray, the CEO of FTX who has been cleaning up the bankrupt company. “The ‘business’ he left on November 11, 2022 was neither solvent nor safe.”

Two weeks ago, Mukasey attacked a probation office recommendation of 105 years in prison, saying a sentence of that length would be “grotesque” and “barbaric.”

He urged the judge to sentence Bankman-Fried to a term of five to 6 1/2 years in prison, which Mukasey said was a fair reading of federal sentencing guidelines.

Bankman-Fried was worth billions of dollars on paper as the co-founder and CEO of FTX, which was the second-largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world at one time.

FTX allowed investors to buy dozens of virtual currencies, from Bitcoin to more obscure ones like Shiba Inu Coin. Flush with billions of dollars of investors’ cash, Bankman-Fried took out a Super Bowl advertisement to promote his business and bought the naming rights to an arena in Miami.

But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankmanfried-cryptocurrencies-bitcoin-regulation-congress-182d750805af658dd809f044b86f6242">the collapse of cryptocurrency prices</a>&nbsp;in 2022 took its toll on FTX, and ultimately led to its downfall. FTX’s hedge fund affiliate, known as Alameda Research, had bought billions of dollars of various crypto investments that lost considerable amounts of value in 2022. Bankman-Fried tried to plug the holes in Alameda’s balance sheet with FTX customer funds.

Three other people from Bankman-Fried’s inner circle pleaded guilty to related crimes and testified at his trial.

The biggest name among the three was Caroline Ellison, once the girlfriend of Bankman-Fried. Ellison described Bankman-Fried as a calculating individual who knew that he was likely committing crimes when he directed the use of customer funds. Two other onetime friends of Bankman-Fried, Gary Wang and Nishad Singh, also testified they felt they were directed by Bankman-Fried to commit fraud.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680015507609.png" alt="FILE - FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried leaves Federal court on July 26, 2023, in New York. The former crypto mogul faces the potential of decades in prison when he is sentenced Thursday, March 28, 2024, for his role in the 2022 collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for trading digital currency. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried leaves Federal court on July 26, 2023, in New York. The former crypto mogul faces the potential of decades in prison when he is sentenced Thursday, March 28, 2024, for his role in the 2022 collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for trading digital currency. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Crypto entrepreneur&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sam-bankman-fried">Sam Bankman-Fried</a>&nbsp;was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for a massive fraud on hundreds of thousands of customers that unraveled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world’s most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency.U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan delivered a blistering analysis of Bankman-Fried and his crimes before announcing a sentence that was half of what prosecutors sought and less than a quarter of the 105 years recommended by the court's Probation officers.“There is absolutely no doubt that Mr. Bankman-Fried’s name right now is pretty much mud around the world,” Kaplan said of the 32-year-old man who once seemed atop the cryptocurrency world before his businesses collapsed in November 2022, leaving customers, investors and lenders short over $11 billion, which the judge ordered him to forfeit.He was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankman-fried-ftx-crypto-bitcoin-baa4c94f2c4237c860475ff92e6bcf42">convicted in November</a>&nbsp;of fraud and conspiracy — a dramatic fall from a crest of success that included a Super Bowl advertisement and celebrity endorsements from stars like quarterback Tom Brady, basketball star Stephen Curry and comedian Larry David.Kaplan imposed the sentence in the same Manhattan courtroom where, four months ago, Bankman-Fried testified that his intention had been to revolutionize the emerging cryptocurrency market with his innovative and altruistic ideas, not to steal. The judge said Bankman-Fried repeatedly committed perjury when he told lies from the witness stand.Kaplan said the sentence reflected “that there is a risk that this man will be in position to do something very bad in the future. And it’s not a trivial risk at all.” He added that it was “for the purpose of disabling him to the extent that can appropriately be done for a significant period of time.”Kaplan said he also would advise the Federal Bureau of Prisons to send Bankman-Fried to a medium-security prison near San Francisco because his notoriety, his association with vast wealth, his autism and social awkwardness are likely to make him especially vulnerable at a high-security facility.Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicolas Roos had recommended&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankman-fried-court-ftx-21b1fd99ac841d7fe90b90c96c3a9a5d">a prison sentence</a>&nbsp;of 40 to 50 years, saying it was the only way to ensure “the defendant doesn't do it again.”“The defendant victimized tens of thousands of people and companies, across several continents, over a period of multiple years. He stole money from customers who entrusted it to him; he lied to investors; he sent fabricated documents to lenders; he pumped millions of dollars in illegal donations into our political system; and he bribed foreign officials. Each of these crimes is worthy of a lengthy sentence,” prosecutors had said in a court filing.Prosecutors said Bankman-Fried misappropriated billions of dollars to fuel his quest for influence and dominance in the new industry, and had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankmanfried-court-ftx-27f8a623fdc0c9e56e56f2b23e298a1e">illegally used money</a>&nbsp;from FTX depositors to cover his expenses, which included purchasing luxury properties in the Caribbean, bribes to Chinese officials and private planes.Kaplan agreed with prosecutors Thursday that Bankman-Fried should not get leniency just because some investors and customers might get some of their losses back. He called the argument “logically flawed” and “speculative.” He said customers lost about $8 billion, investors lost $1.7 billion and lenders were shorted by $1.3 billion.Given a chance to speak, Bankman-Fried stood and apologized in a rambling statement, saying: “A lot of people feel really let down. And they were very let down. And I’m sorry about that. I’m sorry about what happened at every stage.”He added, “My useful life is probably over. It’s been over for a while now, from before my arrest.”Bankman-Fried, wearing his khaki-colored prison uniform and chained at the ankles, seemed to briefly get emotional as he spoke for about 20 minutes, expressing regret about “a lot of mistakes” but casting some of the blame onto others. His trademark messy and bushy hair had returned from the trimmer look he displayed at trial.The judge later criticized those remarks, saying he expressed “never a word of remorse for the commission of terrible crimes.”Defense lawyer Marc Mukasey said his client was misunderstood.“Sam was not a ruthless financial serial killer who set out every morning to hurt people,” Mukasey said. “Sam Bankman-Fried doesn’t make decisions with malice in his heart. He makes decisions with math in his head.”Bankman-Fried’s attorneys, friends and family&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankman-fried-court-ftx-f6132dae6689b20f020ee3256dd4dc08">had urged leniency</a>, saying he was unlikely to re-offend again. They also said FTX's investors have largely recovered their funds — a claim disputed by bankruptcy lawyers, FTX and its creditors.“Mr. Bankman-Fried continues to live a life of delusion,” wrote John Ray, the CEO of FTX who has been cleaning up the bankrupt company. “The ‘business’ he left on November 11, 2022 was neither solvent nor safe.”Two weeks ago, Mukasey attacked a probation office recommendation of 105 years in prison, saying a sentence of that length would be “grotesque” and “barbaric.”He urged the judge to sentence Bankman-Fried to a term of five to 6 1/2 years in prison, which Mukasey said was a fair reading of federal sentencing guidelines.Bankman-Fried was worth billions of dollars on paper as the co-founder and CEO of FTX, which was the second-largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world at one time.FTX allowed investors to buy dozens of virtual currencies, from Bitcoin to more obscure ones like Shiba Inu Coin. Flush with billions of dollars of investors’ cash, Bankman-Fried took out a Super Bowl advertisement to promote his business and bought the naming rights to an arena in Miami.But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankmanfried-cryptocurrencies-bitcoin-regulation-congress-182d750805af658dd809f044b86f6242">the collapse of cryptocurrency prices</a>&nbsp;in 2022 took its toll on FTX, and ultimately led to its downfall. FTX’s hedge fund affiliate, known as Alameda Research, had bought billions of dollars of various crypto investments that lost considerable amounts of value in 2022. Bankman-Fried tried to plug the holes in Alameda’s balance sheet with FTX customer funds.Three other people from Bankman-Fried’s inner circle pleaded guilty to related crimes and testified at his trial.The biggest name among the three was Caroline Ellison, once the girlfriend of Bankman-Fried. Ellison described Bankman-Fried as a calculating individual who knew that he was likely committing crimes when he directed the use of customer funds. Two other onetime friends of Bankman-Fried, Gary Wang and Nishad Singh, also testified they felt they were directed by Bankman-Fried to commit fraud.

Penthouse to prison: Fallen 'King of crypto' sentenced, shows no remorse

LINCOLN, NEB. – The Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) is backing legislation that would provide significant tax reform and major property tax relief for Nebraskans. Legislative Bill (LB) 388 is a key piece of a broader tax reform package working its way through the Nebraska Legislature.

“Whether you own a home, farm, or business, Nebraskans have been vigilant in asking the Legislature to provide property tax relief. LB 388 is a critical part of doing just that. We appreciate the leadership that’s been demonstrated to move this bill and the broader package forward. As floor debate nears, we wanted to be very clear that Nebraska Farm Bureau and its members support this effort and we fully expect the members of the Legislature to do the same,” said Mark McHargue, NEFB president.&nbsp;

LB 388 achieves many of the objectives long sought by the organization to rebalance Nebraska’s three-legged tax stool. Today, property taxes levied in Nebraska have topped $5 billion, while sales tax collections account for just over $2 billion. The bill would help deliver property tax reductions by replacing property tax funds with sales taxes dollars generated through elimination of some sales tax exemptions, with the potential for an increase in the state’s sales tax rate through a trigger mechanism based on state revenues. The bill also includes provisions that seek to slow property tax collections by political subdivisions while still maintaining and respecting local control.

“We want Nebraska to grow. For that to happen we need to fix our tax policy that’s allowed property tax to be a major cost of doing business in the state.&nbsp;Addressing property taxes is also part of the solution to our state’s workforce issues, as property taxes are clearly driving up the costs of home ownership for our current and potential workforce.&nbsp;LB 388 and the work being done on the broader tax package to fix our property tax problem will raise the tide for all ships in Nebraska; rural and urban. We look forward to working with the Legislature to make historical changes for the betterment of all Nebraskans,” said McHargue.

The Nebraska Farm Bureau is a grassroots, state-wide organization dedicated to supporting farm and ranch families and working for the benefit of all Nebraskans through a wide variety of educational, service, and advocacy efforts. More than 55,000 families across Nebraska are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve rural and urban prosperity as agriculture is a key fuel to Nebraska’s economy. For more information about Nebraska Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nefb.org/" target="_blank">www.nefb.org</a>.

Nebraska Farm BureauLINCOLN, NEB. – The Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) is backing legislation that would provide significant tax reform and major property tax relief for Nebraskans. Legislative Bill (LB) 388 is a key piece of a broader tax reform package working its way through the Nebraska Legislature.“Whether you own a home, farm, or business, Nebraskans have been vigilant in asking the Legislature to provide property tax relief. LB 388 is a critical part of doing just that. We appreciate the leadership that’s been demonstrated to move this bill and the broader package forward. As floor debate nears, we wanted to be very clear that Nebraska Farm Bureau and its members support this effort and we fully expect the members of the Legislature to do the same,” said Mark McHargue, NEFB president.&nbsp;LB 388 achieves many of the objectives long sought by the organization to rebalance Nebraska’s three-legged tax stool. Today, property taxes levied in Nebraska have topped $5 billion, while sales tax collections account for just over $2 billion. The bill would help deliver property tax reductions by replacing property tax funds with sales taxes dollars generated through elimination of some sales tax exemptions, with the potential for an increase in the state’s sales tax rate through a trigger mechanism based on state revenues. The bill also includes provisions that seek to slow property tax collections by political subdivisions while still maintaining and respecting local control.“We want Nebraska to grow. For that to happen we need to fix our tax policy that’s allowed property tax to be a major cost of doing business in the state.&nbsp;Addressing property taxes is also part of the solution to our state’s workforce issues, as property taxes are clearly driving up the costs of home ownership for our current and potential workforce.&nbsp;LB 388 and the work being done on the broader tax package to fix our property tax problem will raise the tide for all ships in Nebraska; rural and urban. We look forward to working with the Legislature to make historical changes for the betterment of all Nebraskans,” said McHargue.The Nebraska Farm Bureau is a grassroots, state-wide organization dedicated to supporting farm and ranch families and working for the benefit of all Nebraskans through a wide variety of educational, service, and advocacy efforts. More than 55,000 families across Nebraska are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve rural and urban prosperity as agriculture is a key fuel to Nebraska’s economy. For more information about Nebraska Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nefb.org/" target="_blank">www.nefb.org</a>.

Nebraska Farm Bureau Backs Property Tax Relief Measure   

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Colorado

DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Tarek Kassem, 63, of Parker, Colorado, was indicted by a federal grand jury for wire fraud and money laundering.

According to the indictment, from March 2020 and through at least March 2023, the defendant applied for and received more than $1.4 million dollars in Small Business Association (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and more than $300,000 in Payroll Protection Program (PPP) funds under three business names. &nbsp;These applications contained a number of false and fraudulent certifications and representations, including representations that funds would be used to pay eligible business expenses, when, in fact, the bulk of the proceeds were used for the defendant’s personal benefit.&nbsp; The defendant also applied for, and obtained, unemployment benefits in the State of Colorado during the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted in March 2020 and was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans dealing with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;The CARES Act created the PPP, a program administered by the SBA that provided loans to small businesses to retain workers, maintain payroll, and certain other expenses consistent with PPP rules.&nbsp; Additionally, the CARES Act authorized the SBA to provide EIDLs to eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;

The defendant made his initial appearance on March 26, 2024, before Chief Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty.&nbsp; The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Cassidy.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form">https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form</a>.

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of ColoradoDENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Tarek Kassem, 63, of Parker, Colorado, was indicted by a federal grand jury for wire fraud and money laundering.According to the indictment, from March 2020 and through at least March 2023, the defendant applied for and received more than $1.4 million dollars in Small Business Association (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and more than $300,000 in Payroll Protection Program (PPP) funds under three business names. &nbsp;These applications contained a number of false and fraudulent certifications and representations, including representations that funds would be used to pay eligible business expenses, when, in fact, the bulk of the proceeds were used for the defendant’s personal benefit.&nbsp; The defendant also applied for, and obtained, unemployment benefits in the State of Colorado during the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted in March 2020 and was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans dealing with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;The CARES Act created the PPP, a program administered by the SBA that provided loans to small businesses to retain workers, maintain payroll, and certain other expenses consistent with PPP rules.&nbsp; Additionally, the CARES Act authorized the SBA to provide EIDLs to eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;The defendant made his initial appearance on March 26, 2024, before Chief Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty.&nbsp; The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.This case is being investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Cassidy.On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form">https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form</a>.

Parker Man Indicted for Economic Injury and Disaster Loan and Payroll Protection Program Fraud Scheme

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration issued a final rule Wednesday aimed at limiting methane leaks from oil and gas drilling on federal and tribal lands, its latest action to crack down on emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming.

The rule&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-finalizes-rule-reduce-oil-and-gas-waste-public-and-tribal-lands">issued</a>&nbsp;by the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-pollution-oil-and-gas-industry-land-management-bureau-of-4eb550743d6aa06fdd1e5740158db259">tighten limits</a>&nbsp;on gas flaring on federal lands and require that energy companies improve methods to detect methane leaks that add to planet-warming greenhouse gas pollution.

The actions follow a more comprehensive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-methane-epa-climate-oil-gas-cop28-6d37e9da49944e9a8c0b08aeb3ddc73e">methane-reduction plan</a>&nbsp;announced by the Environmental Protection Agency in December. The plan, announced at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cop28-climate-summit-negotiations-fossil-fuels-dubai-64c0e39e6ad54a98e05e5201a2215293">a global climate conference</a>&nbsp;in the United Arab Emirates, targets emissions from existing oil and gas wells nationwide, rather than focusing only on new wells, as previous EPA regulations have done. It also regulates smaller wells that are now required to find and plug methane leaks.

Oil and gas production is the nation’s largest industrial source of methane, the primary component of natural gas, and is a key target for Biden as his administration seeks to combat climate change.

The rule issued Wednesday updates regulations that are more than 40 years old and will hold oil and gas companies accountable by requiring measures to avoid wasteful practices and to find and fix leaks, administration officials said. At the same time, officials are moving to ensure that American taxpayers and tribal mineral owners are fairly compensated through higher royalty payments, officials said.

The final rule will help “prevent waste, protect our environment and ensure a fair return to American taxpayers,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement.

“By leveraging modern technology and best practices to reduce natural gas waste, we are taking long-overdue steps that will increase accountability for oil and gas operators and benefit energy communities now and for generations to come,” she said.

The rule is expected to prevent billions of cubic feet of natural gas from being wasted through venting, flaring and leaks, Haaland and other officials said.

Venting and flaring activity from oil and gas production on public lands has significantly increased in recent decades. Between 2010 and 2020, total volumes of natural gas lost to venting and flaring on federal and tribal lands averaged about 44.2 billion cubic feet per year — enough to serve roughly 675,000 homes, the Interior said. The figure represents a sharp increase from an annual average of 11 billion cubic feet lost to venting and flaring in the 1990s.

Environmental groups hailed the rule, calling methane a huge contributor to global warming.

“Strong Interior Department methane waste rules are integral for the United States to protect taxpayers from wasted energy resources,” said Jon Goldstein, senior director of regulatory and legislative affairs at the Environmental Defense Fund. “Taking action to limit methane waste on public lands offers a win-win-win for taxpayers, producers and communities harmed by this waste and associated pollution.”

Interior had previously announced a rule to restrict methane emissions under former President Barack Obama. The plan was challenged in court and later weakened under former President Donald Trump. Competing court rulings blocked enforcement of the Trump and Obama-era rules, leading the agency to revert to rules developed more than 40 years ago.

The rule would impose monthly limits on flaring and charge fees for flaring that exceeds those limits.

Besides the EPA rule,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-signs-climate-health-bill-9a7f349fa7b07387d20ad603f2ff4875">a 2022 climate law</a>&nbsp;approved by Congress in August is set to impose a fee on energy producers that exceed a certain level of methane emissions. The fee, initially set at $900 per metric ton of methane, marks the first time the federal government has directly imposed a tax on greenhouse gas emissions.

The law includes $1.5 billion in grants and other spending to improve monitoring and data collection of methane emissions, intending to find and repair natural gas leaks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574099609456.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration issued a final rule Wednesday aimed at limiting methane leaks from oil and gas drilling on federal and tribal lands, its latest action to crack down on emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming.The rule&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-finalizes-rule-reduce-oil-and-gas-waste-public-and-tribal-lands">issued</a>&nbsp;by the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-pollution-oil-and-gas-industry-land-management-bureau-of-4eb550743d6aa06fdd1e5740158db259">tighten limits</a>&nbsp;on gas flaring on federal lands and require that energy companies improve methods to detect methane leaks that add to planet-warming greenhouse gas pollution.The actions follow a more comprehensive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-methane-epa-climate-oil-gas-cop28-6d37e9da49944e9a8c0b08aeb3ddc73e">methane-reduction plan</a>&nbsp;announced by the Environmental Protection Agency in December. The plan, announced at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cop28-climate-summit-negotiations-fossil-fuels-dubai-64c0e39e6ad54a98e05e5201a2215293">a global climate conference</a>&nbsp;in the United Arab Emirates, targets emissions from existing oil and gas wells nationwide, rather than focusing only on new wells, as previous EPA regulations have done. It also regulates smaller wells that are now required to find and plug methane leaks.Oil and gas production is the nation’s largest industrial source of methane, the primary component of natural gas, and is a key target for Biden as his administration seeks to combat climate change.The rule issued Wednesday updates regulations that are more than 40 years old and will hold oil and gas companies accountable by requiring measures to avoid wasteful practices and to find and fix leaks, administration officials said. At the same time, officials are moving to ensure that American taxpayers and tribal mineral owners are fairly compensated through higher royalty payments, officials said.The final rule will help “prevent waste, protect our environment and ensure a fair return to American taxpayers,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement.“By leveraging modern technology and best practices to reduce natural gas waste, we are taking long-overdue steps that will increase accountability for oil and gas operators and benefit energy communities now and for generations to come,” she said.The rule is expected to prevent billions of cubic feet of natural gas from being wasted through venting, flaring and leaks, Haaland and other officials said.Venting and flaring activity from oil and gas production on public lands has significantly increased in recent decades. Between 2010 and 2020, total volumes of natural gas lost to venting and flaring on federal and tribal lands averaged about 44.2 billion cubic feet per year — enough to serve roughly 675,000 homes, the Interior said. The figure represents a sharp increase from an annual average of 11 billion cubic feet lost to venting and flaring in the 1990s.Environmental groups hailed the rule, calling methane a huge contributor to global warming.“Strong Interior Department methane waste rules are integral for the United States to protect taxpayers from wasted energy resources,” said Jon Goldstein, senior director of regulatory and legislative affairs at the Environmental Defense Fund. “Taking action to limit methane waste on public lands offers a win-win-win for taxpayers, producers and communities harmed by this waste and associated pollution.”Interior had previously announced a rule to restrict methane emissions under former President Barack Obama. The plan was challenged in court and later weakened under former President Donald Trump. Competing court rulings blocked enforcement of the Trump and Obama-era rules, leading the agency to revert to rules developed more than 40 years ago.The rule would impose monthly limits on flaring and charge fees for flaring that exceeds those limits.Besides the EPA rule,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-signs-climate-health-bill-9a7f349fa7b07387d20ad603f2ff4875">a 2022 climate law</a>&nbsp;approved by Congress in August is set to impose a fee on energy producers that exceed a certain level of methane emissions. The fee, initially set at $900 per metric ton of methane, marks the first time the federal government has directly imposed a tax on greenhouse gas emissions.The law includes $1.5 billion in grants and other spending to improve monitoring and data collection of methane emissions, intending to find and repair natural gas leaks.

New U.S. rule to crack down on methane leaks from oil, gas drilling 

JERUSALEM— The U.S. Navy continues to face threats in the Red Sea. Between 2 and 2:20 a.m. Wednesday United States Central Command successfully engaged and destroyed four long-range unmanned aerial systems (UAS) launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen, according to a statement from the agency.

 These UAS were aimed at a U.S. warship and engaged in self-defense over the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damage reported to U.S. or coalition ships. The U.S. Central Command did not identify which warship was targeted.


It was determined these weapons presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region. These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.

Meanwhile,&nbsp;&nbsp;Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham wants the Biden administration and Congress to allow Israel to militarily defeat all remaining Hamas fighters in the southern Gaza city of Rafah — which is overflowing with more than a million displaced civilians. Israel says there are thousands of Hamas militants in that area.

Defeating Hamas in Rafah is “non-negotiable,” Graham told reporters in Jerusalem on Wednesday. “I urge the Biden administration, the Congress to make sure that Israel has the time and space to achieve victory over Hamas militarily.”

The U.S. Department of Defense wants Israel to protect civilians and secure the delivery of aid into Gaza during any military operation into Rafah, where over half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have fled to escape fighting in other areas and are packed into rudimentary tent camps and U.N.-run shelters.

Israel was meant to send a delegation to Washington to discuss plans for defeating Hamas in Rafah. However, Israel cancelled the visit after the U.S. allowed the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, without linking the two.

The cancelled meeting was the strongest public clash between Israel and the U.S. since the war began.

Graham said he understood Israel’s opposition to the U.N. resolution, saying the wording created doubt. But he hoped for a "breakthrough” that would bring Israel and the U.S. “back together talking about the way forward.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709685344452.png" alt="photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM— The U.S. Navy continues to face threats in the Red Sea. Between 2 and 2:20 a.m. Wednesday United States Central Command successfully engaged and destroyed four long-range unmanned aerial systems (UAS) launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen, according to a statement from the agency. These UAS were aimed at a U.S. warship and engaged in self-defense over the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damage reported to U.S. or coalition ships. The U.S. Central Command did not identify which warship was targeted.
It was determined these weapons presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region. These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.Meanwhile,&nbsp;&nbsp;Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham wants the Biden administration and Congress to allow Israel to militarily defeat all remaining Hamas fighters in the southern Gaza city of Rafah — which is overflowing with more than a million displaced civilians. Israel says there are thousands of Hamas militants in that area.Defeating Hamas in Rafah is “non-negotiable,” Graham told reporters in Jerusalem on Wednesday. “I urge the Biden administration, the Congress to make sure that Israel has the time and space to achieve victory over Hamas militarily.”The U.S. Department of Defense wants Israel to protect civilians and secure the delivery of aid into Gaza during any military operation into Rafah, where over half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have fled to escape fighting in other areas and are packed into rudimentary tent camps and U.N.-run shelters.Israel was meant to send a delegation to Washington to discuss plans for defeating Hamas in Rafah. However, Israel cancelled the visit after the U.S. allowed the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, without linking the two.The cancelled meeting was the strongest public clash between Israel and the U.S. since the war began.Graham said he understood Israel’s opposition to the U.N. resolution, saying the wording created doubt. But he hoped for a "breakthrough” that would bring Israel and the U.S. “back together talking about the way forward.”

Navy downs 4 drones aimed at U.S. warship in the Red Sea

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Powerball jackpot increased to an estimated $935 million after no one matched the six numbers drawn Wednesday night.

The numbers selected were: 37, 46, 57, 60, 66 and the Powerball 8.

The drawing came a day after a player in New Jersey won a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lottery-mega-millions-jackpot-2ca3af2378b56cb272877f2c0a674cd5">$1.13 billion Mega Millions prize</a>&nbsp;after 30 straight drawings without a winner.

The Powerball jackpot has been growing for months, since the last winner on New Year’s Day. There now have been 37 consecutive drawings without anyone hitting the top prize.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-mega-millions-winning-odds-numbers-a3e5a8e8e7ed15d7500c1d6acdab6785">The game’s odds</a>&nbsp;of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to create big jackpots that will grab attention and increase sales.

The $935 million prize for the next drawing Saturday night is for a sole winner who is paid over 30 years&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">through an annuity</a>. Winners usually opt for a cash payout, which for the next drawing would be an estimated $449.7 million.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Powerball jackpot increased to an estimated $935 million after no one matched the six numbers drawn Wednesday night.The numbers selected were: 37, 46, 57, 60, 66 and the Powerball 8.The drawing came a day after a player in New Jersey won a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lottery-mega-millions-jackpot-2ca3af2378b56cb272877f2c0a674cd5">$1.13 billion Mega Millions prize</a>&nbsp;after 30 straight drawings without a winner.The Powerball jackpot has been growing for months, since the last winner on New Year’s Day. There now have been 37 consecutive drawings without anyone hitting the top prize.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-mega-millions-winning-odds-numbers-a3e5a8e8e7ed15d7500c1d6acdab6785">The game’s odds</a>&nbsp;of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to create big jackpots that will grab attention and increase sales.The $935 million prize for the next drawing Saturday night is for a sole winner who is paid over 30 years&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">through an annuity</a>. Winners usually opt for a cash payout, which for the next drawing would be an estimated $449.7 million.

Powerball jackpot increases to $935 million after no one wins the top prize

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/510000-in-state-grants-aim-to-provide-nursing-students-with-training-mannequins-virtual-reality-tools/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — State grant awards totaling $510,000 aim to provide student nurses with training mannequins, virtual reality tools and more to enhance learning and better prepare them to fill holes in the workforce.

The funding for simulation equipment was allocated last year by the Nebraska Legislature and is being administered by the Nebraska Hospital Association.

Academic institutions selected to receive the awards are Clarkson College, Methodist College, Metropolitan Community College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Union College and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (Lincoln and Norfolk campuses).

Jeremy Nordquist, president of the hospital association, said workforce shortages remain the greatest challenge for Nebraska hospitals.

“This funding for nursing program simulation equipment is an important state investment in the development of our current and future health care workforce,” he said.

Stacey Ocander, senior director of workforce and education initiatives for the hospital association, said the awards are just the “tip of the iceberg” in finding innovative solutions to workforce woes.

“This funding will not only modernize psychomotor learning for our nursing students but will provide much needed access to the current nursing workforce in our hospitals through new and existing partnerships,” Ocander said.

Grant funding under Legislative Bill 227 is still available, according to a news release from the hospital association. Applicants must demonstrate how they’d use an award to both provide additional hospital training and to build partnerships in their communities.&nbsp;

The academic institutions selected to receive the current wave of funding have partnerships with more than 16 hospitals.

Funds awarded so far are to be used for equipment such as birthing mannequins to expand obstetric experiences, mannequins for medical and surgical scenarios, and immersive virtual reality tools that enhance critical thinking and improve clinical judgment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711569452781.jpeg" alt="Hands-on learning at the University of Nebraska Medical College, northern division, in Norfolk, Nebraska. (Courtesy of the University of Nebraska)" />
 <figcaption>Hands-on learning at the University of Nebraska Medical College, northern division, in Norfolk, Nebraska. (Courtesy of the University of Nebraska)</figcaption>
 </figure>Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/510000-in-state-grants-aim-to-provide-nursing-students-with-training-mannequins-virtual-reality-tools/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — State grant awards totaling $510,000 aim to provide student nurses with training mannequins, virtual reality tools and more to enhance learning and better prepare them to fill holes in the workforce.The funding for simulation equipment was allocated last year by the Nebraska Legislature and is being administered by the Nebraska Hospital Association.Academic institutions selected to receive the awards are Clarkson College, Methodist College, Metropolitan Community College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Union College and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (Lincoln and Norfolk campuses).Jeremy Nordquist, president of the hospital association, said workforce shortages remain the greatest challenge for Nebraska hospitals.“This funding for nursing program simulation equipment is an important state investment in the development of our current and future health care workforce,” he said.Stacey Ocander, senior director of workforce and education initiatives for the hospital association, said the awards are just the “tip of the iceberg” in finding innovative solutions to workforce woes.“This funding will not only modernize psychomotor learning for our nursing students but will provide much needed access to the current nursing workforce in our hospitals through new and existing partnerships,” Ocander said.Grant funding under Legislative Bill 227 is still available, according to a news release from the hospital association. Applicants must demonstrate how they’d use an award to both provide additional hospital training and to build partnerships in their communities.&nbsp;The academic institutions selected to receive the current wave of funding have partnerships with more than 16 hospitals.Funds awarded so far are to be used for equipment such as birthing mannequins to expand obstetric experiences, mannequins for medical and surgical scenarios, and immersive virtual reality tools that enhance critical thinking and improve clinical judgment.

$510,000 in state grants aim to provide nursing students with training mannequins, virtual reality tools

NEW YORK (AP) — Former U.S. Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-lieberman">Joe Lieberman</a>&nbsp;of Connecticut, who nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/al-gore">Al Gore</a>&nbsp;in the disputed 2000 election and who almost became Republican John McCain's running mate eight years later, has died, according to a statement issued by his family.

Lieberman died in New York City on Wednesday due to complications from a fall, the statement said. He was 82.

The Democrat-turned-independent was never shy about veering from the party line.

Lieberman's independent streak and especially his needling of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential contest rankled many Democrats, the party he aligned with in the Senate. Yet his support for gay rights, civil rights, abortion rights and environmental causes at times won him the praise of many liberals over the years.

Lieberman came tantalizingly close to winning the vice presidency in the contentious 2000 presidential contest that was decided by a 537-vote margin victory for George W. Bush in Florida after a drawn-out recount, legal challenges and a Supreme Court decision. He was the first Jewish candidate on a major party’s presidential ticket and would have been the first Jewish vice president.

He was also the first national Democrat to publicly criticize President Bill Clinton for his extramarital affair with a White House intern.

Lieberman sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 but dropped out after a weak showing in the early primaries. Four years later, he was an independent who was nearly chosen to be McCain’s running mate. He and McCain were close pals who shared hawkish views on military and national security matters.

McCain was leaning strongly toward choosing Lieberman for the ticket as the 2008 GOP convention neared, but he chose Sarah Palin at the last minute after “ferocious” blowback from conservatives over Lieberman’s liberal record, according to Steve Schmidt, who managed McCain’s campaign.

Lieberman generated controversy in 1998 when he scolded Clinton, his friend of many years, for “disgraceful behavior” in an explosive speech on the Senate floor during the height of the scandal over his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. Yet Lieberman later voted against the impeachment of Clinton.

He defended his partisan switches as a matter of conscience, saying he always had the best interests of Connecticut voters at heart. Critics accused him of pursuing narrow self-interest and political expediency.

In announcing his retirement from the Senate in 2013, Lieberman acknowledged that he did “not always fit comfortably into conventional political boxes” and felt his first responsibility was to serve his constituents, state and country, not his political party. He had a tortured relationship with Democrats.

During his final Senate speech, Lieberman urged Congress to look beyond party lines and partisan rancor to break Washington gridlock.

“It requires reaching across the aisle and finding partners from the opposite party,” said Lieberman. “That is what is desperately needed in Washington now.”

Harry Reid, who served as Senate Democratic leader, once said that while he didn’t always agree with the independent-minded Lieberman, he respected him.

“Regardless of our differences, I have never doubted Joe Lieberman’s principles or his patriotism,” Reid said. “And I respect his independent streak, as it stems from strong convictions.”

Privately, some Democrats were often less charitable about Lieberman’s forays across party lines, which they saw as disloyal. He bolted his party and turned independent after a 2006 Senate primary loss in Connecticut.

Lieberman’s strong support of the Iraq War hurt his statewide popularity. Democrats rejected Lieberman and handed the 2006 primary to a political newcomer and an anti-war candidate, Ned Lamont.

Defying Democratic leaders and friends, Lieberman ran successfully for reelection as an independent and drew support from some Republican allies. Lieberman won praise from the White House and fundraising help from prominent Republicans, such as then-New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who himself later ran as an independent.

Lieberman made his Senate experience and congressional clout a strong selling point, saying he’d fight hard for the state’s defense jobs and its fair share of federal largesse. The strategy paid off.

Lieberman won reelection to a fourth term, even though many of his Democratic allies and longtime friends, including former Sen. Chris Dodd, supported Lamont. Lieberman was candid about what he considered a betrayal by old pals such as Dodd, but the two men later reconciled.

After his rebound reelection in 2006, Lieberman decided to caucus with Democrats in the Senate, who let him head a committee in return because they needed his vote to help keep control of the closely divided chamber. But it wasn’t long until Lieberman was showing his independent streak and ruffling his Democratic caucus colleagues.

Despite the decision of Democrats to let him join their caucus as an independent, Lieberman was an enthusiastic backer of McCain in the 2008 presidential contest.

Lieberman’s speech at the 2008 GOP presidential nominating convention criticizing Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, struck a deep nerve with many Democrats.

Lieberman cast Obama as a political show horse, a lightweight with a thin record of accomplishment in the Senate despite his soaring eloquence as a speaker.

“In the Senate, during the 3 1/2 years that Sen. Obama has been a member, he has not reached across party lines to ... accomplish anything significant, nor has he been willing to take on powerful interest groups in the Democratic Party to get something done,” Lieberman said at the convention.

“Eloquence is no substitute for a record,” he said.

Lieberman campaigned heartily across the country for McCain. Many Democrats considered it a betrayal to Obama and his former party colleagues.

“Joe Lieberman has said things that are totally irresponsible when it comes to Barack Obama,” House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California said in a radio interview during the 2008 race.

After the election, there was speculation Senate Democrats might strip Lieberman of his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee as payback. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chair of the Judiciary Committee, was among those who said Lieberman should lose his chairmanship. Leahy branded Lieberman’s attacks on Obama as “beyond the pale.”

But at Obama’s urging, Senate Democrats decided not to punish Lieberman for supporting McCain and the GOP ticket. Obama was eager to strike a bipartisan tone for his presidency and giving Lieberman a pass helped reinforce that message.

Yet Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent and staunch liberal, called it a “slap in the face” for millions of Americans who backed Obama.

Lieberman was known in the Senate for his hawkish foreign policy views, his pro-defense bent and his strong support for environmental causes.

Five weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, he became one of the first politicians to call for the ouster of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and later voted in favor of the military invasion of Iraq. His vocal support for the war would later help doom his candidacy in the 2006 Connecticut Democratic primary.

Lieberman tended to vote with Democrats on most issues and was a longtime supporter of abortion rights, a stance that would have proved problematic with conservatives had McCain chosen him as his running mate in 2008.

He played a key role in the legislation that created the Department of Homeland Security.

Lieberman grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, where his father ran a liquor store. Lieberman graduated from Yale University and Yale Law School in New Haven As Connecticut’s attorney general from 1983 to 1988, he was a strong consumer and environmental advocate. Lieberman vaulted into the Senate by defeating moderate Republican incumbent Lowell Weicker in 1988.

After leaving the Senate in 2013, Lieberman joined a New York City law firm.

Lieberman and his wife, Hadassah, have four children.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711578550385.png" alt="Joe Lieberman during an interview in December of 2021-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Joe Lieberman during an interview in December of 2021-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Former U.S. Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-lieberman">Joe Lieberman</a>&nbsp;of Connecticut, who nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/al-gore">Al Gore</a>&nbsp;in the disputed 2000 election and who almost became Republican John McCain's running mate eight years later, has died, according to a statement issued by his family.Lieberman died in New York City on Wednesday due to complications from a fall, the statement said. He was 82.The Democrat-turned-independent was never shy about veering from the party line.Lieberman's independent streak and especially his needling of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential contest rankled many Democrats, the party he aligned with in the Senate. Yet his support for gay rights, civil rights, abortion rights and environmental causes at times won him the praise of many liberals over the years.Lieberman came tantalizingly close to winning the vice presidency in the contentious 2000 presidential contest that was decided by a 537-vote margin victory for George W. Bush in Florida after a drawn-out recount, legal challenges and a Supreme Court decision. He was the first Jewish candidate on a major party’s presidential ticket and would have been the first Jewish vice president.He was also the first national Democrat to publicly criticize President Bill Clinton for his extramarital affair with a White House intern.Lieberman sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 but dropped out after a weak showing in the early primaries. Four years later, he was an independent who was nearly chosen to be McCain’s running mate. He and McCain were close pals who shared hawkish views on military and national security matters.McCain was leaning strongly toward choosing Lieberman for the ticket as the 2008 GOP convention neared, but he chose Sarah Palin at the last minute after “ferocious” blowback from conservatives over Lieberman’s liberal record, according to Steve Schmidt, who managed McCain’s campaign.Lieberman generated controversy in 1998 when he scolded Clinton, his friend of many years, for “disgraceful behavior” in an explosive speech on the Senate floor during the height of the scandal over his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. Yet Lieberman later voted against the impeachment of Clinton.He defended his partisan switches as a matter of conscience, saying he always had the best interests of Connecticut voters at heart. Critics accused him of pursuing narrow self-interest and political expediency.In announcing his retirement from the Senate in 2013, Lieberman acknowledged that he did “not always fit comfortably into conventional political boxes” and felt his first responsibility was to serve his constituents, state and country, not his political party. He had a tortured relationship with Democrats.During his final Senate speech, Lieberman urged Congress to look beyond party lines and partisan rancor to break Washington gridlock.“It requires reaching across the aisle and finding partners from the opposite party,” said Lieberman. “That is what is desperately needed in Washington now.”Harry Reid, who served as Senate Democratic leader, once said that while he didn’t always agree with the independent-minded Lieberman, he respected him.“Regardless of our differences, I have never doubted Joe Lieberman’s principles or his patriotism,” Reid said. “And I respect his independent streak, as it stems from strong convictions.”Privately, some Democrats were often less charitable about Lieberman’s forays across party lines, which they saw as disloyal. He bolted his party and turned independent after a 2006 Senate primary loss in Connecticut.Lieberman’s strong support of the Iraq War hurt his statewide popularity. Democrats rejected Lieberman and handed the 2006 primary to a political newcomer and an anti-war candidate, Ned Lamont.Defying Democratic leaders and friends, Lieberman ran successfully for reelection as an independent and drew support from some Republican allies. Lieberman won praise from the White House and fundraising help from prominent Republicans, such as then-New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who himself later ran as an independent.Lieberman made his Senate experience and congressional clout a strong selling point, saying he’d fight hard for the state’s defense jobs and its fair share of federal largesse. The strategy paid off.Lieberman won reelection to a fourth term, even though many of his Democratic allies and longtime friends, including former Sen. Chris Dodd, supported Lamont. Lieberman was candid about what he considered a betrayal by old pals such as Dodd, but the two men later reconciled.After his rebound reelection in 2006, Lieberman decided to caucus with Democrats in the Senate, who let him head a committee in return because they needed his vote to help keep control of the closely divided chamber. But it wasn’t long until Lieberman was showing his independent streak and ruffling his Democratic caucus colleagues.Despite the decision of Democrats to let him join their caucus as an independent, Lieberman was an enthusiastic backer of McCain in the 2008 presidential contest.Lieberman’s speech at the 2008 GOP presidential nominating convention criticizing Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, struck a deep nerve with many Democrats.Lieberman cast Obama as a political show horse, a lightweight with a thin record of accomplishment in the Senate despite his soaring eloquence as a speaker.“In the Senate, during the 3 1/2 years that Sen. Obama has been a member, he has not reached across party lines to ... accomplish anything significant, nor has he been willing to take on powerful interest groups in the Democratic Party to get something done,” Lieberman said at the convention.“Eloquence is no substitute for a record,” he said.Lieberman campaigned heartily across the country for McCain. Many Democrats considered it a betrayal to Obama and his former party colleagues.“Joe Lieberman has said things that are totally irresponsible when it comes to Barack Obama,” House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California said in a radio interview during the 2008 race.After the election, there was speculation Senate Democrats might strip Lieberman of his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee as payback. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chair of the Judiciary Committee, was among those who said Lieberman should lose his chairmanship. Leahy branded Lieberman’s attacks on Obama as “beyond the pale.”But at Obama’s urging, Senate Democrats decided not to punish Lieberman for supporting McCain and the GOP ticket. Obama was eager to strike a bipartisan tone for his presidency and giving Lieberman a pass helped reinforce that message.Yet Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent and staunch liberal, called it a “slap in the face” for millions of Americans who backed Obama.Lieberman was known in the Senate for his hawkish foreign policy views, his pro-defense bent and his strong support for environmental causes.Five weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, he became one of the first politicians to call for the ouster of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and later voted in favor of the military invasion of Iraq. His vocal support for the war would later help doom his candidacy in the 2006 Connecticut Democratic primary.Lieberman tended to vote with Democrats on most issues and was a longtime supporter of abortion rights, a stance that would have proved problematic with conservatives had McCain chosen him as his running mate in 2008.He played a key role in the legislation that created the Department of Homeland Security.Lieberman grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, where his father ran a liquor store. Lieberman graduated from Yale University and Yale Law School in New Haven As Connecticut’s attorney general from 1983 to 1988, he was a strong consumer and environmental advocate. Lieberman vaulted into the Senate by defeating moderate Republican incumbent Lowell Weicker in 1988.After leaving the Senate in 2013, Lieberman joined a New York City law firm.Lieberman and his wife, Hadassah, have four children.___

Joe Lieberman, 2000 vice presidential nominee, dies at 82

DENVER--A former police officer with the Loveland, Colorado, Police Department was charged in an indictment unsealed on Friday for sexually assaulting a minor while he was on duty.

According to the indictment, on or about Aug. 4, 2023, Dylan Miller, 28, while on duty as a Loveland Police Department officer, sexually assaulted a minor. If convicted, Miller faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.&nbsp;

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan for the District of Colorado, and Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek of the FBI Denver Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Denver Field Office, Loveland Resident Agency, and Larimer County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with cooperation from the Loveland Police Department.

Senior Sex Crimes Counsel Maura White of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Connaughty for the District of Colorado are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of ColoradoDENVER--A former police officer with the Loveland, Colorado, Police Department was charged in an indictment unsealed on Friday for sexually assaulting a minor while he was on duty.According to the indictment, on or about Aug. 4, 2023, Dylan Miller, 28, while on duty as a Loveland Police Department officer, sexually assaulted a minor. If convicted, Miller faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.&nbsp;Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan for the District of Colorado, and Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek of the FBI Denver Field Office made the announcement.The FBI Denver Field Office, Loveland Resident Agency, and Larimer County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with cooperation from the Loveland Police Department.Senior Sex Crimes Counsel Maura White of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Connaughty for the District of Colorado are prosecuting the case.An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law

Former Loveland Police Department Officer Indicted for Sexual Assault of Minor

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/26/in-unusual-move-major-tax-bill-is-re-advanced-from-committee-after-concerns-raised/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — In an unusual move, a state legislative committee pulled back and then voted to re-advance a bill Tuesday calling for a hike in state sales taxes to facilitate a shift away from local property taxes.

Legislative Bill 388 — the major property tax relief proposal from Gov. Jim Pillen — was voted out of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee on Thursday.

But objections were raised saying the vote violated a legislative rule that requires an actual draft of an amendment or bill to be present before it could be voted out to the full Legislature for debate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711556196596.jpeg" alt="Earlier this year, Gov. Jim Pillen urged members of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee to “tune out the noise” and have the courage to pass his proposal to swap higher sales taxes for lower property taxes. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Earlier this year, Gov. Jim Pillen urged members of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee to “tune out the noise” and have the courage to pass his proposal to swap higher sales taxes for lower property taxes. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/26/in-unusual-move-major-tax-bill-is-re-advanced-from-committee-after-concerns-raised/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — In an unusual move, a state legislative committee pulled back and then voted to re-advance a bill Tuesday calling for a hike in state sales taxes to facilitate a shift away from local property taxes.Legislative Bill 388 — the major property tax relief proposal from Gov. Jim Pillen — was voted out of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee on Thursday.But objections were raised saying the vote violated a legislative rule that requires an actual draft of an amendment or bill to be present before it could be voted out to the full Legislature for debate.State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, who raised the objection, said that voting without having an actual draft of a bill or amendment available to a committee “is not a good way to adopt major tax policy.”On Thursday, Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, who chairs the Revenue Committee, had laid out the concepts that the Governor’s Office had agreed to and told her fellow committee members that the Legislature’s bill drafters would craft an amendment this week containing those ideas in what’s been called a “make-it-so” amendment.<h2>Bolstering K-12 funding</h2>The Governor’s Office, in a memo distributed Tuesday, estimated that LB 388 would address a long-held gripe that the state doesn’t adequately contribute to K-12 education, thus leaving the burden of funding to local property taxes.The Pillen administration projected that per-pupil state support of local schooling would rise from $4,925 in 2022 — when Nebraska ranked 46th in the country — to $11,181, which would place the state at No. 8.Local property taxes would fall by “over 30%” when coupled with other recent property tax relief bills, according to the Governor’s Office, which is short of the 40% reduction&nbsp;Gov. Jim Pillen had sought.The tradeoff would be an increase of up to 1-cent in the state sales tax, plus increased taxes on cigarettes, vaping products, skill games and cannabis edibles. Tax exemptions on several items would be eliminated, including soda pop and candy, storage facilities, dry cleaning, non-livestock veterinary services and some advertising.Revenue Committee members voted 7-0 last week to advance the conceptual bill with one member, Lincoln Sen. George Dungan, absent (he later filed a “no” vote).To fend off any rules challenges to LB 388, the committee pulled back the bill and the voted 7-1 to advance it, along with a 62-page amendment unveiled Tuesday.The new amendment corrected some errors in the proposal that committee members said happened during the bill-drafting process.LB 388 — which would shift funding of K-12 education onto state sales taxes to lower local property taxes — could come up for floor debate Wednesday, which is Day 51 of the 60-day session.Some school groups, including the Omaha Public Schools, told the Examiner they are still digesting what’s in LB 388, which boosts per-pupil foundation aid to $3,000 from the current $1,500 and imposes a harder cap on spending increases by school districts.Liz Standish, an associate superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools, said Tuesday it appears that the newest version of LB 388 addresses concerns about the new revenue cap being too restrictive.“But it’s something we’ll be keeping a close eye on,” Standish said.Dave Welsch, a school board member from Milford, said that while the bill has made “a good first step” on property tax relief, the boost in foundation aid doesn’t correct an inequity between school districts in property taxes.The property tax levy in the Milford School District, Welsch said, is twice as high as the neighboring Centennial School District, which translates into much higher property taxes in Milford on property with identical valuations.Welsch has been among rural school officials who have touted another solution, known as the “Nebraska Plan,” which would direct more property tax relief to school districts with the highest tax levies.He said he did support the portion of the bill that would “front-load” tax credits offered for a portion of property tax payments. Lee Will, the governor’s budget chief, said large percentages of taxpayers&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/09/20/one-state-property-tax-credit-rises-slightly-in-2023-while-another-still-isnt-being-fully-claimed/">were not taking the tax credits</a>, which must be claimed on income tax filings.LB 388 is expected to draw opposition from both ends of the political spectrum, with progressives in the Legislature opposing “regressive” higher taxes on low-income Nebraskans, and some conservative senators opposing an increase in taxes as not delivering “tax relief” but instead creating a tax shift.