WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is sending a $175 million package of military aid to Ukraine, including guided missiles for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), anti-armor systems and high-speed anti-radiation missiles, the Pentagon and State Department announced on Wednesday.

The capabilities in this package, valued at up to $175 million, include:&nbsp;

The latest aid comes as Congress remains stalled on legislation that would provide new funding for Ukraine as it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">battles to push back Russian forces</a>, as well as money for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel's war with Hamas</a>&nbsp;and other security needs. The Biden administration has said funding to aid Ukraine is running out, and the Pentagon packages of weapons and other equipment for the war have become much smaller in recent months.

In a statement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that unless Congress approves the supplemental funding, “this will be one of the last security assistance packages we can provide to Ukraine.”

The White House is seeking&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb">nearly $106 billion</a>, but the bill has gotten bogged down in negotiations over border security and because of increasing reluctance from Republican lawmakers to approve significant spending on the Ukraine war. GOP lawmakers are insisting on policy changes to halt the flow of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ukraine-congress-zelenskyy-border-security-8592ddcb1627fc6d0b43349bac3fe329">condition for the assistance</a>.

As part of the push to break the deadlock, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was scheduled to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ukraine-congress-military-assistance-economy-557cbced7f7c1242ea08c52dadefc33b">address U.S. senators</a>&nbsp;by video Tuesday, but Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he had to cancel his appearance.

The latest weapons package will be provided through presidential drawdown authority, or PDA, which pulls weapons from existing U.S. stockpiles and sends them quickly to the war front.

Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said Tuesday there is about $1.1 billion left in funding to replenish U.S. military stockpiles for weapons and equipment sent to Ukraine. And he said there is roughly $4.8 billion in drawdown authority still available.

Although the war has been static along most of its more than 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line as wintry weather has set in, both sides have continued to launch airstrikes. Ukraine is working to keep up the pressure over the winter, in order to prevent Russia from solidifying battle lines.

The new aid will also include AIM-9M and AIM-7 missiles for air defense; artillery rounds, vehicles to tow equipment, demolition munitions and other missiles and more than 4 million rounds of ammunition.

To date, the United States has committed more than $44 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687902906182.png" alt="Pallets of ammunition are loaded onto an 86th Airlift Wing C-130J Super Hercules at Ramstein Air Base, Germany&nbsp;Photo By:Air Force Capt. Emma Quirk" />
 <figcaption>Pallets of ammunition are loaded onto an 86th Airlift Wing C-130J Super Hercules at Ramstein Air Base, Germany&nbsp;Photo By:Air Force Capt. Emma Quirk</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is sending a $175 million package of military aid to Ukraine, including guided missiles for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), anti-armor systems and high-speed anti-radiation missiles, the Pentagon and State Department announced on Wednesday.The capabilities in this package, valued at up to $175 million, include:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>AIM-9M and AIM-7 missiles for air defense;</li><li>Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);</li><li>155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;</li><li>High-speed Anti-radiation missiles (HARMs);</li><li>Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;</li><li>Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;</li><li>More than 4 million rounds of small arms ammunition;</li><li>Vehicles to tow and haul equipment;</li><li>Demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing;</li><li>Equipment to protect critical national infrastructure;</li><li>Spare parts, maintenance, and other ancillary equipment.</li>
 </ul>The latest aid comes as Congress remains stalled on legislation that would provide new funding for Ukraine as it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">battles to push back Russian forces</a>, as well as money for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel's war with Hamas</a>&nbsp;and other security needs. The Biden administration has said funding to aid Ukraine is running out, and the Pentagon packages of weapons and other equipment for the war have become much smaller in recent months.In a statement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that unless Congress approves the supplemental funding, “this will be one of the last security assistance packages we can provide to Ukraine.”The White House is seeking&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb">nearly $106 billion</a>, but the bill has gotten bogged down in negotiations over border security and because of increasing reluctance from Republican lawmakers to approve significant spending on the Ukraine war. GOP lawmakers are insisting on policy changes to halt the flow of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ukraine-congress-zelenskyy-border-security-8592ddcb1627fc6d0b43349bac3fe329">condition for the assistance</a>.As part of the push to break the deadlock, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was scheduled to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ukraine-congress-military-assistance-economy-557cbced7f7c1242ea08c52dadefc33b">address U.S. senators</a>&nbsp;by video Tuesday, but Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he had to cancel his appearance.The latest weapons package will be provided through presidential drawdown authority, or PDA, which pulls weapons from existing U.S. stockpiles and sends them quickly to the war front.Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said Tuesday there is about $1.1 billion left in funding to replenish U.S. military stockpiles for weapons and equipment sent to Ukraine. And he said there is roughly $4.8 billion in drawdown authority still available.Although the war has been static along most of its more than 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line as wintry weather has set in, both sides have continued to launch airstrikes. Ukraine is working to keep up the pressure over the winter, in order to prevent Russia from solidifying battle lines.The new aid will also include AIM-9M and AIM-7 missiles for air defense; artillery rounds, vehicles to tow equipment, demolition munitions and other missiles and more than 4 million rounds of ammunition.To date, the United States has committed more than $44 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.

$44 Billion: U..S. sends new $175M military aid to Ukraine

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The man suspected of fatally shooting three people and wounding another at a Las Vegas university Wednesday was a professor who unsuccessfully sought a job at the school, a law enforcement official with direct knowledge of the investigation told The Associated Press.

The gunman was killed in a shootout with law enforcement, police said. The attack at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas sent shock waves through a city still scarred by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/las-vegas-mass-shooting-memorial-design-0204943b1ae05fceb4d5da34902fed22">deaths of 60 people</a>&nbsp;in a 2017 mass shooting.

The suspect previously worked at East Carolina University in North Carolina, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to release the information publicly.

Police didn't immediately identify the gunman, the victims or a possible motive.

Reports of shots fired at about 11:45 a.m. sent police swarming onto the campus while students and professors barricaded themselves inside classrooms and dorm rooms.

Police said the shooting started on the fourth floor of the building that houses UNLV’s Lee Business School. The gunman went to several floors before he was killed in a shootout with two university detectives outside the building, said UNLV Police Chief Adam Garcia.

Authorities gave the all-clear about 40 minutes after the first report of an active shooter.

Professor Kevaney Martin took cover under a desk in her classroom, where another faculty member and three students took shelter with her.

“It was terrifying. I can’t even begin to explain,” Martin said. “I was trying to hold it together for my students, and trying not to cry, but the emotions are something I never want to experience again.”

Martin said she was texting friends and loved ones, hoping to receive word a suspect had been detained. When another professor came to the room and told everyone to evacuate, they joined dozens of others rushing out of the building. Martin had her students pile into her car and drove them off campus.

“Once we got away from UNLV, we parked and sat in silence,” she said. “Nobody said a word. We were in utter shock.”

Students and the community were alerted to the emergency by a university post on X that warned: “This is not a test. RUN-HIDE-FIGHT.”

Matthew Felsenfeld said he and about 12 classmates barricaded their door in a building near the student union.

“It’s the moment you call your parents and tell them you love them,” said Felsenfeld, a 21-year-old journalism student.

Another student, Jordan Eckermann, 25, said he was in his business law class in a second-floor classroom when he heard a loud bang that he thought came from a neighboring music class.

But then a piercing alarm went off, sending students to their feet. Some ran from the room in panic while others heeded their professor’s instructions to stay calm, said Eckermann.

He walked out and locked eyes with a law enforcement officer in a bulletproof vest holding a long gun. Clothing, backpacks and water bottles lay scattered on the floor.

Eckerman said he mouthed to the officer, “Where do I go?”

Minutes later, when he was outside, Eckermann said he heard bursts of gunshots, totaling at least 20 rounds. The air smelled of gun powder. He said he kept walking away from campus, even though he didn't know where to go.

UNLV’s 332-acre (135-hectare) campus is less than 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) east of the Las Vegas Strip.

It wasn’t immediately clear how many of the 30,000 students were on campus at the time, but Sheriff Kevin McMahill said students had been gathered outside the building to eat and play games. If police hadn’t killed the attacker, “it could have been countless additional lives taken,” he said.

“No student should have to fear pursuing their dreams on a college campus,” the sheriff said.

The shooting occurred just miles from the location of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. In the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-country-music-us-news-ap-top-news-music-4eeaef2efced49698855d13830de3327">Oct. 1, 2017, massacre</a>, a gunman opened fire from a high-rise suite at the Mandalay Bay, killing 60 people attending a music festival below and wounding hundreds more.

In response to the campus shootings, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop of all flights coming into Harry Reid International Airport. The university is roughly 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) north of the airport.

Classes were canceled through Friday at the university, and UNLV’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unlv-shooting-d8b15dd0d408b0a248e918dea1434915">basketball game</a>&nbsp;at the University of Dayton, Ohio, was canceled Wednesday night because of the shootings.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A gunman killed three people and critically wounded a fourth Wednesday at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas before being killed in a shootout with police, authorities said. The attack sent shock waves through a city still scarred by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/las-vegas-mass-shooting-memorial-design-0204943b1ae05fceb4d5da34902fed22">deaths of 60 people</a>&nbsp;in a 2017 mass shooting only a few miles away on the famous Strip.

Police said the shooting started on the fourth floor of the building that houses UNLV’s Lee Business School, and the gunman went to several floors before he was killed in a shootout outside the building.

UNLV Police Chief Adam Garcia said at an evening news conference that two university detectives immediately got into a shootout with the killer.

Sheriff Kevin McMahill said students had gathered outside the building to eat and play games. If police hadn't killed the attacker, “it could have been countless additional lives taken,” he said.

Authorities didn’t immediately release any additional details about the shootings, the victims, the suspect or a possible motive.

“It was terrifying, I can’t even begin to explain,” Martin said. “I was trying to hold it together for my students, and trying not to cry, but the emotions are something I never want to experience again.”

Student Matthew Felsenfeld said he and about 12 classmates barricaded their door in a building near the student union.

Jordan Eckermann, 25, said he was in his business law class in a second-floor classroom when he heard a loud bang that he thought came from a neighboring music class.

But then a piercing alarm went off, sending students to their feet. Some ran from the room in panic while others heeded the professor’s urging to stay calm, said Eckermann, who walked out and was directed to an exit by a law enforcement officer in a bulletproof vest holding a long gun.

UNLV’s 332-acre (135-hectare) campus is less than 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) east of the Las Vegas Strip. it wasn’t immediately clear how many of the 30,000 students were on campus.

The shooting occurred in a city still scarred by one of the worst mass killings in U.S. history, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-country-music-us-news-ap-top-news-music-4eeaef2efced49698855d13830de3327">Oct. 1, 2017, massacre</a>&nbsp;by a gunman in which 60 people attending a music festival were killed and hundreds more were wounded. The gunman opened fire from a high-rise suite at the Mandalay Bay casino. The UNLV campus is just over 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) from that location.

Classes were canceled through Friday at the university, and UNLV’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unlv-shooting-d8b15dd0d408b0a248e918dea1434915">basketball game</a>&nbsp;at the University of Dayton, Ohio, was canceled Wednesday night because of the Las Vegas shootings.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A person opened fire Wednesday on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus, and at least three victims were taken to hospitals, according to police who reported the shooter was found dead.

“Right now, we know there are 3 victims, but unknown extent of the injuries,” Sheriff Kevin McMahill said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “That number could change.”

McMahill did not say whether any victims had been killed.

Alerts went out across the campus after callers reported an active shooter to police at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, said Adam Garcia, a university police official. He said officers found and “engaged” a suspect, who is now dead. It was not immediately clear how the suspect died.

Students and professors on the campus of 30,000 barricaded themselves inside classrooms and dorm rooms.

Student John Harris heard what he later realized was a gunshot as he was getting out of his car in the parking garage of an on-campus apartment complex. In the elevator, Harris he got an emergency text alert text from the university.

“I wasn’t sure what to believe,” said Harris, 21, who ended up sheltering at a friend's dorm. “But as I came down to the street, and I saw there were a bunch of cops in the parking lot at the student union, I knew what I heard was a gunshot and this wasn’t a drill.”

“It was terrifying, I can’t even begin to explain,” Matin said. “I was trying to hold it together for my students, and trying not to cry, but the emotions are something I never want to experience again.”

Martin said she was texting friends and loved ones, hoping to receive word a suspect had been detained. When another professor came to the room and told everyone to evacuate, they joined dozens of others rushing out of the building. Martin had her students piled into her car and drove them off campus.

“Once we got away from UNLV, we parked and sat in silence,” she said. "Nobody said a word. We were in utter shock.”

The university said on X, formerly Twitter, that the shooter was at the Beam Hall, Frank and Estella Building, home of UNLV’s Lee Business School, and that police were responding to an additional report of shots fired at the nearby student union.

Las Vegas police posted on X that a suspect “has been located and is deceased” about 40 minutes after the initial alert was posted.

Students and the community were alerted to the emergency by a university post on X.

“This is not a test,” the university wrote. “RUN-HIDE-FIGHT.”

He said he didn’t hear gunfire or see anyone injured but said he saw out the windows as police staged to enter the neighboring building. a short while later, police came and ushered them out.

Pierre Lescure, a UNLV senior, was riding his bicycle from home to campus for a meeting when he said about 10 police cars drove pass him.

“They drove too fast and there was no ambulance, just cops. It was clearly a shooting,” Lescure said. “It could not be something else.”

UNLV's 332-acre campus is less than 2 miles east of the Las Vegas Strip.

In response to the campus shootings, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop of all flights coming into Harry Reid International Airport. The university is roughly 2 miles (3 kilometers) north of the airport.

Tony Molinaro, an FAA spokesperson, referred a request to comment to Las Vegas law enforcement.

The shooting occurred in a city still scarred by one of the worst mass killings in U.S. history, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-country-music-us-news-ap-top-news-music-4eeaef2efced49698855d13830de3327">Oct. 1, 2017, mass shooting</a>&nbsp;at the Mandalay Bay casino in Las Vegas, in which 60 were killed and hundreds more wounded. The UNLV campus is just over 3 miles (5 kilometers) from that location.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Multiple victims were taken to hospitals Wednesday after a gunman opened fire on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The sheriff said there was no further threat after police located a suspect, who ended up dead.

It wasn't immediately clear how many people were shot or their conditions. Sheriff Kevin McMahill did not say whether any victims had been killed.

“There are a number of victims that have been transported to area hospitals,” McMahill told reporters. “So I don't want to give you false information and tell you how many victims that we have. But we will be providing that update very, very shortly.”

Police were called about an active shooter on campus at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, said Adam Garcia, a university police official. He said officers found and “engaged” a suspect, who is now dead. It was not immediately clear how the suspect died.

An Associated Press reporter saw a team of SWAT officers with FBI insignia move as a group onto campus just before 1 p.m., soon after police reported the dead suspect.

University officials on social media urged anyone on campus to continue sheltering in place, saying: “This remains an active investigation.”

UNLV has more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at its 332-acre campus is less than 2 miles east of the Las Vegas Strip.

The shooting occurred in a city still scarred by one of the worst mass killings in U.S. history, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-country-music-us-news-ap-top-news-music-4eeaef2efced49698855d13830de3327">Oct. 1, 2017, mass shooting</a>&nbsp;at the Mandalay Bay casino in Las Vegas, in which 60 were killed and hundreds more wounded. The UNLV campus is just over three miles from that location.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Police said a suspect was found dead Wednesday as officers responded to an active shooter and reports of multiple victims at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

The university said on X, formerly Twitter, the shooter was at the Beam Hall, Frank and Estella Building, home of UNLV’s Lee Business School, and that police were responding to an additional report of shots fired at the nearby student union.

Shooting suspect was professor who recently applied for a job at UNLV

KEARNEY – The University of Nebraska at Kearney’s&nbsp;<a href="https://unknews.unk.edu/2023/10/20/i-just-cant-wait-to-live-here-unk-students-get-sneak-peek-at-new-sorority-housing/">new sorority housing</a>&nbsp;will be named after one of the school’s most accomplished alumnae.

With support from the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, NU System President Ted Carter and UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen, the 41,000-square-foot residence hall under construction on UNK’s east campus will be known as Bess Furman Armstrong Hall.

“Bess’s legacy is a testament to the power of education and the impact one individual can have on our nation and world,” Kristensen said. “As we celebrate the naming of Bess Furman Armstrong Hall, we are reminded of the vital role our institution plays in shaping the leaders of tomorrow and the trail Bess charted for future generations of UNK students.”

A Danbury native, Furman Armstrong was destined for a career in journalism. Her father was publisher of the Danbury News and she learned to set type and assist at the newspaper office as a young child.

Furman Armstrong attended the Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney (now UNK), where she served as the first woman editor of The Antelope student newspaper before graduating in 1918.

She worked as a schoolteacher before landing her first job with a Nebraska newspaper and wrote an award-winning report on presidential candidate Al Smith’s campaign appearance in Omaha. That led to an Associated Press position in Washington, D.C., where she became the first woman reporter regularly assigned to cover the U.S. House of Representatives by a press association.

Furman Armstrong covered the White House during five presidential administrations, as a reporter for the Associated Press from 1929 to 1936, then as a correspondent for The New York Times from 1943 to 1961. She became lifelong friends with former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and used her writing talent to champion women’s rights and influence the role of women in politics.

In 1961, Furman Armstrong joined the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare as a public affairs assistant. She became head of the department’s press information division the following year, making her the first woman to hold a top public affairs position with a cabinet agency. Furman Armstrong also worked for the Office of War Information during World War II, wrote a history of the U.S. Public Health Service and authored two books – “White House Profile” and her autobiography, “Washington By-Line.”

She served as president of the Women’s National Press Club in 1946 and was inducted into the Nebraska Journalism Hall of Fame in 1975, six years after her death.

Bess Furman Armstrong Hall is scheduled to open in January, with a ribbon-cutting event planned for Feb. 1.

“I’m happy that the building will be named after a strong, accomplished woman, like the women who will live there,” UNK Student Body President Temo Molina said during last week’s Board of Regents meeting.

Located just east of the Nebraskan Student Union, the 140-bed residence hall features dedicated housing pods, chapter rooms, lounges and study areas for each Panhellenic sorority – Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Phi, Alpha Xi Delta and Gamma Phi Beta – along with an outdoor patio and green space. There are flexible housing units designed to meet the chapters’ future needs, as well.

It also includes chapter rooms and a shared lounge for UNK’s multicultural chapters – the Sigma Lambda Gamma and Lambda Theta Nu sororities and Sigma Lambda Beta fraternity – giving them a permanent on-campus home for the first time.

The new sorority housing is part of a $32.65 million project that replaces University Residence North (URN) and University Residence South (URS). Located directly south of the sorority building,&nbsp;<a href="https://unknews.unk.edu/2023/02/08/martin-hall-dedication-marks-new-chapter-for-unk-fraternities/">Martin Hall reopened in January</a>&nbsp;following a major renovation that transformed the nearly 70-year-old residence hall into a modern living space for UNK fraternity members.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701892590664.jpeg" alt="UNK’s new sorority housing will be known as Bess Furman Armstrong Hall, honoring a Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney graduate and pioneering woman journalist. (Photo by Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications)" />
 <figcaption>UNK’s new sorority housing will be known as Bess Furman Armstrong Hall, honoring a Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney graduate and pioneering woman journalist. (Photo by Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications)</figcaption>
 </figure>Tyler EllysonUNK CommunicationsKEARNEY – The University of Nebraska at Kearney’s&nbsp;<a href="https://unknews.unk.edu/2023/10/20/i-just-cant-wait-to-live-here-unk-students-get-sneak-peek-at-new-sorority-housing/">new sorority housing</a>&nbsp;will be named after one of the school’s most accomplished alumnae.With support from the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, NU System President Ted Carter and UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen, the 41,000-square-foot residence hall under construction on UNK’s east campus will be known as Bess Furman Armstrong Hall.“Bess’s legacy is a testament to the power of education and the impact one individual can have on our nation and world,” Kristensen said. “As we celebrate the naming of Bess Furman Armstrong Hall, we are reminded of the vital role our institution plays in shaping the leaders of tomorrow and the trail Bess charted for future generations of UNK students.”A Danbury native, Furman Armstrong was destined for a career in journalism. Her father was publisher of the Danbury News and she learned to set type and assist at the newspaper office as a young child.Furman Armstrong attended the Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney (now UNK), where she served as the first woman editor of The Antelope student newspaper before graduating in 1918.She worked as a schoolteacher before landing her first job with a Nebraska newspaper and wrote an award-winning report on presidential candidate Al Smith’s campaign appearance in Omaha. That led to an Associated Press position in Washington, D.C., where she became the first woman reporter regularly assigned to cover the U.S. House of Representatives by a press association.Furman Armstrong covered the White House during five presidential administrations, as a reporter for the Associated Press from 1929 to 1936, then as a correspondent for The New York Times from 1943 to 1961. She became lifelong friends with former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and used her writing talent to champion women’s rights and influence the role of women in politics.In 1961, Furman Armstrong joined the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare as a public affairs assistant. She became head of the department’s press information division the following year, making her the first woman to hold a top public affairs position with a cabinet agency. Furman Armstrong also worked for the Office of War Information during World War II, wrote a history of the U.S. Public Health Service and authored two books – “White House Profile” and her autobiography, “Washington By-Line.”She served as president of the Women’s National Press Club in 1946 and was inducted into the Nebraska Journalism Hall of Fame in 1975, six years after her death.Bess Furman Armstrong Hall is scheduled to open in January, with a ribbon-cutting event planned for Feb. 1.“I’m happy that the building will be named after a strong, accomplished woman, like the women who will live there,” UNK Student Body President Temo Molina said during last week’s Board of Regents meeting.Located just east of the Nebraskan Student Union, the 140-bed residence hall features dedicated housing pods, chapter rooms, lounges and study areas for each Panhellenic sorority – Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Phi, Alpha Xi Delta and Gamma Phi Beta – along with an outdoor patio and green space. There are flexible housing units designed to meet the chapters’ future needs, as well.It also includes chapter rooms and a shared lounge for UNK’s multicultural chapters – the Sigma Lambda Gamma and Lambda Theta Nu sororities and Sigma Lambda Beta fraternity – giving them a permanent on-campus home for the first time.The new sorority housing is part of a $32.65 million project that replaces University Residence North (URN) and University Residence South (URS). Located directly south of the sorority building,&nbsp;<a href="https://unknews.unk.edu/2023/02/08/martin-hall-dedication-marks-new-chapter-for-unk-fraternities/">Martin Hall reopened in January</a>&nbsp;following a major renovation that transformed the nearly 70-year-old residence hall into a modern living space for UNK fraternity members.

UNK names Bess Furman Armstrong Hall after distinguished graduate and journalist

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden" target="_blank">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday said it was “stunning” that Congress has not yet approved tens of billions of dollars in military and economic assistance for Ukraine, as his administration warned of dire consequences for Kyiv — and a “gift” to Russia’s Vladimir Putin — if lawmakers don’t act.

Speaking at the White House, Biden said Republicans who are insisting on border policy changes as a condition for voting for the aid “are playing chicken with our national security,” even as he expressed openness to some policy changes.

“Republicans in Congress are willing to give Putin the greatest gift he could hope for,” Biden said, saying American credibility was on the line both with other would-be aggressors and with its allies. “Any disruption in our ability to supply Ukraine clearly strengthen’s Putin’s position.”

“If we don’t support Ukraine, what is the rest of the world going to do?” he added.

Biden’s address comes hours after he huddled with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/Volodymyr-Zelenskyy" target="_blank">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;and leaders of the Group of Seven advanced democracies, which have staunchly supported Ukraine against Russia’s ongoing invasion.

Biden has asked Congress for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb" target="_blank">nearly $106 billion</a>&nbsp;to fund the wars in Ukraine, Israel and other security needs, but has faced stiff resistance on Capitol Hill. Some Republicans have grown tired of providing support to Ukraine after the U.S. has already sent $111 billion, and other GOP lawmakers are insisting on stiff changes to U.S. border policy as a condition of voting for the measure.

Biden said he supports more funding for border security. “I am willing to make significant compromises on the border,” he said. “We need to fix the broken border system. It is broken.” He added that he’s ”ready to change policy as well,” but accused Republicans of wanting a political issue more than bipartisan compromise.

“Republicans think they get everything they want without any bipartisan compromise,” Biden said. “Now they’re willing to literally kneecap Ukraine on the battlefield and damage our national security in the process.”

But Biden has not publicly said what policy changes he would embrace.

The White House has sent increasingly sharp warnings to lawmakers of what would happen if they don’t approve the measure before the end of the year, saying Ukraine’s military would be stalled, or worse.

“We’re the reason Putin hasn’t totally overrun Ukraine,” Biden said.

On Capitol Hill, Senate Democrats were trying to advance the aid package later Wednesday, but the legislation had no way forward as Republicans vowed to withhold support unless it includes changes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ukraine-congress-zelenskyy-border-security-8592ddcb1627fc6d0b43349bac3fe329" target="_blank">U.S. border policy</a>. Negotiations over the legislation all but collapsed this week.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who has been an ardent supporter of aid to Ukraine, has told fellow Republicans to vote against the security package advancing.

“Legislation that doesn’t include policy changes to secure our borders will not pass the Senate,” McConnell said in a speech on the Senate floor Wednesday. “The situation unfolding at our southern border on President Biden’s watch is a crisis of historic proportions.”

Republicans pointed to the record numbers of migrants crossing the southern border and argued it posed a security threat because border authorities cannot adequately screen them. But their demand that Congress pass significant changes to U.S. border policy interjects into the debate an issue that lawmakers have grappled over for decades with little success.

By holding the test vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is daring his Republican counterparts to vote against the cause of Ukraine funding that most have previously supported. He said in a speech the Senate is facing a question that “goes to the actual preservation of Western and democratic values in the world.”

Democrats were also making their case through a series of events on Capitol Hill with Ukrainian officials, including the speaker of Ukraine’s parliament.

The pressure appeared to have little affect on the GOP’s stance. But senators expressed some hope that Biden’s remarks would revive the talks over border security policy.

“This kind of thorny, difficult problem is exactly what Joe Biden and Mitch McConnell have worked on before. And we could use their help and their leadership on this,” said Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., one of the senators involved in negotiations over border policy.

As they look past the test vote, GOP senators have prepared a proposal for the bipartisan group in the talks. So far, senators have found some agreement on raising the initial standard for migrants to enter the asylum system but were stuck over placing limitations on humanitarian parole, a program that allows the executive branch to temporarily admit migrants.

“We’re clearly engaging in the negotiations, trying to be able to solve this,” said Sen. James Lankford, a Republican of Oklahoma who is involved in the talks.

But even if senators somehow find a way forward on the aid package, it still faces significant obstacles in the House. Hardline conservatives who control the chamber have vowed to block it unless it tacks to a broad set of hard-line border and immigration policies.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, already deeply skeptical of funding for Ukraine, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-ukraine-border-security-zelenskyy-bf932727abd5e8ff3cf5c9c848a3cf78" target="_blank">signaled he won’t support the aid package</a>&nbsp;if it does not adhere to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-immigration-bill-255921c69678468580d0d106282623f0" target="_blank">H.R. 2</a>, a bill that would remake the U.S. immigration system with conservative priorities. It passed the House on a party-line vote in May, but has been rejected by Senate Democrats.

Meanwhile, the U.S. is expected to announce&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-weapons-funding-24735694f4f93e5a571f30004957e1a9" target="_blank">a $175 million package</a>&nbsp;of military aid to Ukraine on Wednesday, including guided missiles for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), anti-armor systems and high-speed anti-radiation missiles, according to U.S. officials.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden" target="_blank">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday said it was “stunning” that Congress has not yet approved tens of billions of dollars in military and economic assistance for Ukraine, as his administration warned of dire consequences for Kyiv — and a “gift” to Russia’s Vladimir Putin — if lawmakers don’t act.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1420064122200539%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=3" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Speaking at the White House, Biden said Republicans who are insisting on border policy changes as a condition for voting for the aid “are playing chicken with our national security,” even as he expressed openness to some policy changes.“Republicans in Congress are willing to give Putin the greatest gift he could hope for,” Biden said, saying American credibility was on the line both with other would-be aggressors and with its allies. “Any disruption in our ability to supply Ukraine clearly strengthen’s Putin’s position.”“If we don’t support Ukraine, what is the rest of the world going to do?” he added.Biden’s address comes hours after he huddled with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/Volodymyr-Zelenskyy" target="_blank">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;and leaders of the Group of Seven advanced democracies, which have staunchly supported Ukraine against Russia’s ongoing invasion.Biden has asked Congress for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb" target="_blank">nearly $106 billion</a>&nbsp;to fund the wars in Ukraine, Israel and other security needs, but has faced stiff resistance on Capitol Hill. Some Republicans have grown tired of providing support to Ukraine after the U.S. has already sent $111 billion, and other GOP lawmakers are insisting on stiff changes to U.S. border policy as a condition of voting for the measure.Biden said he supports more funding for border security. “I am willing to make significant compromises on the border,” he said. “We need to fix the broken border system. It is broken.” He added that he’s ”ready to change policy as well,” but accused Republicans of wanting a political issue more than bipartisan compromise.“Republicans think they get everything they want without any bipartisan compromise,” Biden said. “Now they’re willing to literally kneecap Ukraine on the battlefield and damage our national security in the process.”But Biden has not publicly said what policy changes he would embrace.The White House has sent increasingly sharp warnings to lawmakers of what would happen if they don’t approve the measure before the end of the year, saying Ukraine’s military would be stalled, or worse.“We’re the reason Putin hasn’t totally overrun Ukraine,” Biden said.On Capitol Hill, Senate Democrats were trying to advance the aid package later Wednesday, but the legislation had no way forward as Republicans vowed to withhold support unless it includes changes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ukraine-congress-zelenskyy-border-security-8592ddcb1627fc6d0b43349bac3fe329" target="_blank">U.S. border policy</a>. Negotiations over the legislation all but collapsed this week.Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who has been an ardent supporter of aid to Ukraine, has told fellow Republicans to vote against the security package advancing.“Legislation that doesn’t include policy changes to secure our borders will not pass the Senate,” McConnell said in a speech on the Senate floor Wednesday. “The situation unfolding at our southern border on President Biden’s watch is a crisis of historic proportions.”Republicans pointed to the record numbers of migrants crossing the southern border and argued it posed a security threat because border authorities cannot adequately screen them. But their demand that Congress pass significant changes to U.S. border policy interjects into the debate an issue that lawmakers have grappled over for decades with little success.By holding the test vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is daring his Republican counterparts to vote against the cause of Ukraine funding that most have previously supported. He said in a speech the Senate is facing a question that “goes to the actual preservation of Western and democratic values in the world.”Democrats were also making their case through a series of events on Capitol Hill with Ukrainian officials, including the speaker of Ukraine’s parliament.The pressure appeared to have little affect on the GOP’s stance. But senators expressed some hope that Biden’s remarks would revive the talks over border security policy.“This kind of thorny, difficult problem is exactly what Joe Biden and Mitch McConnell have worked on before. And we could use their help and their leadership on this,” said Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., one of the senators involved in negotiations over border policy.As they look past the test vote, GOP senators have prepared a proposal for the bipartisan group in the talks. So far, senators have found some agreement on raising the initial standard for migrants to enter the asylum system but were stuck over placing limitations on humanitarian parole, a program that allows the executive branch to temporarily admit migrants.“We’re clearly engaging in the negotiations, trying to be able to solve this,” said Sen. James Lankford, a Republican of Oklahoma who is involved in the talks.But even if senators somehow find a way forward on the aid package, it still faces significant obstacles in the House. Hardline conservatives who control the chamber have vowed to block it unless it tacks to a broad set of hard-line border and immigration policies.House Speaker Mike Johnson, already deeply skeptical of funding for Ukraine, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-ukraine-border-security-zelenskyy-bf932727abd5e8ff3cf5c9c848a3cf78" target="_blank">signaled he won’t support the aid package</a>&nbsp;if it does not adhere to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-immigration-bill-255921c69678468580d0d106282623f0" target="_blank">H.R. 2</a>, a bill that would remake the U.S. immigration system with conservative priorities. It passed the House on a party-line vote in May, but has been rejected by Senate Democrats.Meanwhile, the U.S. is expected to announce&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-weapons-funding-24735694f4f93e5a571f30004957e1a9" target="_blank">a $175 million package</a>&nbsp;of military aid to Ukraine on Wednesday, including guided missiles for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), anti-armor systems and high-speed anti-radiation missiles, according to U.S. officials.Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said Tuesday there is about $1.1 billion left in funding to replenish U.S. military stockpiles for weapons and equipment sent to Ukraine. And he said there is roughly $4.8 billion in drawdown authority still available.

🎥Biden pushes for Ukraine aid, offers border security compromises

KEARNEY – University of Nebraska at Kearney Chancellor Doug Kristensen, a native Nebraskan, lifelong public servant and the longest-serving chancellor in the history of the University of Nebraska, announced today that he will be stepping away after 22 years in the role.

Kristensen will step down from the chancellor’s role at the end of the current academic year, providing the University of Nebraska President’s Office a runway to determine next steps for UNK leadership. Kristensen will take a one-year professional development leave, after which he intends to remain engaged on strategic projects within the university community.

“Central Nebraska is home to me. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to live, work and raise our family,” Kristensen said. “It has been a great privilege to be part of a community that cares so deeply about UNK and the University of Nebraska’s mission to educate the people of our state.”

“The faculty and staff of UNK are as talented as they come, and students are at the heart of everything they do. UNK has a strong future ahead because of them. This is not an easy decision for me, but in talking with my family, we believe now is the right time for me to step away and allow a new leader to carry on UNK’s vital work in providing education and economic development for central and western Nebraska.”

Since his appointment in July 2002, Kristensen has built a record of strong and passionate advocacy for UNK and rural Nebraska, including a focus on access and affordability that has yielded consistently high rankings for UNK in quality and value.

He has also overseen a dramatic renewal of the Kearney campus. Perhaps most notably, in collaboration with UNMC and public and private partners across the state, Kristensen has played the lead role in the development of what will become the largest rural health education center in the country: the Douglas A. Kristensen Rural Health Education Complex, to be named in his honor following recent Board of Regents approval. The first facility in the complex, the Health Science Education Complex, opened in 2015 and brought UNMC nursing and allied health programs to UNK. Student cohorts filled quickly and 85% of graduates so far have started their careers in rural Nebraska, advancing the project’s goal to grow the rural health care workforce.

A second, 110,000-square-foot rural health education facility will bring programs in medicine, pharmacy, public health and behavioral health services to Kearney when it opens in 2026. That facility also represents a public-private partnership.

The health facilities follow Kristensen’s launch in 2010 of the Kearney Health Opportunities Program, a partnership with UNMC to recruit and educate students who want to return to rural Nebraska to practice health care. The acceptance rate of UNK students to various health care professional programs is now more than 93%.

Kristensen also led the planning and launch of University Village, a 107-acre urban village with academic and community spaces including Village Flats student apartments, the LaVonne Plambeck Early Childhood Education Center, Grundy Tennis Center, Element 30 residences and retail complex; and a Nebraska Medicine cancer treatment center and the Regional Engagement Center which are under construction.

Those major developments come on top of more than $360 million in new construction and major renovation that Kristensen has overseen at UNK, including the 90,000-square-foot STEM education building Discovery Hall, Greek housing, renovation or new construction of every residence hall, athletics and student wellness facilities, improvements to the Nebraskan Student Union and campus dining facilities, renovations to the Bruner Hall of Science, Calvin T. Ryan Library and Warner Hall, a new central utilities plant, and more.

“There is no better champion for UNK and rural Nebraska than Doug Kristensen. His selfless leadership and relentless dedication to UNK’s mission will benefit students and Nebraskans for generations to come,” said University of Nebraska System President Ted Carter. “This news is bittersweet. Doug has been a great friend and adviser to me and is a beloved leader to the campus and community. I have tremendous admiration for his loyalty and deep understanding of our state and university system. This is a well-earned decision for Doug, Terri and their family.”

Kristensen became UNK’s chancellor following a distinguished 14-year career in the Nebraska Legislature. At the time of his retirement from the Legislature, he was the longest-serving speaker in history. He was one of the sponsors of the legislation that brought then-Kearney State College into the University of Nebraska System. At the time he held political office, Kristensen was a partner at a law firm in Minden. He earned his law degree from Drake University and bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

In addition to being the longest-serving chancellor in NU history, Kristensen also is the longest currently-serving leader of any higher education institution in Nebraska.

Kristensen and his wife, District Judge Terri S. Harder, have multiple University of Nebraska degrees. Both of their daughters have bachelor’s degrees from UNK, with Paige earning an MBA from UNO, and Morgan a master’s in public health from UNMC and law degree from UNL.

University of Nebraska System interim President Chris Kabourek, who assumes the role on Jan. 1, said he will quickly formulate a process to identify the next leader for UNK.

“Chancellor Kristensen is a great leader, friend and champion for UNK and higher education. We are a better university because of his leadership and his commitment to students and rural Nebraska,” Kabourek said. “Our entire state, and our rural communities in particular, depend on a strong and thriving UNK and University of Nebraska.

“Especially as we bring our rural health education facilities to full operation and move forward with our goals to grow enrollment and excellence, we can’t afford to lose momentum. It will be crucial that we find someone who can seamlessly pick up where Chancellor Kristensen will leave off.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701900893760.jpeg" alt="University of Nebraska at Kearney Chancellor Doug Kristensen" />
 <figcaption>University of Nebraska at Kearney Chancellor Doug Kristensen</figcaption>
 </figure>Todd GottulaUNK CommunicationsKEARNEY – University of Nebraska at Kearney Chancellor Doug Kristensen, a native Nebraskan, lifelong public servant and the longest-serving chancellor in the history of the University of Nebraska, announced today that he will be stepping away after 22 years in the role.Kristensen will step down from the chancellor’s role at the end of the current academic year, providing the University of Nebraska President’s Office a runway to determine next steps for UNK leadership. Kristensen will take a one-year professional development leave, after which he intends to remain engaged on strategic projects within the university community.“Central Nebraska is home to me. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to live, work and raise our family,” Kristensen said. “It has been a great privilege to be part of a community that cares so deeply about UNK and the University of Nebraska’s mission to educate the people of our state.”“The faculty and staff of UNK are as talented as they come, and students are at the heart of everything they do. UNK has a strong future ahead because of them. This is not an easy decision for me, but in talking with my family, we believe now is the right time for me to step away and allow a new leader to carry on UNK’s vital work in providing education and economic development for central and western Nebraska.”Since his appointment in July 2002, Kristensen has built a record of strong and passionate advocacy for UNK and rural Nebraska, including a focus on access and affordability that has yielded consistently high rankings for UNK in quality and value.He has also overseen a dramatic renewal of the Kearney campus. Perhaps most notably, in collaboration with UNMC and public and private partners across the state, Kristensen has played the lead role in the development of what will become the largest rural health education center in the country: the Douglas A. Kristensen Rural Health Education Complex, to be named in his honor following recent Board of Regents approval. The first facility in the complex, the Health Science Education Complex, opened in 2015 and brought UNMC nursing and allied health programs to UNK. Student cohorts filled quickly and 85% of graduates so far have started their careers in rural Nebraska, advancing the project’s goal to grow the rural health care workforce.A second, 110,000-square-foot rural health education facility will bring programs in medicine, pharmacy, public health and behavioral health services to Kearney when it opens in 2026. That facility also represents a public-private partnership.The health facilities follow Kristensen’s launch in 2010 of the Kearney Health Opportunities Program, a partnership with UNMC to recruit and educate students who want to return to rural Nebraska to practice health care. The acceptance rate of UNK students to various health care professional programs is now more than 93%.Kristensen also led the planning and launch of University Village, a 107-acre urban village with academic and community spaces including Village Flats student apartments, the LaVonne Plambeck Early Childhood Education Center, Grundy Tennis Center, Element 30 residences and retail complex; and a Nebraska Medicine cancer treatment center and the Regional Engagement Center which are under construction.Those major developments come on top of more than $360 million in new construction and major renovation that Kristensen has overseen at UNK, including the 90,000-square-foot STEM education building Discovery Hall, Greek housing, renovation or new construction of every residence hall, athletics and student wellness facilities, improvements to the Nebraskan Student Union and campus dining facilities, renovations to the Bruner Hall of Science, Calvin T. Ryan Library and Warner Hall, a new central utilities plant, and more.“There is no better champion for UNK and rural Nebraska than Doug Kristensen. His selfless leadership and relentless dedication to UNK’s mission will benefit students and Nebraskans for generations to come,” said University of Nebraska System President Ted Carter. “This news is bittersweet. Doug has been a great friend and adviser to me and is a beloved leader to the campus and community. I have tremendous admiration for his loyalty and deep understanding of our state and university system. This is a well-earned decision for Doug, Terri and their family.”Kristensen became UNK’s chancellor following a distinguished 14-year career in the Nebraska Legislature. At the time of his retirement from the Legislature, he was the longest-serving speaker in history. He was one of the sponsors of the legislation that brought then-Kearney State College into the University of Nebraska System. At the time he held political office, Kristensen was a partner at a law firm in Minden. He earned his law degree from Drake University and bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.In addition to being the longest-serving chancellor in NU history, Kristensen also is the longest currently-serving leader of any higher education institution in Nebraska.Kristensen and his wife, District Judge Terri S. Harder, have multiple University of Nebraska degrees. Both of their daughters have bachelor’s degrees from UNK, with Paige earning an MBA from UNO, and Morgan a master’s in public health from UNMC and law degree from UNL.University of Nebraska System interim President Chris Kabourek, who assumes the role on Jan. 1, said he will quickly formulate a process to identify the next leader for UNK.“Chancellor Kristensen is a great leader, friend and champion for UNK and higher education. We are a better university because of his leadership and his commitment to students and rural Nebraska,” Kabourek said. “Our entire state, and our rural communities in particular, depend on a strong and thriving UNK and University of Nebraska.“Especially as we bring our rural health education facilities to full operation and move forward with our goals to grow enrollment and excellence, we can’t afford to lose momentum. It will be crucial that we find someone who can seamlessly pick up where Chancellor Kristensen will leave off.”

Doug Kristensen to retire as University of Nebraska at Kearney chancellor after 22 years

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-holding-up-better-than-the-region-says-director-of-nine-state-economic-survey/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — While Nebraska’s manufacturing engine may be “losing steam,” it’s still chugging along better than most of its neighboring states and the nation, the director of a regional economic survey said Monday.

“There’s little doubt, almost everything confirms, that the manufacturing sector is either in a recession or right on the edge of it,” said Creighton University’s Ernie Goss, whose Economic Forecasting Group produces a monthly business conditions report based on a survey of manufacturing supply managers in a nine-state area.

“But Nebraska has held up better than the region and the nation,” Goss said.&nbsp;

Regionally, the business conditions index overall for the nine states slumped in November below the 50.0 growth neutral threshold. That drop, to 42.2, followed two consecutive months of above growth neutral readings.

Goss called it the lowest reading recorded since June 2020, or early in the pandemic.

Nebraska’s index also sank, from 48.8 in October to 39.3. But the Cornhusker state’s manufacturing sector boosted employment over the past year by 2,000. And its average manufacturing hourly rate climbed by 6.3% for that period, above the regional average of 3.4% and well above the 3.2% increase in consumer prices, Goss said, citing the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Goss said the Nebraska outlook has much to do with the weight food processing carries in its manufacturing sector.

Creighton has conducted the monthly survey of manufacturing supply managers since 1994 as a barometer of economic health for “Mid-America” states. Besides Nebraska, states surveyed are Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Oklahoma.

Looking ahead six months, the economic optimism captured in the region’s November survey increased “to a weak 35.8 from October’s anemic 25.0,” Goss said. “Only 14% of supply managers expect expanding business conditions over the next six months.”

He said the survey indicated “labor hoarding” by some manufacturers who didn’t want to let employees go for fear they wouldn’t be able to staff up again.

“Even so, government data show that the region has lost 12,000 manufacturing jobs since April of this year,” he said.

Asked to identify the greatest economic threat for their firm in the next six months, six of 10 supply managers surveyed said a recession; two of 10 said labor shortages; one of 10 said inflation; and one of 10 said higher interest rates.

As for this year’s Christmas shopping season, Goss projected retail sales, adjusted to inflation, to grow about 1% in the nine-state region.

He said if shoppers are turning to online Amazon to deliver packages, much of the economic impact likely is going someplace other than Nebraska.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701892383517.jpeg" alt=" (Courtesy of Creighton University Economic Forecasting Group)" />
 <figcaption> (Courtesy of Creighton University Economic Forecasting Group)</figcaption>
 </figure>Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-holding-up-better-than-the-region-says-director-of-nine-state-economic-survey/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — While Nebraska’s manufacturing engine may be “losing steam,” it’s still chugging along better than most of its neighboring states and the nation, the director of a regional economic survey said Monday.“There’s little doubt, almost everything confirms, that the manufacturing sector is either in a recession or right on the edge of it,” said Creighton University’s Ernie Goss, whose Economic Forecasting Group produces a monthly business conditions report based on a survey of manufacturing supply managers in a nine-state area.“But Nebraska has held up better than the region and the nation,” Goss said.&nbsp;Regionally, the business conditions index overall for the nine states slumped in November below the 50.0 growth neutral threshold. That drop, to 42.2, followed two consecutive months of above growth neutral readings.Goss called it the lowest reading recorded since June 2020, or early in the pandemic.Nebraska’s index also sank, from 48.8 in October to 39.3. But the Cornhusker state’s manufacturing sector boosted employment over the past year by 2,000. And its average manufacturing hourly rate climbed by 6.3% for that period, above the regional average of 3.4% and well above the 3.2% increase in consumer prices, Goss said, citing the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Goss said the Nebraska outlook has much to do with the weight food processing carries in its manufacturing sector.Creighton has conducted the monthly survey of manufacturing supply managers since 1994 as a barometer of economic health for “Mid-America” states. Besides Nebraska, states surveyed are Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Oklahoma.Looking ahead six months, the economic optimism captured in the region’s November survey increased “to a weak 35.8 from October’s anemic 25.0,” Goss said. “Only 14% of supply managers expect expanding business conditions over the next six months.”He said the survey indicated “labor hoarding” by some manufacturers who didn’t want to let employees go for fear they wouldn’t be able to staff up again.“Even so, government data show that the region has lost 12,000 manufacturing jobs since April of this year,” he said.Asked to identify the greatest economic threat for their firm in the next six months, six of 10 supply managers surveyed said a recession; two of 10 said labor shortages; one of 10 said inflation; and one of 10 said higher interest rates.As for this year’s Christmas shopping season, Goss projected retail sales, adjusted to inflation, to grow about 1% in the nine-state region.He said if shoppers are turning to online Amazon to deliver packages, much of the economic impact likely is going someplace other than Nebraska.“Buy local,” he said.

Nebraska holding up better than the region, says director of nine-state economic survey

KEARNEY, NEB. –Abygail Streff of Pierce took top honors at the 2023 Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) Collegiate Discussion Meet. &nbsp;The award was announced Dec. 5 at the “We Love Our Members” luncheon at Nebraska Farm Bureau’s 106th&nbsp;Annual Convention in Kearney.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Streff’s earned the top score during the final round of Nebraska Farm Bureau’s Collegiate Discussion Meet held for the first time during the Nebraska Farm Bureau Annual Meeting and Convention. The contest aims to simulate a committee meeting rather than a debate where competitors offer solutions to timely problems facing agriculture.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Streff is currently a junior Agricultural Economics major at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), where she also serves as the UNL Collegiate Farm Bureau President. Streff currently is an intern to the Governor’s Agriculture Advisor. She anticipates finishing her bachelor’s degree in December 2024. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Farm Bureau student members can compete in the Collegiate Discussion Meet through their senior year of college. As the Nebraska winner, Streff will receive $250 and an all-expense paid trip to the 2024 American Farm Bureau Leadership Conference in Omaha in March to compete with other state winners at the national level.

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

Nebraska Farm BureauKEARNEY, NEB. –Abygail Streff of Pierce took top honors at the 2023 Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) Collegiate Discussion Meet. &nbsp;The award was announced Dec. 5 at the “We Love Our Members” luncheon at Nebraska Farm Bureau’s 106th&nbsp;Annual Convention in Kearney.&nbsp;&nbsp;Streff’s earned the top score during the final round of Nebraska Farm Bureau’s Collegiate Discussion Meet held for the first time during the Nebraska Farm Bureau Annual Meeting and Convention. The contest aims to simulate a committee meeting rather than a debate where competitors offer solutions to timely problems facing agriculture.&nbsp;&nbsp;Streff is currently a junior Agricultural Economics major at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), where she also serves as the UNL Collegiate Farm Bureau President. Streff currently is an intern to the Governor’s Agriculture Advisor. She anticipates finishing her bachelor’s degree in December 2024. &nbsp;&nbsp;Farm Bureau student members can compete in the Collegiate Discussion Meet through their senior year of college. As the Nebraska winner, Streff will receive $250 and an all-expense paid trip to the 2024 American Farm Bureau Leadership Conference in Omaha in March to compete with other state winners at the national level.The Nebraska Farm Bureau is a grassroots, state-wide organization dedicated to supporting farm and ranch families and working for the benefit of all Nebraskans through a wide variety of educational, service, and advocacy efforts. More than 55,000 families across Nebraska are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve rural and urban prosperity as agriculture is a key fuel to Nebraska’s economy. For more information about Nebraska Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nefb.org/" target="_blank">www.nefb.org</a>.

Abygail Streff is Named Collegiate Discussion Meet Champion 

Lincoln, Nebraska, Dec. 6, 2023 — A new Meat Processing Management Training program offered by Nebraska Extension is designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of individuals in the meat processing industry over a yearlong intensive course that will begin in March.

The program is tailored for owners, managers and management-track employees of small meat processing plants, with custom-exempt and federally inspected plants encouraged to apply. It will offer a blend of virtual and in-person sessions to deepen participants’ understanding of critical aspects of the industry and assist them with working toward a successful and profitable future.

Focus areas will include business operations, using data, retail strategies, regulatory compliance, human resources and more. The course will consist of three in-person meetings, a site visit to each plant by course instructors and monthly online programs that will include typically recorded lectures, live review and a presentation with a producer.

The program is being produced by Nebraska Extension, the Center for Agricultural Profitability and the Department of Animal Science’s Meat Science program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. "This initiative represents a significant step in supporting and advancing the meat processing sector, offering a platform for professionals to grow and excel in their field," said Elliott Dennis, assistant professor and livestock marketing specialist with the Center for Agricultural Profitability.

To ensure effective learning and personalized attention, Dennis said, there is a $2,500 enrollment fee per processing plant, which includes a $2,000 deposit that will be returned to those who complete the program without missing more than two activities or the site visit. Up to two individuals per plant may participate.

More details, a program schedule and requirements are posted on the Center for Agricultural Profitability’s website,&nbsp;<a href="https://unl233.lt.acemlnb.com/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZjYXAudW5sLmVkdSUyRnByb2Nlc3NvcnMlM0Z1dG1fc291cmNlJTNEQWN0aXZlQ2FtcGFpZ24lMjZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtJTNEZW1haWwlMjZ1dG1fY29udGVudCUzRDElMkJJQU5SJTJCUmVsZWFzZSUyNTNBJTJCTmVicmFza2ElMkJFeHRlbnNpb24lMkJsYXVuY2hpbmclMkJuZXclMkJtYW5hZ2VtZW50JTJCdHJhaW5pbmclMkJwcm9ncmFtJTJCZm9yJTJCbWVhdCUyQnByb2Nlc3NvcnMlMjZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ24lM0QxJTJCSUFOUiUyQlJlbGVhc2UlMjUzQSUyQk5lYnJhc2thJTJCRXh0ZW5zaW9uJTJCbGF1bmNoaW5nJTJCbmV3JTJCbWFuYWdlbWVudCUyQnRyYWluaW5nJTJCcHJvZ3JhbSUyQmZvciUyQm1lYXQlMkJwcm9jZXNzb3Jz&amp;sig=ftA3uvbRrUmttb9Eqx1Nn1gG751BV74p3p8iWgzefZq&amp;iat=1701890773&amp;a=%7C%7C68108822%7C%7C&amp;account=unl233%2Eactivehosted%2Ecom&amp;email=Njd4QVCtXcteLzSw0on5EM2quKdDPg%2FHztugSgOJqiS1tePXqfKtMns%3D%3A%2FZtPPkxMafqmUn8tDk8UKiM9qv1wU9D%2B&amp;s=073f67d35943f6c01a66f2eac84e284e&amp;i=524A609A50A10695" target="_blank">https://cap.unl.edu/processors</a>. The application is open there until Jan. 20.This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2022-70419-38561.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nebraska ExtensionLincoln, Nebraska, Dec. 6, 2023 — A new Meat Processing Management Training program offered by Nebraska Extension is designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of individuals in the meat processing industry over a yearlong intensive course that will begin in March.The program is tailored for owners, managers and management-track employees of small meat processing plants, with custom-exempt and federally inspected plants encouraged to apply. It will offer a blend of virtual and in-person sessions to deepen participants’ understanding of critical aspects of the industry and assist them with working toward a successful and profitable future.Focus areas will include business operations, using data, retail strategies, regulatory compliance, human resources and more. The course will consist of three in-person meetings, a site visit to each plant by course instructors and monthly online programs that will include typically recorded lectures, live review and a presentation with a producer.The program is being produced by Nebraska Extension, the Center for Agricultural Profitability and the Department of Animal Science’s Meat Science program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. "This initiative represents a significant step in supporting and advancing the meat processing sector, offering a platform for professionals to grow and excel in their field," said Elliott Dennis, assistant professor and livestock marketing specialist with the Center for Agricultural Profitability.To ensure effective learning and personalized attention, Dennis said, there is a $2,500 enrollment fee per processing plant, which includes a $2,000 deposit that will be returned to those who complete the program without missing more than two activities or the site visit. Up to two individuals per plant may participate.More details, a program schedule and requirements are posted on the Center for Agricultural Profitability’s website,&nbsp;<a href="https://unl233.lt.acemlnb.com/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZjYXAudW5sLmVkdSUyRnByb2Nlc3NvcnMlM0Z1dG1fc291cmNlJTNEQWN0aXZlQ2FtcGFpZ24lMjZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtJTNEZW1haWwlMjZ1dG1fY29udGVudCUzRDElMkJJQU5SJTJCUmVsZWFzZSUyNTNBJTJCTmVicmFza2ElMkJFeHRlbnNpb24lMkJsYXVuY2hpbmclMkJuZXclMkJtYW5hZ2VtZW50JTJCdHJhaW5pbmclMkJwcm9ncmFtJTJCZm9yJTJCbWVhdCUyQnByb2Nlc3NvcnMlMjZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ24lM0QxJTJCSUFOUiUyQlJlbGVhc2UlMjUzQSUyQk5lYnJhc2thJTJCRXh0ZW5zaW9uJTJCbGF1bmNoaW5nJTJCbmV3JTJCbWFuYWdlbWVudCUyQnRyYWluaW5nJTJCcHJvZ3JhbSUyQmZvciUyQm1lYXQlMkJwcm9jZXNzb3Jz&amp;sig=ftA3uvbRrUmttb9Eqx1Nn1gG751BV74p3p8iWgzefZq&amp;iat=1701890773&amp;a=%7C%7C68108822%7C%7C&amp;account=unl233%2Eactivehosted%2Ecom&amp;email=Njd4QVCtXcteLzSw0on5EM2quKdDPg%2FHztugSgOJqiS1tePXqfKtMns%3D%3A%2FZtPPkxMafqmUn8tDk8UKiM9qv1wU9D%2B&amp;s=073f67d35943f6c01a66f2eac84e284e&amp;i=524A609A50A10695" target="_blank">https://cap.unl.edu/processors</a>. The application is open there until Jan. 20.This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2022-70419-38561.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nebraska Extension launching new management training program for meat processors

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/05/first-organizations-are-certified-to-provide-private-scholarships-to-nebraska-k-12-students/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;The Nebraska Department of Revenue on Tuesday publicized a list of the first organizations certified to provide scholarships for K-12 students to attend private schools beginning Jan. 1.

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revenue.nebraska.gov/businesses/opportunity-scholarship-act/certified-scholarship-granting-organization-lists">list of certified scholarship granting organizations</a>&nbsp;includes Assistance for Individuals and Families without Borders in La Vista; Metro Area Christian Schools SGO in Omaha and Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska in Lincoln.

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, who tried for years to enact school choice legislation,&nbsp; introduced Legislative Bill 753 this year and ushered it to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/30/nebraska-gov-pillen-signs-opportunity-scholarships-proposal-into-law/">Gov. Jim Pillen for his approval</a>&nbsp;in May.&nbsp;

Linehan said Tuesday she was “thrilled” the organizations are off the ground.

“It’s very hopeful to me,” Linehan said. “I am very glad that there’s a group of people that know how important this is and they’ve been willing to go after it and help kids who need different choices than they currently have.”

For donors who give funds to a certified organization, the donation is eligible for a tax credit equal to the lesser of:

LB 753 will allow a total of $25 million in tax credits in its first three years and could grow to a total of $100 million annually, based on demand.

The Revenue Department will accept SGO applications year round. The nonprofits can accept contributions no earlier than Jan. 1 and must be certified before they can do so.&nbsp;

Opponents of LB 753, including the Nebraska State Education Association, argue taxpayer dollars should never be diverted to private schools. This summer, they formed Support Our Schools to gather signatures and let voters have the final say on the law.

Those efforts were successful, and LB 753 has&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/10/public-school-advocates-qualify-referendum-on-opportunity-scholarship-law-for-2024-election/">qualified for the 2024 ballot</a>.

“Nothing has changed,” said Tim Royers, president of the Millard Education Association and treasurer of Support Our Schools. “If there’s one thing I learned this past summer it’s that Nebraskans want their public dollars to go to public schools.”

Rebecca Firestone, executive director of OpenSky Policy Institute, said in a statement the $25 million could be spent in better ways, such as investing in education for all of Nebraska’s children. Instead, it will go in the form of tax credits to wealthy Nebraskans and businesses, she said.

The Revenue Department would stop issuing determinations of available tax credits for SGOs if voters reject the law from the date election results are certified, according to a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revenue.nebraska.gov/about/frequently-asked-questions/opportunity-scholarship-act-faqs">department FAQ</a>.

Taxpayers who contribute to SGOs before that date could still claim the tax credit.

A counter organization, Keep Kids First, formed to stop Support Our Schools.&nbsp;

The $25 million limit in the law is 0.46% of all new state aid, Linehan added, and is 1% of all funding directed toward pre-K-12 education. Gov. Pillen, at the bill’s signing, described this as a “drop in the bucket” compared to new funding for public schools and the state’s overall budget.

“This money goes to kids for scholarships,” Linehan said. “There is no benefit to the wealthy.”

Linehan and the Nebraska Catholic Conference said this summer that once Nebraskans saw the impact of LB 753 for families in need, they would&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/30/support-our-schools-says-it-has-enough-signatures-to-reach-2024-nebraska-ballot/">embrace the law</a>.

Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska, led by familiar advocates who fought to keep LB 753 off the ballot, borrows its name from LB 753 — the Opportunity Scholarships Act.

Leading the SGO is Executive Director Jeremy Ekeler, the former associate director of education policy with the Nebraska Catholic Conference. He said the new organization is excited to engage families and accompany them through the scholarship application process.

“This transformational scholarship program is common sense, and education freedom is quickly becoming the standard across the country,” Ekeler said in a statement. “The reason is simple: every child learns differently.”

Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska is endorsed by Nebraska’s three Catholic dioceses and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod schools, among other private schools, according to the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nebraskaopportunity.org/about-osn">organization’s website</a>.

Lauren Gage is its director of marketing and outreach. She previously served as state director of the American Federation for Children, which advocates for charter schools, vouchers and such tax credit scholarships to private schools.&nbsp;

Linehan’s daughter, Katie, is a spokesperson and registered Nebraska lobbyist for the state federation.&nbsp;

The American Federation for Children, along with its associated growth fund, contributed nearly half of the $1.4 million in total contributions to Keep Kids First —&nbsp;just over $661,000. Much of that went directly toward legal services, staff time and other expenses.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701877993235.jpeg" alt=" State Sens. Lou Ann Linehan and Justin Wayne flank Gov. Jim Pillen after he signed LB 753, the Opportunity Scholarships Act, into law on May 30. (Courtesy of the Nebraska Governor’s Office)" />
 <figcaption> State Sens. Lou Ann Linehan and Justin Wayne flank Gov. Jim Pillen after he signed LB 753, the Opportunity Scholarships Act, into law on May 30. (Courtesy of the Nebraska Governor’s Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/05/first-organizations-are-certified-to-provide-private-scholarships-to-nebraska-k-12-students/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;The Nebraska Department of Revenue on Tuesday publicized a list of the first organizations certified to provide scholarships for K-12 students to attend private schools beginning Jan. 1.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revenue.nebraska.gov/businesses/opportunity-scholarship-act/certified-scholarship-granting-organization-lists">list of certified scholarship granting organizations</a>&nbsp;includes Assistance for Individuals and Families without Borders in La Vista; Metro Area Christian Schools SGO in Omaha and Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska in Lincoln.State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, who tried for years to enact school choice legislation,&nbsp; introduced Legislative Bill 753 this year and ushered it to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/30/nebraska-gov-pillen-signs-opportunity-scholarships-proposal-into-law/">Gov. Jim Pillen for his approval</a>&nbsp;in May.&nbsp;Linehan said Tuesday she was “thrilled” the organizations are off the ground.“It’s very hopeful to me,” Linehan said. “I am very glad that there’s a group of people that know how important this is and they’ve been willing to go after it and help kids who need different choices than they currently have.”For donors who give funds to a certified organization, the donation is eligible for a tax credit equal to the lesser of:<ul>
 <li>The total amount of contributions made to an SGO during the tax year.</li><li>50% of the income tax liability of the taxpayer for such year.</li><li>$100,000, or $1 million for estates and trusts.</li>
 </ul>LB 753 will allow a total of $25 million in tax credits in its first three years and could grow to a total of $100 million annually, based on demand.The Revenue Department will accept SGO applications year round. The nonprofits can accept contributions no earlier than Jan. 1 and must be certified before they can do so.&nbsp;<h2>Opponents say ‘nothing has changed’</h2>Opponents of LB 753, including the Nebraska State Education Association, argue taxpayer dollars should never be diverted to private schools. This summer, they formed Support Our Schools to gather signatures and let voters have the final say on the law.Those efforts were successful, and LB 753 has&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/10/public-school-advocates-qualify-referendum-on-opportunity-scholarship-law-for-2024-election/">qualified for the 2024 ballot</a>.“Nothing has changed,” said Tim Royers, president of the Millard Education Association and treasurer of Support Our Schools. “If there’s one thing I learned this past summer it’s that Nebraskans want their public dollars to go to public schools.”Rebecca Firestone, executive director of OpenSky Policy Institute, said in a statement the $25 million could be spent in better ways, such as investing in education for all of Nebraska’s children. Instead, it will go in the form of tax credits to wealthy Nebraskans and businesses, she said.The Revenue Department would stop issuing determinations of available tax credits for SGOs if voters reject the law from the date election results are certified, according to a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revenue.nebraska.gov/about/frequently-asked-questions/opportunity-scholarship-act-faqs">department FAQ</a>.Taxpayers who contribute to SGOs before that date could still claim the tax credit.<h2>‘This money goes to kids’</h2>A counter organization, Keep Kids First, formed to stop Support Our Schools.&nbsp;The $25 million limit in the law is 0.46% of all new state aid, Linehan added, and is 1% of all funding directed toward pre-K-12 education. Gov. Pillen, at the bill’s signing, described this as a “drop in the bucket” compared to new funding for public schools and the state’s overall budget.“This money goes to kids for scholarships,” Linehan said. “There is no benefit to the wealthy.”Linehan and the Nebraska Catholic Conference said this summer that once Nebraskans saw the impact of LB 753 for families in need, they would&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/30/support-our-schools-says-it-has-enough-signatures-to-reach-2024-nebraska-ballot/">embrace the law</a>.<h2>Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska</h2>Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska, led by familiar advocates who fought to keep LB 753 off the ballot, borrows its name from LB 753 — the Opportunity Scholarships Act.Leading the SGO is Executive Director Jeremy Ekeler, the former associate director of education policy with the Nebraska Catholic Conference. He said the new organization is excited to engage families and accompany them through the scholarship application process.“This transformational scholarship program is common sense, and education freedom is quickly becoming the standard across the country,” Ekeler said in a statement. “The reason is simple: every child learns differently.”Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska is endorsed by Nebraska’s three Catholic dioceses and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod schools, among other private schools, according to the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nebraskaopportunity.org/about-osn">organization’s website</a>.Lauren Gage is its director of marketing and outreach. She previously served as state director of the American Federation for Children, which advocates for charter schools, vouchers and such tax credit scholarships to private schools.&nbsp;Linehan’s daughter, Katie, is a spokesperson and registered Nebraska lobbyist for the state federation.&nbsp;The American Federation for Children, along with its associated growth fund, contributed nearly half of the $1.4 million in total contributions to Keep Kids First —&nbsp;just over $661,000. Much of that went directly toward legal services, staff time and other expenses.The co-chairs of the Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska board of directors, Rick Bettger of Omaha and Kim Schroll of North Platte, also financially contributed to Keep Kids First.Bettger, who owns Omaha Car Care, donated $10,000. Schroll, executive vice president and chief operating officer of NebraskaLand Bank, donated $1,000.&nbsp;Pillen also&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/03/governor-doubles-down-on-support-for-school-choice-with-100000-donation/">donated a sizable amount</a>&nbsp;to the Keep Kids First campaign: $100,000.A website for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.aifsf.org/">AIF-without Borders</a>&nbsp;states the nonprofit began in April 2014 in Lincoln, intending to help those who are deprived or in need. Additional objectives are assisting the integration of immigrants in the country, ending poverty, fighting against hunger and ensuring access to various needs, including health, education, gender equality and peace.Further information about people involved with AIF-without Borders was not available. A website or more information could not immediately be found for Metro Area Christian Schools SGO.<h2>‘They’re just wrong’: Revenue chair reacts to projected reductions in state funds</h2>State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, chair of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee, said Tuesday she does not accept projections that state tax cuts could lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/04/new-report-says-states-tax-cutting-spree-endangers-health-care-education/">deep reductions in state revenues</a>.Linehan’s comments come less than a week after a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/states-recent-tax-cut-spree-creates-big-risks-for-families-and">Center on Budget and Policy Priorities</a>, reported that the state’s latest “tax-cutting spree” could result in some of the steepest state funding reductions in the country.According to the report, the tax cuts are projected to reduce state revenues by $3.1 billion over the next five years, a 7.6% decline in general fund revenue.“These permanent cuts built on temporary budget surpluses over time will threaten the sustainability of current investments in schools, health care and public safety,” Rebecca Firestone, executive director of the OpenSky Policy Institute, said in a statement.Linehan, who was a major player behind the tax cuts, rejected those projections and warnings from OpenSky, a nonprofit that focuses on fiscal research and analysis.“They’ve never been right,” Linehan said.Linehan argued that OpenSky and the state’s fiscal office are ignoring the state’s money that remains on hand and is accruing interest.&nbsp;“They don’t even take that into account,” Linehan said.“This idea that we’re in trouble or we’re not going to be able to afford our obligations, they’re just wrong,” Linehan continued. “They’ve been saying that since I’ve been there and they have been wrong every time.”