<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/16/families-of-poet-john-neihardt-and-south-dakota-rancher-seek-silver-lining-to-removal-of-monument/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —Later this week, a backhoe is scheduled to tear into the prairie along northwest South Dakota’s Shadehill Reservoir, removing a 100-year-old monument to the heroics of a mountain man.

The removal of the small, concrete obelisk dedicated to the determination of Hugh Glass, who crawled 200 miles after surviving a vicious, mauling by a grizzly bear, has some people upset.

The monument is “being snatched away,” wrote Hettinger, N.D., author&nbsp;Francie M. Berg in a letter to local newspaper editors last week.

The marker, hand-fashioned by poet/author John Neihardt and a local rancher, was a “gift to communities of Shadehill and Lemmon, S.D.,” wrote another nearby resident.

“It seems right to leave it where it is,” Ellen Ketterling wrote.

The descendants of Neihardt and Otto Weinkauf, the rancher who helped build the monument, said they have heard the pleas loud and clear, and they are hoping to do something about it.

“There has to be a silver lining to this,” said Arden Saunders of Rapid City, a grandson of Weinkauf, on whose land the monument initially stood.

But standing in the way of replacing the monument with a historical marker of some kind is the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which maintains that while it can permit the removal of the Hugh Glass memorial to facilitate the removal of a time capsule inside, it cannot, by statute, allow the erection of something new.

Both Saunders and&nbsp;Coralie Hughes, a granddaughter of Neihardt, are hoping there’s some way to allow the &nbsp;placement of an interpretive sign or marker to explain what their ancestors did 100 years ago.&nbsp;

“There are two overriding principles: One is do what my grandfather asked&nbsp; (open the time capsule), and the second is preserve history,” Hughes said.

Her family is scheduled on Saturday to retrieve the monument, which John Neihardt says holds a time capsule that includes “an original manuscript.”

The Bureau ruled that the only way the monument could be cracked into was to remove it. So the Neihardt family plans to haul it to Bancroft, Nebraska, the site of the John Neihardt State Historic Site, to chip into it, fulfilling the poet’s wishes that the time capsule be opened in 2023.

John Neihardt and some members of a “Neihardt Club” from what is now Wayne State College drove up to Lemmon in 1923 and built the monument to Glass, the subject of Neihardt’s epic poem, “The Song of Hugh Glass.” The site was at the confluence of two rivers where the mauling was said to have taken place.

The Nebraska poet/author — best known for writing “Black Elk Speaks” — issued a challenge for Wayne State students to return in 100 years, open a time capsule encased in the concrete obelisk and celebrate like mountain men would have. a group of students trekked to the site<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/09/wayne-state-group-seeks-to-unlock-mysteries-surrounding-lonely-south-dakota-monument/">&nbsp;in June.</a>

But the Bureau of Reclamation, on whose land the monument now sits, and the South Dakota parks department, which operates a state park on the reservoir,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/02/tale-of-mysterious-monument-thickens-as-relative-of-famed-author-pledges-to-find-out-whats-inside/">balked at letting the students crack into the concrete.</a>

Ultimately, it was determined&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/09/25/family-of-famed-poet-plans-to-breach-century-old-monument-to-unlock-mystery-inside/">that “ownership” of the monument</a>&nbsp;rested with the Neihardt family. But if they wanted to break into the concrete, the monument had to be removed from federal property.

Hughes said Friday that it has always been the family’s intention that an interpretive sign of some kind — explaining what happened in 1923 to honor Hugh Glass — be erected as a replacement.

He said last week that he’s had some sleepless nights knowing that a monument his grandfather helped build with his homemade cement mixer, and faithfully maintained for several years, will soon be removed.

“It’s a part of my family history that’s going to be gone,” Saunders said.

He said he doesn’t blame the Neihardt family, who are just trying to fulfill their grandfather’s wishes to open the time capsule.

“The government forced her hand,” Saunders said.

On Thursday, a representative of the Bureau of Reclamation said that installation of a replacement sign or monument would not be allowed.

“Federal regulation 43 CFR Part 423.28 explicitly outlines that ‘you must not … place memorials, markers, vases, or plaques on Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies,’ ” stated an email from Elizabeth Smith, a Bureau spokeswoman in Montana.

Smith said the removal of the monument doesn’t conflict with the rule, but erecting a new one would.

The Bureau has noted that a second monument to Hugh Glass, erected by the state in 1964 using local petrified wood, will remain. Only the “smaller, lesser-known” monument will be removed.

Saunders said he hopes that decision can be relaxed or reversed and has reached out to the office of U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., to see if something can be done.

Hughes, from her home in Indiana, said the last thing the family wants is to leave people in the Lemmon area upset.

An official with the Neihardt Center in Nebraska is also supportive.

“There should be something there to replace it,” said Marianne Reynolds, the executive director of the center.&nbsp;&nbsp;

‘The Revenant’ based on Glass’ crawl

The Hugh Glass story is an important one in Lemmon, which holds an annual “rendezvous” festival in honor of the mountain man’s crawl to safety. The odyssey was depicted, with some Hollywood adaptations, in the movie, “The Revenant,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Saunders said that a letter written by his grandfather in 1963 filled in some details about the monument.

Everyone present for its construction, the letter stated, signed their names to a paper that was placed inside a metal box. The box was locked and encased in concrete. The key was given to the wife of the then-director of the South Dakota State Historical Society for safekeeping, until the box/time capsule was to be reopened in 2023.

There was one addition: A pair of newlyweds showed up too late to have their names included in the time capsule. So a piece of paper with their names was placed in a pop bottle that was forced down into the still-wet concrete. The newlyweds were J.D. and Myrtle Young of Lincoln, with whom Neihardt lived for a time prior to his death in 1973.

Saunders said he’s still amazed at how a poet from Nebraska navigated gravel roads and cow paths to get to Lemmon in 1923, and then had the fortune of finding a tough, German rancher, who had the equipment to build a concrete monument at the now-famous site of the mauling.

Now, he said, “We just have to make the best of what we got.”

Hughes said the family plans to unveil the contents of the time capsule, if it can be successfully removed from the concrete monument, at the annual spring conference of the Neihardt Foundation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697461765713.jpeg" alt=" This lonely monument, erected by poet/author John Neihardt and South Dakota rancher Otto Weinkauf 100 years ago, is to be removed from its location along Shadehill Reservoir on Saturday and transported to Nebraska. (Courtesy U.S. Bureau of Reclamation)" />
 <figcaption> This lonely monument, erected by poet/author John Neihardt and South Dakota rancher Otto Weinkauf 100 years ago, is to be removed from its location along Shadehill Reservoir on Saturday and transported to Nebraska. (Courtesy U.S. Bureau of Reclamation)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/16/families-of-poet-john-neihardt-and-south-dakota-rancher-seek-silver-lining-to-removal-of-monument/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —Later this week, a backhoe is scheduled to tear into the prairie along northwest South Dakota’s Shadehill Reservoir, removing a 100-year-old monument to the heroics of a mountain man.The removal of the small, concrete obelisk dedicated to the determination of Hugh Glass, who crawled 200 miles after surviving a vicious, mauling by a grizzly bear, has some people upset.The monument is “being snatched away,” wrote Hettinger, N.D., author&nbsp;Francie M. Berg in a letter to local newspaper editors last week.The marker, hand-fashioned by poet/author John Neihardt and a local rancher, was a “gift to communities of Shadehill and Lemmon, S.D.,” wrote another nearby resident.“It seems right to leave it where it is,” Ellen Ketterling wrote.<h2>Descendants seek solution</h2>The descendants of Neihardt and Otto Weinkauf, the rancher who helped build the monument, said they have heard the pleas loud and clear, and they are hoping to do something about it.“There has to be a silver lining to this,” said Arden Saunders of Rapid City, a grandson of Weinkauf, on whose land the monument initially stood.But standing in the way of replacing the monument with a historical marker of some kind is the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which maintains that while it can permit the removal of the Hugh Glass memorial to facilitate the removal of a time capsule inside, it cannot, by statute, allow the erection of something new.Both Saunders and&nbsp;Coralie Hughes, a granddaughter of Neihardt, are hoping there’s some way to allow the &nbsp;placement of an interpretive sign or marker to explain what their ancestors did 100 years ago.&nbsp;“There are two overriding principles: One is do what my grandfather asked&nbsp; (open the time capsule), and the second is preserve history,” Hughes said.Her family is scheduled on Saturday to retrieve the monument, which John Neihardt says holds a time capsule that includes “an original manuscript.”<h2>Removal was only way to crack into it</h2>The Bureau ruled that the only way the monument could be cracked into was to remove it. So the Neihardt family plans to haul it to Bancroft, Nebraska, the site of the John Neihardt State Historic Site, to chip into it, fulfilling the poet’s wishes that the time capsule be opened in 2023.Some background:John Neihardt and some members of a “Neihardt Club” from what is now Wayne State College drove up to Lemmon in 1923 and built the monument to Glass, the subject of Neihardt’s epic poem, “The Song of Hugh Glass.” The site was at the confluence of two rivers where the mauling was said to have taken place.The Nebraska poet/author — best known for writing “Black Elk Speaks” — issued a challenge for Wayne State students to return in 100 years, open a time capsule encased in the concrete obelisk and celebrate like mountain men would have. a group of students trekked to the site<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/09/wayne-state-group-seeks-to-unlock-mysteries-surrounding-lonely-south-dakota-monument/">&nbsp;in June.</a>But the Bureau of Reclamation, on whose land the monument now sits, and the South Dakota parks department, which operates a state park on the reservoir,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/02/tale-of-mysterious-monument-thickens-as-relative-of-famed-author-pledges-to-find-out-whats-inside/">balked at letting the students crack into the concrete.</a>Ultimately, it was determined&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/09/25/family-of-famed-poet-plans-to-breach-century-old-monument-to-unlock-mystery-inside/">that “ownership” of the monument</a>&nbsp;rested with the Neihardt family. But if they wanted to break into the concrete, the monument had to be removed from federal property.<h2>A replacement was always intended</h2>Hughes said Friday that it has always been the family’s intention that an interpretive sign of some kind — explaining what happened in 1923 to honor Hugh Glass — be erected as a replacement.Saunders, a history buff, agrees.He said last week that he’s had some sleepless nights knowing that a monument his grandfather helped build with his homemade cement mixer, and faithfully maintained for several years, will soon be removed.“It’s a part of my family history that’s going to be gone,” Saunders said.He said he doesn’t blame the Neihardt family, who are just trying to fulfill their grandfather’s wishes to open the time capsule.“The government forced her hand,” Saunders said.On Thursday, a representative of the Bureau of Reclamation said that installation of a replacement sign or monument would not be allowed.<h2>Rule says no new monuments</h2>“Federal regulation 43 CFR Part 423.28 explicitly outlines that ‘you must not … place memorials, markers, vases, or plaques on Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies,’ ” stated an email from Elizabeth Smith, a Bureau spokeswoman in Montana.Smith said the removal of the monument doesn’t conflict with the rule, but erecting a new one would.The Bureau has noted that a second monument to Hugh Glass, erected by the state in 1964 using local petrified wood, will remain. Only the “smaller, lesser-known” monument will be removed.Saunders said he hopes that decision can be relaxed or reversed and has reached out to the office of U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., to see if something can be done.Hughes, from her home in Indiana, said the last thing the family wants is to leave people in the Lemmon area upset.An official with the Neihardt Center in Nebraska is also supportive.“There should be something there to replace it,” said Marianne Reynolds, the executive director of the center.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>‘The Revenant’ based on Glass’ crawl</h2>The Hugh Glass story is an important one in Lemmon, which holds an annual “rendezvous” festival in honor of the mountain man’s crawl to safety. The odyssey was depicted, with some Hollywood adaptations, in the movie, “The Revenant,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio.Saunders said that a letter written by his grandfather in 1963 filled in some details about the monument.Everyone present for its construction, the letter stated, signed their names to a paper that was placed inside a metal box. The box was locked and encased in concrete. The key was given to the wife of the then-director of the South Dakota State Historical Society for safekeeping, until the box/time capsule was to be reopened in 2023.There was one addition: A pair of newlyweds showed up too late to have their names included in the time capsule. So a piece of paper with their names was placed in a pop bottle that was forced down into the still-wet concrete. The newlyweds were J.D. and Myrtle Young of Lincoln, with whom Neihardt lived for a time prior to his death in 1973.Saunders said he’s still amazed at how a poet from Nebraska navigated gravel roads and cow paths to get to Lemmon in 1923, and then had the fortune of finding a tough, German rancher, who had the equipment to build a concrete monument at the now-famous site of the mauling.Now, he said, “We just have to make the best of what we got.”Hughes said the family plans to unveil the contents of the time capsule, if it can be successfully removed from the concrete monument, at the annual spring conference of the Neihardt Foundation.

Families of poet John Neihardt and South Dakota rancher seek ‘silver lining’ to removal of monument

WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department says the number of Americans killed since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas has risen to 30.

“At this time, we can confirm the deaths of 30 U.S. citizens. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected," the State Department said in a statement released Sunday. The U.S. is also aware of 13 missing citizens and has been in contact with their families.

Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7 and murdered more than 1,400 Israelis, the vast majority of them civilians. The militants also kidnapped at least 155 people — a number that includes babies and the elderly — and are holding them hostage in Gaza. Their whereabouts are not publicly known, but their families have been urgently pressing for their release.

“The U.S. government is working around the clock to determine their whereabouts and is working with the Israeli government on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to advise the Israeli government on hostage recovery efforts,” the statement said.

The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,670 Palestinians have been killed so far.

President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;is considering a trip to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel">Israel</a>&nbsp;in the coming days but no travel has been finalized, a senior administration official said Sunday. It would be a powerful symbol of sympathy and support following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2">the brutal attack by Hamas</a>.

A trip would be a chance for Biden to personally affirm to the Israeli people the U.S. is standing firm behind them. But it would come amid growing fears that a looming Israeli move into Gaza could spark a wider war with devastating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-civilians-humanitarian-crisis-shortages-fuel-water-937b474fa16970f36ac44615e9797fbc">humanitarian consequences</a>.

And Biden’s presence could be seen as a provocative move by Hamas’ chief sponsor, Iran, or potentially viewed as tone deaf by Arab nations as civilian casualties mount in Gaza. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has already been traveling around the Mideast this past week trying to prevent the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6cf0ff04e513ecec12cf9152656ac1b6">war with Hamas</a>&nbsp;from igniting a broader regional conflict.

The official could not publicly discuss internal deliberations about the potential presidential travel and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Biden also made his strongest public statements yet to restrain Israel after the Oct. 7 attack that killed more than 1,400 people including at least 30 U.S. citizens, warning in an interview with CBS' 60 Minutes that aired Sunday that Israel should not reoccupy Gaza.

“I think it’d be a big mistake,” Biden said. “Look, what happened in Gaza, in my view, is Hamas, and the extreme elements of Hamas don’t represent all the Palestinian people. And I think that it would be a mistake for Israel to occupy Gaza again.”

Israel left Gaza in 2005; Hamas won the elections the next year.

Still, Biden said, “taking out the extremists ... is a necessary requirement.”

Biden and his administration officials have refused to criticize Israel or its bombing campaign that has killed civilians in Gaza. But they've urged Israel, Egypt and other nations to allow for humanitarian aid and supplies into the worsening conflict zone.

“I’m confident that Israel is going to act under the rules of war," Biden said in the interview. ”There’s standards that democratic institutions and countries go by. And I’m confident that there’s going to be an ability for the innocents in Gaza to be able to have access to medicine and food and water."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696679013332.png" alt="File photo-Palestinians wave their national flag and celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis southern Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Yousef Masoud)" />
 <figcaption>File photo-Palestinians wave their national flag and celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis southern Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Yousef Masoud)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department says the number of Americans killed since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas has risen to 30.“At this time, we can confirm the deaths of 30 U.S. citizens. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected," the State Department said in a statement released Sunday. The U.S. is also aware of 13 missing citizens and has been in contact with their families.Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7 and murdered more than 1,400 Israelis, the vast majority of them civilians. The militants also kidnapped at least 155 people — a number that includes babies and the elderly — and are holding them hostage in Gaza. Their whereabouts are not publicly known, but their families have been urgently pressing for their release.“The U.S. government is working around the clock to determine their whereabouts and is working with the Israeli government on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to advise the Israeli government on hostage recovery efforts,” the statement said.The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,670 Palestinians have been killed so far.President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;is considering a trip to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel">Israel</a>&nbsp;in the coming days but no travel has been finalized, a senior administration official said Sunday. It would be a powerful symbol of sympathy and support following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2">the brutal attack by Hamas</a>.A trip would be a chance for Biden to personally affirm to the Israeli people the U.S. is standing firm behind them. But it would come amid growing fears that a looming Israeli move into Gaza could spark a wider war with devastating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-civilians-humanitarian-crisis-shortages-fuel-water-937b474fa16970f36ac44615e9797fbc">humanitarian consequences</a>.And Biden’s presence could be seen as a provocative move by Hamas’ chief sponsor, Iran, or potentially viewed as tone deaf by Arab nations as civilian casualties mount in Gaza. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has already been traveling around the Mideast this past week trying to prevent the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6cf0ff04e513ecec12cf9152656ac1b6">war with Hamas</a>&nbsp;from igniting a broader regional conflict.The official could not publicly discuss internal deliberations about the potential presidential travel and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.Biden also made his strongest public statements yet to restrain Israel after the Oct. 7 attack that killed more than 1,400 people including at least 30 U.S. citizens, warning in an interview with CBS' 60 Minutes that aired Sunday that Israel should not reoccupy Gaza.“I think it’d be a big mistake,” Biden said. “Look, what happened in Gaza, in my view, is Hamas, and the extreme elements of Hamas don’t represent all the Palestinian people. And I think that it would be a mistake for Israel to occupy Gaza again.”Israel left Gaza in 2005; Hamas won the elections the next year.Still, Biden said, “taking out the extremists ... is a necessary requirement.”Biden and his administration officials have refused to criticize Israel or its bombing campaign that has killed civilians in Gaza. But they've urged Israel, Egypt and other nations to allow for humanitarian aid and supplies into the worsening conflict zone.“I’m confident that Israel is going to act under the rules of war," Biden said in the interview. ”There’s standards that democratic institutions and countries go by. And I’m confident that there’s going to be an ability for the innocents in Gaza to be able to have access to medicine and food and water."

State Department: 30 Americans killed in Israel, 13 still missing 

LOS ANGELES (AP) —Suzanne Somers, the effervescent blonde actor known for playing Chrissy Snow on the television show “Three’s Company” as well as her business endeavors, has died. She was 76.

Somers had breast cancer for over 23 years and died Sunday morning, her family said in a statement provided by her longtime publicist, R. Couri Hay. Her husband Alan Hamel, her son Bruce and other immediate family were with her in Palm Springs, California.

“Her family was gathered to celebrate her 77th birthday on October 16th,” the statement read. “Instead, they will celebrate her extraordinary life, and want to thank her millions of fans and followers who loved her dearly.”

In July, Somers shared on Instagram that her breast cancer had returned.

“Like any cancer patient, when you get that dreaded, ‘It’s back’ you get a pit in your stomach. Then I put on my battle gear and go to war," she told Entertainment Tonight at the time. "This is familiar battleground for me and I’m very tough.”

She was first diagnosed in 2000, and also had skin cancer. She faced some backlash for her reliance on what she's described as a chemical-free and organic lifestyle to combat the cancers. She argued against the use of chemotherapy, in books and on platforms like “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” which drew criticism from the American Cancer Society.

Somers was born in 1946 in San Bruno, California, to a gardener father and a medical secretary mother. She began acting in the late 1960s, playing the blonde driving the white Thunderbird in George Lucas’s 1973 film “American Graffiti.” Her only line was mouthing the words “I love you” to Richard Dreyfuss’s character.

At her audition, Lucas just asked her if she could drive. She later said that moment “changed her life forever.”

Somers would later stage a one-woman Broadway show entitled “The Blonde in the Thunderbird,” which drew largely scathing reviews.

She appeared in many television shows in the 1970s, including “The Rockford Files,” “Magnum Force” and “The Six Million Dollar Man,” but her most famous part came with “Three’s Company,” which aired on ABC from 1977 to 1984 — though her participation ended in 1981.

On “Three’s Company,” she was the ditzy blonde opposite John Ritter and Joyce DeWitt in the roommate comedy. In 1980, after four seasons, she asked for a raise from $30,000 an episode to $150,000 an episode, which would have been comparable to what Ritter was getting paid. Hamel, a former television producer, had encouraged the ask.

“The show’s response was, ‘Who do you think you are?’” Somers told People in 2020. “They said, ‘John Ritter is the star.’”

She was soon fired and her character was replaced by two different roommates for the remaining years the show aired. It also led to a rift with her co-stars; They didn’t speak for many years. Somers did reconcile with Ritter before his death, and then with DeWitt on her online talk show.

But Somers took the break as an opportunity to pursue new avenues, including a Las Vegas act, writing books, hosting a talk show and becoming an entrepreneur. In the 1990s, she also became the spokesperson for the “Thighmaster.”

Somers returned to network television in the 1990s, most famously on “Step by Step,” which aired on ABC’s youth-targeted TGIF lineup. The network also aired a biopic of her life, starring her, called “Keeping Secrets.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697402588728.png" alt="Somers had breast cancer for over 23 years and died Sunday morning&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Somers had breast cancer for over 23 years and died Sunday morning&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) —Suzanne Somers, the effervescent blonde actor known for playing Chrissy Snow on the television show “Three’s Company” as well as her business endeavors, has died. She was 76.Somers had breast cancer for over 23 years and died Sunday morning, her family said in a statement provided by her longtime publicist, R. Couri Hay. Her husband Alan Hamel, her son Bruce and other immediate family were with her in Palm Springs, California.“Her family was gathered to celebrate her 77th birthday on October 16th,” the statement read. “Instead, they will celebrate her extraordinary life, and want to thank her millions of fans and followers who loved her dearly.”In July, Somers shared on Instagram that her breast cancer had returned.“Like any cancer patient, when you get that dreaded, ‘It’s back’ you get a pit in your stomach. Then I put on my battle gear and go to war," she told Entertainment Tonight at the time. "This is familiar battleground for me and I’m very tough.”She was first diagnosed in 2000, and also had skin cancer. She faced some backlash for her reliance on what she's described as a chemical-free and organic lifestyle to combat the cancers. She argued against the use of chemotherapy, in books and on platforms like “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” which drew criticism from the American Cancer Society.Somers was born in 1946 in San Bruno, California, to a gardener father and a medical secretary mother. She began acting in the late 1960s, playing the blonde driving the white Thunderbird in George Lucas’s 1973 film “American Graffiti.” Her only line was mouthing the words “I love you” to Richard Dreyfuss’s character.At her audition, Lucas just asked her if she could drive. She later said that moment “changed her life forever.”Somers would later stage a one-woman Broadway show entitled “The Blonde in the Thunderbird,” which drew largely scathing reviews.She appeared in many television shows in the 1970s, including “The Rockford Files,” “Magnum Force” and “The Six Million Dollar Man,” but her most famous part came with “Three’s Company,” which aired on ABC from 1977 to 1984 — though her participation ended in 1981.On “Three’s Company,” she was the ditzy blonde opposite John Ritter and Joyce DeWitt in the roommate comedy. In 1980, after four seasons, she asked for a raise from $30,000 an episode to $150,000 an episode, which would have been comparable to what Ritter was getting paid. Hamel, a former television producer, had encouraged the ask.“The show’s response was, ‘Who do you think you are?’” Somers told People in 2020. “They said, ‘John Ritter is the star.’”She was soon fired and her character was replaced by two different roommates for the remaining years the show aired. It also led to a rift with her co-stars; They didn’t speak for many years. Somers did reconcile with Ritter before his death, and then with DeWitt on her online talk show.But Somers took the break as an opportunity to pursue new avenues, including a Las Vegas act, writing books, hosting a talk show and becoming an entrepreneur. In the 1990s, she also became the spokesperson for the “Thighmaster.”Somers returned to network television in the 1990s, most famously on “Step by Step,” which aired on ABC’s youth-targeted TGIF lineup. The network also aired a biopic of her life, starring her, called “Keeping Secrets.”

Suzanne Somers, of ‘Three’s Company,’ dies at 76

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A dozen state or county agencies have parted ways with tens of thousands of dollars in federal grants meant to help monitor teenagers' sexual behaviors and try to lower rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

The withdrawals reflect a shift in many states that is further complicating and polarizing sex education in K-12 schools as some Republican-led legislatures more strictly regulate when and what students learn about their bodies. The new laws are part of a broad push to fortify “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-education-gender-identity-0e2ca2cf0ef7d7bc6ef5b125f1ee0969">parents' rights</a>&nbsp;” and strike LGBTQ+ content from the classroom,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-republicans-president-mama-bears-moms-desantis-a96ae3d1ed167f823360e7645ca4b519">core themes</a>&nbsp;that have flooded the campaign for the GOP&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024">presidential nomination</a>.

Experts are concerned students won’t reliably learn about adolescence, safe sexual activity or relationship violence, topics they say are especially important since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2021/default.htm">sexually transmitted diseases rose after the pandemic</a>&nbsp;and access to abortion is increasingly restricted.

Anne-Marie Amies Oelschlager, a pediatric and adolescent gynecologist at Seattle Children's Hospital, said a trained, trusted adult is critical for young people to get good information versus other, less trustworthy sources like social media.

“When we stop talking about these things or ... try to push things under the rug, we just increase risk," she said.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teen-sex-survey-high-school-3d45d0441f531d1da9f5b44373becee4">Fewer teens are sexually active</a>, a 2021 government survey showed, but federal data that year also suggest teens and young adults made up half of all people with STDs. For the youngest generations, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teen-sex-sexual-intercourse-meaning-fa0b10e0fb7e8fd8fd72ac9990c3321a">language about sex is evolving</a>.

This year, lawmakers passed bans on teaching human sexuality before fourth grade in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indiana-governor-transgender-students-book-bans-b3662d950080cf43965bce58692bfc70">Indiana</a>&nbsp;and sexual reproduction or sexual intercourse before fifth grade in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/huckabee-sanders-vouchers-schools-lgbtq-education-teachers-bd56e89399d401ea44018cc92a5116ee">Arkansas</a>. In Kentucky, educators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kentucky-transgender-c90d6b61a3e1e717fc1280be9d2eb529">can't teach sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases before sixth grade</a>, and parents must provide consent for older students. A handful of states require parents to opt in to instruction instead of opting out.

In Florida, materials about reproductive health, human sexuality and sexually transmitted diseases&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/desantis-florida-dont-say-gay-ban-684ed25a303f83208a89c556543183cb">for any grade</a>&nbsp;must be approved by state officials. A letter from the state agency indicates curriculum was due for review by the end of September.

Advocates for comprehensive sex education say the restrictions in early education may prevent kids from getting age-appropriate foundational knowledge that they build on each year, said Alison Macklin, director of policy and advocacy at the progressive sex education organization SIECUS.

“You were never going to teach a first grader a trigonometry lesson, right?” she said. “But they have to have foundational knowledge in first grade to be able to get to that in high school."

“Sex education is exactly the same," Macklin continued, suggesting young people aren't prepared for puberty if they haven't already learned “foundational things like correct terminology for body parts.”

Puberty for girls begins between ages 8 to 13 and typically two years later for boys. To comply with the new law in Kentucky, for example, the state’s education agency advised schools eliminate fifth-grade lessons on puberty and reproductive body parts.

The consensus was sex education in elementary school “wasn’t necessary or appropriate in any context,” said David Walls, executive director of The Family Foundation, a Christian organization in Kentucky that advocated for the law.

Many parents disagree with the boundaries around what is considered age appropriate by sex ed advocates, he said, particularly when it comes to gender identity and “the idea that biological sex is not an immutable characteristic."

The law "sets a base level of protection for parents to be able to be the ones that can review the curriculum and make a decision as to whether that’s something they’d like their child to participate in,” Walls said.

There is federal guidance for developing evidence-based and age-appropriate sexual health curricula, but state laws and local implementation run the gamut.

Twenty-eight states require sex education, and 35 require HIV education, according to tracking by the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. Most states require any instruction on sex or disease prevention to include abstinence, and most states allow parents to opt out.

While many states have curtailed sex education, others have codified comprehensive and inclusive standards. Massachusetts, for example, recently announced new sexual health education guidelines, which were last updated in 1999.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services award millions of dollars for programs designed, in part, to track teen behavior and teach abstinence and contraception with the goal of creating safe environments and preventing pregnancy and diseases.

Idaho's Division of Public Health said it no longer administered the HHS grant for personal responsibility education programs, or PREP, as of July 1 after lawmakers did not approve the spending during the legislative session.

New Hampshire withdrew from PREP funding after a five-member Republican-led council that approves contracts repeatedly blocked funding in 2022. However, PREP funding doesn't necessarily disappear if a state's officials reject it; instead, it can be awarded directly to local organizations, which is now the case in New Hampshire.

A different grant is provided by the CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health for a biennial youth survey. Since March 2022, six states have discontinued the agreement to conduct the survey: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa and South Carolina. Some of those states also have new laws restricting schools’ ability to administer surveys.

Four Florida counties encompassing parts of the Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and Miami metro areas also withdrew from another CDC grant to expand student health resources and education.

The CDC will “always promote the best available science,” said Kathleen Ethier, director of the agency’s Division of Adolescent and School Health. The agency said it is committed to collecting data revealing youth health challenges and recommending evidence-based programs addressing them.

Ethier said there is always a “disconnect” between their recommendations and state and local policies, but she is less focused on any given health class "than the whole school environment.”

“I worry any time educators don’t feel able to thoughtfully answer young people’s questions,” Ethier said.

Teenagers' curiosity drives Teen Health Mississippi, a organization that trains educators and offers supplemental programs for parents and teens.

About a quarter of the state's counties work with the nonprofit and the state's health agency to implement an “abstinence-plus” program, an option schools have to teach about contraception in addition to the now-permanent requirement to teach abstinence.

Hope Crenshaw, the organization's director, said low percentage of counties suggests “a lot of young people aren’t getting that information and many of them are getting it based on their zip code."

“Young people want information to protect themselves,” Crenshaw said.

Kayla Smith is among them. The 18-year-old freshman at the University of Mississippi volunteered to be a youth advocate with Teen Health Mississippi, engaging her peers and answering their questions.

The topic of sex in Mississippi is “taboo,” Smith said. She remembers just one optional day of sex education in middle school.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A dozen state or county agencies have parted ways with tens of thousands of dollars in federal grants meant to help monitor teenagers' sexual behaviors and try to lower rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.The withdrawals reflect a shift in many states that is further complicating and polarizing sex education in K-12 schools as some Republican-led legislatures more strictly regulate when and what students learn about their bodies. The new laws are part of a broad push to fortify “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-education-gender-identity-0e2ca2cf0ef7d7bc6ef5b125f1ee0969">parents' rights</a>&nbsp;” and strike LGBTQ+ content from the classroom,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-republicans-president-mama-bears-moms-desantis-a96ae3d1ed167f823360e7645ca4b519">core themes</a>&nbsp;that have flooded the campaign for the GOP&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024">presidential nomination</a>.Experts are concerned students won’t reliably learn about adolescence, safe sexual activity or relationship violence, topics they say are especially important since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2021/default.htm">sexually transmitted diseases rose after the pandemic</a>&nbsp;and access to abortion is increasingly restricted.Anne-Marie Amies Oelschlager, a pediatric and adolescent gynecologist at Seattle Children's Hospital, said a trained, trusted adult is critical for young people to get good information versus other, less trustworthy sources like social media.“When we stop talking about these things or ... try to push things under the rug, we just increase risk," she said.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teen-sex-survey-high-school-3d45d0441f531d1da9f5b44373becee4">Fewer teens are sexually active</a>, a 2021 government survey showed, but federal data that year also suggest teens and young adults made up half of all people with STDs. For the youngest generations, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teen-sex-sexual-intercourse-meaning-fa0b10e0fb7e8fd8fd72ac9990c3321a">language about sex is evolving</a>.This year, lawmakers passed bans on teaching human sexuality before fourth grade in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indiana-governor-transgender-students-book-bans-b3662d950080cf43965bce58692bfc70">Indiana</a>&nbsp;and sexual reproduction or sexual intercourse before fifth grade in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/huckabee-sanders-vouchers-schools-lgbtq-education-teachers-bd56e89399d401ea44018cc92a5116ee">Arkansas</a>. In Kentucky, educators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kentucky-transgender-c90d6b61a3e1e717fc1280be9d2eb529">can't teach sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases before sixth grade</a>, and parents must provide consent for older students. A handful of states require parents to opt in to instruction instead of opting out.In Florida, materials about reproductive health, human sexuality and sexually transmitted diseases&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/desantis-florida-dont-say-gay-ban-684ed25a303f83208a89c556543183cb">for any grade</a>&nbsp;must be approved by state officials. A letter from the state agency indicates curriculum was due for review by the end of September.Advocates for comprehensive sex education say the restrictions in early education may prevent kids from getting age-appropriate foundational knowledge that they build on each year, said Alison Macklin, director of policy and advocacy at the progressive sex education organization SIECUS.“You were never going to teach a first grader a trigonometry lesson, right?” she said. “But they have to have foundational knowledge in first grade to be able to get to that in high school."“Sex education is exactly the same," Macklin continued, suggesting young people aren't prepared for puberty if they haven't already learned “foundational things like correct terminology for body parts.”Puberty for girls begins between ages 8 to 13 and typically two years later for boys. To comply with the new law in Kentucky, for example, the state’s education agency advised schools eliminate fifth-grade lessons on puberty and reproductive body parts.The consensus was sex education in elementary school “wasn’t necessary or appropriate in any context,” said David Walls, executive director of The Family Foundation, a Christian organization in Kentucky that advocated for the law.Many parents disagree with the boundaries around what is considered age appropriate by sex ed advocates, he said, particularly when it comes to gender identity and “the idea that biological sex is not an immutable characteristic."The law "sets a base level of protection for parents to be able to be the ones that can review the curriculum and make a decision as to whether that’s something they’d like their child to participate in,” Walls said.There is federal guidance for developing evidence-based and age-appropriate sexual health curricula, but state laws and local implementation run the gamut.Twenty-eight states require sex education, and 35 require HIV education, according to tracking by the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. Most states require any instruction on sex or disease prevention to include abstinence, and most states allow parents to opt out.While many states have curtailed sex education, others have codified comprehensive and inclusive standards. Massachusetts, for example, recently announced new sexual health education guidelines, which were last updated in 1999.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services award millions of dollars for programs designed, in part, to track teen behavior and teach abstinence and contraception with the goal of creating safe environments and preventing pregnancy and diseases.Idaho's Division of Public Health said it no longer administered the HHS grant for personal responsibility education programs, or PREP, as of July 1 after lawmakers did not approve the spending during the legislative session.New Hampshire withdrew from PREP funding after a five-member Republican-led council that approves contracts repeatedly blocked funding in 2022. However, PREP funding doesn't necessarily disappear if a state's officials reject it; instead, it can be awarded directly to local organizations, which is now the case in New Hampshire.A different grant is provided by the CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health for a biennial youth survey. Since March 2022, six states have discontinued the agreement to conduct the survey: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa and South Carolina. Some of those states also have new laws restricting schools’ ability to administer surveys.Four Florida counties encompassing parts of the Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and Miami metro areas also withdrew from another CDC grant to expand student health resources and education.The CDC will “always promote the best available science,” said Kathleen Ethier, director of the agency’s Division of Adolescent and School Health. The agency said it is committed to collecting data revealing youth health challenges and recommending evidence-based programs addressing them.Ethier said there is always a “disconnect” between their recommendations and state and local policies, but she is less focused on any given health class "than the whole school environment.”“I worry any time educators don’t feel able to thoughtfully answer young people’s questions,” Ethier said.Teenagers' curiosity drives Teen Health Mississippi, a organization that trains educators and offers supplemental programs for parents and teens.About a quarter of the state's counties work with the nonprofit and the state's health agency to implement an “abstinence-plus” program, an option schools have to teach about contraception in addition to the now-permanent requirement to teach abstinence.Hope Crenshaw, the organization's director, said low percentage of counties suggests “a lot of young people aren’t getting that information and many of them are getting it based on their zip code."“Young people want information to protect themselves,” Crenshaw said.Kayla Smith is among them. The 18-year-old freshman at the University of Mississippi volunteered to be a youth advocate with Teen Health Mississippi, engaging her peers and answering their questions.The topic of sex in Mississippi is “taboo,” Smith said. She remembers just one optional day of sex education in middle school.

Stricter state laws are chipping away at sex education in K-12 schools

As the State of Israel enters a new phase in its defensive actions against the Islamic militant movement Hamas, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen issued the following statement regarding the need for strong, principled American leadership in support of our greatest ally:

“The attacks by Hamas on Israel and its citizens on October 7, 2023, were horrific and barbaric. No innocent civilians should be targeted in the way they have been by these Iran-backed terrorists. The acts committed by Hamas are unacceptable on every level. Nebraskans can recognize evil when they see it, and we saw it on Oct. 7. When America was targeted on September 11, 2001, Israel stood with us. America must stand with Israel now, and our national leaders must unequivocally voice their support for Israel and condemn both Hamas and any other hostile nation or organization which would seek to take advantage of this crisis.&nbsp;

Here in Nebraska, we have already taken several steps to support Israel, both publicly and in the background. I ordered flags to be flown at half-staff and our State Capitol to be lit in blue to in honor of the lives lost in Israel. My team has participated in security briefings to ensure we are current on the latest developments in the region. We have also conducted outreach to ensure that any Nebraskans trapped in the region, who need a way out, are secured. In addition to these steps, I am calling on the federal government to meet America’s obligations in this crisis.

First, as Israel embarks on further defensive actions, I call upon the federal government to use every tool available to protect any American citizens who are in harm’s&nbsp;way. We know that Hamas has murdered more than two dozen Americans. Others are still missing and may be hostages. This is unacceptable, and the United States government should not rest until its citizens in the region are&nbsp;secure from Hamas’ custody.

Additionally, I call upon President Biden to ensure that no aid of any kind is sent to Iran, a known supporter and funder of Hamas and other terror organizations. This must be a complete freeze. Iran applauded these attacks on Israel. At this juncture, we know that any form of financial support to Iran will directly support that regime’s terrorism agenda.

Finally,&nbsp;we must secure our southern border. In addition to sending Nebraska National Guard troops and Nebraska State troopers to the border in support of Operation Lone Star, I and other Governors have previously called on the Department of Homeland Security to account for the thousands of illegal aliens apprehended at the border; advise state governments of their countries of origin; and, to report where individuals have been relocated within the interior of the United States as they await further immigration proceedings. To date, we have not received this vital national security information. The Oct. 7 attacks on Israel emphasize the need to address this issue now.

As the State of Israel enters a new phase in its defensive actions against the Islamic militant movement Hamas, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen issued the following statement regarding the need for strong, principled American leadership in support of our greatest ally:“The attacks by Hamas on Israel and its citizens on October 7, 2023, were horrific and barbaric. No innocent civilians should be targeted in the way they have been by these Iran-backed terrorists. The acts committed by Hamas are unacceptable on every level. Nebraskans can recognize evil when they see it, and we saw it on Oct. 7. When America was targeted on September 11, 2001, Israel stood with us. America must stand with Israel now, and our national leaders must unequivocally voice their support for Israel and condemn both Hamas and any other hostile nation or organization which would seek to take advantage of this crisis.&nbsp;Here in Nebraska, we have already taken several steps to support Israel, both publicly and in the background. I ordered flags to be flown at half-staff and our State Capitol to be lit in blue to in honor of the lives lost in Israel. My team has participated in security briefings to ensure we are current on the latest developments in the region. We have also conducted outreach to ensure that any Nebraskans trapped in the region, who need a way out, are secured. In addition to these steps, I am calling on the federal government to meet America’s obligations in this crisis.First, as Israel embarks on further defensive actions, I call upon the federal government to use every tool available to protect any American citizens who are in harm’s&nbsp;way. We know that Hamas has murdered more than two dozen Americans. Others are still missing and may be hostages. This is unacceptable, and the United States government should not rest until its citizens in the region are&nbsp;secure from Hamas’ custody.Additionally, I call upon President Biden to ensure that no aid of any kind is sent to Iran, a known supporter and funder of Hamas and other terror organizations. This must be a complete freeze. Iran applauded these attacks on Israel. At this juncture, we know that any form of financial support to Iran will directly support that regime’s terrorism agenda.Finally,&nbsp;we must secure our southern border. In addition to sending Nebraska National Guard troops and Nebraska State troopers to the border in support of Operation Lone Star, I and other Governors have previously called on the Department of Homeland Security to account for the thousands of illegal aliens apprehended at the border; advise state governments of their countries of origin; and, to report where individuals have been relocated within the interior of the United States as they await further immigration proceedings. To date, we have not received this vital national security information. The Oct. 7 attacks on Israel emphasize the need to address this issue now.

Governor Pillen Issues Statement Calling for Leadership in Support of Israel   

0Terror attacks by Hamas against Israel, massacring civilians, have shocked the world. As Israel conducts rescue efforts and takes action to defend itself, an immediate concern is for the Americans who have died and those still missing who were potentially taken hostage. As the world watches, we must demonstrate decisive leadership in this moment on behalf of victimized and endangered Americans.

﻿At this time, 27 Americans are known to have been killed, and many others remain missing. The murder of Americans by these terrorists is not accidental or incidental. They hate America and their stated goals leave no doubt they are glad to kill Americans as part of these actions.

The total casualty numbers from the attacks exceed 1,200 people killed and more than 2,700 wounded. To put that in perspective, for a nation of just over 9 million, this casualty count is proportionally equivalent to the number of Americans killed by the September 11th attacks multiple times over. Unfortunately, these numbers are sure to rise as authorities continue to locate civilian victims of the surprise attacks.

It is important to be clear, these horrific attacks by Hamas cannot rightfully be called “acts of war;” they are truly acts of terror. The rules of war prohibit killing of civilians, kidnapping civilians, and indiscriminately bombing civilian targets. Hamas has gone far beyond these conventions to shamelessly brutalize infants and celebrate the gruesome slaughter and humiliation of innocents on the world stage.

I stand with Israel and condemn Hamas’ horrific attacks. America has no greater ally in the Middle East, and we must unite in strong support in this critical moment. Having taken an untold number of hostages, Hamas has threatened to begin executing them one-by-one, and Israel has every right to use all its means to defend itself, attempt to rescue those held captive, and put an end to terrorism by Hamas and affiliated groups.

I urge President Biden to prioritize locating and identifying missing Americans and ensuring the safety of every one of our citizens currently in Israel. As air travel in and out of Israel has been severely restricted, earlier this week, I joined many of my colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging immediate action to bring Americans home.

Throughout my time in Congress, I have consistently supported legislation to support Israel’s right to self-defense and prevent their enemies’ ability to fund terror activity, including legislation to stop the Palestinian Authority from making payments to terrorists and their families. This week, I also joined with more than 400 of my colleagues to sponsor a resolution condemning the attacks.

Considering the scale and expense of these attacks, Hamas could not have organized, equipped, orchestrated, and kept them secret, without the aid of longstanding supporter, Iran. Because of this, I am a cosponsor of legislation to block international financial transactions by Iran including any accessing of the $6 billion the Biden administration unfroze for Iran in August in exchange for American prisoners.

The risk for further escalation of this conflict is high. Without a doubt, in the face of this senseless violence, it is in the best interest of our national security to stand with Israel and let our adversaries know, it will not be tolerated.

Negotiating with terrorists and their enablers is a dead end. In a case like this, peace can only be achieved through strength. Israel is one of our closest allies and the only democracy in the Middle East. The U.S. should stand ready to provide military assistance such as missiles and artillery. If we have the capacity to help our allies defend themselves, and they are asking, we must help.

Adrian Smith0Terror attacks by Hamas against Israel, massacring civilians, have shocked the world. As Israel conducts rescue efforts and takes action to defend itself, an immediate concern is for the Americans who have died and those still missing who were potentially taken hostage. As the world watches, we must demonstrate decisive leadership in this moment on behalf of victimized and endangered Americans.﻿At this time, 27 Americans are known to have been killed, and many others remain missing. The murder of Americans by these terrorists is not accidental or incidental. They hate America and their stated goals leave no doubt they are glad to kill Americans as part of these actions.The total casualty numbers from the attacks exceed 1,200 people killed and more than 2,700 wounded. To put that in perspective, for a nation of just over 9 million, this casualty count is proportionally equivalent to the number of Americans killed by the September 11th attacks multiple times over. Unfortunately, these numbers are sure to rise as authorities continue to locate civilian victims of the surprise attacks.It is important to be clear, these horrific attacks by Hamas cannot rightfully be called “acts of war;” they are truly acts of terror. The rules of war prohibit killing of civilians, kidnapping civilians, and indiscriminately bombing civilian targets. Hamas has gone far beyond these conventions to shamelessly brutalize infants and celebrate the gruesome slaughter and humiliation of innocents on the world stage.I stand with Israel and condemn Hamas’ horrific attacks. America has no greater ally in the Middle East, and we must unite in strong support in this critical moment. Having taken an untold number of hostages, Hamas has threatened to begin executing them one-by-one, and Israel has every right to use all its means to defend itself, attempt to rescue those held captive, and put an end to terrorism by Hamas and affiliated groups.I urge President Biden to prioritize locating and identifying missing Americans and ensuring the safety of every one of our citizens currently in Israel. As air travel in and out of Israel has been severely restricted, earlier this week, I joined many of my colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging immediate action to bring Americans home.Throughout my time in Congress, I have consistently supported legislation to support Israel’s right to self-defense and prevent their enemies’ ability to fund terror activity, including legislation to stop the Palestinian Authority from making payments to terrorists and their families. This week, I also joined with more than 400 of my colleagues to sponsor a resolution condemning the attacks.Considering the scale and expense of these attacks, Hamas could not have organized, equipped, orchestrated, and kept them secret, without the aid of longstanding supporter, Iran. Because of this, I am a cosponsor of legislation to block international financial transactions by Iran including any accessing of the $6 billion the Biden administration unfroze for Iran in August in exchange for American prisoners.The risk for further escalation of this conflict is high. Without a doubt, in the face of this senseless violence, it is in the best interest of our national security to stand with Israel and let our adversaries know, it will not be tolerated.Negotiating with terrorists and their enablers is a dead end. In a case like this, peace can only be achieved through strength. Israel is one of our closest allies and the only democracy in the Middle East. The U.S. should stand ready to provide military assistance such as missiles and artillery. If we have the capacity to help our allies defend themselves, and they are asking, we must help.

Standing Against Terror

LINCOLN, NEB. – Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) is urging farmers and ranchers to join the organization in submitting comments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed new rule that heavily increases limitations and regulations on pesticides. Earlier this year, the EPA released the “Draft Herbicide Strategy Framework” in response to extensive litigation about the agency’s noncompliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). NEFB says the more than 90-page proposal outlines a new method of pesticide labeling, adding highly burdensome restrictions to herbicide use in many areas.

“Herbicides are essential for farmers to maintain the highest sustainability standards, affordable food prices, and conservations efforts. The limits imposed by this rule are overly restrictive and have the potential to negatively alter the economy.&nbsp;The removal of tools from our crop protection product toolbox will greatly affect farmers ability to be economically successful,” said Mark McHargue, NEFB president.

For years and years, farmers have just been able to look at the pesticide label and the label will give specifics for how to apply the products. This new proposal changes the labels to a point system that producers attain by adopting certain practices.

According to NEFB, there are a number of producer level problems that are created by this proposed plan including spray buffer zones are unreasonably large with an up to 500-foot buffer required for aerial applications and an up to 200-foot buffer required for ground applications, incentivizing larger spray droplet sizes while also incentivizing reduced application rate, which is contradictory, and incentivizing incorporation of the herbicide into the soil, which is contrary to the environmentally beneficial no-till practices, largely utilized in Nebraska.

The proposed rule also creates Pesticide Use Limitation Areas (PULAs), which includes the majority of Nebraska, subjecting producers to even greater restrictions.&nbsp;The PULAs are based on the ESA listed species that live in the area, and what types of plants are considered their habitats. These areas cover the vast majority of Nebraska, requiring more points to apply specific herbicides and many of the point options are not available to all producers.

“Many of the proposed mitigation measures simply don’t work in Nebraska and could force growers to adopt outdated farming practices that are costly, burdensome, and irrelevant to modern agriculture. Some farmers may not be able to comply at all, potentially opening farmers and ranchers up to legal charges,” said McHargue.

Currently, the EPA proposal is open to public comment until October 22, 2023, and NEFB strongly encourages farmers and ranchers to voice their thoughts on the measures. Producers can submit a comment by visiting&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nefb.org/" target="_blank">www.nefb.org</a>,&nbsp;highlighting the advocacy tab at the top, and clicking on the 'Action Alerts' button under the action center.

LINCOLN, NEB. – Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) is urging farmers and ranchers to join the organization in submitting comments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed new rule that heavily increases limitations and regulations on pesticides. Earlier this year, the EPA released the “Draft Herbicide Strategy Framework” in response to extensive litigation about the agency’s noncompliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). NEFB says the more than 90-page proposal outlines a new method of pesticide labeling, adding highly burdensome restrictions to herbicide use in many areas.“Herbicides are essential for farmers to maintain the highest sustainability standards, affordable food prices, and conservations efforts. The limits imposed by this rule are overly restrictive and have the potential to negatively alter the economy.&nbsp;The removal of tools from our crop protection product toolbox will greatly affect farmers ability to be economically successful,” said Mark McHargue, NEFB president.For years and years, farmers have just been able to look at the pesticide label and the label will give specifics for how to apply the products. This new proposal changes the labels to a point system that producers attain by adopting certain practices.According to NEFB, there are a number of producer level problems that are created by this proposed plan including spray buffer zones are unreasonably large with an up to 500-foot buffer required for aerial applications and an up to 200-foot buffer required for ground applications, incentivizing larger spray droplet sizes while also incentivizing reduced application rate, which is contradictory, and incentivizing incorporation of the herbicide into the soil, which is contrary to the environmentally beneficial no-till practices, largely utilized in Nebraska.The proposed rule also creates Pesticide Use Limitation Areas (PULAs), which includes the majority of Nebraska, subjecting producers to even greater restrictions.&nbsp;The PULAs are based on the ESA listed species that live in the area, and what types of plants are considered their habitats. These areas cover the vast majority of Nebraska, requiring more points to apply specific herbicides and many of the point options are not available to all producers.“Many of the proposed mitigation measures simply don’t work in Nebraska and could force growers to adopt outdated farming practices that are costly, burdensome, and irrelevant to modern agriculture. Some farmers may not be able to comply at all, potentially opening farmers and ranchers up to legal charges,” said McHargue.Currently, the EPA proposal is open to public comment until October 22, 2023, and NEFB strongly encourages farmers and ranchers to voice their thoughts on the measures. Producers can submit a comment by visiting&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nefb.org/" target="_blank">www.nefb.org</a>,&nbsp;highlighting the advocacy tab at the top, and clicking on the 'Action Alerts' button under the action center.

Nebraska Farm Bureau Says Proposed EPA Pesticide Restrictions Too Aggressive, Changes Needed

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — President Joe Biden on Saturday spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging the leaders to allow&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-evacuations-refugee-834a63b3ac48ce9230c649cddeafdf89">humanitarian aid to the region</a>&nbsp;and affirmed his support for efforts to protect civilians.

The weekend calls in Washington came ahead of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's announcement that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-military-navy-carrier-e648c53dc53a46e2e12950784ea5e8d2">U.S. was moving up a second carrier strike group</a>&nbsp;in support of Israel. Secretary of State Antony Blinken intensified diplomatic outreach across the Middle East and beyond to rally an international response to prevent the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-west-bank-settler-violence-gaza-war-68debe29dcc2f5a58bd899e1e424911c">Israel-Hamas war from expanding</a>.

The broad U.S. efforts reflect the international concern about the number of civilians at risk and the potential ramifications of a prolonged war as Israel told&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-c8b4fc20e4fd2ef381d5edb7e9e8308c">Gaza residents to move south</a>&nbsp;and Hamas urged people to remain in their homes. The Biden administration has not publicly urged Israel to restrain its response after the Hamas attack a week ago, but has emphasized the country’s commitment to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-war-crimes-icc-1a42212b95a7f6ce54909fb22e0d681d">following the rules of war</a>.

Addressing a Human Rights Campaign dinner Saturday in Washington, Biden linked the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to different versions of hate that he said must be stopped.

“A week ago we saw hate manifest another way in the worst massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust,” Biden said, citing the 1,300 lives lost in Israel as well as “children, grandparents alike kidnapped, held hostage by Hamas.”

“The humanitarian crisis in Gaza — innocent Palestinian families and the vast majority that have nothing to do with Hamas — they’re being used as human shields,” he said. “We have to reject hate in every form.”

Blinken met with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh before stopping in the United Arab Emirates as he sought ways to help civilians trapped in between the fighting and to address the growing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-hamas-war-live-updates">humanitarian crisis</a>.

He also called his Chinese counterpart as Palestinians struggled to flee from areas of Gaza targeted by the Israeli military before an expected land offensive.

Austin as well on Saturday spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, stressing the importance of safeguarding civilians. Austin offered updates on U.S. efforts to boost air defense capabilities and munitions for Israeli forces that he noted were aimed at stemming escalation of war, according to a readout of the call.

Austin said the Biden administration was sending the additional carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean. The Eisenhower will join the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, which is already sailing near Israel, to bolster U.S. presence there with a host of destroyers, fighter aircraft and cruisers.

In a statement announcing the deployment, Austin said sending the second carrier was “part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas’s attack on Israel.”

While Biden has spoken to Netanyahu multiple times since the Hamas attack, Saturday's call was his first to Abbas, who runs the Palestinian Authority which controls the West Bank. According to a readout of the call, Abbas briefed the president on efforts to bring aid to Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza.

Biden reiterated to Abbas that “Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination,” according to the readout.

Biden spoke with Netanyahu to “reiterate unwavering U.S. support for Israel,” according to the readout. He briefed the Israeli leader on regional efforts to ensure civilian access to food, water and medical care.

The number of U.S. citizens killed rose to 29, U.S. officials said Satutday, and 15 were unaccounted for, as well as one lawful permanent resident.

Blinken, in his visits with Saudi and UAE leaders, also cited the need for humanitarian assistance and safe passage from those who wish to leave Gaza as he spoke to Arab audiences from their home turf, where his hosts put that issue at the top of their concerns.

An Israeli ground assault would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-785e0eb833715354cade4694e8ccbf67">worsen the plight</a>&nbsp;of civilians in Gaza who are without power, fresh water or access to aid. Egyptian officials said the southern Rafah crossing would open later Saturday for the first time in days to allow foreigners out. Israel has advised all Palestinian civilians to flee south to avoid Israel's continued offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza City.

Blinken also called Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to seek his country's help in preventing the war from spreading, asking Beijing to use whatever influence it has in the Mideast. Blinken's spokesman declined to characterize Wang’s response but said the U.S. believes it and China have a shared interest in the region's stability.

In Riyadh, Blinken and Prince Faisal stressed the importance of minimizing the harm to civilians as Israel prepared for an anticipated incursion against Hamas a week after the militant group's unprecedented attack against Israel.

“As Israel pursues its legitimate right, to defending its people and to trying to ensure that this never happens again, it is vitally important that all of us look out for civilians, and we’re working together to do exactly that,” Blinken said.

"None of us want to see suffering by civilians on any side, whether it’s in Israel, whether it’s in Gaza, whether it’s anywhere else," Blinken said.

The Saudi minister said the kingdom was committed to the protection of civilians.

“It’s a disturbing situation,” he said. “It’s a very difficult situation. And, as you know, the primary sufferer of this situation are civilians, and civilian populations on both sides are being affected and it’s important, I think, that we all condemn the targeting of civilians in any form at any time by anyone.”

A U.S official said Saturday that Washington did not ask Israel to slow or hold off on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-hamas-war-live-updates#0000018b-2a81-d156-abaf-aa95a5770000">the evacuation plan</a>. The official said the discussions with Israeli leaders did stress the importance of taking into account the safety of civilians as Israel’s military moved to enforce the evacuation demand.

The official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the private discussions and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Israeli leaders acknowledged the guidance and took it under advisement.

The U.S. worked out an agreement involving to allow Americans and other foreigners in Gaza to cross the Rafah border into Egypt, but the crossing remained blocked Saturday, with no sign that those gathered would be allowed through. There are an estimated 500 Americans living in Gaza, but that number is imprecise, officials have said.

The U.S. State Department on Saturday authorized the departure of nonemergency U.S. government personnel and their family members from the American Embassy in Jerusalem and an office in Tel Aviv.

Prince Faisal said it was imperative for the violence between Israel and Hamas to end.

“We need to work together to find a way out of this cycle of violence,” he said. “Without a concerted effort to end this constant return to violence, it will always be the civilians that suffer first, it will always be civilians on both sides that end up paying the price.”

While in Abu Dhabi, Blinken visited the Abrahamic Family House, a complex consisting of a church, a mosque and a synagogue representing the three Abrahamic faiths. He signed a tile with the words “Light in the Darkness.”

Blinken returned to Saudi Arabia ahead of an expected stop in Egypt on Sunday. He has already visited&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/israel-antony-blinken-israel-hamas-war-general-news-war-and-unrest-0e71903c03b740f695d8732f2ad91916">Israel</a>, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696803172229.png" alt="The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea Wednesday-photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea Wednesday-photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — President Joe Biden on Saturday spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging the leaders to allow&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-evacuations-refugee-834a63b3ac48ce9230c649cddeafdf89">humanitarian aid to the region</a>&nbsp;and affirmed his support for efforts to protect civilians.The weekend calls in Washington came ahead of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's announcement that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-military-navy-carrier-e648c53dc53a46e2e12950784ea5e8d2">U.S. was moving up a second carrier strike group</a>&nbsp;in support of Israel. Secretary of State Antony Blinken intensified diplomatic outreach across the Middle East and beyond to rally an international response to prevent the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-west-bank-settler-violence-gaza-war-68debe29dcc2f5a58bd899e1e424911c">Israel-Hamas war from expanding</a>.The broad U.S. efforts reflect the international concern about the number of civilians at risk and the potential ramifications of a prolonged war as Israel told&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-c8b4fc20e4fd2ef381d5edb7e9e8308c">Gaza residents to move south</a>&nbsp;and Hamas urged people to remain in their homes. The Biden administration has not publicly urged Israel to restrain its response after the Hamas attack a week ago, but has emphasized the country’s commitment to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-war-crimes-icc-1a42212b95a7f6ce54909fb22e0d681d">following the rules of war</a>.Addressing a Human Rights Campaign dinner Saturday in Washington, Biden linked the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to different versions of hate that he said must be stopped.“A week ago we saw hate manifest another way in the worst massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust,” Biden said, citing the 1,300 lives lost in Israel as well as “children, grandparents alike kidnapped, held hostage by Hamas.”“The humanitarian crisis in Gaza — innocent Palestinian families and the vast majority that have nothing to do with Hamas — they’re being used as human shields,” he said. “We have to reject hate in every form.”Blinken met with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh before stopping in the United Arab Emirates as he sought ways to help civilians trapped in between the fighting and to address the growing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-hamas-war-live-updates">humanitarian crisis</a>.He also called his Chinese counterpart as Palestinians struggled to flee from areas of Gaza targeted by the Israeli military before an expected land offensive.Austin as well on Saturday spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, stressing the importance of safeguarding civilians. Austin offered updates on U.S. efforts to boost air defense capabilities and munitions for Israeli forces that he noted were aimed at stemming escalation of war, according to a readout of the call.Austin said the Biden administration was sending the additional carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean. The Eisenhower will join the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, which is already sailing near Israel, to bolster U.S. presence there with a host of destroyers, fighter aircraft and cruisers.In a statement announcing the deployment, Austin said sending the second carrier was “part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas’s attack on Israel.”While Biden has spoken to Netanyahu multiple times since the Hamas attack, Saturday's call was his first to Abbas, who runs the Palestinian Authority which controls the West Bank. According to a readout of the call, Abbas briefed the president on efforts to bring aid to Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza.Biden reiterated to Abbas that “Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination,” according to the readout.Biden spoke with Netanyahu to “reiterate unwavering U.S. support for Israel,” according to the readout. He briefed the Israeli leader on regional efforts to ensure civilian access to food, water and medical care.The number of U.S. citizens killed rose to 29, U.S. officials said Satutday, and 15 were unaccounted for, as well as one lawful permanent resident.Blinken, in his visits with Saudi and UAE leaders, also cited the need for humanitarian assistance and safe passage from those who wish to leave Gaza as he spoke to Arab audiences from their home turf, where his hosts put that issue at the top of their concerns.An Israeli ground assault would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-785e0eb833715354cade4694e8ccbf67">worsen the plight</a>&nbsp;of civilians in Gaza who are without power, fresh water or access to aid. Egyptian officials said the southern Rafah crossing would open later Saturday for the first time in days to allow foreigners out. Israel has advised all Palestinian civilians to flee south to avoid Israel's continued offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza City.Blinken also called Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to seek his country's help in preventing the war from spreading, asking Beijing to use whatever influence it has in the Mideast. Blinken's spokesman declined to characterize Wang’s response but said the U.S. believes it and China have a shared interest in the region's stability.In Riyadh, Blinken and Prince Faisal stressed the importance of minimizing the harm to civilians as Israel prepared for an anticipated incursion against Hamas a week after the militant group's unprecedented attack against Israel.“As Israel pursues its legitimate right, to defending its people and to trying to ensure that this never happens again, it is vitally important that all of us look out for civilians, and we’re working together to do exactly that,” Blinken said."None of us want to see suffering by civilians on any side, whether it’s in Israel, whether it’s in Gaza, whether it’s anywhere else," Blinken said.The Saudi minister said the kingdom was committed to the protection of civilians.“It’s a disturbing situation,” he said. “It’s a very difficult situation. And, as you know, the primary sufferer of this situation are civilians, and civilian populations on both sides are being affected and it’s important, I think, that we all condemn the targeting of civilians in any form at any time by anyone.”A U.S official said Saturday that Washington did not ask Israel to slow or hold off on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-hamas-war-live-updates#0000018b-2a81-d156-abaf-aa95a5770000">the evacuation plan</a>. The official said the discussions with Israeli leaders did stress the importance of taking into account the safety of civilians as Israel’s military moved to enforce the evacuation demand.The official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the private discussions and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Israeli leaders acknowledged the guidance and took it under advisement.The U.S. worked out an agreement involving to allow Americans and other foreigners in Gaza to cross the Rafah border into Egypt, but the crossing remained blocked Saturday, with no sign that those gathered would be allowed through. There are an estimated 500 Americans living in Gaza, but that number is imprecise, officials have said.The U.S. State Department on Saturday authorized the departure of nonemergency U.S. government personnel and their family members from the American Embassy in Jerusalem and an office in Tel Aviv.Prince Faisal said it was imperative for the violence between Israel and Hamas to end.“We need to work together to find a way out of this cycle of violence,” he said. “Without a concerted effort to end this constant return to violence, it will always be the civilians that suffer first, it will always be civilians on both sides that end up paying the price.”While in Abu Dhabi, Blinken visited the Abrahamic Family House, a complex consisting of a church, a mosque and a synagogue representing the three Abrahamic faiths. He signed a tile with the words “Light in the Darkness.”Blinken returned to Saudi Arabia ahead of an expected stop in Egypt on Sunday. He has already visited&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/israel-antony-blinken-israel-hamas-war-general-news-war-and-unrest-0e71903c03b740f695d8732f2ad91916">Israel</a>, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain.

 U.S. sending more warships to support Israel

In honor of International Day of the Girl, First Lady Jill Biden celebrated 15 young women leaders, selected by the White House Gender Policy Council, who are leading change and shaping a brighter future in their communities across the United States. &nbsp;

As an educator for more than 30 years, Dr. Biden has continued to be a champion for young people at home and abroad.

Together with the White House Gender Policy Council, Dr. Biden hosted the first-ever “Girls Leading Change” celebration at the White House to recognize the profound impact young women are having on their communities and their efforts strengthening our country for generations to come.&nbsp;

“It is my honor to celebrate this exceptional group of “Girls Leading Change” at the White House,” said First Lady Jill Biden. “These young women are protecting and preserving the earth, writing and sharing stories that change minds, and turning their pain into purpose. Together, they represent the potential of young people across the country, and it is my hope that others can learn from the power of their innovation, strength, and hope.”

In addition, the Biden-Harris Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/10/11/fact-sheet-white-house-celebrates-international-day-of-the-girl-and-announces-new-actions-to-support-youth-in-the-u-s-and-abroad/" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;a series of new actions that build on the Administration’s investment in young people and expand opportunities for women and girls at home and abroad.

Since day one in office, the Administration has been committed to ensuring women and girls have the opportunities and resources they need to ensure their safety, education, health, and wellbeing.

(Montgomery, Alabama) Breanna and Brooke Bennett, age 16, are dedicated to ending period poverty and ensuring everyone has access to the menstrual supplies they need. When they were 12 years old, Breanna and Brooke were inspired to give period supplies to girls in a public housing project in Montgomery, Alabama, kicking off what became their organization, Women in Training, through which they have distributed more than 30,000 kits with sanitary pads and toiletries. Breanna and Brooke have also successfully advocated for the passage of HB 50, a state law in Alabama that provides funds for school staff to provide sanitary pads to students in need. They are committed to building on that success and eliminating period poverty at the national level.

Jazmin Cazares, age 18, is a leading activist for gun violence prevention at the state and national level. After her sister Jackie was killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, Jazmin spent her senior year of high school traveling across the country and sharing Jackie’s story. Jazmin spoke alongside March for Our Lives leaders at the Texas State Capitol and testified before lawmakers. There, she called for tighter background checks, extreme risk protection order laws, and for lawmakers to “do something” to prevent future mass shootings. Jazmin plans to obtain a master’s degree in psychology and to continue fighting for her sister’s legacy.

Mona Cho (Redondo Beach, California)

Mona Cho, age 15, is dedicated to combatting online harassment and abuse and the harm it poses to youth and teens. She serves on the Beach Cities Health District’s Youth Advisory Council and is also part of the District’s newly created Youth Health &amp; Safety Committee, where she leads a team of five students in a campaign to spread awareness on how to stay safe on social media, and to prioritize mental health online. As part of this work, she created a short film that follows real-life stories of the impact of damaged digital footprints. Through the Plan USA Youth Leadership Academy, she leads the Digital Online Safety and Empowerment Initiative. Mona hopes to continue deploying film as a tool to promote online safety and call for change.

Julia Garnett (Hendersonville, Tennessee)&nbsp;

Julia Garnett, age 17, is dedicated to fighting against book bans and promoting educational freedom in public school and county public libraries. In her school district, she advocated successfully for student representation on book review committees and served on her own high school’s committee. At the national level, Julia has provided testimony before Congress on book bans and volunteers with Student Advocates for Speech, a partnership with the National Coalition Against Censorship. She is an organizer and leader on multiple issues, planned a Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, led a student walkout in protest of gun violence, and served as the President of her school’s Gay-Straight Alliance. Julia is committed to ensuring that youth grow up free from censorship, with access to books that fully represent the diversity of their communities and the world.

Logan Hennes, age 16, is committed to combatting antisemitism in communities across the country. Through the American Jewish Committee, Logan has created and taken on a leadership role in supporting students like herself who are working to address antisemitism in their schools and communities, such as Logan’s community in New York City. As the leader of her high school’s Jewish Affinity Group, she has hosted speakers to raise awareness of rising antisemitism and supported her peers in similar organizing and advocacy work across other communities and issues. Logan plans to pursue a career in international relations and U.S. foreign policy.

Anja Herrman (River Forest, Illinois)&nbsp;

Anja Herrman, age 17, is a disability rights activist and advocate for equity and inclusion. She has led grassroots disability advocacy work, including as a member of the Personal Protective Equipment for People with Disabilities (PPE4PWD Coalition), which helped secure personal protective equipment for people with disabilities during the COVID–19 pandemic. Since 2021, she has served as the youngest appointed member of the Village of River Forest’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Group. Anja is emerging as a national leader through her research, speaking engagements, and publications. She authored a white paper that highlights the need for school shooting plans that account for the safety of students with disabilities through a fellowship program at the Disability EmpowHer Network.

Leela Marie Hidier (Yarmouth, Maine)&nbsp;

&nbsp;Leela Marie Hidier, age 18, is a climate social justice advocate and published author. Her award-winning debut novel, Changes in the Weather, features four teenagers displaced by climate change in the U.S., coming of age in a world and time of uncertainty. Leela Marie has been invited to read from her work and speak at community centers, schools, climate conferences, the Maine State House, and across her state. Currently on a gap year, she is working in the nonprofit sector in Maine before beginning college next year. She aspires to become an educator, and to continue using art as a form of activism

Elisa Martinez (Las Vegas, Nevada)

Elisa Martinez, age 17, is an organizer dedicated to civic engagement, particularly within the Latino community. She founded her school’s Latino Student Union and mobilizes students on issues such as climate justice and gun violence prevention. Elisa volunteers as a poll worker to assist Spanishspeaking voters and ensure they understand their rights. After losing her friend to a fentanyl overdose, Elisa has spoken out about beating the opioid crisis and has joined the Trial by Peers program to advocate for juveniles in the criminal justice system. Elisa hopes to become a public defender.

Gabriella Nakai (Phoenix, Arizona)

Gabriella Nakai, age 17, is a Navajo and Choctaw leader dedicated to furthering food security and sustainability, indigenous sovereignty, and youth advocacy. For her work in growing sustainable, heirloom Native produce and promoting seed saving and propagation, Gabriella was honored by the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute as a 2023 Champion for Change. Gabriella works with Native American Connections on addressing youth homelessness and mental health in Phoenix. She founded the Native American club at her school, is a leader in her student government, and hopes to continue serving her tribal community through nonprofit work.

Zahra Rahimi (Alexandria, Virginia)

Zahra Rahimi, age 17, arrived in the U.S. four years ago from Afghanistan, and has since dedicated herself to supporting refugee resettlement in her local community, including access to English as a Second Language services in Alexandria schools. As student representative to the Alexandria City Board of Education, Zahra organized cultural events and staff trainings to ensure the school was prepared to receive new refugee families from Afghanistan. Zahra partnered with Northern Virginia Resettling Afghan Families Together to establish a special literacy program to support her largely female middle and high school peers who were reading below a second-grade level. In addition to her refugee resettlement efforts, Zahra is a passionate advocate for advancing women’s rights globally, especially in areas of conflict.

Gitanjali Rao (Highlands Ranch, Colorado)

Gitanjali Rao, age 17, is a freshman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is a scientist and inventor whose groundbreaking lead contamination detection tool won her an EPA Presidential Award and America’s Top Young Scientist by Discovery Education/3M. Her book Young Innovator’s Guide to STEM, which offers a prescriptive five-step innovation process, is used as a STEM curriculum globally in selected schools. Time Magazine’s first-ever Kid of the Year, Gitanjali is committed to not only continuing her career as a scientist and inventor, but expanding her STEM education initiative, which has already touched more than 80,000 elementary, middle, and high school students.

Avery Turner (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Avery Turner, age 17, is a high school senior and calls herself a “seasoned mover,” having moved 10 times before her father recently retired from the Air Force. Avery is committed to supporting military teens, and currently serves as the Director of Programs at Bloom, an organization started by military teens dedicated to promoting their belonging within the military community and amplifying their voices. A prolific writer, as well as a nationally-ranked competitive springboard diver, Avery writes about her experiences trying to find her place in the ever-changing landscape of military teen life in the hopes of providing connection and community.

Sandra Ukah, age 18, a freshman at the University of Florida, is committed to civic education and community organizing. She was co-founder and co-president of Seminole High School’s Black Student Union, the first Black Student Union (BSU) in Seminole County, and she later consulted with district members to establish BSU chapters in all of the county’s high schools. Sandra served on her city’s Youth Council for two years and became president, during which time she launched an initiative on civic education to teach her community about the role of local government, host voter registration drives, and connect government to the community. Sandra hopes to work in civil rights and constitutional law.

Rania Zuri (Morgantown, West Virginia)

Rania Zuri, age 18, is a third-generation West Virginian and the founder and CEO of The LiTEArary Society, a nonprofit organization focused on ending “book deserts” for disadvantaged preschool children. Since Rania founded the organization at 13 years old, it has grown to donate books to over 28,000 preschool children in federal Head Start programs across all 50 states. The organization has received funding and partnerships from Pilot Pens, Hershey’s, Scholastic, Starbucks, and others. Rania plans to continue this work with the belief in the power of reading to transform lives.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697055879681.png" alt="Together with the White House Gender Policy Council, Dr. Biden hosted the first-ever “Girls Leading Change” celebration.-photo courtesy teenvogue.com via the White House" />
 <figcaption>Together with the White House Gender Policy Council, Dr. Biden hosted the first-ever “Girls Leading Change” celebration.-photo courtesy teenvogue.com via the White House</figcaption>
 </figure>In honor of International Day of the Girl, First Lady Jill Biden celebrated 15 young women leaders, selected by the White House Gender Policy Council, who are leading change and shaping a brighter future in their communities across the United States. &nbsp;<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2QG8X9RMygQ?si=L-5Kv7O_9oJJEvmz&amp;start=190" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>As an educator for more than 30 years, Dr. Biden has continued to be a champion for young people at home and abroad.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">First Lady Jill Biden hosts the first-ever “Girls Leading Change” celebration at the White House to recognize the profound impact young women are having on their communities across the country. <a href="https://t.co/QY2nwstdw0">pic.twitter.com/QY2nwstdw0</a>&mdash; Vanessa Valdivia (@vvaldivia46) <a href="https://twitter.com/vvaldivia46/status/1712199490474586532?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Together with the White House Gender Policy Council, Dr. Biden hosted the first-ever “Girls Leading Change” celebration at the White House to recognize the profound impact young women are having on their communities and their efforts strengthening our country for generations to come.&nbsp;“It is my honor to celebrate this exceptional group of “Girls Leading Change” at the White House,” said First Lady Jill Biden. “These young women are protecting and preserving the earth, writing and sharing stories that change minds, and turning their pain into purpose. Together, they represent the potential of young people across the country, and it is my hope that others can learn from the power of their innovation, strength, and hope.”In addition, the Biden-Harris Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/10/11/fact-sheet-white-house-celebrates-international-day-of-the-girl-and-announces-new-actions-to-support-youth-in-the-u-s-and-abroad/" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;a series of new actions that build on the Administration’s investment in young people and expand opportunities for women and girls at home and abroad. Since day one in office, the Administration has been committed to ensuring women and girls have the opportunities and resources they need to ensure their safety, education, health, and wellbeing.2023 Girl Leading Change HonoreesBreanna &amp; Brooke Bennett (Montgomery, Alabama) Breanna and Brooke Bennett, age 16, are dedicated to ending period poverty and ensuring everyone has access to the menstrual supplies they need. When they were 12 years old, Breanna and Brooke were inspired to give period supplies to girls in a public housing project in Montgomery, Alabama, kicking off what became their organization, Women in Training, through which they have distributed more than 30,000 kits with sanitary pads and toiletries. Breanna and Brooke have also successfully advocated for the passage of HB 50, a state law in Alabama that provides funds for school staff to provide sanitary pads to students in need. They are committed to building on that success and eliminating period poverty at the national level.Jazmin Cazares (Uvalde, Texas) Jazmin Cazares, age 18, is a leading activist for gun violence prevention at the state and national level. After her sister Jackie was killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, Jazmin spent her senior year of high school traveling across the country and sharing Jackie’s story. Jazmin spoke alongside March for Our Lives leaders at the Texas State Capitol and testified before lawmakers. There, she called for tighter background checks, extreme risk protection order laws, and for lawmakers to “do something” to prevent future mass shootings. Jazmin plans to obtain a master’s degree in psychology and to continue fighting for her sister’s legacy.Mona Cho (Redondo Beach, California) Mona Cho, age 15, is dedicated to combatting online harassment and abuse and the harm it poses to youth and teens. She serves on the Beach Cities Health District’s Youth Advisory Council and is also part of the District’s newly created Youth Health &amp; Safety Committee, where she leads a team of five students in a campaign to spread awareness on how to stay safe on social media, and to prioritize mental health online. As part of this work, she created a short film that follows real-life stories of the impact of damaged digital footprints. Through the Plan USA Youth Leadership Academy, she leads the Digital Online Safety and Empowerment Initiative. Mona hopes to continue deploying film as a tool to promote online safety and call for change.Julia Garnett (Hendersonville, Tennessee)&nbsp; Julia Garnett, age 17, is dedicated to fighting against book bans and promoting educational freedom in public school and county public libraries. In her school district, she advocated successfully for student representation on book review committees and served on her own high school’s committee. At the national level, Julia has provided testimony before Congress on book bans and volunteers with Student Advocates for Speech, a partnership with the National Coalition Against Censorship. She is an organizer and leader on multiple issues, planned a Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, led a student walkout in protest of gun violence, and served as the President of her school’s Gay-Straight Alliance. Julia is committed to ensuring that youth grow up free from censorship, with access to books that fully represent the diversity of their communities and the world.Logan Hennes (New York, New York) Logan Hennes, age 16, is committed to combatting antisemitism in communities across the country. Through the American Jewish Committee, Logan has created and taken on a leadership role in supporting students like herself who are working to address antisemitism in their schools and communities, such as Logan’s community in New York City. As the leader of her high school’s Jewish Affinity Group, she has hosted speakers to raise awareness of rising antisemitism and supported her peers in similar organizing and advocacy work across other communities and issues. Logan plans to pursue a career in international relations and U.S. foreign policy.Anja Herrman (River Forest, Illinois)&nbsp; Anja Herrman, age 17, is a disability rights activist and advocate for equity and inclusion. She has led grassroots disability advocacy work, including as a member of the Personal Protective Equipment for People with Disabilities (PPE4PWD Coalition), which helped secure personal protective equipment for people with disabilities during the COVID–19 pandemic. Since 2021, she has served as the youngest appointed member of the Village of River Forest’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Group. Anja is emerging as a national leader through her research, speaking engagements, and publications. She authored a white paper that highlights the need for school shooting plans that account for the safety of students with disabilities through a fellowship program at the Disability EmpowHer Network.Leela Marie Hidier (Yarmouth, Maine)&nbsp;&nbsp;Leela Marie Hidier, age 18, is a climate social justice advocate and published author. Her award-winning debut novel, Changes in the Weather, features four teenagers displaced by climate change in the U.S., coming of age in a world and time of uncertainty. Leela Marie has been invited to read from her work and speak at community centers, schools, climate conferences, the Maine State House, and across her state. Currently on a gap year, she is working in the nonprofit sector in Maine before beginning college next year. She aspires to become an educator, and to continue using art as a form of activismElisa Martinez (Las Vegas, Nevada) Elisa Martinez, age 17, is an organizer dedicated to civic engagement, particularly within the Latino community. She founded her school’s Latino Student Union and mobilizes students on issues such as climate justice and gun violence prevention. Elisa volunteers as a poll worker to assist Spanishspeaking voters and ensure they understand their rights. After losing her friend to a fentanyl overdose, Elisa has spoken out about beating the opioid crisis and has joined the Trial by Peers program to advocate for juveniles in the criminal justice system. Elisa hopes to become a public defender.Gabriella Nakai (Phoenix, Arizona)Gabriella Nakai, age 17, is a Navajo and Choctaw leader dedicated to furthering food security and sustainability, indigenous sovereignty, and youth advocacy. For her work in growing sustainable, heirloom Native produce and promoting seed saving and propagation, Gabriella was honored by the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute as a 2023 Champion for Change. Gabriella works with Native American Connections on addressing youth homelessness and mental health in Phoenix. She founded the Native American club at her school, is a leader in her student government, and hopes to continue serving her tribal community through nonprofit work.Zahra Rahimi (Alexandria, Virginia)Zahra Rahimi, age 17, arrived in the U.S. four years ago from Afghanistan, and has since dedicated herself to supporting refugee resettlement in her local community, including access to English as a Second Language services in Alexandria schools. As student representative to the Alexandria City Board of Education, Zahra organized cultural events and staff trainings to ensure the school was prepared to receive new refugee families from Afghanistan. Zahra partnered with Northern Virginia Resettling Afghan Families Together to establish a special literacy program to support her largely female middle and high school peers who were reading below a second-grade level. In addition to her refugee resettlement efforts, Zahra is a passionate advocate for advancing women’s rights globally, especially in areas of conflict.Gitanjali Rao (Highlands Ranch, Colorado)Gitanjali Rao, age 17, is a freshman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is a scientist and inventor whose groundbreaking lead contamination detection tool won her an EPA Presidential Award and America’s Top Young Scientist by Discovery Education/3M. Her book Young Innovator’s Guide to STEM, which offers a prescriptive five-step innovation process, is used as a STEM curriculum globally in selected schools. Time Magazine’s first-ever Kid of the Year, Gitanjali is committed to not only continuing her career as a scientist and inventor, but expanding her STEM education initiative, which has already touched more than 80,000 elementary, middle, and high school students.Avery Turner (Colorado Springs, Colorado) Avery Turner, age 17, is a high school senior and calls herself a “seasoned mover,” having moved 10 times before her father recently retired from the Air Force. Avery is committed to supporting military teens, and currently serves as the Director of Programs at Bloom, an organization started by military teens dedicated to promoting their belonging within the military community and amplifying their voices. A prolific writer, as well as a nationally-ranked competitive springboard diver, Avery writes about her experiences trying to find her place in the ever-changing landscape of military teen life in the hopes of providing connection and community.Sandra Ukah (Lake Mary, Florida) Sandra Ukah, age 18, a freshman at the University of Florida, is committed to civic education and community organizing. She was co-founder and co-president of Seminole High School’s Black Student Union, the first Black Student Union (BSU) in Seminole County, and she later consulted with district members to establish BSU chapters in all of the county’s high schools. Sandra served on her city’s Youth Council for two years and became president, during which time she launched an initiative on civic education to teach her community about the role of local government, host voter registration drives, and connect government to the community. Sandra hopes to work in civil rights and constitutional law.Rania Zuri (Morgantown, West Virginia)Rania Zuri, age 18, is a third-generation West Virginian and the founder and CEO of The LiTEArary Society, a nonprofit organization focused on ending “book deserts” for disadvantaged preschool children. Since Rania founded the organization at 13 years old, it has grown to donate books to over 28,000 preschool children in federal Head Start programs across all 50 states. The organization has received funding and partnerships from Pilot Pens, Hershey’s, Scholastic, Starbucks, and others. Rania plans to continue this work with the belief in the power of reading to transform lives.