&nbsp;WASHINGTON —U.S. and British militaries are bombing more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, in a massive retaliatory strike using warship-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets.

In a statement from the White House, President Biden said," at my direction, U.S. military forces—together with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands—successfully conducted strikes against a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways."

"These strikes are in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea—including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history. These attacks have endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardized trade, and threatened freedom of navigation. More than 50 nations have been affected in 27 attacks on international commercial shipping."

"Crews from more than 20 countries have been threatened or taken hostage in acts of piracy.&nbsp; More than 2,000 ships have been forced to divert thousands of miles to avoid the Red Sea—which can cause weeks of delays in product shipping times. And on January 9, Houthis launched their largest attack to date—directly targeting American ships.The response of the international community to these reckless attacks has been united and resolute."

"Last month, the United States launched Operation Prosperity Guardian—a coalition of more than 20 nations committed to defending international shipping and deterring Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.&nbsp; We also joined more than 40 nations in condemning Houthi threats."

"Last week, together with 13 allies and partners, we issued an unequivocal warning that Houthi rebels would bear the consequences if their attacks did not cease. And yesterday, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution demanding the Houthis end attacks on merchant and commercial vessels.Today’s (Thursday) defensive action follows this extensive diplomatic campaign and Houthi rebels’ escalating attacks against commercial vessels."

"These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most critical commercial routes. I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary."

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and British militaries were bombing more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen on Thursday, in a massive retaliatory strike using warship-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets, several U.S. officials told The Associated Press. The military targets included logistical hubs, air defense systems and weapons storage and launching locations, they said.

Associated Press journalists in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, heard four explosions early Friday local time but saw no sign of warplanes. Two residents of Hodieda, Amin Ali Saleh and Hani Ahmed, said they heard five strong explosions hitting the western port area of the city, which lies on the Red Sea and is the largest port city controlled by the Houthis. Explosions also were heard by residents of Taiz, a southwestern city near the Red Sea.

The strikes marked the first U.S. military response to what has been a persistent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. And the coordinated military assault comes just a week after the White House and a host of partner nations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-israel-hamas-houthis-red-sea-fef8d446852b6eae33d38ffd8f6b2d64">issued a final warning</a>&nbsp;to the Houthis to cease the attacks or face potential military action. The officials confirmed the strikes on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. Members of Congress were briefed earlier Thursday on the strike plans.

The warning appeared to have had at least some short-lived impact, as attacks stopped for several days. On Tuesday, however, the Houthi rebels fired their largest-ever barrage of drones and missiles&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-shipping-houthi-attacks-drones-missiles-1acc4ca5ebcaf6fee932a2061d451f59">targeting shipping in the Red Sea</a>, with U.S. and British ships and American fighter jets responding by shooting down 18 drones, two cruise missiles and an anti-ship missile. And on Thursday, the Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile into the Gulf of Aden, which was seen by a commercial ship but did not hit the ship.

The rebels, who have carried out 27 attacks involving dozens of drones and missiles just since Nov. 19, said Thursday that any attack by American forces on its sites in Yemen will spark a fierce military response.

“The response to any American attack will not only be at the level of the operation that was recently carried out with more than 24 drones and several missiles,” said Abdel Malek al-Houthi, the group’s supreme leader, during an hour-long speech. “It will be greater than that.”

The Houthis say their assaults are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/israel-hamas-war-yemen-red-sea-rebellions-and-uprisings-yemen-government-35148e6fbef64ec8b6fa074d4da2551c">aimed at stopping Israel’s war on Hamas</a>&nbsp;in the Gaza Strip. But their targets increasingly have little or no connection to Israel and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-yemen-houthis-attack-ships-f67d941c260528ac40315ecab4c34ca3">imperil a crucial trade route</a>&nbsp;linking Asia and the Middle East with Europe.

Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution Wednesday that demanded the Houthis immediately cease the attacks and implicitly condemned their weapons supplier, Iran. It was approved by a vote of 11-0 with four abstentions — by Russia, China, Algeria and Mozambique.

Britain’s participation in the strikes underscored the Biden administration’s effort to use a broad international coalition to battle the Houthis, rather than appear to be going it alone. More than 20 nations are already participating in a U.S.-led maritime mission to increase ship protection in the Red Sea.

U.S. officials for weeks had declined to signal when international patience would run out and they would strike back at the Houthis, even as multiple commercial vessels were struck by missiles and drones, prompting companies to look at rerouting their ships.

On Wednesday, however, U.S. officials again warned of consequences.

“I’m not going to telegraph or preview anything that might happen,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters during a stop in Bahrain. He said the U.S. has made clear “that if this continues as it did yesterday, there will be consequences. And I’m going to leave it at that.”

The Biden administration’s reluctance over the past several months to retaliate reflected political sensitivities and stemmed largely from broader worries about upending the shaky truce in Yemen and triggering a wider conflict in the region. The White House wants to preserve the truce and has been wary of taking action in Yemen that could open up another war front.

The impact on international shipping and the escalating attacks, however, triggered the coalition warning, which was signed by the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Separately, the U.S. called on the United Nations Security Council to take action against the Houthis and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-un-yemen-houthis-shipping-red-sea-08d42a18873ce55979c755ea1a9cc1b5">warned their financier Iran</a>&nbsp;that it has a choice to make about continuing to provide support to the rebels.

Transit through the Red Sea, from the Suez Canal to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, is a crucial shipping lane for global commerce. About 12% of the world’s trade typically passes through the waterway that separates Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, including oil, natural gas, grain and everything from toys to electronics.

In response to the attacks, the U.S. created a new maritime security mission, dubbed Operation Prosperity Guardian, to increase security in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden, with about 22 countries are participating. U.S. warships, and those from other nations, have been routinely sailing back and forth through the narrow strait to provide protection for ships and to deter attacks. The coalition has also ramped up airborne surveillance.

The decision to set up the expanded patrol operation came after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-houthi-yemen-ships-attack-israel-hamas-war-gaza-strip-716770f0a780160e9abed98d3c48fbde">three commercial vessels were struck by missiles</a>&nbsp;fired by Houthis in Yemen on Dec. 3.

The Pentagon increased its military presence in the region after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel to deter Iran from widening the war into a regional conflict, including by the Houthis and Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696968173377.png" alt="File photo White House" />
 <figcaption>File photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;WASHINGTON —U.S. and British militaries are bombing more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, in a massive retaliatory strike using warship-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets.In a statement from the White House, President Biden said," at my direction, U.S. military forces—together with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands—successfully conducted strikes against a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways.""These strikes are in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea—including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history. These attacks have endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardized trade, and threatened freedom of navigation. More than 50 nations have been affected in 27 attacks on international commercial shipping.""Crews from more than 20 countries have been threatened or taken hostage in acts of piracy.&nbsp; More than 2,000 ships have been forced to divert thousands of miles to avoid the Red Sea—which can cause weeks of delays in product shipping times. And on January 9, Houthis launched their largest attack to date—directly targeting American ships.The response of the international community to these reckless attacks has been united and resolute.""Last month, the United States launched Operation Prosperity Guardian—a coalition of more than 20 nations committed to defending international shipping and deterring Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.&nbsp; We also joined more than 40 nations in condemning Houthi threats.""Last week, together with 13 allies and partners, we issued an unequivocal warning that Houthi rebels would bear the consequences if their attacks did not cease. And yesterday, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution demanding the Houthis end attacks on merchant and commercial vessels.Today’s (Thursday) defensive action follows this extensive diplomatic campaign and Houthi rebels’ escalating attacks against commercial vessels.""These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most critical commercial routes. I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary."------------WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and British militaries were bombing more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen on Thursday, in a massive retaliatory strike using warship-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets, several U.S. officials told The Associated Press. The military targets included logistical hubs, air defense systems and weapons storage and launching locations, they said.Associated Press journalists in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, heard four explosions early Friday local time but saw no sign of warplanes. Two residents of Hodieda, Amin Ali Saleh and Hani Ahmed, said they heard five strong explosions hitting the western port area of the city, which lies on the Red Sea and is the largest port city controlled by the Houthis. Explosions also were heard by residents of Taiz, a southwestern city near the Red Sea.The strikes marked the first U.S. military response to what has been a persistent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. And the coordinated military assault comes just a week after the White House and a host of partner nations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-israel-hamas-houthis-red-sea-fef8d446852b6eae33d38ffd8f6b2d64">issued a final warning</a>&nbsp;to the Houthis to cease the attacks or face potential military action. The officials confirmed the strikes on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. Members of Congress were briefed earlier Thursday on the strike plans.The warning appeared to have had at least some short-lived impact, as attacks stopped for several days. On Tuesday, however, the Houthi rebels fired their largest-ever barrage of drones and missiles&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-shipping-houthi-attacks-drones-missiles-1acc4ca5ebcaf6fee932a2061d451f59">targeting shipping in the Red Sea</a>, with U.S. and British ships and American fighter jets responding by shooting down 18 drones, two cruise missiles and an anti-ship missile. And on Thursday, the Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile into the Gulf of Aden, which was seen by a commercial ship but did not hit the ship.The rebels, who have carried out 27 attacks involving dozens of drones and missiles just since Nov. 19, said Thursday that any attack by American forces on its sites in Yemen will spark a fierce military response.“The response to any American attack will not only be at the level of the operation that was recently carried out with more than 24 drones and several missiles,” said Abdel Malek al-Houthi, the group’s supreme leader, during an hour-long speech. “It will be greater than that.”The Houthis say their assaults are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/israel-hamas-war-yemen-red-sea-rebellions-and-uprisings-yemen-government-35148e6fbef64ec8b6fa074d4da2551c">aimed at stopping Israel’s war on Hamas</a>&nbsp;in the Gaza Strip. But their targets increasingly have little or no connection to Israel and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-yemen-houthis-attack-ships-f67d941c260528ac40315ecab4c34ca3">imperil a crucial trade route</a>&nbsp;linking Asia and the Middle East with Europe.Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution Wednesday that demanded the Houthis immediately cease the attacks and implicitly condemned their weapons supplier, Iran. It was approved by a vote of 11-0 with four abstentions — by Russia, China, Algeria and Mozambique.Britain’s participation in the strikes underscored the Biden administration’s effort to use a broad international coalition to battle the Houthis, rather than appear to be going it alone. More than 20 nations are already participating in a U.S.-led maritime mission to increase ship protection in the Red Sea.U.S. officials for weeks had declined to signal when international patience would run out and they would strike back at the Houthis, even as multiple commercial vessels were struck by missiles and drones, prompting companies to look at rerouting their ships.On Wednesday, however, U.S. officials again warned of consequences.“I’m not going to telegraph or preview anything that might happen,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters during a stop in Bahrain. He said the U.S. has made clear “that if this continues as it did yesterday, there will be consequences. And I’m going to leave it at that.”The Biden administration’s reluctance over the past several months to retaliate reflected political sensitivities and stemmed largely from broader worries about upending the shaky truce in Yemen and triggering a wider conflict in the region. The White House wants to preserve the truce and has been wary of taking action in Yemen that could open up another war front.The impact on international shipping and the escalating attacks, however, triggered the coalition warning, which was signed by the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Separately, the U.S. called on the United Nations Security Council to take action against the Houthis and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-un-yemen-houthis-shipping-red-sea-08d42a18873ce55979c755ea1a9cc1b5">warned their financier Iran</a>&nbsp;that it has a choice to make about continuing to provide support to the rebels.Transit through the Red Sea, from the Suez Canal to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, is a crucial shipping lane for global commerce. About 12% of the world’s trade typically passes through the waterway that separates Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, including oil, natural gas, grain and everything from toys to electronics.In response to the attacks, the U.S. created a new maritime security mission, dubbed Operation Prosperity Guardian, to increase security in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden, with about 22 countries are participating. U.S. warships, and those from other nations, have been routinely sailing back and forth through the narrow strait to provide protection for ships and to deter attacks. The coalition has also ramped up airborne surveillance.The decision to set up the expanded patrol operation came after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-houthi-yemen-ships-attack-israel-hamas-war-gaza-strip-716770f0a780160e9abed98d3c48fbde">three commercial vessels were struck by missiles</a>&nbsp;fired by Houthis in Yemen on Dec. 3.The Pentagon increased its military presence in the region after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel to deter Iran from widening the war into a regional conflict, including by the Houthis and Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria.

Biden's statement on U.S. retaliatory strike against Iranian terrorists

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-biden-retaliation-attacks-0804b93372cd5e874a0dd03513fe36a2">U.S.-led airstrikes</a>&nbsp;on Yemen's Houthi rebels in response to their attacks on Red Sea shipping pulled the world's focus Friday back on the yearslong war raging there, even as tensions rise across a Middle East already torn by Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The strikes killed at least five people and wounded six, the Houthis said, without elaborating on what was targeted.

As the bombing lit the predawn sky over multiple sites held by the Iranian-backed rebels, Saudi Arabia quickly sought to distance itself from the attacks as it seeks to maintain a delicate détente with Iran and a cease-fire in the Yemen war from which it hopes to finally withdraw.

The attack also threatened to ignite a regional conflict over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel's war on Hamas</a>, which the Biden administration and its allies have been trying to calm for weeks.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy acknowledged an attack days earlier on a ship in the far reaches of the Indian Ocean — an attack that may signal Iran's willingness to strike vessels as part of a wider maritime campaign over the Israel-Hamas conflict. Tehran on Thursday separately&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/persian-gulf-oman-strait-hormuz-3a906e909be2ce63c87c1b208ed05baa">seized another tanker</a>&nbsp;involved in an earlier crisis over America seizing oil targeted by international sanctions on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.

It remained unclear how extensive the damage from the U.S. strikes were, though the Houthis said at least five sites, including airfields, had been attacked. The United Kingdom described its strikes hitting a site in Bani allegedly used by the Houthis to launch drones and an airfield in Abbs used to launch cruise missiles and drones.

Hussein al-Ezzi, a Houthi official in their Foreign Ministry, acknowledged “a massive aggressive attack by American and British ships, submarines and warplanes."

“America and Britain will undoubtedly have to prepare to pay a heavy price and bear all the dire consequences of this blatant aggression,” al-Ezzi wrote online.

Mohammed Abdul-Salam, the Houthis’ chief negotiator and spokesperson, separately described the U.S. and Britain as having “committed foolishness with this treacherous aggression.”

“They were wrong if they thought that they would deter Yemen from supporting Palestine and Gaza,” he wrote online. Houthi “targeting will continue to affect Israeli ships or those heading to the ports of occupied Palestine,” he wrote.

Since the attacks began in November, however, the Houthis have begun targeting vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade.

The Houthis' military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, in a recorded address, said 73 strikes hit five regions of Yemen under their control, killing five and wounding six. He did not elaborate on who was killed.

“The American and British enemy bears full responsibility for its criminal aggression against our Yemeni people, and it will not go unanswered and unpunished,” Saree said.

In Saada, the Houthis' stronghold in northwest Yemen, hundreds gathered for a rally Friday. The crowd shouted at times the Houthi slogan: “God is the greatest; death to America; death to Israel; curse the Jews; victory to Islam.”

Yemen has been targeted by U.S. military action over the last four American presidencies. A campaign of drone strikes began under President George W. Bush to target the local affiliate of al-Qaida, attacks that have continued under the Biden administration. Meanwhile, the U.S. has launched raids and other military operations amid the ongoing war in Yemen.

That war began when the Houthis swept into the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. A Saudi-led coalition including the United Arab Emirates launched a war to back Yemen's exiled government in 2015, quickly morphing the conflict into a regional confrontation as Iran backed the Houthis with weapons and other support.

That war, however, has slowed as the Houthis maintain their grip on the territory they hold. The UAE even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-israel-dubai-united-arab-emirates-abu-dhabi-d37770c718713461a4dc2592e1d291b6">came under Houthi missile fire</a>&nbsp;multiple times in 2022. After the Emirates left the war, Saudi Arabia reached a Chinese-mediated deal with Iran to ease tensions in hopes of finally withdrawing from the war.

However, an overall deal has yet to be reached, likely sparking Saudi Arabia's expression Friday of “great concern” over the airstrikes.

“While the kingdom stresses the importance of preserving the security and stability of the Red Sea region, ... it calls for restraint and avoiding escalation,” its Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Iran, which has supplied weapons and aid to the Houthis, condemned the attack in a statement from Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani.

“Arbitrary attacks will have no result other than fueling insecurity and instability in the region," he said.

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, also backed by Iran and engaged in cross-border fire with Israel, criticized the strikes as showing America as being a "full partner in catastrophes and massacres committed by the Zionist entity in Gaza.” Hamas as well condemned the attack.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning called on nations not to escalate tensions in the Red Sea, asking all countries and parties to exercise restraint.

“We hope that all parties concerned will play a constructive and responsible role in the security and stability of the Red Sea region, which is in the common interest of the international community,” she said.

The Red Sea route is also crucial for energy shipments. Benchmark Brent crude traded up some 2.5% Friday at over $79 a barrel.

Meanwhile Friday, the U.S. Navy confirmed an attack days earlier near the coasts of India and Sri Lanka. The chemical tanker Pacific Gold was struck Jan. 4 by what the Navy called “an Iranian one-way attack” drone, causing some damage to the vessel but no injuries.

“Iran’s actions are contrary to international law and threaten maritime security and stability,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of the Navy's Mideast-based 5th Fleet.

The Pacific Gold is managed by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping, a company that is ultimately controlled by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer. Eastern Pacific, as well as naval officials in India and Sri Lanka, had not responded to multiple requests for comment from The Associated Press over the attack. Eastern Pacific previously has been targeted in suspected Iranian attacks.

A private security official previously acknowledged to the AP that the attack took place. The attack had been first reported by the Lebanese broadcaster Al-Mayadeen, a channel politically affiliated with Hezbollah that has previously announced other Iran-linked attacks in the region. Iran itself has not acknowledged carrying out the attack.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and British militaries bombed more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen on Thursday, in a massive retaliatory strike using warship- and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets, U.S. officials said. The military targets included logistical hubs, air defense systems and weapons storage and launching locations, they said.

President Joe Biden said the strikes were meant to demonstrate that the U.S. and its allies “will not tolerate” the militant group’s ceaseless attacks on the Red Sea. And he said they only made the move after attempts at diplomatic negotiations and careful deliberation.

“These strikes are in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea — including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history,” Biden said in a statement. He noted the attacks endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners and jeopardized trade, and he added, “I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary.”

Associated Press journalists in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, heard four explosions early Friday local time. Two residents of Hodieda, Amin Ali Saleh and Hani Ahmed, said they heard five strong explosions hitting the western port area of the city, which lies on the Red Sea and is the largest port city controlled by the Houthis. Explosions also were heard by residents of Taiz, a southwestern city near the Red Sea.

The strikes marked the first U.S. military response to what has been a persistent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. And the coordinated military assault comes just a week after the White House and a host of partner nations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-israel-hamas-houthis-red-sea-fef8d446852b6eae33d38ffd8f6b2d64">issued a final warning</a>&nbsp;to the Houthis to cease the attacks or face potential military action. The officials described the strikes on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. Members of Congress were briefed earlier Thursday on the strike plans.

In a call with reporters, senior administration and military officials said that after the Tuesday attacks, Biden convened his national security team and was presented with military options for a response. He then directed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to carry out the retaliatory strikes.

In a separate statement, U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the Royal Air Force carried out targeted strikes against military facilities used by the Houthis. The Defense Ministry said four fighter jets based in Cyprus took part in the strikes.

Noting the militants have carried out a series of dangerous attacks on shipping, he added, “This cannot stand. He said the U.K. took “limited, necessary and proportionate action in self-defense, alongside the United States with non-operational support from the Netherlands, Canada and Bahrain against targets tied to these attacks, to degrade Houthi military capabilities and protect global shipping.”

And the governments of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand and South Korea joined the U.S. and U.K. in issuing a statement saying that while the aim is to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, the allies won't hesitate to defend lives and protect commerce in the critical waterway.

The rebels, who have carried out 27 attacks involving dozens of drones and missiles just since Nov. 19, had warned that any attack by American forces on its sites in Yemen will spark a fierce military response.

A high-ranking Houthi official, Ali al-Qahoum, vowed there would be retaliation. “The battle will be bigger…. and beyond the imagination and expectation of the Americans and the British," he said in a post on X.

Al-Masirah, a Houthi-run satellite news channel, described strikes hitting the Al-Dailami Air Base north of Sanaa, the airport in the port city of the Hodeida, a camp east of Saada, the airport in the city of Taiz and an airport near Hajjah. And eyewitnesses who spoke with The Associated Press said they saw strikes in four areas, including Dhamar, Hodeida, Sanaa and Taiz.

The Houthis did not immediately offer any damage or casualty information.

A senior administration official said that while the U.S. expects the strikes will degrade the Houthi's capabilities, “we would not be surprised to see some sort of response,” although they haven't seen anything yet.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704853180043.png" alt="USS Eisenhower (CVN 69) conducts flight operations, photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>USS Eisenhower (CVN 69) conducts flight operations, photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-biden-retaliation-attacks-0804b93372cd5e874a0dd03513fe36a2">U.S.-led airstrikes</a>&nbsp;on Yemen's Houthi rebels in response to their attacks on Red Sea shipping pulled the world's focus Friday back on the yearslong war raging there, even as tensions rise across a Middle East already torn by Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.The strikes killed at least five people and wounded six, the Houthis said, without elaborating on what was targeted.As the bombing lit the predawn sky over multiple sites held by the Iranian-backed rebels, Saudi Arabia quickly sought to distance itself from the attacks as it seeks to maintain a delicate détente with Iran and a cease-fire in the Yemen war from which it hopes to finally withdraw.The attack also threatened to ignite a regional conflict over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel's war on Hamas</a>, which the Biden administration and its allies have been trying to calm for weeks.Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy acknowledged an attack days earlier on a ship in the far reaches of the Indian Ocean — an attack that may signal Iran's willingness to strike vessels as part of a wider maritime campaign over the Israel-Hamas conflict. Tehran on Thursday separately&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/persian-gulf-oman-strait-hormuz-3a906e909be2ce63c87c1b208ed05baa">seized another tanker</a>&nbsp;involved in an earlier crisis over America seizing oil targeted by international sanctions on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.It remained unclear how extensive the damage from the U.S. strikes were, though the Houthis said at least five sites, including airfields, had been attacked. The United Kingdom described its strikes hitting a site in Bani allegedly used by the Houthis to launch drones and an airfield in Abbs used to launch cruise missiles and drones.Hussein al-Ezzi, a Houthi official in their Foreign Ministry, acknowledged “a massive aggressive attack by American and British ships, submarines and warplanes."“America and Britain will undoubtedly have to prepare to pay a heavy price and bear all the dire consequences of this blatant aggression,” al-Ezzi wrote online.Mohammed Abdul-Salam, the Houthis’ chief negotiator and spokesperson, separately described the U.S. and Britain as having “committed foolishness with this treacherous aggression.”“They were wrong if they thought that they would deter Yemen from supporting Palestine and Gaza,” he wrote online. Houthi “targeting will continue to affect Israeli ships or those heading to the ports of occupied Palestine,” he wrote.Since the attacks began in November, however, the Houthis have begun targeting vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade.The Houthis' military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, in a recorded address, said 73 strikes hit five regions of Yemen under their control, killing five and wounding six. He did not elaborate on who was killed.“The American and British enemy bears full responsibility for its criminal aggression against our Yemeni people, and it will not go unanswered and unpunished,” Saree said.In Saada, the Houthis' stronghold in northwest Yemen, hundreds gathered for a rally Friday. The crowd shouted at times the Houthi slogan: “God is the greatest; death to America; death to Israel; curse the Jews; victory to Islam.”Yemen has been targeted by U.S. military action over the last four American presidencies. A campaign of drone strikes began under President George W. Bush to target the local affiliate of al-Qaida, attacks that have continued under the Biden administration. Meanwhile, the U.S. has launched raids and other military operations amid the ongoing war in Yemen.That war began when the Houthis swept into the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. A Saudi-led coalition including the United Arab Emirates launched a war to back Yemen's exiled government in 2015, quickly morphing the conflict into a regional confrontation as Iran backed the Houthis with weapons and other support.That war, however, has slowed as the Houthis maintain their grip on the territory they hold. The UAE even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-israel-dubai-united-arab-emirates-abu-dhabi-d37770c718713461a4dc2592e1d291b6">came under Houthi missile fire</a>&nbsp;multiple times in 2022. After the Emirates left the war, Saudi Arabia reached a Chinese-mediated deal with Iran to ease tensions in hopes of finally withdrawing from the war.However, an overall deal has yet to be reached, likely sparking Saudi Arabia's expression Friday of “great concern” over the airstrikes.“While the kingdom stresses the importance of preserving the security and stability of the Red Sea region, ... it calls for restraint and avoiding escalation,” its Foreign Ministry said in a statement.Iran, which has supplied weapons and aid to the Houthis, condemned the attack in a statement from Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani.“Arbitrary attacks will have no result other than fueling insecurity and instability in the region," he said.The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, also backed by Iran and engaged in cross-border fire with Israel, criticized the strikes as showing America as being a "full partner in catastrophes and massacres committed by the Zionist entity in Gaza.” Hamas as well condemned the attack.In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning called on nations not to escalate tensions in the Red Sea, asking all countries and parties to exercise restraint.“We hope that all parties concerned will play a constructive and responsible role in the security and stability of the Red Sea region, which is in the common interest of the international community,” she said.The Red Sea route is also crucial for energy shipments. Benchmark Brent crude traded up some 2.5% Friday at over $79 a barrel.Meanwhile Friday, the U.S. Navy confirmed an attack days earlier near the coasts of India and Sri Lanka. The chemical tanker Pacific Gold was struck Jan. 4 by what the Navy called “an Iranian one-way attack” drone, causing some damage to the vessel but no injuries.“Iran’s actions are contrary to international law and threaten maritime security and stability,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of the Navy's Mideast-based 5th Fleet.The Pacific Gold is managed by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping, a company that is ultimately controlled by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer. Eastern Pacific, as well as naval officials in India and Sri Lanka, had not responded to multiple requests for comment from The Associated Press over the attack. Eastern Pacific previously has been targeted in suspected Iranian attacks.A private security official previously acknowledged to the AP that the attack took place. The attack had been first reported by the Lebanese broadcaster Al-Mayadeen, a channel politically affiliated with Hezbollah that has previously announced other Iran-linked attacks in the region. Iran itself has not acknowledged carrying out the attack.WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and British militaries bombed more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen on Thursday, in a massive retaliatory strike using warship- and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets, U.S. officials said. The military targets included logistical hubs, air defense systems and weapons storage and launching locations, they said.President Joe Biden said the strikes were meant to demonstrate that the U.S. and its allies “will not tolerate” the militant group’s ceaseless attacks on the Red Sea. And he said they only made the move after attempts at diplomatic negotiations and careful deliberation.“These strikes are in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea — including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history,” Biden said in a statement. He noted the attacks endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners and jeopardized trade, and he added, “I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary.”Associated Press journalists in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, heard four explosions early Friday local time. Two residents of Hodieda, Amin Ali Saleh and Hani Ahmed, said they heard five strong explosions hitting the western port area of the city, which lies on the Red Sea and is the largest port city controlled by the Houthis. Explosions also were heard by residents of Taiz, a southwestern city near the Red Sea.The strikes marked the first U.S. military response to what has been a persistent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. And the coordinated military assault comes just a week after the White House and a host of partner nations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-israel-hamas-houthis-red-sea-fef8d446852b6eae33d38ffd8f6b2d64">issued a final warning</a>&nbsp;to the Houthis to cease the attacks or face potential military action. The officials described the strikes on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. Members of Congress were briefed earlier Thursday on the strike plans.The warning appeared to have had at least some short-lived impact, as attacks stopped for several days. On Tuesday, however, the Houthi rebels fired their largest-ever barrage of drones and missiles&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-shipping-houthi-attacks-drones-missiles-1acc4ca5ebcaf6fee932a2061d451f59">targeting shipping in the Red Sea</a>, with U.S. and British ships and American fighter jets responding by shooting down 18 drones, two cruise missiles and an anti-ship missile. And on Thursday, the Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile into the Gulf of Aden, which was seen by a commercial ship but did not hit the ship.In a call with reporters, senior administration and military officials said that after the Tuesday attacks, Biden convened his national security team and was presented with military options for a response. He then directed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to carry out the retaliatory strikes.In a separate statement, U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the Royal Air Force carried out targeted strikes against military facilities used by the Houthis. The Defense Ministry said four fighter jets based in Cyprus took part in the strikes.Noting the militants have carried out a series of dangerous attacks on shipping, he added, “This cannot stand. He said the U.K. took “limited, necessary and proportionate action in self-defense, alongside the United States with non-operational support from the Netherlands, Canada and Bahrain against targets tied to these attacks, to degrade Houthi military capabilities and protect global shipping.”And the governments of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand and South Korea joined the U.S. and U.K. in issuing a statement saying that while the aim is to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, the allies won't hesitate to defend lives and protect commerce in the critical waterway.The rebels, who have carried out 27 attacks involving dozens of drones and missiles just since Nov. 19, had warned that any attack by American forces on its sites in Yemen will spark a fierce military response.A high-ranking Houthi official, Ali al-Qahoum, vowed there would be retaliation. “The battle will be bigger…. and beyond the imagination and expectation of the Americans and the British," he said in a post on X.Al-Masirah, a Houthi-run satellite news channel, described strikes hitting the Al-Dailami Air Base north of Sanaa, the airport in the port city of the Hodeida, a camp east of Saada, the airport in the city of Taiz and an airport near Hajjah. And eyewitnesses who spoke with The Associated Press said they saw strikes in four areas, including Dhamar, Hodeida, Sanaa and Taiz.The Houthis did not immediately offer any damage or casualty information.A senior administration official said that while the U.S. expects the strikes will degrade the Houthi's capabilities, “we would not be surprised to see some sort of response,” although they haven't seen anything yet.The Houthis say their assaults are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/israel-hamas-war-yemen-red-sea-rebellions-and-uprisings-yemen-government-35148e6fbef64ec8b6fa074d4da2551c">aimed at stopping Israel’s war on Hamas</a>&nbsp;in the Gaza Strip. But their targets increasingly have little or no connection to Israel and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-yemen-houthis-attack-ships-f67d941c260528ac40315ecab4c34ca3">imperil a crucial trade route</a>&nbsp;linking Asia and the Middle East with Europe.Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution Wednesday that demanded the Houthis immediately cease the attacks and implicitly condemned their weapons supplier, Iran. It was approved by a vote of 11-0 with four abstentions — by Russia, China, Algeria and Mozambique.Britain’s participation in the strikes underscored the Biden administration’s effort to use a broad international coalition to battle the Houthis, rather than appear to be going it alone. More than 20 nations are already participating in a U.S.-led maritime mission to increase ship protection in the Red Sea.U.S. officials for weeks had declined to signal when international patience would run out and they would strike back at the Houthis, even as multiple commercial vessels were struck by missiles and drones, prompting companies to look at rerouting their ships.On Wednesday, however, U.S. officials again warned of consequences.“I’m not going to telegraph or preview anything that might happen,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters during a stop in Bahrain. He said the U.S. has made clear “that if this continues as it did yesterday, there will be consequences. And I’m going to leave it at that.”The Biden administration’s reluctance over the past several months to retaliate reflected political sensitivities and stemmed largely from broader worries about upending the shaky truce in Yemen and triggering a wider conflict in the region. The White House wants to preserve the truce and has been wary of taking action in Yemen that could open up another war front.The impact on international shipping and the escalating attacks, however, triggered the coalition warning, which was signed by the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Separately, the U.S. called on the United Nations Security Council to take action against the Houthis and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-un-yemen-houthis-shipping-red-sea-08d42a18873ce55979c755ea1a9cc1b5">warned their financier Iran</a>&nbsp;that it has a choice to make about continuing to provide support to the rebels.Transit through the Red Sea, from the Suez Canal to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, is a crucial shipping lane for global commerce. About 12% of the world’s trade typically passes through the waterway that separates Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, including oil, natural gas, grain and everything from toys to electronics.In response to the attacks, the U.S. created a new maritime security mission, dubbed Operation Prosperity Guardian, to increase security in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden, with about 22 countries are participating. U.S. warships, and those from other nations, have been routinely sailing back and forth through the narrow strait to provide protection for ships and to deter attacks. The coalition has also ramped up airborne surveillance.The decision to set up the expanded patrol operation came after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-houthi-yemen-ships-attack-israel-hamas-war-gaza-strip-716770f0a780160e9abed98d3c48fbde">three commercial vessels were struck by missiles</a>&nbsp;fired by Houthis in Yemen on Dec. 3.The Pentagon increased its military presence in the region after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel to deter Iran from widening the war into a regional conflict, including by the Houthis and Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria.

US-led strikes in Yemen killed 5 and wounded 6, raising Mideast tensions

PLATTSMOUTH, Neb. (AP) — Voters decided to remove a small-town Nebraska school member from office after she tried to have dozens of books pulled from school libraries.

More than 1,600 Plattsmouth voters supported recalling Terri Cunningham-Swanson in a mail-in election this week. The Omaha World-Herald&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/education/plattsmouth-school-board-member-recalled-following-library-book-controversy/article_c108f110-ae59-11ee-b7fc-6f8fc9ed2067.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">reported</a>&nbsp;that about 1,000 people voted to keep her on the board she joined a year ago.

Cunningham-Swanson led an effort to have about 50 books removed from school libraries because of concerns about sexual content and adult themes in them. Some students protested and one librarian resigned after the books were pulled from library shelves while they were being reviewed.

Ultimately, only one book — “Triangles” by Ellen Hopkins that focuses on three women, including one whose marriage falls apart after she engages in extramarital sex — was pulled from the shelves. Eleven other books were put in a restricted section that students need parent permission to check books out from. More than 30 other books were kept on general library shelves.

When the book review was discussed at a fall meeting, other board members pointed out that the books that were challenged were rarely checked out in the Plattsmouth district, which is about 20 miles south of Omaha.

A judge recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-book-ban-lgbtq-2b53b6c361bad54e94626a8a26b7f034">blocked key parts</a>&nbsp;of an Iowa law that bans public school libraries and classrooms from having practically any book that depicts sexual activity. Similar efforts to pass legislation around the U.S. have typically been backed by Republican lawmakers.

Jayden Speed, who led the campaign to recall Cunningham-Swanson, said the recall results were exciting.

“This has been a grassroots campaign, and it looks like Plattsmouth voters have rejected book-banning and the extremism that Terri and people like her have been pushing.”

But Cunningham-Swanson had said that voters should not have been surprised by her effort because she had expressed her concerns before she was voted into office. The slogan on her website opposing the recall urged residents to vote “no to obscenity in our schools, no to sexualizing students, no to woke ideologues, no to political bullies and no to the recall.”

PLATTSMOUTH, Neb. (AP) — Voters decided to remove a small-town Nebraska school member from office after she tried to have dozens of books pulled from school libraries.More than 1,600 Plattsmouth voters supported recalling Terri Cunningham-Swanson in a mail-in election this week. The Omaha World-Herald&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/education/plattsmouth-school-board-member-recalled-following-library-book-controversy/article_c108f110-ae59-11ee-b7fc-6f8fc9ed2067.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">reported</a>&nbsp;that about 1,000 people voted to keep her on the board she joined a year ago.Cunningham-Swanson led an effort to have about 50 books removed from school libraries because of concerns about sexual content and adult themes in them. Some students protested and one librarian resigned after the books were pulled from library shelves while they were being reviewed.Ultimately, only one book — “Triangles” by Ellen Hopkins that focuses on three women, including one whose marriage falls apart after she engages in extramarital sex — was pulled from the shelves. Eleven other books were put in a restricted section that students need parent permission to check books out from. More than 30 other books were kept on general library shelves.When the book review was discussed at a fall meeting, other board members pointed out that the books that were challenged were rarely checked out in the Plattsmouth district, which is about 20 miles south of Omaha.A judge recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-book-ban-lgbtq-2b53b6c361bad54e94626a8a26b7f034">blocked key parts</a>&nbsp;of an Iowa law that bans public school libraries and classrooms from having practically any book that depicts sexual activity. Similar efforts to pass legislation around the U.S. have typically been backed by Republican lawmakers.Jayden Speed, who led the campaign to recall Cunningham-Swanson, said the recall results were exciting.“This has been a grassroots campaign, and it looks like Plattsmouth voters have rejected book-banning and the extremism that Terri and people like her have been pushing.”But Cunningham-Swanson had said that voters should not have been surprised by her effort because she had expressed her concerns before she was voted into office. The slogan on her website opposing the recall urged residents to vote “no to obscenity in our schools, no to sexualizing students, no to woke ideologues, no to political bullies and no to the recall.”

Small-town Nebraska voters remove school board member who tried to pull books from libraries

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker behind a new law that would divert millions in state income tax to scholarships for private school tuition is now seeking to have an effort to repeal the law yanked from the November ballot.

Currently, state voters are set to decide next year whether public money can go to private school tuition after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tax-diversion-private-schools-nebraska-ballot-a4c033b5e004d1ef8f3f06214c519c21">petition effort</a>&nbsp;to get the question on the November 2024 ballot far exceeded the number of valid signatures needed.

The Opportunity Scholarships Act does not appropriate taxpayer dollars directly to private school vouchers. Instead, it allows businesses and individuals to donate up to $100,000 per year of their owed state income tax to organizations that award private school tuition scholarships. Estates and trusts can donate up to $1 million a year. That dollar-for-dollar tax credit is money that would otherwise go into the state’s general revenue fund.

This week, the law's main sponsor, Omaha Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, sent a letter to Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen asking him to declare the ballot initiative unconstitutional and pull it from November’s ballot. The state constitution, she said, places the power of taxation solely in the hands of the Legislature.

Linehan based much of her argument on a 13-page legal opinion written by a private practice attorney, which cites a little-noted segment of the state constitution that states, “The legislature has exclusive and discretionary power to prescribe the means by which taxes shall be collected.”

“We have to follow the constitution," Linehan said. "And the constitution is clear. The people of Nebraska have vested revenue power in the Legislature. I respect the petition process, but the constitution cannot be ignored.”

During debate over the scholarship bill, Linehan went to lengths to paint the bill as anything but an appropriation of tax dollars, saying at one point that “it's not an appropriation if we never collect the money.”

But by Wednesday, she had reversed course. “It's a revenue bill, so it is a tax law,” she said.

Linehan's effort is in line with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/direct-democracy-ballot-initiatives-republicans-ohio-abortion-bdf2dd061925e49d8dad69e2bd00f835">growing trend</a>&nbsp;among Republican-dominated state legislatures to find ways to force through legislation they want, even if it's unpopular with the public or opposed by another branch of government. A number of those efforts center on&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/Missouri%E2%80%99s%20Republican-led%20Legislature%20has%20frequently%20clashed%20with%20the%20sponsors%20of%20citizen-initiated%20ballot%20measures.%20When%20voters%20in%202010%20approved%20stricter,%20new%20regulations%20for%20dog%20breeders,%20the%20Legislature%20immediately%20revised%20the%20law%20in%202011.%20When%20voters%20in%202018%20approved%20a%20new%20legislative%20redistricting%20model,%20the%20legislature%20responded%20by%20placing%20a%20measure%20to%20largely%20undo%20it%20on%20the%202020%20ballot,%20which%20voters%20then%20also%20approved.%20And%20when%20voters%20approved%20Medicaid%20expansion%20in%202020,%20the%20Legislature%20attempted%20to%20thwart%20it%20by%20not%20funding%20it%20%E2%80%93%20until%20a%20court%20said%20it%20must%20go%20forward.%20The%20Missouri%20Legislature%20is%20expected%20to%20consider%20proposed%20constitutional%20amendments%20this%20year%20that%20would%20make%20it%20harder%20to%20approve%20voter%20initiatives%20%E2%80%93%20an%20effort%20partly%20in%20reaction%20to%20past%20initiatives%20and%20partly%20meant%20to%20raise%20the%20bar%20for%20a%20potential%20abortion%20rights%20initiative%20that%20supporters%20hope%20to%20get%20on%20the%20November%20ballot.">citizen-led petitions</a>&nbsp;for law changes.

In Ohio, the GOP-led legislature called a special election last August aimed at raising the threshold for passing constitutional amendments from a simple majority to 60%. The attempt, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-abortion-rights-constitutional-amendment-special-election-227cde039f8d51723612878525164f1a">failed</a>, was aimed at a November ballot question in which voters resoundingly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-abortion-amendment-election-2023-fe3e06747b616507d8ca21ea26485270">enshrined the right to abortion</a>&nbsp;in that state's constitution.

In Wisconsin, Republicans are increasingly turning to the ballot box to seek&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-wisconsin-state-government-tony-evers-f218aea6be02b7ae932114efe8c94cc0">constitutional amendments</a>&nbsp;to get around the Democratic governor’s veto.

Conversely, state lawmakers have also shown a willingness to defy the will of the people when such referendums don't go their way.

Missouri’s Republican-led Legislature has frequently clashed with the sponsors of citizen-initiated ballot measures. When voters approved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-primary-elections-columbia-constitutions-health-0c1399c1322750a5ed2372043cf4ac12">Medicaid expansion</a>&nbsp;in 2020, the Legislature attempted to thwart it by not funding it — until a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-michael-brown-medicaid-db50704885f5ae05b99610b884578fdf">court said</a>&nbsp;it must go forward.

This year, it is expected to consider proposed constitutional amendments that would make it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ballot-measures-bill-missouri-constitution-1f72571a9ece343da30c847d0793b52b">harder to approve voter initiatives</a>&nbsp;— both a reaction to past initiatives and to raise the bar for a potential abortion rights initiative that supporters hope to get on the November ballot.

Opponents of the Nebraska private school scholarship scheme called Linehan's move to block a vote of the people on it hypocritical.

“They failed miserably in their attempt to derail the petition drive,” said Jenni Benson, president of the Nebraska State Education Association. “They will attempt everything they can to try to deny Nebraska voters the right to vote on this issue.”

Rebecca Firestone, executive director of the state government watchdog group Open Sky Policy Institute, said elected officials ask voters every year to weigh in on revenue issues through bond elections and votes on whether local school districts can override revenue caps.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker behind a new law that would divert millions in state income tax to scholarships for private school tuition is now seeking to have an effort to repeal the law yanked from the November ballot.Currently, state voters are set to decide next year whether public money can go to private school tuition after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tax-diversion-private-schools-nebraska-ballot-a4c033b5e004d1ef8f3f06214c519c21">petition effort</a>&nbsp;to get the question on the November 2024 ballot far exceeded the number of valid signatures needed.The Opportunity Scholarships Act does not appropriate taxpayer dollars directly to private school vouchers. Instead, it allows businesses and individuals to donate up to $100,000 per year of their owed state income tax to organizations that award private school tuition scholarships. Estates and trusts can donate up to $1 million a year. That dollar-for-dollar tax credit is money that would otherwise go into the state’s general revenue fund.This week, the law's main sponsor, Omaha Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, sent a letter to Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen asking him to declare the ballot initiative unconstitutional and pull it from November’s ballot. The state constitution, she said, places the power of taxation solely in the hands of the Legislature.Linehan based much of her argument on a 13-page legal opinion written by a private practice attorney, which cites a little-noted segment of the state constitution that states, “The legislature has exclusive and discretionary power to prescribe the means by which taxes shall be collected.”“We have to follow the constitution," Linehan said. "And the constitution is clear. The people of Nebraska have vested revenue power in the Legislature. I respect the petition process, but the constitution cannot be ignored.”During debate over the scholarship bill, Linehan went to lengths to paint the bill as anything but an appropriation of tax dollars, saying at one point that “it's not an appropriation if we never collect the money.”But by Wednesday, she had reversed course. “It's a revenue bill, so it is a tax law,” she said.Linehan's effort is in line with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/direct-democracy-ballot-initiatives-republicans-ohio-abortion-bdf2dd061925e49d8dad69e2bd00f835">growing trend</a>&nbsp;among Republican-dominated state legislatures to find ways to force through legislation they want, even if it's unpopular with the public or opposed by another branch of government. A number of those efforts center on&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/Missouri%E2%80%99s%20Republican-led%20Legislature%20has%20frequently%20clashed%20with%20the%20sponsors%20of%20citizen-initiated%20ballot%20measures.%20When%20voters%20in%202010%20approved%20stricter,%20new%20regulations%20for%20dog%20breeders,%20the%20Legislature%20immediately%20revised%20the%20law%20in%202011.%20When%20voters%20in%202018%20approved%20a%20new%20legislative%20redistricting%20model,%20the%20legislature%20responded%20by%20placing%20a%20measure%20to%20largely%20undo%20it%20on%20the%202020%20ballot,%20which%20voters%20then%20also%20approved.%20And%20when%20voters%20approved%20Medicaid%20expansion%20in%202020,%20the%20Legislature%20attempted%20to%20thwart%20it%20by%20not%20funding%20it%20%E2%80%93%20until%20a%20court%20said%20it%20must%20go%20forward.%20The%20Missouri%20Legislature%20is%20expected%20to%20consider%20proposed%20constitutional%20amendments%20this%20year%20that%20would%20make%20it%20harder%20to%20approve%20voter%20initiatives%20%E2%80%93%20an%20effort%20partly%20in%20reaction%20to%20past%20initiatives%20and%20partly%20meant%20to%20raise%20the%20bar%20for%20a%20potential%20abortion%20rights%20initiative%20that%20supporters%20hope%20to%20get%20on%20the%20November%20ballot.">citizen-led petitions</a>&nbsp;for law changes.In Ohio, the GOP-led legislature called a special election last August aimed at raising the threshold for passing constitutional amendments from a simple majority to 60%. The attempt, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-abortion-rights-constitutional-amendment-special-election-227cde039f8d51723612878525164f1a">failed</a>, was aimed at a November ballot question in which voters resoundingly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-abortion-amendment-election-2023-fe3e06747b616507d8ca21ea26485270">enshrined the right to abortion</a>&nbsp;in that state's constitution.In Wisconsin, Republicans are increasingly turning to the ballot box to seek&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-wisconsin-state-government-tony-evers-f218aea6be02b7ae932114efe8c94cc0">constitutional amendments</a>&nbsp;to get around the Democratic governor’s veto.Conversely, state lawmakers have also shown a willingness to defy the will of the people when such referendums don't go their way.Missouri’s Republican-led Legislature has frequently clashed with the sponsors of citizen-initiated ballot measures. When voters approved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-primary-elections-columbia-constitutions-health-0c1399c1322750a5ed2372043cf4ac12">Medicaid expansion</a>&nbsp;in 2020, the Legislature attempted to thwart it by not funding it — until a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-michael-brown-medicaid-db50704885f5ae05b99610b884578fdf">court said</a>&nbsp;it must go forward.This year, it is expected to consider proposed constitutional amendments that would make it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ballot-measures-bill-missouri-constitution-1f72571a9ece343da30c847d0793b52b">harder to approve voter initiatives</a>&nbsp;— both a reaction to past initiatives and to raise the bar for a potential abortion rights initiative that supporters hope to get on the November ballot.Opponents of the Nebraska private school scholarship scheme called Linehan's move to block a vote of the people on it hypocritical.“They failed miserably in their attempt to derail the petition drive,” said Jenni Benson, president of the Nebraska State Education Association. “They will attempt everything they can to try to deny Nebraska voters the right to vote on this issue.”Rebecca Firestone, executive director of the state government watchdog group Open Sky Policy Institute, said elected officials ask voters every year to weigh in on revenue issues through bond elections and votes on whether local school districts can override revenue caps.

Nebraska lawmaker seeks to block November ballot effort outlawing taxpayer money for private schools

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/01/10/sen-riepe-introduces-measure-to-allow-abortions-after-12-weeks-for-fetal-anomalies/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — One year after a knock-down, drag-out fight over abortion, the Nebraska Legislature will be confronted with another controversial topic surrounding reproductive rights.

State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston, who helped&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/15/proposed-12-week-abortion-cutoff-hits-sooner-than-riepes-with-no-exception-for-fetal-anomalies/">broker a compromise</a>&nbsp;last year that led to passage of a stricter, 12-week ban on abortion, introduced a bill Wednesday that would allow the procedure in cases where fetal anomalies would “result in the death of a preborn child upon birth or inevitably thereafter.”

Riepe called his&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/Intro/LB1109.pdf">Legislative Bill 1109</a>&nbsp;a “clean-up bill” that makes the 12-week ban “more reasonable and respectable.” It would avoid a case like one in Texas, he said, where an expectant mother who needed an emergency abortion due to a fatal condition of her fetus had to go to another state to get it.

While Riepe said his bill will “face resistance” in the conservative Unicameral, he feels that it could reduce support for&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/15/nebraska-abortion-rights-petition-language-aims-for-viability-standard/">a ballot initiative</a>&nbsp;in Nebraska that, if passed by voters, would permit an abortion until a fetus becomes viable outside the womb, which occurs at about 23 weeks.

“I believe the best defense is the best offense,” Riepe said. “I want this (current law) to look a little more attractive when people go to sign the petition or vote for it.”

Under LB 1109, a physician who performs an abortion would have to provide a written report on the nature of the anomaly and the names of two doctors who diagnosed it.

Immediate reaction was less than supportive.

Sandy Danek of Nebraska Right to Life said she disagreed that adding fetal anomaly exceptions to the 12-ban would make the state’s law more reasonable or thwart the ballot initiative.

Danek pointed out that a year ago, the New York Times reported that non-invasive tests for fetal anomalies were inaccurate 85% of the time.

“Why would we want to put families through an invasive procedure that takes the life of a child when it’s so uncertain that this child indeed has this anomaly?” she said.

Marion Miner of the Nebraska Catholic Conference said that babies who receive a prenatal diagnosis deserve the “same dignity” as other babies, “and not simply abandoned to abortion.”

Andi Curry Grubb of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska said Riepe’s proposal makes “black-and-white” medical decisions that doctors last year testified had to be considered on a case-by-case basis.

“Ultimately, people need to be able to make these decisions themselves without the government interfering,” Curry Grubb said.

The bill faces an uncertain fate in the Legislature. To pass, it would require many opponents of abortion rights to support a measure that expands the procedure.

Riepe, a former hospital administrator, was a key player in the passage of the 12-week ban a year ago.

He had declined to provide the necessary 33rd vote to end debate and allow advancement of a proposed “heartbeat” abortion bill. But his opposition helped prompt a compromise that had the votes to pass — a ban on abortion after 12 weeks of gestation.

As part of last year’s compromise, Riepe dropped out his proposed language to allow exceptions for fetal anomalies, which allowed physicians who perform abortions under those circumstances to avoid the possible loss of their medical license.

The senator pledged to keep pursuing such an exemption.

Riepe said he decided to introduce his bill this year, instead of later, because of the pending initiative petition drive that could inscribe abortion rights in the State Constitution, and to avoid a situation like that faced in Texas.

“There’s a difference between the elective abortion and the medically necessary abortion,” he said. “This has everyone thing to do with the necessary abortions of babies who are already lost.”

&nbsp;Fetal anomalies, Riepe added, are often not detected until after 12 weeks of gestation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704999362182.jpeg" alt="Andi Curry Grubb of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska speaks during the campaign kickoff for a signature-gathering drive to put abortion rights on the 2024 ballot in Nebraska. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Andi Curry Grubb of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska speaks during the campaign kickoff for a signature-gathering drive to put abortion rights on the 2024 ballot in Nebraska. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/01/10/sen-riepe-introduces-measure-to-allow-abortions-after-12-weeks-for-fetal-anomalies/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — One year after a knock-down, drag-out fight over abortion, the Nebraska Legislature will be confronted with another controversial topic surrounding reproductive rights.State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston, who helped&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/15/proposed-12-week-abortion-cutoff-hits-sooner-than-riepes-with-no-exception-for-fetal-anomalies/">broker a compromise</a>&nbsp;last year that led to passage of a stricter, 12-week ban on abortion, introduced a bill Wednesday that would allow the procedure in cases where fetal anomalies would “result in the death of a preborn child upon birth or inevitably thereafter.”Riepe called his&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/Intro/LB1109.pdf">Legislative Bill 1109</a>&nbsp;a “clean-up bill” that makes the 12-week ban “more reasonable and respectable.” It would avoid a case like one in Texas, he said, where an expectant mother who needed an emergency abortion due to a fatal condition of her fetus had to go to another state to get it.While Riepe said his bill will “face resistance” in the conservative Unicameral, he feels that it could reduce support for&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/15/nebraska-abortion-rights-petition-language-aims-for-viability-standard/">a ballot initiative</a>&nbsp;in Nebraska that, if passed by voters, would permit an abortion until a fetus becomes viable outside the womb, which occurs at about 23 weeks.“I believe the best defense is the best offense,” Riepe said. “I want this (current law) to look a little more attractive when people go to sign the petition or vote for it.”Under LB 1109, a physician who performs an abortion would have to provide a written report on the nature of the anomaly and the names of two doctors who diagnosed it.Immediate reaction was less than supportive.Sandy Danek of Nebraska Right to Life said she disagreed that adding fetal anomaly exceptions to the 12-ban would make the state’s law more reasonable or thwart the ballot initiative.Danek pointed out that a year ago, the New York Times reported that non-invasive tests for fetal anomalies were inaccurate 85% of the time.<h2>Babies deserve ‘same dignity’</h2>“Why would we want to put families through an invasive procedure that takes the life of a child when it’s so uncertain that this child indeed has this anomaly?” she said.Marion Miner of the Nebraska Catholic Conference said that babies who receive a prenatal diagnosis deserve the “same dignity” as other babies, “and not simply abandoned to abortion.”Andi Curry Grubb of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska said Riepe’s proposal makes “black-and-white” medical decisions that doctors last year testified had to be considered on a case-by-case basis.“Ultimately, people need to be able to make these decisions themselves without the government interfering,” Curry Grubb said.<h2>Uncertain fate</h2>The bill faces an uncertain fate in the Legislature. To pass, it would require many opponents of abortion rights to support a measure that expands the procedure.Riepe, a former hospital administrator, was a key player in the passage of the 12-week ban a year ago.He had declined to provide the necessary 33rd vote to end debate and allow advancement of a proposed “heartbeat” abortion bill. But his opposition helped prompt a compromise that had the votes to pass — a ban on abortion after 12 weeks of gestation.<h2>Anomaly exemption dropped last year</h2>As part of last year’s compromise, Riepe dropped out his proposed language to allow exceptions for fetal anomalies, which allowed physicians who perform abortions under those circumstances to avoid the possible loss of their medical license.The senator pledged to keep pursuing such an exemption.Riepe said he decided to introduce his bill this year, instead of later, because of the pending initiative petition drive that could inscribe abortion rights in the State Constitution, and to avoid a situation like that faced in Texas.“There’s a difference between the elective abortion and the medically necessary abortion,” he said. “This has everyone thing to do with the necessary abortions of babies who are already lost.”&nbsp;Fetal anomalies, Riepe added, are often not detected until after 12 weeks of gestation.

Sen. Riepe introduces measure to allow abortions after 12 weeks for fetal anomalies

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– This morning, Governor Jim Pillen and Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert announced two major investments in North Omaha. The State has awarded $89.2 million to the Omaha Economic Development Corporation to create a business park near Eppley Airfield. The State has also awarded $35 million to the City of Omaha to construct a multipurpose community center at Levi Carter Park, which overlooks Carter Lake in east Omaha. They were joined in today’s announcement by Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) Director K.C. Belitz, Omaha Chamber of Commerce CEO Heath Mello, Omaha Economic Development Corporation President Michael Maroney and Burlington Capital Vice President George Achola.&nbsp;

“Omaha has developed into a dynamic hub of industry here in the Heartland, and today’s investments are going to accelerate its growth, especially in the North Omaha community,” said Governor Jim Pillen. “The amazing success of our state’s largest city is attracting entrepreneurs, professional talent, and young families to Nebraska. As people and businesses flock to Omaha, we’re investing in first-rate community amenities and industrial sites to continue the metro’s strong momentum.”

During his remarks, Gov. Pillen praised local civic, business, and economic development leaders for their spirit of partnership and strong collaboration with state agencies. He also expressed the State’s support of the City of Omaha’s plans to establish an Inland Port Authority near the airport to coordinate public and private investments.

Mayor Stothert likewise applauded the cooperative approach that has helped Omaha thrive.

“These are important investments in North Omaha," said Mayor Stothert.&nbsp; “Together with our state and local partners, we will provide impactful and long-term opportunities for employment, development, and youth services.”&nbsp;

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) awarded the $89.2 million grant to Omaha Economic Development Corporation through the Airport Business Park Program to fund site preparation of shovel-ready land for the proposed business park. &nbsp;The two-part project will consist of a site west of Carter Lake with land primarily devoted to industrial use and a site north of Carter Lake—connected to Levi Carter Park—with a mix of commercial and industrial uses. The project’s proximity to Eppley Airfield will make it highly attractive to aviation-related businesses, warehouse/logistics companies, and manufacturers looking for greater supply chain efficiencies. The project also creates stimulus for the development of retail and housing in the vicinity of the business park to benefit current and future workers in the area.

DED awarded the $35 million grant to the City of Omaha through the Multipurpose Community Facilities Program. The City of Omaha will use the grant to construct a 90,000 square foot community facility that will serve all Omaha residents, particularly those in the northeast quadrant of the city. The facility will be owned by the City of Omaha and operated as a not-for-profit facility. The facility’s intended uses include:

The State’s investments in the Carter Lake area add to the tremendous activity taking place in North Omaha. The city’s vibrant economy has contributed to the rapid growth of both Douglas County and the State of Nebraska. On Dec. 7, 2023, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported that Douglas County was the fastest-growing large county (population of 500,000+) in the United States from 2021 to 2022, with GDP growth of 9.5%. On Dec. 7, 2023, the BEA reported that Nebraska had the third-highest state GDP growth in the nation for the third quarter of 2023 at 7.5%. &nbsp;

The Nebraska Legislature authorized use of state funds for the Airport Business Park Program through LB 531 in 2023. The Multipurpose Community Facilities Program is an authorized use of federal funding from the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, which was designed to provide state governments with the resources needed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic effects and to build a stronger economy during recovery. Gov. Pillen expressed his appreciation to the Legislature for its work in creating the respective funding programs, in particular, the efforts of senators Justin Wayne and Terrell McKinney. He noted that additional announcements would be forthcoming relative to the North and South Omaha Recovery Grant (NSORG) awards.

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– This morning, Governor Jim Pillen and Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert announced two major investments in North Omaha. The State has awarded $89.2 million to the Omaha Economic Development Corporation to create a business park near Eppley Airfield. The State has also awarded $35 million to the City of Omaha to construct a multipurpose community center at Levi Carter Park, which overlooks Carter Lake in east Omaha. They were joined in today’s announcement by Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) Director K.C. Belitz, Omaha Chamber of Commerce CEO Heath Mello, Omaha Economic Development Corporation President Michael Maroney and Burlington Capital Vice President George Achola.&nbsp;“Omaha has developed into a dynamic hub of industry here in the Heartland, and today’s investments are going to accelerate its growth, especially in the North Omaha community,” said Governor Jim Pillen. “The amazing success of our state’s largest city is attracting entrepreneurs, professional talent, and young families to Nebraska. As people and businesses flock to Omaha, we’re investing in first-rate community amenities and industrial sites to continue the metro’s strong momentum.”During his remarks, Gov. Pillen praised local civic, business, and economic development leaders for their spirit of partnership and strong collaboration with state agencies. He also expressed the State’s support of the City of Omaha’s plans to establish an Inland Port Authority near the airport to coordinate public and private investments.Mayor Stothert likewise applauded the cooperative approach that has helped Omaha thrive.“These are important investments in North Omaha," said Mayor Stothert.&nbsp; “Together with our state and local partners, we will provide impactful and long-term opportunities for employment, development, and youth services.”&nbsp;The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) awarded the $89.2 million grant to Omaha Economic Development Corporation through the Airport Business Park Program to fund site preparation of shovel-ready land for the proposed business park. &nbsp;The two-part project will consist of a site west of Carter Lake with land primarily devoted to industrial use and a site north of Carter Lake—connected to Levi Carter Park—with a mix of commercial and industrial uses. The project’s proximity to Eppley Airfield will make it highly attractive to aviation-related businesses, warehouse/logistics companies, and manufacturers looking for greater supply chain efficiencies. The project also creates stimulus for the development of retail and housing in the vicinity of the business park to benefit current and future workers in the area.DED awarded the $35 million grant to the City of Omaha through the Multipurpose Community Facilities Program. The City of Omaha will use the grant to construct a 90,000 square foot community facility that will serve all Omaha residents, particularly those in the northeast quadrant of the city. The facility will be owned by the City of Omaha and operated as a not-for-profit facility. The facility’s intended uses include:<ul>
 <li>Hosting after-school and out-of-school programming for youth. The facility will especially focus on youth sports to encourage pro-social behaviors and teach important life skills such as teamwork and cooperation.</li><li>Providing the public with access to computers and high-speed internet, especially for the purpose of searching for employment or to develop the requisite digital skills to become employed.</li><li>Enabling health monitoring. Patrons will be able to reserve rooms to conduct telemedicine appointments. The facility will also collaborate with local health providers to offer annual health screenings for youth who require physicals and desire to participate in youth sports.</li>
 </ul>The State’s investments in the Carter Lake area add to the tremendous activity taking place in North Omaha. The city’s vibrant economy has contributed to the rapid growth of both Douglas County and the State of Nebraska. On Dec. 7, 2023, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported that Douglas County was the fastest-growing large county (population of 500,000+) in the United States from 2021 to 2022, with GDP growth of 9.5%. On Dec. 7, 2023, the BEA reported that Nebraska had the third-highest state GDP growth in the nation for the third quarter of 2023 at 7.5%. &nbsp;The Nebraska Legislature authorized use of state funds for the Airport Business Park Program through LB 531 in 2023. The Multipurpose Community Facilities Program is an authorized use of federal funding from the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, which was designed to provide state governments with the resources needed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic effects and to build a stronger economy during recovery. Gov. Pillen expressed his appreciation to the Legislature for its work in creating the respective funding programs, in particular, the efforts of senators Justin Wayne and Terrell McKinney. He noted that additional announcements would be forthcoming relative to the North and South Omaha Recovery Grant (NSORG) awards.

Gov. Pillen, Mayor Stothert Announce $124 Million in Grants for Airport Business Park & Multipurpose Community Center in North Omaha

GENEVA (AP) — The head of the U.N. health agency said Wednesday holiday gatherings and the spread of the most prominent variant globally led to increased transmission of COVID-19 last month.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said nearly 10,000 deaths were reported in December, while hospital admissions during the month jumped 42% in nearly 50 countries — mostly in Europe and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flu-covid19-cdc-holidays-028cab262ca8ec817cc7ff745a83387f#:~:text=Health-,Flu%20and%20COVID%20infections%20got%20worse%20over%20the%20holidays,more%20misery%20expected%2C%20CDC%20says&amp;text=NEW%20YORK%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20The,a%20likely%20spike%20in%20illnesses.">the Americas</a>&nbsp;— that shared such trend information.

"Although 10,000 deaths a month is far less than the peak of the pandemic, this level of preventable deaths is not acceptable," the World Health Organization director-general told reporters from its headquarters in Geneva.

He said it was “certain” that cases were on the rise in other places that haven't been reporting, calling on governments to keep up surveillance and provide continued access to treatments and vaccines.

Tedros said the JN.1 variant was now the most prominent in the world. It is an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-travel-covid-ce0a33a3eb7185184310d2b7b5df19e2">omicron variant</a>, so current vaccines should still provide some protection.

Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead at WHO for COVID-19, cited an increase in respiratory diseases across the globe due to the coronavirus but also flu, rhinovirus and pneumonia.

“We expect those trends to continue into January through the winter months in the northern hemisphere,” she said, while noting increases in COVID-19 in the southern hemisphere — where it's now summer.

While bouts of coughs, sniffling, fever and fatigue in the winter are nothing new, Van Kerkhove said this year in particular, "we are seeing co-circulation of many different types of pathogens.”

WHO officials recommend that people get vaccinated when possible, wear masks, and make sure indoor areas are well ventilated.

GENEVA (AP) — The head of the U.N. health agency said Wednesday holiday gatherings and the spread of the most prominent variant globally led to increased transmission of COVID-19 last month.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said nearly 10,000 deaths were reported in December, while hospital admissions during the month jumped 42% in nearly 50 countries — mostly in Europe and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flu-covid19-cdc-holidays-028cab262ca8ec817cc7ff745a83387f#:~:text=Health-,Flu%20and%20COVID%20infections%20got%20worse%20over%20the%20holidays,more%20misery%20expected%2C%20CDC%20says&amp;text=NEW%20YORK%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20The,a%20likely%20spike%20in%20illnesses.">the Americas</a>&nbsp;— that shared such trend information."Although 10,000 deaths a month is far less than the peak of the pandemic, this level of preventable deaths is not acceptable," the World Health Organization director-general told reporters from its headquarters in Geneva.He said it was “certain” that cases were on the rise in other places that haven't been reporting, calling on governments to keep up surveillance and provide continued access to treatments and vaccines.Tedros said the JN.1 variant was now the most prominent in the world. It is an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-travel-covid-ce0a33a3eb7185184310d2b7b5df19e2">omicron variant</a>, so current vaccines should still provide some protection.Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead at WHO for COVID-19, cited an increase in respiratory diseases across the globe due to the coronavirus but also flu, rhinovirus and pneumonia.“We expect those trends to continue into January through the winter months in the northern hemisphere,” she said, while noting increases in COVID-19 in the southern hemisphere — where it's now summer.While bouts of coughs, sniffling, fever and fatigue in the winter are nothing new, Van Kerkhove said this year in particular, "we are seeing co-circulation of many different types of pathogens.”WHO officials recommend that people get vaccinated when possible, wear masks, and make sure indoor areas are well ventilated.

Nearly 10K died from COVID last month, fueled by new variant, holiday gatherings

Columbus, Neb. – The Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) Board of Directors elected officers during Wednesday’s regularly scheduled meeting in Columbus. Officers elected Wednesday will serve in their roles for a two-year term. 

Jerry Chlopek of Columbus was elected to serve as the Chair of NPPD’s Board of Directors, while Wayne Williams of Central City was elected to serve as first vice chair, Chris Langemeier of Schuyler will serve as second vice chair, and Aaron Troester of O’Neill was elected to serve as secretary. 

NPPD Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Laura Kapustka will continue to serve as treasurer. “I’m looking forward to serving as Chair of the NPPD Board in 2024, and the opportunity to continue working alongside a great group of board members who are focused on bringing the best of public power to all of our customers,” adds Chlopek.

Chlopek has served on the NPPD board since 2009 and represents Subdivision 9, which consists of Butler, Platte, and Polk Counties. Previously he served as first vice chair in 2021 and has served as secretary for a total of seven years. Chlopek also served as Chair in 2022 and 2023. Chlopek worked for Cornhusker Public Power District for more than 40 years, retiring in 2009 as the utility’s Operations Director. A graduate of Genoa High School, Jerry served in the U.S. Marine Corps and the Army Reserve.

The Board of Directors also appointed Cristal Menke as assistant treasurer, and Christopher Norquest as deputy assistant treasurer. Jan Modelski was re-appointed as assistant secretary, and Sandra Keefover as deputy assistant secretary. All are from Columbus.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704935364332.jpeg" alt="Jerry Chlopek" />
 <figcaption>Jerry Chlopek</figcaption>
 </figure>NPPDColumbus, Neb. – The Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) Board of Directors elected officers during Wednesday’s regularly scheduled meeting in Columbus. Officers elected Wednesday will serve in their roles for a two-year term. Jerry Chlopek of Columbus was elected to serve as the Chair of NPPD’s Board of Directors, while Wayne Williams of Central City was elected to serve as first vice chair, Chris Langemeier of Schuyler will serve as second vice chair, and Aaron Troester of O’Neill was elected to serve as secretary. NPPD Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Laura Kapustka will continue to serve as treasurer. “I’m looking forward to serving as Chair of the NPPD Board in 2024, and the opportunity to continue working alongside a great group of board members who are focused on bringing the best of public power to all of our customers,” adds Chlopek.Chlopek has served on the NPPD board since 2009 and represents Subdivision 9, which consists of Butler, Platte, and Polk Counties. Previously he served as first vice chair in 2021 and has served as secretary for a total of seven years. Chlopek also served as Chair in 2022 and 2023. Chlopek worked for Cornhusker Public Power District for more than 40 years, retiring in 2009 as the utility’s Operations Director. A graduate of Genoa High School, Jerry served in the U.S. Marine Corps and the Army Reserve.The Board of Directors also appointed Cristal Menke as assistant treasurer, and Christopher Norquest as deputy assistant treasurer. Jan Modelski was re-appointed as assistant secretary, and Sandra Keefover as deputy assistant secretary. All are from Columbus.

NPPD Board of Directors elects officers, Chlopek to serve as Chair

NEW YORK (AP) — The Securities and Exchange Commission reluctantly approved the first exchange-traded funds that hold bitcoin Wednesday, saying it is still deeply skeptical about cryptocurrencies and that the SEC “did not approve or endorse bitcoin” in its decision.

The SEC said it is finishing the approval of 10 exchange-traded funds for bitcoin even though it only faced a deadline for one application. The agency said this action would give the market enough competition and provide a “level playing field” for the new entrants.

An exchange traded fund, or ETF, is an easy way to invest in something or a group of things, like gold, junk bonds or bitcoins, without having to buy the things themselves. Cryptocurrency advocates hope the development thrusts the once niche and nerdy corner of the internet even further into the financial mainstream.

The regulatory greenlight has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/grayscale-sec-bitcoin-etf-cryptocurrencies-d8a9bb4fb476527e803aed3dd19dc303" target="_blank">anticipated for several months</a>&nbsp;and the price of bitcoin has jumped about 70% since October.

In a twist perhaps appropriate for the unpredictable crypto industry,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sec-bitcoin-gary-gensler-etf-hacked-b037c80938c564cad36f91beb888290e" target="_blank">a fake tweet from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s account</a>&nbsp;on X Tuesday stated that trading of bitcoin ETFs had been approved but the agency had not issued any approval.

Here are some things to know about bitcoin ETFs.

WHY ALL THE EXCITEMENT OVER A BITCOIN ETF?

An exchange traded fund, or ETF, is an easy way to invest in something or a group of things, like gold or junk bonds, without having to buy the things themselves. Unlike traditional mutual funds, ETFs trade like stocks, which means they can be bought and sold throughout the day.

Since the inception of bitcoin, anyone wanting to own one would have to buy it. That in turn would mean either having to learn what a cold wallet is or having to open an account at a crypto trading platform like Coinbase or Binance.

A spot bitcoin ETF could open the door to many new investors who don’t want to take such extra steps.

The price of bitcoin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bitcoin-price-surge-40k-spot-etfs-16a5678dad7a112e1292bc651cc9fe78" target="_blank">has already soared</a>&nbsp;in anticipation of the SEC’s approval, with bitcoin trading at $45,890 Wednesday, up from around $27,000 in mid-October. The price had sunk as low as $16,000 in November of 2022 following the bankruptcy of the crypto exchange FTX.

The Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) has already been trading since 2021, but it holds futures related to bitcoin, not the cryptocurrency itself.

The new bitcoin ETF will perform like the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD), which allows anyone to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/5fc385b4da15f42483c198faaba83c82" target="_blank">invest in gold</a>&nbsp;without having to find someplace to store a bar or having to protect it. It’s the same reason some people invest in the SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF (JNK), which lets investors simply buy one thing instead of the more than 1,000 low-quality bonds that make up the index.

The SEC said it is finishing approval of the applications for 10 bitcoin ETFs.

Longtime crypto fans might object. Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin were created in part due to mistrust of the traditional financial system. Wall Street would become an intermediary between investors and cryptocurrency in the case of ETFs.

ETFs also charge fees, though they tend to be relatively low compared with the overall financial industry. These fees are shown through what’s called the expense ratio, which indicates how much of a fund’s assets the ETF will take each year to cover its costs.

WHEN IS IT BETTER TO HOLD ACTUAL BITCOIN?

An ETF will not put actual cryptocurrency into investors’ accounts, meaning that they cannot use it. Also, an ETF would not provide investors with the same anonymity that crypto does, one of the big draws for many crypto investors.

The biggest concern for an investor in one of these ETFs is the notorious volatility in the price of bitcoin.

Despite failing to catch on as a replacement for fiat, or paper, currencies, bitcoin soared near $68,000 in November of 2021. A year later it fell below $20,000 as investors in general shunned riskier assets and a series of company blowups and scandals shook faith in the crypto industry.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Securities and Exchange Commission reluctantly approved the first exchange-traded funds that hold bitcoin Wednesday, saying it is still deeply skeptical about cryptocurrencies and that the SEC “did not approve or endorse bitcoin” in its decision.The SEC said it is finishing the approval of 10 exchange-traded funds for bitcoin even though it only faced a deadline for one application. The agency said this action would give the market enough competition and provide a “level playing field” for the new entrants.An exchange traded fund, or ETF, is an easy way to invest in something or a group of things, like gold, junk bonds or bitcoins, without having to buy the things themselves. Cryptocurrency advocates hope the development thrusts the once niche and nerdy corner of the internet even further into the financial mainstream.The regulatory greenlight has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/grayscale-sec-bitcoin-etf-cryptocurrencies-d8a9bb4fb476527e803aed3dd19dc303" target="_blank">anticipated for several months</a>&nbsp;and the price of bitcoin has jumped about 70% since October.In a twist perhaps appropriate for the unpredictable crypto industry,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sec-bitcoin-gary-gensler-etf-hacked-b037c80938c564cad36f91beb888290e" target="_blank">a fake tweet from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s account</a>&nbsp;on X Tuesday stated that trading of bitcoin ETFs had been approved but the agency had not issued any approval.Here are some things to know about bitcoin ETFs.<h2>WHY ALL THE EXCITEMENT OVER A BITCOIN ETF?</h2>An exchange traded fund, or ETF, is an easy way to invest in something or a group of things, like gold or junk bonds, without having to buy the things themselves. Unlike traditional mutual funds, ETFs trade like stocks, which means they can be bought and sold throughout the day.Since the inception of bitcoin, anyone wanting to own one would have to buy it. That in turn would mean either having to learn what a cold wallet is or having to open an account at a crypto trading platform like Coinbase or Binance.A spot bitcoin ETF could open the door to many new investors who don’t want to take such extra steps.The price of bitcoin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bitcoin-price-surge-40k-spot-etfs-16a5678dad7a112e1292bc651cc9fe78" target="_blank">has already soared</a>&nbsp;in anticipation of the SEC’s approval, with bitcoin trading at $45,890 Wednesday, up from around $27,000 in mid-October. The price had sunk as low as $16,000 in November of 2022 following the bankruptcy of the crypto exchange FTX.<h2>HOW WOULD THE ETF WORK?</h2>The Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) has already been trading since 2021, but it holds futures related to bitcoin, not the cryptocurrency itself.The new bitcoin ETF will perform like the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD), which allows anyone to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/5fc385b4da15f42483c198faaba83c82" target="_blank">invest in gold</a>&nbsp;without having to find someplace to store a bar or having to protect it. It’s the same reason some people invest in the SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF (JNK), which lets investors simply buy one thing instead of the more than 1,000 low-quality bonds that make up the index.<h2>HOW MANY BITCOIN ETFS COULD THERE BE?</h2>The SEC said it is finishing approval of the applications for 10 bitcoin ETFs.<h2>WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF AN ETF?</h2>Longtime crypto fans might object. Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin were created in part due to mistrust of the traditional financial system. Wall Street would become an intermediary between investors and cryptocurrency in the case of ETFs.ETFs also charge fees, though they tend to be relatively low compared with the overall financial industry. These fees are shown through what’s called the expense ratio, which indicates how much of a fund’s assets the ETF will take each year to cover its costs.<h2>WHEN IS IT BETTER TO HOLD ACTUAL BITCOIN?</h2>An ETF will not put actual cryptocurrency into investors’ accounts, meaning that they cannot use it. Also, an ETF would not provide investors with the same anonymity that crypto does, one of the big draws for many crypto investors.<h2>WHAT CONCERNS SHOULD INVESTORS HAVE?</h2>The biggest concern for an investor in one of these ETFs is the notorious volatility in the price of bitcoin.Despite failing to catch on as a replacement for fiat, or paper, currencies, bitcoin soared near $68,000 in November of 2021. A year later it fell below $20,000 as investors in general shunned riskier assets and a series of company blowups and scandals shook faith in the crypto industry.

 SEC OKs first exchange-traded funds that hold bitcoin

WASHINGTON (AP) –The Department of Justice released new details of a settlement with engine manufacturer Cummins Inc. Wednesday that includes a mandatory recall of 600,000 Ram trucks, and that Cummins remedy environmental damage it caused when it illegally installed emissions control software in several thousand vehicles, skirting emissions testing.

Cummins is accused of circumventing emissions testing through devices that can bypass or defeat emissions controls. The engine manufacturer will pay a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cummins-doj-settlement-engine-emissions-claims-b80708c6ebe8eb7e7a3684db0837e209">$1.675 billion civil penalty</a>&nbsp;to settle claims – previously announced in December and the largest ever secured under the Clean Air Act – in addition to $325 million on remedies.

That brings Cummins’ total penalty for the violations to more than $2 billion, per Wednesday’s announcement, which officials from the U.S. Justice Department, Environmental Protection Agency, California Air Resources Board and the California Attorney General called “landmark” in a call with reporters Wednesday.

“Let’s this settlement be a lesson: We won’t let greedy corporations cheat their way to success and run over the health and wellbeing of consumers and our environment along the way,” California AG Rob Bonta said.

Over the course of a decade, hundreds of thousands of Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks – manufactured by Stellantis – were equipped with Cummins diesel engines that incorporated the bypassing engine control software. This includes 630,000 installed with illegal defeat devices and 330,000 equipped with undisclosed auxiliary emission control devices.

Officials could not estimate how many of those vehicles are currently on the road, but Cummins – which has maintained it has not done any wrongdoing – must undergo a nationwide recall of more than 600,000 noncompliant Ram vehicles, in addition to recall efforts previously conducted.

Stellantis deferred comment on the case to engine maker Cummins, which said in a statement that Wednesday’s actions do not involve any more financial commitments than those announced in December. “We are looking forward to obtaining certainty as we conclude this lengthy matter and continue to deliver on our mission of powering a more prosperous world,” the statement said.

Cummins also said the engines that are not being recalled did not exceed emissions limits.

As part of the settlement, Cummins is also expected to back projects to remedy excess emissions that resulted from its actions.

Preliminary estimates suggested its emissions bypass produced “thousands of tons of excess emissions of nitrogen oxides,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland previously said in a prepared statement.

The Clean Air Act, a federal law enacted in 1963 to reduce and control air pollution across the nation, requires car and engine manufacturers to comply with emission limits to protect the environment and human health.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704916836502.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) –The Department of Justice released new details of a settlement with engine manufacturer Cummins Inc. Wednesday that includes a mandatory recall of 600,000 Ram trucks, and that Cummins remedy environmental damage it caused when it illegally installed emissions control software in several thousand vehicles, skirting emissions testing.Cummins is accused of circumventing emissions testing through devices that can bypass or defeat emissions controls. The engine manufacturer will pay a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cummins-doj-settlement-engine-emissions-claims-b80708c6ebe8eb7e7a3684db0837e209">$1.675 billion civil penalty</a>&nbsp;to settle claims – previously announced in December and the largest ever secured under the Clean Air Act – in addition to $325 million on remedies.That brings Cummins’ total penalty for the violations to more than $2 billion, per Wednesday’s announcement, which officials from the U.S. Justice Department, Environmental Protection Agency, California Air Resources Board and the California Attorney General called “landmark” in a call with reporters Wednesday.“Let’s this settlement be a lesson: We won’t let greedy corporations cheat their way to success and run over the health and wellbeing of consumers and our environment along the way,” California AG Rob Bonta said.Over the course of a decade, hundreds of thousands of Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks – manufactured by Stellantis – were equipped with Cummins diesel engines that incorporated the bypassing engine control software. This includes 630,000 installed with illegal defeat devices and 330,000 equipped with undisclosed auxiliary emission control devices.Officials could not estimate how many of those vehicles are currently on the road, but Cummins – which has maintained it has not done any wrongdoing – must undergo a nationwide recall of more than 600,000 noncompliant Ram vehicles, in addition to recall efforts previously conducted.Stellantis deferred comment on the case to engine maker Cummins, which said in a statement that Wednesday’s actions do not involve any more financial commitments than those announced in December. “We are looking forward to obtaining certainty as we conclude this lengthy matter and continue to deliver on our mission of powering a more prosperous world,” the statement said.Cummins also said the engines that are not being recalled did not exceed emissions limits.As part of the settlement, Cummins is also expected to back projects to remedy excess emissions that resulted from its actions.Preliminary estimates suggested its emissions bypass produced “thousands of tons of excess emissions of nitrogen oxides,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland previously said in a prepared statement.The Clean Air Act, a federal law enacted in 1963 to reduce and control air pollution across the nation, requires car and engine manufacturers to comply with emission limits to protect the environment and human health.

Engine maker Cummins to repair, replace 600,000 Ram trucks

Nearly 21 million children in the U.S. and its territories are expected to receive food benefits this summer through a newly permanent federal program, the United States Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday.

Thirty-five states, all five U.S. territories and four tribes opted into the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program, or Summer EBT, which the government says is meant to supplement existing programs during the summer that have had a more limited reach.

“No child in this country should go hungry,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in an interview with The Associated Press. “They certainly shouldn’t go hungry because they lose access to nutritious school meals during the summer months."

In December 2022, Congress made Summer EBT permanent starting in 2024 after the USDA had tested it for several years. The states that chose not to opt in for this summer will have a chance to join for summer 2025, the USDA said.

Families with children who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches (that is, families who are at or under 185% of the federal poverty line) will be eligible for Summer EBT, which will cover about 70% of the eligible population in its first year.

In an October report,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunger-food-us-increase-inflation-pandemic-report-49fe26f083583d6efa66c6509657a741">the USDA said an estimated 17 million households in the U.S.</a>&nbsp;reported problems finding enough food in 2022. That was up from 13.5 million in 2021, when there was more pandemic-era federal food aid.

Eligible families will receive $40 per month per child during the summer — a total of $120 per child. The money will be loaded on an EBT card, which can be used at stores that also take Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

The USDA estimates it will provide a total of $2.5 billion in grocery benefits in 2024 through the Summer EBT program.

The Cherokee Nation is one of the four tribes that'll be a part of the inaugural summer. Cherokee National Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said it was an easy decision.

“I think we’re seeing a lot of pressures on households in terms of rent or other housing costs, all of that hitting very finite household budgets,” he said, adding, “ … This puts a dent in that overall problem by empowering parents to just simply be able to go out and purchase more food and some healthy options that are available.”

The Cherokee Nation has its headquarters in Tahlequah, Oklahoma — a state that opted out of Summer EBT. Hoskin said he expects more applications from non-tribal citizens who live on the reservation.

Associated PressNearly 21 million children in the U.S. and its territories are expected to receive food benefits this summer through a newly permanent federal program, the United States Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday.Thirty-five states, all five U.S. territories and four tribes opted into the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program, or Summer EBT, which the government says is meant to supplement existing programs during the summer that have had a more limited reach.“No child in this country should go hungry,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in an interview with The Associated Press. “They certainly shouldn’t go hungry because they lose access to nutritious school meals during the summer months."In December 2022, Congress made Summer EBT permanent starting in 2024 after the USDA had tested it for several years. The states that chose not to opt in for this summer will have a chance to join for summer 2025, the USDA said.Who is eligible for Summer EBT?Families with children who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches (that is, families who are at or under 185% of the federal poverty line) will be eligible for Summer EBT, which will cover about 70% of the eligible population in its first year.In an October report,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunger-food-us-increase-inflation-pandemic-report-49fe26f083583d6efa66c6509657a741">the USDA said an estimated 17 million households in the U.S.</a>&nbsp;reported problems finding enough food in 2022. That was up from 13.5 million in 2021, when there was more pandemic-era federal food aid.How much do families get?Eligible families will receive $40 per month per child during the summer — a total of $120 per child. The money will be loaded on an EBT card, which can be used at stores that also take Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.The USDA estimates it will provide a total of $2.5 billion in grocery benefits in 2024 through the Summer EBT program.Who opted in?The Cherokee Nation is one of the four tribes that'll be a part of the inaugural summer. Cherokee National Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said it was an easy decision.“I think we’re seeing a lot of pressures on households in terms of rent or other housing costs, all of that hitting very finite household budgets,” he said, adding, “ … This puts a dent in that overall problem by empowering parents to just simply be able to go out and purchase more food and some healthy options that are available.”The Cherokee Nation has its headquarters in Tahlequah, Oklahoma — a state that opted out of Summer EBT. Hoskin said he expects more applications from non-tribal citizens who live on the reservation.Which states will not participate, and why?Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont and Wyoming chose not to participate this summer.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-summer-ebt-food-program-children-789f2d04bd195086d2e41d0d43b8111c">Nebraska</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://hhs.iowa.gov/news-release/2023-12-22/summer-24-ebt">Iowa</a>&nbsp;and Oklahoma cited existing programs that already feed children during the summer as reasons not to join Summer EBT.Implementing a Summer EBT program this year was “not feasible” in Texas, state Health and Human Services Commission spokesperson Thomas Vazquez said in a statement to the AP. He said that was due to USDA guidance coming in late December, ”the level of effort needed" to start a new program and the need for the state legislature to approve money for it.Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said in a statement that he doesn't want "a single Oklahoma child to go hungry, and I’ll keep working to accomplish that, but large, duplicative federal programs don’t accomplish that goal.“They cause more bureaucracy for families to wade through.”What other federal summer food programs are available?All 50 states already administer the Summer Food Service Program, which provides sites where kids can eat for free. Vilsack said he’s worried it doesn't “provide the help for all the children, no matter how well-intentioned it is."“For the life of me I don’t see why 50 governors aren't doing (Summer EBT)," he said, "but we’re happy that 35 are, we’re happy that territories are in and we’re happy that the tribes are continuing to work with us.”