WASHINGTON — The Biden administration Wednesday announced plans to redesignate Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen as specially designated global terrorists, according to two people familiar with the White House decision and a U.S. official.

The move comes as the Houthis have launched dozens of attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The group says it has attacked the ships in response to Israel's military operations in Gaza in the aftermath of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

&nbsp;According to a statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan:

"These attacks fit the textbook definition of terrorism.&nbsp; They have endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardized global trade, and threatened freedom of navigation."

"The United States and the international community have been united in our response and in condemning these attacks in the strongest terms."

"Today, in response to these continuing threats and attacks, the United States announced the designation of Ansarallah, also known as the Houthis, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. "

"This designation is an important tool to impede terrorist funding to the Houthis, further restrict their access to financial markets, and hold them accountable for their actions.&nbsp; If the Houthis cease their attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the United States will immediately reevaluate this designation."

"The designation will take effect 30 days from now, to allow us to ensure robust humanitarian carve outs are in place so our action targets the Houthis and not the people of Yemen. We are rolling out unprecedented carve outs and licenses to help prevent adverse impacts on the Yemeni people."

"The people of Yemen should not pay the price for the actions of the Houthis.&nbsp;&nbsp; We are sending a clear message: commercial shipments into Yemeni ports on which the Yemeni people rely for food, medicine and fuel should continue and are not covered by our sanctions."

"This is in addition to the carveouts we include in all sanctions programs for food, medicine, and humanitarian assistance.As President Biden has said, the United States will not hesitate to take further actions to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce."

“This designation would add another level of uncertainty and threat for Yemenis still caught in one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises,” said Scott Paul, an associate director of Oxfam America. “The Biden administration is playing with fire and we call on them to avoid this designation immediately and prioritize the lives of Yemenis now.”

The specially designated global terrorists label to be reimposed on the Houthis does not include sanctions for providing “material support” and it does not come with travel bans that are also imposed with the foreign terrorist organization label, steps intended to help prevent the U.S. move from harming ordinary Yemenis.

Meanwhile, a senior White House official said Tuesday that addressing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">ongoing threat by Yemen’s Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;on commercial vessels in the Red Sea is an “all hands on deck” problem that the U.S. and allies must address together to minimize impact on the global economy.

“How long this goes on and how bad it gets comes down not just to the decisions of the countries in the coalition that took strikes last week,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said during an appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The Iran-backed Houthi group has launched dozens of attacks since November on vessels in the Red Sea, a vital corridor for the world’s shipping traffic, in what they say is an effort to support Palestinians in the war with Israel. U.S. and British forces have responded by carrying out dozens of air and sea strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen since Friday. The attacks by the Houthis have continued.

Linda Thomas Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said last week that 2,000 ships since November have been forced to divert thousands of miles to avoid the Red Sea. Houthi militants have threatened or taken hostage mariners from more than 20 countries.

The Red Sea attacks have already caused significant disruptions to global trade. Oil prices have edged higher in recent days, though Brent crude futures were down slightly in early trading Tuesday.

The U.S. launched&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">a new strike</a>&nbsp;against the Houthis on Tuesday, hitting anti-ship missiles in the third&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">assault on the Iranian-backed group</a>&nbsp;in recent days. The strike came as the Iranian-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack against the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia in the Red Sea. No one was injured.

Sullivan said it was critical that countries with influence on Tehran and other Middle East capitals make it clear “that the entire world rejects wholesale the idea that a group like the Houthis can basically hijack the world.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden's</a>&nbsp;senior adviser acknowledged that the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea as well as groups allied to Iran carrying out attacks in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen pose concerns that the Israel-Hamas war could escalate even as Israeli officials have indicated a shift in intensity in their military campaign.

“We have to guard against and be vigilant against the possibility that in fact, rather than heading towards de-escalation, we are on a path of escalation that we have to manage,” Sullivan said.

The comments from Sullivan came after Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said during an appearance at the Davos forum that the situation in the Middle East is a “recipe for escalation everywhere.” He said Qatar believes that ending the conflict in Gaza will stop the Houthis and militant groups from launching attacks elsewhere in the region.

Sullivan on Tuesday met with Al Thani as well as Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Iraqi Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, according to the White House.

Iran fired missiles late Monday at what it said were Israeli “spy headquarters” in an upscale neighborhood near the sprawling U.S. Consulate compound in Irbil, the seat of Iraq’s northern semi-autonomous Kurdish region, and at targets linked to the extremist Islamic State group in northern&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/alerts/TurkeySyriaEarthquake">Syria</a>.

Iraq on Tuesday called the attacks, which killed several civilians, a “blatant violation” of Iraq’s sovereignty and recalled its ambassador from Tehran.

-The Associated Press contributed to this report

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration Wednesday announced plans to redesignate Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen as specially designated global terrorists, according to two people familiar with the White House decision and a U.S. official.The move comes as the Houthis have launched dozens of attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The group says it has attacked the ships in response to Israel's military operations in Gaza in the aftermath of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel.&nbsp;According to a statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan:"These attacks fit the textbook definition of terrorism.&nbsp; They have endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardized global trade, and threatened freedom of navigation."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Terrorist Designation of the Houthis <a href="https://t.co/LdF3SrVKga">https://t.co/LdF3SrVKga</a> <a href="https://t.co/5aFTUDvytH">pic.twitter.com/5aFTUDvytH</a>&mdash; U.S. Embassy to Yemen السفارة الأمريكية لدى اليمن (@USEmbassyYemen) <a href="https://twitter.com/USEmbassyYemen/status/1747653176088576196?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"The United States and the international community have been united in our response and in condemning these attacks in the strongest terms.""Today, in response to these continuing threats and attacks, the United States announced the designation of Ansarallah, also known as the Houthis, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. ""This designation is an important tool to impede terrorist funding to the Houthis, further restrict their access to financial markets, and hold them accountable for their actions.&nbsp; If the Houthis cease their attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the United States will immediately reevaluate this designation.""The designation will take effect 30 days from now, to allow us to ensure robust humanitarian carve outs are in place so our action targets the Houthis and not the people of Yemen. We are rolling out unprecedented carve outs and licenses to help prevent adverse impacts on the Yemeni people.""The people of Yemen should not pay the price for the actions of the Houthis.&nbsp;&nbsp; We are sending a clear message: commercial shipments into Yemeni ports on which the Yemeni people rely for food, medicine and fuel should continue and are not covered by our sanctions.""This is in addition to the carveouts we include in all sanctions programs for food, medicine, and humanitarian assistance.As President Biden has said, the United States will not hesitate to take further actions to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce."“This designation would add another level of uncertainty and threat for Yemenis still caught in one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises,” said Scott Paul, an associate director of Oxfam America. “The Biden administration is playing with fire and we call on them to avoid this designation immediately and prioritize the lives of Yemenis now.”The specially designated global terrorists label to be reimposed on the Houthis does not include sanctions for providing “material support” and it does not come with travel bans that are also imposed with the foreign terrorist organization label, steps intended to help prevent the U.S. move from harming ordinary Yemenis.Meanwhile, a senior White House official said Tuesday that addressing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">ongoing threat by Yemen’s Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;on commercial vessels in the Red Sea is an “all hands on deck” problem that the U.S. and allies must address together to minimize impact on the global economy.“How long this goes on and how bad it gets comes down not just to the decisions of the countries in the coalition that took strikes last week,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said during an appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.The Iran-backed Houthi group has launched dozens of attacks since November on vessels in the Red Sea, a vital corridor for the world’s shipping traffic, in what they say is an effort to support Palestinians in the war with Israel. U.S. and British forces have responded by carrying out dozens of air and sea strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen since Friday. The attacks by the Houthis have continued.Linda Thomas Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said last week that 2,000 ships since November have been forced to divert thousands of miles to avoid the Red Sea. Houthi militants have threatened or taken hostage mariners from more than 20 countries.The Red Sea attacks have already caused significant disruptions to global trade. Oil prices have edged higher in recent days, though Brent crude futures were down slightly in early trading Tuesday.The U.S. launched&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">a new strike</a>&nbsp;against the Houthis on Tuesday, hitting anti-ship missiles in the third&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">assault on the Iranian-backed group</a>&nbsp;in recent days. The strike came as the Iranian-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack against the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia in the Red Sea. No one was injured.Sullivan said it was critical that countries with influence on Tehran and other Middle East capitals make it clear “that the entire world rejects wholesale the idea that a group like the Houthis can basically hijack the world.”<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden's</a>&nbsp;senior adviser acknowledged that the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea as well as groups allied to Iran carrying out attacks in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen pose concerns that the Israel-Hamas war could escalate even as Israeli officials have indicated a shift in intensity in their military campaign.“We have to guard against and be vigilant against the possibility that in fact, rather than heading towards de-escalation, we are on a path of escalation that we have to manage,” Sullivan said.The comments from Sullivan came after Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said during an appearance at the Davos forum that the situation in the Middle East is a “recipe for escalation everywhere.” He said Qatar believes that ending the conflict in Gaza will stop the Houthis and militant groups from launching attacks elsewhere in the region.Sullivan on Tuesday met with Al Thani as well as Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Iraqi Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, according to the White House.Iran fired missiles late Monday at what it said were Israeli “spy headquarters” in an upscale neighborhood near the sprawling U.S. Consulate compound in Irbil, the seat of Iraq’s northern semi-autonomous Kurdish region, and at targets linked to the extremist Islamic State group in northern&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/alerts/TurkeySyriaEarthquake">Syria</a>.Iraq on Tuesday called the attacks, which killed several civilians, a “blatant violation” of Iraq’s sovereignty and recalled its ambassador from Tehran.-The Associated Press contributed to this report

 US relists Iranian-rebel group as terrorists in response to Red Sea attacks

OMAHA, Neb. –&nbsp;The five state Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division marked an 83 percent increase in the number of fentanyl pills seized in 2023 and removed an estimated 2.9 million lethal doses of fentanyl both in pill and powder form, from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and eight counties along the western border of Illinois and Wisconsin. Nationally, DEA seized more than 77 million fentanyl pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl, amounting to more than 386 million deadly doses, enough to kill every American.&nbsp;

Within the DEA Omaha Division, Minnesota recorded the largest increase in pill seizures, with investigators taking off more than 417,000 pills for a 127 percent increase over 2022 totals. Iowa followed suit noting a 105 percent increase over its 2022 pill seizures, with more than 141,000 pills seized in 2023. North Dakota pill seizures increased nearly 50 percent while Nebraska and South Dakota numbers declined.

“Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced,” DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Steven T. Bell said. “The DEA Omaha Division covers a vast expanse of land containing urban, suburban and rural communities. Sadly, none of these communities are exempt from the tragic consequences that can come from experimenting with or using fentanyl. This drug is potentially lethal in such a small amount, that it can fit on the tip of a pencil. We’re seeing it in both pill and powder form all across our Division.”

Fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. DEA laboratory testing in 2023 showed that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dea.gov/stories/2023/2023-10/2023-10-06/message-dea-administrator-anne-milgram" target="_blank">7 out of 10 pills</a>&nbsp;tested contain a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl. This is an increase from 4 out of 10 pills in 2021 and 6 out of 10 pills in 2022. A potentially deadly dose is considered just two milligrams of fentanyl.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is predicting record numbers of drug poisonings for 2023, with their latest estimate for the 12-month period ending June 2023 at 112,323 American lives lost.&nbsp; Nearly 70 percent of these drug poisonings are from fentanyl.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Two states, Nebraska and North Dakota, recorded a jump in methamphetamine seizures from 2022 to 2023. In Nebraska, DEA investigators seized more than 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine, marking the largest seizure of meth in five years. Cocaine seizures were also up in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota in 2023.

For more information on 2023 DEA Omaha Division seizure data, please contact Public Information Officer Emily Murray at 571-387-3545.

DEA OmahaOMAHA, Neb. –&nbsp;The five state Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division marked an 83 percent increase in the number of fentanyl pills seized in 2023 and removed an estimated 2.9 million lethal doses of fentanyl both in pill and powder form, from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and eight counties along the western border of Illinois and Wisconsin. Nationally, DEA seized more than 77 million fentanyl pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl, amounting to more than 386 million deadly doses, enough to kill every American.&nbsp;Within the DEA Omaha Division, Minnesota recorded the largest increase in pill seizures, with investigators taking off more than 417,000 pills for a 127 percent increase over 2022 totals. Iowa followed suit noting a 105 percent increase over its 2022 pill seizures, with more than 141,000 pills seized in 2023. North Dakota pill seizures increased nearly 50 percent while Nebraska and South Dakota numbers declined.“Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced,” DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Steven T. Bell said. “The DEA Omaha Division covers a vast expanse of land containing urban, suburban and rural communities. Sadly, none of these communities are exempt from the tragic consequences that can come from experimenting with or using fentanyl. This drug is potentially lethal in such a small amount, that it can fit on the tip of a pencil. We’re seeing it in both pill and powder form all across our Division.”Fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. DEA laboratory testing in 2023 showed that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dea.gov/stories/2023/2023-10/2023-10-06/message-dea-administrator-anne-milgram" target="_blank">7 out of 10 pills</a>&nbsp;tested contain a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl. This is an increase from 4 out of 10 pills in 2021 and 6 out of 10 pills in 2022. A potentially deadly dose is considered just two milligrams of fentanyl.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is predicting record numbers of drug poisonings for 2023, with their latest estimate for the 12-month period ending June 2023 at 112,323 American lives lost.&nbsp; Nearly 70 percent of these drug poisonings are from fentanyl.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Two states, Nebraska and North Dakota, recorded a jump in methamphetamine seizures from 2022 to 2023. In Nebraska, DEA investigators seized more than 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine, marking the largest seizure of meth in five years. Cocaine seizures were also up in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota in 2023.For more information on 2023 DEA Omaha Division seizure data, please contact Public Information Officer Emily Murray at 571-387-3545.

DEA Omaha Division Notes Record Fentanyl Seizures in 2023

WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairmen of the top tax policy committees in Congress announced a bipartisan agreement Tuesday to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/child-tax-credits-program-ends-5ded3907c72ee0c3ad8a067a29d6b2c0">enhance the child tax credit</a>&nbsp;and revive a variety of tax breaks for businesses, a combination designed to attract support from lawmakers of both political parties.

The roughly $78 billion in tax cuts would be paid for by more quickly ending a tax break Congress approved during the COVID-19 pandemic that encouraged businesses to keep employees on their payroll.

The agreement was announced by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ron-wyden">Sen. Ron Wyden</a>, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jason-smith">Rep. Jason Smith</a>, the Republican chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. The lawmakers have been negotiating for months on a tax package that would address an array of priorities before lawmakers turn their focus to election season.

Wyden said his goal is to gain approval of the measure in time for businesses and families to benefit during the upcoming filing season. The Internal Revenue Service will begin accepting and processing tax returns on Jan. 29, so lawmakers are looking to move the bill as quickly as possible.

Meeting that goal may prove difficult as lawmakers are already racing to finish their spending bills and are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-ukraine-border-security-joe-biden-55da358910d67622c7f4289666979f63">considering a bill</a>&nbsp;focused on both aiding Israel, and Ukraine and stemming the flow of migrants entering the country at the U.S.-Mexico border. One option would be for leaders in the House and Senate to attach the measure to one of those top-priority bills.

In forging the agreement, Democratic negotiators were focused on boosting the child tax credit. The tax credit is $2,000 per child, but only $1,600 is refundable, which makes it available to parents who owe little to nothing in federal income taxes. The bill would incrementally increase the maximum refundable child tax credit to $1,800 for 2023 tax returns, $1,900 for the following year and $2,000 for 2025 tax returns.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal think tank and advocacy group, projected that about 16 million children in low-income families would benefit from the child tax credit expansion.

“Given today’s miserable political climate, it’s a big deal to have this opportunity to pass pro-family policy that helps so many kids get ahead,” Wyden said in a statement announcing the deal.

Republicans were focused on tax breaks for businesses that they said would help grow the economy. The tax breaks in the bill would generally align their expiration date — the end of 2025 — with many of the other tax cuts that were approved in 2017.

Most notably, the bill would give companies of all sizes the ability to deduct research and development costs immediately rather than over the course of five years. It would also allow businesses to fully deduct the purchase of equipment, machinery and technology. And, the bill also provides more flexibility in determining how much borrowing can be deducted.

Smith said the agreement “strengthens Main Street businesses, boosts our competitiveness with China, and creates jobs.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he supported the tax package and “that there are many things in it both sides can celebrate.” He praised the inclusion of an increased tax credit for the construction and rehabilitation of housing for low-income households, and he said he could not have supported the package without it.

“The low-income housing tax credit is one of the most effective tools in existence to increase the supply of affordable housing," Schumer said. “This package will make this credit far more generous and far more easy to access.”

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was expected to meet with Smith on Tuesday to discuss the tax agreement.

Some lawmakers have insisted that any tax extensions be paid for so as not to add to projected deficits. The authors of the agreement attempt to do that by speeding up the demise of the employee retention tax credit. Under current law, businesses had until April 15 of next year to claim the credit. The bill would bar additional claims after Jan. 31 of this year. It also would increase penalties for tax preparers failing to undertake due diligence in submitting those COVID-19-related claims.

The tax credit was designed to make it easier for businesses to keep their employees on the payroll at a time when COVID-19 was keeping people at home and away from stores, hotels and restaurants. The IRS in September announced a moratorium in processing new claims through at least the end of the year, following concerns that a substantial share of new claims from the aging program were ineligible.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641231882156.png" alt="File photo U.S. capitol -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo U.S. capitol -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairmen of the top tax policy committees in Congress announced a bipartisan agreement Tuesday to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/child-tax-credits-program-ends-5ded3907c72ee0c3ad8a067a29d6b2c0">enhance the child tax credit</a>&nbsp;and revive a variety of tax breaks for businesses, a combination designed to attract support from lawmakers of both political parties.The roughly $78 billion in tax cuts would be paid for by more quickly ending a tax break Congress approved during the COVID-19 pandemic that encouraged businesses to keep employees on their payroll.The agreement was announced by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ron-wyden">Sen. Ron Wyden</a>, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jason-smith">Rep. Jason Smith</a>, the Republican chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. The lawmakers have been negotiating for months on a tax package that would address an array of priorities before lawmakers turn their focus to election season.Wyden said his goal is to gain approval of the measure in time for businesses and families to benefit during the upcoming filing season. The Internal Revenue Service will begin accepting and processing tax returns on Jan. 29, so lawmakers are looking to move the bill as quickly as possible.Meeting that goal may prove difficult as lawmakers are already racing to finish their spending bills and are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-ukraine-border-security-joe-biden-55da358910d67622c7f4289666979f63">considering a bill</a>&nbsp;focused on both aiding Israel, and Ukraine and stemming the flow of migrants entering the country at the U.S.-Mexico border. One option would be for leaders in the House and Senate to attach the measure to one of those top-priority bills.In forging the agreement, Democratic negotiators were focused on boosting the child tax credit. The tax credit is $2,000 per child, but only $1,600 is refundable, which makes it available to parents who owe little to nothing in federal income taxes. The bill would incrementally increase the maximum refundable child tax credit to $1,800 for 2023 tax returns, $1,900 for the following year and $2,000 for 2025 tax returns.The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal think tank and advocacy group, projected that about 16 million children in low-income families would benefit from the child tax credit expansion.“Given today’s miserable political climate, it’s a big deal to have this opportunity to pass pro-family policy that helps so many kids get ahead,” Wyden said in a statement announcing the deal.Republicans were focused on tax breaks for businesses that they said would help grow the economy. The tax breaks in the bill would generally align their expiration date — the end of 2025 — with many of the other tax cuts that were approved in 2017.Most notably, the bill would give companies of all sizes the ability to deduct research and development costs immediately rather than over the course of five years. It would also allow businesses to fully deduct the purchase of equipment, machinery and technology. And, the bill also provides more flexibility in determining how much borrowing can be deducted.Smith said the agreement “strengthens Main Street businesses, boosts our competitiveness with China, and creates jobs.”Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he supported the tax package and “that there are many things in it both sides can celebrate.” He praised the inclusion of an increased tax credit for the construction and rehabilitation of housing for low-income households, and he said he could not have supported the package without it.“The low-income housing tax credit is one of the most effective tools in existence to increase the supply of affordable housing," Schumer said. “This package will make this credit far more generous and far more easy to access.”Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was expected to meet with Smith on Tuesday to discuss the tax agreement.Some lawmakers have insisted that any tax extensions be paid for so as not to add to projected deficits. The authors of the agreement attempt to do that by speeding up the demise of the employee retention tax credit. Under current law, businesses had until April 15 of next year to claim the credit. The bill would bar additional claims after Jan. 31 of this year. It also would increase penalties for tax preparers failing to undertake due diligence in submitting those COVID-19-related claims.The tax credit was designed to make it easier for businesses to keep their employees on the payroll at a time when COVID-19 was keeping people at home and away from stores, hotels and restaurants. The IRS in September announced a moratorium in processing new claims through at least the end of the year, following concerns that a substantial share of new claims from the aging program were ineligible.

What's in the new $78 billion congressional tax plan

LONDON (AP) — The Princess of Wales has been hospitalized after undergoing planned abdominal surgery and will remain at the private London Clinic for up to two weeks, Kensington Palace said Wednesday.

Moments after news of Kate's hospitalization was released, Buckingham Palace revealed that King Charles III would undergo a “corrective procedure” next week for an enlarged prostate. The palace said that the king’s condition was benign.

The palace said that the 75-year-old monarch has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate “in common with thousands of men each year.”

Though it is unusual for members of the royal family to offer much detail on their health, the publicity about Charles' revelation is certain to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get checked in line with public health advice.

A series of events and meetings on the monarch’s schedule will now be postponed, and the announcement can be seen also be seen as offering the explanation for the timing of the announcement on Charles. Foreign dignitaries and members of the Cabinet had been due to travel to Dumfries House in Scotland later this week.

The palace didn’t offer further details on the princess of Wales' hospitalization, but confirmed that her condition was noncancerous. Though she has generally experienced good health, Kate was previously hospitalized while pregnant after suffering from severe morning sickness.

The medical issues come after a turbulent few years for the royal family, with the Platinum Jubilee in 2022, the death of Queen Elizabeth II a few months later and the coronation of Charles in 2023.

The princess, the former Kate Middleton, is expected to return to public duties after Easter. The 42-year-old future queen was admitted to The London Clinic on Tuesday.

“The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate," Kensington Palace said. “She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private."

The palace said that Kate, the wife of Prince William, wished to apologize for postponing her upcoming engagements.

“She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible,” the palace said.

A royal by choice — not birth — Kate is the daughter of a flight attendant and a flight dispatcher. Born in Reading, England, on Jan. 9, 1982, Catherine Elizabeth Middleton grew up with a younger sister, Pippa, and a younger brother, James.

The family is from a well-to-do area of Berkshire, west of London, and moved to Jordan when Kate was 2 years old because of her father’s work. They returned to England in 1986, and Kate attended the exclusive Marlborough College, where she was active in sports such as tennis.

She first met Prince William, the elder son of the late Princess Diana and Charles, at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

After Prince Harry and Meghan’s stormy departure to California in 2020, the Prince and Princess of Wales have solidified their position as being among the most popular members of the royal family. Kate, in particular, has remained a reliable royal in the public eye — the smiling mother of three who can comfort grieving parents at a children’s hospice or wow the nation by playing piano during a televised Christmas concert.

She was among the royals who appeared at the annual Christmas Day service at Sandringham.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705510328041.png" alt="King Charges III during his annual Christmas address-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>King Charges III during his annual Christmas address-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — The Princess of Wales has been hospitalized after undergoing planned abdominal surgery and will remain at the private London Clinic for up to two weeks, Kensington Palace said Wednesday.Moments after news of Kate's hospitalization was released, Buckingham Palace revealed that King Charles III would undergo a “corrective procedure” next week for an enlarged prostate. The palace said that the king’s condition was benign.The palace said that the 75-year-old monarch has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate “in common with thousands of men each year.”Though it is unusual for members of the royal family to offer much detail on their health, the publicity about Charles' revelation is certain to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get checked in line with public health advice.A series of events and meetings on the monarch’s schedule will now be postponed, and the announcement can be seen also be seen as offering the explanation for the timing of the announcement on Charles. Foreign dignitaries and members of the Cabinet had been due to travel to Dumfries House in Scotland later this week.The palace didn’t offer further details on the princess of Wales' hospitalization, but confirmed that her condition was noncancerous. Though she has generally experienced good health, Kate was previously hospitalized while pregnant after suffering from severe morning sickness.The medical issues come after a turbulent few years for the royal family, with the Platinum Jubilee in 2022, the death of Queen Elizabeth II a few months later and the coronation of Charles in 2023.The princess, the former Kate Middleton, is expected to return to public duties after Easter. The 42-year-old future queen was admitted to The London Clinic on Tuesday.“The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate," Kensington Palace said. “She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private."The palace said that Kate, the wife of Prince William, wished to apologize for postponing her upcoming engagements.“She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible,” the palace said.A royal by choice — not birth — Kate is the daughter of a flight attendant and a flight dispatcher. Born in Reading, England, on Jan. 9, 1982, Catherine Elizabeth Middleton grew up with a younger sister, Pippa, and a younger brother, James.The family is from a well-to-do area of Berkshire, west of London, and moved to Jordan when Kate was 2 years old because of her father’s work. They returned to England in 1986, and Kate attended the exclusive Marlborough College, where she was active in sports such as tennis.She first met Prince William, the elder son of the late Princess Diana and Charles, at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.After Prince Harry and Meghan’s stormy departure to California in 2020, the Prince and Princess of Wales have solidified their position as being among the most popular members of the royal family. Kate, in particular, has remained a reliable royal in the public eye — the smiling mother of three who can comfort grieving parents at a children’s hospice or wow the nation by playing piano during a televised Christmas concert.She was among the royals who appeared at the annual Christmas Day service at Sandringham.

Palace: Princess of Wales hospitalized, King Charles to have treatment

A new National Institutes of Health grant awarded to Center for Heart and Vascular Research&nbsp;at the University of Nebraska Medical Center&nbsp;signals the future of UNMC’s leadership in tackling diseases that are the leading cause of death and hospitalization in Nebraska and across the U.S.

The Center for Heart and Vascular Research, under the direction of principal investigator Rebekah Gundry, PhD, recently was awarded more than $11.8 million by the National Institutes of Health to create a Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) focused on finding answers for heart and vascular diseases. The COBRE is a considerable stamp of approval and source of support from the National Institutes of Health and its National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

“The achievement of this significant and prestigious National Institutes of Health COBRE grant officially marks heart and vascular research as the latest of UNMC’s signature programs of expertise, yet another way we are proud to lead our nation and the world,” UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, said.

“But most important,” Dr. Gold continued, “the work done thanks to this support will someday make a true difference in the lives of our patients, and the families who love them. This is why we go to work every day.”

The COBRE will grow a center that develops early career researchers, promotes collaborative research and supports research into heart and vascular diseases through cutting-edge infrastructure and invaluable mentoring.

Dr. Gundry is especially excited that the COBRE goes beyond empowering UNMC’s current accomplished cadre of heart and vascular disease scientists and charges UNMC and the Center for Heart and Vascular Research with developing the next generation of outstanding heart and vascular disease investigators at the medical center and in the U.S.

“The whole idea is to establish a pipeline for which we nurture, we grow, we mentor early career investigators to become independent,” Dr. Gundry said, meaning they ascend to the point that their heart and vascular disease research labs are fueled by NIH or other independent funding.

So, the COBRE doesn’t just support the early career scientist’s ability to do research. It also supports a senior scientist’s ability to mentor the early career scientist in all aspects of the job. And that creates more senior scientists, operating at the top of their respective games.

“It’s all tied together,” Dr. Gundry said. “And the reality is we’re better as a group.”

UNMC early-career investigators now receiving NIH funding as part of the COBRE include Jeffrey Salomon, MD, who studies the microbiome in congenital heart disease. Pediatric cardiac research like this means, “You have the opportunity to set that person up for a better life long-term, with perhaps fewer need for interventions later on,” Dr. Gundry said.

“After so much hard work by so many individuals, it is very exciting to have this opportunity,” Dr. Salomon said.

Marian Urban, MD, PhD, is just as enthusiastic about the new support for his project: “This grant will provide significant resources to advance the donor organ intervention research and will ultimately increase the number of donor hearts available for transplantation,” he said.

Jason Cook, MD, PhD, also will receive NIH funding as an early-career research project leader as part of the COBRE.

Windy Alonso, PhD, assistant professor of nursing, was to have been the fourth, and she contributed to being awarded the grant. But meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unmc.edu/newsroom/2023/09/08/nursings-dr-alonso-team-tackle-ground-breaking-exercise-research/" target="_blank">she’s already achieved her own independent federal funding</a>. Another deserving research project leader will be identified to fill that spot, Dr. Gundry said.

The COBRE grant also allows UNMC to develop and support critical research infrastructure that catalyzes innovative heart and vascular disease research including a new CHVR Bioassay Core.

The Center for Heart and Vascular Research already capitalizes upon the Nebraska Cardiovascular Biobank and Registry, “one of the most amazing human specimen biobanks that exist,” Dr. Gundry said. The Center for Heart and Vascular Research also benefits tremendously from a partnership with Nebraska Medicine, which has one of the largest heart failure and transplant programs in the country and one of the busiest academic vascular surgery services in the Midwest.

“One of the practical strategic aspects of doing research is thinking about what can you do that you can do better than anyone else?” Dr. Gundry said. “What can you do that’s different? That will still be impactful, but help you do something that sets yourself apart and above what is possible elsewhere?

“Here it’s really a perfect storm of the right personnel, the right leadership, the right infrastructure, right&nbsp;facilities that are going to do those (impactful) things.”

This is UNMC’s third funded COBRE as an institution, with a fourth set to be submitted for proposal in spring 2024.

UNMCA new National Institutes of Health grant awarded to Center for Heart and Vascular Research&nbsp;at the University of Nebraska Medical Center&nbsp;signals the future of UNMC’s leadership in tackling diseases that are the leading cause of death and hospitalization in Nebraska and across the U.S.The Center for Heart and Vascular Research, under the direction of principal investigator Rebekah Gundry, PhD, recently was awarded more than $11.8 million by the National Institutes of Health to create a Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) focused on finding answers for heart and vascular diseases. The COBRE is a considerable stamp of approval and source of support from the National Institutes of Health and its National Institute of General Medical Sciences.“The achievement of this significant and prestigious National Institutes of Health COBRE grant officially marks heart and vascular research as the latest of UNMC’s signature programs of expertise, yet another way we are proud to lead our nation and the world,” UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, said.“But most important,” Dr. Gold continued, “the work done thanks to this support will someday make a true difference in the lives of our patients, and the families who love them. This is why we go to work every day.”The COBRE will grow a center that develops early career researchers, promotes collaborative research and supports research into heart and vascular diseases through cutting-edge infrastructure and invaluable mentoring.Dr. Gundry is especially excited that the COBRE goes beyond empowering UNMC’s current accomplished cadre of heart and vascular disease scientists and charges UNMC and the Center for Heart and Vascular Research with developing the next generation of outstanding heart and vascular disease investigators at the medical center and in the U.S.“The whole idea is to establish a pipeline for which we nurture, we grow, we mentor early career investigators to become independent,” Dr. Gundry said, meaning they ascend to the point that their heart and vascular disease research labs are fueled by NIH or other independent funding.So, the COBRE doesn’t just support the early career scientist’s ability to do research. It also supports a senior scientist’s ability to mentor the early career scientist in all aspects of the job. And that creates more senior scientists, operating at the top of their respective games.“It’s all tied together,” Dr. Gundry said. “And the reality is we’re better as a group.”UNMC early-career investigators now receiving NIH funding as part of the COBRE include Jeffrey Salomon, MD, who studies the microbiome in congenital heart disease. Pediatric cardiac research like this means, “You have the opportunity to set that person up for a better life long-term, with perhaps fewer need for interventions later on,” Dr. Gundry said.“After so much hard work by so many individuals, it is very exciting to have this opportunity,” Dr. Salomon said.Marian Urban, MD, PhD, is just as enthusiastic about the new support for his project: “This grant will provide significant resources to advance the donor organ intervention research and will ultimately increase the number of donor hearts available for transplantation,” he said.Jason Cook, MD, PhD, also will receive NIH funding as an early-career research project leader as part of the COBRE.Windy Alonso, PhD, assistant professor of nursing, was to have been the fourth, and she contributed to being awarded the grant. But meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unmc.edu/newsroom/2023/09/08/nursings-dr-alonso-team-tackle-ground-breaking-exercise-research/" target="_blank">she’s already achieved her own independent federal funding</a>. Another deserving research project leader will be identified to fill that spot, Dr. Gundry said.The COBRE grant also allows UNMC to develop and support critical research infrastructure that catalyzes innovative heart and vascular disease research including a new CHVR Bioassay Core.The Center for Heart and Vascular Research already capitalizes upon the Nebraska Cardiovascular Biobank and Registry, “one of the most amazing human specimen biobanks that exist,” Dr. Gundry said. The Center for Heart and Vascular Research also benefits tremendously from a partnership with Nebraska Medicine, which has one of the largest heart failure and transplant programs in the country and one of the busiest academic vascular surgery services in the Midwest.But the momentum is just beginning.“One of the practical strategic aspects of doing research is thinking about what can you do that you can do better than anyone else?” Dr. Gundry said. “What can you do that’s different? That will still be impactful, but help you do something that sets yourself apart and above what is possible elsewhere?“Here it’s really a perfect storm of the right personnel, the right leadership, the right infrastructure, right&nbsp;facilities that are going to do those (impactful) things.”This is UNMC’s third funded COBRE as an institution, with a fourth set to be submitted for proposal in spring 2024.

UNMC heart, vascular research leaps forward with new grant

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen issued Executive Order 24-2 to produce and preserve electricity in the face of energy demands resulting from the recent snowstorm and subzero temperatures. Power providers are permitted to take steps necessary to meet ongoing demands. At the same time, entities with an ability to generate electricity are asked to take actions that will ensure preservation of the electrical grid.

The Governor’s order is effective immediately and will remain in effect through February 16, 2924, at 11:59 pm.

The complete text of the executive order is attached.

<a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/governor.nebraska.gov/files/doc/press/EO-24-2-Meeting-Power-Demands-Due-to-the-State-of-Emergency.pdf">EO 24-2 - Meeting Power Demands Due to the State of Emergency.pdf</a>

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen issued Executive Order 24-2 to produce and preserve electricity in the face of energy demands resulting from the recent snowstorm and subzero temperatures. Power providers are permitted to take steps necessary to meet ongoing demands. At the same time, entities with an ability to generate electricity are asked to take actions that will ensure preservation of the electrical grid.The Governor’s order is effective immediately and will remain in effect through February 16, 2924, at 11:59 pm.The complete text of the executive order is attached.<a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/governor.nebraska.gov/files/doc/press/EO-24-2-Meeting-Power-Demands-Due-to-the-State-of-Emergency.pdf">EO 24-2 - Meeting Power Demands Due to the State of Emergency.pdf</a>

Gov. Pillen Temporarily Waves Regulations on Nebraska’s Power Providers’ Ability to Produce Electricity 

JERUSALEM (AP)— Two Israeli men who were captured in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack have been confirmed dead after the militant group released a video saying they were killed in Israeli airstrikes.

A forum for families of hostages released statements Tuesday confirming that Yossi Sharabi, 53, and Itai Svirsky, 38, had died in captivity in Gaza. They did not say how the men died.

The two were kidnapped from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-war-village-11396912de483148398800aa7914d674">Kibbutz Be’eri</a>, one of several communities near Gaza that Hamas and other militants overran after breaking through Israel’s border defenses. The attack ignited the war in Gaza, which is still raging.

Hamas released a video on Monday showing Sharabi and Svirsky giving statements on camera, likely under duress, followed by images of what appeared to be their dead bodies. It said they were killed in Israeli airstrikes.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesperson, said Monday that the army had feared for their lives. He said Israeli forces had struck a building near where the hostages were being held but did not know their location at the time.

Hamas and other militants captured some 250 people in the Oct. 7 attack. More than 100 were released in November during a weeklong cease-fire in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Most of the rest are still in captivity.

Hamas has said no more hostages will be released until there is a permanent cease-fire.

Meanwhile, medicine for hostages was en route to Gaza on Wednesday after Qatar and France mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas — the first agreement between the two since a weeklong cease-fire broke down in November.

The deal came more than 100 days into a conflict that shows no sign of ending and has sparked tensions across the Middle East, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">a dizzying array of strikes and counterstrikes</a>&nbsp;in recent days from northern Iraq to the Red Sea and from southern Lebanon to Pakistan.

The United States launched the third strike&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">in recent days</a>&nbsp;against the Houthi rebel group in Yemen, according to a U.S. official. The Houthis have attacked shipping in the crucial Red Sea corridor, saying they seek to halt&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s war in Gaza against Hamas</a>.

In northern Gaza, Palestinian militants battled Israeli forces and launched a barrage of rockets from farther south. The Palestinian death toll rose to 24,285 people, Gaza's Health Ministry said Tuesday. In Israel, around 1,200 people were killed during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2">Hamas' Oct. 7 attack</a>&nbsp;that sparked the war and saw some 250 people taken hostage by the militants.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705462505185.png" alt="Yossi Sharabi photo&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.bringthemhomenow.net/">Hostages and Missing Families Forum</a>" />
 <figcaption>Yossi Sharabi photo&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.bringthemhomenow.net/">Hostages and Missing Families Forum</a></figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP)— Two Israeli men who were captured in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack have been confirmed dead after the militant group released a video saying they were killed in Israeli airstrikes.A forum for families of hostages released statements Tuesday confirming that Yossi Sharabi, 53, and Itai Svirsky, 38, had died in captivity in Gaza. They did not say how the men died.The two were kidnapped from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-war-village-11396912de483148398800aa7914d674">Kibbutz Be’eri</a>, one of several communities near Gaza that Hamas and other militants overran after breaking through Israel’s border defenses. The attack ignited the war in Gaza, which is still raging.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705462624278.png" alt="Itai Svirsky -photo&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.bringthemhomenow.net/">Hostages and Missing Families Forum</a>" />
 <figcaption>Itai Svirsky -photo&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.bringthemhomenow.net/">Hostages and Missing Families Forum</a></figcaption>
 </figure>Hamas released a video on Monday showing Sharabi and Svirsky giving statements on camera, likely under duress, followed by images of what appeared to be their dead bodies. It said they were killed in Israeli airstrikes.Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesperson, said Monday that the army had feared for their lives. He said Israeli forces had struck a building near where the hostages were being held but did not know their location at the time.Hamas and other militants captured some 250 people in the Oct. 7 attack. More than 100 were released in November during a weeklong cease-fire in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Most of the rest are still in captivity.Hamas has said no more hostages will be released until there is a permanent cease-fire.Meanwhile, medicine for hostages was en route to Gaza on Wednesday after Qatar and France mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas — the first agreement between the two since a weeklong cease-fire broke down in November.The deal came more than 100 days into a conflict that shows no sign of ending and has sparked tensions across the Middle East, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">a dizzying array of strikes and counterstrikes</a>&nbsp;in recent days from northern Iraq to the Red Sea and from southern Lebanon to Pakistan.The United States launched the third strike&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">in recent days</a>&nbsp;against the Houthi rebel group in Yemen, according to a U.S. official. The Houthis have attacked shipping in the crucial Red Sea corridor, saying they seek to halt&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s war in Gaza against Hamas</a>.In northern Gaza, Palestinian militants battled Israeli forces and launched a barrage of rockets from farther south. The Palestinian death toll rose to 24,285 people, Gaza's Health Ministry said Tuesday. In Israel, around 1,200 people were killed during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2">Hamas' Oct. 7 attack</a>&nbsp;that sparked the war and saw some 250 people taken hostage by the militants.

Two more hostages confirmed dead in Gaza

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHAT OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN TARGETED?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Such calls have proven dangerous and even outright deadly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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