OCTOBER 3, 2023 (LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— October marks the return of the Pink Patch Project for many law enforcement agencies across the state and many Nebraska State Troopers will be wearing pink NSP patches to honor breast cancer fighters. The effort coincides with Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The Pink Patch Project is a national campaign in which many law enforcement officers wear a pink version of their agency’s shoulder patch. This is the sixth year that NSP has participated.

“We’re proud to be part of the Pink Patch Project again this year,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “This nationwide campaign is a great way to show support for millions of cancer fighters across the country. We’re happy to be one of numerous Nebraska law enforcement agencies participating this year”.

Throughout October, troopers have the option to replace the standard NSP patch with a pink patch. NSP’s pink patch features the NSP emblem in pink and black.

Pink NSP patches are available for purchase by NSP civilian employees and members of the public at local NSP offices. All proceeds from sales of the pink NSP patches will benefit local organizations helping cancer fighters.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696349612571.jpeg" alt="10-1-Pink Patch./Photo provided by NSP" />
 <figcaption>10-1-Pink Patch./Photo provided by NSP</figcaption>
 </figure>Cody ThomasOCTOBER 3, 2023 (LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— October marks the return of the Pink Patch Project for many law enforcement agencies across the state and many Nebraska State Troopers will be wearing pink NSP patches to honor breast cancer fighters. The effort coincides with Breast Cancer Awareness Month.The Pink Patch Project is a national campaign in which many law enforcement officers wear a pink version of their agency’s shoulder patch. This is the sixth year that NSP has participated.“We’re proud to be part of the Pink Patch Project again this year,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “This nationwide campaign is a great way to show support for millions of cancer fighters across the country. We’re happy to be one of numerous Nebraska law enforcement agencies participating this year”.Throughout October, troopers have the option to replace the standard NSP patch with a pink patch. NSP’s pink patch features the NSP emblem in pink and black.Pink NSP patches are available for purchase by NSP civilian employees and members of the public at local NSP offices. All proceeds from sales of the pink NSP patches will benefit local organizations helping cancer fighters.

Troopers Don Pink Patches for October

WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker Kevin McCarthy was voted out of the job Tuesday in an extraordinary showdown, a first in U.S. history, The 216-210 vote, forced by a contingent of hard-right conservatives, throws the House and its Republican leadership into chaos.

Members of the Nebraska House delegation Don Bacon, Mike Flood and Adrian Smith voted against the motion.

McCarthy’s chief rival, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, forced the vote on the “motion to vacate,” drawing together more than a handful of conservative Republican critics of the speaker and many Democrats who say he is unworthy of leadership.

Next steps are uncertain, but there is no obvious successor to lead the House Republican majority.

Stillness fell as the presiding officer gaveled the vote closed, 216-210, saying the office of the speaker "is hereby declared vacant.”

Moments later, a top McCarthy ally, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., took the gavel and, according to House rules, was named speaker pro tempore, to serve in the office until a new speaker is chosen.

The House then briskly recessed so lawmakers could meet and discuss the path forward.

It was a stunning moment for the battle-tested McCarthy, a punishment fueled by growing grievances but sparked by his weekend decision&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-mccarthy-congress-republicans-732baaa19c91f981e492fd0e6a76aba8">to work with Democrats to keep the federal government open</a>&nbsp;rather than risk a shutdown.

An earlier vote was 218-208 against tabling the motion, with 11 Republicans allowing it to advance.

The House then opened a floor debate, unseen in modern times, ahead of the next round of voting.

McCarthy, of California, insisted he would not cut a deal with Democrats to remain in power — not that he could have relied on their help even if he had asked.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a letter to colleagues that he wants to work with Republicans, but he was unwilling to provide the votes needed to save McCarthy.

“It is now the responsibility of the GOP members to end the House Republican Civil War,” Jeffries said, announcing the Democratic leadership would vote for the motion to oust the speaker.

As the House fell silent, Gaetz, a top ally of Donald Trump, rose to offer his motion. Gaetz is a leader of the hard-right Republicans who fought in January against McCarthy in his prolonged battle to gain the gavel.

“It's a sad day,” Republican Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma said as debate got underway, urging his colleagues not to plunge the House Republican majority "into chaos."

But Gaetz shot back during the debate, "Chaos is Speaker McCarthy."

McCarthy's fate was deeply uncertain as the fiery debate unfolded, with much of the complaints against the speaker revolving around his truthfulness and his ability to keep the promises he has made since January to win the gavel.

But a long line of McCarthy supporters, including Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a founding leader of the conservative Freedom Caucus, stood up for him: “I think he has kept his word.” And some did so passionately. Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., waved his cellphone, saying it was “disgusting” that hard-right colleagues were fundraising off the move in text messages seeking donations.

At the Capitol, both Republicans and Democrats met privately ahead of the historic afternoon vote.

Behind closed doors, McCarthy told fellow Republicans: Let’s get on with it.

“If I counted how many times someone wanted to knock me out, I would have been gone a long time ago,” McCarthy said at the Capitol after the morning meeting.

McCarthy insisted he had not reached across the aisle to the Democratic leader Jeffries for help with votes to stay in the job, nor had they demanded anything in return.

During the hourlong meeting in the Capitol basement, McCarthy invoked Republican Speaker Joseph Cannon, who more than 100 years ago confronted his critics head-on by calling their bluff and setting the vote himself on his ouster. Cannon survived that takedown attempt, which was the first time the House had actually voted to consider removing its speaker. A more recent threat, in 2015, didn't make it to a vote.

McCarthy received three standing ovations during the private meeting — one when he came to the microphone to speak, again during his remarks and finally when he was done, according a Republican at the meeting who was granted anonymity to discuss it.

At one point, there was a show of hands in support of McCarthy and it was “overwhelming,” said Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., a member of the House Freedom Caucus.

Gaetz was in attendance, but he did not address the room.

Across the way in the Capitol, Democrats lined up for a long discussion and unified around one common point: McCarthy cannot be trusted, several lawmakers in the room said.

“I think it’s safe to say there’s not a lot of good will in that room for Kevin McCarthy,” said Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass.

“At the end of the day, the country needs a speaker that can be relied upon,” said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. "We don’t trust him. Their members don’t trust him. And you need a certain degree of trust to be the speaker.”

Removing the speaker launches the House Republicans into chaos, as they try to find a new leader. It took McCarthy himself 15 rounds in January over multiple days of voting before he secured the support from his colleagues to gain the gavel. There is no obvious GOP successor.

Trump, the former president who is the Republican front-runner in the 2024 race to challenge Biden, weighed in to complain about the chaos. “Why is it that Republicans are always fighting among themselves," he asked on social media.

One key McCarthy ally, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., took to social media urging support for “our speaker” and an end to the chaos that has roiled the Republican majority.

Republicans were upset that McCarthy relied on Democratic votes Saturday to approve the temporary measure to keep the government running until Nov. 17. Some would have preferred a government shutdown as they fight for deeper spending cuts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696366148194.png" alt="View of members of the House during the historic vote-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>View of members of the House during the historic vote-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker Kevin McCarthy was voted out of the job Tuesday in an extraordinary showdown, a first in U.S. history, The 216-210 vote, forced by a contingent of hard-right conservatives, throws the House and its Republican leadership into chaos.Members of the Nebraska House delegation Don Bacon, Mike Flood and Adrian Smith voted against the motion.McCarthy’s chief rival, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, forced the vote on the “motion to vacate,” drawing together more than a handful of conservative Republican critics of the speaker and many Democrats who say he is unworthy of leadership.Next steps are uncertain, but there is no obvious successor to lead the House Republican majority.Stillness fell as the presiding officer gaveled the vote closed, 216-210, saying the office of the speaker "is hereby declared vacant.”Moments later, a top McCarthy ally, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., took the gavel and, according to House rules, was named speaker pro tempore, to serve in the office until a new speaker is chosen.The House then briskly recessed so lawmakers could meet and discuss the path forward.It was a stunning moment for the battle-tested McCarthy, a punishment fueled by growing grievances but sparked by his weekend decision&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-mccarthy-congress-republicans-732baaa19c91f981e492fd0e6a76aba8">to work with Democrats to keep the federal government open</a>&nbsp;rather than risk a shutdown.An earlier vote was 218-208 against tabling the motion, with 11 Republicans allowing it to advance.The House then opened a floor debate, unseen in modern times, ahead of the next round of voting.McCarthy, of California, insisted he would not cut a deal with Democrats to remain in power — not that he could have relied on their help even if he had asked.Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a letter to colleagues that he wants to work with Republicans, but he was unwilling to provide the votes needed to save McCarthy.“It is now the responsibility of the GOP members to end the House Republican Civil War,” Jeffries said, announcing the Democratic leadership would vote for the motion to oust the speaker.As the House fell silent, Gaetz, a top ally of Donald Trump, rose to offer his motion. Gaetz is a leader of the hard-right Republicans who fought in January against McCarthy in his prolonged battle to gain the gavel.“It's a sad day,” Republican Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma said as debate got underway, urging his colleagues not to plunge the House Republican majority "into chaos."But Gaetz shot back during the debate, "Chaos is Speaker McCarthy."McCarthy's fate was deeply uncertain as the fiery debate unfolded, with much of the complaints against the speaker revolving around his truthfulness and his ability to keep the promises he has made since January to win the gavel.But a long line of McCarthy supporters, including Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a founding leader of the conservative Freedom Caucus, stood up for him: “I think he has kept his word.” And some did so passionately. Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., waved his cellphone, saying it was “disgusting” that hard-right colleagues were fundraising off the move in text messages seeking donations.At the Capitol, both Republicans and Democrats met privately ahead of the historic afternoon vote.Behind closed doors, McCarthy told fellow Republicans: Let’s get on with it.“If I counted how many times someone wanted to knock me out, I would have been gone a long time ago,” McCarthy said at the Capitol after the morning meeting.McCarthy insisted he had not reached across the aisle to the Democratic leader Jeffries for help with votes to stay in the job, nor had they demanded anything in return.During the hourlong meeting in the Capitol basement, McCarthy invoked Republican Speaker Joseph Cannon, who more than 100 years ago confronted his critics head-on by calling their bluff and setting the vote himself on his ouster. Cannon survived that takedown attempt, which was the first time the House had actually voted to consider removing its speaker. A more recent threat, in 2015, didn't make it to a vote.McCarthy received three standing ovations during the private meeting — one when he came to the microphone to speak, again during his remarks and finally when he was done, according a Republican at the meeting who was granted anonymity to discuss it.At one point, there was a show of hands in support of McCarthy and it was “overwhelming,” said Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., a member of the House Freedom Caucus.Gaetz was in attendance, but he did not address the room.Across the way in the Capitol, Democrats lined up for a long discussion and unified around one common point: McCarthy cannot be trusted, several lawmakers in the room said.“I think it’s safe to say there’s not a lot of good will in that room for Kevin McCarthy,” said Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass.“At the end of the day, the country needs a speaker that can be relied upon,” said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. "We don’t trust him. Their members don’t trust him. And you need a certain degree of trust to be the speaker.”Removing the speaker launches the House Republicans into chaos, as they try to find a new leader. It took McCarthy himself 15 rounds in January over multiple days of voting before he secured the support from his colleagues to gain the gavel. There is no obvious GOP successor.Trump, the former president who is the Republican front-runner in the 2024 race to challenge Biden, weighed in to complain about the chaos. “Why is it that Republicans are always fighting among themselves," he asked on social media.One key McCarthy ally, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., took to social media urging support for “our speaker” and an end to the chaos that has roiled the Republican majority.Republicans were upset that McCarthy relied on Democratic votes Saturday to approve the temporary measure to keep the government running until Nov. 17. Some would have preferred a government shutdown as they fight for deeper spending cuts.

History: McCarthy ousted as House Speaker; Neb. lawmakers vote no

By CASEY QUINLAN,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/19/rural-hospitals-gird-for-unwinding-of-pandemic-medicaid-coverage/">States Newsroom</a>

Complaints about student debt relief scams are increasing as the date approaches for borrowers to restart payment on their student loans after more than a three-year pause.

Consumer protection advocates say that the Biden administration’s student debt relief efforts, the subsequent halting of those policies by the courts, and the restart of student loan payments have bred confusion that allow companies to take advantage of borrowers.

“There is sort of this perfect storm out there that I think is allowing these fraudsters to prey on people,” said Dan Zibel, vice president, chief counsel, and co-founder of Student Defense, a nonprofit focused on student rights.

Zibel said that there has been a lot of policy and legal news on student debt relief for borrowers to absorb in a couple years.

“There is news about repayment plans, news about cancellation, different types of cancellation, whether it’s public service loan forgiveness or fraud-based cancellation, the COVID pause, and then the courts get involved. Debt forgiveness is happening. Debt forgiveness is not happening. There’s new debt forgiveness,” he said. “ … I think that sows confusion for a lot of people.”

And with 44 million owing more than $1.7 trillion — the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/pro-take-auto-loans-pass-student-loans-in-consumer-debt-load-fed-data-shows-b3a4a53#:~:text=Auto%20loans%20have%20squeaked%20past,the%20largest%20debt%20for%20consumers.">third highest consumer debt</a>&nbsp;in the U.S.&nbsp;— the appetite for relief is great and makes many easy prey for scammers.

Many of the debt relief scams often start with a telemarketing call where borrowers are promised debt relief if they pay a regular fee. The callers ask for sensitive personal information, and mislead borrowers about being affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education and student loan servicers. Some mention “Biden Loan Forgiveness.”

The number of complaints coming to the FTC about student debt relief scams has steadily risen in the past few months as the restart of student loan payments approaches, from 385 in June to 562 in July and 610 in August. And the FTC and Department of Justice&nbsp; have been cracking down on the scammers. In August, the agencies returned $9 million to people who paid up to $800 in upfront fees to Ameritech Financial, to take part in what they thought was a federal loan assistance program. The scam also led borrowers to believe that their membership fees would help pay their student loan balance. Arete Financial Group, which said it was affiliated with the Department of Education, had a similar scam that convinced people to make upfront payments. The FTC sent $3.3 million to those consumers in June.

The FTC also has started working with law enforcement agencies and attorneys general to stop illegal telemarketing calls. Some telemarketing campaigns have included scammers pretending to be the government or businesses, luring unsuspecting student loan borrowers.

The Biden administration has undertaken a number of policy efforts in the past few years to reduce the burden of student loan debt, including a program announced in August 2022 that borrowers who qualified could have up to $20,000 of federal student loans canceled.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/27/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-releases-new-data-showing-26-million-people-in-all-50-states-applied-or-were-automatically-eligible-for-one-time-student-debt-relief/">Twenty-six million people</a>&nbsp;applied or sent enough information to the U.S. Department of Education applying for the relief. However, the U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/30/us/student-loan-forgiveness-supreme-court-biden.html">ruled against</a>&nbsp;the plan in June of this year, finding that the administration did not have the authority to cancel the debt. Since then, the administration returned with the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/08/22/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-administration-launches-the-save-plan-the-most-affordable-student-loan-repayment-plan-ever-to-lower-monthly-payments-for-millions-of-borrowers/#:~:text=Bring%20many%20borrowers%27%20loan%20payments%20to%20%240%20per%20month.&amp;text=The%20Department%20of%20Education%20estimates,needs%20instead%20of%20loan%20payments.">SAVE Plan</a>, a new income-driven repayment plan that allows some lower-income borrowers to pay nothing each month and lets some receive early student loan cancellation, among other benefits. Students who have been defrauded by for-profit colleges are also continuing to receive&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-admin-canceling-130m-students-ripped-off-colorado/story?id=101643434">student loan cancellation</a>.

Zibel said that student debt relief scams tend to target borrowers who are the most vulnerable, whether they’re struggling economically or have language barriers that could make people less able to identify fraud.

But anyone could potentially be tricked by these schemes, said Kyra Taylor, staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. She said scammers are getting more sophisticated.

“I’ve heard reports from borrowers that scammers spoofed their student loan servicers email. And the only way you could tell that it was a spoof was by rolling your mouse over the links,” she said. “The scammers are so sophisticated and because the student loan system is so complicated, anyone could be vulnerable, especially if you’re getting an email that looks like it’s from your (student loan) servicer on its face. I think it’s getting harder and harder to tell.”

Taylor offers some advice to borrowers who may find themselves wondering whether they’re being scammed. For example, she tells borrowers not to provide sensitive information such as a Social Security number to someone they believe is a student loan servicer.

“We’re getting closer to restarting payment and people are expecting that their servicer is going to reach out to them. The servicer could be calling you but if they’re asking for personally identifiable information, I would hang up and call them back just to make sure that you’re talking to the right person,” she said. “The other piece is that it’s very unusual for the Department of Education to call folks. Any time you’re getting a call from someone saying they’re from the Department of Education, I think folks should be more skeptical.”

Mark Kantrowitz, an expert on financial aid and author of “How to Appeal for More College Financial Aid” told States Newsroom in an email that it’s a bad idea to share your financial student aid ID, which is your username and password, with a third party, because they can make changes you may not be aware of and will end up being responsible for. When borrowers log in, the federal student aid website makes it clear that the use of this information by a third party “for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain” is prohibited and subject to criminal prosecution, he added.

Taylor and Zibel said there are things the government can do to reduce the damage done by student debt relief scams. Taylor said that if the government automated relief to borrowers, scammers would have fewer opportunities to insert themselves into the process. Zibel said that the government should continue to educate people as return to payment begins on where to find legitimate sources of information on their student loans.

The FTC also offers&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/08/dont-pay-help-your-federal-student-loans">advice</a>&nbsp;on how to spot scams. The agency says it’s a red flag if someone tries to charge you for debt relief services before they have done anything for you as a borrower. Ari Lazarus, a consumer education specialist at the FTC,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/08/dont-pay-help-your-federal-student-loans">explained in</a>&nbsp;an August&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/08/dont-pay-help-your-federal-student-loans">blog</a>, “ …Nobody but a scammer will ever offer you quick loan forgiveness.” Experts on these scams also remind borrowers that no one has to pay for help with student loan relief and advise borrowers to look at the federal student loan website.

Janet Yuen learned too late that she did not have to pay for help. In 2019, after receiving a phone call from A Better Solution Student Loans, or ABS Student Loans, she agreed to pay the company $33 a month to lower her debt.

Yuen, a social worker in Southern California, told States Newsroom that she quit making payments on her student loans because she thought ABS Student Loans was doing so on her behalf. Yuen said she paid $33 a month from October 2019 to November 2021 to ABS Student Loans and provided the company with the username and password to her student loan website.

She has about $263,600 in student loan debt and is out almost $900 —&nbsp; the money she paid ABS Student Loans that she said would have otherwise been spent on financial needs such as paying medical bills.

Yuen said she has contacted the FTC but the agency could not tell States Newsroom whether it is investigating the company because it does not make investigations public.

There is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2023/09/06_StudentLoanDebt.asp#:~:text=Attorney%20General%20Ellison%20opens%20investigation,student%2Dloan%20debt%2Drelief%20companies&amp;text=September%206%2C%202023%20(SAINT%20PAUL,suspected%20of%20violating%20Minnesota%20law.">at least one</a>&nbsp;government investigation into ABS Student Loans through Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office. On Sept. 6, Ellison announced that 52 student debt relief companies are suspected of violating state law by not registering before offering debt settlement services and possibly misrepresenting fees and services, including ABS Student Loans. Deputy chief of staff for the attorney general, John Stiles, told States Newsroom that the office has asked ABS Student Loans how many customers it has in the state but the company has not yet responded.

ABS Student Loans’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://absstudentloans.com/privacy.html">website</a>&nbsp;includes information that it is not affiliated with a government agency and that borrowers do not have to use a third party to apply for student debt relief under a link to its privacy policy at the bottom of its website. The California-based company did not respond to States Newsroom’s multiple requests for information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677600500744.png" alt="Student debt relief advocates gather outside the Supreme Court on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023.&nbsp;The Supreme Court’s decision that the Biden administration didn’t have the authority to cancel student debt helped sow confusion that scammers are using to their advantage. -White House image" />
 <figcaption>Student debt relief advocates gather outside the Supreme Court on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023.&nbsp;The Supreme Court’s decision that the Biden administration didn’t have the authority to cancel student debt helped sow confusion that scammers are using to their advantage. -White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>By CASEY QUINLAN,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/19/rural-hospitals-gird-for-unwinding-of-pandemic-medicaid-coverage/">States Newsroom</a>Complaints about student debt relief scams are increasing as the date approaches for borrowers to restart payment on their student loans after more than a three-year pause.Consumer protection advocates say that the Biden administration’s student debt relief efforts, the subsequent halting of those policies by the courts, and the restart of student loan payments have bred confusion that allow companies to take advantage of borrowers.“There is sort of this perfect storm out there that I think is allowing these fraudsters to prey on people,” said Dan Zibel, vice president, chief counsel, and co-founder of Student Defense, a nonprofit focused on student rights.Zibel said that there has been a lot of policy and legal news on student debt relief for borrowers to absorb in a couple years.“There is news about repayment plans, news about cancellation, different types of cancellation, whether it’s public service loan forgiveness or fraud-based cancellation, the COVID pause, and then the courts get involved. Debt forgiveness is happening. Debt forgiveness is not happening. There’s new debt forgiveness,” he said. “ … I think that sows confusion for a lot of people.”And with 44 million owing more than $1.7 trillion — the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/pro-take-auto-loans-pass-student-loans-in-consumer-debt-load-fed-data-shows-b3a4a53#:~:text=Auto%20loans%20have%20squeaked%20past,the%20largest%20debt%20for%20consumers.">third highest consumer debt</a>&nbsp;in the U.S.&nbsp;— the appetite for relief is great and makes many easy prey for scammers.Many of the debt relief scams often start with a telemarketing call where borrowers are promised debt relief if they pay a regular fee. The callers ask for sensitive personal information, and mislead borrowers about being affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education and student loan servicers. Some mention “Biden Loan Forgiveness.”The number of complaints coming to the FTC about student debt relief scams has steadily risen in the past few months as the restart of student loan payments approaches, from 385 in June to 562 in July and 610 in August. And the FTC and Department of Justice&nbsp; have been cracking down on the scammers. In August, the agencies returned $9 million to people who paid up to $800 in upfront fees to Ameritech Financial, to take part in what they thought was a federal loan assistance program. The scam also led borrowers to believe that their membership fees would help pay their student loan balance. Arete Financial Group, which said it was affiliated with the Department of Education, had a similar scam that convinced people to make upfront payments. The FTC sent $3.3 million to those consumers in June.The FTC also has started working with law enforcement agencies and attorneys general to stop illegal telemarketing calls. Some telemarketing campaigns have included scammers pretending to be the government or businesses, luring unsuspecting student loan borrowers.<h2>How we got here</h2>The Biden administration has undertaken a number of policy efforts in the past few years to reduce the burden of student loan debt, including a program announced in August 2022 that borrowers who qualified could have up to $20,000 of federal student loans canceled.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/27/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-releases-new-data-showing-26-million-people-in-all-50-states-applied-or-were-automatically-eligible-for-one-time-student-debt-relief/">Twenty-six million people</a>&nbsp;applied or sent enough information to the U.S. Department of Education applying for the relief. However, the U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/30/us/student-loan-forgiveness-supreme-court-biden.html">ruled against</a>&nbsp;the plan in June of this year, finding that the administration did not have the authority to cancel the debt. Since then, the administration returned with the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/08/22/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-administration-launches-the-save-plan-the-most-affordable-student-loan-repayment-plan-ever-to-lower-monthly-payments-for-millions-of-borrowers/#:~:text=Bring%20many%20borrowers%27%20loan%20payments%20to%20%240%20per%20month.&amp;text=The%20Department%20of%20Education%20estimates,needs%20instead%20of%20loan%20payments.">SAVE Plan</a>, a new income-driven repayment plan that allows some lower-income borrowers to pay nothing each month and lets some receive early student loan cancellation, among other benefits. Students who have been defrauded by for-profit colleges are also continuing to receive&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-admin-canceling-130m-students-ripped-off-colorado/story?id=101643434">student loan cancellation</a>.Zibel said that student debt relief scams tend to target borrowers who are the most vulnerable, whether they’re struggling economically or have language barriers that could make people less able to identify fraud.But anyone could potentially be tricked by these schemes, said Kyra Taylor, staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. She said scammers are getting more sophisticated.“I’ve heard reports from borrowers that scammers spoofed their student loan servicers email. And the only way you could tell that it was a spoof was by rolling your mouse over the links,” she said. “The scammers are so sophisticated and because the student loan system is so complicated, anyone could be vulnerable, especially if you’re getting an email that looks like it’s from your (student loan) servicer on its face. I think it’s getting harder and harder to tell.”<h2>How to spot a scam</h2>Taylor offers some advice to borrowers who may find themselves wondering whether they’re being scammed. For example, she tells borrowers not to provide sensitive information such as a Social Security number to someone they believe is a student loan servicer.“We’re getting closer to restarting payment and people are expecting that their servicer is going to reach out to them. The servicer could be calling you but if they’re asking for personally identifiable information, I would hang up and call them back just to make sure that you’re talking to the right person,” she said. “The other piece is that it’s very unusual for the Department of Education to call folks. Any time you’re getting a call from someone saying they’re from the Department of Education, I think folks should be more skeptical.”Mark Kantrowitz, an expert on financial aid and author of “How to Appeal for More College Financial Aid” told States Newsroom in an email that it’s a bad idea to share your financial student aid ID, which is your username and password, with a third party, because they can make changes you may not be aware of and will end up being responsible for. When borrowers log in, the federal student aid website makes it clear that the use of this information by a third party “for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain” is prohibited and subject to criminal prosecution, he added.Taylor and Zibel said there are things the government can do to reduce the damage done by student debt relief scams. Taylor said that if the government automated relief to borrowers, scammers would have fewer opportunities to insert themselves into the process. Zibel said that the government should continue to educate people as return to payment begins on where to find legitimate sources of information on their student loans.The FTC also offers&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/08/dont-pay-help-your-federal-student-loans">advice</a>&nbsp;on how to spot scams. The agency says it’s a red flag if someone tries to charge you for debt relief services before they have done anything for you as a borrower. Ari Lazarus, a consumer education specialist at the FTC,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/08/dont-pay-help-your-federal-student-loans">explained in</a>&nbsp;an August&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/08/dont-pay-help-your-federal-student-loans">blog</a>, “ …Nobody but a scammer will ever offer you quick loan forgiveness.” Experts on these scams also remind borrowers that no one has to pay for help with student loan relief and advise borrowers to look at the federal student loan website.Janet Yuen learned too late that she did not have to pay for help. In 2019, after receiving a phone call from A Better Solution Student Loans, or ABS Student Loans, she agreed to pay the company $33 a month to lower her debt.Yuen, a social worker in Southern California, told States Newsroom that she quit making payments on her student loans because she thought ABS Student Loans was doing so on her behalf. Yuen said she paid $33 a month from October 2019 to November 2021 to ABS Student Loans and provided the company with the username and password to her student loan website.She has about $263,600 in student loan debt and is out almost $900 —&nbsp; the money she paid ABS Student Loans that she said would have otherwise been spent on financial needs such as paying medical bills.Yuen said she has contacted the FTC but the agency could not tell States Newsroom whether it is investigating the company because it does not make investigations public.There is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2023/09/06_StudentLoanDebt.asp#:~:text=Attorney%20General%20Ellison%20opens%20investigation,student%2Dloan%20debt%2Drelief%20companies&amp;text=September%206%2C%202023%20(SAINT%20PAUL,suspected%20of%20violating%20Minnesota%20law.">at least one</a>&nbsp;government investigation into ABS Student Loans through Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office. On Sept. 6, Ellison announced that 52 student debt relief companies are suspected of violating state law by not registering before offering debt settlement services and possibly misrepresenting fees and services, including ABS Student Loans. Deputy chief of staff for the attorney general, John Stiles, told States Newsroom that the office has asked ABS Student Loans how many customers it has in the state but the company has not yet responded.ABS Student Loans’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://absstudentloans.com/privacy.html">website</a>&nbsp;includes information that it is not affiliated with a government agency and that borrowers do not have to use a third party to apply for student debt relief under a link to its privacy policy at the bottom of its website. The California-based company did not respond to States Newsroom’s multiple requests for information.

Student debt relief scams on the rise. What borrowers need to know

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York judge quickly imposed a limited gag order in Donald Trump's civil business fraud trial Tuesday after the former president disparaged a key court staffer.

Interrupting a long day of testimony, Judge Arthur Engoron issued the order, which applies to all parties in the case and pertains to verbal attacks on court staff. It came after Trump recirculated a critical social media post about Engoron’s principal law clerk, Allison Greenfield.

The post included a photo of Greenfield with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., posing for a picture at a public event. Trump, the Republican front-runner for president in 2024, has repeatedly cast the lawsuit and trial as a political attack by New York’s Democratic attorney general, Letitia James. Trump wrote that it was “disgraceful” that Greenfield was working with the judge in the courtroom.

Aside from that sideshow, with Trump attending the trial for a second day, James’ attorney questioned an accountant in an effort to build the state’s case that Trump and others at his company had full control over the preparation of misleading and downright false financial statements at the heart of the lawsuit against them.

And Engoron set the record straight about a comment that the ex-president had touted as an important victory.

Engoron had suggested on Monday that testimony about Trump’s 2011 financial statement might be beyond the legal time limit applicable to Attorney General James’ lawsuit. It alleges that Trump and his business chronically lied about his wealth on financial statements given to banks, insurers and others.

The relevant statute of limitations rules out claims related to activities before a date in 2014, and Trump’s legal team has argued that the time limit cuts off most of the case.

Engoron said Tuesday that “statutes of limitations bar claims, not evidence” and that at the trial’s early stage, he’s inclined to give both sides considerably leeway to connect older evidence to claims in the lawsuit.

“I want to emphasize: This trial is not an opportunity to relitigate what I have already decided,” Engoron said. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-letitia-james-fraud-lawsuit-1569245a9284427117b8d3ba5da74249">ruled last week</a>&nbsp;that all the claims were allowable under the statute of limitations.

A lawyer for James’ office, Kevin Wallace, went on to suggest that he was using the 2011 document to show that Trump’s financial statements were prepared in the same manner — giving him and his company the final say over the valuations that appeared — for at least a decade.

Donald Bender, an accountant who prepared the financial statements for years, testified that Trump’s company supplied the numbers that went into the documents. Each spreadsheet was marked “PBC,” for “prepared by client,” in big, red letters, Bender said.

Bender testified that in some years, the Trump Organization failed to provide all documents necessary for producing the statements, despite attesting in letters to the account firm that it had provided all financial records.

“They were not giving all of the documents that we needed,” Bender testified, explaining that “there were certain appraisals out there for a number of years that we had never seen.”

As for the gag order, without naming Trump, Engoron said that a defendant in the case "posted to a social media account a disparaging, untrue and personally identifying post about a member of my staff.” He added that “personal attacks on members of my court staff are unacceptable, not appropriate” and not tolerated

Trump had already deleted the post. Engoron said he ordered it gone.

Trump also commented on the clerk's role with the judge on Monday, saying that she “should not be allowed to be in his ear on every single question” and “hates Trump.”

Trump, who denies any wrongdoing in the case, said during one court break that he thought the trial was “going very well.” He reiterated key points of his defense, including that the financial statements bore disclaimers saying that they weren’t audited and that others “might reach different conclusions” about his financial position if they had more information.

“This case is a scam. It can’t be fraud when you’ve told institutions to do their own work,” Trump said Tuesday.

After Monday’s sometimes fiery opening statements, Tuesday’s testimony was so plodding that Bender twice let out a long breath on the stand.

Trump plans to testify later in the trial, but he doesn’t have to attend it now. While grumbling that he’d rather be on the campaign trail, the Republican former president and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-presidential-candidates-who-is-running-e89fbfee94e7e7980594a9ce3994fec7">2024 GOP front-runner</a>&nbsp;has used the waiting cameras in a courthouse hallway as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-civil-fraud-trial-2024-campaign-court-fb73b4275be2d43b0f92031737d3e9eb">microphone for political messaging</a>. He claims that James, a Democrat, is wielding the justice system as a political cudgel to hobble his ongoing campaign.

James scored an early victory when Engoron, a Democrat, ruled last week that Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-letitia-james-fraud-lawsuit-1569245a9284427117b8d3ba5da74249">committed fraud</a>&nbsp;by exaggerating the size of his penthouse at Trump Tower, claiming his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida was worth as much as $739 million and putting similar oversized valuations on office towers, golf courses and other assets.

The non-jury trial concerns six remaining claims in the lawsuit and how much Trump might owe in penalties. James is seeking $250 million and a ban on Trump doing business in New York. The judge has already ruled that some of Trump’s companies should be dissolved as punishment.

Trump’s lawyers said the financial statements were legitimate representations of the worth of unique luxury properties, made even more valuable because of their association with Trump.

The trial is expected to last into December.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696255761783.png" alt="Outside the New York courtroom on Monday, former President Donald Trump said the judge assigned to the case was "rogue" photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Outside the New York courtroom on Monday, former President Donald Trump said the judge assigned to the case was "rogue" photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — A New York judge quickly imposed a limited gag order in Donald Trump's civil business fraud trial Tuesday after the former president disparaged a key court staffer.Interrupting a long day of testimony, Judge Arthur Engoron issued the order, which applies to all parties in the case and pertains to verbal attacks on court staff. It came after Trump recirculated a critical social media post about Engoron’s principal law clerk, Allison Greenfield.The post included a photo of Greenfield with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., posing for a picture at a public event. Trump, the Republican front-runner for president in 2024, has repeatedly cast the lawsuit and trial as a political attack by New York’s Democratic attorney general, Letitia James. Trump wrote that it was “disgraceful” that Greenfield was working with the judge in the courtroom.Aside from that sideshow, with Trump attending the trial for a second day, James’ attorney questioned an accountant in an effort to build the state’s case that Trump and others at his company had full control over the preparation of misleading and downright false financial statements at the heart of the lawsuit against them.And Engoron set the record straight about a comment that the ex-president had touted as an important victory.Engoron had suggested on Monday that testimony about Trump’s 2011 financial statement might be beyond the legal time limit applicable to Attorney General James’ lawsuit. It alleges that Trump and his business chronically lied about his wealth on financial statements given to banks, insurers and others.The relevant statute of limitations rules out claims related to activities before a date in 2014, and Trump’s legal team has argued that the time limit cuts off most of the case.Engoron said Tuesday that “statutes of limitations bar claims, not evidence” and that at the trial’s early stage, he’s inclined to give both sides considerably leeway to connect older evidence to claims in the lawsuit.“I want to emphasize: This trial is not an opportunity to relitigate what I have already decided,” Engoron said. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-letitia-james-fraud-lawsuit-1569245a9284427117b8d3ba5da74249">ruled last week</a>&nbsp;that all the claims were allowable under the statute of limitations.A lawyer for James’ office, Kevin Wallace, went on to suggest that he was using the 2011 document to show that Trump’s financial statements were prepared in the same manner — giving him and his company the final say over the valuations that appeared — for at least a decade.Donald Bender, an accountant who prepared the financial statements for years, testified that Trump’s company supplied the numbers that went into the documents. Each spreadsheet was marked “PBC,” for “prepared by client,” in big, red letters, Bender said.Bender testified that in some years, the Trump Organization failed to provide all documents necessary for producing the statements, despite attesting in letters to the account firm that it had provided all financial records.“They were not giving all of the documents that we needed,” Bender testified, explaining that “there were certain appraisals out there for a number of years that we had never seen.”As for the gag order, without naming Trump, Engoron said that a defendant in the case "posted to a social media account a disparaging, untrue and personally identifying post about a member of my staff.” He added that “personal attacks on members of my court staff are unacceptable, not appropriate” and not toleratedTrump had already deleted the post. Engoron said he ordered it gone.Trump also commented on the clerk's role with the judge on Monday, saying that she “should not be allowed to be in his ear on every single question” and “hates Trump.”Trump, who denies any wrongdoing in the case, said during one court break that he thought the trial was “going very well.” He reiterated key points of his defense, including that the financial statements bore disclaimers saying that they weren’t audited and that others “might reach different conclusions” about his financial position if they had more information.“This case is a scam. It can’t be fraud when you’ve told institutions to do their own work,” Trump said Tuesday.After Monday’s sometimes fiery opening statements, Tuesday’s testimony was so plodding that Bender twice let out a long breath on the stand.Trump plans to testify later in the trial, but he doesn’t have to attend it now. While grumbling that he’d rather be on the campaign trail, the Republican former president and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-presidential-candidates-who-is-running-e89fbfee94e7e7980594a9ce3994fec7">2024 GOP front-runner</a>&nbsp;has used the waiting cameras in a courthouse hallway as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-civil-fraud-trial-2024-campaign-court-fb73b4275be2d43b0f92031737d3e9eb">microphone for political messaging</a>. He claims that James, a Democrat, is wielding the justice system as a political cudgel to hobble his ongoing campaign.James scored an early victory when Engoron, a Democrat, ruled last week that Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-letitia-james-fraud-lawsuit-1569245a9284427117b8d3ba5da74249">committed fraud</a>&nbsp;by exaggerating the size of his penthouse at Trump Tower, claiming his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida was worth as much as $739 million and putting similar oversized valuations on office towers, golf courses and other assets.The non-jury trial concerns six remaining claims in the lawsuit and how much Trump might owe in penalties. James is seeking $250 million and a ban on Trump doing business in New York. The judge has already ruled that some of Trump’s companies should be dissolved as punishment.Trump’s lawyers said the financial statements were legitimate representations of the worth of unique luxury properties, made even more valuable because of their association with Trump.The trial is expected to last into December.___

Judge gags Trump after former president attacks law clerk

VATICAN CITY (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis" target="_blank">Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;has suggested there could be ways to bless same-sex unions, responding to five conservative cardinals who challenged him to affirm church teaching on homosexuality ahead of a big meeting where LGBTQ+ Catholics are on the agenda.

The Vatican on Monday published a letter Francis wrote to the cardinals on July 11 after receiving a list of five questions, or “dubia,” from them a day earlier. In it, Francis suggests that such blessings could be studied if they didn’t confuse the blessing with sacramental marriage.

New Ways Ministry, which advocates for LGBTQ+ Catholics, said the letter “significantly advances” efforts to make LGBTQ+ Catholics welcomed in the church and “one big straw towards breaking the camel’s back” in their marginalization.

The Vatican holds that marriage is an indissoluble union between man and woman. As a result, it has long opposed gay marriage. But even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-vatican-civil-union-comment-8f53e237da41da9891564268f1a2e66a" target="_blank">Francis has voiced support for civil laws</a>&nbsp;extending legal benefits to same-sex spouses, and Catholic priests in parts of Europe&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-lifestyle-religion-f94e1e634f3b80e209d82ce29927deab" target="_blank">have been blessing same-sex unions</a>&nbsp;without Vatican censure.

Francis’ response to the cardinals, however, marks a reversal from the Vatican’s current official position. In an explanatory note in 2021, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said flat-out that the church couldn’t bless gay unions because&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-decree-same-sex-unions-cannot-bless-sin-077944750c975313ad253328e4cf7443" target="_blank">“God cannot bless sin.”</a>

In his new letter, Francis reiterated that matrimony is a union between a man and a woman. But responding to the cardinals’ question about homosexual unions and blessings, he said “pastoral charity” requires patience and understanding and that regardless, priests cannot become judges “who only deny, reject and exclude.”

“For this reason, pastoral prudence must adequately discern whether there are forms of benediction, requested by one or more persons, that do not transmit a mistaken conception of marriage,” he wrote. “Because when a benediction is requested, it is expressing a request for help from God, a plea to be able to live better, a trust in a father who can help us to live better.”

He noted that there are situations that are objectively “not morally acceptable.” But he said the same “pastoral charity” requires that people be treated as sinners who might not be fully at fault for their situations.

Francis added that there is no need for dioceses or bishops conferences to turn such pastoral charity into fixed norms or protocols, saying the issue could be dealt with on a case-by-case basis “because the life of the church runs on channels beyond norms.”

Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, welcomed the pope’s openness.

""The allowance for pastoral ministers to bless same-gender couples implies that the church does indeed recognize that holy love can exist between same-gender couples, and the love of these couples mirrors the love of God,” he said in a statement. “Those recognitions, while not completely what LGBTQ+ Catholics would want, are an enormous advance towards fuller and more comprehensive equality.”

The five cardinals, all of them conservative prelates from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, had challenged Francis to affirm church teaching on gays, women’s ordination, the authority of the pope and other issues in their letter.

They published the material two days before the start of a major three-week synod, or meeting, at the Vatican at which LGBTQ+ Catholics and their place in the church are on the agenda.

The signatories were some of Francis’ most vocal critics, all of them retired and of the more doctrinaire generation of cardinals appointed by St. John Paul II or Pope Benedict XVI.

They were Cardinals Walter Brandmueller of Germany, a former Vatican historian;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6a0eef0fa28f47abafc243e9ac06e5cd" target="_blank">Raymond Burke</a>&nbsp;of the United States, whom Francis axed as head of the Vatican supreme court; Juan Sandoval of Mexico, the retired archbishop of Guadalajara;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0967d5598e4c36a34b3f5babc5ebde87" target="_blank">Robert Sarah of Guinea</a>, the retired head of the Vatican’s liturgy office; and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ffbf5f969e5e47078e71a9254682032f" target="_blank">Joseph Zen</a>, the retired archbishop of Hong Kong.

Brandmueller and Burke were among four signatories of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/28a3c18640c344c2a6a32dbbda2fd92f" target="_blank">a previous round of “dubia”</a>&nbsp;to Francis in 2016 following his controversial opening to letting divorced and civilly remarried couples receive Communion. Then, the cardinals were concerned that Francis’ position violated church teaching on the indissolubility of marriage. Francis never responded to their questions, and two of their co-signatories subsequently died.

Francis did respond this time around. The cardinals didn’t publish his reply, but they apparently found it so unsatisfactory that they reformulated their five questions, submitted them to him again and asked him to simply respond with a yes or no. When he didn’t, the cardinals decided to make the texts public and issue a “notification” warning to the faithful.

The Vatican’s doctrine office published his reply to them a few hours later, though it did so without his introduction in which he urged the cardinals to not be afraid of the synod.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603292366279.png" alt="Francis’ response to the cardinals, however, marks a reversal from the Vatican’s current official position. photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Francis’ response to the cardinals, however, marks a reversal from the Vatican’s current official position. photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>VATICAN CITY (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis" target="_blank">Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;has suggested there could be ways to bless same-sex unions, responding to five conservative cardinals who challenged him to affirm church teaching on homosexuality ahead of a big meeting where LGBTQ+ Catholics are on the agenda.The Vatican on Monday published a letter Francis wrote to the cardinals on July 11 after receiving a list of five questions, or “dubia,” from them a day earlier. In it, Francis suggests that such blessings could be studied if they didn’t confuse the blessing with sacramental marriage.New Ways Ministry, which advocates for LGBTQ+ Catholics, said the letter “significantly advances” efforts to make LGBTQ+ Catholics welcomed in the church and “one big straw towards breaking the camel’s back” in their marginalization.The Vatican holds that marriage is an indissoluble union between man and woman. As a result, it has long opposed gay marriage. But even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-vatican-civil-union-comment-8f53e237da41da9891564268f1a2e66a" target="_blank">Francis has voiced support for civil laws</a>&nbsp;extending legal benefits to same-sex spouses, and Catholic priests in parts of Europe&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-lifestyle-religion-f94e1e634f3b80e209d82ce29927deab" target="_blank">have been blessing same-sex unions</a>&nbsp;without Vatican censure.Francis’ response to the cardinals, however, marks a reversal from the Vatican’s current official position. In an explanatory note in 2021, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said flat-out that the church couldn’t bless gay unions because&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-decree-same-sex-unions-cannot-bless-sin-077944750c975313ad253328e4cf7443" target="_blank">“God cannot bless sin.”</a>In his new letter, Francis reiterated that matrimony is a union between a man and a woman. But responding to the cardinals’ question about homosexual unions and blessings, he said “pastoral charity” requires patience and understanding and that regardless, priests cannot become judges “who only deny, reject and exclude.”“For this reason, pastoral prudence must adequately discern whether there are forms of benediction, requested by one or more persons, that do not transmit a mistaken conception of marriage,” he wrote. “Because when a benediction is requested, it is expressing a request for help from God, a plea to be able to live better, a trust in a father who can help us to live better.”He noted that there are situations that are objectively “not morally acceptable.” But he said the same “pastoral charity” requires that people be treated as sinners who might not be fully at fault for their situations.Francis added that there is no need for dioceses or bishops conferences to turn such pastoral charity into fixed norms or protocols, saying the issue could be dealt with on a case-by-case basis “because the life of the church runs on channels beyond norms.”Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, welcomed the pope’s openness.""The allowance for pastoral ministers to bless same-gender couples implies that the church does indeed recognize that holy love can exist between same-gender couples, and the love of these couples mirrors the love of God,” he said in a statement. “Those recognitions, while not completely what LGBTQ+ Catholics would want, are an enormous advance towards fuller and more comprehensive equality.”The five cardinals, all of them conservative prelates from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, had challenged Francis to affirm church teaching on gays, women’s ordination, the authority of the pope and other issues in their letter.They published the material two days before the start of a major three-week synod, or meeting, at the Vatican at which LGBTQ+ Catholics and their place in the church are on the agenda.The signatories were some of Francis’ most vocal critics, all of them retired and of the more doctrinaire generation of cardinals appointed by St. John Paul II or Pope Benedict XVI.They were Cardinals Walter Brandmueller of Germany, a former Vatican historian;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6a0eef0fa28f47abafc243e9ac06e5cd" target="_blank">Raymond Burke</a>&nbsp;of the United States, whom Francis axed as head of the Vatican supreme court; Juan Sandoval of Mexico, the retired archbishop of Guadalajara;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0967d5598e4c36a34b3f5babc5ebde87" target="_blank">Robert Sarah of Guinea</a>, the retired head of the Vatican’s liturgy office; and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ffbf5f969e5e47078e71a9254682032f" target="_blank">Joseph Zen</a>, the retired archbishop of Hong Kong.Brandmueller and Burke were among four signatories of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/28a3c18640c344c2a6a32dbbda2fd92f" target="_blank">a previous round of “dubia”</a>&nbsp;to Francis in 2016 following his controversial opening to letting divorced and civilly remarried couples receive Communion. Then, the cardinals were concerned that Francis’ position violated church teaching on the indissolubility of marriage. Francis never responded to their questions, and two of their co-signatories subsequently died.Francis did respond this time around. The cardinals didn’t publish his reply, but they apparently found it so unsatisfactory that they reformulated their five questions, submitted them to him again and asked him to simply respond with a yes or no. When he didn’t, the cardinals decided to make the texts public and issue a “notification” warning to the faithful.The Vatican’s doctrine office published his reply to them a few hours later, though it did so without his introduction in which he urged the cardinals to not be afraid of the synod.

Pope suggests Catholic Church could bless same-sex unions

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/03/round-two-of-emergency-rent-aid-once-a-political-hot-potato-now-available-to-91-nebraska-counties/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

BELLEVUE — Just a few days into accepting applications for a new batch of emergency rent aid, the State of Nebraska already has fielded more than 600 requests from 55 counties.&nbsp;

“It’s been insanely busy,” Tanya Gifford of Lift Up Sarpy County said Monday between visits with clients seeking the federal assistance.

Her organization is among those helping the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority in the distribution of $48 million in pandemic-related rent and utility aid. The funds are to go to the state’s 91 smaller, more rural counties.

Douglas and Lancaster Counties were large enough to apply for and to receive (which they did) their own second-round allotments of Emergency Rental Assistance authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act and funneled through the U.S. Treasury Department.

Funding for the 91 counties had become&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/08/latest-on-emergency-rent-aid-saga-gov-jim-pillen-accepted-the-federal-funds/">weighted in controversy</a>, however, as then Gov. Pete Ricketts refused to tap ERA II dollars that the federal government had set aside for them. Ricketts said the pandemic was over and that Nebraska should guard against becoming a “welfare state”

State lawmakers got involved, but the Legislature fell one vote short of overriding a gubernatorial veto on a bill that would have forced Ricketts’ hand.&nbsp;

Gov. Jim Pillen, upon taking office earlier this year, bucked his predecessor’s stance and accepted what was left of the original $120 million that was to go to the state’s smaller counties.

A spokeswoman at the time said that Pillen recognized that housing stability and affordability issues still existed in rural Nebraska, and that accepting the funds would address those issues.

By that time, certain deadlines had been missed and much of the original allocation had been redirected to other states.

Thursday, NIFA and statewide advocacy organizations began accepting applications for the $48 million still available for the 91 counties.

“Keeping people in their homes and ensuring they have access to necessary utilities is vital to maintaining healthy communities,” said Shannon Harner, executive director of NIFA, which is managing the distribution process. “We strongly encourage anyone who believes they may be eligible to apply.”

To qualify, an applicant must have&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskarenthelp.org/">household income at or below 80% of area median income,</a>&nbsp;must be a legal resident of the United States and rent their primary residence in one of the 91 counties.

Applicants also must demonstrate that they had a financial hardship during the pandemic, she said.&nbsp;

Households can receive up to $30,000 for past-due and future rent and utility payments.&nbsp;A household may not receive more than 18 months of total combined assistance from the first and second emergency rental aid rounds.

And no more than $4,000 of assistance can be applied toward past-due utilities.

Harner said Sarpy County is heavily represented in the more than 600 applications received from 55 counties as of Monday afternoon. “We’re pretty happy with that (overall) number so far,” she said.&nbsp;

Housing advocates said the busy pace in the first days of the application process reflects pent up demand and need. Sarpy County, for example, has been averaging about 18 eviction cases per week, Gifford said.

Gifford said the application portal is working smoothly and that the call center has been effective in responding to questions.

That’s a change from how many advocates, renters and landlords described management of the first round of emergency rental aid. They said the previous contractor, Deloitte,&nbsp; an audit and financial services firm, created a cumbersome online application process that kept many needy Nebraskans from accessing the aid.

The latest rent and utility assistance is to be distributed until the dollars run out, or until September 2025. The funds will not need to be paid back.

Payments will be made directly to landlords and utility companies, Harner said.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658602432416.jpg" alt="Photo on file" />
 <figcaption>Photo on file</figcaption>
 </figure>Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/03/round-two-of-emergency-rent-aid-once-a-political-hot-potato-now-available-to-91-nebraska-counties/">Nebraska Examiner</a>BELLEVUE — Just a few days into accepting applications for a new batch of emergency rent aid, the State of Nebraska already has fielded more than 600 requests from 55 counties.&nbsp;“It’s been insanely busy,” Tanya Gifford of Lift Up Sarpy County said Monday between visits with clients seeking the federal assistance.Her organization is among those helping the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority in the distribution of $48 million in pandemic-related rent and utility aid. The funds are to go to the state’s 91 smaller, more rural counties.Douglas and Lancaster Counties were large enough to apply for and to receive (which they did) their own second-round allotments of Emergency Rental Assistance authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act and funneled through the U.S. Treasury Department.Funding for the 91 counties had become&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/08/latest-on-emergency-rent-aid-saga-gov-jim-pillen-accepted-the-federal-funds/">weighted in controversy</a>, however, as then Gov. Pete Ricketts refused to tap ERA II dollars that the federal government had set aside for them. Ricketts said the pandemic was over and that Nebraska should guard against becoming a “welfare state”State lawmakers got involved, but the Legislature fell one vote short of overriding a gubernatorial veto on a bill that would have forced Ricketts’ hand.&nbsp;Gov. Jim Pillen, upon taking office earlier this year, bucked his predecessor’s stance and accepted what was left of the original $120 million that was to go to the state’s smaller counties.A spokeswoman at the time said that Pillen recognized that housing stability and affordability issues still existed in rural Nebraska, and that accepting the funds would address those issues.By that time, certain deadlines had been missed and much of the original allocation had been redirected to other states.Thursday, NIFA and statewide advocacy organizations began accepting applications for the $48 million still available for the 91 counties.“Keeping people in their homes and ensuring they have access to necessary utilities is vital to maintaining healthy communities,” said Shannon Harner, executive director of NIFA, which is managing the distribution process. “We strongly encourage anyone who believes they may be eligible to apply.”To qualify, an applicant must have&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskarenthelp.org/">household income at or below 80% of area median income,</a>&nbsp;must be a legal resident of the United States and rent their primary residence in one of the 91 counties.Applicants also must demonstrate that they had a financial hardship during the pandemic, she said.&nbsp;Households can receive up to $30,000 for past-due and future rent and utility payments.&nbsp;A household may not receive more than 18 months of total combined assistance from the first and second emergency rental aid rounds.And no more than $4,000 of assistance can be applied toward past-due utilities.Harner said Sarpy County is heavily represented in the more than 600 applications received from 55 counties as of Monday afternoon. “We’re pretty happy with that (overall) number so far,” she said.&nbsp;Housing advocates said the busy pace in the first days of the application process reflects pent up demand and need. Sarpy County, for example, has been averaging about 18 eviction cases per week, Gifford said.Gifford said the application portal is working smoothly and that the call center has been effective in responding to questions.That’s a change from how many advocates, renters and landlords described management of the first round of emergency rental aid. They said the previous contractor, Deloitte,&nbsp; an audit and financial services firm, created a cumbersome online application process that kept many needy Nebraskans from accessing the aid.The latest rent and utility assistance is to be distributed until the dollars run out, or until September 2025. The funds will not need to be paid back.Payments will be made directly to landlords and utility companies, Harner said.&nbsp;

Round two of emergency rent aid, once a political hot potato, now available to 91 Nebraska counties

Lincoln, NE – October 3, 2023 – Sales produced by large Powerball® and Mega Millions® jackpots plus strong Scratch ticket sales contributed to the 120th allocation of proceeds to the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery was established in 1993.

A total of $15,482,624, derived from a share of Scratch and Lotto ticket sales from the previous three months, was distributed the week of September 29 among the beneficiaries in the following manner:

Nebraska Education Improvement Fund, $6,667,268;Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, $6,667,268;Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund, $1,498,262; andCompulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund, $649,826.

The largest quarterly beneficiary transfer occurred in December 2022 when $15,817,263 was distributed. A total of $951,748,496 in proceeds has been distributed since the Nebraska Lottery began operation on September 11, 1993.

“We’re happy to make another significant transfer of lottery proceeds to our beneficiary funds,” said Nebraska Lottery Director Brian Rockey. “Each purchase of a Nebraska Lottery ticket supports important work in every part of our state. And as we continue to celebrate our 30th anniversary, we want to express our gratitude to the 1,200 Lottery retailers who have been essential for our success. Together, we are helping to build a better Nebraska.”

The funds' respective totals to date are:

Nebraska Education Improvement Fund, $151,459,522;Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, $408,150,844;Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund, $72,177,327; andCompulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund, $21,347,489.

Prior to July 1, 2016, the Education Innovation Fund received proceeds totaling $174,222,842, and the Nebraska Opportunity Grant Fund received proceeds totaling $100,929,476.

Prior to July 1, 1997, the Solid Waste Landfill Closure Assistance Fund received proceeds totaling $18,460,996. In 2004, the Legislature directed that a one-time transfer of $5 million be made to the State General Fund.

Criteria for the use of proceeds are established by the beneficiary funds in accordance with legislative mandates. Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>&nbsp;for additional information on Nebraska Lottery beneficiary funds.

The Nebraska Lottery marked $3.5 billion in total sales (since 1993) in December 2021.

Lincoln, NE – October 3, 2023 – Sales produced by large Powerball® and Mega Millions® jackpots plus strong Scratch ticket sales contributed to the 120th allocation of proceeds to the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery was established in 1993.A total of $15,482,624, derived from a share of Scratch and Lotto ticket sales from the previous three months, was distributed the week of September 29 among the beneficiaries in the following manner:Nebraska Education Improvement Fund, $6,667,268;Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, $6,667,268;Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund, $1,498,262; andCompulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund, $649,826.The largest quarterly beneficiary transfer occurred in December 2022 when $15,817,263 was distributed. A total of $951,748,496 in proceeds has been distributed since the Nebraska Lottery began operation on September 11, 1993.“We’re happy to make another significant transfer of lottery proceeds to our beneficiary funds,” said Nebraska Lottery Director Brian Rockey. “Each purchase of a Nebraska Lottery ticket supports important work in every part of our state. And as we continue to celebrate our 30th anniversary, we want to express our gratitude to the 1,200 Lottery retailers who have been essential for our success. Together, we are helping to build a better Nebraska.”The funds' respective totals to date are:Nebraska Education Improvement Fund, $151,459,522;Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, $408,150,844;Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund, $72,177,327; andCompulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund, $21,347,489.Prior to July 1, 2016, the Education Innovation Fund received proceeds totaling $174,222,842, and the Nebraska Opportunity Grant Fund received proceeds totaling $100,929,476.Prior to July 1, 1997, the Solid Waste Landfill Closure Assistance Fund received proceeds totaling $18,460,996. In 2004, the Legislature directed that a one-time transfer of $5 million be made to the State General Fund.Criteria for the use of proceeds are established by the beneficiary funds in accordance with legislative mandates. Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>&nbsp;for additional information on Nebraska Lottery beneficiary funds.The Nebraska Lottery marked $3.5 billion in total sales (since 1993) in December 2021.

Nebraska Lottery Grows Support for Beneficiaries

WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kevin-mccarthy">Kevin McCarthy</a>&nbsp;is facing an extraordinary referendum on his leadership of the House after a conservative member of his own Republican majority, a longtime critic, moved to launch a vote to oust him from the helm.

Late Monday, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., rose in the chamber as the House was almost done for the day to file the motion — a resolution that would set a snap vote in coming days that even Gaetz acknowledged may not have enough support to remove the speaker from the job.

“I have enough Republicans where at this point next week, one of two things will happen: Kevin McCarthy won’t be the speaker of the House or he’ll be the speaker of the House working at the pleasure of the Democrats," Gaetz told reporters afterward outside the Capitol.

McCarthy responded minutes later on social media, “Bring it on.”

Gaetz soon retorted in a post, “Just did.”

It’s a historic moment: the first time in more than 100 years that a lawmaker may actually force a vote using the legislative tool that has been threatened against other House speakers, including in 2015, but never fully employed to try to remove them.

The bold strike to confront McCarthy carries potentially dire ramifications if enough lawmakers decide to remove his hold on the gavel, but also for Gaetz if it fizzles out. It also puts on stark display the warring factions that have roiled the Republican majority this year in the House and beyond.

So far, despite the deep divides over McCarthy's leadership, only a handful of hard-right Republicans have signaled they are willing to vote to remove him. Others who have aligned with Gaetz on spending cuts or other priorities are parting ways with him on this one.

“It’s a really bad idea,” said Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., one of the more conservative lawmakers in the House.

Gaetz has for months threatened to use the procedural tool — called a motion to vacate — to try to strip McCarthy of his office. Those threats escalated over the weekend after McCarthy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-mccarthy-congress-republicans-732baaa19c91f981e492fd0e6a76aba8">relied on Democrats</a>&nbsp;to provide the necessary votes to fund the government.

That decision has set McCarthy up for what will likely be the ultimate test of his leadership and may force him to again look across the aisle to Democrats for support. But how the vote will ultimately unfold remains unclear as Democrats weigh whether to help McCarthy, join the effort to oust him, or simply withhold their votes or rely on parliamentary maneuvering that could sway the outcome.

“Do we side with a sociopath or an incompetent?” said Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., a progressive leader. “I don’t know?”

And allies of McCarthy have said for weeks they were ready for a motion to come.

Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said he has spoken privately to some Democrats who have told him they would vote to help McCarthy remain in office. “I’m sure Mr. Gaetz will have some allies who will go with him. But I don’t see enough.”

The vote ahead could result in humiliation — the first speaker ever ousted from the job through such a motion — or newfound strength as he overcomes yet another obstacle while trying to lead a narrow, unwieldy majority.

Conservative critics have been hounding McCarthy from the start, denying him votes and thwarting his plans. But McCarthy has leaned into the fight and suggested it’s an opportunity to set aside his critics once and for all.

Gaetz acknowledged the effort is likely to fail. He responded to questions about what he hoped to accomplish by saying Americans need to know who's in charge.

In a speech on the House floor earlier in the day, Gaetz accused McCarthy of making a deal with the White House during funding negotiations to bring forward legislation to help fund Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Brushing off the threat, McCarthy told reporters earlier at the Capitol, “I’m focused on doing the work that has to be done.” He added that there was “no side deal” on Ukraine, noting he has not spoken to Biden.

A motion to vacate is a rare and strong procedural tool that has only been used twice in the past century against Republican speakers. But in recent years, conservatives have wielded the motion as a weapon against their leaders.

In January, McCarthy, hoping to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-us-republican-party-office-of-congressional-ethics-pandemics-60b4f098523b982b549823f4b3e8f9e4">appease some on the hard right</a>&nbsp;like Gaetz as he fought to gain their vote for speaker, agreed to give as few as five Republican members the ability to initiate a vote to remove him. But when that wasn’t good enough for his critics, he agreed to reduce that threshold to one — the system that historically has been the norm.

The motion Gaetz introduced is a privileged resolution, a designation that gives it priority over other measures. The next step is for House leaders to schedule a vote on the resolution within two legislative days.

It would take a simple majority of the House — 218 votes, when no seats are vacant — to remove McCarthy from his post.

However, there are several procedural motions that members of either party could introduce to slow down or stop the process altogether.

But among McCarthy's detractors, passions run deep.

Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., who has long wanted McCarthy gone, said the speaker’s weekend deal with Democrats to keep the government running without any of the conservative priorities is just another reason he will be voting for the ouster.

Still, other far-right members and allies of Gaetz as they fought the spending deal and other issues were less sure. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., said his position on the motion was “to be determined.”

Showing the tough road ahead to win over conservative support for ousting the speaker, Massie said the real history-making moment has been the House working through its regular job of trying to pass spending bills, and he worries this effort will quash all that.

“If you’re asking how I feel, I am sad that this might be the end of that experiment,” he said.

Democrats were largely treating the moment as another episode in a Republican-led House that has been full of chaotic twists since the start of the year, and declining to say whether they would work to help McCarthy keep his job or vote to oust him.

“Another day at the show,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kevin-mccarthy">Kevin McCarthy</a>&nbsp;is facing an extraordinary referendum on his leadership of the House after a conservative member of his own Republican majority, a longtime critic, moved to launch a vote to oust him from the helm.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) filed a motion to vacate the chair, setting up a vote to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) within two legislative days. <a href="https://t.co/lBOdFJqp6c">pic.twitter.com/lBOdFJqp6c</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1708989259732885711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Late Monday, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., rose in the chamber as the House was almost done for the day to file the motion — a resolution that would set a snap vote in coming days that even Gaetz acknowledged may not have enough support to remove the speaker from the job.“I have enough Republicans where at this point next week, one of two things will happen: Kevin McCarthy won’t be the speaker of the House or he’ll be the speaker of the House working at the pleasure of the Democrats," Gaetz told reporters afterward outside the Capitol.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Just did. <a href="https://t.co/zdQk3GblbV">https://t.co/zdQk3GblbV</a>&mdash; Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1708991508458639420?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>McCarthy responded minutes later on social media, “Bring it on.”Gaetz soon retorted in a post, “Just did.”It’s a historic moment: the first time in more than 100 years that a lawmaker may actually force a vote using the legislative tool that has been threatened against other House speakers, including in 2015, but never fully employed to try to remove them.The bold strike to confront McCarthy carries potentially dire ramifications if enough lawmakers decide to remove his hold on the gavel, but also for Gaetz if it fizzles out. It also puts on stark display the warring factions that have roiled the Republican majority this year in the House and beyond.So far, despite the deep divides over McCarthy's leadership, only a handful of hard-right Republicans have signaled they are willing to vote to remove him. Others who have aligned with Gaetz on spending cuts or other priorities are parting ways with him on this one.“It’s a really bad idea,” said Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., one of the more conservative lawmakers in the House.Gaetz has for months threatened to use the procedural tool — called a motion to vacate — to try to strip McCarthy of his office. Those threats escalated over the weekend after McCarthy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-mccarthy-congress-republicans-732baaa19c91f981e492fd0e6a76aba8">relied on Democrats</a>&nbsp;to provide the necessary votes to fund the government.That decision has set McCarthy up for what will likely be the ultimate test of his leadership and may force him to again look across the aisle to Democrats for support. But how the vote will ultimately unfold remains unclear as Democrats weigh whether to help McCarthy, join the effort to oust him, or simply withhold their votes or rely on parliamentary maneuvering that could sway the outcome.“Do we side with a sociopath or an incompetent?” said Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., a progressive leader. “I don’t know?”And allies of McCarthy have said for weeks they were ready for a motion to come.Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said he has spoken privately to some Democrats who have told him they would vote to help McCarthy remain in office. “I’m sure Mr. Gaetz will have some allies who will go with him. But I don’t see enough.”The vote ahead could result in humiliation — the first speaker ever ousted from the job through such a motion — or newfound strength as he overcomes yet another obstacle while trying to lead a narrow, unwieldy majority.Conservative critics have been hounding McCarthy from the start, denying him votes and thwarting his plans. But McCarthy has leaned into the fight and suggested it’s an opportunity to set aside his critics once and for all.Gaetz acknowledged the effort is likely to fail. He responded to questions about what he hoped to accomplish by saying Americans need to know who's in charge.In a speech on the House floor earlier in the day, Gaetz accused McCarthy of making a deal with the White House during funding negotiations to bring forward legislation to help fund Ukraine in its war against Russia.Brushing off the threat, McCarthy told reporters earlier at the Capitol, “I’m focused on doing the work that has to be done.” He added that there was “no side deal” on Ukraine, noting he has not spoken to Biden.A motion to vacate is a rare and strong procedural tool that has only been used twice in the past century against Republican speakers. But in recent years, conservatives have wielded the motion as a weapon against their leaders.In January, McCarthy, hoping to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-us-republican-party-office-of-congressional-ethics-pandemics-60b4f098523b982b549823f4b3e8f9e4">appease some on the hard right</a>&nbsp;like Gaetz as he fought to gain their vote for speaker, agreed to give as few as five Republican members the ability to initiate a vote to remove him. But when that wasn’t good enough for his critics, he agreed to reduce that threshold to one — the system that historically has been the norm.The motion Gaetz introduced is a privileged resolution, a designation that gives it priority over other measures. The next step is for House leaders to schedule a vote on the resolution within two legislative days.It would take a simple majority of the House — 218 votes, when no seats are vacant — to remove McCarthy from his post.However, there are several procedural motions that members of either party could introduce to slow down or stop the process altogether.But among McCarthy's detractors, passions run deep.Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., who has long wanted McCarthy gone, said the speaker’s weekend deal with Democrats to keep the government running without any of the conservative priorities is just another reason he will be voting for the ouster.“We got nothing,” he said Monday.Still, other far-right members and allies of Gaetz as they fought the spending deal and other issues were less sure. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., said his position on the motion was “to be determined.”Showing the tough road ahead to win over conservative support for ousting the speaker, Massie said the real history-making moment has been the House working through its regular job of trying to pass spending bills, and he worries this effort will quash all that.“If you’re asking how I feel, I am sad that this might be the end of that experiment,” he said.Democrats were largely treating the moment as another episode in a Republican-led House that has been full of chaotic twists since the start of the year, and declining to say whether they would work to help McCarthy keep his job or vote to oust him.“Another day at the show,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y.

🎥 Power struggle: Historic move to oust House Speaker 

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (AP) — The Powerball jackpot climbed to an estimated $1.2 billion after no players hit it big Monday night.

The winning numbers announced were: 12, 26, 27, 43, 47 and the Powerball 5.

The jackpot for the next drawing Wednesday night will be among the largest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lottery-jackpot-mega-millions-powerball-b77dd9c7de3f0ab09545a01113b1f111">lottery prizes of all time</a>, behind earlier prizes in the Powerball and Mega Millions games.

The prize has grown so massive because there have been 33 consecutive drawings since someone matched all five white balls and the Powerball to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-winner-california-9f0e98a47c96c2b3087a68b33195dd50">win the jackpot</a>, dating back to July 19.

That losing streak reflects the stunningly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">long odds of winning</a>&nbsp;the jackpot, at 1 in 292.2 million.

The new $1.2 billion jackpot is for a sole winner who chooses to receive the winnings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">through an annuity</a>, paid annually over 30 years. Winners nearly always pick the cash option, which for Wednesday night’s drawing would be an estimated $551 million.

A Powerball ticket costs $2 in most states and players can pick their own numbers or have a computer make the selection.

Powerball is played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (AP) — The Powerball jackpot climbed to an estimated $1.2 billion after no players hit it big Monday night.The winning numbers announced were: 12, 26, 27, 43, 47 and the Powerball 5.The jackpot for the next drawing Wednesday night will be among the largest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lottery-jackpot-mega-millions-powerball-b77dd9c7de3f0ab09545a01113b1f111">lottery prizes of all time</a>, behind earlier prizes in the Powerball and Mega Millions games.The prize has grown so massive because there have been 33 consecutive drawings since someone matched all five white balls and the Powerball to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-winner-california-9f0e98a47c96c2b3087a68b33195dd50">win the jackpot</a>, dating back to July 19.That losing streak reflects the stunningly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">long odds of winning</a>&nbsp;the jackpot, at 1 in 292.2 million.The new $1.2 billion jackpot is for a sole winner who chooses to receive the winnings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">through an annuity</a>, paid annually over 30 years. Winners nearly always pick the cash option, which for Wednesday night’s drawing would be an estimated $551 million.A Powerball ticket costs $2 in most states and players can pick their own numbers or have a computer make the selection.Powerball is played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Powerball jackpot rises to $1.2 billion after another drawing without a big winner

MOREAU, N.Y. (AP) — A 9-year-old girl who vanished during a family camping trip in upstate New York was “safe and in good health” Monday after a massive two-day search ended with her rescue and an arrest of a person suspected in her abduction, police said.

Charlotte Sena disappeared while riding her bike early Saturday evening at Moreau Lake State Park, a heavily wooded park some 35 miles north of Albany. Police on Monday searched multiple residences linked to a suspect, who investigators believed had been in the area around the time the girl went missing.

Gov. Kathy Hochul told Spectrum News that investigators were able to identify fingerprints from a ransom note.

Charlotte was found at about 6:30 p.m., according to state police. The suspect, who was taken into custody, has not been identified by authorities.

“We are overjoyed at the news that Charlotte Sena has been located safely this evening after an intense days-long search,” Hochul said in a prepared statement. “Our hearts are with her family as they welcome her home.”

Authorities said it was still an active investigation and didn’t immediately release further details, but promised more information at a news conference Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696290494329.png" alt="Charlotte Sena-photo NY Amber Alert" />
 <figcaption>Charlotte Sena-photo NY Amber Alert</figcaption>
 </figure>MOREAU, N.Y. (AP) — A 9-year-old girl who vanished during a family camping trip in upstate New York was “safe and in good health” Monday after a massive two-day search ended with her rescue and an arrest of a person suspected in her abduction, police said.Charlotte Sena disappeared while riding her bike early Saturday evening at Moreau Lake State Park, a heavily wooded park some 35 miles north of Albany. Police on Monday searched multiple residences linked to a suspect, who investigators believed had been in the area around the time the girl went missing.Gov. Kathy Hochul told Spectrum News that investigators were able to identify fingerprints from a ransom note.Charlotte was found at about 6:30 p.m., according to state police. The suspect, who was taken into custody, has not been identified by authorities.“We are overjoyed at the news that Charlotte Sena has been located safely this evening after an intense days-long search,” Hochul said in a prepared statement. “Our hearts are with her family as they welcome her home.”Authorities said it was still an active investigation and didn’t immediately release further details, but promised more information at a news conference Tuesday.The rescue marked the end of an intense search. About 400 people took part in the hunt for the girl Monday, including forest rangers, police officers and firefighters. The search had expanded over 46 linear miles (74 linear kilometers).Charlotte, a fourth grader from nearby Greenfield, had been riding her bike around a campsite loop in the park with other children when she decided to ride around one more time by herself. Her parents became alarmed when she failed to return after 15 minutes, Hochul said at a briefing Sunday.The girl’s mother called 911 after her bicycle was found at around 6:45 p.m. Saturday.Officials issued an Amber Alert on Sunday morning after an exhaustive search because “it was quite possible that an abduction had taken place,” state police Lt. Colonel Richard Mazzone said. The alert described her as a white girl with blonde hair and green eyes who is about 4 feet 6 inches tall (1.37 meters).The girl’s family pleaded with the public for help in finding Charlotte, including providing any tips to the state police.“We just want her returned safely like any parent would,” the family said in a statement earlier Monday. “No tip is too small, please call if you know anything at all.”Troopers had set up several checkpoints on the winding, rural roads around the park. They stopped drivers and asked if they knew the family, had seen the girl’s photo or had any other information that could help the search. They also had some drivers open their trunks.The park remained closed because of the search, and officials asked members of the public who showed up hoping to help to stay away and leave the search to professionals. Federal authorities also issued a temporary flight restriction over the park for the safety of law enforcement air operations.The Corinth Central School District said it had extra counselors at Charlotte’s elementary school for any students or staff who need support.“Our hearts go out to the Sena family,” the district said in a statement.---------------