LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen is expressing his appreciation following a personal meeting with Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, administrator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).&nbsp; The visit on Monday, Nov. 13 in Washington, D.C. centered on concerns about the impact of recently proposed federal staffing requirements on long-term care facilities, including those in Nebraska.

“I appreciate the time that Administrator Brooks-LaSure took to hear our concerns and understand the circumstances that are currently plaguing our nursing workforce and nursing homes,” said Gov. Pillen. “These proposed regulations would have a detrimental impact on long-term care facilities and would force even more to close their doors. My hope is that this meeting provided a better understanding of the dynamics that exist in Nebraska, and the potential impacts, especially in our rural areas.”

This month, Gov. Pillen and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds led a group of 15 governors in signing a letter to President Biden, urging reconsideration of the proposed CMS staffing rule. In the letter they noted that the proposal would, “force many long-term care facilities to close and erode health care access for some of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.”

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen is expressing his appreciation following a personal meeting with Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, administrator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).&nbsp; The visit on Monday, Nov. 13 in Washington, D.C. centered on concerns about the impact of recently proposed federal staffing requirements on long-term care facilities, including those in Nebraska.“I appreciate the time that Administrator Brooks-LaSure took to hear our concerns and understand the circumstances that are currently plaguing our nursing workforce and nursing homes,” said Gov. Pillen. “These proposed regulations would have a detrimental impact on long-term care facilities and would force even more to close their doors. My hope is that this meeting provided a better understanding of the dynamics that exist in Nebraska, and the potential impacts, especially in our rural areas.”This month, Gov. Pillen and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds led a group of 15 governors in signing a letter to President Biden, urging reconsideration of the proposed CMS staffing rule. In the letter they noted that the proposal would, “force many long-term care facilities to close and erode health care access for some of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.”

Gov. Pillen Shares Concerns with CMS Administrator at D.C. Meeting

WASHINGTON (AP) — An Indian company that recently recalled eyedrops sold in the U.S. had a host of sanitation and manufacturing problems, including barefoot workers, cracked floors and altered records, U.S. health inspectors found.

Food and Drug Administration officials uncovered more than a dozen problems at the Mumbai plant operated by Kilitch Healthcare India, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/173608/download">preliminary inspection report</a>&nbsp;posted by the agency. The factory produced more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eyedrops-recall-fda-infection-cvs-rite-aid-a9471104de34efd152137d3fdba9c260">two dozen varieties of eyedrops</a>&nbsp;that were subject to an FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-warns-consumers-not-purchase-or-use-certain-eye-drops-several-major-brands-due-risk-eye">safety warning</a>&nbsp;last month.

The products were sold by CVS Health, Target, Rite Aid and other national retailers who said they would be removed from store shelves. New details about the plant's problems emerged after FDA inspectors visited the plant late last month.

Agency inspectors documented factory workers not wearing masks, gloves and gowns and working barefoot in areas that are supposed to be sterile. A manager told FDA officials “that this is their standard practice,” according to the report.

Elsewhere, FDA staff noted cracked floors, plus water stains and peeling paint on walls and ceilings.

The FDA report also suggests factory officials would routinely omit or falsify contamination test results.

For instance, a factory microbiologist said that a bacterial sample that could trigger “an alert or action limit” would not be documented. Instead, officials would perform additional cleaning and then record a figure that indicated sterility. This occurred “two or three times per month,” according to the microbiologist.

The FDA's initial findings are likely to be followed by a formal report and a warning letter to the company.

On Monday, Kilitch Healthcare officially recalled the lubricating eyedrops, sold in 27 different brands and formulations. The agency&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/kilitch-healthcare-india-limited-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-various-eye-drops-potential">published the notice</a>&nbsp;to its website Wednesday. The recall is something of a formality, since the FDA had already alerted U.S. stores and consumers to the problem.

FDA officials don't have the legal authority to force drug manufacturers to recall their products, and instead rely on companies to “voluntarily” do so. The FDA had recommended the recall on Oct. 25 and shortly thereafter blocked imports from Kilitch.

Drugmakers and distributors “are responsible for the quality of their products,” but the FDA recently asked Congress for the authority to mandate such recalls, an agency spokeswoman said in a statement Thursday.

Kilitch Healthcare said it has not received “any reports of adverse events” related to its products. The drops could cause vision loss or blindness, according to the FDA.

The lubricating drops were distributed in the U.S. by Velocity Pharma, based in Farmingdale, New York, and carry expiration dates between November 2023 and September 2025.

FDA records show no prior inspections for Kilitch Healthcare.

The FDA is responsible for assuring the safety of foreign products shipped to the U.S., though it has long struggled to keep pace with international pharmaceutical supply chains that increasingly begin in India.

Recently, the agency has been working to make up for missed inspections that weren't conducted during COVID-19. Agency records show FDA didn't conduct any inspections in India during fiscal year 2021, at the height of the pandemic. Inspections rose to 177 in fiscal 2023, but that was still about half the number of inspections that the FDA was conducting the year before COVID-19.

CVS Health said in a statement that it previously “stopped the sale in-store and online” of all the eyedrops cited by the FDA. Customers can return them to CVS for a full refund.

Target did not respond to emailed questions about the products. Cardinal Health, a medical supply company, also did not respond to emails.

Earlier this year, federal officials linked an unrelated outbreak of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-city-business-health-4572be6da44f4fab4e0f691f5e37e3ed">drug-resistant bacteria</a>&nbsp;to eyedrops from two different companies, EzriCare and Delsam Pharma.

More than 80 people in the U.S. tested positive for eye infections from the rare bacterial strain, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/crpa-artificial-tears.html#anchor_1674746879046">most recent update</a>&nbsp;from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among them, 14 people suffered vision loss, four had to have an eye removed and four died, the CDC said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — An Indian company that recently recalled eyedrops sold in the U.S. had a host of sanitation and manufacturing problems, including barefoot workers, cracked floors and altered records, U.S. health inspectors found.Food and Drug Administration officials uncovered more than a dozen problems at the Mumbai plant operated by Kilitch Healthcare India, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/173608/download">preliminary inspection report</a>&nbsp;posted by the agency. The factory produced more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eyedrops-recall-fda-infection-cvs-rite-aid-a9471104de34efd152137d3fdba9c260">two dozen varieties of eyedrops</a>&nbsp;that were subject to an FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-warns-consumers-not-purchase-or-use-certain-eye-drops-several-major-brands-due-risk-eye">safety warning</a>&nbsp;last month.The products were sold by CVS Health, Target, Rite Aid and other national retailers who said they would be removed from store shelves. New details about the plant's problems emerged after FDA inspectors visited the plant late last month.Agency inspectors documented factory workers not wearing masks, gloves and gowns and working barefoot in areas that are supposed to be sterile. A manager told FDA officials “that this is their standard practice,” according to the report.Elsewhere, FDA staff noted cracked floors, plus water stains and peeling paint on walls and ceilings.The FDA report also suggests factory officials would routinely omit or falsify contamination test results.For instance, a factory microbiologist said that a bacterial sample that could trigger “an alert or action limit” would not be documented. Instead, officials would perform additional cleaning and then record a figure that indicated sterility. This occurred “two or three times per month,” according to the microbiologist.The FDA's initial findings are likely to be followed by a formal report and a warning letter to the company.On Monday, Kilitch Healthcare officially recalled the lubricating eyedrops, sold in 27 different brands and formulations. The agency&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/kilitch-healthcare-india-limited-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-various-eye-drops-potential">published the notice</a>&nbsp;to its website Wednesday. The recall is something of a formality, since the FDA had already alerted U.S. stores and consumers to the problem.FDA officials don't have the legal authority to force drug manufacturers to recall their products, and instead rely on companies to “voluntarily” do so. The FDA had recommended the recall on Oct. 25 and shortly thereafter blocked imports from Kilitch.Drugmakers and distributors “are responsible for the quality of their products,” but the FDA recently asked Congress for the authority to mandate such recalls, an agency spokeswoman said in a statement Thursday.Kilitch Healthcare said it has not received “any reports of adverse events” related to its products. The drops could cause vision loss or blindness, according to the FDA.The lubricating drops were distributed in the U.S. by Velocity Pharma, based in Farmingdale, New York, and carry expiration dates between November 2023 and September 2025.FDA records show no prior inspections for Kilitch Healthcare.The FDA is responsible for assuring the safety of foreign products shipped to the U.S., though it has long struggled to keep pace with international pharmaceutical supply chains that increasingly begin in India.Recently, the agency has been working to make up for missed inspections that weren't conducted during COVID-19. Agency records show FDA didn't conduct any inspections in India during fiscal year 2021, at the height of the pandemic. Inspections rose to 177 in fiscal 2023, but that was still about half the number of inspections that the FDA was conducting the year before COVID-19.CVS Health said in a statement that it previously “stopped the sale in-store and online” of all the eyedrops cited by the FDA. Customers can return them to CVS for a full refund.Target did not respond to emailed questions about the products. Cardinal Health, a medical supply company, also did not respond to emails.Earlier this year, federal officials linked an unrelated outbreak of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-city-business-health-4572be6da44f4fab4e0f691f5e37e3ed">drug-resistant bacteria</a>&nbsp;to eyedrops from two different companies, EzriCare and Delsam Pharma.More than 80 people in the U.S. tested positive for eye infections from the rare bacterial strain, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/crpa-artificial-tears.html#anchor_1674746879046">most recent update</a>&nbsp;from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among them, 14 people suffered vision loss, four had to have an eye removed and four died, the CDC said.

Sanitation issues: FDA expands eyedrops recall

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday signed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-government-shutdown-43064e2521454f5ce32851ef74ac50cf">temporary spending bill</a>&nbsp;a day before a potential government shutdown, pushing a fight with congressional Republicans over the federal budget into the new year, as wartime aid for Ukraine and Israel remains stalled.

The measure passed the House and Senate by wide bipartisan margins this week, ensuring the government remains open until after the holiday season, and potentially giving lawmakers more time to sort out their considerable differences over government spending levels for the current fiscal year. Biden signed the bill in San Francisco, where he is hosting the summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation economies.

News of the signing came late at night. The president signed the bill at the Legion of Honor Museum, where he held a dinner for APEC members.

The spending package keeps government funding at current levels for roughly two more months while a long-term package is negotiated. It&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-budget-mike-johnson-d942acf1a8b163f0b52f209da42953c6">splits the deadlines</a>&nbsp;for passing full-year appropriations bills into two dates: Jan. 19 for some federal agencies and Feb. 2 for others, creating two dates when there will be a risk of a partial government shutdown.

The two-step approach was championed by new House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, and was not favored by many in the Senate, though all but one Democrat and 10 Republicans supported it because it ensured the government would not shut down for now.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Johnson</a>&nbsp;has vowed that he will not support any further stopgap funding measures, known as continuing resolutions. He portrayed the temporary funding bill as setting the ground for a spending “fight” with the Senate next year.

The spending bill does not include the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb">White House’s nearly $106 billion</a>&nbsp;request for wartime aid for Israel and Ukraine. Nor does it provide humanitarian funding for Palestinians and other supplemental requests, including money for border security. Lawmakers are likely to turn their attention more fully to that request after the Thanksgiving holiday in hopes of negotiating a deal.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700218706278.png" alt="President Joe Biden offers a host at the heads of delegation dinner at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, at the Legion of Honor Museum in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)" />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden offers a host at the heads of delegation dinner at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, at the Legion of Honor Museum in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)</figcaption>
 </figure>SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday signed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-government-shutdown-43064e2521454f5ce32851ef74ac50cf">temporary spending bill</a>&nbsp;a day before a potential government shutdown, pushing a fight with congressional Republicans over the federal budget into the new year, as wartime aid for Ukraine and Israel remains stalled.The measure passed the House and Senate by wide bipartisan margins this week, ensuring the government remains open until after the holiday season, and potentially giving lawmakers more time to sort out their considerable differences over government spending levels for the current fiscal year. Biden signed the bill in San Francisco, where he is hosting the summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation economies.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Last night I signed a bill preventing a government shutdown. It’s an important step but we have more to do. I urge Congress to address our national security and domestic needs — and House Republicans to stop wasting time on extreme bills and honor our bipartisan budget agreement. <a href="https://t.co/6Ja5jW4YPR">pic.twitter.com/6Ja5jW4YPR</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1725486559741272335?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>News of the signing came late at night. The president signed the bill at the Legion of Honor Museum, where he held a dinner for APEC members.The spending package keeps government funding at current levels for roughly two more months while a long-term package is negotiated. It&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-budget-mike-johnson-d942acf1a8b163f0b52f209da42953c6">splits the deadlines</a>&nbsp;for passing full-year appropriations bills into two dates: Jan. 19 for some federal agencies and Feb. 2 for others, creating two dates when there will be a risk of a partial government shutdown.The two-step approach was championed by new House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, and was not favored by many in the Senate, though all but one Democrat and 10 Republicans supported it because it ensured the government would not shut down for now.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Johnson</a>&nbsp;has vowed that he will not support any further stopgap funding measures, known as continuing resolutions. He portrayed the temporary funding bill as setting the ground for a spending “fight” with the Senate next year.The spending bill does not include the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb">White House’s nearly $106 billion</a>&nbsp;request for wartime aid for Israel and Ukraine. Nor does it provide humanitarian funding for Palestinians and other supplemental requests, including money for border security. Lawmakers are likely to turn their attention more fully to that request after the Thanksgiving holiday in hopes of negotiating a deal.

Biden signs bill pushing budget fight into new year

NOVEMBER 16, 2023 (YORK, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested one person after locating 100 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 near York.

At approximately 6:55 a.m. Wednesday, a trooper observed a Nissan Sentra driving on the shoulder of I-80 near mile marker 353. During the traffic stop, the trooper detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.

A search of the vehicle revealed one duffle bag and several trash bags containing packages of marijuana. The total weight of the packages was 100 pounds.

The driver, Enrique Alcala Zavalza, 50, of Woodland, California, was arrested for possession of marijuana – more than one pound and possession with intent to deliver. He was lodged in York County Jail.

Cody ThomasNOVEMBER 16, 2023 (YORK, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested one person after locating 100 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 near York.At approximately 6:55 a.m. Wednesday, a trooper observed a Nissan Sentra driving on the shoulder of I-80 near mile marker 353. During the traffic stop, the trooper detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.A search of the vehicle revealed one duffle bag and several trash bags containing packages of marijuana. The total weight of the packages was 100 pounds.The driver, Enrique Alcala Zavalza, 50, of Woodland, California, was arrested for possession of marijuana – more than one pound and possession with intent to deliver. He was lodged in York County Jail.

Troopers Find 100 LBs of Marijuana in I-80 Traffic Stop

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/15/nebraska-abortion-rights-petition-language-aims-for-viability-standard/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraska advocates seeking to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution chose language for a potential ballot initiative that would create a constitutional right to an abortion until a fetus is viable outside of the womb.

This push for viability language moves the local abortion debate beyond the appropriate number of weeks after which abortion should be banned and shifts it to a possible 2024 vote on whether it should be banned at a vague time later in a pregnancy.

The language also would keep abortion legal to protect the health and life of the mother. Nebraska law includes similar protections secured through legislative negotiations. An amendment would preserve them constitutionally.

Ashlei Spivey of Protect Our Rights, the Nebraska group pushing for the changes, said the language “is informed both by medical experts and where most Nebraskans are on this issue.” Spivey is executive director of I Be Black Girl. Protect Our Rights is hosting a campaign kickoff Thursday in Omaha.

“Unlike the state officials working to totally ban abortion, we’re elevating the voices and lived experiences of Nebraskans who believe that pregnant people should be able to access needed care with compassion and privacy, free from political interference. This amendment will ensure that these personal decisions stay with Nebraskans — not politicians,” she said.

Proponents of the constitutional change will need to gather more than 120,000 signatures from registered voters, or about 10%. They would also need signatures from at least 5% of registered voters in at least 38 of the state’s 93 counties.

Local advocates for additional abortion restrictions, including the Nebraska Catholic Conference, Nebraska Right to Life and the Nebraska Family Alliance, have argued Nebraskans would not approve language allowing abortion to viability.

Each has described such pushes elsewhere as “extreme.” The three groups of abortion opponents issued a joint statement Wednesday.

“Under this extreme amendment, a girl who is not old enough to get her ears pierced or get a tattoo on her own will be able to obtain an abortion without a parent ever knowing,” said Karen Bowling, executive director of Nebraska Family Alliance. “This evisceration of parental rights will concern every mom and dad in Nebraska. Women and children deserve real compassionate care, not lies from the abortion industry.”

Polling on abortion in Nebraska has been mixed depending on who asks the question and phrasing, but a majority surveyed have supported keeping abortion legal. The inflection point often concerns how late into a pregnancy abortion is allowed.

Defining fetal viability is difficult after years of improving medical care. However, most medical experts who have testified in other states about similar legal language have said a fetus becomes viable about 23 weeks into a pregnancy.

Nebraska was one of the first states to outlaw abortions 20 weeks after fertilization, which is 22 weeks gestation, while Roe v. Wade was law. Lawmakers tried to pass a ban last session after a required ultrasound detects embryonic cardiac activity, at about six weeks. It fell one vote short.

In the end, lawmakers passed a 12-week gestational age ban after combining it with legislation restricting some health care for trans minors. The new restrictions effectively ban abortion 9 to 10 weeks after fertilization, with some exceptions.

The Nebraska push to protect abortion is part of a national trend since Dobbs, even in red states. Ohio&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2023/11/07/ohio-voters-pass-issue-1-constitutional-amendment-to-protect-abortion-and-reproductive-rights/">passed a similar amendment</a>&nbsp;allowing abortion until viability. Kansas voters&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/02/kansas-voters-defeat-abortion-amendment-in-unexpected-landslide-1/">preserved constitutional language</a>&nbsp;keeping abortion legal.

In other states that have put similar language on the ballot, these campaigns for and against abortion language often draw millions of dollars in outside spending.

Gov. Jim Pillen, during a press conference on a legislative appointment, said he would oppose the initiative with everything he has. He said Nebraskans would not embrace it.

He described the language as “very vague and open” and said he worries that doctors and patients might stretch the definition deeper into a pregnancy than people think.

“I was proud to sign that bill into law, and I will continue to fight to save as many babies’ lives as possible from abortion, including by working to defeat this initiative,” he said.

Several state senators, including advocates for abortion rights and opponents, said they had no immediate comment because they were trying to digest the proposed language.

Some said they needed to speak to staffers about whether the Legislature would have to define viability as a legal term if the changes were adopted. Others questioned how much the viability standard could vary from doctor to doctor.

State Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston, who proposed the cardiac ban, said she and other abortion opponents would work to let people know the downsides of the potential language.

She called on people to reject language that would allow “late-term abortion throughout pregnancy, eliminate health and safety standards” and put Nebraska’s parental notification law at risk.

State Sen. Jen Day of Omaha said she was “excited to hear that Nebraska voters will have an opportunity to join the other states who have passed similar measures since the Dobbs decision.”

“Nebraskans deserve better than the government interfering in their most intimate, life-altering healthcare decisions, and I look forward to a positive victory in protecting the privacy, the liberty, the health, and the lives of Nebraskans,” she said.

State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, who authored the 12-week gestation ban, said he thought Nebraskans had found a compromise with his law.

He said the bill “we passed last year was reasonable, popular among the people of Nebraska.”

Abortion rights advocates in Nebraska disagreed at the time, including Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska’s Andi Curry Grubb. She and others have said the shorter ban put women’s health in peril, forcing women to seek reproductive care in other states.

Hansen and Albrecht stressed the exceptions for the life of the mother and rape and incest, and said what is happening with the petition effort in Nebraska is part of a broader national campaign.

“This is something they’ve done in other red states,” Hansen said. Of the potential amendment, he added, “They’re actually moving the goalposts farther than we had before, past 20 weeks.”

Dr. Emily Patel, a maternal fetal medicine specialist in Omaha, said the new language is quite similar to the state’s longtime ban that took effect 20 weeks after fertilization because it went into effect at 22 weeks gestation. Medical viability usually runs between 22 and 24 weeks, she said.

She said the amendment language would offer clarity to her and other doctors concerned by what some described as ambiguous language in the state’s new 12-week gestational age ban.

“It’s allowing patients and physicians to make decision about their medical care and about their pregnancies in the context of what’s going on in the pregnancy…,” Patel said of the possible amendment. “We really need to put that trust back in our patients and our providers.”

Nebraska Examiner reporter Zach Wendling contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700158738217.jpeg" alt=" Emotions flared after the U.S. Supreme Court last year struck down the constitutional right to abortion. Omahans rallied in support of abortion rights at Memorial Park in the wake of the court decision. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> Emotions flared after the U.S. Supreme Court last year struck down the constitutional right to abortion. Omahans rallied in support of abortion rights at Memorial Park in the wake of the court decision. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Aaron Sanderford<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/15/nebraska-abortion-rights-petition-language-aims-for-viability-standard/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Nebraska advocates seeking to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution chose language for a potential ballot initiative that would create a constitutional right to an abortion until a fetus is viable outside of the womb.This push for viability language moves the local abortion debate beyond the appropriate number of weeks after which abortion should be banned and shifts it to a possible 2024 vote on whether it should be banned at a vague time later in a pregnancy.The language also would keep abortion legal to protect the health and life of the mother. Nebraska law includes similar protections secured through legislative negotiations. An amendment would preserve them constitutionally.Ashlei Spivey of Protect Our Rights, the Nebraska group pushing for the changes, said the language “is informed both by medical experts and where most Nebraskans are on this issue.” Spivey is executive director of I Be Black Girl. Protect Our Rights is hosting a campaign kickoff Thursday in Omaha.“Unlike the state officials working to totally ban abortion, we’re elevating the voices and lived experiences of Nebraskans who believe that pregnant people should be able to access needed care with compassion and privacy, free from political interference. This amendment will ensure that these personal decisions stay with Nebraskans — not politicians,” she said.Proponents of the constitutional change will need to gather more than 120,000 signatures from registered voters, or about 10%. They would also need signatures from at least 5% of registered voters in at least 38 of the state’s 93 counties.<h2>Pushback on language as ‘extreme’</h2>Local advocates for additional abortion restrictions, including the Nebraska Catholic Conference, Nebraska Right to Life and the Nebraska Family Alliance, have argued Nebraskans would not approve language allowing abortion to viability.Each has described such pushes elsewhere as “extreme.” The three groups of abortion opponents issued a joint statement Wednesday.“Under this extreme amendment, a girl who is not old enough to get her ears pierced or get a tattoo on her own will be able to obtain an abortion without a parent ever knowing,” said Karen Bowling, executive director of Nebraska Family Alliance. “This evisceration of parental rights will concern every mom and dad in Nebraska. Women and children deserve real compassionate care, not lies from the abortion industry.”Polling on abortion in Nebraska has been mixed depending on who asks the question and phrasing, but a majority surveyed have supported keeping abortion legal. The inflection point often concerns how late into a pregnancy abortion is allowed.<h2>Fetal viability standard vs. weeks</h2>Defining fetal viability is difficult after years of improving medical care. However, most medical experts who have testified in other states about similar legal language have said a fetus becomes viable about 23 weeks into a pregnancy.Nebraska was one of the first states to outlaw abortions 20 weeks after fertilization, which is 22 weeks gestation, while Roe v. Wade was law. Lawmakers tried to pass a ban last session after a required ultrasound detects embryonic cardiac activity, at about six weeks. It fell one vote short.In the end, lawmakers passed a 12-week gestational age ban after combining it with legislation restricting some health care for trans minors. The new restrictions effectively ban abortion 9 to 10 weeks after fertilization, with some exceptions.The Nebraska push to protect abortion is part of a national trend since Dobbs, even in red states. Ohio&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2023/11/07/ohio-voters-pass-issue-1-constitutional-amendment-to-protect-abortion-and-reproductive-rights/">passed a similar amendment</a>&nbsp;allowing abortion until viability. Kansas voters&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/02/kansas-voters-defeat-abortion-amendment-in-unexpected-landslide-1/">preserved constitutional language</a>&nbsp;keeping abortion legal.In other states that have put similar language on the ballot, these campaigns for and against abortion language often draw millions of dollars in outside spending.Gov. Jim Pillen, during a press conference on a legislative appointment, said he would oppose the initiative with everything he has. He said Nebraskans would not embrace it.He described the language as “very vague and open” and said he worries that doctors and patients might stretch the definition deeper into a pregnancy than people think.“I was proud to sign that bill into law, and I will continue to fight to save as many babies’ lives as possible from abortion, including by working to defeat this initiative,” he said.Several state senators, including advocates for abortion rights and opponents, said they had no immediate comment because they were trying to digest the proposed language.Some said they needed to speak to staffers about whether the Legislature would have to define viability as a legal term if the changes were adopted. Others questioned how much the viability standard could vary from doctor to doctor.<h2>Some quick reactions</h2>State Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston, who proposed the cardiac ban, said she and other abortion opponents would work to let people know the downsides of the potential language.She called on people to reject language that would allow “late-term abortion throughout pregnancy, eliminate health and safety standards” and put Nebraska’s parental notification law at risk.State Sen. Jen Day of Omaha said she was “excited to hear that Nebraska voters will have an opportunity to join the other states who have passed similar measures since the Dobbs decision.”“Nebraskans deserve better than the government interfering in their most intimate, life-altering healthcare decisions, and I look forward to a positive victory in protecting the privacy, the liberty, the health, and the lives of Nebraskans,” she said.State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, who authored the 12-week gestation ban, said he thought Nebraskans had found a compromise with his law.He said the bill “we passed last year was reasonable, popular among the people of Nebraska.”Abortion rights advocates in Nebraska disagreed at the time, including Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska’s Andi Curry Grubb. She and others have said the shorter ban put women’s health in peril, forcing women to seek reproductive care in other states.Hansen and Albrecht stressed the exceptions for the life of the mother and rape and incest, and said what is happening with the petition effort in Nebraska is part of a broader national campaign.“This is something they’ve done in other red states,” Hansen said. Of the potential amendment, he added, “They’re actually moving the goalposts farther than we had before, past 20 weeks.”Dr. Emily Patel, a maternal fetal medicine specialist in Omaha, said the new language is quite similar to the state’s longtime ban that took effect 20 weeks after fertilization because it went into effect at 22 weeks gestation. Medical viability usually runs between 22 and 24 weeks, she said.She said the amendment language would offer clarity to her and other doctors concerned by what some described as ambiguous language in the state’s new 12-week gestational age ban.“It’s allowing patients and physicians to make decision about their medical care and about their pregnancies in the context of what’s going on in the pregnancy…,” Patel said of the possible amendment. “We really need to put that trust back in our patients and our providers.”Nebraska Examiner reporter Zach Wendling contributed to this report.

Nebraska abortion rights petition language aims for viability standard

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Today, Governor Jim Pillen issued the following statement in response to the Planned Parenthood-backed pro-abortion ballot initiative language released today:&nbsp;

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Today, Governor Jim Pillen issued the following statement in response to the Planned Parenthood-backed pro-abortion ballot initiative language released today:&nbsp;

Governor Pillen Provides Statement in Response to the Planned Parenthood Ballot Initiative

LINCOLN, NE –&nbsp;Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced his appointment of Fred Meyer to serve as the representative for District 41 in the Nebraska Legislature. He will fill the seat and complete the term of Senator Tom Briese, who was appointed by Gov. Pillen as state treasurer. The seat for District 41 has been vacant since Oct. 31.

“Fred has strong community ties and possesses a public servant mentality,” said Gov. Pillen. “He has held positions on many ag and economic development groups. He served on the St. Paul Board of Education and also the State Board of Education where he was elected to two terms following his appointment. Fred will do an excellent job representing the constituents of District 41.”

Secretary of State Bob Evnen administered the oath of office to the newly appointed senator following his remarks. Senator Meyer thanked former Senator Briese, saying it was a privilege to complete the former senator’s term, which will continue through 2024.

Senator Meyer will only serve the remainder of Senator Briese’s term. He does not intend to run for election to that seat in 2025.

“Sen. Briese has done excellent work representing District 41 for the past seven years, in particular, his advocacy for property tax relief,” noted Meyer. “I am humbled that Gov. Pillen appointed me for this role and I look forward to serving in the Legislature.”

LINCOLN, NE –&nbsp;Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced his appointment of Fred Meyer to serve as the representative for District 41 in the Nebraska Legislature. He will fill the seat and complete the term of Senator Tom Briese, who was appointed by Gov. Pillen as state treasurer. The seat for District 41 has been vacant since Oct. 31.“Fred has strong community ties and possesses a public servant mentality,” said Gov. Pillen. “He has held positions on many ag and economic development groups. He served on the St. Paul Board of Education and also the State Board of Education where he was elected to two terms following his appointment. Fred will do an excellent job representing the constituents of District 41.”Secretary of State Bob Evnen administered the oath of office to the newly appointed senator following his remarks. Senator Meyer thanked former Senator Briese, saying it was a privilege to complete the former senator’s term, which will continue through 2024.Senator Meyer will only serve the remainder of Senator Briese’s term. He does not intend to run for election to that seat in 2025.“Sen. Briese has done excellent work representing District 41 for the past seven years, in particular, his advocacy for property tax relief,” noted Meyer. “I am humbled that Gov. Pillen appointed me for this role and I look forward to serving in the Legislature.”

Governor Pillen Announces Appointment for District 41  

WASHINGTON (AP) — It was a meeting a year in the making.

President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-xi-apec-san-francisco-58d11e7e3902955302182c2bc41430e0" target="_blank">sat down together</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday just outside of San Francisco, where Asian leaders gathered for an annual summit. It was almost exactly one year since their last encounter in Bali, Indonesia, on the sidelines of another global gathering.

In addition to a formal bilateral meeting, Biden and Xi shared a lunch with top advisers and strolled the verdant grounds of the luxury estate where their meeting took place.

(Click below to watch the news conference or <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/11/16/remarks-by-president-biden-in-a-press-conference-woodside-ca/">click here</a> to read the remarks

Biden said afterwards that the meeting included “some of the most constructive and productive discussions we’ve had.” He added that they will “keep the lines of communication open” and Xi is “willing to pick up the phone” — no small thing in the world of high-risk, high-stakes diplomacy between Washington and Beijing.

In another potential sign of warmer feelings, Xi signaled later in the night that China would send new pandas to the United States after the three at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington were returned earlier this month. In a speech, Xi said he wanted to “deepen the friendly ties between our two peoples.” Xi also said he learned that Americans — particularly children — were “really reluctant” to say goodbye to the rare and popular animals.

Here’s a look at how the rest of the day panned out.

Biden left the meeting with commitments on key issues.

Xi agreed to help curb the production of the illicit fentanyl that is a deadly component of drugs sold in the United States. A senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a private meeting, said the shift will be a setback for Latin American drug dealers.

“It’s going to save lives, and I appreciated President Xi’s commitment on this issue,” Biden said at a press conference after his meeting.

In addition, Biden and Xi reached an agreement to resume&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-china-military-relations-339980a0d494bcde92905411838808a4" target="_blank">military-to-military communications</a>. That means Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will speak with his Chinese counterpart once someone is named to the job, the official said. Similar engagements will take place up and down the military chain of command.

The official said Biden was “very clear” to Xi that such communications between U.S. and China should be institutionalized and that they are “not done as a gift or as a favor to either side.”

Biden said the U.S. and China would talk more about artificial intelligence as well.

“We’re going to get our experts together and discuss risk and safety issues,” he said.

The agreements helped fulfill the White House’s goal for the meeting — prove to voters that Biden’s dedication to personal diplomacy is paying off.

On Sunday, national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN that Biden wanted “practical ways” to show that meeting with Xi can help “defend American interests and also deliver progress on the priorities of the American people.”

Zoe Liu, a fellow for China studies at the Council for Foreign Relations, described the meeting between Biden and Xi as a positive step, albeit an incremental one.

“These agreements will not change the structural challenges in the bilateral relations, but it paves the way for more detailed working-level discussions, which is more important,” she said.

BIDEN PRESSES CHINA TO ACT LIKE A SUPERPOWER IN COOLING GLOBAL TENSIONS

Beijing has long sought to be treated as an equal by Washington, and Biden sought to leverage those ambitions with Xi to address two devastating wars.

In their private session, Biden appealed to Xi to use his influence to try to calm global tensions, particularly to try to pressure Iran not to widen the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

A U.S. official said Biden did most of the talking on the matter, and that Xi mostly listened, and that it was too soon to tell what sort of message China was sending to Tehran and how it was being received.

Biden has also pressed Xi to continue to withhold military support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A ‘CLEAR-HEADED’ EXCHANGE AND A WARNING ON TAIWAN

Biden and Xi held a “clear-headed” and “not heated” discussion on Taiwan — the most sensitive topic in the relationship with the greatest potential to spiral into wider conflict. Biden said he reaffirmed the United States’ “One China” policy and its belief that any resolution must be peaceful.

“I’m not going to change that,” Biden said. “That’s not going to change.”

He reiterated, though, that the U.S. would continue to arm Taiwan as a deterrent against any attempt by China to use force to reunify the self-governing island with the mainland. The U.S. had maintained strategic ambiguity about whether it would directly intervene to protect Taiwan in the event of an invasion by Beijing.

Xi, a U.S. official said, told Biden he had no plans to invade the island, though Biden chided him for China’s massive military build-up around Taiwan. Biden also called on China to avoid meddling in Taiwan’s elections next year.

Xi arrived in San Francisco at a time of economic challenges back in China, where an aging population and growing debt have hampered its recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Beijing’s description of the meeting, Xi pressed Biden to lift sanctions and change policies on export controls for sensitive equipment.

“Stifling China’s technological progress is nothing but a move to contain China’s high-quality development and deprive the Chinese people of their right to development,” the readout said. “China’s development and growth, driven by its own inherent logic, will not be stopped by external forces.”

There’s no indication that Biden will agree to take such steps. But even the meeting itself could calm jittery nerves back in China, where there have been signs foreign investment is tapering off.

Zhang Lei, a Chinese businessman whose company, Cheche Group, is listed on NASDAQ, said high-level meetings such as the one between Biden and Xi can help assure companies that have been hesitant to invest in China.

“Confrontations don’t work,” he said. “You don’t make money with confrontations.”

Biden and Xi go back years, and Biden often repeats the story of their meetings when they were both vice presidents.

But on Wednesday, it was Xi’s turn to reference their previous encounters during brief public remarks, although he eschewed the embellishments that Biden usually adds to the tale.

“It was 12 years ago,” Xi said. “I still remember our interactions very vividly, and it always gives me a lot of thoughts.”

Biden also emphasized the length of their relationship and the value of their interactions.

“We haven’t always agreed, which was not a surprise to anyone, but our meetings have always been candid, straightforward and useful,” Biden said. He added that “it’s paramount that you and I understand each other clearly, leader to leader, with no misconceptions or miscommunication.”

Bilateral meetings aren’t always conducive to a personal touch, and Biden and Xi were flanked by advisers on opposite sides of a long table. However, a senior administration official said they spoke about their wives, and Biden wished Xi’s wife a happy birthday.

The official, who requested anonymity to discuss a private conversation, said Xi was embarrassed, and he admitted that he had forgotten his wife’s upcoming birthday because he’s been working so hard.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700099093038.png" alt="Biden said afterwards that the meeting included “some of the most constructive and productive discussions we’ve had.”-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Biden said afterwards that the meeting included “some of the most constructive and productive discussions we’ve had.”-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — It was a meeting a year in the making.President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-xi-apec-san-francisco-58d11e7e3902955302182c2bc41430e0" target="_blank">sat down together</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday just outside of San Francisco, where Asian leaders gathered for an annual summit. It was almost exactly one year since their last encounter in Bali, Indonesia, on the sidelines of another global gathering.In addition to a formal bilateral meeting, Biden and Xi shared a lunch with top advisers and strolled the verdant grounds of the luxury estate where their meeting took place.(Click below to watch the news conference or <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/11/16/remarks-by-president-biden-in-a-press-conference-woodside-ca/">click here</a> to read the remarks<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-eyN56bHf9c?si=489IZb8GyKRGEJW1" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Biden said afterwards that the meeting included “some of the most constructive and productive discussions we’ve had.” He added that they will “keep the lines of communication open” and Xi is “willing to pick up the phone” — no small thing in the world of high-risk, high-stakes diplomacy between Washington and Beijing.In another potential sign of warmer feelings, Xi signaled later in the night that China would send new pandas to the United States after the three at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington were returned earlier this month. In a speech, Xi said he wanted to “deepen the friendly ties between our two peoples.” Xi also said he learned that Americans — particularly children — were “really reluctant” to say goodbye to the rare and popular animals.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Mr. President, we have known each other for a long time. We have not always agreed. But our meetings are always candid, straightforward, and useful. Yesterday was no different. Our nations may be in competition, but that doesn&#39;t mean we can&#39;t compete responsibly. <a href="https://t.co/550epPY91b">pic.twitter.com/550epPY91b</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1725188999688413443?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Here’s a look at how the rest of the day panned out.<h2>NEW AGREEMENTS</h2>Biden left the meeting with commitments on key issues.Xi agreed to help curb the production of the illicit fentanyl that is a deadly component of drugs sold in the United States. A senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a private meeting, said the shift will be a setback for Latin American drug dealers.“It’s going to save lives, and I appreciated President Xi’s commitment on this issue,” Biden said at a press conference after his meeting.In addition, Biden and Xi reached an agreement to resume&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-china-military-relations-339980a0d494bcde92905411838808a4" target="_blank">military-to-military communications</a>. That means Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will speak with his Chinese counterpart once someone is named to the job, the official said. Similar engagements will take place up and down the military chain of command.The official said Biden was “very clear” to Xi that such communications between U.S. and China should be institutionalized and that they are “not done as a gift or as a favor to either side.”Biden said the U.S. and China would talk more about artificial intelligence as well.“We’re going to get our experts together and discuss risk and safety issues,” he said.The agreements helped fulfill the White House’s goal for the meeting — prove to voters that Biden’s dedication to personal diplomacy is paying off.On Sunday, national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN that Biden wanted “practical ways” to show that meeting with Xi can help “defend American interests and also deliver progress on the priorities of the American people.”Zoe Liu, a fellow for China studies at the Council for Foreign Relations, described the meeting between Biden and Xi as a positive step, albeit an incremental one.“These agreements will not change the structural challenges in the bilateral relations, but it paves the way for more detailed working-level discussions, which is more important,” she said.<h2>BIDEN PRESSES CHINA TO ACT LIKE A SUPERPOWER IN COOLING GLOBAL TENSIONS</h2>Beijing has long sought to be treated as an equal by Washington, and Biden sought to leverage those ambitions with Xi to address two devastating wars.In their private session, Biden appealed to Xi to use his influence to try to calm global tensions, particularly to try to pressure Iran not to widen the conflict between Israel and Hamas.A U.S. official said Biden did most of the talking on the matter, and that Xi mostly listened, and that it was too soon to tell what sort of message China was sending to Tehran and how it was being received.Biden has also pressed Xi to continue to withhold military support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.<h2>A ‘CLEAR-HEADED’ EXCHANGE AND A WARNING ON TAIWAN</h2>Biden and Xi held a “clear-headed” and “not heated” discussion on Taiwan — the most sensitive topic in the relationship with the greatest potential to spiral into wider conflict. Biden said he reaffirmed the United States’ “One China” policy and its belief that any resolution must be peaceful.“I’m not going to change that,” Biden said. “That’s not going to change.”He reiterated, though, that the U.S. would continue to arm Taiwan as a deterrent against any attempt by China to use force to reunify the self-governing island with the mainland. The U.S. had maintained strategic ambiguity about whether it would directly intervene to protect Taiwan in the event of an invasion by Beijing.Xi, a U.S. official said, told Biden he had no plans to invade the island, though Biden chided him for China’s massive military build-up around Taiwan. Biden also called on China to avoid meddling in Taiwan’s elections next year.<h2>ECONOMIC CHALLENGES</h2>Xi arrived in San Francisco at a time of economic challenges back in China, where an aging population and growing debt have hampered its recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.According to Beijing’s description of the meeting, Xi pressed Biden to lift sanctions and change policies on export controls for sensitive equipment.“Stifling China’s technological progress is nothing but a move to contain China’s high-quality development and deprive the Chinese people of their right to development,” the readout said. “China’s development and growth, driven by its own inherent logic, will not be stopped by external forces.”There’s no indication that Biden will agree to take such steps. But even the meeting itself could calm jittery nerves back in China, where there have been signs foreign investment is tapering off.Zhang Lei, a Chinese businessman whose company, Cheche Group, is listed on NASDAQ, said high-level meetings such as the one between Biden and Xi can help assure companies that have been hesitant to invest in China.“Confrontations don’t work,” he said. “You don’t make money with confrontations.”<h2>IT’S PERSONAL</h2>Biden and Xi go back years, and Biden often repeats the story of their meetings when they were both vice presidents.But on Wednesday, it was Xi’s turn to reference their previous encounters during brief public remarks, although he eschewed the embellishments that Biden usually adds to the tale.“It was 12 years ago,” Xi said. “I still remember our interactions very vividly, and it always gives me a lot of thoughts.”Biden also emphasized the length of their relationship and the value of their interactions.“We haven’t always agreed, which was not a surprise to anyone, but our meetings have always been candid, straightforward and useful,” Biden said. He added that “it’s paramount that you and I understand each other clearly, leader to leader, with no misconceptions or miscommunication.”Bilateral meetings aren’t always conducive to a personal touch, and Biden and Xi were flanked by advisers on opposite sides of a long table. However, a senior administration official said they spoke about their wives, and Biden wished Xi’s wife a happy birthday.The official, who requested anonymity to discuss a private conversation, said Xi was embarrassed, and he admitted that he had forgotten his wife’s upcoming birthday because he’s been working so hard.<h2>___</h2>

🎥 Biden answers questions after visit with China's President

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/15/pillen-appoints-fred-meyer-to-replace-tom-briese-in-nebraska-legislature/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Gov. Jim Pillen has appointed Fred Meyer of St. Paul, a former member of the State Board of Education, to a central Nebraska vacancy in the Legislature.

Meyer succeeds State Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, who was in his seventh year representing Legislative District 41. Briese resigned Oct. 31 to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/30/tom-briese-nebraskas-incoming-state-treasurer-eyes-spending-cuts/">step into the role of state treasurer the next day</a>. Meyer and Pillen have agreed the St. Paul resident will fill the final 13 months of Briese’s term, through 2024, but not run for election.

Former Gov. Mike Johanns appointed Meyer to the Board of Education in 1999. He was elected in 2002 and served through 2010, spending multiple years as vice president and president of the board.

“I’m just really excited, and I have a lot to learn,” Meyer said before taking his oath of office. “I have a good team to work with, with the governor’s staff, and I’m ready to get started.”

Sixteen people applied for the vacancy, Pillen said, some that he personally encouraged to apply. Pillen added that when he and Meyer sat down and talked about how they saw the world, they had a similar agreement on many issues.

Secretary of State Bob Evnen, who intersected State Board of Education service with Meyer, said Meyer’s work as president demonstrated great leadership as they didn’t all have the same opinions.

“He was able to lead us forward as a group in a very positive way, and he always was encouraging and supporting me on the state board,” Evnen said. “I am very grateful to you for that.”

In an interview with the Nebraska Examiner, Meyer said he admired lawmakers’ ability to maneuver around roadblocks in the 2023 session, notably months long filibusters.

Meyer said the leadership from Briese as chair of the Executive Board, State Sen. John Arch of La Vista as speaker of the Legislature and others stood out.

“I’m going to concentrate on building relationships and working with senators that are here,” Meyer told the Examiner.

Asked by a reporter about the pending Sports and Spaces Act, Legislative Bill 575, to restrict K-12 bathrooms, locker rooms and sporting rooms to students’ sex at birth, Meyer said the biggest issue right now is a lack of certified teachers.

Meyer said he has also briefly addressed with Pillen the idea of paying student teachers.

“Anything that we can do to encourage more young people to get into education and the state I think are things we need to work on,” Meyer said.

Pillen said he believes the voters of District 41 should decide their next state lawmaker. This includes all of Boone, Greeley, Howard, Sherman, Valley and Wheeler counties and portions of Buffalo and Hall counties.

However, this differs from past Pillen appointments,&nbsp;notably&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/01/12/pillen-as-expected-taps-former-gov-pete-ricketts-to-succeed-sasse-in-senate/">U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts</a>, R-Neb., and Lincoln&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/06/pillen-appoints-carolyn-bosn-former-lancaster-county-prosecutor-to-replace-geist-in-legislature/">State Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln</a>, who succeeded State Sen. Suzanne Geist. Both Ricketts and Geist are running for their respective seats in 2024.

In 2022, prior to Pillen succeeding Ricketts as governor, the two appointed&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/newest-nebraska-state-senator-very-familiar-with-lancaster-county-district/">State Sen. Beau Ballard</a>&nbsp;of Lincoln to succeed Mike Hilgers, who was elected to state attorney general. Ballard is also running in 2024.

Pillen had also&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/pillen-accepting-applications-to-replace-state-sen-tom-briese-in-legislature/">sought a candidate for treasurer</a>&nbsp;who would run for a full term in 2026; Briese has&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/30/tom-briese-nebraskas-incoming-state-treasurer-eyes-spending-cuts/">not publicly committed</a>&nbsp;either way.

At least two constituents have filed as District 41 candidates with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission: Ethan Clark of Ord and Nadine Bane of Scotia.

Meyer told reporters that he’s 72 years old and he and his wife love their lifestyle. However, out of respect to his wife, Briese and Pillen and to the work started in 2023, Meyer will serve to reinforce ongoing efforts.

“I don’t have any illusions about grandiose things that I can accomplish in a 60-day session,” Meyer said.

Briese’s resignation triggered a slew of procedural changes, including his pending legislation that will carry over to 2024 and his chair on the Executive Board.

Some of Briese’s outstanding proposals that were advanced to the full Legislature are:

Briese had also proposed a constitutional amendment that would lead to the recall of constitutional officers and state senators if voters also approved the measure in 2024 (<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49774">Legislative Resolution 14CA</a>).

Speaker Arch told the Examiner before Meyer’s ceremony that the Executive Board will decide whether all or some of Briese’s legislation can be picked up next year and determine who could do so. This could include Meyer.

Arch said the Executive Board will also revise committee assignments later this year and assign Meyer accordingly. Briese served on the Revenue and Education Committees.

State Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island, vice chair of the Executive Board, is serving as acting chair. Arch said Aguilar has expressed interest in the chair position.

The Executive Board chair and vice chair positions are elected by the Legislature’s full membership, which will occur in January. If Aguilar is elevated to chair, there would be a second election for vice chair.

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700145335726.jpeg" alt="Gov. Jim Pillen, at left, listens to newly appointed State Sen. Fred Meyer of St. Paul, at center, speak in the Warner Chamber of the Nebraska State Capitol on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, in Lincoln. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Jim Pillen, at left, listens to newly appointed State Sen. Fred Meyer of St. Paul, at center, speak in the Warner Chamber of the Nebraska State Capitol on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, in Lincoln. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/15/pillen-appoints-fred-meyer-to-replace-tom-briese-in-nebraska-legislature/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Gov. Jim Pillen has appointed Fred Meyer of St. Paul, a former member of the State Board of Education, to a central Nebraska vacancy in the Legislature.Meyer succeeds State Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, who was in his seventh year representing Legislative District 41. Briese resigned Oct. 31 to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/30/tom-briese-nebraskas-incoming-state-treasurer-eyes-spending-cuts/">step into the role of state treasurer the next day</a>. Meyer and Pillen have agreed the St. Paul resident will fill the final 13 months of Briese’s term, through 2024, but not run for election.Former Gov. Mike Johanns appointed Meyer to the Board of Education in 1999. He was elected in 2002 and served through 2010, spending multiple years as vice president and president of the board.“I’m just really excited, and I have a lot to learn,” Meyer said before taking his oath of office. “I have a good team to work with, with the governor’s staff, and I’m ready to get started.”Sixteen people applied for the vacancy, Pillen said, some that he personally encouraged to apply. Pillen added that when he and Meyer sat down and talked about how they saw the world, they had a similar agreement on many issues.<h2>Meyer brings educational background</h2>Secretary of State Bob Evnen, who intersected State Board of Education service with Meyer, said Meyer’s work as president demonstrated great leadership as they didn’t all have the same opinions.“He was able to lead us forward as a group in a very positive way, and he always was encouraging and supporting me on the state board,” Evnen said. “I am very grateful to you for that.”In an interview with the Nebraska Examiner, Meyer said he admired lawmakers’ ability to maneuver around roadblocks in the 2023 session, notably months long filibusters.Meyer said the leadership from Briese as chair of the Executive Board, State Sen. John Arch of La Vista as speaker of the Legislature and others stood out.“I’m going to concentrate on building relationships and working with senators that are here,” Meyer told the Examiner.Asked by a reporter about the pending Sports and Spaces Act, Legislative Bill 575, to restrict K-12 bathrooms, locker rooms and sporting rooms to students’ sex at birth, Meyer said the biggest issue right now is a lack of certified teachers.Meyer said he has also briefly addressed with Pillen the idea of paying student teachers.“Anything that we can do to encourage more young people to get into education and the state I think are things we need to work on,” Meyer said.<h2>Appointment differs from others</h2>Pillen said he believes the voters of District 41 should decide their next state lawmaker. This includes all of Boone, Greeley, Howard, Sherman, Valley and Wheeler counties and portions of Buffalo and Hall counties.However, this differs from past Pillen appointments,&nbsp;notably&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/01/12/pillen-as-expected-taps-former-gov-pete-ricketts-to-succeed-sasse-in-senate/">U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts</a>, R-Neb., and Lincoln&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/06/pillen-appoints-carolyn-bosn-former-lancaster-county-prosecutor-to-replace-geist-in-legislature/">State Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln</a>, who succeeded State Sen. Suzanne Geist. Both Ricketts and Geist are running for their respective seats in 2024.In 2022, prior to Pillen succeeding Ricketts as governor, the two appointed&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/newest-nebraska-state-senator-very-familiar-with-lancaster-county-district/">State Sen. Beau Ballard</a>&nbsp;of Lincoln to succeed Mike Hilgers, who was elected to state attorney general. Ballard is also running in 2024.Pillen had also&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/pillen-accepting-applications-to-replace-state-sen-tom-briese-in-legislature/">sought a candidate for treasurer</a>&nbsp;who would run for a full term in 2026; Briese has&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/30/tom-briese-nebraskas-incoming-state-treasurer-eyes-spending-cuts/">not publicly committed</a>&nbsp;either way.At least two constituents have filed as District 41 candidates with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission: Ethan Clark of Ord and Nadine Bane of Scotia.Meyer told reporters that he’s 72 years old and he and his wife love their lifestyle. However, out of respect to his wife, Briese and Pillen and to the work started in 2023, Meyer will serve to reinforce ongoing efforts.“I don’t have any illusions about grandiose things that I can accomplish in a 60-day session,” Meyer said.<h2>Executive Board, legislation</h2>Briese’s resignation triggered a slew of procedural changes, including his pending legislation that will carry over to 2024 and his chair on the Executive Board.Some of Briese’s outstanding proposals that were advanced to the full Legislature are:<ul>
 <li>Setting a youth minimum wage for employees 14 to 17 years old and a training wage for employees 18 to 20 years old (<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49885">LB 15</a>).</li><li>Providing universal recognition of workforce licenses from out-of-state and adopting a “fair chance” measure to limit how broadly individuals who were formerly incarcerated can be excluded from state licensure in occupations, according to the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://platteinstitute.org/legislature-considers-2023-version-of-workforce-licensing-reform/">Platte Institute</a>&nbsp;(<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49705">LB 16</a>).</li><li>Requiring the Nebraska Department of Education to issue guidance for schools wishing to implement a moment of silence during the school day (<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49754">LB 141</a>).</li><li>Implementing year-round daylight saving time, which would take effect only after the federal government allows states to do so and three neighboring states adopt similar year-round legislation (<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50086">LB 142</a>).</li>
 </ul>Briese had also proposed a constitutional amendment that would lead to the recall of constitutional officers and state senators if voters also approved the measure in 2024 (<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49774">Legislative Resolution 14CA</a>).Speaker Arch told the Examiner before Meyer’s ceremony that the Executive Board will decide whether all or some of Briese’s legislation can be picked up next year and determine who could do so. This could include Meyer.Arch said the Executive Board will also revise committee assignments later this year and assign Meyer accordingly. Briese served on the Revenue and Education Committees.State Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island, vice chair of the Executive Board, is serving as acting chair. Arch said Aguilar has expressed interest in the chair position.The Executive Board chair and vice chair positions are elected by the Legislature’s full membership, which will occur in January. If Aguilar is elevated to chair, there would be a second election for vice chair.GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Pillen appoints Fred Meyer to replace Tom Briese in Nebraska Legislature

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ending the threat of a government shutdown until after the holidays, Congress gave final approval Wednesday night to a temporary government funding package that pushes a confrontation over the federal budget into the new year.

The Senate met into the night to pass the bill with an 87-11 tally. Nebraska U.S. Senators Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts voted in favor of the bill along with Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall of Kansas.

The legislation now goes to President Joe Biden for his signature one day after it passed the House on an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-house-republican-speaker-johnson-9cb26b703804a9e82e776e44caedcaa2">overwhelming bipartisan vote</a>. It provides a funding patch into next year, when the House and Senate will be forced to confront — and somehow overcome — their considerable differences over what funding levels should be.

In the meantime, the bill removes the threat of a government shutdown days before funding would have expired.

“This year, there will be no government shutdown,” Senate Majority Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sen-chuck-schumer">Chuck Schumer</a>&nbsp;said at a news conference after the bill's passage.

The spending package keeps government funding at current levels for roughly two more months while a long-term package is negotiated. It&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-budget-mike-johnson-d942acf1a8b163f0b52f209da42953c6">splits the deadlines</a>&nbsp;for passing full-year appropriations bills into two dates: Jan. 19 for some federal agencies and Feb. 2 for others, creating two deadlines where there will be a risk of a partial government shutdown.

“Everybody is really kind of ready to vote and fight another day,” Republican Whip John Thune, the No. 2 Republican, said earlier Wednesday.

The two-step approach was not favored by many in the Senate, though all but one Democrat and 10 Republicans supported it because it ensured the government would not shut down for now. Sen. Patty Murray, the Washington Democrat who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted for the bill but said it would eventually “double the shutdown risk.”

The spending bill also does not include the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb">White House’s nearly $106 billion</a>&nbsp;request for wartime aid for Israel and Ukraine, as well as humanitarian funding for Palestinians and other supplemental requests. Lawmakers are likely to turn their attention more fully to that request after the Thanksgiving holiday in hopes of negotiating a deal.

House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Mike Johnson</a>, who crafted the plan, has vowed that he will not support any further stopgap funding measures, known as continuing resolutions. He portrayed the temporary funding bill as setting the ground for a spending “fight” with the Senate next year.

The new speaker, who told reporters this week that he counted himself among the “arch-conservatives” of the House, is pushing for deeper spending cuts. He wanted to avoid lawmakers being forced to consider a massive government funding package before the December holidays — a tactic that incenses conservatives in particular.

But Johnson is also facing pushback from other hardline conservatives who wanted to leverage the prospect of a government shutdown to extract steep cuts and policy demands.

Many of those conservatives were among a group of 19 Republicans who defied Johnson Wednesday to prevent floor consideration of an appropriations bill to fund several government agencies.

GOP leaders called off the week's work after the vote, sending lawmakers home early for Thanksgiving. It capped a period of intense bickering among lawmakers.

“This place is a pressure cooker,” Johnson said Tuesday, noting that the House had been in Washington for 10 weeks straight.

The House GOP's inability to present a united front on funding legislation could undercut the Louisiana congressman's ability to negotiate spending bills with the Senate.

Republicans are demanding that Congress work out government funding through 12 separate bills, as the budgetary process requires, but House leadership has so far been forced to pull two of those bills from the floor, seen another rejected on a procedural vote and struggled to win support for others.

When it returns in two weeks, Congress is expected to focus on the Biden administration's requests for Ukraine and Israel funding. Republican senators have demanded that Congress pass immigration and border legislation alongside additional Ukraine aid, but a bipartisan Senate group working on a possible compromise has struggled to find consensus.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell in a floor speech pledged that Republicans would continue to push for policy changes on the U.S. border with Mexico, saying it is “impossible to ignore the crisis at our southern border that’s erupted on Washington Democrats’ watch.”

One idea floating among Republicans is directly tying Ukraine funding levels with decreases in the number of illegal border crossings. It showed how even longtime supporters of Ukraine’s defense against Russia are willing to hold up the funding to force Congress to tackle an issue that has flummoxed generations of lawmakers: U.S. border policy.

Most Senate Republicans support the Ukraine funding, said Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., but he added, “It is secondary to securing our own border."

But the U.S. is already trimming some of the wartime aid packages it is sending Ukraine as funds run low, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said from San Francisco, where he accompanied President Joe Biden for a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders.

He said the pot of money available for Ukraine is “withering away, and with it will be a deleterious effect on Ukraine’s ability to continue to defend itself."

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., said in a statement that he voted against Wednesday's funding package because it did not include aid for Ukraine.

Schumer said the Senate would try to move forward on both the funding and border legislation in the coming weeks, but warned it would require a compromise and implored the House speaker, Johnson, to once again work with Democrats.

“I hope the new speaker continues to choose the bipartisan approach,” Schumer said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700135273249.png" alt="The Senate met into the night to pass the bill with an 87-11 tally. Nebraska U.S. Senators Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts voted in favor of the bill -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>The Senate met into the night to pass the bill with an 87-11 tally. Nebraska U.S. Senators Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts voted in favor of the bill -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Ending the threat of a government shutdown until after the holidays, Congress gave final approval Wednesday night to a temporary government funding package that pushes a confrontation over the federal budget into the new year.The Senate met into the night to pass the bill with an 87-11 tally. Nebraska U.S. Senators Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts voted in favor of the bill along with Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall of Kansas.The legislation now goes to President Joe Biden for his signature one day after it passed the House on an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-house-republican-speaker-johnson-9cb26b703804a9e82e776e44caedcaa2">overwhelming bipartisan vote</a>. It provides a funding patch into next year, when the House and Senate will be forced to confront — and somehow overcome — their considerable differences over what funding levels should be.In the meantime, the bill removes the threat of a government shutdown days before funding would have expired.“This year, there will be no government shutdown,” Senate Majority Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sen-chuck-schumer">Chuck Schumer</a>&nbsp;said at a news conference after the bill's passage.The spending package keeps government funding at current levels for roughly two more months while a long-term package is negotiated. It&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-budget-mike-johnson-d942acf1a8b163f0b52f209da42953c6">splits the deadlines</a>&nbsp;for passing full-year appropriations bills into two dates: Jan. 19 for some federal agencies and Feb. 2 for others, creating two deadlines where there will be a risk of a partial government shutdown.“Everybody is really kind of ready to vote and fight another day,” Republican Whip John Thune, the No. 2 Republican, said earlier Wednesday.The two-step approach was not favored by many in the Senate, though all but one Democrat and 10 Republicans supported it because it ensured the government would not shut down for now. Sen. Patty Murray, the Washington Democrat who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted for the bill but said it would eventually “double the shutdown risk.”The spending bill also does not include the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb">White House’s nearly $106 billion</a>&nbsp;request for wartime aid for Israel and Ukraine, as well as humanitarian funding for Palestinians and other supplemental requests. Lawmakers are likely to turn their attention more fully to that request after the Thanksgiving holiday in hopes of negotiating a deal.House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Mike Johnson</a>, who crafted the plan, has vowed that he will not support any further stopgap funding measures, known as continuing resolutions. He portrayed the temporary funding bill as setting the ground for a spending “fight” with the Senate next year.The new speaker, who told reporters this week that he counted himself among the “arch-conservatives” of the House, is pushing for deeper spending cuts. He wanted to avoid lawmakers being forced to consider a massive government funding package before the December holidays — a tactic that incenses conservatives in particular.But Johnson is also facing pushback from other hardline conservatives who wanted to leverage the prospect of a government shutdown to extract steep cuts and policy demands.Many of those conservatives were among a group of 19 Republicans who defied Johnson Wednesday to prevent floor consideration of an appropriations bill to fund several government agencies.GOP leaders called off the week's work after the vote, sending lawmakers home early for Thanksgiving. It capped a period of intense bickering among lawmakers.“This place is a pressure cooker,” Johnson said Tuesday, noting that the House had been in Washington for 10 weeks straight.The House GOP's inability to present a united front on funding legislation could undercut the Louisiana congressman's ability to negotiate spending bills with the Senate.Republicans are demanding that Congress work out government funding through 12 separate bills, as the budgetary process requires, but House leadership has so far been forced to pull two of those bills from the floor, seen another rejected on a procedural vote and struggled to win support for others.When it returns in two weeks, Congress is expected to focus on the Biden administration's requests for Ukraine and Israel funding. Republican senators have demanded that Congress pass immigration and border legislation alongside additional Ukraine aid, but a bipartisan Senate group working on a possible compromise has struggled to find consensus.Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell in a floor speech pledged that Republicans would continue to push for policy changes on the U.S. border with Mexico, saying it is “impossible to ignore the crisis at our southern border that’s erupted on Washington Democrats’ watch.”One idea floating among Republicans is directly tying Ukraine funding levels with decreases in the number of illegal border crossings. It showed how even longtime supporters of Ukraine’s defense against Russia are willing to hold up the funding to force Congress to tackle an issue that has flummoxed generations of lawmakers: U.S. border policy.Most Senate Republicans support the Ukraine funding, said Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., but he added, “It is secondary to securing our own border."But the U.S. is already trimming some of the wartime aid packages it is sending Ukraine as funds run low, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said from San Francisco, where he accompanied President Joe Biden for a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders.He said the pot of money available for Ukraine is “withering away, and with it will be a deleterious effect on Ukraine’s ability to continue to defend itself."Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., said in a statement that he voted against Wednesday's funding package because it did not include aid for Ukraine.Schumer said the Senate would try to move forward on both the funding and border legislation in the coming weeks, but warned it would require a compromise and implored the House speaker, Johnson, to once again work with Democrats.“I hope the new speaker continues to choose the bipartisan approach,” Schumer said.

Fischer, Ricketts vote to avert gov't shutdown; funding bill headed to Biden

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. Navy warship shot down a drone that was heading toward the ship as it sailed in the southern Red Sea, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

The USS Thomas Hudner, a naval destroyer, was sailing toward the Bab-el-Mandeb strait when the crew saw the drone, which originated in Yemen. The ship shot down the drone over the water. The officials said the crew took action to ensure the safety of U.S. personnel, and there were no casualties or damage to the ship. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing military operations.

According to a initial intelligence assessment, the drone was likely targeting the ship, said one of the officials. The U.S. did not directly blame the Iran-backed Houthi rebels for launching the unmanned aircraft. But the early Wednesday incident comes less than a week after Houthis shot down a U.S. drone over the Red Sea. Officials said the MQ-9 Reaper was in international airspace. The Houthis said it was in Yemeni airspace and was shot down by air defenses.

The Houthis have launched at least six aerial attacks against Israel since Oct. 7 and, according to the group’s leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, have vowed to target ships operating in the Red Sea.

Another Navy destroyer, the USS Carney, took similar strikes on drones coming from Yemen on Oct. 19. The ship took out three missiles and several drones. It wasn’t certain if they were aimed at Israel. One of the officials said the U.S. does not believe the missiles were aimed at the ship.

The Houthi are staunch foes of Israel and regularly hold huge demonstrations in support of Palestinians, during peacetime and wartime.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696803172229.png" alt="The USS Gerald R. Ford and its approximately 5,000 sailors and deck of warplanes are in the Eastern Mediterranean-photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>The USS Gerald R. Ford and its approximately 5,000 sailors and deck of warplanes are in the Eastern Mediterranean-photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. Navy warship shot down a drone that was heading toward the ship as it sailed in the southern Red Sea, U.S. officials said Wednesday.The USS Thomas Hudner, a naval destroyer, was sailing toward the Bab-el-Mandeb strait when the crew saw the drone, which originated in Yemen. The ship shot down the drone over the water. The officials said the crew took action to ensure the safety of U.S. personnel, and there were no casualties or damage to the ship. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing military operations.According to a initial intelligence assessment, the drone was likely targeting the ship, said one of the officials. The U.S. did not directly blame the Iran-backed Houthi rebels for launching the unmanned aircraft. But the early Wednesday incident comes less than a week after Houthis shot down a U.S. drone over the Red Sea. Officials said the MQ-9 Reaper was in international airspace. The Houthis said it was in Yemeni airspace and was shot down by air defenses.The Houthis have launched at least six aerial attacks against Israel since Oct. 7 and, according to the group’s leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, have vowed to target ships operating in the Red Sea.Another Navy destroyer, the USS Carney, took similar strikes on drones coming from Yemen on Oct. 19. The ship took out three missiles and several drones. It wasn’t certain if they were aimed at Israel. One of the officials said the U.S. does not believe the missiles were aimed at the ship.The Houthi are staunch foes of Israel and regularly hold huge demonstrations in support of Palestinians, during peacetime and wartime.

US Navy warship shoots down drone over the Red Sea

WOODSIDE, Calif. (AP) — U.S. President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping emerged Wednesday from their first face-to-face meeting in a year vowing to stabilize their fraught relationship and showcasing modest agreements to combat illegal fentanyl and re-establish military communications. But there were still deep differences on economic competition and global security threats.

The two leaders spent four hours together – in meetings, a working lunch and a garden stroll – intent on showing the world that while they are global economic competitors they’re not locked in a winner-take-all faceoff.

“Planet Earth is big enough for the two countries to succeed,” Xi told Biden.