The Kearney Volunteer Fire Department (KVFD) was dispatched to a report of smoke coming from a residence at 1212 B Avenue at 03:29 this morning. Prior to the arrival of KVFD, a Kearney Police Officer advised that there was heavy smoke coming from the structure and a window had broken. Dispatch also advised that they could not confirm if there were occupants in the home or not. 

Upon arrival, KVFD initiated fire attack and a primary search of the structure. A short time later, firefighters located and removed one occupant from the structure. CHI Good Samaritan EMS received the patient just outside of the structure and began a patient assessment. The occupant, an adult female, was pronounced deceased a short time thereafter. 

KVFD members continued fire attack and a search of the structure. The fire was extinguished, and no additional occupants were located during the search. KVFD was assisted by Gibbon Volunteer Fire Department, Kearney Police Department, Nebraska Public Power District and Northwestern Energy. The Nebraska State Fire Marshal was called to assist KVFD with the origin and cause investigation. 

The fire remains under investigation. However, the initial investigation indicates the fire was accidental and caused by an electrical event inside of the structure. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victim.&nbsp;

Kearney Volunteer Fire DepartmentThe Kearney Volunteer Fire Department (KVFD) was dispatched to a report of smoke coming from a residence at 1212 B Avenue at 03:29 this morning. Prior to the arrival of KVFD, a Kearney Police Officer advised that there was heavy smoke coming from the structure and a window had broken. Dispatch also advised that they could not confirm if there were occupants in the home or not. Upon arrival, KVFD initiated fire attack and a primary search of the structure. A short time later, firefighters located and removed one occupant from the structure. CHI Good Samaritan EMS received the patient just outside of the structure and began a patient assessment. The occupant, an adult female, was pronounced deceased a short time thereafter. KVFD members continued fire attack and a search of the structure. The fire was extinguished, and no additional occupants were located during the search. KVFD was assisted by Gibbon Volunteer Fire Department, Kearney Police Department, Nebraska Public Power District and Northwestern Energy. The Nebraska State Fire Marshal was called to assist KVFD with the origin and cause investigation. The fire remains under investigation. However, the initial investigation indicates the fire was accidental and caused by an electrical event inside of the structure. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victim.&nbsp;

One fatality reported in Sunday morning house fire in Kearney

Today’s annual&nbsp;University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Medicine&nbsp;Martin Luther King Jr. Day program, sponsored by the Nebraska Medicine Inclusion and Diversity Office and the UNMC Office of Inclusion, will be a virtual event due to the weather.

Med center colleagues, as well as members of the public, can access the event&nbsp;<a href="https://unmc.zoom.us/j/95179778879?pwd=cE5xUk40UnRRbFBYdHpPbUo2RWdxZz09" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;

The program begins at noon. Pre-registration no longer is required.

Leadership will open the program with the welcome and statement of occasion, followed by keynote speaker&nbsp;by Walter Vincent Brooks, African American journalist, social research investigator and community activist.&nbsp;

Brooks is the author of&nbsp;<a href="https://trust-no-shadows-after-dark.com/" target="_blank">“Trust No Shadows After Dark: African American Genocide in the United States of America,”</a>&nbsp;which can be purchased at Aframerican Book Store, 3226 Lake St., for those interested.

The third annual Unsung Hero Award recipients will be announced during the program. The Unsung Hero Award celebrates colleagues at Nebraska Medicine, UNMC and/or Clarkson College who give back and serve others through volunteerism, service, outreach, mentorship or encouragement, either in their workplace or their community.

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day program is open to Nebraska Medicine colleagues, UNMC students and employees, as well as community members.

UNMCToday’s annual&nbsp;University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Medicine&nbsp;Martin Luther King Jr. Day program, sponsored by the Nebraska Medicine Inclusion and Diversity Office and the UNMC Office of Inclusion, will be a virtual event due to the weather.Med center colleagues, as well as members of the public, can access the event&nbsp;<a href="https://unmc.zoom.us/j/95179778879?pwd=cE5xUk40UnRRbFBYdHpPbUo2RWdxZz09" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;The program begins at noon. Pre-registration no longer is required.Leadership will open the program with the welcome and statement of occasion, followed by keynote speaker&nbsp;by Walter Vincent Brooks, African American journalist, social research investigator and community activist.&nbsp;Brooks is the author of&nbsp;<a href="https://trust-no-shadows-after-dark.com/" target="_blank">“Trust No Shadows After Dark: African American Genocide in the United States of America,”</a>&nbsp;which can be purchased at Aframerican Book Store, 3226 Lake St., for those interested.The third annual Unsung Hero Award recipients will be announced during the program. The Unsung Hero Award celebrates colleagues at Nebraska Medicine, UNMC and/or Clarkson College who give back and serve others through volunteerism, service, outreach, mentorship or encouragement, either in their workplace or their community.The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day program is open to Nebraska Medicine colleagues, UNMC students and employees, as well as community members.

Today’s UNMC/Nebraska Medicine annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day program now virtual 

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Voting is set to begin Monday night in icy Iowa as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">former President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;eyes a victory that would send a resounding message that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-winter-weather-caucus-campaign-events-canceled-a4fd8a5550a05166534f7b330560cbc9">neither life-threatening cold</a>&nbsp;nor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-investigations-election-fraud-documents-1d8d88542e6257ad957cf2fc03e190ae">life-changing legal trouble</a>&nbsp;can slow his march toward the Republican Party's 2024 nomination.

The Iowa caucuses,&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2024/election-2024-our-very-complicated-democracy/iowa-caucus-election-2024-presidential-race-episode-1.html">which are the opening contest</a>&nbsp;in the months-long Republican presidential primary process, begin at 8 p.m. EST. Caucus participants will gather inside more than 1,500 schools, churches and community centers to debate their options, in some cases for hours, before casting secret ballots.

While Trump projects confidence, his onetime chief rival,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ron-desantis">Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis</a>, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/desantis-iowa-caucuses-election-2024-b41c967b94fda070dfb70dfb1bdcfa44">fighting for his political survival</a>&nbsp;in a make-or-break race for second place.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley</a>, the only woman in the race, stands in DeSantis' way. The two have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/desantis-haley-trump-iowa-republican-caucuses-2024-67f83ae02b266e3a62c3db1ea0800167">competed aggressively in recent weeks to emerge as the clear alternative</a>&nbsp;to the former president, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-2024-poll-old-corrupt-12b806876e2072790f9a67793761c688">has alienated many Americans</a>&nbsp;and could end up being a convicted felon by year’s end.

"I absolutely love a lot of the things (Trump) did, but his personality is just kind of getting in his way,” said Hans Rudin, a 49-year-old community college adviser from Council Bluffs, Iowa. He said he supported Trump in the past two elections, but will caucus for DeSantis on Monday.

Polls suggest Trump enters the day with a massive lead in Iowa as Haley and DeSantis duel for a distant second. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson are also on the ballot, as is former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who suspended his campaign last week.

With the coldest temperatures in caucus history expected and dangerous travel conditions in virtually every corner of the rural state, the campaigns are bracing for a low-turnout contest that will test the strength of their support and their organizational muscle. The final result will serve as a powerful signal for the rest of the nomination fight to determine who will face Democratic President Joe Biden in the November general election.

After Iowa, the Republican primary shifts to New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina over the coming weeks before moving into the rest of the country this spring. The ultimate nominee won't be confirmed until the party's national convention in July, but with big wins in the opening contests, Trump will be difficult to stop.

Trump's political strength heading into the Iowa caucuses, which come 426 days after he launched his 2024 campaign, tells a remarkable story of a Republican Party unwilling or unable to move on from him. He lost to Biden in 2020 after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-classified-information-8dd6297eaebc358ffc15c153dc1b000e">fueling near-constant chaos</a>&nbsp;while in the White House, culminating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iowa-caucuses-young-conservatives-campaign-2ca7441852577795123845811b06bc06">with his supporters carrying out a deadly attack</a>&nbsp;on the U.S. Capitol. In total, he faces 91 felony charges across four criminal cases, including two indictments for his efforts to overturn the election and a third indictment for keeping classified documents in his Florida home.

In recent weeks, Trump has increasingly echoed authoritarian leaders and framed his campaign as one of retribution. He has spoken openly about using the power of government to pursue his political enemies. He has repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-immigration-iowa-dff7f632948fa6511fb7d1955a28610c">harnessed rhetoric</a>&nbsp;once used by Adolf Hitler to argue that immigrants entering the U.S. illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country. And he recently shared a word cloud last week to his social media account highlighting words like “revenge,” “power” and “dictatorship.”

“Trump is a Christian. He’s trustworthy. He believes in America. And he believes in freedom,” said 71-year-old Kathy DeAngelo, a retired hospital administrative employee waiting in subzero weather to see Trump on Sunday. “He's the only one.”

The final Des Moines Register/NBC News poll before the caucuses found Trump maintaining a formidable lead, supported by nearly half of likely caucusgoers, compared with 20% for Haley and 16% for DeSantis. Haley, the former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor, and DeSantis, the Florida governor, remain locked in a close battle for second. Trump is also viewed more favorably than the other top contenders by likely caucusgoers, at 69% compared with 58% for DeSantis and just 48% for Haley.

On the eve of the caucuses, Trump predicted he would set a modern-day record for an Iowa Republican caucus with a margin-of-victory exceeding the nearly 13 percentage points that Bob Dole earned in 1988. He also sought to downplay expectations that he would earn as much as 50% of the total vote.

Whether he hits that number or not, his critics note that roughly half of the state’s Republican voters will likely vote for someone not named Trump.

“Somebody won by 12 points and that was like a record. Well, we should do that," Trump said Sunday during an appearance at a Des Moines hotel. "If we don’t do that, let 'em criticize us, right? But let’s see if we can get to 50%.“

“Brave the weather and go out and save America," he later added.

The temperature in parts of Iowa on Monday could dip as low as negative 14 degrees Fahrenheit (negative 26 degrees Celsius) while snow drifts from Friday's blizzard still make travel hazardous across the rural state where unpaved roads are common.

Forecasters warned that “dangerously cold wind chills” as low as 45 degrees below zero Fahrenheit were possible through noon Tuesday. The conditions, according to the National Weather Service, could lead to “frost bite and hypothermia in a matter of minutes if not properly dressed for the conditions.”

Over the weekend, signs positioned on key roadways warned motorists in large flashing orange letters: “TRAVEL NOT ADVISED.”

And the winter weather, intimidating even for Iowa, will make an already unrepresentative process even less representative.

Many elderly Iowans, who are the backbone of the caucus, are wondering how they will make it to their sites. And only a tiny portion of the participants will be voters of color, given Iowa's overwhelmingly white population, a fact that helped convince Democrats to shift their opening primary contest to South Carolina this year.

Iowa's caucuses are also playing out on Martin Luther King Day, which is a federal holiday.

Last month, some presidential campaigns were expecting close to 200,000 Republican voters to participate in the caucus. On the eve of the contest, many now wonder whether the 2024 turnout will exceed the 118,411 Republicans who showed up in 2012.

Still, each of the campaigns is claiming a powerful get-out-the-vote operation that will ensure their supporters show up.

Haley rallied a room packed with Iowans and out-of-state volunteers on Sunday in Ames, drawing frequent cheers from the pink necklace and boa-clad “Women for Nikki.”

The 51-year-old former South Carolina governor repeated her frequent call for GOP voters to elect her as a “new generational leader that leaves the negativity and the baggage behind and focuses on the solutions of the future.”

Nearly 200 miles away in Dubuque, DeSantis dismissed questions about his position in the polls as he courted voters.

“I like being underestimated. I like being the underdog,” the Florida governor said. “I think that that’s better.”

Meanwhile, not all voters were excited about their options.

Jake Hutzell, 28, hasn’t participated in a caucus before, and he isn’t sure that he will Monday, either. He follows politics, but he said he’s part of a generation that’s skeptical any of it makes a difference.

“There’s never been anyone I feel strongly about,” the Dubuque resident said. “If I’m going to throw my name behind who I think should be the president, I would like to very feel very strongly about it.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Voting is set to begin Monday night in icy Iowa as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">former President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;eyes a victory that would send a resounding message that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-winter-weather-caucus-campaign-events-canceled-a4fd8a5550a05166534f7b330560cbc9">neither life-threatening cold</a>&nbsp;nor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-investigations-election-fraud-documents-1d8d88542e6257ad957cf2fc03e190ae">life-changing legal trouble</a>&nbsp;can slow his march toward the Republican Party's 2024 nomination.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former President Donald Trump: &quot;You must go caucus tomorrow...You can&#39;t sit home. If you&#39;re sick as a dog...even if you vote and then pass away, it&#39;s worth it.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/tdjwqau6fW">pic.twitter.com/tdjwqau6fW</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1746704464407343408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Iowa caucuses,&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2024/election-2024-our-very-complicated-democracy/iowa-caucus-election-2024-presidential-race-episode-1.html">which are the opening contest</a>&nbsp;in the months-long Republican presidential primary process, begin at 8 p.m. EST. Caucus participants will gather inside more than 1,500 schools, churches and community centers to debate their options, in some cases for hours, before casting secret ballots.While Trump projects confidence, his onetime chief rival,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ron-desantis">Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis</a>, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/desantis-iowa-caucuses-election-2024-b41c967b94fda070dfb70dfb1bdcfa44">fighting for his political survival</a>&nbsp;in a make-or-break race for second place.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley</a>, the only woman in the race, stands in DeSantis' way. The two have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/desantis-haley-trump-iowa-republican-caucuses-2024-67f83ae02b266e3a62c3db1ea0800167">competed aggressively in recent weeks to emerge as the clear alternative</a>&nbsp;to the former president, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-2024-poll-old-corrupt-12b806876e2072790f9a67793761c688">has alienated many Americans</a>&nbsp;and could end up being a convicted felon by year’s end."I absolutely love a lot of the things (Trump) did, but his personality is just kind of getting in his way,” said Hans Rudin, a 49-year-old community college adviser from Council Bluffs, Iowa. He said he supported Trump in the past two elections, but will caucus for DeSantis on Monday.Polls suggest Trump enters the day with a massive lead in Iowa as Haley and DeSantis duel for a distant second. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson are also on the ballot, as is former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who suspended his campaign last week.With the coldest temperatures in caucus history expected and dangerous travel conditions in virtually every corner of the rural state, the campaigns are bracing for a low-turnout contest that will test the strength of their support and their organizational muscle. The final result will serve as a powerful signal for the rest of the nomination fight to determine who will face Democratic President Joe Biden in the November general election.After Iowa, the Republican primary shifts to New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina over the coming weeks before moving into the rest of the country this spring. The ultimate nominee won't be confirmed until the party's national convention in July, but with big wins in the opening contests, Trump will be difficult to stop.Trump's political strength heading into the Iowa caucuses, which come 426 days after he launched his 2024 campaign, tells a remarkable story of a Republican Party unwilling or unable to move on from him. He lost to Biden in 2020 after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-classified-information-8dd6297eaebc358ffc15c153dc1b000e">fueling near-constant chaos</a>&nbsp;while in the White House, culminating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iowa-caucuses-young-conservatives-campaign-2ca7441852577795123845811b06bc06">with his supporters carrying out a deadly attack</a>&nbsp;on the U.S. Capitol. In total, he faces 91 felony charges across four criminal cases, including two indictments for his efforts to overturn the election and a third indictment for keeping classified documents in his Florida home.In recent weeks, Trump has increasingly echoed authoritarian leaders and framed his campaign as one of retribution. He has spoken openly about using the power of government to pursue his political enemies. He has repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-immigration-iowa-dff7f632948fa6511fb7d1955a28610c">harnessed rhetoric</a>&nbsp;once used by Adolf Hitler to argue that immigrants entering the U.S. illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country. And he recently shared a word cloud last week to his social media account highlighting words like “revenge,” “power” and “dictatorship.”Republican voters have been undeterred.“Trump is a Christian. He’s trustworthy. He believes in America. And he believes in freedom,” said 71-year-old Kathy DeAngelo, a retired hospital administrative employee waiting in subzero weather to see Trump on Sunday. “He's the only one.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705318898624.png" alt="Nikki Haley during a campaign rally Sunday -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Nikki Haley during a campaign rally Sunday -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>The final Des Moines Register/NBC News poll before the caucuses found Trump maintaining a formidable lead, supported by nearly half of likely caucusgoers, compared with 20% for Haley and 16% for DeSantis. Haley, the former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor, and DeSantis, the Florida governor, remain locked in a close battle for second. Trump is also viewed more favorably than the other top contenders by likely caucusgoers, at 69% compared with 58% for DeSantis and just 48% for Haley.On the eve of the caucuses, Trump predicted he would set a modern-day record for an Iowa Republican caucus with a margin-of-victory exceeding the nearly 13 percentage points that Bob Dole earned in 1988. He also sought to downplay expectations that he would earn as much as 50% of the total vote.Whether he hits that number or not, his critics note that roughly half of the state’s Republican voters will likely vote for someone not named Trump.“Somebody won by 12 points and that was like a record. Well, we should do that," Trump said Sunday during an appearance at a Des Moines hotel. "If we don’t do that, let 'em criticize us, right? But let’s see if we can get to 50%.““Brave the weather and go out and save America," he later added.The temperature in parts of Iowa on Monday could dip as low as negative 14 degrees Fahrenheit (negative 26 degrees Celsius) while snow drifts from Friday's blizzard still make travel hazardous across the rural state where unpaved roads are common.Forecasters warned that “dangerously cold wind chills” as low as 45 degrees below zero Fahrenheit were possible through noon Tuesday. The conditions, according to the National Weather Service, could lead to “frost bite and hypothermia in a matter of minutes if not properly dressed for the conditions.”Over the weekend, signs positioned on key roadways warned motorists in large flashing orange letters: “TRAVEL NOT ADVISED.”And the winter weather, intimidating even for Iowa, will make an already unrepresentative process even less representative.Many elderly Iowans, who are the backbone of the caucus, are wondering how they will make it to their sites. And only a tiny portion of the participants will be voters of color, given Iowa's overwhelmingly white population, a fact that helped convince Democrats to shift their opening primary contest to South Carolina this year.Iowa's caucuses are also playing out on Martin Luther King Day, which is a federal holiday.Last month, some presidential campaigns were expecting close to 200,000 Republican voters to participate in the caucus. On the eve of the contest, many now wonder whether the 2024 turnout will exceed the 118,411 Republicans who showed up in 2012.Still, each of the campaigns is claiming a powerful get-out-the-vote operation that will ensure their supporters show up.Haley rallied a room packed with Iowans and out-of-state volunteers on Sunday in Ames, drawing frequent cheers from the pink necklace and boa-clad “Women for Nikki.”The 51-year-old former South Carolina governor repeated her frequent call for GOP voters to elect her as a “new generational leader that leaves the negativity and the baggage behind and focuses on the solutions of the future.”Nearly 200 miles away in Dubuque, DeSantis dismissed questions about his position in the polls as he courted voters.“I like being underestimated. I like being the underdog,” the Florida governor said. “I think that that’s better.”Meanwhile, not all voters were excited about their options.Jake Hutzell, 28, hasn’t participated in a caucus before, and he isn’t sure that he will Monday, either. He follows politics, but he said he’s part of a generation that’s skeptical any of it makes a difference.“There’s never been anyone I feel strongly about,” the Dubuque resident said. “If I’m going to throw my name behind who I think should be the president, I would like to very feel very strongly about it.”___

🎥Trump predicts he will break Bob Dole's record in Iowa caucus victory

JERUSALEM (AP) — Yemen's Houthi rebels fired an anti-ship cruise missile toward an American destroyer in the Red Sea but a U.S. fighter jet shot it down in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-yemen-houthis-attack-ships-f67d941c260528ac40315ecab4c34ca3">the latest attack roiling global shipping</a>&nbsp;amid Israel's war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, officials said.

The attack on Sunday marks the first U.S.-acknowledged fire by the Houthis since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-biden-retaliation-attacks-0804b93372cd5e874a0dd03513fe36a2">America and allied nations began strikes Friday on the rebels</a>&nbsp;following weeks of assaults on shipping in the Red Sea.

The Houthis have targeted that crucial corridor linking Asian and Mideast energy and cargo shipments to the Suez Canal onward to Europe over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-01-14-2024-3af5b75f744b92c5517b287baf20b55b">the Israel-Hamas war</a>, attacks that threaten to widen that conflict into a regional conflagration.

The Houthis,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-attacks-iran-ships-retaliation-houthis-d770a3fb0fab4c4b72e2459771833e11">a Shiite rebel group allied with Iran</a>&nbsp;that seized Yemen's capital in 2014, did not immediately acknowledge the attack.

It wasn't immediately clear whether the U.S. would retaliate for the latest attack, though President Joe Biden has said he “will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary.”

The Houthi fire on Sunday went in the direction of the USS Laboon, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer operating in the southern reaches of the Red Sea, the U.S. military's Central Command said in a statement.

The missile came from near Hodeida, a Red Sea port city long held by the Houthis, the U.S. said.

“An anti-ship cruise missile was fired from Iranian-backed Houthi militant areas of Yemen toward USS Laboon,” Central Command said. “There were no injuries or damage reported."

The first day of U.S.-led strikes Friday hit 28 locations and struck more than 60 targets with cruise missiles and bombs launched by fighter jets, warships and a submarine. Sites hit included weapon depots, radars and command centers, including in remote mountain areas, the U.S. has said.

The Houthis have yet to acknowledge how severe the damage was from the strikes, which they said killed five of their troops and wounded six others.

U.S. forces followed up with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">a strike Saturday on a Houthi radar site</a>.

Shipping through the Red Sea has slowed over the attacks. The U.S. Navy on Friday warned American-flagged vessels to steer clear of areas around Yemen in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden for 72 hours after the initial airstrikes.

For their part, the Houthis alleged without providing evidence that the U.S. struck a site near Hodeida on Sunday around the same time of the cruise missile fire. The Americans and the United Kingdom did not acknowledge conducting any strike — suggesting the blast may have been from a misfiring Houthi missile.

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

Even the leader of the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group, Hassan Nasrallah, obliquely referenced the widening Houthi attacks on ships in a speech Sunday, saying that “the sea has become battlefield of missiles, drones and warships” and blaming the U.S. strikes for escalating maritime tensions.

“The most dangerous thing is what the Americans did in the Red Sea (it) will harm the security of all maritime navigation,” Nasrallah said.

Though the Biden administration and its allies have tried to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-iran-hezbollah-yemen-0373be2e21b5a832d71f5bf828f67959">calm tensions in the Middle East</a>&nbsp;for weeks and prevent any wider conflict, the strikes in the Red Sea threaten to ignite one.

Saudi Arabia, which supports the Yemeni government-in-exile that the Houthis are fighting, sought to distance itself from the attacks on Houthi sites as it tries to maintain a delicate détente with Iran and a cease-fire it has in Yemen. The Saudi-led, U.S.-backed war in Yemen that began in 2015 has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters, killing tens of thousands more.

Meanwhile, the White House said Sunday that “it’s the right time” for Israel to scale back its military offensive in the Gaza Strip, as Israeli leaders again vowed to press ahead with their operation against the territory’s ruling Hamas militant group.

The comments exposed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-netanyahu-israel-palestinians-gaza-fe150c19cdcc4737f4a9e22a695490ed">growing differences</a>&nbsp;between the close allies on the 100th day of the war.

Also Sunday, Israeli warplanes struck targets in Lebanon following a Hezbollah missile attack that killed two Israeli civilians — an older woman and her adult son — in northern Israel. The exchange of fire underscored concerns that the Gaza violence could trigger wider fighting across the region.

The war in Gaza, launched by Israel in response to the unprecedented Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, has killed nearly 24,000 Palestinians, devastated vast swaths of Gaza, driven around 85% of the territory’s 2.3 million residents from their homes and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-uninhabitable-un-humanitarian-israel-palestinians-famine-9d92816bdb8d82d023bc4bd18f67d8a3">pushed a quarter of the population into starvation</a>.

Speaking on CBS, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. has been speaking to Israel “about a transition to low-intensity operations” in Gaza.

“We believe it’s the right time for that transition. And we’re talking to them about doing that,” he said on “Face the Nation.”

Israel launched the offensive after the Hamas attack killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to press ahead until Hamas is destroyed and all of the more than 100 hostages still in captivity are freed.

The war has sent tensions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-iran-hezbollah-yemen-0373be2e21b5a832d71f5bf828f67959">soaring across the region</a>, with Israel trading fire almost daily with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group and Iranian-backed militias attacking U.S. targets in Syria and Iraq. In addition, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have been targeting international shipping, drawing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">a wave of U.S. airstrikes</a>&nbsp;last week.

Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said his group won’t stop until a cease-fire is in place for Gaza.

“We are continuing, and our front is inflicting losses on the enemy and putting pressure on displaced people,” Nasrallah said in a speech, referring to the tens of thousands of Israelis who have fled northern border areas.

In other developments, tens of thousands of people in Europe and the Middle East&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-protests-hostages-cease-fire-london-karachi-2632ad0e7285e55f2c222dc69100014a">took to the streets</a>&nbsp;Sunday to mark the 100th day of the war. Opposing demonstrations either demanded the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas or called for a cease-fire in Gaza.

In Israel, supporters of the hostages and their families wrapped up a 24-hour protest in Tel Aviv calling on the government to win their immediate release.

The unprecedented level of death and destruction in Gaza has led South Africa to lodge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-court-israel-genocide-gaza-south-africa-774ab3c3d57fd7bcc627602eaf47fd98">allegations of genocide against Israel</a>&nbsp;at the International Court of Justice. Israel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-court-israel-genocide-gaza-south-africa-65b087102893dd06222370b10f0b4e4d">denies the accusations</a>&nbsp;and has vowed to press ahead with its offensive even if the court in The Hague issues an interim order for it to stop.

Israel has also been under growing international pressure to end the war in Gaza, but it has so far been shielded by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-israel-gaza-arms-hamas-bypass-congress-1dc77f20aac4a797df6a2338b677da4f">U.S. diplomatic and military support.</a>&nbsp;Israel argues that any cease-fire would hand victory to Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007 and is bent on Israel’s destruction.

“It’s been 100 days, yet we will not stop until we win,” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Sunday.

But differences with the Americans have begun to emerge. During a visit to the region last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken renewed his calls on Israel to do more to reduce civilian casualties and increase the supplies of desperately needed humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

In recent weeks, Israel has scaled back operations in northern Gaza, the initial target of the offensive, where weeks of airstrikes and ground operations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">left entire neighborhoods in ruins</a>.

Kirby, the White House spokesman, acknowledged that Israel had taken some “precursory steps” toward scaling back the offensive. But he said there was more to do.

“We’re not saying let your foot up off the gas completely and don’t keep going after Hamas,” he said. “It’s just that we believe the time is coming here very, very soon for a transition to this lower intensity phase.”

The deadly Hezbollah missile strike in northern Israel renewed concerns about a second front erupting into full-blown war.

It came shortly after the Israeli army said it killed three Lebanese militants who tried to infiltrate Israel.

Late Sunday, the Israeli military said it had struck Lebanon in response to the missile strike. Israeli officials said a woman in her 70s and her son, in his 40s, were killed in the town of Yuval.

The army’s chief spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said Israel would not tolerate attacks on civilians.

“The price will be extracted not just tonight, but also in the future,” he said.

Yuval is one of more than 40 towns along Israel’s northern border evacuated by the government in October. Israeli media reported that the family stayed in the area because they work in agriculture.

Tensions have also spread to the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where Palestinian health officials say nearly 350 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in confrontations throughout the war.

On Sunday, the Israeli army said troops opened fire after a Palestinian car breached a military roadblock in the southern West Bank and an attacker fired at soldiers. Palestinian health officials said two Palestinians were killed.

Late Sunday, Palestinian health officials said two teenage boys were killed by Israeli fire. The army said it shot them after they threw a bomb at an army base.

Israel has launched major operations against the southern city of Khan Younis and built-up refugee camps in central Gaza.

“No one is able to move,” said Rami Abu Matouq, who lives in the Maghazi camp. “Warplanes, snipers and gunfire are everywhere.”

In the central town of Deir al-Balah, health officials said at least 15 people were killed in Israeli strikes late Saturday.

At the entrance of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, men lined up to pray for the dead, their bodies wrapped in white shrouds. The bodies were put on the back of a pickup truck before they were taken to be buried.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian TV station Al-Ghad said a cameraman was killed in an Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza. The channel said Yazan al-Zwaidi was apparently in a crowd of people at the time. Details were not immediately available, and the Israeli military had no comment.

The internet advocacy group Netblocks said communications in Gaza were still out after a 48-hour outage. The Palestinian telecommunications operator in Gaza, Jawwal, said two of its employees were killed Saturday when they were hit by a shell while fixing lines in Khan Younis.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Gaza Health Ministry</a>&nbsp;said Sunday that hospitals had received 125 bodies in the last 24 hours, bringing the overall death toll to 23,968. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around two-thirds of the dead are women and minors. It says over 60,000 people have been wounded.

Israel says Hamas is responsible for the high civilian casualties, saying its fighters make use of civilian buildings and launch attacks from densely populated urban areas. The military says 189 soldiers have been killed and 1,099 wounded since the start of the ground offensive.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703990687604.png" alt="Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP) — Yemen's Houthi rebels fired an anti-ship cruise missile toward an American destroyer in the Red Sea but a U.S. fighter jet shot it down in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-yemen-houthis-attack-ships-f67d941c260528ac40315ecab4c34ca3">the latest attack roiling global shipping</a>&nbsp;amid Israel's war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, officials said.The attack on Sunday marks the first U.S.-acknowledged fire by the Houthis since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-biden-retaliation-attacks-0804b93372cd5e874a0dd03513fe36a2">America and allied nations began strikes Friday on the rebels</a>&nbsp;following weeks of assaults on shipping in the Red Sea.The Houthis have targeted that crucial corridor linking Asian and Mideast energy and cargo shipments to the Suez Canal onward to Europe over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-01-14-2024-3af5b75f744b92c5517b287baf20b55b">the Israel-Hamas war</a>, attacks that threaten to widen that conflict into a regional conflagration.The Houthis,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-attacks-iran-ships-retaliation-houthis-d770a3fb0fab4c4b72e2459771833e11">a Shiite rebel group allied with Iran</a>&nbsp;that seized Yemen's capital in 2014, did not immediately acknowledge the attack.It wasn't immediately clear whether the U.S. would retaliate for the latest attack, though President Joe Biden has said he “will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary.”The Houthi fire on Sunday went in the direction of the USS Laboon, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer operating in the southern reaches of the Red Sea, the U.S. military's Central Command said in a statement.The missile came from near Hodeida, a Red Sea port city long held by the Houthis, the U.S. said.“An anti-ship cruise missile was fired from Iranian-backed Houthi militant areas of Yemen toward USS Laboon,” Central Command said. “There were no injuries or damage reported."The first day of U.S.-led strikes Friday hit 28 locations and struck more than 60 targets with cruise missiles and bombs launched by fighter jets, warships and a submarine. Sites hit included weapon depots, radars and command centers, including in remote mountain areas, the U.S. has said.The Houthis have yet to acknowledge how severe the damage was from the strikes, which they said killed five of their troops and wounded six others.U.S. forces followed up with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">a strike Saturday on a Houthi radar site</a>.Shipping through the Red Sea has slowed over the attacks. The U.S. Navy on Friday warned American-flagged vessels to steer clear of areas around Yemen in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden for 72 hours after the initial airstrikes.For their part, the Houthis alleged without providing evidence that the U.S. struck a site near Hodeida on Sunday around the same time of the cruise missile fire. The Americans and the United Kingdom did not acknowledge conducting any strike — suggesting the blast may have been from a misfiring Houthi missile.Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade.Even the leader of the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group, Hassan Nasrallah, obliquely referenced the widening Houthi attacks on ships in a speech Sunday, saying that “the sea has become battlefield of missiles, drones and warships” and blaming the U.S. strikes for escalating maritime tensions.“The most dangerous thing is what the Americans did in the Red Sea (it) will harm the security of all maritime navigation,” Nasrallah said.Though the Biden administration and its allies have tried to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-iran-hezbollah-yemen-0373be2e21b5a832d71f5bf828f67959">calm tensions in the Middle East</a>&nbsp;for weeks and prevent any wider conflict, the strikes in the Red Sea threaten to ignite one.Saudi Arabia, which supports the Yemeni government-in-exile that the Houthis are fighting, sought to distance itself from the attacks on Houthi sites as it tries to maintain a delicate détente with Iran and a cease-fire it has in Yemen. The Saudi-led, U.S.-backed war in Yemen that began in 2015 has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters, killing tens of thousands more.Meanwhile, the White House said Sunday that “it’s the right time” for Israel to scale back its military offensive in the Gaza Strip, as Israeli leaders again vowed to press ahead with their operation against the territory’s ruling Hamas militant group.The comments exposed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-netanyahu-israel-palestinians-gaza-fe150c19cdcc4737f4a9e22a695490ed">growing differences</a>&nbsp;between the close allies on the 100th day of the war.Also Sunday, Israeli warplanes struck targets in Lebanon following a Hezbollah missile attack that killed two Israeli civilians — an older woman and her adult son — in northern Israel. The exchange of fire underscored concerns that the Gaza violence could trigger wider fighting across the region.The war in Gaza, launched by Israel in response to the unprecedented Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, has killed nearly 24,000 Palestinians, devastated vast swaths of Gaza, driven around 85% of the territory’s 2.3 million residents from their homes and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-uninhabitable-un-humanitarian-israel-palestinians-famine-9d92816bdb8d82d023bc4bd18f67d8a3">pushed a quarter of the population into starvation</a>.Speaking on CBS, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. has been speaking to Israel “about a transition to low-intensity operations” in Gaza.“We believe it’s the right time for that transition. And we’re talking to them about doing that,” he said on “Face the Nation.”Israel launched the offensive after the Hamas attack killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to press ahead until Hamas is destroyed and all of the more than 100 hostages still in captivity are freed.The war has sent tensions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-iran-hezbollah-yemen-0373be2e21b5a832d71f5bf828f67959">soaring across the region</a>, with Israel trading fire almost daily with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group and Iranian-backed militias attacking U.S. targets in Syria and Iraq. In addition, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have been targeting international shipping, drawing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">a wave of U.S. airstrikes</a>&nbsp;last week.Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said his group won’t stop until a cease-fire is in place for Gaza.“We are continuing, and our front is inflicting losses on the enemy and putting pressure on displaced people,” Nasrallah said in a speech, referring to the tens of thousands of Israelis who have fled northern border areas.In other developments, tens of thousands of people in Europe and the Middle East&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-protests-hostages-cease-fire-london-karachi-2632ad0e7285e55f2c222dc69100014a">took to the streets</a>&nbsp;Sunday to mark the 100th day of the war. Opposing demonstrations either demanded the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas or called for a cease-fire in Gaza.In Israel, supporters of the hostages and their families wrapped up a 24-hour protest in Tel Aviv calling on the government to win their immediate release.INTERNATIONAL PRESSUREThe unprecedented level of death and destruction in Gaza has led South Africa to lodge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-court-israel-genocide-gaza-south-africa-774ab3c3d57fd7bcc627602eaf47fd98">allegations of genocide against Israel</a>&nbsp;at the International Court of Justice. Israel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-court-israel-genocide-gaza-south-africa-65b087102893dd06222370b10f0b4e4d">denies the accusations</a>&nbsp;and has vowed to press ahead with its offensive even if the court in The Hague issues an interim order for it to stop.Israel has also been under growing international pressure to end the war in Gaza, but it has so far been shielded by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-israel-gaza-arms-hamas-bypass-congress-1dc77f20aac4a797df6a2338b677da4f">U.S. diplomatic and military support.</a>&nbsp;Israel argues that any cease-fire would hand victory to Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007 and is bent on Israel’s destruction.“It’s been 100 days, yet we will not stop until we win,” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Sunday.But differences with the Americans have begun to emerge. During a visit to the region last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken renewed his calls on Israel to do more to reduce civilian casualties and increase the supplies of desperately needed humanitarian aid entering Gaza.In recent weeks, Israel has scaled back operations in northern Gaza, the initial target of the offensive, where weeks of airstrikes and ground operations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">left entire neighborhoods in ruins</a>.Kirby, the White House spokesman, acknowledged that Israel had taken some “precursory steps” toward scaling back the offensive. But he said there was more to do.“We’re not saying let your foot up off the gas completely and don’t keep going after Hamas,” he said. “It’s just that we believe the time is coming here very, very soon for a transition to this lower intensity phase.”FEARS OF A SECOND FRONTThe deadly Hezbollah missile strike in northern Israel renewed concerns about a second front erupting into full-blown war.It came shortly after the Israeli army said it killed three Lebanese militants who tried to infiltrate Israel.Late Sunday, the Israeli military said it had struck Lebanon in response to the missile strike. Israeli officials said a woman in her 70s and her son, in his 40s, were killed in the town of Yuval.The army’s chief spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said Israel would not tolerate attacks on civilians.“The price will be extracted not just tonight, but also in the future,” he said.Yuval is one of more than 40 towns along Israel’s northern border evacuated by the government in October. Israeli media reported that the family stayed in the area because they work in agriculture.Tensions have also spread to the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where Palestinian health officials say nearly 350 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in confrontations throughout the war.On Sunday, the Israeli army said troops opened fire after a Palestinian car breached a military roadblock in the southern West Bank and an attacker fired at soldiers. Palestinian health officials said two Palestinians were killed.Late Sunday, Palestinian health officials said two teenage boys were killed by Israeli fire. The army said it shot them after they threw a bomb at an army base.ISRAEL STRIKES CENTRAL, SOUTHERN GAZAIsrael has launched major operations against the southern city of Khan Younis and built-up refugee camps in central Gaza.“No one is able to move,” said Rami Abu Matouq, who lives in the Maghazi camp. “Warplanes, snipers and gunfire are everywhere.”In the central town of Deir al-Balah, health officials said at least 15 people were killed in Israeli strikes late Saturday.At the entrance of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, men lined up to pray for the dead, their bodies wrapped in white shrouds. The bodies were put on the back of a pickup truck before they were taken to be buried.Meanwhile, the Egyptian TV station Al-Ghad said a cameraman was killed in an Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza. The channel said Yazan al-Zwaidi was apparently in a crowd of people at the time. Details were not immediately available, and the Israeli military had no comment.The internet advocacy group Netblocks said communications in Gaza were still out after a 48-hour outage. The Palestinian telecommunications operator in Gaza, Jawwal, said two of its employees were killed Saturday when they were hit by a shell while fixing lines in Khan Younis.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Gaza Health Ministry</a>&nbsp;said Sunday that hospitals had received 125 bodies in the last 24 hours, bringing the overall death toll to 23,968. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around two-thirds of the dead are women and minors. It says over 60,000 people have been wounded.Israel says Hamas is responsible for the high civilian casualties, saying its fighters make use of civilian buildings and launch attacks from densely populated urban areas. The military says 189 soldiers have been killed and 1,099 wounded since the start of the ground offensive.___

First missile threat on U.S. warship in the Red Sea since America-led attack

&nbsp;LINCOLN — History Nebraska, formerly the Nebraska State Historical Society, would become an agency under the governor’s control under a proposal from State Sen. Steve Erdman.&nbsp;

The governor would appoint the society’s director and have more oversight over spending and donations under the measure, which has&nbsp;11 cosponsors.

“We need some oversight,” said Erdman.

If&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=55062">Legislative Bill 1169</a>&nbsp;is adopted, it would end the agency’s independent status. It has been governed by&nbsp;a board of trustees, who are elected by History Nebraska members, since 1878.

The proposal comes amid some controversy for the state historical society.

In June, its former director,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/13/criminal-case-against-former-history-nebraska-director-becomes-a-battle-of-state-statutes/">Trevor Jones, was charged with felony theft</a>&nbsp;by deception for&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/20/history-nebraskas-former-director-charged-with-felony-theft/">diverting $270,000 i</a>n donations into a foundation he controlled, rather than depositing the funds into the state treasury, as required.

History Nebraska is currently reviewing applicants for the director’s post and plans to interview some finalists next month for the position.

Erdman said Friday he’s not convinced that the society can select a good director.

Highstaff &nbsp;turnover has also been an issue at the history organization in recent years, with some employees complaining about heavy-handed management requirements of their work.

&nbsp;LINCOLN — History Nebraska, formerly the Nebraska State Historical Society, would become an agency under the governor’s control under a proposal from State Sen. Steve Erdman.&nbsp;The governor would appoint the society’s director and have more oversight over spending and donations under the measure, which has&nbsp;11 cosponsors.“We need some oversight,” said Erdman.If&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=55062">Legislative Bill 1169</a>&nbsp;is adopted, it would end the agency’s independent status. It has been governed by&nbsp;a board of trustees, who are elected by History Nebraska members, since 1878.The proposal comes amid some controversy for the state historical society.In June, its former director,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/13/criminal-case-against-former-history-nebraska-director-becomes-a-battle-of-state-statutes/">Trevor Jones, was charged with felony theft</a>&nbsp;by deception for&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/20/history-nebraskas-former-director-charged-with-felony-theft/">diverting $270,000 i</a>n donations into a foundation he controlled, rather than depositing the funds into the state treasury, as required.History Nebraska is currently reviewing applicants for the director’s post and plans to interview some finalists next month for the position.Erdman said Friday he’s not convinced that the society can select a good director.Highstaff &nbsp;turnover has also been an issue at the history organization in recent years, with some employees complaining about heavy-handed management requirements of their work.

History Nebraska would become ‘code agency’ under control of governor under legislative proposal

As recent events have demonstrated, the readiness and modernization of the United States’ defense capabilities are as important as ever. Keeping Americans safe and prioritizing American interests must always be a leading goal. Our open borders – paired with ongoing global unrest – not only threaten national security for the United States and our allies, they have serious implications for economic security around the world.

This was clearly evidenced on a recent trip I made with many of my colleagues to Eagle Pass, TX, on our southern border. What I witnessed there was devastating. State and local agencies are being overwhelmed in an entirely preventable crisis. Despite the trafficking of minors, the unchecked flow of fentanyl, and loss of life, the administration insists the border is secure. Early in 2023, the House passed H.R. 2, a bill to address security risks on the border. President Biden must stop ignoring this problem and work with Congress to enact real solutions.

As Vladimir Putin continues his aggression in Ukraine, tensions in Europe have risen. In other parts of the world, escalation by China against Taiwan and the enemies of Israel must also be taken seriously as Israeli forces continue to confront the threat of Hamas and seek release of hostages taken on October 7, 2023.&nbsp;

This week, U.S. and U.K. forces have conducted strikes in defense of commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea which have been suffering attacks from Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen claiming the attacks as a show of support for Hamas. In fact, many of the ships targeted by the Houthis have not been linked to Israel, and this terror has severely impacted trade in the region. To deter greater escalation and secure trade routes, the best recourse for the U.S. and our allies is to respond decisively. Regional stability will not be achieved by capitulation to terrorists.

As Taiwan conducts a critical presidential election, China has continued to exert pressure on the vulnerable democracy. This week, Beijing officials have signaled a more antagonistic posture regarding trade with Taiwan and launched a satellite through Taiwanese air space, triggering a warning to the public of a possible air raid.

Considering the urgency of these challenges, I have serious concerns about the Biden administration’s track record on national security issues. The administration showed weakness in its disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and 13 Americans needlessly lost their lives. The administration’s refusal to appropriately address border vulnerabilities, its slowness to respond to a surveillance balloon from China over our homeland, and the unacceptable and dangerous breakdown of communication in our defense chain of command have all put Americans at risk.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has recently been released from the hospital, and I wish him a full recovery. However, the fact no one in the White House – and very few in the Pentagon – knew of his hospitalization or recent diagnosis is inexcusable. This week, I joined many of my colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Defense demanding these concerns be addressed. I am also fully supportive of the House Armed Services Committee’s announcement of a formal inquiry into the secretary’s failure to disclose his hospitalization and incapacitation.

Furthermore, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is failing in his responsibility to respond to the humanitarian tragedy and national security crisis at our southern border. As state and local authorities scramble to respond to the overwhelming number of illegal immigrants crossing into our country, some have resorted to using schools and government facilities to house immigrants.&nbsp;

It is crucial we have leaders who immediately and decisively respond to threats to our country and the safety of American citizens. Insisting on competence and accountability for those responsible for our national security is a duty I take seriously. I will never stop fighting to keep Americans safe and promote American interests through a safer world.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705179219680.jpeg" alt="Whenever I get the opportunity to speak with Third District students, I am encouraged by their thoughtfulness. The Fullerton Public School‬⁩ eighth grade class was no exception. They showed a desire to better understand legislative work and the blessings and challenges of public service." />
 <figcaption>Whenever I get the opportunity to speak with Third District students, I am encouraged by their thoughtfulness. The Fullerton Public School‬⁩ eighth grade class was no exception. They showed a desire to better understand legislative work and the blessings and challenges of public service.</figcaption>
 </figure>Adrian SmithAs recent events have demonstrated, the readiness and modernization of the United States’ defense capabilities are as important as ever. Keeping Americans safe and prioritizing American interests must always be a leading goal. Our open borders – paired with ongoing global unrest – not only threaten national security for the United States and our allies, they have serious implications for economic security around the world.This was clearly evidenced on a recent trip I made with many of my colleagues to Eagle Pass, TX, on our southern border. What I witnessed there was devastating. State and local agencies are being overwhelmed in an entirely preventable crisis. Despite the trafficking of minors, the unchecked flow of fentanyl, and loss of life, the administration insists the border is secure. Early in 2023, the House passed H.R. 2, a bill to address security risks on the border. President Biden must stop ignoring this problem and work with Congress to enact real solutions.As Vladimir Putin continues his aggression in Ukraine, tensions in Europe have risen. In other parts of the world, escalation by China against Taiwan and the enemies of Israel must also be taken seriously as Israeli forces continue to confront the threat of Hamas and seek release of hostages taken on October 7, 2023.&nbsp;This week, U.S. and U.K. forces have conducted strikes in defense of commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea which have been suffering attacks from Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen claiming the attacks as a show of support for Hamas. In fact, many of the ships targeted by the Houthis have not been linked to Israel, and this terror has severely impacted trade in the region. To deter greater escalation and secure trade routes, the best recourse for the U.S. and our allies is to respond decisively. Regional stability will not be achieved by capitulation to terrorists.As Taiwan conducts a critical presidential election, China has continued to exert pressure on the vulnerable democracy. This week, Beijing officials have signaled a more antagonistic posture regarding trade with Taiwan and launched a satellite through Taiwanese air space, triggering a warning to the public of a possible air raid.Considering the urgency of these challenges, I have serious concerns about the Biden administration’s track record on national security issues. The administration showed weakness in its disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and 13 Americans needlessly lost their lives. The administration’s refusal to appropriately address border vulnerabilities, its slowness to respond to a surveillance balloon from China over our homeland, and the unacceptable and dangerous breakdown of communication in our defense chain of command have all put Americans at risk.Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has recently been released from the hospital, and I wish him a full recovery. However, the fact no one in the White House – and very few in the Pentagon – knew of his hospitalization or recent diagnosis is inexcusable. This week, I joined many of my colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Defense demanding these concerns be addressed. I am also fully supportive of the House Armed Services Committee’s announcement of a formal inquiry into the secretary’s failure to disclose his hospitalization and incapacitation.Furthermore, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is failing in his responsibility to respond to the humanitarian tragedy and national security crisis at our southern border. As state and local authorities scramble to respond to the overwhelming number of illegal immigrants crossing into our country, some have resorted to using schools and government facilities to house immigrants.&nbsp;It is crucial we have leaders who immediately and decisively respond to threats to our country and the safety of American citizens. Insisting on competence and accountability for those responsible for our national security is a duty I take seriously. I will never stop fighting to keep Americans safe and promote American interests through a safer world.

Responsible Leadership to Keep Americans Safe

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa principal who put himself in harm’s way to protect students during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/perry-iowa-school-shooting-things-to-know-07b7d636e9ec1d3f1ca6be628aff6e8d">a school shooting</a>&nbsp;earlier this month died Sunday, a funeral home confirmed.

Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home &amp; Crematory confirmed the death of Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger after the family announced it on a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/dan-marburgers-healing-and-recovery">GoFundMe page.</a>

Marburger&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/perry-high-school-shooting-iowa-5346218f2646bec796ba28928a00c745">was critically injured</a>&nbsp;during the Jan. 4 attack, which began in the school's cafeteria as students were gathering for breakfast before class. An 11-year-old middle school student was killed in the shooting, and six other people were injured. The 17-year-old student who opened fire also died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.

The day after the shooting, the state Department of Public Safety said Marburger “acted selflessly and placed himself in harm’s way in an apparent effort to protect his students.”

News of Marburger's death was first posted on a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/dan-marburgers-healing-and-recovery">GoFundMe page</a> for his family. The post, by Marburger's wife, Elizabeth, said he died at about 8 a.m. Sunday, and said: “Dan lost his battle. He fought hard and gave us 10 days that we will treasure forever.”

The news that Marburger died triggered a flood of support on the Perry Facebook page with nearly 200 people posting condolences within the first hour after it was posted.

In a Facebook post on the night of the shooting, the principal’s daughter, Claire Marburger, called her father a “gentle giant” and said it wasn’t surprising that her father tried to protect his students.

“As I heard of a gunman, I instantly had a feeling my Dad would be a victim as he would put himself in harms way for the benefit of the kids and his staff,” his daughter wrote. “That’s just Dad.”

Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation spokesman Mitch Mortvedt said after the shooting that Marburger did some “pretty significant things” to protect others, but didn’t release details. Perry Superintendent Clark Wicks said Marburger was a “hero” who intervened with the teenage gunman so students could escape.

An 11-year-old sixth grader, Ahmir Jolliff, was killed in the shooting. Authorities said he was shot three times.

The shooting happened just after 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 4, shortly before classes were set to begin on the first day back after winter break. Mortvedt said the shooting started in the cafeteria, where students from several grades were eating breakfast, then spilled outside the cafeteria but was contained to the north end of the school.

Authorities said the suspect, identified as Dylan Butler, had a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun. Mortvedt told The Associated Press that authorities also found a “pretty rudimentary” improvised explosive device in Butler’s belongings, and that experts advised “it was something that they needed to disarm.” It was rendered safe.

PERRY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa principal critically injured in a school shooting put himself in harm's way so students could try to escape from a teenage shooter who opened fire in a cafeteria as students were gathering for breakfast before school, authorities said Friday.

Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger and six others, including two staff members and four teenage students, were injured in the Thursday morning shooting that left one sixth-grader dead. The 17-year-old student who opened fire also died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.

The state Department of Public Safety said Marburger, who is being treated in a Des Moines hospital, “acted selflessly and placed himself in harm’s way in an apparent effort to protect his students.”

A day after the shooting, the small community of Perry was somber. Yellow crime tape still lined the campus that Perry High School shares with the town’s middle school, flowers and stuffed toys had cropped up in mini memorials, and classes across the district were canceled Friday in favor of counseling.

Perry Superintendent Clark Wicks said the soonest classes will resume in the town will be next Friday.

“This is an extremely painful and difficult time for our entire school community, and in our grief, we will take time to remember,” Wicks said.

The shooting happened just after 7:30 a.m. Thursday, shortly before classes were set to begin on the first day back after winter break. Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation spokesman Mitch Mortvedt said the shooting started in the cafeteria, where students from several grades were eating breakfast, then spilled outside the cafeteria but was contained to the north end of the school.

The student killed was identified as 11-year-old Ahmir Jollif. An autopsy showed he had been shot three times.

The news that seven students and staff suffered “wounds or injuries of varying degree” during the shooting was two more than authorities said Thursday afternoon. Mortvedt said the number of injured increased after investigators later learned about two more wounded faculty members. All seven are believed to have been either wounded or grazed by bullets, and suffered injuries ranging from significant to minor.

On Friday, Marburger and two students remained hospitalized.

In a Facebook post Thursday night, the principal’s daughter said he was in “surgery all day, and is currently stable.”

Claire Marburger called her father a “gentle giant” and it wasn't surprising that her father tried to protect his students.

Authorities said the suspect, identified as Dylan Butler, had a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun. Mortvedt told The Associated Press that authorities also found a “pretty rudimentary” improvised explosive device in Butler's belongings, and that experts advised “it was something that they needed to disarm.” It was rendered safe.

Mortvedt said Marburger, who has been principal since 1995, did some “pretty significant things” to protect others during the shooting, but didn't release details. Wicks, the superintendent, said Marburger was a “hero” who intervened with Butler so students could escape. Wicks said other staff also acted heroically, including Middle School Assistant Principal Adam Jessen who “carried a wounded student into a safe area.”

A law enforcement official briefed on the investigation said federal and state investigators were interviewing Butler’s friends and analyzing Butler’s social media profiles, including posts on TikTok and Reddit. However, authorities have provided no information about a possible motive.

Shortly before Thursday’s shooting, Butler posted a photo on TikTok inside the bathroom of Perry High School, the official said. The photo was captioned “now we wait” and the song “Stray Bullet” by the German band KMFDM accompanied it. Investigators also have found photos Butler posted posing with firearms, according to the official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Two friends and their mother who spoke with the AP said Butler was a quiet person who had been bullied relentlessly since elementary school. Sisters Yesenia Roeder and Khamya Hall, both 17, said alongside their mother, Alita, that it escalated recently when Butler's younger sister started getting picked on, too.

“He was hurting. He got tired. He got tired of the bullying. He got tired of the harassment," Yesenia Roeder Hall said. "Was it a smart idea to shoot up the school? No. God, no.”

Police said Thursday they believe that Butler acted alone. But investigators have not said how Butler obtained the firearms.

Investigators are still working to get a “good grasp of who Dylan was,” and the parents have been cooperating, Mortvedt said. The investigation will include Butler’s background along with the “environment of the school,” he said.

Wicks wouldn’t discuss whether Butler had been bullied but he defended the way his district responds to those situations.

“We take every bullying situation seriously and our goal is to always have that safe and inviting atmosphere, but I’m not going to comment on this individual case as well as any other individual case,” Wicks said.

Butler’s parents have been fixtures of the Perry community. His father is director of the city’s airport after serving as its public works director for years, where he won praise helping clean up Perry after a devastating wind storm in 2020. His mother has also owned a small business and served on a city development board. The parents have not responded to messages seeking comment.

On Thursday night, hundreds gathered for a candlelight prayer vigil at a park where hours earlier, students had been brought to reunite with their families after the shooting. Bundled up against freezing temperatures, they listened to clergy from many faiths and heard a message of hope in both English and Spanish.

Perry has about 8,000 residents and is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) northwest of Des Moines, on the edge of the state capital’s metropolitan area. It is home to a large pork-processing plant and low-slung, single-story homes spread among trees now shorn of their leaves by winter.

The high school is part of the 1,785-student Perry Community School District. Perry is more diverse than Iowa as a whole. Census figures show 31% of its residents are Hispanic, compared with less than 7% statewide. Those figures also show nearly 19% of the town’s residents were born outside the U.S.

Despite the shock of the shooting, Perry Mayor Dirk Cavanaugh expressed confidence the community would get through the painful experience.

“We are a small town, but we will pull together in a big way to get through this.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704505064411.png" alt="Dan Marburger photo courtesy KCCI-TV" />
 <figcaption>Dan Marburger photo courtesy KCCI-TV</figcaption>
 </figure>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa principal who put himself in harm’s way to protect students during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/perry-iowa-school-shooting-things-to-know-07b7d636e9ec1d3f1ca6be628aff6e8d">a school shooting</a>&nbsp;earlier this month died Sunday, a funeral home confirmed.Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home &amp; Crematory confirmed the death of Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger after the family announced it on a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/dan-marburgers-healing-and-recovery">GoFundMe page.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705261265047.png" alt="Dan Marburger-photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Dan Marburger-photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>Marburger&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/perry-high-school-shooting-iowa-5346218f2646bec796ba28928a00c745">was critically injured</a>&nbsp;during the Jan. 4 attack, which began in the school's cafeteria as students were gathering for breakfast before class. An 11-year-old middle school student was killed in the shooting, and six other people were injured. The 17-year-old student who opened fire also died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.The day after the shooting, the state Department of Public Safety said Marburger “acted selflessly and placed himself in harm’s way in an apparent effort to protect his students.”News of Marburger's death was first posted on a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/dan-marburgers-healing-and-recovery">GoFundMe page</a> for his family. The post, by Marburger's wife, Elizabeth, said he died at about 8 a.m. Sunday, and said: “Dan lost his battle. He fought hard and gave us 10 days that we will treasure forever.”The news that Marburger died triggered a flood of support on the Perry Facebook page with nearly 200 people posting condolences within the first hour after it was posted.In a Facebook post on the night of the shooting, the principal’s daughter, Claire Marburger, called her father a “gentle giant” and said it wasn’t surprising that her father tried to protect his students.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fclaire.marburger%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0BgPwav4UoxVYxrbDp1cb3Pot934KkT1cuZBb8UaqoTiCZCotGkatJrJJgFyFCm4dl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="278" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>“As I heard of a gunman, I instantly had a feeling my Dad would be a victim as he would put himself in harms way for the benefit of the kids and his staff,” his daughter wrote. “That’s just Dad.”Marburger had been principal since 1995.Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation spokesman Mitch Mortvedt said after the shooting that Marburger did some “pretty significant things” to protect others, but didn’t release details. Perry Superintendent Clark Wicks said Marburger was a “hero” who intervened with the teenage gunman so students could escape.An 11-year-old sixth grader, Ahmir Jolliff, was killed in the shooting. Authorities said he was shot three times.The shooting happened just after 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 4, shortly before classes were set to begin on the first day back after winter break. Mortvedt said the shooting started in the cafeteria, where students from several grades were eating breakfast, then spilled outside the cafeteria but was contained to the north end of the school.Authorities said the suspect, identified as Dylan Butler, had a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun. Mortvedt told The Associated Press that authorities also found a “pretty rudimentary” improvised explosive device in Butler’s belongings, and that experts advised “it was something that they needed to disarm.” It was rendered safe.--------------PERRY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa principal critically injured in a school shooting put himself in harm's way so students could try to escape from a teenage shooter who opened fire in a cafeteria as students were gathering for breakfast before school, authorities said Friday.Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger and six others, including two staff members and four teenage students, were injured in the Thursday morning shooting that left one sixth-grader dead. The 17-year-old student who opened fire also died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.The state Department of Public Safety said Marburger, who is being treated in a Des Moines hospital, “acted selflessly and placed himself in harm’s way in an apparent effort to protect his students.”A day after the shooting, the small community of Perry was somber. Yellow crime tape still lined the campus that Perry High School shares with the town’s middle school, flowers and stuffed toys had cropped up in mini memorials, and classes across the district were canceled Friday in favor of counseling.Perry Superintendent Clark Wicks said the soonest classes will resume in the town will be next Friday.“This is an extremely painful and difficult time for our entire school community, and in our grief, we will take time to remember,” Wicks said.The shooting happened just after 7:30 a.m. Thursday, shortly before classes were set to begin on the first day back after winter break. Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation spokesman Mitch Mortvedt said the shooting started in the cafeteria, where students from several grades were eating breakfast, then spilled outside the cafeteria but was contained to the north end of the school.The student killed was identified as 11-year-old Ahmir Jollif. An autopsy showed he had been shot three times.The news that seven students and staff suffered “wounds or injuries of varying degree” during the shooting was two more than authorities said Thursday afternoon. Mortvedt said the number of injured increased after investigators later learned about two more wounded faculty members. All seven are believed to have been either wounded or grazed by bullets, and suffered injuries ranging from significant to minor.On Friday, Marburger and two students remained hospitalized.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fclaire.marburger%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0BgPwav4UoxVYxrbDp1cb3Pot934KkT1cuZBb8UaqoTiCZCotGkatJrJJgFyFCm4dl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="278" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>In a Facebook post Thursday night, the principal’s daughter said he was in “surgery all day, and is currently stable.”Claire Marburger called her father a “gentle giant” and it wasn't surprising that her father tried to protect his students.“As I heard of a gunman, I instantly had a feeling my Dad would be a victim as he would put himself in harms way for the benefit of the kids and his staff,” his daughter wrote. “That’s just Dad.”Authorities said the suspect, identified as Dylan Butler, had a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun. Mortvedt told The Associated Press that authorities also found a “pretty rudimentary” improvised explosive device in Butler's belongings, and that experts advised “it was something that they needed to disarm.” It was rendered safe.Mortvedt said Marburger, who has been principal since 1995, did some “pretty significant things” to protect others during the shooting, but didn't release details. Wicks, the superintendent, said Marburger was a “hero” who intervened with Butler so students could escape. Wicks said other staff also acted heroically, including Middle School Assistant Principal Adam Jessen who “carried a wounded student into a safe area.”A law enforcement official briefed on the investigation said federal and state investigators were interviewing Butler’s friends and analyzing Butler’s social media profiles, including posts on TikTok and Reddit. However, authorities have provided no information about a possible motive.Shortly before Thursday’s shooting, Butler posted a photo on TikTok inside the bathroom of Perry High School, the official said. The photo was captioned “now we wait” and the song “Stray Bullet” by the German band KMFDM accompanied it. Investigators also have found photos Butler posted posing with firearms, according to the official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.Two friends and their mother who spoke with the AP said Butler was a quiet person who had been bullied relentlessly since elementary school. Sisters Yesenia Roeder and Khamya Hall, both 17, said alongside their mother, Alita, that it escalated recently when Butler's younger sister started getting picked on, too.“He was hurting. He got tired. He got tired of the bullying. He got tired of the harassment," Yesenia Roeder Hall said. "Was it a smart idea to shoot up the school? No. God, no.”Police said Thursday they believe that Butler acted alone. But investigators have not said how Butler obtained the firearms.Investigators are still working to get a “good grasp of who Dylan was,” and the parents have been cooperating, Mortvedt said. The investigation will include Butler’s background along with the “environment of the school,” he said.Wicks wouldn’t discuss whether Butler had been bullied but he defended the way his district responds to those situations.“We take every bullying situation seriously and our goal is to always have that safe and inviting atmosphere, but I’m not going to comment on this individual case as well as any other individual case,” Wicks said.Butler’s parents have been fixtures of the Perry community. His father is director of the city’s airport after serving as its public works director for years, where he won praise helping clean up Perry after a devastating wind storm in 2020. His mother has also owned a small business and served on a city development board. The parents have not responded to messages seeking comment.On Thursday night, hundreds gathered for a candlelight prayer vigil at a park where hours earlier, students had been brought to reunite with their families after the shooting. Bundled up against freezing temperatures, they listened to clergy from many faiths and heard a message of hope in both English and Spanish.Perry has about 8,000 residents and is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) northwest of Des Moines, on the edge of the state capital’s metropolitan area. It is home to a large pork-processing plant and low-slung, single-story homes spread among trees now shorn of their leaves by winter.The high school is part of the 1,785-student Perry Community School District. Perry is more diverse than Iowa as a whole. Census figures show 31% of its residents are Hispanic, compared with less than 7% statewide. Those figures also show nearly 19% of the town’s residents were born outside the U.S.Despite the shock of the shooting, Perry Mayor Dirk Cavanaugh expressed confidence the community would get through the painful experience.“We are a small town, but we will pull together in a big way to get through this.”

Principal who risked life to protect students during school shooting has died

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen strapped on his sneakers and led a crowd of walkers through the State Capitol, as part of the annual Governor’s Wellness Walk. Participants included state senators and Nebraska Football Coach Matt Rhule. The event is organized by the Nebraska Sports Council, as part of the kickoff to its WellPower Movement – a free, online activity-tracking program.

Gov. Pillen, who makes a habit of exercising regularly, talked about the importance of physical activity.

“Healthy habits lead to a healthy life, I am encouraging all Nebraskans to get more active in 2024,” said Governor Jim Pillen. “I hope this event encourages all of us to spend at least 30 minutes a day engaging in physical exercise, which will improve our overall health.”

Charity Menefee, director of public health for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) acknowledged that time constraints and intimidation are often reasons why people don’t exercise regularly, but they should not be deterrents. Ultimately, the benefits of developing healthy habits far outweigh any initial concerns. The most important thing is to jump in and start.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Getting two hours and 30 minutes of physical activity per week is a healthy goal,” said Menefee. “Personally, for me as a mom who works full time out of the home and has busy kids with after school activities, I must set time aside to exercise in the early morning if I’m going to be successful. One piece of advice I can share from my own journey is take little steps to form habits that we can build upon and celebrate our little successes.”

Husker head football coach Matt Rhule suggested exercise need not be complicated or too intense.

“I notice that after going for a walk, how much better I feel,” said Rhule. “This will be my first walk of the new year, and I’m very excited. Exercise helps me be a better husband, a father and coach, I have a lot to look forward to in my life and I want to be around a long time to appreciate all of it.”

“We are proud to partner with Governor Pillen in today’s walk to encourage Nebraskans to make physical activity part of their daily routine, utilize our events, and free programs like the WellPower Movement, to stay motivated throughout the year,” said Dave Mlnarik, president of the Nebraska Sports Council (NSC).

The Council is a Nebraska-based 501(c)(3) organization which also organizes the annual Cornhusker State Games, celebrating it’s 40th&nbsp;anniversary in 2024. As part of the WellPower Movement, participants can earn virtual badges and prizes. It officially starts on Jan. 15. Anyone who is interested can find more information online:&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellpowermovement.com%2Fcontent%2Fabout-program&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cjim.buehler%40nebraska.gov%7Cd575e4a46d054fb7cd2a08dc13bc5725%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C638406946885573217%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=wNII%2Fi3cgMupxpMsm9nIW8xoxpVuIW7dJD4%2FFWLY%2BXM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.wellpowermovement.com/content/about-program</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705175610854.jpeg" alt="L to R: Gov. Jim Pillen, Charity Menefee, Coach Matt Rhule, and Dave Mlnarik" />
 <figcaption>L to R: Gov. Jim Pillen, Charity Menefee, Coach Matt Rhule, and Dave Mlnarik</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen strapped on his sneakers and led a crowd of walkers through the State Capitol, as part of the annual Governor’s Wellness Walk. Participants included state senators and Nebraska Football Coach Matt Rhule. The event is organized by the Nebraska Sports Council, as part of the kickoff to its WellPower Movement – a free, online activity-tracking program.Gov. Pillen, who makes a habit of exercising regularly, talked about the importance of physical activity.“Healthy habits lead to a healthy life, I am encouraging all Nebraskans to get more active in 2024,” said Governor Jim Pillen. “I hope this event encourages all of us to spend at least 30 minutes a day engaging in physical exercise, which will improve our overall health.”Charity Menefee, director of public health for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) acknowledged that time constraints and intimidation are often reasons why people don’t exercise regularly, but they should not be deterrents. Ultimately, the benefits of developing healthy habits far outweigh any initial concerns. The most important thing is to jump in and start.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Getting two hours and 30 minutes of physical activity per week is a healthy goal,” said Menefee. “Personally, for me as a mom who works full time out of the home and has busy kids with after school activities, I must set time aside to exercise in the early morning if I’m going to be successful. One piece of advice I can share from my own journey is take little steps to form habits that we can build upon and celebrate our little successes.”Husker head football coach Matt Rhule suggested exercise need not be complicated or too intense.“I notice that after going for a walk, how much better I feel,” said Rhule. “This will be my first walk of the new year, and I’m very excited. Exercise helps me be a better husband, a father and coach, I have a lot to look forward to in my life and I want to be around a long time to appreciate all of it.”“We are proud to partner with Governor Pillen in today’s walk to encourage Nebraskans to make physical activity part of their daily routine, utilize our events, and free programs like the WellPower Movement, to stay motivated throughout the year,” said Dave Mlnarik, president of the Nebraska Sports Council (NSC).The Council is a Nebraska-based 501(c)(3) organization which also organizes the annual Cornhusker State Games, celebrating it’s 40th&nbsp;anniversary in 2024. As part of the WellPower Movement, participants can earn virtual badges and prizes. It officially starts on Jan. 15. Anyone who is interested can find more information online:&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellpowermovement.com%2Fcontent%2Fabout-program&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cjim.buehler%40nebraska.gov%7Cd575e4a46d054fb7cd2a08dc13bc5725%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C638406946885573217%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=wNII%2Fi3cgMupxpMsm9nIW8xoxpVuIW7dJD4%2FFWLY%2BXM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.wellpowermovement.com/content/about-program</a>.

Gov. Pillen Leads Wellness Walk Through Capitol

&nbsp;(LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Several motorists who were stranded along Highway 92 in Saunders and Butler Counties have been rescued and are safe. The motorists became stranded during whiteout conditions Friday evening and Saturday morning.

Drifting snow made it difficult for rescue crews to reach many of them for several hours. As of 4:00 p.m. Saturday, all stranded motorists who had been in contact with NSP dispatch have been rescued. Officials with Butler County were able to get through the snow drifts on Highway 92 from the west. Crews were able to reach all stranded motorists and get them to safety. NDOT and NSP teams made their way through the drifts from the east and confirmed that all stranded motorists had been located.

NSP dispatchers continue to receive calls on the NSP Highway Helpline from new motorists becoming stranded in eastern Nebraska and troopers continue to respond to those situations. As of 5:00 p.m. Saturday, troopers have performed 173 motorist assists and responded to 6 crashes today. Since Monday, troopers have responded to over 1,000 weather-related incidents, including 996 motorist assists.

NSP and NDOT continue to advise everyone to stay off Nebraska roadways during these dangerous conditions. Snow continues to blow and cause additional drifting situations while temperatures are expected to remain below zero for the next few days, with dangerously cold wind chills. These conditions are life-threatening.

Please avoid travel unless absolutely necessary. Check&nbsp;<a href="http://www.511.nebraska.gov/" target="_blank">511.Nebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;for updates on road closures and current road conditions. The majority of roadways east of Highway 81 are either closed of currently impassable. If any motorist becomes stranded, they are urged to stay in their vehicle and call *55 immediately.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705213723482.jpeg" alt="1-13-Highway 92 / Photo by NSP" />
 <figcaption>1-13-Highway 92 / Photo by NSP</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;(LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Several motorists who were stranded along Highway 92 in Saunders and Butler Counties have been rescued and are safe. The motorists became stranded during whiteout conditions Friday evening and Saturday morning.Drifting snow made it difficult for rescue crews to reach many of them for several hours. As of 4:00 p.m. Saturday, all stranded motorists who had been in contact with NSP dispatch have been rescued. Officials with Butler County were able to get through the snow drifts on Highway 92 from the west. Crews were able to reach all stranded motorists and get them to safety. NDOT and NSP teams made their way through the drifts from the east and confirmed that all stranded motorists had been located.NSP dispatchers continue to receive calls on the NSP Highway Helpline from new motorists becoming stranded in eastern Nebraska and troopers continue to respond to those situations. As of 5:00 p.m. Saturday, troopers have performed 173 motorist assists and responded to 6 crashes today. Since Monday, troopers have responded to over 1,000 weather-related incidents, including 996 motorist assists.NSP and NDOT continue to advise everyone to stay off Nebraska roadways during these dangerous conditions. Snow continues to blow and cause additional drifting situations while temperatures are expected to remain below zero for the next few days, with dangerously cold wind chills. These conditions are life-threatening.Please avoid travel unless absolutely necessary. Check&nbsp;<a href="http://www.511.nebraska.gov/" target="_blank">511.Nebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;for updates on road closures and current road conditions. The majority of roadways east of Highway 81 are either closed of currently impassable. If any motorist becomes stranded, they are urged to stay in their vehicle and call *55 immediately.

Motorists Stranded on Highway 92 Rescued

KANSAS CITY (AP) —<a href="https://apnews.com/article/clergy-burnout-church-mental-health-summit-570e71ec96575abc92865ad5baf491e6">Post-pandemic burnout</a>&nbsp;is at worrying levels among Christian clergy in the U.S., prompting many to think about abandoning their jobs, according to a new nationwide survey.

More than 4 in 10 of clergy surveyed in fall 2023 had seriously considered leaving their congregations at least once since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began, and more than half had thought seriously of leaving the ministry, according to the survey released Thursday by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research.

About a tenth of clergy report having had these thoughts often, according to the survey, conducted as part of the institute's research project, Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations.

The high rates of ministers considering quitting reflects the “collective trauma” that both clergy and congregants have experienced since 2020, said institute director Scott Thumma, principal investigator for the project.

“Everybody has experienced grief and trauma and change,” he said. Many clergy members, in open-ended responses to their survey, cited dwindling attendance, declining rates of volunteering and members' resistance to further change.

“I am exhausted," said one pastor quoted by the report. "People have moved away from the area and new folks are fewer, and farther, and slower to engage. Our regular volunteers are tired and overwhelmed.”

Some of these struggles are trends that long predated the pandemic. Median in-person attendance has steadily declined since the start of the century, the report said, and with fewer younger participants, the typical age of congregants is rising. After a pandemic-era spike in innovation, congregants are less willing to change, the survey said.

The reasons for clergy burnout are complex, and need to be understood in larger contexts, Thumma said.

“Oftentimes the focus of attention is just on the congregation, when in fact we should also be thinking about these bigger-picture things,” he said. A pastor and congregants, for example, might be frustrated with each other when the larger context is that they’re in a struggling rural town that’s losing population, he said: ”That has an effect on volunteering. It has an effect on aging. It has an effect on what kind of possibility you have to grow."

About a third of clergy respondents were considering both leaving their congregation and the ministry altogether, with nearly another third considering one or the other.

Most clergy reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-health-covid-b99b63081fb2537f0834b6699ce6eb2f">conflict in their congregations</a>, but those considering leaving their churches reported it at even higher levels and also were less likely to feel close to their congregants.

Those thinking of quitting the ministry entirely were more likely to be pastors of smaller churches and those who work solo, compared with those on larger staffs and at larger churches.

Mainline Protestant clergy were the most likely to think of quitting, followed by evangelical Protestants, while Catholic and Orthodox priests were the least likely to consider leaving.

The percentages of clergy having thoughts of quitting are higher than in two previous surveys conducted by the institute in 2021 and spring 2023, though it's difficult to directly compare those numbers because the earlier surveys were measuring shorter time periods since 2020.

The news isn't all grim. Most clergy report good mental and physical health — though somewhat less so if they're thinking of leaving their congregations or ministry — and clergy were more likely to have increased than decreased various spiritual practices since the pandemic began.

The results are based on a survey in the fall of 2023 of about 1,700 Christian clergy members from more than 40 denominations, including Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox bodies.

KANSAS CITY (AP) —<a href="https://apnews.com/article/clergy-burnout-church-mental-health-summit-570e71ec96575abc92865ad5baf491e6">Post-pandemic burnout</a>&nbsp;is at worrying levels among Christian clergy in the U.S., prompting many to think about abandoning their jobs, according to a new nationwide survey.More than 4 in 10 of clergy surveyed in fall 2023 had seriously considered leaving their congregations at least once since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began, and more than half had thought seriously of leaving the ministry, according to the survey released Thursday by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research.About a tenth of clergy report having had these thoughts often, according to the survey, conducted as part of the institute's research project, Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations.The high rates of ministers considering quitting reflects the “collective trauma” that both clergy and congregants have experienced since 2020, said institute director Scott Thumma, principal investigator for the project.“Everybody has experienced grief and trauma and change,” he said. Many clergy members, in open-ended responses to their survey, cited dwindling attendance, declining rates of volunteering and members' resistance to further change.“I am exhausted," said one pastor quoted by the report. "People have moved away from the area and new folks are fewer, and farther, and slower to engage. Our regular volunteers are tired and overwhelmed.”Some of these struggles are trends that long predated the pandemic. Median in-person attendance has steadily declined since the start of the century, the report said, and with fewer younger participants, the typical age of congregants is rising. After a pandemic-era spike in innovation, congregants are less willing to change, the survey said.The reasons for clergy burnout are complex, and need to be understood in larger contexts, Thumma said.“Oftentimes the focus of attention is just on the congregation, when in fact we should also be thinking about these bigger-picture things,” he said. A pastor and congregants, for example, might be frustrated with each other when the larger context is that they’re in a struggling rural town that’s losing population, he said: ”That has an effect on volunteering. It has an effect on aging. It has an effect on what kind of possibility you have to grow."About a third of clergy respondents were considering both leaving their congregation and the ministry altogether, with nearly another third considering one or the other.Most clergy reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-health-covid-b99b63081fb2537f0834b6699ce6eb2f">conflict in their congregations</a>, but those considering leaving their churches reported it at even higher levels and also were less likely to feel close to their congregants.Those thinking of quitting the ministry entirely were more likely to be pastors of smaller churches and those who work solo, compared with those on larger staffs and at larger churches.Mainline Protestant clergy were the most likely to think of quitting, followed by evangelical Protestants, while Catholic and Orthodox priests were the least likely to consider leaving.The percentages of clergy having thoughts of quitting are higher than in two previous surveys conducted by the institute in 2021 and spring 2023, though it's difficult to directly compare those numbers because the earlier surveys were measuring shorter time periods since 2020.The news isn't all grim. Most clergy report good mental and physical health — though somewhat less so if they're thinking of leaving their congregations or ministry — and clergy were more likely to have increased than decreased various spiritual practices since the pandemic began.The results are based on a survey in the fall of 2023 of about 1,700 Christian clergy members from more than 40 denominations, including Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox bodies.The survey echoes similar post-pandemic research. A 2023 Pew Research Center found a decrease in those who reported at least monthly in-person worship attendance, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/black-protestant-church-attendance-youth-covid-pandemic-5d854b4db73e118cb22767220573455f">Black Protestant churches</a>&nbsp;affected the most.___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.