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.

🎥 First lady announced “Girls Leading Change” honorees

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans chose firebrand Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jim-jordan">Jim Jordan</a>&nbsp;as their new nominee for House speaker during internal voting Friday, putting the gavel within reach of the staunch ally of GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump.

Electing Jordan, a founding member of the Freedom Caucus, to the powerful position second in line to the presidency would move the GOP’s far right into a central seat of U.S. power. A groundswell of high-profile backers including Fox News’ Sean Hannity publicly pressured lawmakers to vote Jordan into the speaker’s office after the stunning ouster of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-gaetz-speaker-motion-to-vacate-congress-327e294a39f8de079ef5e4abfb1fa555">Kevin McCarthy</a>.

Jordan, of Ohio, will now try to unite colleagues from the deeply&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-ousted-mccarthy-3fccfca11fe61c36fe399880f2679f12">divided House GOP majority</a>&nbsp;ahead of a public vote on the floor, which could push to next week. Republicans split 124-81 in Friday's private vote, though a second secret ballot nudged his tally higher.

“I think Jordan would do a great job,” McCarthy, R-Calif., said ahead of the vote. “We got to get this back on track.”

Frustrated House Republicans have been fighting bitterly over whom they should elect to replace McCarthy to lead their party after his unprecedented ouster by a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kevin-mccarthy-republican-lawmakers-house-opponents-33c7d984964916f29d548b5b1dfe508b">handful of hardliners</a>. The stalemate between the factions, now in its second week, has thrown the House into chaos, grinding all other business to a halt.

Attention swiftly turned to Jordan, the Judiciary Committee chairman and founder of the far-right Freedom Caucus, as the next potential candidate after Majority Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/Handfuls%20of%20hard-liners%20announced%20they%20were%20sticking%20with%20Jordan,%20McCarthy%20or%20someone%20other%20than%20Scalise.">Steve Scalise</a>&nbsp;abruptly ended his bid when it became clear holdouts would refuse to back his nomination.

But not all Republicans want to see Jordan as speaker.

Jordan is known for his close&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-speaker-mccarthy-capitol-hill-432f89f6826b2b4f51990ae4b4d293fb">alliance with Trump</a>, particularly when the then-president was working to overturn the results of the 2020 election, leading to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

His rise would all but complete the far-rightward shift of the party, and boost its defense of Trump in four separate legal cases, including over 2020 election fraud. During Trump’s impeachment proceedings over the Jan. 6 attack, Jordan was his chief defender in Congress. Trump awarded him the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-jim-jordan-impeachments-capitol-siege-eeadab127460dd5170e79608f654aca6">Medal of Freedom</a>&nbsp;days later.

The work of Congress, including next month’s Nov. 17 deadline to fund the government or risk a federal shutdown, would be almost certain to become anything but routine. Jordan’s wing of the party has already demanded severe budget cuts that he has promised to deliver, and aid to Ukraine would be seriously in doubt. Investigations into Biden and his family would push to the forefront.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries immediately gathered his party on the Capitol steps urging Republicans off giving the gavel to Jordan — an “extremist extraordinaire” — and urging GOP lawmakers to partner with them to reopen the House.

Overwhelmed and exhausted, anxious GOP lawmakers worry their House majority is being frittered away to countless rounds of infighting and some don't want to reward the speaker's gavel to Jordan's wing, which sparked the turmoil.

“If we’re going to be the majority party, we have to act like the majority party,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/64b634a91a2d4933b8bca4c95baa1309">Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga.,</a>&nbsp;a former president of the “tea party” freshmen class of 2011 who posed a last-ditch challenge to Jordan.

Jordan’s tally Friday was not much better than the 113-99 vote he lost to Scalise at the start of the week, showing the long road ahead. Though the second Friday ballot pushed his tally to 152-55.

“He's got some work to do,” said veteran Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho.

While Jordan has a long list of detractors, his supporters said voting against the Trump ally during a public vote on the House floor would be tougher since he is so popular and well known among more conservative GOP voters.

Heading into a morning meeting, Jordan said, “I feel real good.”

The House, without a speaker, is essentially unable to function during a time of turmoil in the U.S. and wars overseas. The political pressure increasingly is on Republicans to reverse course, reassert majority control and govern in Congress.

With the House narrowly split 221-212, with two vacancies, any nominee can lose just a few Republicans before they fail to reach the 217 majority needed in the face of opposition from Democrats, who will most certainly back their own leader, New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.

Absences could lower the majority threshold needed, and Republicans were down about a dozen lawmakers as of midday Friday. No floor votes were scheduled.

Other potential speaker choices were also being floated. Some Republicans proposed simply giving Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., who was appointed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-powers-mchenry-875bebd218096a5252840cd8f52cc137">interim speaker pro tempore</a>, greater authority to lead the House for some time.

On Friday, California Republican Rep. Tom McClintock, had introduced a motion to reinstate McCarthy during the morning meeting, but it was shelved.

In announcing his decision to withdraw from the nomination, Scalise declined to throw his support behind Jordan as the bitter rivalry deepened. “It’s got to be people that aren’t doing it for themselves,” he said late Thursday.

But Jordan's allies swung into high gear at a chance for the hard-right leader to seize the gavel.

Jordan also received an important nod Friday from the Republican Party’s campaign chairman, Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., who made an attempt to unify the fighting factions.

“Removing Speaker Kevin McCarthy was a mistake,” Hudson wrote on social media, saying the party found itself at a crossroads also blocking Scalise. “We must unite around one leader.”

Just as handfuls of Republicans announced they wouldn't go for Scalise, on Friday the situation flipped and holdouts were sticking with Scalise, McCarthy or someone other than Jordan.

Trump, the early front-runner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, had announced his preference early for Jordan, and repeatedly discussed Scalise’s health during a radio interview that aired Thursday.

Scalise has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/steve-scalise-blood-cancer-house-republican-leader-f98d35f1d09e8c8009e180068b191daa">diagnosed with a form of blood cancer</a>&nbsp;and is being treated, but he has also said he was definitely up for the speaker's job.

Jordan himself faces questions about his past. Some years ago, Jordan and his office&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-6fb5bfff7db9439883907efce5c119fb">denied allegations</a>&nbsp;from former wrestlers during his time as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University who accused him of knowing about claims they were inappropriately groped by an Ohio doctor. Jordan and his office have said he was never aware of any abuse.

The situation is not fully different from the start of the year, when McCarthy faced a similar backlash from a different group of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kevin-mccarthy-republican-lawmakers-house-opponents-33c7d984964916f29d548b5b1dfe508b">far-right holdouts</a>&nbsp;who ultimately gave their votes to elect him speaker, then engineered his historic downfall.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697233160422.png" alt="Rep. Jim Jordan-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Jim Jordan-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans chose firebrand Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jim-jordan">Jim Jordan</a>&nbsp;as their new nominee for House speaker during internal voting Friday, putting the gavel within reach of the staunch ally of GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump.Electing Jordan, a founding member of the Freedom Caucus, to the powerful position second in line to the presidency would move the GOP’s far right into a central seat of U.S. power. A groundswell of high-profile backers including Fox News’ Sean Hannity publicly pressured lawmakers to vote Jordan into the speaker’s office after the stunning ouster of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-gaetz-speaker-motion-to-vacate-congress-327e294a39f8de079ef5e4abfb1fa555">Kevin McCarthy</a>.Jordan, of Ohio, will now try to unite colleagues from the deeply&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-ousted-mccarthy-3fccfca11fe61c36fe399880f2679f12">divided House GOP majority</a>&nbsp;ahead of a public vote on the floor, which could push to next week. Republicans split 124-81 in Friday's private vote, though a second secret ballot nudged his tally higher.“I think Jordan would do a great job,” McCarthy, R-Calif., said ahead of the vote. “We got to get this back on track.”Frustrated House Republicans have been fighting bitterly over whom they should elect to replace McCarthy to lead their party after his unprecedented ouster by a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kevin-mccarthy-republican-lawmakers-house-opponents-33c7d984964916f29d548b5b1dfe508b">handful of hardliners</a>. The stalemate between the factions, now in its second week, has thrown the House into chaos, grinding all other business to a halt.Attention swiftly turned to Jordan, the Judiciary Committee chairman and founder of the far-right Freedom Caucus, as the next potential candidate after Majority Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/Handfuls%20of%20hard-liners%20announced%20they%20were%20sticking%20with%20Jordan,%20McCarthy%20or%20someone%20other%20than%20Scalise.">Steve Scalise</a>&nbsp;abruptly ended his bid when it became clear holdouts would refuse to back his nomination.But not all Republicans want to see Jordan as speaker.Jordan is known for his close&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-speaker-mccarthy-capitol-hill-432f89f6826b2b4f51990ae4b4d293fb">alliance with Trump</a>, particularly when the then-president was working to overturn the results of the 2020 election, leading to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.His rise would all but complete the far-rightward shift of the party, and boost its defense of Trump in four separate legal cases, including over 2020 election fraud. During Trump’s impeachment proceedings over the Jan. 6 attack, Jordan was his chief defender in Congress. Trump awarded him the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-jim-jordan-impeachments-capitol-siege-eeadab127460dd5170e79608f654aca6">Medal of Freedom</a>&nbsp;days later.The work of Congress, including next month’s Nov. 17 deadline to fund the government or risk a federal shutdown, would be almost certain to become anything but routine. Jordan’s wing of the party has already demanded severe budget cuts that he has promised to deliver, and aid to Ukraine would be seriously in doubt. Investigations into Biden and his family would push to the forefront.House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries immediately gathered his party on the Capitol steps urging Republicans off giving the gavel to Jordan — an “extremist extraordinaire” — and urging GOP lawmakers to partner with them to reopen the House.Overwhelmed and exhausted, anxious GOP lawmakers worry their House majority is being frittered away to countless rounds of infighting and some don't want to reward the speaker's gavel to Jordan's wing, which sparked the turmoil.“If we’re going to be the majority party, we have to act like the majority party,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/64b634a91a2d4933b8bca4c95baa1309">Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga.,</a>&nbsp;a former president of the “tea party” freshmen class of 2011 who posed a last-ditch challenge to Jordan.Jordan’s tally Friday was not much better than the 113-99 vote he lost to Scalise at the start of the week, showing the long road ahead. Though the second Friday ballot pushed his tally to 152-55.“He's got some work to do,” said veteran Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho.While Jordan has a long list of detractors, his supporters said voting against the Trump ally during a public vote on the House floor would be tougher since he is so popular and well known among more conservative GOP voters.Heading into a morning meeting, Jordan said, “I feel real good.”The House, without a speaker, is essentially unable to function during a time of turmoil in the U.S. and wars overseas. The political pressure increasingly is on Republicans to reverse course, reassert majority control and govern in Congress.With the House narrowly split 221-212, with two vacancies, any nominee can lose just a few Republicans before they fail to reach the 217 majority needed in the face of opposition from Democrats, who will most certainly back their own leader, New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.Absences could lower the majority threshold needed, and Republicans were down about a dozen lawmakers as of midday Friday. No floor votes were scheduled.Other potential speaker choices were also being floated. Some Republicans proposed simply giving Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., who was appointed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-powers-mchenry-875bebd218096a5252840cd8f52cc137">interim speaker pro tempore</a>, greater authority to lead the House for some time.On Friday, California Republican Rep. Tom McClintock, had introduced a motion to reinstate McCarthy during the morning meeting, but it was shelved.In announcing his decision to withdraw from the nomination, Scalise declined to throw his support behind Jordan as the bitter rivalry deepened. “It’s got to be people that aren’t doing it for themselves,” he said late Thursday.But Jordan's allies swung into high gear at a chance for the hard-right leader to seize the gavel.Jordan also received an important nod Friday from the Republican Party’s campaign chairman, Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., who made an attempt to unify the fighting factions.“Removing Speaker Kevin McCarthy was a mistake,” Hudson wrote on social media, saying the party found itself at a crossroads also blocking Scalise. “We must unite around one leader.”Just as handfuls of Republicans announced they wouldn't go for Scalise, on Friday the situation flipped and holdouts were sticking with Scalise, McCarthy or someone other than Jordan.Trump, the early front-runner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, had announced his preference early for Jordan, and repeatedly discussed Scalise’s health during a radio interview that aired Thursday.Scalise has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/steve-scalise-blood-cancer-house-republican-leader-f98d35f1d09e8c8009e180068b191daa">diagnosed with a form of blood cancer</a>&nbsp;and is being treated, but he has also said he was definitely up for the speaker's job.Jordan himself faces questions about his past. Some years ago, Jordan and his office&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-6fb5bfff7db9439883907efce5c119fb">denied allegations</a>&nbsp;from former wrestlers during his time as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University who accused him of knowing about claims they were inappropriately groped by an Ohio doctor. Jordan and his office have said he was never aware of any abuse.The situation is not fully different from the start of the year, when McCarthy faced a similar backlash from a different group of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kevin-mccarthy-republican-lawmakers-house-opponents-33c7d984964916f29d548b5b1dfe508b">far-right holdouts</a>&nbsp;who ultimately gave their votes to elect him speaker, then engineered his historic downfall.___

Republicans pick Trump ally Jim Jordan as nominee for House speaker

DETROIT (AP) — Ford is recalling more than 238,000 Explorers in the U.S. because a rear axle bolt can fail, potentially causing a loss of drive power or allowing the SUVs to roll away while in park.

The recall comes after U.S. safety regulators opened an investigation into the problem after getting two complaints that repairs didn't work in two previous recalls this year and in 2022.

Affected are&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCAK-23V675-9899.pdf">certain Explorers from the 2020 through 2022</a>&nbsp;model years.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in documents posted Friday on its website that the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt can fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealers will replace a bushing and the rear axle bolt. They also will inspect the rear axle cover for damage near the bolt hole and replace the cover if damage is found. Owners will be notified by letter starting Nov. 6.

Ford said in documents that it knows of 396 reports of rear axle bolt failures, and fewer than 5% caused loss of power or let vehicles roll while they were in park. The company says it’s not aware of any crashes or injuries.

NHTSA opened its&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2023/INOA-RQ23002-8721.PDF">investigation in June</a>&nbsp;after getting complaints alleging loss of power due to failure of rear axle bolts even though the Explorers had received repairs under the previous recalls.

Ford's remedy was to update software that automatically applied the parking brake to keep the vehicles from rolling away. But the agency said in documents that there was no remedy addressing the failed axle bolt.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697213278804.jpeg" alt="The Ford company logo is shown on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2022, outside a Ford dealership in southeast Denver. Ford is recalling more than 238,000 Explorers in the U.S. because a rear axle bolt can fail, potentially causing a loss of drive power or allowing the SUVs to roll away while in park. The recall on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, comes after U.S. safety regulators opened an investigation into the problem after getting two complaints that repairs didn’t work in two previous recalls this year and in 2022. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)" />
 <figcaption>The Ford company logo is shown on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2022, outside a Ford dealership in southeast Denver. Ford is recalling more than 238,000 Explorers in the U.S. because a rear axle bolt can fail, potentially causing a loss of drive power or allowing the SUVs to roll away while in park. The recall on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, comes after U.S. safety regulators opened an investigation into the problem after getting two complaints that repairs didn’t work in two previous recalls this year and in 2022. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>DETROIT (AP) — Ford is recalling more than 238,000 Explorers in the U.S. because a rear axle bolt can fail, potentially causing a loss of drive power or allowing the SUVs to roll away while in park.The recall comes after U.S. safety regulators opened an investigation into the problem after getting two complaints that repairs didn't work in two previous recalls this year and in 2022.Affected are&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCAK-23V675-9899.pdf">certain Explorers from the 2020 through 2022</a>&nbsp;model years.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in documents posted Friday on its website that the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt can fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect, increasing the risk of a crash.Dealers will replace a bushing and the rear axle bolt. They also will inspect the rear axle cover for damage near the bolt hole and replace the cover if damage is found. Owners will be notified by letter starting Nov. 6.Ford said in documents that it knows of 396 reports of rear axle bolt failures, and fewer than 5% caused loss of power or let vehicles roll while they were in park. The company says it’s not aware of any crashes or injuries.NHTSA opened its&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2023/INOA-RQ23002-8721.PDF">investigation in June</a>&nbsp;after getting complaints alleging loss of power due to failure of rear axle bolts even though the Explorers had received repairs under the previous recalls.Ford's remedy was to update software that automatically applied the parking brake to keep the vehicles from rolling away. But the agency said in documents that there was no remedy addressing the failed axle bolt.

Ford recalls over 238,000 Explorers to replace axle bolts

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/kyledavidson/">KYLE DAVIDSON</a>

Four weeks into the United Auto Workers strike against the Detroit Three automakers, union President Shawn Fain announced in a livestream that the union would no longer wait until Fridays to expand its strike to new plants.

“We’re entering a new phase of this fight, and it demands a new approach,” Fain said Friday.

While Fain did not call for additional strikes against General Motors, Ford or Stellantis during the livestream, he said the UAW was prepared to call more local unions to walk out at any time.

“When I tell all you members to be ready to stand up, I mean it. We’re not waiting until Fridays anymore,” Fain said.

About 8,700 workers from Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2023/10/12/at-fords-most-lucrative-plant-strikers-say-they-dont-see-their-share-of-the-profits/">were called to join&nbsp;</a>the strike Wednesday night, with Fain saying Ford “hasn’t gotten the message” in contract negotiations.

During the stream, Fain said the company offered them the same deal the union had rejected two weeks ago, after telling the union there was more money that could be offered.

“At that point, I’d said, ‘That’s all you have for us? Our members’ lives and my handshake are worth more than that. You just cost yourself Kentucky truck plant.’…We didn’t wait ‘til Friday and we didn’t wait a minute,” Fain said.

Ford Vice President of Communications Mark Truby issued a statement calling the decision to call a strike at the company’s largest plant “grossly irresponsible but unsurprising.”

Fain criticized Ford’s statement during the stream.

“Ford made a lot of noise after we took out Kentucky truck plant. As the saying goes, a hit dog will holler,” Fain said.

“They admitted that Kentucky Truck generates $25 billion in revenue a year, that’s $48,000 a minute. Our labor at Kentucky truck generates more revenue each minute than thousands of our members make in a year,” Fain said.

Fain also accused Ford of waiting until Fridays to make progress on bargaining.

Ford thought they could sit back and not make further progress in bargaining because they thought they had the best deal on the table. Ford thought they could wait until Friday morning and then just make a better offer,” Fain said.

“They stopped being interested in reaching a fair deal now and only became interested in gaming our system of announcing strike expansions on Friday. They thought they figured out the so-called rules of the game, so we changed the rules. And now there’s only one rule: Pony up,” Fain said.

Fain said the UAW is continuing to look for a deal.

“I wish I had more updates or good news for all of you out of GM or Stellantis, but the fact is, we’re still bargaining hard with both of those companies. And they’re now on notice that we’re entering a new phase in this fight,” Fain said.

Fain also addressed criticism that he was setting UAW members too high.

“I want to be clear on this point. I didn’t raise members’ expectations. Our broken economy is what’s raising our members’ expectations. And our members are right to be angry. … Income inequality in the United States has now risen to heights not seen since the Great Depression. So I’m not the cause of raised expectations. The cause is overflowing corporate bank accounts,” Fain said.

Unless employers come to their senses and begin offering contracts that match gains on Wall Street, there will be more strikes on the horizon, Fain predicted.

There’s been a flurry of labor actions this fall.

More than 1,000 UAW Local 2500 members who work at Blue Cross Blue Shield went on strike last month. The union represents the company’s customer service call center department and other workers.

<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2023/10/12/detroit-casino-union-leader-were-calling-on-these-companies-to-stop-gambling-on-our-livelihoods/">Nearly 4,000 workers in the Detroit Casino Council</a>&nbsp;are preparing for a strike, almost 1,000 of whom are UAW members, Fain said.

Another 1,100 UAW members&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/UAW/status/1711877806047551545">working at General Dynamics</a>&nbsp;in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, voted 97% in favor of authorizing a strike. Their contract expires on Oct. 22.

Additionally,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2023/10/11/striking-mack-trucks-workers-in-pennsylvania-we-deserve-our-fair-share-too/">Mack Truck workers voted down a tentative agreement</a>, seeking better wages, job security and reinstatement of cost of living increases. The strike involves 4,000 UAW workers across three states.

“Our union is done playing defense. We’re going on offense. We’re done aiming low and settling lower. It’s time we started aiming high and seeing how close we can get to total economic and social justice,” Fain said.

“What we win isn’t up to me,” Fain said. “It isn’t up to your executive board. It isn’t up to your local president or the president of the United States. What we win, it’s up to us — all of us.”

This story was originally published by&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2023/10/13/uaw-changes-the-rules-as-strike-drags-on-tells-members-to-prepare-for-walkouts-at-any-time/">the Michigan Advance</a>, a States Newsroom affiliate.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695471687000.png" alt="Photo UAW" />
 <figcaption>Photo UAW</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/kyledavidson/">KYLE DAVIDSON</a>Four weeks into the United Auto Workers strike against the Detroit Three automakers, union President Shawn Fain announced in a livestream that the union would no longer wait until Fridays to expand its strike to new plants.“We’re entering a new phase of this fight, and it demands a new approach,” Fain said Friday.While Fain did not call for additional strikes against General Motors, Ford or Stellantis during the livestream, he said the UAW was prepared to call more local unions to walk out at any time.“When I tell all you members to be ready to stand up, I mean it. We’re not waiting until Fridays anymore,” Fain said.About 8,700 workers from Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2023/10/12/at-fords-most-lucrative-plant-strikers-say-they-dont-see-their-share-of-the-profits/">were called to join&nbsp;</a>the strike Wednesday night, with Fain saying Ford “hasn’t gotten the message” in contract negotiations.During the stream, Fain said the company offered them the same deal the union had rejected two weeks ago, after telling the union there was more money that could be offered.“At that point, I’d said, ‘That’s all you have for us? Our members’ lives and my handshake are worth more than that. You just cost yourself Kentucky truck plant.’…We didn’t wait ‘til Friday and we didn’t wait a minute,” Fain said.Ford Vice President of Communications Mark Truby issued a statement calling the decision to call a strike at the company’s largest plant “grossly irresponsible but unsurprising.”Fain criticized Ford’s statement during the stream.“Ford made a lot of noise after we took out Kentucky truck plant. As the saying goes, a hit dog will holler,” Fain said.“They admitted that Kentucky Truck generates $25 billion in revenue a year, that’s $48,000 a minute. Our labor at Kentucky truck generates more revenue each minute than thousands of our members make in a year,” Fain said.Fain also accused Ford of waiting until Fridays to make progress on bargaining.Ford thought they could sit back and not make further progress in bargaining because they thought they had the best deal on the table. Ford thought they could wait until Friday morning and then just make a better offer,” Fain said.“They stopped being interested in reaching a fair deal now and only became interested in gaming our system of announcing strike expansions on Friday. They thought they figured out the so-called rules of the game, so we changed the rules. And now there’s only one rule: Pony up,” Fain said.Fain said the UAW is continuing to look for a deal.“I wish I had more updates or good news for all of you out of GM or Stellantis, but the fact is, we’re still bargaining hard with both of those companies. And they’re now on notice that we’re entering a new phase in this fight,” Fain said.Fain also addressed criticism that he was setting UAW members too high.“I want to be clear on this point. I didn’t raise members’ expectations. Our broken economy is what’s raising our members’ expectations. And our members are right to be angry. … Income inequality in the United States has now risen to heights not seen since the Great Depression. So I’m not the cause of raised expectations. The cause is overflowing corporate bank accounts,” Fain said.Unless employers come to their senses and begin offering contracts that match gains on Wall Street, there will be more strikes on the horizon, Fain predicted.There’s been a flurry of labor actions this fall.More than 1,000 UAW Local 2500 members who work at Blue Cross Blue Shield went on strike last month. The union represents the company’s customer service call center department and other workers.<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2023/10/12/detroit-casino-union-leader-were-calling-on-these-companies-to-stop-gambling-on-our-livelihoods/">Nearly 4,000 workers in the Detroit Casino Council</a>&nbsp;are preparing for a strike, almost 1,000 of whom are UAW members, Fain said.Another 1,100 UAW members&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/UAW/status/1711877806047551545">working at General Dynamics</a>&nbsp;in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, voted 97% in favor of authorizing a strike. Their contract expires on Oct. 22.Additionally,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2023/10/11/striking-mack-trucks-workers-in-pennsylvania-we-deserve-our-fair-share-too/">Mack Truck workers voted down a tentative agreement</a>, seeking better wages, job security and reinstatement of cost of living increases. The strike involves 4,000 UAW workers across three states.“Our union is done playing defense. We’re going on offense. We’re done aiming low and settling lower. It’s time we started aiming high and seeing how close we can get to total economic and social justice,” Fain said.“What we win isn’t up to me,” Fain said. “It isn’t up to your executive board. It isn’t up to your local president or the president of the United States. What we win, it’s up to us — all of us.”This story was originally published by&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2023/10/13/uaw-changes-the-rules-as-strike-drags-on-tells-members-to-prepare-for-walkouts-at-any-time/">the Michigan Advance</a>, a States Newsroom affiliate.&nbsp;

UAW ‘changes the rules’ tells members to prepare for walkouts at any time

Lincoln, October 13, 2023- The Nebraska Public Service Commission has issued an Order(<a href="https://www.nebraska.gov/psc/orders/telecom/2023-10-11%20NUSF-117%20PO%20NO%201%20Findings%20and%20Conclusions.pdf" target="_blank">NUSF-117 P.O.1</a>) extending the state E-Rate Special Construction Matching Program (E-Rateprogram) and increasing the state match for projects that participate in the FederalCommunications Commission’s (FCC), E-Rate Special Construction Program.

“With today’s Order, libraries and schools in Nebraska that participate in the federal E-RateSpecial Construction program, will now have the opportunity to install new fiber to theirfacilities at no cost,” said Commission Chair Dan Watermeier.

Established in May of 2020, through NUSF-117, the PSC allocated $1 million dollars from theNebraska Universal Service Fund (NUSF) for the E-Rate Special Construction Matching FundProgram to facilitate the build-out of new fiber to Nebraska libraries and schools participating inthe FCC’s E-Rate Special Construction Program.&nbsp; The state funding was initially allocated forfour years and was set to expire at the end of 2024.

The Order (<a href="https://www.nebraska.gov/psc/orders/telecom/2023-10-11%20NUSF-117%20PO%20NO%201%20Findings%20and%20Conclusions.pdf" target="_blank">NUSF-117 P.O.1</a>) extends the life of the state program for an indefinite period oftime. It also, removes a cap of 10 % match from the state allocation and will instead match anyremaining eligible new fiber construction costs not already funded through the FCC’s E-RateSpecial Construction Program, not to exceed 100% of eligible costs.

Commissioner Watermeier said, “We would encourage these entities looking to build-out newfiber to their facilities, to participate in both the federal and state programs so they can maximizethe funding available and get connected.”

Lincoln, October 13, 2023- The Nebraska Public Service Commission has issued an Order(<a href="https://www.nebraska.gov/psc/orders/telecom/2023-10-11%20NUSF-117%20PO%20NO%201%20Findings%20and%20Conclusions.pdf" target="_blank">NUSF-117 P.O.1</a>) extending the state E-Rate Special Construction Matching Program (E-Rateprogram) and increasing the state match for projects that participate in the FederalCommunications Commission’s (FCC), E-Rate Special Construction Program.“With today’s Order, libraries and schools in Nebraska that participate in the federal E-RateSpecial Construction program, will now have the opportunity to install new fiber to theirfacilities at no cost,” said Commission Chair Dan Watermeier.Established in May of 2020, through NUSF-117, the PSC allocated $1 million dollars from theNebraska Universal Service Fund (NUSF) for the E-Rate Special Construction Matching FundProgram to facilitate the build-out of new fiber to Nebraska libraries and schools participating inthe FCC’s E-Rate Special Construction Program.&nbsp; The state funding was initially allocated forfour years and was set to expire at the end of 2024.The Order (<a href="https://www.nebraska.gov/psc/orders/telecom/2023-10-11%20NUSF-117%20PO%20NO%201%20Findings%20and%20Conclusions.pdf" target="_blank">NUSF-117 P.O.1</a>) extends the life of the state program for an indefinite period oftime. It also, removes a cap of 10 % match from the state allocation and will instead match anyremaining eligible new fiber construction costs not already funded through the FCC’s E-RateSpecial Construction Program, not to exceed 100% of eligible costs.Commissioner Watermeier said, “We would encourage these entities looking to build-out newfiber to their facilities, to participate in both the federal and state programs so they can maximizethe funding available and get connected.”

PSC UPDATES STATE E-RATE PROGRAM ENCOURAGES APPLICATIONS

LINCOLN — The attorney for former History Nebraska Director Trevor Jones hammered away Thursday at the felony criminal charge his client faces, saying that state statutes allowed him to spend donated “discretionary funds” any way he wished.

“Who is the victim here? Where is the loss?” said Lincoln attorney John Ball, his voice rising, during a preliminary court hearing.

But a state auditor, as well as a state prosecutor, pointed out there’s another state statute in play in the case against Jones — one that requires that any donation to a state agency must be deposited with the state treasurer within three business days.

Instead, the $270,000 donation was funneled to a new, private foundation that Jones helped set up, and helped pay the legal, organizational costs of the History Nebraska Foundation so it could replace the older, State Historical Society Foundation.

“It was money intended for the State of Nebraska,” Deputy State Auditor Craig Kubicek testified, and not for a private foundation.

“If there had been a request for $269,000 to establish a new foundation, we wouldn’t be sitting here today,” Kubicek said.

Jones, 51, is charged with theft by deception of over $5,000 in connection with the redirection of $270,000 from a discretionary fund kept by the Nebraska Historical Society Foundation. The felony charge carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

The funds were requested by Jones in June 2020, as COVID-19 closures began to inspire financial worries at History Nebraska.

But Kubicek testified Thursday his audit found no evidence that the funds were ever used to cover COVID-19 losses, as intended, or deposited with the state, as required.

The testimony came during a nearly two-hour preliminary hearing. Prosecutors must show at such a hearing that there is “probable cause” to believe a crime has been committed for the case to proceed to a trial.

Lancaster County Judge Timothy Phillips asked that attorneys submit final, written arguments within two weeks in the battle of state statutes. He set a court session for Nov. 17 to announce his decision.

Thursday was Jones’ first appearance in court since&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/20/history-nebraskas-former-director-charged-with-felony-theft/">he was charged in June</a>&nbsp;with felony theft.

The case, first reported by the Examiner, began with a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://auditors.nebraska.gov/APA_Reports/2022/SA54-08152022-August_15_2022_History_Nebraska_Letter.pdf">critical state audit</a>&nbsp;in August 2022, which questioned whether the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/08/15/former-head-of-history-nebraska-might-have-violated-state-law-state-auditors-probe-says/">fund shift was a violation of state law.</a>

After the Lancaster County Attorney ‘s Office declined to file charges, the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office did in June. That office is prosecuting the case.

Corey O’Brien, a chief prosecutor with the AG’s office, called Kubicek and Nebraska State Patrol Investigator Amanda DeFreece, to explain what they found after a complaint about the handling of the funds was received on the auditor’s fraud, waste and abuse hotline.

Kubicek said that instead of depositing the foundation funds into the State Treasury, Jones signed over checks of $269,926 and $325 to a bank account that he had established for the new foundation.

The second check, Kubicek said, had been stamped to go to the state treasury, but the stamp had been crossed out and Jones endorsed it to the new foundation.

Ball, Jones’ attorney, kept grilling Kubicek over a state statute that the defense attorney maintained gave History Nebraska total discretion over how it used the “discretionary fund” from the older foundation.

“They can do anything they want with the funds,” Ball said, suggesting&nbsp; that no crime had been committed in transferring the $270,000 from one private foundation to the other.

“I’m not an attorney, but I’d disagree with that,” Kubicek said.

The investigations by the auditor and State Patrol came amid friction between Jones and the established State Historical Society Foundation. The spat was over how the director was handling donations received by the foundation, which was established in 1942.

The turmoil prompted Jones to lead the creation of a competing foundation in 2019, the History Nebraska Foundation, and later to inform the more established, better funded State Historical Society Foundation that it was being replaced.

“That is the crux of the whole thing,” shouted Ball, when that history was related Thursday in court.

Only two checks not deposited with treasury

Kubicek testified that History Nebraska had received 49 donations from the State Historical Society Foundation in 2020, but only two — those redirected by Jones — were not deposited with the State Treasury as required.

The deputy auditor also testified that funds transferred to the History Nebraska Foundation were used primarily to cover legal fees in setting up the new foundation. Jones, who was a board member of the new foundation, received a couple reimbursements for expenses, Kubicek said.

Last month, in a settlement bartered by the Attorney General’s Office, the new&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/09/30/history-foundation-reaches-agreement-with-state-over-270000-in-misdirected-covid-19-funds/#:~:text=History%20foundation%20reaches%20agreement%20with,COVID%2D19%20funds%20%7C%20Nebraska%20Examiner">History Nebraska Foundation agreed to repay</a>&nbsp;the $270,000 to the state agency.

LINCOLN — The attorney for former History Nebraska Director Trevor Jones hammered away Thursday at the felony criminal charge his client faces, saying that state statutes allowed him to spend donated “discretionary funds” any way he wished.“Who is the victim here? Where is the loss?” said Lincoln attorney John Ball, his voice rising, during a preliminary court hearing.But a state auditor, as well as a state prosecutor, pointed out there’s another state statute in play in the case against Jones — one that requires that any donation to a state agency must be deposited with the state treasurer within three business days.Instead, the $270,000 donation was funneled to a new, private foundation that Jones helped set up, and helped pay the legal, organizational costs of the History Nebraska Foundation so it could replace the older, State Historical Society Foundation.<h2>‘Money intended for the state’</h2>“It was money intended for the State of Nebraska,” Deputy State Auditor Craig Kubicek testified, and not for a private foundation.“If there had been a request for $269,000 to establish a new foundation, we wouldn’t be sitting here today,” Kubicek said.Jones, 51, is charged with theft by deception of over $5,000 in connection with the redirection of $270,000 from a discretionary fund kept by the Nebraska Historical Society Foundation. The felony charge carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.The funds were requested by Jones in June 2020, as COVID-19 closures began to inspire financial worries at History Nebraska.But Kubicek testified Thursday his audit found no evidence that the funds were ever used to cover COVID-19 losses, as intended, or deposited with the state, as required.The testimony came during a nearly two-hour preliminary hearing. Prosecutors must show at such a hearing that there is “probable cause” to believe a crime has been committed for the case to proceed to a trial.Lancaster County Judge Timothy Phillips asked that attorneys submit final, written arguments within two weeks in the battle of state statutes. He set a court session for Nov. 17 to announce his decision.Thursday was Jones’ first appearance in court since&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/20/history-nebraskas-former-director-charged-with-felony-theft/">he was charged in June</a>&nbsp;with felony theft.<h2>First reported by the Examiner</h2>The case, first reported by the Examiner, began with a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://auditors.nebraska.gov/APA_Reports/2022/SA54-08152022-August_15_2022_History_Nebraska_Letter.pdf">critical state audit</a>&nbsp;in August 2022, which questioned whether the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/08/15/former-head-of-history-nebraska-might-have-violated-state-law-state-auditors-probe-says/">fund shift was a violation of state law.</a>After the Lancaster County Attorney ‘s Office declined to file charges, the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office did in June. That office is prosecuting the case.Corey O’Brien, a chief prosecutor with the AG’s office, called Kubicek and Nebraska State Patrol Investigator Amanda DeFreece, to explain what they found after a complaint about the handling of the funds was received on the auditor’s fraud, waste and abuse hotline.Kubicek said that instead of depositing the foundation funds into the State Treasury, Jones signed over checks of $269,926 and $325 to a bank account that he had established for the new foundation.The second check, Kubicek said, had been stamped to go to the state treasury, but the stamp had been crossed out and Jones endorsed it to the new foundation.Ball, Jones’ attorney, kept grilling Kubicek over a state statute that the defense attorney maintained gave History Nebraska total discretion over how it used the “discretionary fund” from the older foundation.<h2>‘They can do anything they want’</h2>“They can do anything they want with the funds,” Ball said, suggesting&nbsp; that no crime had been committed in transferring the $270,000 from one private foundation to the other.“I’m not an attorney, but I’d disagree with that,” Kubicek said.The investigations by the auditor and State Patrol came amid friction between Jones and the established State Historical Society Foundation. The spat was over how the director was handling donations received by the foundation, which was established in 1942.The turmoil prompted Jones to lead the creation of a competing foundation in 2019, the History Nebraska Foundation, and later to inform the more established, better funded State Historical Society Foundation that it was being replaced.“That is the crux of the whole thing,” shouted Ball, when that history was related Thursday in court.<h2>Only two checks not deposited with treasury</h2>Kubicek testified that History Nebraska had received 49 donations from the State Historical Society Foundation in 2020, but only two — those redirected by Jones — were not deposited with the State Treasury as required.The deputy auditor also testified that funds transferred to the History Nebraska Foundation were used primarily to cover legal fees in setting up the new foundation. Jones, who was a board member of the new foundation, received a couple reimbursements for expenses, Kubicek said.Last month, in a settlement bartered by the Attorney General’s Office, the new&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/09/30/history-foundation-reaches-agreement-with-state-over-270000-in-misdirected-covid-19-funds/#:~:text=History%20foundation%20reaches%20agreement%20with,COVID%2D19%20funds%20%7C%20Nebraska%20Examiner">History Nebraska Foundation agreed to repay</a>&nbsp;the $270,000 to the state agency.

Criminal case against former History Nebraska director becomes a battle of state statutes

FRAZIER PARK, Calif. (AP) — A liquor store in a tiny California mountain town reverberated with excitement Thursday after word that the winning ticket for a $1.765 billion Powerball jackpot was sold there.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-drawing-near-record-5ee02e8c6f366b8b5a48806ab0d04e35">drawing Wednesday night</a>&nbsp;ended a long stretch without a winner of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/top-lottery-jackpots-mega-millions-powerball-b12876a534d5a946f3a598147c674fbd">the top prize</a>&nbsp;and brought news media to Midway Market &amp; Liquor in Frazier Park, a community of 2,600 residents about 75 miles (121 kilometers) north of Los Angeles.

“That's the most exciting news ever (to) happen to Frazier Park,” said store co-owner Nidal Khalil.

The winner had not come forward to him, he said, adding that he hoped it is one of his regular customers. Most are local retirees, he said.

The winning numbers were: 22, 24, 40, 52, 64 and the Powerball 10. In California, winners' names must be disclosed. The store will receive a $1 million reward for selling the lucky ticket.

Clerk Janea Herrera at first thought it was a joke when she was told the winning ticket was sold at the store 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) from the nearest interstate, She said she had no idea who bought the ticket but noted that most customers are local regulars.

“We're not that close to the freeway so you have to go out of your way to come here,” Herrera said.

“It's a tightknit community, everybody knows each other,” she said, describing Frazier Park as "pretty quiet, beautiful, you can see the stars at night."

Before someone won the giant prize, there had been 35 consecutive drawings without a big winner, stretching back to July 19 when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-winner-california-9f0e98a47c96c2b3087a68b33195dd50">a player in California matched all six numbers</a>&nbsp;and won $1.08 billion. The latest streak trailed the record of 41 draws set in 2021 and 2022.

Final ticket sales pushed the jackpot beyond its earlier advertised estimate of $1.73 billion, making it the world’s second-largest lottery prize. The only top prize that was ever bigger was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sacramento-california-los-angeles-business-0a72f926487b51b7a6d60451679f8c76">the $2.04 billion Powerball</a>&nbsp;won by a player in California last November.

Powerball’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">terrible odds</a>&nbsp;of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to generate big jackpots, with prizes becoming ever larger as they repeatedly roll over when no one wins. Wins in recent months have been few and far between.

That didn’t bother those eager to plunk down their money ahead of Wednesday's drawing for a long shot at instant wealth.

Robert Salvato Jr., a 60-year-old electrician, bought 40 Powerball tickets at a hardware store in Billerica, Massachusetts.

“I would take care of family and give my cat that extra leg that she needs and make her a good kitty,” said Salvato, who got married on Saturday.

“I could give her a ring on every finger, I guess,” Salvato said of his new wife.

Nevada is among the five states without Powerball, so friends Tamara Carter and Denise Davis drove from Las Vegas to California to buy tickets. The line was so long at their first stop that they went in search of another store.

“The line was about three hours long,” Carter estimated. “I was waiting for maybe a half hour, and it didn’t move.”

In most states, a Powerball ticket costs $2 and players can select their own numbers or leave that task to a computer.

The $1.765 billion jackpot is for a sole winner who opts for payment&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">through an annuity</a>, doled out over 30 years. Winners almost always take the cash option, which was estimated at $774.1 million.

Winnings would be subject to federal taxes, and many states also tax lottery winnings.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689681523439.png" alt="Lottery Powerball" />
 <figcaption>Lottery Powerball</figcaption>
 </figure>FRAZIER PARK, Calif. (AP) — A liquor store in a tiny California mountain town reverberated with excitement Thursday after word that the winning ticket for a $1.765 billion Powerball jackpot was sold there.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-drawing-near-record-5ee02e8c6f366b8b5a48806ab0d04e35">drawing Wednesday night</a>&nbsp;ended a long stretch without a winner of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/top-lottery-jackpots-mega-millions-powerball-b12876a534d5a946f3a598147c674fbd">the top prize</a>&nbsp;and brought news media to Midway Market &amp; Liquor in Frazier Park, a community of 2,600 residents about 75 miles (121 kilometers) north of Los Angeles.“That's the most exciting news ever (to) happen to Frazier Park,” said store co-owner Nidal Khalil.The winner had not come forward to him, he said, adding that he hoped it is one of his regular customers. Most are local retirees, he said.The winning numbers were: 22, 24, 40, 52, 64 and the Powerball 10. In California, winners' names must be disclosed. The store will receive a $1 million reward for selling the lucky ticket.Clerk Janea Herrera at first thought it was a joke when she was told the winning ticket was sold at the store 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) from the nearest interstate, She said she had no idea who bought the ticket but noted that most customers are local regulars.“We're not that close to the freeway so you have to go out of your way to come here,” Herrera said.“It's a tightknit community, everybody knows each other,” she said, describing Frazier Park as "pretty quiet, beautiful, you can see the stars at night."Before someone won the giant prize, there had been 35 consecutive drawings without a big winner, stretching back to July 19 when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-winner-california-9f0e98a47c96c2b3087a68b33195dd50">a player in California matched all six numbers</a>&nbsp;and won $1.08 billion. The latest streak trailed the record of 41 draws set in 2021 and 2022.Final ticket sales pushed the jackpot beyond its earlier advertised estimate of $1.73 billion, making it the world’s second-largest lottery prize. The only top prize that was ever bigger was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sacramento-california-los-angeles-business-0a72f926487b51b7a6d60451679f8c76">the $2.04 billion Powerball</a>&nbsp;won by a player in California last November.Powerball’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">terrible odds</a>&nbsp;of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to generate big jackpots, with prizes becoming ever larger as they repeatedly roll over when no one wins. Wins in recent months have been few and far between.That didn’t bother those eager to plunk down their money ahead of Wednesday's drawing for a long shot at instant wealth.Robert Salvato Jr., a 60-year-old electrician, bought 40 Powerball tickets at a hardware store in Billerica, Massachusetts.“I would take care of family and give my cat that extra leg that she needs and make her a good kitty,” said Salvato, who got married on Saturday.“I could give her a ring on every finger, I guess,” Salvato said of his new wife.Nevada is among the five states without Powerball, so friends Tamara Carter and Denise Davis drove from Las Vegas to California to buy tickets. The line was so long at their first stop that they went in search of another store.“The line was about three hours long,” Carter estimated. “I was waiting for maybe a half hour, and it didn’t move.”In most states, a Powerball ticket costs $2 and players can select their own numbers or leave that task to a computer.The $1.765 billion jackpot is for a sole winner who opts for payment&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">through an annuity</a>, doled out over 30 years. Winners almost always take the cash option, which was estimated at $774.1 million.Winnings would be subject to federal taxes, and many states also tax lottery winnings.

$1.765 billion Powerball jackpot goes to a player who bought a ticket in a California mountain town

NEW YORK (AP) —Rudolph Isley, a founding member of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-arts-and-entertainment-a59324c730c0c56a584e560d47ae49cd">the Isley Brothers</a>&nbsp;who helped perform such raw rhythm and blues classics as “Shout" and “Twist and Shout” and the funky hits “That Lady” and “It's Your Thing,” has died at age 84.

“There are no words to express my feelings and the love I have for my brother. Our family will miss him. But I know he’s in a better place," Ronald Isley said in a statement released Thursday by an Isley Brothers publicist. Further details were not immediately available.

A Cincinnati native, Rudolph Isley began singing in church with brothers Ronald and O'Kelly (another sibling, Vernon, died at age 13) and was still in his teens when they broke through in the late 1950s with “Shout,” a secularized gospel rave that was later immortalized during the toga party scene in “Animal House.” The Isleys scored again in the early 1960s with the equally spirited “Twist and Shout,” which the Beatles liked so much they used it as the closing song on their debut album and opened with it for their famed 1965 concert at Shea Stadium.

The Isleys' other hits included “This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You),” later covered by Rod Stewart, and the Grammy-winning “It's Your Thing.” In the 1970s, after younger brother Ernest and Marvin joined the group, they had even greater success with such singles as “That Lady" and “Fight the Power (Part 1)” and such million-selling albums as “The Heat Is On” and “Go for Your Guns.”

Rudolph Isley left the group in 1989, three years after the sudden death of O'Kelly Isley, to become a Christian minister. He was among the Isleys inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

NEW YORK (AP) —Rudolph Isley, a founding member of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-arts-and-entertainment-a59324c730c0c56a584e560d47ae49cd">the Isley Brothers</a>&nbsp;who helped perform such raw rhythm and blues classics as “Shout" and “Twist and Shout” and the funky hits “That Lady” and “It's Your Thing,” has died at age 84.“There are no words to express my feelings and the love I have for my brother. Our family will miss him. But I know he’s in a better place," Ronald Isley said in a statement released Thursday by an Isley Brothers publicist. Further details were not immediately available.A Cincinnati native, Rudolph Isley began singing in church with brothers Ronald and O'Kelly (another sibling, Vernon, died at age 13) and was still in his teens when they broke through in the late 1950s with “Shout,” a secularized gospel rave that was later immortalized during the toga party scene in “Animal House.” The Isleys scored again in the early 1960s with the equally spirited “Twist and Shout,” which the Beatles liked so much they used it as the closing song on their debut album and opened with it for their famed 1965 concert at Shea Stadium.The Isleys' other hits included “This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You),” later covered by Rod Stewart, and the Grammy-winning “It's Your Thing.” In the 1970s, after younger brother Ernest and Marvin joined the group, they had even greater success with such singles as “That Lady" and “Fight the Power (Part 1)” and such million-selling albums as “The Heat Is On” and “Go for Your Guns.”Rudolph Isley left the group in 1989, three years after the sudden death of O'Kelly Isley, to become a Christian minister. He was among the Isleys inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

Rudolph Isley, founding member of Isley Brothers, has died

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s military told some 1 million Palestinians on Friday to evacuate northern Gaza and head to the southern part of the besieged territory, an unprecedented order applying to almost half the population ahead of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-military-ground-reoccupation-3e6f08a75643b21e41a498277e84b5b9">an expected ground invasion</a>&nbsp;against the ruling Hamas militant group.

The U.N. warned that so many people fleeing en masse would be calamitous. Hamas, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2">staged a shocking and brutal attack</a>&nbsp;on Israel nearly a week ago and has fired thousands of rockets since, dismissed it as a ploy and called on people to stay in their homes.

The evacuation order, which includes Gaza City, home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, sparked widespread panic among civilians and aid workers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-palestinians-war-hamas-militants-civilians-casualites-8469bbcb566446d78f368bf2a1b49d88">already running from Israeli airstrikes</a>&nbsp;and contending with a total siege and a territory-wide blackout.

“Forget about food, forget about electricity, forget about fuel. The only concern now is just if you’ll make it, if you’re going to live,” said Nebal Farsakh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent in Gaza City, as she broke into heaving sobs.

<a href="https://apnews.com/b6ea877aa1ee96303aa0870d741da777">The war</a>&nbsp;has already claimed over 2,800 lives on both sides and sent tensions soaring across the region. Israel has traded fire in recent days with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group, sparking fears of an ever wider conflict, though that frontier is currently calm.

Weekly Muslim prayers brought protests in some nearby countries, and tensions ran high in Jerusalem's Old City. The Islamic endowment that manages&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-violence-jerusalem-explainer-1a269c8cc748d8e6f5eb9eabb6d9b860">a flashpoint holy site</a>&nbsp;in the city, the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, said Israeli authorities were barring all Palestinian men under the age of 50 from entering.

Israel has bombarded Gaza round-the-clock since a weekend attack in which Hamas fighters stormed into the country’s south and massacred&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/52a847e489cd13ccf61b403618e61c36">hundreds, including killing children in their homes</a>&nbsp;and young people at a music festival. Militants also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hostages-gaza-war-822b214252a77f3c3556bb71d9ce7c89">snatched some 150 people</a>&nbsp;and dragged them into Gaza.

Hamas said Israel’s bombardment has killed 13 of the hostages, including foreigners. It did not give their nationalities, saying they were killed over the last 24 hours.

Israeli military spokesperson spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari denied that airstrikes killed hostages, telling Al-Jazeera Arabic that “we have our own information and do not believe the lies of Hamas.”

The military urged all civilians in Gaza’s north to move south, according to Hagari — an order that the U.N. said affects 1.1 million people.

Israel said it needed to target Hamas’ military infrastructure, much of which is buried deep underground. Another spokesperson, Jonathan Conricus, said the military would take “extensive efforts to avoid harming civilians” and that residents would be allowed to return when the war is over.

Hamas militants operate in civilian areas, where Israel has long accused them of using Palestinians as human shields. A mass evacuation of civilians, if carried out, would leave their fighters exposed as never before.

But U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said it would be impossible to stage such an evacuation without “devastating humanitarian consequences.” He called on Israel to rescind any such orders, saying they could “transform what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation.”

Hamas, meanwhile, called on Palestinians to stay in their homes, saying Israel “is trying to create confusion among citizens and harm the cohesion of our internal front.” It called on Palestinians to ignore what it said was ”psychological warfare.”

Gaza’s Health Ministry said it was not possible to evacuate the many wounded from hospitals, and that hospital staff would not heed the warning.

“We have a duty and a humanitarian mission, and we cannot evacuate hospitals and leave the wounded and sick to die,” spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra said. In the event of severe Israeli strikes, he said there was simply no other place in the Gaza Strip to take and treat patients.

The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, also said it was not evacuating its schools, where hundreds of thousands have taken shelter. But it has relocated its headquarters to southern Gaza, according to spokesperson Juliette Touma.

Pressed by reporters on whether the army would protect hospitals, U.N. shelters and other civilian locations, Hagari, the Israeli military spokesperson, warned that “it’s a war zone.”

He added: “If Hamas prevents residents from evacuating, the responsibility lies with them.”

The evacuation orders were taken as a further signal of an already expected Israeli ground offensive, though Israel has not yet announced such a decision.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to “crush” Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007. His government is under intense public pressure to topple the group rather than merely bottle it up in Gaza as it has for years.

A visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday, along with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-military-navy-carrier-e648c53dc53a46e2e12950784ea5e8d2">shipments of U.S. weapons,</a>&nbsp;offered a powerful green light for Israel to drive ahead with its retaliation. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-us-hamas-austin-blinken-c4a39169dc5ee7256f20bc1534c4f0cb">arrived in Israel on Friday</a>.

Still, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-hamas-militants-conflict-war-b6ea877aa1ee96303aa0870d741da777">ground offensive in densely populated and impoverished Gaza</a>&nbsp;would likely bring even higher casualties on both sides in brutal house-to-house fighting.

Yasser Hassouna, an activist in Gaza City, said “everyone panicked” when they saw the U.N. staff leaving. “Hamas said it was psychological warfare, and we know there has been a lot of that. No one knows what is real and what is fake news right now.”

Farsakh, of the Palestinian Red Crescent, said there was no way so many people could be safely moved — especially those with ailments.

“What will happen to our patients?” she asked. “We have wounded, we have elderly, we have children who are in hospitals.” Farsakh said many of the medics were refusing to evacuate hospitals and abandon patients. Instead, she said, they called their colleagues to say goodbye.

Beyond the immediate fear and logistical difficulties, the order has deep resonance in Gaza, where more than half of the Palestinians are the descendants of refugees from the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s creation, when hundreds of thousands fled or were expelled from what is now Israel. That exodus is deeply seared into their collective memory.

Already, at least 423,000 people — nearly one in five Gazans — have been forced from their homes by Israeli airstrikes, the U.N. said Thursday.

Neighboring Egypt has meanwhile taken “unprecedented measures” to reinforce its border with Gaza and prevent any breaches, a senior Egyptian security official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief reporters.

Egypt, which made peace with Israel decades ago and has long served as a regional mediator, is staunchly opposed to resettling Palestinians on its territory, both because of the costs involved and because it would undermine their quest for an independent state. The Rafah crossing from Gaza into Egypt, the only one not controlled by Israel, has ben closed because of airstrikes.

Hamas’ unprecedented assault last Saturday, and days of heavy rocket fire since, have killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-hamas-war-live-updates">more than 1,300 people in Israel</a>, including 247 soldiers — a toll unseen in Israel for decades. The ensuing Israeli bombardment has killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-palestinians-war-hamas-militants-civilians-casualites-8469bbcb566446d78f368bf2a1b49d88">more than 1,530 people in Gaza</a>, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696679013332.png" alt="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>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>JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s military told some 1 million Palestinians on Friday to evacuate northern Gaza and head to the southern part of the besieged territory, an unprecedented order applying to almost half the population ahead of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-military-ground-reoccupation-3e6f08a75643b21e41a498277e84b5b9">an expected ground invasion</a>&nbsp;against the ruling Hamas militant group.The U.N. warned that so many people fleeing en masse would be calamitous. Hamas, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2">staged a shocking and brutal attack</a>&nbsp;on Israel nearly a week ago and has fired thousands of rockets since, dismissed it as a ploy and called on people to stay in their homes.The evacuation order, which includes Gaza City, home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, sparked widespread panic among civilians and aid workers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-palestinians-war-hamas-militants-civilians-casualites-8469bbcb566446d78f368bf2a1b49d88">already running from Israeli airstrikes</a>&nbsp;and contending with a total siege and a territory-wide blackout.“Forget about food, forget about electricity, forget about fuel. The only concern now is just if you’ll make it, if you’re going to live,” said Nebal Farsakh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent in Gaza City, as she broke into heaving sobs.<a href="https://apnews.com/b6ea877aa1ee96303aa0870d741da777">The war</a>&nbsp;has already claimed over 2,800 lives on both sides and sent tensions soaring across the region. Israel has traded fire in recent days with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group, sparking fears of an ever wider conflict, though that frontier is currently calm.Weekly Muslim prayers brought protests in some nearby countries, and tensions ran high in Jerusalem's Old City. The Islamic endowment that manages&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-violence-jerusalem-explainer-1a269c8cc748d8e6f5eb9eabb6d9b860">a flashpoint holy site</a>&nbsp;in the city, the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, said Israeli authorities were barring all Palestinian men under the age of 50 from entering.Israel has bombarded Gaza round-the-clock since a weekend attack in which Hamas fighters stormed into the country’s south and massacred&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/52a847e489cd13ccf61b403618e61c36">hundreds, including killing children in their homes</a>&nbsp;and young people at a music festival. Militants also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hostages-gaza-war-822b214252a77f3c3556bb71d9ce7c89">snatched some 150 people</a>&nbsp;and dragged them into Gaza.Hamas said Israel’s bombardment has killed 13 of the hostages, including foreigners. It did not give their nationalities, saying they were killed over the last 24 hours.Israeli military spokesperson spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari denied that airstrikes killed hostages, telling Al-Jazeera Arabic that “we have our own information and do not believe the lies of Hamas.”The military urged all civilians in Gaza’s north to move south, according to Hagari — an order that the U.N. said affects 1.1 million people.Israel said it needed to target Hamas’ military infrastructure, much of which is buried deep underground. Another spokesperson, Jonathan Conricus, said the military would take “extensive efforts to avoid harming civilians” and that residents would be allowed to return when the war is over.Hamas militants operate in civilian areas, where Israel has long accused them of using Palestinians as human shields. A mass evacuation of civilians, if carried out, would leave their fighters exposed as never before.But U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said it would be impossible to stage such an evacuation without “devastating humanitarian consequences.” He called on Israel to rescind any such orders, saying they could “transform what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation.”Hamas, meanwhile, called on Palestinians to stay in their homes, saying Israel “is trying to create confusion among citizens and harm the cohesion of our internal front.” It called on Palestinians to ignore what it said was ”psychological warfare.”Gaza’s Health Ministry said it was not possible to evacuate the many wounded from hospitals, and that hospital staff would not heed the warning.“We have a duty and a humanitarian mission, and we cannot evacuate hospitals and leave the wounded and sick to die,” spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra said. In the event of severe Israeli strikes, he said there was simply no other place in the Gaza Strip to take and treat patients.The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, also said it was not evacuating its schools, where hundreds of thousands have taken shelter. But it has relocated its headquarters to southern Gaza, according to spokesperson Juliette Touma.Pressed by reporters on whether the army would protect hospitals, U.N. shelters and other civilian locations, Hagari, the Israeli military spokesperson, warned that “it’s a war zone.”He added: “If Hamas prevents residents from evacuating, the responsibility lies with them.”The evacuation orders were taken as a further signal of an already expected Israeli ground offensive, though Israel has not yet announced such a decision.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to “crush” Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007. His government is under intense public pressure to topple the group rather than merely bottle it up in Gaza as it has for years.A visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday, along with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-military-navy-carrier-e648c53dc53a46e2e12950784ea5e8d2">shipments of U.S. weapons,</a>&nbsp;offered a powerful green light for Israel to drive ahead with its retaliation. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-us-hamas-austin-blinken-c4a39169dc5ee7256f20bc1534c4f0cb">arrived in Israel on Friday</a>.Still, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-hamas-militants-conflict-war-b6ea877aa1ee96303aa0870d741da777">ground offensive in densely populated and impoverished Gaza</a>&nbsp;would likely bring even higher casualties on both sides in brutal house-to-house fighting.Yasser Hassouna, an activist in Gaza City, said “everyone panicked” when they saw the U.N. staff leaving. “Hamas said it was psychological warfare, and we know there has been a lot of that. No one knows what is real and what is fake news right now.”Farsakh, of the Palestinian Red Crescent, said there was no way so many people could be safely moved — especially those with ailments.“What will happen to our patients?” she asked. “We have wounded, we have elderly, we have children who are in hospitals.” Farsakh said many of the medics were refusing to evacuate hospitals and abandon patients. Instead, she said, they called their colleagues to say goodbye.Beyond the immediate fear and logistical difficulties, the order has deep resonance in Gaza, where more than half of the Palestinians are the descendants of refugees from the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s creation, when hundreds of thousands fled or were expelled from what is now Israel. That exodus is deeply seared into their collective memory.Already, at least 423,000 people — nearly one in five Gazans — have been forced from their homes by Israeli airstrikes, the U.N. said Thursday.Neighboring Egypt has meanwhile taken “unprecedented measures” to reinforce its border with Gaza and prevent any breaches, a senior Egyptian security official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief reporters.Egypt, which made peace with Israel decades ago and has long served as a regional mediator, is staunchly opposed to resettling Palestinians on its territory, both because of the costs involved and because it would undermine their quest for an independent state. The Rafah crossing from Gaza into Egypt, the only one not controlled by Israel, has ben closed because of airstrikes.Hamas’ unprecedented assault last Saturday, and days of heavy rocket fire since, have killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-hamas-war-live-updates">more than 1,300 people in Israel</a>, including 247 soldiers — a toll unseen in Israel for decades. The ensuing Israeli bombardment has killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-palestinians-war-hamas-militants-civilians-casualites-8469bbcb566446d78f368bf2a1b49d88">more than 1,530 people in Gaza</a>, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.Israel says roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were killed inside Israel, and that hundreds of the dead in Gaza are Hamas members.On Thursday, Israel said its complete siege of Gaza — which has left Palestinians desperate for food, fuel and medicine — would remain in place until Hamas militants free the hostages taken.“Not a single electricity switch will be flipped on, not a single faucet will be turned on and not a single fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home,” Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said on social media.