<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/pete-ricketts-makes-it-official-files-for-u-s-senate-bid/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts made it official Tuesday. He filed to run for the office Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen appointed him to last January.&nbsp;

Pillen tapped Ricketts, a former two-term governor, to fill the open Senate seat that Sen. Ben Sasse vacated last year to take a job leading the University of Florida.

“With Nebraskans’ help, I will carry on the fight for our shared values and continue to be a voice in Washington for the common sense, conservative policies that have worked here in Nebraska,” Ricketts said Tuesday in a statement.&nbsp;

Political observers consider Ricketts a heavy favorite to win the GOP nomination and the general election. But he enters a different political environment in 2024 than in his past races.

Many Nebraska Republicans, like some of their peers in other states, have swung toward the more populist brand of conservatism espoused by former President Donald Trump.

Ricketts’ record shows him as a fiscal conservative who held the state’s purse strings tightly. During his year in the Senate, he has emphasized border security and national defense.

His announcement illustrated his transition to national politics, asking to “continue the fight to hold Joe Biden accountable, secure our southern border, stand up to the Chinese Communist Party, and defend our God-given rights and freedoms.”

Ricketts faces criticism from some in his own party for being noncommittal about which GOP presidential candidate he supports in the 2024 primary. The party’s base backs Trump.&nbsp;

Some of that pushback is residue from a 2022 fight over the leadership of the Nebraska Republican Party, when populists and some old-guard conservatives toppled a team loyal to Ricketts.

Many also point to the 2022 GOP primary race for governor. Ricketts backed Pillen, often serving as his top surrogate. Trump backed multi-state businessman Charles Herbster, a top Trump donor.

This spring, Ricketts faces at least one Republican competitor, John Glen Weaver, who lost a primary run in 2022 to U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., in the 1st District.

Weaver, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who helped Iowa Republicans caucus for Trump on Monday, is among those who have criticized Ricketts for not being loyal enough to the former president.&nbsp;

Ricketts has not addressed his opponent directly. Instead he said he has focused on doing the job Nebraskans expect of a senator.&nbsp;

On the Democratic side, Preston Love Jr., a civil rights and neighborhood advocate, is kicking off his campaign Wednesday in Omaha.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705429248873.jpeg" alt="U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., speaks to supporters during his campaign kickoff event Aug. 23, 2023, in Omaha. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., speaks to supporters during his campaign kickoff event Aug. 23, 2023, in Omaha. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Aaron Sanderford<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/pete-ricketts-makes-it-official-files-for-u-s-senate-bid/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts made it official Tuesday. He filed to run for the office Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen appointed him to last January.&nbsp;Pillen tapped Ricketts, a former two-term governor, to fill the open Senate seat that Sen. Ben Sasse vacated last year to take a job leading the University of Florida.“With Nebraskans’ help, I will carry on the fight for our shared values and continue to be a voice in Washington for the common sense, conservative policies that have worked here in Nebraska,” Ricketts said Tuesday in a statement.&nbsp;Political observers consider Ricketts a heavy favorite to win the GOP nomination and the general election. But he enters a different political environment in 2024 than in his past races.Many Nebraska Republicans, like some of their peers in other states, have swung toward the more populist brand of conservatism espoused by former President Donald Trump.Ricketts’ record shows him as a fiscal conservative who held the state’s purse strings tightly. During his year in the Senate, he has emphasized border security and national defense.<h2>Some critics in GOP circles</h2>His announcement illustrated his transition to national politics, asking to “continue the fight to hold Joe Biden accountable, secure our southern border, stand up to the Chinese Communist Party, and defend our God-given rights and freedoms.”Ricketts faces criticism from some in his own party for being noncommittal about which GOP presidential candidate he supports in the 2024 primary. The party’s base backs Trump.&nbsp;Some of that pushback is residue from a 2022 fight over the leadership of the Nebraska Republican Party, when populists and some old-guard conservatives toppled a team loyal to Ricketts.Many also point to the 2022 GOP primary race for governor. Ricketts backed Pillen, often serving as his top surrogate. Trump backed multi-state businessman Charles Herbster, a top Trump donor.<h2>Primary competitor</h2>This spring, Ricketts faces at least one Republican competitor, John Glen Weaver, who lost a primary run in 2022 to U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., in the 1st District.Weaver, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who helped Iowa Republicans caucus for Trump on Monday, is among those who have criticized Ricketts for not being loyal enough to the former president.&nbsp;Ricketts has not addressed his opponent directly. Instead he said he has focused on doing the job Nebraskans expect of a senator.&nbsp;On the Democratic side, Preston Love Jr., a civil rights and neighborhood advocate, is kicking off his campaign Wednesday in Omaha.&nbsp;

Pete Ricketts makes it official, files for U.S. Senate bid

JERUSALEM (AP) — The U.S. launched a new strike against the Yemen-based Houthis on Tuesday, hitting anti-ship missiles in the third&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">assault on the Iranian-backed group</a>&nbsp;in recent days, two U.S. officials said.

The strike came as the Iranian-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack against the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia, also on Tuesday, in the Red Sea. No one was injured. The vessel had been heading north to the Suez Canal when it was attacked, the Greek Shipping and Island Policy Ministry said.

According to the U.S. officials, the overnight strike destroyed four Houthi ballistic missiles that presented an imminent threat to merchant and U.S. Navy ships in the region. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details of a military operation. The Houthi attack on the Zografia occurred later Tuesday.

This latest exchange suggested there has been no let-up in Houthi attacks on shipping in the region, despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-biden-retaliation-attacks-0804b93372cd5e874a0dd03513fe36a2">the massive U.S. and British assault</a>&nbsp;on the group on Friday, bombing more than 60 targets in 28 locations using warship- and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned Tuesday that addressing the ongoing Houthi threat was an “all hands on deck” problem that the U.S. and allies must address to minimize impact on the global economy. And he said that the maritime attacks, coupled with ongoing threats from other Iran-backed militants in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon mean that allies must "be vigilant against the possibility that in fact, rather than heading towards de-escalation, we are on a path of escalation that we have to manage.”

The Houthis' military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said in a pre-recorded statement that it fired after the ship’s crew refused to answer warning calls and that the vessel was heading for a port in Israel. According to the shipping tracking website Vessel Finder, Zografia was bound for Suez, Egypt.

The Zografia, managed by a Greek firm, had no cargo onboard and sustained only material damage, the ministry said. The crew included 20 Ukrainians, three Filipinos and one Georgian. Satellite-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed the Zografia still moving after the attack.

Amid the latest attacks, U.S. Navy SEALs seized Iranian-made missile parts and other weaponry from a ship bound for Yemen’s Houthi rebels in a raid last week that saw two of its commandos go missing, the U.S. military said Tuesday.

The raid marks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-iran-arms-seizure-us-uk-b38494c44e4477b177a7f878f4d8f6db">the latest seizure by the U.S. Navy and its allies</a>&nbsp;of weapon shipments bound for the rebels, who have launched a series of attacks now threatening global trade in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden over Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The seized missile components included types likely used in those attacks.

The attacks, U.S.-led retaliatory strikes and the raid all have raised tensions across the Middle East, which also saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-syria-iran-strike-7939f337454578cc20da8ac15fc5b457">Iran conduct ballistic missile strikes in Iraq and Syria</a>.

The SEAL raid happened Thursday, with the commandos launching from the USS Lewis B. Puller backed by drones and helicopters, with the U.S. military's Central Command saying it took place in the Arabian Sea.

The SEALs traveled in small special operations combat craft driven by naval special warfare crew to get to the boat. As they were boarding it in rough seas, around 8 p.m. local time, one SEAL got knocked off by high waves and a teammate went in after him. Both remain missing.

The SEALs found cruise and ballistic missile components, including propulsion and guidance devices, as well as warheads, Central Command said. It added that air defense parts also were found.

“Initial analysis indicates these same weapons have been employed by the Houthis to threaten and attack innocent mariners on international merchant ships transiting in the Red Sea,” Central Command said in a statement.

Images released by the U.S. military analyzed by the AP showed components resembling rocket motors and others previously seized. It also included what appeared to be an anti-ship cruise missile with a small turbojet engine, a type used by the Houthis and Iran.

Also included in the photos was a warhead similarly seen in the Iranian anti-ship missiles, which are based off an earlier Chinese design, said Fabian Hinz, a missile expert and research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

“Looking at the size and the robustness of the thing, it looks a lot like an anti-ship warhead,” Hinz said.

Hinz also noted the warhead in the photo has a sticker reading “GHAD” on it. Iran has an anti-ship missile called the Ghadir.

The U.S. Navy ultimately sank the ship carrying the weapons after deeming it unsafe, Central Command said. The ship's 14 crew have been detained.

The Houthis have not acknowledged the seizure, and Iran's mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment. However, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised the Houthis' attacks.

A United Nations resolution bans arms transfers to Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Tehran has long denied arming the rebels, despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-iran-politics-united-states-government-middle-east-65b99a04a99d2504fd1123fc8e4300cc">physical evidence, numerous seizures and experts tying the weapons back to Iran</a>.

Since November, the Houthis have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade.

U.S.-led airstrikes also targeted Houthi positions on Saturday. In response,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthis-us-yemen-israel-palestinians-gaza-fa2aefc86ae002e73081e6ac1b772610">the Houthis launched a missile at a U.S.-owned bulk carrier</a>&nbsp;called the Gibraltar Eagle in the Gulf of Aden on Monday, further raising the risks in the conflict.

Meanwhile Tuesday, a missile struck the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia in the Red Sea. The vessel had been heading north to the Suez Canal when it was attacked, the Greek Shipping and Island Policy Ministry said.

The ship — managed by a Greek firm— had no cargo on board and sustained only material damage, the ministry said. The crew included 20 Ukrainians, three Filipinos and one Georgian.

Satellite-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed the Zografia still moving after the attack.

The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which monitors incidents in the Mideast's waterways, earlier acknowledged an attack in the vicinity of the Zografia.

U.S.-led airstrikes targeted Houthi positions on Friday and Saturday. In response,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthis-us-yemen-israel-palestinians-gaza-fa2aefc86ae002e73081e6ac1b772610">the Houthis launched a missile at a U.S.-owned bulk carrier</a>&nbsp;in the Gulf of Aden, further raising the risks in the conflict.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705405226113.png" alt="Photos U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photos U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP) — The U.S. launched a new strike against the Yemen-based Houthis on Tuesday, hitting anti-ship missiles in the third&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">assault on the Iranian-backed group</a>&nbsp;in recent days, two U.S. officials said.The strike came as the Iranian-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack against the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia, also on Tuesday, in the Red Sea. No one was injured. The vessel had been heading north to the Suez Canal when it was attacked, the Greek Shipping and Island Policy Ministry said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705405198142.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>According to the U.S. officials, the overnight strike destroyed four Houthi ballistic missiles that presented an imminent threat to merchant and U.S. Navy ships in the region. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details of a military operation. The Houthi attack on the Zografia occurred later Tuesday.This latest exchange suggested there has been no let-up in Houthi attacks on shipping in the region, despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-biden-retaliation-attacks-0804b93372cd5e874a0dd03513fe36a2">the massive U.S. and British assault</a>&nbsp;on the group on Friday, bombing more than 60 targets in 28 locations using warship- and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets.White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned Tuesday that addressing the ongoing Houthi threat was an “all hands on deck” problem that the U.S. and allies must address to minimize impact on the global economy. And he said that the maritime attacks, coupled with ongoing threats from other Iran-backed militants in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon mean that allies must "be vigilant against the possibility that in fact, rather than heading towards de-escalation, we are on a path of escalation that we have to manage.”The Houthis' military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said in a pre-recorded statement that it fired after the ship’s crew refused to answer warning calls and that the vessel was heading for a port in Israel. According to the shipping tracking website Vessel Finder, Zografia was bound for Suez, Egypt.The Zografia, managed by a Greek firm, had no cargo onboard and sustained only material damage, the ministry said. The crew included 20 Ukrainians, three Filipinos and one Georgian. Satellite-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed the Zografia still moving after the attack.Amid the latest attacks, U.S. Navy SEALs seized Iranian-made missile parts and other weaponry from a ship bound for Yemen’s Houthi rebels in a raid last week that saw two of its commandos go missing, the U.S. military said Tuesday.The raid marks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-iran-arms-seizure-us-uk-b38494c44e4477b177a7f878f4d8f6db">the latest seizure by the U.S. Navy and its allies</a>&nbsp;of weapon shipments bound for the rebels, who have launched a series of attacks now threatening global trade in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden over Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The seized missile components included types likely used in those attacks.The attacks, U.S.-led retaliatory strikes and the raid all have raised tensions across the Middle East, which also saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-syria-iran-strike-7939f337454578cc20da8ac15fc5b457">Iran conduct ballistic missile strikes in Iraq and Syria</a>.The SEAL raid happened Thursday, with the commandos launching from the USS Lewis B. Puller backed by drones and helicopters, with the U.S. military's Central Command saying it took place in the Arabian Sea.The SEALs traveled in small special operations combat craft driven by naval special warfare crew to get to the boat. As they were boarding it in rough seas, around 8 p.m. local time, one SEAL got knocked off by high waves and a teammate went in after him. Both remain missing.The SEALs found cruise and ballistic missile components, including propulsion and guidance devices, as well as warheads, Central Command said. It added that air defense parts also were found.“Initial analysis indicates these same weapons have been employed by the Houthis to threaten and attack innocent mariners on international merchant ships transiting in the Red Sea,” Central Command said in a statement.Images released by the U.S. military analyzed by the AP showed components resembling rocket motors and others previously seized. It also included what appeared to be an anti-ship cruise missile with a small turbojet engine, a type used by the Houthis and Iran.Also included in the photos was a warhead similarly seen in the Iranian anti-ship missiles, which are based off an earlier Chinese design, said Fabian Hinz, a missile expert and research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.“Looking at the size and the robustness of the thing, it looks a lot like an anti-ship warhead,” Hinz said.Hinz also noted the warhead in the photo has a sticker reading “GHAD” on it. Iran has an anti-ship missile called the Ghadir.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705405243920.png" alt="The U.S. Navy ultimately sank the ship carrying the weapons after deeming it unsafe, Central Command said. The ship's 14 crew have been detained. -photo U.S. Central command" />
 <figcaption>The U.S. Navy ultimately sank the ship carrying the weapons after deeming it unsafe, Central Command said. The ship's 14 crew have been detained. -photo U.S. Central command</figcaption>
 </figure>The U.S. Navy ultimately sank the ship carrying the weapons after deeming it unsafe, Central Command said. The ship's 14 crew have been detained.The Houthis have not acknowledged the seizure, and Iran's mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment. However, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised the Houthis' attacks.A United Nations resolution bans arms transfers to Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Tehran has long denied arming the rebels, despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-iran-politics-united-states-government-middle-east-65b99a04a99d2504fd1123fc8e4300cc">physical evidence, numerous seizures and experts tying the weapons back to Iran</a>.Since November, the Houthis have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade.U.S.-led airstrikes also targeted Houthi positions on Saturday. In response,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthis-us-yemen-israel-palestinians-gaza-fa2aefc86ae002e73081e6ac1b772610">the Houthis launched a missile at a U.S.-owned bulk carrier</a>&nbsp;called the Gibraltar Eagle in the Gulf of Aden on Monday, further raising the risks in the conflict.\Meanwhile Tuesday, a missile struck the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia in the Red Sea. The vessel had been heading north to the Suez Canal when it was attacked, the Greek Shipping and Island Policy Ministry said.The ship — managed by a Greek firm— had no cargo on board and sustained only material damage, the ministry said. The crew included 20 Ukrainians, three Filipinos and one Georgian.Satellite-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed the Zografia still moving after the attack.The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which monitors incidents in the Mideast's waterways, earlier acknowledged an attack in the vicinity of the Zografia.Since November, the Houthis have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade.U.S.-led airstrikes targeted Houthi positions on Friday and Saturday. In response,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthis-us-yemen-israel-palestinians-gaza-fa2aefc86ae002e73081e6ac1b772610">the Houthis launched a missile at a U.S.-owned bulk carrier</a>&nbsp;in the Gulf of Aden, further raising the risks in the conflict.

Navy Seals intercept Iranian weapons bound for terrorists ahead of U.S. attack

WASHINGTON (AP) — A fake 911 call that the White House was on fire sent emergency vehicles to the complex Monday morning, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden" target="_blank">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and his family were at Camp David.

Fire engines and other emergency vehicles responded to a report just after 7 a.m. that the White House was ablaze and a person was trapped inside, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person was not authorized to talk about the fake emergency call and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. Within minutes, District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services and U.S. Secret Service personnel determined that it was a false report and called off the response.

Someone who was reached at the callback number for the 911 report indicated they did not place it, the person said, indicating it was likely spoofed.

Biden returned to the White House on Monday afternoon after spending part of the weekend at the presidential retreat in Maryland and participating in a service event in Philadelphia to mark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/martin-luther-king-jr" target="_blank">Martin Luther King Jr. Day</a>.

The judges overseeing the civil fraud case against former President Donald Trump in New York and the criminal election subversion case against him in Washington, D.C. have both been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/swatting-calls-marjorie-taylor-greene-rick-scott-d568818925c99c8cf17467f737b99e97">targeted</a>&nbsp;in recent days. Also, Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith was the subject of a fake emergency call Christmas Day.

Swatting is the act of making a prank call to emergency services to prompt a response at a particular address. The goal is to get authorities, particularly a SWAT team, to show up.

Some of the recent calls have featured the voice of a man calling himself “Jamal,” claiming he had shot his wife because she was sleeping with another man and saying he was holding the boyfriend hostage, demanding $10,000.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-lawsuit-new-york-closing-arguments-b36abe2fd695d0172e71f8ef9c5ee7f3">In New York</a>, authorities responded to a bomb threat at the Long Island home of Judge Arthur Engoron early Thursday morning, the day after the judge issued a ruling preventing the former president from delivering his own closing statements in the civil fraud case against him. Nothing amiss was found.

The false report came days after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-judge-swatting-threats-fe70d2254f2da4a1cb9e6e55c79e1d40">fake emergency call</a>&nbsp;reporting a shooting at the home of U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing Trump’s Capitol attack criminal case in Washington, D.C.

Smith was also the target of fake shooting report at his home, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. Smith and his family have been the subject of numerous threats and intimidating messages since he was appointed and Trump began posting messages about them online, prosecutors have said in court documents.

WHAT OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN TARGETED?

Public officials targeted by swatting range from Republican U.S. Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marjorie-taylor-greene-swatting-georgia-christmas-2081fd3835512cc3180aa1171fc5913d">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a>&nbsp;of Georgia to Maine Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maine-trump-ballot-swatting-08f1d0e39ee7b111d51045bb9ea48094">Shenna Bellows</a>, a Democrat who removed Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot under the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-insurrection-14th-amendment-2024-colorado-79373b5043976588b599fc00ede049e8">Constitution’s insurrection clause</a>.

Other high-profile targets in recent days include U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

In Greene's case, a man called the Georgia suicide hotline Christmas morning, claiming that he had shot his girlfriend at Greene’s home and was going to kill himself next, police said. The call was quickly transferred to police, who determined it was a swatting attempt after contacting a private security detail for Greene, who has been targeted multiple times.

In Wu's case, a male caller claimed the same day claiming he had shot his wife and had tied her and another man up at the Boston mayor's address. Wu, a Democrat, has also been targeted by many swatting calls since she took office in 2021.

Hundreds of cases of swatting occur annually, with some using caller ID spoofing to disguise their number. And those targeted extend far beyond public officials.

Police have for months reported a huge surge in fake claims about active shooters at schools and colleges. There have also been reports of hundreds of swatting incidents and bomb threats against synagogues and other Jewish institutions since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;began.

The FBI said earlier this year that it had started the process of creating a national database in to track swatting incidents nationwide. The agency said Thursday that investigators take seriously the widespread increase in threats, and every hoax “puts innocent people at risk, is a waste of law enforcement’s limited resources, and costs taxpayers.”

Such calls have proven dangerous and even outright deadly.

In 2017, a police officer in Wichita, Kansas, shot and killed a man while responding to a hoax emergency call.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8d48bc5c4db63afb97457d4080c02612">Earlier this year</a>, the city agreed to pay $5 million to settle a related lawsuit, with the money to go to the two children of 28-year-old Andrew Finch.

In 2015, police in Maryland shot a 20-year-old man in the face with rubber bullets after a&nbsp;<a href="https://wjla.com/news/local/maryland-man-gets-2-years-after-swatting-victim-was-shot">fake hostage situation was reported</a>&nbsp;at his home.

In addition to putting innocent people at risk, police and officials say they worry about diverting resources from real emergencies.

No arrests have been made in the recent threats, but some lawmakers have moved for heftier penalties.

Ohio earlier this year made it a felony offense to report a false emergency that prompts response by law enforcement. And Virginia increased the penalties for swatting to up to 12 months in jail. Similar bills are pending in other states and Congress.

In Georgia, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones promised “an end to this madness” after his home in a small town south of Atlanta was swatted on Wednesday, only to have a bomb threat called in to his office on Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705413308466.png" alt="FILE - A firetruck is parked outside of the White House in Washington, Dec. 19, 2007. A fake 911 call that the White House was on fire sent emergency vehicles to the complex Monday morning. President Joe Biden and his family were at Camp David at the time. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - A firetruck is parked outside of the White House in Washington, Dec. 19, 2007. A fake 911 call that the White House was on fire sent emergency vehicles to the complex Monday morning. President Joe Biden and his family were at Camp David at the time. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A fake 911 call that the White House was on fire sent emergency vehicles to the complex Monday morning, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden" target="_blank">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and his family were at Camp David.Fire engines and other emergency vehicles responded to a report just after 7 a.m. that the White House was ablaze and a person was trapped inside, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person was not authorized to talk about the fake emergency call and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. Within minutes, District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services and U.S. Secret Service personnel determined that it was a false report and called off the response.Someone who was reached at the callback number for the 911 report indicated they did not place it, the person said, indicating it was likely spoofed.Biden returned to the White House on Monday afternoon after spending part of the weekend at the presidential retreat in Maryland and participating in a service event in Philadelphia to mark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/martin-luther-king-jr" target="_blank">Martin Luther King Jr. Day</a>.The judges overseeing the civil fraud case against former President Donald Trump in New York and the criminal election subversion case against him in Washington, D.C. have both been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/swatting-calls-marjorie-taylor-greene-rick-scott-d568818925c99c8cf17467f737b99e97">targeted</a>&nbsp;in recent days. Also, Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith was the subject of a fake emergency call Christmas Day.Here's a look at the spike in threats:WHAT IS ‘SWATTING’?Swatting is the act of making a prank call to emergency services to prompt a response at a particular address. The goal is to get authorities, particularly a SWAT team, to show up.Some of the recent calls have featured the voice of a man calling himself “Jamal,” claiming he had shot his wife because she was sleeping with another man and saying he was holding the boyfriend hostage, demanding $10,000.WHO IN THE COURTS HAS BEEN TARGETED?<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-lawsuit-new-york-closing-arguments-b36abe2fd695d0172e71f8ef9c5ee7f3">In New York</a>, authorities responded to a bomb threat at the Long Island home of Judge Arthur Engoron early Thursday morning, the day after the judge issued a ruling preventing the former president from delivering his own closing statements in the civil fraud case against him. Nothing amiss was found.The false report came days after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-judge-swatting-threats-fe70d2254f2da4a1cb9e6e55c79e1d40">fake emergency call</a>&nbsp;reporting a shooting at the home of U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing Trump’s Capitol attack criminal case in Washington, D.C.Smith was also the target of fake shooting report at his home, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. Smith and his family have been the subject of numerous threats and intimidating messages since he was appointed and Trump began posting messages about them online, prosecutors have said in court documents.WHAT OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN TARGETED?Public officials targeted by swatting range from Republican U.S. Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marjorie-taylor-greene-swatting-georgia-christmas-2081fd3835512cc3180aa1171fc5913d">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a>&nbsp;of Georgia to Maine Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maine-trump-ballot-swatting-08f1d0e39ee7b111d51045bb9ea48094">Shenna Bellows</a>, a Democrat who removed Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot under the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-insurrection-14th-amendment-2024-colorado-79373b5043976588b599fc00ede049e8">Constitution’s insurrection clause</a>.Other high-profile targets in recent days include U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.In Greene's case, a man called the Georgia suicide hotline Christmas morning, claiming that he had shot his girlfriend at Greene’s home and was going to kill himself next, police said. The call was quickly transferred to police, who determined it was a swatting attempt after contacting a private security detail for Greene, who has been targeted multiple times.In Wu's case, a male caller claimed the same day claiming he had shot his wife and had tied her and another man up at the Boston mayor's address. Wu, a Democrat, has also been targeted by many swatting calls since she took office in 2021.HOW WIDESPREAD IS THE PROBLEM?Hundreds of cases of swatting occur annually, with some using caller ID spoofing to disguise their number. And those targeted extend far beyond public officials.Police have for months reported a huge surge in fake claims about active shooters at schools and colleges. There have also been reports of hundreds of swatting incidents and bomb threats against synagogues and other Jewish institutions since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;began.The FBI said earlier this year that it had started the process of creating a national database in to track swatting incidents nationwide. The agency said Thursday that investigators take seriously the widespread increase in threats, and every hoax “puts innocent people at risk, is a waste of law enforcement’s limited resources, and costs taxpayers.”DO FALSE THREATS POSE OTHER RISKS?Such calls have proven dangerous and even outright deadly.In 2017, a police officer in Wichita, Kansas, shot and killed a man while responding to a hoax emergency call.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8d48bc5c4db63afb97457d4080c02612">Earlier this year</a>, the city agreed to pay $5 million to settle a related lawsuit, with the money to go to the two children of 28-year-old Andrew Finch.In 2015, police in Maryland shot a 20-year-old man in the face with rubber bullets after a&nbsp;<a href="https://wjla.com/news/local/maryland-man-gets-2-years-after-swatting-victim-was-shot">fake hostage situation was reported</a>&nbsp;at his home.In addition to putting innocent people at risk, police and officials say they worry about diverting resources from real emergencies.WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE COULD THIS PROMPT?No arrests have been made in the recent threats, but some lawmakers have moved for heftier penalties.Ohio earlier this year made it a felony offense to report a false emergency that prompts response by law enforcement. And Virginia increased the penalties for swatting to up to 12 months in jail. Similar bills are pending in other states and Congress.In Georgia, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones promised “an end to this madness” after his home in a small town south of Atlanta was swatted on Wednesday, only to have a bomb threat called in to his office on Thursday.

White House is latest 'swatting' site—after series of fake 911 calls

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;scored a record-setting win in the Iowa caucuses on Monday with his rivals languishing far behind, a victory that affirmed his grip on the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

In what was the lowest-turnout caucus in a quarter-century, participants endured life-threatening cold and dangerous driving conditions to meet in hundreds of schools, churches and community centers across the state. But those who ventured out delivered a roughly 30-point win for Trump that smashed the record for a contested Iowa Republican caucus with a margin of victory exceeding Bob Dole's nearly 13-percentage-point victory in 1988.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis finished a distant second, just ahead of former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.

The results left Trump with a tighter grip on the GOP nomination, though it could take several more months for anyone to formally become the party’s standard bearer. The magnitude of Trump’s victory, however, posed significant questions for both DeSantis and Haley. Neither candidate appeared poised to exit the race, though they leave Iowa struggling to claim making much progress in trying to become Trump’s strongest challenger.

Having repeatedly vowed vengeance against his political opponents in recent months, Trump offered a message of unity in his victory speech.

“We want to come together, whether it’s Republican or Democrat or liberal or conservative,” he said. “We’re going to come together. It’s going to happen soon.”

The GOP contest moves swiftly to New Hampshire, which will hold the first-in-the-nation primary on Jan. 23. A shrinking field will compete there after conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy suspended his campaign after a disappointing fourth place finish and endorsed Trump.

DeSantis first heads to South Carolina on Tuesday, a conservative stronghold where the Feb. 24 contest could prove pivotal. He will head later in the day New Hampshire.

“Because of your support, in spite of all of what they threw at us, we got our ticket punched out of Iowa,” DeSantis told supporters.

Haley plans to compete vigorously in New Hampshire, where she hopes to be more successful with the state’s independent voters.

“When you look at how well we’re doing in New Hampshire and in South Carolina and beyond, I can safely say tonight Iowa made this Republican primary a two-person race,” she said.

In a preview of a remarkable balancing act Trump may have to manage in the months ahead, he was expected to be in court in New York on Tuesday. A jury is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-lawsuit-defamation-trial-aacfe35372690da0e26d0a273046baf2">poised to consider whether he should pay additional damages</a>&nbsp;to a columnist who last year won a $5 million jury award against Trump for sex abuse and defamation. It's just one of multiple legal challenges facing the former president.

After visiting the court, Trump will fly to New Hampshire to hold a rally Tuesday evening.

Trump has made courtroom visits a part of his campaign — heading to court voluntarily twice last week while his opponents campaigned in Iowa — in a strategy designed to portray him as a victim of a politicized legal system. Among Republican voters, at least, the approach is working.

The Associated Press declared Trump the winner at 7:31 p.m. CST based on an analysis of early returns as well as results of AP VoteCast, of more than 1,500 voters who said they planned to take part in the caucuses. Both showed Trump with an insurmountable lead.

Initial results from eight counties showed Trump with far more than half of the total votes counted as of 7:31 p.m., with the rest of the field trailing far behind. These counties included rural areas that are demographically and politically similar to a large number of counties that had yet to report.

The Associated Press determined at 11:17 p.m. CST that DeSantis finished a distant second to Trump. With an estimated 10% of ballots remaining to be counted, DeSantis led Haley by approximately 2,300 votes, or about 2 percentage points. With votes reported in all but one of Iowa’s 99 counties, Haley wasn't doing well enough anywhere to catch DeSantis, based on the number of outstanding votes.

Trump showed significant strength among Iowa's urban, small-town and rural communities, according to AP VoteCast. He also performed well with evangelical Christians and those without a college degree. And a majority of caucusgoers said they identify with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement.

One relative weakness for Trump comes in the suburbs, where only about 4 in 10 supported him.

Iowa has been an uneven predictor of who will ultimately lead Republicans into the general election. George W. Bush’s 2000 victory was the last time a Republican candidate won in Iowa and went on to become the party’s nominee.

But Trump’s success tells a remarkable story of a Republican Party unwilling or unable to move on from a flawed front-runner. He lost to Biden in 2020 after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-classified-information-8dd6297eaebc358ffc15c153dc1b000e">fueling near-constant chaos</a>&nbsp;while in the White House, culminating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iowa-caucuses-young-conservatives-campaign-2ca7441852577795123845811b06bc06">with his supporters carrying out a deadly attack</a>&nbsp;on the U.S. Capitol. In total, he faces 91 felony charges across four criminal cases.

The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing whether states have the ability to block Trump from the ballot for his role in sparking the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol. And he’s facing criminal trials in Washington and Atlanta for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Trump has increasingly echoed authoritarian leaders and framed his campaign as one of retribution. He has spoken openly about using the power of government to pursue his political enemies. He has repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-immigration-iowa-dff7f632948fa6511fb7d1955a28610c">harnessed rhetoric</a>&nbsp;once used by Adolf Hitler to argue that immigrants entering the U.S. illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country.” And he recently shared a word cloud last week to his social media account highlighting “revenge,” “power” and “dictatorship.”

Trump’s legal challenges appear to have done little damage to his reputation. Many of his supporters view the charges through a political lens.

About three-quarters of Iowans responding to AP VoteCast said the charges against Trump are political attempts to undermine him, rather than legitimate attempts to investigate important issues.

“God called us to do that to support Trump,” said 64-year-old David Lage, donning a captain’s hat at Trump's victory party.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705403037488.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;scored a record-setting win in the Iowa caucuses on Monday with his rivals languishing far behind, a victory that affirmed his grip on the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump: &quot;We want to thank the great people of Iowa!&quot; <a href="https://t.co/O8Y28bRKyk">pic.twitter.com/O8Y28bRKyk</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1747110077373235645?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In what was the lowest-turnout caucus in a quarter-century, participants endured life-threatening cold and dangerous driving conditions to meet in hundreds of schools, churches and community centers across the state. But those who ventured out delivered a roughly 30-point win for Trump that smashed the record for a contested Iowa Republican caucus with a margin of victory exceeding Bob Dole's nearly 13-percentage-point victory in 1988.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Ron DeSantis: &quot;We&#39;ve got our ticket punched out of Iowa.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/VcMKSBE8QQ">pic.twitter.com/VcMKSBE8QQ</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1747119572740690012?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis finished a distant second, just ahead of former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.The results left Trump with a tighter grip on the GOP nomination, though it could take several more months for anyone to formally become the party’s standard bearer. The magnitude of Trump’s victory, however, posed significant questions for both DeSantis and Haley. Neither candidate appeared poised to exit the race, though they leave Iowa struggling to claim making much progress in trying to become Trump’s strongest challenger.Having repeatedly vowed vengeance against his political opponents in recent months, Trump offered a message of unity in his victory speech.“We want to come together, whether it’s Republican or Democrat or liberal or conservative,” he said. “We’re going to come together. It’s going to happen soon.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Nikki Haley: &quot;When you look at how we&#39;re doing in New Hampshire in South Carolina and beyond I can safely say tonight Iowa made this Republican Primary a two person race.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/R6MuCh17Lg">pic.twitter.com/R6MuCh17Lg</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1747119894070538480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The GOP contest moves swiftly to New Hampshire, which will hold the first-in-the-nation primary on Jan. 23. A shrinking field will compete there after conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy suspended his campaign after a disappointing fourth place finish and endorsed Trump.DeSantis first heads to South Carolina on Tuesday, a conservative stronghold where the Feb. 24 contest could prove pivotal. He will head later in the day New Hampshire.“Because of your support, in spite of all of what they threw at us, we got our ticket punched out of Iowa,” DeSantis told supporters.Haley plans to compete vigorously in New Hampshire, where she hopes to be more successful with the state’s independent voters.“When you look at how well we’re doing in New Hampshire and in South Carolina and beyond, I can safely say tonight Iowa made this Republican primary a two-person race,” she said.In a preview of a remarkable balancing act Trump may have to manage in the months ahead, he was expected to be in court in New York on Tuesday. A jury is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-lawsuit-defamation-trial-aacfe35372690da0e26d0a273046baf2">poised to consider whether he should pay additional damages</a>&nbsp;to a columnist who last year won a $5 million jury award against Trump for sex abuse and defamation. It's just one of multiple legal challenges facing the former president.After visiting the court, Trump will fly to New Hampshire to hold a rally Tuesday evening.Trump has made courtroom visits a part of his campaign — heading to court voluntarily twice last week while his opponents campaigned in Iowa — in a strategy designed to portray him as a victim of a politicized legal system. Among Republican voters, at least, the approach is working.The Associated Press declared Trump the winner at 7:31 p.m. CST based on an analysis of early returns as well as results of AP VoteCast, of more than 1,500 voters who said they planned to take part in the caucuses. Both showed Trump with an insurmountable lead.Initial results from eight counties showed Trump with far more than half of the total votes counted as of 7:31 p.m., with the rest of the field trailing far behind. These counties included rural areas that are demographically and politically similar to a large number of counties that had yet to report.The Associated Press determined at 11:17 p.m. CST that DeSantis finished a distant second to Trump. With an estimated 10% of ballots remaining to be counted, DeSantis led Haley by approximately 2,300 votes, or about 2 percentage points. With votes reported in all but one of Iowa’s 99 counties, Haley wasn't doing well enough anywhere to catch DeSantis, based on the number of outstanding votes.Trump showed significant strength among Iowa's urban, small-town and rural communities, according to AP VoteCast. He also performed well with evangelical Christians and those without a college degree. And a majority of caucusgoers said they identify with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement.One relative weakness for Trump comes in the suburbs, where only about 4 in 10 supported him.Iowa has been an uneven predictor of who will ultimately lead Republicans into the general election. George W. Bush’s 2000 victory was the last time a Republican candidate won in Iowa and went on to become the party’s nominee.But Trump’s success tells a remarkable story of a Republican Party unwilling or unable to move on from a flawed front-runner. He lost to Biden in 2020 after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-classified-information-8dd6297eaebc358ffc15c153dc1b000e">fueling near-constant chaos</a>&nbsp;while in the White House, culminating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iowa-caucuses-young-conservatives-campaign-2ca7441852577795123845811b06bc06">with his supporters carrying out a deadly attack</a>&nbsp;on the U.S. Capitol. In total, he faces 91 felony charges across four criminal cases.The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing whether states have the ability to block Trump from the ballot for his role in sparking the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol. And he’s facing criminal trials in Washington and Atlanta for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.Trump has increasingly echoed authoritarian leaders and framed his campaign as one of retribution. He has spoken openly about using the power of government to pursue his political enemies. He has repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-immigration-iowa-dff7f632948fa6511fb7d1955a28610c">harnessed rhetoric</a>&nbsp;once used by Adolf Hitler to argue that immigrants entering the U.S. illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country.” And he recently shared a word cloud last week to his social media account highlighting “revenge,” “power” and “dictatorship.”Trump’s legal challenges appear to have done little damage to his reputation. Many of his supporters view the charges through a political lens.About three-quarters of Iowans responding to AP VoteCast said the charges against Trump are political attempts to undermine him, rather than legitimate attempts to investigate important issues.“God called us to do that to support Trump,” said 64-year-old David Lage, donning a captain’s hat at Trump's victory party.___

🎥 Trump celebrates landslide Iowa win; DeSantis edges Haley

IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — Iran said late Monday it had launched strikes against a “spy headquarters and gathering of anti-Iranian terrorist groups” shortly after missiles hit an upscale area near the U.S. consulate in Irbil, the seat of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

The security council of the Kurdish regional government said in a statement that four civilians were killed and six injured in the strikes.

Peshraw Dizayi, a prominent local businessman with a portfolio that included real estate and security services companies, was killed in one of the strikes along with members of his family, according to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, by former Iraqi member of parliament Mashan al-Jabouri, who said that one of the missiles had fallen on Dizayi’s “palace, next to my house, which is under construction on the road to the Salah al-Din resort.”

Soon after, a statement from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/persian-gulf-tensions-us-iran-revolutionary-guard-ea0aa5d3bc2b7472cb633bb3e123a993" target="_blank">Iran’s Revolutionary Guards</a>&nbsp;on state media said it had struck “terrorist operations” including Islamic State targets in Syria “and destroyed them by firing a number of ballistic missiles.” Another statement claimed that it had hit a headquarters of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, in the Kurdish region of Iraq.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/islamic-state-group" target="_blank">The Islamic State extremist group</a>&nbsp;claimed responsibility earlier this month for two suicide bombings targeting a commemoration for an Iranian general slain in a 2020 U.S. drone strike. The attack in Kerman killed at least 84 people and wounded an additional 284 at a ceremony honoring Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

Last month, Iran accused Israel of killing a high-ranking Iranian general, Seyed Razi Mousavi, in an airstrike on a Damascus neighborhood.

An Iraqi security official said Irbil was targeted with “several” ballistic missiles but did not give further details. An official with an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia said 10 missiles fell in the area near the U.S. consulate. He said the missiles were launched by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity.

A U.S. defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details that had not been made public said the U.S. tracked the missiles, which hit in northern Iraq and northern Syria, and no U.S. facilities were struck or damaged in the attacks. The official said initial indications were that the strike were “reckless and imprecise.”

In 2022, Iran claimed responsibility for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-missile-attack-erbil-iraq-us-consulate-7a4ea6281fe6191a4e4b640c58c7fd49" target="_blank">missile barrage that struck in the same area</a>&nbsp;near the sprawling U.S. consulate complex in Irbil, saying it was retaliation for an Israeli strike in Syria that killed two members of its Revolutionary Guard.

The strikes come at a time of heightened tensions in the region and fears of a wider spillover of the ongoing war in Gaza.

Since the outbreak of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" target="_blank">Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7</a>, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have launched near-daily drone attacks on bases housing U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, which the groups have said was in retaliation for Washington’s support of Israel, and in an attempt to force U.S. troops to leave the region.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705371154639.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — Iran said late Monday it had launched strikes against a “spy headquarters and gathering of anti-Iranian terrorist groups” shortly after missiles hit an upscale area near the U.S. consulate in Irbil, the seat of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region.The security council of the Kurdish regional government said in a statement that four civilians were killed and six injured in the strikes.Peshraw Dizayi, a prominent local businessman with a portfolio that included real estate and security services companies, was killed in one of the strikes along with members of his family, according to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, by former Iraqi member of parliament Mashan al-Jabouri, who said that one of the missiles had fallen on Dizayi’s “palace, next to my house, which is under construction on the road to the Salah al-Din resort.”Soon after, a statement from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/persian-gulf-tensions-us-iran-revolutionary-guard-ea0aa5d3bc2b7472cb633bb3e123a993" target="_blank">Iran’s Revolutionary Guards</a>&nbsp;on state media said it had struck “terrorist operations” including Islamic State targets in Syria “and destroyed them by firing a number of ballistic missiles.” Another statement claimed that it had hit a headquarters of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, in the Kurdish region of Iraq.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/islamic-state-group" target="_blank">The Islamic State extremist group</a>&nbsp;claimed responsibility earlier this month for two suicide bombings targeting a commemoration for an Iranian general slain in a 2020 U.S. drone strike. The attack in Kerman killed at least 84 people and wounded an additional 284 at a ceremony honoring Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani.Last month, Iran accused Israel of killing a high-ranking Iranian general, Seyed Razi Mousavi, in an airstrike on a Damascus neighborhood.An Iraqi security official said Irbil was targeted with “several” ballistic missiles but did not give further details. An official with an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia said 10 missiles fell in the area near the U.S. consulate. He said the missiles were launched by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity.A U.S. defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details that had not been made public said the U.S. tracked the missiles, which hit in northern Iraq and northern Syria, and no U.S. facilities were struck or damaged in the attacks. The official said initial indications were that the strike were “reckless and imprecise.”In 2022, Iran claimed responsibility for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-missile-attack-erbil-iraq-us-consulate-7a4ea6281fe6191a4e4b640c58c7fd49" target="_blank">missile barrage that struck in the same area</a>&nbsp;near the sprawling U.S. consulate complex in Irbil, saying it was retaliation for an Israeli strike in Syria that killed two members of its Revolutionary Guard.The strikes come at a time of heightened tensions in the region and fears of a wider spillover of the ongoing war in Gaza.Since the outbreak of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" target="_blank">Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7</a>, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have launched near-daily drone attacks on bases housing U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, which the groups have said was in retaliation for Washington’s support of Israel, and in an attempt to force U.S. troops to leave the region.——-

Iran launches missile strikes near the US consulate in Iraq

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Navy ships and aircraft combed areas of the Gulf of Aden for two missing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-navy-seals" target="_blank">U.S. Navy SEALs</a>&nbsp;on Monday as details emerged about their mission to board and take over a vessel carrying components for medium-range Iranian ballistic missiles headed for Somalia, a U.S. defense official said Monday.

The official said crew on the dhow, which did not have a country flag, were planning to transfer the missile parts, including warheads and engines, to another boat off the coast of Somalia. The Navy recognized the boat as one with a history of transporting illegal weapons from Iran to Somalia, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details not made public.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/navy-seals-missing-somalia-coast-boarding-mission-41a5cf55805f8aa0ff2c4d5626690529" target="_blank">The SEALs</a>&nbsp;were on the USS Lewis B. Puller, a Navy expeditionary sea base vessel, and traveled in small special operations combat craft driven by naval special warfare crew to get to the boat. As they were boarding it in rough seas, around 8 p.m. local time, one SEAL got knocked off by high waves and a teammate went in after him. Both are missing.

The team boarding the small boat was facing about a dozen crew members. The crew members, who were taken into custody, had no paperwork, which allowed a search of the vessel. The weapons were confiscated, and the boat was sunk, a routine procedure that usually involves blowing open holes in the hull.

U.S. officials have said that the waters in the Gulf of Aden are warm, and Navy SEALs are trained for such emergencies. On Monday, Navy ships, helicopters and drones were involved in the ongoing search.

The U.S. Navy has conducted regular&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-middle-east-e4bde7250333a85445fe9a9f0f1c64a8" target="_blank">interdiction missions</a>&nbsp;in the region, also intercepting weapons on ships that were bound for Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen.

Officials have said that the SEAL mission was not related to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/attacks-red-sea-navy-mission-missiles-286d51bfd65e741e839e185f0f4a455b" target="_blank">Operation Prosperity Guardian</a>, the ongoing U.S. and international mission to provide protection to commercial vessels in the Red Sea, or the retaliatory strikes that the United States and the United Kingdom have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-attacks-iran-ships-retaliation-houthis-d770a3fb0fab4c4b72e2459771833e11" target="_blank">conducted in Yemen</a>&nbsp;over the past two days.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Navy ships and aircraft combed areas of the Gulf of Aden for two missing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-navy-seals" target="_blank">U.S. Navy SEALs</a>&nbsp;on Monday as details emerged about their mission to board and take over a vessel carrying components for medium-range Iranian ballistic missiles headed for Somalia, a U.S. defense official said Monday.The official said crew on the dhow, which did not have a country flag, were planning to transfer the missile parts, including warheads and engines, to another boat off the coast of Somalia. The Navy recognized the boat as one with a history of transporting illegal weapons from Iran to Somalia, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details not made public.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/navy-seals-missing-somalia-coast-boarding-mission-41a5cf55805f8aa0ff2c4d5626690529" target="_blank">The SEALs</a>&nbsp;were on the USS Lewis B. Puller, a Navy expeditionary sea base vessel, and traveled in small special operations combat craft driven by naval special warfare crew to get to the boat. As they were boarding it in rough seas, around 8 p.m. local time, one SEAL got knocked off by high waves and a teammate went in after him. Both are missing.The team boarding the small boat was facing about a dozen crew members. The crew members, who were taken into custody, had no paperwork, which allowed a search of the vessel. The weapons were confiscated, and the boat was sunk, a routine procedure that usually involves blowing open holes in the hull.U.S. officials have said that the waters in the Gulf of Aden are warm, and Navy SEALs are trained for such emergencies. On Monday, Navy ships, helicopters and drones were involved in the ongoing search.The U.S. Navy has conducted regular&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-middle-east-e4bde7250333a85445fe9a9f0f1c64a8" target="_blank">interdiction missions</a>&nbsp;in the region, also intercepting weapons on ships that were bound for Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen.Officials have said that the SEAL mission was not related to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/attacks-red-sea-navy-mission-missiles-286d51bfd65e741e839e185f0f4a455b" target="_blank">Operation Prosperity Guardian</a>, the ongoing U.S. and international mission to provide protection to commercial vessels in the Red Sea, or the retaliatory strikes that the United States and the United Kingdom have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-attacks-iran-ships-retaliation-houthis-d770a3fb0fab4c4b72e2459771833e11" target="_blank">conducted in Yemen</a>&nbsp;over the past two days.

2 missing Navy SEALs were on mission to confiscate Iranian missile parts

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/omaha-wwii-hero-charles-jackson-french-to-have-destroyer-named-after-him/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — Local World War II hero Charles Jackson French will soon have his name on a naval vessel.

The U.S. Navy announced last week that an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer will be named after French. Construction of the ship is set to begin in 2026, with delivery in 2031.

Petty Officer 1st Class French dove into shark-infested waters after the USS Gregory was sunk near Guadalcanal Island in September 1942 and saved 15 of his shipmates. He helped gather them on a nearby raft, tied a rope around himself and swam them to safety.&nbsp;

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced the ship-naming honor Jan. 10 for the “Human Tugboat.” French served during an era when the Navy limited the jobs for Black sailors and rarely awarded them the same honors as whites for bravery.&nbsp;

“Let this ship inspire us to challenge our own limitations and to always — always — answer the call of duty, even when the waters are rough and the path ahead uncertain,” Del Toro&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/3641986/secnav-del-toro-names-navy-destroyer-for-wwii-hero-charles-french/">said in a statement</a>. The secretary announced the naming during the Surface Navy Association’s annual symposium in Arlington, Virginia.

In 2021-22, U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb, and Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., worked with historians and family to draw attention to French’s cause. Through their efforts, the Benson Post Office was&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/05/26/senate-passes-bill-naming-benson-post-office-after-nebraska-wwii-hero/">renamed the Charles Jackson French Post Office</a>&nbsp;in 2022.

French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal the same year, and Naval Base San Diego renamed its rescue swimmer training pool after him. Now, a destroyer will bear French’s name.&nbsp;

Fischer and Bacon have praised French’s heroism and applauded the Navy’s ship-naming decision. Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general, said men and women would serve on the ship bearing French’s name “with pride.”

French’s nephew, Roscoe Harris, said in March 2022 that French’s story is “an American story.”

“He cared about his fellow sailors,” Harris said. “He cared about them when the Navy was segregated. He saved those white sailors because they needed saving.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705354234286.jpeg" alt="The U.S. Postal Service held a ceremony in Omaha to formally rename the Benson branch post pffice for World War II Navy veteran Charles Jackson French. A photo of French is shown outside the building at 63rd and Maple Streets. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>The U.S. Postal Service held a ceremony in Omaha to formally rename the Benson branch post pffice for World War II Navy veteran Charles Jackson French. A photo of French is shown outside the building at 63rd and Maple Streets. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Aaron Sanderford<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/omaha-wwii-hero-charles-jackson-french-to-have-destroyer-named-after-him/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — Local World War II hero Charles Jackson French will soon have his name on a naval vessel.The U.S. Navy announced last week that an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer will be named after French. Construction of the ship is set to begin in 2026, with delivery in 2031.Petty Officer 1st Class French dove into shark-infested waters after the USS Gregory was sunk near Guadalcanal Island in September 1942 and saved 15 of his shipmates. He helped gather them on a nearby raft, tied a rope around himself and swam them to safety.&nbsp;Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced the ship-naming honor Jan. 10 for the “Human Tugboat.” French served during an era when the Navy limited the jobs for Black sailors and rarely awarded them the same honors as whites for bravery.&nbsp;“Let this ship inspire us to challenge our own limitations and to always — always — answer the call of duty, even when the waters are rough and the path ahead uncertain,” Del Toro&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/3641986/secnav-del-toro-names-navy-destroyer-for-wwii-hero-charles-french/">said in a statement</a>. The secretary announced the naming during the Surface Navy Association’s annual symposium in Arlington, Virginia.<h2>Effort to raise awareness</h2>In 2021-22, U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb, and Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., worked with historians and family to draw attention to French’s cause. Through their efforts, the Benson Post Office was&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/05/26/senate-passes-bill-naming-benson-post-office-after-nebraska-wwii-hero/">renamed the Charles Jackson French Post Office</a>&nbsp;in 2022.French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal the same year, and Naval Base San Diego renamed its rescue swimmer training pool after him. Now, a destroyer will bear French’s name.&nbsp;Fischer and Bacon have praised French’s heroism and applauded the Navy’s ship-naming decision. Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general, said men and women would serve on the ship bearing French’s name “with pride.”French’s nephew, Roscoe Harris, said in March 2022 that French’s story is “an American story.”“He cared about his fellow sailors,” Harris said. “He cared about them when the Navy was segregated. He saved those white sailors because they needed saving.”

Omaha WWII hero Charles Jackson French to have destroyer named after him

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/lloyd-austin">Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin</a>&nbsp;was released from the hospital Monday, after spending two weeks there to treat complications from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prostate-cancer-treatment-surgery-radiation-study-508ac3025e164ff629b180ebb6113df0">surgery for prostate cancer</a>&nbsp;he kept secret from senior Biden administration leaders and staff for weeks.

He is expected to work from home as he recovers.

Austin, 70, was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/austin-hospital-defense-secretary-biden-fe9060f1e277db706d3cee6cae1d2562">on Dec. 22</a>&nbsp;and underwent surgery to treat the cancer, which was detected earlier in the month during a routine screening. He developed an infection a week later and was hospitalized Jan. 1 and admitted to intensive care.

Doctors said he remained in the hospital due to ongoing leg pain resulting from the infection and so he could get physical therapy.

President Joe Biden and senior administration officials were not told about Austin's hospitalization until Jan. 4, and Austin kept the cancer diagnosis secret until Jan. 9. Biden has said Austin's failure to tell him about the hospitalization was a lapse in judgment, but the Democratic president insists he still has confidence in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-biden-cabinet-lloyd-austin-john-cornyn-army-4d8848273e4e1fe6e4ad2dc8cee7313c">his Pentagon chief</a>.

During Austin's time at Walter Reed, the U.S. launched&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-biden-retaliation-attacks-0804b93372cd5e874a0dd03513fe36a2">a series of military strikes</a>&nbsp;late last week on the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, targeting dozens of locations linked to their campaign of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-houthi-yemen-ships-attack-israel-hamas-war-gaza-strip-716770f0a780160e9abed98d3c48fbde">assaults on commercial shipping</a>&nbsp;in the Red Sea. Working from his hospital bed, Austin juggled calls with senior military leaders, including Gen. Erik Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, and White House meetings to review, order and ultimately watch the strikes unfold over secure video.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/defense-secretary-lloyd-austin-hospitalized-secrecy-disclosure-6ff0ee7eddfde1231453f96774788642">The lack of transparency</a>&nbsp;about Austin’s hospitalization, however, has triggered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-white-house-pentagon-lloyd-austin-8e888aaed905e2327501a237139c6f0e">administration and Defense Department reviews</a>&nbsp;on the procedures for notifying the White House and others if a Cabinet member must transfer decision-making authorities to a deputy, as Austin did during his initial surgery and a portion of his latest hospital stay. And the White House chief of staff&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24355772-cabinet-heads-memo">ordered Cabinet members</a>&nbsp;to notify his office if they ever can’t perform their duties.

Austin's secrecy also drew criticism from Congress members on both sides of the political aisle, and Rep. Mike Rogers, an Alabama Republican who is chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said he has opened a formal inquiry into the matter. Others openly called for Austin to resign, but the White House has said the Pentagon chief's job is safe.

It is still unclear when Austin will return to his office in the Pentagon or how his cancer treatment will affect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-biden-cabinet-lloyd-austin-john-cornyn-army-4d8848273e4e1fe6e4ad2dc8cee7313c">his job</a>, travel and other public engagements going forward. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks has been taking on some of his day-to-day duties as he recovers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704767147747.png" alt="Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III visits the USS Gerald R. Ford underway in the Eastern Mediterranean, Dec. 20, 2023.&nbsp;Photo By:Chad J. McNeeley, DOD" />
 <figcaption>Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III visits the USS Gerald R. Ford underway in the Eastern Mediterranean, Dec. 20, 2023.&nbsp;Photo By:Chad J. McNeeley, DOD</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/lloyd-austin">Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin</a>&nbsp;was released from the hospital Monday, after spending two weeks there to treat complications from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prostate-cancer-treatment-surgery-radiation-study-508ac3025e164ff629b180ebb6113df0">surgery for prostate cancer</a>&nbsp;he kept secret from senior Biden administration leaders and staff for weeks.He is expected to work from home as he recovers.Austin, 70, was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/austin-hospital-defense-secretary-biden-fe9060f1e277db706d3cee6cae1d2562">on Dec. 22</a>&nbsp;and underwent surgery to treat the cancer, which was detected earlier in the month during a routine screening. He developed an infection a week later and was hospitalized Jan. 1 and admitted to intensive care.Doctors said he remained in the hospital due to ongoing leg pain resulting from the infection and so he could get physical therapy.President Joe Biden and senior administration officials were not told about Austin's hospitalization until Jan. 4, and Austin kept the cancer diagnosis secret until Jan. 9. Biden has said Austin's failure to tell him about the hospitalization was a lapse in judgment, but the Democratic president insists he still has confidence in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-biden-cabinet-lloyd-austin-john-cornyn-army-4d8848273e4e1fe6e4ad2dc8cee7313c">his Pentagon chief</a>.During Austin's time at Walter Reed, the U.S. launched&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-biden-retaliation-attacks-0804b93372cd5e874a0dd03513fe36a2">a series of military strikes</a>&nbsp;late last week on the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, targeting dozens of locations linked to their campaign of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-houthi-yemen-ships-attack-israel-hamas-war-gaza-strip-716770f0a780160e9abed98d3c48fbde">assaults on commercial shipping</a>&nbsp;in the Red Sea. Working from his hospital bed, Austin juggled calls with senior military leaders, including Gen. Erik Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, and White House meetings to review, order and ultimately watch the strikes unfold over secure video.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/defense-secretary-lloyd-austin-hospitalized-secrecy-disclosure-6ff0ee7eddfde1231453f96774788642">The lack of transparency</a>&nbsp;about Austin’s hospitalization, however, has triggered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-white-house-pentagon-lloyd-austin-8e888aaed905e2327501a237139c6f0e">administration and Defense Department reviews</a>&nbsp;on the procedures for notifying the White House and others if a Cabinet member must transfer decision-making authorities to a deputy, as Austin did during his initial surgery and a portion of his latest hospital stay. And the White House chief of staff&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24355772-cabinet-heads-memo">ordered Cabinet members</a>&nbsp;to notify his office if they ever can’t perform their duties.Austin's secrecy also drew criticism from Congress members on both sides of the political aisle, and Rep. Mike Rogers, an Alabama Republican who is chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said he has opened a formal inquiry into the matter. Others openly called for Austin to resign, but the White House has said the Pentagon chief's job is safe.It is still unclear when Austin will return to his office in the Pentagon or how his cancer treatment will affect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-biden-cabinet-lloyd-austin-john-cornyn-army-4d8848273e4e1fe6e4ad2dc8cee7313c">his job</a>, travel and other public engagements going forward. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks has been taking on some of his day-to-day duties as he recovers.

Defense Secretary working from home after surgery he kept secret

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/federal-judge-orders-werner-enterprises-to-pay-deaf-truck-driver-335000/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A federal judge has ordered Omaha’s Werner Enterprises to pay a deaf driver $300,000 plus $35,682 in lost wages to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/deaf-driver-wins-36-million-judgment-against-omaha-trucking-company/">discrimination case had been filed</a>&nbsp;by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eeoc.gov/newsroom/jury-awards-over-36-million-eeoc-disability-discrimination-case-against-werner-trucking" target="_blank">U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission</a>&nbsp;on behalf of driver Victor Robinson, who had applied for a job with Werner in 2016, but then was rejected.

Despite being deaf, Robinson had obtained a “hearing exemption” from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and he graduated from a Werner-owned truck driving school.

In September, an eight-person jury found that Werner had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act because it had failed to hire Robinson and had failed to provide him with reasonable accommodation for his disability.

The jury awarded $36 million in punitive damages and $75,000 in compensatory damages to Robinson.

Federal law, though, limits monetary damages to $300,000 in such employment discrimination cases, and on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge John Gerrard reduced the damages to that amount and awarded Robinson $35,682 for lost wages.

Werner, in court filings, had argued that it could not reasonably accommodate Robinson’s disability so he could “perform the essential functions of his position.”

On Sunday, a spokeswoman for Werner said the company had no further comment.

In September, Jill Samuelson, Werner’s associate vice president for marketing and communications, had said that the company was considering an appeal.

She added then that Werner operates on the idea&nbsp;that “nothing we do is worth getting hurt or hurting others.”

Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/federal-judge-orders-werner-enterprises-to-pay-deaf-truck-driver-335000/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A federal judge has ordered Omaha’s Werner Enterprises to pay a deaf driver $300,000 plus $35,682 in lost wages to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit.The&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/deaf-driver-wins-36-million-judgment-against-omaha-trucking-company/">discrimination case had been filed</a>&nbsp;by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eeoc.gov/newsroom/jury-awards-over-36-million-eeoc-disability-discrimination-case-against-werner-trucking" target="_blank">U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission</a>&nbsp;on behalf of driver Victor Robinson, who had applied for a job with Werner in 2016, but then was rejected.Despite being deaf, Robinson had obtained a “hearing exemption” from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and he graduated from a Werner-owned truck driving school.<h2>Jury award was $36 million</h2>In September, an eight-person jury found that Werner had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act because it had failed to hire Robinson and had failed to provide him with reasonable accommodation for his disability.The jury awarded $36 million in punitive damages and $75,000 in compensatory damages to Robinson.Federal law, though, limits monetary damages to $300,000 in such employment discrimination cases, and on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge John Gerrard reduced the damages to that amount and awarded Robinson $35,682 for lost wages.<h2>‘Could not reasonable accommodate’</h2>Werner, in court filings, had argued that it could not reasonably accommodate Robinson’s disability so he could “perform the essential functions of his position.”On Sunday, a spokeswoman for Werner said the company had no further comment.In September, Jill Samuelson, Werner’s associate vice president for marketing and communications, had said that the company was considering an appeal.She added then that Werner operates on the idea&nbsp;that “nothing we do is worth getting hurt or hurting others.”

Federal judge orders Werner Enterprises to pay deaf truck driver $335,000

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/01/15/new-interim-director-of-nebraska-african-american-commission-sees-pace-picking-up-after-turnovers/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A state agency charged with advocating for Nebraska’s African Americans has cycled through two executive directors in the three years since it launched.

Each stayed less than a year before resigning. A trio of spots on the governing board also are vacant as the Nebraska&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ncaaa.nebraska.gov/">Commission on African American Affairs</a>&nbsp;continues to find its bearings.

But a founding commissioner who is now filling in as interim director expects the commission to step up activity this year and amplify the voice of Nebraska’s roughly 92,000 African Americans in towns small, big, rural and urban.

Indeed, John Carter of Benkelman said he’d like the 14-member commission to go as far as to assume oversight of certain state economic development funds to help ensure that dollars intended for Black populations reach and impact them.

“If you’re going to have a legislatively mandated commission, it needs to have relevance. It needs to matter,” said Carter. “We’re hitting the ground running to identify and address the issues.”

Meetings this week to set a new&nbsp; pace

A pair of meetings scheduled this week should help set a new pace, said Carter and others familiar with the commission.&nbsp;

On Wednesday, the commission will hold a quarterly public meeting at 9 a.m. at the State Office Building in Lincoln. Among items to be discussed is a “lack of response” from Gov. Jim Pillen’s Office.

Carter said the governor’s staff hadn’t returned recent phone calls, email or meeting invites from the commission and said that was a barrier to filling board vacancies and moving forward in general.

A spokeswoman for Pillen, in response to a reporter’s query, said the commission is not a “code agency” and therefore is not subject to the governor’s direct control. But Pillen supports the commission’s statutory mission, Laura Strimple said, and has “demonstrated a strong commitment to expanding opportunities for Nebraska’s African American community.”&nbsp;

Strimple noted that the governor met with commission members in July, and she said he has been in contact with them through other state agencies such as the Department of Administrative Services.

Turnover at the commission has contributed to some communications delay that, Strimple said, “has been cleared up.”

Carter, who also is chair of the commission, said he hopes to see the commission this year take its place as a “true liaison” between the Black community, the state and the Legislature.&nbsp;

On Saturday, the commission plans its first community-based public meeting since a meet-and-greet session early on. It is to be held at 10 a.m. at North Omaha’s Malcolm X Center.&nbsp;

A key topic, commissioners said, is the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/22/proposed-business-park-near-nebraskas-largest-airport-embroiled-in-conflict/">industrial business park</a>&nbsp;and multipurpose sports center planned in North Omaha — and how the state commission and community members can work together to have more influence on such high-dollar projects.

Commissioner Gwendolyn Easter of Omaha said she and others are concerned also because elected leaders of North Omaha were not invited to be part of the dignitary lineup that last week announced recipients of&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/01/10/nearly-125-million-is-announced-for-north-omaha-growth-though-some-elected-officials-have-qualms/">nearly $125 million in public funds</a>&nbsp;for the business park and sports center.

Carter said a goal is to see the commission become as or more involved than the Nebraska Department of Economic Development in such matters that involve economic growth projects in the Black community.

The purpose of the Nebraska Commission on African American Affairs, according to 2020 legislation: “To do all things which the commission may determine to enhance the cause of African American rights and to develop solutions to problems common to all Nebraska African Americans.”

Signed into law by then-Gov. Pete Ricketts, the commission effectively launched in 2021 and joined other similar agencies, including those advocating for Native Americans and Latinos. Proposed legislation this year would create a commission for Nebraskans of Asian descent.

The 14 commissioners are to be of African ancestry, according&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/106/PDF/Slip/LB918.pdf">to the law introduced</a>&nbsp;by State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha. Successors to the four-year terms are to be appointed by the governor from nominees submitted by the public.

Commissioners are to receive $50 for each day spent in the performance of their duties and reimbursement for expenses.

According to the 2020 legislation that created the commission, its functions include coordinating programs relating to the African American community and economic development.

Too often, said Easter, longtime African-American businesses and residents are overlooked and livelihoods are hurt in the name of bigger development.&nbsp;Changes in the North Omaha child care industry are an example, she said.

As larger early childhood education institutions entered the market with support from institutional leaders, she said, smaller and older businesses such as her Safe Haven preschool academy suffered.

“At one time that was our leading business that Black people thrived in,” she said of home-based and smaller day care settings. She advocates for more discussion and brainstorming with established residents and businesses.&nbsp;

If the aim of public dollars is to help bring change to a historically neglected community, Carter said, locals should be provided with more assurance that “indigenous” families and workers will benefit. He pointed to the planned North Omaha business park: “Will it support people or just be an extension of the airport?”

State Sen. Terrell McKinney, one of two African Americans in the Legislature, said the turnover of executive directors at the commission has not been “a good sign.” He said he is hopeful the commission will elevate its profile and connection to his North Omaha district, and believes the commission could become an effective ally.

“I welcome that,” he said. “There are not too many of us down there, and the commission can be a vital resource and ally to try and change things.”

Carter, a retired Dundy County sheriff’s deputy and former assistant police chief in Tekamah, said he envisions more commission-hosted town hall meetings across the state to hear how African Americans are faring.&nbsp;

Individual commissioners already are expected to listen to people in their respective areas of the state and convey needs and progress to the larger commission.

But Carter plans to seek more funding so the commission can increase staffing and programming — “to do a better job of integrating African Americans into everyday life of Nebraska.”&nbsp;

He sees now as a “great time” for the state commission to raise the volume in relaying “community perspective” especially on economic empowerment.

At least one bill backed this year by the Commission on African American Affairs aims to increase the number of Black farmers in the state, said John Carter, the commission’s chair and interim director.

The Nebraska Farmers of Color Opportunity Act, proposed by State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue, would grant tax breaks to organizations awarding grants to Black farmers or food producers.

Blood said only 1.4% of farmers in Nebraska today are Black, compared to 14% a century ago.

He cited concern, for example, over the recent loss of&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/head-of-nebraskas-health-and-human-services-resigns/">key state cabinet-level</a>&nbsp;African American officials including heads of the DED and Department of Health and Human Services. He also referred to the departure of an African American woman<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/less-than-a-year-into-the-job-veta-jeffery-is-exiting-as-ceo-of-greater-omaha-chamber/">&nbsp;as CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber</a>&nbsp;of Commerce.

Opportunities and treatment of Nebraskans are not equal — and “depend on the color of your skin and where you live,” Carter said.

At least one way to make positive inroads, he said, is for commission representatives to visit towns across the state. He cited a Juneteenth celebration that he helped organize in McCook, Nebraska, a few years back.

Most who attended were white, Carter said. But information and soul food were shared, and he felt that many left with a greater understanding of African American history and struggles.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705339709701.jpeg" alt="The Nebraska State Capitol (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>The Nebraska State Capitol (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/01/15/new-interim-director-of-nebraska-african-american-commission-sees-pace-picking-up-after-turnovers/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A state agency charged with advocating for Nebraska’s African Americans has cycled through two executive directors in the three years since it launched.Each stayed less than a year before resigning. A trio of spots on the governing board also are vacant as the Nebraska&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ncaaa.nebraska.gov/">Commission on African American Affairs</a>&nbsp;continues to find its bearings.But a founding commissioner who is now filling in as interim director expects the commission to step up activity this year and amplify the voice of Nebraska’s roughly 92,000 African Americans in towns small, big, rural and urban.Indeed, John Carter of Benkelman said he’d like the 14-member commission to go as far as to assume oversight of certain state economic development funds to help ensure that dollars intended for Black populations reach and impact them.“If you’re going to have a legislatively mandated commission, it needs to have relevance. It needs to matter,” said Carter. “We’re hitting the ground running to identify and address the issues.”<h2>Meetings this week to set a new&nbsp; pace</h2>A pair of meetings scheduled this week should help set a new pace, said Carter and others familiar with the commission.&nbsp;On Wednesday, the commission will hold a quarterly public meeting at 9 a.m. at the State Office Building in Lincoln. Among items to be discussed is a “lack of response” from Gov. Jim Pillen’s Office.Carter said the governor’s staff hadn’t returned recent phone calls, email or meeting invites from the commission and said that was a barrier to filling board vacancies and moving forward in general.A spokeswoman for Pillen, in response to a reporter’s query, said the commission is not a “code agency” and therefore is not subject to the governor’s direct control. But Pillen supports the commission’s statutory mission, Laura Strimple said, and has “demonstrated a strong commitment to expanding opportunities for Nebraska’s African American community.”&nbsp;Strimple noted that the governor met with commission members in July, and she said he has been in contact with them through other state agencies such as the Department of Administrative Services.Turnover at the commission has contributed to some communications delay that, Strimple said, “has been cleared up.”Carter, who also is chair of the commission, said he hopes to see the commission this year take its place as a “true liaison” between the Black community, the state and the Legislature.&nbsp;On Saturday, the commission plans its first community-based public meeting since a meet-and-greet session early on. It is to be held at 10 a.m. at North Omaha’s Malcolm X Center.&nbsp;A key topic, commissioners said, is the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/22/proposed-business-park-near-nebraskas-largest-airport-embroiled-in-conflict/">industrial business park</a>&nbsp;and multipurpose sports center planned in North Omaha — and how the state commission and community members can work together to have more influence on such high-dollar projects.Commissioner Gwendolyn Easter of Omaha said she and others are concerned also because elected leaders of North Omaha were not invited to be part of the dignitary lineup that last week announced recipients of&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/01/10/nearly-125-million-is-announced-for-north-omaha-growth-though-some-elected-officials-have-qualms/">nearly $125 million in public funds</a>&nbsp;for the business park and sports center.<h2>More input in economic development</h2>Carter said a goal is to see the commission become as or more involved than the Nebraska Department of Economic Development in such matters that involve economic growth projects in the Black community.<h2>Enhancing African American rights</h2>The purpose of the Nebraska Commission on African American Affairs, according to 2020 legislation: “To do all things which the commission may determine to enhance the cause of African American rights and to develop solutions to problems common to all Nebraska African Americans.”Signed into law by then-Gov. Pete Ricketts, the commission effectively launched in 2021 and joined other similar agencies, including those advocating for Native Americans and Latinos. Proposed legislation this year would create a commission for Nebraskans of Asian descent.The 14 commissioners are to be of African ancestry, according&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/106/PDF/Slip/LB918.pdf">to the law introduced</a>&nbsp;by State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha. Successors to the four-year terms are to be appointed by the governor from nominees submitted by the public.Commissioners are to receive $50 for each day spent in the performance of their duties and reimbursement for expenses.According to the 2020 legislation that created the commission, its functions include coordinating programs relating to the African American community and economic development.Too often, said Easter, longtime African-American businesses and residents are overlooked and livelihoods are hurt in the name of bigger development.&nbsp;Changes in the North Omaha child care industry are an example, she said.As larger early childhood education institutions entered the market with support from institutional leaders, she said, smaller and older businesses such as her Safe Haven preschool academy suffered.“At one time that was our leading business that Black people thrived in,” she said of home-based and smaller day care settings. She advocates for more discussion and brainstorming with established residents and businesses.&nbsp;If the aim of public dollars is to help bring change to a historically neglected community, Carter said, locals should be provided with more assurance that “indigenous” families and workers will benefit. He pointed to the planned North Omaha business park: “Will it support people or just be an extension of the airport?”<h2>More town halls</h2>State Sen. Terrell McKinney, one of two African Americans in the Legislature, said the turnover of executive directors at the commission has not been “a good sign.” He said he is hopeful the commission will elevate its profile and connection to his North Omaha district, and believes the commission could become an effective ally.“I welcome that,” he said. “There are not too many of us down there, and the commission can be a vital resource and ally to try and change things.”Carter, a retired Dundy County sheriff’s deputy and former assistant police chief in Tekamah, said he envisions more commission-hosted town hall meetings across the state to hear how African Americans are faring.&nbsp;Individual commissioners already are expected to listen to people in their respective areas of the state and convey needs and progress to the larger commission.But Carter plans to seek more funding so the commission can increase staffing and programming — “to do a better job of integrating African Americans into everyday life of Nebraska.”&nbsp;He sees now as a “great time” for the state commission to raise the volume in relaying “community perspective” especially on economic empowerment.<h2>Support of Black farmers</h2>At least one bill backed this year by the Commission on African American Affairs aims to increase the number of Black farmers in the state, said John Carter, the commission’s chair and interim director.The Nebraska Farmers of Color Opportunity Act, proposed by State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue, would grant tax breaks to organizations awarding grants to Black farmers or food producers.Blood said only 1.4% of farmers in Nebraska today are Black, compared to 14% a century ago.He cited concern, for example, over the recent loss of&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/head-of-nebraskas-health-and-human-services-resigns/">key state cabinet-level</a>&nbsp;African American officials including heads of the DED and Department of Health and Human Services. He also referred to the departure of an African American woman<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/less-than-a-year-into-the-job-veta-jeffery-is-exiting-as-ceo-of-greater-omaha-chamber/">&nbsp;as CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber</a>&nbsp;of Commerce.Opportunities and treatment of Nebraskans are not equal — and “depend on the color of your skin and where you live,” Carter said.At least one way to make positive inroads, he said, is for commission representatives to visit towns across the state. He cited a Juneteenth celebration that he helped organize in McCook, Nebraska, a few years back.Most who attended were white, Carter said. But information and soul food were shared, and he felt that many left with a greater understanding of African American history and struggles.“What I’ve learned is if you go into communities, share experiences and stories … it can change minds and build relationships.”