MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is aiming for a commanding victory Tuesday in New Hampshire, securing a sweep of the first two Republican primary races that would make a November rematch with President Joe Biden look more likely than ever.

The biggest question is whether Trump's last major rival, former U.N. Ambassador&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>, will be able to eat into his margin — or pull off an upset outright. Haley has dedicated significant time and financial resources to New Hampshire, hoping to appeal to its famously independent-minded electorate.

In the first results released early Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dixville-notch-primary-voting-new-hampshire-tuesday-0f7f420054403510364469ad52255270">all six registered voters of tiny Dixville Notch</a>&nbsp;cast their ballots for Haley over Trump. The resort town is the only one in New Hampshire this year that opted to vote at midnight.

Trump won New Hampshire's Republican primary big during his first run for president in 2016, but some of his allies lost key races during the midterms two years ago. Haley also has to contend with an opponent who has a deep bond with the GOP base and has concentrated on winning the state decisively enough that it would effectively end the competitive phase of the Republican primary.

If successful, Trump would be the first Republican presidential candidate to win open races in Iowa and New Hampshire since both states began leading the election calendar in 1976 — a clear sign of his continued grip on the party's most-loyal voters.

Trump’s allies are already pressuring Haley to leave the race and those calls will intensify if he wins New Hampshire easily. Were she to drop out, that would effectively decide the GOP primary on its second stop, well before the vast majority of Republican voters across the country have been able to vote.

Haley has been campaigning with New Hampshire’s popular Republican governor, Chris Sununu, a Trump critic. She insists she’s in the race for the long run, telling supporters at a VFW hall in Franklin on Monday that “America does not do coronations.”

“This is about, do you have more of the same, or do you want someone who’s going to take us forward with new solutions,” Haley told reporters, also saying that, “We can either do the whole thing that we’ve always done and live in that chaos world that we’ve had, or we can go forward with no drama, no vendettas and some results for the American people.”

“This is a two-person race,” she added.

Haley and Trump were both hoping to capitalize on high-profile recent departures from the race. Haley could get a lift from some supporters of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who campaigned around decrying Trump but ended his bid shortly before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iowa-caucus-haley-desantis-cold-voting-begins-0af10f1ba21d488af54776b2c8d4028c">Iowa's caucus</a>&nbsp;last week. Trump, meanwhile, may be able to consolidate support from conservative voters who were supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-250c8ed4b49843350e258f0c2754c8ba">who dropped his White House bid</a>&nbsp;on Sunday.

Trump, who appeared at a pre-primary rally in Laconia with one of his former primary rivals, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, was already looking ahead to being the race's last Republican candidate. Asked during a Monday interview with Newsmax about Haley possibly abandoning her campaign after New Hampshire, the former president said he’d never call on her to do that but added, “Maybe she’ll be dropping out Tuesday.”

Scot Stebbins Sr., who attended Trump's rally in a Make America Great Again baseball cap, called him “the greatest president we’ve had since Abraham Lincoln” adding that Trump “has done nothing but good for our nation.”

Stebbins said he thought the&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/index.html">four criminal cases</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/index.html">91 felony counts</a>&nbsp;Trump is facing constituted “a witch hunt” and said Trump would “get rid of all the corrupt politicians who have been in there too long that are getting paid off.”

“He can’t be bought,” Stebbins said. “He’s a true American. He always has been.”

Democrats were also holding a primary Tuesday, but it was unlike any in recent memory.

Biden championed new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-2024-democrats-dnc-state-parties-ac8fba0ab1117ebf75cc16ebe0c735e4">Democratic National Committee</a>&nbsp;rules that have the party's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-georgia-2022-midterm-elections-south-carolina-83f6ea9bd64e567bb1ed55d734474b89">2024 primary process beginning on Feb. 3 in South Carolina</a>, rather than in Iowa or New Hampshire. He argued that Black voters, the party’s most reliable constituency and a critical part of his win in South Carolina that revived his 2020 primary campaign after three opening loses, should have a larger and earlier role in determining its nominee.

New Hampshire’s Democrats, citing state laws dictating that their state hold the nation’s first primary after Iowa’s caucus, defied the revamped order and pushed ahead with their primary as scheduled.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-hampshire-democratic-party-biden-writein-phillips-ba0e883caf8402e853a72d775bb22293">Biden didn’t campaign here</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-new-hampshire-primary-delegates-2024-election-d2bad477a8505d9ae953bb4772f2161b">his name won’t be on the ballot</a>, meaning the state’s Democrats can vote for the president’s two little-known major primary challengers, Minnesota Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/phillips-2024-presidential-campaign-biden-democratic-challenger-0f38b80ba00566014a4d59fdb516d52c">Dean Phillips</a>&nbsp;and self-help author&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marianne-williamson-president-2024-biden-democratic-primary-14e59754bed9e0c54dad4fdfbbc1fa6b">Marianne Williamson</a>. Still, many of New Hampshire’s top Democrats backed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-2024-new-hampshire-ballot-primary-shakeup-1df2712ebf31ffecdaf2bceb4c74bb2f">write-in campaign that they expect Biden to handily win</a>.

Some voters who might otherwise back Democrats could also vote in the more-competitive Republican primary if they are undeclared.

Karen Padgett is an undeclared voter who saw Haley on Monday. She said she’d voted for Trump in the last two elections but didn’t plan to do so again but also is “really annoyed with Joe Biden that he kind of wrote New Hampshire off.”

“Her statement is everybody’s so old there, they’re so entrenched,” Padgett said of Haley’s promises to shake up Washington in ways that Trump pledged to, but never did. “Let’s get some new people in there.”

Instead of focusing on New Hampshire, Biden was joining Vice President Kamala in northern Virginia for a rally in defense of abortion rights, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roe-biden-abortion-reproductive-rights-election-3d184285cc6edbe733311b26445db2a0">Democrats see as a winning issue</a>&nbsp;for them across the country in November.

There's nonetheless a growing sense of inevitability around November being a reprisal of Biden versus Trump. Both men have been criticized by their opponents over age — Biden is 81, Trump 77 — and each has painted the other as woefully unfit for another White House term.

Public opinion polls suggest most Americans oppose a rematch. An AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll in December found that 56% of U.S. adults would be very or somewhat dissatisfied with Biden as the Democratic nominee — and 58% felt the same about Trump as the GOP pick.

Some New Hampshire voters expressed similar frustration.

Jeff Caira, 66, a Republican from Sanbornton, said he was undecided in the primary but that he wanted a candidate who will tackle “the issues, rather than address the baggage that the other two candidates seem to have.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705977175994.png" alt="In Oct. of 2018 Haley announced her resignation as UN Ambassador-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>In Oct. of 2018 Haley announced her resignation as UN Ambassador-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is aiming for a commanding victory Tuesday in New Hampshire, securing a sweep of the first two Republican primary races that would make a November rematch with President Joe Biden look more likely than ever.The biggest question is whether Trump's last major rival, former U.N. Ambassador&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>, will be able to eat into his margin — or pull off an upset outright. Haley has dedicated significant time and financial resources to New Hampshire, hoping to appeal to its famously independent-minded electorate.In the first results released early Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dixville-notch-primary-voting-new-hampshire-tuesday-0f7f420054403510364469ad52255270">all six registered voters of tiny Dixville Notch</a>&nbsp;cast their ballots for Haley over Trump. The resort town is the only one in New Hampshire this year that opted to vote at midnight.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705958478983.png" alt="It's an uphill battle for the former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor-photo courtesy Team Haley" />
 <figcaption>It's an uphill battle for the former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor-photo courtesy Team Haley</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump won New Hampshire's Republican primary big during his first run for president in 2016, but some of his allies lost key races during the midterms two years ago. Haley also has to contend with an opponent who has a deep bond with the GOP base and has concentrated on winning the state decisively enough that it would effectively end the competitive phase of the Republican primary.If successful, Trump would be the first Republican presidential candidate to win open races in Iowa and New Hampshire since both states began leading the election calendar in 1976 — a clear sign of his continued grip on the party's most-loyal voters.Trump’s allies are already pressuring Haley to leave the race and those calls will intensify if he wins New Hampshire easily. Were she to drop out, that would effectively decide the GOP primary on its second stop, well before the vast majority of Republican voters across the country have been able to vote.Haley has been campaigning with New Hampshire’s popular Republican governor, Chris Sununu, a Trump critic. She insists she’s in the race for the long run, telling supporters at a VFW hall in Franklin on Monday that “America does not do coronations.”“This is about, do you have more of the same, or do you want someone who’s going to take us forward with new solutions,” Haley told reporters, also saying that, “We can either do the whole thing that we’ve always done and live in that chaos world that we’ve had, or we can go forward with no drama, no vendettas and some results for the American people.”“This is a two-person race,” she added.Haley and Trump were both hoping to capitalize on high-profile recent departures from the race. Haley could get a lift from some supporters of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who campaigned around decrying Trump but ended his bid shortly before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iowa-caucus-haley-desantis-cold-voting-begins-0af10f1ba21d488af54776b2c8d4028c">Iowa's caucus</a>&nbsp;last week. Trump, meanwhile, may be able to consolidate support from conservative voters who were supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-250c8ed4b49843350e258f0c2754c8ba">who dropped his White House bid</a>&nbsp;on Sunday.Trump, who appeared at a pre-primary rally in Laconia with one of his former primary rivals, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, was already looking ahead to being the race's last Republican candidate. Asked during a Monday interview with Newsmax about Haley possibly abandoning her campaign after New Hampshire, the former president said he’d never call on her to do that but added, “Maybe she’ll be dropping out Tuesday.”Scot Stebbins Sr., who attended Trump's rally in a Make America Great Again baseball cap, called him “the greatest president we’ve had since Abraham Lincoln” adding that Trump “has done nothing but good for our nation.”Stebbins said he thought the&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/index.html">four criminal cases</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/index.html">91 felony counts</a>&nbsp;Trump is facing constituted “a witch hunt” and said Trump would “get rid of all the corrupt politicians who have been in there too long that are getting paid off.”“He can’t be bought,” Stebbins said. “He’s a true American. He always has been.”Democrats were also holding a primary Tuesday, but it was unlike any in recent memory.Biden championed new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-2024-democrats-dnc-state-parties-ac8fba0ab1117ebf75cc16ebe0c735e4">Democratic National Committee</a>&nbsp;rules that have the party's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-georgia-2022-midterm-elections-south-carolina-83f6ea9bd64e567bb1ed55d734474b89">2024 primary process beginning on Feb. 3 in South Carolina</a>, rather than in Iowa or New Hampshire. He argued that Black voters, the party’s most reliable constituency and a critical part of his win in South Carolina that revived his 2020 primary campaign after three opening loses, should have a larger and earlier role in determining its nominee.New Hampshire’s Democrats, citing state laws dictating that their state hold the nation’s first primary after Iowa’s caucus, defied the revamped order and pushed ahead with their primary as scheduled.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-hampshire-democratic-party-biden-writein-phillips-ba0e883caf8402e853a72d775bb22293">Biden didn’t campaign here</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-new-hampshire-primary-delegates-2024-election-d2bad477a8505d9ae953bb4772f2161b">his name won’t be on the ballot</a>, meaning the state’s Democrats can vote for the president’s two little-known major primary challengers, Minnesota Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/phillips-2024-presidential-campaign-biden-democratic-challenger-0f38b80ba00566014a4d59fdb516d52c">Dean Phillips</a>&nbsp;and self-help author&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marianne-williamson-president-2024-biden-democratic-primary-14e59754bed9e0c54dad4fdfbbc1fa6b">Marianne Williamson</a>. Still, many of New Hampshire’s top Democrats backed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-2024-new-hampshire-ballot-primary-shakeup-1df2712ebf31ffecdaf2bceb4c74bb2f">write-in campaign that they expect Biden to handily win</a>.Some voters who might otherwise back Democrats could also vote in the more-competitive Republican primary if they are undeclared.Karen Padgett is an undeclared voter who saw Haley on Monday. She said she’d voted for Trump in the last two elections but didn’t plan to do so again but also is “really annoyed with Joe Biden that he kind of wrote New Hampshire off.”“Her statement is everybody’s so old there, they’re so entrenched,” Padgett said of Haley’s promises to shake up Washington in ways that Trump pledged to, but never did. “Let’s get some new people in there.”Instead of focusing on New Hampshire, Biden was joining Vice President Kamala in northern Virginia for a rally in defense of abortion rights, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roe-biden-abortion-reproductive-rights-election-3d184285cc6edbe733311b26445db2a0">Democrats see as a winning issue</a>&nbsp;for them across the country in November.There's nonetheless a growing sense of inevitability around November being a reprisal of Biden versus Trump. Both men have been criticized by their opponents over age — Biden is 81, Trump 77 — and each has painted the other as woefully unfit for another White House term.Public opinion polls suggest most Americans oppose a rematch. An AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll in December found that 56% of U.S. adults would be very or somewhat dissatisfied with Biden as the Democratic nominee — and 58% felt the same about Trump as the GOP pick.Some New Hampshire voters expressed similar frustration.Jeff Caira, 66, a Republican from Sanbornton, said he was undecided in the primary but that he wanted a candidate who will tackle “the issues, rather than address the baggage that the other two candidates seem to have.”

Decision Day: Haley hopes to stop Trump's march to nomination 

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/01/22/nebraska-lawmakers-advance-proposal-to-consider-whether-bids-are-responsible-and-reasonable/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — State lawmakers quickly advanced a bill Monday designed to avoid future multimillion-dollar mistakes in awarding state contracts.

The proposal grew out of the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/10/state-aims-to-avoid-state-contract-mistakes-made-in-bad-bid-from-st-francis-ministries/">failed contract with Saint Francis Ministries,</a>&nbsp;which underbid its lone competitor by 40% in 2019 to obtain the contract to handle child welfare services in eastern Nebraska.

But the Kansas-based nonprofit ended up costing the state an additional $3.7 million more than the other bidder. Eventually, the contract was cancelled amid financial mismanagement and under-performance by Saint Francis.

State Sen. John Arch of La Vista, the speaker of the Legislature, said his Legislative Bill 461 would allow the state to discern whether a bid is “reasonable” and “responsible” and not just the lowest bid.

The bill advanced Monday from first-round debate on a 45-0 vote.

The experience with Saint Francis, Arch said, illustrated “a huge red flag” in the state contract procurement process, as did some other contracts that experienced cost overruns and failure to deliver services.

“This was a terrible, terrible, terrible lesson learned&nbsp;,” said Fremont Sen. Lynne Walz of the Saint Francis contract.

“There’s an old joke, no one wants to use a parachute built by the lowest bidder,” said Omaha Sen. Brad von Gillern.

Arch said that the state’s procurement statutes hadn’t been updated in 20 years and have placed too much emphasis on accepting the lowest bid.

LB 461, he said, allows the state to reject a bid if it is deemed not reasonable or realistic.

“I consider this bill to be an example of good government legislation,” Arch said.

Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, a leading critic of the Saint Francis contract, thanked the speaker for bringing LB 461. She added that it shows “what great things can happen” if lawmakers work together.

In the wake of the Saint Francis debacle, the state hired a contractor to review the state’s procurement process.

That, Arch said, led to 33 recommendations, of which 23 have already been adopted by the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services, the state agency that handles the bidding process.

The senator said LB 461 adopts more recommendations and clarifies who is responsible for the decision to award a bid.

In the case of Saint Francis, it wasn’t clear, according to Arch, who exactly was responsible for approving the bid. That referred to DAS, the Health and Human Services Department and the Governor’s Office.

Due to its financial troubles, Saint Francis was awarded an additional $158 million by the state on top of its original contracted price of $197 million.

In December 2021, a special investigative committee in the Legislature chaired by Arch cited other procurement disasters in recent years:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705958001381.jpeg" alt="“Huge red flags” were uncovered after awarding a contract to Saint Francis Ministries, a Salina, Kansas-based foster care provider. The operation’s bid was 40% lower than the previous provider, a bid that proved to be woefully inadequate. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>“Huge red flags” were uncovered after awarding a contract to Saint Francis Ministries, a Salina, Kansas-based foster care provider. The operation’s bid was 40% lower than the previous provider, a bid that proved to be woefully inadequate. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/01/22/nebraska-lawmakers-advance-proposal-to-consider-whether-bids-are-responsible-and-reasonable/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — State lawmakers quickly advanced a bill Monday designed to avoid future multimillion-dollar mistakes in awarding state contracts.The proposal grew out of the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/10/state-aims-to-avoid-state-contract-mistakes-made-in-bad-bid-from-st-francis-ministries/">failed contract with Saint Francis Ministries,</a>&nbsp;which underbid its lone competitor by 40% in 2019 to obtain the contract to handle child welfare services in eastern Nebraska.But the Kansas-based nonprofit ended up costing the state an additional $3.7 million more than the other bidder. Eventually, the contract was cancelled amid financial mismanagement and under-performance by Saint Francis.State Sen. John Arch of La Vista, the speaker of the Legislature, said his Legislative Bill 461 would allow the state to discern whether a bid is “reasonable” and “responsible” and not just the lowest bid.<h2>‘Huge red flag’</h2>The bill advanced Monday from first-round debate on a 45-0 vote.The experience with Saint Francis, Arch said, illustrated “a huge red flag” in the state contract procurement process, as did some other contracts that experienced cost overruns and failure to deliver services.“This was a terrible, terrible, terrible lesson learned&nbsp;,” said Fremont Sen. Lynne Walz of the Saint Francis contract.“There’s an old joke, no one wants to use a parachute built by the lowest bidder,” said Omaha Sen. Brad von Gillern.Arch said that the state’s procurement statutes hadn’t been updated in 20 years and have placed too much emphasis on accepting the lowest bid.<h2>‘Good government’ bill</h2>LB 461, he said, allows the state to reject a bid if it is deemed not reasonable or realistic.“I consider this bill to be an example of good government legislation,” Arch said.Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, a leading critic of the Saint Francis contract, thanked the speaker for bringing LB 461. She added that it shows “what great things can happen” if lawmakers work together.In the wake of the Saint Francis debacle, the state hired a contractor to review the state’s procurement process.That, Arch said, led to 33 recommendations, of which 23 have already been adopted by the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services, the state agency that handles the bidding process.The senator said LB 461 adopts more recommendations and clarifies who is responsible for the decision to award a bid.<h2>Not clear who was responsible</h2>In the case of Saint Francis, it wasn’t clear, according to Arch, who exactly was responsible for approving the bid. That referred to DAS, the Health and Human Services Department and the Governor’s Office.Due to its financial troubles, Saint Francis was awarded an additional $158 million by the state on top of its original contracted price of $197 million.In December 2021, a special investigative committee in the Legislature chaired by Arch cited other procurement disasters in recent years:<ul>
 <li>In 2007, the state awarded a $45 million contract, with an additional $25 million option, to provide a computer system to process claims in the Medicaid Managed Care program. But only 18 months into the contract, Arizona-based FourThought Group quit, saying it couldn’t deliver as promised.&nbsp;By then, the state had spent $6.8 million on the contract (90% were federal funds), and DHHS agreed to add another $4.75 million in a settlement with the company. The department’s CEO later admitted it had been a mistake to contract with FourThought because it was a “small company with little track record” and could not fulfill such a large task.</li><li>In 2014, the state awarded an $80 million contract for a modern Medicaid eligibility and enrollment system, replacing a 20-year-old system. But four years later, the state terminated that contract with India-based Wipro, saying there was no evidence any part of the contract had been completed. That was after the state had paid out $6 million and the federal government $54 million. Wipro filed a lawsuit against the state, which was settled out of court in July after the parties entered into mediation. The settlement terms were not disclosed. The state had maintained that Wipro underbid the contract, then sought to obtain additional funds and that the company lacked the capacity to fulfill the contract.</li>
 </ul>

Nebraska lawmakers advance proposal to consider whether bids are ‘responsible’ and ‘reasonable’

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and British militaries bombed eight locations used by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-attacks-iran-ships-retaliation-houthis-d770a3fb0fab4c4b72e2459771833e11">the Iranian-backed Houthis</a>&nbsp;in Yemen on Monday night, the second time the two allies have conducted coordinated retaliatory strikes on an array of the rebels' missile-launching capabilities.

According to officials, the U.S. and U.K. used warship- and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets to take out Houthi missile storage sites and launchers. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a military operation, said Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands contributed to the mission, including with intelligence and surveillance.

In a joint statement, the six allied nations said the strikes specifically targeted a Houthi underground storage site and locations associated with the Houthis’ missile and air surveillance capabilities. They added, “Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but let us reiterate our warning to Houthi leadership: we will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways in the face of continued threats.”

Britain’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that four Royal Air Force Typhoon jets struck “multiple targets at two military sites in the vicinity of Sanaa airfield” with precision-guided bombs. The strikes, said Defense Secretary Grant Shapps, were “aimed at degrading Houthi capabilities” and would “deal another blow to their limited stockpiles and ability to threaten global trade.”

The joint operation comes about 10 days after U.S. and British warships and fighter jets struck more than 60 targets in 28 locations. That was the first U.S. military response to what has been a persistent campaign of Houthi drone and missile attacks on commercial ships since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October.

The Houthis' media office said in an online statement that raids targeted Yemen’s capital, Sanaa. And Jamal Hassan, a resident from south Sanaa, told The Associated Press that two strikes landed near his home, setting off car alarms in the street. An Associated Press journalist in Sanaa also heard aircraft flying above the skies of Sanaa overnight Monday.

Al-Masirah, a Houthi-run satellite news channel, said there were multiple air raids on three areas of Sanaa: al-Dailami Air Base just north of the capital, Sarif, northeast of the city center, and al-Hafa, which is south of Sanaa.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke with President Joe Biden earlier Monday. Sunak’s office said the two leaders agreed to take “as needed, targeted military action to degrade Houthi capabilities.”

The latest barrage of allied attacks marks the eighth time the U.S. has conducted strikes on Houthi sites since Jan. 12. And it follows an almost-daily assault on Houthi missile launchers by U.S. fighter jets and ship-based Tomahawks over the past week. The rapid response missions, which officials said go after launchers that are armed and ready to fire, demonstrate the military’s increasing ability to watch, detect and strike militant activities in Yemen.

The chaotic wave of attacks and reprisals involving the United States, its allies and foes suggests that the retaliatory strikes haven’t deterred the Houthis from their campaign against Red Sea shipping, and that the broader regional war that the U.S. has spent months trying to avoid is becoming closer to reality.

For months, the Houthis have attacked ships in the region’s waterways that they say are either linked to Israel or heading to Israeli ports. They say their attacks aim to end the Israeli air-and-ground offensive in the Gaza Strip that was triggered by the Palestinian militant group Hamas’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2">Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel</a>. But any such links to the ships targeted in the rebel assaults have grown more tenuous as the attacks continue.

The U.S. and allies warned of retaliation for weeks, and the White House and a host of partner nations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-israel-hamas-houthis-red-sea-fef8d446852b6eae33d38ffd8f6b2d64">issued a final warning</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 3 to the Houthis to cease the attacks or face potential military action.

That threat, however, had little noticeable effect. The Houthis continued to attack ships in the region, including at times appearing to target U.S. Navy and U.S.-owned ships, in addition to the wide range of commercial vessels.

Of the eight strike missions on Yemen this month, all but the two with Britain were conducted by the U.S. military alone. Five of the latest strikes were labeled self-defense to take out missiles ready to fire. The most recent, on Saturday, struck and destroyed a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed into the Gulf of Aden and was prepared to launch, according to Central Command.

The Biden administration has also put the Houthis back on its list of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.state.gov/executive-order-13224/">specially designated global terrorists</a>. The sanctions that come with the formal designation are meant to sever violent extremist groups from their sources of financing, while also allowing vital humanitarian aid to continue flowing to impoverished Yemenis.

U.S. defense officials have said they believe the strikes have degraded the Houthis’ weapons and strike capabilities. But Biden and others have acknowledged that the rebels are well-equipped by Iran and are likely to continue the attacks.

The Houthis, meanwhile, have made it clear that they have no intention of scaling back their assault. In the wake of the first U.S. and British joint attack, Hussein al-Ezzi, a Houthi official in their Foreign Ministry, said, “America and Britain will undoubtedly have to prepare to pay a heavy price and bear all the dire consequences of this blatant aggression.”

The continued harassment of the ships has driven the U.S. and international partners to take extraordinary steps to defend them through a joint mission named Operation Prosperity Guardian, in which they provide a protective umbrella for vessels traveling the critical waterway that runs from the Suez Canal down to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

About 400 commercial vessels transit the southern Red Sea at any given time. And the ongoing violence has prompted companies to reroute their ships, sending them around Africa through the Cape of Good Hope instead — a much longer and less efficient passage.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705969554059.png" alt="U.S. Central Command image shows F/A-18E “Super Hornets” with Carrier Air Wing 3 aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) launching to conduct Airstrikes against the Houthi Terrorist Group in Yemen" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Central Command image shows F/A-18E “Super Hornets” with Carrier Air Wing 3 aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) launching to conduct Airstrikes against the Houthi Terrorist Group in Yemen</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and British militaries bombed eight locations used by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-attacks-iran-ships-retaliation-houthis-d770a3fb0fab4c4b72e2459771833e11">the Iranian-backed Houthis</a>&nbsp;in Yemen on Monday night, the second time the two allies have conducted coordinated retaliatory strikes on an array of the rebels' missile-launching capabilities.According to officials, the U.S. and U.K. used warship- and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets to take out Houthi missile storage sites and launchers. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a military operation, said Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands contributed to the mission, including with intelligence and surveillance.In a joint statement, the six allied nations said the strikes specifically targeted a Houthi underground storage site and locations associated with the Houthis’ missile and air surveillance capabilities. They added, “Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but let us reiterate our warning to Houthi leadership: we will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways in the face of continued threats.”Britain’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that four Royal Air Force Typhoon jets struck “multiple targets at two military sites in the vicinity of Sanaa airfield” with precision-guided bombs. The strikes, said Defense Secretary Grant Shapps, were “aimed at degrading Houthi capabilities” and would “deal another blow to their limited stockpiles and ability to threaten global trade.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705969629635.png" alt="-U.S. Central Command image shows F/A-18E “Super Hornets” with Carrier Air Wing 3 aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) launching to conduct Airstrikes against the Houthi Terrorist Group in Yemen" />
 <figcaption>-U.S. Central Command image shows F/A-18E “Super Hornets” with Carrier Air Wing 3 aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) launching to conduct Airstrikes against the Houthi Terrorist Group in Yemen</figcaption>
 </figure>The joint operation comes about 10 days after U.S. and British warships and fighter jets struck more than 60 targets in 28 locations. That was the first U.S. military response to what has been a persistent campaign of Houthi drone and missile attacks on commercial ships since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October.The Houthis' media office said in an online statement that raids targeted Yemen’s capital, Sanaa. And Jamal Hassan, a resident from south Sanaa, told The Associated Press that two strikes landed near his home, setting off car alarms in the street. An Associated Press journalist in Sanaa also heard aircraft flying above the skies of Sanaa overnight Monday.Al-Masirah, a Houthi-run satellite news channel, said there were multiple air raids on three areas of Sanaa: al-Dailami Air Base just north of the capital, Sarif, northeast of the city center, and al-Hafa, which is south of Sanaa.British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke with President Joe Biden earlier Monday. Sunak’s office said the two leaders agreed to take “as needed, targeted military action to degrade Houthi capabilities.”The latest barrage of allied attacks marks the eighth time the U.S. has conducted strikes on Houthi sites since Jan. 12. And it follows an almost-daily assault on Houthi missile launchers by U.S. fighter jets and ship-based Tomahawks over the past week. The rapid response missions, which officials said go after launchers that are armed and ready to fire, demonstrate the military’s increasing ability to watch, detect and strike militant activities in Yemen.The chaotic wave of attacks and reprisals involving the United States, its allies and foes suggests that the retaliatory strikes haven’t deterred the Houthis from their campaign against Red Sea shipping, and that the broader regional war that the U.S. has spent months trying to avoid is becoming closer to reality.For months, the Houthis have attacked ships in the region’s waterways that they say are either linked to Israel or heading to Israeli ports. They say their attacks aim to end the Israeli air-and-ground offensive in the Gaza Strip that was triggered by the Palestinian militant group Hamas’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2">Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel</a>. But any such links to the ships targeted in the rebel assaults have grown more tenuous as the attacks continue.The U.S. and allies warned of retaliation for weeks, and the White House and a host of partner nations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-israel-hamas-houthis-red-sea-fef8d446852b6eae33d38ffd8f6b2d64">issued a final warning</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 3 to the Houthis to cease the attacks or face potential military action.That threat, however, had little noticeable effect. The Houthis continued to attack ships in the region, including at times appearing to target U.S. Navy and U.S.-owned ships, in addition to the wide range of commercial vessels.Of the eight strike missions on Yemen this month, all but the two with Britain were conducted by the U.S. military alone. Five of the latest strikes were labeled self-defense to take out missiles ready to fire. The most recent, on Saturday, struck and destroyed a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed into the Gulf of Aden and was prepared to launch, according to Central Command.The Biden administration has also put the Houthis back on its list of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.state.gov/executive-order-13224/">specially designated global terrorists</a>. The sanctions that come with the formal designation are meant to sever violent extremist groups from their sources of financing, while also allowing vital humanitarian aid to continue flowing to impoverished Yemenis.U.S. defense officials have said they believe the strikes have degraded the Houthis’ weapons and strike capabilities. But Biden and others have acknowledged that the rebels are well-equipped by Iran and are likely to continue the attacks.The Houthis, meanwhile, have made it clear that they have no intention of scaling back their assault. In the wake of the first U.S. and British joint attack, Hussein al-Ezzi, a Houthi official in their Foreign Ministry, said, “America and Britain will undoubtedly have to prepare to pay a heavy price and bear all the dire consequences of this blatant aggression.”The continued harassment of the ships has driven the U.S. and international partners to take extraordinary steps to defend them through a joint mission named Operation Prosperity Guardian, in which they provide a protective umbrella for vessels traveling the critical waterway that runs from the Suez Canal down to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.About 400 commercial vessels transit the southern Red Sea at any given time. And the ongoing violence has prompted companies to reroute their ships, sending them around Africa through the Cape of Good Hope instead — a much longer and less efficient passage.___

U.S.  bombed more Iranian-backed terrorist sites 

WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided Supreme Court on Monday allowed Border Patrol agents to cut&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-texas-border-buoys-wire-abbott-5f138e354e88fc319f46c55344d7335c">razor wire that Texas installed</a>&nbsp;on the U.S.-Mexico border, while a lawsuit over the wire continues.

The justices, by a 5-4 vote, granted an emergency appeal from the Biden administration, which has been in an escalating standoff at the border with Texas and had objected to an appellate ruling in favor of the state.

The concertina wire along roughly 30 miles (48 kilometers) of the Rio Grande near the border city of Eagle Pass is part of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's broader fight with the administration over immigration enforcement.

Abbott also has authorized installing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-buoys-border-immigration-12bc8abddef1c9384b25222b92d0840b">floating barriers in the Rio Grande</a>&nbsp;near Eagle Pass and allowed troopers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-texas-immigration-c33939110eff92670d1d2b5488181bb0">to arrest and jail thousands of migrants</a>&nbsp;on trespassing charges. The administration also is challenging those actions in federal court.

A federal appeals court last month forced federal agents to stop cutting the concertina wire.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-texas-california-border-asylum-seekers-314698bfb5644be8f8f6085ebe9b9b98">Large numbers of migrants have crossed</a>&nbsp;at Eagle Pass in recent months.

In court papers, the administration said the wire impedes Border Patrol agents from reaching migrants as they cross the river and that, in any case, federal immigration law trumps Texas’ own efforts to stem the flow of migrants into the country.

Texas officials have argued that federal agents cut the wire to help groups crossing illegally through the river before taking them in for processing.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor sided with the administration. Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas voted with Texas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683770770241.png" alt="photo courtesy Rep. Tony Gonzales" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy Rep. Tony Gonzales</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided Supreme Court on Monday allowed Border Patrol agents to cut&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-texas-border-buoys-wire-abbott-5f138e354e88fc319f46c55344d7335c">razor wire that Texas installed</a>&nbsp;on the U.S.-Mexico border, while a lawsuit over the wire continues.The justices, by a 5-4 vote, granted an emergency appeal from the Biden administration, which has been in an escalating standoff at the border with Texas and had objected to an appellate ruling in favor of the state.The concertina wire along roughly 30 miles (48 kilometers) of the Rio Grande near the border city of Eagle Pass is part of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's broader fight with the administration over immigration enforcement.Abbott also has authorized installing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-buoys-border-immigration-12bc8abddef1c9384b25222b92d0840b">floating barriers in the Rio Grande</a>&nbsp;near Eagle Pass and allowed troopers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-texas-immigration-c33939110eff92670d1d2b5488181bb0">to arrest and jail thousands of migrants</a>&nbsp;on trespassing charges. The administration also is challenging those actions in federal court.A federal appeals court last month forced federal agents to stop cutting the concertina wire.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-texas-california-border-asylum-seekers-314698bfb5644be8f8f6085ebe9b9b98">Large numbers of migrants have crossed</a>&nbsp;at Eagle Pass in recent months.In court papers, the administration said the wire impedes Border Patrol agents from reaching migrants as they cross the river and that, in any case, federal immigration law trumps Texas’ own efforts to stem the flow of migrants into the country.Texas officials have argued that federal agents cut the wire to help groups crossing illegally through the river before taking them in for processing.Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor sided with the administration. Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas voted with Texas.

Supreme Court allows federal agents to cut razor wire at Texas border

OMAHA, NE&nbsp;— Today marks a pivotal moment for workforce development in Nebraska as LB 16, a groundbreaking bill championed by the Platte Institute, overwhelmingly passes from general file. This legislation, spearheaded by Senator Danielle Conrad and supported by a diverse coalition of legislators, represents a significant step towards expanding workforce licensing reform in Nebraska.LB 16 is designed to facilitate the recognition of professional licenses obtained outside of Nebraska and to provide a fair chance for individuals with discharged criminal records to pursue their professional aspirations.

Jim Vokal, Chief Executive Officer of the Platte Institute, emphasized the bill's importance, "LB 16 is more than legislation; it's throwing down the welcome mat for Nebraska and tacking our workforce shortages head on. It embodies our commitment to embracing skilled workers from across the nation and ensuring that past mistakes do not hinder future opportunities."

The passage of LB 16 would place Nebraska alongside other forward-thinking states that have already enacted similar legislation. It is a crucial step in welcoming skilled workers to Nebraska, thereby strengthening our communities and economy. As LB 16 advances, the Platte Institute remains dedicated to advocating for policies that foster growth, and opportunity for all who wish to contribute to Nebraska's prosperity.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Ryan Kopsa at (402) 366-4432 or via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:rkopsa@platteinstitute.org" target="_blank">rkopsa@platteinstitute.org</a>. The Platte Institute continues to advance policies that remove barriers to growth and opportunity in Nebraska. For more insights, visit PlatteInstitute.org.

OMAHA, NE&nbsp;— Today marks a pivotal moment for workforce development in Nebraska as LB 16, a groundbreaking bill championed by the Platte Institute, overwhelmingly passes from general file. This legislation, spearheaded by Senator Danielle Conrad and supported by a diverse coalition of legislators, represents a significant step towards expanding workforce licensing reform in Nebraska.LB 16 is designed to facilitate the recognition of professional licenses obtained outside of Nebraska and to provide a fair chance for individuals with discharged criminal records to pursue their professional aspirations.Jim Vokal, Chief Executive Officer of the Platte Institute, emphasized the bill's importance, "LB 16 is more than legislation; it's throwing down the welcome mat for Nebraska and tacking our workforce shortages head on. It embodies our commitment to embracing skilled workers from across the nation and ensuring that past mistakes do not hinder future opportunities."The passage of LB 16 would place Nebraska alongside other forward-thinking states that have already enacted similar legislation. It is a crucial step in welcoming skilled workers to Nebraska, thereby strengthening our communities and economy. As LB 16 advances, the Platte Institute remains dedicated to advocating for policies that foster growth, and opportunity for all who wish to contribute to Nebraska's prosperity.For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Ryan Kopsa at (402) 366-4432 or via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:rkopsa@platteinstitute.org" target="_blank">rkopsa@platteinstitute.org</a>. The Platte Institute continues to advance policies that remove barriers to growth and opportunity in Nebraska. For more insights, visit PlatteInstitute.org.

Platte Institute Applauds Advancement of LB 16, Championing Workforce Growth and Opportunity in Nebraska

Preventing spread of pathogen a challenge, especially in backyard poultry flocks

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Agriculture confirmed Monday the 15th case of avian influenza since Dec. 1 amid a national outbreak that began in 2022 and spread to all but three states and more than 450 commercial flocks across the country.

Agriculture Secretary Mike Beam said proliferation of the pathogen was concentrated in Kansas at egg-laying facilities in McPherson and Rice counties and in gamebird facilities in Mitchell County. The most recent case in Kansas was identified Friday, Beam said.

Unlike an outbreak in 2015 that was driven by farm-to-farm transmission, he said, this round of avian flu appeared to be transmitted primarily by wild birds interacting with flocks. In most cases, entire commercial and backyard flocks at an infected location must be euthanized.

“The industry has taken significant action to attempt to slow the ongoing spread of this disease to protect the rest of the nation’s flock,” Beam said. “Until this winter, Kansas hadn’t had any positive cases since the spring of 2023. The fall brought a resurgence nationwide, including in our neighboring states, so we expected to see positive cases in Kansas.”

Beam said the state Department of Agriculture had a role in euthanizing infected flocks through “approved, humane methods” and in the safe disposal of carcasses to curtail spread to other flocks. Pace of that slaughter was a key to reducing loss of animals and minimizing disruption of poultry farms, he said.

“Quickly eliminating infected birds reduces the amount of virus in the environment, minimizes the risk of the disease spreading to and killing other birds, and reduces amount of time that birds suffer the effects of the disease,” Beam said.

In testimony to the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the agriculture secretary said a contributing factor in spread of avian influenza was the presence of backyard flocks in which birds were allowed to roam property and more easily came in contact with migratory birds.

Small residential operations were less likely to adopt biosecurity methods typical of commercial facilities invested in limiting movement of pathogens from farm to farm, Beam said.

“We’re most vulnerable in what we call backyard flocks,” he said. “There’s a lot of backyard flocks that we probably don’t know about that’s had the disease.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture characterized Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza, or PHAI, as a “serious disease and requires rapid response because it is highly contagious and often fatal to chickens.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705959960045.png" alt=" The Kansas Department of Agriculture confirmed the 15th case of avian influenza since Dec. 1 in a nationwide outbreak hitting 47 states and diminishing commercial and backyard flocks. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of image provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture)" />
 <figcaption> The Kansas Department of Agriculture confirmed the 15th case of avian influenza since Dec. 1 in a nationwide outbreak hitting 47 states and diminishing commercial and backyard flocks. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of image provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Preventing spread of pathogen a challenge, especially in backyard poultry flocks</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Agriculture confirmed Monday the 15th case of avian influenza since Dec. 1 amid a national outbreak that began in 2022 and spread to all but three states and more than 450 commercial flocks across the country.Agriculture Secretary Mike Beam said proliferation of the pathogen was concentrated in Kansas at egg-laying facilities in McPherson and Rice counties and in gamebird facilities in Mitchell County. The most recent case in Kansas was identified Friday, Beam said.Unlike an outbreak in 2015 that was driven by farm-to-farm transmission, he said, this round of avian flu appeared to be transmitted primarily by wild birds interacting with flocks. In most cases, entire commercial and backyard flocks at an infected location must be euthanized.“The industry has taken significant action to attempt to slow the ongoing spread of this disease to protect the rest of the nation’s flock,” Beam said. “Until this winter, Kansas hadn’t had any positive cases since the spring of 2023. The fall brought a resurgence nationwide, including in our neighboring states, so we expected to see positive cases in Kansas.”Beam said the state Department of Agriculture had a role in euthanizing infected flocks through “approved, humane methods” and in the safe disposal of carcasses to curtail spread to other flocks. Pace of that slaughter was a key to reducing loss of animals and minimizing disruption of poultry farms, he said.“Quickly eliminating infected birds reduces the amount of virus in the environment, minimizes the risk of the disease spreading to and killing other birds, and reduces amount of time that birds suffer the effects of the disease,” Beam said.In testimony to the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the agriculture secretary said a contributing factor in spread of avian influenza was the presence of backyard flocks in which birds were allowed to roam property and more easily came in contact with migratory birds.Small residential operations were less likely to adopt biosecurity methods typical of commercial facilities invested in limiting movement of pathogens from farm to farm, Beam said.“We’re most vulnerable in what we call backyard flocks,” he said. “There’s a lot of backyard flocks that we probably don’t know about that’s had the disease.”The U.S. Department of Agriculture characterized Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza, or PHAI, as a “serious disease and requires rapid response because it is highly contagious and often fatal to chickens.”

Kansas ag secretary confirms state’s 15th case of deadly avian influenza since Dec. 1

Editors notes: Press release updated to include Governor Parson from Missouri

LINCOLN, NE –&nbsp;Governor Jim Pillen has taken the lead on a letter to President Joe Biden requesting reconsideration of an “unrealistic, costly and expensive” mandate requiring that two-thirds of all new vehicles be battery electric by 2032. Gov. Pillen was joined by 15 other Republican governors in urging the President to allow consumers and the marketplace to guide growth for electric vehicles.

“There are a number of reasons why consumers are leaving these cars on dealership lots – the cost, the infrastructure required, and the battery content requirements are untenable for today’s car buyers. Even if consumers determine over time that battery electric vehicles are appealing,&nbsp;the reality is that the lack of a strong, domestic marketplace makes electric vehicles prohibitively expensive for the American consumer. While battery electric vehicles are a promising technology, we believe it will take time to develop the marketplace, to address consumer access and concerns, and to build out the necessary infrastructure.”

Governors who signed onto the letter include:&nbsp;Sarah Sanders (Arkansas), Brad Little (Idaho), Kim Reynolds (Iowa), Jeff Landry (Louisiana),&nbsp;Mike Parson&nbsp;(Missouri), Greg Gianforte (Montana), Joe Lombardo (Nevada), Chris Sununu (New Hampshire), Doug Burgum (North Dakota), Kevin Stitt (Oklahoma), Kristi Noem (South Dakota), Greg Abbott (Texas), Spencer Cox (Utah), Glenn Youngkin (Virginia), and Mark Gordon (Wyoming).

<a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/governor.nebraska.gov/files/doc/press/Joint-Governors-Letter-on-Biden-EV-Mandates-1.22.24-2.pdf">Joint Governors Letter on Biden EV Mandates</a>

Editors notes: Press release updated to include Governor Parson from MissouriLINCOLN, NE –&nbsp;Governor Jim Pillen has taken the lead on a letter to President Joe Biden requesting reconsideration of an “unrealistic, costly and expensive” mandate requiring that two-thirds of all new vehicles be battery electric by 2032. Gov. Pillen was joined by 15 other Republican governors in urging the President to allow consumers and the marketplace to guide growth for electric vehicles.The letter reads in part:&nbsp;“There are a number of reasons why consumers are leaving these cars on dealership lots – the cost, the infrastructure required, and the battery content requirements are untenable for today’s car buyers. Even if consumers determine over time that battery electric vehicles are appealing,&nbsp;the reality is that the lack of a strong, domestic marketplace makes electric vehicles prohibitively expensive for the American consumer. While battery electric vehicles are a promising technology, we believe it will take time to develop the marketplace, to address consumer access and concerns, and to build out the necessary infrastructure.”Governors who signed onto the letter include:&nbsp;Sarah Sanders (Arkansas), Brad Little (Idaho), Kim Reynolds (Iowa), Jeff Landry (Louisiana),&nbsp;Mike Parson&nbsp;(Missouri), Greg Gianforte (Montana), Joe Lombardo (Nevada), Chris Sununu (New Hampshire), Doug Burgum (North Dakota), Kevin Stitt (Oklahoma), Kristi Noem (South Dakota), Greg Abbott (Texas), Spencer Cox (Utah), Glenn Youngkin (Virginia), and Mark Gordon (Wyoming).<a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/governor.nebraska.gov/files/doc/press/Joint-Governors-Letter-on-Biden-EV-Mandates-1.22.24-2.pdf">Joint Governors Letter on Biden EV Mandates</a>

Gov. Pillen Leads Letter to Biden Calling Out Federal EV Mandate

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration recommends that airlines inspect the door plugs on certain Boeing 737s that are older than the Max 9 jetliner that suffered a blowout of a similar panel during a flight this month.

The FAA said door plugs on one older version of the 737, called the 737-900ER, are identical in design to those on the Max 9, and some airlines “have noted findings with bolts during the maintenance inspections.”

The FAA issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.faa.gov/media/74751">safety alert</a>&nbsp;late Sunday. As soon as possible, airlines should visually inspect four places where a bolt, nut and pin secure the door plug to the plane, the agency said.

The door plugs are panels that seal holes left for extra doors when the number of seats is not enough to trigger a requirement for more emergency-evacuation exits. From inside the plane, they look like a regular window.

The FAA said that 737-900ERs have logged 3.9 million flights without any known issues involving the door plugs. By contrast, the Max 9 that suffered the blowout had made only 145 flights.

One of the two door plugs on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 flew off the plane in midflight on Jan. 5. Passengers and investigators have described a violent decompression as air rushed out of the pressured cabin at 16,000 feet over Oregon.

The plane made an emergency landing with a hole in its side, and no serious injuries were reported. On a mostly full plane, no one was sitting in the two seats nearest the panel that blew out.

The FAA has grounded all Max 9s with door plugs instead of regular doors in the back of the cabin. Alaska and United Airlines are the only U.S. carriers to use the plane.

Besides grounding 171 Max 9 jets, the FAA is investigating quality-control measures at Boeing and its suppliers and has increased its oversight of the aircraft maker. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the Oregon incident.

“We fully support the FAA and our customers in this action,” a Boeing spokeswoman said in a statement Monday.

Boeing delivered about 500 737-900ERs between 2007 and 2019 – mostly to three U.S. airlines -- and about 380 have door plugs instead of exits.

Alaska said Monday that it began inspecting its 737-900ERs “several days ago” and has turned up no issues. The Seattle-based airline, which has canceled hundreds of flights because of the Max 9 grounding, said it expects no disruption from the inspections of its 737-900ERs.

United said it began inspecting the earlier Boeing model last week and expects to finish the reviews this week with no disruptions for passengers.

Delta Air Lines did not respond to a request for comment about its 737-900ERs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705012450283.png" alt="This image taken Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, and released by the National Transportation Safety Board, shows a section of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 that is missing panel on a Boeing 737-9 MAX in Portland, Ore. Federal officials are investigating Boeing's oversight of production of a panel that blew off a jetliner in midflight last week. (NTSB via AP)" />
 <figcaption>This image taken Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, and released by the National Transportation Safety Board, shows a section of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 that is missing panel on a Boeing 737-9 MAX in Portland, Ore. Federal officials are investigating Boeing's oversight of production of a panel that blew off a jetliner in midflight last week. (NTSB via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration recommends that airlines inspect the door plugs on certain Boeing 737s that are older than the Max 9 jetliner that suffered a blowout of a similar panel during a flight this month.The FAA said door plugs on one older version of the 737, called the 737-900ER, are identical in design to those on the Max 9, and some airlines “have noted findings with bolts during the maintenance inspections.”The FAA issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.faa.gov/media/74751">safety alert</a>&nbsp;late Sunday. As soon as possible, airlines should visually inspect four places where a bolt, nut and pin secure the door plug to the plane, the agency said.The door plugs are panels that seal holes left for extra doors when the number of seats is not enough to trigger a requirement for more emergency-evacuation exits. From inside the plane, they look like a regular window.The FAA said that 737-900ERs have logged 3.9 million flights without any known issues involving the door plugs. By contrast, the Max 9 that suffered the blowout had made only 145 flights.One of the two door plugs on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 flew off the plane in midflight on Jan. 5. Passengers and investigators have described a violent decompression as air rushed out of the pressured cabin at 16,000 feet over Oregon.The plane made an emergency landing with a hole in its side, and no serious injuries were reported. On a mostly full plane, no one was sitting in the two seats nearest the panel that blew out.The FAA has grounded all Max 9s with door plugs instead of regular doors in the back of the cabin. Alaska and United Airlines are the only U.S. carriers to use the plane.Besides grounding 171 Max 9 jets, the FAA is investigating quality-control measures at Boeing and its suppliers and has increased its oversight of the aircraft maker. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the Oregon incident.“We fully support the FAA and our customers in this action,” a Boeing spokeswoman said in a statement Monday.Boeing delivered about 500 737-900ERs between 2007 and 2019 – mostly to three U.S. airlines -- and about 380 have door plugs instead of exits.Alaska said Monday that it began inspecting its 737-900ERs “several days ago” and has turned up no issues. The Seattle-based airline, which has canceled hundreds of flights because of the Max 9 grounding, said it expects no disruption from the inspections of its 737-900ERs.United said it began inspecting the earlier Boeing model last week and expects to finish the reviews this week with no disruptions for passengers.Delta Air Lines did not respond to a request for comment about its 737-900ERs.

FAA wants door plugs checked on more Boeing jets 

ATLANTA (AP) — Dexter Scott King, the younger son of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, died Monday after battling prostate cancer.

The King Center in Atlanta, which Dexter King served as chairman, said the 62-year-old son of the civil rights icon died at his home in Malibu, California. His wife, Leah Weber King, said in a statement that he died “peacefully in his sleep.”

The third of the Kings' four children, Dexter King was named for the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where his father first served as a pastor. He was just 7 years old when his father was assassinated in 1968.

As an adult, Dexter King became an attorney and focused on shepherding his father’s legacy and protecting the King family’s intellectual property. In addition to serving as chairman of the King Center, he was also president of the King estate.

Coretta Scott King died in 2006, followed by the Kings' oldest child Yolanda King in 2007.

“Words cannot express the heart break I feel from losing another sibling," the Rev. Bernice A. King, Dexter King's youngest sibling, said in a statement.

His older brother, Martin Luther King III, said: "The sudden shock is devastating. It is hard to have the right words at a moment like this. We ask for your prayers at this time for the entire King family“.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705949376786.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) — Dexter Scott King, the younger son of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, died Monday after battling prostate cancer.The King Center in Atlanta, which Dexter King served as chairman, said the 62-year-old son of the civil rights icon died at his home in Malibu, California. His wife, Leah Weber King, said in a statement that he died “peacefully in his sleep.”The third of the Kings' four children, Dexter King was named for the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where his father first served as a pastor. He was just 7 years old when his father was assassinated in 1968.As an adult, Dexter King became an attorney and focused on shepherding his father’s legacy and protecting the King family’s intellectual property. In addition to serving as chairman of the King Center, he was also president of the King estate.Coretta Scott King died in 2006, followed by the Kings' oldest child Yolanda King in 2007.“Words cannot express the heart break I feel from losing another sibling," the Rev. Bernice A. King, Dexter King's youngest sibling, said in a statement.His older brother, Martin Luther King III, said: "The sudden shock is devastating. It is hard to have the right words at a moment like this. We ask for your prayers at this time for the entire King family“.

Youngest son of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., dies at 62

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/lawmakers-hold-up-gov-pillens-state-of-the-state-address-detailing-disrespect-of-north-omaha/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN&nbsp; — Resentment ramped up Thursday from two lawmakers who believe that state officials have “disrespected” and “lied” to their North Omaha constituents about economic development projects.

State Sens. Justin Wayne and Terrell McKinney led a filibuster of nearly 50 minutes, delaying Gov. Jim Pillen’s “State of the State” address and detailing reasons for their frustration.

Much of the talk centered around millions of dollars in public funding for North Omaha that Wayne and McKinney helped secure through legislation.&nbsp;

The biggest single allotment —&nbsp; about $90 million — was for an&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/22/proposed-business-park-near-nebraskas-largest-airport-embroiled-in-conflict/">industrial business park</a>&nbsp;in the North Omaha area near Nebraska’s largest airport.

With guests and state officials watching from balconies, the North Omaha senators said the Nebraska Department of Economic Development did not always follow its own rules in the process to award that funding to a partnership poised to create a “shovel-ready” site for businesses to build upon.

Any public investment that big — and one that might call for the taking of land — should require community input and engagement, Wayne said. He said families and businesses in the airport business park site are to be dislocated and uprooted.&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/01/10/nearly-125-million-is-announced-for-north-omaha-growth-though-some-elected-officials-have-qualms/">Among his top beefs</a>&nbsp;was the lack of community meetings to inform residents.

He called a pair of fellow lawmakers to the microphone who confirmed that community meetings were held in their districts prior to economic development projects.

“We don’t seem to be that important nor do we seem to have our voices valued, not just by this body but this administration,” said Wayne. “The disrespect to Districts 11 and 13 is unbearable. “

McKinney called the Department of Economic Development (DED) by a different name: the Department of Exclusion and Dropping the ball.

He criticized its handling of another pot of money — the roughly $225 million in state grants that have yet to go to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/01/ne-legislative-effort-to-reenergize-north-and-south-omaha-hits-milestone/">North and South Omaha organizations</a>&nbsp;for a variety of economic development initiatives.&nbsp;

Some fellow senators spoke in support of the sentiments shared by the North Omaha senators.

McKinney and Wayne have said they are disheartened by the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/01/10/nearly-125-million-is-announced-for-north-omaha-growth-though-some-elected-officials-have-qualms/">exclusion of the Legislature and North Omaha elected leaders</a>&nbsp;from a press conference led a week ago by Pillen and Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert on the airport area business park. McKinney said the exclusion was part of the Pillen administration’s “troubling pattern of sidelining North Omaha community leaders.”

Neither McKinney nor Wayne stayed in the legislative chambers to listen to Pillen deliver his State of the State address.

While Pillen did not address the criticisms in his talk, he said in a news conference afterward that he was fully supportive of the DED.

“We’ve worked very, very hard. I’m 100% supportive and a part of the processes of the Department of Economic Development,” he said.

“You can’t please 100% of everybody.” He said he felt “great” about the initiatives and his team’s “tireless” work.

Asked about the potential dislocation and disruption of people and businesses at the business park site, Pillen said: “Whenever there’s economic development that takes place, and growth, there’s going to be some disruptions. And that’s a process that goes on in every community across the state.”

Pillen said the business park development is important for job creation for North Omahans. He said he expected more than a billion dollars in investment in the North Omaha area over a five-year period.

&nbsp;“There will be a few families that have sacrifices, no question,” he said.

He said his modus operandi is to be “100% positive with any senator,” including Wayne and McKinney.

“And it’s OK if, God forbid, we don’t agree on everything.”

Cindy Gonzalez and Aaron Sanderford<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/lawmakers-hold-up-gov-pillens-state-of-the-state-address-detailing-disrespect-of-north-omaha/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN&nbsp; — Resentment ramped up Thursday from two lawmakers who believe that state officials have “disrespected” and “lied” to their North Omaha constituents about economic development projects.State Sens. Justin Wayne and Terrell McKinney led a filibuster of nearly 50 minutes, delaying Gov. Jim Pillen’s “State of the State” address and detailing reasons for their frustration.Much of the talk centered around millions of dollars in public funding for North Omaha that Wayne and McKinney helped secure through legislation.&nbsp;The biggest single allotment —&nbsp; about $90 million — was for an&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/22/proposed-business-park-near-nebraskas-largest-airport-embroiled-in-conflict/">industrial business park</a>&nbsp;in the North Omaha area near Nebraska’s largest airport.With guests and state officials watching from balconies, the North Omaha senators said the Nebraska Department of Economic Development did not always follow its own rules in the process to award that funding to a partnership poised to create a “shovel-ready” site for businesses to build upon.Any public investment that big — and one that might call for the taking of land — should require community input and engagement, Wayne said. He said families and businesses in the airport business park site are to be dislocated and uprooted.&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/01/10/nearly-125-million-is-announced-for-north-omaha-growth-though-some-elected-officials-have-qualms/">Among his top beefs</a>&nbsp;was the lack of community meetings to inform residents.He called a pair of fellow lawmakers to the microphone who confirmed that community meetings were held in their districts prior to economic development projects.“We don’t seem to be that important nor do we seem to have our voices valued, not just by this body but this administration,” said Wayne. “The disrespect to Districts 11 and 13 is unbearable. “McKinney called the Department of Economic Development (DED) by a different name: the Department of Exclusion and Dropping the ball.He criticized its handling of another pot of money — the roughly $225 million in state grants that have yet to go to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/01/ne-legislative-effort-to-reenergize-north-and-south-omaha-hits-milestone/">North and South Omaha organizations</a>&nbsp;for a variety of economic development initiatives.&nbsp;Some fellow senators spoke in support of the sentiments shared by the North Omaha senators.McKinney and Wayne have said they are disheartened by the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/01/10/nearly-125-million-is-announced-for-north-omaha-growth-though-some-elected-officials-have-qualms/">exclusion of the Legislature and North Omaha elected leaders</a>&nbsp;from a press conference led a week ago by Pillen and Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert on the airport area business park. McKinney said the exclusion was part of the Pillen administration’s “troubling pattern of sidelining North Omaha community leaders.”Neither McKinney nor Wayne stayed in the legislative chambers to listen to Pillen deliver his State of the State address.While Pillen did not address the criticisms in his talk, he said in a news conference afterward that he was fully supportive of the DED.“We’ve worked very, very hard. I’m 100% supportive and a part of the processes of the Department of Economic Development,” he said.“You can’t please 100% of everybody.” He said he felt “great” about the initiatives and his team’s “tireless” work.Asked about the potential dislocation and disruption of people and businesses at the business park site, Pillen said: “Whenever there’s economic development that takes place, and growth, there’s going to be some disruptions. And that’s a process that goes on in every community across the state.”Pillen said the business park development is important for job creation for North Omahans. He said he expected more than a billion dollars in investment in the North Omaha area over a five-year period.&nbsp;“There will be a few families that have sacrifices, no question,” he said.He said his modus operandi is to be “100% positive with any senator,” including Wayne and McKinney.“And it’s OK if, God forbid, we don’t agree on everything.”

Lawmakers hold up Gov. Pillen’s “State of the State” address, detailing “disrespect” of North Omaha

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-state-senators-cap-the-number-of-bills-they-can-propose-each-session/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraska state senators set a self-imposed cap Friday on how many bills they can introduce.

In a 31-15 vote, the Legislature limited senators to proposing no more than 20 bills per senator per session, starting in 2025.&nbsp;

Part of the rule offered by State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair also will limit legislative committees to proposing no more than 10 committee bills a year.

Hansen’s proposal was his attempt to slow the growth in bill introductions seen in recent years.

He said 1,400 bills were introduced over the past two sessions, the most since at least 2008.

A decade ago, that number was nearer to 1,100 bills. Hansen said senators should focus on “quality, not quantity.”

In an interview after the vote, Hansen said his main goal was to slow the increase in public hearings for bills.&nbsp;The Nebraska Legislature is unusual among state legislatures in that it holds a public hearing for every bill proposed.

Speaker John Arch has said he worries about the sustainability of that approach if bill numbers continue to rise.

State Sen. John Cavanuagh of Omaha opposed the change. He argued that senators might produce more proposals with the cap, not fewer.

Cavanaugh and others warned colleagues about the increased risk of rolling multiple senators’ proposals into unwieldy bills.

That would make it harder for the public and lawmakers to comb through what’s in a bill and the consequences of bill language.

“My concern is you’d put a bill out that has a lot of content in it, and some parts of the bill don’t get discussed or parsed,” he said.

Opponents of the rules change, including State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, said elected leaders shouldn’t hamstring future elected leaders from proposing bills on behalf of their constituents.

Some said the Legislature was limiting its constitutionally granted power to propose legislation but not the governor’s.

Hansen said 20 bills should be more than enough for a senator. His original proposal was for 14 bills, with incentives to propose fewer, but the bill was eventually amended to a cap of 20, with no incentives for those offering fewer bills.

“When you have too many bills, things get lost in translation,” Hansen said. “Yeah, we want to have hearings. We want to have testimony and hear from the people. Sometimes you get too much.”

The Legislature ran out of time Friday to debate some more controversial rules changes proposed by State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard.

Among those were a proposal creating a sliding scale for floor votes. Erdman proposed lowering the number of votes needed to overcome a filibuster, based on how many senators were present and voting.

Erdman did get a floor vote Thursday on his proposal to end the Legislature’s tradition of electing its leaders by secret ballot. It fell short of the 30 votes needed.

Earlier in the week, senators adopted several procedural changes proposed by Arch that advanced out of committee with bipartisan support.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705933488336.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>Aaron Sanderford<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-state-senators-cap-the-number-of-bills-they-can-propose-each-session/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Nebraska state senators set a self-imposed cap Friday on how many bills they can introduce.In a 31-15 vote, the Legislature limited senators to proposing no more than 20 bills per senator per session, starting in 2025.&nbsp;Part of the rule offered by State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair also will limit legislative committees to proposing no more than 10 committee bills a year.Hansen’s proposal was his attempt to slow the growth in bill introductions seen in recent years.He said 1,400 bills were introduced over the past two sessions, the most since at least 2008.A decade ago, that number was nearer to 1,100 bills. Hansen said senators should focus on “quality, not quantity.”<h2>Less focus on hearings, more on debate</h2>In an interview after the vote, Hansen said his main goal was to slow the increase in public hearings for bills.&nbsp;The Nebraska Legislature is unusual among state legislatures in that it holds a public hearing for every bill proposed.Speaker John Arch has said he worries about the sustainability of that approach if bill numbers continue to rise.State Sen. John Cavanuagh of Omaha opposed the change. He argued that senators might produce more proposals with the cap, not fewer.Cavanaugh and others warned colleagues about the increased risk of rolling multiple senators’ proposals into unwieldy bills.That would make it harder for the public and lawmakers to comb through what’s in a bill and the consequences of bill language.“My concern is you’d put a bill out that has a lot of content in it, and some parts of the bill don’t get discussed or parsed,” he said.Opponents of the rules change, including State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, said elected leaders shouldn’t hamstring future elected leaders from proposing bills on behalf of their constituents.<h2>Empowering the governor?</h2>Some said the Legislature was limiting its constitutionally granted power to propose legislation but not the governor’s.Hansen said 20 bills should be more than enough for a senator. His original proposal was for 14 bills, with incentives to propose fewer, but the bill was eventually amended to a cap of 20, with no incentives for those offering fewer bills.“When you have too many bills, things get lost in translation,” Hansen said. “Yeah, we want to have hearings. We want to have testimony and hear from the people. Sometimes you get too much.”<h2>Rules debate over</h2>The Legislature ran out of time Friday to debate some more controversial rules changes proposed by State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard.Among those were a proposal creating a sliding scale for floor votes. Erdman proposed lowering the number of votes needed to overcome a filibuster, based on how many senators were present and voting.Erdman did get a floor vote Thursday on his proposal to end the Legislature’s tradition of electing its leaders by secret ballot. It fell short of the 30 votes needed.Earlier in the week, senators adopted several procedural changes proposed by Arch that advanced out of committee with bipartisan support.&nbsp;

Nebraska state senators cap the number of bills they can propose each session

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is taking center stage in the Democrats'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-kamala-harris-abortion-c634452da5e103913982e1cc5a0cae78">renewed push for abortion rights</a>&nbsp;during this year's election and she will mark the 51st anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling on Monday in Wisconsin.

It will be the first in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-abortion-election-2024-9ed95b8363236078e8769c362177bd8a">a series of events</a>&nbsp;hosted by Harris, and it comes one day before she joins President Joe Biden at another campaign event focused on abortion in Virginia. First lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff are also expected to be there.

In her speech in Wisconsin, Harris plans to hammer former President Donald Trump for saying he is “proud” to have helped overturn Roe v. Wade, which he enabled by nominating three conservative justices to the U.S. Supreme Court during his term.

“Proud that women across our nation are suffering?" Harris will say, according to excerpts released by her office. "Proud that women have been robbed of a fundamental freedom? That doctors could be thrown in prison for caring for patients? That young women today have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers?”

Back in Washington, Biden on Monday will convene a meeting of his reproductive health care access task force to discuss threats to emergency care and new steps for implementing executive orders on the subject.

The Democratic president said in a statement that “tens of millions of women now live in states with extreme and dangerous abortion bans,” and “because of Republican elected officials, women’s health and lives are at risk.”

The administration <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/01/22/fact-sheet-white-house-task-force-on-reproductive-healthcare-access-announces-new-actions-and-marks-the-51st-anniversary-of-roe-v-wade/">announced new steps</a> to strengthen access to contraception and help file complaints under a law that's intended to ensure emergency health care access. The law is the subject of another legal battle that will be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-medical-emergencies-idaho-8ca89d7de0c1fa9256dcd27d1847e144">decided by the U.S. Supreme Court</a>, which will consider whether it requires providing abortions in situations where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/emergency-abortion-law-hospitals-kansas-missouri-emtala-2f993d2869fa801921d7e56e95787567">a woman's health is at risk</a>.

“President Biden and Vice President Harris stand with the vast majority of Americans who believe that the right to choose should be fundamental, and that healthcare decisions should be made by a woman with the help of her doctor — not politicians,” White House gender policy adviser Jen Klein said in previewing the effort. “We’ve shown and will continue to show that commitment by decisively taking action to protect access to reproductive health care.”

Although the loss of Roe v. Wade was a historic defeat for Democrats, the party successfully harnessed anger over the decision during the 2022 midterm elections, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roe-biden-abortion-reproductive-rights-election-3d184285cc6edbe733311b26445db2a0">they hope to do the same thing this year</a>&nbsp;as Biden runs for a second term.

The White House has repeatedly turned to Harris, the first woman to serve as vice president, to make its case.

“One does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree that the government should not be telling her what to do with her body," she said in a recent appearance on ABC's “The View.” "If she chooses she will talk with her priest, her pastor, her rabbi, her imam. But it should not be the government telling her what to do.”

Harris also suggested that too many people took Roe v. Wade for granted before it was overturned.

“We kind of believed that it was always going to be there,” she said. “And look what happened.”

Harris' outspokenness on abortion contrasts with Biden's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-us-supreme-court-health-religion-32fbfb858d7d3314427e5cdd88308b8b">more reticent approach</a>. Although he is a longtime supporter of abortion rights, he mentions less often and sometimes avoids using the word abortion even when he discusses the issue.

“I think the real star from a messaging standpoint is the vice president,” said Mini Timmaraju, head of Reproductive Freedom for All, the activist organization formerly known as the National Abortion Rights Action League. “Look, Joe Biden picked Kamala Harris. Joe Biden has asked Kamala Harris to lead on this issue. This is going to set us up for a great contrast with the other side."

After Harris' appearance on “The View,” she received a notable assessment from Kayleigh McEnany, a former Trump spokeswoman who co-hosts a show on Fox News.

“She brought up abortion again and again and again,” McEnany said. No matter the topic, “she pivoted right back to abortion because she knows what is true, which is the GOP has lost every single abortion ballot initiative post-Roe.”

McEnany described herself as pro-life, but said “what Kamala is doing, right or wrong, is very powerful among young women.”

While Harris and Democrats have embraced abortion as a campaign issue, Republicans are shying away or calling for a truce.

Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, recently made a plea to “find consensus” on the divisive issue.

“As much as I’m pro-life, I don’t judge anyone for being pro-choice, and I don’t want them to judge me for being pro-life,” she said during a primary debate in November.

Trump has taken credit for helping to overturn Roe v. Wade, but he has balked at laws like Florida's ban on abortions after six weeks, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, another Republican candidate.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is taking center stage in the Democrats'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-kamala-harris-abortion-c634452da5e103913982e1cc5a0cae78">renewed push for abortion rights</a>&nbsp;during this year's election and she will mark the 51st anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling on Monday in Wisconsin.It will be the first in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-abortion-election-2024-9ed95b8363236078e8769c362177bd8a">a series of events</a>&nbsp;hosted by Harris, and it comes one day before she joins President Joe Biden at another campaign event focused on abortion in Virginia. First lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff are also expected to be there.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We trust women to make decisions about their own body and their own future. <a href="https://t.co/SJ6kc4KQTf">pic.twitter.com/SJ6kc4KQTf</a>&mdash; Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) <a href="https://twitter.com/VP/status/1749203565648728548?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In her speech in Wisconsin, Harris plans to hammer former President Donald Trump for saying he is “proud” to have helped overturn Roe v. Wade, which he enabled by nominating three conservative justices to the U.S. Supreme Court during his term.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">On the day Roe v. Wade was overturned, I vowed that I wouldn&#39;t back down in the fight to ensure women have the freedom to make their own reproductive health care decisions. Today, over a year and a half later, that promise stands. <a href="https://t.co/ZcQuOSROiq">pic.twitter.com/ZcQuOSROiq</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1749117513189769219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Proud that women across our nation are suffering?" Harris will say, according to excerpts released by her office. "Proud that women have been robbed of a fundamental freedom? That doctors could be thrown in prison for caring for patients? That young women today have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers?”Back in Washington, Biden on Monday will convene a meeting of his reproductive health care access task force to discuss threats to emergency care and new steps for implementing executive orders on the subject.The Democratic president said in a statement that “tens of millions of women now live in states with extreme and dangerous abortion bans,” and “because of Republican elected officials, women’s health and lives are at risk.”The administration <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/01/22/fact-sheet-white-house-task-force-on-reproductive-healthcare-access-announces-new-actions-and-marks-the-51st-anniversary-of-roe-v-wade/">announced new steps</a> to strengthen access to contraception and help file complaints under a law that's intended to ensure emergency health care access. The law is the subject of another legal battle that will be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-medical-emergencies-idaho-8ca89d7de0c1fa9256dcd27d1847e144">decided by the U.S. Supreme Court</a>, which will consider whether it requires providing abortions in situations where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/emergency-abortion-law-hospitals-kansas-missouri-emtala-2f993d2869fa801921d7e56e95787567">a woman's health is at risk</a>.“President Biden and Vice President Harris stand with the vast majority of Americans who believe that the right to choose should be fundamental, and that healthcare decisions should be made by a woman with the help of her doctor — not politicians,” White House gender policy adviser Jen Klein said in previewing the effort. “We’ve shown and will continue to show that commitment by decisively taking action to protect access to reproductive health care.”Although the loss of Roe v. Wade was a historic defeat for Democrats, the party successfully harnessed anger over the decision during the 2022 midterm elections, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roe-biden-abortion-reproductive-rights-election-3d184285cc6edbe733311b26445db2a0">they hope to do the same thing this year</a>&nbsp;as Biden runs for a second term.The White House has repeatedly turned to Harris, the first woman to serve as vice president, to make its case.“One does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree that the government should not be telling her what to do with her body," she said in a recent appearance on ABC's “The View.” "If she chooses she will talk with her priest, her pastor, her rabbi, her imam. But it should not be the government telling her what to do.”Harris also suggested that too many people took Roe v. Wade for granted before it was overturned.“We kind of believed that it was always going to be there,” she said. “And look what happened.”Harris' outspokenness on abortion contrasts with Biden's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-us-supreme-court-health-religion-32fbfb858d7d3314427e5cdd88308b8b">more reticent approach</a>. Although he is a longtime supporter of abortion rights, he mentions less often and sometimes avoids using the word abortion even when he discusses the issue.“I think the real star from a messaging standpoint is the vice president,” said Mini Timmaraju, head of Reproductive Freedom for All, the activist organization formerly known as the National Abortion Rights Action League. “Look, Joe Biden picked Kamala Harris. Joe Biden has asked Kamala Harris to lead on this issue. This is going to set us up for a great contrast with the other side."After Harris' appearance on “The View,” she received a notable assessment from Kayleigh McEnany, a former Trump spokeswoman who co-hosts a show on Fox News.“She brought up abortion again and again and again,” McEnany said. No matter the topic, “she pivoted right back to abortion because she knows what is true, which is the GOP has lost every single abortion ballot initiative post-Roe.”McEnany described herself as pro-life, but said “what Kamala is doing, right or wrong, is very powerful among young women.”While Harris and Democrats have embraced abortion as a campaign issue, Republicans are shying away or calling for a truce.Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, recently made a plea to “find consensus” on the divisive issue.“As much as I’m pro-life, I don’t judge anyone for being pro-choice, and I don’t want them to judge me for being pro-life,” she said during a primary debate in November.Trump has taken credit for helping to overturn Roe v. Wade, but he has balked at laws like Florida's ban on abortions after six weeks, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, another Republican candidate.“You have to win elections,” Trump said during a recent Fox News town hall.Harris' team is still working out the schedule for the rest of her events focused on abortion. Each stop is likely to feature a speech and a more intimate conversation with healthcare providers or women who have been affected by restrictions.Wisconsin, Harris' first stop, is a key battleground state with an ongoing legal battle over abortion. When Roe v. Wade was overturned, Republicans argued that an 1849 law that was still on the books would effectively ban the procedure except in situations where a mother's life was at risk.“These extremists want to roll back the clock to a time before women were treated as full citizens," Harris plans to say in her speech on Monday.Clinics across the state stopped offering abortions until a court ruled the law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-wisconsin-ban-challenge-lawsuit-866eed85d2918113bfe644459e62171a">did not apply to abortions</a>. Republicans have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-wisconsin-ban-appeal-00e04a5e90931891afd2e0adcd0bcbca">appealed the decision</a>, and the case will likely be decided by the state supreme court.Abortion has reshaped Harris' tenure as vice president after earlier struggles when dealing with intractable issues like migration from Central America.Jamal Simmons, a former communications director for Harris, said abortion “focused her attention and her office in a way that nothing had before."“Focusing on abortion rights tapped into the vice president’s legal background, her political values and her substantive knowledge in a way that I saw no other issue do while I was there," he said.Vice presidents are rarely decisive figures in reelection campaigns. However, Harris has faced additional scrutiny because of Biden's age — he would be 82 at the start of a second term — and her status as the first woman, Black person and person of South Asian descent to serve in her position.The battle over abortion will also bolster her visibility.“The president and the vice president appeal to different parts of the party," Simmons said. “They’re stronger as a team."