LINCOLN, NEBRASKA — Wilkinson Development is disappointed to announce the groundbreaking ceremony of its newest Fat Dog's Travel Center is cancelled for Wednesday, August 23rd in Lincoln.&nbsp; Due to excessive heat warnings with temperatures reaching over 100 degrees, the company is taking precautionary measures.

“We hoped those willing to attend could help us celebrate.&nbsp; It has taken significant coordination to accomplish getting to this stage of our development.&nbsp; We are sad we will not be able to host this event with everything as planned but think it is best”, stated Clarine Eickhoff, COO, Wilkinson Development.&nbsp; “Lincoln is the final stop of our Brag Tour.&nbsp; Twenty members of our team still plan to load on a bus with 4 stops.&nbsp; Dirt is moving at exit 179 in North Platte where a private groundbreaking ceremony starts off the daylong celebration for the company.&nbsp; Lexington, Nebraska Fat Dogs Travel Center opened early this summer and will be hosting a ribbon cutting with the local Chamber.&nbsp; Grand Island Fat Dogs Travel Center is under construction and employees on the bus will tour the progress before making our way to Lincoln to see the site of the Lincoln Travel Center which is to be awarded a building permit this week by the City of Lincoln.”

“We are disappointed that we will be unable to hear the Mayor, Chamber and Airport share their words of appreciation and encouragement.&nbsp; All are pleased with the investment the Wilkinson’s have contributed to the Airport area and they expect the investment to influence additional momentum partnered with improvements to the LNK Airport.”

Wilkinson DevelopmentLINCOLN, NEBRASKA — Wilkinson Development is disappointed to announce the groundbreaking ceremony of its newest Fat Dog's Travel Center is cancelled for Wednesday, August 23rd in Lincoln.&nbsp; Due to excessive heat warnings with temperatures reaching over 100 degrees, the company is taking precautionary measures.“We hoped those willing to attend could help us celebrate.&nbsp; It has taken significant coordination to accomplish getting to this stage of our development.&nbsp; We are sad we will not be able to host this event with everything as planned but think it is best”, stated Clarine Eickhoff, COO, Wilkinson Development.&nbsp; “Lincoln is the final stop of our Brag Tour.&nbsp; Twenty members of our team still plan to load on a bus with 4 stops.&nbsp; Dirt is moving at exit 179 in North Platte where a private groundbreaking ceremony starts off the daylong celebration for the company.&nbsp; Lexington, Nebraska Fat Dogs Travel Center opened early this summer and will be hosting a ribbon cutting with the local Chamber.&nbsp; Grand Island Fat Dogs Travel Center is under construction and employees on the bus will tour the progress before making our way to Lincoln to see the site of the Lincoln Travel Center which is to be awarded a building permit this week by the City of Lincoln.”“We are disappointed that we will be unable to hear the Mayor, Chamber and Airport share their words of appreciation and encouragement.&nbsp; All are pleased with the investment the Wilkinson’s have contributed to the Airport area and they expect the investment to influence additional momentum partnered with improvements to the LNK Airport.”

Heatwave: Precautionary measures cancels groundbreaking ceremony 

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators on Monday approved the first <a href="https://www.abrysvo.com/older-adults?gclid=Cj0KCQjwuZGnBhD1ARIsACxbAVh-g26INhZhSQt_7IjswNAD_o5eyYXRDGnJzbg2QCLyILXYAPDr-4MaAmelEALw_wcB&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">RSV vaccine </a>for pregnant women so their babies will be born with protection against the scary respiratory infection.

RSV is notorious for filling hospitals with wheezing babies every fall and winter. The Food and Drug Administration cleared Pfizer's maternal vaccination to guard against a severe case of RSV when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-business-covid-ec1dae2bd47d604712fc2a4a842591a8">babies are most vulnerable</a>&nbsp;— from birth through 6 months of age.

The next step: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must issue recommendations for using the vaccine, <a href="https://www.abrysvo.com/older-adults?gclid=Cj0KCQjwuZGnBhD1ARIsACxbAVh-g26INhZhSQt_7IjswNAD_o5eyYXRDGnJzbg2QCLyILXYAPDr-4MaAmelEALw_wcB&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">named Abrysvo,</a> during pregnancy. (Vaccinations for older adults, also at high risk, are getting underway this fall using the same Pfizer shot plus another from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rsv-vaccine-respiratory-virus-60a8b859c692a593b652f68ff25738be">competitor GSK</a>.)

“Maternal vaccination is an incredible way to protect the infants,” said Dr. Elizabeth Schlaudecker of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, a researcher in Pfizer’s international study of the vaccine. If shots begin soon, “I do think we could see an impact for this RSV season.”

RSV is a coldlike nuisance for most healthy people but it can be life-threatening for the very young. It inflames babies’ tiny airways so it’s hard to breathe or causes pneumonia. In the U.S. alone, between 58,000 and 80,000 children younger than 5 are hospitalized each year, and several hundred die, from the respiratory syncytial virus.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-covid-pandemics-072e11e5e3af77aac19fe95773a69610">Last year’s RSV season</a>&nbsp;was extremely harsh in the U.S., and it began sickening tots in the summer, far earlier than usual.

Babies are born with an immature immune system, dependent for their first few months on protection from mom. How the RSV vaccination will work: A single injection late in pregnancy gives enough time for the mom-to-be to develop virus-fighting antibodies that pass through the placenta to the fetus — ready to work at birth.

It’s the same way pregnant women pass along protection against other infections. Pregnant women have long been urged to get a flu shot and a whooping cough vaccine — and more recently, COVID-19 vaccination.

Pfizer's study included nearly 7,400 pregnant women plus their babies. Maternal vaccination didn’t prevent mild RSV infection — but it proved 82% effective at preventing a severe case during babies’ first three months of life. At age 6 months, it still was proving 69% effective against severe illness.

Vaccine reactions were mostly injection-site pain and fatigue. In the study, there was a slight difference in premature birth — just a few weeks early — between vaccinated moms and those given a dummy shot, something Pfizer has said was due to chance. The FDA said to avoid the possibility, the vaccine should be given only between 32 weeks and 36 weeks of pregnancy, a few weeks later than during the clinical trial.

If enough pregnant women get vaccinated, Pfizer has predicted the U.S. could prevent as many as 20,000 infant hospitalizations a year and 320,000 doctor visits.

The only other option to guard babies from RSV: Giving them lab-made antibodies. The FDA recently approved a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rsv-babies-drug-cdc-astrazeneca-sanofi-shot-c03b72aaa51e59176cfa3feb3ceac06c">new drug</a>&nbsp;that’s the first one-dose version, recommended for all infants younger than 8 months before their first RSV season starts. Beyfortus, from Sanofi and AstraZeneca, is expected to be available this fall.

Cincinnati’s Schlaudecker, a pediatric infectious disease specialist, said both the new antibody drug and the maternal vaccine are eagerly anticipated, and predicted doctors will try a combination to provide the best protection for babies depending on their age and risk during RSV season.

Another Cincinnati Children’s physician who's cared for seriously ill RSV patients volunteered to participate in Pfizer’s vaccine study when she became pregnant.

“The last thing a parent wants to see is their kid struggling to breathe,” Dr. Maria Deza Leon said. “I was also at risk of being the person that could get RSV and give it to my son without even realizing.”

Deza Leon received her shot in late January 2022 and her son Joaquin was born the following month. While she hasn’t yet learned if she received the vaccine or a dummy shot, Joaquin now is a healthy toddler who’s never been diagnosed with RSV.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692713892557.png" alt="Photo Pfizer" />
 <figcaption>Photo Pfizer</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators on Monday approved the first <a href="https://www.abrysvo.com/older-adults?gclid=Cj0KCQjwuZGnBhD1ARIsACxbAVh-g26INhZhSQt_7IjswNAD_o5eyYXRDGnJzbg2QCLyILXYAPDr-4MaAmelEALw_wcB&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">RSV vaccine </a>for pregnant women so their babies will be born with protection against the scary respiratory infection.RSV is notorious for filling hospitals with wheezing babies every fall and winter. The Food and Drug Administration cleared Pfizer's maternal vaccination to guard against a severe case of RSV when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-business-covid-ec1dae2bd47d604712fc2a4a842591a8">babies are most vulnerable</a>&nbsp;— from birth through 6 months of age.The next step: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must issue recommendations for using the vaccine, <a href="https://www.abrysvo.com/older-adults?gclid=Cj0KCQjwuZGnBhD1ARIsACxbAVh-g26INhZhSQt_7IjswNAD_o5eyYXRDGnJzbg2QCLyILXYAPDr-4MaAmelEALw_wcB&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">named Abrysvo,</a> during pregnancy. (Vaccinations for older adults, also at high risk, are getting underway this fall using the same Pfizer shot plus another from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rsv-vaccine-respiratory-virus-60a8b859c692a593b652f68ff25738be">competitor GSK</a>.)“Maternal vaccination is an incredible way to protect the infants,” said Dr. Elizabeth Schlaudecker of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, a researcher in Pfizer’s international study of the vaccine. If shots begin soon, “I do think we could see an impact for this RSV season.”RSV is a coldlike nuisance for most healthy people but it can be life-threatening for the very young. It inflames babies’ tiny airways so it’s hard to breathe or causes pneumonia. In the U.S. alone, between 58,000 and 80,000 children younger than 5 are hospitalized each year, and several hundred die, from the respiratory syncytial virus.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-covid-pandemics-072e11e5e3af77aac19fe95773a69610">Last year’s RSV season</a>&nbsp;was extremely harsh in the U.S., and it began sickening tots in the summer, far earlier than usual.Babies are born with an immature immune system, dependent for their first few months on protection from mom. How the RSV vaccination will work: A single injection late in pregnancy gives enough time for the mom-to-be to develop virus-fighting antibodies that pass through the placenta to the fetus — ready to work at birth.It’s the same way pregnant women pass along protection against other infections. Pregnant women have long been urged to get a flu shot and a whooping cough vaccine — and more recently, COVID-19 vaccination.Pfizer's study included nearly 7,400 pregnant women plus their babies. Maternal vaccination didn’t prevent mild RSV infection — but it proved 82% effective at preventing a severe case during babies’ first three months of life. At age 6 months, it still was proving 69% effective against severe illness.Vaccine reactions were mostly injection-site pain and fatigue. In the study, there was a slight difference in premature birth — just a few weeks early — between vaccinated moms and those given a dummy shot, something Pfizer has said was due to chance. The FDA said to avoid the possibility, the vaccine should be given only between 32 weeks and 36 weeks of pregnancy, a few weeks later than during the clinical trial.If enough pregnant women get vaccinated, Pfizer has predicted the U.S. could prevent as many as 20,000 infant hospitalizations a year and 320,000 doctor visits.The only other option to guard babies from RSV: Giving them lab-made antibodies. The FDA recently approved a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rsv-babies-drug-cdc-astrazeneca-sanofi-shot-c03b72aaa51e59176cfa3feb3ceac06c">new drug</a>&nbsp;that’s the first one-dose version, recommended for all infants younger than 8 months before their first RSV season starts. Beyfortus, from Sanofi and AstraZeneca, is expected to be available this fall.Cincinnati’s Schlaudecker, a pediatric infectious disease specialist, said both the new antibody drug and the maternal vaccine are eagerly anticipated, and predicted doctors will try a combination to provide the best protection for babies depending on their age and risk during RSV season.Another Cincinnati Children’s physician who's cared for seriously ill RSV patients volunteered to participate in Pfizer’s vaccine study when she became pregnant.“The last thing a parent wants to see is their kid struggling to breathe,” Dr. Maria Deza Leon said. “I was also at risk of being the person that could get RSV and give it to my son without even realizing.”Deza Leon received her shot in late January 2022 and her son Joaquin was born the following month. While she hasn’t yet learned if she received the vaccine or a dummy shot, Joaquin now is a healthy toddler who’s never been diagnosed with RSV.

FDA approves RSV vaccine for moms-to-be to protect newborns

ATLANTA (AP) —<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Former President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;says he will surrender to authorities in Georgia on Thursday to face charges in the case accusing him of illegally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-investigation-grand-jury-willis-d39562cedfc60d64948708de1b011ed3">scheming to overturn his 2020 election loss</a>&nbsp;in the state.

“Can you believe it? I’ll be going to Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday to be ARRESTED,” Trump wrote on his social media network Monday night, hours after his bond was set at $200,000.

It will be Trump’s fourth arrest since April, when he became the first former president in U.S. history to face indictment. Since then, Trump, who remains the leading candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, has had what has seemed like an endless procession of bookings and arraignments in jurisdictions across the country. His appearances in New York, Florida and Washington, D.C., have drawn enormous media attention, with news helicopters tracking his every move.

Trump's announcement came hours after his attorneys met with prosecutors in Atlanta to discuss the details of his release on bond. The former president is barred from intimidating co-defendants, witnesses or victims in the case — including on social media — according to the bond agreement signed by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, Trump’s defense attorneys and the judge. It explicitly includes “posts on social media or reposts of posts” made by others.

Trump has repeatedly used social media to attack people involved in the criminal cases against him as he campaigns to reclaim the White House in 2024. He has been railing against Willis since before he was indicted, and singled out Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp — a Republican who rebuffed his efforts to overturn the election — by name in a social media post Monday morning.

The agreement also prohibits the former president from making any “direct or indirect threat of any nature” against witnesses or co-defendants, and from communicating in any way about the facts of the case with them, except through attorneys.

The order sets Trump's bond for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-trump-election-investigation-indictment-rico-willis-2b18a1c1ed6a4ce22b1a2ca88ea861e3">Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations</a>&nbsp;— or RICO — charge at $80,000, and adds $10,000 for each of the 12 other counts he is facing. Bond is the amount defendants must pay as a form of collateral to ensure they show up for required court appearances.

Willis set a deadline of noon Friday for Trump and his 18 co-defendants to turn themselves in to be booked. The prosecutor has proposed that arraignments for the defendants follow during the week of Sept. 5. She has said she wants to try the defendants collectively and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-georgia-election-willis-892156d8658d9fe86d47ae3828c54cb9">bring the case to trial in March of next year,</a>&nbsp;which would put it in the heat of the presidential nominating season.

A Trump spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the filing. A phone message seeking comment was also left for an attorney for the former president.

Trump's appearance in Georgia will come a day after the first Republican primary debate, which he has decided to skip.

He is expected to turn himself in at the Fulton County jail, which has long been plagued with problems. The Department of Justice last month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-fulton-county-jail-investigation-6851ae2610d8265ce793abde99695fd8">opened a civil rights investigation</a>&nbsp;into conditions, citing filthy cells, violence and the death last year of a man whose body was found covered in insects in the main jail’s psychiatric wing. Three people have died in Fulton County custody in the past month.

The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Monday afternoon that when Trump surrenders there will be a “hard lockdown” of the area surrounding the jail.

But Trump is not expected to spend much time there.

When defendants arrive at the building, they typically pass through a security checkpoint before checking in for formal booking in the lobby. During the booking process, defendants are typically photographed and fingerprinted and asked to provide certain personal information. Since Trump’s bond has already been set, he will be released from custody once the booking process is complete.

Unlike in other jurisdictions, in Fulton County, arraignments — where a defendant first appears in court — are generally set after a defendant completes the booking process and do not happen on the same day.

Booking a former president, who still has 24-hour Secret Service protection, has created myriad security and logistical issues in other jurisdictions.

In his past appearances in a New York state court and federal courts in Miami and Washington, Trump was not handcuffed while in custody. He was also not required to pose for a mugshot, with officials instead using existing photographs of the former president.

Georgia officials have said Trump will be treated like others charged with crimes in their state.

“Unless somebody tells me differently, we are following our normal practices, and so it doesn’t matter your status, we’ll have a mugshot ready for you,” Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat said at a news conference earlier this month.

Trump was charged last week in the case alongside a slew of allies, who prosecutors say conspired to subvert the will of voters in a desperate bid to keep the Republican in the White House after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing, and he characterizes the case — and the three others he is facing — as efforts to hurt his 2024 presidential campaign. He has regularly used his Truth Social platform to single out prosecutors and others involved in his cases, and to continue to spread falsehoods that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

In a post on Monday, Trump called the Fulton County district attorney “crooked, incompetent, &amp; highly partisan.” He also attacked Kemp, whom he has long targeted for the governor's refusal to intervene after the 2020 election. Kemp has been outspoken in pushing back against Trump, writing in social media last week: “The 2020 election in Georgia was not stolen."

Bond was also set Monday for three lawyers who were indicted along with Trump. For each of them, the bond for the RICO charge was set at $20,000, with varying amounts for the other charges they face. John Eastman and Kenneth Chesebro each had a bond set at $100,000, while Ray Smith’s bond is $50,000.

Bail bondsman Scott Hall, who was accused of participating in a breach of election equipment in rural Coffee County, had his bond set at $10,000.

Other defendants include former White House chief of staff&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mark-meadows">Mark Meadows</a>; Trump attorney and former New York City Mayor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rudolph-giuliani">Rudy Giuliani</a>, and a Trump administration Justice Department official, Jeffrey Clark, who aided the then-president’s efforts to undo his election loss in Georgia.

The Georgia indictment came just two weeks after the Justice Department special counsel charged Trump in a separate case in a vast&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">conspiracy to overturn the election</a>. Besides the two election-related cases, Trump faces a federal indictment accusing him of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-documents-maralago-politics-florida-charges-bee867f48da593d351c5a91e87c356a9">illegally hoarding classified documents</a>&nbsp;as well as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-new-york-florida-hush-money-election-764309dce49f81a50bf9f610ffd5ceb6">New York state case</a>&nbsp;charging him with falsifying business records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686700913232.png" alt="Trump has repeatedly used social media to attack people involved in the criminal cases against him as he campaigns to reclaim the White House -AP photo" />
 <figcaption>Trump has repeatedly used social media to attack people involved in the criminal cases against him as he campaigns to reclaim the White House -AP photo</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) —<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Former President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;says he will surrender to authorities in Georgia on Thursday to face charges in the case accusing him of illegally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-investigation-grand-jury-willis-d39562cedfc60d64948708de1b011ed3">scheming to overturn his 2020 election loss</a>&nbsp;in the state.“Can you believe it? I’ll be going to Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday to be ARRESTED,” Trump wrote on his social media network Monday night, hours after his bond was set at $200,000.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692668988441.png" alt="Page 1 of 2" />
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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692669204777.png" alt="Page 2 of 2" />
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 </figure>It will be Trump’s fourth arrest since April, when he became the first former president in U.S. history to face indictment. Since then, Trump, who remains the leading candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, has had what has seemed like an endless procession of bookings and arraignments in jurisdictions across the country. His appearances in New York, Florida and Washington, D.C., have drawn enormous media attention, with news helicopters tracking his every move.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692701458714.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Trump's announcement came hours after his attorneys met with prosecutors in Atlanta to discuss the details of his release on bond. The former president is barred from intimidating co-defendants, witnesses or victims in the case — including on social media — according to the bond agreement signed by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, Trump’s defense attorneys and the judge. It explicitly includes “posts on social media or reposts of posts” made by others.Trump has repeatedly used social media to attack people involved in the criminal cases against him as he campaigns to reclaim the White House in 2024. He has been railing against Willis since before he was indicted, and singled out Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp — a Republican who rebuffed his efforts to overturn the election — by name in a social media post Monday morning.The agreement also prohibits the former president from making any “direct or indirect threat of any nature” against witnesses or co-defendants, and from communicating in any way about the facts of the case with them, except through attorneys.The order sets Trump's bond for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-trump-election-investigation-indictment-rico-willis-2b18a1c1ed6a4ce22b1a2ca88ea861e3">Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations</a>&nbsp;— or RICO — charge at $80,000, and adds $10,000 for each of the 12 other counts he is facing. Bond is the amount defendants must pay as a form of collateral to ensure they show up for required court appearances.Willis set a deadline of noon Friday for Trump and his 18 co-defendants to turn themselves in to be booked. The prosecutor has proposed that arraignments for the defendants follow during the week of Sept. 5. She has said she wants to try the defendants collectively and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-georgia-election-willis-892156d8658d9fe86d47ae3828c54cb9">bring the case to trial in March of next year,</a>&nbsp;which would put it in the heat of the presidential nominating season.A Trump spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the filing. A phone message seeking comment was also left for an attorney for the former president.Trump's appearance in Georgia will come a day after the first Republican primary debate, which he has decided to skip.He is expected to turn himself in at the Fulton County jail, which has long been plagued with problems. The Department of Justice last month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-fulton-county-jail-investigation-6851ae2610d8265ce793abde99695fd8">opened a civil rights investigation</a>&nbsp;into conditions, citing filthy cells, violence and the death last year of a man whose body was found covered in insects in the main jail’s psychiatric wing. Three people have died in Fulton County custody in the past month.The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Monday afternoon that when Trump surrenders there will be a “hard lockdown” of the area surrounding the jail.But Trump is not expected to spend much time there.When defendants arrive at the building, they typically pass through a security checkpoint before checking in for formal booking in the lobby. During the booking process, defendants are typically photographed and fingerprinted and asked to provide certain personal information. Since Trump’s bond has already been set, he will be released from custody once the booking process is complete.Unlike in other jurisdictions, in Fulton County, arraignments — where a defendant first appears in court — are generally set after a defendant completes the booking process and do not happen on the same day.Booking a former president, who still has 24-hour Secret Service protection, has created myriad security and logistical issues in other jurisdictions.In his past appearances in a New York state court and federal courts in Miami and Washington, Trump was not handcuffed while in custody. He was also not required to pose for a mugshot, with officials instead using existing photographs of the former president.Georgia officials have said Trump will be treated like others charged with crimes in their state.“Unless somebody tells me differently, we are following our normal practices, and so it doesn’t matter your status, we’ll have a mugshot ready for you,” Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat said at a news conference earlier this month.Trump was charged last week in the case alongside a slew of allies, who prosecutors say conspired to subvert the will of voters in a desperate bid to keep the Republican in the White House after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.Trump has denied any wrongdoing, and he characterizes the case — and the three others he is facing — as efforts to hurt his 2024 presidential campaign. He has regularly used his Truth Social platform to single out prosecutors and others involved in his cases, and to continue to spread falsehoods that the 2020 election was stolen from him.In a post on Monday, Trump called the Fulton County district attorney “crooked, incompetent, &amp; highly partisan.” He also attacked Kemp, whom he has long targeted for the governor's refusal to intervene after the 2020 election. Kemp has been outspoken in pushing back against Trump, writing in social media last week: “The 2020 election in Georgia was not stolen."Bond was also set Monday for three lawyers who were indicted along with Trump. For each of them, the bond for the RICO charge was set at $20,000, with varying amounts for the other charges they face. John Eastman and Kenneth Chesebro each had a bond set at $100,000, while Ray Smith’s bond is $50,000.Bail bondsman Scott Hall, who was accused of participating in a breach of election equipment in rural Coffee County, had his bond set at $10,000.Other defendants include former White House chief of staff&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mark-meadows">Mark Meadows</a>; Trump attorney and former New York City Mayor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rudolph-giuliani">Rudy Giuliani</a>, and a Trump administration Justice Department official, Jeffrey Clark, who aided the then-president’s efforts to undo his election loss in Georgia.The Georgia indictment came just two weeks after the Justice Department special counsel charged Trump in a separate case in a vast&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">conspiracy to overturn the election</a>. Besides the two election-related cases, Trump faces a federal indictment accusing him of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-documents-maralago-politics-florida-charges-bee867f48da593d351c5a91e87c356a9">illegally hoarding classified documents</a>&nbsp;as well as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-new-york-florida-hush-money-election-764309dce49f81a50bf9f610ffd5ceb6">New York state case</a>&nbsp;charging him with falsifying business records.____

Read Trump’s $200K bond deal and social media restrictions

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Monday told survivors of Hawaii's wildfires that the nation “grieves with you” and promised that the federal government will help Maui “for as long as it takes” to recover after touring damage caused by the deadliest wildfire in the United States in more than a century.

Biden arrived in Maui 13 days after the wildfires that have taken at least 114 lives ravaged the western part of the island. As many as 850 people are still unaccounted for, according to Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen.

Standing near a severely burned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lahaina-hawaii-fires-banyan-tree-3a9c76dcbdb01386691cc24b54c8ef15">150-year-old banyan tree</a>, the president acknowledged the “overwhelming” devastation but said that Maui would persevere through the tragedy.

“Today it’s burned but it’s still standing," Biden said of the tree. "The tree survived for a reason. I believe it's a very powerful symbol of what we can and will do to get through this crisis.”

Biden and first lady Jill Biden got a close look at the devastation, seeing for themselves the hollowed homes, structures, charred cars and singed trees left in the wake of the blaze.

The Bidens lingered briefly on the tarmac after arriving at Kahului Airport to console Hawaii Gov. Josh Green and his wife Jaime Green as well as members of Hawaii's congressional delegation who came to the airport to greet them. The president and first lady embraced each of their greeters before boarding Marine One for an aerial tour of the damage.

They spent most of their visit in Lahaina,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-hawaii-lahaina-historic-kindom-capital-396463f6eba6580bfc80d75538b0adf3">a historic town</a>&nbsp;of 13,000 people that was virtually destroyed by the flames. His motorcade wound through the community of block upon block of hollowed out homes and structures, palm trees burnt to a crisp and endless debris.

The Bidens also met with first responders and were briefed by state and local officials about the ongoing response. They also took part in a blessing by island elders of his visit.

The Bidens interrupted a weeklong vacation in the Lake Tahoe area for the five-hour flight to Lahaina.

The White House announced Monday that Biden has named Bob Fenton, a regional leader at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to be the chief federal response coordinator for the Maui wildfires, ensuring that someone from his administration will be responsible for long-term recovery efforts. It will take years to rebuild Lahaina, where just about every building was obliterated.

“We’re going to rebuild the way the people of Maui want to rebuild,” said Biden, adding that his administration would be focused on respecting sacred lands, cultures and traditions.

Dozens gathered on the streets of Lahaina to watch Biden's motorcade wind its way through the streets. Some greeted the president enthusiastically, but others appeared to be waving their middle fingers at the motorcade. Other island residents held up signs urging Biden “to listen to the people of Lahaina” and to send more aid to the island.

During a community event at the Lahaina civic center, Biden praised the “remarkable resilience” among community members he had witnessed during his few hours on the ground.

The president also spoke, as he often does when addressing communities impacted by tragedy, of understanding the personal weight of devastating loss and the slow and painful process of recovering. Biden's wife Neilia Hunter Biden and one-year-old daughter, Naomi, died in a car accident in 1972.

“When things look the most bleak, that’s when we need faith," Biden said.

Biden has faced criticism from Republicans, including 2024 Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, for saying too little during the first days after the catastrophe. The White House, however, has pushed back against the criticism, saying the president kept in close touch with the governor and other emergency officials throughout the unfolding crisis.

Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/brian-schatz">Brian Schatz</a>, D-Hawaii, said that as of Sunday about 85% of the affected area had been searched and nearly 2,000 people remained without power and 10,000 were without telecom connectivity. Water in parts of west Maui is not safe to drink.

While immediate aid such as water, food and blankets has been readily distributed to residents, Schatz said cellphones, ID and other documents that people would need to help them enroll in longer-term aid programs were burned in the fires, adding more challenges to the application process.

During his tour, Biden walked down a road from which many Lahaina residents made their harrowing escape from the flames.

An army of search and rescue teams with dozens of dogs have blanketed the affected area to try to recover the remains of some 500 to 800 people who are unaccounted for, said White House homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall. Mayor Richard Bissen earlier Monday put the number of unaccounted for at 850. Sherwood-Randall added that the FBI has dispatched specialists to Maui to help assist the identification efforts.

She added that Biden, who has repeatedly visited communities ravaged by extreme weather disasters during his presidency, was focused during the visit “on the human experience,” and is “very impatient with bureaucracy.”

“How fast can we move to help people in need, and in particular, how can we help those in need who have the hardest time getting access to that help?" Sherwood-Randall said of Biden's focus.

More than 1,000 federal officials remain on the ground to respond to the wildfires in Hawaii, according to the White House. The administration has distributed more than $8.5 million in aid to some 8,000 affected families, including $3.6 million in rental assistance, said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.

Schatz, who joined Biden on Monday, stressed that officials were “still responding to the disaster" and "we are not yet in a recovery phase.”

“As bad as this looks, it’s actually worse,” he said in a phone interview on Sunday. “What you can’t see is the damage to utility infrastructure. What you can’t see is the thousands of kids who are trying to figure out how to go to school this fall. What you can’t see is the first responders who went into the flames without regard for their own safety and had their own homes burned down.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692667220568.png" alt="The Bidens&nbsp; met with first responders and were briefed by state and local officials about the ongoing response. They also took part in a blessing by island elders of his visit.-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>The Bidens&nbsp; met with first responders and were briefed by state and local officials about the ongoing response. They also took part in a blessing by island elders of his visit.-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Monday told survivors of Hawaii's wildfires that the nation “grieves with you” and promised that the federal government will help Maui “for as long as it takes” to recover after touring damage caused by the deadliest wildfire in the United States in more than a century.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden on the federal response to Maui wildfires. Watch his full remarks here: <a href="https://t.co/LTx6vGgZM2">https://t.co/LTx6vGgZM2</a> <a href="https://t.co/689KeeUFan">pic.twitter.com/689KeeUFan</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1693772975940726841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden arrived in Maui 13 days after the wildfires that have taken at least 114 lives ravaged the western part of the island. As many as 850 people are still unaccounted for, according to Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen.Standing near a severely burned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lahaina-hawaii-fires-banyan-tree-3a9c76dcbdb01386691cc24b54c8ef15">150-year-old banyan tree</a>, the president acknowledged the “overwhelming” devastation but said that Maui would persevere through the tragedy.“Today it’s burned but it’s still standing," Biden said of the tree. "The tree survived for a reason. I believe it's a very powerful symbol of what we can and will do to get through this crisis.”Biden and first lady Jill Biden got a close look at the devastation, seeing for themselves the hollowed homes, structures, charred cars and singed trees left in the wake of the blaze.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Earlier today, Jill and I paid our respects at the sacred site of Mokuʻula and participated in a blessing ceremony with Native Hawaiian leaders. In times like these, marred by struggle and strife, we turn to prayer to seek guidance, bolster our faith, and brace our spirts. <a href="https://t.co/v2IzAgxkm2">pic.twitter.com/v2IzAgxkm2</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1693802279617310891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Bidens lingered briefly on the tarmac after arriving at Kahului Airport to console Hawaii Gov. Josh Green and his wife Jaime Green as well as members of Hawaii's congressional delegation who came to the airport to greet them. The president and first lady embraced each of their greeters before boarding Marine One for an aerial tour of the damage.They spent most of their visit in Lahaina,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-hawaii-lahaina-historic-kindom-capital-396463f6eba6580bfc80d75538b0adf3">a historic town</a>&nbsp;of 13,000 people that was virtually destroyed by the flames. His motorcade wound through the community of block upon block of hollowed out homes and structures, palm trees burnt to a crisp and endless debris.The Bidens also met with first responders and were briefed by state and local officials about the ongoing response. They also took part in a blessing by island elders of his visit.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692667130648.png" alt="President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden walk with Hawaii Gov. Josh Green photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden walk with Hawaii Gov. Josh Green photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>The Bidens interrupted a weeklong vacation in the Lake Tahoe area for the five-hour flight to Lahaina.The White House announced Monday that Biden has named Bob Fenton, a regional leader at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to be the chief federal response coordinator for the Maui wildfires, ensuring that someone from his administration will be responsible for long-term recovery efforts. It will take years to rebuild Lahaina, where just about every building was obliterated.“We’re going to rebuild the way the people of Maui want to rebuild,” said Biden, adding that his administration would be focused on respecting sacred lands, cultures and traditions.Dozens gathered on the streets of Lahaina to watch Biden's motorcade wind its way through the streets. Some greeted the president enthusiastically, but others appeared to be waving their middle fingers at the motorcade. Other island residents held up signs urging Biden “to listen to the people of Lahaina” and to send more aid to the island.During a community event at the Lahaina civic center, Biden praised the “remarkable resilience” among community members he had witnessed during his few hours on the ground.The president also spoke, as he often does when addressing communities impacted by tragedy, of understanding the personal weight of devastating loss and the slow and painful process of recovering. Biden's wife Neilia Hunter Biden and one-year-old daughter, Naomi, died in a car accident in 1972.“When things look the most bleak, that’s when we need faith," Biden said.Biden has faced criticism from Republicans, including 2024 Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, for saying too little during the first days after the catastrophe. The White House, however, has pushed back against the criticism, saying the president kept in close touch with the governor and other emergency officials throughout the unfolding crisis.Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/brian-schatz">Brian Schatz</a>, D-Hawaii, said that as of Sunday about 85% of the affected area had been searched and nearly 2,000 people remained without power and 10,000 were without telecom connectivity. Water in parts of west Maui is not safe to drink.While immediate aid such as water, food and blankets has been readily distributed to residents, Schatz said cellphones, ID and other documents that people would need to help them enroll in longer-term aid programs were burned in the fires, adding more challenges to the application process.During his tour, Biden walked down a road from which many Lahaina residents made their harrowing escape from the flames.An army of search and rescue teams with dozens of dogs have blanketed the affected area to try to recover the remains of some 500 to 800 people who are unaccounted for, said White House homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall. Mayor Richard Bissen earlier Monday put the number of unaccounted for at 850. Sherwood-Randall added that the FBI has dispatched specialists to Maui to help assist the identification efforts.She added that Biden, who has repeatedly visited communities ravaged by extreme weather disasters during his presidency, was focused during the visit “on the human experience,” and is “very impatient with bureaucracy.”“How fast can we move to help people in need, and in particular, how can we help those in need who have the hardest time getting access to that help?" Sherwood-Randall said of Biden's focus.More than 1,000 federal officials remain on the ground to respond to the wildfires in Hawaii, according to the White House. The administration has distributed more than $8.5 million in aid to some 8,000 affected families, including $3.6 million in rental assistance, said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.Schatz, who joined Biden on Monday, stressed that officials were “still responding to the disaster" and "we are not yet in a recovery phase.”“As bad as this looks, it’s actually worse,” he said in a phone interview on Sunday. “What you can’t see is the damage to utility infrastructure. What you can’t see is the thousands of kids who are trying to figure out how to go to school this fall. What you can’t see is the first responders who went into the flames without regard for their own safety and had their own homes burned down.”___

🎥Bidens visit fire-ravaged Maui; 800 people still missing

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/21/the-internet-is-no-longer-a-luxury-667m-from-usda-for-rural-broadband/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will spend another $667 million on rural broadband loans and grants, the department said Monday, marking the fourth round of Biden administration funding under a program that the 2021 infrastructure law invigorated.

Nearly three-quarters of the funding, $493 million, will go toward grants, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on a Friday press call previewing the announcement. The latest round of funding awards will go to 38 projects in 22 states and the Marshall Islands, according to a release from the USDA.

Nearly $100 million will go toward grants for three projects in Alaska, which is receiving more than any other state in this round of funding.

Among the states included in this round are: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

Each recipient requires U.S. House and Senate sponsors and, because of the program’s rural focus, many of the House sponsors are Republicans. Some of both chambers’ most conservative members endorsed projects that are funded. A full list of projects is<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/media/file/download/usda-rd-reconnect-round4-tranche3-chart-08182023.pdf">&nbsp;available here</a>.

Most are small telecommunications companies or cooperatives.

The USDA’s ReConnect program is responsible for selecting grant and loan recipients, seeking to fill gaps in high-speed internet access. The program was created on a trial basis in 2018, and Congress added billions in new funding for it in the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law.

The grants and loans allow for broadband access in areas that otherwise would not be profitable for the private sector to provide service.

“We’re delivering this funding because the internet is no longer a luxury,” Mitch Landrieu, the White House coordinator for the infrastructure law, said on the Friday call. “It’s a necessity to fully participate today’s society.”

High-speed internet would allow better access to services including telehealth, remote learning, precision farming and other opportunities in rural areas, Landrieu said.

President Joe Biden believes in building infrastructure in all parts of the country, Vilsack said.

“The reality is that we have faced some challenging times in rural places,” the former Iowa governor said. “When we talk about broadband and high-speed internet it really is basically creating the opportunity for people, regardless of their ZIP code, to have a sense of connection, a sense that the federal government cares deeply about their economic opportunity and about their families.”

The funding also serves a climate purpose, Vilsack said.

Farmers looking to take advantage of new climate-smart commodities markets, a program that pays agricultural producers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, would need access to technology that depends on high-speed internet, he said.

High-speed internet is also useful for precision farming, a management practice that requires a large amount of high-resolution data, Landrieu said.

The infrastructure law provided $65 billion for high-speed broadband deployment. The administration is aiming to spend up to $90 billion on broadband deployment, Landrieu said.

Vilsack&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/funding-33-rural-broadband-projects-unveiled-usda">announced $714 million</a>&nbsp;in ReConnect loans and grants in June and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/usda-spend-500-million-extending-high-speed-internet-rural-america">$500 million in September 2022</a>. More funding announcements should be expected in the coming months, he said Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629384733889.jpeg" alt="Photo on File" />
 <figcaption>Photo on File</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Jacob Fischler<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/21/the-internet-is-no-longer-a-luxury-667m-from-usda-for-rural-broadband/">Nebraska Examiner</a>The U.S. Department of Agriculture will spend another $667 million on rural broadband loans and grants, the department said Monday, marking the fourth round of Biden administration funding under a program that the 2021 infrastructure law invigorated.Nearly three-quarters of the funding, $493 million, will go toward grants, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on a Friday press call previewing the announcement. The latest round of funding awards will go to 38 projects in 22 states and the Marshall Islands, according to a release from the USDA.Nearly $100 million will go toward grants for three projects in Alaska, which is receiving more than any other state in this round of funding.Among the states included in this round are: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.Each recipient requires U.S. House and Senate sponsors and, because of the program’s rural focus, many of the House sponsors are Republicans. Some of both chambers’ most conservative members endorsed projects that are funded. A full list of projects is<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/media/file/download/usda-rd-reconnect-round4-tranche3-chart-08182023.pdf">&nbsp;available here</a>.Most are small telecommunications companies or cooperatives.The USDA’s ReConnect program is responsible for selecting grant and loan recipients, seeking to fill gaps in high-speed internet access. The program was created on a trial basis in 2018, and Congress added billions in new funding for it in the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law.The grants and loans allow for broadband access in areas that otherwise would not be profitable for the private sector to provide service.“We’re delivering this funding because the internet is no longer a luxury,” Mitch Landrieu, the White House coordinator for the infrastructure law, said on the Friday call. “It’s a necessity to fully participate today’s society.”High-speed internet would allow better access to services including telehealth, remote learning, precision farming and other opportunities in rural areas, Landrieu said.President Joe Biden believes in building infrastructure in all parts of the country, Vilsack said.“The reality is that we have faced some challenging times in rural places,” the former Iowa governor said. “When we talk about broadband and high-speed internet it really is basically creating the opportunity for people, regardless of their ZIP code, to have a sense of connection, a sense that the federal government cares deeply about their economic opportunity and about their families.”The funding also serves a climate purpose, Vilsack said.Farmers looking to take advantage of new climate-smart commodities markets, a program that pays agricultural producers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, would need access to technology that depends on high-speed internet, he said.High-speed internet is also useful for precision farming, a management practice that requires a large amount of high-resolution data, Landrieu said.The infrastructure law provided $65 billion for high-speed broadband deployment. The administration is aiming to spend up to $90 billion on broadband deployment, Landrieu said.Vilsack&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/funding-33-rural-broadband-projects-unveiled-usda">announced $714 million</a>&nbsp;in ReConnect loans and grants in June and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/usda-spend-500-million-extending-high-speed-internet-rural-america">$500 million in September 2022</a>. More funding announcements should be expected in the coming months, he said Friday.

The internet is no longer a luxury’: $667M from USDA for rural broadband

ATLANTA (AP) —Donald Trump’s bond has been set at $200,000 in the Georgia case accusing the former president of scheming to overturn his 2020 election loss, according to court papers filed Monday.

<a href="https://fm.cnbc.com/applications/cnbc.com/resources/editorialfiles/2023/08/14/23SC188947_-_CRIMINAL_INDICTMENT.pdf">Click here to read the full</a>&nbsp;indictment in Georgia

The bond agreement, outlined in a court filing signed by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Trump’s defense attorneys, also bars Trump from intimidating co-defendants, witnesses or victims in the case — including on social media.

He is also prohibited from communicating “in any way, directly or indirectly” about the facts of the case with any co-defendant or witness, except through attorneys.

Trump was charged last week in the case alongside 18 allies who prosecutors say conspired to subvert the will of voters in a desperate bid to keep the Republican in the White House after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing. He has been railing against the case since before he was indicted and singled out Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican who rebuffed his efforts to overturn the election, by name in a social media post as recently as Monday morning.

Willis has already set a deadline of noon Friday for all the defendants to turn themselves in at the Fulton County Jail to be booked. She has proposed that arraignments for the defendants happen the week of Sept. 5 and that the case go to trial in March.

It’s the fourth criminal case against the former president who is campaigning to reclaim the White House in 2024.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680634182015.png" alt="File photo-The bond agreement, outlined in a court filing signed by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Trump’s defense attorneys, also bars Trump from intimidating co-defendants, witnesses or victims in the case — including on social media.. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)" />
 <figcaption>File photo-The bond agreement, outlined in a court filing signed by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Trump’s defense attorneys, also bars Trump from intimidating co-defendants, witnesses or victims in the case — including on social media.. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) —Donald Trump’s bond has been set at $200,000 in the Georgia case accusing the former president of scheming to overturn his 2020 election loss, according to court papers filed Monday.<a href="https://fm.cnbc.com/applications/cnbc.com/resources/editorialfiles/2023/08/14/23SC188947_-_CRIMINAL_INDICTMENT.pdf">Click here to read the full</a>&nbsp;indictment in GeorgiaThe bond agreement, outlined in a court filing signed by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Trump’s defense attorneys, also bars Trump from intimidating co-defendants, witnesses or victims in the case — including on social media.He is also prohibited from communicating “in any way, directly or indirectly” about the facts of the case with any co-defendant or witness, except through attorneys.Trump was charged last week in the case alongside 18 allies who prosecutors say conspired to subvert the will of voters in a desperate bid to keep the Republican in the White House after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.Trump has denied any wrongdoing. He has been railing against the case since before he was indicted and singled out Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican who rebuffed his efforts to overturn the election, by name in a social media post as recently as Monday morning.Willis has already set a deadline of noon Friday for all the defendants to turn themselves in at the Fulton County Jail to be booked. She has proposed that arraignments for the defendants happen the week of Sept. 5 and that the case go to trial in March.It’s the fourth criminal case against the former president who is campaigning to reclaim the White House in 2024.

Donald Trump’s bond is set at $200,000 in Georgia case

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen has announced the membership of a new working group that will examine workforce issues in Nebraska.

“In Nebraska, we are facing a workforce shortage. Our unemployment rate remains among the lowest in the nation, creating a unique challenge for attracting great people to our state,” said Gov. Pillen. “No industry is exempt from current shortages. We need to solve this problem if we are to continue growing Nebraska.”

University of Nebraska President Ted Carter, who will serve as a representative on the working group said he looked forward to brainstorming with the other participants and identifying effective solutions.

“I look forward to partnering with the Governor and this working group to find creative solutions to fix our growing workforce shortage in Nebraska. It will take all partners involved to come up with innovative ideas to grow our state’s workforce. The University of Nebraska and all of higher education will be key players in this effort.”

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen has announced the membership of a new working group that will examine workforce issues in Nebraska.“In Nebraska, we are facing a workforce shortage. Our unemployment rate remains among the lowest in the nation, creating a unique challenge for attracting great people to our state,” said Gov. Pillen. “No industry is exempt from current shortages. We need to solve this problem if we are to continue growing Nebraska.”Group participants include:<ul>
 <li>Governor Jim Pillen, Chair</li><li>Members of Gov. Pillen’s Policy &amp; Research &amp; Budget teams</li><li>Nebraska Department of Economic Development Director K.C. Belitz</li><li>Senator Kathleen Kauth, District 31</li><li>Senator Lou Ann Linehan, District 39</li><li>Senator Tom Briese, District 41</li><li>Bryan Health</li><li>Buildertrend</li><li>Chief Industries</li><li>Concordia University, Nebraska</li><li>First National Bank of Omaha</li><li>Lincoln Chamber of Commerce</li><li>Lincoln Public Schools</li><li>Metropolitan Community College</li><li>Mutual of Omaha</li><li>Nebraska Community College Association</li><li>Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce</li><li>Omaha Chamber of Commerce</li><li>Physicians Mutual</li><li>ruralMed Health Cooperative</li><li>Nebraska State College System&nbsp;</li><li>Union Pacific</li><li>University of Nebraska</li>
 </ul>University of Nebraska President Ted Carter, who will serve as a representative on the working group said he looked forward to brainstorming with the other participants and identifying effective solutions.“I look forward to partnering with the Governor and this working group to find creative solutions to fix our growing workforce shortage in Nebraska. It will take all partners involved to come up with innovative ideas to grow our state’s workforce. The University of Nebraska and all of higher education will be key players in this effort.”

Governor Pillen Announces Workforce Working Group

By JENNIFER SHUTT&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund is in desperate need of cash, with the agency projecting at least a $4 billion deficit in the weeks ahead — even as the government responds to devastating fires in Hawaii and hurricane season continues.

FEMA, however, won’t simply stop the response and recovery activities funded by the disaster relief fund when the account’s balance becomes low. Unlike many other accounts within the federal government, FEMA is able to pause funding on some projects and divert that money to lifesaving and life-sustaining activities.

FEMA is preparing to lean on that Immediate Needs Funding safety net, as Congress debates whether to provide the agency with $12 billion in additional funding that the Biden administration&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-asks-congress-40b-ukraine-aid-us-disaster-response-border-security">asked&nbsp;</a>for last week, with the prospect that more may be needed hinted at by the agency’s administrator.

That back-up plan of sorts allows FEMA to temporarily pause “funding for long-term recovery projects and hazard mitigation projects that FEMA does not have in its system,” according to a Congressional Research Service&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R45484">report</a>.

“These INF restrictions do not affect individual assistance, or public assistance programs that reimburse emergency response work and protective measures carried out by state and local authorities,” according to CRS.

FEMA used that Immediate Needs Funding back in August 2017 after Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas and Hurricane Irma began approaching the coast.

FEMA implemented immediate needs after the disaster relief fund’s balance dropped below $2.8 billion. The agency lifted the framework on Oct. 2, 2017 after Congress refilled the disaster relief fund, according to CRS.

FEMA also used immediate needs funding to help with low cash flow in the disaster relief fund during fiscal years 2003 through 2006 and in fiscal 2010, according to CRS.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/fema-disaster-relief-fund-faces-august-shortfall-feds-scramble-find-cash">warned Congress last month</a>&nbsp;that the agency’s disaster relief fund would begin running a deficit as soon as August. That hearing came before several new disaster declarations, including one for the deadly wildfires in Hawaii.

Criswell said during a briefing from the White House on Wednesday that FEMA has “enough funding to support the ongoing response efforts because we take events like (the wildfires on Maui) into consideration.”

But, she said, if FEMA doesn’t receive more funding from Congress, the agency would have to delay “some of the recovery projects and push them into next year.”

Given the widespread destruction of the Hawaii wildfires as well as dozens of other natural disasters this year, Criswell said, the agency may need more than the $12 billion the Biden administration has requested from Congress.

“We may potentially need more beyond that, and my team is assessing that now,” Criswell said.

A FEMA spokesperson said in a statement Wednesday that once the disaster relief fund reaches a “critical threshold,” FEMA will begin using its Immediate Needs Funding guidance “to prioritize available funding to critical ongoing disaster operations and reserve funding for initial response and recovery activities for a new significant event.”

“Under INF, new obligations for non-lifesaving and life-sustaining activities would be paused until the DRF is sufficiently funded,” the spokesperson said. “This would allow FEMA to continue its focus on response and urgent recovery efforts without interruption. To be clear, all obligations will be met, but reimbursement for non-lifesaving or life-sustaining expenses will be delayed.”

The spokesperson said that FEMA plans to “work with stakeholders to communicate how INF may affect their projects.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692384564424.png" alt="FEMA officials working on Maui last week -photo Dept. of Defense" />
 <figcaption>FEMA officials working on Maui last week -photo Dept. of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>By JENNIFER SHUTT&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund is in desperate need of cash, with the agency projecting at least a $4 billion deficit in the weeks ahead — even as the government responds to devastating fires in Hawaii and hurricane season continues.FEMA, however, won’t simply stop the response and recovery activities funded by the disaster relief fund when the account’s balance becomes low. Unlike many other accounts within the federal government, FEMA is able to pause funding on some projects and divert that money to lifesaving and life-sustaining activities.FEMA is preparing to lean on that Immediate Needs Funding safety net, as Congress debates whether to provide the agency with $12 billion in additional funding that the Biden administration&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-asks-congress-40b-ukraine-aid-us-disaster-response-border-security">asked&nbsp;</a>for last week, with the prospect that more may be needed hinted at by the agency’s administrator.That back-up plan of sorts allows FEMA to temporarily pause “funding for long-term recovery projects and hazard mitigation projects that FEMA does not have in its system,” according to a Congressional Research Service&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R45484">report</a>.“These INF restrictions do not affect individual assistance, or public assistance programs that reimburse emergency response work and protective measures carried out by state and local authorities,” according to CRS.FEMA used that Immediate Needs Funding back in August 2017 after Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas and Hurricane Irma began approaching the coast.FEMA implemented immediate needs after the disaster relief fund’s balance dropped below $2.8 billion. The agency lifted the framework on Oct. 2, 2017 after Congress refilled the disaster relief fund, according to CRS.FEMA also used immediate needs funding to help with low cash flow in the disaster relief fund during fiscal years 2003 through 2006 and in fiscal 2010, according to CRS.<h2>Warning to Congress</h2>FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/fema-disaster-relief-fund-faces-august-shortfall-feds-scramble-find-cash">warned Congress last month</a>&nbsp;that the agency’s disaster relief fund would begin running a deficit as soon as August. That hearing came before several new disaster declarations, including one for the deadly wildfires in Hawaii.Criswell said during a briefing from the White House on Wednesday that FEMA has “enough funding to support the ongoing response efforts because we take events like (the wildfires on Maui) into consideration.”But, she said, if FEMA doesn’t receive more funding from Congress, the agency would have to delay “some of the recovery projects and push them into next year.”Given the widespread destruction of the Hawaii wildfires as well as dozens of other natural disasters this year, Criswell said, the agency may need more than the $12 billion the Biden administration has requested from Congress.“We may potentially need more beyond that, and my team is assessing that now,” Criswell said.A FEMA spokesperson said in a statement Wednesday that once the disaster relief fund reaches a “critical threshold,” FEMA will begin using its Immediate Needs Funding guidance “to prioritize available funding to critical ongoing disaster operations and reserve funding for initial response and recovery activities for a new significant event.”“Under INF, new obligations for non-lifesaving and life-sustaining activities would be paused until the DRF is sufficiently funded,” the spokesperson said. “This would allow FEMA to continue its focus on response and urgent recovery efforts without interruption. To be clear, all obligations will be met, but reimbursement for non-lifesaving or life-sustaining expenses will be delayed.”The spokesperson said that FEMA plans to “work with stakeholders to communicate how INF may affect their projects.”

FEMA’s disaster relief fund is running low on cash. What happens now?

Diplomas were conferred on more than 100 University of Nebraska Medical Center students on Aug. 11.&nbsp;

The following is a list of graduates from the UNMC College of Nursing, College of Allied Health Professions, College of Public Health and UNMC Graduate Studies organized by college, degree, and hometown.

COLLEGE OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS Bachelor of Science Andalusia, AL -- Nathaniel DeMay Gilbert, AZ -- Sara Sanders Miami, FL -- Anthony Musolino Niceville, FL -- Alec Stanton Cedar Lake, IN -- Bridget DeVries Columbia, MD -- Patrick McHale Fayetteville, NC -- Nikolai Mashtalov Wintersville, OH -- James Gorrell Memphis, TN -- Taylor Osborne Smyrna, TN -- Toni Lamberti Floresville, TX -- Alexandria Hendrix Portsmouth, VA -- Alexis Marshall La Crosse, WI -- Shane Sletten

Bachelor of Science in Medical Imaging &amp; Therapeutic Science Omaha -- Skyler Uher Phillips -- Brittany Roberts

Fort Morgan, CO -- Cassandra Miranda Shenandoah, IA -- Kealey Anderson Moline, IL -- Madison McCloud McPherson, KS -- Claire Yowell Lino Lakes, MN -- Sarah Davidson Cove, OR -- Lorissa Johnson Eugene, OR -- Breonna Bartlett

Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science Lincoln -- Azzat Aldake North Platte -- Chasity Diaz

Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Diagnostic Medical Sonography Farwell -- Hannah Koperski Grand Island -- Lydia Koubek Henderson -- Brooklyn Epp Holdrege -- Katelyn Keffeler Omaha -- Shireen Fadul

Cheyenne Wells, CO -- Kendra Noe Kennewick, WA -- Malia Nielsen

Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Radiation Therapy Falls City -- Ryan Keithley Omaha -- Diana Valadez

Clarksburg, MD -- Sana Sathyan Mosinee, WI -- Jacob Stoner

Master of Health Professions Teaching &amp; Technology Columbus -- Cody Bonk Kearney -- Leah Stade Omaha -- Kaitlin Dougherty

Master of Physician Assistant Studies Oceanside, CA -- Kenneth Rivera Riverside, CA -- Jonathan Lane Colorado Springs, CO -- Brandon Klinger Vero Beach, FL -- Blake Bartholomew Columbus, GA -- Craig Hull, Jr. Ladd, IL -- Collin Bezely Las Vegas, NV -- Steven Fitzen Lebanon, OR -- Hailie Van Hoosen Franklin, TN -- Demetre Harris San Antonio, TX -- Olakunle Ologun Chesterfield, VA -- Anroux Mey Reston, VA -- Timothy Teh

COLLEGE OF NURSING Bachelor of Science in Nursing Alliance -- Nicole Dunovsky Broken Bow -- Jordyn Anderson Clay Center -- Joan Meese Clearwater -- Cassidy Steskal Lincoln -- Staci Hattan Saint Paul -- Kendra Hovland Stromsburg -- Emily Noyd

COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH Certificate in Public Health Bethel, AK -- Brian Lefferts Williamsburg, VA -- Kristen Tolj

Master of Public Health Bellevue -- Austin Osborn Lincoln -- Falah Rashoka Norfolk -- Sara Reyes Omaha -- Bridget Claborn, Carley Cortez, Andrew Schissel Shelby -- Alyssa Wessling

Arvada, CO -- Delaney Holland Greeley, CO -- Carter Vogel Glastonbury, CT -- James Buckley Sarasota, FL -- Jamey Paul Johnston, IA -- Lissa Young Northfield, IL -- Alison Matthews Chicago, IL -- Oluwatosin Soyege

Lesotho -- Reitumetse Setai India -- Mathews Thampi

GRADUATE COLLEGE Post Baccalaureate Professional Certificate in Health Professions Teaching &amp; Technology India -- Mohit Mohit

Master of Healthcare Delivery Science Lincoln -- Alexa Dinneen McCook -- Kaylee Wiemers

Master of Health Professions Teaching &amp; Technology Scottsbluff -- Darren Wells

Master of Science Omaha -- Paul Garcia, Anupam Kotwal Hastings -- Sarah Truong McCook -- Ethan Wilcox

Doctor of Philosophy Aurora -- Nathan Hatch Omaha -- Nicholas Mullen, Sachi Verma

Ewa Beach, HI -- Kirsten Antonio-Tolentino Bartlett, IL -- Megan Harper Chesterton, IN -- Susan Solmos Albuquerque, NM -- Jordan DeBrine Richmond, VA -- Sean Kinahan

Bangladesh -- Md Shafikur Rahman China -- Yunfan Kong, Ruiqian Wu India -- Neha Chaudhary, Suhita Ray, Sridhar Vemulapalli Nepal -- Rashmi Lamsal Saudi Arabia -- Khalid Alshehri

Diplomas were conferred on more than 100 University of Nebraska Medical Center students on Aug. 11.&nbsp;The following is a list of graduates from the UNMC College of Nursing, College of Allied Health Professions, College of Public Health and UNMC Graduate Studies organized by college, degree, and hometown.COLLEGE OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS Bachelor of Science Andalusia, AL -- Nathaniel DeMay Gilbert, AZ -- Sara Sanders Miami, FL -- Anthony Musolino Niceville, FL -- Alec Stanton Cedar Lake, IN -- Bridget DeVries Columbia, MD -- Patrick McHale Fayetteville, NC -- Nikolai Mashtalov Wintersville, OH -- James Gorrell Memphis, TN -- Taylor Osborne Smyrna, TN -- Toni Lamberti Floresville, TX -- Alexandria Hendrix Portsmouth, VA -- Alexis Marshall La Crosse, WI -- Shane SlettenBachelor of Science in Medical Imaging &amp; Therapeutic Science Omaha -- Skyler Uher Phillips -- Brittany RobertsFort Morgan, CO -- Cassandra Miranda Shenandoah, IA -- Kealey Anderson Moline, IL -- Madison McCloud McPherson, KS -- Claire Yowell Lino Lakes, MN -- Sarah Davidson Cove, OR -- Lorissa Johnson Eugene, OR -- Breonna BartlettBachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science Lincoln -- Azzat Aldake North Platte -- Chasity DiazPost Baccalaureate Certificate in Diagnostic Medical Sonography Farwell -- Hannah Koperski Grand Island -- Lydia Koubek Henderson -- Brooklyn Epp Holdrege -- Katelyn Keffeler Omaha -- Shireen FadulCheyenne Wells, CO -- Kendra Noe Kennewick, WA -- Malia NielsenPost Baccalaureate Certificate in Radiation Therapy Falls City -- Ryan Keithley Omaha -- Diana ValadezClarksburg, MD -- Sana Sathyan Mosinee, WI -- Jacob StonerMaster of Health Professions Teaching &amp; Technology Columbus -- Cody Bonk Kearney -- Leah Stade Omaha -- Kaitlin DoughertyNorth Liberty, IA -- Emily HeithoffMaster of Physician Assistant Studies Oceanside, CA -- Kenneth Rivera Riverside, CA -- Jonathan Lane Colorado Springs, CO -- Brandon Klinger Vero Beach, FL -- Blake Bartholomew Columbus, GA -- Craig Hull, Jr. Ladd, IL -- Collin Bezely Las Vegas, NV -- Steven Fitzen Lebanon, OR -- Hailie Van Hoosen Franklin, TN -- Demetre Harris San Antonio, TX -- Olakunle Ologun Chesterfield, VA -- Anroux Mey Reston, VA -- Timothy TehNigeria -- David OwunnaCOLLEGE OF NURSING Bachelor of Science in Nursing Alliance -- Nicole Dunovsky Broken Bow -- Jordyn Anderson Clay Center -- Joan Meese Clearwater -- Cassidy Steskal Lincoln -- Staci Hattan Saint Paul -- Kendra Hovland Stromsburg -- Emily NoydCOLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH Certificate in Public Health Bethel, AK -- Brian Lefferts Williamsburg, VA -- Kristen ToljJamaica -- Toni-Marie HudsonMaster of Public Health Bellevue -- Austin Osborn Lincoln -- Falah Rashoka Norfolk -- Sara Reyes Omaha -- Bridget Claborn, Carley Cortez, Andrew Schissel Shelby -- Alyssa WesslingArvada, CO -- Delaney Holland Greeley, CO -- Carter Vogel Glastonbury, CT -- James Buckley Sarasota, FL -- Jamey Paul Johnston, IA -- Lissa Young Northfield, IL -- Alison Matthews Chicago, IL -- Oluwatosin SoyegeLesotho -- Reitumetse Setai India -- Mathews ThampiGRADUATE COLLEGE Post Baccalaureate Professional Certificate in Health Professions Teaching &amp; Technology India -- Mohit MohitMaster of Healthcare Delivery Science Lincoln -- Alexa Dinneen McCook -- Kaylee WiemersMissouri Valley, IA -- Shelby MartensMaster of Health Professions Teaching &amp; Technology Scottsbluff -- Darren WellsMaster of Science Omaha -- Paul Garcia, Anupam Kotwal Hastings -- Sarah Truong McCook -- Ethan WilcoxNorth Sioux City, SD -- Benjamin KennedyDoctor of Philosophy Aurora -- Nathan Hatch Omaha -- Nicholas Mullen, Sachi VermaEwa Beach, HI -- Kirsten Antonio-Tolentino Bartlett, IL -- Megan Harper Chesterton, IN -- Susan Solmos Albuquerque, NM -- Jordan DeBrine Richmond, VA -- Sean KinahanBangladesh -- Md Shafikur Rahman China -- Yunfan Kong, Ruiqian Wu India -- Neha Chaudhary, Suhita Ray, Sridhar Vemulapalli Nepal -- Rashmi Lamsal Saudi Arabia -- Khalid Alshehri

UNMC confers more than 100 degrees during summer commencement

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/21/officials-say-existing-state-law-likely-protects-nebraskas-ample-groundwater-from-raids-by-parched-western-states/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

KEARNEY — Nebraska’s ample groundwater resources, highlighted by the vast reserves under the Sandhills, are the envy of the nation, particularly to parched western states.

But participants at a recent agriculture and economic summit were told that it’s likely that a state law governing transfer of groundwater out of Nebraska would block such transfers to water-challenged states such as Arizona or Colorado.

Applicants would have to hurdle what was described as a “gauntlet” of seven conditions set out in state law — including whether it’s in the public interest of Nebraska — to win approval of such a transfer.

And the state official who would decide whether such a transfer could happen, Tom Riley, the state’s director of natural resources, said he doubts that could happen.

“It would be pretty hard to say it’s in the public interest to tap into the Ogallala Aquifer and move it out of state,” Riley said.

Riley was the moderator for a panel discussion focused on Nebraska water law at the Aug. 9 Ag and Economic Summit hosted by Gov. Jim Pillen in Kearney.

During the session, he posed a question to the three panelists about the potential for interstate transfer of groundwater.

Riley said he gets “a lot” of questions about the availability of Nebraska’s groundwater to solve water shortages in other states. Plus, he said, there’s been some talk of trying to pipe water from the Missouri or Mississippi rivers westward to resolve water shortages in the Colorado River Basin, western Kansas and elsewhere.

Nebraska’s groundwater resources are the envy of the nation, Riley said. While reserves in the Ogallala Aquifer in many other states have declined, Nebraska’s resources have remained mostly stable.

Those on the water law panel, which included attorneys Don Blankenau and Steve Mossman, said they doubted whether another state could satisfy “the gauntlet” of requirements in Nebraska to win permission for such a transfer of groundwater.

Mossman added that “there’s no director in the state” who would ever approving such a transfer, due to the politics of such a decision.

A bill was introduced in the Nebraska Legislature this spring, Legislative Bill 241, to ban such transfers, unless they were within 10 miles of the state border or to satisfy a water compact with another state.

State Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, who introduced LB 241, said his bill was designed to block western states with “ill intent” that were suffering “a mega-drought” from tapping into Nebraska’s groundwater and pumping it out of state.

“Nebraska’s water ought to be used by Nebraskans,” he said on Friday.

He said he included a 10-mile limit in his bill so that farmers working land on both sides of the state border could, if they needed to, transfer water across the border to fields close by in other states.

But LB 241 didn’t advance out of the Legislature’s Natural Resources Committee amid some concerns that its restrictions went too far, and might violate the federal commerce clause.

Regardless, the proposal drew a wave of support from farmers and representatives of the Nebraska Cattlemen and Nebraska Farm Bureau who testified that Nebraska’s water deserved protection.

“Our policy at Nebraska Farm Bureau is very clear that we oppose any such water transfer, whether it was 10 feet or 10 miles in order to protect our resources,” testified Bruce Rieker of the Farm Bureau at the Jan. 26 public hearing on the bill.

Briese said he may try to rework LB 241 for the 2024 session, but wasn’t optimistic.

Those on the panel at Kearney said that current Nebraska law, first adopted in the 1980s, should protect the state.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692627328075.jpeg" alt=" The dry bed of the Arkansas River near the Santa Fe Trail crossing at Cimarron, Kansas. The Ogallala Aquifer groundwater levels in much of western Kansas started dropping in the 1950s as pumping increased, according to the Kansas Geological Survey. (Courtesy of Max McCoy)" />
 <figcaption> The dry bed of the Arkansas River near the Santa Fe Trail crossing at Cimarron, Kansas. The Ogallala Aquifer groundwater levels in much of western Kansas started dropping in the 1950s as pumping increased, according to the Kansas Geological Survey. (Courtesy of Max McCoy)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/21/officials-say-existing-state-law-likely-protects-nebraskas-ample-groundwater-from-raids-by-parched-western-states/">Nebraska Examiner</a>KEARNEY — Nebraska’s ample groundwater resources, highlighted by the vast reserves under the Sandhills, are the envy of the nation, particularly to parched western states.But participants at a recent agriculture and economic summit were told that it’s likely that a state law governing transfer of groundwater out of Nebraska would block such transfers to water-challenged states such as Arizona or Colorado.Applicants would have to hurdle what was described as a “gauntlet” of seven conditions set out in state law — including whether it’s in the public interest of Nebraska — to win approval of such a transfer.And the state official who would decide whether such a transfer could happen, Tom Riley, the state’s director of natural resources, said he doubts that could happen.“It would be pretty hard to say it’s in the public interest to tap into the Ogallala Aquifer and move it out of state,” Riley said.<h2>Panel discussion</h2>Riley was the moderator for a panel discussion focused on Nebraska water law at the Aug. 9 Ag and Economic Summit hosted by Gov. Jim Pillen in Kearney.During the session, he posed a question to the three panelists about the potential for interstate transfer of groundwater.Riley said he gets “a lot” of questions about the availability of Nebraska’s groundwater to solve water shortages in other states. Plus, he said, there’s been some talk of trying to pipe water from the Missouri or Mississippi rivers westward to resolve water shortages in the Colorado River Basin, western Kansas and elsewhere.Nebraska’s groundwater resources are the envy of the nation, Riley said. While reserves in the Ogallala Aquifer in many other states have declined, Nebraska’s resources have remained mostly stable.“We’re in a good spot,” he said.Those on the water law panel, which included attorneys Don Blankenau and Steve Mossman, said they doubted whether another state could satisfy “the gauntlet” of requirements in Nebraska to win permission for such a transfer of groundwater.Mossman added that “there’s no director in the state” who would ever approving such a transfer, due to the politics of such a decision.A bill was introduced in the Nebraska Legislature this spring, Legislative Bill 241, to ban such transfers, unless they were within 10 miles of the state border or to satisfy a water compact with another state.<h2>Bill designed to block ‘ill intent’</h2>State Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, who introduced LB 241, said his bill was designed to block western states with “ill intent” that were suffering “a mega-drought” from tapping into Nebraska’s groundwater and pumping it out of state.“Nebraska’s water ought to be used by Nebraskans,” he said on Friday.He said he included a 10-mile limit in his bill so that farmers working land on both sides of the state border could, if they needed to, transfer water across the border to fields close by in other states.But LB 241 didn’t advance out of the Legislature’s Natural Resources Committee amid some concerns that its restrictions went too far, and might violate the federal commerce clause.Regardless, the proposal drew a wave of support from farmers and representatives of the Nebraska Cattlemen and Nebraska Farm Bureau who testified that Nebraska’s water deserved protection.“Our policy at Nebraska Farm Bureau is very clear that we oppose any such water transfer, whether it was 10 feet or 10 miles in order to protect our resources,” testified Bruce Rieker of the Farm Bureau at the Jan. 26 public hearing on the bill.Briese said he may try to rework LB 241 for the 2024 session, but wasn’t optimistic.Those on the panel at Kearney said that current Nebraska law, first adopted in the 1980s, should protect the state.

Officials say state law likely protects Nebraska groundwater from raids by parched western states

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen and Nebraska National Guard Adjutant General Craig Strong will travel to Texas on Monday, Aug. 21 to visit with Nebraska Army National Guard soldiers supporting efforts to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.

Gov. Pillen and AG Strong will visit the 61deployed soldiers who left on Aug. 2 on a month-long mission. The group is slated to return in early September.

In addition to visiting Nebraska troops, Gov. Pillen will join other Republican governors for a security briefing by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Gov. Pillen attended a similar briefing in May, also hosted by Gov. Abbott, prior to deploying 10 members of the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) to the southern border to assist with drone surveillance operations. Gov. Pillen will join that group of governors for a news conference at 2:00 p.m. (CT) in Eagle Pass, TX.

“This mission is critical to the security of Nebraskans as well as all Americans,” said Gov. Pillen. “I am look forward to visiting with our soldiers and observing their operations personally and sharing the state’s appreciation for their service as part of Operation Lone Star.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gov. Pillen’s deployment of state troopers and National Guard members is in response to a request from emergency management officials in Texas. Through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), member states can provide resources and assistance in times of emergency. Federal funds, directed through the Nebraska National Guard will cover costs associated with this deployment.

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen and Nebraska National Guard Adjutant General Craig Strong will travel to Texas on Monday, Aug. 21 to visit with Nebraska Army National Guard soldiers supporting efforts to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.Gov. Pillen and AG Strong will visit the 61deployed soldiers who left on Aug. 2 on a month-long mission. The group is slated to return in early September.In addition to visiting Nebraska troops, Gov. Pillen will join other Republican governors for a security briefing by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Gov. Pillen attended a similar briefing in May, also hosted by Gov. Abbott, prior to deploying 10 members of the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) to the southern border to assist with drone surveillance operations. Gov. Pillen will join that group of governors for a news conference at 2:00 p.m. (CT) in Eagle Pass, TX.“This mission is critical to the security of Nebraskans as well as all Americans,” said Gov. Pillen. “I am look forward to visiting with our soldiers and observing their operations personally and sharing the state’s appreciation for their service as part of Operation Lone Star.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Gov. Pillen’s deployment of state troopers and National Guard members is in response to a request from emergency management officials in Texas. Through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), member states can provide resources and assistance in times of emergency. Federal funds, directed through the Nebraska National Guard will cover costs associated with this deployment.

Gov. Pillen to Visit Nebraska National Guard Soldiers at the U.S.-Mexico Border

NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Former President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;confirmed Sunday that he will be skipping Wednesday's first Republican presidential primary debate — and others as well.

“The public knows who I am &amp; what a successful Presidency I had,” Trump wrote on his social media site. "I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!" His spokesman did not immediately clarify whether he plans to boycott every primary debate or just those that have currently been scheduled.

The former president and early GOP frontrunner&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2024-republican-presidential-debates-e674cab77b1b37e29dcb834563c9b981">had said for months</a>&nbsp;that he saw little upside in joining his GOP rivals on stage when they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republicans-debate-2024-president-august-6cc406eb00c72835f4f59acb30d71e95">gather for the first time</a>&nbsp;in Milwaukee Wednesday, given his commanding lead in the race. And he had made clear to those he had spoken to in recent days that his opinion had not changed.

“Why would I allow people at 1 or 2% and 0% to be hitting me with questions all night?” he said in an interview in June with Fox News host Bret Baier, who will be serving as a moderator. Trump has also repeatedly criticized Fox, the host of the Aug. 23 primetime event, insisting it is a “hostile network” that he believes will not treat him fairly.

Trump had been discussing a number of debate counterprogramming options, including sitting for an interview with ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who has been hosting a show on the website formerly known as Twitter. Carlson was spotted at Trump's Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club ahead of the announcement, according to a person familiar with the visit who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it. The New York Times reported Saturday the interview set to air Wednesday has already been taped.

“We cannot confirm or deny — stay tuned,” said Trump spokesman Steven Cheung.

The idea had been one of several alternatives Trump had floated in conversations in recent weeks. They included possibly showing up in Milwaukee at the last minute or attending but sitting in the audience and offering live commentary on his Truth Social site. He had also discussed potentially calling into different networks to draw viewers from the debate, or holding a rally instead.

The decision marks another chapter in Trump's ongoing feud with Fox, which was once a staunch defender, but is now perceived to be more favorable to his leading rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Fox executives and hosts had lobbied Trump to attend, both privately and on the network's airwaves. But Trump, according to a person close to him, was unswayed, believing executives would not have been wooing him if they weren’t concerned about their ratings.

A person familiar had said earlier Sunday that Trump and his team had not notified the Republican National Committee of his plans.

Meanwhile, Trump's rivals had been goading him to appear and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debate-republican-president-trump-pence-haley-desantis-d3192137ee265d8455ff8af64a5f88ef">preparing in the hopes that he might</a>, concerned that a no-show might make them appear like second-tier candidates and deny them the opportunity to land a knockout blow against the race's Goliath that could change the trajectory of the race.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, one of the few candidates willing to directly take on Trump, has been accusing the former president of lacking “the guts to show up" and calling him “a coward” if he doesn't.

A super PAC supporting DeSantis released an ad in which the narrator says: “We can’t afford a nominee who is too weak to debate.” And in a posting Sunday on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, DeSantis campaign spokesman Andrew Romeo said the Florida governor looked forward to sharing his vision Wednesday on what he'll do as president because “no one is entitled to this nomination, including Donald Trump. You have to show up and earn it."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691534237207.png" alt="The decision marks another chapter in Trump's ongoing feud with Fox,- File photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>The decision marks another chapter in Trump's ongoing feud with Fox,- File photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Former President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;confirmed Sunday that he will be skipping Wednesday's first Republican presidential primary debate — and others as well.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692582211518.png" alt="\" />
 <figcaption>\</figcaption>
 </figure>“The public knows who I am &amp; what a successful Presidency I had,” Trump wrote on his social media site. "I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!" His spokesman did not immediately clarify whether he plans to boycott every primary debate or just those that have currently been scheduled.The former president and early GOP frontrunner&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2024-republican-presidential-debates-e674cab77b1b37e29dcb834563c9b981">had said for months</a>&nbsp;that he saw little upside in joining his GOP rivals on stage when they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republicans-debate-2024-president-august-6cc406eb00c72835f4f59acb30d71e95">gather for the first time</a>&nbsp;in Milwaukee Wednesday, given his commanding lead in the race. And he had made clear to those he had spoken to in recent days that his opinion had not changed.“Why would I allow people at 1 or 2% and 0% to be hitting me with questions all night?” he said in an interview in June with Fox News host Bret Baier, who will be serving as a moderator. Trump has also repeatedly criticized Fox, the host of the Aug. 23 primetime event, insisting it is a “hostile network” that he believes will not treat him fairly.Trump had been discussing a number of debate counterprogramming options, including sitting for an interview with ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who has been hosting a show on the website formerly known as Twitter. Carlson was spotted at Trump's Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club ahead of the announcement, according to a person familiar with the visit who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it. The New York Times reported Saturday the interview set to air Wednesday has already been taped.“We cannot confirm or deny — stay tuned,” said Trump spokesman Steven Cheung.The idea had been one of several alternatives Trump had floated in conversations in recent weeks. They included possibly showing up in Milwaukee at the last minute or attending but sitting in the audience and offering live commentary on his Truth Social site. He had also discussed potentially calling into different networks to draw viewers from the debate, or holding a rally instead.The decision marks another chapter in Trump's ongoing feud with Fox, which was once a staunch defender, but is now perceived to be more favorable to his leading rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Fox executives and hosts had lobbied Trump to attend, both privately and on the network's airwaves. But Trump, according to a person close to him, was unswayed, believing executives would not have been wooing him if they weren’t concerned about their ratings.A person familiar had said earlier Sunday that Trump and his team had not notified the Republican National Committee of his plans.Meanwhile, Trump's rivals had been goading him to appear and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debate-republican-president-trump-pence-haley-desantis-d3192137ee265d8455ff8af64a5f88ef">preparing in the hopes that he might</a>, concerned that a no-show might make them appear like second-tier candidates and deny them the opportunity to land a knockout blow against the race's Goliath that could change the trajectory of the race.Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, one of the few candidates willing to directly take on Trump, has been accusing the former president of lacking “the guts to show up" and calling him “a coward” if he doesn't.A super PAC supporting DeSantis released an ad in which the narrator says: “We can’t afford a nominee who is too weak to debate.” And in a posting Sunday on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, DeSantis campaign spokesman Andrew Romeo said the Florida governor looked forward to sharing his vision Wednesday on what he'll do as president because “no one is entitled to this nomination, including Donald Trump. You have to show up and earn it."Trump has pushed back on the attacks, telling Newsmax’s Eric Bolling that he saw little benefit in participating when he’s already leading by a wide margin.“It's not a question of guts. It’s a question of intelligence,” he said.Trump has also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-republican-loyalty-pledge-gop-debate-a3d63a73ef60a2afb1f7aaec68a6d585#:~:text=Former%20President%20Donald%20Trump%20said,the%20conservative%20cable%20network%20Newsmax.">said</a>&nbsp;that he will not sign a pledge to support the eventual Republican nominee if he loses the nomination — a requirement set by the Republican National Committee for appearing on stage.“Why would I sign it?” he said. “I can name three or four people that I wouldn’t support for president. So right there, there’s a problem.”Nonetheless, his advisers insisted for weeks that he had yet to make a final decision, even as they acknowledged it was “pretty clear” from his public and private statements that he was unlikely to appear.It's not the first time Trump has chosen to skip a major GOP debate.During his 2016 campaign, Trump decided to forgo the final GOP primary face-off before the Iowa caucuses and instead held his own campaign event — a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/-----dbb273322fc740198cf06f3ffd83c678">flashy telethon-style gathering</a>&nbsp;in Iowa that was billed as a fundraiser for veterans.While the event earned him headlines and drew attention away from his rivals, Trump went on to lose the Iowa caucuses to Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas — a loss some former aides have blamed, at least in part, on his decision to skip the debate.In 2020, Trump pulled out of the second general election debate against now-President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;after the Commission on Presidential Debates, a nonpartisan group that has hosted general election debates for more than three decades, sought to make it virtual after Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-donald-trump-ap-top-news-elections-virus-outbreak-7fece2838ff7a9bd91ccf5ac287348b3">tested positive for COVID-19</a>. Trump refused, saying he would only debate on stage.Trump is not the only candidate who will likely be missing Wednesday's event. Several lesser-known rivals appear unlikely to reach the threshold set by the RNC to participate. To qualify, candidates must have received contributions from at least 40,000 individual donors, with at least 200 unique donors in 20 or more states. They also must poll at at least 1% in three designated national polls, or a mix of national and early-state polls, between July 1 and Aug. 21.Candidates who have met the qualifications include DeSantis, Christie, former vice president Mike Pence, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott.Beyond the fundraising and polling requirements, the RNC has said candidates must also sign the pledge agreeing to support the eventual party nominee as well as agreeing not to participate in any non-RNC sanctioned debate for the remainder of the election cycle. The RNC is boycotting events organized by the Commission for Presidential Debates, alleging bias.“I affirm that if I do not win the 2024 Republican nomination of President of the United States, I will honor the will of the primary voters and support the nominee in order to save our country and beat Joe Biden,” reads the pledge, according to a copy posted by DeSantis to the social media site X. Candidates also must pledge not to run as an independent, write-in candidate or third-party nominee.While several candidates, including Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson have taken issue with the requirement, former Texas Rep. Will Hurd so far is the only one who has said definitively that he will not sign the pledge because he refuses to support Trump if he becomes the eventual nominee. Christie has said he will sign whatever is needed to get him on the stage.In addition to voicing opposition to the loyalty pledge, Trump has suggested he is opposed to boycotting general election debates hosted by the Commission on Presidential Debates. “You have, really, an obligation to do that," he said in a radio interview this spring.