COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>&nbsp;was asked Wednesday by a New Hampshire voter about the reason for the Civil War, and she didn’t mention slavery in her response — leading the voter to say he was “astonished” by her omission.

Asked during a town hall in Berlin, New Hampshire, what she believed had caused the war — the first shots of which were fired in her home state of South Carolina — Haley talked about the role of government, replying that it involved “the freedoms of what people could and couldn't do.”

She then turned the question back to the man who had asked it, who replied that he was not the one running for president and wished instead to know her answer.

After Haley went into a lengthier explanation about the role of government, individual freedom and capitalism, the questioner seemed to admonish Haley, saying, “In the year 2023, it’s astonishing to me that you answer that question without mentioning the word slavery.”

“What do you want me to say about slavery?" Haley retorted, before abruptly moving on to the next question.

Haley, who served six years as South Carolina's governor, has been competing for a distant second place to Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. She has frequently said during her campaign that she would compete in the first three states before returning “to the sweet state of South Carolina, and we’ll finish it” in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-donald-trump-south-carolina-56c0ceb5b1b93a46df87e9e88342f7f2">Feb. 24 primary</a>.

Haley's campaign did not immediately return a message seeking comment on her response. The campaign of Florida Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ron-desantis">Ron DeSantis,</a>&nbsp;another of Haley's GOP foes, recirculated video of the exchange on social media, adding the comment, “Yikes.”

Issues surrounding the origins of the Civil War and its heritage are still much of the fabric of Haley’s home state, and she has been pressed on the war’s origins before. As she ran for governor in 2010, Haley, in an interview with a now-defunct activist group then known as The Palmetto Patriots, described the war as between two disparate sides fighting for “tradition” and “change” and said the Confederate flag was “not something that is racist.”

During that same campaign, she dismissed the need for the flag to come down from the Statehouse grounds, portraying her Democratic rival’s push for its removal as a desperate political stunt.

Five years later, Haley urged lawmakers to remove the flag from its perch near a Confederate soldier monument following a mass shooting in which a white gunman killed eight Black church members who were attending Bible study. At the time, Haley said the flag had been “hijacked” by the shooter from those who saw the flag as symbolizing “sacrifice and heritage.”

South Carolina’s Ordinance of Secession — the 1860 proclamation by the state government outlining its reasons for seceding from the Union — mentions slavery in its opening sentence and points to the “increasing hostility on the part of the non-slaveholding States to the institution of slavery” as a reason for the state removing itself from the Union.

On Wednesday night, Christale Spain — elected this year as the first Black woman to chair South Carolina’s Democratic Party — said Haley’s response was “vile, but unsurprising.”

“The same person who refused to take down the Confederate Flag until the tragedy in Charleston, and tried to justify a Confederate History Month," Spain said in a post on X, of Haley. “She’s just as MAGA as Trump,” Spain added, referring to Trump's ”Make America Great Again" slogan.

Jaime Harrison, current chairman of the Democratic National Committee and South Carolina's party chairman during part of Haley's tenure as governor, said her response was “not stunning if you were a Black resident in SC when she was Governor."

“Same person who said the confederate flag was about tradition &amp; heritage and as a minority woman she was the right person to defend keeping it on state house grounds,” Harrison posted Wednesday night on X. “Some may have forgotten but I haven’t. Time to take off the rose colored Nikki Haley glasses folks.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703768720495.png" alt="Photo Nikki Haley campaign" />
 <figcaption>Photo Nikki Haley campaign</figcaption>
 </figure>COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>&nbsp;was asked Wednesday by a New Hampshire voter about the reason for the Civil War, and she didn’t mention slavery in her response — leading the voter to say he was “astonished” by her omission.Asked during a town hall in Berlin, New Hampshire, what she believed had caused the war — the first shots of which were fired in her home state of South Carolina — Haley talked about the role of government, replying that it involved “the freedoms of what people could and couldn't do.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Asked what caused the Civil War, Nikki Haley refuses to mention slavery: “What do you want me to say about slavery? Next question.” <a href="https://t.co/cEMW3Cn9ku">pic.twitter.com/cEMW3Cn9ku</a>&mdash; Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/BidenHQ/status/1740199494380118313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>She then turned the question back to the man who had asked it, who replied that he was not the one running for president and wished instead to know her answer.After Haley went into a lengthier explanation about the role of government, individual freedom and capitalism, the questioner seemed to admonish Haley, saying, “In the year 2023, it’s astonishing to me that you answer that question without mentioning the word slavery.”“What do you want me to say about slavery?" Haley retorted, before abruptly moving on to the next question.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703774281490.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Haley, who served six years as South Carolina's governor, has been competing for a distant second place to Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. She has frequently said during her campaign that she would compete in the first three states before returning “to the sweet state of South Carolina, and we’ll finish it” in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-donald-trump-south-carolina-56c0ceb5b1b93a46df87e9e88342f7f2">Feb. 24 primary</a>.Haley's campaign did not immediately return a message seeking comment on her response. The campaign of Florida Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ron-desantis">Ron DeSantis,</a>&nbsp;another of Haley's GOP foes, recirculated video of the exchange on social media, adding the comment, “Yikes.”Issues surrounding the origins of the Civil War and its heritage are still much of the fabric of Haley’s home state, and she has been pressed on the war’s origins before. As she ran for governor in 2010, Haley, in an interview with a now-defunct activist group then known as The Palmetto Patriots, described the war as between two disparate sides fighting for “tradition” and “change” and said the Confederate flag was “not something that is racist.”During that same campaign, she dismissed the need for the flag to come down from the Statehouse grounds, portraying her Democratic rival’s push for its removal as a desperate political stunt.Five years later, Haley urged lawmakers to remove the flag from its perch near a Confederate soldier monument following a mass shooting in which a white gunman killed eight Black church members who were attending Bible study. At the time, Haley said the flag had been “hijacked” by the shooter from those who saw the flag as symbolizing “sacrifice and heritage.”South Carolina’s Ordinance of Secession — the 1860 proclamation by the state government outlining its reasons for seceding from the Union — mentions slavery in its opening sentence and points to the “increasing hostility on the part of the non-slaveholding States to the institution of slavery” as a reason for the state removing itself from the Union.On Wednesday night, Christale Spain — elected this year as the first Black woman to chair South Carolina’s Democratic Party — said Haley’s response was “vile, but unsurprising.”“The same person who refused to take down the Confederate Flag until the tragedy in Charleston, and tried to justify a Confederate History Month," Spain said in a post on X, of Haley. “She’s just as MAGA as Trump,” Spain added, referring to Trump's ”Make America Great Again" slogan.Jaime Harrison, current chairman of the Democratic National Committee and South Carolina's party chairman during part of Haley's tenure as governor, said her response was “not stunning if you were a Black resident in SC when she was Governor."“Same person who said the confederate flag was about tradition &amp; heritage and as a minority woman she was the right person to defend keeping it on state house grounds,” Harrison posted Wednesday night on X. “Some may have forgotten but I haven’t. Time to take off the rose colored Nikki Haley glasses folks.”___

🎥Presidential candidate flubbed simple question about the Civil War

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A judge has ordered a woman who set fire to Wyoming's only full-service abortion clinic to pay nearly $300,000 in restitution, the full amount sought by prosecutors.

Lorna Green is serving five years in prison for burning Wellspring Health Access weeks before the clinic was set to open in Casper in 2022. The fire gutted the building while it was being renovated for the new clinic and delayed its opening by almost a year.

After&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wyoming-abortion-clinic-arson-opens-f149c165fdaa0956fecdbff75488f7cb">opening</a>&nbsp;this past April, Wellspring is now the only abortion clinic in Wyoming. A clinic in Jackson that provided pill abortions closed Dec. 15 due to rising costs.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Alan Johnson ordered Green, 22, to pay about $298,000 in restitution including $240,000 to Nationwide General Insurance Company, the clinic's insurer.

Green must also pay $33,500 to the building's owner, Christine Lichtenfels, and $24,500 to Julie Burkhart, founder and president of Wellspring Health Access. Burkhart expressed satisfaction with the restitution.

“Not only did we have the emotional struggle and that trauma from the arson but also it was quite challenging for us financially. So I’m glad this is the final piece and it has been put to rest,” Burkhart said Wednesday.

The restitution was identical to the amounts sought by prosecutors and unopposed by Green's attorney, Ryan Semerad, who in an emailed statement said Wednesday that Green “looks forward to a productive and peaceful life after her term of incarceration."

Green has expressed remorse for the crime, which she said was driven by anxiety and nightmares about the planned clinic. The Casper College mechanical engineering student had shown no sign of anti-abortion views on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-clinic-wyoming-fire-arrest-6796b5c4ed39f858c1694a01ea06f985">social media</a>&nbsp;but told investigators she opposed abortion.

She admitted driving from Laramie to Casper, breaking into the clinic through a door and lighting gasoline she poured in trays and splashed on the floor. After months of little progress, investigators increased the reward to $15,000 and got tips leading to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wyoming-abortion-clinic-fire-arrest-4524825ae149b37a677fbfe72ce76400">Green's arrest</a>&nbsp;in March.

Green pleaded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wyoming-abortion-clinic-fire-bf23a8e3bd37c429a274b4e16cf2607f">guilty</a>&nbsp;in June to arson and in September&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wyoming-abortion-clinic-fire-woman-sentenced-88a92fca874acca5b781c99ac0ba9b6d">received</a>&nbsp;the minimum prison sentence. She had faced up to 20 years in prison.

The arson and eventual opening of the clinic happened as new laws in Wyoming seek to ban abortion in nearly all cases. The laws, including the nation's first explicit ban on abortion pills, have been put on hold by a judge amid a lawsuit filed by four women and two nonprofits including Wellspring Health Access.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703715096976.png" alt="Green photo following her initial arrest - Natrona County Sheriff's " />
 <figcaption>Green photo following her initial arrest - Natrona County Sheriff's </figcaption>
 </figure>CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A judge has ordered a woman who set fire to Wyoming's only full-service abortion clinic to pay nearly $300,000 in restitution, the full amount sought by prosecutors.Lorna Green is serving five years in prison for burning Wellspring Health Access weeks before the clinic was set to open in Casper in 2022. The fire gutted the building while it was being renovated for the new clinic and delayed its opening by almost a year.After&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wyoming-abortion-clinic-arson-opens-f149c165fdaa0956fecdbff75488f7cb">opening</a>&nbsp;this past April, Wellspring is now the only abortion clinic in Wyoming. A clinic in Jackson that provided pill abortions closed Dec. 15 due to rising costs.On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Alan Johnson ordered Green, 22, to pay about $298,000 in restitution including $240,000 to Nationwide General Insurance Company, the clinic's insurer.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703715255058.png" alt="Green as seen on security camera -image Casper Police" />
 <figcaption>Green as seen on security camera -image Casper Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Green must also pay $33,500 to the building's owner, Christine Lichtenfels, and $24,500 to Julie Burkhart, founder and president of Wellspring Health Access. Burkhart expressed satisfaction with the restitution.“Not only did we have the emotional struggle and that trauma from the arson but also it was quite challenging for us financially. So I’m glad this is the final piece and it has been put to rest,” Burkhart said Wednesday.The restitution was identical to the amounts sought by prosecutors and unopposed by Green's attorney, Ryan Semerad, who in an emailed statement said Wednesday that Green “looks forward to a productive and peaceful life after her term of incarceration."Green has expressed remorse for the crime, which she said was driven by anxiety and nightmares about the planned clinic. The Casper College mechanical engineering student had shown no sign of anti-abortion views on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-clinic-wyoming-fire-arrest-6796b5c4ed39f858c1694a01ea06f985">social media</a>&nbsp;but told investigators she opposed abortion.She admitted driving from Laramie to Casper, breaking into the clinic through a door and lighting gasoline she poured in trays and splashed on the floor. After months of little progress, investigators increased the reward to $15,000 and got tips leading to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wyoming-abortion-clinic-fire-arrest-4524825ae149b37a677fbfe72ce76400">Green's arrest</a>&nbsp;in March.Green pleaded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wyoming-abortion-clinic-fire-bf23a8e3bd37c429a274b4e16cf2607f">guilty</a>&nbsp;in June to arson and in September&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wyoming-abortion-clinic-fire-woman-sentenced-88a92fca874acca5b781c99ac0ba9b6d">received</a>&nbsp;the minimum prison sentence. She had faced up to 20 years in prison.The arson and eventual opening of the clinic happened as new laws in Wyoming seek to ban abortion in nearly all cases. The laws, including the nation's first explicit ban on abortion pills, have been put on hold by a judge amid a lawsuit filed by four women and two nonprofits including Wellspring Health Access.

Woman who burned abortion clinic fined nearly $300K

By&nbsp;Joseph Clark&nbsp;, Department of Defense&nbsp;

The Defense Department on Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3627179/biden-administration-announces-new-security-assistance-for-ukraine/">announced a security assistance package for Ukraine</a>&nbsp;valued at up to $250 million.&nbsp;

The package includes air defense capabilities, artillery and antitank weapons and other equipment to help Ukraine in its continued fight to counter Russia's unprovoked invasion. &nbsp;

The latest round of assistance marks the 54th drawdown of military equipment for Ukraine from DOD inventories since August 2021.&nbsp;

It comes amid negotiations on Capitol Hill over President Joe Biden's supplemental request to Congress to continue critical funding for military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine. &nbsp;

Defense officials have warned that, without action from Congress, further U.S. assistance for Ukraine could be in jeopardy at a critical time as Russia's war approaches the two-year mark.&nbsp;

"We would, again, continue to urge the passage of the supplemental that we've submitted," Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a briefing last week.&nbsp;

"As you look at the situation that Ukraine finds itself in, we will obviously continue to support them," Ryder said. "But it is imperative that we have the funds needed to ensure that they get the most urgent battlefield capabilities that they require."&nbsp;

In a recent letter to lawmakers, DOD comptroller Michael J. McCord said the department would be obligating the remaining $1 billion in funds authorized by Congress to replace U.S. inventories of weapons provided to Ukraine by the end of this month.&nbsp;

The security assistance package announced today is likely the last until Congress authorizes additional funds.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Washington to meet with Biden, defense officials and lawmakers. During those talks, Zelenskyy extended his gratitude for the United States' support and underscored his country's urgent need for that support to continue.&nbsp;

After meeting with Zelenskyy at the White House, Biden pledged that the U.S. "will not walk away from Ukraine," as he implored lawmakers to authorize additional funding.&nbsp;

"The brave people in Ukraine have defied [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's will at every turn, backed by the strong and unwavering support of the United States and our allies and partners in more than 50 nations in Europe and the Indo-Pacific," Biden said. "Ukraine will emerge from this war proud, free and firmly rooted in the West unless we walk away."&nbsp;

He said he would continue to provide U.S. military assistance for as long as congressionally approved funds are available. &nbsp;

"Without supplemental funding, we are rapidly coming to an end of our ability to help Ukraine respond to the urgent operational demands that it has," he said.&nbsp;

"Putin is banking on the United States failing to deliver for Ukraine," he continued. "We must prove him wrong." &nbsp;&nbsp;

In introductory remarks ahead of Zelenskyy's address at National Defense University in Washington, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III also underscored the United States' "unshakable" commitment to supporting Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression.&nbsp;

"Ukraine matters profoundly to America's security and to the trajectory of global security in the 21st century," Austin said. "That's why the United States has committed more than $44 billion in security assistance to Ukraine's brave defenders." He added that the U.S.-led coalition of allies and partners have also contributed more than $37 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. &nbsp;

Austin said those contributions include capabilities that "are making a crucial difference on the battlefield" and have helped Ukraine retake more than half of the territory seized by Russia since February 2022.&nbsp;

He said the U.S. and its allies and partners remain "determined to help Ukraine consolidate and extend its battlefield gains and to build a future force that can ward off Russian aggression in the years ahead."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702427915109.png" alt="President Joe Biden shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House on Dec. 13-photo courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House on Dec. 13-photo courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;Joseph Clark&nbsp;, Department of Defense&nbsp;The Defense Department on Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3627179/biden-administration-announces-new-security-assistance-for-ukraine/">announced a security assistance package for Ukraine</a>&nbsp;valued at up to $250 million.&nbsp;The package includes air defense capabilities, artillery and antitank weapons and other equipment to help Ukraine in its continued fight to counter Russia's unprovoked invasion. &nbsp;The latest round of assistance marks the 54th drawdown of military equipment for Ukraine from DOD inventories since August 2021.&nbsp;It comes amid negotiations on Capitol Hill over President Joe Biden's supplemental request to Congress to continue critical funding for military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine. &nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703760951484.png" alt="An airman attached to the 436th Aerial Port Squadron loads cargo during a Ukraine security assistance mission at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Jan. 13, 2023.Air Force Staff Sgt. Marco A. Gomez" />
 <figcaption>An airman attached to the 436th Aerial Port Squadron loads cargo during a Ukraine security assistance mission at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Jan. 13, 2023.Air Force Staff Sgt. Marco A. Gomez</figcaption>
 </figure>Defense officials have warned that, without action from Congress, further U.S. assistance for Ukraine could be in jeopardy at a critical time as Russia's war approaches the two-year mark.&nbsp;"We would, again, continue to urge the passage of the supplemental that we've submitted," Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a briefing last week.&nbsp;"As you look at the situation that Ukraine finds itself in, we will obviously continue to support them," Ryder said. "But it is imperative that we have the funds needed to ensure that they get the most urgent battlefield capabilities that they require."&nbsp;In a recent letter to lawmakers, DOD comptroller Michael J. McCord said the department would be obligating the remaining $1 billion in funds authorized by Congress to replace U.S. inventories of weapons provided to Ukraine by the end of this month.&nbsp;The security assistance package announced today is likely the last until Congress authorizes additional funds.&nbsp;Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Washington to meet with Biden, defense officials and lawmakers. During those talks, Zelenskyy extended his gratitude for the United States' support and underscored his country's urgent need for that support to continue.&nbsp;After meeting with Zelenskyy at the White House, Biden pledged that the U.S. "will not walk away from Ukraine," as he implored lawmakers to authorize additional funding.&nbsp;"The brave people in Ukraine have defied [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's will at every turn, backed by the strong and unwavering support of the United States and our allies and partners in more than 50 nations in Europe and the Indo-Pacific," Biden said. "Ukraine will emerge from this war proud, free and firmly rooted in the West unless we walk away."&nbsp;He said he would continue to provide U.S. military assistance for as long as congressionally approved funds are available. &nbsp;"Without supplemental funding, we are rapidly coming to an end of our ability to help Ukraine respond to the urgent operational demands that it has," he said.&nbsp;"Putin is banking on the United States failing to deliver for Ukraine," he continued. "We must prove him wrong." &nbsp;&nbsp;In introductory remarks ahead of Zelenskyy's address at National Defense University in Washington, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III also underscored the United States' "unshakable" commitment to supporting Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression.&nbsp;"Ukraine matters profoundly to America's security and to the trajectory of global security in the 21st century," Austin said. "That's why the United States has committed more than $44 billion in security assistance to Ukraine's brave defenders." He added that the U.S.-led coalition of allies and partners have also contributed more than $37 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. &nbsp;Austin said those contributions include capabilities that "are making a crucial difference on the battlefield" and have helped Ukraine retake more than half of the territory seized by Russia since February 2022.&nbsp;He said the U.S. and its allies and partners remain "determined to help Ukraine consolidate and extend its battlefield gains and to build a future force that can ward off Russian aggression in the years ahead."

Late Christmas gift: Biden OKs $250M more assistance for Ukraine

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/27/gov-pillens-plan-prevents-150000-children-from-receiving-supplemental-nutrition-funds/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

Adequate nutrition is crucial to a child’s physical and mental health, cognitive and social development, and academic performance. Unfortunately, food insecurity is a common problem in Nebraska, and many children have inadequate daily food intake.

As defined by the Nebraska Legislative Research Office (Food Insecurity, September 2020), food insecurity is the “lack of access to enough food for an active, healthy life for household members and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods.” Food insecurity exists in both rural and urban Nebraska communities and is more common in rural areas.

In 2018, this same legislative study found that 18% of Nebraska’s children were members of food insecure families, ranging by county from a low of 12.5% to a high of 26.7% of children. They noted that food-insecure children “experience 2-4 times as many health problems as food-secure children,” “are at increased risk of falling behind both academically and socially,” and have “lower reading and math test scores.” In 2016, “almost $258 million in additional health-care costs were associated with food insecurity” for Nebraska families (Legislative Research Office 2020 report.)

So, how do we reduce food insecurity for Nebraska’s children? By improving a child’s access to adequate food and nutrition. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) supports low-income households with funds to purchase food, and school lunch and breakfast programs provide free or reduced-price meals to low-income children, and weekend school backpack programs provide additional food to supplement a child’s nutrition on weekends. But when school is out each summer, these programs stop.

Nebraska does participate in the USDA Summer Food Service Program to provide some children with a daily meal during the summer. Such meals are provided at participating sites, and children must be able to get there to receive the meal. Not every Nebraska community participates in this program, so access is limited by both location and by the need for travel.

In my review of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service Summer Meals Site Finder for Nebraska, Lincoln and Omaha have the most participating sites. In rural Nebraska, there are 10 sites in towns south of Interstate 80, 16 sites in communities along I-80 and 26 sites in towns north of I-80. Thus, lunch sites in rural Nebraska are few and sometimes far between.

As noted in the Nebraska Examiner, Congress&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/30/nebraska-mulls-participation-in-new-child-nutrition-program-that-could-bring-18m-in-benefits/">authorized a new program</a>&nbsp;to reduce food insecurity for children beginning next summer. Children who receive free or reduced-price school meals are eligible in the summer to receive $40 each summer month ($120 total) as an electronic benefit to be used by their families only for grocery food purchases. This program would bring $18 million to the state annually to feed more than 150,000 Nebraska children and reduce their food insecurity. Yes, it will cost Nebraska $300,000 annually to administer the program with a 60-fold benefit to improve the health of children.

But Gov. Jim Pillen has turned down the federal money because of the additional cost. His spokesperson says that summer meals are already available from the USDA Food and Nutrition Services Summer Meals program. As I noted, with only 52 rural meal sites, Nebraska may not be meeting the nutritional needs of rural children. Even in urban programs, children must be able to travel to a site each day to receive a meal. The new program that supplements family grocery purchases would let the families of 150,000 children simply go to their community grocery store and bring food into the home for their children.

Turning down these additional funds does not make sense in a state where as many as 18% of our children may be going to bed hungry every day. I hope Nebraskans contact Gov. Pillen and ask him to sign Nebraska up for the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 child nutrition program by Dec. 31, 2023.

Rowan Zetterman<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/27/gov-pillens-plan-prevents-150000-children-from-receiving-supplemental-nutrition-funds/">Nebraska Examiner</a>Adequate nutrition is crucial to a child’s physical and mental health, cognitive and social development, and academic performance. Unfortunately, food insecurity is a common problem in Nebraska, and many children have inadequate daily food intake.As defined by the Nebraska Legislative Research Office (Food Insecurity, September 2020), food insecurity is the “lack of access to enough food for an active, healthy life for household members and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods.” Food insecurity exists in both rural and urban Nebraska communities and is more common in rural areas.In 2018, this same legislative study found that 18% of Nebraska’s children were members of food insecure families, ranging by county from a low of 12.5% to a high of 26.7% of children. They noted that food-insecure children “experience 2-4 times as many health problems as food-secure children,” “are at increased risk of falling behind both academically and socially,” and have “lower reading and math test scores.” In 2016, “almost $258 million in additional health-care costs were associated with food insecurity” for Nebraska families (Legislative Research Office 2020 report.)So, how do we reduce food insecurity for Nebraska’s children? By improving a child’s access to adequate food and nutrition. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) supports low-income households with funds to purchase food, and school lunch and breakfast programs provide free or reduced-price meals to low-income children, and weekend school backpack programs provide additional food to supplement a child’s nutrition on weekends. But when school is out each summer, these programs stop.Nebraska does participate in the USDA Summer Food Service Program to provide some children with a daily meal during the summer. Such meals are provided at participating sites, and children must be able to get there to receive the meal. Not every Nebraska community participates in this program, so access is limited by both location and by the need for travel.In my review of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service Summer Meals Site Finder for Nebraska, Lincoln and Omaha have the most participating sites. In rural Nebraska, there are 10 sites in towns south of Interstate 80, 16 sites in communities along I-80 and 26 sites in towns north of I-80. Thus, lunch sites in rural Nebraska are few and sometimes far between.As noted in the Nebraska Examiner, Congress&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/30/nebraska-mulls-participation-in-new-child-nutrition-program-that-could-bring-18m-in-benefits/">authorized a new program</a>&nbsp;to reduce food insecurity for children beginning next summer. Children who receive free or reduced-price school meals are eligible in the summer to receive $40 each summer month ($120 total) as an electronic benefit to be used by their families only for grocery food purchases. This program would bring $18 million to the state annually to feed more than 150,000 Nebraska children and reduce their food insecurity. Yes, it will cost Nebraska $300,000 annually to administer the program with a 60-fold benefit to improve the health of children.But Gov. Jim Pillen has turned down the federal money because of the additional cost. His spokesperson says that summer meals are already available from the USDA Food and Nutrition Services Summer Meals program. As I noted, with only 52 rural meal sites, Nebraska may not be meeting the nutritional needs of rural children. Even in urban programs, children must be able to travel to a site each day to receive a meal. The new program that supplements family grocery purchases would let the families of 150,000 children simply go to their community grocery store and bring food into the home for their children.Turning down these additional funds does not make sense in a state where as many as 18% of our children may be going to bed hungry every day. I hope Nebraskans contact Gov. Pillen and ask him to sign Nebraska up for the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 child nutrition program by Dec. 31, 2023.

Gov. Pillen’s plan prevents 150,000 children from receiving supplemental nutrition funds

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/minimum-wage-rising-to-12-an-hour-in-nebraska-after-voters-approved-gradual-increases-a-year-ago/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — The minimum wage in Nebraska will rise to $12 an hour Jan. 1 — an increase of $1.50 — after voters approved a ballot measure last year to make gradual increases in the minimum pay.

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/01/24/measures-seek-to-change-nebraskas-new-voter-approved-minimum-wage-provisions/">State voters in 2022</a>, by a nearly 6-to-4 margin, approved a ballot initiative to increase the state’s minimum wage by $1.50 a year, until it reaches $15 an hour by Jan. 1, 2026.

An initiative petition drive, launched by the group Raise the Wage Nebraska, qualified the issue for the 2022 ballot by submitting signatures of 160,000 voters, well over the amount required.

The 2022 vote triggered the latest increase, to $12 an hour, effective &nbsp;Jan. 1, 2024.

Nebraska is among 20 states that are increasing their minimum wage in 2024, according to the website&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.paycor.com/resource-center/articles/minimum-wage-by-state/">paycor.com.</a>

The state with the highest minimum wage in the country, according to the website, will be Washington State, at $16.28 an hour as of Jan. 1. New York and California are right behind at $16 an hour.

Twenty states have no state minimum wage and instead follow the federal minimum wage, which is $7.25 an hour.

In Nebraska, the minimum hourly wage for tipped employees will remain at $2.13 per hour, though employers are supposed to ensure that wages and tips for such workers, combined, equal at least the minimum wage.

The Nebraska Department of Labor said that the following minimum wage amounts are scheduled in the state:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703710739755.jpeg" alt=" Kate Wolfe, campaign coordinator for Raise the Wage Nebraska, speaks after the 2022 initiative to increase the state’s minimum wage submitted 160,000 signature to put the issue before voters. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska)" />
 <figcaption> Kate Wolfe, campaign coordinator for Raise the Wage Nebraska, speaks after the 2022 initiative to increase the state’s minimum wage submitted 160,000 signature to put the issue before voters. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/minimum-wage-rising-to-12-an-hour-in-nebraska-after-voters-approved-gradual-increases-a-year-ago/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — The minimum wage in Nebraska will rise to $12 an hour Jan. 1 — an increase of $1.50 — after voters approved a ballot measure last year to make gradual increases in the minimum pay.<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/01/24/measures-seek-to-change-nebraskas-new-voter-approved-minimum-wage-provisions/">State voters in 2022</a>, by a nearly 6-to-4 margin, approved a ballot initiative to increase the state’s minimum wage by $1.50 a year, until it reaches $15 an hour by Jan. 1, 2026.An initiative petition drive, launched by the group Raise the Wage Nebraska, qualified the issue for the 2022 ballot by submitting signatures of 160,000 voters, well over the amount required.The 2022 vote triggered the latest increase, to $12 an hour, effective &nbsp;Jan. 1, 2024.Nebraska is among 20 states that are increasing their minimum wage in 2024, according to the website&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.paycor.com/resource-center/articles/minimum-wage-by-state/">paycor.com.</a>The state with the highest minimum wage in the country, according to the website, will be Washington State, at $16.28 an hour as of Jan. 1. New York and California are right behind at $16 an hour.Twenty states have no state minimum wage and instead follow the federal minimum wage, which is $7.25 an hour.In Nebraska, the minimum hourly wage for tipped employees will remain at $2.13 per hour, though employers are supposed to ensure that wages and tips for such workers, combined, equal at least the minimum wage.The Nebraska Department of Labor said that the following minimum wage amounts are scheduled in the state:<ul>
 <li>Jan. 1, 2024: $12 per hour</li><li>Jan. 1, 2025: $13.50 per hour</li><li>Jan. 1, 2026: $15 per hour</li><li>Jan. 1, 2027: The minimum wage will increase based on the cost-of-living increase as measured by the Consumer Price Index.</li>
 </ul>

Minimum wage rising to $12 an hour in Nebraska after voters approved gradual increases a year ago

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Times is striking back against the threat that artificial intelligence poses to the news industry, filing a federal lawsuit Wednesday against OpenAI and Microsoft seeking to end the practice of using its stories to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/artificial-intelligence">train chatbots</a>.

The Times says that the companies are threatening its livelihood by effectively stealing billions of dollars worth of work by its journalists, in some cases spitting out Times' material verbatim to people who seek answers from generative artificial intelligence like OpenAI's ChatGPT. The newspaper's lawsuit was filed in federal court in Manhattan.

OpenAI and Microsoft did not respond to requests for comment.

The media is one of many industries that could be upended by the rapid development of AI. Media organizations have already been pummeled by a migration of readers to online platforms and while many publications — most notably the Times — have successfully carved out a digital space, AI could become a significant threat.

“These bots compete with the content they are trained on,” said Ian B. Crosby, partner and lead counsel at Susman Godfrey, which is representing The Times.

Artificial intelligence companies scrape information available online, including articles published by news organizations, to train generative AI chatbots. The large language models are also trained on a huge trove of other human-written materials, such as instructional manuals and digital books. That helps them to build a strong command of language and grammar and to answer questions correctly.

But the technology is still under development and gets many things wrong. In its lawsuit, for example, the Times said OpenAI’s GPT-4 falsely attributed product recommendations to Wirecutter, the paper’s product reviews site, endangering its reputation.

OpenAI and other AI companies, including rival Anthropic, have attracted billions in investments very rapidly since public and business interest in the technology exploded, particularly this year.

Microsoft has a partnership with OpenAI that allows it to capitalize on the company’s AI technology. The Redmond, Washington, tech giant is also OpenAI’s biggest backer and has invested at least $13 billion into the company since the two began their partnership in 2019, according to the lawsuit. As part of the agreement, Microsoft’s supercomputers help power OpenAI’s AI research and the tech giant integrates the startup’s technology into its products.

The paper's complaint comes as the number of lawsuits filed against OpenAI for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sarah-silverman-suing-chatgpt-openai-ai-8927025139a8151e26053249d1aeec20">copyright infringement is growing</a>. The company has been sued by several writers — including comedian Sarah Silverman — who say their books were ingested to train OpenAI's AI models without their permission. In June, more than 4,000 writers signed a letter to the CEOs of OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Meta and other AI developers accusing them of exploitative practices in building chatbots that “mimic and regurgitate” their language, style and ideas.

As AI technology develops, growing fears over its use have also fueled labor strikes and lawsuits in other industries,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-hollywood-strikes-explained-writers-actors-e872bd63ab52c3ea9f7d6e825240a202">including Hollywood</a>. Different stakeholders are realizing the technology could disrupt their entire business model, but the question will be how to respond to it, said Sarah Kreps, director of Cornell University’s Tech Policy Institute.

Kreps said she agrees The New York Times is facing a threat from these chatbots, but she also argued solving the issue completely is going to be an uphill battle.

“There’s so many other language models out there that are doing the same thing,” she said.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday claims that generative AI tools developed by OpenAI and Microsoft are closely summarizing content from the Times, mimicking its style and even reciting it verbatim. The complaint cited examples of OpenAI’s GPT-4 spitting out large portions of news articles from the Times, including a Pulitzer-Prize winning investigation into New York City’s taxi industry that was published in 2019 and took 18 months to complete. It also cited outputs from Bing Chat — now called Copilot — that it said included verbatim excerpts from Times articles.

The Times did not list specific damages that it is seeking, but said the legal action “seeks to hold them responsible for the billions of dollars in statutory and actual damages that they owe for the unlawful copying and use of The Times’s uniquely valuable works.” It is also asking the court to order the tech companies to destroy AI models or data sets that use its work.

Web traffic is an important component of the paper's advertising revenue and helps drive subscriptions to its online site. The outputs from AI chatbots divert that traffic away from the paper and other copyright holders, the Times says, making it less likely that users will visit the original source for the information.

Less traffic to the Times' Wirecutter articles, for example, means less people clicking on affiliate links, which in turn means less revenue for the paper's product review site.

The New York Times said it’s never given permission to anyone to use its content for generative AI purposes. The lawsuit also follows what appears to be breakdowns in talks between the newspaper and the two companies that began in April, and could be a way to kickstart talks on ending a business dispute.

The News/Media Alliance, a trade group representing more than 2,200 news organizations, applauded Wednesday's action by the Times.

“Quality journalism and GenAI can complement each other if approached collaboratively,” said Danielle Coffey, alliance president and CEO. “But using journalism without permission or payment is unlawful, and certainly not fair use.”

In July, OpenAI and The Associated Press&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/openai-chatgpt-associated-press-ap-f86f84c5bcc2f3b98074b38521f5f75a">announced a deal</a>&nbsp;for the artificial intelligence company to license AP’s archive of news stories. This month, OpenAI also signed a similar partnership with Axel Springer, a media company in Berlin that owns Politico and Business Insider. Under the deal, users of OpenAI’s ChatGPT will receive summaries of “selected global news content” from Axel Springer’s media brands. The companies said the answers to queries will include attribution and links to the original articles.

The Times has compared its action to a copyright lawsuit more than two decades ago against Napster, when record companies sued the file-sharing service for unlawful use of their material. The record companies won and Napster was soon gone, but it has had a major impact on the industry. Industry-endorsed streaming now dominates the music business.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689956124232.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Times is striking back against the threat that artificial intelligence poses to the news industry, filing a federal lawsuit Wednesday against OpenAI and Microsoft seeking to end the practice of using its stories to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/artificial-intelligence">train chatbots</a>.The Times says that the companies are threatening its livelihood by effectively stealing billions of dollars worth of work by its journalists, in some cases spitting out Times' material verbatim to people who seek answers from generative artificial intelligence like OpenAI's ChatGPT. The newspaper's lawsuit was filed in federal court in Manhattan.OpenAI and Microsoft did not respond to requests for comment.The media is one of many industries that could be upended by the rapid development of AI. Media organizations have already been pummeled by a migration of readers to online platforms and while many publications — most notably the Times — have successfully carved out a digital space, AI could become a significant threat.“These bots compete with the content they are trained on,” said Ian B. Crosby, partner and lead counsel at Susman Godfrey, which is representing The Times.Artificial intelligence companies scrape information available online, including articles published by news organizations, to train generative AI chatbots. The large language models are also trained on a huge trove of other human-written materials, such as instructional manuals and digital books. That helps them to build a strong command of language and grammar and to answer questions correctly.But the technology is still under development and gets many things wrong. In its lawsuit, for example, the Times said OpenAI’s GPT-4 falsely attributed product recommendations to Wirecutter, the paper’s product reviews site, endangering its reputation.OpenAI and other AI companies, including rival Anthropic, have attracted billions in investments very rapidly since public and business interest in the technology exploded, particularly this year.Microsoft has a partnership with OpenAI that allows it to capitalize on the company’s AI technology. The Redmond, Washington, tech giant is also OpenAI’s biggest backer and has invested at least $13 billion into the company since the two began their partnership in 2019, according to the lawsuit. As part of the agreement, Microsoft’s supercomputers help power OpenAI’s AI research and the tech giant integrates the startup’s technology into its products.The paper's complaint comes as the number of lawsuits filed against OpenAI for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sarah-silverman-suing-chatgpt-openai-ai-8927025139a8151e26053249d1aeec20">copyright infringement is growing</a>. The company has been sued by several writers — including comedian Sarah Silverman — who say their books were ingested to train OpenAI's AI models without their permission. In June, more than 4,000 writers signed a letter to the CEOs of OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Meta and other AI developers accusing them of exploitative practices in building chatbots that “mimic and regurgitate” their language, style and ideas.As AI technology develops, growing fears over its use have also fueled labor strikes and lawsuits in other industries,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-hollywood-strikes-explained-writers-actors-e872bd63ab52c3ea9f7d6e825240a202">including Hollywood</a>. Different stakeholders are realizing the technology could disrupt their entire business model, but the question will be how to respond to it, said Sarah Kreps, director of Cornell University’s Tech Policy Institute.Kreps said she agrees The New York Times is facing a threat from these chatbots, but she also argued solving the issue completely is going to be an uphill battle.“There’s so many other language models out there that are doing the same thing,” she said.The lawsuit filed Wednesday claims that generative AI tools developed by OpenAI and Microsoft are closely summarizing content from the Times, mimicking its style and even reciting it verbatim. The complaint cited examples of OpenAI’s GPT-4 spitting out large portions of news articles from the Times, including a Pulitzer-Prize winning investigation into New York City’s taxi industry that was published in 2019 and took 18 months to complete. It also cited outputs from Bing Chat — now called Copilot — that it said included verbatim excerpts from Times articles.The Times did not list specific damages that it is seeking, but said the legal action “seeks to hold them responsible for the billions of dollars in statutory and actual damages that they owe for the unlawful copying and use of The Times’s uniquely valuable works.” It is also asking the court to order the tech companies to destroy AI models or data sets that use its work.Web traffic is an important component of the paper's advertising revenue and helps drive subscriptions to its online site. The outputs from AI chatbots divert that traffic away from the paper and other copyright holders, the Times says, making it less likely that users will visit the original source for the information.Less traffic to the Times' Wirecutter articles, for example, means less people clicking on affiliate links, which in turn means less revenue for the paper's product review site.The New York Times said it’s never given permission to anyone to use its content for generative AI purposes. The lawsuit also follows what appears to be breakdowns in talks between the newspaper and the two companies that began in April, and could be a way to kickstart talks on ending a business dispute.The News/Media Alliance, a trade group representing more than 2,200 news organizations, applauded Wednesday's action by the Times.“Quality journalism and GenAI can complement each other if approached collaboratively,” said Danielle Coffey, alliance president and CEO. “But using journalism without permission or payment is unlawful, and certainly not fair use.”In July, OpenAI and The Associated Press&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/openai-chatgpt-associated-press-ap-f86f84c5bcc2f3b98074b38521f5f75a">announced a deal</a>&nbsp;for the artificial intelligence company to license AP’s archive of news stories. This month, OpenAI also signed a similar partnership with Axel Springer, a media company in Berlin that owns Politico and Business Insider. Under the deal, users of OpenAI’s ChatGPT will receive summaries of “selected global news content” from Axel Springer’s media brands. The companies said the answers to queries will include attribution and links to the original articles.The Times has compared its action to a copyright lawsuit more than two decades ago against Napster, when record companies sued the file-sharing service for unlawful use of their material. The record companies won and Napster was soon gone, but it has had a major impact on the industry. Industry-endorsed streaming now dominates the music business.

New York Times sues OpenAI and Microsoft for using its stories to train chatbots

LINCOLN, NEB. – Farmers, ranchers, and Nebraska agriculture remained resilient in 2023. From widespread drought conditions and uncertainty in commodity markets, to economic recoil associated with higher interest rates and input costs, Nebraska agriculture navigated some challenging waters. 

Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) worked alongside Nebraska’s farm and ranch families to help lighten the burden by helping deliver historic property tax relief, promoting growth opportunities for livestock agriculture, working on the next Farm Bill, helping achieve an unprecedent Supreme Court win for Waters of the United States (WOTUS), and continuing to ensure strong agricultural advocates are elected. Those issues round out Nebraska Farm Bureau’s top agricultural issues list for 2023.

“Today, Nebraska represents the third-largest agriculture production complex in the country worth $100 billion. The things we need to do to grow agriculture at this level will come with difficult conversations about taxes, trade, water, energy, and the environment, and we must get comfortable with speaking out about the things that are important for our future,” said Mark McHargue, NEFB president.

2023 brought historic tax relief for all Nebraskans, lowering property taxes by an estimated 30 percent by 2030. State funding for K-12 schools is at an all-time high, and income tax rates continue to decrease. As Nebraska saw landowners voice concern when their agricultural land was annexed into city limits. Through grassroots advocacy, NEFB was able to help those landowners preserve their special valuation status, saving up to $50,980 annually for affected farms, ultimately saving their family operations.

With Nebraska as the protein production capital of the world, NEFB continues to promote and support animal agriculture. Increased state tax credits for livestock operations growing their employment and a lowered investment threshold to qualify for the livestock modernization program have expanded the Livestock Modernization Act making over 9000 additional operations eligible for those tax credits. Also of note was the aftermath of the unfavorable Supreme Court ruling on California’s Proposition 12 (Prop 12) which established animal welfare standards for pork, poultry, and veal products imported into California. It is imperative that Congress pass a federal legislative fix to ensure one state does not dictate production practices for the entire country. NEFB is thankful the entire Nebraska congressional delegation is actively supporting legislation to rectify the situation.

“Growing Nebraska’s livestock sector is vital to Nebraska’s agricultural economy and thus, the state’s economy. It is crucial our state allows for this expansion and does not stand in the way of new and much more sophisticated facilities going in place. We need to actively engage at the federal, state, and local county level to support the new frontier for livestock growth, communicating the beneficial economic impact these livestock operations could have on local economies,” said McHargue.

While Congress spent much of 2023 hearing from farmers and ranchers about what they’d like to see in a new Farm Bill, ultimately, a one-year extension was passed pushing completion of the bill into 2024. Protecting federal crop insurance and ensuring it is not tied to climate focused practices or incentives were two of NEFB’s top priorities. Reforming USDA disaster programs to provide better flexibility in the event of natural disasters is also key. While a more evolutionary than revolutionary Farm Bill continues to be likely, getting a bill out of Congress that works for Nebraska’s farm and ranch families remains paramount.&nbsp;

2023 continued to prove the adage, “whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting.” This summer, the U.S .Supreme Court scored a major win for private property advocates concerning EPA’s WOTUS regulations in the Sackett v. EPA case. Eliminating the significant nexus test was a huge step in Farm Bureau’s fight to ensure the federal government’s regulatory reach over water remains limited. The development of the Perkins County Canal remained an important issue. The finalization of this project would help ensure Nebraska’s receive the water from Colorado that it is entitled to.&nbsp; Lastly, there is no question that every Nebraskan deserves access to safe drinking water. Utilizing money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), NEFB secured funding to help defray the cost of reverse osmosis units to help protect those with high nitrates in their homes. Nebraska Farm Bureau remains committed to protecting this vital resource for generations to come.

Agriculture could not have made the progress legislatively it did in 2023 without having strong agricultural supporters in elected positions. We must elect the right people to get the right policies passed. Every election gives us the opportunity to expand on our past success. The Nebraska Farm Bureau Political Action Committee (NEFB-PAC) prioritizes cultivating and supporting agricultural advocates seeking office on the local, state, and national levels. In the last election, 82 percent of NEFB-PAC endorsed candidates were elected, including Nebraska’s first agricultural governor in more than 100 years. As Nebraska heads into another election year, it is critical that we continue to elevate the importance of agriculture in communities across the state and strengthen agriculture’s voice. Electing the right people into office lays the foundation for progress to be made.

“We need good, purposeful leaders across the state and in our nation’s capital,” said McHargue. “We need to identify people who will step up to be our next state senator, school board member or county commissioner, and find new leaders willing to carry the torch for our local County Farm Bureau boards. Fewer things are more important than getting the right people in positions to make important decisions for agriculture.”

With 2024 on the horizon, there is continued growth and progress to be made. At the federal level, NEFB calls on Congress to provide a solution for Prop 12 and complete the next Farm Bill. In terms of state issues, the future looks bright on finding balance of the three-legged stool of property, income and sales tax. Getting the right individuals elected will push us one step closer to achieving that balance and creating a sustainable future for agriculture. Continued growth of the agriculture complex will lead to a prosperous, sustainable Nebraska.

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

Nebraska Farm BureauLINCOLN, NEB. – Farmers, ranchers, and Nebraska agriculture remained resilient in 2023. From widespread drought conditions and uncertainty in commodity markets, to economic recoil associated with higher interest rates and input costs, Nebraska agriculture navigated some challenging waters. Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) worked alongside Nebraska’s farm and ranch families to help lighten the burden by helping deliver historic property tax relief, promoting growth opportunities for livestock agriculture, working on the next Farm Bill, helping achieve an unprecedent Supreme Court win for Waters of the United States (WOTUS), and continuing to ensure strong agricultural advocates are elected. Those issues round out Nebraska Farm Bureau’s top agricultural issues list for 2023.“Today, Nebraska represents the third-largest agriculture production complex in the country worth $100 billion. The things we need to do to grow agriculture at this level will come with difficult conversations about taxes, trade, water, energy, and the environment, and we must get comfortable with speaking out about the things that are important for our future,” said Mark McHargue, NEFB president.2023 brought historic tax relief for all Nebraskans, lowering property taxes by an estimated 30 percent by 2030. State funding for K-12 schools is at an all-time high, and income tax rates continue to decrease. As Nebraska saw landowners voice concern when their agricultural land was annexed into city limits. Through grassroots advocacy, NEFB was able to help those landowners preserve their special valuation status, saving up to $50,980 annually for affected farms, ultimately saving their family operations.With Nebraska as the protein production capital of the world, NEFB continues to promote and support animal agriculture. Increased state tax credits for livestock operations growing their employment and a lowered investment threshold to qualify for the livestock modernization program have expanded the Livestock Modernization Act making over 9000 additional operations eligible for those tax credits. Also of note was the aftermath of the unfavorable Supreme Court ruling on California’s Proposition 12 (Prop 12) which established animal welfare standards for pork, poultry, and veal products imported into California. It is imperative that Congress pass a federal legislative fix to ensure one state does not dictate production practices for the entire country. NEFB is thankful the entire Nebraska congressional delegation is actively supporting legislation to rectify the situation.“Growing Nebraska’s livestock sector is vital to Nebraska’s agricultural economy and thus, the state’s economy. It is crucial our state allows for this expansion and does not stand in the way of new and much more sophisticated facilities going in place. We need to actively engage at the federal, state, and local county level to support the new frontier for livestock growth, communicating the beneficial economic impact these livestock operations could have on local economies,” said McHargue.While Congress spent much of 2023 hearing from farmers and ranchers about what they’d like to see in a new Farm Bill, ultimately, a one-year extension was passed pushing completion of the bill into 2024. Protecting federal crop insurance and ensuring it is not tied to climate focused practices or incentives were two of NEFB’s top priorities. Reforming USDA disaster programs to provide better flexibility in the event of natural disasters is also key. While a more evolutionary than revolutionary Farm Bill continues to be likely, getting a bill out of Congress that works for Nebraska’s farm and ranch families remains paramount.&nbsp;2023 continued to prove the adage, “whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting.” This summer, the U.S .Supreme Court scored a major win for private property advocates concerning EPA’s WOTUS regulations in the Sackett v. EPA case. Eliminating the significant nexus test was a huge step in Farm Bureau’s fight to ensure the federal government’s regulatory reach over water remains limited. The development of the Perkins County Canal remained an important issue. The finalization of this project would help ensure Nebraska’s receive the water from Colorado that it is entitled to.&nbsp; Lastly, there is no question that every Nebraskan deserves access to safe drinking water. Utilizing money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), NEFB secured funding to help defray the cost of reverse osmosis units to help protect those with high nitrates in their homes. Nebraska Farm Bureau remains committed to protecting this vital resource for generations to come.Agriculture could not have made the progress legislatively it did in 2023 without having strong agricultural supporters in elected positions. We must elect the right people to get the right policies passed. Every election gives us the opportunity to expand on our past success. The Nebraska Farm Bureau Political Action Committee (NEFB-PAC) prioritizes cultivating and supporting agricultural advocates seeking office on the local, state, and national levels. In the last election, 82 percent of NEFB-PAC endorsed candidates were elected, including Nebraska’s first agricultural governor in more than 100 years. As Nebraska heads into another election year, it is critical that we continue to elevate the importance of agriculture in communities across the state and strengthen agriculture’s voice. Electing the right people into office lays the foundation for progress to be made.“We need good, purposeful leaders across the state and in our nation’s capital,” said McHargue. “We need to identify people who will step up to be our next state senator, school board member or county commissioner, and find new leaders willing to carry the torch for our local County Farm Bureau boards. Fewer things are more important than getting the right people in positions to make important decisions for agriculture.”With 2024 on the horizon, there is continued growth and progress to be made. At the federal level, NEFB calls on Congress to provide a solution for Prop 12 and complete the next Farm Bill. In terms of state issues, the future looks bright on finding balance of the three-legged stool of property, income and sales tax. Getting the right individuals elected will push us one step closer to achieving that balance and creating a sustainable future for agriculture. Continued growth of the agriculture complex will lead to a prosperous, sustainable Nebraska.The Nebraska Farm Bureau is a grassroots, state-wide organization dedicated to supporting farm and ranch families and working for the benefit of all Nebraskans through a wide variety of educational, service, and advocacy efforts. More than 55,000 families across Nebraska are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve rural and urban prosperity as agriculture is a key fuel to Nebraska’s economy. For more information about Nebraska Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nefb.org/" target="_blank">www.nefb.org</a>.

Nebraska Farm Bureau Outlines Top Agricultural Issues in 2023 and 2024   

Lincoln, NE ‐ One lucky player who bought a Powerball® ticket with Power Play® for the Saturday, December 23 drawing is holding a ticket worth $2 million.

The Nebraska Lottery has confirmed that one ticket sold for Saturday's $620 million Powerball draw matched the first five numbers, but not the Powerball number itself. The ticket was sold at Pony Express Emerson, 1013 So Main, in Emerson. The winning numbers from Saturday's Powerball draw were 09, 14, 17, 18, 53, Powerball 06, and Power Play 03. Players are encouraged to check their tickets at any Nebraska Lottery retailer, online at&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>, or by calling the Lottery office at 402-471-6100.

Because this ticket was purchased with the $1 Power Play option, the regular $1 million prize was automatically doubled to $2 million.

Winning Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Prizes of $20,000 or more must be claimed in person at Lottery headquarters in Lincoln. Nebraska Lottery offices will be closed Monday, December 25 for Christmas. Additional information about claiming prizes can be found at the Nebraska Lottery website,&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>, or by calling 800-587-5200.

The Nebraska Lottery has offered Powerball since July 1994. The odds of winning $2 million playing Powerball are 1 in 11,688,053.52. Adding the $1 Power Play option, which does not affect the odds of winning, gives players the chance to increase any non-jackpot prizes won by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times. The Match 5 prize is set at $2 million if the Power Play option is purchased. The overall odds of winning any Powerball prize are 1 in 24.9.

The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $951 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery's beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

Neil WatsonLincoln, NE ‐ One lucky player who bought a Powerball® ticket with Power Play® for the Saturday, December 23 drawing is holding a ticket worth $2 million.The Nebraska Lottery has confirmed that one ticket sold for Saturday's $620 million Powerball draw matched the first five numbers, but not the Powerball number itself. The ticket was sold at Pony Express Emerson, 1013 So Main, in Emerson. The winning numbers from Saturday's Powerball draw were 09, 14, 17, 18, 53, Powerball 06, and Power Play 03. Players are encouraged to check their tickets at any Nebraska Lottery retailer, online at&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>, or by calling the Lottery office at 402-471-6100.Because this ticket was purchased with the $1 Power Play option, the regular $1 million prize was automatically doubled to $2 million.Winning Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Prizes of $20,000 or more must be claimed in person at Lottery headquarters in Lincoln. Nebraska Lottery offices will be closed Monday, December 25 for Christmas. Additional information about claiming prizes can be found at the Nebraska Lottery website,&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>, or by calling 800-587-5200.The Nebraska Lottery has offered Powerball since July 1994. The odds of winning $2 million playing Powerball are 1 in 11,688,053.52. Adding the $1 Power Play option, which does not affect the odds of winning, gives players the chance to increase any non-jackpot prizes won by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times. The Match 5 prize is set at $2 million if the Power Play option is purchased. The overall odds of winning any Powerball prize are 1 in 24.9.The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $951 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery's beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

$2 Million Powerball® Power Play® Winning Ticket Sold in Emerson

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan’s Supreme Court is keeping former President Donald Trump on the state’s primary election ballot.

The court said Wednesday it will not hear an appeal of a lower court’s ruling from groups seeking to keep Trump from appearing on the ballot.

The state’s high court said in an order that the application by parties to appeal a Dec. 14 Michigan appeals court judgment was considered, but denied “because we are not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this court.”

The ruling followed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-insurrection-14th-amendment-2024-colorado-d16dd8f354eeaf450558378c65fd79a2">Dec. 19 decision by a divided Colorado Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;which found Trump ineligible to be president because of his role in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol</a>. That ruling was the first time in history that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-14th-amendment-insurrection-2024-election-ballot-9c5f79203109ba221b35a48e708ad725">Section 3 of the 14th Amendment</a>&nbsp;has been used to disqualify a presidential candidate.

The Michigan and Colorado cases are among dozens hoping to keep Trump’s name off state ballots. They all point to the so-called insurrection clause that prevents anyone from holding office who “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” against the Constitution.

Trump pressed two election officials in Michigan’s Wayne County not to certify 2020 vote totals, according to a recording of a post-election phone call disclosed in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2023/12/21/donald-trump-recorded-pressuring-wayne-canvassers-not-to-certify-2020-vote-michigan/72004514007/">Dec. 22 report</a>&nbsp;by The Detroit News. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">former president</a>&nbsp;’s 2024 campaign has neither confirmed nor denied the recording’s legitimacy.

Attorneys for Free Speech for People, a liberal nonprofit group also involved in efforts to keep Trump's name off the primary ballot in Minnesota, had asked Michigan's Supreme Court to render its decision by Christmas Day.

The group argued that time was “of the essence” due to “the pressing need to finalize and print the ballots for the presidential primary election.”

Earlier this month,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-insurrection-14th-amendment-ballot-michigan-a183d62e622935422e1d8141adade0ae">Michigan's high court refused to immediately hear an appeal</a>, saying the case should remain before the appeals court.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan’s Supreme Court is keeping former President Donald Trump on the state’s primary election ballot.The court said Wednesday it will not hear an appeal of a lower court’s ruling from groups seeking to keep Trump from appearing on the ballot.The state’s high court said in an order that the application by parties to appeal a Dec. 14 Michigan appeals court judgment was considered, but denied “because we are not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this court.”The ruling followed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-insurrection-14th-amendment-2024-colorado-d16dd8f354eeaf450558378c65fd79a2">Dec. 19 decision by a divided Colorado Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;which found Trump ineligible to be president because of his role in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol</a>. That ruling was the first time in history that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-14th-amendment-insurrection-2024-election-ballot-9c5f79203109ba221b35a48e708ad725">Section 3 of the 14th Amendment</a>&nbsp;has been used to disqualify a presidential candidate.The Michigan and Colorado cases are among dozens hoping to keep Trump’s name off state ballots. They all point to the so-called insurrection clause that prevents anyone from holding office who “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” against the Constitution.Trump pressed two election officials in Michigan’s Wayne County not to certify 2020 vote totals, according to a recording of a post-election phone call disclosed in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2023/12/21/donald-trump-recorded-pressuring-wayne-canvassers-not-to-certify-2020-vote-michigan/72004514007/">Dec. 22 report</a>&nbsp;by The Detroit News. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">former president</a>&nbsp;’s 2024 campaign has neither confirmed nor denied the recording’s legitimacy.Attorneys for Free Speech for People, a liberal nonprofit group also involved in efforts to keep Trump's name off the primary ballot in Minnesota, had asked Michigan's Supreme Court to render its decision by Christmas Day.The group argued that time was “of the essence” due to “the pressing need to finalize and print the ballots for the presidential primary election.”Earlier this month,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-insurrection-14th-amendment-ballot-michigan-a183d62e622935422e1d8141adade0ae">Michigan's high court refused to immediately hear an appeal</a>, saying the case should remain before the appeals court.

Michigan Court rejects case to remove Trump from ballot

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska's two largest cities are violating a new state gun law by prohibiting them from public places such as parks, according to two recent lawsuits.

The Liberty Justice Center filed lawsuits Dec. 18 challenging executive orders issued by the mayors of Omaha and Lincoln. The lawsuits allege that the orders are in violation of a new state gun law. The suits were filed on behalf of the Nebraska Firearms Owners Association.

State lawmakers in April passed a bill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/constitutional-carry-bill-nebraska-a8168215d00c1e4bf51017e82e8da80b">allowing people to carry concealed guns</a>&nbsp;across the state without a permit and without the need to complete a gun safety course. It also said that it overrides stricter local laws, like those in Omaha and Lincoln.

The lawsuits state that despite the new law, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird issued executive orders banning all firearms from city property, including parks and sidewalks. The suits said the Omaha City Council also banned “ghost gun” parts and manufacturing, and the Lincoln City Council has not repealed ordinances regulating weapons.

Jacob Huebert, president of the Liberty Justice Center, said the state law is direct: Local governments can’t regulate firearms.

“The mayors of Omaha and Lincoln have defied state law with their executive orders, and we look forward to seeing those orders and other city firearms regulations struck down,” Huebert said in a statement.

Yohance Christie, Lincoln's city attorney, said in a statement that actions taken by the city “to protect the safety and quality of life of our residents and visitors are in compliance with the law.”

Omaha City Attorney Matt Kuhse told the&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/nebraska-gun-owners-sue-omaha-and-lincoln-over-limits-on-weapons/article_b4aae102-9eb0-11ee-920e-4bb96fc0e505.html">Omaha World-Herald</a>&nbsp;that the state law allows cities to prohibit concealed firearms “on the premises and places under its control with conspicuous notice.”

Kuhse said the city “will defend this lawsuit and defend the ability of municipalities, such as Omaha, to protect the safety and health of its citizens within the bounds of the law.”

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska's two largest cities are violating a new state gun law by prohibiting them from public places such as parks, according to two recent lawsuits.The Liberty Justice Center filed lawsuits Dec. 18 challenging executive orders issued by the mayors of Omaha and Lincoln. The lawsuits allege that the orders are in violation of a new state gun law. The suits were filed on behalf of the Nebraska Firearms Owners Association.State lawmakers in April passed a bill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/constitutional-carry-bill-nebraska-a8168215d00c1e4bf51017e82e8da80b">allowing people to carry concealed guns</a>&nbsp;across the state without a permit and without the need to complete a gun safety course. It also said that it overrides stricter local laws, like those in Omaha and Lincoln.The lawsuits state that despite the new law, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird issued executive orders banning all firearms from city property, including parks and sidewalks. The suits said the Omaha City Council also banned “ghost gun” parts and manufacturing, and the Lincoln City Council has not repealed ordinances regulating weapons.Jacob Huebert, president of the Liberty Justice Center, said the state law is direct: Local governments can’t regulate firearms.“The mayors of Omaha and Lincoln have defied state law with their executive orders, and we look forward to seeing those orders and other city firearms regulations struck down,” Huebert said in a statement.Yohance Christie, Lincoln's city attorney, said in a statement that actions taken by the city “to protect the safety and quality of life of our residents and visitors are in compliance with the law.”Omaha City Attorney Matt Kuhse told the&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/nebraska-gun-owners-sue-omaha-and-lincoln-over-limits-on-weapons/article_b4aae102-9eb0-11ee-920e-4bb96fc0e505.html">Omaha World-Herald</a>&nbsp;that the state law allows cities to prohibit concealed firearms “on the premises and places under its control with conspicuous notice.”Kuhse said the city “will defend this lawsuit and defend the ability of municipalities, such as Omaha, to protect the safety and health of its citizens within the bounds of the law.”

Restriction on carrying guns in Omaha and Lincoln violate Nebraska law, lawsuits say

Conditions were mostly nice this year for travelers flying ahead of and on Christmas, but some naughty disruptions again plagued those flying with Southwest Airlines.

For millions of people traveling over the holiday, this year was much better than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-storm-forecast-updates-d0808da42ce16e8a0ca4541b747572cb">last</a>. Christmas morning put a bow on a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travel-airports-flights-driving-holiday-8f7958fda3dabda82494a5effb143eea">relatively smooth weekend.</a>

Only 157 flights within, into or out of the U.S. had been canceled and 2,111 were delayed as of late afternoon on Monday, according to the tracking website FlightAware.

For this holiday season, U.S. airlines prepared for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/christmas-holiday-travel-airlines-autos-820817961e4ff898811882ee2687a86c">massive waves</a>&nbsp;of travelers by hiring thousands of pilots, flight attendants and other workers — in an effort to avoid the delays and cancellations that marred travel in 2022, culminating with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-settlement-canceled-flights-4c2a6bc25b52019a5966f6d5ef702fc6">Southwest Airlines debacle</a>&nbsp;that stranded more than 2 million people.

Still, Southwest experienced hiccups again over the weekend that the airline was looking to clear by Monday. Just 2% of the airline’s flights were canceled Monday, though 16% were delayed, which is 693 flights total, according to FlightAware.

On Saturday and Sunday, Southwest canceled 426 flights and delayed 2,689 flights, FlightAware data showed.

A Southwest spokesperson blamed the issues on dense fog in Chicago on Saturday and Sunday that prevented planes from landing and said some additional cancellations may be necessary Monday ahead of what was expected to be a full recovery on Tuesday.

Auto club AAA predicted that between Saturday and New Year’s Day, 115 million people in the U.S. would travel at least 50 miles (80 kilometers) from home by air or car. That’s up 2% from last year.

More than 2.6 million people were screened by the Transportation Security Administration on Thursday, according to TSA records. Data from the weekend is yet to be released.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/thanksgiving-record-flights-travel-8f929993a5aa5c7e8c37c1af03e7265f">Over Thanksgiving</a>, a record number of people traveled through U.S. airports, topping pre-COVID numbers in 2019 with a single-day record of 2.9 million people screened by TSA on Sunday, Nov. 26.

Compared with the holiday season last year, more mild weather has helped keep air travel schedules on time.

But on the ground, road conditions were dangerous in parts of the country on Christmas Day, thanks to accumulating snow and ice in the Midwest and Great Plains. Most of Nebraska and South Dakota were facing blizzard conditions, and parts of eastern North and South Dakota were facing ice storms, according to the National Weather Service.

The busiest days on the road were predicted to be Saturday, Dec. 23, and next Thursday, Dec. 28, according to transportation data provider INRIX.

Associated PressConditions were mostly nice this year for travelers flying ahead of and on Christmas, but some naughty disruptions again plagued those flying with Southwest Airlines.For millions of people traveling over the holiday, this year was much better than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-storm-forecast-updates-d0808da42ce16e8a0ca4541b747572cb">last</a>. Christmas morning put a bow on a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travel-airports-flights-driving-holiday-8f7958fda3dabda82494a5effb143eea">relatively smooth weekend.</a>Only 157 flights within, into or out of the U.S. had been canceled and 2,111 were delayed as of late afternoon on Monday, according to the tracking website FlightAware.For this holiday season, U.S. airlines prepared for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/christmas-holiday-travel-airlines-autos-820817961e4ff898811882ee2687a86c">massive waves</a>&nbsp;of travelers by hiring thousands of pilots, flight attendants and other workers — in an effort to avoid the delays and cancellations that marred travel in 2022, culminating with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-settlement-canceled-flights-4c2a6bc25b52019a5966f6d5ef702fc6">Southwest Airlines debacle</a>&nbsp;that stranded more than 2 million people.Still, Southwest experienced hiccups again over the weekend that the airline was looking to clear by Monday. Just 2% of the airline’s flights were canceled Monday, though 16% were delayed, which is 693 flights total, according to FlightAware.On Saturday and Sunday, Southwest canceled 426 flights and delayed 2,689 flights, FlightAware data showed.A Southwest spokesperson blamed the issues on dense fog in Chicago on Saturday and Sunday that prevented planes from landing and said some additional cancellations may be necessary Monday ahead of what was expected to be a full recovery on Tuesday.Auto club AAA predicted that between Saturday and New Year’s Day, 115 million people in the U.S. would travel at least 50 miles (80 kilometers) from home by air or car. That’s up 2% from last year.More than 2.6 million people were screened by the Transportation Security Administration on Thursday, according to TSA records. Data from the weekend is yet to be released.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/thanksgiving-record-flights-travel-8f929993a5aa5c7e8c37c1af03e7265f">Over Thanksgiving</a>, a record number of people traveled through U.S. airports, topping pre-COVID numbers in 2019 with a single-day record of 2.9 million people screened by TSA on Sunday, Nov. 26.Compared with the holiday season last year, more mild weather has helped keep air travel schedules on time.But on the ground, road conditions were dangerous in parts of the country on Christmas Day, thanks to accumulating snow and ice in the Midwest and Great Plains. Most of Nebraska and South Dakota were facing blizzard conditions, and parts of eastern North and South Dakota were facing ice storms, according to the National Weather Service.The busiest days on the road were predicted to be Saturday, Dec. 23, and next Thursday, Dec. 28, according to transportation data provider INRIX.

Holiday travel is mostly nice, but with some naughty disruptions again on Southwest Airlines

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — From an ice storm in North Dakota that sealed windows shut to blizzard conditions in Colorado causing hundreds of airport delays and cancellations, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/winter-weather">winter storm</a>&nbsp;pummeled much of the central United States on Tuesday, the day after Christmas.

“The heavy snow conditions in the Plains should be slowly alleviating today, but it’ll be very slow," said Weather Prediction Center forecaster David Roth. “Even when the snow ends, the high winds should keep visibility near zero — whiteout conditions — for a decent part of today.”

Laura Schmidt-Dockter, a resident of Bismarck, North Dakota, wore ice spikes on her shoes as she walked outside to the trash can. Her driveway was sheer ice, she said. A neighbor took to the street on ice skates.

“It’s actually not bad!” the neighbor quipped about the quality of the ice, skating by Schmidt-Dockter in a video she posted to social media.

At Denver International Airport there were over 530&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/christmas-holiday-travel-southwest-airlines-527dcf19d1d6389eb3e067acda6221de">flight delays</a>&nbsp;and 23 cancellations as of Tuesday afternoon, according to tracking website FlightAware. Blizzard conditions on Colorado's plains closed Interstate 70 eastbound from the outer edge of the Denver area to Kansas. Travelers were also unable to head westbound into Colorado from Kansas on the highway because of the threat posed by high winds.

According to the National Weather Service, it's considered a blizzard when winds exceed 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour) for three hours or more, with considerable blowing snow and visibility down to less than a quarter-mile (0.4 kilometers).

Blizzard warnings were in effect mid-Tuesday for western portions of South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas, along with eastern portions of Colorado and Wyoming. Ice storm warnings and winter weather advisories remained in place in South Dakota, North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota.

On Christmas Day, one person was killed and three others were injured in Kansas, when the driver of a pickup truck lost control on snow and ice and collided head-on with a sport utility vehicle 5 miles (8 kilometers) west of Larned, according to the State Patrol. The woman killed in the crash was identified as Evelyn Reece, 86, of Wichita.

Rosebud Sioux Tribe officials in South Dakota said on social media that some people had ignored the no-travel advisory issued Monday evening. The advisory meant no one should have been on highways or backroads because of the whiteout, they said.

“We have multiple resources being dispatched to rescue a total of 13 people who ignored the advisory, and then rescue the ranchers who got stuck trying to get to them,” the tribe's Office of Emergency Management posted on Facebook early Tuesday, along. Nine hours later, the office gave an update saying the motorists were safe "and all is well.”

Badlands National Park and the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site in South Dakota were closed Tuesday due to the severe weather.

On Monday, wind gusts howled as high as 67 miles per hour (108 kilometers per hour) in Oakes, North Dakota, said National Weather Service Meteorologist Megan Jones.

The ice storm has affected highways throughout the eastern parts of the state, with Interstate 29 from Grand Forks to the Canadian border closed until Tuesday afternoon, and no travel advised in south-central parts of the state. Freezing rain began in Fargo on Monday afternoon and expanded westward, Jones said, and as much as three-quarters of an inch of freezing rain fell in Jamestown.

Heavy icing and strong winds downed tree branches and cause power outages in the southern James River Valley.

No major outages were reported. Still, the weather service reminded people about the risk of fire caused by candles or space heaters. Anyone using a portable generator should keep it outside and at least 20 feet (6 meters) away from doors, windows and garages to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

“We just want people to be careful if they have power outages," Jones said. “You always want to be careful with your heat sources.”

Associated PressMINNEAPOLIS (AP) — From an ice storm in North Dakota that sealed windows shut to blizzard conditions in Colorado causing hundreds of airport delays and cancellations, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/winter-weather">winter storm</a>&nbsp;pummeled much of the central United States on Tuesday, the day after Christmas.“The heavy snow conditions in the Plains should be slowly alleviating today, but it’ll be very slow," said Weather Prediction Center forecaster David Roth. “Even when the snow ends, the high winds should keep visibility near zero — whiteout conditions — for a decent part of today.”Laura Schmidt-Dockter, a resident of Bismarck, North Dakota, wore ice spikes on her shoes as she walked outside to the trash can. Her driveway was sheer ice, she said. A neighbor took to the street on ice skates.“It’s actually not bad!” the neighbor quipped about the quality of the ice, skating by Schmidt-Dockter in a video she posted to social media.At Denver International Airport there were over 530&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/christmas-holiday-travel-southwest-airlines-527dcf19d1d6389eb3e067acda6221de">flight delays</a>&nbsp;and 23 cancellations as of Tuesday afternoon, according to tracking website FlightAware. Blizzard conditions on Colorado's plains closed Interstate 70 eastbound from the outer edge of the Denver area to Kansas. Travelers were also unable to head westbound into Colorado from Kansas on the highway because of the threat posed by high winds.According to the National Weather Service, it's considered a blizzard when winds exceed 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour) for three hours or more, with considerable blowing snow and visibility down to less than a quarter-mile (0.4 kilometers).Blizzard warnings were in effect mid-Tuesday for western portions of South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas, along with eastern portions of Colorado and Wyoming. Ice storm warnings and winter weather advisories remained in place in South Dakota, North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota.On Christmas Day, one person was killed and three others were injured in Kansas, when the driver of a pickup truck lost control on snow and ice and collided head-on with a sport utility vehicle 5 miles (8 kilometers) west of Larned, according to the State Patrol. The woman killed in the crash was identified as Evelyn Reece, 86, of Wichita.Rosebud Sioux Tribe officials in South Dakota said on social media that some people had ignored the no-travel advisory issued Monday evening. The advisory meant no one should have been on highways or backroads because of the whiteout, they said.“We have multiple resources being dispatched to rescue a total of 13 people who ignored the advisory, and then rescue the ranchers who got stuck trying to get to them,” the tribe's Office of Emergency Management posted on Facebook early Tuesday, along. Nine hours later, the office gave an update saying the motorists were safe "and all is well.”Badlands National Park and the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site in South Dakota were closed Tuesday due to the severe weather.On Monday, wind gusts howled as high as 67 miles per hour (108 kilometers per hour) in Oakes, North Dakota, said National Weather Service Meteorologist Megan Jones.The ice storm has affected highways throughout the eastern parts of the state, with Interstate 29 from Grand Forks to the Canadian border closed until Tuesday afternoon, and no travel advised in south-central parts of the state. Freezing rain began in Fargo on Monday afternoon and expanded westward, Jones said, and as much as three-quarters of an inch of freezing rain fell in Jamestown.Heavy icing and strong winds downed tree branches and cause power outages in the southern James River Valley.No major outages were reported. Still, the weather service reminded people about the risk of fire caused by candles or space heaters. Anyone using a portable generator should keep it outside and at least 20 feet (6 meters) away from doors, windows and garages to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.“We just want people to be careful if they have power outages," Jones said. “You always want to be careful with your heat sources.”

Ice storms and blizzards pummel the central US a day after Christmas

LOS ANGELES (AP) —Tom Smothers, half of the Smothers Brothers and the co-host of one of the most socially conscious and groundbreaking television shows in the history of the medium, has died at 86.

The National Comedy Center, on behalf of his family, said in a statement Wednesday that Smothers died Tuesday at home in Santa Rosa, California, following a cancer battle.

“Tom was not only the loving older brother that everyone would want in their life, he was a one-of-a-kind creative partner. I am forever grateful to have spent a lifetime together with him, on and off stage, for over 60 years,” his brother and the duo's other half, Dick Smothers, said in the statement. “Our relationship was like a good marriage — the longer we were together, the more we loved and respected one another. We were truly blessed.”

When "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" debuted on CBS in the fall of 1967 it was an immediate hit, to the surprise of many who had assumed the network’s expectations were so low it positioned their show opposite the top-rated "Bonanza."

But the Smothers Brothers would prove a turning point in television history, with its sharp eye for pop culture trends and young rock stars such as the Who and Buffalo Springfield, and its daring sketches — ridiculing the Establishment, railing against the Vietnam War and portraying members of the era's hippie counterculture as gentle, fun-loving spirits — found an immediate audience with young baby boomers. The show reached No. 16 in the ratings in its first season.

It also drew the ire of network censors, and after years of battling with the brothers over the show's creative content, the network abruptly canceled the program in 1970, accusing the siblings of failing to submit an episode in time for the censors to review.

Nearly 40 years later, when Smothers was awarded an honorary Emmy for his work on the show, he jokingly thanked the writers he said had gotten him fired. He also showed that the years had not dulled his outspokenness.

“It’s hard for me to stay silent when I keep hearing that peace is only attainable through war,” Smothers said at the 2008 Emmy Awards as his brother sat in the audience, beaming. He dedicated his award to those “who feel compelled to speak out and are not afraid to speak to power and won’t shut up and refuse to be silenced.”

During the three years the show was on television, the brothers constantly battled with CBS’s censors and occasionally outraged viewers as well, particularly when Smothers joked that Easter “is when Jesus comes out of his tomb and if he sees his shadow, he goes back in and we get six more weeks of winter.” At Christmas, when other show hosts were sending best wishes to soldiers fighting overseas, Smothers offered his to draft dodgers who had moved to Canada.

In still another episode, the brothers returned blacklisted folk singer Pete Seeger to television for the first time in years. He performed his song “Waist Deep in the Big Muddy,” widely viewed as ridiculing President Lyndon Johnson for the Vietnam War. When CBS refused to air the segment, the brothers brought Seeger back for another episode and he sang it again. This time, it made the air.

After the show was canceled, the brothers sued CBS for $31 million and were awarded $775,000. Their battles with the network were chronicled in the 2002 documentary “Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.”

Before the show’s debut, the pair had seemed unlikely to make television history. They had spent the previous several years on the nightclub and college circuits and doing TV guest appearances, honing an offbeat comedy routine that mixed folk music with a healthy dose of sibling rivalry.

They would come on stage, Tom with a guitar in hand and Dick toting an upright bass. They would quickly break into a traditional folk song — perhaps “John Henry” or “Pretoria.” After playing several bars, Tom, positioned as the dumb one, would mess it up, and then quickly claim he had meant to do that. As Dick, the serious, short-tempered one, berated him for failing to acknowledge his error, he would scream in exasperation, “Mom always liked you best!”

They continued that shtick on their show but also surrounded themselves with a talented cast of newcomers, both writers and performers.

Among the crack writing crew that Smothers headed were future actor-producer Rob Reiner, musician Mason Williams and comedian Steve Martin, who presented Smothers with the lifetime Emmy in 2008. Regular musical guests included John Hartford, Glen Campbell and Jennifer Warnes.

Bob Einstein, now better known as stuntman Super Dave Osborne, had a recurring role as Officer Judy, a dour Los Angeles police officer who once cited guest Liberace for playing the piano too fast. Leigh French, as the hippie earth mother in the segment “Share a Little Tea With Goldie,” always appeared to have been drinking something brewed through more than just tea leaves.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703697735062.png" alt="Tom Smothers (left) died Tuesday in California" />
 <figcaption>Tom Smothers (left) died Tuesday in California</figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) —Tom Smothers, half of the Smothers Brothers and the co-host of one of the most socially conscious and groundbreaking television shows in the history of the medium, has died at 86.The National Comedy Center, on behalf of his family, said in a statement Wednesday that Smothers died Tuesday at home in Santa Rosa, California, following a cancer battle.“Tom was not only the loving older brother that everyone would want in their life, he was a one-of-a-kind creative partner. I am forever grateful to have spent a lifetime together with him, on and off stage, for over 60 years,” his brother and the duo's other half, Dick Smothers, said in the statement. “Our relationship was like a good marriage — the longer we were together, the more we loved and respected one another. We were truly blessed.”When "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" debuted on CBS in the fall of 1967 it was an immediate hit, to the surprise of many who had assumed the network’s expectations were so low it positioned their show opposite the top-rated "Bonanza."But the Smothers Brothers would prove a turning point in television history, with its sharp eye for pop culture trends and young rock stars such as the Who and Buffalo Springfield, and its daring sketches — ridiculing the Establishment, railing against the Vietnam War and portraying members of the era's hippie counterculture as gentle, fun-loving spirits — found an immediate audience with young baby boomers. The show reached No. 16 in the ratings in its first season.It also drew the ire of network censors, and after years of battling with the brothers over the show's creative content, the network abruptly canceled the program in 1970, accusing the siblings of failing to submit an episode in time for the censors to review.Nearly 40 years later, when Smothers was awarded an honorary Emmy for his work on the show, he jokingly thanked the writers he said had gotten him fired. He also showed that the years had not dulled his outspokenness.“It’s hard for me to stay silent when I keep hearing that peace is only attainable through war,” Smothers said at the 2008 Emmy Awards as his brother sat in the audience, beaming. He dedicated his award to those “who feel compelled to speak out and are not afraid to speak to power and won’t shut up and refuse to be silenced.”During the three years the show was on television, the brothers constantly battled with CBS’s censors and occasionally outraged viewers as well, particularly when Smothers joked that Easter “is when Jesus comes out of his tomb and if he sees his shadow, he goes back in and we get six more weeks of winter.” At Christmas, when other show hosts were sending best wishes to soldiers fighting overseas, Smothers offered his to draft dodgers who had moved to Canada.In still another episode, the brothers returned blacklisted folk singer Pete Seeger to television for the first time in years. He performed his song “Waist Deep in the Big Muddy,” widely viewed as ridiculing President Lyndon Johnson for the Vietnam War. When CBS refused to air the segment, the brothers brought Seeger back for another episode and he sang it again. This time, it made the air.After the show was canceled, the brothers sued CBS for $31 million and were awarded $775,000. Their battles with the network were chronicled in the 2002 documentary “Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.”Before the show’s debut, the pair had seemed unlikely to make television history. They had spent the previous several years on the nightclub and college circuits and doing TV guest appearances, honing an offbeat comedy routine that mixed folk music with a healthy dose of sibling rivalry.They would come on stage, Tom with a guitar in hand and Dick toting an upright bass. They would quickly break into a traditional folk song — perhaps “John Henry” or “Pretoria.” After playing several bars, Tom, positioned as the dumb one, would mess it up, and then quickly claim he had meant to do that. As Dick, the serious, short-tempered one, berated him for failing to acknowledge his error, he would scream in exasperation, “Mom always liked you best!”They continued that shtick on their show but also surrounded themselves with a talented cast of newcomers, both writers and performers.Among the crack writing crew that Smothers headed were future actor-producer Rob Reiner, musician Mason Williams and comedian Steve Martin, who presented Smothers with the lifetime Emmy in 2008. Regular musical guests included John Hartford, Glen Campbell and Jennifer Warnes.Bob Einstein, now better known as stuntman Super Dave Osborne, had a recurring role as Officer Judy, a dour Los Angeles police officer who once cited guest Liberace for playing the piano too fast. Leigh French, as the hippie earth mother in the segment “Share a Little Tea With Goldie,” always appeared to have been drinking something brewed through more than just tea leaves.

Comedian Tom Smothers, one-half of the Smothers Brothers, has died

To date, no medications or lifestyle changes have been shown to reverse Alzheimer’s disease. But new research from a team at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) describes a new cellular therapy that protected damaged brain cells and restored brain homeostasis in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Importantly, this treatment also improved learning and memory in these animals.

In the paper, published in the journal&nbsp;Molecular Neurodegeneration&nbsp;and titled “<a href="https://molecularneurodegeneration.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13024-023-00692-7" target="_blank">Amyloid-β Specific Regulatory T Cells Attenuate Alzheimer’s Disease Pathobiology in APP/PS1 Mice,”</a>&nbsp;the UNMC group genetically modified a specific class of immune controlling cells (called regulatory T cells or Treg) to make them specifically react to a key protein known to be associated with Alzheimer’s disease. This protein, called amyloid-beta, “clumps together” in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, forming plaques that disrupt nerve cell vitality. This leads to an inability of nerve cells to send signals and communicate with other nerve cells in and outside the brain. Over time, this eventually results in brain cell death, which in turn triggers the memory loss and behavioral abnormalities seen during progressive human disease.

In the study, the engineered Treg cells were administered to mice by injection into the blood stream. The study’s results showed that the cell treatment reduced amyloid plaque buildup and brain inflammation. Strikingly, the therapy also improved cognitive functions in diseased animals. The APP/PS1 Alzheimer’s mouse model was used as it exhibits amyloid plaque formation and cognitive impairment similar to those seen in human Alzheimer’s disease.

“The link between regulatory T cells, or ‘Treg,’ and the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases is well established,” said Howard E. Gendelman, MD, chair of the UNMC Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience (PEN). “This work demonstrates the advantages of antigen specificity for the Tregs. The approach promoted improved therapeutic activities of Treg in Alzheimer’s disease models and more specifically changed some features of the disease course to near normal levels observed in models without the disease.

“No one has yet shown clear pathological and cognitive improvements with therapy,” said Lee Mosley, PhD, a professor and director of the neurodegenerative disease program in UNMC’s PEN department.

The novelty of this study lies in its approach of using the body's immune system to fight against the key factors of Alzheimer’s, as well as using modified cells to improve their effect by directly targeting a key disease-associated protein. By genetically engineering these regulatory T cells to express a receptor that specifically recognizes the amyloid-β protein, these immune cells could provide a targeted and potentially more effective treatment strategy. These immune cells also would be able to reach the brain to impart their effects – which is a significant advantage because many other treatments have difficulty entering the brain due to the blood brain barrier.

UNMCTo date, no medications or lifestyle changes have been shown to reverse Alzheimer’s disease. But new research from a team at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) describes a new cellular therapy that protected damaged brain cells and restored brain homeostasis in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Importantly, this treatment also improved learning and memory in these animals.In the paper, published in the journal&nbsp;Molecular Neurodegeneration&nbsp;and titled “<a href="https://molecularneurodegeneration.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13024-023-00692-7" target="_blank">Amyloid-β Specific Regulatory T Cells Attenuate Alzheimer’s Disease Pathobiology in APP/PS1 Mice,”</a>&nbsp;the UNMC group genetically modified a specific class of immune controlling cells (called regulatory T cells or Treg) to make them specifically react to a key protein known to be associated with Alzheimer’s disease. This protein, called amyloid-beta, “clumps together” in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, forming plaques that disrupt nerve cell vitality. This leads to an inability of nerve cells to send signals and communicate with other nerve cells in and outside the brain. Over time, this eventually results in brain cell death, which in turn triggers the memory loss and behavioral abnormalities seen during progressive human disease.In the study, the engineered Treg cells were administered to mice by injection into the blood stream. The study’s results showed that the cell treatment reduced amyloid plaque buildup and brain inflammation. Strikingly, the therapy also improved cognitive functions in diseased animals. The APP/PS1 Alzheimer’s mouse model was used as it exhibits amyloid plaque formation and cognitive impairment similar to those seen in human Alzheimer’s disease.“The link between regulatory T cells, or ‘Treg,’ and the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases is well established,” said Howard E. Gendelman, MD, chair of the UNMC Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience (PEN). “This work demonstrates the advantages of antigen specificity for the Tregs. The approach promoted improved therapeutic activities of Treg in Alzheimer’s disease models and more specifically changed some features of the disease course to near normal levels observed in models without the disease.“No one has yet shown clear pathological and cognitive improvements with therapy,” said Lee Mosley, PhD, a professor and director of the neurodegenerative disease program in UNMC’s PEN department.The novelty of this study lies in its approach of using the body's immune system to fight against the key factors of Alzheimer’s, as well as using modified cells to improve their effect by directly targeting a key disease-associated protein. By genetically engineering these regulatory T cells to express a receptor that specifically recognizes the amyloid-β protein, these immune cells could provide a targeted and potentially more effective treatment strategy. These immune cells also would be able to reach the brain to impart their effects – which is a significant advantage because many other treatments have difficulty entering the brain due to the blood brain barrier.Currently, antibody-based therapies that target the amyloid-beta protein are available. However, there can be adverse side effects related to the removal of amyloid from around the blood vessels that may limit who is eligible to receive such therapy. By minimizing the inflammatory response, it might be possible to decrease these side effects and increase the number of eligible patients.&nbsp;“An imbalance between cytotoxic and neuroprotective classes of T cells may play a role in a whole host of central nervous system (CNS) disease states, which in turn promotes a vicious cycle of microglial activation, chronic neuroinflammation, and neuronal injury,” said William Daley, PhD, the program officer of the NINDS grant that supported this study. “And while previous work has shown that boosting neuroprotective Tregs can help improve this imbalance and break the chronic neuroinflammatory cycle, this current study takes this concept to a whole new level by demonstrating that neuroprotective Tregs can be specifically targeted to diseased areas of the brain with an engineered receptor.”Avindra Nath, MD, senior investigator and clinical director for the NINDS intramural program, noted that “the study is an important development in the field that advances the possibility of using cell-based therapies for targeting protein aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases.”Recent clinical trials have indeed shown potential benefit for the use of regulatory T cells as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders both in animals and in humans with the disease, said Pravin Yeapuri, PhD, a UNMC postdoctoral fellow and a lead author in the study.“But the limitation has been how to get protective regulatory cells into the regions of the brain most affected in Alzheimer’s disease,” Dr. Yeapuri said.This work is a significant first step advance in Alzheimer's research and the potential for a new therapy. While the research requires next step testing in humans to determine clinical disease efficacy, it remains a paradigm shift for the field of Alzheimer’s therapeutics, said Jatin Machhi, PhD, a former instructor in the UNMC pharmacology and experimental neuroscience department and lead study investigator.UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, congratulated Dr. Gendelman and the research team on the paper. “This is an exciting step forward,” Dr. Gold said of the research. “We are proud of the UNMC team’s work in this important area, which impacts so many. We look forward with great excitement to seeing where this important breakthrough may lead in the fight against Alzheimer’s.”Stanley Appel, MD, the Edwards Distinguished Endowed Chair for ALS at Houston Methodist and director of the Johnson Center for Cellular Therapeutics, said: “The development of beta-amyloid-targeted Tregs and the beneficial effects of their infusion in AD-model mice are exciting accomplishments of the Gendelman team. This is clearly the beginning of a new chapter in immunomodulatory therapy for AD.”Each of the other UNMC faculty, students, and technical co-investigators played pivotal roles in design, data collection, and interpretations in this study included Yaman Lu, Mai Mohamed Abdelmoaty, Rana Kadry, Milankumar Patel, Shaurav Bhattarai, Eugene Lu, Krista Namminga, Katherine Olson, PhD, Emma Foster.&nbsp;The research was supported by by the National Institutes of Health Grants P01 DA028555, R01 NS36126, P01 NS31492, P01 MH64570, P01 NS43985, P30 MH062261, R01 AG043540, and 2R01 NS034239; the Frances and Louie Blumkin and Harriet Singer Research Foundations, the Carol Swarts, MD Emerging Neuroscience Research Laboratory; and the Margaret R. Larson Professorship. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.Study authors include Howard Gendelman, MD; Lee Mosley, PhD; Jatin Macchi, PhD; and Pravin Yeapuri, PhD