HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The ACLU of Montana has filed a lawsuit challenging a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-birth-certificate-define-sex-male-female-e17e5eae36991f8ca1d197ddebad0b72">law that defines the word “sex” throughout state code</a>&nbsp;as either male or female, based on a person's biology at birth. The plaintiffs argue the law denies legal recognition and protections to people who are gender non-conforming.

The plaintiffs — a transgender man, a two spirit Native American, a nonbinary person, an intersex individual and a nurse practitioner — also moved for a summary judgement in Monday's filing in state court in Missoula, asking for the law to be declared unconstitutional.

Republican lawmakers who supported the bill “seem to think they can simply legislate away the diversity of Montana's residents,” Akilah Deernose, the executive director of the ACLU of Montana, said in a statement.

The sponsor of the legislation said it was needed to clarify from a legal standpoint that the words “sex” and “gender” aren't interchangeable. That was in response to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-gay-rights-montana-billings-0a6f84a837a8987e532ac3a7aeb50e55">ruling by a state judge</a>&nbsp;in 2021 that overturned a law that said people had to have a surgical procedure before they could change their sex on their birth certificate. The judge ruled the law was vague because it didn't define what type of surgery was needed and that transgender individuals should be able to change their gender on such documents.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-licenses-birth-certificates-tennessee-5af6317b1646fc42e10bf88e0133c847">Tennessee</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-rights-oklahoma-governor-67dc0c4a9d769066ccb1b9835c71449f">Oklahoma</a>, North Dakota,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-executive-order-defining-sex-transgender-f8747f4298bd25a7ba2be13eebcca584">Nebraska</a>&nbsp;and Kansas have similar provisions in place. In Kansas, a law defining male and female has prevented Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration from allowing transgender people to change their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-birth-certificates-kansas-8424f36613c05d03b7d4eb8f82229ee6">driver’s licenses and birth certificates</a>, but transgender residents are challenging its constitutionality.

Another&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-health-gender-north-carolina-lawsuits-92eaeb6779de7fd651ce22bd6d51854e">lawsuit challenging the same Montana law</a>&nbsp;was filed in October. The Attorney General's office said the law “reflects scientific reality," provides “objective definitions of terms used widely in Montana law,” and is meant to protect victims of sexual assault, the safety of females in sports and ensure the separation of prison populations by sex for safety.

The ACLU lawsuit argues the definitions of male and female in Montana's law are “scientifically imprecise and erroneous."

The law defines a female as having XX chromosomes, and a reproductive and endocrine system that produces or would produce ova, or eggs. Plaintiff Linda Troyer, a nurse practitioner, argues the definition of female is scientifically incorrect because females are born with all the eggs they will ever have, do not “produce” them, and therefore she does not fall under the definition of female.

Male is defined as having XY chromosomes and a biological system that produces or would produce sperm.

The law, which took effect Oct. 1, also says anyone who would fall under the definition of either male or female, “but for a biological or genetic condition,” would be classified under their initial determination of male or female at birth.

A plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, said it was clear lawmakers didn't understand what it means to be intersex, the ACLU statement said.

For thousands of years, Indigenous communities have recognized people who are two-spirit — neither male nor female — said Dandilion Cloverdale, another plaintiff, but Montana's law does not recognize that gender identity.

Cloverdale has a federal passport listing their gender identity as “X," or nonbinary, and a California birth certificate that identifies them as nonbinary, but Montana requires them to identify as either male or female before obtaining a state identification, the complaint states.

The lawsuit also alleges the bill violates the state Constitution's requirement that legislation must contain only one subject, noting it amended 41 sections in 20 different titles in state law including education, human rights and social services and how the words “female,” “male” and “sex” are defined on birth certificates, driver's licenses, insurance documents, cemetery records, marriage certificates and wills.

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The ACLU of Montana has filed a lawsuit challenging a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-birth-certificate-define-sex-male-female-e17e5eae36991f8ca1d197ddebad0b72">law that defines the word “sex” throughout state code</a>&nbsp;as either male or female, based on a person's biology at birth. The plaintiffs argue the law denies legal recognition and protections to people who are gender non-conforming.The plaintiffs — a transgender man, a two spirit Native American, a nonbinary person, an intersex individual and a nurse practitioner — also moved for a summary judgement in Monday's filing in state court in Missoula, asking for the law to be declared unconstitutional.Republican lawmakers who supported the bill “seem to think they can simply legislate away the diversity of Montana's residents,” Akilah Deernose, the executive director of the ACLU of Montana, said in a statement.The sponsor of the legislation said it was needed to clarify from a legal standpoint that the words “sex” and “gender” aren't interchangeable. That was in response to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-gay-rights-montana-billings-0a6f84a837a8987e532ac3a7aeb50e55">ruling by a state judge</a>&nbsp;in 2021 that overturned a law that said people had to have a surgical procedure before they could change their sex on their birth certificate. The judge ruled the law was vague because it didn't define what type of surgery was needed and that transgender individuals should be able to change their gender on such documents.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-licenses-birth-certificates-tennessee-5af6317b1646fc42e10bf88e0133c847">Tennessee</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-rights-oklahoma-governor-67dc0c4a9d769066ccb1b9835c71449f">Oklahoma</a>, North Dakota,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-executive-order-defining-sex-transgender-f8747f4298bd25a7ba2be13eebcca584">Nebraska</a>&nbsp;and Kansas have similar provisions in place. In Kansas, a law defining male and female has prevented Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration from allowing transgender people to change their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-birth-certificates-kansas-8424f36613c05d03b7d4eb8f82229ee6">driver’s licenses and birth certificates</a>, but transgender residents are challenging its constitutionality.Another&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-health-gender-north-carolina-lawsuits-92eaeb6779de7fd651ce22bd6d51854e">lawsuit challenging the same Montana law</a>&nbsp;was filed in October. The Attorney General's office said the law “reflects scientific reality," provides “objective definitions of terms used widely in Montana law,” and is meant to protect victims of sexual assault, the safety of females in sports and ensure the separation of prison populations by sex for safety.The ACLU lawsuit argues the definitions of male and female in Montana's law are “scientifically imprecise and erroneous."The law defines a female as having XX chromosomes, and a reproductive and endocrine system that produces or would produce ova, or eggs. Plaintiff Linda Troyer, a nurse practitioner, argues the definition of female is scientifically incorrect because females are born with all the eggs they will ever have, do not “produce” them, and therefore she does not fall under the definition of female.Male is defined as having XY chromosomes and a biological system that produces or would produce sperm.The law, which took effect Oct. 1, also says anyone who would fall under the definition of either male or female, “but for a biological or genetic condition,” would be classified under their initial determination of male or female at birth.A plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, said it was clear lawmakers didn't understand what it means to be intersex, the ACLU statement said.For thousands of years, Indigenous communities have recognized people who are two-spirit — neither male nor female — said Dandilion Cloverdale, another plaintiff, but Montana's law does not recognize that gender identity.Cloverdale has a federal passport listing their gender identity as “X," or nonbinary, and a California birth certificate that identifies them as nonbinary, but Montana requires them to identify as either male or female before obtaining a state identification, the complaint states.The lawsuit also alleges the bill violates the state Constitution's requirement that legislation must contain only one subject, noting it amended 41 sections in 20 different titles in state law including education, human rights and social services and how the words “female,” “male” and “sex” are defined on birth certificates, driver's licenses, insurance documents, cemetery records, marriage certificates and wills.

ACLU of Montana challenges law defining the word 'sex' in state code as only male or female

NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rudolph-giuliani">Rudy Giulian</a>i&nbsp;has filed for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rudy-giuliani-georgia-election-workers-defamation-case-cde7186493b3a1bd9ab89bc65f0f5b06">bankruptcy</a>, days after being ordered to pay $148 million in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giuliani-2020-election-georgia-defamation-moss-freeman-6f6446c4f5224f521db8ff7763fb12d1">defamation lawsuit</a>&nbsp;brought by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rudy-giuliani-election-workers-georgia-defamation-damages-98592d54dff8785518f288405c722398">two former election workers in Georgia</a>&nbsp;who said his targeting of them led to death threats that made them fear for their lives.

In his filing Thursday, the former New York City mayor, who was one referred to as 'America's Mayor', listed nearly $153 million in existing or potential debts, including close to a million dollars in tax liabilities, money he owes his lawyers and many millions of dollars in potential legal judgements in lawsuits against him. He estimated his assets to be between $1 million and $10 million.

The biggest debt is the $148 million he was ordered to pay a week ago for making false statements about the election workers in Georgia stemming from the 2020 presidential contest.

Ted Goodman, a political adviser and spokesperson for Giuliani, a one-time Republican presidential candidate and high-ranking Justice Department official, said in a statement that the filing “should be a surprise to no one.”

“No person could have reasonably believed that Mayor Giuliani would be able to pay such a high punitive amount,” Goodman said. He said the bankruptcy filing would give Giuliani “the opportunity and time to pursue an appeal, while providing transparency for his finances under the supervision of the bankruptcy court, to ensure all creditors are treated equally and fairly throughout the process.”

But declaring bankruptcy likely will not erase the $148 million in damages a jury awarded to the former Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Wandrea’ “Shaye” Moss. Bankruptcy law does not allow for the dissolution of debts that come from a “willful and malicious injury” inflicted on someone else.

Last week’s jury verdict was the latest and costliest sign of Giuliani’s mounting financial strain, exacerbated by investigations, lawsuits, fines, sanctions, and damages related to his work helping then-Republican President Donald Trump try to overturn the 2020 election that he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

In September, Giuliani’s former lawyer Robert Costello sued him for about $1.4 million in unpaid legal bills, alleging that Giuliani breached his retainer agreement by failing to pay invoices in full and a timely fashion. Giuliani has asked a judge to dismiss the case, claiming he never received the invoices at issue. The case is pending.

Costello represented Giuliani from November 2019 to this past July in matters ranging from an investigation into his business dealings in Ukraine, which resulted in an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rudy-giuliani-2021-federal-raid-ukraine-57bac6d437b86a3ff5bb1f4b5db5aaf5">FBI raid on his home and office</a>&nbsp;in April 2021, to state and federal investigations of his work in the wake of Trump’s 2020 election loss.

In August, the IRS filed a $549,435 tax lien against Giuliani for the 2021 tax year.

Copies were filed in Palm Beach County, Florida, where he owns a condominium and New York, under the name of his outside accounting firm, Mazars USA LLP. That’s the same firm that Trump used for years before it dropped him as a client amid questions about his financial statements.

Giuliani, still somewhat popular among conservatives in the city he once ran, hosts a daily radio show in his hometown on a station owned by a local Republican grocery store magnate. Giuliani also hosts a nightly streaming show watched by a few hundred people on social media, which he calls “America’s Mayor Live.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692827609455.png" alt="Giuliani-photo Fulton County" />
 <figcaption>Giuliani-photo Fulton County</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rudolph-giuliani">Rudy Giulian</a>i&nbsp;has filed for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rudy-giuliani-georgia-election-workers-defamation-case-cde7186493b3a1bd9ab89bc65f0f5b06">bankruptcy</a>, days after being ordered to pay $148 million in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giuliani-2020-election-georgia-defamation-moss-freeman-6f6446c4f5224f521db8ff7763fb12d1">defamation lawsuit</a>&nbsp;brought by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rudy-giuliani-election-workers-georgia-defamation-damages-98592d54dff8785518f288405c722398">two former election workers in Georgia</a>&nbsp;who said his targeting of them led to death threats that made them fear for their lives.In his filing Thursday, the former New York City mayor, who was one referred to as 'America's Mayor', listed nearly $153 million in existing or potential debts, including close to a million dollars in tax liabilities, money he owes his lawyers and many millions of dollars in potential legal judgements in lawsuits against him. He estimated his assets to be between $1 million and $10 million.The biggest debt is the $148 million he was ordered to pay a week ago for making false statements about the election workers in Georgia stemming from the 2020 presidential contest.Ted Goodman, a political adviser and spokesperson for Giuliani, a one-time Republican presidential candidate and high-ranking Justice Department official, said in a statement that the filing “should be a surprise to no one.”“No person could have reasonably believed that Mayor Giuliani would be able to pay such a high punitive amount,” Goodman said. He said the bankruptcy filing would give Giuliani “the opportunity and time to pursue an appeal, while providing transparency for his finances under the supervision of the bankruptcy court, to ensure all creditors are treated equally and fairly throughout the process.”But declaring bankruptcy likely will not erase the $148 million in damages a jury awarded to the former Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Wandrea’ “Shaye” Moss. Bankruptcy law does not allow for the dissolution of debts that come from a “willful and malicious injury” inflicted on someone else.Last week’s jury verdict was the latest and costliest sign of Giuliani’s mounting financial strain, exacerbated by investigations, lawsuits, fines, sanctions, and damages related to his work helping then-Republican President Donald Trump try to overturn the 2020 election that he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.In September, Giuliani’s former lawyer Robert Costello sued him for about $1.4 million in unpaid legal bills, alleging that Giuliani breached his retainer agreement by failing to pay invoices in full and a timely fashion. Giuliani has asked a judge to dismiss the case, claiming he never received the invoices at issue. The case is pending.Costello represented Giuliani from November 2019 to this past July in matters ranging from an investigation into his business dealings in Ukraine, which resulted in an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rudy-giuliani-2021-federal-raid-ukraine-57bac6d437b86a3ff5bb1f4b5db5aaf5">FBI raid on his home and office</a>&nbsp;in April 2021, to state and federal investigations of his work in the wake of Trump’s 2020 election loss.In August, the IRS filed a $549,435 tax lien against Giuliani for the 2021 tax year.Copies were filed in Palm Beach County, Florida, where he owns a condominium and New York, under the name of his outside accounting firm, Mazars USA LLP. That’s the same firm that Trump used for years before it dropped him as a client amid questions about his financial statements.Giuliani, still somewhat popular among conservatives in the city he once ran, hosts a daily radio show in his hometown on a station owned by a local Republican grocery store magnate. Giuliani also hosts a nightly streaming show watched by a few hundred people on social media, which he calls “America’s Mayor Live.”

'America's Mayor' filed for bankruptcy after $148 million court loss

NEW YORK (AP) — Honda Motor’s American arm is recalling more than 2.5 million vehicles in the U.S. due to a fuel pump defect that can increase risks of engine failure or stalling while driving.

According to documents published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the fuel pump impeller used for in 2017-2020 Acura and Honda vehicles was improperly molded. This results in low-density impellers, which “can deform and interfere with the fuel pump body” over time, regulators said, leading to an inoperative fuel pump.

If the fuel pump module doesn’t work, the car’s engine may not start or can stall while driving, the NHTSA said, increasing crash and injury risks. Honda says it has not received any crash or injury reports related to this recall to date.

The automaker said Thursday that it will replace fuel pumps for all vehicles impacted by the recall at no cost in separate phases, with the first batch of owner notification letters going out in February.

“Countermeasure replacement parts are not available in sufficient quantities for all recalled vehicles at the time of this announcement, and American Honda intends to notify vehicle owners in stages,” Honda wrote.

Dealer notification was scheduled to kick off earlier this week, according to NHTSA documents.

Drivers can confirm if their specific vehicle is included in this recall using the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls" target="_blank">NHTSA site</a>&nbsp;and/or&nbsp;<a href="https://owners.honda.com/service-maintenance/recalls" target="_blank">Honda</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://owners.acura.com/service-maintenance/recalls" target="_blank">Acura’s</a>&nbsp;recall lookup platforms. The models impacted are:

NEW YORK (AP) — Honda Motor’s American arm is recalling more than 2.5 million vehicles in the U.S. due to a fuel pump defect that can increase risks of engine failure or stalling while driving.According to documents published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the fuel pump impeller used for in 2017-2020 Acura and Honda vehicles was improperly molded. This results in low-density impellers, which “can deform and interfere with the fuel pump body” over time, regulators said, leading to an inoperative fuel pump.If the fuel pump module doesn’t work, the car’s engine may not start or can stall while driving, the NHTSA said, increasing crash and injury risks. Honda says it has not received any crash or injury reports related to this recall to date.The automaker said Thursday that it will replace fuel pumps for all vehicles impacted by the recall at no cost in separate phases, with the first batch of owner notification letters going out in February.“Countermeasure replacement parts are not available in sufficient quantities for all recalled vehicles at the time of this announcement, and American Honda intends to notify vehicle owners in stages,” Honda wrote.Dealer notification was scheduled to kick off earlier this week, according to NHTSA documents.Drivers can confirm if their specific vehicle is included in this recall using the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls" target="_blank">NHTSA site</a>&nbsp;and/or&nbsp;<a href="https://owners.honda.com/service-maintenance/recalls" target="_blank">Honda</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://owners.acura.com/service-maintenance/recalls" target="_blank">Acura’s</a>&nbsp;recall lookup platforms. The models impacted are:1. 2018-2020 Honda Accord2. 2017-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid3. 2018-2020 Honda Civic 4D4. 2018-2020 Honda Civic 2D5. 2018-2020 Honda Civic 5D6. 2018-2020 Honda Civic Type R7. 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV8. 2018-2020 Honda CR-V9. 2020-2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid10. 2018-2019 Honda Fit11. 2018-2020 Honda HR-V12. 2018-2020 Acura ILX13. 2019-2020 Honda Insight14. 2018-2020 Acura MDX15. 2018-2020 Acura MDX Hybrid16. 2017-2020 Acura NSX17. 2018-2020 Honda Odyssey18. 2019-2020 Honda Passport19. 2018-2020 Acura RDX20. 2018-2020 Honda Ridgeline21. 2018-2020 Acura RLX22. 2018-2020 Acura TLX

Honda recalling 2.5 million vehicles in U.S. over fuel pump issue

FORT CALHOUN, Neb. (AP) — The grisly killings of a retiree and then&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-catholic-priest-stabbed-rectory-gutgsell-c48a12fd9ad044709e8ebbb8f53e4eab">a priest</a>&nbsp;has shocked everyone in tiny Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, including Sheriff Mike Robinson.

He’s lived in the community just north of Omaha for 62 years and can’t recall a single homicide before these two.

“It really is out of character,” Robinson said. “It’s a good town, good place to live, good place to raise your family.”

Robinson says people have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-catholic-priest-killed-gutgsell-e634b68f496074893b58eb45229805ed">been troubled</a>&nbsp;not only by the killings, but by the awful details of how their neighbors died in what appear to be random attacks.

Linda Childers, 71, was killed Aug. 13, when she was shot with a crossbow three times and her throat was slit at her isolated home near a creek about a mile north of Fort Calhoun. Less than four months later, on Dec. 10, the Rev. Stephen Gutgsell, 65, was fatally stabbed during a break-in at the rectory next door to St. John the Baptist Church, where he had been set to lead Mass later that day.

The brutal killings have shaken residents who have grown accustomed to a certain peacefulness in Fort Calhoun, a single-stoplight town of 1,100 nestled in rolling hills along the Missouri River. The town is only 8 miles (nearly 13 kilometers) from Omaha but seemingly a world away from the state’s biggest city and its nearly half-million residents.

The killings undercut Adam Schutte's “warm and cozy” image of a small town.

“It’s scary,” said Schutte, while having a drink recently at the Longhorn Bar and Grill. ”It makes you wonder for sure.”

Usually, the talk in Fort Calhoun revolves around topics like the high school boys basketball team and its improbable run to the state tournament last spring for the first time in 99 years. But such milestones have taken a back seat lately.

Denise O’Neel has been spending one week a month at her fiance's home in Fort Calhoun for years, so she knows it well. She’s not as confident in its safety anymore.

“As soon as he goes off to work my door is locked now,” O’Neel said. “I just know little Fort Calhoun doesn’t feel as safe as it used to."

Fort Calhoun traces its roots to a meeting between explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and the Oto and Missouri tribes in August 1804 — 63 years before Nebraska became a state.

The community has long offered a window into the past through living history programs at a reconstructed fort that dates to 1820. Volunteers dress up in clothing from the Old West and act out scenes from the period when the area was first settled. The high school sports teams are called the Pioneers.

At the time of her death, Linda Childers had lived in Fort Calhoun for nearly 50 years. Police arrested William Collins, 30, about two weeks after she was killed. He was found in Texas with Childers’ car and some of her property.

Kierre Williams, 43, was arrested in Gutgsell's home. When a deputy arrived, Williams was sprawled across the priest, who was bleeding profusely.

Both men face murder, burglary and weapons charges, and are due back in court early next month. Authorities say Williams had a job at a meatpacking plant in Sioux City, Iowa, while Collins was a self-described “minimalist” who was camping out near the river for about a week.

It’s not clear what brought either of them to Fort Calhoun and investigators haven’t found any connection between them and the victims.

Collins’ attorney has said he plans to plead not guilty but declined to discuss the case. Williams’ attorney with the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy didn’t respond to a message.

For some, the deaths have shaken their belief that Fort Calhoun is inoculated from the violence they hear of in Omaha and other big cities.

Childers’ stepdaughter, Wendy Sue Childers, spent much of her childhood in Fort Calhoun with her dad and stepmother, who she considered her best friend. Now a Missouri resident, she said the news of Gutgsell’s killing so soon after her stepmother’s death has her questioning whether any place is truly safe.

“I don’t know what’s happening,” she said. “It’s just spreading. It is spilling over into the rural communities that are quiet and peaceful and minding their own business.”

The priest’s killing resonated so deeply that people who don’t regularly attend St. John the Baptist mixed with his parishioners to fill the small church at a vigil the day he died. On Monday, mourners nearly filled an 1,000-seat cathedral in Omaha for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqfrpAa1LH8">Gutgsell’s funeral</a>, where he was remembered as a movie buff who was deeply concerned about making sure people were ready to meet God, particularly when they died violently like he did.

Longtime resident Mike Cimino said the killings have been jarring, but they haven’t changed how he feels about Fort Calhoun. He’s always liked that he could get his kids to their Catholic school in central Omaha in only 20 minutes or so, and anytime he needs to make a Costco run, the big city is just minutes away.

“I would feel probably less safe in a bigger city than here,” he said. “I think it’s just a coincidence that this had happened.”

Robinson, the sheriff, notes Fort Calhoun is safe by nearly any measure, with almost no thefts, burglaries or vandalism.

“I’m sure that they’re concerned and they’re scared,” Robinson said of residents. “We just try to reassure them that they’re just as safe now as they were for the last 10, 15, 20 years.”

As she picked up a few gift bags at the Dollar Tree, Debbie Shultz said she still feels safe but acknowledged the deaths weigh heavily.

By Associated PressFORT CALHOUN, Neb. (AP) — The grisly killings of a retiree and then&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-catholic-priest-stabbed-rectory-gutgsell-c48a12fd9ad044709e8ebbb8f53e4eab">a priest</a>&nbsp;has shocked everyone in tiny Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, including Sheriff Mike Robinson.He’s lived in the community just north of Omaha for 62 years and can’t recall a single homicide before these two.“It really is out of character,” Robinson said. “It’s a good town, good place to live, good place to raise your family.”Robinson says people have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-catholic-priest-killed-gutgsell-e634b68f496074893b58eb45229805ed">been troubled</a>&nbsp;not only by the killings, but by the awful details of how their neighbors died in what appear to be random attacks.Linda Childers, 71, was killed Aug. 13, when she was shot with a crossbow three times and her throat was slit at her isolated home near a creek about a mile north of Fort Calhoun. Less than four months later, on Dec. 10, the Rev. Stephen Gutgsell, 65, was fatally stabbed during a break-in at the rectory next door to St. John the Baptist Church, where he had been set to lead Mass later that day.The brutal killings have shaken residents who have grown accustomed to a certain peacefulness in Fort Calhoun, a single-stoplight town of 1,100 nestled in rolling hills along the Missouri River. The town is only 8 miles (nearly 13 kilometers) from Omaha but seemingly a world away from the state’s biggest city and its nearly half-million residents.The killings undercut Adam Schutte's “warm and cozy” image of a small town.“It’s scary,” said Schutte, while having a drink recently at the Longhorn Bar and Grill. ”It makes you wonder for sure.”Usually, the talk in Fort Calhoun revolves around topics like the high school boys basketball team and its improbable run to the state tournament last spring for the first time in 99 years. But such milestones have taken a back seat lately.Denise O’Neel has been spending one week a month at her fiance's home in Fort Calhoun for years, so she knows it well. She’s not as confident in its safety anymore.“As soon as he goes off to work my door is locked now,” O’Neel said. “I just know little Fort Calhoun doesn’t feel as safe as it used to."Fort Calhoun traces its roots to a meeting between explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and the Oto and Missouri tribes in August 1804 — 63 years before Nebraska became a state.The community has long offered a window into the past through living history programs at a reconstructed fort that dates to 1820. Volunteers dress up in clothing from the Old West and act out scenes from the period when the area was first settled. The high school sports teams are called the Pioneers.At the time of her death, Linda Childers had lived in Fort Calhoun for nearly 50 years. Police arrested William Collins, 30, about two weeks after she was killed. He was found in Texas with Childers’ car and some of her property.Kierre Williams, 43, was arrested in Gutgsell's home. When a deputy arrived, Williams was sprawled across the priest, who was bleeding profusely.Both men face murder, burglary and weapons charges, and are due back in court early next month. Authorities say Williams had a job at a meatpacking plant in Sioux City, Iowa, while Collins was a self-described “minimalist” who was camping out near the river for about a week.It’s not clear what brought either of them to Fort Calhoun and investigators haven’t found any connection between them and the victims.Collins’ attorney has said he plans to plead not guilty but declined to discuss the case. Williams’ attorney with the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy didn’t respond to a message.For some, the deaths have shaken their belief that Fort Calhoun is inoculated from the violence they hear of in Omaha and other big cities.Childers’ stepdaughter, Wendy Sue Childers, spent much of her childhood in Fort Calhoun with her dad and stepmother, who she considered her best friend. Now a Missouri resident, she said the news of Gutgsell’s killing so soon after her stepmother’s death has her questioning whether any place is truly safe.“I don’t know what’s happening,” she said. “It’s just spreading. It is spilling over into the rural communities that are quiet and peaceful and minding their own business.”The priest’s killing resonated so deeply that people who don’t regularly attend St. John the Baptist mixed with his parishioners to fill the small church at a vigil the day he died. On Monday, mourners nearly filled an 1,000-seat cathedral in Omaha for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqfrpAa1LH8">Gutgsell’s funeral</a>, where he was remembered as a movie buff who was deeply concerned about making sure people were ready to meet God, particularly when they died violently like he did.Longtime resident Mike Cimino said the killings have been jarring, but they haven’t changed how he feels about Fort Calhoun. He’s always liked that he could get his kids to their Catholic school in central Omaha in only 20 minutes or so, and anytime he needs to make a Costco run, the big city is just minutes away.“I would feel probably less safe in a bigger city than here,” he said. “I think it’s just a coincidence that this had happened.”Robinson, the sheriff, notes Fort Calhoun is safe by nearly any measure, with almost no thefts, burglaries or vandalism.“I’m sure that they’re concerned and they’re scared,” Robinson said of residents. “We just try to reassure them that they’re just as safe now as they were for the last 10, 15, 20 years.”As she picked up a few gift bags at the Dollar Tree, Debbie Shultz said she still feels safe but acknowledged the deaths weigh heavily.

After 2 grisly killings, a small Nebraska community wonders if any place is really safe

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden’s</a>&nbsp;push to have Congress replenish wartime aid for Ukraine as part of a deal on border and immigration policy changes will drag into next year.

The Senate, which had postponed its holiday recess, returned to Washington on Monday after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-security-ukraine-congress-senate-biden-cb8d4e3ad8271323cfd9294b527d6615">negotiators worked through the weekend</a>&nbsp;on the border legislation, trying to reach an agreement that could unlock the Republican votes for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb">Biden’s $110 billion package of aid</a>&nbsp;for Ukraine, Israel and other security priorities.

The biggest line item in the funding request&nbsp;$61.4 billion to support Ukraine. Some of that money would go to replenishing Pentagon stockpiles of weapons that have already been provided.

Barely half of the senators returned for a Monday evening vote. Kansas Senior U.S. Senator Jerry Moran was in western Kansas for a ribbon cutting at a VA clinic.

“Obviously we need time,” said Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, the top Democratic negotiator.

The delay heaps more uncertainty on the future of the Biden administration's priority of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-funding-weapons-2153375d4394d5783fad73858b51e993">providing support against Russia's invasion</a>. It also puts a potential pause on politically fraught negotiations over immigration and border security policy, though Senate negotiators planned to continue working on the package.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the negotiations were “among the most difficult things we’ve done in recent memory.”

“Everyone knows that something should be done to fix our broken immigration system,” he said in a Senate floor speech to start the week. “But we can’t do so by compromising our values. Finding the middle ground is exceptionally hard.”

The House has already departed for the year as Congress settles into a long winter's break. Lawmakers aren't scheduled to return until the second week of January, and they will then need to tend to other matters besides the Ukraine funding, including facing a partial shutdown in mid-January if Congress can't pass a government funding package.

But as the Senate undertook the first substantial rewrite of immigration and border security law in decades, Republicans insisted they would not agree to rushing legislation.

“Getting this agreement right and producing legislative text is going to require some time,” Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said on the Senate floor.

Schumer said both Republicans and Democrats would need to make more concessions and it would take “some more time to get it done.”

Members of the core Senate negotiating group — Murphy and Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona independent, and James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican — met with White House staff on Monday.

“We’re all going to be back in January, but it’s going to take a while to be able to finish up all the text,” Lankford said.

The weeks-long wait comes as the Defense Department says it has nearly run out of available funds for supporting Ukraine's defense. In a letter to Congress, the Pentagon notified lawmakers last week that will soon be transferring more than $1 billion to replenish stockpiles sent to Ukraine, with no further funds available as it maintains the United States’ own military readiness.

“Once these funds are obligated, the Department will have exhausted the funding available to us for security assistance to Ukraine,” according to the letter obtained by The Associated Press.

The department said “it is essential that Congress act without delay” on the pending supplemental request.

Ukrainian forces tried to launch a counteroffensive this year, but faced dug-in Russian troops, minefields and other hazards. They struggled to make any significant gains.

As the conflict grinds towards the end of a second year, U.S. public support has waned for sending billions of dollars more in weapons and economic aid. The European Union, too, had to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eu-ukraine-aid-orban-membership-summit-dd194ead36abf3affab6e2c322d1f75a">push into the new year</a>&nbsp;a plan to supply Ukraine with $54.5 billion after a veto from Hungarian Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/viktor-orban">Viktor Orban</a>, a right-wing leader who is on good terms with Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Donald Trump, the former president and front-runner for the Republican nomination next year.

As his country scrapes low on money to repel Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has traveled the world to ask for support. He elicited praise from Republicans after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-zelenskyy-washington-congress-biden-5796a2429169d01959510f318fbc968a">meeting with them in the Capitol</a>&nbsp;last week, but the conservatives remained unmoved and in no hurry to approve Biden's emergency funding request.

Republicans have said there is still time to redouble support before Ukraine's defense suffers. Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa said that since the European Union put off sending Kyiv more money until the new year, he thinks the U.S. can as well.

“If it’s OK for them, it’s surely OK for us,” he said.

Dozens of Republican House members have signaled they won't support continued Ukraine aid, and even GOP senators who in the past have been stalwart advocates of the Ukraine war effort have insisted that Congress also pass new border restrictions.

Biden has offered to compromise on border and immigration policy, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-immigration-border-congress-ukraine-asylum-69007f56dca2977a2204c22cbc5cbef0">top White House officials have joined</a>&nbsp;the Senate negotiations, including Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ukraine-israel-funding-us-mexico-border-e1da808689aeef52308d19010a5e3cfa">Negotiators have closed in on a list</a>&nbsp;of immigration enforcement measures, including detaining people who claim asylum at the border and granting nationwide authority to quickly remove migrants who have been in the U.S. for less than two years. They have also agreed on raising the initial threshold for people to enter an asylum claim in credible fear screenings.

The White House has tried to preserve an immigration program known as humanitarian parole. The Biden administration has leaned heavily on the use of humanitarian parole as part of its policy of providing legal pathways for some migrants to enter the country while beefing up consequences for those who don’t use those pathways. But Republicans have objected — and even sued to stop it — saying that the administration is essentially bypassing Congress and improperly letting migrants into the country who normally wouldn’t qualify.

Still, Biden's willingness to make concessions in the negotiations has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-border-immigration-biden-66531bcefb908d5440a52b54c543b006">alarmed immigration advocates and drawn criticism from influential Hispanic Democrats</a>.

On a conference call with reporters Monday, advocates decried the policies under consideration as a return to the strategies pursued by Trump that left large numbers of migrants waiting in Mexico to apply for asylum in the U.S.

“If you have asylum seekers pushed back into Mexico, it’s going to be extremely dangerous,” said Kerri Talbot, executive director of The Immigration Hub.

The senators have also described their work as a complex undertaking as they delve into laws that for years have been at the center of intense legal and political fights.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The next roll call vote in the Senate is expected at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, January 8, 2024.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702427915109.png" alt="President Joe Biden shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House Dec. 12-photo courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House Dec. 12-photo courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden’s</a>&nbsp;push to have Congress replenish wartime aid for Ukraine as part of a deal on border and immigration policy changes will drag into next year.The Senate, which had postponed its holiday recess, returned to Washington on Monday after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-security-ukraine-congress-senate-biden-cb8d4e3ad8271323cfd9294b527d6615">negotiators worked through the weekend</a>&nbsp;on the border legislation, trying to reach an agreement that could unlock the Republican votes for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb">Biden’s $110 billion package of aid</a>&nbsp;for Ukraine, Israel and other security priorities.The biggest line item in the funding request&nbsp;$61.4 billion to support Ukraine. Some of that money would go to replenishing Pentagon stockpiles of weapons that have already been provided.Barely half of the senators returned for a Monday evening vote. Kansas Senior U.S. Senator Jerry Moran was in western Kansas for a ribbon cutting at a VA clinic.“Obviously we need time,” said Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, the top Democratic negotiator.The delay heaps more uncertainty on the future of the Biden administration's priority of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-funding-weapons-2153375d4394d5783fad73858b51e993">providing support against Russia's invasion</a>. It also puts a potential pause on politically fraught negotiations over immigration and border security policy, though Senate negotiators planned to continue working on the package.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the negotiations were “among the most difficult things we’ve done in recent memory.”“Everyone knows that something should be done to fix our broken immigration system,” he said in a Senate floor speech to start the week. “But we can’t do so by compromising our values. Finding the middle ground is exceptionally hard.”The House has already departed for the year as Congress settles into a long winter's break. Lawmakers aren't scheduled to return until the second week of January, and they will then need to tend to other matters besides the Ukraine funding, including facing a partial shutdown in mid-January if Congress can't pass a government funding package.But as the Senate undertook the first substantial rewrite of immigration and border security law in decades, Republicans insisted they would not agree to rushing legislation.“Getting this agreement right and producing legislative text is going to require some time,” Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said on the Senate floor.Schumer said both Republicans and Democrats would need to make more concessions and it would take “some more time to get it done.”Members of the core Senate negotiating group — Murphy and Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona independent, and James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican — met with White House staff on Monday.“We’re all going to be back in January, but it’s going to take a while to be able to finish up all the text,” Lankford said.The weeks-long wait comes as the Defense Department says it has nearly run out of available funds for supporting Ukraine's defense. In a letter to Congress, the Pentagon notified lawmakers last week that will soon be transferring more than $1 billion to replenish stockpiles sent to Ukraine, with no further funds available as it maintains the United States’ own military readiness.“Once these funds are obligated, the Department will have exhausted the funding available to us for security assistance to Ukraine,” according to the letter obtained by The Associated Press.The department said “it is essential that Congress act without delay” on the pending supplemental request.Ukrainian forces tried to launch a counteroffensive this year, but faced dug-in Russian troops, minefields and other hazards. They struggled to make any significant gains.As the conflict grinds towards the end of a second year, U.S. public support has waned for sending billions of dollars more in weapons and economic aid. The European Union, too, had to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eu-ukraine-aid-orban-membership-summit-dd194ead36abf3affab6e2c322d1f75a">push into the new year</a>&nbsp;a plan to supply Ukraine with $54.5 billion after a veto from Hungarian Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/viktor-orban">Viktor Orban</a>, a right-wing leader who is on good terms with Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Donald Trump, the former president and front-runner for the Republican nomination next year.As his country scrapes low on money to repel Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has traveled the world to ask for support. He elicited praise from Republicans after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-zelenskyy-washington-congress-biden-5796a2429169d01959510f318fbc968a">meeting with them in the Capitol</a>&nbsp;last week, but the conservatives remained unmoved and in no hurry to approve Biden's emergency funding request.Republicans have said there is still time to redouble support before Ukraine's defense suffers. Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa said that since the European Union put off sending Kyiv more money until the new year, he thinks the U.S. can as well.“If it’s OK for them, it’s surely OK for us,” he said.Dozens of Republican House members have signaled they won't support continued Ukraine aid, and even GOP senators who in the past have been stalwart advocates of the Ukraine war effort have insisted that Congress also pass new border restrictions.Biden has offered to compromise on border and immigration policy, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-immigration-border-congress-ukraine-asylum-69007f56dca2977a2204c22cbc5cbef0">top White House officials have joined</a>&nbsp;the Senate negotiations, including Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ukraine-israel-funding-us-mexico-border-e1da808689aeef52308d19010a5e3cfa">Negotiators have closed in on a list</a>&nbsp;of immigration enforcement measures, including detaining people who claim asylum at the border and granting nationwide authority to quickly remove migrants who have been in the U.S. for less than two years. They have also agreed on raising the initial threshold for people to enter an asylum claim in credible fear screenings.The White House has tried to preserve an immigration program known as humanitarian parole. The Biden administration has leaned heavily on the use of humanitarian parole as part of its policy of providing legal pathways for some migrants to enter the country while beefing up consequences for those who don’t use those pathways. But Republicans have objected — and even sued to stop it — saying that the administration is essentially bypassing Congress and improperly letting migrants into the country who normally wouldn’t qualify.Still, Biden's willingness to make concessions in the negotiations has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-border-immigration-biden-66531bcefb908d5440a52b54c543b006">alarmed immigration advocates and drawn criticism from influential Hispanic Democrats</a>.On a conference call with reporters Monday, advocates decried the policies under consideration as a return to the strategies pursued by Trump that left large numbers of migrants waiting in Mexico to apply for asylum in the U.S.“If you have asylum seekers pushed back into Mexico, it’s going to be extremely dangerous,” said Kerri Talbot, executive director of The Immigration Hub.The senators have also described their work as a complex undertaking as they delve into laws that for years have been at the center of intense legal and political fights.&nbsp;&nbsp;The next roll call vote in the Senate is expected at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, January 8, 2024.

Unhappy holiday: No $61 billion Ukraine funding from U.S. Senate

BAGHDAD&nbsp; — At approximately 7:30 a.m. (Iraq time) on Wednesday a 122mm rocket was fired at al Assad Air Base in Iraq –the US military's largest in the country. The there were no injuries or damage caused, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.

Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve located the point of origin and passed the location to the Iraqi Security Forces who moved to the site to investigate. The ISF seized a flatbed truck modified to launch up to 5 x 122mm rockets that was located at the site.

Meanwhile, at least 46 people were killed and more than 100 wounded&nbsp; Wednesday after Israel bombarded the urban Jabaliya refugee camp near Gaza City, according to Munir al-Bursh, a senior official in the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.

The Israeli military said its troops have located “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-12-20-2023-81b80e4716b53756c8fab96c183089ef">a vast tunnel network</a>&nbsp;” under Gaza City that included command and control positions, meeting rooms and hideout apartments for the most senior leaders of Hamas, including Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh.

There were new signs of progress Wednesday in negotiations to halt the war in Gaza and secure the release of at least some of the estimated 129 Israeli captives held by Palestinian militants. Hamas said that Haniyeh, who is believed to be based in Qatar, was in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the war, without providing more details.

Nearly 20,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel declared war on Hamas, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Health Ministry in Gaza</a>, which does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths. Thousands more lie buried&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-buried-rubble-airstrikes-89c0e8d0934d573d94d2fbfeba44d933">under the rubble</a>&nbsp;of Gaza, the U.N. estimates. Israel says more than 130 of its soldiers have died in its ground offensive after Hamas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-attack-military-war-a8f63b07641212f0de61861844e5e71e">raided southern Israel</a>&nbsp;on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and taking&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hostages-gaza-b6ffc286ca7d4b48caaada43e9c6e411">about 240 hostages</a>.

BAGHDAD&nbsp; — At approximately 7:30 a.m. (Iraq time) on Wednesday a 122mm rocket was fired at al Assad Air Base in Iraq –the US military's largest in the country. The there were no injuries or damage caused, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve located the point of origin and passed the location to the Iraqi Security Forces who moved to the site to investigate. The ISF seized a flatbed truck modified to launch up to 5 x 122mm rockets that was located at the site.Meanwhile, at least 46 people were killed and more than 100 wounded&nbsp; Wednesday after Israel bombarded the urban Jabaliya refugee camp near Gaza City, according to Munir al-Bursh, a senior official in the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.The Israeli military said its troops have located “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-12-20-2023-81b80e4716b53756c8fab96c183089ef">a vast tunnel network</a>&nbsp;” under Gaza City that included command and control positions, meeting rooms and hideout apartments for the most senior leaders of Hamas, including Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh.There were new signs of progress Wednesday in negotiations to halt the war in Gaza and secure the release of at least some of the estimated 129 Israeli captives held by Palestinian militants. Hamas said that Haniyeh, who is believed to be based in Qatar, was in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the war, without providing more details.Nearly 20,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel declared war on Hamas, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Health Ministry in Gaza</a>, which does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths. Thousands more lie buried&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-buried-rubble-airstrikes-89c0e8d0934d573d94d2fbfeba44d933">under the rubble</a>&nbsp;of Gaza, the U.N. estimates. Israel says more than 130 of its soldiers have died in its ground offensive after Hamas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-attack-military-war-a8f63b07641212f0de61861844e5e71e">raided southern Israel</a>&nbsp;on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and taking&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hostages-gaza-b6ffc286ca7d4b48caaada43e9c6e411">about 240 hostages</a>.

Another rocket fired at U.S. air base in Iraq

When Cora Dibert went for a routine blood test in October, the toddler brought along her favorite new snack: a squeeze pouch of WanaBana cinnamon-flavored apple puree.

“She sucked them dry,” recalls her 26-year-old mother, Morgan Shurtleff, of Elgin, Oklahoma.

Within a week, the family got an alarming call. The test showed that the 1-year-old had lead poisoning, with nearly four times as much lead as the level that raises concern. Only later did Shurtleff learn that that the fruit puree Cora’s grandmother bought at a Dollar Tree store may have been the cause.

“That was the scariest thing that ever happened to me,” Shurtleff says.

Cora is among dozens of young kids across the U.S. poisoned by lead linked to tainted pouches of the cinnamon-and-fruit puree.

The exact number of affected children is unclear. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-elevated-lead-levels-cinnamon-applesauce-pouches-november-2023?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery">at least 205 confirmed</a>, probable or suspected cases from 33 states. Using a different reporting method, the Food and Drug Administration counts at least 69 kids ages 6 and younger sickened in 28 states as of Dec. 14.

Tests show victims had blood lead readings up to eight times higher than the federal reference level of concern, health officials said. Samples of the puree showed lead contamination more than 200 times higher than the FDA allows.

The pouches were sold under three brands — WanaBana, Schnucks and Weis. The products were produced at a plant in Ecuador and first imported to the U.S. in November 2022, the officials said.

Testing of cinnamon samples supplied to the factory showed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-cinnamon-fruit-pouch-wanabana-lead-contamination-1927a5be53ba6d557ec8e17804e06d9f">“extremely high”</a>&nbsp;levels of lead — more than 2,000 times higher than a proposed FDA maximum, the agency said.

FDA officials have raised the prospect that the contamination was intentional. One possibility is that the cinnamon was contaminated for economic reasons, the agency said. That could mean an ingredient such as lead may have been added to boost the value of the cinnamon.

Spices such as turmeric, cinnamon and paprika have been known to be mixed with lead chromate or lead oxide, compounds that mirror the spices' colors, said Karen Everstine, technical director for FoodchainID, a company that tracks food supply chains.

“The intent is not to make people sick. Nobody wants to do that because then they get caught,” Everstine said. “What they want to do is make money.”

If it's true, “they made my child sick for a dime,” she said. “The more I think about it, the angrier I get.”

At the same time, she and other parents are most concerned about the lasting effects on their kids.

“I’m pretty worried, considering the effects are irreversible,” said Shurtleff, who works as a nurse.

No amount of lead exposure is safe for children and the effects on brain development can show up years later, said Dr. Jennifer Sample, a pediatric toxicologist who consults for industry and academics.

“It’s irritability. It’s behavioral concerns. It’s learning difficulties,” she said.

When kids ingest lead, the heavy metal travels through the bloodstream and spreads to organs, including the brain, Sample explained. Once there, the lead substitutes inside cells for vital nutrients such as calcium and iron, causing permanent damage.

Because kids’ brains are flexible and still growing, early detection and changes in diet may offset the harm, experts said. The children nevertheless will likely need years of monitoring and intervention.

“The effects in the brain at the cellular level are irreversible, but the downstream effects don’t have to be,” Sample said.

Lead poisoning can be treated with chelation, a therapy that uses drugs that bind to metals in blood to remove them from the body. But it’s only used with higher lead levels and it's usually difficult to administer to the very young.

Instead, affected kids should eat a diet high in vitamin D, calcium and iron and be given a stimulating environment that encourages brain development.

The prognosis is sobering for families whose children were sickened.

Mustafa Al-Khaled, a Norfolk, Nebraska, civil engineer, sued WanaBana LLC because his 17-month-old son, Arian, was diagnosed with acute lead poisoning after eating the pouches regularly since August.

“As a parent, it’s really hurtful to be in this situation,” said Al-Khaled, who is among about a dozen parents of affected kids who contacted Ron Simon, a Houston food-safety lawyer who filed the case. “Why I'm here is to protect this child.”

Al-Khaled and his wife, Dania, rushed Arian for testing in early November after learning that the WanaBana products had been recalled. The were already worried because Arian had been crying uncontrollably, losing weight and passing white-colored stool.

A test showed the boy’s blood lead level was 15.3 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood. That’s more than four times higher than the 3.5 micrograms per deciliter that the CDC uses to identify children with elevated lead levels.

Health officials in Nebraska retrieved samples of the WanaBana pouches from Al-Khaled's home. Test results are still pending.

“We’re really worrying about the future," Al-Khaled said. "Is this going to harm him later?”

That fear is shared by Talia Hurdle, 29, of Mount Vernon, New York. Her 18-month-old son, Jamari, ate WanaBana apple cinnamon pouches two or three times a day for months, she said.

He’s a picky eater, she explained, and the pouches that sold at the Dollar Tree for $1.25 for a pack of three were an inexpensive way to give him food he liked. Jamari’s blood level was 17.5 micrograms when he was first tested in September.

“It's sad because you give your baby stuff to help them continue to be healthy, but look what happened,” Hurdle said.

A few weeks after Jamari stopped eating the puree, his lead level was down to 10.5 micrograms per deciliter. Levels dropped for Cora Dibert and Arian Al-Khaled, too, once they quit eating the pouches.

That’s a good sign, said Sample, the toxicologist.

“These parents can breathe a sigh of relief that they’re not going to be as harmed as they could have been with a longer exposure,” she said.

Shurtleff worries that not all families know about the danger. The FDA said some Dollar Tree stores still have the fruit pouches on their shelves, weeks after they were recalled. Dollar Tree Inc. officials said in a statement they have added register locks to prevent sales of the products, instructed stores to destroy the affected packages and are working with a third party to confirm they're removed from shelves.

After Cora's diagnosis, Shurtleff was at work, preparing to give a vaccination, when she noticed her young patient was eating a WanaBana apple cinnamon pouch. She immediately told the parent about the recall.

“They were just in shock. They hadn't heard anything about it,” Shurtleff said. “Then they were like, ‘We still have some in our pantry. I guess we should throw it out.’”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703101358407.jpeg" alt="Alan Shurtleff, left, Morgan Shurtleff, right, and their daughter, 1-year-old Cora Dibert, pose for a photo at The Bridge Church, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, in Mustang, Okla. When Cora went for a routine blood test in October, the toddler brought along her favorite new snack: a squeeze pouch of WanaBana cinnamon-flavored apple puree. Within a week, the family got an alarming call. The test showed that the 1-year-old had lead poisoning, with nearly four times as much lead as the level that raises concern. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)" />
 <figcaption>Alan Shurtleff, left, Morgan Shurtleff, right, and their daughter, 1-year-old Cora Dibert, pose for a photo at The Bridge Church, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, in Mustang, Okla. When Cora went for a routine blood test in October, the toddler brought along her favorite new snack: a squeeze pouch of WanaBana cinnamon-flavored apple puree. Within a week, the family got an alarming call. The test showed that the 1-year-old had lead poisoning, with nearly four times as much lead as the level that raises concern. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)</figcaption>
 </figure>Associated PressWhen Cora Dibert went for a routine blood test in October, the toddler brought along her favorite new snack: a squeeze pouch of WanaBana cinnamon-flavored apple puree.“She sucked them dry,” recalls her 26-year-old mother, Morgan Shurtleff, of Elgin, Oklahoma.Within a week, the family got an alarming call. The test showed that the 1-year-old had lead poisoning, with nearly four times as much lead as the level that raises concern. Only later did Shurtleff learn that that the fruit puree Cora’s grandmother bought at a Dollar Tree store may have been the cause.“That was the scariest thing that ever happened to me,” Shurtleff says.Cora is among dozens of young kids across the U.S. poisoned by lead linked to tainted pouches of the cinnamon-and-fruit puree.The exact number of affected children is unclear. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-elevated-lead-levels-cinnamon-applesauce-pouches-november-2023?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery">at least 205 confirmed</a>, probable or suspected cases from 33 states. Using a different reporting method, the Food and Drug Administration counts at least 69 kids ages 6 and younger sickened in 28 states as of Dec. 14.Tests show victims had blood lead readings up to eight times higher than the federal reference level of concern, health officials said. Samples of the puree showed lead contamination more than 200 times higher than the FDA allows.The pouches were sold under three brands — WanaBana, Schnucks and Weis. The products were produced at a plant in Ecuador and first imported to the U.S. in November 2022, the officials said.Testing of cinnamon samples supplied to the factory showed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-cinnamon-fruit-pouch-wanabana-lead-contamination-1927a5be53ba6d557ec8e17804e06d9f">“extremely high”</a>&nbsp;levels of lead — more than 2,000 times higher than a proposed FDA maximum, the agency said.FDA officials have raised the prospect that the contamination was intentional. One possibility is that the cinnamon was contaminated for economic reasons, the agency said. That could mean an ingredient such as lead may have been added to boost the value of the cinnamon.Spices such as turmeric, cinnamon and paprika have been known to be mixed with lead chromate or lead oxide, compounds that mirror the spices' colors, said Karen Everstine, technical director for FoodchainID, a company that tracks food supply chains.“The intent is not to make people sick. Nobody wants to do that because then they get caught,” Everstine said. “What they want to do is make money.”That angers Shurtleff.If it's true, “they made my child sick for a dime,” she said. “The more I think about it, the angrier I get.”At the same time, she and other parents are most concerned about the lasting effects on their kids.“I’m pretty worried, considering the effects are irreversible,” said Shurtleff, who works as a nurse.No amount of lead exposure is safe for children and the effects on brain development can show up years later, said Dr. Jennifer Sample, a pediatric toxicologist who consults for industry and academics.“It’s irritability. It’s behavioral concerns. It’s learning difficulties,” she said.When kids ingest lead, the heavy metal travels through the bloodstream and spreads to organs, including the brain, Sample explained. Once there, the lead substitutes inside cells for vital nutrients such as calcium and iron, causing permanent damage.Because kids’ brains are flexible and still growing, early detection and changes in diet may offset the harm, experts said. The children nevertheless will likely need years of monitoring and intervention.“The effects in the brain at the cellular level are irreversible, but the downstream effects don’t have to be,” Sample said.Lead poisoning can be treated with chelation, a therapy that uses drugs that bind to metals in blood to remove them from the body. But it’s only used with higher lead levels and it's usually difficult to administer to the very young.Instead, affected kids should eat a diet high in vitamin D, calcium and iron and be given a stimulating environment that encourages brain development.The prognosis is sobering for families whose children were sickened.Mustafa Al-Khaled, a Norfolk, Nebraska, civil engineer, sued WanaBana LLC because his 17-month-old son, Arian, was diagnosed with acute lead poisoning after eating the pouches regularly since August.“As a parent, it’s really hurtful to be in this situation,” said Al-Khaled, who is among about a dozen parents of affected kids who contacted Ron Simon, a Houston food-safety lawyer who filed the case. “Why I'm here is to protect this child.”Al-Khaled and his wife, Dania, rushed Arian for testing in early November after learning that the WanaBana products had been recalled. The were already worried because Arian had been crying uncontrollably, losing weight and passing white-colored stool.A test showed the boy’s blood lead level was 15.3 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood. That’s more than four times higher than the 3.5 micrograms per deciliter that the CDC uses to identify children with elevated lead levels.Health officials in Nebraska retrieved samples of the WanaBana pouches from Al-Khaled's home. Test results are still pending.“We’re really worrying about the future," Al-Khaled said. "Is this going to harm him later?”That fear is shared by Talia Hurdle, 29, of Mount Vernon, New York. Her 18-month-old son, Jamari, ate WanaBana apple cinnamon pouches two or three times a day for months, she said.He’s a picky eater, she explained, and the pouches that sold at the Dollar Tree for $1.25 for a pack of three were an inexpensive way to give him food he liked. Jamari’s blood level was 17.5 micrograms when he was first tested in September.“It's sad because you give your baby stuff to help them continue to be healthy, but look what happened,” Hurdle said.A few weeks after Jamari stopped eating the puree, his lead level was down to 10.5 micrograms per deciliter. Levels dropped for Cora Dibert and Arian Al-Khaled, too, once they quit eating the pouches.That’s a good sign, said Sample, the toxicologist.“These parents can breathe a sigh of relief that they’re not going to be as harmed as they could have been with a longer exposure,” she said.Shurtleff worries that not all families know about the danger. The FDA said some Dollar Tree stores still have the fruit pouches on their shelves, weeks after they were recalled. Dollar Tree Inc. officials said in a statement they have added register locks to prevent sales of the products, instructed stores to destroy the affected packages and are working with a third party to confirm they're removed from shelves.After Cora's diagnosis, Shurtleff was at work, preparing to give a vaccination, when she noticed her young patient was eating a WanaBana apple cinnamon pouch. She immediately told the parent about the recall.“They were just in shock. They hadn't heard anything about it,” Shurtleff said. “Then they were like, ‘We still have some in our pantry. I guess we should throw it out.’”

Parents of children sickened by lead linked to tainted fruit pouches fear for kids' future

MILWAUKEE (AP) — President Joe Biden said it's “self-evident” that Donald Trump is an insurrectionist for trying to overturn his 2020 election loss but stopped short of commenting on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-insurrection-14th-amendment-2024-colorado-d16dd8f354eeaf450558378c65fd79a2">a Colorado legal case</a>&nbsp;that would bar him from the state's ballot.

The Democratic president made the comments about his likely Republican opponent in next year's election shortly after landing in Milwaukee for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/milwaukee-biden-wisconsin-small-businesses-black-latino-b12b198e413c7916e16ae4b61179d828">an event focused on the economy</a>.

“Whether the 14th Amendment applies or not, we’ll let the court make that decision," Biden told reporters on the tarmac after stepping off Air Force One. "But he certainly supported an insurrection. There’s no question about it. None. Zero. And he seems to be doubling down on it.”

The Colorado Supreme Court issued a decision on Tuesday declaring that Trump is ineligible to serve as president under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-14th-amendment-insurrection-2024-election-ballot-9c5f79203109ba221b35a48e708ad725">Section 3 of the 14th Amendment</a>. It's the first time in the country's history that the provision has been used to keep a candidate off the ballot.

Republicans have denounced the court's decision, and Trump's lawyers said they plan to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Trump has refused to back down from his lies that voter fraud allowed Biden to win in 2020, and he's pledged to pardon supporters who participated in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Biden has repeatedly condemned Trump and described him as a threat to American democracy. However, he's been more circumspect when addressing his predecessor's legal challenges, including several criminal cases against him, and this one is no different.

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment when asked by reporters aboard Air Force One.

“The president is not involved; we’re not involved in this," she said. "This is a legal process and we’re not involved in this.”

Biden's campaign was similarly circumspect in a call with reporters on Tuesday.

“What I will say is that the president looks forward to defeating Donald Trump or whoever else emerges from the Republican primary on the ballot box in November 2024," said Brooke Goren, the campaign's deputy communications director.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — President Joe Biden said it's “self-evident” that Donald Trump is an insurrectionist for trying to overturn his 2020 election loss but stopped short of commenting on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-insurrection-14th-amendment-2024-colorado-d16dd8f354eeaf450558378c65fd79a2">a Colorado legal case</a>&nbsp;that would bar him from the state's ballot.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Q: Is Trump an insurrectionist, sir? President Biden: &quot;It&#39;s self-evident. You saw it all. Now whether the 14th Amendment applies, I&#39;ll let the court make that decision. But he certainly supported an insurrection. There&#39;s no question about it. None. Zero.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/kREbFSDbyV">pic.twitter.com/kREbFSDbyV</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1737526031697801707?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Democratic president made the comments about his likely Republican opponent in next year's election shortly after landing in Milwaukee for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/milwaukee-biden-wisconsin-small-businesses-black-latino-b12b198e413c7916e16ae4b61179d828">an event focused on the economy</a>.“Whether the 14th Amendment applies or not, we’ll let the court make that decision," Biden told reporters on the tarmac after stepping off Air Force One. "But he certainly supported an insurrection. There’s no question about it. None. Zero. And he seems to be doubling down on it.”The Colorado Supreme Court issued a decision on Tuesday declaring that Trump is ineligible to serve as president under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-14th-amendment-insurrection-2024-election-ballot-9c5f79203109ba221b35a48e708ad725">Section 3 of the 14th Amendment</a>. It's the first time in the country's history that the provision has been used to keep a candidate off the ballot.Republicans have denounced the court's decision, and Trump's lawyers said they plan to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.Trump has refused to back down from his lies that voter fraud allowed Biden to win in 2020, and he's pledged to pardon supporters who participated in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.Biden has repeatedly condemned Trump and described him as a threat to American democracy. However, he's been more circumspect when addressing his predecessor's legal challenges, including several criminal cases against him, and this one is no different.Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment when asked by reporters aboard Air Force One.“The president is not involved; we’re not involved in this," she said. "This is a legal process and we’re not involved in this.”Biden's campaign was similarly circumspect in a call with reporters on Tuesday.“What I will say is that the president looks forward to defeating Donald Trump or whoever else emerges from the Republican primary on the ballot box in November 2024," said Brooke Goren, the campaign's deputy communications director.

🎥 President Biden asked if Trump supported insurrection

CAIRO(AP) —The top leader of Yemen's Houthi rebels threatened Wednesday to target U.S. warships if attacks are launched against Yemen, a day after Washington announced a new international coalition to protect commercial vessels sailing through the Red Sea.

For weeks, the Iran-backed rebels in Yemen have been attacking ships transiting the Red Sea with drones and ballistic missiles. The group has said their attacks aim to end Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip. But the Israeli ties to the commercial ships targeted by the hardline Shia force have grown more tenuous with each attack.

In an hourlong speech, Abdel Malek al-Houthi said, “America seeks to militarize the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, seeking to turn the region into a war zone.”

On Tuesday, Washington announced the establishment of a new international coalition to protect vessels traveling through the Red Sea. The United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain have joined the new maritime security mission, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. Bahrain is the only Arab country in the coalition, and it does not border the Red Sea. Few additional details about how the maritime alliance will operate were made public.

The rebel leader also accused other Arab countries of intercepting its missile fire bound for Israel. In both cases, no specific country was named.

The Houthis control the capital, Sanaa, several northern provinces bordering Saudi Arabia as well as much of the western highlands and Red Sea ports.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696803172229.png" alt="The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea in mid October-photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea in mid October-photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>CAIRO(AP) —The top leader of Yemen's Houthi rebels threatened Wednesday to target U.S. warships if attacks are launched against Yemen, a day after Washington announced a new international coalition to protect commercial vessels sailing through the Red Sea.For weeks, the Iran-backed rebels in Yemen have been attacking ships transiting the Red Sea with drones and ballistic missiles. The group has said their attacks aim to end Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip. But the Israeli ties to the commercial ships targeted by the hardline Shia force have grown more tenuous with each attack.In an hourlong speech, Abdel Malek al-Houthi said, “America seeks to militarize the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, seeking to turn the region into a war zone.”On Tuesday, Washington announced the establishment of a new international coalition to protect vessels traveling through the Red Sea. The United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain have joined the new maritime security mission, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. Bahrain is the only Arab country in the coalition, and it does not border the Red Sea. Few additional details about how the maritime alliance will operate were made public.The rebel leader also accused other Arab countries of intercepting its missile fire bound for Israel. In both cases, no specific country was named.The Houthis control the capital, Sanaa, several northern provinces bordering Saudi Arabia as well as much of the western highlands and Red Sea ports.

Terrorists threaten to strike US warships if Yemen is attacked 

Lincoln, Neb. —The 2024 Cow-Calf College, offered by Nebraska Extension, gives producers a chance to learn about cow and calf health from some of&nbsp;the University of Nebraska—Lincoln’s&nbsp;veterinarians and researchers.

Topics will range from newborn calf health to pinkeye, scours, causes of bovine abortion, and when to call the vet.

The free event is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024 from 10:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. (CST) at the Great Plains Veterinary Education Center (GPVEC), near Clay Center, Nebraska, with an optional tour of the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center to follow, weather permitting.

Dr. Matt Hille, assistant professor and diagnostic pathologist at the Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center, will kick off the program with a discussion of management of infectious disease from birth to weaning.

During the provided lunch Dr. Brian Vander Ley, associate professor and assistant director of GPVEC, will give an overview of the work they are doing at GPVEC.

The afternoon will include three sessions. Hille will address bovine abortion causes and how and when to use the diagnostic tools available to producers.&nbsp;Dr. Lindsay Waechter-Mead,&nbsp;livestock systems educator with Nebraska Extension, will talk about neonatal calf care.&nbsp;

Dr. Becky Funk, animal health and teaching Extension specialist at GPVEC, will provide a wet lab that gives producers a hands-on opportunity to explore bovine reproductive tracts.

There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is requested&nbsp;for&nbsp;food and supply counts.

Lincoln, Neb. —The 2024 Cow-Calf College, offered by Nebraska Extension, gives producers a chance to learn about cow and calf health from some of&nbsp;the University of Nebraska—Lincoln’s&nbsp;veterinarians and researchers.Topics will range from newborn calf health to pinkeye, scours, causes of bovine abortion, and when to call the vet.The free event is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024 from 10:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. (CST) at the Great Plains Veterinary Education Center (GPVEC), near Clay Center, Nebraska, with an optional tour of the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center to follow, weather permitting.Dr. Matt Hille, assistant professor and diagnostic pathologist at the Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center, will kick off the program with a discussion of management of infectious disease from birth to weaning.During the provided lunch Dr. Brian Vander Ley, associate professor and assistant director of GPVEC, will give an overview of the work they are doing at GPVEC.The afternoon will include three sessions. Hille will address bovine abortion causes and how and when to use the diagnostic tools available to producers.&nbsp;Dr. Lindsay Waechter-Mead,&nbsp;livestock systems educator with Nebraska Extension, will talk about neonatal calf care.&nbsp;Dr. Becky Funk, animal health and teaching Extension specialist at GPVEC, will provide a wet lab that gives producers a hands-on opportunity to explore bovine reproductive tracts.There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is requested&nbsp;for&nbsp;food and supply counts.

Beef producers can work with UNL veterinarians at one-day Cow-Calf College

Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Eric L. Eggers, 39, of Oxford, Nebraska, was sentenced on December 19, 2023, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for felon in possession of a firearm. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Eggers to 36 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Eggers’ release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.

On August 24, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant of Eggers’ residence in Furnas County, Nebraska.&nbsp; During the search, law enforcement located 16 firearms in total.&nbsp; Eggers admitted that he knew that the firearms were in his residence and that he knowingly possessed them. He also admitted that he knew he could not legally possess them.&nbsp; Eggers had previously been convicted of a felony in 2012.

Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Eric L. Eggers, 39, of Oxford, Nebraska, was sentenced on December 19, 2023, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for felon in possession of a firearm. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Eggers to 36 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Eggers’ release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.On August 24, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant of Eggers’ residence in Furnas County, Nebraska.&nbsp; During the search, law enforcement located 16 firearms in total.&nbsp; Eggers admitted that he knew that the firearms were in his residence and that he knowingly possessed them. He also admitted that he knew he could not legally possess them.&nbsp; Eggers had previously been convicted of a felony in 2012.

Oxford Man Convicted for Felon in Possession of Firearm

Dec. 19, 2023 (McCook, Neb.) — Weather permitting, a crack sealing project will begin Jan. 2, on US-6, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Crack sealing is a process of cleaning and filling open joints and cracks in the surface with sealant to prevent the entry of moisture and debris.

State maintenance forces will be performing a crack seal from reference post 112 to reference post 126, from Cambridge to Arapahoe. The work is anticipated to take 15 days. Traffic will be maintained with a pilot car and flaggers.

Dec. 19, 2023 (McCook, Neb.) — Weather permitting, a crack sealing project will begin Jan. 2, on US-6, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Crack sealing is a process of cleaning and filling open joints and cracks in the surface with sealant to prevent the entry of moisture and debris.State maintenance forces will be performing a crack seal from reference post 112 to reference post 126, from Cambridge to Arapahoe. The work is anticipated to take 15 days. Traffic will be maintained with a pilot car and flaggers.

Maintenance Work Will Begin on US-6, Near Arapahoe

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Civil rights organizations on Tuesday filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-texas-border-8c86bc6c20a7c30d6127b2413b8688fc">new Texas law</a>&nbsp;that would allow police to arrest migrants who cross the border illegally and permit local judges to order them to leave the country.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Austin, argues that the measure that is set to take effect in March is unconstitutional because the federal government has sole authority over immigration.

The American Civil Liberties Union, its Texas branch, and the Texas Civil Rights Project sued less than 24 hours after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed the measure during a ceremony on the U.S.-Mexico border in Brownsville.

The civil rights groups filed the lawsuit on behalf of El Paso County and two immigrant aid groups seeking to block enforcement of the measure, known as SB 4, and declare it unlawful.

“S.B. 4 creates a new state system to regulate immigration that completely bypasses and conflicts with the federal system,” the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit was filed against the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety, whose troopers could arrest migrants, and the El Paso County district attorney, whose office would potentially prosecute cases in that border community.

A DPS spokesperson declined to comment in an email Tuesday, citing the pending litigation. A person who answered the phone in Hicks’ office said he was not available and had no immediate comment.

Abbott and other Texas Republicans who support the measure say President Joe Biden isn’t doing enough to control the 1,950-mile (3,149-kilometer) southern border.

“In his absence, Texas has the constitutional authority to secure our border through historic laws like SB 4,” Abbott said in an email Tuesday, adding that he was willing to take the case to the Supreme Court.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized the law, but wouldn’t say whether the Justice Department would also challenge it.

“This is an extreme law that will not and does not make the communities in Texas safer,” Jean-Pierre said. She added that the purpose of the law was to “demonize immigrants and also dehumanize immigrants” and said “communities should not be individually targeted and put into harm’s way.”

According to Tuesday’s lawsuit, DPS Director Steve McGraw told lawmakers that his agency estimates approximately 72,000 arrests will be made each year under the measure.

The law comes as the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-border-wall-breaches-asylum-immigration-beddd2ca0ffd02884ce0d0ad1785f538">is seeing an increase in illegal border crossings.</a>&nbsp;Customs and Border Patrol acting commissioner Troy Miller called the number of daily arrivals “unprecedented,” as illegal crossings have topped 10,000 on some days this month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702952665492.png" alt="Gov. Greg Abbott signed three bills into law at a border wall construction site in Brownsville, Texas on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, that will broaden his border security plans and add funding for more infrastructure to deter illegal immigration. (AP Photo/Valerie Gonzalez)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Greg Abbott signed three bills into law at a border wall construction site in Brownsville, Texas on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, that will broaden his border security plans and add funding for more infrastructure to deter illegal immigration. (AP Photo/Valerie Gonzalez)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Associated PressAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Civil rights organizations on Tuesday filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-texas-border-8c86bc6c20a7c30d6127b2413b8688fc">new Texas law</a>&nbsp;that would allow police to arrest migrants who cross the border illegally and permit local judges to order them to leave the country.The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Austin, argues that the measure that is set to take effect in March is unconstitutional because the federal government has sole authority over immigration.The American Civil Liberties Union, its Texas branch, and the Texas Civil Rights Project sued less than 24 hours after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed the measure during a ceremony on the U.S.-Mexico border in Brownsville.The civil rights groups filed the lawsuit on behalf of El Paso County and two immigrant aid groups seeking to block enforcement of the measure, known as SB 4, and declare it unlawful.“S.B. 4 creates a new state system to regulate immigration that completely bypasses and conflicts with the federal system,” the lawsuit states.The lawsuit was filed against the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety, whose troopers could arrest migrants, and the El Paso County district attorney, whose office would potentially prosecute cases in that border community.A DPS spokesperson declined to comment in an email Tuesday, citing the pending litigation. A person who answered the phone in Hicks’ office said he was not available and had no immediate comment.Abbott and other Texas Republicans who support the measure say President Joe Biden isn’t doing enough to control the 1,950-mile (3,149-kilometer) southern border.“In his absence, Texas has the constitutional authority to secure our border through historic laws like SB 4,” Abbott said in an email Tuesday, adding that he was willing to take the case to the Supreme Court.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized the law, but wouldn’t say whether the Justice Department would also challenge it.“This is an extreme law that will not and does not make the communities in Texas safer,” Jean-Pierre said. She added that the purpose of the law was to “demonize immigrants and also dehumanize immigrants” and said “communities should not be individually targeted and put into harm’s way.”According to Tuesday’s lawsuit, DPS Director Steve McGraw told lawmakers that his agency estimates approximately 72,000 arrests will be made each year under the measure.The law comes as the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-border-wall-breaches-asylum-immigration-beddd2ca0ffd02884ce0d0ad1785f538">is seeing an increase in illegal border crossings.</a>&nbsp;Customs and Border Patrol acting commissioner Troy Miller called the number of daily arrivals “unprecedented,” as illegal crossings have topped 10,000 on some days this month.The measure allows any Texas law enforcement officer to arrest people who are suspected of entering the country illegally. Once in custody, they could either agree to a Texas judge’s order to leave the U.S. or be prosecuted on misdemeanor charges of illegal entry. Migrants who don’t leave could face arrest again under more serious felony charges.Opponents have called it the most dramatic attempt by a state to police immigration since a 2010 Arizona law — denounced by critics as the “Show Me Your Papers” bill — that was largely&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/57fd255191214d54b420a39a96b82451">struck down</a>&nbsp;by the U.S. Supreme Court. The lawsuit cites the 2012 Supreme Court decision on the Arizona law, which stated the federal government has exclusive power over immigration.“The bill overrides bedrock constitutional principles and flouts federal immigration law while harming Texans, in particular Brown and Black communities," Adriana Piñon, legal director of the ACLU of Texas, said in a statement.Earlier Tuesday, ACLU affiliates in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana, Arizona, Texas, and San Diego and Imperial Counties in California issued a travel advisory warning of a possible threat to travelers’ civil and constitutional rights violations when passing through Texas.