<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/08/nebraska-abortion-fight-fuels-record-filings-to-remove-signatures-from-petitions/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraska’s midsummer flurry of citizen initiatives seeking the ballot in November, including competing campaigns on abortion, spurred hundreds of requests to remove people’s signatures from petitions. &nbsp;

At least 348 people had signed state affidavits claiming they mistakenly signed a petition, according to unofficial numbers obtained by the Examiner late last week. More than 300 asked to pull signatures from the Protect Women and Children petition, which is backed by abortion opponents and would limit how long into a pregnancy abortion is legal.

Affidavits in 2024 to remove signatures by ballot initiative, to date

Nebraska Human Life Protection (stopped collecting), 10

Consumption tax exemption for groceries, 4

Those 304 would be the most filed against a single ballot initiative with the Secretary of State’s Office. The previous high was set in 2023, when nearly 200 were filed against an effort to repeal a tax credit for funding private school scholarships.&nbsp;

Back then, school choice supporters organized a “Decline to Sign” campaign. This year, an abortion-rights campaign encouraged supporters to sign a signature-removal affidavit if they were concerned they might have signed the wrong petition.

State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, a supporter of the abortion-rights campaign, Protect Our Rights, has criticized circulators with the competing Protect Women and Children petition. She said some purposely sowed confusion among people who support abortion rights.

She told the Nebraska Examiner on Friday that hundreds, if not thousands, of signers thought they were supporting abortion rights. She said people “were misled about the purpose of the petition and tricked into signing something they don’t actually support.”

She shared allegations from one supporter who said her sister had been told she could sign for an entire family. Nebraska law requires people to sign for themselves. At least seven formal complaints were filed against circulators for each effort. More were still being reviewed.

“This is what happens when petitions pay per signature,” Hunt said. “Many of them said they were flown in from other states for the final push… This only incentivizes gatherers to get as many signatures as possible, by any means.”

Opponents label removal push ‘spectacle’

Protect Women and Children organizers said the signature-removal push by the Protect Our Rights campaign reflects concern from abortion-rights advocates that most voters in a red state like Nebraska prefer leaving the Legislature’s laws and authority on abortion in place.

The group said it had more than 1,200 volunteers along with paid petition circulators and nonprofit backers who gathered more than 205,000 signatures. The Protect Our Rights campaign also used paid petition circulators, volunteers and nonprofits.

“The activists organizing their followers to ‘remove their names’ is a mere media spectacle,” Brenna Grasz said. “Protect Women and Children garnered more than 205,000 signatures in a record number of days, and has an unprecedented volunteer army going into November.”

Protect Women and Children seeks to restrict abortions after the first trimester to no more than 12 to 14 weeks gestational age. But the way the measure is written, the proposed constitutional amendment would let state lawmakers pass stricter bans.&nbsp;

Its language contains exceptions for the life of the mother, but opponents argue the exceptions were written to be difficult to access. Supporters say it would maintain legal protections for the unborn, including parental notification requirements.

Nebraska currently restricts abortion to 12 weeks gestational age, or about 10 weeks after fertilization. State lawmakers tightened restrictions most recently in 2023. The state had previously allowed abortion up to 20 weeks after conception.

Social conservatives fell a single vote short of passing a bill that would have banned abortion after an ultrasound can detect embryonic cardiac activity, at about six weeks. Gov. Jim Pillen and others have said their goal is an outright ban.

The Protect Our Rights petition would cement the right to an abortion in the state constitution. It would allow abortions until the point of fetal viability, as defined by a person’s medical provider, typically between 22 and 24 weeks gestation.&nbsp;

Its organizers said they turned in more than 207,000 signatures. Both needed 123,000 valid signatures from registered Nebraska voters to approve a constitutional amendment, along with a baseline of 5% from voters in 38 counties.

Critics have said Protect Our Rights’ language leaves too much room for medical providers to allow late-term abortions. Supporters say the proposal addresses fetal anomalies and health risks and values the relationships between women and doctors.

Political observers expect both abortion petitions to make the fall ballot, which would be the first time competing abortion amendments made the same ballot in the same election since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

The stakes of both amendments reaching the November ballot could be significant. Both campaigns reported raising more than $2 million apiece. Both have ties to national donors. And if both pass, the one with the most votes gets into the constitution.

Since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health decision in 2022, voters in California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Vermont have either adopted protections for abortion rights or rejected new restrictions or bans.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Six more states have abortion already on the ballot this fall — Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New York and South Dakota. Another five appear poised to add it — Arizona, Arkansas, Missouri, Montana and Nebraska.&nbsp;

Nebraska and county election officials are in the early stages of verifying signatures. They have 40 days, plus a little time to transport signatures for verification. Then the final tussles over ballot language begin, and will include the attorney general.

A dozen filed to remove signatures from the competing Protect Our Rights petition. People also filed 11 removal requests against a third abortion-related petition that fell short, Choose Life Now.&nbsp;

That one would have granted legal “personhood” to fetuses and embryos. Critics said it would have caused problems in civil and criminal law. Defenders said it offered the clearest path to ending legal abortions.&nbsp;

Voters filed a handful of affidavits to remove signatures from the other petitions circulating as well.

Aaron Sanderford<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/08/nebraska-abortion-fight-fuels-record-filings-to-remove-signatures-from-petitions/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Nebraska’s midsummer flurry of citizen initiatives seeking the ballot in November, including competing campaigns on abortion, spurred hundreds of requests to remove people’s signatures from petitions. &nbsp;At least 348 people had signed state affidavits claiming they mistakenly signed a petition, according to unofficial numbers obtained by the Examiner late last week. More than 300 asked to pull signatures from the Protect Women and Children petition, which is backed by abortion opponents and would limit how long into a pregnancy abortion is legal.<h2>Affidavits in 2024 to remove signatures by ballot initiative, to date</h2>Protect Women and Children, 304Protect Our Rights, 12Choose Life Now, 11Nebraska Human Life Protection (stopped collecting), 10EPIC Option consumption tax, 4Consumption tax exemption for groceries, 4Paid sick leave, 3Total, 348Those 304 would be the most filed against a single ballot initiative with the Secretary of State’s Office. The previous high was set in 2023, when nearly 200 were filed against an effort to repeal a tax credit for funding private school scholarships.&nbsp;Back then, school choice supporters organized a “Decline to Sign” campaign. This year, an abortion-rights campaign encouraged supporters to sign a signature-removal affidavit if they were concerned they might have signed the wrong petition.<h2>Organized effort to remove signatures</h2>State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, a supporter of the abortion-rights campaign, Protect Our Rights, has criticized circulators with the competing Protect Women and Children petition. She said some purposely sowed confusion among people who support abortion rights.She told the Nebraska Examiner on Friday that hundreds, if not thousands, of signers thought they were supporting abortion rights. She said people “were misled about the purpose of the petition and tricked into signing something they don’t actually support.”She shared allegations from one supporter who said her sister had been told she could sign for an entire family. Nebraska law requires people to sign for themselves. At least seven formal complaints were filed against circulators for each effort. More were still being reviewed.“This is what happens when petitions pay per signature,” Hunt said. “Many of them said they were flown in from other states for the final push… This only incentivizes gatherers to get as many signatures as possible, by any means.”<h2>Opponents label removal push ‘spectacle’</h2>Protect Women and Children organizers said the signature-removal push by the Protect Our Rights campaign reflects concern from abortion-rights advocates that most voters in a red state like Nebraska prefer leaving the Legislature’s laws and authority on abortion in place.The group said it had more than 1,200 volunteers along with paid petition circulators and nonprofit backers who gathered more than 205,000 signatures. The Protect Our Rights campaign also used paid petition circulators, volunteers and nonprofits.“The activists organizing their followers to ‘remove their names’ is a mere media spectacle,” Brenna Grasz said. “Protect Women and Children garnered more than 205,000 signatures in a record number of days, and has an unprecedented volunteer army going into November.”Protect Women and Children seeks to restrict abortions after the first trimester to no more than 12 to 14 weeks gestational age. But the way the measure is written, the proposed constitutional amendment would let state lawmakers pass stricter bans.&nbsp;Its language contains exceptions for the life of the mother, but opponents argue the exceptions were written to be difficult to access. Supporters say it would maintain legal protections for the unborn, including parental notification requirements.<h2>Abortion law in Nebraska</h2>Nebraska currently restricts abortion to 12 weeks gestational age, or about 10 weeks after fertilization. State lawmakers tightened restrictions most recently in 2023. The state had previously allowed abortion up to 20 weeks after conception.Social conservatives fell a single vote short of passing a bill that would have banned abortion after an ultrasound can detect embryonic cardiac activity, at about six weeks. Gov. Jim Pillen and others have said their goal is an outright ban.The Protect Our Rights petition would cement the right to an abortion in the state constitution. It would allow abortions until the point of fetal viability, as defined by a person’s medical provider, typically between 22 and 24 weeks gestation.&nbsp;Its organizers said they turned in more than 207,000 signatures. Both needed 123,000 valid signatures from registered Nebraska voters to approve a constitutional amendment, along with a baseline of 5% from voters in 38 counties.Critics have said Protect Our Rights’ language leaves too much room for medical providers to allow late-term abortions. Supporters say the proposal addresses fetal anomalies and health risks and values the relationships between women and doctors.<h2>Both likely to make ballot</h2>Political observers expect both abortion petitions to make the fall ballot, which would be the first time competing abortion amendments made the same ballot in the same election since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.The stakes of both amendments reaching the November ballot could be significant. Both campaigns reported raising more than $2 million apiece. Both have ties to national donors. And if both pass, the one with the most votes gets into the constitution.Since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health decision in 2022, voters in California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Vermont have either adopted protections for abortion rights or rejected new restrictions or bans.&nbsp;&nbsp;Six more states have abortion already on the ballot this fall — Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New York and South Dakota. Another five appear poised to add it — Arizona, Arkansas, Missouri, Montana and Nebraska.&nbsp;<h2>Signature checks underway</h2>Nebraska and county election officials are in the early stages of verifying signatures. They have 40 days, plus a little time to transport signatures for verification. Then the final tussles over ballot language begin, and will include the attorney general.A dozen filed to remove signatures from the competing Protect Our Rights petition. People also filed 11 removal requests against a third abortion-related petition that fell short, Choose Life Now.&nbsp;That one would have granted legal “personhood” to fetuses and embryos. Critics said it would have caused problems in civil and criminal law. Defenders said it offered the clearest path to ending legal abortions.&nbsp;Voters filed a handful of affidavits to remove signatures from the other petitions circulating as well.

Nebraska abortion fight fuels record filings to remove signatures from petitions

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacob-fischler/">JACOB FISCHLER</a>

President Joe Biden pledged Monday to stay in his race for reelection, even after a weekend in which a growing number of Democrats asked for him to withdraw and a key U.S. House Republican called for an investigation into the president’s doctor.

In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24794331-bidenletterjuly8" target="_blank">a letter</a>&nbsp;to congressional Democrats, Biden argued that the calls for him to drop out of the presidential race — with just 119 days until Election Day — ignored the results of Democratic primaries and caucuses that he handily won and said he remained the best candidate to defeat former President Donald Trump.

The two-page letter ended with a call for party unity and an end to the public back-and-forth among Democrats over whether Biden should leave the race, after a June 27 debate performance that shook some high-ranking Democrats’ confidence in his ability to overcome his polling deficit against Trump.

“The question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now,” Biden wrote. “And it’s time for it to end. We have one job. And that is to beat Donald Trump.”

Congress returns Monday from a weeklong July Fourth recess after several days in which members of both parties continued to press the issue of Biden’s fitness for office.

Republicans also began pressing for more details. House Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer&nbsp;<a href="https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Letter-to-OConnor-070724.pdf" target="_blank">on Sunday called</a>&nbsp;for Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, to submit to a transcribed interview about his assessments of Biden and O’Connor’s business dealings with James Biden, the president’s brother.

The Kentucky Republican said Biden and the White House had sent mixed messages about recent medical examinations of the president.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters last week that Biden had not been examined by a doctor since his regular checkup in February.

But Biden told a group of Democratic governors the same day that he was “checked out by a doctor” following the debate, Comer wrote.

Following the debate, Biden, attempting to explain a low, raspy voice, said he’d had a cold.

Comer also questioned if O’Connor could accurately report Biden’s health, or if he was compromised by a conflict of interest because of his involvement with James Biden’s rural health care company, Americore. James Biden has testified to the committee that he sought O’Connor’s counsel for the business.

The White House did not respond to a message seeking comment about Comer’s request.

The holiday weekend also saw more U.S. House Democrats join a list of those asking Biden to step aside rather than seek reelection.

In&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/AngieCraigMN/status/1809577054062432688" target="_blank">a written statement</a>&nbsp;on Saturday, Minnesota’s Angie Craig became the first member from a competitive district to call on the president to quit the race. Craig is the fifth member to publicly call for the president’s withdrawal.

Additional members are making private calls, according to media reports.

Four Democrats who lead House committees — Jerry Nadler of New York on the Judiciary Committee, Adam Smith of Washington on the Armed Services Committee, Mark Takano of California on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Joe Morelle of New York on the House Administration Committee — said during a caucus leadership call on Sunday that Biden should withdraw,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/07/jerry-nadler-adam-smith-congress-biden-00166733" target="_blank">according to reports</a>.

Other&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/07/politics/house-democrats-biden-out/index.html" target="_blank">accounts reported</a>&nbsp;more members on the call, including Susan Wild of Pennsylvania and Jim Himes of Connecticut, also opposed Biden’s continued candidacy. Wild&nbsp;<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/briefs/susan-wild-pennsylvania-expressed-concern-biden-electability-during-call-house-democrats/" target="_blank">later told</a>&nbsp;the Pennsylvania Capital-Star she expressed concerns about Biden’s electability.

In an impromptu call in to the MSNBC show “Morning Joe” on Monday, Biden insisted again he was staying in the race and called for any opponents he had to “challenge” him at the party’s convention in Chicago next month.

Biden, who has secured enough pledged delegates through primary and caucus wins to clinch the nomination, would be heavily favored in a contested convention.&nbsp;<a href="https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2024-Call-for-Convention.pdf" target="_blank">Democratic Party rules</a>&nbsp;mandate pledged delegates “shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them,” but are not legally required to cast their convention vote for their pledged candidate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720316947280.png" alt="President Joe Biden raises the hand of Vice President Kamala Harris as they view the Independence Day firework display over the National Mall from the balcony of the White House -image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden raises the hand of Vice President Kamala Harris as they view the Independence Day firework display over the National Mall from the balcony of the White House -image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacob-fischler/">JACOB FISCHLER</a>President Joe Biden pledged Monday to stay in his race for reelection, even after a weekend in which a growing number of Democrats asked for him to withdraw and a key U.S. House Republican called for an investigation into the president’s doctor.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This morning, I sent a letter to my fellow Democrats on Capitol Hill. In it, I shared my thoughts about this moment in our campaign. It’s time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump. <a href="https://t.co/ABtAaJrr0n">pic.twitter.com/ABtAaJrr0n</a>&mdash; Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1810301614965604827?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24794331-bidenletterjuly8" target="_blank">a letter</a>&nbsp;to congressional Democrats, Biden argued that the calls for him to drop out of the presidential race — with just 119 days until Election Day — ignored the results of Democratic primaries and caucuses that he handily won and said he remained the best candidate to defeat former President Donald Trump.The two-page letter ended with a call for party unity and an end to the public back-and-forth among Democrats over whether Biden should leave the race, after a June 27 debate performance that shook some high-ranking Democrats’ confidence in his ability to overcome his polling deficit against Trump.“The question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now,” Biden wrote. “And it’s time for it to end. We have one job. And that is to beat Donald Trump.”<h2>Comer seeks interview with Biden doctor</h2>Congress returns Monday from a weeklong July Fourth recess after several days in which members of both parties continued to press the issue of Biden’s fitness for office.Republicans also began pressing for more details. House Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer&nbsp;<a href="https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Letter-to-OConnor-070724.pdf" target="_blank">on Sunday called</a>&nbsp;for Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, to submit to a transcribed interview about his assessments of Biden and O’Connor’s business dealings with James Biden, the president’s brother.The Kentucky Republican said Biden and the White House had sent mixed messages about recent medical examinations of the president.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters last week that Biden had not been examined by a doctor since his regular checkup in February.But Biden told a group of Democratic governors the same day that he was “checked out by a doctor” following the debate, Comer wrote.Following the debate, Biden, attempting to explain a low, raspy voice, said he’d had a cold.Comer also questioned if O’Connor could accurately report Biden’s health, or if he was compromised by a conflict of interest because of his involvement with James Biden’s rural health care company, Americore. James Biden has testified to the committee that he sought O’Connor’s counsel for the business.The White House did not respond to a message seeking comment about Comer’s request.<h2>More Democrats call for withdrawal</h2>The holiday weekend also saw more U.S. House Democrats join a list of those asking Biden to step aside rather than seek reelection.In&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/AngieCraigMN/status/1809577054062432688" target="_blank">a written statement</a>&nbsp;on Saturday, Minnesota’s Angie Craig became the first member from a competitive district to call on the president to quit the race. Craig is the fifth member to publicly call for the president’s withdrawal.Additional members are making private calls, according to media reports.Four Democrats who lead House committees — Jerry Nadler of New York on the Judiciary Committee, Adam Smith of Washington on the Armed Services Committee, Mark Takano of California on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Joe Morelle of New York on the House Administration Committee — said during a caucus leadership call on Sunday that Biden should withdraw,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/07/jerry-nadler-adam-smith-congress-biden-00166733" target="_blank">according to reports</a>.Other&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/07/politics/house-democrats-biden-out/index.html" target="_blank">accounts reported</a>&nbsp;more members on the call, including Susan Wild of Pennsylvania and Jim Himes of Connecticut, also opposed Biden’s continued candidacy. Wild&nbsp;<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/briefs/susan-wild-pennsylvania-expressed-concern-biden-electability-during-call-house-democrats/" target="_blank">later told</a>&nbsp;the Pennsylvania Capital-Star she expressed concerns about Biden’s electability.In an impromptu call in to the MSNBC show “Morning Joe” on Monday, Biden insisted again he was staying in the race and called for any opponents he had to “challenge” him at the party’s convention in Chicago next month.Biden, who has secured enough pledged delegates through primary and caucus wins to clinch the nomination, would be heavily favored in a contested convention.&nbsp;<a href="https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2024-Call-for-Convention.pdf" target="_blank">Democratic Party rules</a>&nbsp;mandate pledged delegates “shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them,” but are not legally required to cast their convention vote for their pledged candidate.

Biden tells congressional Dems he is staying in the race, urges end to speculation

An Alliance man remains in custody in the Box Butte County Jail after being charged with Sexual Assault of a Child and Incest.&nbsp;

50-year-old Terry Grant was arrested on May 22 following a complaint filed with the Alliance Police Department from the child’s family members.

District Court records state that during a police interrogation, Grant confessed to the sexual assault of the female child, who is under 16 years of age.

Grant appeared in Box Butte County District Court June 24th and entered a plea of Not Guilty.&nbsp;

An Alliance man remains in custody in the Box Butte County Jail after being charged with Sexual Assault of a Child and Incest.&nbsp;50-year-old Terry Grant was arrested on May 22 following a complaint filed with the Alliance Police Department from the child’s family members.District Court records state that during a police interrogation, Grant confessed to the sexual assault of the female child, who is under 16 years of age.Grant appeared in Box Butte County District Court June 24th and entered a plea of Not Guilty.&nbsp;

Alliance Man Charged With Child Sexual Assault

Gibbon, Neb. - A Union Pacific train hauling coal derailed early Sunday morning in Gibbon.&nbsp;

According to Robynn Tysver, a spokesperson for Union Pacific, the derailment happened Sunday morning around 2:00am. The derailment occurred on the eastern side of Gibbon and 15 coal cars derailed.

Tysver also said in a written statement to the POST that the Buffalo County Sheriff Office responded to the scene. There are no injuries from the incident. 

Crews are on scene continuing the cleanup process and the crash is still under investigation.

North Platte PostGibbon, Neb. - A Union Pacific train hauling coal derailed early Sunday morning in Gibbon.&nbsp;According to Robynn Tysver, a spokesperson for Union Pacific, the derailment happened Sunday morning around 2:00am. The derailment occurred on the eastern side of Gibbon and 15 coal cars derailed.Tysver also said in a written statement to the POST that the Buffalo County Sheriff Office responded to the scene. There are no injuries from the incident. Crews are on scene continuing the cleanup process and the crash is still under investigation.

Union Pacific coal train derailed in Central Nebraska over the weekend

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/allison-winter/">ALLISON WINTER</a>

WASHINGTON — The stalemate over the current farm bill may be solidifying a new era in farm politics as it joins the last three farm bills in a trend of delays and partisan division — a contrast from the legislation’s history of bipartisanship.

Every five years, Congress is tasked with drafting a new federal farm bill. The omnibus law that began 90 years ago as various kinds of payments to support farmers now has an impact far beyond the farm, with programs to create wildlife habitat, address climate change and provide the nation’s largest federal nutrition program.

The current farm bill process, already nearly a year behind schedule, is at an impasse as Democrats and Republicans clash over how to pay for the bill and whether to place limits on nutrition and climate programs. The previous farm bill expired in September 2023 and has been extended through the end of this September.

Historically, farm bills were completed within a few months of their expiration date. Ten of the 13 farm bills since 1965 were enacted by December 31 in the year of their expirations. But three of the four farm bills since 2008 went beyond that date.

The last three bills — including the 2018 bill, which is the one recent version that passed on time — each had partisan disagreements about spending.

The trend represents a change in how the once-bipartisan legislation is viewed.

“The last two farm bills were the anomaly,” said Jonathan Coppess, a professor of Agricultural Law and Policy at the University of Illinois who has written a history of the farm bill. “Now that it has been three in a row, I’m not sure that holds.”

A recent&nbsp;<a href="https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R45210.pdf" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service notes that starting in 2008, farm bills have been subject to delays, vetoes and insufficient votes to pass on the floor.

The report concluded: “Over time, farm bills have tended to become more complicated and politically sensitive. As a result, the timeline for reauthorization has become less certain.”

That uncertainty is true of the current farm bill, as Republicans in the House and Senate push for spending limits that Democrats say are non-starters.

“I don’t think we’re close to getting a farm bill done until the folks who are negotiating the farm bill are realistic about what’s doable within a constrained resource environment,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in an interview on the radio program&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DjdcUT0r3o" target="_blank">AgriTalk</a>&nbsp;June 21.

The Republican-led House Agriculture Committee approved its farm bill proposal&nbsp;<a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/05/24/farm-bill-advances-from-u-s-house-panel-but-faces-a-tough-row-to-hoe/" target="_blank">largely on party lines</a>&nbsp;at the end of May, after hours of debate and complaints from Democrats that the process had not been as bipartisan as in years past.

Four Democrats voted for the bill in committee, but they joined 20 other Democrats on the committee in a “dissenting views” letter expressing “genuine concern over the trajectory of the Majority’s partisan farm bill” — which they predicted would be stuck in delay and dysfunction without significant changes.

The Senate Agriculture Committee has yet to vote. The Republican and Democratic leaders of the committee have each put forward contrasting bills and expressed their frustration.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie&nbsp; Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat who is retiring after this term, has called the process the “most frustrating” of her career and said she would not let the Republican approach for the farm bill be her legacy.

“I’ve actually been involved in six farm bills and led on three of them, and this has been the most frustrating time,” said Stabenow&nbsp;<a href="https://michiganadvance.com/2024/06/26/stabenow-says-gop-farm-bill-is-not-balanced-and-wont-pass-through-the-us-senate/" target="_blank">in an interview with&nbsp;Michigan Advance</a>&nbsp;at the end of June. “Because it’s so much more partisan than usual and particularly around food assistance.”

Partisan division is not uncommon in today’s Congress but is notable on the farm bill, which had historically brought together lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. Bipartisan support can be necessary for final passage because the size of the $1.5 trillion farm bill means it inevitably loses some votes from fiscal conservatives and others.

“If you don’t have a bipartisan bill, this is not going to happen, and that is no matter who’s in charge. The margins are too close to be able to get this done without bipartisan support,” said Collin Peterson, a former Democratic House member from Minnesota and Agriculture Committee Chairman.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2024/05/24/u-s-house-panel-debates-nutrition-benefit-changes-farm-bill/" target="_blank">key dispute</a>&nbsp;for Democrats this year is a funding calculation that would place limits on the “Thrifty Food Plan” formula that calculates benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP.

Republicans are using the limits to offset other spending in the bill on crop subsidies. The top Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Arkansas Sen. John Boozman, said he wants to put “more farm in the farm bill.”

Peterson, who is now the head of an eponymous consulting firm, said in an interview with States Newsroom that Republicans would likely have to make changes to the nutrition title to get a bill to final passage.

“It is unrealistic to think they are going to get this done without significant changes in that part of the bill,” he said.

The nutrition program that is at the center of the impasse was added to the legislation 50 years ago to help build a coalition of wide-ranging bipartisan support.

Lawmakers added the nutrition title to the farm bill in 1973, a move that widened the vested interest in the bill in the House. Lawmakers who wanted to increase payments for cotton and wheat farmers in their districts were able to bring in support from representatives from districts whose citizens could benefit from food aid.

“That was the first coalition building between the two interests,” Coppess said. “But it was pretty intense. And it was an uneasy alliance from the start.”

Since then, the farm bill in many ways has become a food bill. Three-quarters of the mandatory spending in the bill falls under the nutrition title, which includes SNAP, the largest U.S. program that addresses hunger.

The program, formerly called food stamps, supplements food budgets for low-income households. Anti-hunger groups have joined the outside interests pushing for the bill every five years.

But with such a large funding line, the nutrition program has become a target for Republicans who want to cut it to offset other spending in the bill.

“The dispute is all the pay-fors,” Peterson said. “And that has been the issue for the last three farm bills and issue on this one as well.”

Peterson, who was chairman of the House Agriculture Committee for the 2008 farm bill and was the top Democrat on the committee for the 2013 and 2018 bills, said partisan division on the committee is not unfamiliar at this phase of the process.

The farm bills he worked on also had partisan votes in the House but eventually found support from both sides after conferencing with the Senate.

“At the end of the day, every one of those bills was partisan, until we got through the conference committee, and then at that point it was bipartisan, because the Senate brought some of that to the table,” Peterson said. “So, kind of, what’s going on here went on the last three farm bills.”

The most recent farm bill in 2018 was marked by contentious partisan debate centered on SNAP’s work requirements and other eligibility rules.

The House Agriculture Committee’s bill that year initially failed on the House floor and later squeaked through on a 213-211 vote. Twenty Republicans joined all House Democrats in voting against that bill.

After reconciling with the Senate bill and the removal of some of the contentious changes to SNAP, most Democrats flipped their votes in support and the House agreed to the final conference report in a bipartisan vote of 369-47. The dissenting votes included 44 Republicans and three Democrats.

The partisan division over the nutrition title creates new fault lines for the farm bill.

Historically, farm bill alliances were more regional than partisan. They were built on a common ground of support for shared crops or producers: cotton in the South, corn in the Midwest and wheat in the Western Plains.

“What was our biggest issue back in the four farm bills that I wrote was not Republican versus Democrat. It was usually Midwest against the Southeast or the Northeast or the Southwest from a crop standpoint,” former Senator Saxby Chambliss said in an interview.

Chambliss, a Republican from Georgia, was on the House Agriculture Committee from 1995 to 2002 and the Senate Agriculture Committee 2005 to 2011, which included a stint as chairman and ranking member.

“There’s a different political dynamic that exists in the Senate today that did not exist when I was there,”&nbsp; Chambliss said. “How much of that bleeds into the farm bill? I don’t know the answer to that, but obviously it’s a little more acrimonious than what I ever experienced.”

As partisan politics have become more entrenched in regions of the country, with the South becoming more closely aligned with the Republican Party, it has played out in farm-bill politics.

“You see a staunch realignment around where the regional and the partisan are now very similar,” said Coppess.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625596705829.png" alt="Partisan gridlock in Congress has led to a stalemate on the current farm bill, which provides crop subsidies and nutrition assistance. Hays Post photo" />
 <figcaption>Partisan gridlock in Congress has led to a stalemate on the current farm bill, which provides crop subsidies and nutrition assistance. Hays Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/allison-winter/">ALLISON WINTER</a>WASHINGTON — The stalemate over the current farm bill may be solidifying a new era in farm politics as it joins the last three farm bills in a trend of delays and partisan division — a contrast from the legislation’s history of bipartisanship.Every five years, Congress is tasked with drafting a new federal farm bill. The omnibus law that began 90 years ago as various kinds of payments to support farmers now has an impact far beyond the farm, with programs to create wildlife habitat, address climate change and provide the nation’s largest federal nutrition program.The current farm bill process, already nearly a year behind schedule, is at an impasse as Democrats and Republicans clash over how to pay for the bill and whether to place limits on nutrition and climate programs. The previous farm bill expired in September 2023 and has been extended through the end of this September.Historically, farm bills were completed within a few months of their expiration date. Ten of the 13 farm bills since 1965 were enacted by December 31 in the year of their expirations. But three of the four farm bills since 2008 went beyond that date.The last three bills — including the 2018 bill, which is the one recent version that passed on time — each had partisan disagreements about spending.The trend represents a change in how the once-bipartisan legislation is viewed.“The last two farm bills were the anomaly,” said Jonathan Coppess, a professor of Agricultural Law and Policy at the University of Illinois who has written a history of the farm bill. “Now that it has been three in a row, I’m not sure that holds.”A recent&nbsp;<a href="https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R45210.pdf" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service notes that starting in 2008, farm bills have been subject to delays, vetoes and insufficient votes to pass on the floor.The report concluded: “Over time, farm bills have tended to become more complicated and politically sensitive. As a result, the timeline for reauthorization has become less certain.”<h2>Spending debate</h2>That uncertainty is true of the current farm bill, as Republicans in the House and Senate push for spending limits that Democrats say are non-starters.“I don’t think we’re close to getting a farm bill done until the folks who are negotiating the farm bill are realistic about what’s doable within a constrained resource environment,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in an interview on the radio program&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DjdcUT0r3o" target="_blank">AgriTalk</a>&nbsp;June 21.The Republican-led House Agriculture Committee approved its farm bill proposal&nbsp;<a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/05/24/farm-bill-advances-from-u-s-house-panel-but-faces-a-tough-row-to-hoe/" target="_blank">largely on party lines</a>&nbsp;at the end of May, after hours of debate and complaints from Democrats that the process had not been as bipartisan as in years past.Four Democrats voted for the bill in committee, but they joined 20 other Democrats on the committee in a “dissenting views” letter expressing “genuine concern over the trajectory of the Majority’s partisan farm bill” — which they predicted would be stuck in delay and dysfunction without significant changes.The Senate Agriculture Committee has yet to vote. The Republican and Democratic leaders of the committee have each put forward contrasting bills and expressed their frustration.<h2>‘The most frustrating time’</h2>Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie&nbsp; Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat who is retiring after this term, has called the process the “most frustrating” of her career and said she would not let the Republican approach for the farm bill be her legacy.“I’ve actually been involved in six farm bills and led on three of them, and this has been the most frustrating time,” said Stabenow&nbsp;<a href="https://michiganadvance.com/2024/06/26/stabenow-says-gop-farm-bill-is-not-balanced-and-wont-pass-through-the-us-senate/" target="_blank">in an interview with&nbsp;Michigan Advance</a>&nbsp;at the end of June. “Because it’s so much more partisan than usual and particularly around food assistance.”Partisan division is not uncommon in today’s Congress but is notable on the farm bill, which had historically brought together lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. Bipartisan support can be necessary for final passage because the size of the $1.5 trillion farm bill means it inevitably loses some votes from fiscal conservatives and others.“If you don’t have a bipartisan bill, this is not going to happen, and that is no matter who’s in charge. The margins are too close to be able to get this done without bipartisan support,” said Collin Peterson, a former Democratic House member from Minnesota and Agriculture Committee Chairman.The&nbsp;<a href="https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2024/05/24/u-s-house-panel-debates-nutrition-benefit-changes-farm-bill/" target="_blank">key dispute</a>&nbsp;for Democrats this year is a funding calculation that would place limits on the “Thrifty Food Plan” formula that calculates benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP.Republicans are using the limits to offset other spending in the bill on crop subsidies. The top Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Arkansas Sen. John Boozman, said he wants to put “more farm in the farm bill.”Peterson, who is now the head of an eponymous consulting firm, said in an interview with States Newsroom that Republicans would likely have to make changes to the nutrition title to get a bill to final passage.“It is unrealistic to think they are going to get this done without significant changes in that part of the bill,” he said.<h2>‘An uneasy alliance’ from the start</h2>The nutrition program that is at the center of the impasse was added to the legislation 50 years ago to help build a coalition of wide-ranging bipartisan support.Lawmakers added the nutrition title to the farm bill in 1973, a move that widened the vested interest in the bill in the House. Lawmakers who wanted to increase payments for cotton and wheat farmers in their districts were able to bring in support from representatives from districts whose citizens could benefit from food aid.“That was the first coalition building between the two interests,” Coppess said. “But it was pretty intense. And it was an uneasy alliance from the start.”Since then, the farm bill in many ways has become a food bill. Three-quarters of the mandatory spending in the bill falls under the nutrition title, which includes SNAP, the largest U.S. program that addresses hunger.The program, formerly called food stamps, supplements food budgets for low-income households. Anti-hunger groups have joined the outside interests pushing for the bill every five years.But with such a large funding line, the nutrition program has become a target for Republicans who want to cut it to offset other spending in the bill.“The dispute is all the pay-fors,” Peterson said. “And that has been the issue for the last three farm bills and issue on this one as well.”Peterson, who was chairman of the House Agriculture Committee for the 2008 farm bill and was the top Democrat on the committee for the 2013 and 2018 bills, said partisan division on the committee is not unfamiliar at this phase of the process.The farm bills he worked on also had partisan votes in the House but eventually found support from both sides after conferencing with the Senate.“At the end of the day, every one of those bills was partisan, until we got through the conference committee, and then at that point it was bipartisan, because the Senate brought some of that to the table,” Peterson said. “So, kind of, what’s going on here went on the last three farm bills.”The most recent farm bill in 2018 was marked by contentious partisan debate centered on SNAP’s work requirements and other eligibility rules.The House Agriculture Committee’s bill that year initially failed on the House floor and later squeaked through on a 213-211 vote. Twenty Republicans joined all House Democrats in voting against that bill.After reconciling with the Senate bill and the removal of some of the contentious changes to SNAP, most Democrats flipped their votes in support and the House agreed to the final conference report in a bipartisan vote of 369-47. The dissenting votes included 44 Republicans and three Democrats.<h2>A trend toward fracture</h2>The partisan division over the nutrition title creates new fault lines for the farm bill.Historically, farm bill alliances were more regional than partisan. They were built on a common ground of support for shared crops or producers: cotton in the South, corn in the Midwest and wheat in the Western Plains.“What was our biggest issue back in the four farm bills that I wrote was not Republican versus Democrat. It was usually Midwest against the Southeast or the Northeast or the Southwest from a crop standpoint,” former Senator Saxby Chambliss said in an interview.Chambliss, a Republican from Georgia, was on the House Agriculture Committee from 1995 to 2002 and the Senate Agriculture Committee 2005 to 2011, which included a stint as chairman and ranking member.“There’s a different political dynamic that exists in the Senate today that did not exist when I was there,”&nbsp; Chambliss said. “How much of that bleeds into the farm bill? I don’t know the answer to that, but obviously it’s a little more acrimonious than what I ever experienced.”As partisan politics have become more entrenched in regions of the country, with the South becoming more closely aligned with the Republican Party, it has played out in farm-bill politics.“You see a staunch realignment around where the regional and the partisan are now very similar,” said Coppess.

‘Frustrating’ partisan stalemate: the new normal for farm bills?

LINCOLN, NE –&nbsp;In just over a week, Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly will lead a 20-plus member trade delegation to Indonesia. The week and a half long visit will include representatives from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA), the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), University of Nebraska, and several representatives of Nebraska’s agricultural producers.

“Indonesia is growing rapidly and is a major market for Nebraska agricultural exports,” said Lt. Gov. Kelly. “We are excited to explore this vibrant market and build new partnerships that will directly benefit Nebraska’s economy.”

The first day of activity on July 15 will include a briefing from the U.S. Embassy. Other notable activities during the trip include participating in the Indo Livestock Expo and Forum, touring the Southeast Asia Food and Agricultural Science and Technology Center, meeting with Indonesia’s beef import associations and visits to dairy, feed mill and fueling operations. Additional stops will provide opportunities to highlight Nebraska’s quality beef, pork, soybeans, and other food products. Last fall, Nebraska beef was featured on the highly popular competitive cooking program “MasterChef-Indonesia”.

Indonesia is Southeast Asia’s largest economy, the world’s fourth-most populous country, and offers substantial economic development opportunities.&nbsp; Indonesia is one of the top 10 export markets for Nebraska at $139 million and has a rapidly expanding GDP and growing population. &nbsp;Lt. Gov. Kelly and the delegation will engage in meetings with government officials, business leaders, and stakeholders to promote Nebraska's value to Indonesia.

“We are uniquely positioned to meet the growing demand for ag products and identify other new opportunities to partner with Indonesia going forward, said Director Sherry Vinton, Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA).&nbsp; “The best thing about Nebraska is our people and when we meet new trading partners face to face it has provided results in the short and long run.&nbsp; We are laying the groundwork for future generations."

The trade mission will conclude July 24. Governor Jim Pillen was originally slated to lead this trade mission. However, due to the upcoming special session, which will convene immediately after the trade mission -- last week, the Governor asked Lt. Gov. Kelly to lead the delegation on his behalf.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE –&nbsp;In just over a week, Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly will lead a 20-plus member trade delegation to Indonesia. The week and a half long visit will include representatives from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA), the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), University of Nebraska, and several representatives of Nebraska’s agricultural producers.“Indonesia is growing rapidly and is a major market for Nebraska agricultural exports,” said Lt. Gov. Kelly. “We are excited to explore this vibrant market and build new partnerships that will directly benefit Nebraska’s economy.”The first day of activity on July 15 will include a briefing from the U.S. Embassy. Other notable activities during the trip include participating in the Indo Livestock Expo and Forum, touring the Southeast Asia Food and Agricultural Science and Technology Center, meeting with Indonesia’s beef import associations and visits to dairy, feed mill and fueling operations. Additional stops will provide opportunities to highlight Nebraska’s quality beef, pork, soybeans, and other food products. Last fall, Nebraska beef was featured on the highly popular competitive cooking program “MasterChef-Indonesia”.Indonesia is Southeast Asia’s largest economy, the world’s fourth-most populous country, and offers substantial economic development opportunities.&nbsp; Indonesia is one of the top 10 export markets for Nebraska at $139 million and has a rapidly expanding GDP and growing population. &nbsp;Lt. Gov. Kelly and the delegation will engage in meetings with government officials, business leaders, and stakeholders to promote Nebraska's value to Indonesia.“We are uniquely positioned to meet the growing demand for ag products and identify other new opportunities to partner with Indonesia going forward, said Director Sherry Vinton, Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA).&nbsp; “The best thing about Nebraska is our people and when we meet new trading partners face to face it has provided results in the short and long run.&nbsp; We are laying the groundwork for future generations."The trade mission will conclude July 24. Governor Jim Pillen was originally slated to lead this trade mission. However, due to the upcoming special session, which will convene immediately after the trade mission -- last week, the Governor asked Lt. Gov. Kelly to lead the delegation on his behalf.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Lt. Governor Kelly to Lead Trade Mission to Indonesia

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraskans-get-new-option-to-report-child-and-adult-abuse-concerns-online/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has launched a new online portal for people to report suspected child and adult abuse and neglect.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://neabusehotline-dhhs.ne.gov/" target="_blank">online mechanism</a>&nbsp;is described as a complement to the existing statewide hotline where people still can phone in child abuse and neglect. The online service provides an additional way to report concerns, according to a statement from the DHHS Division of Children and Family Services.

“This new website not only simplifies the reporting process, but also makes it easier for CFS to catalogue these reports,” said CFS Director Alyssa Bish. “Having such an important tool available to the public is a vital part of making sure we can take action on reports of abuse and neglect in our state.”

The online reporting option can be accessed 24/7, DHHS said, letting individuals report concerns on their own schedule. The website allows for separate reporting of abuse and neglect against either a child or a vulnerable adult.&nbsp;

People will be asked to provide personal information so CFS or law enforcement authorities can contact them for clarification. Or, they can opt to remain anonymous.

Those reporting suspected abuse or neglect will be asked to include as much information as possible about the victim, the alleged perpetrator and more. DHHS will route the information to the appropriate staff.&nbsp;

The existing telephone&nbsp;<a href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Child-Abuse.aspx" target="_blank">Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline</a>&nbsp;will remain available: (800) 652-1999. For more information about child abuse and neglect reporting in Nebraska, visit the DHHS website at&nbsp;<a href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Child-Abuse.aspx" target="_blank">https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Child-Abuse.aspx</a>.

Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraskans-get-new-option-to-report-child-and-adult-abuse-concerns-online/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has launched a new online portal for people to report suspected child and adult abuse and neglect.The&nbsp;<a href="https://neabusehotline-dhhs.ne.gov/" target="_blank">online mechanism</a>&nbsp;is described as a complement to the existing statewide hotline where people still can phone in child abuse and neglect. The online service provides an additional way to report concerns, according to a statement from the DHHS Division of Children and Family Services.“This new website not only simplifies the reporting process, but also makes it easier for CFS to catalogue these reports,” said CFS Director Alyssa Bish. “Having such an important tool available to the public is a vital part of making sure we can take action on reports of abuse and neglect in our state.”The online reporting option can be accessed 24/7, DHHS said, letting individuals report concerns on their own schedule. The website allows for separate reporting of abuse and neglect against either a child or a vulnerable adult.&nbsp;People will be asked to provide personal information so CFS or law enforcement authorities can contact them for clarification. Or, they can opt to remain anonymous.Those reporting suspected abuse or neglect will be asked to include as much information as possible about the victim, the alleged perpetrator and more. DHHS will route the information to the appropriate staff.&nbsp;The existing telephone&nbsp;<a href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Child-Abuse.aspx" target="_blank">Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline</a>&nbsp;will remain available: (800) 652-1999. For more information about child abuse and neglect reporting in Nebraska, visit the DHHS website at&nbsp;<a href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Child-Abuse.aspx" target="_blank">https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Child-Abuse.aspx</a>.

Nebraskans get new option to report child and adult abuse concerns online 

Alliance, Neb. - The Alliance Police Department responded to a significant disturbance and barricade situation earlier today at approximately 7:22 PM. The incident occurred at 518 W 2nd St, at a residence and involved a dispute between neighbors.

Officers were dispatched to a disturbance call involving Dylan Kaiser and a neighbor. The initial reports indicated a physical altercation between the individuals, with witnesses stating that Dylan Kaiser was involved in pushing and hitting the neighbor. Upon arrival, officers attempted to take Dylan Kaiser into custody. However, Kaiser fled the scene on foot and barricaded himself inside the nearby Old Kaiser Tire Shop located at 604 W 2nd St. He was possibly armed with a firearm and made several alarming threats, including threats to kill neighbors, burn down the building, and commit suicide.

The situation quickly escalated, and additional units were summoned from the Nebraska Highway Patrol, Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office and the WING Task Force. With the assistance of NSP negotiators, officers were able to de-escalate the situation through direct communication with Kaiser over a two-hour period. After extended dialogue, Dylan Kaiser agreed to surrender peacefully.

At approximately 9:04 PM, Kaiser was taken into custody without incident. The Alliance Police Department, in conjunction with assisting agencies, utilizing effective communication and coordination, managed to resolve the situation safely.

Dylan Kaiser was transported to Box Butte County Hospital for evaluation and is facing pending charges under Nebraska State Statute 28-311.01 for Terroristic Threats and Nebraska State Statute 28-904(3) for Resisting Arrest. These charges stem from his threats against neighbors, barricading himself, and resisting arrest.

Alliance Police Chief David Leavitt said, "I would like to commend all officers involved in handling this response. This was a highly volatile situation, and I am proud of our officers' professionalism and ability to de-escalate the situation through effective communication. I am also thankful for our partnership with the Nebraska Highway Patrol, Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office and WING who provided invaluable resources. Ensuring the safety of our community and all involved is our top priority."

Alliance, Neb. - The Alliance Police Department responded to a significant disturbance and barricade situation earlier today at approximately 7:22 PM. The incident occurred at 518 W 2nd St, at a residence and involved a dispute between neighbors.Officers were dispatched to a disturbance call involving Dylan Kaiser and a neighbor. The initial reports indicated a physical altercation between the individuals, with witnesses stating that Dylan Kaiser was involved in pushing and hitting the neighbor. Upon arrival, officers attempted to take Dylan Kaiser into custody. However, Kaiser fled the scene on foot and barricaded himself inside the nearby Old Kaiser Tire Shop located at 604 W 2nd St. He was possibly armed with a firearm and made several alarming threats, including threats to kill neighbors, burn down the building, and commit suicide.The situation quickly escalated, and additional units were summoned from the Nebraska Highway Patrol, Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office and the WING Task Force. With the assistance of NSP negotiators, officers were able to de-escalate the situation through direct communication with Kaiser over a two-hour period. After extended dialogue, Dylan Kaiser agreed to surrender peacefully.At approximately 9:04 PM, Kaiser was taken into custody without incident. The Alliance Police Department, in conjunction with assisting agencies, utilizing effective communication and coordination, managed to resolve the situation safely.Dylan Kaiser was transported to Box Butte County Hospital for evaluation and is facing pending charges under Nebraska State Statute 28-311.01 for Terroristic Threats and Nebraska State Statute 28-904(3) for Resisting Arrest. These charges stem from his threats against neighbors, barricading himself, and resisting arrest.Alliance Police Chief David Leavitt said, "I would like to commend all officers involved in handling this response. This was a highly volatile situation, and I am proud of our officers' professionalism and ability to de-escalate the situation through effective communication. I am also thankful for our partnership with the Nebraska Highway Patrol, Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office and WING who provided invaluable resources. Ensuring the safety of our community and all involved is our top priority."

Alliance Police Department Responds to Barricaded Suspect

Alliance Police Dept. Press Release

Earlier this morning, Alliance Police Sergeant LaDuke received a notification from the Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office that Monty Shepard, a convicted felon, was enroute to Alliance to avoid apprehension for a felony warrant.

Intelligence gathered indicated that Mr. Shepard intended to travel to Scottsbluff Airport and leave the state to elude capture. Mr. Shepard has a lengthy criminal history including robbery and weapons charges and was considered armed and dangerous.

After receiving information that the suspect was on a Panhandle Trails bus, officers were able to make contact with the bus driver. A stop was planned for 3rd and Flack where officers intercepted the bus. The driver and passengers were able to exit the bus safely, and at 11:05am the suspect was taken into custody without incident. Upon searching the suspect’s backpack, a loaded handgun was located.

Thanks to excellent inter-agency coordination and a swift, efficient response another armed and dangerous felon is off the streets and no longer able to victimize our communities.

Alliance Police Dept. Press ReleaseEarlier this morning, Alliance Police Sergeant LaDuke received a notification from the Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office that Monty Shepard, a convicted felon, was enroute to Alliance to avoid apprehension for a felony warrant.Intelligence gathered indicated that Mr. Shepard intended to travel to Scottsbluff Airport and leave the state to elude capture. Mr. Shepard has a lengthy criminal history including robbery and weapons charges and was considered armed and dangerous.After receiving information that the suspect was on a Panhandle Trails bus, officers were able to make contact with the bus driver. A stop was planned for 3rd and Flack where officers intercepted the bus. The driver and passengers were able to exit the bus safely, and at 11:05am the suspect was taken into custody without incident. Upon searching the suspect’s backpack, a loaded handgun was located.Thanks to excellent inter-agency coordination and a swift, efficient response another armed and dangerous felon is off the streets and no longer able to victimize our communities.

Alliance Police Apprehend Armed Dangerous Felon

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Friday in his first televised interview since the presidential debate defended his reelection bid and rejected calls that he should step aside amid growing anxiety among some Democrats about his mental and physical state.

The 22-minute<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/abc-news-anchor-george-stephanopoulos-exclusive-interview-biden/story?id=111695695" target="_blank">&nbsp;interview&nbsp;</a>with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos came as some lawmakers and other prominent Democrats have said Biden should suspend his campaign and let someone else become the official nominee.

But Biden said that’s unnecessary, distilling his actions during the June 27 debate as simply a “bad night.”

“It was a bad episode, no indication of any serious condition,” Biden said. “I was exhausted. I didn’t listen to my instincts in terms of preparing and it was a bad night.”

Biden refused to answer a question about what he would do if allies and friends in Congress urged him to leave the presidential campaign.

“I’m not going to answer that question. It’s not going to happen,” Biden said.

Members of Congress and Democratic governors&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democrats-reel-terrible-biden-debate-performance-he-defends-candidacy%C2%A0" target="_blank">have expressed concern</a>&nbsp;with Biden remaining the presumptive nominee ever since he struggled to answer questions and had moments where he appeared confused during the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-and-trump-trade-insults-accusations-lying-acrimonious-presidential-debate" target="_blank">first presidential debate</a>.

Biden brushed aside Virginia Sen. Mark Warner’s plans to convene Democratic senators on Monday to discuss the future of Biden’s bid, which multiple news organizations&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/07/05/mark-warner-joe-biden-exit-race-democratic-senators/" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;Friday. Both chambers of Congress will return to Washington next week.

“Mark is a good man,” Biden said, before incorrectly claiming Warner “tried to get the nomination” for president — Warner in 2006&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15234727" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;he would not make a bid. “Mark and I have a different perspective. I respect him.”

Stephanopoulos pressed Biden during the interview on whether he really has the mental and physical stamina to remain president for another four years, and whether Biden is being honest with himself about his age.

“I believe so,” Biden said. “I wouldn’t be running if I didn’t think I did. Look, I’m running again because I think I understand best what has to be done to take this nation to a completely new level.”

Biden repeatedly declined to commit to taking a cognitive exam, suggesting that his schedule and daily work load are evidence enough he’s up to the task of being president.

“I have a cognitive test every single day. Every day I have that test, everything I do,” Biden said. “You know, not only am I campaigning, I’m running the world.”

Biden added that there are 125 days left in the campaign and that people should watch him in the months ahead to determine if he’s suitable to be reelected to the highest position in the government.

In Wisconsin, Biden points to Trump flubs

The ABC News interview aired just hours after Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2024/07/05/defiant-biden-tells-wisconsinites-im-staying-in-the-race/" target="_blank">held a rally</a>&nbsp;in Madison, Wisconsin, where he repeatedly criticized the Republican presumptive presidential nominee, Donald Trump.

This November’s presidential election, Biden said, should be about character, honesty and decency.

“Let’s focus on what really matters: We’re running against the biggest liar and the biggest threat to our democracy in American history,” Biden said. “That’s not hyperbole.”

Biden sought to shift the attention from his performance at the debate to flubs Trump has made over the years, including in a Fourth of July speech in 2019 when the former president said securing the airports was essential during the Revolutionary War.

“He said George Washington’s army won the Revolution by taking control of the airports from the British,” Biden said before crossing himself somewhat jokingly. “Talk about me misspeaking — airports from the British in 1776? It’s true, he is a stable genius.”

Trump, at the time,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-blames-teleprompter-revolutionary-war-airports-flub-n1026931" target="_blank">criticized the teleprompter</a>&nbsp;for the comment.

Biden during the rally listed off what he views as his accomplishments, including canceling some student loan debt, nominating Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, signing a same-sex marriage bill, approving gun safety policies and working with Congress on a sweeping climate change law.

“I’m not letting one, 90-minute debate wipe out three-and-a-half years of work,” Biden said.

During the next four years, Biden said, whoever holds the Oval Office will appoint at least two new justices to the Supreme Court.

Should that be Trump, a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/presidential-immunity-extends-some-official-acts-supreme-court-rules-trump-case" target="_blank">ruling from the justices&nbsp;</a>on presidential immunity could lead to a challenging time for the country, Biden said.

“For over two centuries, America’s been a free, democratic nation,” Biden said. “And I’ll be damned if in the year 2024 — just two years before our 250th anniversary as a nation — I’ll let Donald Trump take this away.”

Illinois Dem congressman says Biden should quit

Biden briefly spoke with reporters in the White House pool after the rally, saying he was determined to stay in the race and brushing aside calls from some lawmakers for him to withdraw.

When asked by a reporter about Warner suggesting Biden let another person take over as the party’s presidential candidate, Biden said Warner “is the only one considering that.”

Later in the evening, Illinois Democratic Rep. Mike Quigley said on MSNBC that Biden should step aside.

“Mr. President, your legacy is set. We owe you the greatest debt of gratitude,” Quigley&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/allinwithchris/status/1809367054845386771" target="_blank">said</a>. “The only thing that you can do now to cement that for all time and prevent utter catastrophe is to step down and let someone else do this.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720232308416.png" alt=" President Joe Biden sat down for an interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America” co-anchor and “This Week” anchor George Stephanopoulos in Wisconsin on the campaign trail on July 5, 2024. (Used with permission of ABC News)" />
 <figcaption> President Joe Biden sat down for an interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America” co-anchor and “This Week” anchor George Stephanopoulos in Wisconsin on the campaign trail on July 5, 2024. (Used with permission of ABC News)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Friday in his first televised interview since the presidential debate defended his reelection bid and rejected calls that he should step aside amid growing anxiety among some Democrats about his mental and physical state.The 22-minute<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/abc-news-anchor-george-stephanopoulos-exclusive-interview-biden/story?id=111695695" target="_blank">&nbsp;interview&nbsp;</a>with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos came as some lawmakers and other prominent Democrats have said Biden should suspend his campaign and let someone else become the official nominee.But Biden said that’s unnecessary, distilling his actions during the June 27 debate as simply a “bad night.”“It was a bad episode, no indication of any serious condition,” Biden said. “I was exhausted. I didn’t listen to my instincts in terms of preparing and it was a bad night.”Biden refused to answer a question about what he would do if allies and friends in Congress urged him to leave the presidential campaign.“I’m not going to answer that question. It’s not going to happen,” Biden said.Members of Congress and Democratic governors&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democrats-reel-terrible-biden-debate-performance-he-defends-candidacy%C2%A0" target="_blank">have expressed concern</a>&nbsp;with Biden remaining the presumptive nominee ever since he struggled to answer questions and had moments where he appeared confused during the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-and-trump-trade-insults-accusations-lying-acrimonious-presidential-debate" target="_blank">first presidential debate</a>.Biden brushed aside Virginia Sen. Mark Warner’s plans to convene Democratic senators on Monday to discuss the future of Biden’s bid, which multiple news organizations&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/07/05/mark-warner-joe-biden-exit-race-democratic-senators/" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;Friday. Both chambers of Congress will return to Washington next week.“Mark is a good man,” Biden said, before incorrectly claiming Warner “tried to get the nomination” for president — Warner in 2006&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15234727" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;he would not make a bid. “Mark and I have a different perspective. I respect him.”<h2>Biden won’t commit to cognitive exam</h2>Stephanopoulos pressed Biden during the interview on whether he really has the mental and physical stamina to remain president for another four years, and whether Biden is being honest with himself about his age.“I believe so,” Biden said. “I wouldn’t be running if I didn’t think I did. Look, I’m running again because I think I understand best what has to be done to take this nation to a completely new level.”Biden repeatedly declined to commit to taking a cognitive exam, suggesting that his schedule and daily work load are evidence enough he’s up to the task of being president.“I have a cognitive test every single day. Every day I have that test, everything I do,” Biden said. “You know, not only am I campaigning, I’m running the world.”Biden added that there are 125 days left in the campaign and that people should watch him in the months ahead to determine if he’s suitable to be reelected to the highest position in the government.<h2>In Wisconsin, Biden points to Trump flubs</h2>The ABC News interview aired just hours after Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2024/07/05/defiant-biden-tells-wisconsinites-im-staying-in-the-race/" target="_blank">held a rally</a>&nbsp;in Madison, Wisconsin, where he repeatedly criticized the Republican presumptive presidential nominee, Donald Trump.This November’s presidential election, Biden said, should be about character, honesty and decency.“Let’s focus on what really matters: We’re running against the biggest liar and the biggest threat to our democracy in American history,” Biden said. “That’s not hyperbole.”Biden sought to shift the attention from his performance at the debate to flubs Trump has made over the years, including in a Fourth of July speech in 2019 when the former president said securing the airports was essential during the Revolutionary War.“He said George Washington’s army won the Revolution by taking control of the airports from the British,” Biden said before crossing himself somewhat jokingly. “Talk about me misspeaking — airports from the British in 1776? It’s true, he is a stable genius.”Trump, at the time,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-blames-teleprompter-revolutionary-war-airports-flub-n1026931" target="_blank">criticized the teleprompter</a>&nbsp;for the comment.Biden during the rally listed off what he views as his accomplishments, including canceling some student loan debt, nominating Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, signing a same-sex marriage bill, approving gun safety policies and working with Congress on a sweeping climate change law.“I’m not letting one, 90-minute debate wipe out three-and-a-half years of work,” Biden said.During the next four years, Biden said, whoever holds the Oval Office will appoint at least two new justices to the Supreme Court.Should that be Trump, a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/presidential-immunity-extends-some-official-acts-supreme-court-rules-trump-case" target="_blank">ruling from the justices&nbsp;</a>on presidential immunity could lead to a challenging time for the country, Biden said.“For over two centuries, America’s been a free, democratic nation,” Biden said. “And I’ll be damned if in the year 2024 — just two years before our 250th anniversary as a nation — I’ll let Donald Trump take this away.”<h2>Illinois Dem congressman says Biden should quit</h2>Biden briefly spoke with reporters in the White House pool after the rally, saying he was determined to stay in the race and brushing aside calls from some lawmakers for him to withdraw.When asked by a reporter about Warner suggesting Biden let another person take over as the party’s presidential candidate, Biden said Warner “is the only one considering that.”Later in the evening, Illinois Democratic Rep. Mike Quigley said on MSNBC that Biden should step aside.“Mr. President, your legacy is set. We owe you the greatest debt of gratitude,” Quigley&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/allinwithchris/status/1809367054845386771" target="_blank">said</a>. “The only thing that you can do now to cement that for all time and prevent utter catastrophe is to step down and let someone else do this.”

Biden in first TV interview since debate denies medical condition: ‘It was a bad episode’

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Daniel Butt, 39, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 3, 2024 in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for making a false statement on a loan application and bankruptcy fraud. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Butt to five years of probation.&nbsp; Butt will also have to serve eight weekends in jail. Butt has also been ordered to pay $192,758.61 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency.

Between 2016 and 2018, Daniel Butt obtained two loans from the Farm Services Agency (FSA), part of the United States Department of Agriculture. To obtain the loans, he lied about owning cattle as collateral, and he agreed to use the loan for farming expenses. The matter came to the attention of law enforcement when, during bankruptcy proceedings, Butt denied ever having owned cattle. Investigators learned that Butt had multiple financial accounts. He had been spending the loan money on other farming-related debts, car payments, personal expenses, and ATM withdrawals. Butt wrote bad checks to the FSA and he never paid FSA all of the money he earned from farming as was required by the terms of the loan. He avoided repayment obligations by selling grain in his father’s and brother’s names, then lied to the creditors under oath in bankruptcy court when he denied having done this.&nbsp; He borrowed from many individuals but failed to pay them back. When he filed for bankruptcy, he tried to get the outstanding loan debt to the Department of Agriculture discharged.&nbsp;

This case was investigated by United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General.

Dax Roberson, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General said, “I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, OIG special agents, and our investigative partners for their hard work on this investigation.&nbsp; When the integrity of the United States Department of Agriculture’s farm loan programs is violated by criminal conduct, the Office of Inspector General will pursue justice to the fullest extent of the law.”

United States Attorney OfficeUnited States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Daniel Butt, 39, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 3, 2024 in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for making a false statement on a loan application and bankruptcy fraud. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Butt to five years of probation.&nbsp; Butt will also have to serve eight weekends in jail. Butt has also been ordered to pay $192,758.61 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency.Between 2016 and 2018, Daniel Butt obtained two loans from the Farm Services Agency (FSA), part of the United States Department of Agriculture. To obtain the loans, he lied about owning cattle as collateral, and he agreed to use the loan for farming expenses. The matter came to the attention of law enforcement when, during bankruptcy proceedings, Butt denied ever having owned cattle. Investigators learned that Butt had multiple financial accounts. He had been spending the loan money on other farming-related debts, car payments, personal expenses, and ATM withdrawals. Butt wrote bad checks to the FSA and he never paid FSA all of the money he earned from farming as was required by the terms of the loan. He avoided repayment obligations by selling grain in his father’s and brother’s names, then lied to the creditors under oath in bankruptcy court when he denied having done this.&nbsp; He borrowed from many individuals but failed to pay them back. When he filed for bankruptcy, he tried to get the outstanding loan debt to the Department of Agriculture discharged.&nbsp;This case was investigated by United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General.Dax Roberson, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General said, “I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, OIG special agents, and our investigative partners for their hard work on this investigation.&nbsp; When the integrity of the United States Department of Agriculture’s farm loan programs is violated by criminal conduct, the Office of Inspector General will pursue justice to the fullest extent of the law.”

Central Nebraska Man Sentenced for Fraudulently Obtaining Farm Loans and Bankruptcy Fraud

Bushnell, Neb. - First responders responded to a residential fire call which leads to the arrest of a man in Bushnell.

According to the Kimball County Sheriff's Office (KCSO), dispatched received a call of a residential fire in Bushnell. As first responders responded to the scene, they encountered 48-year-old Travis McDonald. KCSO says in a post that McDonald was tazed and arrested for interfering with a firearm. No further information was given.&nbsp;

The KCSO was assisted by the&nbsp;Laramie County Fire Department, Bushnell Fire Department, Kimball EMS, Kimball Fire Department and Kimball Police Department.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720186000542.jpeg" alt="Residential fire in Bushnell. (Photo from Kimball County Sheriff's Office)" />
 <figcaption>Residential fire in Bushnell. (Photo from Kimball County Sheriff's Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>Panhandle PostBushnell, Neb. - First responders responded to a residential fire call which leads to the arrest of a man in Bushnell.According to the Kimball County Sheriff's Office (KCSO), dispatched received a call of a residential fire in Bushnell. As first responders responded to the scene, they encountered 48-year-old Travis McDonald. KCSO says in a post that McDonald was tazed and arrested for interfering with a firearm. No further information was given.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720186154533.jpeg" alt="Travis McDonald (Courtesy of Kimball County Sheriff's Office)" />
 <figcaption>Travis McDonald (Courtesy of Kimball County Sheriff's Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>The KCSO was assisted by the&nbsp;Laramie County Fire Department, Bushnell Fire Department, Kimball EMS, Kimball Fire Department and Kimball Police Department.&nbsp;

First Responders respond to a fire call in Bushnell that leads to an arrest 

Cody Thomas Nebraska State Patrol

&nbsp;(LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol, with assistance from Butler and Seward County deputies, have arrested a man who had escaped from the Lincoln Regional Center on Tuesday.

At approximately 7:15 a.m. Thursday, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office reported that they believed Justin Daro was present at a residence in Ulysses. About ten minutes later, deputies reported that Daro had left the residence and fled as they attempted to make contact. Butler County deputies pursued Daro’s vehicle as he fled into Seward County, where the vehicle became disabled near a railroad crossing just west of Tamora, south of Highway 34.

Daro then climbed onto a coal train and began running on top of the train cars, which were loaded with coal. The train was stopped. An NSP K9 was deployed onto the train and Daro jumped onto another stopped train on an adjacent track. A trooper then deployed a bean bag round, which brought Daro to a stop. Daro continued to resist arrest, but he was taken into custody on top of the coal train. Seward County deputies assisted as well.

Daro was medically cleared at the hospital in Seward and has been lodged in Lancaster County Corrections. Charges are pending.

Cody Thomas Nebraska State Patrol&nbsp;(LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol, with assistance from Butler and Seward County deputies, have arrested a man who had escaped from the Lincoln Regional Center on Tuesday.At approximately 7:15 a.m. Thursday, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office reported that they believed Justin Daro was present at a residence in Ulysses. About ten minutes later, deputies reported that Daro had left the residence and fled as they attempted to make contact. Butler County deputies pursued Daro’s vehicle as he fled into Seward County, where the vehicle became disabled near a railroad crossing just west of Tamora, south of Highway 34.Daro then climbed onto a coal train and began running on top of the train cars, which were loaded with coal. The train was stopped. An NSP K9 was deployed onto the train and Daro jumped onto another stopped train on an adjacent track. A trooper then deployed a bean bag round, which brought Daro to a stop. Daro continued to resist arrest, but he was taken into custody on top of the coal train. Seward County deputies assisted as well.Daro was medically cleared at the hospital in Seward and has been lodged in Lancaster County Corrections. Charges are pending.###

Troopers Arrest LRC Escapee After Foot Pursuit on Coal Train

JERUSALEM—U.S. Forces continue to face terrorist obstacles in the Red Sea.&nbsp;

Since the end of June, U.S. forces have&nbsp;successfully destroyed five Iranian-backed Houthi drone boats in the Red Sea and three radar site in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen, according to statements from U.S. Central Command.

Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon launched over 200 rockets on Thursday at several military bases in Israel in retaliation for a strike that killed one of its senior commanders.&nbsp; The attack was among the largest by the terror group against Israel in weeks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703990687604.png" alt="File photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>File photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM—U.S. Forces continue to face terrorist obstacles in the Red Sea.&nbsp;Since the end of June, U.S. forces have&nbsp;successfully destroyed five Iranian-backed Houthi drone boats in the Red Sea and three radar site in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen, according to statements from U.S. Central Command.Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon launched over 200 rockets on Thursday at several military bases in Israel in retaliation for a strike that killed one of its senior commanders.&nbsp; The attack was among the largest by the terror group against Israel in weeks.