Weeks after Republican Gov. Jim Pillen announced Nebraska would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-summer-ebt-food-program-children-789f2d04bd195086d2e41d0d43b8111c">not accept federal funds</a>&nbsp;to feed children in need over the summer, an Omaha lawmaker is pushing her bill to require the state to accept the $18 million for children who might otherwise go hungry at times when schools are closed.

Pillen’s rejection of the funding in December drew a firestorm of vocal condemnation when he defended his position by stating, “I don’t believe in welfare.”

Omaha Sen. Jen Day presented her bill Thursday to the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee, seeking to reverse Pillen's rejection. Even if the bill were to pass, the deadline for a state to declare participation this summer was Jan. 1, although the federal government has sometimes allowed exceptions in other programs, officials have said.

The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children — or Summer EBT — program was widely employed as part of federal assistance made available during the COVID-19 pandemic, and then made permanent in 2022. It provides pre-loaded EBT cards to families whose children are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches at school; some 150,000 children in Nebraska were eligible in the 2022-2023 school year. Those families would receive $40 per eligible child per month over the summer. The cards can be used to buy groceries, similar to how SNAP benefits are used.

Nebraska is among more than a dozen states — all with Republican governors — that have opted out of receiving the funding. Those states include neighboring&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-summer-ebt-food-assistance-0e878c5c0fc9dd0dd55622cb22a82561">Iowa</a>, where Gov. Kim Reynolds criticized the federal food program as doing “nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic.

Day, a Democrat in the officially nonpartisan Nebraska Legislature, has found a Republican ally in her effort: state Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island. Aguilar has prioritized Day's bill, giving it a good chance of being debated by the full Legislature this session.

Aguilar said the issue has brought a flood of calls from constituents in his largely rural district asking that he support the program. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showing a steady increase in food insecurity among Nebraska families could help explain that flood of calls, Day said.

According to the statistics, 10.7% of Nebraska households were food insecure in 2017. That percentage rose to 12.1% five years later in 2022. It was 13.5% in 2023, Day said.

“This places Nebraska above the national average and gives us the 11th highest food insecurity in the nation,” she said. “As many of you know, food is more expensive than ever, and it’s squeezing low-income Nebraska residents hardest."

Following the backlash to his rejection of the Summer EBT funding, Pillen released a statement that Nebraska would continue to help food-insecure children through the Summer Food Service Program, which provides meals and snacks at various sites when school is not in session. Providing on-site services also allows providers to spot and report issues such as malnutrition, neglect and abuse in children, he said.

But Day and other critics countered that not all families have access to the on-site programs — particularly in Nebraska’s vast rural stretches, where sites can be many miles away from a struggling family.

Seventeen people — many of them representing food pantries and services — testified Thursday in favor of Day's bill, and another 153 people sent in letters of support. No one testified in opposition, but four people sent in letters opposed to the bill.

Weeks after Republican Gov. Jim Pillen announced Nebraska would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-summer-ebt-food-program-children-789f2d04bd195086d2e41d0d43b8111c">not accept federal funds</a>&nbsp;to feed children in need over the summer, an Omaha lawmaker is pushing her bill to require the state to accept the $18 million for children who might otherwise go hungry at times when schools are closed.Pillen’s rejection of the funding in December drew a firestorm of vocal condemnation when he defended his position by stating, “I don’t believe in welfare.”Omaha Sen. Jen Day presented her bill Thursday to the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee, seeking to reverse Pillen's rejection. Even if the bill were to pass, the deadline for a state to declare participation this summer was Jan. 1, although the federal government has sometimes allowed exceptions in other programs, officials have said.The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children — or Summer EBT — program was widely employed as part of federal assistance made available during the COVID-19 pandemic, and then made permanent in 2022. It provides pre-loaded EBT cards to families whose children are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches at school; some 150,000 children in Nebraska were eligible in the 2022-2023 school year. Those families would receive $40 per eligible child per month over the summer. The cards can be used to buy groceries, similar to how SNAP benefits are used.Nebraska is among more than a dozen states — all with Republican governors — that have opted out of receiving the funding. Those states include neighboring&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-summer-ebt-food-assistance-0e878c5c0fc9dd0dd55622cb22a82561">Iowa</a>, where Gov. Kim Reynolds criticized the federal food program as doing “nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic.Day, a Democrat in the officially nonpartisan Nebraska Legislature, has found a Republican ally in her effort: state Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island. Aguilar has prioritized Day's bill, giving it a good chance of being debated by the full Legislature this session.Aguilar said the issue has brought a flood of calls from constituents in his largely rural district asking that he support the program. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showing a steady increase in food insecurity among Nebraska families could help explain that flood of calls, Day said.According to the statistics, 10.7% of Nebraska households were food insecure in 2017. That percentage rose to 12.1% five years later in 2022. It was 13.5% in 2023, Day said.“This places Nebraska above the national average and gives us the 11th highest food insecurity in the nation,” she said. “As many of you know, food is more expensive than ever, and it’s squeezing low-income Nebraska residents hardest."Following the backlash to his rejection of the Summer EBT funding, Pillen released a statement that Nebraska would continue to help food-insecure children through the Summer Food Service Program, which provides meals and snacks at various sites when school is not in session. Providing on-site services also allows providers to spot and report issues such as malnutrition, neglect and abuse in children, he said.But Day and other critics countered that not all families have access to the on-site programs — particularly in Nebraska’s vast rural stretches, where sites can be many miles away from a struggling family.Seventeen people — many of them representing food pantries and services — testified Thursday in favor of Day's bill, and another 153 people sent in letters of support. No one testified in opposition, but four people sent in letters opposed to the bill.

Lawmaker seeks to reverse Nebraska governor's rejection of federal child food funding

CHICAGO—The Quaker Oats Company&nbsp; announced an&nbsp;expansion of the December 15, 2023,&nbsp;recall to include an additional granola bar to the list of recalled items due to possible salmonella contamination, according to the FDA.

<a href="https://www.quakerrecallusa.com/_files/ugd/b51df1_66f22cbdfc5140b0a3287b82a2bf30c7.pdf">Click here to see the full list</a> of 100 recalled items

Quaker Chewy Dipps Llama Rama bars were added to the recalled product list in the United States, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/update-quaker-issues-revised-recall-notice-additional-product-due-possible-health-risk" target="_blank">the FDA.</a>&nbsp;This granola bar product was discontinued in September 2023 with the “Best Before” dates listed as Feb. 10 or 11, 2024.

The United States Food and Drug Administration and the Quaker Oats Company earlier this week announced that this granola bar was added to the list of recalled items due to possible salmonella contamination.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has received at least 24 reports of adverse events related to the products initially recalled, but no illnesses have been confirmed to be linked to the foods, an agency spokesperson said. Adverse events can include medical problems, but also complaints about off taste or color of a product, defective packaging or other non-medical issues, the official said. FDA will continue to investigate the reports.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707136988885.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>CHICAGO—The Quaker Oats Company&nbsp; announced an&nbsp;expansion of the December 15, 2023,&nbsp;recall to include an additional granola bar to the list of recalled items due to possible salmonella contamination, according to the FDA.<a href="https://www.quakerrecallusa.com/_files/ugd/b51df1_66f22cbdfc5140b0a3287b82a2bf30c7.pdf">Click here to see the full list</a> of 100 recalled itemsQuaker Chewy Dipps Llama Rama bars were added to the recalled product list in the United States, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/update-quaker-issues-revised-recall-notice-additional-product-due-possible-health-risk" target="_blank">the FDA.</a>&nbsp;This granola bar product was discontinued in September 2023 with the “Best Before” dates listed as Feb. 10 or 11, 2024.The United States Food and Drug Administration and the Quaker Oats Company earlier this week announced that this granola bar was added to the list of recalled items due to possible salmonella contamination.Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has received at least 24 reports of adverse events related to the products initially recalled, but no illnesses have been confirmed to be linked to the foods, an agency spokesperson said. Adverse events can include medical problems, but also complaints about off taste or color of a product, defective packaging or other non-medical issues, the official said. FDA will continue to investigate the reports.

Quaker Oats salmonella: 3rd recall in two months 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two off-duty police officers in Nebraska's largest city shot and killed two men in an SUV, though authorities have provided few details about the confrontation.

The two Omaha officers were working at a local business at around 2 a.m. Saturday when they opened fire on the men in the SUV, police said.

The men, 26-year-old Fernando Rodriguez-Juarez and 28-year-old Jonathan Hernandez-Rosales, were taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died.

Police said they found a handgun in the vehicle, but they didn't say whether there was anything illegal about that or what led the two off-duty officers to shoot the men. Police also haven't said whether the two officers, whom they haven't publicly identified, identified themselves as police to the men or whether they were wearing their police uniforms.

One of the officers was wearing a body camera when the shooting happened, and detectives are reviewing local businesses' security footage as part of the investigation, authorities said.

The two officers were placed on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

The police department's officer-involved investigations team, the Nebraska State Patrol and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office are investigating

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two off-duty police officers in Nebraska's largest city shot and killed two men in an SUV, though authorities have provided few details about the confrontation.The two Omaha officers were working at a local business at around 2 a.m. Saturday when they opened fire on the men in the SUV, police said.The men, 26-year-old Fernando Rodriguez-Juarez and 28-year-old Jonathan Hernandez-Rosales, were taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died.Police said they found a handgun in the vehicle, but they didn't say whether there was anything illegal about that or what led the two off-duty officers to shoot the men. Police also haven't said whether the two officers, whom they haven't publicly identified, identified themselves as police to the men or whether they were wearing their police uniforms.One of the officers was wearing a body camera when the shooting happened, and detectives are reviewing local businesses' security footage as part of the investigation, authorities said.The two officers were placed on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation.The police department's officer-involved investigations team, the Nebraska State Patrol and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office are investigating

Off-duty Omaha police officers shoot and kill two men

LONDON (AP) — King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer and has begun treatment, Buckingham Palace said Monday. Less than 18 months into his reign, the 75-year-old monarch will suspend public duties but will continue with state business, and won't be handing over his constitutional roles as head of state.

The palace didn't say what form of cancer the king has, but said it's not related to the king’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-princess-kate-abdominal-surgery-5fc9e0e3b59954a2cceb6b1a7edf31a7">recent treatment</a>&nbsp;for a benign prostate condition.

The palace said “a separate issue of concern was noted” during Charles' treatment for an enlarged prostate last month, when he spent three nights in a London hospital.

“Diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer,” it said in a statement.

“His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties,” the palace said. "Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual."

The king is being treated as an outpatient, the palace said.

It said Charles “remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.”

The palace added that the king "has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.”

Charles became king in September 2022 when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died at the age of 96.

News of the king's diagnosis comes as his daughter-in-law Kate, Princess of Wales, recovers from abdominal surgery that saw her hospitalized for about two weeks.

Kate is still taking a break from royal duties as she recovers. Her husband, Prince William, who is heir to the throne, also took time off to help look after the couple's three children, but is due to preside over an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

The king personally called both the Prince of Wales and his second son, Prince Harry, — as well as his siblings Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — to share news of his health.

Harry, who quit royal duties in 2020 and moved to California, has spoken to his father about the diagnosis and “will be traveling to UK to see His Majesty in the coming days,” said the office of Harry and his wife, Meghan.

U.K. political leaders sent messages of support. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: “Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. I have no doubt he’ll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well.”

U.S. President Joe Biden, traveling in Las Vegas on Monday, said he had just learned about Charles’s diagnosis and said he hopes to speak with him, “God willing.”

“I’m concerned about him,” Biden told reporters.

Charles departed from royal tradition with his openness about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kate-hospitalized-prince-william-royal-health-wales-b2ea543cfaf7a52b71ac3fbdf4a19cfa">his prostate condition.</a>&nbsp;For centuries Britain's royal family remained tight-lipped about health matters.

When U.K. monarchs had real power, news of illness was withheld for fear it might weaken their authority. The habit of secrecy lingered after royals became constitutional figureheads.

The British public wasn’t told that Charles’ grandfather, King George VI, had lung cancer before his death in February 1952 at the age of 56.

Pat Price, founder of the Catch Up With Cancer campaign, said millions shared the “collective concern” for the king's health.

“The King’s openness about his battle with cancer is a powerful reminder that one in two of us may face cancer at some point in our lives," Price said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683335060930.png" alt="File photo King Charles III&nbsp; photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo King Charles III&nbsp; photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer and has begun treatment, Buckingham Palace said Monday. Less than 18 months into his reign, the 75-year-old monarch will suspend public duties but will continue with state business, and won't be handing over his constitutional roles as head of state.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A statement from Buckingham Palace: <a href="https://t.co/zmYuaWBKw6">https://t.co/zmYuaWBKw6</a> 📷 Samir Hussein <a href="https://t.co/xypBLHHQJb">pic.twitter.com/xypBLHHQJb</a>&mdash; The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1754565735655887066?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The palace didn't say what form of cancer the king has, but said it's not related to the king’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-princess-kate-abdominal-surgery-5fc9e0e3b59954a2cceb6b1a7edf31a7">recent treatment</a>&nbsp;for a benign prostate condition.The palace said “a separate issue of concern was noted” during Charles' treatment for an enlarged prostate last month, when he spent three nights in a London hospital.“Diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer,” it said in a statement.“His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties,” the palace said. "Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual."The king is being treated as an outpatient, the palace said.It said Charles “remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.”The palace added that the king "has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.”Charles became king in September 2022 when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died at the age of 96.News of the king's diagnosis comes as his daughter-in-law Kate, Princess of Wales, recovers from abdominal surgery that saw her hospitalized for about two weeks.Kate is still taking a break from royal duties as she recovers. Her husband, Prince William, who is heir to the throne, also took time off to help look after the couple's three children, but is due to preside over an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.The king personally called both the Prince of Wales and his second son, Prince Harry, — as well as his siblings Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — to share news of his health.Harry, who quit royal duties in 2020 and moved to California, has spoken to his father about the diagnosis and “will be traveling to UK to see His Majesty in the coming days,” said the office of Harry and his wife, Meghan.U.K. political leaders sent messages of support. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: “Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. I have no doubt he’ll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well.”U.S. President Joe Biden, traveling in Las Vegas on Monday, said he had just learned about Charles’s diagnosis and said he hopes to speak with him, “God willing.”“I’m concerned about him,” Biden told reporters.Charles departed from royal tradition with his openness about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kate-hospitalized-prince-william-royal-health-wales-b2ea543cfaf7a52b71ac3fbdf4a19cfa">his prostate condition.</a>&nbsp;For centuries Britain's royal family remained tight-lipped about health matters.When U.K. monarchs had real power, news of illness was withheld for fear it might weaken their authority. The habit of secrecy lingered after royals became constitutional figureheads.The British public wasn’t told that Charles’ grandfather, King George VI, had lung cancer before his death in February 1952 at the age of 56.Pat Price, founder of the Catch Up With Cancer campaign, said millions shared the “collective concern” for the king's health.“The King’s openness about his battle with cancer is a powerful reminder that one in two of us may face cancer at some point in our lives," Price said.___

Palace: King Charles III diagnosed with cancer 

TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) — A Gage County man was sentenced to life plus 60 to 80 years in prison Friday for the killing of a fellow inmate who was stabbed more than 100 times during a riot at a Nebraska state prison.

The sentencing of Eric Ramos came over a month after he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-prison-riot-murder-trial-09197a3394e00946435b435e84bfbd15">found guilty</a>&nbsp;in December of first-degree murder, use of a weapon to commit murder and tampering with evidence in the case of the 2017 slaying of Michael Galindo.

District Judge Rick Schreiner said the jury had plenty of facts to determine that Ramos was guilty,&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/state-regional/crime-courts/ramos-sentenced-2017-nebraska-prison-riot-death/article_82f6574c-c14a-11ee-b5e6-efbfc960b38a.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">the Lincoln Journal Star reported</a>. He added that when Ramos testified at trial, he gave jurors an opportunity to see his profile, which they could then compare to prison security video of the attack.

Ramos, 33, has denied being an assailant seen in the video and said he would not have jeopardized his upcoming parole by participating in the attack. He declined a chance to speak at the sentencing on the advice of counsel, due to a coming appeal.

Defense lawyer Tim Noerrlinger has argued that the video was of poor quality and that investigators did not test blood found on the hands and clothing of other inmates.

Noerrlinger filed a motion for a new trial following the December verdict. In it he argued that Ramos was prevented from getting a fair trial due to various issues, including a failure by prosecutors to disclose reports about one witness until after he testified and about a second potential witness the state hadn’t previously mentioned until two weeks into the proceedings.

The motion was rejected by Shreiner this week, but those issues are expected to be revisited on appeal.

Galindo, 31, was found dead in his cell on March 2, 2017, one of two inmates slain during the riot at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution.

Investigators said he had been severely beaten and stabbed 130 times, and an autopsy determined he died of smoke inhalation after other inmates set towels ablaze and pushed them into the cell through a broken window.

Ramos’ first trial in 2018 ended in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9ff55f26182647abb441ce1c2eff63b4">a mistrial</a>&nbsp;after the judge learned that several investigators who were witnesses in the case met up despite a court order forbidding it. The Nebraska Court of Appeals later ruled that Ramos should&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4b4505516e554615461d9d8a5f16f8eb">be retried</a>.

In his second trial, prosecutors relied heavily on the surveillance video, from which a prison guard identified Ramos as one of the attackers.

Investigators said Ramos was one of several who attacked Galindo, but he is the only one to face charges so far.

TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) — A Gage County man was sentenced to life plus 60 to 80 years in prison Friday for the killing of a fellow inmate who was stabbed more than 100 times during a riot at a Nebraska state prison.The sentencing of Eric Ramos came over a month after he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-prison-riot-murder-trial-09197a3394e00946435b435e84bfbd15">found guilty</a>&nbsp;in December of first-degree murder, use of a weapon to commit murder and tampering with evidence in the case of the 2017 slaying of Michael Galindo.District Judge Rick Schreiner said the jury had plenty of facts to determine that Ramos was guilty,&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/state-regional/crime-courts/ramos-sentenced-2017-nebraska-prison-riot-death/article_82f6574c-c14a-11ee-b5e6-efbfc960b38a.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">the Lincoln Journal Star reported</a>. He added that when Ramos testified at trial, he gave jurors an opportunity to see his profile, which they could then compare to prison security video of the attack.Ramos, 33, has denied being an assailant seen in the video and said he would not have jeopardized his upcoming parole by participating in the attack. He declined a chance to speak at the sentencing on the advice of counsel, due to a coming appeal.Defense lawyer Tim Noerrlinger has argued that the video was of poor quality and that investigators did not test blood found on the hands and clothing of other inmates.Noerrlinger filed a motion for a new trial following the December verdict. In it he argued that Ramos was prevented from getting a fair trial due to various issues, including a failure by prosecutors to disclose reports about one witness until after he testified and about a second potential witness the state hadn’t previously mentioned until two weeks into the proceedings.The motion was rejected by Shreiner this week, but those issues are expected to be revisited on appeal.Galindo, 31, was found dead in his cell on March 2, 2017, one of two inmates slain during the riot at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution.Investigators said he had been severely beaten and stabbed 130 times, and an autopsy determined he died of smoke inhalation after other inmates set towels ablaze and pushed them into the cell through a broken window.Ramos’ first trial in 2018 ended in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9ff55f26182647abb441ce1c2eff63b4">a mistrial</a>&nbsp;after the judge learned that several investigators who were witnesses in the case met up despite a court order forbidding it. The Nebraska Court of Appeals later ruled that Ramos should&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4b4505516e554615461d9d8a5f16f8eb">be retried</a>.In his second trial, prosecutors relied heavily on the surveillance video, from which a prison guard identified Ramos as one of the attackers.Investigators said Ramos was one of several who attacked Galindo, but he is the only one to face charges so far.

Man gets life plus up to 80 years for killing of fellow inmate during Nebraska prison riot

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– On Thursday evening, Governor Jim Pillen awarded prizes to three teams of college entrepreneurs through the first-ever Nebraska Governor’s New Venture Competition. The contest, created to showcase and encourage student-led entrepreneurship, was overseen by the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce &amp; Industry, Invest Nebraska, Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD), and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. The winning teams were: 1st&nbsp;Place: Privy AI; 2nd&nbsp;Place: Cattle Kettle; 3rd&nbsp;Place: Dyslexico.

“Entrepreneurs are the bread and butter of our economy,” said Gov. Pillen. “They’re the innovators and job creators who help Nebraska grow. Entrepreneurs display remarkable courage in taking the risk of launching a new venture. I’m blown away by the ingenuity and grit of the young entrepreneurs who took part in the New Venture Competition. The contest was a great way to give visibility and support to homegrown Nebraska ideas with industry-transforming potential.”

“It’s incredibly energizing to see the next generation of entrepreneurs in action,” said DED Director K.C. Belitz.&nbsp;“Across Nebraska, economic opportunities are increasingly being created by local entrepreneurs. The State is intensifying our support of these homegrown entrepreneurs, through initiatives like the Governor’s New Venture Competition, as the most viable economic development strategy for sustained growth.”

Nineteen teams of students -- including both undergraduate and graduate students -- submitted proposals through the Governor’s New Venture Competition. Competitors participated from Doane University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska Omaha, and Peru State College. All 19 teams pitched their idea virtually to a panel of judges representing the Nebraska Angels, Black Dog Ventures, Tech Nebraska, and NPPD. The judges provided valuable feedback to the student entrepreneurs and selected 11 teams as finalists.

Each finalist team was then assigned a mentor to help refine their presentation. The mentors were chosen from Nebraska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem based on their familiarity with tech startups and the art of pitching a business concept. After working with their mentor, the finalists pitched their business idea in person to a panel of judges during the Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting on Feb. 1. These judges -- representing Hudl, NPPD, Fast Forward, Grit Road Partners, and Move Capital Fund – selected the awardees. Later in the evening, Gov. Pillen officially announced the winners.

“Nebraska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem of founders, funders, private partners and public agencies continually seeks new collaborations to build the pipeline of young entrepreneurs in the state,” said Dan Hoffman, CEO of Invest Nebraska. “Governor Pillen’s vision of seeding and growing new ventures in Nebraska will have a long-term impact on the state’s economy.”

“We want to congratulate all of the students who competed in the Governor's inaugural New Venture Competition,” said Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “We're thrilled we were able to be a part of the event and get a glimpse into the future of Nebraska's business leaders and all they'll bring to our great state.”

The Governor’s Office would like to thank the participants, judges, and sponsors of the Governor’s New Venture Competition. Prize sponsors include Nebraska Public Power District, Omaha Public Power District, the Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce &amp; Industry, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Nebraska Economic Developers’ Association, Nebraska Diplomats, NexTera Energy, and Invest Nebraska.

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– On Thursday evening, Governor Jim Pillen awarded prizes to three teams of college entrepreneurs through the first-ever Nebraska Governor’s New Venture Competition. The contest, created to showcase and encourage student-led entrepreneurship, was overseen by the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce &amp; Industry, Invest Nebraska, Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD), and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. The winning teams were: 1st&nbsp;Place: Privy AI; 2nd&nbsp;Place: Cattle Kettle; 3rd&nbsp;Place: Dyslexico.“Entrepreneurs are the bread and butter of our economy,” said Gov. Pillen. “They’re the innovators and job creators who help Nebraska grow. Entrepreneurs display remarkable courage in taking the risk of launching a new venture. I’m blown away by the ingenuity and grit of the young entrepreneurs who took part in the New Venture Competition. The contest was a great way to give visibility and support to homegrown Nebraska ideas with industry-transforming potential.”“It’s incredibly energizing to see the next generation of entrepreneurs in action,” said DED Director K.C. Belitz.&nbsp;“Across Nebraska, economic opportunities are increasingly being created by local entrepreneurs. The State is intensifying our support of these homegrown entrepreneurs, through initiatives like the Governor’s New Venture Competition, as the most viable economic development strategy for sustained growth.”Nineteen teams of students -- including both undergraduate and graduate students -- submitted proposals through the Governor’s New Venture Competition. Competitors participated from Doane University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska Omaha, and Peru State College. All 19 teams pitched their idea virtually to a panel of judges representing the Nebraska Angels, Black Dog Ventures, Tech Nebraska, and NPPD. The judges provided valuable feedback to the student entrepreneurs and selected 11 teams as finalists.Each finalist team was then assigned a mentor to help refine their presentation. The mentors were chosen from Nebraska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem based on their familiarity with tech startups and the art of pitching a business concept. After working with their mentor, the finalists pitched their business idea in person to a panel of judges during the Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting on Feb. 1. These judges -- representing Hudl, NPPD, Fast Forward, Grit Road Partners, and Move Capital Fund – selected the awardees. Later in the evening, Gov. Pillen officially announced the winners.“Nebraska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem of founders, funders, private partners and public agencies continually seeks new collaborations to build the pipeline of young entrepreneurs in the state,” said Dan Hoffman, CEO of Invest Nebraska. “Governor Pillen’s vision of seeding and growing new ventures in Nebraska will have a long-term impact on the state’s economy.”“We want to congratulate all of the students who competed in the Governor's inaugural New Venture Competition,” said Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “We're thrilled we were able to be a part of the event and get a glimpse into the future of Nebraska's business leaders and all they'll bring to our great state.”The Governor’s Office would like to thank the participants, judges, and sponsors of the Governor’s New Venture Competition. Prize sponsors include Nebraska Public Power District, Omaha Public Power District, the Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce &amp; Industry, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Nebraska Economic Developers’ Association, Nebraska Diplomats, NexTera Energy, and Invest Nebraska.

Gov. Pillen Awards Prizes to Student Entrepreneurs through Inaugural New Venture Competition

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators on Sunday released a highly anticipated $118 billion package that pairs border enforcement policy with wartime aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies, setting off a long-shot effort to push the bill through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-ukraine-trump-a8601ec6629ddc5b769028ca99ad9879">heavy skepticism from Republicans</a>, including House Speaker Mike Johnson.

<a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/emergency_national_security_supplemental_bill_text.pdf">Click here to read </a>the full text of the bill

The proposal could be the best chance for President Joe Biden to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb">resupply Ukraine with wartime aid</a>&nbsp;— a major foreign policy goal that is shared with both the Senate’s top Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer, and top Republican, Sen. Mitch McConnell. The Senate was expected this week to hold a key test vote on the legislation, but it faces a wall of opposition from conservatives.

With Congress stalled on approving $60 billion in Ukraine aid, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-money-congress-weapons-dd5076b30bf8fab5c914a1222186e7f0">U.S. has halted shipments</a>&nbsp;of ammunition and missiles to Kyiv, leaving Ukrainian soldiers outgunned as they try to beat back Russia’s invasion.

Senators have been working for months on the carefully negotiated compromise intended to overcome opposition from conservatives who have tired of funding Ukraine’s fight. But the coming days will be a crucial test of whether congressional leaders can once again muscle their members to support the package designed to assert American strength — and commitment — around the world. They will also be balancing one of the most fraught issues in American politics — border and immigration legislation.

Biden said in a statement that the Senate proposal “allows the United States to continue our vital work, together with partners all around the world, to stand up for Ukraine’s freedom and support its ability to defend itself against Russia’s aggression.”

And on the border, Biden said that the immigration system has been broken for too long, and it’s time to fix it. “It will make our country safer, make our border more secure, treat people fairly and humanely while preserving legal immigration, consistent with our values as a nation,” Biden said.

The proposal would overhaul the asylum system at the border with faster and tougher enforcement, as well as give presidents new powers to immediately expel migrants if authorities become overwhelmed with the number of people applying for asylum. The new bill would also invest in U.S. defense manufacturing, send $14 billion in military aid to Israel, steer nearly $5 billion to allies in the Asia-Pacific, and provide humanitarian assistance to civilians caught in conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

In a call with reporters after releasing the legislation, Schumer said he has never worked so closely with McConnell. He called the bill a “monumental step” toward strengthening national security at home and abroad.

Without the Ukraine aid, Schumer said, he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin “could be rolling over Ukraine and even into Eastern Europe.”

McConnell said in a statement that the Senate must be “prepared to act.”

“America’s sovereignty is being tested here at home, and our credibility is being tested by emboldened adversaries around the world,” McConnell said. “The challenges we face will not resolve themselves, nor will our adversaries wait for America to muster the resolve to meet them.”

In a bid to overcome opposition from House Republicans,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-border-security-congress-0c35bad8790ccbbeed1bc14057457648">McConnell had insisted last year</a>&nbsp;that border policy changes be included in the national security funding package. However, in an election-year shift on immigration, Biden and many Democrats have embraced the idea of strict border enforcement, while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-trump-biden-2d2f804057a77bfaa41e64ab601f9b0e">Donald Trump and his allies</a>&nbsp;have criticized the proposed measures as insufficient.

Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, the third-ranked House Republican and a close ally of Trump, quickly decried the bill as “an absolute non-starter” that would incentivize illegal immigration.

Republicans have also been reluctant to give Biden a political win on an issue they see as one of his biggest vulnerabilities. They have argued that presidents already have enough authority to curb illegal border crossings — a stance that would ensure immigration remains a major issue in the presidential election. But at the same time, House Republicans have also pushed for their own, stricter version of border security legislation.

Johnson, a Republican of Louisiana, told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday morning that he was unaware of the bill’s details, but thought the solution to border problems should be a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-immigration-bill-255921c69678468580d0d106282623f0">House proposal of hardline immigration measures</a>.

That bill, which passed the House last year without a single Democratic vote, currently has no chance of gaining the Democratic support it would need in the Senate. GOP senators also attempted to add it on to other legislation last year, but that effort only gained 46 votes.

“What we’re saying is you have to stem the flow,” Johnson said. He also made it clear that he — not Trump — would decide whether to bring the bill to the floor if it passes the Senate.

But in a further sign that Johnson is resistant to the Senate package, he indicated Saturday that the House will vote on a separate package of $17.6 billion of military aid for Israel — a move that allows House Republicans to show support for Israel apart from the Senate deal.

It is still unclear if the bill will pass in the Senate. Senate Republicans have been divided on the bill, with several in McConnell’s ranks arguing that it isn’t strong enough. Some quickly said they would vote against it.

“I will not support this deal,” said Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn, after the legislation was released.

The proposal is aimed at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-ukraine-biden-cf4aa608de350a480fabd8e6a3e062ff">gaining control of an asylum system</a>&nbsp;that has been overwhelmed by historic numbers of migrants coming to the border.

Migrants who seek asylum, which provides protection for people facing persecution in their home countries, would face a tougher and faster process to having their claim evaluated. The standard in initial interviews would be raised, and many would receive those interviews within days of arriving at the border. Final decisions on their asylum claims would happen within months, rather than the often years-long wait that happens now. They would also be given work permits if they pass the initial screenings.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona independent who negotiated the border proposal, told reporters that the legislation would “immediately reassert control of our border, end catch and release policies and, strengthen our broken asylum system, and solve the border crisis.”

“America is and continues to be a bastion of hope for true asylum seekers,” she said in a statement later. “But it is not an open door for economic migrants. It has been, as we know, exploited dramatically by cartels in the last four to five years.”

If the number of illegal border crossings reaches above 5,000 daily for a five-day average,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-immigration-election-2182fec11fa008ec96c4202e5656d19e">an expulsion authority</a>&nbsp;would automatically kick in so that migrants who cross illegally are expelled without an opportunity to make an asylum claim. If the number reaches 4,000, presidential administrations would have the option of using the new authority. Under the proposal, migrants could still apply at ports of entry.

Biden, referencing the authority, has said he would use it to “shut down the border” as soon as the bill is signed into law.

The bill would allot $20 billion to immigration enforcement, including the hiring of thousands of new officers to evaluate asylum claims and hundreds of Border Patrol agents, as well as funding local governments that have seen influxes of migrants.

Among Democrats, the tougher asylum standards have raised concern, especially from progressive and Hispanic lawmakers. Sen. Alex Padilla, a Democrat of California, said in a statement that the proposal would still cause “more chaos at the border, not less.”

The $14 billion in the package intended for military support for Israel could also splinter Democratic votes. Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent of Vermont, is pushing to strip $10 billion for offensive weaponry for Israel from the package while maintaining money for defensive systems.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707094900842.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators on Sunday released a highly anticipated $118 billion package that pairs border enforcement policy with wartime aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies, setting off a long-shot effort to push the bill through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-ukraine-trump-a8601ec6629ddc5b769028ca99ad9879">heavy skepticism from Republicans</a>, including House Speaker Mike Johnson.<a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/emergency_national_security_supplemental_bill_text.pdf">Click here to read </a>the full text of the billThe proposal could be the best chance for President Joe Biden to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb">resupply Ukraine with wartime aid</a>&nbsp;— a major foreign policy goal that is shared with both the Senate’s top Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer, and top Republican, Sen. Mitch McConnell. The Senate was expected this week to hold a key test vote on the legislation, but it faces a wall of opposition from conservatives.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Agree. Having sufficient time to thoroughly review any legislation, much less text on a bill that&#39;s supposed to address our number one most immediate national security threat, should not be controversial. <a href="https://t.co/KOQWfY1U1Q">https://t.co/KOQWfY1U1Q</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1753509169112514776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>With Congress stalled on approving $60 billion in Ukraine aid, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-money-congress-weapons-dd5076b30bf8fab5c914a1222186e7f0">U.S. has halted shipments</a>&nbsp;of ammunition and missiles to Kyiv, leaving Ukrainian soldiers outgunned as they try to beat back Russia’s invasion.Senators have been working for months on the carefully negotiated compromise intended to overcome opposition from conservatives who have tired of funding Ukraine’s fight. But the coming days will be a crucial test of whether congressional leaders can once again muscle their members to support the package designed to assert American strength — and commitment — around the world. They will also be balancing one of the most fraught issues in American politics — border and immigration legislation.Biden said in a statement that the Senate proposal “allows the United States to continue our vital work, together with partners all around the world, to stand up for Ukraine’s freedom and support its ability to defend itself against Russia’s aggression.”And on the border, Biden said that the immigration system has been broken for too long, and it’s time to fix it. “It will make our country safer, make our border more secure, treat people fairly and humanely while preserving legal immigration, consistent with our values as a nation,” Biden said.The proposal would overhaul the asylum system at the border with faster and tougher enforcement, as well as give presidents new powers to immediately expel migrants if authorities become overwhelmed with the number of people applying for asylum. The new bill would also invest in U.S. defense manufacturing, send $14 billion in military aid to Israel, steer nearly $5 billion to allies in the Asia-Pacific, and provide humanitarian assistance to civilians caught in conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.In a call with reporters after releasing the legislation, Schumer said he has never worked so closely with McConnell. He called the bill a “monumental step” toward strengthening national security at home and abroad.Without the Ukraine aid, Schumer said, he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin “could be rolling over Ukraine and even into Eastern Europe.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707094498764.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>McConnell said in a statement that the Senate must be “prepared to act.”“America’s sovereignty is being tested here at home, and our credibility is being tested by emboldened adversaries around the world,” McConnell said. “The challenges we face will not resolve themselves, nor will our adversaries wait for America to muster the resolve to meet them.”In a bid to overcome opposition from House Republicans,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-border-security-congress-0c35bad8790ccbbeed1bc14057457648">McConnell had insisted last year</a>&nbsp;that border policy changes be included in the national security funding package. However, in an election-year shift on immigration, Biden and many Democrats have embraced the idea of strict border enforcement, while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-trump-biden-2d2f804057a77bfaa41e64ab601f9b0e">Donald Trump and his allies</a>&nbsp;have criticized the proposed measures as insufficient.Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, the third-ranked House Republican and a close ally of Trump, quickly decried the bill as “an absolute non-starter” that would incentivize illegal immigration.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I’ve seen enough. This bill is even worse than we expected, and won’t come close to ending the border catastrophe the President has created. As the lead Democrat negotiator proclaimed: Under this legislation, “the border never closes.” If this bill reaches the House, it will be…&mdash; Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1754333708193091928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Republicans have also been reluctant to give Biden a political win on an issue they see as one of his biggest vulnerabilities. They have argued that presidents already have enough authority to curb illegal border crossings — a stance that would ensure immigration remains a major issue in the presidential election. But at the same time, House Republicans have also pushed for their own, stricter version of border security legislation.Johnson, a Republican of Louisiana, told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday morning that he was unaware of the bill’s details, but thought the solution to border problems should be a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-immigration-bill-255921c69678468580d0d106282623f0">House proposal of hardline immigration measures</a>.That bill, which passed the House last year without a single Democratic vote, currently has no chance of gaining the Democratic support it would need in the Senate. GOP senators also attempted to add it on to other legislation last year, but that effort only gained 46 votes.“What we’re saying is you have to stem the flow,” Johnson said. He also made it clear that he — not Trump — would decide whether to bring the bill to the floor if it passes the Senate.But in a further sign that Johnson is resistant to the Senate package, he indicated Saturday that the House will vote on a separate package of $17.6 billion of military aid for Israel — a move that allows House Republicans to show support for Israel apart from the Senate deal.It is still unclear if the bill will pass in the Senate. Senate Republicans have been divided on the bill, with several in McConnell’s ranks arguing that it isn’t strong enough. Some quickly said they would vote against it.“I will not support this deal,” said Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn, after the legislation was released.The proposal is aimed at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-ukraine-biden-cf4aa608de350a480fabd8e6a3e062ff">gaining control of an asylum system</a>&nbsp;that has been overwhelmed by historic numbers of migrants coming to the border.Migrants who seek asylum, which provides protection for people facing persecution in their home countries, would face a tougher and faster process to having their claim evaluated. The standard in initial interviews would be raised, and many would receive those interviews within days of arriving at the border. Final decisions on their asylum claims would happen within months, rather than the often years-long wait that happens now. They would also be given work permits if they pass the initial screenings.Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona independent who negotiated the border proposal, told reporters that the legislation would “immediately reassert control of our border, end catch and release policies and, strengthen our broken asylum system, and solve the border crisis.”“America is and continues to be a bastion of hope for true asylum seekers,” she said in a statement later. “But it is not an open door for economic migrants. It has been, as we know, exploited dramatically by cartels in the last four to five years.”If the number of illegal border crossings reaches above 5,000 daily for a five-day average,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-immigration-election-2182fec11fa008ec96c4202e5656d19e">an expulsion authority</a>&nbsp;would automatically kick in so that migrants who cross illegally are expelled without an opportunity to make an asylum claim. If the number reaches 4,000, presidential administrations would have the option of using the new authority. Under the proposal, migrants could still apply at ports of entry.Biden, referencing the authority, has said he would use it to “shut down the border” as soon as the bill is signed into law.The bill would allot $20 billion to immigration enforcement, including the hiring of thousands of new officers to evaluate asylum claims and hundreds of Border Patrol agents, as well as funding local governments that have seen influxes of migrants.Among Democrats, the tougher asylum standards have raised concern, especially from progressive and Hispanic lawmakers. Sen. Alex Padilla, a Democrat of California, said in a statement that the proposal would still cause “more chaos at the border, not less.”The $14 billion in the package intended for military support for Israel could also splinter Democratic votes. Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent of Vermont, is pushing to strip $10 billion for offensive weaponry for Israel from the package while maintaining money for defensive systems.

What's in the long-awaited $118B Senate border bill that unlocks Ukraine aid

WICHITA (AP) —Boeing discovered another problem in some of its 737 fuselages that may delay deliveries of about 50 aircraft in the latest quality gaffe to plague the manufacturer.

Improperly drilled holes were discovered by Spirit AeroSystems, a major supplier that provides Boeing with fuselages, according to a letter from Stan Deal, CEO of Boeing's commercial airplanes division.

“While this potential condition is not an immediate safety issue and all 737s can continue operating safely, we currently believe we will have to perform rework on about 50 undelivered planes,” Deal said in a letter to employees that was shared Monday.

Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems are facing intense scrutiny over the quality of their work after an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 was forced to make&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jetliner-blowout-737-max-9-united-alaska-2f74f52bbad7fca26aa11786bd44c356">an emergency landing</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 5 when a panel called a door plug blew out of the side of the plane shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon.

The NTSB&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-investigation-ntsb-safety-airplanes-d9e28fe1a11dafe4f639268504bdb85f">is investigating</a>&nbsp;the accident, while the Federal Aviation Administration investigates whether Boeing and its suppliers followed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/faa-boeing-door-blowout-investigation-alaska-airlines-5c378e8080ae1bf1e3d3f7e68d498d5c">quality-control procedures</a>.

Shares of the The Boeing Co., already down 20% this year, slipped another 2% before the opening bell Monday.

Problems with Boeing jets have opened a potential rift with some of its biggest customers. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-airlines-ceo-boeing-manufacturing-problems-4090ea6176ef59e382dd18e9522596bc">said last month</a>&nbsp;that the carrier will consider alternative aircraft in the future, and Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci told “NBC Nightly News that “I am more than frustrated and disappointed. I am angry.”

Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, the only other U.S. airline flying the Max 9, reported finding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alaska-airlines-portland-oregon-emergency-landing-5634aca545ac602d1e398497696f83c3">loose hardware</a>&nbsp;in door plugs of other planes they inspected after the accident. The FAA grounded all Max 9s in the U.S. the day after the blowout. Two weeks later, the agency approved the inspection and maintenance process to return the planes to flying.

Alaska Airlines and United Airlines have begun returning some to service.

Boeing, based in Arlington, Virginia, said last week it was withdrawing a request for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-737-max-safety-exemption-door-plug-7bb30166181034fc07750ded8f072d7f">safety exemption</a>&nbsp;needed to certify a new, smaller model of the 737 Max airliner. Boeing asked federal regulators late last year to allow delivery of its 737 Max 7 airliner to customers even though it does not meet a safety standard designed to prevent part of the engine housing from overheating and breaking off during flight.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1580497975886.jpeg" alt="File photo-Spirit AeroSystems, based in Wichita, Kansas, makes a large part of the fuselages on Boeing Max jets.&nbsp; Elaine Thompson/AP/NPR" />
 <figcaption>File photo-Spirit AeroSystems, based in Wichita, Kansas, makes a large part of the fuselages on Boeing Max jets.&nbsp; Elaine Thompson/AP/NPR</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA (AP) —Boeing discovered another problem in some of its 737 fuselages that may delay deliveries of about 50 aircraft in the latest quality gaffe to plague the manufacturer.Improperly drilled holes were discovered by Spirit AeroSystems, a major supplier that provides Boeing with fuselages, according to a letter from Stan Deal, CEO of Boeing's commercial airplanes division.“While this potential condition is not an immediate safety issue and all 737s can continue operating safely, we currently believe we will have to perform rework on about 50 undelivered planes,” Deal said in a letter to employees that was shared Monday.Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems are facing intense scrutiny over the quality of their work after an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 was forced to make&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jetliner-blowout-737-max-9-united-alaska-2f74f52bbad7fca26aa11786bd44c356">an emergency landing</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 5 when a panel called a door plug blew out of the side of the plane shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon.The NTSB&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-investigation-ntsb-safety-airplanes-d9e28fe1a11dafe4f639268504bdb85f">is investigating</a>&nbsp;the accident, while the Federal Aviation Administration investigates whether Boeing and its suppliers followed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/faa-boeing-door-blowout-investigation-alaska-airlines-5c378e8080ae1bf1e3d3f7e68d498d5c">quality-control procedures</a>.Shares of the The Boeing Co., already down 20% this year, slipped another 2% before the opening bell Monday.Problems with Boeing jets have opened a potential rift with some of its biggest customers. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-airlines-ceo-boeing-manufacturing-problems-4090ea6176ef59e382dd18e9522596bc">said last month</a>&nbsp;that the carrier will consider alternative aircraft in the future, and Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci told “NBC Nightly News that “I am more than frustrated and disappointed. I am angry.”Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, the only other U.S. airline flying the Max 9, reported finding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alaska-airlines-portland-oregon-emergency-landing-5634aca545ac602d1e398497696f83c3">loose hardware</a>&nbsp;in door plugs of other planes they inspected after the accident. The FAA grounded all Max 9s in the U.S. the day after the blowout. Two weeks later, the agency approved the inspection and maintenance process to return the planes to flying.Alaska Airlines and United Airlines have begun returning some to service.Boeing, based in Arlington, Virginia, said last week it was withdrawing a request for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-737-max-safety-exemption-door-plug-7bb30166181034fc07750ded8f072d7f">safety exemption</a>&nbsp;needed to certify a new, smaller model of the 737 Max airliner. Boeing asked federal regulators late last year to allow delivery of its 737 Max 7 airliner to customers even though it does not meet a safety standard designed to prevent part of the engine housing from overheating and breaking off during flight.

New problem found on Boeing 737 Max planes

BEIRUT (AP) — A drone attack on a base housing U.S. troops in eastern Syria killed six allied Kurdish fighters late Sunday, in the first significant attack in Syria or Iraq since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mideast-tensions-things-to-know-7085f1dba25ca1a9ecc81d208717c9a2">U.S. launched retaliatory strikes</a>&nbsp;over the weekend against Iran-backed militias that have been targeting its forces in the region.

The U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said Monday the attack hit a training ground at al-Omar base in Syria’s eastern province of Deir el-Zour, where the forces' commando units are trained. No casualties were reported among U.S. troops.

An umbrella group of Iran-backed Iraqi militias, dubbed the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, released a video claiming responsibility for the attack and showing them launching a drone from an unspecified location.

In late January,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-american-service-members-killed-jordan-iran-5cb774fd835a558d840ae91263037489">a drone attack by the same group killed three U.S. troops</a>&nbsp;and wounded dozens more at a desert base in Jordan. The U.S. military launched dozens of retaliatory strikes targeting Iran-backed militant groups in western Iraq and eastern Syria and also struck the Houthis in Yemen.

The SDF initially accused “Syrian regime-backed mercenaries” of carrying out Sunday's attack but in a second statement blamed “Iran-backed militias” after investigating the attack.

The umbrella group has launched dozens of drone attacks on U.S. military bases and troops in Iraq and Syria, and has called for the withdrawal of American soldiers from both countries.

The attack comes as tensions flare across the Middle East amid the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>, which was sparked by Hamas' rampage in southern Israel on Oct. 7.

Meanwhile, Britain-based opposition war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least seven SDF fighters were killed in the attack on Sunday and at least 18 others wounded, some in critical condition.

The attack late Sunday came two days after the U.S. military carried out strikes against militant targets linked to Iran in Syria and Iraq.

The SDF said it has the right to respond to the attack.

The U.S. military said it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-iran-syria-jordan-strikes-us-2f235ac0d00edc266576ef0d76fa33e4">struck four anti-ship missiles on Sunday</a>&nbsp;that were prepared to be fired at vessels in the Red Sea from Houthi rebel-controlled areas in Yemen.

In a statement early Monday, the U.S. Central Command said the strikes were in self-defense and came after forces determined the missiles “presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region.”

Sunday’s strikes came a day after the U.S. and Britain launched a second wave of strikes against the Houthis, meant to degrade the Iranian-backed group’ capabilities to attack vessels in the Red Sea. The U.S. and Britain said they hit 36 Houthi targets.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707089021196.png" alt="Photo of the U.S.. aircraft launching Saturday in support of the attacks on Iran-backed terrorists- U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo of the U.S.. aircraft launching Saturday in support of the attacks on Iran-backed terrorists- U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>BEIRUT (AP) — A drone attack on a base housing U.S. troops in eastern Syria killed six allied Kurdish fighters late Sunday, in the first significant attack in Syria or Iraq since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mideast-tensions-things-to-know-7085f1dba25ca1a9ecc81d208717c9a2">U.S. launched retaliatory strikes</a>&nbsp;over the weekend against Iran-backed militias that have been targeting its forces in the region.The U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said Monday the attack hit a training ground at al-Omar base in Syria’s eastern province of Deir el-Zour, where the forces' commando units are trained. No casualties were reported among U.S. troops.An umbrella group of Iran-backed Iraqi militias, dubbed the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, released a video claiming responsibility for the attack and showing them launching a drone from an unspecified location.In late January,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-american-service-members-killed-jordan-iran-5cb774fd835a558d840ae91263037489">a drone attack by the same group killed three U.S. troops</a>&nbsp;and wounded dozens more at a desert base in Jordan. The U.S. military launched dozens of retaliatory strikes targeting Iran-backed militant groups in western Iraq and eastern Syria and also struck the Houthis in Yemen.The SDF initially accused “Syrian regime-backed mercenaries” of carrying out Sunday's attack but in a second statement blamed “Iran-backed militias” after investigating the attack.The umbrella group has launched dozens of drone attacks on U.S. military bases and troops in Iraq and Syria, and has called for the withdrawal of American soldiers from both countries.The attack comes as tensions flare across the Middle East amid the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>, which was sparked by Hamas' rampage in southern Israel on Oct. 7.Meanwhile, Britain-based opposition war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least seven SDF fighters were killed in the attack on Sunday and at least 18 others wounded, some in critical condition.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707001097326.png" alt="U.S. Warship supporting strikes on Iranian-backed Houthi targets-image U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Warship supporting strikes on Iranian-backed Houthi targets-image U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>The attack late Sunday came two days after the U.S. military carried out strikes against militant targets linked to Iran in Syria and Iraq.The SDF said it has the right to respond to the attack.The U.S. military said it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-iran-syria-jordan-strikes-us-2f235ac0d00edc266576ef0d76fa33e4">struck four anti-ship missiles on Sunday</a>&nbsp;that were prepared to be fired at vessels in the Red Sea from Houthi rebel-controlled areas in Yemen.In a statement early Monday, the U.S. Central Command said the strikes were in self-defense and came after forces determined the missiles “presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region.”Sunday’s strikes came a day after the U.S. and Britain launched a second wave of strikes against the Houthis, meant to degrade the Iranian-backed group’ capabilities to attack vessels in the Red Sea. The U.S. and Britain said they hit 36 Houthi targets.

Drone attack on Syrian base housing US troops kills 6 Kurdish fighters 

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3665864/joint-statement-from-australia-bahrain-denmark-canada-the-netherlands-new-zeala/">The United States and Britain</a>&nbsp;struck 36&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Houthi</a>&nbsp;targets in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/yemen">Yemen</a>&nbsp;on Saturday in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-syria-strikes-hamas-militia-iran-us-62be7c7b500de1d0f1287a9b2c6f82dc">second wave of assaults</a>&nbsp;meant to further disable Iran-backed groups that have relentlessly attacked American and international interests in the wake of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>. But Washington once more did not directly target Iran as it tries to find a balance between a forceful response and intensifying the conflict.

U.S. Central Command said its forces conducted an additional strike on Sunday “in self-defense against a Houthi anti-ship cruise missile prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea,” according to a post on X, formerly Twitter.

“U.S. forces identified the cruise missile in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined it presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region. This action will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy vessels and merchant vessels,” the post added.

The strikes on Saturday against the Houthis were launched by U.S. warships and American and British fighter jets. The strikes followed an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/attack-military-iran-iraq-houthis-229a735edbb7759ba9ade543013917df">air assault</a>&nbsp;in Iraq and Syria on Friday that targeted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-hezbollah-houthis-iran-militant-groups-745bfc36e23997ee3f0bc499a9f5c16d">other Iranian-backed militias</a>&nbsp;and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in retaliation for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-american-service-members-killed-jordan-iran-5cb774fd835a558d840ae91263037489">drone strike that killed three U.S. troops</a>&nbsp;in Jordan last weekend.

The Houthi targets on Saturday were in 13 different locations and were struck by U.S. F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, by British Typhoon FGR4 fighter aircraft and by the Navy destroyers USS Gravely and the USS Carney firing Tomahawk missiles from the Red Sea, according to U.S. officials and the U.K. Defense Ministry. The U.S. officials were not authorized to publicly discuss the military operation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The U.S. warned its response after the soldiers’ deaths at the Tower 22 base in Jordan last Sunday would not be limited to one night, one target or one group. While there has been no suggestion the Houthis were directly responsible, they have been one of the prime U.S. adversaries since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Health Ministry</a>&nbsp;in Hamas-ruled Gaza said that more than 26,000 people have been killed and more than 64,400 wounded in the Israeli military operation since the war began.

The Houthis have been conducting almost daily missile or drone attacks against commercial and military ships transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and they have made clear that they have no intention of scaling back their campaign despite pressure from the American and British campaign.

Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a Houthi official, said “military operations against Israel will continue until the crimes of genocide in Gaza are stopped and the siege on its residents is lifted, no matter the sacrifices it costs us.” He wrote online that the “American-British aggression against Yemen will not go unanswered, and we will meet escalation with escalation.”

The Biden administration has indicated that this is likely not the last of its strikes. The U.S. has blamed the Jordan attack on the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iranian-backed militias. Iran has tried to distance itself from the drone strike, saying the militias act independently of its direction.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the military action, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, “sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels.”

He added: “We will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways.”

The Defense Department said the strikes targeted sites associated with the Houthis’ deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defense systems, radars and helicopters. The British military said it struck a ground control station west of Yemen's capital, Sanaa, that has been used to control Houthi drones that have launched against vessels in the Red Sea.

President Joe Biden was briefed on the strikes before he left Delaware on Saturday for a West Coast campaign trip, according to an administration official.

The latest strikes marked the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-biden-retaliation-attacks-0804b93372cd5e874a0dd03513fe36a2">third time</a>&nbsp;the U.S. and Britain had conducted a large joint operation to strike Houthi weapon launchers, radar sites and drones. The strikes in Yemen are meant to underscore the broader message to Iran that Washington holds Tehran responsible for arming, funding and training the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-hezbollah-houthis-iran-militant-groups-745bfc36e23997ee3f0bc499a9f5c16d">array of militias</a>&nbsp;— from Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen — who are behind attacks across the Mideast against U.S. and international interests.

Video shared online by people in Sanaa included the sound of explosions and at least one blast was seen lighting up the night sky. Residents described the blasts as happening around buildings associated with the Yemeni presidential compound. The Houthi-controlled state-run news agency, SABA, reported strikes in al-Bayda, Dhamar, Hajjah, Hodeida, Taiz and Sanaa provinces.

Hours before the latest joint operation, the U.S. took another self-defense strike on a site in Yemen, destroying six anti-ship cruise missiles, as it has repeatedly when it has detected a missile or drone ready to launch. The day before the strikes the U.S. destroyer Laboon and F/A-18s from the Eisenhower shot down seven drones fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Red Sea and the destroyer Carney shot down a drone fired in the Gulf of Aden and U.S. forces took out four more drones that were prepared to launch.

The Houthis’ attacks have led shipping companies to reroute their vessels from the Red Sea, sending them around Africa through the Cape of Good Hope — a much longer, costlier and less efficient passage. The threats also have led the U.S. and its allies to set up a joint mission where warships from participating nations provide a protective umbrella of air defense for ships as they travel the critical waterway that runs from the Suez Canal down to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

During normal operations, about 400 commercial vessels transit the southern Red Sea at any given time.

In the wake of the strikes Friday in Iraq and Syria, Hussein al-Mosawi, spokesperson for Harakat al-Nujaba, one of the main Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, said Washington “must understand that every action elicits a reaction.” But in an AP interview in Baghdad, he also struck a more conciliatory tone. "We do not wish to escalate or widen regional tensions,” he said.

Iraqi officials have attempted to rein in the militias, while also condemning U.S. retaliatory strikes as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and calling for an exit of the 2,500 U.S. troops who are in the country as part of an international coalition to fight the Islamic State group. Last month, Iraqi and U.S. military officials launched formal talks to wind down the coalition’s presence, a process that will likely take years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707001115180.png" alt="Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3665864/joint-statement-from-australia-bahrain-denmark-canada-the-netherlands-new-zeala/">The United States and Britain</a>&nbsp;struck 36&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Houthi</a>&nbsp;targets in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/yemen">Yemen</a>&nbsp;on Saturday in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-syria-strikes-hamas-militia-iran-us-62be7c7b500de1d0f1287a9b2c6f82dc">second wave of assaults</a>&nbsp;meant to further disable Iran-backed groups that have relentlessly attacked American and international interests in the wake of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>. But Washington once more did not directly target Iran as it tries to find a balance between a forceful response and intensifying the conflict.U.S. Central Command said its forces conducted an additional strike on Sunday “in self-defense against a Houthi anti-ship cruise missile prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea,” according to a post on X, formerly Twitter.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707001097326.png" alt="photo of the U.S. effort on Saturday -U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>photo of the U.S. effort on Saturday -U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>“U.S. forces identified the cruise missile in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined it presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region. This action will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy vessels and merchant vessels,” the post added.The strikes on Saturday against the Houthis were launched by U.S. warships and American and British fighter jets. The strikes followed an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/attack-military-iran-iraq-houthis-229a735edbb7759ba9ade543013917df">air assault</a>&nbsp;in Iraq and Syria on Friday that targeted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-hezbollah-houthis-iran-militant-groups-745bfc36e23997ee3f0bc499a9f5c16d">other Iranian-backed militias</a>&nbsp;and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in retaliation for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-american-service-members-killed-jordan-iran-5cb774fd835a558d840ae91263037489">drone strike that killed three U.S. troops</a>&nbsp;in Jordan last weekend.The Houthi targets on Saturday were in 13 different locations and were struck by U.S. F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, by British Typhoon FGR4 fighter aircraft and by the Navy destroyers USS Gravely and the USS Carney firing Tomahawk missiles from the Red Sea, according to U.S. officials and the U.K. Defense Ministry. The U.S. officials were not authorized to publicly discuss the military operation and spoke on condition of anonymity.The U.S. warned its response after the soldiers’ deaths at the Tower 22 base in Jordan last Sunday would not be limited to one night, one target or one group. While there has been no suggestion the Houthis were directly responsible, they have been one of the prime U.S. adversaries since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Health Ministry</a>&nbsp;in Hamas-ruled Gaza said that more than 26,000 people have been killed and more than 64,400 wounded in the Israeli military operation since the war began.The Houthis have been conducting almost daily missile or drone attacks against commercial and military ships transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and they have made clear that they have no intention of scaling back their campaign despite pressure from the American and British campaign.Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a Houthi official, said “military operations against Israel will continue until the crimes of genocide in Gaza are stopped and the siege on its residents is lifted, no matter the sacrifices it costs us.” He wrote online that the “American-British aggression against Yemen will not go unanswered, and we will meet escalation with escalation.”The Biden administration has indicated that this is likely not the last of its strikes. The U.S. has blamed the Jordan attack on the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iranian-backed militias. Iran has tried to distance itself from the drone strike, saying the militias act independently of its direction.Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the military action, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, “sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels.”He added: “We will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways.”The Defense Department said the strikes targeted sites associated with the Houthis’ deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defense systems, radars and helicopters. The British military said it struck a ground control station west of Yemen's capital, Sanaa, that has been used to control Houthi drones that have launched against vessels in the Red Sea.President Joe Biden was briefed on the strikes before he left Delaware on Saturday for a West Coast campaign trip, according to an administration official.The latest strikes marked the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-biden-retaliation-attacks-0804b93372cd5e874a0dd03513fe36a2">third time</a>&nbsp;the U.S. and Britain had conducted a large joint operation to strike Houthi weapon launchers, radar sites and drones. The strikes in Yemen are meant to underscore the broader message to Iran that Washington holds Tehran responsible for arming, funding and training the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-hezbollah-houthis-iran-militant-groups-745bfc36e23997ee3f0bc499a9f5c16d">array of militias</a>&nbsp;— from Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen — who are behind attacks across the Mideast against U.S. and international interests.Video shared online by people in Sanaa included the sound of explosions and at least one blast was seen lighting up the night sky. Residents described the blasts as happening around buildings associated with the Yemeni presidential compound. The Houthi-controlled state-run news agency, SABA, reported strikes in al-Bayda, Dhamar, Hajjah, Hodeida, Taiz and Sanaa provinces.Hours before the latest joint operation, the U.S. took another self-defense strike on a site in Yemen, destroying six anti-ship cruise missiles, as it has repeatedly when it has detected a missile or drone ready to launch. The day before the strikes the U.S. destroyer Laboon and F/A-18s from the Eisenhower shot down seven drones fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Red Sea and the destroyer Carney shot down a drone fired in the Gulf of Aden and U.S. forces took out four more drones that were prepared to launch.The Houthis’ attacks have led shipping companies to reroute their vessels from the Red Sea, sending them around Africa through the Cape of Good Hope — a much longer, costlier and less efficient passage. The threats also have led the U.S. and its allies to set up a joint mission where warships from participating nations provide a protective umbrella of air defense for ships as they travel the critical waterway that runs from the Suez Canal down to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.During normal operations, about 400 commercial vessels transit the southern Red Sea at any given time.In the wake of the strikes Friday in Iraq and Syria, Hussein al-Mosawi, spokesperson for Harakat al-Nujaba, one of the main Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, said Washington “must understand that every action elicits a reaction.” But in an AP interview in Baghdad, he also struck a more conciliatory tone. "We do not wish to escalate or widen regional tensions,” he said.Iraqi officials have attempted to rein in the militias, while also condemning U.S. retaliatory strikes as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and calling for an exit of the 2,500 U.S. troops who are in the country as part of an international coalition to fight the Islamic State group. Last month, Iraqi and U.S. military officials launched formal talks to wind down the coalition’s presence, a process that will likely take years.___

US continues strikes on Iran-backed militants

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-ohio-derailment-hazardous-materials-74d7aec638500c52d1eb9fda0acf9f26">changes</a>&nbsp;railroads announced after last year's fiery crash in East Palestine, Ohio, haven’t yet made a major difference, statistics show, and reforms have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/east-palestine-train-derailment-safety-regulations-railroad-4db52c68daf68da05425b5b70363fb0a">stalled in Congress</a>.

A few key measures in the latest Federal Railroad Administration statistics, including the total number of train accidents, worsened over the first 11 months of last year compared to the same period in previous years. Meanwhile there were some improvements with other numbers, like total derailments.

The overall picture is that rail safety hasn’t significantly improved in recent years — and as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-ohio-evacuations-fires-5d399dc745f51ef746e22828083d8591">Norfolk Southern derailment</a>&nbsp;in East Palestine last Feb. 3 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-derailments-tank-car-ohio-minnesota-c60f33b64e9c7dc05768a78ae20f3ce5">others</a>&nbsp;demonstrate, just one derailment can be disastrous when hazardous chemicals are involved. The small town near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border is still&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-train-derailment-east-palestine-ohio-eab23ed0fd6577a5cf96e8fd301da681">struggling to recover</a>&nbsp;a year later.

U.S. Transportation Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rail-accidents-transportation-pete-buttigieg-ohio-pennsylvania-f1cd9d79cdd66b1f45d1dcdf1e53ff58">Pete Buttigieg</a>&nbsp;said there was a meaningful 15% decrease in derailments along mainline tracks after Congress responded to a number of high-profile train crashes involving crude oil in the early 2010s. "Progress has plateaued as derailments and preventable incidents are happening at an unacceptable rate,” Buttigieg said, urging Congress to pass the reforms now.

The railroad industry defends its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinian-territories-ohio-canada-business-accidents-d57651e17b2f9e0163c50298106950a3">record</a>&nbsp;as the safest way to transport hazardous materials over land — something the head of the National Transportation Safety Board agreed with in recent testimony in the House — though officials acknowledge the railroads need to continue improving safety. And the Association of American Railroads trade group says most of the measures railroads promised to take last spring weren’t completed until late last year, so they aren’t yet reflected in the numbers.

<a href="https://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/officeofsafety/publicsite/query/TenYearAccidentIncidentOverview.aspx">Safety statistics</a>&nbsp;are mixed for the six biggest freight railroads that dominate the industry — Norfolk Southern, CSX, Union Pacific, CPKC, Canadian National and BNSF.

For the majority of 2023 the total number of train accidents increased slightly to 4,845, including more than 600 deaths.

When comparing 2022 and 2023, the total number of derailments declined about 2.6% — but there were still nearly three derailments a day nationwide. Railroads point out that roughly two-thirds of those crashes happen at slow speeds in railyards and don’t cause significant damage.

There were 53 major derailments last year causing damage over $1 million, a surge of nearly 33%. Norfolk Southern has said the cost of the East Palestine derailment has already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-fourth-quarter-profit-derailment-ohio-9e6d48eac14f7bed075a6ae5c096f2fe">topped $1.1 billion,</a>&nbsp;and that total will continue to grow with cleanup costs and lawsuit settlements.

The number of total crashes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-pete-buttigieg-evacuations-ohio-explosions-64908a6416662b5866809387f210aee5">caused</a>&nbsp;by the same issue as the eastern Ohio derailment more than doubled nationwide last year to 19.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-train-derailment-virginia-east-palestine-2ed4479f342b4b7749f3926488b95594">Overheating bearing failures</a>&nbsp;remain a small fraction representing less than 2% of all accidents.

All 13 railroad unions have sounded the alarm about the dangers of the lean operating model that has cut roughly one-third of the industry's rail jobs. The unions say that as a result of these cuts, inspections are rushed — or done by less qualified workers — and everyone remaining is overworked. They also say companies may be neglecting to do preventative maintenance.

“East Palestine was no surprise,” said Jared Cassity, the safety chief at the SMART-TD union, which represents conductors. “The next East Palestine, at least at this pace that we’re going, is imminent to some degree.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-aab7d3084a8d17d8d721d2cb750be323">railroads defend</a>&nbsp;their operating model — which relies on fewer trains that have grown much longer — as simply helping them make the best use of their locomotives, tracks and crews without jeopardizing safety, and the Federal Railroad Administration says safety statistics haven’t gotten significantly worse since they started using it.

But Tony Cardwell who leads the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division union, which represents track maintenance workers, said the railroads are under pressure to cut costs from “vulture capitalist” investors.

Over the past year, the railroads have agreed to provide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-paid-sick-time-negotiations-norfolk-southern-70327831f881dcf86a43e05d22a5bdd5">paid sick leave</a>&nbsp;to most of their workers for the first time and improve the way engineers and conductors are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-contract-engineers-demanding-schedules-union-pacific-e2ffdb4830a313249ca2281de360acca">scheduled</a>&nbsp;in order to help reduce fatigue.

What have railroads done to improve safety?

Last year, the major freight railroads installed hundreds of new trackside detectors to spot overheating bearings, as part of their goal of adding roughly 1,000 of those nationwide to make the average spacing between them 15 miles (24 kilometers) in most places.

All railroads will now stop trains when bearings detect a gap of more than 170 degrees from the outside air, and there are new standards to help them better track when bearings start to heat up to catch issues sooner.

Railroads have also been installing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-railroad-safety-derailment-automated-inspection-27cb90910e02da182b2a62fa5f40d48d">complex portals</a>&nbsp;filled with cameras, other sensors and advanced detectors to spot problems as they’re moving.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-railroad-safety-east-palestine-derailment-fdea2ee92d117c9a1cc6581b92af5a94">Norfolk Southern</a>&nbsp;also took additional steps like hiring a consultant from the nuclear power industry to review its safety practices, establishing a pilot program so employees can&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-railroad-safety-hotline-derailment-a28132466f11e25572b28f9c344a6b83">anonymously report</a>&nbsp;safety concerns and changing rules for train assembly to better balance the weight of heavy cars and hazardous materials.

“We’re always going to strive to get better at safety,” Norfolk Southern&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-derailment-east-palestine-73d273f88147b30ea53caf3d2b23f669">CEO Alan Shaw</a>&nbsp;told The Associated Press. “There’s no one thing that you do. It’s a bunch of different things."

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derailment-ohio-safety-senate-legislation-brown-vance-82c55dc95aca9524d6ae8e6d01336dbe">railroad safety act</a>&nbsp;has yet to get a vote in the full Senate — or even a hearing in the House. The measure would call for the creation of federal standards for those trackside detectors, increased inspections by qualified employees and two-person crews on every freight train.

Ian Jefferies with the AAR trade group says railroads haven’t opposed the bill outright — but they are fighting several provisions like the two-man crew requirement and locomotive inspection rules. They say such changes aren't related to what caused the East Palestine wreck. After all, that train had three crew members, and the railcar — not a locomotive — had the flaw. The railroads also want a cost-benefit analysis to be done on the rules.

House Republicans say they want to wait for the final NTSB report before they act, so they can be sure that any new regulations are directly related to the cause of the East Palestine derailment. The report won’t be out until sometime this summer.

Democratic Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, who was part of the bipartisan group that proposed the bill, blames railroad industry lobbying from keeping the act from advancing.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-ohio-derailment-hazardous-materials-74d7aec638500c52d1eb9fda0acf9f26">changes</a>&nbsp;railroads announced after last year's fiery crash in East Palestine, Ohio, haven’t yet made a major difference, statistics show, and reforms have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/east-palestine-train-derailment-safety-regulations-railroad-4db52c68daf68da05425b5b70363fb0a">stalled in Congress</a>.A few key measures in the latest Federal Railroad Administration statistics, including the total number of train accidents, worsened over the first 11 months of last year compared to the same period in previous years. Meanwhile there were some improvements with other numbers, like total derailments.The overall picture is that rail safety hasn’t significantly improved in recent years — and as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-ohio-evacuations-fires-5d399dc745f51ef746e22828083d8591">Norfolk Southern derailment</a>&nbsp;in East Palestine last Feb. 3 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-derailments-tank-car-ohio-minnesota-c60f33b64e9c7dc05768a78ae20f3ce5">others</a>&nbsp;demonstrate, just one derailment can be disastrous when hazardous chemicals are involved. The small town near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border is still&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-train-derailment-east-palestine-ohio-eab23ed0fd6577a5cf96e8fd301da681">struggling to recover</a>&nbsp;a year later.U.S. Transportation Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rail-accidents-transportation-pete-buttigieg-ohio-pennsylvania-f1cd9d79cdd66b1f45d1dcdf1e53ff58">Pete Buttigieg</a>&nbsp;said there was a meaningful 15% decrease in derailments along mainline tracks after Congress responded to a number of high-profile train crashes involving crude oil in the early 2010s. "Progress has plateaued as derailments and preventable incidents are happening at an unacceptable rate,” Buttigieg said, urging Congress to pass the reforms now.The railroad industry defends its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinian-territories-ohio-canada-business-accidents-d57651e17b2f9e0163c50298106950a3">record</a>&nbsp;as the safest way to transport hazardous materials over land — something the head of the National Transportation Safety Board agreed with in recent testimony in the House — though officials acknowledge the railroads need to continue improving safety. And the Association of American Railroads trade group says most of the measures railroads promised to take last spring weren’t completed until late last year, so they aren’t yet reflected in the numbers.What's the industry’s safety record?<a href="https://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/officeofsafety/publicsite/query/TenYearAccidentIncidentOverview.aspx">Safety statistics</a>&nbsp;are mixed for the six biggest freight railroads that dominate the industry — Norfolk Southern, CSX, Union Pacific, CPKC, Canadian National and BNSF.For the majority of 2023 the total number of train accidents increased slightly to 4,845, including more than 600 deaths.When comparing 2022 and 2023, the total number of derailments declined about 2.6% — but there were still nearly three derailments a day nationwide. Railroads point out that roughly two-thirds of those crashes happen at slow speeds in railyards and don’t cause significant damage.How many costly derailments are there?There were 53 major derailments last year causing damage over $1 million, a surge of nearly 33%. Norfolk Southern has said the cost of the East Palestine derailment has already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-fourth-quarter-profit-derailment-ohio-9e6d48eac14f7bed075a6ae5c096f2fe">topped $1.1 billion,</a>&nbsp;and that total will continue to grow with cleanup costs and lawsuit settlements.The number of total crashes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-pete-buttigieg-evacuations-ohio-explosions-64908a6416662b5866809387f210aee5">caused</a>&nbsp;by the same issue as the eastern Ohio derailment more than doubled nationwide last year to 19.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-train-derailment-virginia-east-palestine-2ed4479f342b4b7749f3926488b95594">Overheating bearing failures</a>&nbsp;remain a small fraction representing less than 2% of all accidents.Are railroads getting riskier?All 13 railroad unions have sounded the alarm about the dangers of the lean operating model that has cut roughly one-third of the industry's rail jobs. The unions say that as a result of these cuts, inspections are rushed — or done by less qualified workers — and everyone remaining is overworked. They also say companies may be neglecting to do preventative maintenance.“East Palestine was no surprise,” said Jared Cassity, the safety chief at the SMART-TD union, which represents conductors. “The next East Palestine, at least at this pace that we’re going, is imminent to some degree.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-aab7d3084a8d17d8d721d2cb750be323">railroads defend</a>&nbsp;their operating model — which relies on fewer trains that have grown much longer — as simply helping them make the best use of their locomotives, tracks and crews without jeopardizing safety, and the Federal Railroad Administration says safety statistics haven’t gotten significantly worse since they started using it.But Tony Cardwell who leads the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division union, which represents track maintenance workers, said the railroads are under pressure to cut costs from “vulture capitalist” investors.Over the past year, the railroads have agreed to provide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-paid-sick-time-negotiations-norfolk-southern-70327831f881dcf86a43e05d22a5bdd5">paid sick leave</a>&nbsp;to most of their workers for the first time and improve the way engineers and conductors are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-contract-engineers-demanding-schedules-union-pacific-e2ffdb4830a313249ca2281de360acca">scheduled</a>&nbsp;in order to help reduce fatigue.What have railroads done to improve safety?Last year, the major freight railroads installed hundreds of new trackside detectors to spot overheating bearings, as part of their goal of adding roughly 1,000 of those nationwide to make the average spacing between them 15 miles (24 kilometers) in most places.All railroads will now stop trains when bearings detect a gap of more than 170 degrees from the outside air, and there are new standards to help them better track when bearings start to heat up to catch issues sooner.Railroads have also been installing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-railroad-safety-derailment-automated-inspection-27cb90910e02da182b2a62fa5f40d48d">complex portals</a>&nbsp;filled with cameras, other sensors and advanced detectors to spot problems as they’re moving.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-railroad-safety-east-palestine-derailment-fdea2ee92d117c9a1cc6581b92af5a94">Norfolk Southern</a>&nbsp;also took additional steps like hiring a consultant from the nuclear power industry to review its safety practices, establishing a pilot program so employees can&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-railroad-safety-hotline-derailment-a28132466f11e25572b28f9c344a6b83">anonymously report</a>&nbsp;safety concerns and changing rules for train assembly to better balance the weight of heavy cars and hazardous materials.“We’re always going to strive to get better at safety,” Norfolk Southern&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-derailment-east-palestine-73d273f88147b30ea53caf3d2b23f669">CEO Alan Shaw</a>&nbsp;told The Associated Press. “There’s no one thing that you do. It’s a bunch of different things."Why hasn’t Congress acted?The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derailment-ohio-safety-senate-legislation-brown-vance-82c55dc95aca9524d6ae8e6d01336dbe">railroad safety act</a>&nbsp;has yet to get a vote in the full Senate — or even a hearing in the House. The measure would call for the creation of federal standards for those trackside detectors, increased inspections by qualified employees and two-person crews on every freight train.Ian Jefferies with the AAR trade group says railroads haven’t opposed the bill outright — but they are fighting several provisions like the two-man crew requirement and locomotive inspection rules. They say such changes aren't related to what caused the East Palestine wreck. After all, that train had three crew members, and the railcar — not a locomotive — had the flaw. The railroads also want a cost-benefit analysis to be done on the rules.House Republicans say they want to wait for the final NTSB report before they act, so they can be sure that any new regulations are directly related to the cause of the East Palestine derailment. The report won’t be out until sometime this summer.Democratic Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, who was part of the bipartisan group that proposed the bill, blames railroad industry lobbying from keeping the act from advancing.

Railroads say they're making safety changes to reduce derailments after fiery Ohio crash

WASHINGTON —The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to purchase or use South Moon, Rebright or FivFivGo eye drops because of the potential risk of eye infection, according to a statement from the agency.

These are copycat eye drop products that consumers can easily mistake for Bausch + Lomb’s Lumify brand eye drops, an over-the-counter product approved for redness relief.

South Moon, Rebright and FivFivGo eye drops are unapproved drugs and should not be available for sale in the U.S. They claim to treat eye conditions such as glaucoma, which is treated with prescription drugs or surgery.

Patients who have signs or symptoms of an eye infection should talk to their health care provider or seek medical care immediately. FDA recommends consumers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/safe-disposal-medicines/disposal-unused-medicines-what-you-should-know">properly discard</a>&nbsp;these products.

The agency tested samples of South Moon and Rebright eye drops, purchased online. The South Moon eye drops were contaminated with&nbsp;Burkholderia cepacia&nbsp;complex, a group of bacteria that could result in an antibiotic-resistant infection. While Rebright testing was negative for contamination, FDA recommends consumers not use this product.

FDA testing of the Rebright and South Moon eye drops also found that these copycat products lacked brimonidine tartrate, the active ingredient in Lumify. FDA was unable to obtain FivFivGo samples.

The origin of these products is currently unclear, and FDA continues to investigate. South Moon is labeled as made by Shantou Cross-border Premium Products E-Commerce Co. Ltd. in China.

FDA has not received any adverse event reports that specifically name the South Moon, Rebright or FivFivGo products. However, the agency has received reports related to possibly fake Lumify, including product quality concerns, eye irritation, pain and infection.

The agency&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/buying-using-medicine-safely/what-you-should-know-about-eye-drops">recommends</a>&nbsp;consumers only buy eye products from reputable retailers such as state-licensed pharmacies and beware of online retailers selling products with false claims.

Comparison of authentic Lumify with copycat products

The South Moon, Rebright and FivFivGo photos are examples of the images that appear on various websites. Some of these copycat products may be falsely labeled with “Bausch + Lomb” at the top of the packaging. The actual products may look different.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1706794350177.png" alt="FDA image" />
 <figcaption>FDA image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to purchase or use South Moon, Rebright or FivFivGo eye drops because of the potential risk of eye infection, according to a statement from the agency.These are copycat eye drop products that consumers can easily mistake for Bausch + Lomb’s Lumify brand eye drops, an over-the-counter product approved for redness relief.South Moon, Rebright and FivFivGo eye drops are unapproved drugs and should not be available for sale in the U.S. They claim to treat eye conditions such as glaucoma, which is treated with prescription drugs or surgery.Patients who have signs or symptoms of an eye infection should talk to their health care provider or seek medical care immediately. FDA recommends consumers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/safe-disposal-medicines/disposal-unused-medicines-what-you-should-know">properly discard</a>&nbsp;these products.The agency tested samples of South Moon and Rebright eye drops, purchased online. The South Moon eye drops were contaminated with&nbsp;Burkholderia cepacia&nbsp;complex, a group of bacteria that could result in an antibiotic-resistant infection. While Rebright testing was negative for contamination, FDA recommends consumers not use this product.FDA testing of the Rebright and South Moon eye drops also found that these copycat products lacked brimonidine tartrate, the active ingredient in Lumify. FDA was unable to obtain FivFivGo samples.The origin of these products is currently unclear, and FDA continues to investigate. South Moon is labeled as made by Shantou Cross-border Premium Products E-Commerce Co. Ltd. in China.FDA has not received any adverse event reports that specifically name the South Moon, Rebright or FivFivGo products. However, the agency has received reports related to possibly fake Lumify, including product quality concerns, eye irritation, pain and infection.The agency&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/buying-using-medicine-safely/what-you-should-know-about-eye-drops">recommends</a>&nbsp;consumers only buy eye products from reputable retailers such as state-licensed pharmacies and beware of online retailers selling products with false claims.Comparison of authentic Lumify with copycat productsThe South Moon, Rebright and FivFivGo photos are examples of the images that appear on various websites. Some of these copycat products may be falsely labeled with “Bausch + Lomb” at the top of the packaging. The actual products may look different.

FDA warns of contaminated copycat eye drops

Economic growth and opportunity in Nebraska’s Third District is powered by agricultural trade. While the United States makes up approximately 5 percent of the world’s population, America’s hardworking farmers and ranchers create enough surplus to export $200 billon in food, fuel, and fiber annually while utilizing fewer and fewer acres each year.

Robust engagement on trade opportunities is vital to unleashing this potential, yet the Biden administration has neglected to pursue enforceable trade agreements and often ignored Congress’ constitutional role in shaping trade policy. While President Biden has had numerous opportunities to personally address issues like Mexico’s unscientific ban on U.S.-grown corn, which threatens market access for American farmers and is a direct violation of United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) commitments, he has failed to do so.

Adrian SmithEconomic growth and opportunity in Nebraska’s Third District is powered by agricultural trade. While the United States makes up approximately 5 percent of the world’s population, America’s hardworking farmers and ranchers create enough surplus to export $200 billon in food, fuel, and fiber annually while utilizing fewer and fewer acres each year.Robust engagement on trade opportunities is vital to unleashing this potential, yet the Biden administration has neglected to pursue enforceable trade agreements and often ignored Congress’ constitutional role in shaping trade policy. While President Biden has had numerous opportunities to personally address issues like Mexico’s unscientific ban on U.S.-grown corn, which threatens market access for American farmers and is a direct violation of United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) commitments, he has failed to do so.As chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, I am working to ensure American agriculture producers have every opportunity to be successful. This includes ensuring strong enforcement of international trade agreements, expanding export opportunities, and securing our supply chains to benefit workers and consumers at home and abroad.This week, I partnered with my colleagues, Reps. Jim Costa (D-CA), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) to form the bipartisan Congressional Agriculture Trade Caucus focused on achieving a level playing field for U.S. agriculture producers. Through this new caucus we will work to increase communication, awareness, and bipartisan support for valuable trade opportunities currently in danger of rotting on the vine.While opening new markets for American products is the best way to grow our economy through trade, Congress must do its part by acting on trade programs in need of reauthorization. For example, renewing trade programs such as the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) will not only provide benefits for American workers and consumers, these programs also provide additional remedy opportunities when our trading partners act unfairly. It is also critical Congress passes Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) which facilitates the president’s duty to negotiate enforceable trade agreements while ensuring Congress has proper oversight of those negotiations. Holding the administration accountable to consult Congress on international trade matters will go a long way toward opening global markets for our producers, lowering prices for consumers, and increasing economic security with our allies.In addition, to keep our food export and domestic supply chains strong, farmers and ranchers depend on veterinarians to detect and prevent highly contagious animal diseases which pose a risk to livestock. A bill I have reintroduced, the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act (H.R. 4355), addresses a discrepancy in our tax code to ease compliance for veterinarians who participate in the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), which provides student loan reimbursement to veterinarians who chose to practice for three years in federally designated veterinary shortage areas.Unlike similar programs for physicians and other human health care providers, VMLRP awards are federally taxed, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is required by law to pay the tax on behalf of the award recipient. H.R. 4355 would simply end federal taxation on the program, increasing the number of veterinarians empowered by the VMLRP to practice in underserved rural areas and helping to ensure the health, safety, and security of our nation’s first-class food safety system. Nebraska currently has 17 counties designated as veterinary shortage areas, including most of the north central part of our state where a significant portion of our cattle inventory is raised.I am committed to standing up for rural Americans who sacrifice each day to put food on tables and fuel in tanks across the globe. Congress should do everything possible to lift onerous tax burdens, call the administration to step up to the plate through rules-based trade policy, and accomplish robust Farm Bill renewal in 2024. Together we can unleash the potential of American producers feeding and fueling the world.