<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/gov-pillens-office-outlines-973-state-positions-slated-for-elimination-this-summer/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Gov. Jim Pillen’s office released a detailed list Wednesday of nearly 1,000 state employment positions slated for elimination June 1 because they have been vacant for more than 90 days.

Pillen signed an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://govdocs.nebraska.gov/docs/pilot/pubs/eofiles/24-03.pdf">executive order</a>&nbsp;Tuesday that calls for any state position that remains unfilled for 90 days to be removed following a periodic review, also every 90 days. According to the list, this includes&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Vacancy-2024-05-01-Dates.pdf">973 positions</a>, with 37% coming from the state’s largest agency: the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

The executive order will call for eliminating positions across 38 departments, offices, boards and commissions and is estimated to save nearly $40 million, according to the governor.

The order does not apply to certain “critical” positions, such as public safety or law enforcement, as well as&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=81-1316">exempt positions</a>, which include employees of the University of Nebraska.

“I promised to run state government like a business and this order delivers on that promise,” Pillen said in a statement. “We have proven we can work without them, so we will eliminate them and return the money to the taxpayers.”

Any saved funds are meant to be redistributed, according to the state budget administrator, particularly for property tax relief. Any redistributions must be authorized by the Legislature if the budget administrator seeks to transfer funds outside agencies or certain programs.

State Sens. Robert Clements of Elmwood and Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, the respective chairs of the Legislature’s Revenue and Appropriations Committees,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/30/gov-jim-pillen-announces-plans-to-slash-nearly-1000-vacant-state-positions/">endorsed Pillen’s order</a>.

“I don’t have a problem with eliminating vacancies as long as the level of service is maintained, which they’re telling me they’re making sure that’s the case,” Clements said.

The breakdown of 820 slated eliminations for state departments:

The slated 153 position eliminations for boards, commissions or offices:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714683083685.jpeg" alt="Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen. April 18, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen. April 18, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/gov-pillens-office-outlines-973-state-positions-slated-for-elimination-this-summer/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Gov. Jim Pillen’s office released a detailed list Wednesday of nearly 1,000 state employment positions slated for elimination June 1 because they have been vacant for more than 90 days.Pillen signed an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://govdocs.nebraska.gov/docs/pilot/pubs/eofiles/24-03.pdf">executive order</a>&nbsp;Tuesday that calls for any state position that remains unfilled for 90 days to be removed following a periodic review, also every 90 days. According to the list, this includes&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Vacancy-2024-05-01-Dates.pdf">973 positions</a>, with 37% coming from the state’s largest agency: the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.The executive order will call for eliminating positions across 38 departments, offices, boards and commissions and is estimated to save nearly $40 million, according to the governor.The order does not apply to certain “critical” positions, such as public safety or law enforcement, as well as&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=81-1316">exempt positions</a>, which include employees of the University of Nebraska.“I promised to run state government like a business and this order delivers on that promise,” Pillen said in a statement. “We have proven we can work without them, so we will eliminate them and return the money to the taxpayers.”Any saved funds are meant to be redistributed, according to the state budget administrator, particularly for property tax relief. Any redistributions must be authorized by the Legislature if the budget administrator seeks to transfer funds outside agencies or certain programs.State Sens. Robert Clements of Elmwood and Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, the respective chairs of the Legislature’s Revenue and Appropriations Committees,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/30/gov-jim-pillen-announces-plans-to-slash-nearly-1000-vacant-state-positions/">endorsed Pillen’s order</a>.“I don’t have a problem with eliminating vacancies as long as the level of service is maintained, which they’re telling me they’re making sure that’s the case,” Clements said.The breakdown of 820 slated eliminations for state departments:<ul>
 <li>Department of Administrative Services —&nbsp;74</li><li>Department of Agriculture —&nbsp;7</li><li>Department of Banking and Finance —&nbsp;1</li><li>Department of Correctional Services —&nbsp;48</li><li>Department of Economic Development —&nbsp;25</li><li>Department of Environment and Energy —&nbsp;25</li><li>Department of Health and Human Services —&nbsp;362</li><li>Department of Insurance —&nbsp;5</li><li>Department of Labor — 98</li><li>Department of Military —&nbsp;37</li><li>Department of Motor Vehicles —&nbsp;17</li><li>Department of Natural Resources —&nbsp;6</li><li>Department of Revenue —&nbsp;36</li><li>Department of Transportation&nbsp;—&nbsp;74</li><li>Department of Veterans Affairs —&nbsp;5</li>
 </ul>The slated 153 position eliminations for boards, commissions or offices:<ul>
 <li>Accountability and Disclosure Commission —&nbsp;1</li><li>Blind and Visually Impaired Commission&nbsp;—&nbsp;5</li><li>Crime Commission — 12</li><li>Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission —&nbsp;2</li><li>Educational Telecommunications Commission —&nbsp;9</li><li>Office of the Fire Marshal —&nbsp;6</li><li>Foster Care Review Office —&nbsp;1</li><li>Game and Parks Commission —&nbsp;46</li><li>Grain Sorghum Board —&nbsp;1</li><li>History Nebraska —&nbsp;13</li><li>Indian Affairs Commission —&nbsp;1</li><li>Nebraska Investment Council —&nbsp;1</li><li>Library Commission —&nbsp;4</li><li>Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board —&nbsp;1</li><li>Oil and Gas Conservation Commission —&nbsp;1</li><li>Racing and Gaming Commission —&nbsp;19</li><li>Real Estate Commission —&nbsp;1</li><li>Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems —&nbsp;3</li><li>Nebraska State Patrol —&nbsp;15</li><li>Tourism Commission —&nbsp;1</li><li>Wheat Board — 2</li><li>Workers Compensation Court —&nbsp;8</li>
 </ul>

Gov. Pillen’s office outlines 973 state positions slated for elimination this summer

By U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

Iran’s leaders regularly espouse the goal of eradicating the state of Israel. Earlier this month, Iran acted on that goal, launching for the first time an attack on Israel from its own soil. Iranian leaders have threatened future responses from Iranian territory.

A line has been crossed. This attack and any future escalation pose a threat to Israel and regional stability, as well as to U.S. troops stationed in the region.

Just as concerning: Iran is increasing its defense cooperation with Russia and China, participating in military exercises with both countries, and pursuing advanced military equipment from and to Moscow.

Meanwhile, the Iranian regime continues to provide support to terrorist groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Gaza, where Israel continues its battle against those responsible for the Oct. 7 attack. Iran also has the technical capability to develop a nuclear weapon if the Supreme Leader orders it.

But Iran’s nefarious plans require funding, and the regime’s economy is heavily dependent on oil exports, which represent up to 70% of its government revenues. By cutting off Iran’s lucrative oil market, we can drain their terrorist slush funds and weaken Iran’s ability to promote further violence.

Since 2010, Congress has passed numerous bipartisan laws to restrict Iran’s oil exports. In the last six months alone, there have been more than 100 bills introduced in Congress aimed at diminishing Iranian oil sales.

Nonetheless, it is the responsibility of the president to enforce these sanctions, and the Biden administration has failed to do so in any meaningful way.

After the Trump administration withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and began its “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated that Iran’s crude oil fell from 2.5 million barrels per day in 2017 to a mere 400,000 in 2020.

The Biden administration recently announced plans to impose new sanctions on Iran, stating, “These new sanctions and other measures will continue a steady drumbeat of pressure to contain and degrade Iran’s military capacity and effectiveness.”

Yet this administration has steadily reduced pressure on Iran and failed to enforce bipartisan sanctions already in place — allowing Iran to return to exporting 1.6 to 1.8 million barrels of oil a day.

I have no confidence in the White House to enforce these new sanctions. Posturing and using one-word phrases mean nothing to Iran.

Six months have passed since the greatest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust, and Iranian oil prices and production have reached a multi-year high. Since then, an Iran-backed group killed three American servicemembers, and another has effectively closed the Red Sea to commercial shipping. Iranian intelligence continues to plot to assassinate U.S. officials. Whatever goodwill the president hoped to earn from Tehran by looking the other way on sanctions, his policy has only reaped chaos.

The greatest beneficiary of Biden’s policy, besides Iran, is China, which is the primary customer of Iran’s oil — buying up to 90% of it at a substantial discount. This, in turn, supports China’s economy and its rapid military modernization that is a threat to the Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. officials “have privately acknowledged a gradual relaxation of enforcement on Iranian oil sales.” Any relaxation of congressionally-mandated sanctions against Iran while our trusted allies in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific endure threats to their security and stability is wholly unacceptable.

To be sure, sanctions alone are not a panacea to the Iran challenge. They are one tool to be coupled with military and diplomatic pressure to achieve the outcomes we seek. But they are a tool to be wielded. It is far past time for Biden to do so.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698779613018.jpeg" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, member of the Senate Select Committee on IntelligenceIran’s leaders regularly espouse the goal of eradicating the state of Israel. Earlier this month, Iran acted on that goal, launching for the first time an attack on Israel from its own soil. Iranian leaders have threatened future responses from Iranian territory.A line has been crossed. This attack and any future escalation pose a threat to Israel and regional stability, as well as to U.S. troops stationed in the region.Just as concerning: Iran is increasing its defense cooperation with Russia and China, participating in military exercises with both countries, and pursuing advanced military equipment from and to Moscow.Meanwhile, the Iranian regime continues to provide support to terrorist groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Gaza, where Israel continues its battle against those responsible for the Oct. 7 attack. Iran also has the technical capability to develop a nuclear weapon if the Supreme Leader orders it.But Iran’s nefarious plans require funding, and the regime’s economy is heavily dependent on oil exports, which represent up to 70% of its government revenues. By cutting off Iran’s lucrative oil market, we can drain their terrorist slush funds and weaken Iran’s ability to promote further violence.Since 2010, Congress has passed numerous bipartisan laws to restrict Iran’s oil exports. In the last six months alone, there have been more than 100 bills introduced in Congress aimed at diminishing Iranian oil sales.Nonetheless, it is the responsibility of the president to enforce these sanctions, and the Biden administration has failed to do so in any meaningful way.After the Trump administration withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and began its “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated that Iran’s crude oil fell from 2.5 million barrels per day in 2017 to a mere 400,000 in 2020.The Biden administration recently announced plans to impose new sanctions on Iran, stating, “These new sanctions and other measures will continue a steady drumbeat of pressure to contain and degrade Iran’s military capacity and effectiveness.”Yet this administration has steadily reduced pressure on Iran and failed to enforce bipartisan sanctions already in place — allowing Iran to return to exporting 1.6 to 1.8 million barrels of oil a day.I have no confidence in the White House to enforce these new sanctions. Posturing and using one-word phrases mean nothing to Iran.Six months have passed since the greatest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust, and Iranian oil prices and production have reached a multi-year high. Since then, an Iran-backed group killed three American servicemembers, and another has effectively closed the Red Sea to commercial shipping. Iranian intelligence continues to plot to assassinate U.S. officials. Whatever goodwill the president hoped to earn from Tehran by looking the other way on sanctions, his policy has only reaped chaos.The greatest beneficiary of Biden’s policy, besides Iran, is China, which is the primary customer of Iran’s oil — buying up to 90% of it at a substantial discount. This, in turn, supports China’s economy and its rapid military modernization that is a threat to the Indo-Pacific region.U.S. officials “have privately acknowledged a gradual relaxation of enforcement on Iranian oil sales.” Any relaxation of congressionally-mandated sanctions against Iran while our trusted allies in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific endure threats to their security and stability is wholly unacceptable.To be sure, sanctions alone are not a panacea to the Iran challenge. They are one tool to be coupled with military and diplomatic pressure to achieve the outcomes we seek. But they are a tool to be wielded. It is far past time for Biden to do so.

Moran:  Biden’s failure to enforce sanctions fuels Iranian aggression

Office of Attorney General Mike Hilgers

Lincoln – Attorney General Mike Hilgers joined a coalition of 21 states in a lawsuit opposing an ATF rule that would prevent law-abiding Americans from privately selling firearms.&nbsp;

The rule seeks to require a federal firearms dealer license for every individual who sells a firearm for anything the ATF sees as a profit, including currency, exchange of another firearm, or a service. It could make a felon of a gun hobbyist who sells a firearm to another family member or a hunter who trades a firearm with another hunting buddy.

“Until now, those who repetitively purchased and sold firearms as a regular course of business had to become a licensee… This rule would put innocent firearm sales between law-abiding friends and family members within reach of federal regulation,” the court filing reads. “Such innocent sales between friends and family would constitute a felony if the seller did not in fact obtain a federal firearms license and perform a background check.”&nbsp;

In the suit filed in Arkansas, the attorneys general argue that the rule is unconstitutional because it is vague, violates the Second Amendment, and circumvents Congress.

Nebraska joined the lawsuit alongside attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.&nbsp;

Office of Attorney General Mike HilgersLincoln – Attorney General Mike Hilgers joined a coalition of 21 states in a lawsuit opposing an ATF rule that would prevent law-abiding Americans from privately selling firearms.&nbsp;The rule seeks to require a federal firearms dealer license for every individual who sells a firearm for anything the ATF sees as a profit, including currency, exchange of another firearm, or a service. It could make a felon of a gun hobbyist who sells a firearm to another family member or a hunter who trades a firearm with another hunting buddy.“Until now, those who repetitively purchased and sold firearms as a regular course of business had to become a licensee… This rule would put innocent firearm sales between law-abiding friends and family members within reach of federal regulation,” the court filing reads. “Such innocent sales between friends and family would constitute a felony if the seller did not in fact obtain a federal firearms license and perform a background check.”&nbsp;In the suit filed in Arkansas, the attorneys general argue that the rule is unconstitutional because it is vague, violates the Second Amendment, and circumvents Congress.Nebraska joined the lawsuit alongside attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.&nbsp;

 Nebraska Joins 21-State Coalition in Lawsuit against Unconstitutional ATF Rule

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday defended the right to protest but insisted that “order must prevail” as college campuses across the country face unrest over the war in Gaza.

“Dissent is essential for democracy," he said at the White House. "But dissent must never lead to disorder.”

Tensions have been building for days as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-nyu-israel-gaza-protests-2c1f043478570f9206a2ea8470457cf7">demonstrators refuse to remove campus encampments</a>&nbsp;and administrators turn to police&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-campus-student-protests-war-8b0d3a0cedb17f5e892c6ca43bbdf628">to clear them by force</a>, leading to clashes that have seized attention from politicians and the media.

Biden said he did not support calls to send in the National Guard. He also said that the protests have not prompted him to reconsider his approach to the war. The Democratic president has occasionally criticized Israel's conduct but continued to supply it with weapons.

His remarks, occurring shortly before he left the White House for a trip to North Carolina, came after days of silence about the protests. Republicans have tried to turn the scenes of unrest into a campaign cudgel, and Biden said he rejected efforts to use the situation to “score political points.”

“This isn’t a moment for politics," he said. "It’s a moment for clarity.”

Biden's last previous public comment on the protests came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-college-protests-politics-election-2337121fb3620d2a4a6b2e22aaaf59bc">more than a week ago</a>, when he condemned “antisemitic protests” and “those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”

The White House, which has been peppered with questions by reporters, had gone only slightly further than the president. On Wednesday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden is “monitoring the situation closely," and she said some demonstrations had stepped over a line that separated free speech from unlawful behavior.

(Click below to watch Jean-Pierre's comments from Wednesday)

“Forcibly taking over a building," such as what happened at Columbia University in New York, "is not peaceful," she said. "It’s just not.”

Biden has never been much for protesting. His career in elected office began as a county official when he was only 28 years old, and he’s always espoused the political importance of compromise over zealousness.

As college campuses convulsed with anger over the Vietnam War in 1968, Biden was in law school at Syracuse University.

“I’m not big on flak jackets and tie-dyed shirts,” he said years later. “You know, that’s not me.″

Despite the White House's criticism and Biden's refusal to heed protesters' demands to cut off U.S. support for Israel, Republicans blame Democrats for the disorder and have used it as a backdrop for press conferences.

“We need the president of the United States to speak to the issue and say this is wrong," House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said on Tuesday. "What’s happening on college campuses right now is wrong.”

Johnson visited Columbia with other members of his caucus last week. House Republicans sparred with protesters while speaking to the media at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

Former President Donald Trump, his party's presumptive nominee, also criticized Biden in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News.

“Biden has to do something,” he said. “Biden is supposed to be the voice of our country, and it’s certainly not much of a voice. It’s a voice that nobody’s heard.”

He repeated his criticisms on Wednesday during a campaign event in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

“The radical extremists and far-left agitators are terrorizing college campuses, as you possibly noticed," Trump said. “And Biden’s nowhere to be found. He hasn’t said anything."

Kate Berner, who served as deputy communications director for Biden’s campaign in 2020, said Republicans already tried the same tactic four years ago during protests over George Floyd’s murder by a police officer.

“People rejected that,” she said. “They saw that it was just fearmongering. They saw that it wasn’t based in reality.”

Apart from condemning antisemitism, the White House has been reluctant to directly engage on the issue.

Jean-Pierre repeatedly deflected questions during a briefing on Monday.

Asked whether protesters should be disciplined by their schools, she said “universities and colleges make their own decisions” and "we’re not going to weigh in from here.”

Pressed on whether police should be called in, she said “that's up to the colleges and universities.”

When quizzed about administrators rescheduling graduation ceremonies, she said “that is a decision that they have to decide" and “that is on them.”

Biden will make his own visit to a college campus on May 19 when he's scheduled to deliver the commencement address at Morehouse University in Atlanta.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is staying mum about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-university-student-protests-mideast-media-israel-hamas-war-b761cdbe7b912a491bfcfe7d59c63c26">student protests and police crackdowns</a>&nbsp;as Republicans try to turn campus unrest over the war in Gaza into a campaign cudgel against Democrats.

Tension at colleges and universities has been building for days as some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-nyu-israel-gaza-protests-2c1f043478570f9206a2ea8470457cf7">demonstrators refuse to remove encampments</a>&nbsp;and administrators turn to law enforcement&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-campus-student-protests-war-8b0d3a0cedb17f5e892c6ca43bbdf628">to clear them by force</a>, leading to clashes that have seized attention from politicians and the media.

But Biden's last public comment came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-college-protests-politics-election-2337121fb3620d2a4a6b2e22aaaf59bc">more than a week ago</a>, when he condemned “antisemitic protests” and “those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”

The White House, which has been peppered with questions by reporters, has gone only slightly further than the president. On Wednesday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden is “monitoring the situation closely," and she said some demonstrations had stepped over a line that separated free speech from unlawful behavior.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714585191259.png" alt="Protests Wednesday at the University of Kansas -Photo by JuYeon Kim courtesy KSHB TV" />
 <figcaption>Protests Wednesday at the University of Kansas -Photo by JuYeon Kim courtesy KSHB TV</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday defended the right to protest but insisted that “order must prevail” as college campuses across the country face unrest over the war in Gaza.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden on college campus protests: &quot;There&#39;s the right to protest, but not the right to chaos.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/wtmvjOrLWH">pic.twitter.com/wtmvjOrLWH</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1786053574687859056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Dissent is essential for democracy," he said at the White House. "But dissent must never lead to disorder.”Tensions have been building for days as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-nyu-israel-gaza-protests-2c1f043478570f9206a2ea8470457cf7">demonstrators refuse to remove campus encampments</a>&nbsp;and administrators turn to police&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-campus-student-protests-war-8b0d3a0cedb17f5e892c6ca43bbdf628">to clear them by force</a>, leading to clashes that have seized attention from politicians and the media.Biden said he did not support calls to send in the National Guard. He also said that the protests have not prompted him to reconsider his approach to the war. The Democratic president has occasionally criticized Israel's conduct but continued to supply it with weapons.His remarks, occurring shortly before he left the White House for a trip to North Carolina, came after days of silence about the protests. Republicans have tried to turn the scenes of unrest into a campaign cudgel, and Biden said he rejected efforts to use the situation to “score political points.”“This isn’t a moment for politics," he said. "It’s a moment for clarity.”Biden's last previous public comment on the protests came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-college-protests-politics-election-2337121fb3620d2a4a6b2e22aaaf59bc">more than a week ago</a>, when he condemned “antisemitic protests” and “those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”The White House, which has been peppered with questions by reporters, had gone only slightly further than the president. On Wednesday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden is “monitoring the situation closely," and she said some demonstrations had stepped over a line that separated free speech from unlawful behavior.(Click below to watch Jean-Pierre's comments from Wednesday)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1525716921659036%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=390" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>“Forcibly taking over a building," such as what happened at Columbia University in New York, "is not peaceful," she said. "It’s just not.”Biden has never been much for protesting. His career in elected office began as a county official when he was only 28 years old, and he’s always espoused the political importance of compromise over zealousness.As college campuses convulsed with anger over the Vietnam War in 1968, Biden was in law school at Syracuse University.“I’m not big on flak jackets and tie-dyed shirts,” he said years later. “You know, that’s not me.″<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714585098880.png" alt="Protesters letter to KU Chancellor" />
 <figcaption>Protesters letter to KU Chancellor</figcaption>
 </figure>Despite the White House's criticism and Biden's refusal to heed protesters' demands to cut off U.S. support for Israel, Republicans blame Democrats for the disorder and have used it as a backdrop for press conferences.“We need the president of the United States to speak to the issue and say this is wrong," House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said on Tuesday. "What’s happening on college campuses right now is wrong.”Johnson visited Columbia with other members of his caucus last week. House Republicans sparred with protesters while speaking to the media at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.Former President Donald Trump, his party's presumptive nominee, also criticized Biden in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News.“Biden has to do something,” he said. “Biden is supposed to be the voice of our country, and it’s certainly not much of a voice. It’s a voice that nobody’s heard.”He repeated his criticisms on Wednesday during a campaign event in Waukesha, Wisconsin.“The radical extremists and far-left agitators are terrorizing college campuses, as you possibly noticed," Trump said. “And Biden’s nowhere to be found. He hasn’t said anything."Kate Berner, who served as deputy communications director for Biden’s campaign in 2020, said Republicans already tried the same tactic four years ago during protests over George Floyd’s murder by a police officer.“People rejected that,” she said. “They saw that it was just fearmongering. They saw that it wasn’t based in reality.”Apart from condemning antisemitism, the White House has been reluctant to directly engage on the issue.Jean-Pierre repeatedly deflected questions during a briefing on Monday.Asked whether protesters should be disciplined by their schools, she said “universities and colleges make their own decisions” and "we’re not going to weigh in from here.”Pressed on whether police should be called in, she said “that's up to the colleges and universities.”When quizzed about administrators rescheduling graduation ceremonies, she said “that is a decision that they have to decide" and “that is on them.”Biden will make his own visit to a college campus on May 19 when he's scheduled to deliver the commencement address at Morehouse University in Atlanta.-------------------WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is staying mum about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-university-student-protests-mideast-media-israel-hamas-war-b761cdbe7b912a491bfcfe7d59c63c26">student protests and police crackdowns</a>&nbsp;as Republicans try to turn campus unrest over the war in Gaza into a campaign cudgel against Democrats.Tension at colleges and universities has been building for days as some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-nyu-israel-gaza-protests-2c1f043478570f9206a2ea8470457cf7">demonstrators refuse to remove encampments</a>&nbsp;and administrators turn to law enforcement&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-campus-student-protests-war-8b0d3a0cedb17f5e892c6ca43bbdf628">to clear them by force</a>, leading to clashes that have seized attention from politicians and the media.But Biden's last public comment came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-college-protests-politics-election-2337121fb3620d2a4a6b2e22aaaf59bc">more than a week ago</a>, when he condemned “antisemitic protests” and “those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”The White House, which has been peppered with questions by reporters, has gone only slightly further than the president. On Wednesday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden is “monitoring the situation closely," and she said some demonstrations had stepped over a line that separated free speech from unlawful behavior.“Forcibly taking over a building," such as what happened at Columbia University in New York, "is not peaceful," she said. "It’s just not.”Biden has never been much for protesting. His career in elected office began as a county official when he was only 28 years old, and he’s always espoused the political importance of compromise over zealousness.As college campuses convulsed with anger over the Vietnam War in 1968, Biden was in law school at Syracuse University.“I’m not big on flak jackets and tie-dyed shirts,” he said years later. “You know, that’s not me.″Despite the White House's criticism and Biden's refusal to heed protesters' demands to cut off U.S. support for Israel, Republicans blame Democrats for the disorder and have used it as a backdrop for press conferences.“We need the president of the United States to speak to the issue and say this is wrong," House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said on Tuesday. "What’s happening on college campuses right now is wrong.”Johnson visited Columbia with other members of his caucus last week. House Republicans sparred with protesters while speaking to the media at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.Former President Donald Trump, his party's presumptive nominee, also criticized Biden in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News.“Biden has to do something,” he said. “Biden is supposed to be the voice of our country, and it’s certainly not much of a voice. It’s a voice that nobody’s heard.”He repeated his criticisms on Wednesday during a campaign event in Waukesha, Wisconsin.“The radical extremists and far-left agitators are terrorizing college campuses, as you possibly noticed," Trump said. “And Biden’s nowhere to be found. He hasn’t said anything."Kate Berner, who served as deputy communications director for Biden’s campaign in 2020, said Republicans already tried the same tactic four years ago during protests over George Floyd’s murder by a police officer.“People rejected that,” she said. “They saw that it was just fearmongering. They saw that it wasn’t based in reality.”Apart from condemning antisemitism, the White House has been reluctant to directly engage on the issue.Jean-Pierre repeatedly deflected questions during a briefing on Monday.Asked whether protesters should be disciplined by their schools, she said “universities and colleges make their own decisions” and "we’re not going to weigh in from here.”Pressed on whether police should be called in, she said “that's up to the colleges and universities.”When quizzed about administrators rescheduling graduation ceremonies, she said “that is a decision that they have to decide" and “that is on them.”Biden will make his own visit to a college campus on May 19 when he's scheduled to deliver the commencement address at Morehouse University in Atlanta.___

🎥Biden breaks silence on campus protests over the war in Gaza

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/01/university-of-nebraska-joins-wave-of-campus-protests-in-support-of-palestine-gaza/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — More than 100 University of Nebraska-Lincoln students and community members gathered on campus in support of Palestine on Wednesday, joining a host of universities nationwide.

UNL’s 10-hour “Liberated Zone for Palestine,” organized as a&nbsp;one-day event&nbsp;by Lincoln and UNL local chapters in support of Palestinians, set a different tone than other campus protests, which have featured&nbsp;multiple days&nbsp;of encampments and students barricading themselves inside school buildings. Many protests faced arrests or condemnation from local, state and federal leaders.

Instead, the Lincoln event focused on short teach-ins, dances, chants and four demands made throughout the peaceful, daylong protest:

“We’re here because there are students, professors, administration and staff in Gaza who are experiencing a genocide,” Anna Synya, a UNL senior, told the Nebraska Examiner.

Synya, outreach coordinator for Lincoln for Palestine and a member of UNL’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, said the event was important because of the education it offered. She said that everyone got to leave safely, which hasn’t been true at other campuses.

“I couldn’t really have asked for a better day when it comes to how things ran,” Synya said.

She also emphasized that while protesters are concerned about students at other campuses, the reason UNL students came out was for Gaza, where every university has been bombed.

“People seem to think we’re doing it in solidarity with Columbia (University) or something —&nbsp;I mean, I guess, we’re for freedom of speech, and it’s concerning when certain things happen —&nbsp;but really, we’re here for people in Gaza,” Synya said.

As of May 1, at least&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/34568-palestinians-killed-gaza-since-oct-7-gaza-health-ministry-says-2024-05-01/#:~:text=DUBAI%2C%20May%201%20(Reuters),in%20a%20statement%20on%20Wednesday.">34,568 Palestinians</a>&nbsp;had been killed and another 77,765 wounded since Israel’s retaliation began after the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas, according to the Gaza health ministry.

A small group of counter-protesters, one wearing an Israeli flag, briefly showed up at the protest but quickly left. The UNL Police Department maintained a minimal presence all day.

UNL Chancellor Rodney Bennett, in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.unl.edu/chancellor/a-message-from-the-chancellor-may-1">campuswide email</a>&nbsp;just before the 9 a.m. gathering, said the leaders of the event met with campus administrators and were told they could not jeopardize public safety, disrupt academic activities and campus operations or destroy property. He said UNL would also not allow tents or the formation of an encampment.

“It has been my determination, and that of other university leaders, that this is the kind of ‘careful, deliberate and nuanced balance of interests’ called for by our university policy,” Bennett said.&nbsp;

“My commitment to you is that both today, and in the days and weeks to come, we will work diligently to protect the freedom of expression, which we hold so dear, while ensuring that we continue to advance our mission of teaching, research and service,” Bennett continued. “Doing so is central to our identity and vital to our future.”

University officials declined to comment on the protesters’ specific demands because they had not been presented to administrators and officials didn’t want to discuss how UNL would respond before that time, although the demands were&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.klkntv.com/pro-palestine-students-release-list-of-demands-ahead-of-protest-at-unl/">publicly available before Wednesday morning</a>.

Synya said the demands were shared in person with campus leaders&nbsp;so she doesn’t know if they were “maybe just misremembering.”

“As students we’re stakeholders in this community — we’re the customer here —&nbsp;so we’d like a response,” Synya said.

Melissa Lee, a spokesperson for NU’s central administration, pointed to the university’s endowment holdings posted online and said anyone could review those reports.&nbsp;

The “Fund N” reports —&nbsp;the portion of investments that NU has direct control over and includes donations and gifts made directly to the university — started in December 2020 in response to calls that year for NU to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.dailynebraskan.com/news/nu-board-of-regents-commit-to-sustainability-set-construction-date-for-155-million-football-facility/article_24165bf0-3683-11eb-a763-63ba8cfdae5f.html">divest from fossil fuel industries</a>. Other investments are managed by the NU Foundation.

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraska.edu/-/media/projects/unca/docs/transparency/investment/fund-n-holding-report-12-31-23.pdf">most recent Fund N report</a>&nbsp;was issued Dec. 31, 2023.

“The endowment exists to support all students and the broad mission of the university,” Lee said. “It is not an advocacy tool.”

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/nebraska-israel-cooperation">Jewish Virtual Library</a>&nbsp;details some of the State of Nebraska’s partnerships with the Middle East nation. It also outlines grants and research UNL faculty have collaborated on with researchers overseas, which came under fire from at least one protester.

That protester’s demands mirrored the information listed through the library, including for UNL to end ties with the US-Israel Binational Science Foundation. They also called for UNL to fire certain faculty and end partnerships with various companies and departments, saying they are “working with war criminals.”

In one case, a grant from the Israel National Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Water Commissioner’s Office, Israel Ministry of Science and the binational foundation supported research on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://calmit.unl.edu/detecting-toxic-blue-green-algal-blooms-nebraska-lakes">toxic algal blooms</a>&nbsp;in Nebraska lakes.

In total, the virtual library states, Nebraska has received nearly $1.8 million in binational foundation grants, and exports from the Cornhusker State to Israel in 2022 totaled $53.8 million.

Ari Kohen, a political science professor and director of the Norman and Bernice Harris Center for Judaic Studies, which hosts the one-month study abroad at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University, said the program was designed by multiple Harris Center faculty over many years before its debut in 2019. Students went again in 2022.

“It is a study abroad experience that you can’t really get anywhere else,” Kohen said. “We have curated this education for UNL students, and I’m really proud of it.”

Kohen said that while he teaches about the Arab-Israeli conflict in Lincoln, the program means students “have a window” into the conflict, people, cultures, religions, traditions and more and can form opinions for themselves. He said this is better than the Lincoln course.&nbsp;

He encouraged those interested in Arab-Israeli relationships to sign up and learn firsthand.

However, Synya said, the program is not equitable for all students. She said Palestinians, for example, might not be able to go to Israel or, if they did, they might not be as safe.

“The university can’t ethically provide any sort of academic opportunity that’s not equally accessible to students,” Synya said.

Kohen said he postponed the 2024 trip because he didn’t want to compromise on its goals. Travel in the region is significantly hindered, and many people remain displaced in the north and south.

“As a result, it wouldn’t be the same trip,” he said.

When there’s so much attention and interest, Kohen said, it would be a shame to limit education to one day of protest and cancel the trip, which he hopes “a ton of people” will want to enroll in.

Congressman speaks out against antisemitism

U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., whose district includes UNL, said in a statement Wednesday that “antisemitism has no place in America” and that “the message of the national protests” arrived at UNL on Wednesday.

“University leadership must be decisive and clear that Nebraska will not tolerate the violent and dangerous rhetoric that has shown up on college campuses across the country,”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/USRepMikeFlood/status/1785689553354830079">Flood said on X, formerly Twitter</a>.

Flood, in a followup statement to the Nebraska Examiner, said the national message he referred to is antisemitic rhetoric and policies, which he said includes the chant “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”&nbsp;

Congress last month voted 377-44, with all Nebraska representatives in favor, to condemn that phrase as antisemitic.

The phrase was featured at the protest in chants and artwork, along with other chants aimed at Nebraska’s congressional delegation and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by name, saying, “you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide.”

Protesters also encouraged Nebraska voters to write in “ceasefire” against President Joe Biden during Nebraska’s May 14 primary election.

Synya said her response to Flood or others with concerns is to “come on down and see for yourself” and have conversations because such accusations are taken seriously.

“We denounce all forms of antisemitism,” she said. “That’s not what we’re about at all.”

Multiple Jewish students and community members were also part of the protest, including Jewish Voices for Peace and a woman who said she was a descendant of Holocaust survivors.

Other speakers included a pediatric surgeon who worked in Gaza, professors who spoke about the Arab Spring, artists, the local NAACP chapter and Indigenous brothers and sisters.

Steve Laravie Jr., a descendant of Standing Bear, was one of three Indigenous members who encouraged Nebraskans to pray for Gaza and Palestinians. He said everyone must think of moving forward as human beings because the division is not about race, creed or religion.

“This is about the existence of the human being,” Laravie said.

“You are the majority, remember that,” he told Wednesday’s crowd. “You determine the reality, the life that you want.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714657637145.jpeg" alt="Protesters gathered at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in solidarity with Palestinians, joining a host of other campus protests nationwide, demanding dislcosure and divestment of university investments into Israel. May 1, 2024.(Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Protesters gathered at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in solidarity with Palestinians, joining a host of other campus protests nationwide, demanding dislcosure and divestment of university investments into Israel. May 1, 2024.(Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/01/university-of-nebraska-joins-wave-of-campus-protests-in-support-of-palestine-gaza/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — More than 100 University of Nebraska-Lincoln students and community members gathered on campus in support of Palestine on Wednesday, joining a host of universities nationwide.UNL’s 10-hour “Liberated Zone for Palestine,” organized as a&nbsp;one-day event&nbsp;by Lincoln and UNL local chapters in support of Palestinians, set a different tone than other campus protests, which have featured&nbsp;multiple days&nbsp;of encampments and students barricading themselves inside school buildings. Many protests faced arrests or condemnation from local, state and federal leaders.Instead, the Lincoln event focused on short teach-ins, dances, chants and four demands made throughout the peaceful, daylong protest:<ul>
 <li>Disclose any university investments into Israel.</li><li>Divest from those commitments.</li><li>End a UNL-sponsored study abroad program in Jerusalem.</li><li>Prohibit future acceptance of grants or funds from Israel.</li>
 </ul>“We’re here because there are students, professors, administration and staff in Gaza who are experiencing a genocide,” Anna Synya, a UNL senior, told the Nebraska Examiner.<h2>‘We’re here for people in Gaza’</h2>Synya, outreach coordinator for Lincoln for Palestine and a member of UNL’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, said the event was important because of the education it offered. She said that everyone got to leave safely, which hasn’t been true at other campuses.“I couldn’t really have asked for a better day when it comes to how things ran,” Synya said.She also emphasized that while protesters are concerned about students at other campuses, the reason UNL students came out was for Gaza, where every university has been bombed.“People seem to think we’re doing it in solidarity with Columbia (University) or something —&nbsp;I mean, I guess, we’re for freedom of speech, and it’s concerning when certain things happen —&nbsp;but really, we’re here for people in Gaza,” Synya said.As of May 1, at least&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/34568-palestinians-killed-gaza-since-oct-7-gaza-health-ministry-says-2024-05-01/#:~:text=DUBAI%2C%20May%201%20(Reuters),in%20a%20statement%20on%20Wednesday.">34,568 Palestinians</a>&nbsp;had been killed and another 77,765 wounded since Israel’s retaliation began after the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas, according to the Gaza health ministry.A small group of counter-protesters, one wearing an Israeli flag, briefly showed up at the protest but quickly left. The UNL Police Department maintained a minimal presence all day.<h2>Balancing expression and UNL’s mission</h2>UNL Chancellor Rodney Bennett, in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.unl.edu/chancellor/a-message-from-the-chancellor-may-1">campuswide email</a>&nbsp;just before the 9 a.m. gathering, said the leaders of the event met with campus administrators and were told they could not jeopardize public safety, disrupt academic activities and campus operations or destroy property. He said UNL would also not allow tents or the formation of an encampment.“It has been my determination, and that of other university leaders, that this is the kind of ‘careful, deliberate and nuanced balance of interests’ called for by our university policy,” Bennett said.&nbsp;“My commitment to you is that both today, and in the days and weeks to come, we will work diligently to protect the freedom of expression, which we hold so dear, while ensuring that we continue to advance our mission of teaching, research and service,” Bennett continued. “Doing so is central to our identity and vital to our future.”University officials declined to comment on the protesters’ specific demands because they had not been presented to administrators and officials didn’t want to discuss how UNL would respond before that time, although the demands were&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.klkntv.com/pro-palestine-students-release-list-of-demands-ahead-of-protest-at-unl/">publicly available before Wednesday morning</a>.Synya said the demands were shared in person with campus leaders&nbsp;so she doesn’t know if they were “maybe just misremembering.”“As students we’re stakeholders in this community — we’re the customer here —&nbsp;so we’d like a response,” Synya said.<h2>Disclosures and investments</h2>Melissa Lee, a spokesperson for NU’s central administration, pointed to the university’s endowment holdings posted online and said anyone could review those reports.&nbsp;The “Fund N” reports —&nbsp;the portion of investments that NU has direct control over and includes donations and gifts made directly to the university — started in December 2020 in response to calls that year for NU to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.dailynebraskan.com/news/nu-board-of-regents-commit-to-sustainability-set-construction-date-for-155-million-football-facility/article_24165bf0-3683-11eb-a763-63ba8cfdae5f.html">divest from fossil fuel industries</a>. Other investments are managed by the NU Foundation.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraska.edu/-/media/projects/unca/docs/transparency/investment/fund-n-holding-report-12-31-23.pdf">most recent Fund N report</a>&nbsp;was issued Dec. 31, 2023.“The endowment exists to support all students and the broad mission of the university,” Lee said. “It is not an advocacy tool.”The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/nebraska-israel-cooperation">Jewish Virtual Library</a>&nbsp;details some of the State of Nebraska’s partnerships with the Middle East nation. It also outlines grants and research UNL faculty have collaborated on with researchers overseas, which came under fire from at least one protester.That protester’s demands mirrored the information listed through the library, including for UNL to end ties with the US-Israel Binational Science Foundation. They also called for UNL to fire certain faculty and end partnerships with various companies and departments, saying they are “working with war criminals.”In one case, a grant from the Israel National Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Water Commissioner’s Office, Israel Ministry of Science and the binational foundation supported research on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://calmit.unl.edu/detecting-toxic-blue-green-algal-blooms-nebraska-lakes">toxic algal blooms</a>&nbsp;in Nebraska lakes.In total, the virtual library states, Nebraska has received nearly $1.8 million in binational foundation grants, and exports from the Cornhusker State to Israel in 2022 totaled $53.8 million.<h2>Study abroad to Jerusalem</h2>Ari Kohen, a political science professor and director of the Norman and Bernice Harris Center for Judaic Studies, which hosts the one-month study abroad at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University, said the program was designed by multiple Harris Center faculty over many years before its debut in 2019. Students went again in 2022.“It is a study abroad experience that you can’t really get anywhere else,” Kohen said. “We have curated this education for UNL students, and I’m really proud of it.”Kohen said that while he teaches about the Arab-Israeli conflict in Lincoln, the program means students “have a window” into the conflict, people, cultures, religions, traditions and more and can form opinions for themselves. He said this is better than the Lincoln course.&nbsp;He encouraged those interested in Arab-Israeli relationships to sign up and learn firsthand.However, Synya said, the program is not equitable for all students. She said Palestinians, for example, might not be able to go to Israel or, if they did, they might not be as safe.“The university can’t ethically provide any sort of academic opportunity that’s not equally accessible to students,” Synya said.Kohen said he postponed the 2024 trip because he didn’t want to compromise on its goals. Travel in the region is significantly hindered, and many people remain displaced in the north and south.“As a result, it wouldn’t be the same trip,” he said.When there’s so much attention and interest, Kohen said, it would be a shame to limit education to one day of protest and cancel the trip, which he hopes “a ton of people” will want to enroll in.<h2>Congressman speaks out against antisemitism</h2>U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., whose district includes UNL, said in a statement Wednesday that “antisemitism has no place in America” and that “the message of the national protests” arrived at UNL on Wednesday.“University leadership must be decisive and clear that Nebraska will not tolerate the violent and dangerous rhetoric that has shown up on college campuses across the country,”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/USRepMikeFlood/status/1785689553354830079">Flood said on X, formerly Twitter</a>.Flood, in a followup statement to the Nebraska Examiner, said the national message he referred to is antisemitic rhetoric and policies, which he said includes the chant “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”&nbsp;Congress last month voted 377-44, with all Nebraska representatives in favor, to condemn that phrase as antisemitic.The phrase was featured at the protest in chants and artwork, along with other chants aimed at Nebraska’s congressional delegation and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by name, saying, “you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide.”Protesters also encouraged Nebraska voters to write in “ceasefire” against President Joe Biden during Nebraska’s May 14 primary election.Synya said her response to Flood or others with concerns is to “come on down and see for yourself” and have conversations because such accusations are taken seriously.“We denounce all forms of antisemitism,” she said. “That’s not what we’re about at all.”<h2>‘Existence of the human being’</h2>Multiple Jewish students and community members were also part of the protest, including Jewish Voices for Peace and a woman who said she was a descendant of Holocaust survivors.Other speakers included a pediatric surgeon who worked in Gaza, professors who spoke about the Arab Spring, artists, the local NAACP chapter and Indigenous brothers and sisters.Steve Laravie Jr., a descendant of Standing Bear, was one of three Indigenous members who encouraged Nebraskans to pray for Gaza and Palestinians. He said everyone must think of moving forward as human beings because the division is not about race, creed or religion.“This is about the existence of the human being,” Laravie said.“You are the majority, remember that,” he told Wednesday’s crowd. “You determine the reality, the life that you want.”

University of Nebraska joins wave of campus protests in support of Palestine, Gaza

WASHINGTON— Cargill Meat Solutions, a Hazleton, Pa., establishment, is recalling approximately 16,243 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Wednesday.

The raw ground beef items were produced on April 26-27, 2024. The following products are subject to recall&nbsp; Click <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/food_label_pdf/2024-05/recall-labels-016-2024.pdf">here to view all labels</a>

The products subject to recall all bear the USDA mark of inspection on the front of the product label, and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the product label. These items were shipped to Walmart retail locations nationwide.

The establishment reported the issue to FSIS after they identified that previously segregated product had been inadvertently utilized in the production of ground beef.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.

E. coli&nbsp;O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2-8 days (3-4 days, on average) after exposure the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Cargill Meat Solutions at 1-844-419-1574. Members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Chuck Miller, Senior Communications Manager, Cargill Meat Solutions at 612-430-2882 or media@cargill.com.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:MPHotline@usda.gov">MPHotline@usda.gov</a>. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at&nbsp;<a href="https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/">https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714614484262.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON— Cargill Meat Solutions, a Hazleton, Pa., establishment, is recalling approximately 16,243 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Wednesday.The raw ground beef items were produced on April 26-27, 2024. The following products are subject to recall&nbsp; Click <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/food_label_pdf/2024-05/recall-labels-016-2024.pdf">here to view all labels</a><ul>
 <li>2.25-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing "93% LEAN 7% FAT ALL NATURAL LEAN GROUND BEEF" with lot code 117 and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the label.</li><li>1.33-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing four "PRIME RIB BEEF STEAK BURGERS PATTIES" with lot code 118 and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the label.</li><li>2.25-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing "85% LEAN 15% FAT ALL NATURAL ANGUS PREMIUM GROUND BEEF" with lot code 117 and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the label.</li><li>2.25-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing "80% LEAN 20% FAT ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF CHUCK" with lot code 118 and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the label.</li><li>1.33-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing four "80% LEAN 20% FAT ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF CHUCK PATTIES" with lot code 118 and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the label.</li><li>1.33-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing four "90% LEAN 10% FAT ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF SIRLOIN PATTIES" with lot code 118 and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the label.</li>
 </ul>The products subject to recall all bear the USDA mark of inspection on the front of the product label, and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the product label. These items were shipped to Walmart retail locations nationwide.The establishment reported the issue to FSIS after they identified that previously segregated product had been inadvertently utilized in the production of ground beef.There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.E. coli&nbsp;O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2-8 days (3-4 days, on average) after exposure the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Cargill Meat Solutions at 1-844-419-1574. Members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Chuck Miller, Senior Communications Manager, Cargill Meat Solutions at 612-430-2882 or media@cargill.com.Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:MPHotline@usda.gov">MPHotline@usda.gov</a>. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at&nbsp;<a href="https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/">https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/</a>

16,000 pounds of ground beef recalled nationwide over E. coli concern

Nebraska Public Service Commission

Lincoln, April 30, 2024- The Nebraska Public Service Commission has awarded 11 grants totaling nearly $680,000 as a part of the inaugural Precision Agriculture Infrastructure Grant(PRO- AG) program (<a href="https://www.nebraska.gov/psc/orders/telecom/2024-04-30%20C-5529%20Order%20Issuing%20Grant%20Awards.pdf" target="_blank">C-5529</a>).

“These initial grants will help fund innovative projects designed to advance precision agricultureacross the state,” said Commission Chair Dan Watermeier. “We look forward to seeing thebenefits that these projects have for ag producers and the industry.”

Created by the Precision Agriculture Grant Act, Neb Rev. Stat.§86-1401, the PRO-AG programmakes available nearly one million dollars in grants annually to boost rural economicdevelopment through connectivity, sustainability, traceability, and autonomy for farm sites inunserved areas of Nebraska.

The PRO-AG program is divided into two distinct subprograms, Connectivity, and Devices andTechnology. During the 2023-2024 grant cycle the Commission received 20 applications forfunding. Upon review of the applications received, the Commission determined 11 submissionswould be funded. Three grants were awarded in the Connectivity subprogram for a total of$391,280 and eight grants were awarded in the Devices and Technology subprogram for a totalof $287,336.29. Grant dollars not awarded during the initial cycle will carry over to the nextgrant cycle.

Commissioner Watermeier said, “We appreciate the insights and experience gained through thisfirst round of grants and are optimistic of the potential for future awards to support innovativePRO-Ag projects.”

Projects funded through today’s awards must be completed by April 30, 2025. A list of the projects approved through the PRO-AG program can be found on the PSC website&lt;&nbsp;<a href="https://psc.nebraska.gov/precision-agriculture" target="_blank">https://psc.nebraska.gov/precision-agriculture</a>&nbsp;&gt;.&nbsp;

Nebraska Public Service CommissionLincoln, April 30, 2024- The Nebraska Public Service Commission has awarded 11 grants totaling nearly $680,000 as a part of the inaugural Precision Agriculture Infrastructure Grant(PRO- AG) program (<a href="https://www.nebraska.gov/psc/orders/telecom/2024-04-30%20C-5529%20Order%20Issuing%20Grant%20Awards.pdf" target="_blank">C-5529</a>).“These initial grants will help fund innovative projects designed to advance precision agricultureacross the state,” said Commission Chair Dan Watermeier. “We look forward to seeing thebenefits that these projects have for ag producers and the industry.”Created by the Precision Agriculture Grant Act, Neb Rev. Stat.§86-1401, the PRO-AG programmakes available nearly one million dollars in grants annually to boost rural economicdevelopment through connectivity, sustainability, traceability, and autonomy for farm sites inunserved areas of Nebraska.The PRO-AG program is divided into two distinct subprograms, Connectivity, and Devices andTechnology. During the 2023-2024 grant cycle the Commission received 20 applications forfunding. Upon review of the applications received, the Commission determined 11 submissionswould be funded. Three grants were awarded in the Connectivity subprogram for a total of$391,280 and eight grants were awarded in the Devices and Technology subprogram for a totalof $287,336.29. Grant dollars not awarded during the initial cycle will carry over to the nextgrant cycle.Commissioner Watermeier said, “We appreciate the insights and experience gained through thisfirst round of grants and are optimistic of the potential for future awards to support innovativePRO-Ag projects.”Projects funded through today’s awards must be completed by April 30, 2025. A list of the projects approved through the PRO-AG program can be found on the PSC website&lt;&nbsp;<a href="https://psc.nebraska.gov/precision-agriculture" target="_blank">https://psc.nebraska.gov/precision-agriculture</a>&nbsp;&gt;.&nbsp;

PSC Awards Precision Agriculture Infrastructure Grants

LINCOLN, NEB. – Nebraska Farm Bureau has published its annual Agricultural and International Trade Report again highlighting the importance of international trade to the bottom-line of Nebraska’s farm and ranch families. The report release comes shortly after a House Ways and Means Committee hearing centered on trade, emphasizing the importance of a proactive strategy in expanding markets for American agriculture to the Biden administration. The report,&nbsp;“<a href="https://www.nefb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/neagriculture-internationaltrade_2022_final.pdf" target="_blank">Nebraska Agriculture and International Trade</a>,”&nbsp;is the latest in a series of analysis highlighting the importance of agricultural trade to Nebraska farmers, ranchers, rural communities, as well as the state’s broader economy.

“Our analysis shows that trade is vitally important to the economic future of Nebraska’s farm and ranch families. Unfortunately, the Biden administration has not effectively pushed for increased market opportunities for farmers and ranchers while also struggling to consistently enforce provisions of trade deals that enable farmers to sell their products overseas,” said Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue.

Expanding markets, both within the country and overseas, for agricultural products from Nebraska is a top priority for Nebraska Farm Bureau. NEFB plays an active role in trade missions with the governor, while McHargue leads the American Farm Bureau Trade Subcommittee, showcasing a firm dedication to improving export prospects.

“Nebraska farmers and ranchers depend on export markets for nearly a third of their agricultural production. Which is why this issue is a primary focus for NEFB and why we urge the Biden administration and Congress to continue discussions with our key export partners and those with potential for growth. It is crucial to consider how trade initiatives can best enhance agricultural exports for our state and our nation,” said McHargue.

The report, issued annually since 2017, acts as a barometer demonstrating the importance of trade to farmers, ranchers, and Nebraska’s economy. The estimates are calculated using the 2022 USDA trade numbers released in October 2023.

International trade has been a big win for Nebraska farmers and ranchers, with agricultural exports making up about 30 percent of their earnings. The&nbsp;“<a href="https://www.nefb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/neagriculture-internationaltrade_2022_final.pdf" target="_blank">Nebraska Agriculture and International Trade</a>”&nbsp;report provides a comprehensive look at Nebraska agricultural trade, showing how different commodities impact the economy and benefit farmers, ranchers, and counties across the state.

“Nebraska was once again the fifth-largest agricultural exporting state in 2022 with exported agricultural commodities worth $9.97 billion,&nbsp;marking the third consecutive year of record-setting exports,” said Jay Rempe, economist of Rolling Prairie Economics and author of the report.

According to the report, soybeans, corn, and beef remained solidly entrenched as Nebraska’s top agricultural exports, accounting for nearly two-thirds of total exports. Soybeans were the top export commodity, up 23 percent from the prior year. The USDA attributed that growth to increased prices and a strong demand in most top export markets.

“Nebraska is the fifth-largest exporter of soybeans at $2.3 billion. In 2022, China was the largest soybean purchaser, but growth was also seen from Mexico, the European Union, Egypt, and Japan. Exports are a growing part of Nebraska’s agricultural sales—exports in 2022 were four times greater than those in 2000,” said Rempe.

The report shows Nebraska leads the nation in exports of beef at $1.86 billion. The value of Nebraska beef exports rose 13%, setting a record. The report also shows Nebraska’s corn exports were off 4%, but still finishing as the second highest on record at $2.25 billion placing Nebraska as the nation’s third-largest exporter of corn.

“Like soybeans, China was the largest buyer of corn, followed by Mexico and Japan. Exports to these three countries accounted for 71% of total United States corn exports, while South Korea, Japan, and China accounted for 62% of United States beef exports,” said Rempe.

According to Nebraska Farm Bureau, much of Nebraska’s agricultural trade success can be tied to free trade agreements. While 2022 numbers show record-setting amounts, initial figures for 2023 are not as promising: highlighting the effects of inaction by the Biden administration to pursue an ambitious trade agenda that benefits Nebraska’s farm and ranch families as well as Nebraska’s economy as a whole.

“Mexico’s ban on genetically modified white corn, the lack of work by the Biden Administration to pursue new free trade agreements, along with the failure to enforce China’s obligations to increase purchases under the previously signed Phase 1 trade pact all act as headwinds to our efforts to grow international export markets. Failure to move forward with much of a trade agenda at all has put Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers at a disadvantage on the world stage, resulting in a projected agriculture trade deficit of $21.5 billion in 2023,” said McHargue. “Expanding international markets is vital to Nebraska’s farm and ranch families economically, while also helping them provide food, fiber, and energy to families around the globe.”

Nebraska Farm Bureau expects the value of trade in 2023 for Nebraska and counties will be down compared to the 2022 figures outlined in this report.&nbsp;Nebraska Farm Bureau’s&nbsp;“<a href="https://www.nefb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/neagriculture-internationaltrade_2022_final.pdf" target="_blank">Nebraska Agriculture and International Trade</a>”&nbsp;report is available online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nefb.org/" target="_blank">www.nefb.org</a>.

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

Nebraska Farm BurueaLINCOLN, NEB. – Nebraska Farm Bureau has published its annual Agricultural and International Trade Report again highlighting the importance of international trade to the bottom-line of Nebraska’s farm and ranch families. The report release comes shortly after a House Ways and Means Committee hearing centered on trade, emphasizing the importance of a proactive strategy in expanding markets for American agriculture to the Biden administration. The report,&nbsp;“<a href="https://www.nefb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/neagriculture-internationaltrade_2022_final.pdf" target="_blank">Nebraska Agriculture and International Trade</a>,”&nbsp;is the latest in a series of analysis highlighting the importance of agricultural trade to Nebraska farmers, ranchers, rural communities, as well as the state’s broader economy.“Our analysis shows that trade is vitally important to the economic future of Nebraska’s farm and ranch families. Unfortunately, the Biden administration has not effectively pushed for increased market opportunities for farmers and ranchers while also struggling to consistently enforce provisions of trade deals that enable farmers to sell their products overseas,” said Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue.Expanding markets, both within the country and overseas, for agricultural products from Nebraska is a top priority for Nebraska Farm Bureau. NEFB plays an active role in trade missions with the governor, while McHargue leads the American Farm Bureau Trade Subcommittee, showcasing a firm dedication to improving export prospects.“Nebraska farmers and ranchers depend on export markets for nearly a third of their agricultural production. Which is why this issue is a primary focus for NEFB and why we urge the Biden administration and Congress to continue discussions with our key export partners and those with potential for growth. It is crucial to consider how trade initiatives can best enhance agricultural exports for our state and our nation,” said McHargue.The report, issued annually since 2017, acts as a barometer demonstrating the importance of trade to farmers, ranchers, and Nebraska’s economy. The estimates are calculated using the 2022 USDA trade numbers released in October 2023.International trade has been a big win for Nebraska farmers and ranchers, with agricultural exports making up about 30 percent of their earnings. The&nbsp;“<a href="https://www.nefb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/neagriculture-internationaltrade_2022_final.pdf" target="_blank">Nebraska Agriculture and International Trade</a>”&nbsp;report provides a comprehensive look at Nebraska agricultural trade, showing how different commodities impact the economy and benefit farmers, ranchers, and counties across the state.“Nebraska was once again the fifth-largest agricultural exporting state in 2022 with exported agricultural commodities worth $9.97 billion,&nbsp;marking the third consecutive year of record-setting exports,” said Jay Rempe, economist of Rolling Prairie Economics and author of the report.According to the report, soybeans, corn, and beef remained solidly entrenched as Nebraska’s top agricultural exports, accounting for nearly two-thirds of total exports. Soybeans were the top export commodity, up 23 percent from the prior year. The USDA attributed that growth to increased prices and a strong demand in most top export markets.“Nebraska is the fifth-largest exporter of soybeans at $2.3 billion. In 2022, China was the largest soybean purchaser, but growth was also seen from Mexico, the European Union, Egypt, and Japan. Exports are a growing part of Nebraska’s agricultural sales—exports in 2022 were four times greater than those in 2000,” said Rempe.The report shows Nebraska leads the nation in exports of beef at $1.86 billion. The value of Nebraska beef exports rose 13%, setting a record. The report also shows Nebraska’s corn exports were off 4%, but still finishing as the second highest on record at $2.25 billion placing Nebraska as the nation’s third-largest exporter of corn.“Like soybeans, China was the largest buyer of corn, followed by Mexico and Japan. Exports to these three countries accounted for 71% of total United States corn exports, while South Korea, Japan, and China accounted for 62% of United States beef exports,” said Rempe.According to Nebraska Farm Bureau, much of Nebraska’s agricultural trade success can be tied to free trade agreements. While 2022 numbers show record-setting amounts, initial figures for 2023 are not as promising: highlighting the effects of inaction by the Biden administration to pursue an ambitious trade agenda that benefits Nebraska’s farm and ranch families as well as Nebraska’s economy as a whole.“Mexico’s ban on genetically modified white corn, the lack of work by the Biden Administration to pursue new free trade agreements, along with the failure to enforce China’s obligations to increase purchases under the previously signed Phase 1 trade pact all act as headwinds to our efforts to grow international export markets. Failure to move forward with much of a trade agenda at all has put Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers at a disadvantage on the world stage, resulting in a projected agriculture trade deficit of $21.5 billion in 2023,” said McHargue. “Expanding international markets is vital to Nebraska’s farm and ranch families economically, while also helping them provide food, fiber, and energy to families around the globe.”Nebraska Farm Bureau expects the value of trade in 2023 for Nebraska and counties will be down compared to the 2022 figures outlined in this report.&nbsp;Nebraska Farm Bureau’s&nbsp;“<a href="https://www.nefb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/neagriculture-internationaltrade_2022_final.pdf" target="_blank">Nebraska Agriculture and International Trade</a>”&nbsp;report is available online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nefb.org/" target="_blank">www.nefb.org</a>.The Nebraska Farm Bureau is a grassroots, state-wide organization dedicated to supporting farm and ranch families and working for the benefit of all Nebraskans through a wide variety of educational, service, and advocacy efforts. More than 55,000 families across Nebraska are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve rural and urban prosperity as agriculture is a key fuel to Nebraska’s economy. For more information about Nebraska Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nefb.org/" target="_blank">www.nefb.org</a>.

Report Shows Third Consecutive Year for Record-Setting Exports, Outlook Not as Promising for Agricultural Trade

Lincoln, NE – May 1, 2024 – A $200,000 Nebraska Pick 5 prize from December 2023 is about to expire.

For the December 3, 2023, drawing, a $200,000 Nebraska Pick 5 winning ticket was sold at Kwik Shop #648, 1403 Harlan Street in Falls City. The ticket matched all five winning numbers (03, 10, 11, 17, 28) for the jackpot prize.

Winning Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Players are encouraged to check their tickets and claim any prizes as soon as possible.

Prizes of $20,000 or more must be claimed at Nebraska Lottery Headquarters, 137 NW 17th Street in Lincoln. The $200,000 Pick 5 prize will expire Friday, May 31. Visit the Nebraska Lottery website,&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>, for more information on claiming prizes.

Nebraska Pick 5 is Nebraska’s unique Lottery game: all the proceeds from Nebraska Pick 5 stay in Nebraska, and all the winning tickets are sold in Nebraska at Nebraska Lottery Lotto game retailers. The odds of winning the Nebraska Pick 5 jackpot, which starts at $50,000 and grows by $10,000 each drawing that is not won, are 1 in 658,008 while the overall odds of winning a prize in the game, which has drawings seven nights a week, are 1 in 9.2.

The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $978 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

Neil WatsonNebraska LotteryLincoln, NE – May 1, 2024 – A $200,000 Nebraska Pick 5 prize from December 2023 is about to expire.For the December 3, 2023, drawing, a $200,000 Nebraska Pick 5 winning ticket was sold at Kwik Shop #648, 1403 Harlan Street in Falls City. The ticket matched all five winning numbers (03, 10, 11, 17, 28) for the jackpot prize.Winning Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Players are encouraged to check their tickets and claim any prizes as soon as possible.Prizes of $20,000 or more must be claimed at Nebraska Lottery Headquarters, 137 NW 17th Street in Lincoln. The $200,000 Pick 5 prize will expire Friday, May 31. Visit the Nebraska Lottery website,&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>, for more information on claiming prizes.Nebraska Pick 5 is Nebraska’s unique Lottery game: all the proceeds from Nebraska Pick 5 stay in Nebraska, and all the winning tickets are sold in Nebraska at Nebraska Lottery Lotto game retailers. The odds of winning the Nebraska Pick 5 jackpot, which starts at $50,000 and grows by $10,000 each drawing that is not won, are 1 in 658,008 while the overall odds of winning a prize in the game, which has drawings seven nights a week, are 1 in 9.2.The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $978 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

Nebraska Pick 5 Jackpot Winning Ticket Sold in Falls City Expires Soon

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve on Wednesday emphasized that inflation has remained stubbornly high in recent months and said it doesn’t plan to cut interest rates until it has “greater confidence” that price increases are slowing sustainably to its 2% target.

The Fed issued its decision in a statement after its latest meeting, at which it kept its key rate at a two-decade high of roughly 5.3%. Several hotter-than-expected reports on prices and economic growth have recently undercut the Fed’s belief that inflation was steadily easing. The combination of high interest rates and persistent inflation has also emerged as a potential threat to President Joe Biden’s re-election bid.

“In recent months," Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference, “inflation has shown a lack of further progress toward our 2% objective."

“It is likely that gaining greater confidence,” Powell added, "will take longer than previously expected.”

The central bank’s latest message reflects an abrupt shift in its timetable on interest rates. As recently as their last meeting on March 20, the Fed’s policymakers had projected three rate reductions in 2024, likely starting in June. Rate cuts by the Fed would lead, over time, to lower borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, including for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards.

But given the persistence of elevated inflation, financial markets now expect just one rate cut this year, in November, according to futures prices tracked by CME FedWatch.

The Fed’s more cautious outlook stems from three months of data that pointed to chronic inflation pressures and robust consumer spending. Inflation has cooled from a peak of 7.1%, according to the Fed’s preferred measure, to 2.7%, as supply chains have eased and the cost of some goods has actually declined.

Average prices, though, remain well above their pre-pandemic levels, and the costs of services ranging from apartment rents and health care to restaurant meals and auto insurance continue to surge. With the presidential election six months away, many Americans have expressed discontent with the economy, notably over the pace of price increases.

On Wednesday, the Fed also said it would slow the pace at which it’s unwinding one of its biggest COVID-era policies: Its purchase of several trillion dollars in Treasury securities and mortgage-backed bonds, an effort to stabilize financial markets and keep longer-term rates low.

The Fed is now allowing $95 billion of those securities to mature each month, without replacing them. Its holdings have fallen to about $7.4 trillion, down from $8.9 trillion in June 2022, when it began reducing them. On Wednesday, the Fed said it would, in June, reduce its holdings at a slower pace, and allow a total of $60 billion of bonds to run off each month.

By cutting back its holdings, the Fed could contribute to keeping longer-term rates, including mortgage rates, higher than they would be otherwise. That’s because as it reduces its bond holdings, other buyers will have to buy the securities instead, and rates might have to rise to attract the needed buyers.

The U.S. economy is healthier and hiring stronger than most economists thought it would be at this point. The unemployment rate has remained&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-unemployment-economy-inflation-federal-reserve-1e456b8df0e11b218ed50f1ead6f6797">below 4% for more than two years</a>, the longest such streak since the 1960s. And while economic growth reached just a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-growth-inflation-gdp-consumers-federal-reserve-5a64d255a09313dabe54954060a09530">1.6% annual pace</a>&nbsp;in the first three months of this year, consumer spending grew at a robust pace, a sign that the economy will keep expanding.

That economic strength has caused some Fed officials to speculate that the current level of interest rates might not be high enough to have the cooling effect on the economy and inflation that they need. If so, the Fed might even decide to switch back to rate increases at some point.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve on Wednesday emphasized that inflation has remained stubbornly high in recent months and said it doesn’t plan to cut interest rates until it has “greater confidence” that price increases are slowing sustainably to its 2% target.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fed Chair Powel: &quot;Today, the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FOMC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FOMC</a> decided to leave our policy interest rate unchanged and to continue to reduce our securities holdings, though at a slower pace.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/i8R4v5dxY2">pic.twitter.com/i8R4v5dxY2</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1785747678443323646?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Fed issued its decision in a statement after its latest meeting, at which it kept its key rate at a two-decade high of roughly 5.3%. Several hotter-than-expected reports on prices and economic growth have recently undercut the Fed’s belief that inflation was steadily easing. The combination of high interest rates and persistent inflation has also emerged as a potential threat to President Joe Biden’s re-election bid.“In recent months," Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference, “inflation has shown a lack of further progress toward our 2% objective."“It is likely that gaining greater confidence,” Powell added, "will take longer than previously expected.”The central bank’s latest message reflects an abrupt shift in its timetable on interest rates. As recently as their last meeting on March 20, the Fed’s policymakers had projected three rate reductions in 2024, likely starting in June. Rate cuts by the Fed would lead, over time, to lower borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, including for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards.But given the persistence of elevated inflation, financial markets now expect just one rate cut this year, in November, according to futures prices tracked by CME FedWatch.The Fed’s more cautious outlook stems from three months of data that pointed to chronic inflation pressures and robust consumer spending. Inflation has cooled from a peak of 7.1%, according to the Fed’s preferred measure, to 2.7%, as supply chains have eased and the cost of some goods has actually declined.Average prices, though, remain well above their pre-pandemic levels, and the costs of services ranging from apartment rents and health care to restaurant meals and auto insurance continue to surge. With the presidential election six months away, many Americans have expressed discontent with the economy, notably over the pace of price increases.On Wednesday, the Fed also said it would slow the pace at which it’s unwinding one of its biggest COVID-era policies: Its purchase of several trillion dollars in Treasury securities and mortgage-backed bonds, an effort to stabilize financial markets and keep longer-term rates low.The Fed is now allowing $95 billion of those securities to mature each month, without replacing them. Its holdings have fallen to about $7.4 trillion, down from $8.9 trillion in June 2022, when it began reducing them. On Wednesday, the Fed said it would, in June, reduce its holdings at a slower pace, and allow a total of $60 billion of bonds to run off each month.By cutting back its holdings, the Fed could contribute to keeping longer-term rates, including mortgage rates, higher than they would be otherwise. That’s because as it reduces its bond holdings, other buyers will have to buy the securities instead, and rates might have to rise to attract the needed buyers.The U.S. economy is healthier and hiring stronger than most economists thought it would be at this point. The unemployment rate has remained&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-unemployment-economy-inflation-federal-reserve-1e456b8df0e11b218ed50f1ead6f6797">below 4% for more than two years</a>, the longest such streak since the 1960s. And while economic growth reached just a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-growth-inflation-gdp-consumers-federal-reserve-5a64d255a09313dabe54954060a09530">1.6% annual pace</a>&nbsp;in the first three months of this year, consumer spending grew at a robust pace, a sign that the economy will keep expanding.That economic strength has caused some Fed officials to speculate that the current level of interest rates might not be high enough to have the cooling effect on the economy and inflation that they need. If so, the Fed might even decide to switch back to rate increases at some point.

Bad news for borrowers: Interest rates stay at 23-year high

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodist-church-lgbtq-policies-general-conference-fa9a335a74bdd58d138163401cd51b54">United Methodist</a>&nbsp;delegates repealed their church’s longstanding ban on LGBTQ clergy with no debate on Wednesday, removing a rule forbidding “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from being ordained or appointed as ministers.

Delegates voted 692-51 at their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodists-schism-lgbtq-samesex-marriage-8b428597c86901b2d5886afeca5069c8">General Conference</a>&nbsp;— the first such legislative gathering in five years. That overwhelming margin contrasts sharply with the decades of controversy around the issue. Past General Conferences of the United Methodist Church had steadily reinforced the ban and related penalties amid debate and protests, but many of the conservatives who had previously upheld the ban have left the denomination in recent years, and this General Conference has moved in a solidly progressive direction.

Applause broke out in parts of the convention hall Wednesday after the vote. A group of observers from LGBTQ advocacy groups embraced, some in tears. “Thanks be to God,” said one.

The change doesn’t mandate or even explicitly affirm LGBTQ clergy, but it means the church no longer forbids them. It’s possible that the change will mainly apply to U.S. churches, since United Methodist bodies in other countries, such as in Africa, have the right to impose the rules for their own regions. The measure takes effect immediately upon the conclusion of General Conference, scheduled for Friday.

The consensus was so overwhelmingly that it was rolled into a “consent calendar,” a package of normally non-controversial measures that are bundled into a single vote to save time.

Also approved was a measure that forbids district superintendents — a regional administrator — from penalizing clergy for either performing a same-sex wedding or for refraining from performing one. It also forbids superintendents from forbidding or requiring a church from hosting a same-sex wedding.

That measure further removes scaffolding around the various LGBTQ bans that have been embedded various parts of official church law and policy. On Tuesday, delegates had begun taking steps to dismantle such policies.

Delegates are also expected to vote as soon as today on whether to replace their existing official Social Principles with a new document that no longer calls the “practice of homosexuality … incompatible with Christian teaching” and that now defines marriage as between “two people of faith” rather than between a man and a woman.

The changes are historic in a denomination that has debated LGBTQ issues for more than half a century at its General Conferences, which typically meet every four years. On Tuesday, delegates voted to remove mandatory penalties for conducting same-sex marriages and to remove their denomination’s bans on considering LGBTQ candidates for ministry and on funding for gay-friendly ministries.

About 100 LGBTQ people and allies gathered outside the Charlotte Convention Center after the vote — many with rainbow-colored scarves and umbrellas — to celebrate, pray and sing praise songs accompanied by a drum.

Bishop Karen Oliveto, the first openly lesbian bishop in the United Methodist Church, was among those celebrating.

“It seemed like such a simple vote, but it carried so much weight and power, as 50 years of restricting the Holy Spirit’s call on people’s lives has been lifted,” said Oliveto, of the Mountain Sky Episcopal Area, which includes Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. “People can live fully into their call without fear. The church we’ve loved has found a home for us.”

Angie Cox, an observer at the meeting from Ohio, said she has gone before her conference’s board of ordained ministry six times but was “told no just because of the prohibition on LGBTQ clergy.” She said Wednesday’s vote “means I might be able finally to live fully into my calling.”

Tracy Merrick, a delegate from Pittsburgh who has advocated for LGBTQ inclusion at several previous conferences, said with emotion that there were “many times when I thought we would never see this day.”

The vote, he said, enables the church to become “the denomination that many of us had envisioned for years.”

At the same time, the vote comes following the departure of one-quarter of the U.S. churches within the UMC. And it could also prompt departures of some international churches, particularly in Africa, where more conservative sexual values prevail and where same-sex activity is criminalized in some countries.

Last week, the conference&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodist-disaffiliation-lgbtq-regionalization-samesex-marriage-d429bb838c31f1899dbc48fbddb03197">endorsed a regionalization plan</a>&nbsp;that essentially would allow the churches of the United States the same autonomy as other regions of the global church. That change — which still requires local ratification — could create a scenario where LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage are allowed in the United States but not in other regions.

More than 7,600 mostly conservative congregations in the United States disaffiliated between 2019 and 2023 reflecting dismay over the denomination not enforcing its bans on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714584867565.png" alt="Bishop Karen Oliveto (right) and her wife, Robin Ridenour, react on May 1 after the United Methodist General Conference, meeting in Charlotte, N.C., voted to remove the denomination's ban on the ordination of clergy who are “self-avowed practicing homosexuals.” Photo by Paul Jeffrey, courtesy UM News" />
 <figcaption>Bishop Karen Oliveto (right) and her wife, Robin Ridenour, react on May 1 after the United Methodist General Conference, meeting in Charlotte, N.C., voted to remove the denomination's ban on the ordination of clergy who are “self-avowed practicing homosexuals.” Photo by Paul Jeffrey, courtesy UM News</figcaption>
 </figure>CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodist-church-lgbtq-policies-general-conference-fa9a335a74bdd58d138163401cd51b54">United Methodist</a>&nbsp;delegates repealed their church’s longstanding ban on LGBTQ clergy with no debate on Wednesday, removing a rule forbidding “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from being ordained or appointed as ministers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714576518780.png" alt="Image from the General Conference livestream" />
 <figcaption>Image from the General Conference livestream</figcaption>
 </figure>Delegates voted 692-51 at their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodists-schism-lgbtq-samesex-marriage-8b428597c86901b2d5886afeca5069c8">General Conference</a>&nbsp;— the first such legislative gathering in five years. That overwhelming margin contrasts sharply with the decades of controversy around the issue. Past General Conferences of the United Methodist Church had steadily reinforced the ban and related penalties amid debate and protests, but many of the conservatives who had previously upheld the ban have left the denomination in recent years, and this General Conference has moved in a solidly progressive direction.Applause broke out in parts of the convention hall Wednesday after the vote. A group of observers from LGBTQ advocacy groups embraced, some in tears. “Thanks be to God,” said one.The change doesn’t mandate or even explicitly affirm LGBTQ clergy, but it means the church no longer forbids them. It’s possible that the change will mainly apply to U.S. churches, since United Methodist bodies in other countries, such as in Africa, have the right to impose the rules for their own regions. The measure takes effect immediately upon the conclusion of General Conference, scheduled for Friday.The consensus was so overwhelmingly that it was rolled into a “consent calendar,” a package of normally non-controversial measures that are bundled into a single vote to save time.Also approved was a measure that forbids district superintendents — a regional administrator — from penalizing clergy for either performing a same-sex wedding or for refraining from performing one. It also forbids superintendents from forbidding or requiring a church from hosting a same-sex wedding.That measure further removes scaffolding around the various LGBTQ bans that have been embedded various parts of official church law and policy. On Tuesday, delegates had begun taking steps to dismantle such policies.Delegates are also expected to vote as soon as today on whether to replace their existing official Social Principles with a new document that no longer calls the “practice of homosexuality … incompatible with Christian teaching” and that now defines marriage as between “two people of faith” rather than between a man and a woman.The changes are historic in a denomination that has debated LGBTQ issues for more than half a century at its General Conferences, which typically meet every four years. On Tuesday, delegates voted to remove mandatory penalties for conducting same-sex marriages and to remove their denomination’s bans on considering LGBTQ candidates for ministry and on funding for gay-friendly ministries.About 100 LGBTQ people and allies gathered outside the Charlotte Convention Center after the vote — many with rainbow-colored scarves and umbrellas — to celebrate, pray and sing praise songs accompanied by a drum.Bishop Karen Oliveto, the first openly lesbian bishop in the United Methodist Church, was among those celebrating.“It seemed like such a simple vote, but it carried so much weight and power, as 50 years of restricting the Holy Spirit’s call on people’s lives has been lifted,” said Oliveto, of the Mountain Sky Episcopal Area, which includes Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. “People can live fully into their call without fear. The church we’ve loved has found a home for us.”Angie Cox, an observer at the meeting from Ohio, said she has gone before her conference’s board of ordained ministry six times but was “told no just because of the prohibition on LGBTQ clergy.” She said Wednesday’s vote “means I might be able finally to live fully into my calling.”Tracy Merrick, a delegate from Pittsburgh who has advocated for LGBTQ inclusion at several previous conferences, said with emotion that there were “many times when I thought we would never see this day.”The vote, he said, enables the church to become “the denomination that many of us had envisioned for years.”At the same time, the vote comes following the departure of one-quarter of the U.S. churches within the UMC. And it could also prompt departures of some international churches, particularly in Africa, where more conservative sexual values prevail and where same-sex activity is criminalized in some countries.Last week, the conference&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodist-disaffiliation-lgbtq-regionalization-samesex-marriage-d429bb838c31f1899dbc48fbddb03197">endorsed a regionalization plan</a>&nbsp;that essentially would allow the churches of the United States the same autonomy as other regions of the global church. That change — which still requires local ratification — could create a scenario where LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage are allowed in the United States but not in other regions.More than 7,600 mostly conservative congregations in the United States disaffiliated between 2019 and 2023 reflecting dismay over the denomination not enforcing its bans on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination.The conference last week also approved the departure of a small group of conservative churches in the former Soviet Union.The church's 1972 General Conference approved a statement in its non-binding Social Principles that homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching" — a phrase omitted in a revision to the Social Principles that is also headed for a conference vote this week.The now-repealed ban on clergy who are "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" was originally enacted in 1984, when the conference also voted to require “fidelity in marriage and celibacy in singleness.”The denomination had until recently been the third largest in the United States, present in almost every county. But its 5.4 million U.S. membership in 2022 is expected to drop once the 2023 departures are factored in.The denomination also counts 4.6 million members in other countries, mainly in Africa, though earlier estimates have been higher.