U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Colorado

DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Tarek Kassem, 63, of Parker, Colorado, was indicted by a federal grand jury for wire fraud and money laundering.

According to the indictment, from March 2020 and through at least March 2023, the defendant applied for and received more than $1.4 million dollars in Small Business Association (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and more than $300,000 in Payroll Protection Program (PPP) funds under three business names. &nbsp;These applications contained a number of false and fraudulent certifications and representations, including representations that funds would be used to pay eligible business expenses, when, in fact, the bulk of the proceeds were used for the defendant’s personal benefit.&nbsp; The defendant also applied for, and obtained, unemployment benefits in the State of Colorado during the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted in March 2020 and was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans dealing with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;The CARES Act created the PPP, a program administered by the SBA that provided loans to small businesses to retain workers, maintain payroll, and certain other expenses consistent with PPP rules.&nbsp; Additionally, the CARES Act authorized the SBA to provide EIDLs to eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;

The defendant made his initial appearance on March 26, 2024, before Chief Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty.&nbsp; The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Cassidy.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form">https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form</a>.

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of ColoradoDENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Tarek Kassem, 63, of Parker, Colorado, was indicted by a federal grand jury for wire fraud and money laundering.According to the indictment, from March 2020 and through at least March 2023, the defendant applied for and received more than $1.4 million dollars in Small Business Association (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and more than $300,000 in Payroll Protection Program (PPP) funds under three business names. &nbsp;These applications contained a number of false and fraudulent certifications and representations, including representations that funds would be used to pay eligible business expenses, when, in fact, the bulk of the proceeds were used for the defendant’s personal benefit.&nbsp; The defendant also applied for, and obtained, unemployment benefits in the State of Colorado during the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted in March 2020 and was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans dealing with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;The CARES Act created the PPP, a program administered by the SBA that provided loans to small businesses to retain workers, maintain payroll, and certain other expenses consistent with PPP rules.&nbsp; Additionally, the CARES Act authorized the SBA to provide EIDLs to eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;The defendant made his initial appearance on March 26, 2024, before Chief Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty.&nbsp; The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.This case is being investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Cassidy.On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form">https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form</a>.

Parker Man Indicted for Economic Injury and Disaster Loan and Payroll Protection Program Fraud Scheme

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration issued a final rule Wednesday aimed at limiting methane leaks from oil and gas drilling on federal and tribal lands, its latest action to crack down on emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming.

The rule&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-finalizes-rule-reduce-oil-and-gas-waste-public-and-tribal-lands">issued</a>&nbsp;by the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-pollution-oil-and-gas-industry-land-management-bureau-of-4eb550743d6aa06fdd1e5740158db259">tighten limits</a>&nbsp;on gas flaring on federal lands and require that energy companies improve methods to detect methane leaks that add to planet-warming greenhouse gas pollution.

The actions follow a more comprehensive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-methane-epa-climate-oil-gas-cop28-6d37e9da49944e9a8c0b08aeb3ddc73e">methane-reduction plan</a>&nbsp;announced by the Environmental Protection Agency in December. The plan, announced at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cop28-climate-summit-negotiations-fossil-fuels-dubai-64c0e39e6ad54a98e05e5201a2215293">a global climate conference</a>&nbsp;in the United Arab Emirates, targets emissions from existing oil and gas wells nationwide, rather than focusing only on new wells, as previous EPA regulations have done. It also regulates smaller wells that are now required to find and plug methane leaks.

Oil and gas production is the nation’s largest industrial source of methane, the primary component of natural gas, and is a key target for Biden as his administration seeks to combat climate change.

The rule issued Wednesday updates regulations that are more than 40 years old and will hold oil and gas companies accountable by requiring measures to avoid wasteful practices and to find and fix leaks, administration officials said. At the same time, officials are moving to ensure that American taxpayers and tribal mineral owners are fairly compensated through higher royalty payments, officials said.

The final rule will help “prevent waste, protect our environment and ensure a fair return to American taxpayers,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement.

“By leveraging modern technology and best practices to reduce natural gas waste, we are taking long-overdue steps that will increase accountability for oil and gas operators and benefit energy communities now and for generations to come,” she said.

The rule is expected to prevent billions of cubic feet of natural gas from being wasted through venting, flaring and leaks, Haaland and other officials said.

Venting and flaring activity from oil and gas production on public lands has significantly increased in recent decades. Between 2010 and 2020, total volumes of natural gas lost to venting and flaring on federal and tribal lands averaged about 44.2 billion cubic feet per year — enough to serve roughly 675,000 homes, the Interior said. The figure represents a sharp increase from an annual average of 11 billion cubic feet lost to venting and flaring in the 1990s.

Environmental groups hailed the rule, calling methane a huge contributor to global warming.

“Strong Interior Department methane waste rules are integral for the United States to protect taxpayers from wasted energy resources,” said Jon Goldstein, senior director of regulatory and legislative affairs at the Environmental Defense Fund. “Taking action to limit methane waste on public lands offers a win-win-win for taxpayers, producers and communities harmed by this waste and associated pollution.”

Interior had previously announced a rule to restrict methane emissions under former President Barack Obama. The plan was challenged in court and later weakened under former President Donald Trump. Competing court rulings blocked enforcement of the Trump and Obama-era rules, leading the agency to revert to rules developed more than 40 years ago.

The rule would impose monthly limits on flaring and charge fees for flaring that exceeds those limits.

Besides the EPA rule,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-signs-climate-health-bill-9a7f349fa7b07387d20ad603f2ff4875">a 2022 climate law</a>&nbsp;approved by Congress in August is set to impose a fee on energy producers that exceed a certain level of methane emissions. The fee, initially set at $900 per metric ton of methane, marks the first time the federal government has directly imposed a tax on greenhouse gas emissions.

The law includes $1.5 billion in grants and other spending to improve monitoring and data collection of methane emissions, intending to find and repair natural gas leaks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574099609456.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration issued a final rule Wednesday aimed at limiting methane leaks from oil and gas drilling on federal and tribal lands, its latest action to crack down on emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming.The rule&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-finalizes-rule-reduce-oil-and-gas-waste-public-and-tribal-lands">issued</a>&nbsp;by the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-pollution-oil-and-gas-industry-land-management-bureau-of-4eb550743d6aa06fdd1e5740158db259">tighten limits</a>&nbsp;on gas flaring on federal lands and require that energy companies improve methods to detect methane leaks that add to planet-warming greenhouse gas pollution.The actions follow a more comprehensive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-methane-epa-climate-oil-gas-cop28-6d37e9da49944e9a8c0b08aeb3ddc73e">methane-reduction plan</a>&nbsp;announced by the Environmental Protection Agency in December. The plan, announced at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cop28-climate-summit-negotiations-fossil-fuels-dubai-64c0e39e6ad54a98e05e5201a2215293">a global climate conference</a>&nbsp;in the United Arab Emirates, targets emissions from existing oil and gas wells nationwide, rather than focusing only on new wells, as previous EPA regulations have done. It also regulates smaller wells that are now required to find and plug methane leaks.Oil and gas production is the nation’s largest industrial source of methane, the primary component of natural gas, and is a key target for Biden as his administration seeks to combat climate change.The rule issued Wednesday updates regulations that are more than 40 years old and will hold oil and gas companies accountable by requiring measures to avoid wasteful practices and to find and fix leaks, administration officials said. At the same time, officials are moving to ensure that American taxpayers and tribal mineral owners are fairly compensated through higher royalty payments, officials said.The final rule will help “prevent waste, protect our environment and ensure a fair return to American taxpayers,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement.“By leveraging modern technology and best practices to reduce natural gas waste, we are taking long-overdue steps that will increase accountability for oil and gas operators and benefit energy communities now and for generations to come,” she said.The rule is expected to prevent billions of cubic feet of natural gas from being wasted through venting, flaring and leaks, Haaland and other officials said.Venting and flaring activity from oil and gas production on public lands has significantly increased in recent decades. Between 2010 and 2020, total volumes of natural gas lost to venting and flaring on federal and tribal lands averaged about 44.2 billion cubic feet per year — enough to serve roughly 675,000 homes, the Interior said. The figure represents a sharp increase from an annual average of 11 billion cubic feet lost to venting and flaring in the 1990s.Environmental groups hailed the rule, calling methane a huge contributor to global warming.“Strong Interior Department methane waste rules are integral for the United States to protect taxpayers from wasted energy resources,” said Jon Goldstein, senior director of regulatory and legislative affairs at the Environmental Defense Fund. “Taking action to limit methane waste on public lands offers a win-win-win for taxpayers, producers and communities harmed by this waste and associated pollution.”Interior had previously announced a rule to restrict methane emissions under former President Barack Obama. The plan was challenged in court and later weakened under former President Donald Trump. Competing court rulings blocked enforcement of the Trump and Obama-era rules, leading the agency to revert to rules developed more than 40 years ago.The rule would impose monthly limits on flaring and charge fees for flaring that exceeds those limits.Besides the EPA rule,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-signs-climate-health-bill-9a7f349fa7b07387d20ad603f2ff4875">a 2022 climate law</a>&nbsp;approved by Congress in August is set to impose a fee on energy producers that exceed a certain level of methane emissions. The fee, initially set at $900 per metric ton of methane, marks the first time the federal government has directly imposed a tax on greenhouse gas emissions.The law includes $1.5 billion in grants and other spending to improve monitoring and data collection of methane emissions, intending to find and repair natural gas leaks.

New U.S. rule to crack down on methane leaks from oil, gas drilling 

JERUSALEM— The U.S. Navy continues to face threats in the Red Sea. Between 2 and 2:20 a.m. Wednesday United States Central Command successfully engaged and destroyed four long-range unmanned aerial systems (UAS) launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen, according to a statement from the agency.

 These UAS were aimed at a U.S. warship and engaged in self-defense over the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damage reported to U.S. or coalition ships. The U.S. Central Command did not identify which warship was targeted.


It was determined these weapons presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region. These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.

Meanwhile,&nbsp;&nbsp;Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham wants the Biden administration and Congress to allow Israel to militarily defeat all remaining Hamas fighters in the southern Gaza city of Rafah — which is overflowing with more than a million displaced civilians. Israel says there are thousands of Hamas militants in that area.

Defeating Hamas in Rafah is “non-negotiable,” Graham told reporters in Jerusalem on Wednesday. “I urge the Biden administration, the Congress to make sure that Israel has the time and space to achieve victory over Hamas militarily.”

The U.S. Department of Defense wants Israel to protect civilians and secure the delivery of aid into Gaza during any military operation into Rafah, where over half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have fled to escape fighting in other areas and are packed into rudimentary tent camps and U.N.-run shelters.

Israel was meant to send a delegation to Washington to discuss plans for defeating Hamas in Rafah. However, Israel cancelled the visit after the U.S. allowed the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, without linking the two.

The cancelled meeting was the strongest public clash between Israel and the U.S. since the war began.

Graham said he understood Israel’s opposition to the U.N. resolution, saying the wording created doubt. But he hoped for a "breakthrough” that would bring Israel and the U.S. “back together talking about the way forward.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709685344452.png" alt="photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM— The U.S. Navy continues to face threats in the Red Sea. Between 2 and 2:20 a.m. Wednesday United States Central Command successfully engaged and destroyed four long-range unmanned aerial systems (UAS) launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen, according to a statement from the agency. These UAS were aimed at a U.S. warship and engaged in self-defense over the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damage reported to U.S. or coalition ships. The U.S. Central Command did not identify which warship was targeted.
It was determined these weapons presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region. These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.Meanwhile,&nbsp;&nbsp;Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham wants the Biden administration and Congress to allow Israel to militarily defeat all remaining Hamas fighters in the southern Gaza city of Rafah — which is overflowing with more than a million displaced civilians. Israel says there are thousands of Hamas militants in that area.Defeating Hamas in Rafah is “non-negotiable,” Graham told reporters in Jerusalem on Wednesday. “I urge the Biden administration, the Congress to make sure that Israel has the time and space to achieve victory over Hamas militarily.”The U.S. Department of Defense wants Israel to protect civilians and secure the delivery of aid into Gaza during any military operation into Rafah, where over half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have fled to escape fighting in other areas and are packed into rudimentary tent camps and U.N.-run shelters.Israel was meant to send a delegation to Washington to discuss plans for defeating Hamas in Rafah. However, Israel cancelled the visit after the U.S. allowed the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, without linking the two.The cancelled meeting was the strongest public clash between Israel and the U.S. since the war began.Graham said he understood Israel’s opposition to the U.N. resolution, saying the wording created doubt. But he hoped for a "breakthrough” that would bring Israel and the U.S. “back together talking about the way forward.”

Navy downs 4 drones aimed at U.S. warship in the Red Sea

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Powerball jackpot increased to an estimated $935 million after no one matched the six numbers drawn Wednesday night.

The numbers selected were: 37, 46, 57, 60, 66 and the Powerball 8.

The drawing came a day after a player in New Jersey won a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lottery-mega-millions-jackpot-2ca3af2378b56cb272877f2c0a674cd5">$1.13 billion Mega Millions prize</a>&nbsp;after 30 straight drawings without a winner.

The Powerball jackpot has been growing for months, since the last winner on New Year’s Day. There now have been 37 consecutive drawings without anyone hitting the top prize.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-mega-millions-winning-odds-numbers-a3e5a8e8e7ed15d7500c1d6acdab6785">The game’s odds</a>&nbsp;of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to create big jackpots that will grab attention and increase sales.

The $935 million prize for the next drawing Saturday night is for a sole winner who is paid over 30 years&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">through an annuity</a>. Winners usually opt for a cash payout, which for the next drawing would be an estimated $449.7 million.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Powerball jackpot increased to an estimated $935 million after no one matched the six numbers drawn Wednesday night.The numbers selected were: 37, 46, 57, 60, 66 and the Powerball 8.The drawing came a day after a player in New Jersey won a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lottery-mega-millions-jackpot-2ca3af2378b56cb272877f2c0a674cd5">$1.13 billion Mega Millions prize</a>&nbsp;after 30 straight drawings without a winner.The Powerball jackpot has been growing for months, since the last winner on New Year’s Day. There now have been 37 consecutive drawings without anyone hitting the top prize.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-mega-millions-winning-odds-numbers-a3e5a8e8e7ed15d7500c1d6acdab6785">The game’s odds</a>&nbsp;of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to create big jackpots that will grab attention and increase sales.The $935 million prize for the next drawing Saturday night is for a sole winner who is paid over 30 years&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">through an annuity</a>. Winners usually opt for a cash payout, which for the next drawing would be an estimated $449.7 million.

Powerball jackpot increases to $935 million after no one wins the top prize

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/510000-in-state-grants-aim-to-provide-nursing-students-with-training-mannequins-virtual-reality-tools/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — State grant awards totaling $510,000 aim to provide student nurses with training mannequins, virtual reality tools and more to enhance learning and better prepare them to fill holes in the workforce.

The funding for simulation equipment was allocated last year by the Nebraska Legislature and is being administered by the Nebraska Hospital Association.

Academic institutions selected to receive the awards are Clarkson College, Methodist College, Metropolitan Community College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Union College and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (Lincoln and Norfolk campuses).

Jeremy Nordquist, president of the hospital association, said workforce shortages remain the greatest challenge for Nebraska hospitals.

“This funding for nursing program simulation equipment is an important state investment in the development of our current and future health care workforce,” he said.

Stacey Ocander, senior director of workforce and education initiatives for the hospital association, said the awards are just the “tip of the iceberg” in finding innovative solutions to workforce woes.

“This funding will not only modernize psychomotor learning for our nursing students but will provide much needed access to the current nursing workforce in our hospitals through new and existing partnerships,” Ocander said.

Grant funding under Legislative Bill 227 is still available, according to a news release from the hospital association. Applicants must demonstrate how they’d use an award to both provide additional hospital training and to build partnerships in their communities.&nbsp;

The academic institutions selected to receive the current wave of funding have partnerships with more than 16 hospitals.

Funds awarded so far are to be used for equipment such as birthing mannequins to expand obstetric experiences, mannequins for medical and surgical scenarios, and immersive virtual reality tools that enhance critical thinking and improve clinical judgment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711569452781.jpeg" alt="Hands-on learning at the University of Nebraska Medical College, northern division, in Norfolk, Nebraska. (Courtesy of the University of Nebraska)" />
 <figcaption>Hands-on learning at the University of Nebraska Medical College, northern division, in Norfolk, Nebraska. (Courtesy of the University of Nebraska)</figcaption>
 </figure>Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/510000-in-state-grants-aim-to-provide-nursing-students-with-training-mannequins-virtual-reality-tools/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — State grant awards totaling $510,000 aim to provide student nurses with training mannequins, virtual reality tools and more to enhance learning and better prepare them to fill holes in the workforce.The funding for simulation equipment was allocated last year by the Nebraska Legislature and is being administered by the Nebraska Hospital Association.Academic institutions selected to receive the awards are Clarkson College, Methodist College, Metropolitan Community College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Union College and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (Lincoln and Norfolk campuses).Jeremy Nordquist, president of the hospital association, said workforce shortages remain the greatest challenge for Nebraska hospitals.“This funding for nursing program simulation equipment is an important state investment in the development of our current and future health care workforce,” he said.Stacey Ocander, senior director of workforce and education initiatives for the hospital association, said the awards are just the “tip of the iceberg” in finding innovative solutions to workforce woes.“This funding will not only modernize psychomotor learning for our nursing students but will provide much needed access to the current nursing workforce in our hospitals through new and existing partnerships,” Ocander said.Grant funding under Legislative Bill 227 is still available, according to a news release from the hospital association. Applicants must demonstrate how they’d use an award to both provide additional hospital training and to build partnerships in their communities.&nbsp;The academic institutions selected to receive the current wave of funding have partnerships with more than 16 hospitals.Funds awarded so far are to be used for equipment such as birthing mannequins to expand obstetric experiences, mannequins for medical and surgical scenarios, and immersive virtual reality tools that enhance critical thinking and improve clinical judgment.

$510,000 in state grants aim to provide nursing students with training mannequins, virtual reality tools

NEW YORK (AP) — Former U.S. Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-lieberman">Joe Lieberman</a>&nbsp;of Connecticut, who nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/al-gore">Al Gore</a>&nbsp;in the disputed 2000 election and who almost became Republican John McCain's running mate eight years later, has died, according to a statement issued by his family.

Lieberman died in New York City on Wednesday due to complications from a fall, the statement said. He was 82.

The Democrat-turned-independent was never shy about veering from the party line.

Lieberman's independent streak and especially his needling of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential contest rankled many Democrats, the party he aligned with in the Senate. Yet his support for gay rights, civil rights, abortion rights and environmental causes at times won him the praise of many liberals over the years.

Lieberman came tantalizingly close to winning the vice presidency in the contentious 2000 presidential contest that was decided by a 537-vote margin victory for George W. Bush in Florida after a drawn-out recount, legal challenges and a Supreme Court decision. He was the first Jewish candidate on a major party’s presidential ticket and would have been the first Jewish vice president.

He was also the first national Democrat to publicly criticize President Bill Clinton for his extramarital affair with a White House intern.

Lieberman sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 but dropped out after a weak showing in the early primaries. Four years later, he was an independent who was nearly chosen to be McCain’s running mate. He and McCain were close pals who shared hawkish views on military and national security matters.

McCain was leaning strongly toward choosing Lieberman for the ticket as the 2008 GOP convention neared, but he chose Sarah Palin at the last minute after “ferocious” blowback from conservatives over Lieberman’s liberal record, according to Steve Schmidt, who managed McCain’s campaign.

Lieberman generated controversy in 1998 when he scolded Clinton, his friend of many years, for “disgraceful behavior” in an explosive speech on the Senate floor during the height of the scandal over his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. Yet Lieberman later voted against the impeachment of Clinton.

He defended his partisan switches as a matter of conscience, saying he always had the best interests of Connecticut voters at heart. Critics accused him of pursuing narrow self-interest and political expediency.

In announcing his retirement from the Senate in 2013, Lieberman acknowledged that he did “not always fit comfortably into conventional political boxes” and felt his first responsibility was to serve his constituents, state and country, not his political party. He had a tortured relationship with Democrats.

During his final Senate speech, Lieberman urged Congress to look beyond party lines and partisan rancor to break Washington gridlock.

“It requires reaching across the aisle and finding partners from the opposite party,” said Lieberman. “That is what is desperately needed in Washington now.”

Harry Reid, who served as Senate Democratic leader, once said that while he didn’t always agree with the independent-minded Lieberman, he respected him.

“Regardless of our differences, I have never doubted Joe Lieberman’s principles or his patriotism,” Reid said. “And I respect his independent streak, as it stems from strong convictions.”

Privately, some Democrats were often less charitable about Lieberman’s forays across party lines, which they saw as disloyal. He bolted his party and turned independent after a 2006 Senate primary loss in Connecticut.

Lieberman’s strong support of the Iraq War hurt his statewide popularity. Democrats rejected Lieberman and handed the 2006 primary to a political newcomer and an anti-war candidate, Ned Lamont.

Defying Democratic leaders and friends, Lieberman ran successfully for reelection as an independent and drew support from some Republican allies. Lieberman won praise from the White House and fundraising help from prominent Republicans, such as then-New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who himself later ran as an independent.

Lieberman made his Senate experience and congressional clout a strong selling point, saying he’d fight hard for the state’s defense jobs and its fair share of federal largesse. The strategy paid off.

Lieberman won reelection to a fourth term, even though many of his Democratic allies and longtime friends, including former Sen. Chris Dodd, supported Lamont. Lieberman was candid about what he considered a betrayal by old pals such as Dodd, but the two men later reconciled.

After his rebound reelection in 2006, Lieberman decided to caucus with Democrats in the Senate, who let him head a committee in return because they needed his vote to help keep control of the closely divided chamber. But it wasn’t long until Lieberman was showing his independent streak and ruffling his Democratic caucus colleagues.

Despite the decision of Democrats to let him join their caucus as an independent, Lieberman was an enthusiastic backer of McCain in the 2008 presidential contest.

Lieberman’s speech at the 2008 GOP presidential nominating convention criticizing Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, struck a deep nerve with many Democrats.

Lieberman cast Obama as a political show horse, a lightweight with a thin record of accomplishment in the Senate despite his soaring eloquence as a speaker.

“In the Senate, during the 3 1/2 years that Sen. Obama has been a member, he has not reached across party lines to ... accomplish anything significant, nor has he been willing to take on powerful interest groups in the Democratic Party to get something done,” Lieberman said at the convention.

“Eloquence is no substitute for a record,” he said.

Lieberman campaigned heartily across the country for McCain. Many Democrats considered it a betrayal to Obama and his former party colleagues.

“Joe Lieberman has said things that are totally irresponsible when it comes to Barack Obama,” House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California said in a radio interview during the 2008 race.

After the election, there was speculation Senate Democrats might strip Lieberman of his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee as payback. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chair of the Judiciary Committee, was among those who said Lieberman should lose his chairmanship. Leahy branded Lieberman’s attacks on Obama as “beyond the pale.”

But at Obama’s urging, Senate Democrats decided not to punish Lieberman for supporting McCain and the GOP ticket. Obama was eager to strike a bipartisan tone for his presidency and giving Lieberman a pass helped reinforce that message.

Yet Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent and staunch liberal, called it a “slap in the face” for millions of Americans who backed Obama.

Lieberman was known in the Senate for his hawkish foreign policy views, his pro-defense bent and his strong support for environmental causes.

Five weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, he became one of the first politicians to call for the ouster of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and later voted in favor of the military invasion of Iraq. His vocal support for the war would later help doom his candidacy in the 2006 Connecticut Democratic primary.

Lieberman tended to vote with Democrats on most issues and was a longtime supporter of abortion rights, a stance that would have proved problematic with conservatives had McCain chosen him as his running mate in 2008.

He played a key role in the legislation that created the Department of Homeland Security.

Lieberman grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, where his father ran a liquor store. Lieberman graduated from Yale University and Yale Law School in New Haven As Connecticut’s attorney general from 1983 to 1988, he was a strong consumer and environmental advocate. Lieberman vaulted into the Senate by defeating moderate Republican incumbent Lowell Weicker in 1988.

After leaving the Senate in 2013, Lieberman joined a New York City law firm.

Lieberman and his wife, Hadassah, have four children.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711578550385.png" alt="Joe Lieberman during an interview in December of 2021-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Joe Lieberman during an interview in December of 2021-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Former U.S. Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-lieberman">Joe Lieberman</a>&nbsp;of Connecticut, who nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/al-gore">Al Gore</a>&nbsp;in the disputed 2000 election and who almost became Republican John McCain's running mate eight years later, has died, according to a statement issued by his family.Lieberman died in New York City on Wednesday due to complications from a fall, the statement said. He was 82.The Democrat-turned-independent was never shy about veering from the party line.Lieberman's independent streak and especially his needling of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential contest rankled many Democrats, the party he aligned with in the Senate. Yet his support for gay rights, civil rights, abortion rights and environmental causes at times won him the praise of many liberals over the years.Lieberman came tantalizingly close to winning the vice presidency in the contentious 2000 presidential contest that was decided by a 537-vote margin victory for George W. Bush in Florida after a drawn-out recount, legal challenges and a Supreme Court decision. He was the first Jewish candidate on a major party’s presidential ticket and would have been the first Jewish vice president.He was also the first national Democrat to publicly criticize President Bill Clinton for his extramarital affair with a White House intern.Lieberman sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 but dropped out after a weak showing in the early primaries. Four years later, he was an independent who was nearly chosen to be McCain’s running mate. He and McCain were close pals who shared hawkish views on military and national security matters.McCain was leaning strongly toward choosing Lieberman for the ticket as the 2008 GOP convention neared, but he chose Sarah Palin at the last minute after “ferocious” blowback from conservatives over Lieberman’s liberal record, according to Steve Schmidt, who managed McCain’s campaign.Lieberman generated controversy in 1998 when he scolded Clinton, his friend of many years, for “disgraceful behavior” in an explosive speech on the Senate floor during the height of the scandal over his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. Yet Lieberman later voted against the impeachment of Clinton.He defended his partisan switches as a matter of conscience, saying he always had the best interests of Connecticut voters at heart. Critics accused him of pursuing narrow self-interest and political expediency.In announcing his retirement from the Senate in 2013, Lieberman acknowledged that he did “not always fit comfortably into conventional political boxes” and felt his first responsibility was to serve his constituents, state and country, not his political party. He had a tortured relationship with Democrats.During his final Senate speech, Lieberman urged Congress to look beyond party lines and partisan rancor to break Washington gridlock.“It requires reaching across the aisle and finding partners from the opposite party,” said Lieberman. “That is what is desperately needed in Washington now.”Harry Reid, who served as Senate Democratic leader, once said that while he didn’t always agree with the independent-minded Lieberman, he respected him.“Regardless of our differences, I have never doubted Joe Lieberman’s principles or his patriotism,” Reid said. “And I respect his independent streak, as it stems from strong convictions.”Privately, some Democrats were often less charitable about Lieberman’s forays across party lines, which they saw as disloyal. He bolted his party and turned independent after a 2006 Senate primary loss in Connecticut.Lieberman’s strong support of the Iraq War hurt his statewide popularity. Democrats rejected Lieberman and handed the 2006 primary to a political newcomer and an anti-war candidate, Ned Lamont.Defying Democratic leaders and friends, Lieberman ran successfully for reelection as an independent and drew support from some Republican allies. Lieberman won praise from the White House and fundraising help from prominent Republicans, such as then-New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who himself later ran as an independent.Lieberman made his Senate experience and congressional clout a strong selling point, saying he’d fight hard for the state’s defense jobs and its fair share of federal largesse. The strategy paid off.Lieberman won reelection to a fourth term, even though many of his Democratic allies and longtime friends, including former Sen. Chris Dodd, supported Lamont. Lieberman was candid about what he considered a betrayal by old pals such as Dodd, but the two men later reconciled.After his rebound reelection in 2006, Lieberman decided to caucus with Democrats in the Senate, who let him head a committee in return because they needed his vote to help keep control of the closely divided chamber. But it wasn’t long until Lieberman was showing his independent streak and ruffling his Democratic caucus colleagues.Despite the decision of Democrats to let him join their caucus as an independent, Lieberman was an enthusiastic backer of McCain in the 2008 presidential contest.Lieberman’s speech at the 2008 GOP presidential nominating convention criticizing Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, struck a deep nerve with many Democrats.Lieberman cast Obama as a political show horse, a lightweight with a thin record of accomplishment in the Senate despite his soaring eloquence as a speaker.“In the Senate, during the 3 1/2 years that Sen. Obama has been a member, he has not reached across party lines to ... accomplish anything significant, nor has he been willing to take on powerful interest groups in the Democratic Party to get something done,” Lieberman said at the convention.“Eloquence is no substitute for a record,” he said.Lieberman campaigned heartily across the country for McCain. Many Democrats considered it a betrayal to Obama and his former party colleagues.“Joe Lieberman has said things that are totally irresponsible when it comes to Barack Obama,” House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California said in a radio interview during the 2008 race.After the election, there was speculation Senate Democrats might strip Lieberman of his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee as payback. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chair of the Judiciary Committee, was among those who said Lieberman should lose his chairmanship. Leahy branded Lieberman’s attacks on Obama as “beyond the pale.”But at Obama’s urging, Senate Democrats decided not to punish Lieberman for supporting McCain and the GOP ticket. Obama was eager to strike a bipartisan tone for his presidency and giving Lieberman a pass helped reinforce that message.Yet Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent and staunch liberal, called it a “slap in the face” for millions of Americans who backed Obama.Lieberman was known in the Senate for his hawkish foreign policy views, his pro-defense bent and his strong support for environmental causes.Five weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, he became one of the first politicians to call for the ouster of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and later voted in favor of the military invasion of Iraq. His vocal support for the war would later help doom his candidacy in the 2006 Connecticut Democratic primary.Lieberman tended to vote with Democrats on most issues and was a longtime supporter of abortion rights, a stance that would have proved problematic with conservatives had McCain chosen him as his running mate in 2008.He played a key role in the legislation that created the Department of Homeland Security.Lieberman grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, where his father ran a liquor store. Lieberman graduated from Yale University and Yale Law School in New Haven As Connecticut’s attorney general from 1983 to 1988, he was a strong consumer and environmental advocate. Lieberman vaulted into the Senate by defeating moderate Republican incumbent Lowell Weicker in 1988.After leaving the Senate in 2013, Lieberman joined a New York City law firm.Lieberman and his wife, Hadassah, have four children.___

Joe Lieberman, 2000 vice presidential nominee, dies at 82

DENVER--A former police officer with the Loveland, Colorado, Police Department was charged in an indictment unsealed on Friday for sexually assaulting a minor while he was on duty.

According to the indictment, on or about Aug. 4, 2023, Dylan Miller, 28, while on duty as a Loveland Police Department officer, sexually assaulted a minor. If convicted, Miller faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.&nbsp;

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan for the District of Colorado, and Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek of the FBI Denver Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Denver Field Office, Loveland Resident Agency, and Larimer County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with cooperation from the Loveland Police Department.

Senior Sex Crimes Counsel Maura White of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Connaughty for the District of Colorado are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of ColoradoDENVER--A former police officer with the Loveland, Colorado, Police Department was charged in an indictment unsealed on Friday for sexually assaulting a minor while he was on duty.According to the indictment, on or about Aug. 4, 2023, Dylan Miller, 28, while on duty as a Loveland Police Department officer, sexually assaulted a minor. If convicted, Miller faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.&nbsp;Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan for the District of Colorado, and Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek of the FBI Denver Field Office made the announcement.The FBI Denver Field Office, Loveland Resident Agency, and Larimer County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with cooperation from the Loveland Police Department.Senior Sex Crimes Counsel Maura White of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Connaughty for the District of Colorado are prosecuting the case.An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law

Former Loveland Police Department Officer Indicted for Sexual Assault of Minor

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/26/in-unusual-move-major-tax-bill-is-re-advanced-from-committee-after-concerns-raised/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — In an unusual move, a state legislative committee pulled back and then voted to re-advance a bill Tuesday calling for a hike in state sales taxes to facilitate a shift away from local property taxes.

Legislative Bill 388 — the major property tax relief proposal from Gov. Jim Pillen — was voted out of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee on Thursday.

But objections were raised saying the vote violated a legislative rule that requires an actual draft of an amendment or bill to be present before it could be voted out to the full Legislature for debate.

State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, who raised the objection, said that voting without having an actual draft of a bill or amendment available to a committee “is not a good way to adopt major tax policy.”

On Thursday, Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, who chairs the Revenue Committee, had laid out the concepts that the Governor’s Office had agreed to and told her fellow committee members that the Legislature’s bill drafters would craft an amendment this week containing those ideas in what’s been called a “make-it-so” amendment.

The Governor’s Office, in a memo distributed Tuesday, estimated that LB 388 would address a long-held gripe that the state doesn’t adequately contribute to K-12 education, thus leaving the burden of funding to local property taxes.

The Pillen administration projected that per-pupil state support of local schooling would rise from $4,925 in 2022 — when Nebraska ranked 46th in the country — to $11,181, which would place the state at No. 8.

Local property taxes would fall by “over 30%” when coupled with other recent property tax relief bills, according to the Governor’s Office, which is short of the 40% reduction&nbsp;Gov. Jim Pillen had sought.

The tradeoff would be an increase of up to 1-cent in the state sales tax, plus increased taxes on cigarettes, vaping products, skill games and cannabis edibles. Tax exemptions on several items would be eliminated, including soda pop and candy, storage facilities, dry cleaning, non-livestock veterinary services and some advertising.

Revenue Committee members voted 7-0 last week to advance the conceptual bill with one member, Lincoln Sen. George Dungan, absent (he later filed a “no” vote).

To fend off any rules challenges to LB 388, the committee pulled back the bill and the voted 7-1 to advance it, along with a 62-page amendment unveiled Tuesday.

The new amendment corrected some errors in the proposal that committee members said happened during the bill-drafting process.

LB 388 — which would shift funding of K-12 education onto state sales taxes to lower local property taxes — could come up for floor debate Wednesday, which is Day 51 of the 60-day session.

Some school groups, including the Omaha Public Schools, told the Examiner they are still digesting what’s in LB 388, which boosts per-pupil foundation aid to $3,000 from the current $1,500 and imposes a harder cap on spending increases by school districts.

Liz Standish, an associate superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools, said Tuesday it appears that the newest version of LB 388 addresses concerns about the new revenue cap being too restrictive.

“But it’s something we’ll be keeping a close eye on,” Standish said.

Dave Welsch, a school board member from Milford, said that while the bill has made “a good first step” on property tax relief, the boost in foundation aid doesn’t correct an inequity between school districts in property taxes.

The property tax levy in the Milford School District, Welsch said, is twice as high as the neighboring Centennial School District, which translates into much higher property taxes in Milford on property with identical valuations.

Welsch has been among rural school officials who have touted another solution, known as the “Nebraska Plan,” which would direct more property tax relief to school districts with the highest tax levies.

He said he did support the portion of the bill that would “front-load” tax credits offered for a portion of property tax payments. Lee Will, the governor’s budget chief, said large percentages of taxpayers&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/09/20/one-state-property-tax-credit-rises-slightly-in-2023-while-another-still-isnt-being-fully-claimed/">were not taking the tax credits</a>, which must be claimed on income tax filings.

LB 388 is expected to draw opposition from both ends of the political spectrum, with progressives in the Legislature opposing “regressive” higher taxes on low-income Nebraskans, and some conservative senators opposing an increase in taxes as not delivering “tax relief” but instead creating a tax shift.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711556196596.jpeg" alt="Earlier this year, Gov. Jim Pillen urged members of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee to “tune out the noise” and have the courage to pass his proposal to swap higher sales taxes for lower property taxes. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Earlier this year, Gov. Jim Pillen urged members of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee to “tune out the noise” and have the courage to pass his proposal to swap higher sales taxes for lower property taxes. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/26/in-unusual-move-major-tax-bill-is-re-advanced-from-committee-after-concerns-raised/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — In an unusual move, a state legislative committee pulled back and then voted to re-advance a bill Tuesday calling for a hike in state sales taxes to facilitate a shift away from local property taxes.Legislative Bill 388 — the major property tax relief proposal from Gov. Jim Pillen — was voted out of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee on Thursday.But objections were raised saying the vote violated a legislative rule that requires an actual draft of an amendment or bill to be present before it could be voted out to the full Legislature for debate.State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, who raised the objection, said that voting without having an actual draft of a bill or amendment available to a committee “is not a good way to adopt major tax policy.”On Thursday, Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, who chairs the Revenue Committee, had laid out the concepts that the Governor’s Office had agreed to and told her fellow committee members that the Legislature’s bill drafters would craft an amendment this week containing those ideas in what’s been called a “make-it-so” amendment.<h2>Bolstering K-12 funding</h2>The Governor’s Office, in a memo distributed Tuesday, estimated that LB 388 would address a long-held gripe that the state doesn’t adequately contribute to K-12 education, thus leaving the burden of funding to local property taxes.The Pillen administration projected that per-pupil state support of local schooling would rise from $4,925 in 2022 — when Nebraska ranked 46th in the country — to $11,181, which would place the state at No. 8.Local property taxes would fall by “over 30%” when coupled with other recent property tax relief bills, according to the Governor’s Office, which is short of the 40% reduction&nbsp;Gov. Jim Pillen had sought.The tradeoff would be an increase of up to 1-cent in the state sales tax, plus increased taxes on cigarettes, vaping products, skill games and cannabis edibles. Tax exemptions on several items would be eliminated, including soda pop and candy, storage facilities, dry cleaning, non-livestock veterinary services and some advertising.Revenue Committee members voted 7-0 last week to advance the conceptual bill with one member, Lincoln Sen. George Dungan, absent (he later filed a “no” vote).To fend off any rules challenges to LB 388, the committee pulled back the bill and the voted 7-1 to advance it, along with a 62-page amendment unveiled Tuesday.The new amendment corrected some errors in the proposal that committee members said happened during the bill-drafting process.LB 388 — which would shift funding of K-12 education onto state sales taxes to lower local property taxes — could come up for floor debate Wednesday, which is Day 51 of the 60-day session.Some school groups, including the Omaha Public Schools, told the Examiner they are still digesting what’s in LB 388, which boosts per-pupil foundation aid to $3,000 from the current $1,500 and imposes a harder cap on spending increases by school districts.Liz Standish, an associate superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools, said Tuesday it appears that the newest version of LB 388 addresses concerns about the new revenue cap being too restrictive.“But it’s something we’ll be keeping a close eye on,” Standish said.Dave Welsch, a school board member from Milford, said that while the bill has made “a good first step” on property tax relief, the boost in foundation aid doesn’t correct an inequity between school districts in property taxes.The property tax levy in the Milford School District, Welsch said, is twice as high as the neighboring Centennial School District, which translates into much higher property taxes in Milford on property with identical valuations.Welsch has been among rural school officials who have touted another solution, known as the “Nebraska Plan,” which would direct more property tax relief to school districts with the highest tax levies.He said he did support the portion of the bill that would “front-load” tax credits offered for a portion of property tax payments. Lee Will, the governor’s budget chief, said large percentages of taxpayers&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/09/20/one-state-property-tax-credit-rises-slightly-in-2023-while-another-still-isnt-being-fully-claimed/">were not taking the tax credits</a>, which must be claimed on income tax filings.LB 388 is expected to draw opposition from both ends of the political spectrum, with progressives in the Legislature opposing “regressive” higher taxes on low-income Nebraskans, and some conservative senators opposing an increase in taxes as not delivering “tax relief” but instead creating a tax shift.

In unusual move, major tax bill is re-advanced from committee after concerns raised

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/26/state-auditor-exposes-questionable-handling-by-dhhs-of-tens-of-millions-of-federal-dollars/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — More than $21 million in questionable spending of federal pandemic funds by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services was revealed in a newly released statewide audit.

The expenditures on such services as talent recruitment for nursing homes are considered suspect, State Auditor Mike Foley said Tuesday, because his team was unable to find adequate documentation that the money was distributed and used properly.

He noted that examples cited in the audit are “far from comprehensive” — and said pandemic-related dollars are just a part of ineffective oversight by DHHS, including its handling of Medicaid funds.&nbsp;

Overall, his team pointed to possibly tens of millions of misspent or unaccounted for federal dollars.

While disappointed by what he called a poor showing, Foley said he has faith in CEO Steve Corsi to implement corrective action on the audit findings.&nbsp;

“He inherited an agency with some major issues,” the state auditor said, calling Corsi a “no-nonsense” kind of person.

Corsi has reviewed the findings and, according to a statement, has reaffirmed his intention to correct internal safeguards on monitoring and using tax dollars.

“DHHS can and will resolve these issues,” said Corsi. “We will do the work and make the changes necessary to ensure tax dollars are spent both wisely and appropriately.”

The annual<a target="_blank" href="https://auditors.nebraska.gov/APA_Reports/2024/SA200-03202024-July_1_2022_through_June_30_2023_Statewide_Single_Report.pdf">&nbsp;statewide single audit</a>&nbsp;report of more than 250 pages examined all state agencies through last June, but Foley said he focused on DHHS for now because of its size and lion’s share of federal funding.

He found the latest audit more concerning overall than in past years in part because it reflected a large infusion of federal pandemic dollars. Much of that money was “not spent wisely, it was spent fast,” Foley said.

The audit followed a management letter that Foley released a month ago on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/28/ne-auditor-flagrant-abuses-up-to-1-5m-in-questionable-billings-suspected-in-dhhs-program/">“longstanding fraud and abuse”</a>&nbsp;in the DHHS-administered “personal assistance services” program, which is funded by Medicaid.

That letter was a prelude to the full audit, Foley said. He said Corsi has started to address the longstanding problems in the personal assistance services program.

But Foley said the full audit report exposed “further examples of mishandling, including lack of proper oversight, of federal funds by DHHS.”

The auditing team noted as “particularly disturbing” the “apparent inability” of two DHHS investigatory programs to adequately safeguard Medicaid funds.

Auditors tested 20 cases in the Program Integrity division, which investigates cases of potential Medicaid fraud, and six cases in the Special Investigations Unit, which pursues allegations of recipient fraud.

That testing found five cases of suspected wrongdoing that had not been brought to satisfactory resolution.

Foley’s statement said that “whether the result of human error or ineptness,” the examples cited by his team were not all-encompassing. “Nevertheless, they account for tens of millions of possibly misspent or unaccounted for federal dollars.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711545729812.png" alt="State Auditor Mike Foley (Courtesy of Nebraska State Auditor’s Office)" />
 <figcaption>State Auditor Mike Foley (Courtesy of Nebraska State Auditor’s Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/26/state-auditor-exposes-questionable-handling-by-dhhs-of-tens-of-millions-of-federal-dollars/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — More than $21 million in questionable spending of federal pandemic funds by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services was revealed in a newly released statewide audit.The expenditures on such services as talent recruitment for nursing homes are considered suspect, State Auditor Mike Foley said Tuesday, because his team was unable to find adequate documentation that the money was distributed and used properly.He noted that examples cited in the audit are “far from comprehensive” — and said pandemic-related dollars are just a part of ineffective oversight by DHHS, including its handling of Medicaid funds.&nbsp;Overall, his team pointed to possibly tens of millions of misspent or unaccounted for federal dollars.<h2>DHHS pledges attention</h2>While disappointed by what he called a poor showing, Foley said he has faith in CEO Steve Corsi to implement corrective action on the audit findings.&nbsp;“He inherited an agency with some major issues,” the state auditor said, calling Corsi a “no-nonsense” kind of person.Corsi has reviewed the findings and, according to a statement, has reaffirmed his intention to correct internal safeguards on monitoring and using tax dollars.“DHHS can and will resolve these issues,” said Corsi. “We will do the work and make the changes necessary to ensure tax dollars are spent both wisely and appropriately.”The annual<a target="_blank" href="https://auditors.nebraska.gov/APA_Reports/2024/SA200-03202024-July_1_2022_through_June_30_2023_Statewide_Single_Report.pdf">&nbsp;statewide single audit</a>&nbsp;report of more than 250 pages examined all state agencies through last June, but Foley said he focused on DHHS for now because of its size and lion’s share of federal funding.He found the latest audit more concerning overall than in past years in part because it reflected a large infusion of federal pandemic dollars. Much of that money was “not spent wisely, it was spent fast,” Foley said.<h2>‘Longstanding fraud and abuse’</h2>The audit followed a management letter that Foley released a month ago on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/28/ne-auditor-flagrant-abuses-up-to-1-5m-in-questionable-billings-suspected-in-dhhs-program/">“longstanding fraud and abuse”</a>&nbsp;in the DHHS-administered “personal assistance services” program, which is funded by Medicaid.That letter was a prelude to the full audit, Foley said. He said Corsi has started to address the longstanding problems in the personal assistance services program.But Foley said the full audit report exposed “further examples of mishandling, including lack of proper oversight, of federal funds by DHHS.”The auditing team noted as “particularly disturbing” the “apparent inability” of two DHHS investigatory programs to adequately safeguard Medicaid funds.Auditors tested 20 cases in the Program Integrity division, which investigates cases of potential Medicaid fraud, and six cases in the Special Investigations Unit, which pursues allegations of recipient fraud.That testing found five cases of suspected wrongdoing that had not been brought to satisfactory resolution.Foley’s statement said that “whether the result of human error or ineptness,” the examples cited by his team were not all-encompassing. “Nevertheless, they account for tens of millions of possibly misspent or unaccounted for federal dollars.”<h2>Examples cited by auditors</h2>Among the audit findings:<ul>
 <li>“Known questioned costs” of $21,410,994 are due to the “inability” of DHHS to properly document spending of federal Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSLFRF). Those monies, the auditing team said, were allocated by the Nebraska Legislature for employee retention and recruitment by nursing and assisted-living facilities and providers of developmental disability services. However, they were reportedly disbursed without subsequent verification that recipients used the funds as they were supposed to.&nbsp;</li><li>DHHS reported having paid $5,000 in the coronavirus funds for allegedly fraudulent nursing scholarship applications submitted by a person who claimed falsely to be enrolled in a nursing program.</li><li>Another $1.9 million in “known questioned costs” was noted because of DHHS’ “ineffective control procedures” when disbursing federal child care and development block grant funds. The federal regulations required those dollars to be obligated by Sept. 30, 2022; however, auditors noted that DHHS was spending them as late as June 28, 2023.</li><li>Furthermore, $32,000 in the federal child care and development block grant monies were designated as questioned costs because DHHS did not ensure that recipients met criteria for increased awards. An example, the auditors said, was that one recipient received an additional $5,000 in student loan reduction for having a master’s degree, but it was learned she had yet to complete her schooling. “Even worse, she had not completed a class since 2012,” the auditors said. Because the questioned costs were based upon a sample, the potential dollars at risk were estimated to be $5,293,516.</li><li>DHHS reportedly spent $163,622 in federal child care development funds in violation of federal and state requirements. The auditors noted a lack of support for disbursements, duplicate claims and payments surpassing amounts authorized. One example that was said to be “unreasonable” included billed hours when school-age children should have been in school. Another provider billed 240 hours of overtime in one month, but no documentation could be found to support that amount. “Shockingly, previous audits of DHHS have produced similar findings for the past 17 years,” the auditor team said.</li><li>A sample testing of 25 long-term care facility payments revealed the “known misuse” of $20,153 in Medicaid funds by DHHS. Errors were attributed mostly to DHHS not property verifying recipient income and resources to ensure eligibility. In one example, a recipient sold a home for $144,000, but DHHS did not confirm the proceeds when determining eligibility. Based on the sample tested, the auditors put the potential dollars at risk at an estimated $31,763,196.</li>
 </ul>

State auditor exposes questionable handling by DHHS of tens of millions of federal dollars

The Munroe-Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center is piloting a new diagnostic tool that could dramatically cut waitlists for an autism diagnosis.

Alice Shillingsburg, PhD, director of the integrated Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at MMI, has been a site investigator for the new technology -- EarliPoint™ Evaluation for Autism – since last year. MMI is one of a handful of sites involved in research that is testing its efficacy among older children. It is the first in Nebraska using the device clinically.

The device first received FDA approval for use with children ages 16-30 months in 2023, and MMI now is using it as part of some autism diagnosis procedures.

Dr. Shillingsburg and her co-investigator at MMI, Patricia Zemantic, PhD, program director of the Autism Diagnostic Clinic, describe the device as a game-changer.

“For many children, we will be able to use this device to confirm the presence of autism, when combined with clinical judgment and developmental history,” Dr. Zemantic said. “In cases where we might be uncertain, we can prioritize additional testing and assessments. But if we only do these more complicated, complex evaluations on a smaller number of patients, we're going to be able to see more patients more quickly.”

Dr. Shillingsburg estimates that hundreds of families in Nebraska are on waiting lists for autism diagnoses.

The device is a tablet that shows short videos. Research has shown that children 16 to 30 months old on the autism spectrum concentrate more on different areas of the video – objects instead of faces, for example – than their neurotypically developing peers. The device tracks eye movement 120 times per second and has shown a high degree of accuracy in identifying children on the autism spectrum.

“The research piece is still ongoing, specifically studies to validate the use of the device in older kids,” Dr. Zemantic said. “But since the clinical device has already been FDA approved for children between the ages of 16 and 30 months, we’ve begun clinical use with the device.

“This is a total game changer in terms of being able to help people access diagnoses quickly and efficiently,” she said. “And hopefully, we find out this device is effective for older children as well.”

MMI is one of a handful of sites taking part in the ongoing research, which explores the device’s efficacy with children ages 31-84 months.

The device, which the company said has an accuracy rating of about 80%, will not be considered the final word on a diagnosis, Dr. Zemantic said. It will be used in conjunction with other accepted diagnostic tools.

“The video evaluation takes 20 or so minutes,” she said. “We do additional observation, including tests such as the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, to ensure diagnostic accuracy. But we estimate appointments using the device will be about an hour and 15 minutes long overall. Currently, they take about four hours.”

The huge time savings will help bring down waitlists not only in Nebraska but across the country, Dr. Shillingsburg said.

The portability of the tablet-sized device also will help MMI and other providers reach underserved areas. Clinics with trained therapists could be held across the state.

“Diagnoses open the door to intervention,” Dr. Shillingsburg said. “We know that early intervention is key to best-case trajectory and development. Nationwide, the average age of diagnosis is 4 or 5 years old, and ‘early’ intervention isn't applicable at that age. You can see what this means for hundreds of thousands of families in terms of getting an early diagnosis and then accessing care.”

MMI currently has two devices for clinical use. Clinicians&nbsp;will be using the device in a toddler clinic starting in April 2024, and plan to increase toddler appointment slots early in summer 2024. Interested families should start by getting on the Autism Diagnostic Center’s waitlist for an autism evaluation by contacting the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unmc.edu/mmi/services/resources/appointments.html" target="_blank">MMI patient information office</a>.

John Reviere, vice president of clinical affairs, EarliTec Diagnostics, Inc., said the company was&nbsp;“thrilled” to partner with MMI on clinical implementation of EarliPoint™️ to accelerate early and efficient diagnosis of autism in young toddlers. &nbsp;

“MMI's innovative philosophy lends itself to using technology to provide an objective assessment that increases the clinician's confidence in making a consequential diagnosis,” Reviere said. “Beyond clinical use, MMI is also a research partner, as one of only 15 centers across the United States participating in the MEASURE-ASD research program. The center’s extensive experience in diagnosing and treating children with autism, combined with its world-class facilities, makes MMI and ideal site for this important research.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711547419596.jpeg" alt="EarliPoint™ Evaluation for Autism tracks eye movement 120 times per second and has shown a high degree of accuracy in identifying children on the autism spectrum. Photo courtesy EarliTec Diagnostics, Inc." />
 <figcaption>EarliPoint™ Evaluation for Autism tracks eye movement 120 times per second and has shown a high degree of accuracy in identifying children on the autism spectrum. Photo courtesy EarliTec Diagnostics, Inc.</figcaption>
 </figure>UNMCThe Munroe-Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center is piloting a new diagnostic tool that could dramatically cut waitlists for an autism diagnosis.Alice Shillingsburg, PhD, director of the integrated Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at MMI, has been a site investigator for the new technology -- EarliPoint™ Evaluation for Autism – since last year. MMI is one of a handful of sites involved in research that is testing its efficacy among older children. It is the first in Nebraska using the device clinically.The device first received FDA approval for use with children ages 16-30 months in 2023, and MMI now is using it as part of some autism diagnosis procedures.Dr. Shillingsburg and her co-investigator at MMI, Patricia Zemantic, PhD, program director of the Autism Diagnostic Clinic, describe the device as a game-changer.“For many children, we will be able to use this device to confirm the presence of autism, when combined with clinical judgment and developmental history,” Dr. Zemantic said. “In cases where we might be uncertain, we can prioritize additional testing and assessments. But if we only do these more complicated, complex evaluations on a smaller number of patients, we're going to be able to see more patients more quickly.”Dr. Shillingsburg estimates that hundreds of families in Nebraska are on waiting lists for autism diagnoses.The device is a tablet that shows short videos. Research has shown that children 16 to 30 months old on the autism spectrum concentrate more on different areas of the video – objects instead of faces, for example – than their neurotypically developing peers. The device tracks eye movement 120 times per second and has shown a high degree of accuracy in identifying children on the autism spectrum.“The research piece is still ongoing, specifically studies to validate the use of the device in older kids,” Dr. Zemantic said. “But since the clinical device has already been FDA approved for children between the ages of 16 and 30 months, we’ve begun clinical use with the device.“This is a total game changer in terms of being able to help people access diagnoses quickly and efficiently,” she said. “And hopefully, we find out this device is effective for older children as well.”MMI is one of a handful of sites taking part in the ongoing research, which explores the device’s efficacy with children ages 31-84 months.The device, which the company said has an accuracy rating of about 80%, will not be considered the final word on a diagnosis, Dr. Zemantic said. It will be used in conjunction with other accepted diagnostic tools.“The video evaluation takes 20 or so minutes,” she said. “We do additional observation, including tests such as the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, to ensure diagnostic accuracy. But we estimate appointments using the device will be about an hour and 15 minutes long overall. Currently, they take about four hours.”The huge time savings will help bring down waitlists not only in Nebraska but across the country, Dr. Shillingsburg said.The portability of the tablet-sized device also will help MMI and other providers reach underserved areas. Clinics with trained therapists could be held across the state.“Diagnoses open the door to intervention,” Dr. Shillingsburg said. “We know that early intervention is key to best-case trajectory and development. Nationwide, the average age of diagnosis is 4 or 5 years old, and ‘early’ intervention isn't applicable at that age. You can see what this means for hundreds of thousands of families in terms of getting an early diagnosis and then accessing care.”MMI currently has two devices for clinical use. Clinicians&nbsp;will be using the device in a toddler clinic starting in April 2024, and plan to increase toddler appointment slots early in summer 2024. Interested families should start by getting on the Autism Diagnostic Center’s waitlist for an autism evaluation by contacting the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unmc.edu/mmi/services/resources/appointments.html" target="_blank">MMI patient information office</a>.John Reviere, vice president of clinical affairs, EarliTec Diagnostics, Inc., said the company was&nbsp;“thrilled” to partner with MMI on clinical implementation of EarliPoint™️ to accelerate early and efficient diagnosis of autism in young toddlers. &nbsp;“MMI's innovative philosophy lends itself to using technology to provide an objective assessment that increases the clinician's confidence in making a consequential diagnosis,” Reviere said. “Beyond clinical use, MMI is also a research partner, as one of only 15 centers across the United States participating in the MEASURE-ASD research program. The center’s extensive experience in diagnosing and treating children with autism, combined with its world-class facilities, makes MMI and ideal site for this important research.”

 UNMC’s Munroe-Meyer Institute pilots new autism diagnostic tool

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal March 22 crash in Kansas City, Kansas have identified the victims as 59-year-old Jay M. Franklin of Overland Park, Kansas and&nbsp; 59-year-old Rodney Chmidling of Kansas City, Missouri.

According to Kansas City, Kansas police, just after 6:30p.m. Friday, two vehicles were involved in the crash in the 1000 Block of Southwest Boulevard.&nbsp; Franklin and Chmidling were pronounced deceased at the scene. EMS transported two other men to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The accident remains under investigation. Police reported no additional details.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal March 22 crash in Kansas City, Kansas have identified the victims as 59-year-old Jay M. Franklin of Overland Park, Kansas and&nbsp; 59-year-old Rodney Chmidling of Kansas City, Missouri.According to Kansas City, Kansas police, just after 6:30p.m. Friday, two vehicles were involved in the crash in the 1000 Block of Southwest Boulevard.&nbsp; Franklin and Chmidling were pronounced deceased at the scene. EMS transported two other men to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.The accident remains under investigation. Police reported no additional details.

Police ID two men who died after 2-vehicle Kansas crash

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is now <a href="https://godblesstheusabible.com/">selling Bibles</a> as he runs to return to the White House.

Trump, who became the presumptive Republican nominee earlier this month, released a video on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday urging his supporters to buy the “God Bless the USA Bible,” which is inspired by country singer Lee Greenwood’s patriotic ballad. Trump takes the stage to the song at each of his rallies and has appeared with Greenwood at events.

“Happy Holy Week! Let’s Make America Pray Again. As we lead into Good Friday and Easter, I encourage you to get a copy of the God Bless the USA Bible,” Trump wrote, directing his supporters<a href="https://godblesstheusabible.com/"> to a website</a> selling the book for $59.99.

The effort comes as Trump has faced a serious money crunch amid mounting legal bills while he fights four criminal indictments along with a series of civil charges. Trump was given a reprieve Monday when a New York appeals court agreed to hold off on collecting the more than $454 million he owes following a civil fraud judgment if he puts up $175 million within 10 days. Trump has already posted a $92 million bond in connection with defamation cases brought by the writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of sexual assault.

“All Americans need a Bible in their home, and I have many. It’s my favorite book,” Trump said in the video posted on Truth Social. “I’m proud to endorse and encourage you to get this Bible. We must make America pray again.”

Billing itself as “the only Bible endorsed by President Trump!” the new venture’s website calls it “Easy-to-read” with “large print” and a “slim design” that “invites you to explore God’s Word anywhere, any time.”

Besides a King James Version translation, it includes copies of the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and the Pledge of Allegiance, as well as a handwritten chorus of the famous Greenwood song.

The Bible is just the latest commercial venture that Trump has pursued while campaigning.

Last month, he debuted a new line of Trump-branded sneakers, including $399 gold “Never Surrender High-Tops,” at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia. The venture behind the shoes, 45Footwear, also sells other Trump-branded footwear, cologne and perfume.

Trump has also dabbled in NFTs, or nonfungible tokens, and last year reported earning between $100,000 and $1 million from a series of digital trading cards that portrayed him in cartoon-like images, including as an astronaut, a cowboy and a superhero.

He has also released books featuring photos of his time in office and letters written to him through the years.

<a href="https://godblesstheusabible.com/">The Bible’s website</a> states the product “is not political and has nothing to do with any political campaign.”

“<a href="https://godblesstheusabible.com/">GodBlessTheUSABible.com</a> is not owned, managed or controlled by Donald J. Trump, The Trump Organization, CIC Ventures LLC or any of their respective principals or affiliates,” it says.

Instead, it says, “<a href="https://godblesstheusabible.com/">GodBlessTheUSABible.com</a> uses Donald J. Trump’s name, likeness and image under paid license from CIC Ventures LLC, which license may be terminated or revoked according to its terms.”

CIC Ventures LLC, a company that Trump reported owning in his 2023 financial disclosure, has a similar arrangement with 45Footwear, which also says it uses Trump’s “name, likeness and image under paid license from CIC Ventures LLC, which license may be terminated or revoked according to its terms.”

A Trump spokesperson and God Bless the USA Bible did not immediately respond to questions about how much Trump was paid for the licensing deal or stands to make from each book sale.

Trump remains deeply popular with white evangelical Christians, who are among his most ardent supporters, even though the thrice-married former reality TV star has a long history of behavior that often seemed at odds with teachings espoused by Christ in the Gospels.

When he was running in 2016, Trump raised eyebrows when he cited “Two Corinthians” at Liberty University, instead of the standard “Second Corinthians.”

When asked to share his favorite Bible verse in an interview with Bloomberg Politics in 2015, he demurred.

“I wouldn’t want to get into it. Because to me, that’s very personal,” he said. “The Bible means a lot to me, but I don’t want to get into specifics.”

When he was president, law enforcement officers aggressively removed racial justice protesters from a park near the White House, allowing Trump to walk to nearby St. John’s Church, where he stood alone and raised a Bible. The scene was condemned at the time by the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington.

Before he ran for office, Trump famously hawked everything from frozen steaks to vodka to a venture named Trump University, which was later sued for fraud.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711546280758.png" alt="Image from the&nbsp;<a href="https://godblesstheusabible.com/">GodBlessTheUSABible.com</a>&nbsp;web site" />
 <figcaption>Image from the&nbsp;<a href="https://godblesstheusabible.com/">GodBlessTheUSABible.com</a>&nbsp;web site</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is now <a href="https://godblesstheusabible.com/">selling Bibles</a> as he runs to return to the White House.Trump, who became the presumptive Republican nominee earlier this month, released a video on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday urging his supporters to buy the “God Bless the USA Bible,” which is inspired by country singer Lee Greenwood’s patriotic ballad. Trump takes the stage to the song at each of his rallies and has appeared with Greenwood at events.“Happy Holy Week! Let’s Make America Pray Again. As we lead into Good Friday and Easter, I encourage you to get a copy of the God Bless the USA Bible,” Trump wrote, directing his supporters<a href="https://godblesstheusabible.com/"> to a website</a> selling the book for $59.99.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591061208159.png" alt="FILE – President Donald Trump holds a Bible as he visits outside St. John’s Church across Lafayette Park from the White House, June 1, 2020, (File)Photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>FILE – President Donald Trump holds a Bible as he visits outside St. John’s Church across Lafayette Park from the White House, June 1, 2020, (File)Photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>The effort comes as Trump has faced a serious money crunch amid mounting legal bills while he fights four criminal indictments along with a series of civil charges. Trump was given a reprieve Monday when a New York appeals court agreed to hold off on collecting the more than $454 million he owes following a civil fraud judgment if he puts up $175 million within 10 days. Trump has already posted a $92 million bond in connection with defamation cases brought by the writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of sexual assault.“All Americans need a Bible in their home, and I have many. It’s my favorite book,” Trump said in the video posted on Truth Social. “I’m proud to endorse and encourage you to get this Bible. We must make America pray again.”Billing itself as “the only Bible endorsed by President Trump!” the new venture’s website calls it “Easy-to-read” with “large print” and a “slim design” that “invites you to explore God’s Word anywhere, any time.”Besides a King James Version translation, it includes copies of the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and the Pledge of Allegiance, as well as a handwritten chorus of the famous Greenwood song.The Bible is just the latest commercial venture that Trump has pursued while campaigning.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708263707417.png" alt="Photo by Margo Martin, Donald Trump for President Deputy Director of Communications" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Margo Martin, Donald Trump for President Deputy Director of Communications</figcaption>
 </figure>Last month, he debuted a new line of Trump-branded sneakers, including $399 gold “Never Surrender High-Tops,” at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia. The venture behind the shoes, 45Footwear, also sells other Trump-branded footwear, cologne and perfume.Trump has also dabbled in NFTs, or nonfungible tokens, and last year reported earning between $100,000 and $1 million from a series of digital trading cards that portrayed him in cartoon-like images, including as an astronaut, a cowboy and a superhero.He has also released books featuring photos of his time in office and letters written to him through the years.<a href="https://godblesstheusabible.com/">The Bible’s website</a> states the product “is not political and has nothing to do with any political campaign.”“<a href="https://godblesstheusabible.com/">GodBlessTheUSABible.com</a> is not owned, managed or controlled by Donald J. Trump, The Trump Organization, CIC Ventures LLC or any of their respective principals or affiliates,” it says.Instead, it says, “<a href="https://godblesstheusabible.com/">GodBlessTheUSABible.com</a> uses Donald J. Trump’s name, likeness and image under paid license from CIC Ventures LLC, which license may be terminated or revoked according to its terms.”CIC Ventures LLC, a company that Trump reported owning in his 2023 financial disclosure, has a similar arrangement with 45Footwear, which also says it uses Trump’s “name, likeness and image under paid license from CIC Ventures LLC, which license may be terminated or revoked according to its terms.”A Trump spokesperson and God Bless the USA Bible did not immediately respond to questions about how much Trump was paid for the licensing deal or stands to make from each book sale.Trump remains deeply popular with white evangelical Christians, who are among his most ardent supporters, even though the thrice-married former reality TV star has a long history of behavior that often seemed at odds with teachings espoused by Christ in the Gospels.When he was running in 2016, Trump raised eyebrows when he cited “Two Corinthians” at Liberty University, instead of the standard “Second Corinthians.”When asked to share his favorite Bible verse in an interview with Bloomberg Politics in 2015, he demurred.“I wouldn’t want to get into it. Because to me, that’s very personal,” he said. “The Bible means a lot to me, but I don’t want to get into specifics.”When he was president, law enforcement officers aggressively removed racial justice protesters from a park near the White House, allowing Trump to walk to nearby St. John’s Church, where he stood alone and raised a Bible. The scene was condemned at the time by the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington.Before he ran for office, Trump famously hawked everything from frozen steaks to vodka to a venture named Trump University, which was later sued for fraud.

Make America pray again: Trump is now selling Bibles

NEPTUNE, N.J. (AP) — Someone in New Jersey overcame the odds Tuesday night and won the $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot, breaking a winless streak that dated to last December.

NEPTUNE, N.J. (AP) — Someone in New Jersey overcame the odds Tuesday night and won the $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot, breaking a winless streak that dated to last December.The numbers drawn were: 7, 11, 22, 29, 38 and the gold Mega Ball 4. State lottery officials said the winning ticket was sold at ShopRite Wines &amp; Spirits of Neptune, which is located on the Jersey Shore.Until the latest drawing, no one had matched all six numbers and won the Mega Millions jackpot since Dec. 8. That amounted to 30 straight drawings without a big winner.It’s tough to win the Mega Millions jackpot because the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-mega-millions-winning-odds-numbers-a3e5a8e8e7ed15d7500c1d6acdab6785">odds are so long</a>, at 1 in 302.6 million.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lottery-jackpots-mega-millions-powerball-80fcb836622ba8e18883ce778786c1cc">prize is the 8th largest</a>&nbsp;in U.S. lottery history.The $1.13 billion jackpot is for a winner who is paid through an annuity, with an initial payment and then 29 annual payments. Most winners choose a cash payout, which would be $537.5 million.The next big U.S. lottery drawing will be Wednesday night for an estimated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-drawing-lottery-7d0721b7df0fe62e725d564bc1354aca">$865 million Powerball jackpot</a>. No one has won that prize since New Year’s Day, making for 36 drawings without a winner.