JERUSALEM, Israel — President Joe Biden will travel to Israel on Wednesday to show support for the U.S. ally amid concerns the Israel-Hamas war could become a larger regional conflict, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

Biden will then go to Jordan to meet with Arab leaders, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

Blinken's announcement followed hours of talks with Israeli officials, as well as an invitation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

As the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip grows more dire, Blinken also said the U.S. and Israel had agreed to develop a plan to enable humanitarian aid from donor nations to reach civilians in Gaza, "including the possibility of creating areas to help keep civilians out of harm’s way.”

“We share Israel’s concern that Hamas may seize or destroy aid entering Gaza or otherwise prevent it from reaching the people who need it,” Blinken said.

JERUSALEM, Israel (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;will travel to Israel and on to Jordan Wednesday to meet with both Israeli and Arab leadership, as concerns increase that the raging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-palestinian-conflict">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;could expand into a larger regional conflict.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Biden’s travel to Israel as the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip grows more dire and as Israel prepares for a possible ground attack on the 141-square-mile (365-square-kilometer) territory to root out Hamas militants responsible for what U.S. and Israeli officials say was the most lethal assault against Jews since the Holocaust.

Biden is looking to send the strongest message yet that the U.S. is behind Israel. His Democratic administration has pledged military support, sending U.S. carriers and aid to the region. Officials have said they would ask Congress for upward of $2 billion in additional aid for both Israel and Ukraine, which is fighting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia’s invasion</a>.

Blinken made the announcement early Tuesday after more than seven hours of talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top Israeli officials.

“He is coming here at a critical moment for Israel, for the region and for the world,” Blinken said.

Shortly after in Washington, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby announced that Biden would also go to Jordan to meet with King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

“We’ve been crystal clear about the need for humanitarian aid to be able to continue to flow into Gaza," Kirby said. “That has been a consistent call by President Biden and certainly by this entire administration.”

Truckloads of aid idled Monday at Egypt’s border with Gaza,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-781b3c63af4ae6e51c313a68f314e66d">barred from entry,</a>&nbsp;as residents and humanitarian groups pleaded for water, food and fuel for dying generators, saying the tiny Palestinian territory sealed off by Israel after last week’s rampage by Hamas was near total collapse.

Biden had been scheduled to travel to Pueblo, Colorado, on Monday but decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-boebert-colorado-economy-ab1424ffde9a8178083fe987db5cc839">postpone the visit</a>&nbsp;so he could consult with his aides and speak with fellow leaders about the unfolding situation in the Middle East.

The announcements came after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden</a>&nbsp;consulted with a trio of world leaders and his own national security team on Monday amid growing global concern about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Gaza Strip and fears that the Israel-Hamas war could metastasize into a broader regional conflict.

Biden spoke by phone with Egypt's el-Sissi, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about the fallout from Hamas militants’ surprise attacks on Israel that left 1,400 dead and retaliatory strikes that have killed at least 2,778 Palestinians.

European Union leaders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-eu-hamas-7674278ef4f7750244c0a772efdb33a7">will hold an emergency summit on Tuesday</a>&nbsp;as concern mounts that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-hamas-war-live-updates">the war</a>&nbsp;between Israel and Hamas could fuel tensions in Europe and bring more refugees in search of sanctuary.

Biden’s call with the Egyptian leader came one day after el-Sissi met with Blinken in Cairo. Egypt’s state-run media said el-Sissi told Blinken that Israel’s Gaza operation has exceeded “the right of self-defense” and turned into “a collective punishment.”

Kirby declined to comment on el-Sissi's concerns about how Israel is conducting the war.

“The humanitarian situation was high on the list of the discussion with President el-Sissi,” Kirby said.

Earlier Monday, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed in the Oval Office by their national security team on the situation on the ground in Israel and Gaza. White House chief of staff Jeff Zients joined the briefing led by national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and Central Intelligence Agency Director Bill Burns, according to the White House.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/antony-blinken">Blinken</a>&nbsp;was in Israel on Monday for his second visit in less than a week for talks with Israeli leaders. He has been crisscrossing the Middle East with stops in Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Blinken, in talks Monday with Netanyahu and other Israeli officials, carried back some of the feedback he received from Arab leaders. He also “underlined his firm support for Israel’s right to defend itself from Hamas’ terrorism and reaffirmed U.S. determination to provide the Israeli government with what it needs to protect its citizens,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

JERUSALEM, Israel — President Joe Biden will travel to Israel on Wednesday to show support for the U.S. ally amid concerns the Israel-Hamas war could become a larger regional conflict, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">On Wednesday, President Biden will travel to Israel to demonstrate his steadfast support for Israel in the face of Hamas’s brutal terrorist attack and to consult on next steps.&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1714088491695398975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">On Wednesday, <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> will visit Israel. He’s coming here at a critical moment for Israel, for the region, and for the world.&mdash; Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecBlinken/status/1714074816272089510?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden will then go to Jordan to meet with Arab leaders, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.Blinken's announcement followed hours of talks with Israeli officials, as well as an invitation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I returned to Israel to meet with <a href="https://twitter.com/IsraeliPM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IsraeliPM</a> Netanyahu. We discussed U.S. support for Israel’s right to defend itself and its citizens from Hamas’ terrorism. <a href="https://t.co/qoX5074VAM">pic.twitter.com/qoX5074VAM</a>&mdash; Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecBlinken/status/1713941111670964738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>As the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip grows more dire, Blinken also said the U.S. and Israel had agreed to develop a plan to enable humanitarian aid from donor nations to reach civilians in Gaza, "including the possibility of creating areas to help keep civilians out of harm’s way.”“We share Israel’s concern that Hamas may seize or destroy aid entering Gaza or otherwise prevent it from reaching the people who need it,” Blinken said.---------JERUSALEM, Israel (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;will travel to Israel and on to Jordan Wednesday to meet with both Israeli and Arab leadership, as concerns increase that the raging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-palestinian-conflict">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;could expand into a larger regional conflict.U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Biden’s travel to Israel as the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip grows more dire and as Israel prepares for a possible ground attack on the 141-square-mile (365-square-kilometer) territory to root out Hamas militants responsible for what U.S. and Israeli officials say was the most lethal assault against Jews since the Holocaust.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I returned to Israel to meet with <a href="https://twitter.com/IsraeliPM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IsraeliPM</a> Netanyahu. We discussed U.S. support for Israel’s right to defend itself and its citizens from Hamas’ terrorism. <a href="https://t.co/qoX5074VAM">pic.twitter.com/qoX5074VAM</a>&mdash; Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecBlinken/status/1713941111670964738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden is looking to send the strongest message yet that the U.S. is behind Israel. His Democratic administration has pledged military support, sending U.S. carriers and aid to the region. Officials have said they would ask Congress for upward of $2 billion in additional aid for both Israel and Ukraine, which is fighting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia’s invasion</a>.Blinken made the announcement early Tuesday after more than seven hours of talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top Israeli officials.“He is coming here at a critical moment for Israel, for the region and for the world,” Blinken said.Shortly after in Washington, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby announced that Biden would also go to Jordan to meet with King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.“We’ve been crystal clear about the need for humanitarian aid to be able to continue to flow into Gaza," Kirby said. “That has been a consistent call by President Biden and certainly by this entire administration.”Truckloads of aid idled Monday at Egypt’s border with Gaza,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-781b3c63af4ae6e51c313a68f314e66d">barred from entry,</a>&nbsp;as residents and humanitarian groups pleaded for water, food and fuel for dying generators, saying the tiny Palestinian territory sealed off by Israel after last week’s rampage by Hamas was near total collapse.Biden had been scheduled to travel to Pueblo, Colorado, on Monday but decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-boebert-colorado-economy-ab1424ffde9a8178083fe987db5cc839">postpone the visit</a>&nbsp;so he could consult with his aides and speak with fellow leaders about the unfolding situation in the Middle East.The announcements came after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden</a>&nbsp;consulted with a trio of world leaders and his own national security team on Monday amid growing global concern about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Gaza Strip and fears that the Israel-Hamas war could metastasize into a broader regional conflict.Biden spoke by phone with Egypt's el-Sissi, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about the fallout from Hamas militants’ surprise attacks on Israel that left 1,400 dead and retaliatory strikes that have killed at least 2,778 Palestinians.European Union leaders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-eu-hamas-7674278ef4f7750244c0a772efdb33a7">will hold an emergency summit on Tuesday</a>&nbsp;as concern mounts that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-hamas-war-live-updates">the war</a>&nbsp;between Israel and Hamas could fuel tensions in Europe and bring more refugees in search of sanctuary.Biden’s call with the Egyptian leader came one day after el-Sissi met with Blinken in Cairo. Egypt’s state-run media said el-Sissi told Blinken that Israel’s Gaza operation has exceeded “the right of self-defense” and turned into “a collective punishment.”Kirby declined to comment on el-Sissi's concerns about how Israel is conducting the war.“The humanitarian situation was high on the list of the discussion with President el-Sissi,” Kirby said.Earlier Monday, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed in the Oval Office by their national security team on the situation on the ground in Israel and Gaza. White House chief of staff Jeff Zients joined the briefing led by national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and Central Intelligence Agency Director Bill Burns, according to the White House.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/antony-blinken">Blinken</a>&nbsp;was in Israel on Monday for his second visit in less than a week for talks with Israeli leaders. He has been crisscrossing the Middle East with stops in Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.Blinken, in talks Monday with Netanyahu and other Israeli officials, carried back some of the feedback he received from Arab leaders. He also “underlined his firm support for Israel’s right to defend itself from Hamas’ terrorism and reaffirmed U.S. determination to provide the Israeli government with what it needs to protect its citizens,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Israel trip: Biden to meet Abbas, Egypt's Sisi and Jordan's King

OCTOBER 16, 2023 (NORTH PLATTE, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— During the afternoon hours of Friday, October 13, investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol conducted alcohol compliance checks at businesses in Dawson County.

This project was supported in whole or part by grant #93.959 under the SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Region II Human Services, and the Nebraska DHHS Division of Behavioral Health.

In total, 10 businesses were checked. None of the businesses sold alcohol to a minor for a compliance rate of 100%. All of the businesses check’s the minor’s ID.

OCTOBER 16, 2023 (NORTH PLATTE, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— During the afternoon hours of Friday, October 13, investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol conducted alcohol compliance checks at businesses in Dawson County.This project was supported in whole or part by grant #93.959 under the SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Region II Human Services, and the Nebraska DHHS Division of Behavioral Health.In total, 10 businesses were checked. None of the businesses sold alcohol to a minor for a compliance rate of 100%. All of the businesses check’s the minor’s ID.

100% Compliance in Dawson County Alcohol Compliance Checks

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has sent “prepare to deploy” orders to about 2,000 U.S. troops to be ready to respond to the Israel-Hamas war, two U.S. officials said on the condition of anonymity to discuss a decision that has not been announced yet.

The troops would cover a variety of support roles, such as additional medical support or explosive ordnance support, such as providing additional security at gate crossings, one of the officials said.

Meanwhile, more than a million people have fled their homes in the Gaza Strip ahead of an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-781b3c63af4ae6e51c313a68f314e66d">expected Israeli invasion</a>&nbsp;that seeks to eliminate Hamas’ leadership after its deadly incursion. Aid groups warn an Israeli ground offensive could hasten a humanitarian crisis.

Israeli forces, supported by U.S. warships, positioned themselves along Gaza’s border and drilled for what Israel said would be a broad campaign to dismantle the militant group. A week of blistering airstrikes have demolished neighborhoods but failed to stop militant rocket fire into Israel.

The war that began Oct. 7 has become the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides, with more than 4,000 dead. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,750 Palestinians have been killed and 9,700 wounded. More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed, and at least 199 others, including children, were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza, according to Israel.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has sent “prepare to deploy” orders to about 2,000 U.S. troops to be ready to respond to the Israel-Hamas war, two U.S. officials said on the condition of anonymity to discuss a decision that has not been announced yet.The troops would cover a variety of support roles, such as additional medical support or explosive ordnance support, such as providing additional security at gate crossings, one of the officials said.Meanwhile, more than a million people have fled their homes in the Gaza Strip ahead of an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-781b3c63af4ae6e51c313a68f314e66d">expected Israeli invasion</a>&nbsp;that seeks to eliminate Hamas’ leadership after its deadly incursion. Aid groups warn an Israeli ground offensive could hasten a humanitarian crisis.Israeli forces, supported by U.S. warships, positioned themselves along Gaza’s border and drilled for what Israel said would be a broad campaign to dismantle the militant group. A week of blistering airstrikes have demolished neighborhoods but failed to stop militant rocket fire into Israel.The war that began Oct. 7 has become the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides, with more than 4,000 dead. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,750 Palestinians have been killed and 9,700 wounded. More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed, and at least 199 others, including children, were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza, according to Israel.

Israel-Hamas War: Deployment notice for 2,000 U.S. Troops

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/16/nebraska-supreme-court-rules-state-isnt-liable-for-park-mowing-collision/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraska is not responsible for a riding lawnmower sliding into a visitor who was sitting at a picnic table at Sandy Channel State Recreational Area.

Why not? It was wet in August 2017, when a state park employee was cutting grass and the mower slid down a nearby hill and struck the man. Nebraska law protects the state from legal liability in many accidents when weather plays a role.

The Nebraska Supreme Court on Friday ruled that Aaron G. Brown of Holdrege could not sue the state despite injuries to his back and nerves that his lawsuit described as serious and permanent.

The court found a “causal relationship” between the wet grass on the hill overlooking the picnic table where Brown sat. The park employee happened to be mowing when Brown had come to fish.

Neither side disputed the worker’s view that the “lawnmower slid down the slope because of the wet conditions and that once the mower started sliding, there was nothing he could do,” it said.

Brown himself testified that the mower collided with the picnic table he was seated at because of the wet conditions and not the worker’s actions.

The state argued that it had the protection of two exceptions from liability: one for weather and another protecting the state from injuries occurring during recreational activities.

Among several arguments, Brown’s lawyer contended that the worker cutting grass so soon after a rain might have forfeited the law’s protections from liability. The court disagreed.

The lawyer also wrangled with the Attorney General’s Office over whether a riding lawnmower meets the qualifications of a motor vehicle under a carve-out letting people sue the state.&nbsp;

The court ruled that state law on “sovereign immunity” required the state to narrowly define motor vehicles in a way that leaves out mowers. The ruling did not address the recreational exception.

“Because the evidence established a causal relationship between the wet grass in the recreation area and Brown’s injuries, Brown’s claim arises out of a temporary condition caused by nature and due to weather,” the court wrote.

Brown’s lawyer had no immediate comment Friday. Brown has 10 days from the decision to request a reconsideration. The Attorney General’s Office also declined comment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697477703647.jpeg" alt=" People camping at Sandy Channel State Recreation Area in Phelps County. (Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission)" />
 <figcaption> People camping at Sandy Channel State Recreation Area in Phelps County. (Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission)</figcaption>
 </figure> Aaron Sanderford<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/16/nebraska-supreme-court-rules-state-isnt-liable-for-park-mowing-collision/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Nebraska is not responsible for a riding lawnmower sliding into a visitor who was sitting at a picnic table at Sandy Channel State Recreational Area.Why not? It was wet in August 2017, when a state park employee was cutting grass and the mower slid down a nearby hill and struck the man. Nebraska law protects the state from legal liability in many accidents when weather plays a role.The Nebraska Supreme Court on Friday ruled that Aaron G. Brown of Holdrege could not sue the state despite injuries to his back and nerves that his lawsuit described as serious and permanent.<h2>Weather contributed</h2>The court found a “causal relationship” between the wet grass on the hill overlooking the picnic table where Brown sat. The park employee happened to be mowing when Brown had come to fish.Neither side disputed the worker’s view that the “lawnmower slid down the slope because of the wet conditions and that once the mower started sliding, there was nothing he could do,” it said.Brown himself testified that the mower collided with the picnic table he was seated at because of the wet conditions and not the worker’s actions.The state argued that it had the protection of two exceptions from liability: one for weather and another protecting the state from injuries occurring during recreational activities.<h2>Is a mower a motor vehicle?</h2>Among several arguments, Brown’s lawyer contended that the worker cutting grass so soon after a rain might have forfeited the law’s protections from liability. The court disagreed.The lawyer also wrangled with the Attorney General’s Office over whether a riding lawnmower meets the qualifications of a motor vehicle under a carve-out letting people sue the state.&nbsp;The court ruled that state law on “sovereign immunity” required the state to narrowly define motor vehicles in a way that leaves out mowers. The ruling did not address the recreational exception.“Because the evidence established a causal relationship between the wet grass in the recreation area and Brown’s injuries, Brown’s claim arises out of a temporary condition caused by nature and due to weather,” the court wrote.Brown’s lawyer had no immediate comment Friday. Brown has 10 days from the decision to request a reconsideration. The Attorney General’s Office also declined comment.

Nebraska Supreme Court rules state isn’t liable for park-mowing collision

&nbsp; LINCOLN, Neb. (October 16, 2023) -&nbsp;The Nebraska Tourism Commission’s application cycle is now open for both the Tourism Marketing Grant Program and Community Impact Grant Program. The programs offer funding opportunities to organizations to promote their events, destinations, community or region to travelers. “Keeping Nebraska an exceptional place to visit is always a top priority, and the grant program is key in doing that,” said John Ricks, Nebraska Tourism Commission executive director. “Destinations and tourism attractions can get assistance to promote their marketing campaigns and events to travelers, all to showcase to visitors what our state has to offer.”

The Tourism Marketing Grant Program encourages applicants to request funding for a variety of marketing activities to promote their destination or event which include development of professional photography, participating in tourism industry seminars, taking part in marketing efforts through the Nebraska Tourism Commission’s social media programs and more.

Through the Community Impact Grant program, large-scale events can apply for marketing assistance to attract out-of-state visitors in an effort to generate favorable national or international press coverage for the state. The grant cycle is open until December 8, 2023. Grant recipients will be announced February 1, 2024. Click here to view the grant guidelines:&nbsp;<a href="https://visitnebraska.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=30cc1cad235a879fac111c22b&amp;id=8cb5e8d75f&amp;e=65d6a9d786" target="_blank">https://visitnebraska.com/media/industry/category/grants</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp; LINCOLN, Neb. (October 16, 2023) -&nbsp;The Nebraska Tourism Commission’s application cycle is now open for both the Tourism Marketing Grant Program and Community Impact Grant Program. The programs offer funding opportunities to organizations to promote their events, destinations, community or region to travelers. “Keeping Nebraska an exceptional place to visit is always a top priority, and the grant program is key in doing that,” said John Ricks, Nebraska Tourism Commission executive director. “Destinations and tourism attractions can get assistance to promote their marketing campaigns and events to travelers, all to showcase to visitors what our state has to offer.”The Tourism Marketing Grant Program encourages applicants to request funding for a variety of marketing activities to promote their destination or event which include development of professional photography, participating in tourism industry seminars, taking part in marketing efforts through the Nebraska Tourism Commission’s social media programs and more.Through the Community Impact Grant program, large-scale events can apply for marketing assistance to attract out-of-state visitors in an effort to generate favorable national or international press coverage for the state. The grant cycle is open until December 8, 2023. Grant recipients will be announced February 1, 2024. Click here to view the grant guidelines:&nbsp;<a href="https://visitnebraska.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=30cc1cad235a879fac111c22b&amp;id=8cb5e8d75f&amp;e=65d6a9d786" target="_blank">https://visitnebraska.com/media/industry/category/grants</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

 Nebraska Tourism opens grant cycle and promotes marketing opportunities

WASHINGTON (AP) —U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Sunday that he would work with Senate Republicans in the coming weeks to assemble a “generous” package of wartime aid for Israel.

“America will stand with its ally Israel,” he said at a news conference in Israel that capped a visit by a bipartisan group of senators. “I, along with my colleagues here, will lead the effort in the United States Senate to provide Israel with the support required to fully defend itself from this monstrous attack.”

Schumer, a Democrat who is the highest-ranking Jewish official in the U.S., said he openly wept when he heard from the families of people taken hostage by Hamas. The group of senators also met with Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny Gantz, who have formed a wartime Cabinet.

“We will work to move this aid through the Senate ASAP, and the Israeli leaders made it clear to us they need the aid quickly,” Schumer said.

The Senate leader said he would not wait for the House to consider an aid package because it is facing its own political crisis as Republicans struggle to unite around a speaker. The chamber is practically paralyzed from advancing legislation while lawmakers work to elect a new speaker, but Schumer said he hoped a bipartisan effort out of the Senate would push the House to act.

Schumer has said he expects any package should include aid for Israel and Ukraine, along with possible aid for Taiwan as it faces threats from Beijing and money for the U.S. border. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has also indicated that he wants war aid for the two countries tied together, along with aid for Taiwan.

Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Mitt Romney of Utah and Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Mark Kelly of Arizona were also on the trip. During a lunch at their hotel on Sunday, the senators had to take shelter when sirens sounded indicating a rocket attack.

Schumer also said he would underscore to President Joe Biden the importance of U.S. assistance for Israel’s efforts to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697403284354.png" alt="Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and a bipartisan congressional delegation traveled to Israel over the weekend. Senators Bill Cassidy, Jacky Rosen, Mitt Romney and Mark Kelly made the trip-courtesy photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and a bipartisan congressional delegation traveled to Israel over the weekend. Senators Bill Cassidy, Jacky Rosen, Mitt Romney and Mark Kelly made the trip-courtesy photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Sunday that he would work with Senate Republicans in the coming weeks to assemble a “generous” package of wartime aid for Israel.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The U.S. stands with the people of Israel. Here’s what I said in Israel today alongside our bipartisan Senate delegation: <a href="https://t.co/U3LAyRlQ0p">pic.twitter.com/U3LAyRlQ0p</a>&mdash; Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenSchumer/status/1713638918506090691?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“America will stand with its ally Israel,” he said at a news conference in Israel that capped a visit by a bipartisan group of senators. “I, along with my colleagues here, will lead the effort in the United States Senate to provide Israel with the support required to fully defend itself from this monstrous attack.”Schumer, a Democrat who is the highest-ranking Jewish official in the U.S., said he openly wept when he heard from the families of people taken hostage by Hamas. The group of senators also met with Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny Gantz, who have formed a wartime Cabinet.“We will work to move this aid through the Senate ASAP, and the Israeli leaders made it clear to us they need the aid quickly,” Schumer said.The Senate leader said he would not wait for the House to consider an aid package because it is facing its own political crisis as Republicans struggle to unite around a speaker. The chamber is practically paralyzed from advancing legislation while lawmakers work to elect a new speaker, but Schumer said he hoped a bipartisan effort out of the Senate would push the House to act.Schumer has said he expects any package should include aid for Israel and Ukraine, along with possible aid for Taiwan as it faces threats from Beijing and money for the U.S. border. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has also indicated that he wants war aid for the two countries tied together, along with aid for Taiwan.Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Mitt Romney of Utah and Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Mark Kelly of Arizona were also on the trip. During a lunch at their hotel on Sunday, the senators had to take shelter when sirens sounded indicating a rocket attack.Schumer also said he would underscore to President Joe Biden the importance of U.S. assistance for Israel’s efforts to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas.

US Senate to prepare package of wartime aid for Israel 

DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford called on autoworkers to come together to end a monthlong strike that he says could cost the company the ability to invest in the future.

In a rare speech during contract talks in the company's hometown of Dearborn, Michigan, Ford said high labor costs could limit spending to develop new vehicles and invest in factories. “It’s the absolute lifeblood of our company. And if we lose it, we will lose to the competition. America loses. Many jobs will be lost,” said the great grandson of company founder Henry Ford.

The company, he said, builds more vehicles in America and has more United Auto Workers employees than any company, which has increased its costs in a highly competitive industry.

Ford has 57,000 UAW workers compared with 46,000 at GM and 43,000 at Stellantis. “Many of our competitors moved jobs to Mexico as we added jobs here in the U.S.,” Ford said.

The company is near an impasse with the United Auto Workers union, which walked out in targeted strikes at all three Detroit automakers on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/auto-workers-strike-ford-general-motors-stellantis-5f185f6615a1b3690af744641508c8e2">Sept. 15</a>,

Last week 8,700 union members walked out at the largest and most profitable Ford plant in the world, the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville.

Ford said the strike at the Kentucky plant is harming tens of thousands of Americans who work for parts suppliers and Ford dealers. The strike also could cause a fragile parts supply base to collapse, he said. “If it continues, it will have a major impact on the American economy and devastate local communities,” he said.

There was no immediate response from the UAW early Monday.

Ford, only the fourth family member to lead the 120-year-old company, said he has watched other companies lose their auto industries, then all of their manufacturing base. He said strong American manufacturing is essential for national security.

“We need to come together to bring an end to this acrimonious round of talks,” Ford said. “I still believe in a bright future – one that we can build together. I still believe the automobile industry is a major force for good in our country. We will continue to be there when America needs us most.”

Last week, after the Kentucky strike began, a top Ford executive said on a conference call with reporters that Ford had reached the limit in how much it was willing to spend to end the strike.

The speech from Ford arrives with the entire auto industry making a historic and expensive shift from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles.

UAW President Shawn Fain has said Ford and crosstown rivals General Motors and Jeep maker Stellantis are making billions in profits, and that workers should get a share. He says the workers should be repaid for sacrificing general pay raises, cost of living adjustments and agreeing to lower wage tiers to keep the companies afloat during the Great Recession.

The union began striking at targeted factories after its contracts with the companies expired. It started picketing one assembly plant from each company, but that has since spread to 38 parts warehouses at GM and Jeep maker Stellantis. The UAW later added another assembly plant at both GM and Ford.

Last Wednesday Fain made the surprise announcement that the union&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/auto-workers-uaw-strikes-layoffs-factories-60f444a85a51b1261b093fdaaae4bdb4">would walk out at the Kentucky plant</a>, which makes Super Duty pickups and large Ford and Lincoln SUVs.

About 34,000 of the union's 146,000 employees at all three automakers are now on strike.

Kumar Galhotra, president of Ford Blue, the company’s internal combustion engine business, told reporters Thursday that Ford stretched to get to the offer it now has on the table.

The apparently widening labor rift suggests Ford and the union may be in for a lengthy strike that could cost the company and workers billions of dollars.

Fain said on Wednesday that Ford told UAW bargainers for nearly two weeks that it would make another counteroffer on economic issues. But at a meeting called by the union, the company didn’t increase its previous offer, Fain said. “Ford hasn’t gotten the message” to bargain for a fair contract, Fain said in announcing the walkout by 8,700 workers at the company’s Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville.

“We’ve been very patient working with the company on this,” he said in a video. “They have not met expectations, they’re not even coming to the table on it.”

Galhotra called Ford’s offer “incredibly positive” and said Ford never indicated to the union that it would be increased.

“We have been very clear we are at the limit,” he said on a conference call with reporters. “We risk the ability to invest in the business and profitably grow. And profitable growth is in the best interest of everybody at Ford.”

The company has a set amount of money, but is willing to move dollars around in a way that might fit the union’s needs, he said, adding that he still thinks it’s possible to reach a deal.

The union has said Ford’s general wage offer is up to 23% over four years and that it has reinstated cost of living raises. GM and Stellantis were at 20%. But Fain said none was high enough.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695067603080.png" alt="Striking autoworkers in Missouri" />
 <figcaption>Striking autoworkers in Missouri</figcaption>
 </figure>DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford called on autoworkers to come together to end a monthlong strike that he says could cost the company the ability to invest in the future.In a rare speech during contract talks in the company's hometown of Dearborn, Michigan, Ford said high labor costs could limit spending to develop new vehicles and invest in factories. “It’s the absolute lifeblood of our company. And if we lose it, we will lose to the competition. America loses. Many jobs will be lost,” said the great grandson of company founder Henry Ford.The company, he said, builds more vehicles in America and has more United Auto Workers employees than any company, which has increased its costs in a highly competitive industry.Ford has 57,000 UAW workers compared with 46,000 at GM and 43,000 at Stellantis. “Many of our competitors moved jobs to Mexico as we added jobs here in the U.S.,” Ford said.The company is near an impasse with the United Auto Workers union, which walked out in targeted strikes at all three Detroit automakers on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/auto-workers-strike-ford-general-motors-stellantis-5f185f6615a1b3690af744641508c8e2">Sept. 15</a>,Last week 8,700 union members walked out at the largest and most profitable Ford plant in the world, the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville.Ford said the strike at the Kentucky plant is harming tens of thousands of Americans who work for parts suppliers and Ford dealers. The strike also could cause a fragile parts supply base to collapse, he said. “If it continues, it will have a major impact on the American economy and devastate local communities,” he said.There was no immediate response from the UAW early Monday.Ford, only the fourth family member to lead the 120-year-old company, said he has watched other companies lose their auto industries, then all of their manufacturing base. He said strong American manufacturing is essential for national security.“We need to come together to bring an end to this acrimonious round of talks,” Ford said. “I still believe in a bright future – one that we can build together. I still believe the automobile industry is a major force for good in our country. We will continue to be there when America needs us most.”Last week, after the Kentucky strike began, a top Ford executive said on a conference call with reporters that Ford had reached the limit in how much it was willing to spend to end the strike.The speech from Ford arrives with the entire auto industry making a historic and expensive shift from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles.UAW President Shawn Fain has said Ford and crosstown rivals General Motors and Jeep maker Stellantis are making billions in profits, and that workers should get a share. He says the workers should be repaid for sacrificing general pay raises, cost of living adjustments and agreeing to lower wage tiers to keep the companies afloat during the Great Recession.The union began striking at targeted factories after its contracts with the companies expired. It started picketing one assembly plant from each company, but that has since spread to 38 parts warehouses at GM and Jeep maker Stellantis. The UAW later added another assembly plant at both GM and Ford.Last Wednesday Fain made the surprise announcement that the union&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/auto-workers-uaw-strikes-layoffs-factories-60f444a85a51b1261b093fdaaae4bdb4">would walk out at the Kentucky plant</a>, which makes Super Duty pickups and large Ford and Lincoln SUVs.About 34,000 of the union's 146,000 employees at all three automakers are now on strike.Kumar Galhotra, president of Ford Blue, the company’s internal combustion engine business, told reporters Thursday that Ford stretched to get to the offer it now has on the table.The apparently widening labor rift suggests Ford and the union may be in for a lengthy strike that could cost the company and workers billions of dollars.Fain said on Wednesday that Ford told UAW bargainers for nearly two weeks that it would make another counteroffer on economic issues. But at a meeting called by the union, the company didn’t increase its previous offer, Fain said. “Ford hasn’t gotten the message” to bargain for a fair contract, Fain said in announcing the walkout by 8,700 workers at the company’s Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville.“We’ve been very patient working with the company on this,” he said in a video. “They have not met expectations, they’re not even coming to the table on it.”Galhotra called Ford’s offer “incredibly positive” and said Ford never indicated to the union that it would be increased.“We have been very clear we are at the limit,” he said on a conference call with reporters. “We risk the ability to invest in the business and profitably grow. And profitable growth is in the best interest of everybody at Ford.”The company has a set amount of money, but is willing to move dollars around in a way that might fit the union’s needs, he said, adding that he still thinks it’s possible to reach a deal.The union has said Ford’s general wage offer is up to 23% over four years and that it has reinstated cost of living raises. GM and Stellantis were at 20%. But Fain said none was high enough.

Ford Executive Chair calls on autoworkers to end strike

On October 15th, 2023, Officers observed a vehicle failing to stay in its lane. Officers activated their overhead lights and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, making contact with the driver, 34-year-old Austin Priest, and passenger, 45-year-old Nikki Stevens.  During the stop, PSD Briggs was deployed, and probable cause was developed to search the vehicle.

During their search, officers located a large cellophane package with just over one pound of methamphetamine inside. Both Priest and Stevens were taken into custody without issue and incarcerated at the Lincoln County Detention Center for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver - 140+ grams.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697453431656.jpeg" alt="Austin Priest/Lincoln County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Austin Priest/Lincoln County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>North Platte Police DepartmentOn October 15th, 2023, Officers observed a vehicle failing to stay in its lane. Officers activated their overhead lights and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, making contact with the driver, 34-year-old Austin Priest, and passenger, 45-year-old Nikki Stevens. During the stop, PSD Briggs was deployed, and probable cause was developed to search the vehicle.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697453446815.jpeg" alt="Nikki Stevens/ Lincoln County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Nikki Stevens/ Lincoln County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>During their search, officers located a large cellophane package with just over one pound of methamphetamine inside. Both Priest and Stevens were taken into custody without issue and incarcerated at the Lincoln County Detention Center for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver - 140+ grams.

NPPD arrest two individuals during traffic stop

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/16/families-of-poet-john-neihardt-and-south-dakota-rancher-seek-silver-lining-to-removal-of-monument/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —Later this week, a backhoe is scheduled to tear into the prairie along northwest South Dakota’s Shadehill Reservoir, removing a 100-year-old monument to the heroics of a mountain man.

The removal of the small, concrete obelisk dedicated to the determination of Hugh Glass, who crawled 200 miles after surviving a vicious, mauling by a grizzly bear, has some people upset.

The monument is “being snatched away,” wrote Hettinger, N.D., author&nbsp;Francie M. Berg in a letter to local newspaper editors last week.

The marker, hand-fashioned by poet/author John Neihardt and a local rancher, was a “gift to communities of Shadehill and Lemmon, S.D.,” wrote another nearby resident.

“It seems right to leave it where it is,” Ellen Ketterling wrote.

The descendants of Neihardt and Otto Weinkauf, the rancher who helped build the monument, said they have heard the pleas loud and clear, and they are hoping to do something about it.

“There has to be a silver lining to this,” said Arden Saunders of Rapid City, a grandson of Weinkauf, on whose land the monument initially stood.

But standing in the way of replacing the monument with a historical marker of some kind is the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which maintains that while it can permit the removal of the Hugh Glass memorial to facilitate the removal of a time capsule inside, it cannot, by statute, allow the erection of something new.

Both Saunders and&nbsp;Coralie Hughes, a granddaughter of Neihardt, are hoping there’s some way to allow the &nbsp;placement of an interpretive sign or marker to explain what their ancestors did 100 years ago.&nbsp;

“There are two overriding principles: One is do what my grandfather asked&nbsp; (open the time capsule), and the second is preserve history,” Hughes said.

Her family is scheduled on Saturday to retrieve the monument, which John Neihardt says holds a time capsule that includes “an original manuscript.”

The Bureau ruled that the only way the monument could be cracked into was to remove it. So the Neihardt family plans to haul it to Bancroft, Nebraska, the site of the John Neihardt State Historic Site, to chip into it, fulfilling the poet’s wishes that the time capsule be opened in 2023.

John Neihardt and some members of a “Neihardt Club” from what is now Wayne State College drove up to Lemmon in 1923 and built the monument to Glass, the subject of Neihardt’s epic poem, “The Song of Hugh Glass.” The site was at the confluence of two rivers where the mauling was said to have taken place.

The Nebraska poet/author — best known for writing “Black Elk Speaks” — issued a challenge for Wayne State students to return in 100 years, open a time capsule encased in the concrete obelisk and celebrate like mountain men would have. a group of students trekked to the site<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/09/wayne-state-group-seeks-to-unlock-mysteries-surrounding-lonely-south-dakota-monument/">&nbsp;in June.</a>

But the Bureau of Reclamation, on whose land the monument now sits, and the South Dakota parks department, which operates a state park on the reservoir,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/02/tale-of-mysterious-monument-thickens-as-relative-of-famed-author-pledges-to-find-out-whats-inside/">balked at letting the students crack into the concrete.</a>

Ultimately, it was determined&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/09/25/family-of-famed-poet-plans-to-breach-century-old-monument-to-unlock-mystery-inside/">that “ownership” of the monument</a>&nbsp;rested with the Neihardt family. But if they wanted to break into the concrete, the monument had to be removed from federal property.

Hughes said Friday that it has always been the family’s intention that an interpretive sign of some kind — explaining what happened in 1923 to honor Hugh Glass — be erected as a replacement.

He said last week that he’s had some sleepless nights knowing that a monument his grandfather helped build with his homemade cement mixer, and faithfully maintained for several years, will soon be removed.

“It’s a part of my family history that’s going to be gone,” Saunders said.

He said he doesn’t blame the Neihardt family, who are just trying to fulfill their grandfather’s wishes to open the time capsule.

“The government forced her hand,” Saunders said.

On Thursday, a representative of the Bureau of Reclamation said that installation of a replacement sign or monument would not be allowed.

“Federal regulation 43 CFR Part 423.28 explicitly outlines that ‘you must not … place memorials, markers, vases, or plaques on Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies,’ ” stated an email from Elizabeth Smith, a Bureau spokeswoman in Montana.

Smith said the removal of the monument doesn’t conflict with the rule, but erecting a new one would.

The Bureau has noted that a second monument to Hugh Glass, erected by the state in 1964 using local petrified wood, will remain. Only the “smaller, lesser-known” monument will be removed.

Saunders said he hopes that decision can be relaxed or reversed and has reached out to the office of U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., to see if something can be done.

Hughes, from her home in Indiana, said the last thing the family wants is to leave people in the Lemmon area upset.

An official with the Neihardt Center in Nebraska is also supportive.

“There should be something there to replace it,” said Marianne Reynolds, the executive director of the center.&nbsp;&nbsp;

‘The Revenant’ based on Glass’ crawl

The Hugh Glass story is an important one in Lemmon, which holds an annual “rendezvous” festival in honor of the mountain man’s crawl to safety. The odyssey was depicted, with some Hollywood adaptations, in the movie, “The Revenant,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Saunders said that a letter written by his grandfather in 1963 filled in some details about the monument.

Everyone present for its construction, the letter stated, signed their names to a paper that was placed inside a metal box. The box was locked and encased in concrete. The key was given to the wife of the then-director of the South Dakota State Historical Society for safekeeping, until the box/time capsule was to be reopened in 2023.

There was one addition: A pair of newlyweds showed up too late to have their names included in the time capsule. So a piece of paper with their names was placed in a pop bottle that was forced down into the still-wet concrete. The newlyweds were J.D. and Myrtle Young of Lincoln, with whom Neihardt lived for a time prior to his death in 1973.

Saunders said he’s still amazed at how a poet from Nebraska navigated gravel roads and cow paths to get to Lemmon in 1923, and then had the fortune of finding a tough, German rancher, who had the equipment to build a concrete monument at the now-famous site of the mauling.

Now, he said, “We just have to make the best of what we got.”

Hughes said the family plans to unveil the contents of the time capsule, if it can be successfully removed from the concrete monument, at the annual spring conference of the Neihardt Foundation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697461765713.jpeg" alt=" This lonely monument, erected by poet/author John Neihardt and South Dakota rancher Otto Weinkauf 100 years ago, is to be removed from its location along Shadehill Reservoir on Saturday and transported to Nebraska. (Courtesy U.S. Bureau of Reclamation)" />
 <figcaption> This lonely monument, erected by poet/author John Neihardt and South Dakota rancher Otto Weinkauf 100 years ago, is to be removed from its location along Shadehill Reservoir on Saturday and transported to Nebraska. (Courtesy U.S. Bureau of Reclamation)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/16/families-of-poet-john-neihardt-and-south-dakota-rancher-seek-silver-lining-to-removal-of-monument/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —Later this week, a backhoe is scheduled to tear into the prairie along northwest South Dakota’s Shadehill Reservoir, removing a 100-year-old monument to the heroics of a mountain man.The removal of the small, concrete obelisk dedicated to the determination of Hugh Glass, who crawled 200 miles after surviving a vicious, mauling by a grizzly bear, has some people upset.The monument is “being snatched away,” wrote Hettinger, N.D., author&nbsp;Francie M. Berg in a letter to local newspaper editors last week.The marker, hand-fashioned by poet/author John Neihardt and a local rancher, was a “gift to communities of Shadehill and Lemmon, S.D.,” wrote another nearby resident.“It seems right to leave it where it is,” Ellen Ketterling wrote.<h2>Descendants seek solution</h2>The descendants of Neihardt and Otto Weinkauf, the rancher who helped build the monument, said they have heard the pleas loud and clear, and they are hoping to do something about it.“There has to be a silver lining to this,” said Arden Saunders of Rapid City, a grandson of Weinkauf, on whose land the monument initially stood.But standing in the way of replacing the monument with a historical marker of some kind is the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which maintains that while it can permit the removal of the Hugh Glass memorial to facilitate the removal of a time capsule inside, it cannot, by statute, allow the erection of something new.Both Saunders and&nbsp;Coralie Hughes, a granddaughter of Neihardt, are hoping there’s some way to allow the &nbsp;placement of an interpretive sign or marker to explain what their ancestors did 100 years ago.&nbsp;“There are two overriding principles: One is do what my grandfather asked&nbsp; (open the time capsule), and the second is preserve history,” Hughes said.Her family is scheduled on Saturday to retrieve the monument, which John Neihardt says holds a time capsule that includes “an original manuscript.”<h2>Removal was only way to crack into it</h2>The Bureau ruled that the only way the monument could be cracked into was to remove it. So the Neihardt family plans to haul it to Bancroft, Nebraska, the site of the John Neihardt State Historic Site, to chip into it, fulfilling the poet’s wishes that the time capsule be opened in 2023.Some background:John Neihardt and some members of a “Neihardt Club” from what is now Wayne State College drove up to Lemmon in 1923 and built the monument to Glass, the subject of Neihardt’s epic poem, “The Song of Hugh Glass.” The site was at the confluence of two rivers where the mauling was said to have taken place.The Nebraska poet/author — best known for writing “Black Elk Speaks” — issued a challenge for Wayne State students to return in 100 years, open a time capsule encased in the concrete obelisk and celebrate like mountain men would have. a group of students trekked to the site<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/09/wayne-state-group-seeks-to-unlock-mysteries-surrounding-lonely-south-dakota-monument/">&nbsp;in June.</a>But the Bureau of Reclamation, on whose land the monument now sits, and the South Dakota parks department, which operates a state park on the reservoir,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/02/tale-of-mysterious-monument-thickens-as-relative-of-famed-author-pledges-to-find-out-whats-inside/">balked at letting the students crack into the concrete.</a>Ultimately, it was determined&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/09/25/family-of-famed-poet-plans-to-breach-century-old-monument-to-unlock-mystery-inside/">that “ownership” of the monument</a>&nbsp;rested with the Neihardt family. But if they wanted to break into the concrete, the monument had to be removed from federal property.<h2>A replacement was always intended</h2>Hughes said Friday that it has always been the family’s intention that an interpretive sign of some kind — explaining what happened in 1923 to honor Hugh Glass — be erected as a replacement.Saunders, a history buff, agrees.He said last week that he’s had some sleepless nights knowing that a monument his grandfather helped build with his homemade cement mixer, and faithfully maintained for several years, will soon be removed.“It’s a part of my family history that’s going to be gone,” Saunders said.He said he doesn’t blame the Neihardt family, who are just trying to fulfill their grandfather’s wishes to open the time capsule.“The government forced her hand,” Saunders said.On Thursday, a representative of the Bureau of Reclamation said that installation of a replacement sign or monument would not be allowed.<h2>Rule says no new monuments</h2>“Federal regulation 43 CFR Part 423.28 explicitly outlines that ‘you must not … place memorials, markers, vases, or plaques on Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies,’ ” stated an email from Elizabeth Smith, a Bureau spokeswoman in Montana.Smith said the removal of the monument doesn’t conflict with the rule, but erecting a new one would.The Bureau has noted that a second monument to Hugh Glass, erected by the state in 1964 using local petrified wood, will remain. Only the “smaller, lesser-known” monument will be removed.Saunders said he hopes that decision can be relaxed or reversed and has reached out to the office of U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., to see if something can be done.Hughes, from her home in Indiana, said the last thing the family wants is to leave people in the Lemmon area upset.An official with the Neihardt Center in Nebraska is also supportive.“There should be something there to replace it,” said Marianne Reynolds, the executive director of the center.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>‘The Revenant’ based on Glass’ crawl</h2>The Hugh Glass story is an important one in Lemmon, which holds an annual “rendezvous” festival in honor of the mountain man’s crawl to safety. The odyssey was depicted, with some Hollywood adaptations, in the movie, “The Revenant,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio.Saunders said that a letter written by his grandfather in 1963 filled in some details about the monument.Everyone present for its construction, the letter stated, signed their names to a paper that was placed inside a metal box. The box was locked and encased in concrete. The key was given to the wife of the then-director of the South Dakota State Historical Society for safekeeping, until the box/time capsule was to be reopened in 2023.There was one addition: A pair of newlyweds showed up too late to have their names included in the time capsule. So a piece of paper with their names was placed in a pop bottle that was forced down into the still-wet concrete. The newlyweds were J.D. and Myrtle Young of Lincoln, with whom Neihardt lived for a time prior to his death in 1973.Saunders said he’s still amazed at how a poet from Nebraska navigated gravel roads and cow paths to get to Lemmon in 1923, and then had the fortune of finding a tough, German rancher, who had the equipment to build a concrete monument at the now-famous site of the mauling.Now, he said, “We just have to make the best of what we got.”Hughes said the family plans to unveil the contents of the time capsule, if it can be successfully removed from the concrete monument, at the annual spring conference of the Neihardt Foundation.

Families of poet John Neihardt and South Dakota rancher seek ‘silver lining’ to removal of monument

WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department says the number of Americans killed since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas has risen to 30.

“At this time, we can confirm the deaths of 30 U.S. citizens. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected," the State Department said in a statement released Sunday. The U.S. is also aware of 13 missing citizens and has been in contact with their families.

Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7 and murdered more than 1,400 Israelis, the vast majority of them civilians. The militants also kidnapped at least 155 people — a number that includes babies and the elderly — and are holding them hostage in Gaza. Their whereabouts are not publicly known, but their families have been urgently pressing for their release.

“The U.S. government is working around the clock to determine their whereabouts and is working with the Israeli government on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to advise the Israeli government on hostage recovery efforts,” the statement said.

The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,670 Palestinians have been killed so far.

President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;is considering a trip to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel">Israel</a>&nbsp;in the coming days but no travel has been finalized, a senior administration official said Sunday. It would be a powerful symbol of sympathy and support following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2">the brutal attack by Hamas</a>.

A trip would be a chance for Biden to personally affirm to the Israeli people the U.S. is standing firm behind them. But it would come amid growing fears that a looming Israeli move into Gaza could spark a wider war with devastating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-civilians-humanitarian-crisis-shortages-fuel-water-937b474fa16970f36ac44615e9797fbc">humanitarian consequences</a>.

And Biden’s presence could be seen as a provocative move by Hamas’ chief sponsor, Iran, or potentially viewed as tone deaf by Arab nations as civilian casualties mount in Gaza. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has already been traveling around the Mideast this past week trying to prevent the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6cf0ff04e513ecec12cf9152656ac1b6">war with Hamas</a>&nbsp;from igniting a broader regional conflict.

The official could not publicly discuss internal deliberations about the potential presidential travel and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Biden also made his strongest public statements yet to restrain Israel after the Oct. 7 attack that killed more than 1,400 people including at least 30 U.S. citizens, warning in an interview with CBS' 60 Minutes that aired Sunday that Israel should not reoccupy Gaza.

“I think it’d be a big mistake,” Biden said. “Look, what happened in Gaza, in my view, is Hamas, and the extreme elements of Hamas don’t represent all the Palestinian people. And I think that it would be a mistake for Israel to occupy Gaza again.”

Israel left Gaza in 2005; Hamas won the elections the next year.

Still, Biden said, “taking out the extremists ... is a necessary requirement.”

Biden and his administration officials have refused to criticize Israel or its bombing campaign that has killed civilians in Gaza. But they've urged Israel, Egypt and other nations to allow for humanitarian aid and supplies into the worsening conflict zone.

“I’m confident that Israel is going to act under the rules of war," Biden said in the interview. ”There’s standards that democratic institutions and countries go by. And I’m confident that there’s going to be an ability for the innocents in Gaza to be able to have access to medicine and food and water."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696679013332.png" alt="File photo-Palestinians wave their national flag and celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis southern Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Yousef Masoud)" />
 <figcaption>File photo-Palestinians wave their national flag and celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis southern Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Yousef Masoud)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department says the number of Americans killed since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas has risen to 30.“At this time, we can confirm the deaths of 30 U.S. citizens. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected," the State Department said in a statement released Sunday. The U.S. is also aware of 13 missing citizens and has been in contact with their families.Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7 and murdered more than 1,400 Israelis, the vast majority of them civilians. The militants also kidnapped at least 155 people — a number that includes babies and the elderly — and are holding them hostage in Gaza. Their whereabouts are not publicly known, but their families have been urgently pressing for their release.“The U.S. government is working around the clock to determine their whereabouts and is working with the Israeli government on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to advise the Israeli government on hostage recovery efforts,” the statement said.The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,670 Palestinians have been killed so far.President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;is considering a trip to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel">Israel</a>&nbsp;in the coming days but no travel has been finalized, a senior administration official said Sunday. It would be a powerful symbol of sympathy and support following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2">the brutal attack by Hamas</a>.A trip would be a chance for Biden to personally affirm to the Israeli people the U.S. is standing firm behind them. But it would come amid growing fears that a looming Israeli move into Gaza could spark a wider war with devastating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-civilians-humanitarian-crisis-shortages-fuel-water-937b474fa16970f36ac44615e9797fbc">humanitarian consequences</a>.And Biden’s presence could be seen as a provocative move by Hamas’ chief sponsor, Iran, or potentially viewed as tone deaf by Arab nations as civilian casualties mount in Gaza. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has already been traveling around the Mideast this past week trying to prevent the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6cf0ff04e513ecec12cf9152656ac1b6">war with Hamas</a>&nbsp;from igniting a broader regional conflict.The official could not publicly discuss internal deliberations about the potential presidential travel and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.Biden also made his strongest public statements yet to restrain Israel after the Oct. 7 attack that killed more than 1,400 people including at least 30 U.S. citizens, warning in an interview with CBS' 60 Minutes that aired Sunday that Israel should not reoccupy Gaza.“I think it’d be a big mistake,” Biden said. “Look, what happened in Gaza, in my view, is Hamas, and the extreme elements of Hamas don’t represent all the Palestinian people. And I think that it would be a mistake for Israel to occupy Gaza again.”Israel left Gaza in 2005; Hamas won the elections the next year.Still, Biden said, “taking out the extremists ... is a necessary requirement.”Biden and his administration officials have refused to criticize Israel or its bombing campaign that has killed civilians in Gaza. But they've urged Israel, Egypt and other nations to allow for humanitarian aid and supplies into the worsening conflict zone.“I’m confident that Israel is going to act under the rules of war," Biden said in the interview. ”There’s standards that democratic institutions and countries go by. And I’m confident that there’s going to be an ability for the innocents in Gaza to be able to have access to medicine and food and water."

State Department: 30 Americans killed in Israel, 13 still missing 

LOS ANGELES (AP) —Suzanne Somers, the effervescent blonde actor known for playing Chrissy Snow on the television show “Three’s Company” as well as her business endeavors, has died. She was 76.

Somers had breast cancer for over 23 years and died Sunday morning, her family said in a statement provided by her longtime publicist, R. Couri Hay. Her husband Alan Hamel, her son Bruce and other immediate family were with her in Palm Springs, California.

“Her family was gathered to celebrate her 77th birthday on October 16th,” the statement read. “Instead, they will celebrate her extraordinary life, and want to thank her millions of fans and followers who loved her dearly.”

In July, Somers shared on Instagram that her breast cancer had returned.

“Like any cancer patient, when you get that dreaded, ‘It’s back’ you get a pit in your stomach. Then I put on my battle gear and go to war," she told Entertainment Tonight at the time. "This is familiar battleground for me and I’m very tough.”

She was first diagnosed in 2000, and also had skin cancer. She faced some backlash for her reliance on what she's described as a chemical-free and organic lifestyle to combat the cancers. She argued against the use of chemotherapy, in books and on platforms like “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” which drew criticism from the American Cancer Society.

Somers was born in 1946 in San Bruno, California, to a gardener father and a medical secretary mother. She began acting in the late 1960s, playing the blonde driving the white Thunderbird in George Lucas’s 1973 film “American Graffiti.” Her only line was mouthing the words “I love you” to Richard Dreyfuss’s character.

At her audition, Lucas just asked her if she could drive. She later said that moment “changed her life forever.”

Somers would later stage a one-woman Broadway show entitled “The Blonde in the Thunderbird,” which drew largely scathing reviews.

She appeared in many television shows in the 1970s, including “The Rockford Files,” “Magnum Force” and “The Six Million Dollar Man,” but her most famous part came with “Three’s Company,” which aired on ABC from 1977 to 1984 — though her participation ended in 1981.

On “Three’s Company,” she was the ditzy blonde opposite John Ritter and Joyce DeWitt in the roommate comedy. In 1980, after four seasons, she asked for a raise from $30,000 an episode to $150,000 an episode, which would have been comparable to what Ritter was getting paid. Hamel, a former television producer, had encouraged the ask.

“The show’s response was, ‘Who do you think you are?’” Somers told People in 2020. “They said, ‘John Ritter is the star.’”

She was soon fired and her character was replaced by two different roommates for the remaining years the show aired. It also led to a rift with her co-stars; They didn’t speak for many years. Somers did reconcile with Ritter before his death, and then with DeWitt on her online talk show.

But Somers took the break as an opportunity to pursue new avenues, including a Las Vegas act, writing books, hosting a talk show and becoming an entrepreneur. In the 1990s, she also became the spokesperson for the “Thighmaster.”

Somers returned to network television in the 1990s, most famously on “Step by Step,” which aired on ABC’s youth-targeted TGIF lineup. The network also aired a biopic of her life, starring her, called “Keeping Secrets.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697402588728.png" alt="Somers had breast cancer for over 23 years and died Sunday morning&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Somers had breast cancer for over 23 years and died Sunday morning&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) —Suzanne Somers, the effervescent blonde actor known for playing Chrissy Snow on the television show “Three’s Company” as well as her business endeavors, has died. She was 76.Somers had breast cancer for over 23 years and died Sunday morning, her family said in a statement provided by her longtime publicist, R. Couri Hay. Her husband Alan Hamel, her son Bruce and other immediate family were with her in Palm Springs, California.“Her family was gathered to celebrate her 77th birthday on October 16th,” the statement read. “Instead, they will celebrate her extraordinary life, and want to thank her millions of fans and followers who loved her dearly.”In July, Somers shared on Instagram that her breast cancer had returned.“Like any cancer patient, when you get that dreaded, ‘It’s back’ you get a pit in your stomach. Then I put on my battle gear and go to war," she told Entertainment Tonight at the time. "This is familiar battleground for me and I’m very tough.”She was first diagnosed in 2000, and also had skin cancer. She faced some backlash for her reliance on what she's described as a chemical-free and organic lifestyle to combat the cancers. She argued against the use of chemotherapy, in books and on platforms like “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” which drew criticism from the American Cancer Society.Somers was born in 1946 in San Bruno, California, to a gardener father and a medical secretary mother. She began acting in the late 1960s, playing the blonde driving the white Thunderbird in George Lucas’s 1973 film “American Graffiti.” Her only line was mouthing the words “I love you” to Richard Dreyfuss’s character.At her audition, Lucas just asked her if she could drive. She later said that moment “changed her life forever.”Somers would later stage a one-woman Broadway show entitled “The Blonde in the Thunderbird,” which drew largely scathing reviews.She appeared in many television shows in the 1970s, including “The Rockford Files,” “Magnum Force” and “The Six Million Dollar Man,” but her most famous part came with “Three’s Company,” which aired on ABC from 1977 to 1984 — though her participation ended in 1981.On “Three’s Company,” she was the ditzy blonde opposite John Ritter and Joyce DeWitt in the roommate comedy. In 1980, after four seasons, she asked for a raise from $30,000 an episode to $150,000 an episode, which would have been comparable to what Ritter was getting paid. Hamel, a former television producer, had encouraged the ask.“The show’s response was, ‘Who do you think you are?’” Somers told People in 2020. “They said, ‘John Ritter is the star.’”She was soon fired and her character was replaced by two different roommates for the remaining years the show aired. It also led to a rift with her co-stars; They didn’t speak for many years. Somers did reconcile with Ritter before his death, and then with DeWitt on her online talk show.But Somers took the break as an opportunity to pursue new avenues, including a Las Vegas act, writing books, hosting a talk show and becoming an entrepreneur. In the 1990s, she also became the spokesperson for the “Thighmaster.”Somers returned to network television in the 1990s, most famously on “Step by Step,” which aired on ABC’s youth-targeted TGIF lineup. The network also aired a biopic of her life, starring her, called “Keeping Secrets.”

Suzanne Somers, of ‘Three’s Company,’ dies at 76

As the State of Israel enters a new phase in its defensive actions against the Islamic militant movement Hamas, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen issued the following statement regarding the need for strong, principled American leadership in support of our greatest ally:

“The attacks by Hamas on Israel and its citizens on October 7, 2023, were horrific and barbaric. No innocent civilians should be targeted in the way they have been by these Iran-backed terrorists. The acts committed by Hamas are unacceptable on every level. Nebraskans can recognize evil when they see it, and we saw it on Oct. 7. When America was targeted on September 11, 2001, Israel stood with us. America must stand with Israel now, and our national leaders must unequivocally voice their support for Israel and condemn both Hamas and any other hostile nation or organization which would seek to take advantage of this crisis.&nbsp;

Here in Nebraska, we have already taken several steps to support Israel, both publicly and in the background. I ordered flags to be flown at half-staff and our State Capitol to be lit in blue to in honor of the lives lost in Israel. My team has participated in security briefings to ensure we are current on the latest developments in the region. We have also conducted outreach to ensure that any Nebraskans trapped in the region, who need a way out, are secured. In addition to these steps, I am calling on the federal government to meet America’s obligations in this crisis.

First, as Israel embarks on further defensive actions, I call upon the federal government to use every tool available to protect any American citizens who are in harm’s&nbsp;way. We know that Hamas has murdered more than two dozen Americans. Others are still missing and may be hostages. This is unacceptable, and the United States government should not rest until its citizens in the region are&nbsp;secure from Hamas’ custody.

Additionally, I call upon President Biden to ensure that no aid of any kind is sent to Iran, a known supporter and funder of Hamas and other terror organizations. This must be a complete freeze. Iran applauded these attacks on Israel. At this juncture, we know that any form of financial support to Iran will directly support that regime’s terrorism agenda.

Finally,&nbsp;we must secure our southern border. In addition to sending Nebraska National Guard troops and Nebraska State troopers to the border in support of Operation Lone Star, I and other Governors have previously called on the Department of Homeland Security to account for the thousands of illegal aliens apprehended at the border; advise state governments of their countries of origin; and, to report where individuals have been relocated within the interior of the United States as they await further immigration proceedings. To date, we have not received this vital national security information. The Oct. 7 attacks on Israel emphasize the need to address this issue now.

As the State of Israel enters a new phase in its defensive actions against the Islamic militant movement Hamas, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen issued the following statement regarding the need for strong, principled American leadership in support of our greatest ally:“The attacks by Hamas on Israel and its citizens on October 7, 2023, were horrific and barbaric. No innocent civilians should be targeted in the way they have been by these Iran-backed terrorists. The acts committed by Hamas are unacceptable on every level. Nebraskans can recognize evil when they see it, and we saw it on Oct. 7. When America was targeted on September 11, 2001, Israel stood with us. America must stand with Israel now, and our national leaders must unequivocally voice their support for Israel and condemn both Hamas and any other hostile nation or organization which would seek to take advantage of this crisis.&nbsp;Here in Nebraska, we have already taken several steps to support Israel, both publicly and in the background. I ordered flags to be flown at half-staff and our State Capitol to be lit in blue to in honor of the lives lost in Israel. My team has participated in security briefings to ensure we are current on the latest developments in the region. We have also conducted outreach to ensure that any Nebraskans trapped in the region, who need a way out, are secured. In addition to these steps, I am calling on the federal government to meet America’s obligations in this crisis.First, as Israel embarks on further defensive actions, I call upon the federal government to use every tool available to protect any American citizens who are in harm’s&nbsp;way. We know that Hamas has murdered more than two dozen Americans. Others are still missing and may be hostages. This is unacceptable, and the United States government should not rest until its citizens in the region are&nbsp;secure from Hamas’ custody.Additionally, I call upon President Biden to ensure that no aid of any kind is sent to Iran, a known supporter and funder of Hamas and other terror organizations. This must be a complete freeze. Iran applauded these attacks on Israel. At this juncture, we know that any form of financial support to Iran will directly support that regime’s terrorism agenda.Finally,&nbsp;we must secure our southern border. In addition to sending Nebraska National Guard troops and Nebraska State troopers to the border in support of Operation Lone Star, I and other Governors have previously called on the Department of Homeland Security to account for the thousands of illegal aliens apprehended at the border; advise state governments of their countries of origin; and, to report where individuals have been relocated within the interior of the United States as they await further immigration proceedings. To date, we have not received this vital national security information. The Oct. 7 attacks on Israel emphasize the need to address this issue now.

Governor Pillen Issues Statement Calling for Leadership in Support of Israel   

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A dozen state or county agencies have parted ways with tens of thousands of dollars in federal grants meant to help monitor teenagers' sexual behaviors and try to lower rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

The withdrawals reflect a shift in many states that is further complicating and polarizing sex education in K-12 schools as some Republican-led legislatures more strictly regulate when and what students learn about their bodies. The new laws are part of a broad push to fortify “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-education-gender-identity-0e2ca2cf0ef7d7bc6ef5b125f1ee0969">parents' rights</a>&nbsp;” and strike LGBTQ+ content from the classroom,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-republicans-president-mama-bears-moms-desantis-a96ae3d1ed167f823360e7645ca4b519">core themes</a>&nbsp;that have flooded the campaign for the GOP&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024">presidential nomination</a>.

Experts are concerned students won’t reliably learn about adolescence, safe sexual activity or relationship violence, topics they say are especially important since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2021/default.htm">sexually transmitted diseases rose after the pandemic</a>&nbsp;and access to abortion is increasingly restricted.

Anne-Marie Amies Oelschlager, a pediatric and adolescent gynecologist at Seattle Children's Hospital, said a trained, trusted adult is critical for young people to get good information versus other, less trustworthy sources like social media.

“When we stop talking about these things or ... try to push things under the rug, we just increase risk," she said.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teen-sex-survey-high-school-3d45d0441f531d1da9f5b44373becee4">Fewer teens are sexually active</a>, a 2021 government survey showed, but federal data that year also suggest teens and young adults made up half of all people with STDs. For the youngest generations, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teen-sex-sexual-intercourse-meaning-fa0b10e0fb7e8fd8fd72ac9990c3321a">language about sex is evolving</a>.

This year, lawmakers passed bans on teaching human sexuality before fourth grade in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indiana-governor-transgender-students-book-bans-b3662d950080cf43965bce58692bfc70">Indiana</a>&nbsp;and sexual reproduction or sexual intercourse before fifth grade in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/huckabee-sanders-vouchers-schools-lgbtq-education-teachers-bd56e89399d401ea44018cc92a5116ee">Arkansas</a>. In Kentucky, educators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kentucky-transgender-c90d6b61a3e1e717fc1280be9d2eb529">can't teach sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases before sixth grade</a>, and parents must provide consent for older students. A handful of states require parents to opt in to instruction instead of opting out.

In Florida, materials about reproductive health, human sexuality and sexually transmitted diseases&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/desantis-florida-dont-say-gay-ban-684ed25a303f83208a89c556543183cb">for any grade</a>&nbsp;must be approved by state officials. A letter from the state agency indicates curriculum was due for review by the end of September.

Advocates for comprehensive sex education say the restrictions in early education may prevent kids from getting age-appropriate foundational knowledge that they build on each year, said Alison Macklin, director of policy and advocacy at the progressive sex education organization SIECUS.

“You were never going to teach a first grader a trigonometry lesson, right?” she said. “But they have to have foundational knowledge in first grade to be able to get to that in high school."

“Sex education is exactly the same," Macklin continued, suggesting young people aren't prepared for puberty if they haven't already learned “foundational things like correct terminology for body parts.”

Puberty for girls begins between ages 8 to 13 and typically two years later for boys. To comply with the new law in Kentucky, for example, the state’s education agency advised schools eliminate fifth-grade lessons on puberty and reproductive body parts.

The consensus was sex education in elementary school “wasn’t necessary or appropriate in any context,” said David Walls, executive director of The Family Foundation, a Christian organization in Kentucky that advocated for the law.

Many parents disagree with the boundaries around what is considered age appropriate by sex ed advocates, he said, particularly when it comes to gender identity and “the idea that biological sex is not an immutable characteristic."

The law "sets a base level of protection for parents to be able to be the ones that can review the curriculum and make a decision as to whether that’s something they’d like their child to participate in,” Walls said.

There is federal guidance for developing evidence-based and age-appropriate sexual health curricula, but state laws and local implementation run the gamut.

Twenty-eight states require sex education, and 35 require HIV education, according to tracking by the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. Most states require any instruction on sex or disease prevention to include abstinence, and most states allow parents to opt out.

While many states have curtailed sex education, others have codified comprehensive and inclusive standards. Massachusetts, for example, recently announced new sexual health education guidelines, which were last updated in 1999.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services award millions of dollars for programs designed, in part, to track teen behavior and teach abstinence and contraception with the goal of creating safe environments and preventing pregnancy and diseases.

Idaho's Division of Public Health said it no longer administered the HHS grant for personal responsibility education programs, or PREP, as of July 1 after lawmakers did not approve the spending during the legislative session.

New Hampshire withdrew from PREP funding after a five-member Republican-led council that approves contracts repeatedly blocked funding in 2022. However, PREP funding doesn't necessarily disappear if a state's officials reject it; instead, it can be awarded directly to local organizations, which is now the case in New Hampshire.

A different grant is provided by the CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health for a biennial youth survey. Since March 2022, six states have discontinued the agreement to conduct the survey: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa and South Carolina. Some of those states also have new laws restricting schools’ ability to administer surveys.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A dozen state or county agencies have parted ways with tens of thousands of dollars in federal grants meant to help monitor teenagers' sexual behaviors and try to lower rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.The withdrawals reflect a shift in many states that is further complicating and polarizing sex education in K-12 schools as some Republican-led legislatures more strictly regulate when and what students learn about their bodies. The new laws are part of a broad push to fortify “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-education-gender-identity-0e2ca2cf0ef7d7bc6ef5b125f1ee0969">parents' rights</a>&nbsp;” and strike LGBTQ+ content from the classroom,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-republicans-president-mama-bears-moms-desantis-a96ae3d1ed167f823360e7645ca4b519">core themes</a>&nbsp;that have flooded the campaign for the GOP&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024">presidential nomination</a>.Experts are concerned students won’t reliably learn about adolescence, safe sexual activity or relationship violence, topics they say are especially important since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2021/default.htm">sexually transmitted diseases rose after the pandemic</a>&nbsp;and access to abortion is increasingly restricted.Anne-Marie Amies Oelschlager, a pediatric and adolescent gynecologist at Seattle Children's Hospital, said a trained, trusted adult is critical for young people to get good information versus other, less trustworthy sources like social media.“When we stop talking about these things or ... try to push things under the rug, we just increase risk," she said.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teen-sex-survey-high-school-3d45d0441f531d1da9f5b44373becee4">Fewer teens are sexually active</a>, a 2021 government survey showed, but federal data that year also suggest teens and young adults made up half of all people with STDs. For the youngest generations, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teen-sex-sexual-intercourse-meaning-fa0b10e0fb7e8fd8fd72ac9990c3321a">language about sex is evolving</a>.This year, lawmakers passed bans on teaching human sexuality before fourth grade in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indiana-governor-transgender-students-book-bans-b3662d950080cf43965bce58692bfc70">Indiana</a>&nbsp;and sexual reproduction or sexual intercourse before fifth grade in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/huckabee-sanders-vouchers-schools-lgbtq-education-teachers-bd56e89399d401ea44018cc92a5116ee">Arkansas</a>. In Kentucky, educators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kentucky-transgender-c90d6b61a3e1e717fc1280be9d2eb529">can't teach sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases before sixth grade</a>, and parents must provide consent for older students. A handful of states require parents to opt in to instruction instead of opting out.In Florida, materials about reproductive health, human sexuality and sexually transmitted diseases&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/desantis-florida-dont-say-gay-ban-684ed25a303f83208a89c556543183cb">for any grade</a>&nbsp;must be approved by state officials. A letter from the state agency indicates curriculum was due for review by the end of September.Advocates for comprehensive sex education say the restrictions in early education may prevent kids from getting age-appropriate foundational knowledge that they build on each year, said Alison Macklin, director of policy and advocacy at the progressive sex education organization SIECUS.“You were never going to teach a first grader a trigonometry lesson, right?” she said. “But they have to have foundational knowledge in first grade to be able to get to that in high school."“Sex education is exactly the same," Macklin continued, suggesting young people aren't prepared for puberty if they haven't already learned “foundational things like correct terminology for body parts.”Puberty for girls begins between ages 8 to 13 and typically two years later for boys. To comply with the new law in Kentucky, for example, the state’s education agency advised schools eliminate fifth-grade lessons on puberty and reproductive body parts.The consensus was sex education in elementary school “wasn’t necessary or appropriate in any context,” said David Walls, executive director of The Family Foundation, a Christian organization in Kentucky that advocated for the law.Many parents disagree with the boundaries around what is considered age appropriate by sex ed advocates, he said, particularly when it comes to gender identity and “the idea that biological sex is not an immutable characteristic."The law "sets a base level of protection for parents to be able to be the ones that can review the curriculum and make a decision as to whether that’s something they’d like their child to participate in,” Walls said.There is federal guidance for developing evidence-based and age-appropriate sexual health curricula, but state laws and local implementation run the gamut.Twenty-eight states require sex education, and 35 require HIV education, according to tracking by the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. Most states require any instruction on sex or disease prevention to include abstinence, and most states allow parents to opt out.While many states have curtailed sex education, others have codified comprehensive and inclusive standards. Massachusetts, for example, recently announced new sexual health education guidelines, which were last updated in 1999.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services award millions of dollars for programs designed, in part, to track teen behavior and teach abstinence and contraception with the goal of creating safe environments and preventing pregnancy and diseases.Idaho's Division of Public Health said it no longer administered the HHS grant for personal responsibility education programs, or PREP, as of July 1 after lawmakers did not approve the spending during the legislative session.New Hampshire withdrew from PREP funding after a five-member Republican-led council that approves contracts repeatedly blocked funding in 2022. However, PREP funding doesn't necessarily disappear if a state's officials reject it; instead, it can be awarded directly to local organizations, which is now the case in New Hampshire.A different grant is provided by the CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health for a biennial youth survey. Since March 2022, six states have discontinued the agreement to conduct the survey: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa and South Carolina. Some of those states also have new laws restricting schools’ ability to administer surveys.Four Florida counties encompassing parts of the Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and Miami metro areas also withdrew from another CDC grant to expand student health resources and education.The CDC will “always promote the best available science,” said Kathleen Ethier, director of the agency’s Division of Adolescent and School Health. The agency said it is committed to collecting data revealing youth health challenges and recommending evidence-based programs addressing them.Ethier said there is always a “disconnect” between their recommendations and state and local policies, but she is less focused on any given health class "than the whole school environment.”“I worry any time educators don’t feel able to thoughtfully answer young people’s questions,” Ethier said.Teenagers' curiosity drives Teen Health Mississippi, a organization that trains educators and offers supplemental programs for parents and teens.About a quarter of the state's counties work with the nonprofit and the state's health agency to implement an “abstinence-plus” program, an option schools have to teach about contraception in addition to the now-permanent requirement to teach abstinence.Hope Crenshaw, the organization's director, said low percentage of counties suggests “a lot of young people aren’t getting that information and many of them are getting it based on their zip code."“Young people want information to protect themselves,” Crenshaw said.Kayla Smith is among them. The 18-year-old freshman at the University of Mississippi volunteered to be a youth advocate with Teen Health Mississippi, engaging her peers and answering their questions.The topic of sex in Mississippi is “taboo,” Smith said. She remembers just one optional day of sex education in middle school.