<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/05/nu-president-budget-cuts-necessary-for-the-survival-of-the-overall-institution/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — University of Nebraska President Ted Carter, who will leave his role later this year, said Thursday that possible budget cuts are about the “survival of the overall institution.”

Carter, at an NU Board of Regents meeting at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, said the work&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/22/university-of-nebraska-president-details-five-point-plan-to-get-nu-back-on-offense/">outlined this summer</a>&nbsp;in a “Five-Point Plan” is ongoing to address a projected $58 million shortfall over the next two years.&nbsp;

That plan is not just a drill to find cost savings, Carter said, because without action, the university’s deficit will grow and the risk of losing major programs or even colleges will increase.

“This isn’t about looking for who to fire. This isn’t about which programs are not performing,” Carter explained. “This is about survival of the overall institution. This is how we will protect ourselves and eventually grow.”

There are no predetermined answers, he added, and NU&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraska.edu/news-and-events/news/2023/06/carter-unveils-plan-to-address-budget-challenges-accelerate-university-success">plans</a>&nbsp;to strategically apply cuts rather than uniformly spread them across NU, as it has been done in past years.

“Nobody is going to be immune,” Carter said.

Faculty and students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney have&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraska.tv/news/local/unk-students-protest-as-administration-pushes-for-termination-of-many-major-departments">protested</a>&nbsp;campus plans to cut $4.3 million this fiscal year. Those plans include eliminating UNK’s departments of Geography, Philosophy and Theater and various degrees.

Will Avilés, a professor of political science at UNK and president of the UNK Education Association,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/03/university-of-nebraska-at-kearney-faculty-students-protest-budget-cuts/">described some of the cuts</a>&nbsp;as “the heart of humanities” at UNK.

“I don’t think they appreciate or understand how harmful these cuts are going to be,” Avilés told the Nebraska Examiner this week.

Carter said budgeting conversations across NU must continue as the system cannot subsidize one campus because that campus “thinks that the cuts are unfair.”

Nebraska’s Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education sets minimum standards for higher education programs, including that there must be at least seven students graduating per year over a five-year average. Some programs have not met those requirements, Carter said, and those programs will need to be reviewed.

“That’s just the reality,” he said.

For students whose programs may be cut, Carter said, NU will help them complete their degree. Final campus cuts are due to Carter by Dec. 1 —&nbsp;the same day as the next regents meeting.&nbsp;

Regents on Thursday also unanimously approved $450 million in&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/memorial-stadium-renovation-plans-revealed-replace-south-stadium-and-reduce-capacity-to-mid-70000-while-enhancing-fan-experience/">renovations</a>&nbsp;to Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

Regents Jim Scheer of Norfolk and Barbara Weitz of Omaha expressed a desire for more information, including potential “off-ramps,” or an exit strategy, if the project needs to change.

Huskers Athletic Director Trev Alberts said that if at any point funding sources do not materialize or if they fall short of expectations, leaders will alter the project’s strategy and scope.

“We will cut the cloth to fit the quilt,” Alberts said.

The first ever game played at Memorial Stadium was on Oct. 13, 1923, and Alberts said the renovations — informed by fans —&nbsp;will provide longevity for the next 100 years.

The search to find Carter’s successor after he accepted the top role at The Ohio State University is also ongoing. Carter joined NU in 2020 but will leave at year’s end.

NU will spend $225,000 to contract with Academic Search, the first national organization committed to higher education recruitment, to aid the process. The company highlighted that 92% of the presidents or chancellors it has recruited serve for five or more years.

Gov. Jim Pillen, who served as a regent before taking the highest state office this year, led the 2019 search for NU’s eighth president: Carter. That process included nine “Core Leadership Pillars” that regents revived Thursday with two additions.

This time, regents also are looking for a leader who values academic health centers and who will listen to all university voices, including students.

Included in the nine pillars is a proven leader who values diversity and inclusion,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-regents-to-meet-next-week-regarding-budget-husker-athletics-oversight/">intercollegiate athletics</a>&nbsp;and political awareness.

Regent Tim Clare of Lincoln, board chair, said he anticipates the next presidential search committee will be finalized in the next few weeks.

“There are amazing things happening on all of our campuses,” Clare told the Examiner after the meeting. “I think it’s going to be a great job for somebody that’s a great visionary.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696600241224.jpeg" alt="University of Nebraska President Ted Carter leads a Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, NU Board of Regents meeting at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>University of Nebraska President Ted Carter leads a Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, NU Board of Regents meeting at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/05/nu-president-budget-cuts-necessary-for-the-survival-of-the-overall-institution/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — University of Nebraska President Ted Carter, who will leave his role later this year, said Thursday that possible budget cuts are about the “survival of the overall institution.”Carter, at an NU Board of Regents meeting at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, said the work&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/22/university-of-nebraska-president-details-five-point-plan-to-get-nu-back-on-offense/">outlined this summer</a>&nbsp;in a “Five-Point Plan” is ongoing to address a projected $58 million shortfall over the next two years.&nbsp;That plan is not just a drill to find cost savings, Carter said, because without action, the university’s deficit will grow and the risk of losing major programs or even colleges will increase.“This isn’t about looking for who to fire. This isn’t about which programs are not performing,” Carter explained. “This is about survival of the overall institution. This is how we will protect ourselves and eventually grow.”<h2>‘Nobody is going to be immune’</h2>There are no predetermined answers, he added, and NU&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraska.edu/news-and-events/news/2023/06/carter-unveils-plan-to-address-budget-challenges-accelerate-university-success">plans</a>&nbsp;to strategically apply cuts rather than uniformly spread them across NU, as it has been done in past years.“Nobody is going to be immune,” Carter said.Faculty and students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney have&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraska.tv/news/local/unk-students-protest-as-administration-pushes-for-termination-of-many-major-departments">protested</a>&nbsp;campus plans to cut $4.3 million this fiscal year. Those plans include eliminating UNK’s departments of Geography, Philosophy and Theater and various degrees.Will Avilés, a professor of political science at UNK and president of the UNK Education Association,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/03/university-of-nebraska-at-kearney-faculty-students-protest-budget-cuts/">described some of the cuts</a>&nbsp;as “the heart of humanities” at UNK.“I don’t think they appreciate or understand how harmful these cuts are going to be,” Avilés told the Nebraska Examiner this week.Carter said budgeting conversations across NU must continue as the system cannot subsidize one campus because that campus “thinks that the cuts are unfair.”Nebraska’s Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education sets minimum standards for higher education programs, including that there must be at least seven students graduating per year over a five-year average. Some programs have not met those requirements, Carter said, and those programs will need to be reviewed.“That’s just the reality,” he said.For students whose programs may be cut, Carter said, NU will help them complete their degree. Final campus cuts are due to Carter by Dec. 1 —&nbsp;the same day as the next regents meeting.&nbsp;<h2>Memorial Stadium renovations</h2>Regents on Thursday also unanimously approved $450 million in&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/memorial-stadium-renovation-plans-revealed-replace-south-stadium-and-reduce-capacity-to-mid-70000-while-enhancing-fan-experience/">renovations</a>&nbsp;to Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.Regents Jim Scheer of Norfolk and Barbara Weitz of Omaha expressed a desire for more information, including potential “off-ramps,” or an exit strategy, if the project needs to change.Huskers Athletic Director Trev Alberts said that if at any point funding sources do not materialize or if they fall short of expectations, leaders will alter the project’s strategy and scope.“We will cut the cloth to fit the quilt,” Alberts said.The first ever game played at Memorial Stadium was on Oct. 13, 1923, and Alberts said the renovations — informed by fans —&nbsp;will provide longevity for the next 100 years.<h2>Presidential search continues</h2>The search to find Carter’s successor after he accepted the top role at The Ohio State University is also ongoing. Carter joined NU in 2020 but will leave at year’s end.NU will spend $225,000 to contract with Academic Search, the first national organization committed to higher education recruitment, to aid the process. The company highlighted that 92% of the presidents or chancellors it has recruited serve for five or more years.Gov. Jim Pillen, who served as a regent before taking the highest state office this year, led the 2019 search for NU’s eighth president: Carter. That process included nine “Core Leadership Pillars” that regents revived Thursday with two additions.This time, regents also are looking for a leader who values academic health centers and who will listen to all university voices, including students.Included in the nine pillars is a proven leader who values diversity and inclusion,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-regents-to-meet-next-week-regarding-budget-husker-athletics-oversight/">intercollegiate athletics</a>&nbsp;and political awareness.Regent Tim Clare of Lincoln, board chair, said he anticipates the next presidential search committee will be finalized in the next few weeks.“There are amazing things happening on all of our campuses,” Clare told the Examiner after the meeting. “I think it’s going to be a great job for somebody that’s a great visionary.”

NU president: Budget cuts necessary for the ‘survival of the overall institution’

DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers union said Friday it will not expand&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/auto-workers-strike-negotiations-progress-gm-stellantis-ford-4dc51e9f463022bc3794e9615d8a705b">its strikes</a>&nbsp;against Detroit's three automakers after General Motors made a breakthrough concession on unionizing electric vehicle battery plants.

Union President Shawn Fain told workers in a video appearance that additional plants could be added to the strikes later.

The announcement of the pause in expanding the strikes came shortly after GM agreed to bring electric vehicle battery plants into the UAW's national contract, essentially assuring that they will be unionized.

Fain said GM's move will change the future of the union and the auto industry.

He said GM made the change after the union threatened to strike at a plant in Arlington, Texas, that makes highly profitable large SUVs.

“Today, under the threat of a major financial hit, they leapfrogged the pack in terms of a just transition” from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-electric-cars-uaw-strike-d73f259bf5e9242340e912ad1e9b4aa9">combustion engines to electric vehicles</a>, he said. “Our strike is working, but we’re not there yet.”

In addition to large general pay raises, cost of living pay, restoration of pensions for new hires and other items, the union wanted to represent 10 battery factories proposed by the companies.

The companies have said the plants, mostly joint ventures with South Korean battery makers, had to be bargained separately.

Friday's change means the the four U.S. GM battery plants would now be covered under the union's master agreement and GM would bargain with the union' “which I think is a monumental development,” said Marick Masters, a business professor at Wayne State University in Detroit.

He said the details of GM's offer, made in writing, will have to be scrutinized.

DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers union said Friday it will not expand&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/auto-workers-strike-negotiations-progress-gm-stellantis-ford-4dc51e9f463022bc3794e9615d8a705b">its strikes</a>&nbsp;against Detroit's three automakers after General Motors made a breakthrough concession on unionizing electric vehicle battery plants.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">BREAKING: <a href="https://twitter.com/GM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GM</a> has agreed in writing to place their electric battery manufacturing under the UAW&#39;s National Master Agreement. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StandUpUAW?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StandUpUAW</a> <a href="https://t.co/FZcR6TV0wp">pic.twitter.com/FZcR6TV0wp</a>&mdash; AFL-CIO ✊ (@AFLCIO) <a href="https://twitter.com/AFLCIO/status/1710359460521062858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Union President Shawn Fain told workers in a video appearance that additional plants could be added to the strikes later.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fuaw.union%2Fposts%2Fpfbid021vJoPoyF3x6ScSAQhxKLbscwJJP5cC1j6rCzLMrzm19WQ2maWyfoo24rEMsjqhb9l&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="298" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>The announcement of the pause in expanding the strikes came shortly after GM agreed to bring electric vehicle battery plants into the UAW's national contract, essentially assuring that they will be unionized.Fain said GM's move will change the future of the union and the auto industry.He said GM made the change after the union threatened to strike at a plant in Arlington, Texas, that makes highly profitable large SUVs.“Today, under the threat of a major financial hit, they leapfrogged the pack in terms of a just transition” from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-electric-cars-uaw-strike-d73f259bf5e9242340e912ad1e9b4aa9">combustion engines to electric vehicles</a>, he said. “Our strike is working, but we’re not there yet.”In addition to large general pay raises, cost of living pay, restoration of pensions for new hires and other items, the union wanted to represent 10 battery factories proposed by the companies.The companies have said the plants, mostly joint ventures with South Korean battery makers, had to be bargained separately.Friday's change means the the four U.S. GM battery plants would now be covered under the union's master agreement and GM would bargain with the union' “which I think is a monumental development,” said Marick Masters, a business professor at Wayne State University in Detroit.He said the details of GM's offer, made in writing, will have to be scrutinized.

🎥 Auto workers stop expanding strikes; GM makes battery plant concession

On Thursday, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents unanimously approved the program statement for the research component of the building that will serve as the cornerstone of UNMC’s new Saddle Creek Campus in Omaha.

The new facility – known as the CORE Building (Campus Operations and Research Excellence) – will enhance existing UNMC research environments, which are near capacity. Planned for the corner of Saddle Creek Road and Farnam Street, the building will support computer-based research and wet lab-based research for drug discovery, oncology research and other strategic research areas at UNMC.

“The project is a direct reflection of UNMC’s mission to deliver state-of-the-art education, research and health care to our community and nation,” said UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD. “It also will include considerable amounts of research space for future leasing or campus&nbsp; growth, and a modest amount of income-producing ground floor retail space.”

Dr. Gold noted that the proximity to the Catalyst building – which will bring together UNMC’s UNeMed and UNeTech branches with biotech and technology startups – will make the CORE Building ideal for research that leads to product and drug collaboration and innovation.

Overall, the office and research facility will include:

The building is being designed to accommodate a future pedestrian bridge structure crossing over Saddle Creek Road, linking the Saddle Creek Campus to the main academic health science campus. The City of Omaha will pay for, own and operate an adjacent parking structure that will serve the building.

Construction on the CORE Building will begin this fall with completion expected in February 2026. Direct state support will not fund the project, rather UNMC will use the University’s Internal Lending Program with bond payments made using research facility and administrative income over time.

In other UNMC-related business the regents:

UNMCOn Thursday, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents unanimously approved the program statement for the research component of the building that will serve as the cornerstone of UNMC’s new Saddle Creek Campus in Omaha.The new facility – known as the CORE Building (Campus Operations and Research Excellence) – will enhance existing UNMC research environments, which are near capacity. Planned for the corner of Saddle Creek Road and Farnam Street, the building will support computer-based research and wet lab-based research for drug discovery, oncology research and other strategic research areas at UNMC.“The project is a direct reflection of UNMC’s mission to deliver state-of-the-art education, research and health care to our community and nation,” said UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD. “It also will include considerable amounts of research space for future leasing or campus&nbsp; growth, and a modest amount of income-producing ground floor retail space.”Dr. Gold noted that the proximity to the Catalyst building – which will bring together UNMC’s UNeMed and UNeTech branches with biotech and technology startups – will make the CORE Building ideal for research that leads to product and drug collaboration and innovation.Overall, the office and research facility will include:<ul>
 <li>Two floors for administrative business functions, shared support space, shared amenity space and retail space;</li><li>One floor to support computer-based research;</li><li>Three floors for wet lab use; and</li><li>Immediate proximity to new parking facility.</li>
 </ul>The building is being designed to accommodate a future pedestrian bridge structure crossing over Saddle Creek Road, linking the Saddle Creek Campus to the main academic health science campus. The City of Omaha will pay for, own and operate an adjacent parking structure that will serve the building.Construction on the CORE Building will begin this fall with completion expected in February 2026. Direct state support will not fund the project, rather UNMC will use the University’s Internal Lending Program with bond payments made using research facility and administrative income over time.In other UNMC-related business the regents:<ul>
 <li>Approved the acquisition of two Omaha properties for possible future campus development. The properties are located at 414 S. 40th&nbsp;St., and 3910 Dewey Ave.</li>
 </ul>

 Regents approve UNMC’s program statement for office, research facility

Project NExT’s first phase – now known as Project Health: Building the Healthiest Nebraska – will move to a more detailed design phase after a vote today (Thursday) by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.

The Regents’ unanimous decision cleared the way to engage design and construction planning teams for the transformational academic health science initiative. UNMC leaders said that, following a public bid project, they hope to have these planning teams in place by the end of this calendar year.

“The regents’ action today allows us to move forward on the first phase of planning for this highly ambitious project,” UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, said. “UNMC always strives to be the preeminent health education institution in our nation; this initiative ensures that our clinical learning spaces are conducive to modern health education, and it will provide for dramatic expansion of facilities for clinical/translational research, which our current and future students and residents require. Furthermore, this new facility will allow us to provide more health care workforce for Nebraska and beyond, something that is desperately needed in rural and urban communities across the state.”

Project Health: Building the Healthiest Nebraska will position the medical center to improve its capacity to address the health care needs of Nebraska. It will provide needed campus enhancement to UNMC’s research, education, clinical and community service missions at its campus in Omaha. Thousands of UNMC students receive required clinical education annually in Omaha at Nebraska Medicine, UNMC’s primary clinical partner. After graduation, many of these trainees live and work throughout Nebraska.

In addition, Project Health: Building the Healthiest Nebraska will allow UNMC to add approximately 100 new physician residency training positions by 2030. In addition to more health care workers in rural and urban communities, the annual economic impact of these student and resident slots will add hundreds of millions of dollars to the Nebraska economy.

Additional workforce impacts as a result of Phase 1 include:

Phase Two of Project NExT, “Regional Federal Partnerships,” will potentially provide expansion of facilities for key regional partnerships, while Phase 3, “National Federal Partnerships,” will potentially create a joint civilian-military medical surge facility through additional public-private partnerships. The partnership would expand federal medical surge capability and support the National Disaster Medical System training run by the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

UNMCProject NExT’s first phase – now known as Project Health: Building the Healthiest Nebraska – will move to a more detailed design phase after a vote today (Thursday) by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.The Regents’ unanimous decision cleared the way to engage design and construction planning teams for the transformational academic health science initiative. UNMC leaders said that, following a public bid project, they hope to have these planning teams in place by the end of this calendar year.“The regents’ action today allows us to move forward on the first phase of planning for this highly ambitious project,” UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, said. “UNMC always strives to be the preeminent health education institution in our nation; this initiative ensures that our clinical learning spaces are conducive to modern health education, and it will provide for dramatic expansion of facilities for clinical/translational research, which our current and future students and residents require. Furthermore, this new facility will allow us to provide more health care workforce for Nebraska and beyond, something that is desperately needed in rural and urban communities across the state.”Project Health: Building the Healthiest Nebraska will position the medical center to improve its capacity to address the health care needs of Nebraska. It will provide needed campus enhancement to UNMC’s research, education, clinical and community service missions at its campus in Omaha. Thousands of UNMC students receive required clinical education annually in Omaha at Nebraska Medicine, UNMC’s primary clinical partner. After graduation, many of these trainees live and work throughout Nebraska.The enhancements include:<ul>
 <li>Building increased academic, research and patient care capacity in new facilities, which – based on the Phase One investments and bolstered by future phases – is estimated to generate between $600 million and $1.1 billion in incremental revenue annually by Year 7 of the project. The Building the Healthiest Nebraska phase itself has the opportunity to support 4,272 additional jobs directly and indirectly and provide $39.4 million in state tax revenue.</li><li>Building our state health workforce through class size and residency expansion, which will add&nbsp; many more UNMC educated health professionals. This includes adding many newly minted physicians to the Nebraska workforce annually by 2030.</li>
 </ul>In addition, Project Health: Building the Healthiest Nebraska will allow UNMC to add approximately 100 new physician residency training positions by 2030. In addition to more health care workers in rural and urban communities, the annual economic impact of these student and resident slots will add hundreds of millions of dollars to the Nebraska economy.Additional workforce impacts as a result of Phase 1 include:<ul>
 <li>Increased emergency department capacity, with up to a 50% increase in ED providers (physicians and nurses)</li><li>Increased allied health professional training and employment opportunities</li><li>10-20% growth in support staff because of improved operational efficiencies in new facilities Increased enrollment across all UNMC educational programs</li><li>An additional 10-15% expected growth in pharmacy, nursing and allied health training programs</li>
 </ul>Phase Two of Project NExT, “Regional Federal Partnerships,” will potentially provide expansion of facilities for key regional partnerships, while Phase 3, “National Federal Partnerships,” will potentially create a joint civilian-military medical surge facility through additional public-private partnerships. The partnership would expand federal medical surge capability and support the National Disaster Medical System training run by the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

Project NExT moves to more detailed design phase

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Biden administration will resume deporting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-tps-border-asylum-venezuela-temporary-status-2fa052ceacb020b861bb82332912bc92">Venezuelan migrants</a>, the largest single group encountered at the U.S.-Mexico border last month, back to their economically troubled country as their arrivals continue to grow.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, speaking in Mexico City Thursday, cited the new measure as one of the “strict consequences” the Biden administration is pairing with the expansion of legal pathways for asylum seekers.

“Our two countries are being challenged by an unprecedented level of migration throughout our hemisphere,” Mayorkas said, referring to Mexico.

The repatriation flights are expected to begin shortly, said two U.S. officials, though they did not provide specific details on when the flights would begin taking off. The officials were not authorized to disclose details of the government’s plan and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-immigration-border-migrant-venezuela-b914be14aaeef14eb01bd10ee23067f4">The resumption of deportation flights comes not long after the administration increased protected status</a>&nbsp;for thousands of Venezuelans who had previously arrived to the U.S., they must have entered the country before July 31 of this year to be eligible for temporary protected status.

In making the recent expansion of protections official, President Joe Biden's administration said just this week that it had determined that “extraordinary and temporary conditions continue to prevent Venezuelan nationals from returning in safety.”

Mayorkas on Thursday addressed the contrast with the announcement just days later of more deportations, saying “we have made a determination it is safe to return Venezuelan nationals who arrived in the United States subsequent to July 31 and do not have a legal basis to remain here.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who led a U.S. delegation to Mexico, added that “we have an ironclad commitment to provide protection for those who qualify. That remains paramount in everything we’re doing.”

The Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service criticized the move to resume deportations noting the apparent contradiction with the expansion of temporary protected status.

“Returning thousands of Venezuelans to the same unimaginably dangerous conditions they just fled is a profoundly problematic policy for the world’s humanitarian leader to adopt,” the organization’s CEO Krish O’Mara Vignarajah said in a statement.

Administration officials would not discuss details about how frequently deportation flights would be going to Venezuela or describe how Venezuela agreed to accept back their citizens except to say that, like other countries around the world, the U.S. has long encouraged Venezuela to accept back its nationals. Cuba, another U.S. adversary, announced earlier this year that it would begin accepting Cuban deportees but there has only been one flight a month.

The U.S. had been returning some Venezuelans via commercial flights, but in relatively small numbers and through third countries.

In Venezuela, the government said it had reached an agreement with U.S. officials for a safe and orderly repatriation.

“Venezuelan migration in recent years is a direct result of the application of unilateral coercive measures and a blockade of our economy,” Venezuela's foreign ministry said via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. It said the government would support repatriated Venezuelans.

The U.S. move is the latest effort to deal with swelling numbers of migrants as the administration comes under increasing pressure from Republicans and mayors from the president’s own party to do more to slow arrivals.

The announcement came as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/antony-blinken">Blinken</a>&nbsp;and other top Biden administration officials met with their counterparts in Mexico City on security issues.

Blinken discussed migration flows with Mexico Foreign Affairs Secretary Alicia Bárcena, as well as foreign ministers from Panama and Colombia, Wednesday. Talks continued Thursday, including meetings by Blinken and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland with López Obrador.

Bárcena said Thursday that some 10,000 migrant encounters were registered at the U.S.-Mexico border on Wednesday.

“We are going to continue taking forceful actions, including continuing some efforts we already have in relation to assisted returns, coordinating the dismantling of trafficking networks and human trafficking,” Bárcena said.

Blinken said the U.S. government is working to support those efforts.

“We're taking steps to aid the most vulnerable, those most vulnerable to organized crime, training nearly 200 Mexican immigration officials to better screen, identify and assist potential human trafficking victims,” Blinken said.

“The scale of this challenge demands that we redouble our efforts, that we do more to increase legal migration ... more to address root causes and more to deter irregular migration humanely,” Blinken said.

López Obrador said Thursday during his daily news briefing that Mexico has reiterated in talks its position that there should be investment to spur development in the countries that migrants leave.

“The people don't abandon their towns because they want to, but rather out of necessity,” the president said. He also criticized the Biden administration's announcement Wednesday that it waived 26 federal laws in South Texas to allow border wall construction. López Obrador had previously praised Biden for not building more&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-us-mexico-border-wall-immigration-texas-f99fd10257292a898618236df3613979">border wall</a>&nbsp;during his presidency.

In August, the U.S. Border Patrol made 181,509 arrests at the Mexican border, up 37% from July but little changed from August 2022 and well below the more than 220,000 in December, according to figures released in September.

The U.S. has tried to get Mexico and countries farther south to do more. In April, the U.S., Panama and Colombia announced a campaign to slow migration through the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/darien-gap-panama-colombia-us-migrants-cf0cd1e9de2119208c9af186e53e09b7">treacherous Darien Gap dividing Colombia and Panama</a>. But migration through the jungle has only accelerated and is expected to approach some 500,000 people this year - the vast majority from Venezuela.

Venezuelans were stopped 25,777 times the first 17 days of September, up 63% from the same period a month earlier, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection figures released by López Obrador. Those included some people admitted for scheduled asylum appointments, but the vast majority were illegal entries.

Venezuela plunged into a political, economic and humanitarian crisis over the last decade, pushing at least 7.3 million people to migrate and making food and other necessities unaffordable for those who remain.

The vast majority who fled settled in neighboring countries in Latin America, but many began coming to the United States in the last three years.

Deportation flights had been paused in part because the U.S. has few diplomatic relations with the nation.

U.S. and Mexican officials also discussed efforts aimed at combating the trafficking of the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl.

Mexican officials continued to explain with some difficulty López Obrador’s blanket assertion — false according to available evidence and the U.S. government — that Mexico does not produce fentanyl.

Bárcena, the foreign relations secretary, said “there is no contradiction, chemical precursors are not produced in Mexico.” It was tacit admission that Mexican cartels import precursors, mainly from China, and process them chemically into fentanyl. But since the entire chemical process is not carried out in Mexico the government maintains that fentanyl is not produced here.

U.S. officials highlighted the recent extradition of Ovidio Guzmán López, a son of former Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, to the U.S. on drug trafficking charges as a sign of cooperation between the two governments.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632317742720.png" alt="The U.S. move is the latest effort to deal with swelling numbers of migrants as the administration comes under increasing pressure from Republicans and mayors from the president’s own party to do more to slow arrivals.- Photo Rep. Tony Gonzales" />
 <figcaption>The U.S. move is the latest effort to deal with swelling numbers of migrants as the administration comes under increasing pressure from Republicans and mayors from the president’s own party to do more to slow arrivals.- Photo Rep. Tony Gonzales</figcaption>
 </figure>MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Biden administration will resume deporting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-tps-border-asylum-venezuela-temporary-status-2fa052ceacb020b861bb82332912bc92">Venezuelan migrants</a>, the largest single group encountered at the U.S.-Mexico border last month, back to their economically troubled country as their arrivals continue to grow.U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, speaking in Mexico City Thursday, cited the new measure as one of the “strict consequences” the Biden administration is pairing with the expansion of legal pathways for asylum seekers.“Our two countries are being challenged by an unprecedented level of migration throughout our hemisphere,” Mayorkas said, referring to Mexico.The repatriation flights are expected to begin shortly, said two U.S. officials, though they did not provide specific details on when the flights would begin taking off. The officials were not authorized to disclose details of the government’s plan and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-immigration-border-migrant-venezuela-b914be14aaeef14eb01bd10ee23067f4">The resumption of deportation flights comes not long after the administration increased protected status</a>&nbsp;for thousands of Venezuelans who had previously arrived to the U.S., they must have entered the country before July 31 of this year to be eligible for temporary protected status.In making the recent expansion of protections official, President Joe Biden's administration said just this week that it had determined that “extraordinary and temporary conditions continue to prevent Venezuelan nationals from returning in safety.”Mayorkas on Thursday addressed the contrast with the announcement just days later of more deportations, saying “we have made a determination it is safe to return Venezuelan nationals who arrived in the United States subsequent to July 31 and do not have a legal basis to remain here.”U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who led a U.S. delegation to Mexico, added that “we have an ironclad commitment to provide protection for those who qualify. That remains paramount in everything we’re doing.”The Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service criticized the move to resume deportations noting the apparent contradiction with the expansion of temporary protected status.“Returning thousands of Venezuelans to the same unimaginably dangerous conditions they just fled is a profoundly problematic policy for the world’s humanitarian leader to adopt,” the organization’s CEO Krish O’Mara Vignarajah said in a statement.Administration officials would not discuss details about how frequently deportation flights would be going to Venezuela or describe how Venezuela agreed to accept back their citizens except to say that, like other countries around the world, the U.S. has long encouraged Venezuela to accept back its nationals. Cuba, another U.S. adversary, announced earlier this year that it would begin accepting Cuban deportees but there has only been one flight a month.The U.S. had been returning some Venezuelans via commercial flights, but in relatively small numbers and through third countries.In Venezuela, the government said it had reached an agreement with U.S. officials for a safe and orderly repatriation.“Venezuelan migration in recent years is a direct result of the application of unilateral coercive measures and a blockade of our economy,” Venezuela's foreign ministry said via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. It said the government would support repatriated Venezuelans.The U.S. move is the latest effort to deal with swelling numbers of migrants as the administration comes under increasing pressure from Republicans and mayors from the president’s own party to do more to slow arrivals.The announcement came as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/antony-blinken">Blinken</a>&nbsp;and other top Biden administration officials met with their counterparts in Mexico City on security issues.Blinken discussed migration flows with Mexico Foreign Affairs Secretary Alicia Bárcena, as well as foreign ministers from Panama and Colombia, Wednesday. Talks continued Thursday, including meetings by Blinken and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland with López Obrador.Bárcena said Thursday that some 10,000 migrant encounters were registered at the U.S.-Mexico border on Wednesday.“We are going to continue taking forceful actions, including continuing some efforts we already have in relation to assisted returns, coordinating the dismantling of trafficking networks and human trafficking,” Bárcena said.Blinken said the U.S. government is working to support those efforts.“We're taking steps to aid the most vulnerable, those most vulnerable to organized crime, training nearly 200 Mexican immigration officials to better screen, identify and assist potential human trafficking victims,” Blinken said.“The scale of this challenge demands that we redouble our efforts, that we do more to increase legal migration ... more to address root causes and more to deter irregular migration humanely,” Blinken said.López Obrador said Thursday during his daily news briefing that Mexico has reiterated in talks its position that there should be investment to spur development in the countries that migrants leave.“The people don't abandon their towns because they want to, but rather out of necessity,” the president said. He also criticized the Biden administration's announcement Wednesday that it waived 26 federal laws in South Texas to allow border wall construction. López Obrador had previously praised Biden for not building more&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-us-mexico-border-wall-immigration-texas-f99fd10257292a898618236df3613979">border wall</a>&nbsp;during his presidency.In August, the U.S. Border Patrol made 181,509 arrests at the Mexican border, up 37% from July but little changed from August 2022 and well below the more than 220,000 in December, according to figures released in September.The U.S. has tried to get Mexico and countries farther south to do more. In April, the U.S., Panama and Colombia announced a campaign to slow migration through the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/darien-gap-panama-colombia-us-migrants-cf0cd1e9de2119208c9af186e53e09b7">treacherous Darien Gap dividing Colombia and Panama</a>. But migration through the jungle has only accelerated and is expected to approach some 500,000 people this year - the vast majority from Venezuela.Venezuelans were stopped 25,777 times the first 17 days of September, up 63% from the same period a month earlier, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection figures released by López Obrador. Those included some people admitted for scheduled asylum appointments, but the vast majority were illegal entries.Venezuela plunged into a political, economic and humanitarian crisis over the last decade, pushing at least 7.3 million people to migrate and making food and other necessities unaffordable for those who remain.The vast majority who fled settled in neighboring countries in Latin America, but many began coming to the United States in the last three years.Deportation flights had been paused in part because the U.S. has few diplomatic relations with the nation.U.S. and Mexican officials also discussed efforts aimed at combating the trafficking of the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl.Mexican officials continued to explain with some difficulty López Obrador’s blanket assertion — false according to available evidence and the U.S. government — that Mexico does not produce fentanyl.Bárcena, the foreign relations secretary, said “there is no contradiction, chemical precursors are not produced in Mexico.” It was tacit admission that Mexican cartels import precursors, mainly from China, and process them chemically into fentanyl. But since the entire chemical process is not carried out in Mexico the government maintains that fentanyl is not produced here.U.S. officials highlighted the recent extradition of Ovidio Guzmán López, a son of former Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, to the U.S. on drug trafficking charges as a sign of cooperation between the two governments.__

Biden administration will resume deportation flights 

By&nbsp;<a href="http://www.defense.gov/News/Author/42773/c-todd-lopez/">C. Todd Lopez</a>

An American F-16 fighter aircraft shot down a Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle that had been observed conducting airstrikes in a U.S.-restricted operating zone about a kilometer from U.S. forces in Syria Thursday.

During a phone call between Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler, the two leaders discussed the incident and agreed that while it is regrettable, the focus must remain on the important mission to defeat ISIS in Syria, said Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder during a media briefing Thursday.

"The secretary reaffirmed that the United States remains in Syria exclusively in support of the campaign to defeat ISIS," Ryder said. "The secretary also acknowledged Turkey's legitimate security concerns and underscored the importance of close coordination between the United States and Turkey to prevent any risk to U.S. forces or the global coalition’s defeat-ISIS mission."&nbsp;

At around 7:30 a.m. local time, U.S. forces observed UAVs conducting airstrikes in the vicinity of Hasakah, Syria, Ryder said. Some of the strikes were inside a declared U.S.-restricted operating zone.

"At approximately 11:30 local time, a Turkish UAV reentered the ROZ on a heading toward where U.S. forces were located," Ryder said. "U.S. commanders assessed that the UAV, which was now less than a half a kilometer from U.S. forces, to be a potential threat, and U.S. F-16 fighters subsequently shot down the UAV in self-defense at approximately 11:40 local time."&nbsp;

No U.S. forces were injured, Ryder said, also adding there is no indication that Turkey had intentionally been targeting U.S. forces.&nbsp;

"It's a regrettable incident, but U.S. commanders on the ground did assess that there was a potential threat and so they took prudent action in this scenario," Ryder said. "But again, the secretary has talked to his counterpart. They had the opportunity to have a fruitful conversation and ... commit to one another that the U.S. and Turkey will continue to closely communicate and coordinate. And as I mentioned, Turkey does remain a very important and valuable&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nato.int/" target="_blank">NATO</a>&nbsp;ally and partner to the United States."&nbsp;

In addition to the phone call between Austin and Guler, newly sworn-in chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., also discussed the incident with his counterpart, Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces Gen. Metin Gurak. Those two leaders discussed the U.S. and Turkey's shared objective of defeating ISIS and the importance of following common deconfliction protocols.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696554283148.png" alt="Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder during a media briefing Thursday. courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder during a media briefing Thursday. courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="http://www.defense.gov/News/Author/42773/c-todd-lopez/">C. Todd Lopez</a>An American F-16 fighter aircraft shot down a Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle that had been observed conducting airstrikes in a U.S.-restricted operating zone about a kilometer from U.S. forces in Syria Thursday.During a phone call between Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler, the two leaders discussed the incident and agreed that while it is regrettable, the focus must remain on the important mission to defeat ISIS in Syria, said Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder during a media briefing Thursday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I called Turkish Minister of National Defense Yasar Guler (<a href="https://twitter.com/tcsavunma?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tcsavunma</a>) today to discuss national security and defense-related matters of mutual interest. I reiterated U.S. commitment to continue working together to defeat ISIS and ensure security and stability in the region.…&mdash; Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1710028976465252425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"The secretary reaffirmed that the United States remains in Syria exclusively in support of the campaign to defeat ISIS," Ryder said. "The secretary also acknowledged Turkey's legitimate security concerns and underscored the importance of close coordination between the United States and Turkey to prevent any risk to U.S. forces or the global coalition’s defeat-ISIS mission."&nbsp;At around 7:30 a.m. local time, U.S. forces observed UAVs conducting airstrikes in the vicinity of Hasakah, Syria, Ryder said. Some of the strikes were inside a declared U.S.-restricted operating zone."At approximately 11:30 local time, a Turkish UAV reentered the ROZ on a heading toward where U.S. forces were located," Ryder said. "U.S. commanders assessed that the UAV, which was now less than a half a kilometer from U.S. forces, to be a potential threat, and U.S. F-16 fighters subsequently shot down the UAV in self-defense at approximately 11:40 local time."&nbsp;No U.S. forces were injured, Ryder said, also adding there is no indication that Turkey had intentionally been targeting U.S. forces.&nbsp;"It's a regrettable incident, but U.S. commanders on the ground did assess that there was a potential threat and so they took prudent action in this scenario," Ryder said. "But again, the secretary has talked to his counterpart. They had the opportunity to have a fruitful conversation and ... commit to one another that the U.S. and Turkey will continue to closely communicate and coordinate. And as I mentioned, Turkey does remain a very important and valuable&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nato.int/" target="_blank">NATO</a>&nbsp;ally and partner to the United States."&nbsp;In addition to the phone call between Austin and Guler, newly sworn-in chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., also discussed the incident with his counterpart, Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces Gen. Metin Gurak. Those two leaders discussed the U.S. and Turkey's shared objective of defeating ISIS and the importance of following common deconfliction protocols.

Focus remains on defeat of ISIS after U.S. shoots down drone over Syria

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AP) — U.S. Army officials have identified two soldiers killed when their large transport vehicle crashed while heading to a training area in interior Alaska.

There were among 17 soldiers on board the vehicle that flipped when the driver lost control on a dirt road leading to the Yukon Training Area near the community of Salcha, or about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Fairbanks, officials said earlier. Twelve other soldiers were injured.

The two soldiers killed were Spcs. Jeremy Daniel Evans and Brian Joshua Snowden, the Army said in a statement late Wednesday.

Both were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Combat Team with the 11th Airborne Division.

Evans, 23, arrived in Alaska in January 2021 after completing training at Fort Moore in Georgia. The Knoxville, Tennessee, native joined the Army in July 2020.

Snowden, 22, also joined the Army in July 2020 and trained at Fort Moore. Snowden, a Lonedell, Missouri, native arrived for duty in Alaska in March 2021.

“This is an incredible loss for all of us across the division,” Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commanding general of the 11th Airborne Division, said in the statement.

“While we’re always challenged by the environment, we’re Arctic Angels, we overcome these challenges and accomplish our mission by being a team, and teams take care of one another, especially in times like these,” Eifler said.

Among the 12 other soldiers injured, eight were treated and released the same day from Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, the Army said. Two injured soldiers remain in stable condition in Fairbanks.

Two other soldiers who were taken to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage were also in stable condition, officials said.

The accident remains under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696538573987.png" alt="Spc. Brian Joshua Snowden -photo U.S. Army&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Spc. Brian Joshua Snowden -photo U.S. Army&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AP) — U.S. Army officials have identified two soldiers killed when their large transport vehicle crashed while heading to a training area in interior Alaska.There were among 17 soldiers on board the vehicle that flipped when the driver lost control on a dirt road leading to the Yukon Training Area near the community of Salcha, or about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Fairbanks, officials said earlier. Twelve other soldiers were injured.The two soldiers killed were Spcs. Jeremy Daniel Evans and Brian Joshua Snowden, the Army said in a statement late Wednesday.Both were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Combat Team with the 11th Airborne Division.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696538650360.png" alt="Spc. Jeremy Daniel Evans-photo U.S. Army" />
 <figcaption>Spc. Jeremy Daniel Evans-photo U.S. Army</figcaption>
 </figure>Evans, 23, arrived in Alaska in January 2021 after completing training at Fort Moore in Georgia. The Knoxville, Tennessee, native joined the Army in July 2020.Snowden, 22, also joined the Army in July 2020 and trained at Fort Moore. Snowden, a Lonedell, Missouri, native arrived for duty in Alaska in March 2021.“This is an incredible loss for all of us across the division,” Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commanding general of the 11th Airborne Division, said in the statement.“While we’re always challenged by the environment, we’re Arctic Angels, we overcome these challenges and accomplish our mission by being a team, and teams take care of one another, especially in times like these,” Eifler said.Among the 12 other soldiers injured, eight were treated and released the same day from Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, the Army said. Two injured soldiers remain in stable condition in Fairbanks.Two other soldiers who were taken to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage were also in stable condition, officials said.The accident remains under investigation.

Army IDs Missouri soldier as 1 of 2 who died in training accident

Lincoln, October 5, 2023- The Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) has denied a request by Organic Producers Iowa Nebraska South Dakota (OPINS) Cooperative of North Bend for the renewal of its Nebraska grain dealer license.

In August 2023, OPINS Cooperative filed a renewal application for a Grain Dealers license, but failed to comply with Nebraska Revised Statute §75-903 or Commission Rules and Regulations. As a result, the Grain Dealer license for OPINS Cooperative was allowed to expire as of October 1, 2023.

“It is a busy time for producers/sellers, and we want to make sure they are aware this company is no longer licensed to do business as a grain dealer in our state,” said Commission Chair Dan Watermeier.

Lincoln, October 5, 2023- The Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) has denied a request by Organic Producers Iowa Nebraska South Dakota (OPINS) Cooperative of North Bend for the renewal of its Nebraska grain dealer license.In August 2023, OPINS Cooperative filed a renewal application for a Grain Dealers license, but failed to comply with Nebraska Revised Statute §75-903 or Commission Rules and Regulations. As a result, the Grain Dealer license for OPINS Cooperative was allowed to expire as of October 1, 2023.“It is a busy time for producers/sellers, and we want to make sure they are aware this company is no longer licensed to do business as a grain dealer in our state,” said Commission Chair Dan Watermeier.

License Renewal Denied for North Bend Grain Dealer

Kearney Police Department/City of Kearney

On Wednesday, October 4, at approximately 10:15 p.m., Kearney Police Officers responded&nbsp; to an address in the 1600 Block of 10th Avenue for a report of a domestic disturbance/assault.&nbsp; The first Police Officer arrived and encountered a large dog in the yard. The dog aggressively&nbsp; approached the officer, charged, and lunged toward the officer biting the officers left knee.&nbsp;

Acting within department policy, training and as a measure of self-defense, the police officer&nbsp; fired one shot from his service pistol striking and killing the dog. The dog is identified as a 200- pound, Tibetan Mastiff.&nbsp;

The Police Officer involved was treated and released for injuries sustained by the dog bite at&nbsp; Good Samaritan Hospital Emergency Room.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kearney Police Community Service Officer/Animal Control responded and issued the owner of&nbsp; the dog a citation for Failure to Confine a Dangerous/Vicious Dog causing injury and an&nbsp; unrestrained Dog at Large. The dog was current on rabies vaccination.&nbsp;

While we never want to see an animal injured or killed, we are thankful the police officer&nbsp; involved was not more seriously injured during this incident. As with any incident involving the&nbsp; discharge of a firearm by a police officer, this incident will be reviewed internally by the Kearney&nbsp; Police Office of Professional Standards&nbsp;

Officers continued to investigate the original call for service. An adult female was arrested and&nbsp; booked at the Buffalo County Jail for 2nd Degree Domestic Assault and Use of a Weapon to&nbsp; Commit a Felony.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Anyone with information regarding this incident may contact the Kearney Police Department at (308) 237-2104, or through the See It Say It Send It App.&nbsp;

Kearney Police Department/City of KearneyOn Wednesday, October 4, at approximately 10:15 p.m., Kearney Police Officers responded&nbsp; to an address in the 1600 Block of 10th Avenue for a report of a domestic disturbance/assault.&nbsp; The first Police Officer arrived and encountered a large dog in the yard. The dog aggressively&nbsp; approached the officer, charged, and lunged toward the officer biting the officers left knee.&nbsp;Acting within department policy, training and as a measure of self-defense, the police officer&nbsp; fired one shot from his service pistol striking and killing the dog. The dog is identified as a 200- pound, Tibetan Mastiff.&nbsp;The Police Officer involved was treated and released for injuries sustained by the dog bite at&nbsp; Good Samaritan Hospital Emergency Room.&nbsp;&nbsp;Kearney Police Community Service Officer/Animal Control responded and issued the owner of&nbsp; the dog a citation for Failure to Confine a Dangerous/Vicious Dog causing injury and an&nbsp; unrestrained Dog at Large. The dog was current on rabies vaccination.&nbsp;While we never want to see an animal injured or killed, we are thankful the police officer&nbsp; involved was not more seriously injured during this incident. As with any incident involving the&nbsp; discharge of a firearm by a police officer, this incident will be reviewed internally by the Kearney&nbsp; Police Office of Professional Standards&nbsp;Officers continued to investigate the original call for service. An adult female was arrested and&nbsp; booked at the Buffalo County Jail for 2nd Degree Domestic Assault and Use of a Weapon to&nbsp; Commit a Felony.&nbsp;&nbsp;Anyone with information regarding this incident may contact the Kearney Police Department at (308) 237-2104, or through the See It Say It Send It App.&nbsp;

Kearney Police Shoot Dog after Officer Bitten and Injured while responding to call

LINCOLN, NE – Today at sunset, all U.S. and state flags are to return to full staff, with the interment of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. Senator Feinstein died Sept. 29. By proclamation of the White House, flags were ordered to be flown at half-staff in her honor, until the date of interment.

LINCOLN, NE – Today at sunset, all U.S. and state flags are to return to full staff, with the interment of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. Senator Feinstein died Sept. 29. By proclamation of the White House, flags were ordered to be flown at half-staff in her honor, until the date of interment.

 Flags to Return to Full Staff At Sunset Today

The Gering Police Department is asking for assistance from the public. Investigators are looking for security camera footage residents' are willing to share related to the purist and standoff last Tuesday afternoon, September 26th.

The pursuit and investigation began shortly after 3pm on the east side of Gering. If anyone has footage they would be willing to share, please call the Gering Police Department at 308-436-5089. We will send you a link to download the video too.

-Captain Jason Rogers, Gering Police Department

Gering Police DepartmentThe Gering Police Department is asking for assistance from the public. Investigators are looking for security camera footage residents' are willing to share related to the purist and standoff last Tuesday afternoon, September 26th.The pursuit and investigation began shortly after 3pm on the east side of Gering. If anyone has footage they would be willing to share, please call the Gering Police Department at 308-436-5089. We will send you a link to download the video too.-Captain Jason Rogers, Gering Police Department<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696529700126.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Gering Police Department asking citizens for security footage of last week's pursuit and standoff

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker says her office has been contacted by families who have reported some pharmacists are wrongly refusing to fill prescriptions for gender-affirming medications for their transgender children, citing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-transgender-ban-nebraska-filibuster-b0b88845d29f1aaadf7936b7304a0507">a new state law</a>&nbsp;limiting the ability of anyone under 19 to get puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones.

Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt sent a letter Wednesday to the state’s chief medical officer, Dr. Timothy Tesmer, asking him to inform all Nebraska health care professionals — including pharmacists — that the new law specifically allows minors who were already receiving those medicines before the law took effect to continue that treatment.

The law, often referred to by its bill name of LB574, also bans gender-affirming surgeries for trans youth under 19. It took effect on Sunday.

“However, parents and patients inform me that they have been denied prescriptions essential for care that were prescribed prior to October 1, 2023,” Hunt's letter reads. “Apparently, some Nebraska pharmacists are using LB574 to refuse to refill prescriptions issued by healthcare providers. Any disruption or delay in a prescribed regimen is inconsistent with the plain letter of LB 574 and is inconsistent with the medical standard of care for these patients.”

A spokesman for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a message asking whether the department or Tesmer would honor Hunt's request.

The new law would allow some new transgender patients under the age of 19 to begin pharmaceutical treatment under a set of guidelines to be drafted by the state's chief medical officer.

Tesmer, who was appointed to that post weeks ago by Republican Gov. Jim Pillen, had said during his confirmation hearing that he would likely be unable to issue those guidelines by Oct. 1. But he did release a set of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-health-minors-nebraska-genderaffirming-care-6c2530ba89e90cff64119548b61f7049">emergency regulations</a>&nbsp;on Sunday until permanent regulations could be adopted, which is expected sometime after a public hearing is held on the final draft in late November.

Those emergency regulations came after families, doctors and some lawmakers said they had largely&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-health-minors-nebraska-58f4f7bc1c2c733ed164f13e6585a7f6">gotten no response</a>&nbsp;from the department on when the regulations would be in place.

Hunt has been a vocal critic of the new law and was among a handful of progressive lawmakers who helped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/filibuster-transgender-gender-affirming-therapy-bill-nebraska-cavanaugh-b9018fd1bf72112ca984ff58679eda6d">filibuster nearly every bill</a>&nbsp;before the officially nonpartisan Legislature earlier this year to protest it.

Hunt, herself, has endured a barrage of hateful accusations and rhetoric after she publicly shared in a legislative floor speech that her 13-year-old child is transgender.

Earlier this year, she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-nebraska-defamation-lawsuit-hunt-4d14863e9dd6169d1f34ffe03b0d4a4f">sued</a>&nbsp;a conservative political action committee that labeled her a child “groomer” and suggested that she has sexually abused her own child, prompting dozens of harassing calls and emails to her and her office. Some threatened her with physical harm.

A judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-nebraska-defamation-lawsuit-hunt-36ef98619e65aed03b53c3e63290ce14">dismissed her lawsuit</a>&nbsp;against the Nebraska Freedom Coalition last week. Hunt is considering an appeal.

Nebraska’s restrictions on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/gender-identity">gender-affirming care</a>&nbsp;were part of a wave of measures rolling back transgender rights in Republican-controlled statehouse across the U.S.

At least 22 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, and most of those states face lawsuits. An Arkansas ban mirroring Nebraska’s was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/us-news/arkansas-gender-general-news-2a0d032f4e4f3195c180d879239e6521">struck down by a federal judge</a>&nbsp;in June as unconstitutional and will be appealed to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court, which also handles Nebraska cases.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696512183821.jpeg" alt=" Nebraska state Sen. Megan Hunt, center, stands among supporters minutes after a vote in which the Nebraska Legislature passed a bill to ban abortion at 12 weeks and ban gender-affirming care in minors, Friday, May 19, 2023 in Lincoln, Neb. Hunt said her office has been contacted by families who have reported some pharmacists wrongly refusing to fill prescriptions for gender-affirming medications for their transgender children. (AP Photo/Margery Beck, File)" />
 <figcaption> Nebraska state Sen. Megan Hunt, center, stands among supporters minutes after a vote in which the Nebraska Legislature passed a bill to ban abortion at 12 weeks and ban gender-affirming care in minors, Friday, May 19, 2023 in Lincoln, Neb. Hunt said her office has been contacted by families who have reported some pharmacists wrongly refusing to fill prescriptions for gender-affirming medications for their transgender children. (AP Photo/Margery Beck, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker says her office has been contacted by families who have reported some pharmacists are wrongly refusing to fill prescriptions for gender-affirming medications for their transgender children, citing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-transgender-ban-nebraska-filibuster-b0b88845d29f1aaadf7936b7304a0507">a new state law</a>&nbsp;limiting the ability of anyone under 19 to get puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones.Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt sent a letter Wednesday to the state’s chief medical officer, Dr. Timothy Tesmer, asking him to inform all Nebraska health care professionals — including pharmacists — that the new law specifically allows minors who were already receiving those medicines before the law took effect to continue that treatment.The law, often referred to by its bill name of LB574, also bans gender-affirming surgeries for trans youth under 19. It took effect on Sunday.“However, parents and patients inform me that they have been denied prescriptions essential for care that were prescribed prior to October 1, 2023,” Hunt's letter reads. “Apparently, some Nebraska pharmacists are using LB574 to refuse to refill prescriptions issued by healthcare providers. Any disruption or delay in a prescribed regimen is inconsistent with the plain letter of LB 574 and is inconsistent with the medical standard of care for these patients.”A spokesman for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a message asking whether the department or Tesmer would honor Hunt's request.The new law would allow some new transgender patients under the age of 19 to begin pharmaceutical treatment under a set of guidelines to be drafted by the state's chief medical officer.Tesmer, who was appointed to that post weeks ago by Republican Gov. Jim Pillen, had said during his confirmation hearing that he would likely be unable to issue those guidelines by Oct. 1. But he did release a set of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-health-minors-nebraska-genderaffirming-care-6c2530ba89e90cff64119548b61f7049">emergency regulations</a>&nbsp;on Sunday until permanent regulations could be adopted, which is expected sometime after a public hearing is held on the final draft in late November.Those emergency regulations came after families, doctors and some lawmakers said they had largely&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-health-minors-nebraska-58f4f7bc1c2c733ed164f13e6585a7f6">gotten no response</a>&nbsp;from the department on when the regulations would be in place.Hunt has been a vocal critic of the new law and was among a handful of progressive lawmakers who helped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/filibuster-transgender-gender-affirming-therapy-bill-nebraska-cavanaugh-b9018fd1bf72112ca984ff58679eda6d">filibuster nearly every bill</a>&nbsp;before the officially nonpartisan Legislature earlier this year to protest it.Hunt, herself, has endured a barrage of hateful accusations and rhetoric after she publicly shared in a legislative floor speech that her 13-year-old child is transgender.Earlier this year, she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-nebraska-defamation-lawsuit-hunt-4d14863e9dd6169d1f34ffe03b0d4a4f">sued</a>&nbsp;a conservative political action committee that labeled her a child “groomer” and suggested that she has sexually abused her own child, prompting dozens of harassing calls and emails to her and her office. Some threatened her with physical harm.A judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-nebraska-defamation-lawsuit-hunt-36ef98619e65aed03b53c3e63290ce14">dismissed her lawsuit</a>&nbsp;against the Nebraska Freedom Coalition last week. Hunt is considering an appeal.Nebraska’s restrictions on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/gender-identity">gender-affirming care</a>&nbsp;were part of a wave of measures rolling back transgender rights in Republican-controlled statehouse across the U.S.At least 22 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, and most of those states face lawsuits. An Arkansas ban mirroring Nebraska’s was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/us-news/arkansas-gender-general-news-2a0d032f4e4f3195c180d879239e6521">struck down by a federal judge</a>&nbsp;in June as unconstitutional and will be appealed to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court, which also handles Nebraska cases.

Nebraska lawmaker says some report pharmacists are refusing to fill gender-confirming prescriptions

August 26, 2023, marked the 12th anniversary of Cindy Valle’s disappearance. The Omaha Police Department and the FBI Omaha Field Office continue their efforts to bring Cindy home.&nbsp;

Cindy was 15 years old when she was last seen on August 26, 2011. She was five months pregnant at the time. Cindy was a student at Bryan High School. She has black hair and brown eyes and she has a mole by her right eye and a mole on her chin.&nbsp;&nbsp;Cindy’s family remains hopeful for her return. They share their memories of their daughter and sister in videos recently produced by the FBI. The videos are being shared with the public to raise awareness of the case.

Investigators are asking anyone with information on the disappearance of Cindy Valle to call FBI Omaha at 402-493-8688. You can remain anonymous.&nbsp;&nbsp;

FBIAugust 26, 2023, marked the 12th anniversary of Cindy Valle’s disappearance. The Omaha Police Department and the FBI Omaha Field Office continue their efforts to bring Cindy home.&nbsp;Cindy was 15 years old when she was last seen on August 26, 2011. She was five months pregnant at the time. Cindy was a student at Bryan High School. She has black hair and brown eyes and she has a mole by her right eye and a mole on her chin.&nbsp;&nbsp;Cindy’s family remains hopeful for her return. They share their memories of their daughter and sister in videos recently produced by the FBI. The videos are being shared with the public to raise awareness of the case.<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.fbi.gov/video-repository/interview-cindi-valles-mother-092723.mp4/view">Interview with Cindy Valle's Mother</a></li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.fbi.gov/video-repository/interview-cyndi-valle-brother-092723.mp4/view">Interview with Cindy Valle's Brother</a></li>
 </ul>Investigators are asking anyone with information on the disappearance of Cindy Valle to call FBI Omaha at 402-493-8688. You can remain anonymous.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696522841945.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

The Omaha Police Department and FBI Seek the Public’s Assistance in Missing Person’s Case

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — The Biden administration announced it waived 26 federal laws in South Texas to allow border wall construction on Wednesday, marking the administration’s first use of a sweeping executive power employed often during the Trump presidency.

The Department of Homeland Security posted the&nbsp;<a href="https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2023-22176.pdf?utm_campaign=pi+subscription+mailing+list&amp;utm_source=federalregister.gov&amp;utm_medium=email">announcement on the U.S. Federal Registry</a>&nbsp;with few details outlining the construction in Starr County, Texas, which is part of a busy Border Patrol sector seeing “high illegal entry.” According to government data, about 245,000 illegal entries have been recorded so far this fiscal year in the Rio Grande Valley Sector which contains 21 counties.

“There is presently an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the border of the United States in order to prevent unlawful entries into the United States in the project areas,” Alejandro Mayorkas, the DHS secretary, stated in the notice.

The Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act and Endangered Species Act were some of the federal laws waived by DHS to make way for construction that will use funds from a congressional appropriation in 2019 for border wall construction. The waivers avoid time-consuming reviews and lawsuits challenging violation of environmental laws.

Starr County's hilly ranchlands, sitting between Zapata and McAllen, Texas, is home to about 65,000 residents sparsely populating about 1,200 square miles (3,108 square kilometers) that form part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

Although no maps were provided in the announcement, CBP announced the project in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/cbp-moves-forward-rgv-barrier-and-yuma-andrade-and-el-centro-calexico">June</a>&nbsp;and began gathering public comments in August when it shared a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbp.gov/about/environmental-management/border-barrier-environmental-planning-starr-county-texas-august-2023">map</a>&nbsp;of the additional construction that can add up to 20 miles (32 kilometers) to the existing border barrier system in the area. Starr County Judge Eloy Vera said it will start south of the Falcon Dam and go past Salineño, Texas.

“The other concern that we have is that area is highly erosive. There’s a lot of arroyos,” Eloy Vera, the county judge said, pointing out the creeks cutting through the ranchland and leading into the river.

Concern is shared with environmental advocates who say structures will run through public lands, habitats of endangered plants and species like the Ocelot, a spotted wild cat.

“A plan to build a wall through will bulldoze an impermeable barrier straight through the heart of that habitat. It will stop wildlife migrations dead in their tracks. It will destroy a huge amount of wildlife refuge land. And it’s a horrific step backwards for the borderlands,” Laiken Jordahl, a southwest conservation advocate for the Center for Biological Diversity, said Wednesday afternoon.

During the Trump administration, about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-north-america-donald-trump-us-news-ap-top-news-45b59be6a28e4ac68edbd435447f4a4a">450 miles (724 kilometers) of barriers</a>&nbsp;were built along the southwest border between 2017 and January 2021. Texas Governor Greg Abbott renewed those efforts after the Biden administration halted them at the start of his presidency.

The DHS decision on Wednesday contrasts the Biden administration's posturing when a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/proclamation-termination-of-emergency-with-respect-to-southern-border-of-united-states-and-redirection-of-funds-diverted-to-border-wall-construction/">proclamation</a>&nbsp;to end the construction on Jan. 20, 2021, stated, “building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution.”

In a statement Wednesday, CBP said the project is consistent with that 2021 proclamation. “Congress appropriated fiscal year 2019 funds for the construction of border barrier in the Rio Grande Valley, and DHS is required to use those funds for their appropriated purpose,” the statement said. “CBP remains committed to protecting the nation’s cultural and natural resources and will implement sound environmental practices as part of the project covered by this waiver.”

The announcement prompted political debate by the Democratic administration facing an increase of migrants entering through the southern border in recent months, including thousands who entered the U.S. through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-texas-california-border-asylum-seekers-314698bfb5644be8f8f6085ebe9b9b98">Eagle Pass</a>&nbsp;at the end of September.

“A border wall is a 14th century solution to a 21st century problem. It will not bolster border security in Starr County,” U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar said in a statement. “I continue to stand against the wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars on an ineffective border wall.”

Political proponents of the border wall said the waivers should be used as a launching pad for a shift in policy.

“After years of denying that a border wall and other physical barriers are effective, the DHS announcement represents a sea change in the administration’s thinking: A secure wall is an effective tool for maintaining control of our borders,” Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, said in a statement. “Having made that concession, the administration needs to immediately begin construction of wall across the border to prevent the illegal traffic from simply moving to other areas of the border.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683151099285.png" alt="In January, President Joe Biden stopped in El Paso for his first visit to the U.S.-Mexico border since he became president. White House photo" />
 <figcaption>In January, President Joe Biden stopped in El Paso for his first visit to the U.S.-Mexico border since he became president. White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>McALLEN, Texas (AP) — The Biden administration announced it waived 26 federal laws in South Texas to allow border wall construction on Wednesday, marking the administration’s first use of a sweeping executive power employed often during the Trump presidency.The Department of Homeland Security posted the&nbsp;<a href="https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2023-22176.pdf?utm_campaign=pi+subscription+mailing+list&amp;utm_source=federalregister.gov&amp;utm_medium=email">announcement on the U.S. Federal Registry</a>&nbsp;with few details outlining the construction in Starr County, Texas, which is part of a busy Border Patrol sector seeing “high illegal entry.” According to government data, about 245,000 illegal entries have been recorded so far this fiscal year in the Rio Grande Valley Sector which contains 21 counties.“There is presently an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the border of the United States in order to prevent unlawful entries into the United States in the project areas,” Alejandro Mayorkas, the DHS secretary, stated in the notice.The Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act and Endangered Species Act were some of the federal laws waived by DHS to make way for construction that will use funds from a congressional appropriation in 2019 for border wall construction. The waivers avoid time-consuming reviews and lawsuits challenging violation of environmental laws.Starr County's hilly ranchlands, sitting between Zapata and McAllen, Texas, is home to about 65,000 residents sparsely populating about 1,200 square miles (3,108 square kilometers) that form part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge.Although no maps were provided in the announcement, CBP announced the project in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/cbp-moves-forward-rgv-barrier-and-yuma-andrade-and-el-centro-calexico">June</a>&nbsp;and began gathering public comments in August when it shared a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbp.gov/about/environmental-management/border-barrier-environmental-planning-starr-county-texas-august-2023">map</a>&nbsp;of the additional construction that can add up to 20 miles (32 kilometers) to the existing border barrier system in the area. Starr County Judge Eloy Vera said it will start south of the Falcon Dam and go past Salineño, Texas.“The other concern that we have is that area is highly erosive. There’s a lot of arroyos,” Eloy Vera, the county judge said, pointing out the creeks cutting through the ranchland and leading into the river.Concern is shared with environmental advocates who say structures will run through public lands, habitats of endangered plants and species like the Ocelot, a spotted wild cat.“A plan to build a wall through will bulldoze an impermeable barrier straight through the heart of that habitat. It will stop wildlife migrations dead in their tracks. It will destroy a huge amount of wildlife refuge land. And it’s a horrific step backwards for the borderlands,” Laiken Jordahl, a southwest conservation advocate for the Center for Biological Diversity, said Wednesday afternoon.During the Trump administration, about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-north-america-donald-trump-us-news-ap-top-news-45b59be6a28e4ac68edbd435447f4a4a">450 miles (724 kilometers) of barriers</a>&nbsp;were built along the southwest border between 2017 and January 2021. Texas Governor Greg Abbott renewed those efforts after the Biden administration halted them at the start of his presidency.The DHS decision on Wednesday contrasts the Biden administration's posturing when a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/proclamation-termination-of-emergency-with-respect-to-southern-border-of-united-states-and-redirection-of-funds-diverted-to-border-wall-construction/">proclamation</a>&nbsp;to end the construction on Jan. 20, 2021, stated, “building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution.”In a statement Wednesday, CBP said the project is consistent with that 2021 proclamation. “Congress appropriated fiscal year 2019 funds for the construction of border barrier in the Rio Grande Valley, and DHS is required to use those funds for their appropriated purpose,” the statement said. “CBP remains committed to protecting the nation’s cultural and natural resources and will implement sound environmental practices as part of the project covered by this waiver.”The announcement prompted political debate by the Democratic administration facing an increase of migrants entering through the southern border in recent months, including thousands who entered the U.S. through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-texas-california-border-asylum-seekers-314698bfb5644be8f8f6085ebe9b9b98">Eagle Pass</a>&nbsp;at the end of September.“A border wall is a 14th century solution to a 21st century problem. It will not bolster border security in Starr County,” U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar said in a statement. “I continue to stand against the wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars on an ineffective border wall.”Political proponents of the border wall said the waivers should be used as a launching pad for a shift in policy.“After years of denying that a border wall and other physical barriers are effective, the DHS announcement represents a sea change in the administration’s thinking: A secure wall is an effective tool for maintaining control of our borders,” Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, said in a statement. “Having made that concession, the administration needs to immediately begin construction of wall across the border to prevent the illegal traffic from simply moving to other areas of the border.”

Biden to allow border wall construction in South Texas

PINEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — The Powerball jackpot climbed to an estimated $1.4 billion after no players matched all six numbers and hit it rich Wednesday night.

The winning numbers announced were: 9, 35, 54, 63, 64 and the Powerball 1.

Players will next have a shot at the Powerball jackpot Saturday night in hopes of ending an 11-week stretch without a big winner. No matter how large the prize grows the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">odds stay the same</a>&nbsp;— and they’re terrible.

It’s those odds of 1 in 292.2 million that make the jackpot so hard to win and that result in such giant prizes for the lucky player or players who manage to pick the game’s six winning numbers. The latest Powerball jackpot is the world’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lottery-jackpot-mega-millions-powerball-b77dd9c7de3f0ab09545a01113b1f111">seventh-largest lottery prize</a>. The last time someone won the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-winner-california-9f0e98a47c96c2b3087a68b33195dd50">top prize was July 19</a>.

In most states, Powerball tickets cost $2 and buyers can chose their own numbers and single Powerball or leave that task to a computer. Powerball drawings are held three times a week at 10:59 p.m. EDT on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturday, with the numbers selected at the Florida Lottery in Tallahassee.

Once the numbers are chosen, it usually takes a couple hours to determine if there is a jackpot winner. If there isn't a winner, state lottery officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-iowa-us-news-ap-top-news-sc-state-wire-0b640d4306324592839d5454caff765a">release a jackpot estimate</a>&nbsp;for the next drawing. If there is a winner, the jackpot reverts to $20 million and begins the long process of growing until there is another winner.

Gale Groseclose, who was buying Powerball tickets in Pineville, North Carolina, said a $1 million prize would be plenty for her but that the Wednesday's $1.2 billion jackpot certainly caught her attention.

“I don’t usually do this on a regular basis, but like I said, when it gets to be, what is it? I don’t even know what, over 1 billion dollars," Groseclose said. “It’s exciting.”

The jackpot is based on revenue from ticket sales, so the more people who play the game, the faster the top prize grows. However, even though the current jackpot is advertised as $1.4 billion, the lottery has less than half that amount available for the top prize. That's why the cash prize — which most winners take — would be $643.7 million.

Players also can&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">choose an annuity</a>, in which that $643.7 million would be paid to a company that would guarantee a return over 30 years of $1.4 billion. If a winner dies before collecting all their money, the remainder would go to the winner's estate.

State lotteries will immediately deduct 24% of jackpot winnings for federal taxes, and additional federal taxes may be required when filing federal tax returns.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/50aedbc64d214666b60ed93542b9e517/powerball-take-home-depends-highly-taxes-where-you-live">State taxes will vary</a>&nbsp;as some states don't tax lottery winnings at all and others tax the money at different rates.

Players who buy winning grand prize tickets in a state different from where they live will pay taxes based on where they bought the ticket.

DO POWERBALL ODDS CHANGE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS?

The game's odds remain 1 in 292.2 million regardless of how big the jackpot is and the number of people buying tickets. Those odds mean there are 292.2 million possible number combinations.

To put the immensity of that into context, note that for Monday's drawing players across the country chose just over 20% of those possible combinations. That means nearly 80% of the possible combinations were not selected, so the odds were pretty good that there wouldn't be a winner.

Typically, the larger the jackpot grows, the more people play and the more combinations are covered. People also usually buy more tickets on Saturdays, which increases the chance of a winner for those drawings.

Eric Warner, who also was buying tickets in Pineville, said he would immediately buy a Porsche if he won the big jackpot and then invest most of the money for himself and his community. Warner said he never really expects to win but enjoys buying a ticket now and then.

“It’s something that I run into and maybe I’m feeling lucky," he said. “Then I’ll go ahead and pick up a ticket and just kind of hope for the best.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/067009cee9004217a03a029b4a4895e6">Rules vary from state to state</a>&nbsp;with some requiring that jackpot winners be named and others allowing anonymity. Some states have more detailed rules, such as in Florida, where winners can remain anonymous for 90 days before the state lottery releases their name.

PINEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — The Powerball jackpot climbed to an estimated $1.4 billion after no players matched all six numbers and hit it rich Wednesday night.The winning numbers announced were: 9, 35, 54, 63, 64 and the Powerball 1.Players will next have a shot at the Powerball jackpot Saturday night in hopes of ending an 11-week stretch without a big winner. No matter how large the prize grows the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">odds stay the same</a>&nbsp;— and they’re terrible.It’s those odds of 1 in 292.2 million that make the jackpot so hard to win and that result in such giant prizes for the lucky player or players who manage to pick the game’s six winning numbers. The latest Powerball jackpot is the world’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lottery-jackpot-mega-millions-powerball-b77dd9c7de3f0ab09545a01113b1f111">seventh-largest lottery prize</a>. The last time someone won the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-winner-california-9f0e98a47c96c2b3087a68b33195dd50">top prize was July 19</a>.GAME DETAILSIn most states, Powerball tickets cost $2 and buyers can chose their own numbers and single Powerball or leave that task to a computer. Powerball drawings are held three times a week at 10:59 p.m. EDT on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturday, with the numbers selected at the Florida Lottery in Tallahassee.Once the numbers are chosen, it usually takes a couple hours to determine if there is a jackpot winner. If there isn't a winner, state lottery officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-iowa-us-news-ap-top-news-sc-state-wire-0b640d4306324592839d5454caff765a">release a jackpot estimate</a>&nbsp;for the next drawing. If there is a winner, the jackpot reverts to $20 million and begins the long process of growing until there is another winner.Gale Groseclose, who was buying Powerball tickets in Pineville, North Carolina, said a $1 million prize would be plenty for her but that the Wednesday's $1.2 billion jackpot certainly caught her attention.“I don’t usually do this on a regular basis, but like I said, when it gets to be, what is it? I don’t even know what, over 1 billion dollars," Groseclose said. “It’s exciting.”HOW IS THE JACKPOT DETERMINED?The jackpot is based on revenue from ticket sales, so the more people who play the game, the faster the top prize grows. However, even though the current jackpot is advertised as $1.4 billion, the lottery has less than half that amount available for the top prize. That's why the cash prize — which most winners take — would be $643.7 million.Players also can&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">choose an annuity</a>, in which that $643.7 million would be paid to a company that would guarantee a return over 30 years of $1.4 billion. If a winner dies before collecting all their money, the remainder would go to the winner's estate.WHAT ABOUT TAXES?State lotteries will immediately deduct 24% of jackpot winnings for federal taxes, and additional federal taxes may be required when filing federal tax returns.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/50aedbc64d214666b60ed93542b9e517/powerball-take-home-depends-highly-taxes-where-you-live">State taxes will vary</a>&nbsp;as some states don't tax lottery winnings at all and others tax the money at different rates.Players who buy winning grand prize tickets in a state different from where they live will pay taxes based on where they bought the ticket.DO POWERBALL ODDS CHANGE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS?The game's odds remain 1 in 292.2 million regardless of how big the jackpot is and the number of people buying tickets. Those odds mean there are 292.2 million possible number combinations.To put the immensity of that into context, note that for Monday's drawing players across the country chose just over 20% of those possible combinations. That means nearly 80% of the possible combinations were not selected, so the odds were pretty good that there wouldn't be a winner.Typically, the larger the jackpot grows, the more people play and the more combinations are covered. People also usually buy more tickets on Saturdays, which increases the chance of a winner for those drawings.Eric Warner, who also was buying tickets in Pineville, said he would immediately buy a Porsche if he won the big jackpot and then invest most of the money for himself and his community. Warner said he never really expects to win but enjoys buying a ticket now and then.“It’s something that I run into and maybe I’m feeling lucky," he said. “Then I’ll go ahead and pick up a ticket and just kind of hope for the best.”CAN WINNERS REMAIN ANONYMOUS?<a href="https://apnews.com/067009cee9004217a03a029b4a4895e6">Rules vary from state to state</a>&nbsp;with some requiring that jackpot winners be named and others allowing anonymity. Some states have more detailed rules, such as in Florida, where winners can remain anonymous for 90 days before the state lottery releases their name.WHERE IS THE GAME PLAYED?