LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Hawaii officials worked painstakingly to identify the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/live-updates-maui-fire-hawaii-wildfire-162a9fcdefe648d6bcd6557af70d894f">99 people confirmed killed</a>&nbsp;in wildfires that ravaged Maui and expected to release the first names Tuesday, even as teams intensified the search for more dead in neighborhoods reduced to ash.

A week after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lahaina-maui-hawaii-wildfires-deaths-survivors-8a8bf7e4257c1cedaa161e4002b3e7fd">blaze tore through historic Lahaina</a>, many who survived have started moving into hundreds of hotel rooms set aside for displaced locals while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maui-wildfires-donation-explainer-c06fb5fba22f3878875a26ff6f15564a">donations</a>&nbsp;of food, ice, water and other essentials have poured in.

Crews using cadaver dogs have scoured about 25% of the search area, the police chief said Monday. Gov. Josh Green asked for patience and space to search properly as authorities became overwhelmed with requests to visit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ec6e573ffb19e9fed9a8123878a09a5e">the burn area</a>.

“For those people who have walked into Lahaina because they really wanted to see, know that they’re very likely walking on iwi,” he said at a news conference on Maui, using the Hawaiian word for “bones.”

Just three bodies have been identified so far and officials will start releasing names on Tuesday, according to Maui Police Chief John Pelletier, who renewed an appeal for families&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfire-victims-maui-lahaina-67cbaaed21545c1af0f6ee7c582322e3">with missing relatives</a>&nbsp;to provide DNA samples.

Green warned that scores more bodies could be found. The wildfires, some of which have not yet been fully contained, are already the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maui-deadliest-fires-us-history-507273968474a03bec332f42d10a018b">deadliest in the U.S.</a>&nbsp;in more than a century. Their cause was under investigation.

When asked Tuesday morning by Hawaii News Now if children are among the missing, Green said, “tragically, yes ... When the bodies are smaller, we know it's a child.”

He added that some of the sites being searched “are too much to share or see from just a human perspective.”

Another complicating factor, Green said, is that stormy weather is forecast for the weekend, prompting discussions on how to handle high winds. Officials are mulling whether to “preemptively power down or not for a short period of time, because right now all of the infrastructure is weaker.”

The local power utility&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfires-maui-electricity-power-utilities-c46a106db3c5019ac835ddcb01fde25f">has already faced criticism</a>&nbsp;for not shutting off power as strong winds buffeted a parched area under high risk for fire. It’s not clear whether the utility’s equipment played any role in igniting the flames.

Hawaiian Electric Co. Inc. President and CEO Shelee Kimura said many factors go into a decision to cut power, including the impact on people who rely on specialized medical equipment and concerns that shutting off power in the fire area would have knocked out water pumps.

Green has said the flames on Maui raced as fast as a mile (1.6 kilometers) every minute in one area, fueled by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfires-climate-change-92c0930be7c28ec9ac71392a83c87582">dry grass</a>&nbsp;and propelled by strong winds from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfire-maui-dora-winds-ec23c16abfbeb6ba689f1a98263720db">passing hurricane</a>.

And he was conflicted about the anticipated storm.

“I want the rain, ironically, but that’s why we’re racing right now to do all the recovery that we can, because winds or heavy rain in that disaster setting, which it’s showing right now, it will make it even harder to get the final determination of who we lost,” Green said.

Authorities have paused a system that had allowed Lahaina residents and others to visit devastated areas with police permits. Kevin Eliason said when he was turned away, the line of cars waiting to get a permit was at least 3 miles (5 kilometers) long.

“It’s a joke,” Eliason said. “It’s just crazy. They didn’t expect, probably, tens of thousands of people to show up there.”

The blaze that swept into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-hawaii-lahaina-historic-kindom-capital-396463f6eba6580bfc80d75538b0adf3">centuries-old Lahaina</a>&nbsp;last week destroyed nearly every building in the town of 13,000. That fire has been 85% contained, according to the county. Another blaze known as the Upcountry fire has been 65% contained.

Even where the fire has retreated, authorities have warned that toxic byproducts may remain, including in drinking water, after the flames&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfires-toxic-fumes-recovery-2a2e25c013c9fce39041718848028c3b">spewed poisonous fumes</a>. That has left many unable to return home.

The Red Cross said 575 evacuees were spread across five shelters on Monday, including the War Memorial Gymnasium in Wailuku. Green said thousands of people will need housing for at least 36 weeks. He said Tuesday that some 450 hotel rooms and 1,000 Airbnb rentals were becoming available.

“We want to get everyone out of all of the shelters by week's end,” he told Hawaii News Now.

President Joe Biden said Tuesday he and first lady Jill Biden will visit Hawaii “as soon as we can” to survey the damage. He said he doesn’t want his presence to interrupt recovery and cleanup efforts. During a stop in Milwaukee to highlight his economic agenda, Biden pledged that “every asset, every asset they need will be there for them.”

More than 3,000 people have registered for federal assistance, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and that number was expected to grow.

FEMA was providing $700 to displaced residents to cover the cost of food, water, first aid and medical supplies, in addition to qualifying coverage for the loss of homes and personal property.

The Biden administration was seeking $12 billion more for the government’s disaster relief fund as part of its supplemental funding request to Congress.

Green said “leaders all across the board” have helped by donating over a million pounds (454,000 kilograms) of food as well as ice, water, diapers and baby formula. U.S. Marines, the Hawaii National Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard have all joined the aid and recovery efforts.

“When people are hurting, the community steps up and takes care of each other," Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke said Monday.

As firefighters battled the flames last week, a flurry of court actions were lodged over water access.

Some state officials say there is not enough for firefighters in central Maui, and blame a recent ruling by an environmental judge. The ruling by Judge Jeffrey Crabtree did not directly affect water supplies to Lahaina, the attorney general's office said Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692131080149.png" alt="&nbsp;More than 190 search and rescue team members are working diligently across Maui to ensure the safety of all affected survivors.-photo FEMA" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;More than 190 search and rescue team members are working diligently across Maui to ensure the safety of all affected survivors.-photo FEMA</figcaption>
 </figure>LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Hawaii officials worked painstakingly to identify the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/live-updates-maui-fire-hawaii-wildfire-162a9fcdefe648d6bcd6557af70d894f">99 people confirmed killed</a>&nbsp;in wildfires that ravaged Maui and expected to release the first names Tuesday, even as teams intensified the search for more dead in neighborhoods reduced to ash.A week after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lahaina-maui-hawaii-wildfires-deaths-survivors-8a8bf7e4257c1cedaa161e4002b3e7fd">blaze tore through historic Lahaina</a>, many who survived have started moving into hundreds of hotel rooms set aside for displaced locals while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maui-wildfires-donation-explainer-c06fb5fba22f3878875a26ff6f15564a">donations</a>&nbsp;of food, ice, water and other essentials have poured in.Crews using cadaver dogs have scoured about 25% of the search area, the police chief said Monday. Gov. Josh Green asked for patience and space to search properly as authorities became overwhelmed with requests to visit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ec6e573ffb19e9fed9a8123878a09a5e">the burn area</a>.“For those people who have walked into Lahaina because they really wanted to see, know that they’re very likely walking on iwi,” he said at a news conference on Maui, using the Hawaiian word for “bones.”Just three bodies have been identified so far and officials will start releasing names on Tuesday, according to Maui Police Chief John Pelletier, who renewed an appeal for families&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfire-victims-maui-lahaina-67cbaaed21545c1af0f6ee7c582322e3">with missing relatives</a>&nbsp;to provide DNA samples.Green warned that scores more bodies could be found. The wildfires, some of which have not yet been fully contained, are already the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maui-deadliest-fires-us-history-507273968474a03bec332f42d10a018b">deadliest in the U.S.</a>&nbsp;in more than a century. Their cause was under investigation.When asked Tuesday morning by Hawaii News Now if children are among the missing, Green said, “tragically, yes ... When the bodies are smaller, we know it's a child.”He added that some of the sites being searched “are too much to share or see from just a human perspective.”Another complicating factor, Green said, is that stormy weather is forecast for the weekend, prompting discussions on how to handle high winds. Officials are mulling whether to “preemptively power down or not for a short period of time, because right now all of the infrastructure is weaker.”The local power utility&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfires-maui-electricity-power-utilities-c46a106db3c5019ac835ddcb01fde25f">has already faced criticism</a>&nbsp;for not shutting off power as strong winds buffeted a parched area under high risk for fire. It’s not clear whether the utility’s equipment played any role in igniting the flames.Hawaiian Electric Co. Inc. President and CEO Shelee Kimura said many factors go into a decision to cut power, including the impact on people who rely on specialized medical equipment and concerns that shutting off power in the fire area would have knocked out water pumps.Green has said the flames on Maui raced as fast as a mile (1.6 kilometers) every minute in one area, fueled by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfires-climate-change-92c0930be7c28ec9ac71392a83c87582">dry grass</a>&nbsp;and propelled by strong winds from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfire-maui-dora-winds-ec23c16abfbeb6ba689f1a98263720db">passing hurricane</a>.And he was conflicted about the anticipated storm.“I want the rain, ironically, but that’s why we’re racing right now to do all the recovery that we can, because winds or heavy rain in that disaster setting, which it’s showing right now, it will make it even harder to get the final determination of who we lost,” Green said.Authorities have paused a system that had allowed Lahaina residents and others to visit devastated areas with police permits. Kevin Eliason said when he was turned away, the line of cars waiting to get a permit was at least 3 miles (5 kilometers) long.“It’s a joke,” Eliason said. “It’s just crazy. They didn’t expect, probably, tens of thousands of people to show up there.”The blaze that swept into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-hawaii-lahaina-historic-kindom-capital-396463f6eba6580bfc80d75538b0adf3">centuries-old Lahaina</a>&nbsp;last week destroyed nearly every building in the town of 13,000. That fire has been 85% contained, according to the county. Another blaze known as the Upcountry fire has been 65% contained.Even where the fire has retreated, authorities have warned that toxic byproducts may remain, including in drinking water, after the flames&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfires-toxic-fumes-recovery-2a2e25c013c9fce39041718848028c3b">spewed poisonous fumes</a>. That has left many unable to return home.The Red Cross said 575 evacuees were spread across five shelters on Monday, including the War Memorial Gymnasium in Wailuku. Green said thousands of people will need housing for at least 36 weeks. He said Tuesday that some 450 hotel rooms and 1,000 Airbnb rentals were becoming available.“We want to get everyone out of all of the shelters by week's end,” he told Hawaii News Now.President Joe Biden said Tuesday he and first lady Jill Biden will visit Hawaii “as soon as we can” to survey the damage. He said he doesn’t want his presence to interrupt recovery and cleanup efforts. During a stop in Milwaukee to highlight his economic agenda, Biden pledged that “every asset, every asset they need will be there for them.”More than 3,000 people have registered for federal assistance, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and that number was expected to grow.FEMA was providing $700 to displaced residents to cover the cost of food, water, first aid and medical supplies, in addition to qualifying coverage for the loss of homes and personal property.The Biden administration was seeking $12 billion more for the government’s disaster relief fund as part of its supplemental funding request to Congress.Green said “leaders all across the board” have helped by donating over a million pounds (454,000 kilograms) of food as well as ice, water, diapers and baby formula. U.S. Marines, the Hawaii National Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard have all joined the aid and recovery efforts.“When people are hurting, the community steps up and takes care of each other," Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke said Monday.As firefighters battled the flames last week, a flurry of court actions were lodged over water access.Some state officials say there is not enough for firefighters in central Maui, and blame a recent ruling by an environmental judge. The ruling by Judge Jeffrey Crabtree did not directly affect water supplies to Lahaina, the attorney general's office said Monday.

Governor: Children among those lost to fires on Maui

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — HP has failed to shunt aside class-action legal claims that it disables the scanners on its multifunction printers when their ink runs low. Though not for lack of trying.

On Aug. 10, a federal judge ruled that HP Inc. must face a class-action lawsuit claiming that the company designs its “all-in-one” inkjet printers to disable scanning and faxing functions whenever a single printer ink cartridge runs low. The company had sought — for the second time — to dismiss the lawsuit on technical legal grounds.

“It is well-documented that ink is not required in order to scan or to fax a document, and it is certainly possible to manufacture an all-in-one printer that scans or faxes when the device is out of ink,” the plaintiffs&nbsp;<a href="https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov/doc1/035122824894">wrote in their complaint</a>. “Indeed, HP designs its all-in-one printer products so they will not work without ink. Yet HP does not disclose this fact to consumers.”

The lawsuit charges that HP deliberately withholds this information from consumers to boost profits from the sale of expensive ink cartridges.

Color printers require four ink cartridges -- one black and a set of three cartridges in cyan, magenta and yellow for producing colors. Some will also refuse to print if one of the color cartridges is low, even in black-and-white mode.

HP declined to comment on the issue, citing the pending litigation. The company’s court filings in the case have generally not addressed the substance of the plaintiff’s allegations.

In early 2022, U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman&nbsp;<a href="https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov/doc1/035122742272">dismissed the complaint</a>&nbsp;on legal grounds but did not address the lawsuit's claims. The judge allowed the plaintiffs to amend their claim and resubmit it. On Aug. 10, the judge largely rejected HP's request to dismiss the revised complaint, allowing the case to proceed.

All-in-one inkjet printers generally seem like a bargain compared to the cost of separate devices with scanning, copying and fax functions. For instance, HP currently sells its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/pdp/hp-officejet-pro-8034e-all-in-one-printer">all-in-one OfficeJet Pro 8034e</a>&nbsp;online for just $159. But its least expensive standalone scanner, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/pdp/hp-scanjet-pro-2000-s2-sheet-feed-scanner">ScanJet Pro s2</a>, lists for $369 — more than twice the cost of the multifunction printer.

Of course, only one of these devices requires printer ink. “Printer ink is wildly expensive,” Consumer Reports states in its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/printers/buying-guide/">current printer buying guide</a>, noting that consumer ink costs can easily run more than $70 a year.

Worse, a significant amount of ink is never actually used to print documents because it's consumed by printer maintenance cycles. In 2018, Consumer Reports tested hundreds of all-in-one inkjet printers and found that, when used intermittently, many models delivered&nbsp;<a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/printers/the-high-cost-of-wasted-printer-ink/">less than half of their ink to printed documents</a>. A few managed no more than 20% to 30%.

HP isn't alone in facing such legal complaints. A different set of plaintiffs sued the U.S. unit of printer and camera maker Canon Inc. in 2021 for similarly handicapping its all-in-one printers without disclosure. The parties&nbsp;<a href="https://ecf.nyed.uscourts.gov/doc1/123119481077">settled that case</a>&nbsp;in late 2022. Terms were not disclosed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692124742204.png" alt="The lawsuit charges that HP deliberately withholds this information from consumers to boost profits from the sale of expensive ink cartridges.-Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>The lawsuit charges that HP deliberately withholds this information from consumers to boost profits from the sale of expensive ink cartridges.-Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — HP has failed to shunt aside class-action legal claims that it disables the scanners on its multifunction printers when their ink runs low. Though not for lack of trying.On Aug. 10, a federal judge ruled that HP Inc. must face a class-action lawsuit claiming that the company designs its “all-in-one” inkjet printers to disable scanning and faxing functions whenever a single printer ink cartridge runs low. The company had sought — for the second time — to dismiss the lawsuit on technical legal grounds.“It is well-documented that ink is not required in order to scan or to fax a document, and it is certainly possible to manufacture an all-in-one printer that scans or faxes when the device is out of ink,” the plaintiffs&nbsp;<a href="https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov/doc1/035122824894">wrote in their complaint</a>. “Indeed, HP designs its all-in-one printer products so they will not work without ink. Yet HP does not disclose this fact to consumers.”The lawsuit charges that HP deliberately withholds this information from consumers to boost profits from the sale of expensive ink cartridges.Color printers require four ink cartridges -- one black and a set of three cartridges in cyan, magenta and yellow for producing colors. Some will also refuse to print if one of the color cartridges is low, even in black-and-white mode.HP declined to comment on the issue, citing the pending litigation. The company’s court filings in the case have generally not addressed the substance of the plaintiff’s allegations.In early 2022, U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman&nbsp;<a href="https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov/doc1/035122742272">dismissed the complaint</a>&nbsp;on legal grounds but did not address the lawsuit's claims. The judge allowed the plaintiffs to amend their claim and resubmit it. On Aug. 10, the judge largely rejected HP's request to dismiss the revised complaint, allowing the case to proceed.All-in-one inkjet printers generally seem like a bargain compared to the cost of separate devices with scanning, copying and fax functions. For instance, HP currently sells its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/pdp/hp-officejet-pro-8034e-all-in-one-printer">all-in-one OfficeJet Pro 8034e</a>&nbsp;online for just $159. But its least expensive standalone scanner, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/pdp/hp-scanjet-pro-2000-s2-sheet-feed-scanner">ScanJet Pro s2</a>, lists for $369 — more than twice the cost of the multifunction printer.Of course, only one of these devices requires printer ink. “Printer ink is wildly expensive,” Consumer Reports states in its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/printers/buying-guide/">current printer buying guide</a>, noting that consumer ink costs can easily run more than $70 a year.Worse, a significant amount of ink is never actually used to print documents because it's consumed by printer maintenance cycles. In 2018, Consumer Reports tested hundreds of all-in-one inkjet printers and found that, when used intermittently, many models delivered&nbsp;<a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/printers/the-high-cost-of-wasted-printer-ink/">less than half of their ink to printed documents</a>. A few managed no more than 20% to 30%.HP isn't alone in facing such legal complaints. A different set of plaintiffs sued the U.S. unit of printer and camera maker Canon Inc. in 2021 for similarly handicapping its all-in-one printers without disclosure. The parties&nbsp;<a href="https://ecf.nyed.uscourts.gov/doc1/123119481077">settled that case</a>&nbsp;in late 2022. Terms were not disclosed.

HP fails to derail claims it blocks scanners on multifunction printers when ink runs low

OMAHA, Neb. (August 14, 2023) – “Connecting Community with Opportunity” is the theme of the <a href="https://namsummit.swoogo.com/2023/">17th annual Nonprofit Summit of the Midlands</a> to be held Thursday, Nov. 2 at the Embassy Suites La Vista Hotel and Conference Center. Hosted by <a href="http://www.nonprofitam.org">the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM)</a>, the all-day Summit annually brings together more than 300 nonprofit executives, employees, board members and volunteers from Nebraska and Iowa.

Participants can register for the Summit by visiting <a href="https://namsummit.swoogo.com/2023/">https://namsummit.swoogo.com/2023/</a>.&nbsp;

“The Nonprofit Summit of the Midlands is an opportunity for our nonprofit community to come together to foster collaboration, connect with other nonprofit organizations and collectively drive positive change,” said NAM CEO Anne Hindery. “The Summit this year will explore nonprofit connections that we all can leverage to continue to support those in need across the Midlands.”

Tiffany Turner-Allen, the Executive Director of <a href="https://nonprofitpgc.org/author/nonprofitpgc/">Nonprofit Prince George’s County</a> in Maryland, will host a keynote presentation on workshop entitled “The Black Experience, The American Experiment: Uncovering Truth &amp; Healing for Impact in the Nonprofit Sector.” As a Black woman with more than a decade of experience in both national and local nonprofits, Turner-Allen brings a fresh perspective and innovative approach to racial equity work. Her discussion will provide suggestions for strategic solutions to the challenges of this ever-changing landscape.&nbsp;

The Summit also will feature presentations, breakout sessions and workshops on a variety of topics such as “Connecting Community with the Transfer of Wealth Opportunity,” presented by <a href="https://www.nebcommfound.org/">Nebraska Community Foundation;</a> “Neurodiversity: Understanding and Inclusion,” presented by <a href="https://autismaction.org/">Autism Action Partnership</a>; and “From Grant Review to Grant Writer: Develop Your Skills from the Other Side of the Table,” presented by <a href="https://omahafoundation.org/">Omaha Community Foundation</a>.&nbsp;

NAM also will present its annual Catalyst Award at the Summit, which recognizes an organization that has made an impact in the nonprofit community. Recent winners include Girl’s Inc. and Kids Can Community Center.&nbsp;

Attendees who register for the <a href="https://namsummit.swoogo.com/2023/">Nonprofit Summit of the Midlands</a> before Sept. 15 receive reduced admission.

About Nonprofit Association of the Midlands

Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM) strengthens the collective voice, leadership, and capacity of nonprofits to enrich the quality of community life throughout Nebraska and Western Iowa. With NAM’s growing base of nonprofits, the organization is committed to: enhancing public recognition of the importance and role of the nonprofit sector; providing access to high-quality assistance and information on effective nonprofit management and practices; advocating on issues that affect the capacity of all nonprofits to address their communities’ needs; and fostering communication and cooperation among nonprofits. NAM also is recognized as the State Association for Nebraska by the National Council of Nonprofits, the nation’s largest network of nonprofits.&nbsp;

OMAHA, Neb. (August 14, 2023) – “Connecting Community with Opportunity” is the theme of the <a href="https://namsummit.swoogo.com/2023/">17th annual Nonprofit Summit of the Midlands</a> to be held Thursday, Nov. 2 at the Embassy Suites La Vista Hotel and Conference Center. Hosted by <a href="http://www.nonprofitam.org">the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM)</a>, the all-day Summit annually brings together more than 300 nonprofit executives, employees, board members and volunteers from Nebraska and Iowa.Participants can register for the Summit by visiting <a href="https://namsummit.swoogo.com/2023/">https://namsummit.swoogo.com/2023/</a>.&nbsp;“The Nonprofit Summit of the Midlands is an opportunity for our nonprofit community to come together to foster collaboration, connect with other nonprofit organizations and collectively drive positive change,” said NAM CEO Anne Hindery. “The Summit this year will explore nonprofit connections that we all can leverage to continue to support those in need across the Midlands.”Tiffany Turner-Allen, the Executive Director of <a href="https://nonprofitpgc.org/author/nonprofitpgc/">Nonprofit Prince George’s County</a> in Maryland, will host a keynote presentation on workshop entitled “The Black Experience, The American Experiment: Uncovering Truth &amp; Healing for Impact in the Nonprofit Sector.” As a Black woman with more than a decade of experience in both national and local nonprofits, Turner-Allen brings a fresh perspective and innovative approach to racial equity work. Her discussion will provide suggestions for strategic solutions to the challenges of this ever-changing landscape.&nbsp;The Summit also will feature presentations, breakout sessions and workshops on a variety of topics such as “Connecting Community with the Transfer of Wealth Opportunity,” presented by <a href="https://www.nebcommfound.org/">Nebraska Community Foundation;</a> “Neurodiversity: Understanding and Inclusion,” presented by <a href="https://autismaction.org/">Autism Action Partnership</a>; and “From Grant Review to Grant Writer: Develop Your Skills from the Other Side of the Table,” presented by <a href="https://omahafoundation.org/">Omaha Community Foundation</a>.&nbsp;NAM also will present its annual Catalyst Award at the Summit, which recognizes an organization that has made an impact in the nonprofit community. Recent winners include Girl’s Inc. and Kids Can Community Center.&nbsp;Attendees who register for the <a href="https://namsummit.swoogo.com/2023/">Nonprofit Summit of the Midlands</a> before Sept. 15 receive reduced admission.About Nonprofit Association of the MidlandsNonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM) strengthens the collective voice, leadership, and capacity of nonprofits to enrich the quality of community life throughout Nebraska and Western Iowa. With NAM’s growing base of nonprofits, the organization is committed to: enhancing public recognition of the importance and role of the nonprofit sector; providing access to high-quality assistance and information on effective nonprofit management and practices; advocating on issues that affect the capacity of all nonprofits to address their communities’ needs; and fostering communication and cooperation among nonprofits. NAM also is recognized as the State Association for Nebraska by the National Council of Nonprofits, the nation’s largest network of nonprofits.&nbsp;

Connecting Community with Opportunity at NAM’s 17th Annual Nonprofit Summit of the Midlands

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — As children across the U.S. head back to classes and practices for fall sports, four more states are expecting their K-12 schools to keep transgender girls off their girls teams.

Kansas, North Dakota and Wyoming had new laws in place restricting transgender athletes before classes resumed, and a Missouri law takes effect at the end of this month,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-nonbinary-hormone-puberty-missouri-lawmakers-5a8922430ffab9e43cf9b7ce254bff9f">bringing the number of states with restrictions to 23</a>.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cooper-veto-north-carolina-transgender-lgbtq-743112742e4c96d3693a8d59cb317b2b">North Carolina</a>&nbsp;could enact a ban later this month, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-gender-care-ban-transgender-sports-52136dfab6b29cca547d7e97f0b7c715">Ohio could follow</a>&nbsp;in the fall. A few laws, including ones in Arizona and West Virginia, are on hold because of federal lawsuits.

This year's new restrictions are part of a larger wave of legislation across the U.S. against transgender rights. Republican legislators in some states have banned gender-affirming care for minors, restricted transgender people’s use of school and public restrooms, limited what public schools can teach about gender and sexuality and barred schools from requiring the use of a transgender student's preferred pronouns.

The sports laws have been imposed since 2020, and most are aimed at transgender girls. A majority cover less formal intramural contests organized within a single school’s student body as well as contests among different schools, and some restrict transgender boys as well. Almost all say other students and their parents can sue schools that don’t enforce the restrictions.

Lawmakers expect a child’s earliest birth certificate to determine which sports teams they can join. Principals and coaches are expected to be the enforcers.

“Those are uncomfortable conversations,” said Jeanne Woodbury, interim executive director of the LGBGT+ rights group Equality Arizona. “Everyone is going through that process.”

She added: “For trans kids, it’s never been a walk in the park, but now they have this law to contend with on top of everything else.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-college-football-united-states-gay-rights-5814b6365cf8f96b6be49e2d4b72616a">In Oklahoma</a>, where a law has been in place since 2022, athletes or their parents must file an annual affidavit “acknowledging the biological sex of the student at birth.”

Kansas and other states expect school officials to review a child’s earliest birth certificate if questions arise about an athlete’s eligibility.

Bill Faflick, executive director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association, said his state's law has been greeted by a “matter of fact” acceptance in rules seminars for administrators and coaches.

“It has not been met with any resistance and has not been met with any outpouring of support or opposition, one way or the other,” Faflick said.

Even before the laws against transgender girls on girls teams passed, some states largely blocked the practice by handling questions or concerns on a case-by-case level at the school or state athletic association level.

Supporters of the restrictions argue that they’re protecting fair competition and scholarship opportunities for young women that took decades to win. They say that well before puberty, boys have physical advantages over girls in speed, strength and lung capacity.

“It’s a puzzlement to me that more people aren’t feeling sympathy for the girls whose sports careers are ruined,” said Tom Horne, the elected Republican state school superintendent in Arizona, who is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-transgender-school-sports-law-injunction-2017dce4143c07ad5ff83f3a43639c72">defending his state’s law</a>&nbsp;in federal court.

Doctors, parents, and LGBTQ+ rights advocates counter that boys' physical advantages come with a surge in testosterone during puberty — changes gender-affirming care blocks.

Critics also argue that transgender athletes are so few that schools and associations governing school sports can handle their individual cases without a state law.

For example, in Kansas, the State High School Activities Association recorded 11 transgender athletes during the 2022-23 school year, and three were trans girls. Before Florida’s law took effect in 2021, its High School Athletic Association had cleared 13 transgender students to play in the previous eight years.

Becky Pepper-Jackson appeared to be the only transgender girl seeking to play girls’ sports in West Virginia in 2021 when the then-11-year-old and her mother, Heather Jackson, sued the state over its law.

Because of their lawsuit, the West Virginia law is on hold, and Becky, now a 13-year-old entering eighth grade, threw the discus and the shot put in seven track meets this spring.

The state is trying to persuade a federal appeals court to let it enforce its law, and in a filing last month, it cited the longer distances Becky threw this year as a reason. The state said any time another girl finished behind Becky in either event — more than 180 times — the other athlete had been unfairly “displaced.”

Jackson said the state knows her daughter only “on paper,” and Becky improved by training relentlessly at home with her own equipment.

“As a parent, all we want for our children is for them to be successful and happy, period,” Jackson told The Associated Press. “That should be an opportunity for everybody, every time, everywhere in this country.”

Educators and LGBTQ+ rights advocates argue that transgender kids aren’t the only athletes likely to feel the effects of the laws. Some worry that parents will challenge the right to play of cisgendered girls who are taller or more muscular than their peers — or just a whole lot better.

One of athletes who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-boise-state-university-idaho-education-9d31bbc245bbe0c66a3c88d2cc6a43be">sued Idaho</a>&nbsp;over its 2020 law was a 17-year-old cisgendered girl, listed only as Jane Doe. The lawsuit said she had an “athletic build" and wanted to avoid ”invasive or uncomfortable” gender tests.

“It’s going to create this feeling in some people that, ‘I can go question someone’s gender, and it’s my right to do that,’” said G.A. Buie, executive director of United School Administrators of Kansas, an association representing public school leaders.

Parents, doctors and LGBTQ+ rights advocates say restrictions on transgender athletes are less about sports and more about trying to make transgender kids disappear from society.

“What lawmakers fail to understand is that transgender people, nonbinary people, intersex people, have always been here,” said Anne Lieberman, policy and programs director for Athlete Ally, a group that advocates for transgender athletes. "Unless it is known that a student is trans, it is very hard to keep somebody from playing sports.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692007652976.png" alt="&nbsp;A flag supporting LGBTQ+ rights decorates a desk on the Democratic side of the Kansas House of Representatives during a debate, March 28, 2023, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Children are heading back to classes and fall sports practices, and four more states are expecting their K-12 schools to keep transgender girls off their girls sports teams. Kansas, North Dakota and Wyoming had new laws restricting transgender athletes in place before classes resumed, and a Missouri law takes effect at the end of this month. (AP Photo/John Hanna, File)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;A flag supporting LGBTQ+ rights decorates a desk on the Democratic side of the Kansas House of Representatives during a debate, March 28, 2023, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Children are heading back to classes and fall sports practices, and four more states are expecting their K-12 schools to keep transgender girls off their girls sports teams. Kansas, North Dakota and Wyoming had new laws restricting transgender athletes in place before classes resumed, and a Missouri law takes effect at the end of this month. (AP Photo/John Hanna, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — As children across the U.S. head back to classes and practices for fall sports, four more states are expecting their K-12 schools to keep transgender girls off their girls teams.Kansas, North Dakota and Wyoming had new laws in place restricting transgender athletes before classes resumed, and a Missouri law takes effect at the end of this month,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-nonbinary-hormone-puberty-missouri-lawmakers-5a8922430ffab9e43cf9b7ce254bff9f">bringing the number of states with restrictions to 23</a>.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cooper-veto-north-carolina-transgender-lgbtq-743112742e4c96d3693a8d59cb317b2b">North Carolina</a>&nbsp;could enact a ban later this month, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-gender-care-ban-transgender-sports-52136dfab6b29cca547d7e97f0b7c715">Ohio could follow</a>&nbsp;in the fall. A few laws, including ones in Arizona and West Virginia, are on hold because of federal lawsuits.This year's new restrictions are part of a larger wave of legislation across the U.S. against transgender rights. Republican legislators in some states have banned gender-affirming care for minors, restricted transgender people’s use of school and public restrooms, limited what public schools can teach about gender and sexuality and barred schools from requiring the use of a transgender student's preferred pronouns.The sports laws have been imposed since 2020, and most are aimed at transgender girls. A majority cover less formal intramural contests organized within a single school’s student body as well as contests among different schools, and some restrict transgender boys as well. Almost all say other students and their parents can sue schools that don’t enforce the restrictions.Lawmakers expect a child’s earliest birth certificate to determine which sports teams they can join. Principals and coaches are expected to be the enforcers.“Those are uncomfortable conversations,” said Jeanne Woodbury, interim executive director of the LGBGT+ rights group Equality Arizona. “Everyone is going through that process.”She added: “For trans kids, it’s never been a walk in the park, but now they have this law to contend with on top of everything else.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-college-football-united-states-gay-rights-5814b6365cf8f96b6be49e2d4b72616a">In Oklahoma</a>, where a law has been in place since 2022, athletes or their parents must file an annual affidavit “acknowledging the biological sex of the student at birth.”Kansas and other states expect school officials to review a child’s earliest birth certificate if questions arise about an athlete’s eligibility.Bill Faflick, executive director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association, said his state's law has been greeted by a “matter of fact” acceptance in rules seminars for administrators and coaches.“It has not been met with any resistance and has not been met with any outpouring of support or opposition, one way or the other,” Faflick said.Even before the laws against transgender girls on girls teams passed, some states largely blocked the practice by handling questions or concerns on a case-by-case level at the school or state athletic association level.Supporters of the restrictions argue that they’re protecting fair competition and scholarship opportunities for young women that took decades to win. They say that well before puberty, boys have physical advantages over girls in speed, strength and lung capacity.“It’s a puzzlement to me that more people aren’t feeling sympathy for the girls whose sports careers are ruined,” said Tom Horne, the elected Republican state school superintendent in Arizona, who is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-transgender-school-sports-law-injunction-2017dce4143c07ad5ff83f3a43639c72">defending his state’s law</a>&nbsp;in federal court.Doctors, parents, and LGBTQ+ rights advocates counter that boys' physical advantages come with a surge in testosterone during puberty — changes gender-affirming care blocks.Critics also argue that transgender athletes are so few that schools and associations governing school sports can handle their individual cases without a state law.For example, in Kansas, the State High School Activities Association recorded 11 transgender athletes during the 2022-23 school year, and three were trans girls. Before Florida’s law took effect in 2021, its High School Athletic Association had cleared 13 transgender students to play in the previous eight years.Becky Pepper-Jackson appeared to be the only transgender girl seeking to play girls’ sports in West Virginia in 2021 when the then-11-year-old and her mother, Heather Jackson, sued the state over its law.Because of their lawsuit, the West Virginia law is on hold, and Becky, now a 13-year-old entering eighth grade, threw the discus and the shot put in seven track meets this spring.The state is trying to persuade a federal appeals court to let it enforce its law, and in a filing last month, it cited the longer distances Becky threw this year as a reason. The state said any time another girl finished behind Becky in either event — more than 180 times — the other athlete had been unfairly “displaced.”Jackson said the state knows her daughter only “on paper,” and Becky improved by training relentlessly at home with her own equipment.“As a parent, all we want for our children is for them to be successful and happy, period,” Jackson told The Associated Press. “That should be an opportunity for everybody, every time, everywhere in this country.”Educators and LGBTQ+ rights advocates argue that transgender kids aren’t the only athletes likely to feel the effects of the laws. Some worry that parents will challenge the right to play of cisgendered girls who are taller or more muscular than their peers — or just a whole lot better.One of athletes who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-boise-state-university-idaho-education-9d31bbc245bbe0c66a3c88d2cc6a43be">sued Idaho</a>&nbsp;over its 2020 law was a 17-year-old cisgendered girl, listed only as Jane Doe. The lawsuit said she had an “athletic build" and wanted to avoid ”invasive or uncomfortable” gender tests.“It’s going to create this feeling in some people that, ‘I can go question someone’s gender, and it’s my right to do that,’” said G.A. Buie, executive director of United School Administrators of Kansas, an association representing public school leaders.Parents, doctors and LGBTQ+ rights advocates say restrictions on transgender athletes are less about sports and more about trying to make transgender kids disappear from society.“What lawmakers fail to understand is that transgender people, nonbinary people, intersex people, have always been here,” said Anne Lieberman, policy and programs director for Athlete Ally, a group that advocates for transgender athletes. "Unless it is known that a student is trans, it is very hard to keep somebody from playing sports.”___

As classes resume, states expect K-12 schools to enforce bans on trans athletes

WASHINGTON —One month ago, the Department of Education and the White House announced that more than 800,000 federal student loan borrowers will have their remaining debt wiped out.

On Monday, President Biden said his administration is delivering on that promise and has already approved over $116 billion in debt cancellation for 3.4 million Americans – "no matter how many lawsuits, challenges, or roadblocks Republican elected officials or special interests put in our way."

In a statement from the White House, Biden said,&nbsp; Because of actions my Administration took, these 804,000 borrowers who have been in repayment for over 20 years will start to see their student debt cancelled.&nbsp; Over 614,000 of them will have all of their remaining federal student loan debt cancelled once this action is complete.

"Monday's actions come on top of all we’ve been able to achieve for students and student loan borrowers in the past few years."&nbsp;

 This includes: achieving the largest increases in Pell Grants in over a decade to help families who earn less than roughly $60,000 a year; fixing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program so that borrowers who go into public service get the debt relief they’re entitled to under the law; and creating the most generous Income-Driven Repayment plan in history, called SAVE. &nbsp;

Borrowers can go to <a href="https://studentaid.gov/">studentaid.gov</a> to apply.

"As I announced earlier this summer in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision on our student debt relief plan, we will continue to pursue an alternative path to deliver student debt relief to as many borrowers as possible as quickly as possible. We will use every tool at our disposal to get student loan borrowers the relief they need to reach their dreams. "

WASHINGTON —One month ago, the Department of Education and the White House announced that more than 800,000 federal student loan borrowers will have their remaining debt wiped out.On Monday, President Biden said his administration is delivering on that promise and has already approved over $116 billion in debt cancellation for 3.4 million Americans – "no matter how many lawsuits, challenges, or roadblocks Republican elected officials or special interests put in our way."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">For years, student loan borrowers haven&#39;t received forgiveness under their Income-Driven Repayment plans despite making payments for over 20 years. I&#39;m determined to fix it. Today, thanks to my Administration&#39;s actions, 804,000 borrowers will start to see their debt cancelled.&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1691226946816876544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In a statement from the White House, Biden said,&nbsp; Because of actions my Administration took, these 804,000 borrowers who have been in repayment for over 20 years will start to see their student debt cancelled.&nbsp; Over 614,000 of them will have all of their remaining federal student loan debt cancelled once this action is complete."Monday's actions come on top of all we’ve been able to achieve for students and student loan borrowers in the past few years."&nbsp; This includes: achieving the largest increases in Pell Grants in over a decade to help families who earn less than roughly $60,000 a year; fixing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program so that borrowers who go into public service get the debt relief they’re entitled to under the law; and creating the most generous Income-Driven Repayment plan in history, called SAVE. &nbsp;Borrowers can go to <a href="https://studentaid.gov/">studentaid.gov</a> to apply."As I announced earlier this summer in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision on our student debt relief plan, we will continue to pursue an alternative path to deliver student debt relief to as many borrowers as possible as quickly as possible. We will use every tool at our disposal to get student loan borrowers the relief they need to reach their dreams. "

Biden begins canceling student loan debt for 804,000 borrowers

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/15/four-of-six-people-cited-during-nebraska-capitol-protests-face-charges/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Four of six people who were jailed during protests at the Nebraska Capitol on May 19 over a bill combining a stricter abortion ban with new restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors face criminal charges in Lancaster County.

Benjamin Buras, 40, and Sara B. Crawford, 34, both of Lincoln, are scheduled to be in court Thursday.&nbsp;

Mar Lee, 25, of Lincoln, and Danna Seevers, 56, of Seward, were accepted into pretrial diversion programs.

The commotion after the vote, which also included chanting and shouting, prompted Speaker John Arch to clear out the Legislature’s balconies.

Prosecutors filed no charges against Lucia Salinas, 24, of Omaha and Maghie Miller-Jenkins, 36, of Lincoln, threw tampons and feminine pads from over a balcony railing onto the legislative floor, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.&nbsp;

The Patrol had cited Salinas and Miller-Jenkins for disturbing the peace and obstructing a government operation. Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon offered no immediate explanation of his decision.

&nbsp; Miller-Jenkins wrote about her arrest for the progressive blog&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://seeingrednebraska.com/fascism/unveiling-the-harsh-realities-of-state-power-and-oppression/">Seeing Red Nebraska</a>. She said she stood up, told state senators what they were doing was wrong and was “immediately arrested.” She said she spent two hours handcuffed and was in jail until 10:30 p.m.

Buras is charged with resisting arrest, criminal trespassing and failure to obey a lawful order. The Patrol said he refused to comply and resisted after trying to keep legislative staff from opening a balcony door when people were told to leave.

Crawford is charged with obstructing a peace officer. The Patrol said she tried to push past another state trooper while troopers were trying to arrest Buras. They say she punched the trooper in the chest as he held her back. Both have pleaded not guilty.

Lee and Seevers’&nbsp; pretrial diversion could help them sidestep a charge of failure to obey a lawful order. The Patrol said Lee, who was sitting with opponents of Legislative Bill 574, yelled repeatedly from the balcony at lawmakers and would not leave when ordered to do so. Seevers, who was sitting with supporters of LB 574, also would not leave the balcony when told, the Patrol said. The Seward County Independent identified Seevers as the chair of the Seward County Republican Party.

No charges were filed against a legislative staffer who several witnesses had said shoved someone with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska during the protests. The Patrol said it submitted a report to Condon but issued no citation.

Condon also declined to prosecute a woman who got out of her Lexus SUV at the Capitol on May 1, placed a rock on the gas pedal and aimed the vehicle at the building. The Lexus hit a tree within a few feet of the Capitol. The Patrol declined to release her name, saying the woman was placed into emergency protective custody for her mental health.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692110733204.jpeg" alt=" Opponents of LB 574 filled the Nebraska State Capitol Rotunda, as they have during nearly all previous rounds of debate on the bill, on Friday, May 19, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> Opponents of LB 574 filled the Nebraska State Capitol Rotunda, as they have during nearly all previous rounds of debate on the bill, on Friday, May 19, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Aaron Sanderford<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/15/four-of-six-people-cited-during-nebraska-capitol-protests-face-charges/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Four of six people who were jailed during protests at the Nebraska Capitol on May 19 over a bill combining a stricter abortion ban with new restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors face criminal charges in Lancaster County.Benjamin Buras, 40, and Sara B. Crawford, 34, both of Lincoln, are scheduled to be in court Thursday.&nbsp;Mar Lee, 25, of Lincoln, and Danna Seevers, 56, of Seward, were accepted into pretrial diversion programs.The commotion after the vote, which also included chanting and shouting, prompted Speaker John Arch to clear out the Legislature’s balconies.Prosecutors filed no charges against Lucia Salinas, 24, of Omaha and Maghie Miller-Jenkins, 36, of Lincoln, threw tampons and feminine pads from over a balcony railing onto the legislative floor, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.&nbsp;The Patrol had cited Salinas and Miller-Jenkins for disturbing the peace and obstructing a government operation. Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon offered no immediate explanation of his decision.&nbsp; Miller-Jenkins wrote about her arrest for the progressive blog&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://seeingrednebraska.com/fascism/unveiling-the-harsh-realities-of-state-power-and-oppression/">Seeing Red Nebraska</a>. She said she stood up, told state senators what they were doing was wrong and was “immediately arrested.” She said she spent two hours handcuffed and was in jail until 10:30 p.m.<h2>Back in court soon</h2>Buras is charged with resisting arrest, criminal trespassing and failure to obey a lawful order. The Patrol said he refused to comply and resisted after trying to keep legislative staff from opening a balcony door when people were told to leave.Crawford is charged with obstructing a peace officer. The Patrol said she tried to push past another state trooper while troopers were trying to arrest Buras. They say she punched the trooper in the chest as he held her back. Both have pleaded not guilty.Lee and Seevers’&nbsp; pretrial diversion could help them sidestep a charge of failure to obey a lawful order. The Patrol said Lee, who was sitting with opponents of Legislative Bill 574, yelled repeatedly from the balcony at lawmakers and would not leave when ordered to do so. Seevers, who was sitting with supporters of LB 574, also would not leave the balcony when told, the Patrol said. The Seward County Independent identified Seevers as the chair of the Seward County Republican Party.No charges were filed against a legislative staffer who several witnesses had said shoved someone with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska during the protests. The Patrol said it submitted a report to Condon but issued no citation.Condon also declined to prosecute a woman who got out of her Lexus SUV at the Capitol on May 1, placed a rock on the gas pedal and aimed the vehicle at the building. The Lexus hit a tree within a few feet of the Capitol. The Patrol declined to release her name, saying the woman was placed into emergency protective custody for her mental health.

Four of six people cited during Nebraska Capitol protests face charges

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/eight-nebraska-communities-to-share-about-7-million-for-flood-recovery-projects/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Eight Nebraska communities will share about $7 million in grants to assist with long-term disaster recovery projects.

The awards, announced by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, come from the federal Community Development Block Grant program.&nbsp;

They provide a local 25% match, or gap funding, required for federal funding allocated earlier to Nebraska in the wake of devastating floods of 2019. According to the DED, the funds will&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/ded-announces-over-6-9-million-in-awards-to-support-long-term-disaster-recovery-projects/">help projects</a>&nbsp;focused on floodwater mitigation, residential elevation and residential and commercial property acquisitions.

Fairbury is among the places set to get an award.

“The City of Fairbury is excited to utilize this funding to assist homeowners with mitigation of flood-prone properties and to financially help them to build resilient futures,” said Laura Bedlan, director of development services.

DED anticipates awarding another $7 million for more flood disaster projects soon.&nbsp;That batch of awards is to be used on infrastructure repairs to roads, bridges, culverts and public parks and facilities.

The eight communities set to share the initial nearly $7 million in grants:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683126071138.jpg" alt="Photo on file" />
 <figcaption>Photo on file</figcaption>
 </figure>By Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/eight-nebraska-communities-to-share-about-7-million-for-flood-recovery-projects/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Eight Nebraska communities will share about $7 million in grants to assist with long-term disaster recovery projects.The awards, announced by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, come from the federal Community Development Block Grant program.&nbsp;They provide a local 25% match, or gap funding, required for federal funding allocated earlier to Nebraska in the wake of devastating floods of 2019. According to the DED, the funds will&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/ded-announces-over-6-9-million-in-awards-to-support-long-term-disaster-recovery-projects/">help projects</a>&nbsp;focused on floodwater mitigation, residential elevation and residential and commercial property acquisitions.Fairbury is among the places set to get an award.“The City of Fairbury is excited to utilize this funding to assist homeowners with mitigation of flood-prone properties and to financially help them to build resilient futures,” said Laura Bedlan, director of development services.DED anticipates awarding another $7 million for more flood disaster projects soon.&nbsp;That batch of awards is to be used on infrastructure repairs to roads, bridges, culverts and public parks and facilities.The eight communities set to share the initial nearly $7 million in grants:City of Omaha, $4.32 millionVillage of Winslow, $975,233Platte County, $552,771North Bend Drainage District, $408,339Dodge County, $337,565City of Wood River, $135,217City of Peru, $134,084City of Fairbury, $123,855

Eight Nebraska communities to share about $7 million for flood recovery projects

LINCOLN, NE – Last week, Governor Jim Pillen welcomed around 500 leaders to Kearney’s Younes Conference Center North for the “Governor’s Summit on Ag and Economic Development,” co-hosted by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA).

“When our kids grow up and graduate, we want them to enter the most competitive economy in America—right here in Nebraska,” said Gov. Pillen. “This begins with strengthening our top industry of agriculture. It also involves developing quality infrastructure, reliable broadband access, a modern highway network, and a world-class system of water management. Together, we can grow Nebraska, and this Summit is the key to unifying our efforts.”

The Governor’s Summit is the state’s premier economic development forum, convening leaders from across Nebraska to discuss how to grow the Good Life.&nbsp;This is the third consecutive year the Summit has had an agricultural focus. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The Governor’s Ag and Economic Development Summit brings together agriculture groups, leaders and businesses so people can focus on building relationships and finding solutions to the common challenges we face as an industry,” said NDA Director Sherry Vinton. “We are fortunate to live in a state with diverse agriculture and abundant resources. Gov. Pillen, a life-long ag advocate who knows the industry inside and out, is focused on value-added agriculture, livestock development, innovation and trade. Nebraska is an agricultural powerhouse because of these unique opportunities, and we will continue to build our ag industry to grow Nebraska.”

“The annual Summit allows our agency to discover opportunities for partnership and build collaborative relationships,” said DED Director K.C. Belitz. “DED is well-positioned to fill in the gaps of programs being launched by businesses and civic leaders across Nebraska. The Summit is a valuable time to learn how we can best support the creative ideas originating in our local communities.”

This year’s event included a focus on Nebraska’s highway, water, and broadband infrastructures and their importance to the state’s long-term prosperity. The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) headed sessions to highlight how improvements to the state’s transit system, and expansion of Nebraska’s broadband networks, are creating opportunities for businesses to grow. The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NeDNR) led panel discussions on the potential of artificial intelligence and data management tools to benefit agricultural operations through greater water use efficiency, reduced energy costs, and optimal chemical use for water treatment.

“As the Governor has said, the most important resources of Nebraska are our people and our water,” said Director Tom Riley of the Department of Natural Resources. “Nebraska is positioned to lead out on artificial intelligence (AI) and enhance opportunities for all Nebraskans. Our water resources are rivaled by no other state, and this will help us lead our effort to push our economy forward.”

The Summit started on Tuesday night with a reception and awards banquet hosted by the Nebraska Diplomats. During the evening event, North Platte was honored as Nebraska’s “Community of the Year” for its recent economic development accomplishments. Additionally, leaders were recognized for their contributions to grow Nebraska agriculture, create thriving businesses, and promote the state to international partners.

Gov. Pillen kicked off Wednesday’s activities with opening remarks. Attendees then took part in discussion tracks featuring issues central to the state’s growth. Session topics included growing the state’s workforce, attracting investment in biomanufacturing, tapping demand for Nebraska’s sustainable ag commodities, and helping communities find creative housing solutions. The day’s luncheon featured an informal fireside chat between Gov. Pillen and Trev Alberts, vice chancellor for Athletics at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

Gov. Pillen was a panel leader for two sessions at the Summit, focused on value-added agriculture. The Aksarben Foundation has launched an initiative highlighting efforts around sustainability and stewardship by Nebraska farmers and ranchers. The idea is to track data and ensure compensation for those initiatives. The Foundation has created a website promoting the project here:&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Faksarben.org%2Ffull-value-ag%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C0f2d29b3ffde4618586908db9cdce20b%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C638276244731295988%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=MCShOKjQdLmCfhDqYlCL7KeGkfOhcOE5mVhwyK6VC7E%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://aksarben.org/full-value-ag/</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690290495390.jpeg" alt="Governor Jim Pillen" />
 <figcaption>Governor Jim Pillen</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, NE – Last week, Governor Jim Pillen welcomed around 500 leaders to Kearney’s Younes Conference Center North for the “Governor’s Summit on Ag and Economic Development,” co-hosted by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA).“When our kids grow up and graduate, we want them to enter the most competitive economy in America—right here in Nebraska,” said Gov. Pillen. “This begins with strengthening our top industry of agriculture. It also involves developing quality infrastructure, reliable broadband access, a modern highway network, and a world-class system of water management. Together, we can grow Nebraska, and this Summit is the key to unifying our efforts.”The Governor’s Summit is the state’s premier economic development forum, convening leaders from across Nebraska to discuss how to grow the Good Life.&nbsp;This is the third consecutive year the Summit has had an agricultural focus. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“The Governor’s Ag and Economic Development Summit brings together agriculture groups, leaders and businesses so people can focus on building relationships and finding solutions to the common challenges we face as an industry,” said NDA Director Sherry Vinton. “We are fortunate to live in a state with diverse agriculture and abundant resources. Gov. Pillen, a life-long ag advocate who knows the industry inside and out, is focused on value-added agriculture, livestock development, innovation and trade. Nebraska is an agricultural powerhouse because of these unique opportunities, and we will continue to build our ag industry to grow Nebraska.”“The annual Summit allows our agency to discover opportunities for partnership and build collaborative relationships,” said DED Director K.C. Belitz. “DED is well-positioned to fill in the gaps of programs being launched by businesses and civic leaders across Nebraska. The Summit is a valuable time to learn how we can best support the creative ideas originating in our local communities.”This year’s event included a focus on Nebraska’s highway, water, and broadband infrastructures and their importance to the state’s long-term prosperity. The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) headed sessions to highlight how improvements to the state’s transit system, and expansion of Nebraska’s broadband networks, are creating opportunities for businesses to grow. The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NeDNR) led panel discussions on the potential of artificial intelligence and data management tools to benefit agricultural operations through greater water use efficiency, reduced energy costs, and optimal chemical use for water treatment.“As the Governor has said, the most important resources of Nebraska are our people and our water,” said Director Tom Riley of the Department of Natural Resources. “Nebraska is positioned to lead out on artificial intelligence (AI) and enhance opportunities for all Nebraskans. Our water resources are rivaled by no other state, and this will help us lead our effort to push our economy forward.”The Summit started on Tuesday night with a reception and awards banquet hosted by the Nebraska Diplomats. During the evening event, North Platte was honored as Nebraska’s “Community of the Year” for its recent economic development accomplishments. Additionally, leaders were recognized for their contributions to grow Nebraska agriculture, create thriving businesses, and promote the state to international partners.Gov. Pillen kicked off Wednesday’s activities with opening remarks. Attendees then took part in discussion tracks featuring issues central to the state’s growth. Session topics included growing the state’s workforce, attracting investment in biomanufacturing, tapping demand for Nebraska’s sustainable ag commodities, and helping communities find creative housing solutions. The day’s luncheon featured an informal fireside chat between Gov. Pillen and Trev Alberts, vice chancellor for Athletics at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.Gov. Pillen was a panel leader for two sessions at the Summit, focused on value-added agriculture. The Aksarben Foundation has launched an initiative highlighting efforts around sustainability and stewardship by Nebraska farmers and ranchers. The idea is to track data and ensure compensation for those initiatives. The Foundation has created a website promoting the project here:&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Faksarben.org%2Ffull-value-ag%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C0f2d29b3ffde4618586908db9cdce20b%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C638276244731295988%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=MCShOKjQdLmCfhDqYlCL7KeGkfOhcOE5mVhwyK6VC7E%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://aksarben.org/full-value-ag/</a>.

Gov. Pillen Hosts Ag and Economic Development Summit

ATLANTA (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and 18 allies were indicted in Georgia on Monday over their efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state, with prosecutors using a statute normally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-trump-election-investigation-indictment-rico-willis-2b18a1c1ed6a4ce22b1a2ca88ea861e3">associated with mobsters</a>&nbsp;to accuse the former president, lawyers and other aides of a “criminal enterprise” to keep him in power.

<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> indictment

The nearly 100-page indictment details dozens of acts by Trump or his allies to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-investigations-other-charges-b8b064a00caad4306fb54d2f6a320468">undo his defeat</a>, including beseeching Georgia’s Republican secretary of state to find enough votes for him to win the battleground state; harassing an election worker who faced false claims of fraud; and attempting to persuade Georgia lawmakers to ignore the will of voters and appoint a new slate of electoral college electors favorable to Trump.

In one particularly brazen episode, it also outlines a plot involving one of his lawyers to access voting machines in a rural Georgia county and steal data from a voting machine company.

"The indictment alleges that rather than abide by Georgia’s legal process for election challenges, the defendants engaged in a criminal racketeering enterprise to overturn Georgia’s presidential election result,” Fulton County District Attorney&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-investigation-fani-willis-indictment-32bfdd2cca9d3184056836b208a78379">Fani Willis</a>, whose office brought the case, said at a late-night news conference.

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 advanced the then-president's efforts to undo his election loss in Georgia. Other lawyers who supported legally dubious ideas aimed at overturning the results, including John Eastman, Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro, were also charged.

Willis said the defendants would be permitted to voluntarily surrender by noon Aug. 25. She also said she plans to seek a trial date within six months and that she intends to try the defendants collectively.

The indictment bookends a remarkable crush of criminal cases — four in five months, each in a different city — that would be daunting for anyone, never mind someone like Trump who is simultaneously balancing the roles of criminal defendant and presidential candidate.

It comes just two weeks after the Justice Department special counsel charged him in a vast&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">conspiracy to overturn the election</a>, underscoring how prosecutors after lengthy investigations that followed the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol have now, two-and-a-half years later, taken steps to hold Trump to account for an assault on the underpinnings of American democracy.

The Georgia case covers some of the same ground as Trump’s recent indictment in Washington, including attempts he and his allies made to disrupt the electoral vote count at the Capitol. But in its sprawling web of defendants — 19 in total — the indictment stands apart from the more tightly targeted case brought by special counsel Jack Smith, which so far only names Trump as a defendant.

In charging close Trump aides who were referenced by Smith only as unindicted co-conspirators, the Georgia indictment alleges a scale of criminal conduct extending far beyond just the ex-president.

The charging document, in language conjuring up the seedy underworld of mob bosses and gang leaders, accuses the former president, his former chief of staff, Trump’s attorneys and the ex-New York mayor of being members of a “criminal organization” and “enterprise” that operated in Georgia and other states.

The indictment capped a chaotic day at the courthouse caused by the brief but mysterious posting on a county website of a list of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-trump-election-investigation-indictment-rico-willis-2b18a1c1ed6a4ce22b1a2ca88ea861e3">criminal charges</a>&nbsp;that were to be brought against the former president. Reuters, which published a copy of the document, said the filing was taken down quickly.

A Willis spokesperson said in the afternoon that it was “inaccurate" to say that an indictment had already been returned but declined to comment further on a kerfuffle that the Trump legal team rapidly jumped on to attack the integrity of the investigation.

Trump and his allies, who have characterized the investigation as politically motivated, immediately seized on the apparent error to claim that the process was rigged. Trump’s campaign aimed to fundraise off it, sending out an email with the since-deleted document embedded.

In a statement after the indictment was issued, Trump's legal team said “the events that have unfolded today have been shocking and absurd, starting with the leak of a presumed and premature indictment before the witnesses had testified or the grand jurors had deliberated and ending with the District Attorney being unable to offer any explanation.”

The lawyers said prosecutors presenting their case “relied on witnesses who harbor their own personal and political interests — some of whom ran campaigns touting their efforts against the accused.”

Many of the 161 acts by Trump and his associates outlined in the Georgia indictment have already received widespread attention. That includes a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-raffensperger-phone-call-georgia-d503c8b4e58f7cd648fbf9a746131ec9">Jan. 2, 2021</a>, call in which Trump urged Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” the 11,780 votes needed to overturn his election loss. That call, prosecutors said, violated a Georgia law against soliciting a public official to violate their oath.

It also charges Trump with making false statements and writings for a series of claims he made to Raffensperger and other state election officials, including that up to 300,000 ballots “were dropped mysteriously into the rolls” in the 2020 election, that more than 4,500 people voted who weren’t on registration lists and that a Fulton County election worker,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-2022-midterm-elections-georgia-election-recounts-5cffe294a372eb32dc68588784202314">Ruby Freeman</a>, was a “professional vote scammer.”

Giuliani, meanwhile, is charged with making false statements for allegedly lying to lawmakers by claiming that more than 96,000 mail-in ballots were counted in Georgia despite there being no record of them having been returned to a county elections office, and that a voting machine in Michigan wrongly recorded 6,000 votes for Biden that were actually cast for Trump.

In a statement, Giuliani did not respond directly to any of the allegations but called the indictment an “affront to American democracy” and “just the next chapter in a book of lies.”

Also charged are individuals prosecutors say helped Trump and his allies on the ground in Georgia influence and intimidate election workers.

One man, Stephen Cliffgard Lee, was charged by prosecutors for allegedly traveling to Freeman's home “with intent to influence her testimony.” Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss testified to Congress last year about how Trump and his allies latched onto surveillance footage from November 2020 to accuse both women of committing voter fraud — allegations that were quickly debunked, yet spread widely across conservative media.

Both women, who are Black, faced death threats for several months after the election.

The indictment also accuses Powell and several co-defendants of tampering with voting machines in Coffee County, Georgia, and stealing data belonging to Dominion Voting Systems, a producer of tabulation machines that has long been the focus of conspiracy theories.

According to evidence made public by the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot, Trump allies targeted Coffee County in search of evidence to back their theories of widespread voter fraud, allegedly copying data and software.

Besides the two election-related cases, Trump faces a separate 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.

As indictments mount, Trump — the leading Republican candidate for president in 2024 —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iowa-target-letter-indictment-january-6-13afe5fa279e277aa6a11da46cd1821d">often invokes his distinction</a>&nbsp;as the only former president to face criminal charges. He is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-second-quarter-fundraising-gop-primary-fec-8f988e730c2ce8330b92063ed7225d7a">campaigning and fundraising</a>&nbsp;around these themes, portraying himself as the victim of Democratic prosecutors out to get him.

Republican allies once again quickly rallied to Trump’s defense. “Americans see through this desperate sham,” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692093595851.png" alt="Fulton County District Attorney&nbsp;Fani Willis&nbsp;during Monday night's announcement-photo CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Fulton County District Attorney&nbsp;Fani Willis&nbsp;during Monday night's announcement-photo CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and 18 allies were indicted in Georgia on Monday over their efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state, with prosecutors using a statute normally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-trump-election-investigation-indictment-rico-willis-2b18a1c1ed6a4ce22b1a2ca88ea861e3">associated with mobsters</a>&nbsp;to accuse the former president, lawyers and other aides of a “criminal enterprise” to keep him in power.<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> indictmentThe nearly 100-page indictment details dozens of acts by Trump or his allies to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-investigations-other-charges-b8b064a00caad4306fb54d2f6a320468">undo his defeat</a>, including beseeching Georgia’s Republican secretary of state to find enough votes for him to win the battleground state; harassing an election worker who faced false claims of fraud; and attempting to persuade Georgia lawmakers to ignore the will of voters and appoint a new slate of electoral college electors favorable to Trump.In one particularly brazen episode, it also outlines a plot involving one of his lawyers to access voting machines in a rural Georgia county and steal data from a voting machine company."The indictment alleges that rather than abide by Georgia’s legal process for election challenges, the defendants engaged in a criminal racketeering enterprise to overturn Georgia’s presidential election result,” Fulton County District Attorney&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-investigation-fani-willis-indictment-32bfdd2cca9d3184056836b208a78379">Fani Willis</a>, whose office brought the case, said at a late-night news conference.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 advanced the then-president's efforts to undo his election loss in Georgia. Other lawyers who supported legally dubious ideas aimed at overturning the results, including John Eastman, Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro, were also charged.Willis said the defendants would be permitted to voluntarily surrender by noon Aug. 25. She also said she plans to seek a trial date within six months and that she intends to try the defendants collectively.The indictment bookends a remarkable crush of criminal cases — four in five months, each in a different city — that would be daunting for anyone, never mind someone like Trump who is simultaneously balancing the roles of criminal defendant and presidential candidate.It comes just two weeks after the Justice Department special counsel charged him in a vast&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">conspiracy to overturn the election</a>, underscoring how prosecutors after lengthy investigations that followed the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol have now, two-and-a-half years later, taken steps to hold Trump to account for an assault on the underpinnings of American democracy.The Georgia case covers some of the same ground as Trump’s recent indictment in Washington, including attempts he and his allies made to disrupt the electoral vote count at the Capitol. But in its sprawling web of defendants — 19 in total — the indictment stands apart from the more tightly targeted case brought by special counsel Jack Smith, which so far only names Trump as a defendant.In charging close Trump aides who were referenced by Smith only as unindicted co-conspirators, the Georgia indictment alleges a scale of criminal conduct extending far beyond just the ex-president.The charging document, in language conjuring up the seedy underworld of mob bosses and gang leaders, accuses the former president, his former chief of staff, Trump’s attorneys and the ex-New York mayor of being members of a “criminal organization” and “enterprise” that operated in Georgia and other states.The indictment capped a chaotic day at the courthouse caused by the brief but mysterious posting on a county website of a list of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-trump-election-investigation-indictment-rico-willis-2b18a1c1ed6a4ce22b1a2ca88ea861e3">criminal charges</a>&nbsp;that were to be brought against the former president. Reuters, which published a copy of the document, said the filing was taken down quickly.A Willis spokesperson said in the afternoon that it was “inaccurate" to say that an indictment had already been returned but declined to comment further on a kerfuffle that the Trump legal team rapidly jumped on to attack the integrity of the investigation.Trump and his allies, who have characterized the investigation as politically motivated, immediately seized on the apparent error to claim that the process was rigged. Trump’s campaign aimed to fundraise off it, sending out an email with the since-deleted document embedded.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Statement from Trump Campaign <a href="https://t.co/1qT1dgdcCA">pic.twitter.com/1qT1dgdcCA</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1691275754179317760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In a statement after the indictment was issued, Trump's legal team said “the events that have unfolded today have been shocking and absurd, starting with the leak of a presumed and premature indictment before the witnesses had testified or the grand jurors had deliberated and ending with the District Attorney being unable to offer any explanation.”The lawyers said prosecutors presenting their case “relied on witnesses who harbor their own personal and political interests — some of whom ran campaigns touting their efforts against the accused.”Many of the 161 acts by Trump and his associates outlined in the Georgia indictment have already received widespread attention. That includes a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-raffensperger-phone-call-georgia-d503c8b4e58f7cd648fbf9a746131ec9">Jan. 2, 2021</a>, call in which Trump urged Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” the 11,780 votes needed to overturn his election loss. That call, prosecutors said, violated a Georgia law against soliciting a public official to violate their oath.It also charges Trump with making false statements and writings for a series of claims he made to Raffensperger and other state election officials, including that up to 300,000 ballots “were dropped mysteriously into the rolls” in the 2020 election, that more than 4,500 people voted who weren’t on registration lists and that a Fulton County election worker,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-2022-midterm-elections-georgia-election-recounts-5cffe294a372eb32dc68588784202314">Ruby Freeman</a>, was a “professional vote scammer.”Giuliani, meanwhile, is charged with making false statements for allegedly lying to lawmakers by claiming that more than 96,000 mail-in ballots were counted in Georgia despite there being no record of them having been returned to a county elections office, and that a voting machine in Michigan wrongly recorded 6,000 votes for Biden that were actually cast for Trump.In a statement, Giuliani did not respond directly to any of the allegations but called the indictment an “affront to American democracy” and “just the next chapter in a book of lies.”Also charged are individuals prosecutors say helped Trump and his allies on the ground in Georgia influence and intimidate election workers.One man, Stephen Cliffgard Lee, was charged by prosecutors for allegedly traveling to Freeman's home “with intent to influence her testimony.” Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss testified to Congress last year about how Trump and his allies latched onto surveillance footage from November 2020 to accuse both women of committing voter fraud — allegations that were quickly debunked, yet spread widely across conservative media.Both women, who are Black, faced death threats for several months after the election.The indictment also accuses Powell and several co-defendants of tampering with voting machines in Coffee County, Georgia, and stealing data belonging to Dominion Voting Systems, a producer of tabulation machines that has long been the focus of conspiracy theories.According to evidence made public by the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot, Trump allies targeted Coffee County in search of evidence to back their theories of widespread voter fraud, allegedly copying data and software.Besides the two election-related cases, Trump faces a separate 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.As indictments mount, Trump — the leading Republican candidate for president in 2024 —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iowa-target-letter-indictment-january-6-13afe5fa279e277aa6a11da46cd1821d">often invokes his distinction</a>&nbsp;as the only former president to face criminal charges. He is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-second-quarter-fundraising-gop-primary-fec-8f988e730c2ce8330b92063ed7225d7a">campaigning and fundraising</a>&nbsp;around these themes, portraying himself as the victim of Democratic prosecutors out to get him.Republican allies once again quickly rallied to Trump’s defense. “Americans see through this desperate sham,” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.___

Read the full text of the Trump Georgia indictment document

The nearly 100-page indictment details dozens of acts by Trump or his allies to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-investigations-other-charges-b8b064a00caad4306fb54d2f6a320468">undo his defeat</a>, including beseeching Georgia’s Republican secretary of state to find enough votes for him to win the battleground state; harassing a state election worker who faced false claims of fraud; and attempting to persuade Georgia lawmakers to ignore the will of voters and appoint a new slate of electoral college electors favorable to Trump.

In one particularly brazen episode, it also outlines a plot involving one of his lawyers to tamper with voting machines in a rural Georgia county and steal data from a voting machine company.

Other defendants include former White House chief of staff&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mark-meadows">Mark Meadows</a>; Trump's personal attorney&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rudolph-giuliani">Rudy Giuliani</a>; and a Trump administration Justice Department official, Jeffrey Clark, who advanced the then-president's efforts to undo his election loss in Georgia. Multiple other lawyers who devised legally dubious ideas aimed at overturning the results, including John Eastman, Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro, were also charged.

Willis said the defendants would be allowed to voluntarily surrender by noon Aug. 25. She also said she plans to ask for a trial date within six months and that she intends to try the defendants as a group.

The Georgia case covers some of the same ground as Trump’s recent indictment in Washington, D.C., including attempts he and his allies made to disrupt the electoral vote count at the U.S. Capitol on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">Jan. 6, 2021</a>. But its sprawling web of defendants — 19 in total — stands apart from the more tightly targeted case brought by special counsel Jack Smith, which so far only names Trump as a defendant.

The charging document, in language conjuring up the seedy operations of mob bosses and gang leaders, accuses the former president of the United States, the former White House chief of staff, Trump’s attorneys and the former mayor of New York as members of a “criminal organization” who were part of an “enterprise” that operated in Georgia and other states.

Many of the 161 acts by Trump and his associates outlined in the Georgia indictment have already received widespread attention. That includes a Jan. 2, 2021, call in which Trump urged Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” the 11,780 votes needed to overturn his election loss. That call, prosecutors said, violated a Georgia law against soliciting a public official to violate their oath.

Giuliani, meanwhile, is charged with making false statements for allegedly lying to lawmakers by claiming that more than 96,000 mail-in ballots were counted in Georgia despite there being no record of them having been returned to a county elections office, and that a voting machine in Michigan wrongly recorded 6,000 votes for Biden that were actually cast for Trump. A lawyer who has represented him declined to comment.

Besides the two election-related cases, Trump faces a separate federal indictment accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents as well as a New York state case charging him with falsifying business records.

ATLANTA (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and 18 allies were indicted in Georgia on Monday over their efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state, with prosecutors using a statute normally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-trump-election-investigation-indictment-rico-willis-2b18a1c1ed6a4ce22b1a2ca88ea861e3">associated with mobsters</a>&nbsp;to accuse the former president, lawyers and other aides of a “criminal enterprise” to keep him in power.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH: Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on indictment of former President Trump <a href="https://t.co/DTQMZkXEWg">pic.twitter.com/DTQMZkXEWg</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1691299495428882432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The nearly 100-page indictment details dozens of acts by Trump or his allies to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-investigations-other-charges-b8b064a00caad4306fb54d2f6a320468">undo his defeat</a>, including beseeching Georgia’s Republican secretary of state to find enough votes for him to win the battleground state; harassing a state election worker who faced false claims of fraud; and attempting to persuade Georgia lawmakers to ignore the will of voters and appoint a new slate of electoral college electors favorable to Trump.In one particularly brazen episode, it also outlines a plot involving one of his lawyers to tamper with voting machines in a rural Georgia county and steal data from a voting machine company.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691094922366.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"The indictment alleges that rather than abide by Georgia’s legal process for election challenges, the defendants engaged in a criminal racketeering enterprise to overturn Georgia’s presidential election result,” Fulton County District Attorney&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-investigation-fani-willis-indictment-32bfdd2cca9d3184056836b208a78379">Fani Willis</a>, whose office brought the case, said at a late-night news conference.Other defendants include former White House chief of staff&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mark-meadows">Mark Meadows</a>; Trump's personal attorney&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rudolph-giuliani">Rudy Giuliani</a>; and a Trump administration Justice Department official, Jeffrey Clark, who advanced the then-president's efforts to undo his election loss in Georgia. Multiple other lawyers who devised legally dubious ideas aimed at overturning the results, including John Eastman, Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro, were also charged.Willis said the defendants would be allowed to voluntarily surrender by noon Aug. 25. She also said she plans to ask for a trial date within six months and that she intends to try the defendants as a group.The indictment bookends a remarkable crush of criminal cases — four in five months, each in a different city — that would be daunting for anyone, never mind someone like Trump who is simultaneously balancing the roles of criminal defendant and presidential candidate.It comes just two weeks after the Justice Department special counsel charged him in a vast&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">conspiracy to overturn the election</a>, underscoring how prosecutors after lengthy investigations that followed the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol have now, two-and-a-half years later, taken steps to hold Trump to account for an assault on the underpinnings of American democracy.The Georgia case covers some of the same ground as Trump’s recent indictment in Washington, D.C., including attempts he and his allies made to disrupt the electoral vote count at the U.S. Capitol on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">Jan. 6, 2021</a>. But its sprawling web of defendants — 19 in total — stands apart from the more tightly targeted case brought by special counsel Jack Smith, which so far only names Trump as a defendant.In charging close Trump aides who were referenced by Smith only as unindicted co-conspirators, the Georgia indictment alleges a scale of criminal conduct extending far beyond just the ex-president.The charging document, in language conjuring up the seedy operations of mob bosses and gang leaders, accuses the former president of the United States, the former White House chief of staff, Trump’s attorneys and the former mayor of New York as members of a “criminal organization” who were part of an “enterprise” that operated in Georgia and other states.The indictment capped a chaotic day at the courthouse caused by the brief but mysterious posting on a county website of a list of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-trump-election-investigation-indictment-rico-willis-2b18a1c1ed6a4ce22b1a2ca88ea861e3">criminal charges</a>&nbsp;that were to be brought against the former president. Reuters, which published a copy of the document, said the filing was taken down quickly.A Willis spokesperson said in the afternoon that it was “inaccurate" to say that an indictment had already been returned but declined to comment further on a kerfuffle that the Trump legal team rapidly jumped on to attack the integrity of the investigation.Trump and his allies, who have characterized the investigation as politically motivated, immediately seized on the apparent error to claim that the process was rigged. Trump’s campaign aimed to fundraise off it, sending out an email with the since-deleted document embedded.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692093790920.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692093809403.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In a statement after the indictment was issued, Trump's legal team said “the events that have unfolded today have been shocking and absurd, starting with the leak of a presumed and premature indictment before the witnesses had testified or the grand jurors had deliberated and ending with the District Attorney being unable to offer any explanation.”The lawyers said prosecutors presenting their case “relied on witnesses who harbor their own personal and political interests — some of whom ran campaigns touting their efforts against the accused.”Many of the 161 acts by Trump and his associates outlined in the Georgia indictment have already received widespread attention. That includes a Jan. 2, 2021, call in which Trump urged Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” the 11,780 votes needed to overturn his election loss. That call, prosecutors said, violated a Georgia law against soliciting a public official to violate their oath.It also charges Trump with making false statements and writings for a series of claims he made to Raffensperger and other state election officials, including that up to 300,000 ballots “were dropped mysteriously into the rolls” in the 2020 election, that more than 4,500 people voted who weren’t on registration lists and that a Fulton County election worker,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-2022-midterm-elections-georgia-election-recounts-5cffe294a372eb32dc68588784202314">Ruby Freeman</a>, was a “professional vote scammer.”Giuliani, meanwhile, is charged with making false statements for allegedly lying to lawmakers by claiming that more than 96,000 mail-in ballots were counted in Georgia despite there being no record of them having been returned to a county elections office, and that a voting machine in Michigan wrongly recorded 6,000 votes for Biden that were actually cast for Trump. A lawyer who has represented him declined to comment.Also charged are individuals prosecutors say helped Trump and his allies on the ground in Georgia influence and intimidate election workers.One man, Stephen Cliffgard Lee, was charged by prosecutors for allegedly traveling to Freeman's home “with intent to influence her testimony.” Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss testified to Congress last year about how Trump and his allies latched onto surveillance footage from November 2020 to accuse both women of committing voter fraud — allegations that were quickly debunked, yet spread widely across conservative media.Both women, who are Black, faced death threats for several months after the election.The indictment also accuses Powell and several co-defendants of tampering with voting machines in Coffee County, Georgia, and stealing data belonging to Dominion Voting Systems, a producer of tabulation machines that has long been the focus of conspiracy theories.According to evidence made public by the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot, Trump allies targeted Coffee County in search of evidence to back their theories of widespread voter fraud, allegedly copying data and software.Besides the two election-related cases, Trump faces a separate federal indictment accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents as well as a New York state case charging him with falsifying business records.As indictments mount, Trump — the leading Republican candidate for president in 2024 —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iowa-target-letter-indictment-january-6-13afe5fa279e277aa6a11da46cd1821d">often invokes his distinction</a>&nbsp;as the only former president to face criminal charges. He is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-second-quarter-fundraising-gop-primary-fec-8f988e730c2ce8330b92063ed7225d7a">campaigning and fundraising</a>&nbsp;around these themes, portraying himself as the victim of Democratic prosecutors out to get him.Republican allies once again quickly rallied to Trump’s defense. “Americans see through this desperate sham,” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter._____

🎥 Fourth indictment: Trump charged in Georgia 2020 election probe

WASHINGTON —The Defense Department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3491937/biden-administration-announces-additional-security-assistance-for-ukraine/">announced an additional security assistance package</a>&nbsp;valued at up to $200 million to help Ukraine counter Russia's ongoing war of aggression, according to a media release from the agency.

The package includes critical munitions for U.S.-provided Patriot air defense systems and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, among other items.&nbsp;

The items are being provisioned as part of the $6.2 billion in presidential drawdown authority restored in June following a reevaluation of the total value of items already committed to Ukraine. &nbsp;

The latest round of assistance marks the 44th drawdown of equipment from DOD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.&nbsp;

The package underscores the United States' continued commitment to providing Ukraine with the capabilities it needs to defend its territory.

"Russia started this war and could end it at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and stopping its brutal attacks," Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said today in a statement. "Until it does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine for as long as it takes."

The Biden administration has committed more than $43 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's invasion in February 2022.&nbsp;

That assistance has included more than 2,000 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, more than 10,000 Javelin anti-armor systems, and more than 2 million 155-mm artillery rounds, among other items.&nbsp;

The assistance has been provisioned through drawdowns of existing U.S. stocks and through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, the authority under which the U.S. procures capabilities from industry and partners.&nbsp;

In response to the effort to assist Ukraine, the U.S. has ramped up production of key artillery rounds used most by Ukraine in support of its counteroffensive operations and in defending its territory against the invading Russian forces.&nbsp;

Douglas R. Bush, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, said last week that the U.S. is currently producing new artillery rounds at a rate of 24,000 per month and is on track to produce in excess of 80,000 rounds per month over the following year.

He said the DOD remains committed to arming Ukraine as the country defends itself against Russia's unprovoked invasion while at the same time maintaining U.S. military readiness.&nbsp;

"The U.S. Army is committed to and will succeed at maintaining our stocks sufficient for training and readiness of the U.S. Army, while also supporting our ally, Ukraine, with what they need, working as part of an international team to make sure that happens," Bush said.&nbsp;

He added that, throughout the war, U.S. equipment has remained highly effective in combat.&nbsp;

"That's the result of decades of work by thousands of people to make sure our equipment is tested well and also that our industry partners produce it, critically, at a high level of quality," Bush said. "Lots of countries can produce. The United States produces the best in terms of quality. I think we are seeing that, and I think that speaks well of our industry partners."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692046689525.png" alt="Weapons bound for Ukraine are loaded onto a C-17 Globemaster III during a security assistance mission at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Aug. 19, 2022.&nbsp;Photo By:Air Force Senior Airman Cydney Lee" />
 <figcaption>Weapons bound for Ukraine are loaded onto a C-17 Globemaster III during a security assistance mission at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Aug. 19, 2022.&nbsp;Photo By:Air Force Senior Airman Cydney Lee</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —The Defense Department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3491937/biden-administration-announces-additional-security-assistance-for-ukraine/">announced an additional security assistance package</a>&nbsp;valued at up to $200 million to help Ukraine counter Russia's ongoing war of aggression, according to a media release from the agency.The package includes critical munitions for U.S.-provided Patriot air defense systems and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, among other items.&nbsp;The items are being provisioned as part of the $6.2 billion in presidential drawdown authority restored in June following a reevaluation of the total value of items already committed to Ukraine. &nbsp;The latest round of assistance marks the 44th drawdown of equipment from DOD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.&nbsp;The package underscores the United States' continued commitment to providing Ukraine with the capabilities it needs to defend its territory."Russia started this war and could end it at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and stopping its brutal attacks," Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said today in a statement. "Until it does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine for as long as it takes."The Biden administration has committed more than $43 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's invasion in February 2022.&nbsp;That assistance has included more than 2,000 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, more than 10,000 Javelin anti-armor systems, and more than 2 million 155-mm artillery rounds, among other items.&nbsp;The assistance has been provisioned through drawdowns of existing U.S. stocks and through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, the authority under which the U.S. procures capabilities from industry and partners.&nbsp;In response to the effort to assist Ukraine, the U.S. has ramped up production of key artillery rounds used most by Ukraine in support of its counteroffensive operations and in defending its territory against the invading Russian forces.&nbsp;Douglas R. Bush, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, said last week that the U.S. is currently producing new artillery rounds at a rate of 24,000 per month and is on track to produce in excess of 80,000 rounds per month over the following year.He said the DOD remains committed to arming Ukraine as the country defends itself against Russia's unprovoked invasion while at the same time maintaining U.S. military readiness.&nbsp;"The U.S. Army is committed to and will succeed at maintaining our stocks sufficient for training and readiness of the U.S. Army, while also supporting our ally, Ukraine, with what they need, working as part of an international team to make sure that happens," Bush said.&nbsp;He added that, throughout the war, U.S. equipment has remained highly effective in combat.&nbsp;"That's the result of decades of work by thousands of people to make sure our equipment is tested well and also that our industry partners produce it, critically, at a high level of quality," Bush said. "Lots of countries can produce. The United States produces the best in terms of quality. I think we are seeing that, and I think that speaks well of our industry partners."

$43 Billion: U.S. sending Ukraine more military assistance 

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/health-officials-remind-nebraskans-to-be-cautious-of-rabies-risk-from-wild-animals/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;Nebraska health officials are reminding residents to be aware of the risk for rabies and to avoid wild animals, especially bats, ahead of an annual “peak” in bat activity.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services on Monday, in an annual reminder, said there have been&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Rabies-Data.aspx#InplviewHash5d22dbed-7660-44bc-bad4-5a83f1f487a5=SortField%3DLab_x0020_Date-SortDir%3DAsc-WebPartID%3D%7B11F9B84A--A069--4AA2--ADF8--74BB6A5A6903%7D">10 positive cases</a>&nbsp;of rabies so far this year —&nbsp;nine from bats and one from a dog. The number of cases is similar to many recent years around this time.&nbsp;

Over the past three years, there were 21, 30 and 25 annual positive cases, respectively; 83% involved bats. Other cases included skunks, cats, horses, a dog and a bovine.

No human cases of rabies have occurred among Nebraskans since the 1920s.

“Bats are responsible for carrying much of the rabies virus in Nebraska,” Dr. Bryan Buss, state public health veterinarian for DHHS, said in a news release. “We’ll soon be into the peak time of the year for bat activity.”

Rabies, a virus that is generally fatal if not treated, is transmitted by the bite of an infected animal or through its saliva if it gets directly into an open wound or a person’s eyes, nose or mouth. The virus can be transmitted by other wildlife, too, such as foxes, coyotes and raccoons.

DHHS said Nebraskans can help prevent the spread of rabies by avoiding contact with and by never adopting or bringing wild animals home. People should not leave open garbage cans or litter to unintentionally attract animals.

Keeping pet vaccinations up-to-date is also an important step and is required by&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=71-4402">state law</a>.

Officials said residents should call local animal control agencies about removing or assisting stray animals, teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals even if they appear friendly and maintain homes and other buildings so bats cannot get inside.

If a bat does make it inside, DHHS said to not let it outside until after talking with animal control or public health officials and trying to safely capture it, if possible,&nbsp;to have it tested.

People should seek immediate veterinary assistance if a pet is exposed and should consult their doctor or local health department for assistance if they have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal or believe they may have been exposed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1566223828446.jpeg" alt="Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services</figcaption>
 </figure>By Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/health-officials-remind-nebraskans-to-be-cautious-of-rabies-risk-from-wild-animals/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;Nebraska health officials are reminding residents to be aware of the risk for rabies and to avoid wild animals, especially bats, ahead of an annual “peak” in bat activity.The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services on Monday, in an annual reminder, said there have been&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Rabies-Data.aspx#InplviewHash5d22dbed-7660-44bc-bad4-5a83f1f487a5=SortField%3DLab_x0020_Date-SortDir%3DAsc-WebPartID%3D%7B11F9B84A--A069--4AA2--ADF8--74BB6A5A6903%7D">10 positive cases</a>&nbsp;of rabies so far this year —&nbsp;nine from bats and one from a dog. The number of cases is similar to many recent years around this time.&nbsp;Over the past three years, there were 21, 30 and 25 annual positive cases, respectively; 83% involved bats. Other cases included skunks, cats, horses, a dog and a bovine.No human cases of rabies have occurred among Nebraskans since the 1920s.“Bats are responsible for carrying much of the rabies virus in Nebraska,” Dr. Bryan Buss, state public health veterinarian for DHHS, said in a news release. “We’ll soon be into the peak time of the year for bat activity.”Rabies, a virus that is generally fatal if not treated, is transmitted by the bite of an infected animal or through its saliva if it gets directly into an open wound or a person’s eyes, nose or mouth. The virus can be transmitted by other wildlife, too, such as foxes, coyotes and raccoons.<h2>Prevention</h2>DHHS said Nebraskans can help prevent the spread of rabies by avoiding contact with and by never adopting or bringing wild animals home. People should not leave open garbage cans or litter to unintentionally attract animals.Keeping pet vaccinations up-to-date is also an important step and is required by&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=71-4402">state law</a>.Officials said residents should call local animal control agencies about removing or assisting stray animals, teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals even if they appear friendly and maintain homes and other buildings so bats cannot get inside.<h2>Treatment</h2>If a bat does make it inside, DHHS said to not let it outside until after talking with animal control or public health officials and trying to safely capture it, if possible,&nbsp;to have it tested.People should seek immediate veterinary assistance if a pet is exposed and should consult their doctor or local health department for assistance if they have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal or believe they may have been exposed.DHHS said that because bats have small teeth, a bite mark may be difficult to find, but it’s better to be safe than sorry and seek preventive treatment just in case.Residents should call 402-471-2937 before sending a specimen for testing of any submission linked to potential exposure to rabies in humans. Officials can help determine eligibility for state-paid testing.